1583/The Gate of the Ox and the Horse

The Gate of the Ox and the Horse
Date of Scene:	21 July 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Hydra seeks to trick Kenan into giving them power, but is thwarted by Dr. Strange and Angela.
Cast of Characters:	Super-Man, Doctor Strange, Ahadiel

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Super-Man has posed:
The Hydra Staffer says to the resident Hydra leader, "We were able to obtain the Gate of the Ox and Horse and the two missing rings which go into the noses of the animal heads carved into the gate, but no force we can apply has been able to open it. However, our scientists have detected an energy signature beyond the gate which appears identicle to that of the new chinese hero Chaoren, whose name translates to Super-man in English or Ubermench in German. It is theorized that if he were brought to the gate, the force on the other side would be drawn to the gate as well...and that between the two of them it would open."

The leader of the Shanghai base says, "Then a way must be found to persuade him to open the gate."What thoughts do we have on this?"

The staffer responds, "He has shown unreliable judgement when it comes to a reporter called Laney Lan, such as when he revealed his identity to her live on TV. If we were to kidnap her and trick him into thinking we had trapped her on the other side of the gate, he would likely strive to open it without any further urging on our part."

The base leader nods, "A reasonable plan, make certain that the place this is done is staffed by expendable troops, in case things go badly."

Doctor Strange has posed:
Returning to china via more mundane means, Stephen Strange is here wearing a brown three piece suit, pants, jacket, and vest all matching with a cream collored shirt on beneath it and linked with simple black studs on the cuffs. He wears an old broken watch and a simple pink and blue floarl patterned tie.

He walks with his hands in his pockets and smirks over to Angela. "You should really relax, you look fine my dear." He should have known getting a former angel to not wear her scabbard would have been such a difficult task, but he promised her he'd keep it safe. His mystical abilities can hide most pieces of clothing, but something like that would have been discovered bumping into things and other people quite quickly.

Ahadiel has posed:
In her purely mortal seeming, Ahadiel, now going by Angela Davis, looks wryly at Strange, arching a brow, "Look, I've been doing this a lot longer than you have been, so you should relax." And really, the angel in disguise seems perfectly fine, wearing a rather ordinary outfit that is far from the Angel of Vengeance from the other day.

She then gives Strange a wry look, "So, what exactly were you looking for again, that you needed my help with?" Not that she minds the vacation, but she is curious about the need a sorcerer would have for an angel tagging along on an errand in China of all places.

Super-Man has posed:
For anyone who is watching, Laney Lan is out with her camera crew when the Hydra troopers attack, they grab her and manhandle her into a waiting van. It is all caught and broadcast...that is the point. The Shanghai Police try to chase the van, but the Hydra weapons make short work of the vehicles.

At the Pearl Tower, Kenan sees the kidnapping on live TV and takes the elevator to the top of the building. He focuses his energy into his hands and then leaps, bounding from the top of one building to another across Shanghai...he saw where the kidnapping took place on the TV, he will be there quickly.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Strange and Angela happen to be less than a block away when the kidnapping occurs and a swarm of people flock towards the scene, many with cell phones and cameras out taking pictures, and even fewer try to actually help the poor woman before being dissuaded by the weapons wielded by the Hydra men.

Stephen looks over to Angela, "I think it's time our search takes a detour. For the moment." He says, and with a mere thought, their clothes are changed into their standard heroic attire.

Stephen starts to rise up above the crowds and his hands are twisted and contorted into the shapes he requires to cast many of his defensive spells and begins to pursue the van from above.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel seems to flicker a moment, changing into her angelic form as Strange does his magic, and she arches a brow at him, her voice more resonant as she says, "I /could/ have done that myself, you know." And then she launches herself into the air, wings spreading as she takes off after the van. She doesn't stop the van, though she can easily catch it... but apparently she feels it's better to tail it and find their headquarters.

And the empty scabbard is somehow back at her hip, because she doesn't escape the reminder that easily. Even if she did originally leave it at the Sanctum.

Super-Man has posed:
At the Hydra base, an operative says, "There are others trying to follow the van besides our target. Let those in the van see if they can dissuade them. Our back-up teams are in possition if needed."

A man in a Hydra costume opens a window and leans out, taking shots at those following with what looks like a rifle, but fires some kind of energy blast.

