Society of Justice 3: Crisis on the Earth

[NeoAC]

Brian's head was still somewhat reeling from all the moving around it was still doing. Teleporting was starting to take it's toll on the Canadian, with his body unsure what the hell to do to fix the problem. While other people went shopping in the legendary Paris districts, Brian got better acquainted with a park bench in front of a shop. It helped his stomach a bit, but the head took much longer. He had gotten it to the point where he could probably stand up when Tommy came out looking to do something.

"Uh....yeah. Yeah could probably um....hold on." Brian shook his head again to try and get the weird feeling out of there. It kind of helped but it was still there. "Yeah, I can come with see what's up and stuff."

 

[Captainguy42]

"Alright, let's head downtown at this time of night there are probably plenty of muggers looking to jump a drunk." Tommy guessed. Fact is he knew almost nothing about Paris but he assumed crime worked the same in just about any city. So as he Brian set off in that direction he hollered back, "You're all free to join if you'd like."

After about a minute of walking Tommy noticed Brian was walking oddly. He seemed to have trouble keeping a straight line for more than a few seconds and was constantly pressing around his temples as if to find the button to reset his brain. "Porting sickness? Ya you guys really need to learn how handle you're jumps, I didn't want to say anything earlier but it's getting kind of embarrassing."

 

[NeoAC]

"Well sorry I'm not used to all this here, buddy," Brian said, now leaning against a light pole. "Not used to any of this. Universes and teleporting and body swapping and you know it's all a bit much for a guy to take in a couple months. Or however long its been. I don't even know anymore there, you know? It's all like a blur."

He pushed himself off the light pole trying to steady himself, and it seemed to be working...for the moment. "I dunno man. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this stuff. Just a guy who can heal himself up quick."

 

[Captainguy42]

"Ya here's the thing, none of us are cut out for this. I mean I thought I was. On account of the whole bench pressing tanks and bullets being a minor annoyance. Ya I got that notion beaten out of my head by an asphalt floor when some a-hole was using gravity to make a yo-yo out of me," Tommy told him, "So far? For me it just seems like we find our selves in ludicrously dangerous situations, survive them, and somehow in the process the day gets saved, I dunno it's kinda of an after thought sometime."

Tommy noticed Brian kept lapsing back into disorientation, he gave some advice, " Want a tip? Stop thinking about the hotel and the jump. Focus on where you are, the air your breathing, the people around you. Push Roman, Renee, the hotel and everyone we left there out. What's happening is that when you teleport you move so fast you don't totally realize you're somewhere else. Part of you still thinks your back there, it's expecting to see the same people, feel the same temperature, hear the same things, you need to steady yourself and make the part realize what's going on right now."

 

[NeoAC]

"OK," Brian said, trying to steady himself once more. He closed his eyes and focused solely on what his body was doing: breathing, digesting, that sort of thing. He kept this position for about thirty seconds and it seemed to be working. He didn't feel like grabbing another pole to keep himself upright, and the thought of throwing up the contents of the hotel mini bar didn't seem as dangerous or as pressing an issue. He was just thinking about his motions.

"All right, I think I'm good. I'm here, and that's what's going on there. All right, let's get cracking on some stuff, eh? So...uh...where are we going to find crime or anything, anyway?"

 

[Captainguy42]

Tommy didn't respond, in fact he didn't seem to taking anything in at all. From the outside he seemed to be on a sort of auto-pilot, his breath, smooth and regular; his gait, even and straight; his eyes, calm and distant. Inside Tommy was moving deeper into a state of near meditation, calling on the training his father had given him. This was a technique passed down by his ancestor who in turn learned from the mystics of the east. It was use to block things out, often Tommy used it to survive damage that should have killed him from the traumatic pain alone, but now he bent it to a different purpose. With practiced ease he began to parse apart the city soundscape, the rustle of feet, the dulcet tones of parisians, and the rumbling car engines. Blocking them all until there was only the sound no one else wanted to hear. He bumped into a man, almost knocking him over, the man turned to yell at Tommy but Tommy didn't notice or care. It was only him, the unnaturally quit city, and a faint panicked scream.

Tommy snapped back to reality, grabbing Brian's shoulder. "This way!" He yelled, pointing to a side street which he started running down. A part of him kept track of the screams as they got louder and louder, telling him they were getting closer. Another turn took him to a dark and seldom seen street, there two men accosted a women. Both armed with handguns, one was trying to pry a purse from the woman who desperately fought to hold onto it while the second considered ending it right there with the gun.

"Get the muggers, I'll shield the woman!" Tommy yelled as he jumped into the air. Crashing down in from of woman, causing her let the bag go in fright while the second mugger fired a bullet into Tommy's head.

 

[NeoAC]

"What the...." Brian muttered as he followed Tommy in a dead sprint in the Paris streets. He kept up at first, but hockey players were built for sprint sessions, not endurance runs. When he saw Tommy duck into a dark alley, he figured that he had a sort of clandestine club that he frequented in the city, but instead he saw a scene straight out of any superhero origin story, and once he had come upon a couple times before back in Nova. Just his luck, Tommy decided to insert himself right into the middle of it, without thinking of a plan of attack or anything.

"Get the muggers, I'll shield the woman!"

"Well jeez thanks, just let them know I'm here, buddy." Having seemingly dispatched the first intruder, the criminals' attention turned to the Canadian. Looking in the alleyway, there wasn't much that made for makeshift weapon material. A discarded metal chair seemed to be the best option, but it was no hockey stick. Without another option, Brian picked up the chair, and got ready to try and defend himself. This went as well as bringing a chair to a gun fight could be expected to go. Brian charged, hoping that he could deflect enough bullets to reach them in time to do anything. The searing pain in his lower leg told him was unsuccessful in totally avoiding it, but he got close enough to swing the chair violently at the attackers. He managed to catch one of them in the face on his way to collapsing from the shot he took, and the mugger went down with him, dropping his gun in shock. Upon hearing two metal objects clatter off the cobblestone, Brian reached for the other one, the one that dealt a bit more damage and was able to quickly fire off a round that caught the other crook just above the kneecap. He fell to the ground, clutching at his leg.

Brian tried to get up, hoping that his healing abilities would have patched him up quickly, but the pain still remained. It wasn't the slow burn pain he was used to while healing up, the sudden appearance caught him off guard, and it stung like an Asian hornet. The exit wound was also still open, as blood trickled down the back of his jeans. "Damn that hurts! Ah!" A groan that exited of the first mugger's mouth indicated that he might want his gun back, but Brian was in no mood after enduring his first non-alcoholic shot. Still, he gave him a couple bullets back. One in the shoulder and one in the leg. "Fucker, what you doing shooting stupidly like that? You know someone's gonna see that! Dumb gits. God, this still hurts like a mother..." The second mugger tried to move against the man now in control, but he made too much noise and earned a shoulder wound to match his partner. Brian limped over to where he had fallen and grabbed the other gun as it laid in the alleyway. "No, no. You ain't getting these back, byes."

With the shooters incapacitated for the moment, Brian looked for where his teammate and the victim would be, spotting them fifteen feet away. "You all right over there, man, or you need patching up?"

 

[Captainguy42]

Tommy checked himself, the bullet had gotten lodged in his fore-head and a second had passed through his jacket and into his abdomen, leaving a large dark patch blooming on his under shirt. With his thumb and index finger he pinched the bullet and pulled it out, freeing a rivulet of blood to run down his face. "Nah, I should be fine, this suit's a goner though. Pity. Well maybe Renee will let get another." He replied to Brian before turning to the victim, "Madame! Vos sac a main Madame!"

She seemed frozen for a second, as she took a good look at Tommy and Brian. The muggers where on thing but these two where inhuman. First there was the monstrous giant who flew through the air and took a shot in the head without dying. And the other, if the mere fact that she could see his wounded leg already repairing itself wasn't enough, the moment she was his face there was a flash of recognition followed by a mask of fear. She didn't approach, she turned tail and ran, leaving Tommy and Brian with the purse.

"Madame! Madame! Come back!" Tommy yelled again to no avail, "See what I mean? Fucking french, you save them from muggers and they don't even have the decency to say thanks. Well might as well do the right thing, let's shee if we can find her drivers's licence in here." Tommy began opened the bag and began rooting around, it was filled with documents. He found her wallet and began flipping through it. " Oh, actually she's not French she's Canadian, believe that Brian?" Flipping further he found another licence this one French, "Oh, wait no she's also French," Then another, " And Japanese? She didn't look like it but you know you it really speaks to the interconnections of the world now a days." and another, " French Guyana? That's a real place?"

 

[NeoAC]

"She couldn't be a Canadian, man," Brian corrected Tommy. "We wouldn't be running off like that if someone does something heroic. We'd at least by them a coffee or a donut. Maybe even a grilled cheese, depends on if Tim's got the special on." He looked through the IDs with him. "That's weird though, why's she got so many ID. I don't think these are even the same name, you know? I dunno man, think we might have just walked into something here. I say we take the bag and you know, get it somewhere where it can be retrieved. Maybe even get some beer money for a reward out of it."

 

[Captainguy42]

"Good point, but remember technically they're American's in this universe. I'm gonna call Renee and see if she knows where we can get a reward for this, then drinks." Tommy started walking to the nearest pay phone when he notices the two muggers were still on the floor. "Right this first." He grabbed the metal chair and pulled off two of the legs, which he bent around the men's wrists to make a pair of manacles. He then pointed to the one who was bleeding out on the street, " Uh Brian, while I'm calling maybe you should do something about that?"

He got to the pay phone, pulled out a few coins from the purse which he promised to replace once they got their reward money. He dialed the number for the hotel and after a few rings he was on the line with the receptionist, "Yes Renee Arreos please? Or Renee Claidt, whatever she goes by."

 

[NeoAC]

Brian shook his head. "I'm sorry, bye. Fucker shot me, he can bleed right out, all I care."

"Please man? You already shot him twice for that and this is my first night in Paris, I'd really rather not have to worry about a manslaughter charge," Tommy told him. "Besides doesn't the whole healing hurt? So think about it it's like shooting him four time!" Tommy did have a point. It would be a chance to get them back even more.

"Fine," Brian said moving over to where the first one had fallen. "But I'm leaving the bullets in. Leave him with a reminder of him being stupid."

"Oh and check their pockets for beer money!" Tommy added.

Brian smiled, "All right, literal payback. Like it." He frisked the man's pants finding a wad of bills tucked into the pocket. Content he laid his hands on him, slowing the hemorrhaging until the blood began to dry. While the eyes remained closed, the gritting teeth told him that it was working. The process was repeated on the second crook, with another wad of cash being produced.

"K, think we're good here Tommy. Not a bad haul. These guys are a little rich to be jacking some lady's purse in an alley, eh?"

 

[RBMidknight]

(Earlier...)

"I'm here for you....Nothing's going to hurt you again, not on my watch."

Hurt me again? Taryn brought her arm up and stared at it in sudden comprehension. She was whole. But that wasn't possible! Were were the burns? Where were the scars? She'd been hurt. Seriously hurt...she'd felt her own skin burning.

"...did you know the normal human body can only take so many volts of electricity before the neurons in their brain start to malfunction..."

Oh, God. Was this some sort of sick game? Was she still strapped to that, that machine? Or worse? Am I...

The room started to blur around the edges. Taryn threw herself backwards. Her head struck something solid and pain briefly overtook her panic.

Ow. But pain! Real, actual pain. Surely it wasn't manufactured pain. Taryn reached back with both hands to carefully feel along the concrete wall she'd hit. The surface was cool but not cold. She focused on that mundane detail. She looked around the room, which slowly cleared, and took note of every little thing that she couldn't possibly have fabricated in her own mind. She wasn't even sure what some of the machines were called, much less what the numbers meant on them. That had to mean something. This had to be real.

The survey of the room helped calm her racing heartbeat. "I need-" Taryn swallowed heavily. "um."

She needed answers. And to get out of this place. And answers. And to get out of this stupid hospital gown that made her so vulnerable. Vulnerable and weak without her electricity. Her powers, what had happened to them? Were they gone? Permanently? Panic started to rise again.

"Clothes! Can I get my clothes now? I'm too-" Taryn made a quick frustrated gesture at herself. There was a terrible stillness where there was supposed to be a shield. "-I need more than this." One thing at a time. She could handle that. No falling apart, not yet. Clothes first.

And then maybe she could figure out that horrible droning noise in her head.

"Sorry to interrupt-"

****​

Before Taryn's request could be fulfilled the nurse entered the room, with an apology and muffled curse words. What mattered more to Taryn was the phrase 'released' and 'free to go'. The nurse disappeared again and returned with a wrapped bundle and two uniformed men who stationed themselves outside of the door.

The guards, the nurse explained, were sent to escort both Taryn and Levi to the designated transport vehicle so that they could meet up with the rest of the Society members. The bundle was clothes, which she tossed to Taryn who dumped the items on a nearby gurney. A flash of red and black caught her attention, distracting her from some speech the nurse was trying to make.

Her jacket was a mess of burned nylon, charred fabric, and melted plastic. The sleeves were completely gone, the front riddled with holes. Barely recognizable even though she'd spent hours carefully designing every inch. Taryn traced the edge of a particularly large hole, about where her stomach would be, and frowned. Here was her evidence, the damage that was missing from her own skin.

The air suddenly smelled of burning flesh. With a grimace Taryn shoved the jacket aside and grabbed the next item blindly. It was a simple dark grey shirt with an unfamiliar logo emblazoned across the front. It looked about her size and would do. Her pants were, for some reason, pristine and flawless after a brisk shake. She remembered why after a few seconds. Thanks, Tommy. .

Taryn closed the curtain around the bed and quickly changed into her new clothes. The last thing she did was lace the military-looking boots with a logo that matched the shirt. Missing from the bundle were a lot of her electronic devices, though Taryn knew that the small bit of circuitry that fell from her jacket pocket once belonged to her phone. She was kind of okay with missing them for now.

The nurse was already gone when Taryn stepped through the curtain. Good. But Levi and the guards were still there. Taryn folded her jacket as many times as she could, until it was just a small square. When she was finished she walked quickly towards the group. When she was closer she spotted her laptop in one of the guard's hands. He was holding it loosely, if even one finger slipped the whole machine would crash to the ground. And she didn't care. She just wanted to leave.

 

[socialtangent]

Levi waited outside while Taryn changed. When she emerged with fresh clothes, the two guards motioned for them to follow. As they walked down the halls, Levi kept a respectable distance from Taryn, but watched her carefully. His better half seemed preoccupied, distracted. But given what she'd been through, he couldn't blame her.

The two of them were escorted to a nondescript vehicle, with Serdar at the helm. Levi also recognized Catherine and Brian's alternate who were apparently along for the ride. He wordlessly entered the vehicle with Taryn and quickly nodded off as the ride started.

[hr]

A few hours later, he was woken by the sudden lack of rumbling engine and the sound of opening doors. After blinking a few times to clear his vision, Levi climbed out of the car with Taryn in tow and followed the escorts into the hotel building.

They were shown to their rooms in a brief tour. Levi was pleasantly surprised to see the accommodations. A spacious room with a bed big enough for two, an entertainment center complete with television and small couch, a full restroom, and even a walk-in closet. It was by far the most hospitable thing he'd seen since arriving in this hellhole of a universe.

Taryn moved quietly over to the bed, while Levi decided to crash on the couch; he figured Taryn still needed some space. If she needed him, he had a feeling he would know.

 

[tsatoma]

Renee had been pleased to get another update from Doctor Mordtoten stating that he was on time and would be getting to the hotel in only a short while. This was followed by unpleasing news when her father had to leave to go and deal with a problem back on the home front. At least the rest of their group managed to get 'ere safely, along with some guests even, she thought, not amused with the two others that Serdar had brought with him.

They should 'ave told me as soon as I saw them instead of waiting to tell me about their problems. Before Renee could come up with any decent payback for the annoyance, her home phone started to ring. Walking over to it with some trouble, she picked it up and was told by the receptionist of the hotel if she would be willing to take an anonymous call from someone wanting to talk to her.

Briefly weighing the odds of both the potential danger and of who it could be, Renee accepted the call and waited until she could hear someone on the other line. "'Ello? Which Society member is it that decided to contact me without even giving their own name? You are lucky I took the call."

"Oh right, sorry, little distracted because someone wouldn't stop screaming. But ya this is Tommy, I just had a few questions, wondering if you had a sec?"

"There is not much else for me to do right now. So yes, I do 'ave time," Renee responded curiously, taking a seat by the phone in case this call took longer than a few minutes.

"Sweet, thanks, so ya first off we got this woman's purse, me and Brian were wondering if we could drop if off somewhere for a reward? I mean looks like it's full of important stuff, like all eight of her drivers liscence's and a bunch of documents with some real offcial looking seals. Also I need a new suit, this ones covered in blood. Oh don't worry! It's just mine."

Renee put the phone away from her ear for a moment as she stared at the wall with a confused look, wondering just how daft someone could be if they were allowed to fight criminals for the government. The standards are not quite as 'igh as I would 'ave expected.

"Well, normally people do not 'ave quite so many licenses on them at once, nor do they carry a bunch of documents with 'official looking' seals on them in their purses. You probably managed to find someone who might not be...on our side. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Oh I get it..." Tommy move the phone a few centimeter away from mouth to shout to Brian, " Hey Brian did that chick look like a Lesbian to you?" Before moving it closer to his mouth again, " Ya I guess you never really can tell, some people just don't wear their sexuality on their sleeves."

"No you fool!" Renee shouted, wondering just how it was possible for the apple to fall half a continent away from the tree, "There is a good chance that whoever it was that you got the purse from, might be a terrorist from either United America or the Asiatic Alliance. I would place my bet on the former though, especially since they are 'ere in Paris. Did you get a good look at the woman? If so, what did she look like? I can have someone look for 'er, and you can bring the documents straight to me."

"Uh I dunno, black hair, sorta mousy face, actually I there is a bunch of picture on her on the ID's let me check." Tommy rifled through the purse to grab the woman's french ID, "Ya black hair, blue eyes, sorta thin faced, seems to have a faint scar near her right eye-brow, and uh, looks like an overbite? When she left she had an ash grey pea-coat with black jeans, and a blue hat." Tommy described as he recalled her appearance from memory, then adding, " So ya, we'll be by the hotel shortly. Oh and Renee? I don't know what they teach you in France, but in States we're taught that name calling is just plain rude." Before hanging up.

"I've had just about enough of these attitudes," Renee muttered unamused.

[hr]

Doctor Herkimer Amon Mordtoten stepped out into the crisp air of the Parisian evening, adjusting the collar of his coat as he walked inside of the hotel. He was greeted by the assistants behind the desk as he removed his hat and made his way to the elevator, thanking the man who called the elevator down for him. As Mordtoten waited on the elevator, he took off his coat and held it in his free arm. The other arm held a leather briefcase with his initials on it.

When the elevator doors opened he took a step inside and pushed the button for the top floor, leaning back against the wall and looking around the spacious elevator at nothing in particular. He was in a chipper mood after his conference, with all of his ideas and theories being supported by the scientific community at large. Perhaps I can finally go back to doing what I want and actually developing the technology for the future within the next few years. Hopefully.

It had certainly been a strain when United America had first approached him to help their cause back in the day. That was back when Buchanan had just taken office, Mordtoten mused to himself as he listened to the simple music playing. He had helped out, in no small part due to threats that had been made on his colleagues and his family. That escape was probably the most daring and brave thing I have ever done. Mordtoten remembered just how terrifying it had been to keep everything quiet amongst his peers and higher-ups, not telling anyone of his plan to safely leave the country until he was already gone.

Came here to open arms and safety for myself and my family. Even then I knew it was too good to be true. Everyone wants something out of you. At least this time I'm not being threatened. While Mordtoten was allowed to partake in his research and indulge in his scientific endeavors the first few years, he had been called more and more into helping out in the weapons development department.

And now all I do is build things either meant to kill people, or things meant to make people better at killing things. It had been rough in the beginning, but now he was going to be able to work on his own projects. Soon, he thought as the elevator doors opened and he stepped out.

The lobbyists upstairs also greeted him as he walked down the hallway to Renee's, noting that the rooms now seemed to be occupied. Knocking on her door brought him face-to-face with Renee's friend Serdar, who stood aside to let Mordtoten in.

"Quite a bit more company than I expected if all of those rooms down the hall are full," Mordtoten stated, putting his coat and hat up.

"There is a good number of people who need your 'elp," Renee responded from her kitchen table, beckoning him to sit down, "Serdar, can you knock on all the doors and tell them to 'ead on over?"

Mordtoten took a seat as Serdar left with a curt nod of understanding, unbuttoning his suit jacket to get more comfortable. "My conference went very well before you ask. I am hoping that the EU will not renewing my contract again so that I can work on my own interests."

"I cannot guarantee anything at this point in time. I do know that the scales might just be tipped more in our favor due to recent events," Renee replied with a knowing smirk that meant she was either planning something or was anxious to tell someone of her plans. "You will learn more about that shortly. First, there are a couple of things that you should know about the guests you will be talking to..."

 

[Captainguy42]

Dustin's pager buzzed to inform him of Mordtoten's arrival. Among the antiques that stocked Dustin's office, which included a type-writer, fountain pens, and a rotary phone; the pager was most likely the most technologically advanced thing there. Even if he did understand things like smart-phones and computers completely he would still hate to use one. Dustin simply abhorred the concept of a constantly connected life, it made the vast world seem to crowded and vile when he had to deal with hundreds of anonymous commentators and distant acquaintances. Dustin stashed the report he'd been reading in his desk drawer and got up. I suppose I should see how Mordtoten is doing and what he has to say. He paused before leaving his office when he realized this foray into the outside would most likely bring him in contact with their guests. After briefly considering this, he went back to top off his hip flask, and then headed out the door, ducking so he wouldn't smack his head into the frame. As he walked his passed by Serder, acknowledging him with the nod, before heading to Renee's suite.

"Renee good to see little miss," He greeted with a curt bow, " I would have come sooner but there was a back-log or reports to go through since that flight came in from America, interesting stuff, been cooped up all day trying to glean what I could from it."

"Herkimer, good to see you in Paris, it's been too long." Dustin said while he extended his right hand to Mordtoten.

 

[socialtangent]

Hers was the most beautiful smile Levi had ever seen. He loved the way her brown eyes would light up and how her expression would soften, ever so slightly. It was a smile that was understated, but warm and sincere; a smile that never failed to brighten even the darkest of times. He missed it right now more than anything. This universe took that smile from her. It took damn near everything from her.

Levi's reflection scowled back at him. It just wasn't fair. Nobody deserved that, especially not Taryn. He looked away from the bathroom mirror and towards the bed. She was still asleep. At the very least she was able to get some rest, however troubled. Maybe soon she would come out of her traumatized shell. Maybe soon he could actually help her.

A polite knock on the door took Levi from his thoughts. It was Serdar. The man informed him that someone of interest to them had arrived and that he should come down to the kitchen area urgently. With that, he left to relay the same message to the other Society members. Levi sighed quietly and returned to the bathroom. He splashed some cold water on his face and donned a plain black shirt given to him by the hotel staff.

It was about time things got underway. The sooner they were back home, the better. Levi was tired of running from place to place with no explanation. He laced up his boots and headed out, taking one last glance at Taryn before closing the door behind him. It was better if she had her rest. He could fill her in on the details later.

Levi made his way down the hallway, to the door that lead to the kitchen. He opened the door and stepped inside. Seated at a nearby table was Renee, another man he didn't recognize...and a far more familiar face.

Mordtoten.

A sudden spike in Levi's chest left him breathless. He was still struggling with the implication that the mad professor he knew back home could very well be his missing father. It was about the last thing he wanted to think about right now, and here it was, staring him in the face. Dumbfounded and at a loss for words, Levi said nothing.

 

[NeoAC]

Once they got to the hotel, Brian was set to spend some of the dollars that Tommy and himself had earned for their intervention in the alleyway, but a message from le head honcho meant no drinking for the moment. A disappointment, but if the meeting meant they could get back to the world where Canada was still a thing, he would go for it.

Upon entering he recognized Renee, but the face he was far more worried about was the "scientist" at the table. The last time he had seen that man, he ended up getting to know Alex a little too well. "Great, how's this gonna end?" he mumbled quietly to himself. "Me turned into a beaver?" He went to grab an open seat, far away from Mordtoten.

[hr]

Back in the room he had gotten with Catherine, Briân was slow to make his way out towards the meeting. He was a bit miffed that he was forced to go to this after finally arriving back in a land where they spoke his preferred language. It was tempting to just blow it off, but he stayed. He stayed for the woman who was sharing the room (but not the bed) with him.

"So," he asked, "Are you ready to get zis charade over wit?"

 

[tsatoma]

"It is fine Dustin. You 'ave a time consuming job; I know you would come over as soon as you made enough 'eadway in it," Renee replied to Dustin after he came in, walking over to her kitchen to grab a drink. Mordtoten shook Dustin's hand, replying, "Would have been even longer if I wasn't called in by Renee here. Takes a long time to do anything in my line of work, you understand that yourself. It is only people who don't know the pains of work that don't."

"As your 'ost, I must remind you to please not speak ill of me while I am still within 'earing range," Renee told Herkimer, handing him a glass of scotch before sitting back down at the table.

"I'll be sure to make sure you leave the room the next time," Mordtoten answered as he heard the door open behind him, turning around and almost dropping his glass when he saw Levi.

There was silence as Mordtoten seemed to be at a loss for words until Renee chimed in. "Believe me now, Herkimer?" The scientist was shook out of silence with the question, muttering 'Jesus Christ' before downing his drink. "I'm going to need another," he said as he waited for her to pour him another drink.

"I believe you now. This...that would explain the first charge that happened a few days ago...but for something like that to be made...I suppose if it was myself than it would be possible but...oh my god," Mordtoten babbled as he started to process the story he had been told and what that could mean.

"Give 'im a moment," Renee told Levi, offering him a place to sit and a drink as more people started to show up.

 

[Captainguy42]

Dustin nodded to Mordtoten and replied, " I understand the pains of research quite well, when I was you age I too was quite the scholar and researcher," The young faced man said with pride, "Though you wouldn't be familiar with any of my contributions, they weren't in a scientific field so to speak."

With Levi's arrival and Mordtoten subsequently entering a state of shock, Dustin took it upon himself to be the civil. He stood up and tried his hardest not to completely tower over the poor boy but it was in vain. "Greetings, I am Dustin Stitch, this is Herkimer Mordtoten, who is no doubt reeling from the scientific implications of your existence, something about strings I think. And Renee Claidt, who I'm sure you have already met." Dustin was about move to shake his hand when in walked Brian, and Tommy.

Dustin was prepared for this moment, or at least he thought he was. But at that moment he looked like he had seen a ghost, no that wasn't true, Dustin saw ghosts every day and they didn't bother him in the least; this truly scared the shit out him. Then Tommy started moving towards him. Dustin didn't know if it was his own fear or the man's massive size but this moment was starting to feel like a train wreck. So he stood there, hand half extended towards Levi, eyes wide as dinner plates, teeth clenched to hold back a banshee like wail; until Tommy reached him and wrapped him in a hug. Then came the deathblow "Da!" the man yelled.

JESUS-VISHNU-ZEUS-ISIS-GOD-TAKEMIKAZUCHI-KALI-ODIN-DAMARA-ISHTAR-ECHIDNA-THOR-HADES-ST.PETE-AERON-NEIT-HEPHAESTUS-MARDUK-TIAMAT-VIRGINMARY-AND THE QUEEN... Oh thank gods I'm taller than him.

The simple fact that he was almost always, with few exceptions, the tallest person in the room had brought Dustin immense solace over the years, he would need that more than ever at this moment. Without really moving his head and barely moving his lips Dustin spoke, " I believe you are mistaken sir, I have no children, but it is nice to make your acquaintance, would you please sit down and join us for a drink."

"Oh ya, sorry, uh sure." And with felt like great mercy Tommy let go of Dustin and joined Brian at the end of the table. "Before I forget, here's the bag." Tommy dropped the purse he'd been holding on the table and slid it towards Renee. Dustin regain his composure and with the grace of an English gentlemen took his seat next to Mordtoten, briefly sharing a deeply sympathetic gaze with the scientist. No matter how uncomfortable this situation was for him he would no longer show it, he would keep a stiff upper lip and Marshall on, the English way. But just in case he looked to Renee and with pleading puppy dog eyes silently asked for the mercy of a scotch.

 

[Pm0n3y]

There came a rapping from Jason's door, breaking him from his usual stance of meditation. He wasn't getting any luck with sleep, so this seemed to be the next best thing. Still only donning a single bath towel, he lazily strode towards the entrance, opening wide to a man dressed in formal wear and holding not-as-formal-but-still-kinda-sorta military attire. Shirt, pants, boots, undergarments. "I assume those are for me?" Jason queried.

Serdar nodded, emptying his hands of the articles of clothing. "Awwwww, you shouldn't have! You guys really know how to make a girl feel special." Through the boy's smarmy remark, Serdar addressed the situation. "Renee's gathering up the Society members; we're preparing for our next course of action." He stated plainly as the Keyholder dressed himself. Purposely disregarding the underwear and footwear, Jason tossed the towel to the nearest bed, rolling up his shirt sleeves as the official questioned him further. "You don't wear...?" Jason obliged him. "Usually I would. Seems like they'd just get in the way here." Serdar shrugged, continuing on to the next room as Jason stepped out. He made an embark in the opposite direction, assuming it was the way Serdar started. "Don't tell me where we're supposed to meet up at or anything, nope. Yeah. I'll just find it on my own. Yeeee-up." He thought quite coldly, with a "psssh." for added measure.

Well, he did find the meeting area in due time, if only due to the sounds of shock and surprise coming from a room beyond the hotel's kitchen. With the door still opened, Jason quietly moseyed on in, eyelids low and lips pursed. Deciding against greeting anyone (they all seemed involved in their own pursuits anyway), He found a seat closest to Tommy and took it, resting his elbows upon the long table they sat at. He could've made a verbal note about the guy that greatly resembled everyone's favorite mad scientist, or that Levi was back among the living (despite this waifu still seeming to be missing in action), but instead let out a puff of breath in the form of a barely audible sigh.