15072/The Manhattan Project: Brood Edition

The Manhattan Project: Brood Edition
Date of Scene:	11 May 2023
Location:	Stormdrains and Beneath - Manhattan, NYC
Synopsis:	The cadre of heros trek down under Manhattan island, to the city that came before the skyscrapers, to a the bedrock that was bought for a dollar... and beneath. They found a badly damaged lifeboat pod imbedded in the bedrock in the basest level of the sewer systems and ... Found the Brood...
Cast of Characters:	Sinister, Lucifer, Superman, Doctor Strange, Phantasm (Drago)

Sinister has posed:
The world turns. Wallstreet Wallstreets, Time Square is the heart of all things tourist, thousands of people went about thier daily grind to an unspoken rule of pedestrian traffic, cabs that don't stop and a chorus of 'I'm walkin' here!' -- all of them oblivious to what was buried under their feet.

All cities, great and small, are born on the backs of the cities that grew and fell before. The more industrialized, the more prolific the proletariat have been in chasing the newest, the latest and building codes that weren't death traps, or towering infernos. New York City is no different in that respect than any other place under creation.

...Except that NYC has seen the sky fall, the buildings quake and aliens, supported by a god and defied by mortal men and women, the ordinary and the Extraordinary, defend it against the cosmos' sharp and angry teeth. There's even departments of state now, solely devoted to isolating alien tech from said disasters and researching it. But that's a whole DIFFERENT story.

It's about an hour after sunset, just to hide certain faces from the surety of being recognized unless they came incognito. After all, some of the aforementioned heros can occasionally get territorial. And the place is central park, the wooded areas closer to the region once known as 'Hooverville' where homeless still hang out and there are the occasional bin fire. And covert and clandestine meetings.

Alerts went out. As did such ordinary things as texts. And pressing the 'alarm' setting on a wrist watch. And Sinister, dressed in the attire that those that would oppose him most commonly recognize as his 'costume' is watching the shadow of a storm drain with a device in hand that looks like a modified geiger counter. "I've calibrated this as much as I can to pick up the remotest traces of those ion signatures. I just hope it will be enough, or the Master of all things Timely can look at it from a week ago. Either way, this is where she emerged." He informs the night air.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is many things to different people. Master of Lies. Bringer of Evil. Prince or Lord of Hell (depending on context). He is Lucifer, Satan, Devil, Baelzebub, and in some cases Jerk and Dick. There are, however, a few things that he is which are only accepted by the handful. Perhaps even singular digits of fingers. Often times only a single finger can count this. He, long ago, sort of got tired of magic. He rarely uses it unless he absolutely has to, or finds himself bored enough he'll entertain himself with it. Yet here in Central Park, in the coming of night, among the bin fires where homeless gather - and the prying eyes of those who shall remain nameless - there may be a need. Just to ensure that those prying eyes only see what the gathered heroes and antiheroes want them to see. Practically nothing.

It's very subtle. Though those strong in mystic powers might be able to sense it. Just a bubble of warding in a very wide berth so that anyone peeking in gets the whole 'you cant see us'. It would make anyone within the bubble's space virtually invisible. Like putting a picture of an empty spot of park in front of the camera so that's all that is seen.

And since that doesn't take up any real power drain from the Devil, he's leaning against a nearby tree while Sinister points that device down the drain. He's also smoking a cigarette. "I'm pretty sure we've covered all our basis of research by bringing in the Sorcerer Supreme and Superman. Nick will probably just be intrigued by whatever we find..."

Superman has posed:
Earth. Depending on who you ask, and where you ask them, they will call it peaceful. Others will call it anything but. So many factors go into these answers. Location, social class, societal status, bank account, job, etc. The only time these factors are null and void, is in space. Looking down at the planet, seeing how peaceful it looks from up high. Somehow all the distance makes the dirt and grim, even to places like Gotham City, fade away.

Superman enjoys living in a juxtaposed space. He gets th beautiful view from space. How everythibg looks so perfect, so calm and so peaceful. But he's not far enough away to avoid Earth's cry. A cacophony of noise where people often ask, "Save us!" And it's up to those that can hear to respond.

Superman hears it all. When that deep, ugly wail of beep rumbles frrom Sinister's watch, sky blue eyes focus. A streak of red and blue stays above the atmosphere. And it's heading toward the watch. Afterall, this is -why- the watch exists.

The arrival may not happen right away, but it doesn't take look. A rush of air gets louder. Like a small personal aircraft getting closer and closer. Then it suddenly stops in front of Sinister. "Nathaniel," Superman says with a nod. A look goes toward Lucifer, "Samael." Superman floats above the ground just a little bit. Then he softly, slowly lands. "Who else is coming?" This is the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Right now, there's a more immediate threat than the Devil and his scientific boyfriend.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Doctor Strange does not tardy. He's been summoned, and in all good summonings, you show up on time. Especially when it's to save a planet you love.

Floating off the ground by his red cloak, for once dressed in his iconic robes, he enters the sphere right as Superman arrives, stops, and looks at him. "So, you invited Superman, but I'm not allowed to tell the Avengers? What? -no offense, Superman. Big fan. Doctor Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. I'd shake your hand, but we don't have much time for chitchat, I assume." A wave of a gloved hand.

About the time sense, he frowns. "Temporal magic isn't a toy. I'll use something else."

If he gets a chance, once everyone's collected. Strange activates the Sight by putting both hands to his temples briefly, immediately looking AWAY from Lucifer and Superman, who likely have strong auras, and down towards the storm drain. He's seeking essence trails, auras, and tracks left behind that may have faded physically, but not spiritually.