Kenan arrives where the kidnapping happened. The Camera crew is quick to point out the direction the Van fled...though he could follow the trail of damaged police cars at least at first.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Stephen's flight isn't quite as fast as Angela's as the cloak is really more about levitation that out right flight, but he's able to keep up and help out, especially in a congested city like Shanghai.

"Watch out!" Stephen calls to Angela and snaps his arm forward, creating a mystic shield to block the shots that were about to hit Angela. The yellow circle BWONGs as the blasts hit it and Stephen is quick to dispell the magic soon after to give Angela a clear view of the scene. She'll be the one doing most of the leg work until he can catch up.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel blinks at the sniper, then dives down towards the base of a building... only to then bank at the last moment, sailing upwards as she saw the window the HYDRA sniper was based out of.

Meanwhile, the sniper leans out curiously, having spotted the winged target dive, only to be suddenly grabbed by the neck by a somewhat irate Angel. She glares, "Come HERE." And just like that, she grabs his weapon in one hand, grabbing him in the other, and flying back into the air. The man screams for a while, until Ahadiel tires of it, going low enough to drop the man off near some police vehicles. She does keep the energy rifle, though, angling back into the sky to follow the van once more.

Super-Man has posed:
There is a noise from above as a group of Hydra jump troops arrive in their jet packs. There are eight in all (plus the jump ship that dropped them), and they seem to be aiming in groups of four at the angel and the Sorcerer. A figure in Red with a black cape comes down from the sky, and stumbles as he only gets one foot on the edge of the building and falls over due to inertia...Kenan has not had all that much practice with leaping and has not gotten his flight to activate lately.

Doctor Strange has posed:
"We have more friends." Stephen reports as he turns over and as four men start to approach him in a three dimensional space, Strange smirks softly and makes use of his multi-dimensional abilities.

The closest to him has a portal open directly in his path and is swallowed up swiftly by a what looks like a black domain (We know it's just the other side of the world, black and dark Gotham city).

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel laughs softly, "Let them come... I don't mind finding on the wing!" She then soars up towards the quartet coming at her, meeting them halfway as she ducks and weaves the energy blasts. Brandishing her purloined sniper rifle, she then begins a far more close-in melee attack, looking to cripple or damage their jetpacks so they're forced to be grounded. She darts quickly amongst the squad of HYDRA mooks, moving too fast to draw an effective bead on as she will likely make short work of the troops engaging her.

Super-Man has posed:
the troops are doing their jobs, which is distracting the heroes they do not want. The van turns a corner, and three other identicle vans join it once it is out of sight, they quickly peel off in different directions.

Angela is a far better flyer than the Hydra Agents, naturally enough, though they are well trained in fighting, even in the air, she manages to dodge their counter fire and reduce half of them to being grounded. The Drop Craft appears to decide she is the main threat and starts firing at her with heavier built in blaster cannons. The three remaining agents fighting Dr. Strange keep attacking, onee tosses a flash-bang grenade near the kevitating sorcerer.

Kenan has to adjust his powers, using his super hearing to tell which van Laney Lan is in. Once he has her located, he switches back and jumps after the correct van.

Doctor Strange has posed:
"No!" Strange says, rolling away from the grenade and trying to shield his eyes and ears but one is too late and so he is now deafened but he can at least see.

Rolling out of his fetal form with a both hands snapping out towards two of his foes, one gets the crimson bands of Cyttorak wrapped tightly around his body, pinning him and his weapon straight and drops from the sky due to his engines being choked. Around the second is a Shield of the Seraphim, causing them both to be under Strange's control. Which the one in the shield he rattles around like an angry gerbil before lowering both down to the street, incapacitated.

Ahadiel has posed:
The angel suddenly grabs the bandolier of one of the remaining troops around her, then smiles a bit as she sees the heavy artillery aiming towards her. "Friendly fire, it's so annoying, don't you agree?" And with that, she darts straight up and away, letting the two remaining troops take that dropship's fire.

Then, she takes her stolen ammo belt, grinning, "Ah, there they are!" Flying over the dropship, she looks for the intake vent, primes the grenades, and lets the ammo belt drop. With that, she then darts over towards Strange, catching the echo of the flashbang near him as she moves to help him, if he needs it.

Super-Man has posed:
The Hydra van pulls into a building and the door closes behind it. Kenan is not far behind and makes short work of the door. Still, the van is empty and he sees a security room where some agents are firing at him from behind a desk. On the wall behind them he sees Laney Lan being rushed down the hall on one of the monitors there. He quickly switches to Invulnerability so the weapons donot hurt him and knocks out the goons with his fist. He looks up to see the agents and Laney on the screen passing thropugh a free standing gateway to a place filled with bright light that the camera can not show clearly. The gate closes behind them even as he rushes from the room.

The hydra agents are quickly mopped up by the heroes, now it s time to find the kidnapped girl.

Doctor Strange has posed:
"Angela! Go find the van! I will catch up!" Stephen says as he dispatches his final foe and begins to move down the street from several feet above.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel doesn't hesitate, angling down and after the van. Her wings flap quickly, the black feathered limbs carrying her in the night as she flies through the shattered door, blinking a bit. As she sails through, she banks and lands near Kenan, blinking in surprise, "Nice work on the door. I'm guessing that was you." She speaks in fluent Mandarin, the angel still holding the seized energy rifle.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan looks at the winged woman with a rifle, he says, "Yes, they took a reporter named Laney Lan who is the Liasan for the Justice Leage of China. I saw on the monitors that they took her down the hall and through some kind of gate. I was about to follow them." He heads down the hall at a normal human run.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Just as the two are starting to make their way into the facility, Strange shows up and is a bit out of breath and has a finger in one ear, still rubbing the effects of the flashbang out of his drum.

With a nod of his chin, the sorcerer supreme catches up to the two, his cloak flapping behind him as he tries to keep up with the two.

Ahadiel has posed:
The angel nods towards Kenan, and says in perfect Mandarin, "Alright then, let's go..." She lets Kenan take the lead, glancing back to Strange and signing towards him, >Are you alright?<

Apparently she heard the flashbang, keeping moving after Kenan as she holds the stolen energy rifle, checking it to make sure it still can fire.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan heads down the hallway, as the others follow they would be aware of a powerful mystic energy ahead (Kenan is oblivious). They reach the room and there stands a gate, not attached to any wall. It has two anuman heads made of metal an ox to the left, and a horse to the right. In the noses of each animal are a ring. Kenan says, "This is the gate I saw them go through on the monitor." Dr. Strange might recognize the gate, it and the rings were found in the tomb of the first emporer. Angela might know that it leads to the realm of Q'uin, the place of the dead in Buddist Mythology.

Doctor Strange has posed:
Stephen jogs up behind the two others and takes a moment to catch his breath before looking up at the gate and frowning to himself. "This--- I don't like this." He says, stepping forwad to examine the pillars and portal way that hasn't been activated just yet, but still fascinates the doctor.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel hrms softly, "Unusual. This is a portal to Q'uin, the Buddhist land of the dead. Basically a storage place where souls that believe in such things await reincarnation." The angel glances at the other two with a curious expression, "Why would terrorists want to take someone there? Or even make a portal to it?" Her eyes narrow a bit, as whatever the reason... it's probably not good.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan frowns, "I can feel something beyond that gate, calling to me. It could be Laney...or even my parents!" He seems excited by the thought that his parents may be beyond.

Doctor Strange has posed:
"It feels like a trap." The doctor says as he plance a hand upon the pillar and whispers something to himself.

"If you need to go in, I won't stop you." Strange says, noding to Angela and Kenan softly.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel nods slightly, "It would not be unsafe for me. But you two are mortal, or close enough." She glances between Kenan and Doctor Strange, "I could not guarantee your safety if you came with me to that place."

She then fixes Kenan with a stern glance, "If your Laney was dragged through this portal, she should return. No One Else. Understood? The cycles must be maintained properly, particularly here." Her tone is melodic, beautiful, and the Mandarin sounds like an opera coming from her lips... and it also sounds that she will brook no argument in this matter.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan faces the door, he shists his energy into his hands and pulls, at first it seems immovable, but then slowly the doors swing open. As they do, Kenan feels as if he is flooded with energy. Indeed, he finds himself flying off the ground, something he has not been able to do since the first day he got his powers. There is a figure standing beyond the portal, it appear to have pushed on the door while Kenan pulled. It looks like a skeletal version of Superman wearing a ragged uniform. Beyond it is a barren wasteland. Kenan says, "I do not see anyone here other than this one."

Doctor Strange has posed:
"I too ... can not enter." