|
        |
The Triskelion site has undergone massive transformation over the last few weeks. Clean up had taken the better part of a month, yet eventual containment in the form of a recreated secondary concrete foundation had rather successfully confined the gamma radiation that had threatened the world beyond Governor's Island.
Three layers rest underground, and three above. Those underneath have already been inhabited - the deepest depth reveals the prison. Labs above house multiple science wings slowly being brought over, and above those, the medical centre welcomes any bodies needing care.
The sun set not long ago, but thanks to SHIELD being, well, SHIELD, activity continues within the building. The lab in particular seems to be a hub of activity for many reasons. Murmurs about a plan to rescue Director Carter have brought some to this space, not that there seems to be much founding for these rumours, or reason for them, but they've brought some in hopes of a strange congregation of after hours thoughts.
Others still have concerns about the gamma radiation concealed in the above ground, extra space. Others still, seem to be devoting their time to testing samples in order to accommodate the ongoing troubles with identifying agents from !agents.
Others still, seem to be investigating unrelated things. One of the science staff stares at a blood sample and then emits a high-pitched whistle, "Someone needs to ask how Doctor Ross managed to get Mister Sterns to give a sample. This is insane. The cells are replicating at an unprecedented rate…"
*
With The Plan progressing at a good pace, it's important to keep touching bases so Teddy suggested that he and Billy go talk to Fitz and finalize how things are going to go. Really, it's more about what Billy and Fitz will be doing but he wants the added reassurance that there's A Plan. Of sorts. "That's it down there." he says to Billy as they swoop lower to land. "Stay behind me just in case. I called ahead and told them I was coming to see Fitz again so it should be okay but…" Better safe than sorry when you're flying down to a top secret government base full of soldiers with guns. "Huh, they got a lot done in the last couple weeks."
*
It's a rare day of late to find Wanda anywhere near the Triskelion site. Her activities blend with Carol's paperwork often, but at least it means someone keeps tabs on her. A strange congregation wouldn't be properly strange without the European refugee in more ways than one, all things considered.
Forsaking a chair, she sits on a counter and thumbs through the contents of a manila folder about to be stuffed atop the teetering pile of a lab tech's inbox. Inked notes jotted down the sides offer helpful suggestions to be translated into proper action items later. Some of the scientific observations make sense. Some don't. But Wanda's intuition and pattern recognition chart terribly high, and more than a few of her notations actually count as diagrams to illustrate in layman's terms how her mind works. She hums slightly now and then while she works, and then looks up when a sharp whistle emerges from another tech. "Only sample that does?"
*
A few blocks away, Steve Rogers' motorcycle picks up speed towards the Triskelion. As it became clear that it was not Peggy who died, but an imposter, the Star Spangled Avenger has been visiting more often, hoping to find a way to help the agents find his friend. And, if possible, help in the process.
The large vehicle banks hard to the right as he hits the ramp that heads towards the entrance in what has become almost a nightly tradition. When the sun sets, and Steve's other work is finished, he hops over to the Triskelion to see what's what.
*
Billy is quite willing to go see The Plan (tm) progress from what sounds like crazy shot into the dark into something with parts, participants and some chance in hell of succeeding. Okay, so perhaps Billy is a little bearish on this plan, but he's going to do his part. Dressed in a long black hooded cloak with an outfit itself all otherwise black, he's trying the Blend In route. Stay behind Teddy? Billy squints, shrugs, and takes position, though his fingers itch with the desire to throw up a shield of force. Not that he's quite certain its much good against you know *bullets* or anything. "Believe me I have my hand on the RAPID ESCAPE BUTTON in case anyone starts pointing anything untoward at me. Crap they probably have like cameras. I need some sorta superhero mask or something. Pausing, he reaches under the hooded cloak to the scarf he had, and proceeds to wrap it to cover the bottom of his face. Because he's COLD, right? Not because he's sneaking into a government installation. And this in no way looks suspicious to anyone, right?"
*
Bobbi had been putting in hours in the lab again. Plans had been put in place, but it had been sometime since it felt like anything had moved forward. So armed with files and folders of blood tests in hand, she stepped out of one of the labs. If the invaders desired the jail to be built, then it made sense to observe the inner workins and see if anything didn't quite line up.
The Mockingbirg was a spy, and a damned good one at that, but she was just as home in a lab coat with her hair tied up and up to her arms in data and microscopes. Mos assuredly she was interested in those the jail was built for, and seeing what the aliens wanted exactly with its construction besides the obvious.