While he's doing this, he has a glassy sort of look on his face, like he's looking straight through you.

If their prey has been here, he'll know.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
There is a wonderful thing about 'advanced notice'. It allows people to properly prepare. It allows for them to gather items they might need for the particular situation without having to overpack or perhaps start burning resources prematurely.

It is also a rare phenomenon. So, what Nick brings is simple. When he gets the call for help, he grabs the modified bookbag of his which contains a lovely assortment of items concealed inside and he throws on his sweats, gloves, and modified hoodie.

Nick's arrival is not all that flashy. To those not actively seeking him out or having a means of detecting him in a cheater face manner. His walk over bears a striking resemblance to the residents of the area. That is until he nears the group, and for some reason his feet shift, steering him into the bubble of 'These are not the weirdos you are looking for'. As the other four suddenly come into view (Thanks Lucifer), the musician comes to a stop. "Evening." He greets, pausing to look to the floating Super. Debating for a moment. "...By any chance are you related to someone who goes by the name of Power Girl?"

Sinister has posed:
"That is the theory, my dear..." glancing at the watch as it sends its signal, Sinister merely observes the device and the darkness for a few long moments until wind and voice announce the presence of the Man of Steel and the Sorceror Supreme. "Stephen, it was a matter of expediency, whomsoever these individuals answer to and a generalized feeling that having one too many geniuses in the pot causes plan snarl-ups. We have you. If there is a need later, I'm sure you will tell them exactly what they need to hear. But for now? I trust the very condensed, extremely powerful and the mostly immune core that have been selected..." -- observing what registers to him as nothing in particular, there is a moment before he gestures in front of himself and behind -- "...One each of the immune to physical damage from contagious bites in front and in back. I'll try and provide advance telepathic knowledge, if I am able. I will also be providing white noise as my analysis of the DNA from the queen's sample indicated she was never remotely human. The species she was, I've never encountered, so she and by proxy any of her other broodmates, may have abilities the normal brood do not. Anti-telepathic shielding is a good idea."

He nods to Nick, then rather quietly floats to the middle of the pack, his eyes as lambent at the moment as a cat's.

//The Aura of the area paints a watercolour painting to Strange's eyes; the criss-cross of passage tells the story of how a deserted place is actually quite active. Sub-terrestrials at night, the homeless, occasionally city personelle and then a ghostly shadow of an Extra from Ridley Scott's movies. She skittered out of there, leaving a trail just shy of the great lawn, before she was intercepted. The afterimage of Sinister's aura looks a hell of a lot like a bright but incredibly scarred one. He resembles a strangely integrated frankenstein, but with an odd golden halo around him. The queen appears to be a kind of coppery edge, with veins of flourescent bio-luminosity in her aura. And she came from the tunnels to the west. Once it's there, it's /there/ to the Sight.//

Lucifer has posed:
"Does this mean I'm in the front?" Lucifer says this before pushing off the tree he's against and the cigarette he was smoking on virtually disappears in a spark of hellfire. There's a glance to Stephen, and even tho Sinister gives a reason, he has to menton "Not to mention, the Avengers have a strange way of dealing with things. Costing tax payers, the city, and business owners mass amounts of money. And I don't care how rich he is, there are some bills even Stark can't pay..." Then he motions. "Plus what Nathaniel said."

He moves to look down the manhole and then simply...jumps in. Why bother with climbing down a ladder when you can just jump and land perfectly fine on the ground below? Of course the sewers are dark, not really any light to see, especially if the city isn't working in them and so any lights are likely turned off in the moment. Luckily, of all the things Lucifer is..he is also the Lightbringer..and that's not just for grins and giggles. Two claps and the lights turn on - almost like he's a walking Clapper. (Clap on, clap off, the clapper!) "Who's next??"

Superman has posed:
Superman sees Strange and he addresses him by title, "Doctor." Doctor Strange may, or may not, have crossed paths in the past. If they haven't, Superman knows enough people that would speak highly of Doctor Strange's capability.

Nick Drago shows up to little fanfare. However, a complicated question rolls forward. Right now, they don't have time to get into the nuances of the truthful answer. He will still answer it, "Yes. She's a cousin," and he will extend a hand to Drago. "Superman. And you are?" he asks. Honestly, it's a question of courtesy.

Now, Superman's aura is probably sky blue that borders on white if it goes off of morality, nature of the soul, etc. The alien nature of it may change the color compared to humans. Still, his aura is clean or mostly clean.

Lucifer starts to go down the manhole. And without hesitation, Superman starts to float down second. Foucsing, he tries to see ahead. Nothing with x-ray vision, but telescopic vision if possible.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Strange brushes off the reason. "Fine, fine. As I said, infosec is my specialty." Nick Drago is here, he suspects, so that'd be the astral projector they told him about, like he guessed...

Glancing at Sinister with the sight for only a moment, he peers deeper towards the Queen's aura. He points, shakily, at the way forward. "It came from this tunnel."

If they progress, he'll continue to read off directions as needed, speaking while he does so. "If there's a brood, the durable should go first. I may be the Sorcerer Supreme, but compared to some of you, I'm paper mache." Not entirely, but it's good to at least pretend to have some glaring flaws.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Ah ok. I ran into her last year. She seemed alright." Nick takes the offered hand. "Nick." He offers back to the larger man.

As Sinister provides a bit more detail regarding the need for them to be there, he looks between the other three as the pale doctor expresses a need for those immune to biting to move to the front and back. Being that him in the back would just mean someone would just leap through him to the next guy, he sighs, shifting towards the front.

But as Lucifer and Superman move towards the front, he pauses. Ok... Not ideal. With a shake of the head Nick flicks his arm against the backpack, triggering a pair of snapping sounds. The bag twitches before gravity sets it down. As he moves to the back, there's a slight shift to the appearance of the backpack wearing figure.

For those with senses tuned for it, where there once was a heartbeat and smell, there is now none. But Nick still walks in that area.

For those watching at a different level, there seems to be a fluctuation to his aura, flowing from a nothingness to wrap around while a different current of it flows underneath. Magenta meets white, in some points of impact lightening in places to seem almost pink, with some areas almost devoid of light at all. It ends up shifting, becoming more focused to the front. a criss cross of darkness folds over it, as Nick produces several sticks to hold in front of him.

Very well. Best have a backup plan.

Sinister has posed:
Let there be Light and there was Light - and the lord saw the Light and that it was good. Or at least handy for not walking smack bang into things.

The trail remains constant, although in parts it hops, lost for a moment or two until it can be viewed again down the ways or at one point, at the bottom of a fifty foot drop from an old tunnel platform and collapse down a sheer incline to an area of old sewer tunnel gone dry. This is odd, that the trail can be obfuscated like that, or perhaps indication of localized teleporation? Regardless...

With telescopic vision, perhaps with a little X-ray added, signs of civilization and occupancy occur even to the point of seventy five feet below the city streets. There's cardboard shelters, little nests and domiciles that the forgotten and the dispossessed have occupied. And some areas have odd symbols on the walls, painted or etched into the concrete and in some places, the cobblestone... and many, many rats.

"I did suggest that very thing," Sinister murmurs softly, taking stock of surroundings and potential exits. The rat-ways are off particular interest and he keeps a keen eye on colonies as they descend.

At about a mile of slightly awkward navigation into the underneath, the structure of tunnels becomes harder to navigate. There's been collapses, some of which the city has attempted to repair, others that simply were too difficult to manage and THAT is around the point where odd signs start showing up, in particular of rock melt. That doesn't usually happen unless there's an extremely high and stable temperature, or if there was volcanic activity. Manhattan doesn't sit on a volcano though, so it is likely the alterhative. Around HERE, there's a lot more signs of the Queen's passage, as well as other, intermingled auras. It becomes a bit muddier. And the tunnels? Probably not structurally stable.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer blinks, looking back to see that Superman has come in right behind him. "You and the Sorcerer are pretty much our guides. I'll let you go, with Stephen behind you. I'll take up the back for the just in case." He says all this and then, likely not waiting or much of an answer, he moves back to where Nick and his Not-A-Backpack are.

Hunting this idea involves a lot of walking, and a lot of trusting those doing the guiding to actually be leading them the right way. The beauty of this here is that there are heroes leading the way. The issue is not knowing how long the heroes are going to want to actually assist the would-be villians. Never mind that the villians were the ones to approach the heroes, putting themselves right on the line, and ask for help.

Some times, some people, just cannot help themselves. Justice prevails when the bad guys go away right? Perhaps. But there is still trust here, and maybe that's enough. For now.

He also begins whistling. Something random and while likely popular, it may be hard to distinguish because he's just whistling tunes in no order or common place.

Superman has posed:
"To me, you're the Sorcerer Supreme," Superman says with a sense of seriouness and even a little bit of reverence. On Paper, some could aruge that Superman would destroy Doctor Strange. To Superman, it's the complete opposite. The mystic arts are an unknown to him. A factor that Jor El couldn't fathom the concept of, let alone its effects.

"She's good people. You should talk to her again," Superman says before he moved forward. He will always talk up his family members. Even at times like this.

"Heads up. There are people about seventy-five feet down," Superman says warning the others. Culture shock should be the least of their worries.

The trails continue and he will stop at the melted rock. This he -will- exam extensively. It's not the rock itself Superman's looking for. He's trying to see if there's any small particulates within it. Something that -might- give them the vaguest of ideas to any cause. ""Can I get a few sets of eyes on this," he will be quick to point out the spots. Maybe some kind of aura, or energy, linger on them.

"Signs from the back?" he'll ask the group.

Doctor Strange has posed:
As it gets harder to navigate, Strange is still following the trail, slowly moving with the others. As he sees the melted rock, however...he focuses the Sight into it at Superman's request, glancing from spot to spot.

"Let's hope it's not an infection hotspot down there. I'd hate to have an army of horrors right below the streets."

Nick seems to be the odd man out here, even if he has skills, so Strange glances back to him briefly. He doesn't say anything after a second's thought, instead focusing on the mission.

"Watch your step. There could be a steep drop at any point."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
When Lucifer adjusts his plan to move towards the back of the group with Nick, there is the slightest of smiles betrayed from under the hood. It is not quite a 'yippie skippie! We're hunting Brood!' smile but more of a, 'Oh good, someone else has thought this through.' smile.

As Lucifer has his back, one of Nick's hands shift, shoving the sticks in that hand through what looks like an opening to the side of the backpack. The hand moves back, adjusting the ones in the other to where those remain in hand, but not quite as 'at the ready' in positioning. It seems there is less reason for an impromptu spike trap if the person who can come through is a friendly.

As the pathway gets a little muddier, the phantasm's strides do not appear impeded beyond adjusting for the speed of those before him. The ground beneath seems more like a guideline than a rule when it comes to him, which is evident to anyone watching when his foot passes through an outcropping without tripping him up. Nick is quiet, observing the odd scenery, keeping watch for more than just Brood. They're not the only type of creatures you don't want biting into you.

Sinister has posed:
"I can sense minds down here..." Sinister notes, a quiet affair as he moves a little forward and points his geiger counter thingy at the wall at the same time as Strange is doing his own view-askew. The readings he's getting probably make sense only to him, perhaps to the good Doctor -- rather like ionic imaging in surgery, the meter is reading radioactive isotopes. From the view of the screen, there's several being measured here that are more commonly found at meteoric impact craters; isotopes of scandium and simple carbon, that are not common to earth. There's also an absurd amount of gold. Except that gold isn't native to planet earth, so that actually makes sense. "Extra terrestrial impact," Sin notes after a while. "We're bang in the middle of..."

And that's when there's a sound like an ozone 'hrrrrunnn' faint and beneath a collapsed end.

The more auric traceries though, point around a bulkhead where a fissure in the bedrock beneath Manhattan has a layer of something that could only really be described as 'condensed snot'. It's green and its calcified and it reinforces the crevace.

<> A pause <>

Lucifer has posed:
<<So it's like what we theorized. Aliens none have ever encountered, buried under rubble and the construction of the new city. These are asleep, but the one(s) who escaped...were jostled awake somehow.>> Lucifer chimes in with his loud thoughts and then looks around a bit. At least the sewers are large enough that they don't really have to move forward in a straight line. That may happen further down, but right now there is a bit of moving room.

A couple of people here have witnessed Lucifer and his moments of grandeur. He is the epitome of wondering 'whats the worse that can happen' and then promptly doing a thing to test the worst that can happen. In this moment, he moves, and approaches the fissure covered in green condensed something or other. Leaning in close, there may even be a loud thought or two (or even more silent ones directed to Lucifer himself) telling him to NOT lick the green stone. He doesn't lick it. However, on this episode of WTWTCH(tm), Lucifer reaches out and uses a nail to scrape some of this green hardened goop into his hand. He then promptly turns back to the group and walks over towards Sinister. "You got a vial handy on you?"

Superman has posed:
Superman will begin floating when the terrain gets rough. Just a small something that removes the hinderance for the Kryptonian. <<Sleeper agents?>> Superman responds. That concerns him. That's a lot of people for a small ratag group to handle.

More talk about the aliens. <<Will they stay asleep?>> Focusing with his x-ray vision mixed with the telescopic vision.

Just trying to count how many agents are there. Maybe try to see how they all look visually. Nathaniel did bring up a means of couring them, in various situations. Superman wonders if any are in those situations.

Then the fissure is covered in green. Sadly, Superman is not Batman. Thus, there is no means to properly contain the substance. Sky blue eyes look toward the rest for a moment. <<Anyone able to help Lucifer?>>

Doctor Strange has posed:
Thought communication, okay. <<Stay away from it. Radioactive isotopes...alien gold.>> If asked, he recites the full list, and then, when they reach the collapsed end, moves to pause before they find their way forward.

<<"Worst case, I can banish any threat itself. We'll have to subdue the afflicted, find somewhere to take them. If I have enough prep time, I can toss the most dangerous of them in a 'holding pattern' until we have a place to resummon.">>

They're close enough. Strange turns off the Sight, because it can be exhausting on the eyes. He'll turn it back on if necessary.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
<<Well on the bright side we haven't been approached by vampires while looking for brood- >> Nick pauses, getting a bit of an echo. << Oh, you already started. Ok so uh, well there's some good news in what was just said. >>

Nick grimaces, << Might need to adjust the volume sensitivity over here. >>

Then. Silence.

So much silence as he looks to the others. << So, similar origin to things that go bump in the Su- Lucifer, do NOT eat that. That will probably be w->>

Lucifer is asking for a vial.

Nick glances over to Sinister and Strange. << All I got that is a water bottle >>

As Strange lists possible options, Nick looks over to Sinister and then back to Strange. << How many are we capable of holding without any additional prep time? >>

Sinister has posed:
A vial is produced by Sinister, quite literally by pulling it out of the flesh of his biosteel chestpiece and molding it into the shape of a vial. The green snot is deposited, stored safely in the small belt o'gadgets he has. Not Batman, but this is Nathaniel Essex. He does have a few similarities, technological gadgetry-wise at any rate. <<It depends on if they're in stasis or not. Unfortunately, we're going to have to get actual eyes on the situation, to be able to properly assess. Which means a tripod of barrier around Strange. I'm not worried about you Nick, if they launch, they'll just go through you.>>

The view through the crack is a little frustrating. There are things, artifacts that will foil x-ray vision and there are a few in the rock, likely from an original explosion. Large chunks of shrapnel that seem to radiate 'x-ray shielding' -- but there's enough with narrowing his field of vision and moving about, that he can perceive an oblong shape, squished on one end, about seventy five foot long, literally imbedded at a funky angle in the rockface. The snot tunnel winds from the open space down to it.

Downside: Narrow entry point. Upside: Only one way in or out. Lets hope all the individuals are in there.

<<Oh dear... I hate to be a dampner on our /stellar/ festivities, but we have half a dozen incoming from all directions. They're not moving fast, but they are converging. They just veered from milling and tunnel occupation above and around and are zeroing in.>>

Lucifer has posed:
See. SEE! Lucifer CAN keep his promises. (And often does.) But the rest of the issues that are suddenly popping up and he glances around while listening to all that is happening.

"So we need one person to go see what's behind the curtain, and everyone else gets to stay here and figure out what the ones closing in on us want? Or, everyone else can go behind the curtain and I'll stay here..." He offers these two options and then looks between everyone.

The Devil loves sacrifice and when he can simply sacrifice himself, all the better. So he'll just wait to see what everyone else chooses and will likely be with the group on the outside either way.

Superman has posed:
X-Ray vision starts to kick in and suddenly there's a block. <Tunnels are lead lined. I can't see.>> It's what keeps him from seeing through things. However, he can har them. Something moving -through- concrete is a unique noise. A mixture between something rushing through water and a drill working through the Earth.

<If someone can guide me, i can snuff them out.?? He says knowing the hearing can help, but may not be perfect in this situation. Someone like Doctor Strange -could- be better.

Doctor Strange has posed:
<<"I can banish all of them. The problem is they might end up in a fiery abyss if I don't have concentration on where, or if they swarm me. And we don't want that.">>

Strange turns the Sight back on as they prepare to progress and deal with the incoming, guiding for Clark. <<"I've got you, Superman. Our priority is getting these people out alive. If there's anything that can be cleansed from them, we need to find out how.">>

It's not a suggestion. It's a statement of fact - he's going to save these people. The oath. Even so, he starts chanting words, summoning a blade into his hands.

It's for the Brood, obviously.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
<<Well, that probably depends on how and when they launch...>> Nick allows to Sinister's assumption to how the abilities work. << Ok that's splitting hairs. >> Nick watches as Lucifer, Superman and Doctor Strange appear to volunteer for fighting. << Well, Guess I'm looking in. >> Nick surmises, fading from view. No need to rile up anyone not already alerted after all.

On the bright side, he is very much aware of what a Brood looks like.

Sinister has posed:
So with the current grand scheme, the handily incorporeal Phantasm will take a look down the tunnels whilst the Magical and the (mostly) indestructable make sure that the tunnels outside do not get overrun at the same time as attempting to decommission each one of the incoming if possible.

<> The thought is clear, leaving the old partial collapse of tunnel as the staging ground.

The first to emerge does so at an angle from above; a male in his forties, clearly one of the vagrant tunnel folk and out of a shaft that was likely once a water conduit that now has shifted to a 45 degree angle with the ground, thanks to the subsidance and techtonics of the area. Layers of chitin can be seen upon his face and neck and his back sports a pair of bee-like wings that unfurl as he emerges, upside down and clinging to the stone roof. Whatever it is that Sinister has been doing to 'cloud minds' means that one insectile eye and one in a transition state from human, do not immediately look at the heros, as if they were just parts of the scenery.

Two more, a male and a female, similarly shabbily dressed and of varying ages, come from the partial collapse area. They appear to be dragging lengths of re-bar in various limbs...

That's three. The other three emerge from the intact tunnels; another two with those 'bee-like' wings and two additional arms and one that looks perhaps further gone than the other two, in that the humanoid is almost all gone, save for little hints of flesh and the tattered clothing. He, or she, is physically the size of the hulk, with one arm and part of a thigh remaining human enough to recognize but the rest looking like the worst example of an army ant this side of a B-movie...

They too, do not immediately zero in...

Lucifer has posed:
<> Lucifer puts his bit into the thought tunnel while looking around and gauging the ones who are emerging. It's almost like seeing a group of worker bees and ants coming back to the hive after a day of gathering.

He would surmise that there is a home being built here, but what does that say about the ones who are sort of trapped within that one tunnel where Nick is about to go looking? Or does it open on some other side and this is like the back door to the house being built. Just, sans a door.

<<Either way, I don't have a good feeling about this. If we're spotted it'll be mayhem...and being under Manhattan...that's not necessarily the best option.>>

Superman has posed:
Superman sees the emergence of one, then anohter. A sigh fills the mental link. <Cover your ears> he pushes out toward the group. He knows this might hurt. by this time another emergences and another.

Sky blue eyes looking toward the Brood Group. Then he looks to his own group. Both of his hands extends then he slaps them together. The plan? Send a shockwave through this narrow area, disorient thm. Kind of create nails on the chalkboard for their hive mind, to knock people back or down. Yes, he may be taking a page from a jolly green playbook.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Strange, for all his hubris, covers his ears. The sonic boom jostles him, but his cloak pulls him right back up to stability. "Cover me. I'll get information on them."

He looks the Brood straight forward with the Sight, and starts working his scrying. The question he asks his powers:

Can these people be saved? Or are they no more than monsters now?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
<< I'll do my best not to be spotted. >> Plan seemingly made, the handily incorporeal Phantasm holds his handily incorporeal sticks and fades from view. Well. Shit. It looks like one dream walker has taken a walk right out o-

<<...Still here.>> Nick's mental voice assures, making sure they don't think he just ported the hell out of there.

Task at hand he starts to walk through the tunnel. As the shockwave makes it's way through, there is a notable pause before another comment erupts. <>

As the phantasm makes his way through the tunnel, he focuses on the general details of what he sees.

Sinister has posed:
To the first: Lucifer is not wrong. Above is a lot of Manhattan that went before the Manhattan of now and the tunnels are not the most stable that they could be. But needs much when the Devil drives stickshift?

The sonic boom has two effects -- it does indeed rattle the brood, the one emerging from above backs up with an insectile screech and the two others with wings drop their rebar with a clatter and double over, with similar screeching and placing claws to their ears.

The ones coming from the more stable end though, seem a little less disoriented, recovering moments after with a headshake. The reason? The corridor is more open at that end, which lessens the impact a little. The big guy wastes zero time, as that particular manoever ended the illusion that they were not there. And by the by, these things do move FAST. Not so fast that they're faster than the speeding bullet over there, but one leap and a hulk-sized insectile supersoldier is closing distance quick, whilst the smaller soldiers regather and rush, rather than leap...

To the Sight: That is a difficult question to answer, because it requires possibilities that have and have not been thought of yet, cooperations that could and could not occur. Are they too far gone with all that is known now? Yes. But they might not be too far gone for what is known in the unlikeliest enterprise currently underway... potentially. The human still remains, in the core.

And in the tunnels: The heat condensed snot is acting like cement - shoring up the crack so that it's more stable. It's disturbing to look at for its transluscency in places. The chasm in the manmade and the natural widens and narrows a little for about twenty five feet, before coming into a madhouse of space; cannibalized rebar and other things used to shore up and support the walls, makes it look like the scaffolding of a work crew on LSD. More snot encases the ceiling, patched with corrugated iron, a kind of wattle and daub with building materials an alien looking plates of heat shielding, which likely is what is causing the problems for Superman. And at a descent angle, on its side with some considerable structural damage is a transport pod. Bits that were iron have rusted and scaled over. Bits that were polymer less so -- but the rear end was badly damaged by falling masonry and gouged a hole in the hull. Heat of entry also seems to have done damage; and there's a 'damaged transformer' sound hrumming from within.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer gives a little wince at the sonic blasts which rattle not only the creatures but the walls of these caves. "What part of some of these caves are unstable and we're right under Manhattan wasn't understood?" He asks that out loud and then glances around. At the very least some of the not-so-human creatures were skittering back into their holes, but there were also a few that remained. Able to withstand the blast that just happened.

In fact, there's one trying to make his way towards them hurriedly by taking a nice leap and close the distance between him and the group. Lucifer just grins, taking a step forward.

"Guess it's my turn."

He runs towards the leaping super soldier one, spreading wings in an instant and making to simply knock that one off it's path. "We're gonna have to think of something as a group if we're going to do anything to the others that are coming. So if anyone's got ideas, now's the time to share them." Then he punches the one he just tackled to the ground. For good measure of course.

Superman has posed:
uperman sighs and knows the big one will clash horns with him. However, all of the heat is giving him one last ideas. Focusing, he breathes in and out. Cold starts to eminate from his breathe. He's aiming for the little ons and the walls. The plan is to cool the temp, to see what happens when the tunnel is lowered in temp. Plys, he's trying to take away the solid footing of the soldiers. Yes, he is being mindful of targets.

This is what he's doing. Trying to get rid of complicaations that could joint he fray. Superman focuses and just waits for the big one to get closer. Before anything happens, Lucifer steps in and the ones spread out.

Superman waits to see how Lucifer's struggle goes forward. And he wants to see who's getting closer to them. That will be his adjusted target.

Doctor Strange has posed:
As the group is lunged at, Strange leaves the big one for the others. Instead, he starts twirling his hands, energy and sigils surging out into discs, as he prepares binding spells for the smaller Brood.

Levitating upwards, he deftly dodges getting hit, before sharing his plan. "If we can get them all in a bunch, I'll be able to banish them somewhere...not here. For now, lock them down, break limbs, make sure they can't move or fight. If you have any additional ideas for restraining them, that'd be swell!"

Finally, he starts firing off the binding spells, seeing if he can even keep them locked down with magical restraints.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Despite the loud boom from earlier, the unseen performer treks further down. Despite the questionable consistency of the path, his strides are consistent. Once the area opens up, Nick takes a moment to look over the reinforced walls, taking the moment to think aloud what it is he is observing. He starts to move towards the transport pod to get a closer look.

Should Nick be concerned with what's going on with the others right now? NAAAAAAAAH. They got this.

Sinister has posed:
From the entrance to that tunnel, as Superman starts to chill up the wall area with his breath, putting the three fliers 'on ice' so to speak, bits of debris fly in from all directions to additionally help this, a telekinesis storm that creates a cocoon around the two recovering fliers and stuffs up the hole where the first had emerged, to be iced in solid. Sinister merely nods to the Kryptonian and continues concentrating, his eyes burning like it's going out of style. Crimson energy surrounds both his hands as he glances back over his shoulder at the tunnel and what Nick is 'sharing' through the mindlink...

What may be surprising is how much punishment the Brood can take, albeit. Buffetted off balance by the double-slap of a wing-clap from the Archangel Lucifer, the big bruiser's claws scrape the earth, leaving excoriated lines in the concrete. Three of the four arms remind the devil that although he might be immune to damage, his clothing isn't as they rake across in a cross-hair of movement. The punch knocks it down, then Lucifer is shoved off a pace by it heaving back against him. That was a LITTLE like punching a thick layer of biosteel, could take a bit to get them to go down!

The remaining two are quickly 'bound' by the binding spells, held motionless but angrily so, one of the two so held lets out a keeeeeeeeeeeee'eeeee'EEEEEEE sound that is unpleasant on the ears to say the least...

And this can be heard by Nick in the investigation mode. Drawing closer to the ship, he might see the signs of localized age. It's been here a -long- time. And there's the hole in the hull... a little peering and a minor shock when there's a Brood RIGHT THERE in his face. Only it's not moving, the insectile eyes look dessicated and it takes a moment to register the glass-like debris around it from a biological stasis pod. Wires incorporated like the Borg, into living cocoons. This one is dead, has been for a long while. There's a few others, dessicated husks, he can count four. And there's three more pods that are full and actively 'statis' and three that are... worryingly empty. It has a geigeresque feel inside there. One pod, larger than all the others, is very empty. And two slightly smaller pod near to it and apparently 'wired' to it, is also empty. Oh dear.

And then when curiosity and caution tap him on his mental shoulder, there's that feeling. The feeling of being <<watched>>

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer gets his clothing mangled. That makes him grunt. "This is prada and I just had it cleaned!" Yelling that - knowing full well the beast won't understand much - and then he's bowling into the beastie once again. Though at some point he's going to have to bring out the big guns, cause this one isn't going down as easily as the one they found on the surface did.

"Right then..." He reaches towards the ground and then pulls his hand upwards, the ground rumbles for a moment before enough chains to hold down all arms and legs spring forth and begin to wrap themselves around the creature. "Are we sending them someplace specific or just somewhere out of the way? Do you need a destination, Strange, or do you have one in mind?" Trying to ask this in a way that Strange hears him but keeps himself facing the beast juuuust in case hellfire chains aren't enough to keep it down.

Superman has posed:
<Got it.> Superman responds to Strange's plan. This is what pushes him off the ground. Flying toward the next person that needs help. He's going to try herding one of the free brood members. That's his plan, assist any he feels could use help. Yes, Supermcan could toss a few into Strange's path, but he's trying to be surgical, precise. Last thing he wants is physical contact breaking a mental link to someone on their side. That's the last thing anyone needs. Those breaks really hurt the person.

Doctor Strange has posed:
"Do you have something better than a prison dimension?" Doctor Strange asks, knowing his place will work, but if Lucifer says yes, it's worth trying...

He keeps strengthening the binding, while focusing part of his mana towards starting the banishment spell. It won't be ready for some time, long enough to make sure the brood is here, but if he gets injured, it could break the whole thing. Concentration caster!

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Oh it's a good thing Nick chose to go to a less visible state. Depending on the detail of the mind link, there may have been a slight move back in reaction to the close up face. But if not-

Well he's not admitting it out loud.

He turns, looking to the remaining pods. More focus placed on the remaining pods, going over the details and the general count of bodies from the broken one. Assuming at least five bodies per pod... Well, fuck.

And then there's that sensation. Nick turns around, looking behind him.

Sinister has posed:
That did it, but with a heck of a lot of hissing and a telescopic bite that lunges right up close to Lucifer's face. The chains tighten as the creature struggles, but it's all fruitless in the end. The brute is down and angry about it. Though in the depths of the crevace, there is an answering, much softer kikikikikikik, that has Sinister turning to look down into the snotty dark instead of watching the action. The red glow about him intensifies with it, forming a shield. <<Nick, the ones in there just got served notice.>>

No kidding, eh? From Nick's perspective from the cockpit of the ship, two more large brood, much like the one outside by leaner and more attenuated, peer around the rotted bio-door that used to form an airlock. Their noses are more draconic snout-like than the ones that came from human stock. But the feeling of eyes? Well, that's partly them sniffing and waving antennae in the air, stubby though they are. Can they sense him? More clicks, more chitters and a glottal stop and they seem to be deferring to... thin air? "~I knows you're here. I will find you, clever thing.~" the voice silky as rich chocolate, whispers almost from all around. "~We always do...~" But of any physical sign, there is none...

The on-ice ones would be the ones to drag to the area where Strange is casting. Rather awkwardly, the ice-cylinder that contains the one in the ceiling is also dragged out, levitated wobbily over to the Sorceror Supreme.

But then the voice is out there too, although it seems distant and whispery. "~We can smell you.~"

Lucifer has posed:
"Prison dimension will have to work for now, just get them there..." Lucifer says this just after being nearly bitten in the face by the angry creature in front of him. He waggles a finger at it. "Biting isn't nice. Learn some manners.." Whew.. "And maybe have a breath mint.."

Then, there's hissing, and he takes a few steps back before looking around. "Smell you?" Then he glances towards where Nick had gone and deduces that with Nick being the only one who's likely gone incoporeal and his eyes narrow. "I think you two have it handled from here... I've got a funny feeling..." He also then glances up towards where Sinister is and sort of waves and then points towards the snot-covered spot. <<Is Nick in trouble? Should I go in there?>> Asking that to Sinister specifically.

Superman has posed:
Superman looks toward the hissing sound. Right now those sky blue eyes taking it in fo ra moment. <<Nick?>> he sees if the connection is still there. Just trying to get a feel. Superman wants to rush off toward the man. However, this is above his knowledge. Last thing he wants to his expose himself. Nor does he want to expose others. The Brood can take over anyone, if they find the right chink in the armor. So, he wants everyone to be safe.

Doctor Strange has posed:
<<"I can't move. I have to keep the spell going!">> Strange continues to focus the banishment spell. Runes appear in the air and on the ground, a ring of arcane energies that is clearly 'where to toss the brood'.

<<"Get him out of there, hurry! If he gets corrupted...his powers and the Brood together could be *real* bad.">>

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The mental image sent back to the group of the creatures looking around for him is more than enough of a response to the mental warning sent to him. In layman's terms, No shit.

If there was ever a time to be glad that he doesn't produce smells while phantasmed, this would be one of them. Despite the voice whispering around, He doesn't respond out loud. What he does end up doing is taking a few steps, leaping up, pausing mid-air while he watches the figures below to see what they'll do.

However, he doesn't linger for long, the general conversation going on through the mental link is making things a bit clear on the situation. The jump finishes, leading him to the exit.

Sinister has posed:
<<I think he's fine. As far as I know, they can't touch the untouchable, it would have to come from Nick's own will and I don't think he's going to let them do that. Strange is occupied... Superman, Lucifer... we need to collapse this tunnel and probably... unfortunately...seal it up for the time being. I believe I can put a stasis field on the space beyond, but I do not know how long it will last and I think we have our answer. There is at least one junior queen.>>

Sinister stares at the tunnel and its walls, looking at the crevace from a purely physical perspective. Then, he thrusts both arms out to the side, palms up and with a dramatic lifting gesture, throws both of them forward toward the chasm in the rock -- pieces of debris, rivets, metal, rock, re-bar, anything that is lose and free, starts to fly into the hole, forming a growing barrier. <>

Lucifer has posed:
"Right. So long as he's safe. You need all that fused together into the tunnel? We got you." Lucifer looks to Superman and gives him a nod before his wings flap and he takes flight towards where Sinister is shoving all that material.

Mid-flight he changes from white winged man to leathery winged Devil. His skin taking on the look of being charred to a crisp, eyes red and burning with hellfire. For what Sinister is asking, even with help from Superman, Lucifer's going to have to give it a good shot of heat and he's better doing that with the Devil's true form.

Then he swirls both his hands for a moment, speaks in an ancient tongue, and thrusts those hands forward soon after. Hellfire shoots from his hands then and plunges into the tunnel and all the debris that's been holed up in there. "Just make sure it's sound...can't have all this work done and then it collapses and the brood is free to roam again in a couple years."

Superman has posed:
Superman flies off toward the tunnel. Then he is looking about focusing on the tunnel. Trying to see what about the tunenl is sound. Right now, he's trying to see what spots will hold up and what would be a weak point, if possible. The eyes start to glow red as he picks the best spot (even if it may not be it, if he can't see too well). That's when red energy stats to lance forward. The beams hitting his target and starting to cause a small bit of fire to slip from the target. Althoguh, the motions aren't hurried. Superman's focusing wanting to do this properly. Yes, there is an expedency in his actions.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
And run Nick does. His ability does keep the unseen elements of the tunnel from hindering him but when one piece of debris flies towards his head, he ducks. It is also a good thing that he can't feel either, coming up near Lucifer and Superman playing welder would likely prove uncomfortable otherwise. Once outside he moves round, stopping next to Sinister. << I'm out >>

Sinister has posed:
<<Splendid,>> Sinister informs the general airspace, glancing only once at Nick. With the hellfire and the heatvision raining down and soldering with laser precision, the TK storm intensifies, enough that the whoosh of motion has his hair doing that whole 'in a fan' thing that model shoots love so much. Every last scrap of material is provided to be melted and glued into place. Even if it only holds for a year, that's still a year to plan a capture or an extermination. <<Strange, are you nearly done?>>

The heat from the tunnel is profound. Melting rock will do that, so although it isn't his best work, an arc of shielding is also thrown in a semi-circle over the sorceror with a glance in that direction.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer fills in every spot that he can, and because he's known for it, there might even be some rocks from hell fit into a spot here and there through the fire he forges. With Superman's help, it likely takes half the time it would have taken him normally, but that still means he's a bit spent at this point. As he lets off, he falls a bit in the air before catching himself and slowly floats back down to a standing point - the white feathered human looking man he's become better known for as he touches ground.

Superman has posed:
Superman keeps his focus shooting at anything needed. Doctor Strange, an Drago, need all the help they can. And Superman's more than happy to give it. This is why he agreed to go on this mission. Not to take it over because he's -Superman-. Far from. He just wants to do anything to help. That's his whole reason for being Superman, just to help anyone that oculd use his help.

Superman will try to even catch Lucifer before the demon catches himself. Supeman floats down slowly. There are no words, ut there is a bit of sweat well, everywhere. It's a sight not too many people have seen.

Doctor Strange has posed:
<<"I'm ready! Stay outside the circle!">> Once Strange has cleared that only Brood are in his spell's radius, he begins chanting words of power, as he floats up above, and then suddenly slams both hands together.

The Brood, if this works, are sucked into an opening portal, a vortex of mystical energies, to be trapped somewhere with little chance of escape. Separated from their queen. If it fails...they're in for Hell.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Now with friends, the phantasm, fades a bit more into view, facial features still obscured and definitely not dropping the powers effect. If any of what he heard in that cavern was true, he's likely going to want to dream travel home instead of walking it. Especially if he was going to switch back to his more humany, likely has a scent, form.

Sinister has posed:
And with the grand culmination of the spell, purple symbols and energy dissipate suddenly leaving a vacuum of silence... pops... and ticks in its wake. Hot rock and the like will do that, as it settles and cools. Sinister lands gracefully, but with a heavy tread as he actually walks physically to a safe distance. "Crisis averted for now. Nick, I'm going to want really detailed images of what you saw later, if you can do that..." he looks to Superman and gives a respectful nod, then to Stephen Strange. "And I'm pretty sure you will want answers also.... I should show you those we've got in stasis, because..." sigh "...reasons." A look to Lucifer and he reaches out a hand toward the archangel.

"Let us get home."

And that, is that, is that. For now. Crisis averted, but what more might come?

15072/The Manhattan Project: Brood Edition

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