*
"Well, he's not one of the replaced people," Agent Miller replies to Wanda as he continues to stare through the microscope. "This is about the gamma radiation issue. He's been reading like mad," the lab rat chews a wad of pink gum loudly before straightening and blowing up a large, very pink, bubble.
POP.
Yes, Miller doesn't just chew. He pops. Sue him.
"Just the gamma exposure! It's surreal. Never seen anything like it." Behind coke bottle classes, he doesn't at all hide his emotions as he steals a second glance towards Wanda. "Probably wanna write that down — cellular regeneration through the damned roof," he chews his gum.
POP.
"Ehn. Maybe leave the curse out? Don't think Doctor Ross would 'preciate the curse. Not in a report." He shrugs.
POP.
And just as he pops his gum again, the lights flicker. The scientist straightens and looks up at the lights. "Ugh. Not another power short. Been doing' that a lot lately. Since beginning of the month — you ever seen power fluctuations? This building is solid, but ever since things went," he makes an explodey motion with his hands that is accompanied by an equally explodey sound, "just hasn't been the same." He shrugs. Evidently this isn't cause for concern. The lights flicker again. "Super annoying though."
POP.
*
"Yeah, you can count on cameras and stuff." Teddy agrees, glancing over to see the scarf and nodding approvingly. Coming in for a landing, large bat wings catch the air to brake him as he slows enough to touch down gently. He's been here… three times? So large, muscular, green, and not the Hulk should be a little familiar to them. Still, he gives them plenty of time to realize they're not under attack. "We're here to see Fitz." he tells the nearest soldier. "Umm, Dr. Fitz." Pause. "The scientist. I called earlier." From a pay phone, just in case. "He in the lab?"
*
"Replaced people. Yes, we can be glad to know our own kind." Irony traces every syllable behind her liquid accent, and Wanda lays down her pen. Her head turns, gaze trailing off into the distance. Every crack of gum is enough to ignite a slight twitch in her shoulders, and the tension doesn't shift elsewhere as much as she might like. Instead, the girl in the leather coat and high boots slips off her counter and asks Bobbi, "Tea?" Maybe she violates some implicit law by asking. Sue her. "I have a good blend."
Her shoulders tighten further. When the lights start to flicker, threatening to go out, it's reason enough for her to frown. "How long do these power problems go? Are there any ways to keep power in important places where power should be?" Someone please save her from herself. Her English has vastly improved, but it's still lacking the technical precision and detail she so badly needs.
*
Steve Rogers flicks off the engine and the loud rumbling outside comes to a stop just as the light dims and fades. He kicks his leg over with a slight bounce to the shocks and reaches to grab his large shield which hangs over the front. He gives the doorman a nod, same as he does every night he's here, and pushes his hand through his neatly combed blonde hair.
Down the stairway he bounces and makes towards the meeting room, looking to find someone with information. There's always someone working around these parts—he usually just has to show up to get the latest.
*
Following along with Teddy, Billy tries to look unobtrusive, playing at the big green guy's shadow. He even tucks his hands in his pockets. See? Don't look closely over here, Mr. Government pEople, I'm nothing at all of interest or special or worthy of dissection or experimentation or imprisoning or — the list of possible horrible ways working in-with-around the government could turn out rattles through Billy's head endlessly. "Don't mention the timey-wimey stuff." he mutters suddenly to Teddy.
*
Bobbi glanced up from her files, a smile pulling at her lips as she spun in the chair she'd just stolen, to glance at Wanda. Despite the fact, or perhaps because of Wanda's powers, Bobbi trusted the brunette and a nod was offered easily. "Sure, tea sounds good." She glanced up toward the flickering lights and frowned, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"How curious.." She tapped her chin with her pen, and stood. A glance was spared for the other agent in the room.
"Have we had anyone in about the power? Does it affect the cells below?"
*
There's a long pause following Wanda's offer, "…people drink tea…"
POP.
It's possible Miller and Maximoff will never be best friends. Miller turns towards Morse and he shrugs, "Just the light. Like us." The shrug is followed by another, "And only in the last week or so has it effected lower floors. Seemed to start up here first. Probably a short in the system somewhere."
One of the soldiers nods easily towards Teddy. "Right. Doctor Fitz said to expect you. He said you should wait for him in the third floor lab. He talked about an Night Night Gun and," then it's almost entirely apparent the soldier stopped listening. Regardless, Teddy and Billy are permitted entrance. For SCIENCE.
Just as Cap, Teddy, and Billy enter the building, and find themselves descending a long staircase into the building, the lights shut off entirely, causing everything to descend into blackness. The emergency lights flicker on, and a glowing red hue reflects along the walls, drawing eerie shadows along the wall.
In the lab, underneath the glow of the red lights, Miller straightens, turns his head towards Wanda, and mutters, "Like someone writing a bad horror film. Too bloody predictable. S'pose someone should go check out the power centre."
POP.
POW!
The burst of energy that blasts through the lab wall forces the nearest lab bench in half and sends many bodies flying underneath the array of purple energy that moves about the room. The beam spreads considerably as a concussive blast of force presses upon those present. Plastered on the floor, with bubblegum clinging tot he entirety of his face, Miller trembles. "That… wasn't…" his breath rakes in his throat. "Not… a power… what." He stares incredulously at the others present before peeling himself from the floor to run to a red button on the wall, only to get hit with another burst of green energy before collapsing just before reaching the alarm.
*
"Timey-wimey stuff?" It'll be easy not to mention it since Teddy has no idea what Billy's talking about. Further inquiries are forestalled by the soldier. "Third floor lab. Got it." Teddy agrees and heads for the door that leads down into the complex, making sure Billy is following. Stopping when the lights go out, he frowns and looks around a moment. "That's not good." POW! "That's very not good. You'd think things would explode less in a top secret base." he comments to Billy as he starts hurrying down the stairs toward the sound of the explosion. "Stay behind me."
*
ROLL: Wanda +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 11
*
An old quote about believing in coincidences might be appropriate. Sadly it's one of those things that just won't translate properly out of the half-dozen languages Wanda speaks better than English. Her worried expression shifts out of existence after a heartbeat when the shadows drop, resolve galvanizing her into action. Lurid red illumination does wonders for her colouration — she's not called the Scarlet Witch for nothing, not the least because of her claret leather coat wrapped around her in a sinuous dream. "We want a better story for those bad films. No going alone, yes?"
She might be ready to tag Bobbi the instant that the wall goes exploding outwards. Arms rise up to defend herself, at least her face, against debris thrown into the air. That purple beam knocks her back hard against the counter, sending the air from her lungs in a wheezy hiss. Stunned, shattered thoughts of danger reel around in her skull, pain shrieking along her corseted spine. That flash of verdant light induces an immediate reaction out of baseinstinct: pinpoints of incarnadine light spark in her eyes, right over her dilated, unfocused pupils. A psychokinetic bubble of pure chaos rolls around her, instinctive defenses flung upwards. Defenses that might just explode if touched.
*
The facepalming that happens is heard, and probably leaves a mark on Billy's forehead. "You know." he mutters, "Where I come from?" And then the lights are out and red and he's blinking, moving to the side to decidedly not stick behind Teddy. He's not really the stay back kinda guy. Instead he lifts his hand up and makes it ready for doing doing any sort of wooshiness that may be demanded by the situation. "This seems bad. We arrive and power turns off is a bad sign. I've seen this movie numerous times and I'm telling you the right thing to do is to not continue marching down into the secret government base because I'm telling you there is a monster that has a lot of teeth and acid drool right around the corner." Despite this he doesn't seem inclined to leave.
*
Steve's knees almost buckle at the blast that comes from somewhere down the hall. He regains his composure quickly, however, and begins running towards it full speed. The flickering lights shroud him in darkness intermittently, but he doesn't pause until he reaches the hole. And dives through it, shield first.
*
Bobbi's response about tea was cut off by the lights going out entirely, her eyes darted around, while her hand reached for one of her guns at her hip. She was in the process of telling Wanda and company that she was going to go to the control room, when the blast cut through the wall and she was sent flying backwards. She hit the floor hard, coming up in a roll, gun still in hand. And then the next blast hit and she slammed back yet again.
"What the-" Further questions broke off as Wanda glowed red and things went even more wonky.
A curse hissed between her lips and Bobbi was rolling underneath the desk against the wall, trying to reorient herself as her body ached and her pounded.
*
Steve reaches the entrance to the lab, and encounters utter chaos. Experiments that had been underway are strewn across the expanse of the floor. Debris has laid waste to the pristine immaculate, white-on-white lab, now-lining the floor with a thick layer of unmistakeable dust. While enemies are easily seen, they are absolutely present. A room of spies knows too well that to be the case.
Three heavily armed agents spill into the lab from the furthest staircase. Large weapons are slung across their shoulders, but the more concerning part of the scene is the other: each points smaller hand-weapons towards their own heads. Agents in the know recognize each as some of those designated for the detention wing for the evening. Their blue uniforms and caps are unmistakable, but their eye colour is all wrong. Each optic orb reflects brilliant green — electric, nearly neon in the dimmed light.
They blink wordlessly, staring at the lab. Looking, but not seeing. Present, but mentally-absent.
A fourth comes up behind the other three. Dressed like his comrades, he pulls the trigger of the assault rifle. The bullets fall about the room, causing further destruction alongside the already-present concussive blasts.
*
"Well, who better to take it out?" Teddy counters, not slowing his rush down the stairs and then toward the lab. "Sure not scientists." Though he is going to be wary of acid drool. That would probably hurt a bit. He's just seconds behind Steve but comes to a quick halt as he sees… Well, am extremely strange tableau with security guards about to shoot themselves amidst the chaos. "What?" It pretty much sums up all his questions.
*
Pointing at Steve ahead of them, Billy says as an aside to Teddy, "Is that…?" when the halting happens. He blinks as he sees security guards in suicide mode, and flings both of his hands out, trying to summon up a band of force to wrap around two of their gun-holding hands' and wrench the guns away from it. He's a little not careful about that so is possible someone's gonna get a sprained or broken wrist, especially since doing two things at once is expontentially more complicated then doing just one thing at once. But he doesn't have time to be careful when they're looking like they're gonna blow their heads off. "Is it just me or does that totally look like crazy mind control hoodoo?! That's slightly more worrying then acid drool!"
*
Light the shade of sunset catching the sea etches the outer rim of Wanda's hemispherical shield, her eyes glowing the same shade. It takes her too long to reach up to the back of her head to feel for any broken skin, any blood. Nothing dabs the tips, though a killer headache is bound to follow with her neck aching terribly like that. "«How dare you?»" The question rattles through the lowest octave of her mezzosoprano voice, a snow leopard's rumbling growl, and she moves into a kneeling position in slow, rigid movements. Her hand touches the dusty floor, the floating wave of chaos deflecting any bullets away from her: up into the ceiling, down into the floor. It acts of its own accord, independent of the handful of force gathered around her closed fist. She flings it outwards at the fourth man, aiming it for the assault rifle. He can let go or it can be knocked away or turned into a handful of daffodils in a pretty bouquet for all she cares.
*
Broken bits of concrete from the blasted wall crunches under Steve's boots as he arrives, crouched low, with his shield protecting his body. His head comes up over the curve and he notices the group of agents who hold the weapons to their head. He reaches out towards them and begs for them to stop, but his outstretched hand is pulled back and replaced by the shield once the bullets start flying in order to protect himself.
*
Bobbi watched from her position beneath the lab desk, peering out to note Wanda's powers and the chaos occurring beyond. A thinning of her lips followed, she wasn't powered, she was mortal and while good at her job, this was clearly over what her training prepared her for. A sigh dragged from her lips as she took note of her injuries, bruises thus far, and set her gun aside for her twin rods instead.
A snap as she extended them and rolled out from her cover behind the scarlet clad Maximoff before her.
Then she was diving forward, trying to get passed the initial confrontation in the lab to try to get out of the immediate range of powered blasts.
*
The bullets continue to fly until the weapon becomes a bouquet of daffodils in the guard's grasp. The flowers are released, and the guard that had been holding them — with that same green reflection in his eyes — charges towards one of those gathered. Determination seems to drive him, with motivated madness ushering his lunge. Quite literally, the fellow leaps with two feet. Evidently damage seems to be something he's striving for, whatever way that damage may come.
Two of the guards feel their hands wrenched, and the weapons in them spin within their grasp. Metal clatters onto the cement floor, but both of the fellows scramble to pick them up. Much like the other guard, something will not relent; something must be satiated within their very selves.
Movement down the hall from whence the guards came, indicates further assault. Marching pairs of feet stomp along the concrete, echoing as they move. Half a dozen agents, all armed tread upwards to the scene: each with those same green eyes.
The wall that had seen the first concussive burst of energy begins to rattle once more. Purple energy with outside hues of green blast through the wall, granting a literal hole in the wall.
The quiet click of high heels on the concrete floor gives strange pronouncement to another figure through that hole. The lab coat, high heels, stethoscope around her neck, and long dark hair all speak to the doctor's station. But the vacant look in her now-green eyes, emptiness in her expression, and oddly green companion, who already seems to be maneuvering her as a kind of shield, speak to the inevitable reality that Betty Ross is not mentally present.
*
Teddy is really not sure what he should be doing. He's more a punch things kind of guy except mind controlled good guys aren't really targets and are breakable on top of it. "Anyone know what the hell is goi…" Trailing off at the new arrivals, he finishes with "Oh. I bet he's the reason." The green guy hiding behind the scientist. So very not cool, hiding behind girls.
*
"We cannot stay here. I have to get him. Then get back," hisses the younger Maximoff twin, still keeping low and using the benches and bashed tabletops for cover. Marking her position becomes more difficult with plenty of objects in the way, though she positions herself between Bobbi and the incoming agents. The shield has unpredictable effects she herself might not even fully comprehend other than the mental adage of get away; the unfortunate guard who leaps full force into her gets propelled back with a conservation of energy identical to the momentum that lobbed him there. It's a narrow shield, to be sure, clinging closer to her body than she might like, but it still gives her room to maneuver. Edging towards poor Miller, who tried to summon the alarm, she uses what she can to reach that button and give him a modicum of protection to pull the man out. First: alarm. Then, ideally retreat to the others. A brief look confirms… someone's going to be explaining things. In detail. To parents.
*
Steve is about to go for the leaping man, but just as he brings the shield into a swipe, Wanda takes care of that. He turns back towards the man holding the female hostage and tries to take a good look at him. He doesn't recognize him, nor the scientist he seems to hold hostage. Rogers doesn't seem willing to put the woman's life at risk.
*
Well. That wasn't really… useful. Billy keeps his hand up and tries to keep a telekinetic force pushing down on the guns so, hopefully, at least two crazy possessed guards aren't going to go shoot themselves. "I don't really off the top of my head know what to do with mass mind control." offers Billy with a scratch at his head, sticking near to Teddy for backup purposes. He catches a glimpse of Wanda and his eyes bug out, "… ?!" He can't quite work out words, but, still. "Anyone have any suggestions for how to un-mindscrew —-" as his voice trails off, a thought occurs to him, and he flings a very, very little lightning bolt at one of the guys who are trying to get guns. Its wee powered into the more stun range and less the giant blast of deadly plasma range of electrokinesis. Experimenting on mind controlled good guys is not per se the best thing in the world, but he can't think of a better solution.
*
The fellow that tried to retrieve is gun is hit by a ping of electricity, giving him a nasty zap as he releases the weapon again. He trembles as he reaches for it once more, seemingly discouraged from the action, but not entirely dissuaded.
The soldiers marching down the hall descend upon the room. Weapons fire ricochets across the room as they enter, but a band of green energy seems to protect both the little green man and his preferred hostage. Rather blandly, nearly bored, still using the woman as a shield, he turns to the entrance way — towards the stairs that had originally beckoned others inside this space.
Wanda manages to hit the alarm and the alert blares throughout the building as does the now-flashing light. Where the backup power had once been red, it now flashes the colour like some kind of bloodied strobe light. It's possible the system's designer has a warped sense of humour.
*
Teddy just ignores the bullets and lets them ricochet off of him. But while he's not willing to hit people who don't deserve it, he can at least leap toward the stairs to block the way. "You're not going anywhere." he tells the other green guy. "Let the girl go and… undo whatever it is you did to them all."
*
With the strobing wail of lights flashing now in loud order, Wanda drags back Miller's body to a point where better protection affords him a fighting chance to survive. She leaves him on his side, prone, curled up as best she can. Retreat from the front absorbs the rest of her time, conducted on hands and knees or crouched down to avoid the attention of those with bullets and weird radiation to do her harm. Finding Captain America, of all people, nearby like some avenging angel of liberty brings a faint breath of relief, the lines on her face softening, but not for long. Keep moving, that stands as the best alternative at the moment, bringing her closer to Teddy and Billy. "Cut the source," she hisses, when in earshot. Apparently the question thrown by the latter young man wasn't lost on her. "The source goes, the rest fall?"
*
Steve looks to Teddy a bit worriedly. One false move and this guy could kill that scientist. His brain races as he tries to think up a way to use the confrontation between the two as a diversion. His blue eyes dart towards the walls surrounding the prisoner, considering a carom shot with his shield.
*
Hey, that zapping seems to be good. So keeping more or less behind the bulletproof Teddy, he leans out and zaps the guy a little harder— then the other guy, too. He'll keep mini zapping them until he convinces them they don't want to kill themselves. Alternate outcome: he keeps capping them until they decide to bash their heads into a wall instead. So its not a perfect plan that Billy has, he's distracted because his (kinda: its complicated) MOM is over there in a SECRET GOVERNMENT BASE and his mind is not processing this at all right. Where's Steve? Not that Steve, the other one, the one with the magical blood vessel in his forehead that starts pulsating when Billy misbehaves. Speaking of, he *does* take a moment to eye this-Steve a bit. "That's you-know-who, right?"
*
The green of Teddy's skin is spied with a kind of strange consideration, and, perhaps more tellingly, an odd appreciation. "You speak as if you have authority, yet we both know Doctor Ross's life means little to me. She," he motions towards the guards he's been scrambling, "like the others is just a mean's to an end." His lips twist to the side, "An end not yet realized by any within this agency's employ. Not even the most brilliant minds could possibly comprehend what I aim to complete." While the words could be demanding, or even arrogant, they're strangely matter-of-fact.
His eyes turn towards the guards he'd sent as the first wave, one of which seems to experience an increased glow in his gaze. The man begins to crumple, staggering forward while his hands press uncomfortably to his head. "Come now. Surely you would hate to see each of these people die. Doctor Ross and I will be leaving."
Even as the words seem to come as a negotiation, a sharp, hard concussive blast — green and upending — emits from Stern's enhanced cranium directly towards Teddy, aiming to knock him off the other green fellow's feet.
*
Teddy's gaze follow Stern's toward the guard who starts to crumple. "Don't!" he shouts. Except he does and it leaves Teddy at even more of a loss for what to do to stop him. The brain blast is unexpected and he goes flying when it hits, bits of wall falling on him as he hits it.
*
Steve sees a slight opening and for a moment he contemplates flinging the shield and taking a risk. But the scientist could be someone with a family, with loved ones. He's not sure who this man is, but he is unwilling to put her life at risk. Though it pains him, he stands down.
- - -
Elsewhere in the base, Bruce Banner is seated upon his bed checking the time. The sound of all the mayhem never hits his cell. Instead, he checks his watch over and over, wondering why Betty hasn't shown up at his cell to spend time with him like she had said she would. Though he was always late when they were together, she had never been. She'd never stood him up.
And that is when the warning klaxon's reach his area of the penitentiary.
*
Teddy snaps back and Steve hesitates, leaving the crouching young woman to assess options. Possibilities and trajectories are spun in that fathomless mind of hers, but it boils down to one thing stated in a soft, sure tone to Billy. "Get him away." Her fingers curl around the charm snapped off her belt, a small thing containing a stowed blessing imbued into its written form. The little coral token fits easily against her palm, abrading the bruised skin. Pressure from her thumb cracks the surface, cuts into the mystic shape, and the spell gives way as its intended design allows. The grace of good luck floats out, directed with a single puff of breath towards the dark-haired young man who shares more than a few features in common with her if one looks. To the Aether goes karma.
*
With a strange tingle of luck, Billy feels suddenly emboldened. Get him away? Wanda gave the order, so that's just what Billy's going to do without hesitation. "On it!" Leaving the guards he was trying to zap into submission to their own devices, he steps out from where he was using Teddy as a human shield, and flings his hands out, fingers twisting in the air in a grabbing motion as a look of pure concentration focuses upon his features. Multiple bands of pure force come into being around the man and immediately strike to hands and body to try to wrap around and bodily pull him up and off and away from the scientist. Hopefully he's fast and skillful— and lucky— enough to do it before the lady gets herself dead, and more importantly, hopefully weird-boss-dude isn't super strong and able to break through his TK.
*
ROLL: Billy +rolls 1d100 for a result of: 47
*
With Teddy careened against the side of the wall, Sterns navigates Doctor Ross up the stairs, this time pulling her rather than pushing her forward. Betty's vacant stare continues to blandly look outward at the scene. None of the destruction registers. None of the world seems to feed into her mind. Imagination, heart, emotion all have been left behind for something detached, empty, and lost.
The green psionic shield that had emitted around the pair has undeniable resilience at this moment. It holds, keeping the pair together. That said, even with the shield, the force jolts both of them, pushing them backwards as they draw up the steps. For a moment, it seems that the luck may have done the trick, with the grasp loosening slightly, but Sterns has had weeks to calculate, compute, and generally assert odds.
Sam's head turns to the side in strange anticipation, and again, as before, a burst of purple energy emits from the walls themselves. The crystal that powers the prison fragments in a strange prism energy through the centre of the room. While not sharp, it divides the power source's force into a fan that cuts through the room, effectively quarantining the room for a couple of beats, and granting Sterns his escape with Doctor Ross in tow.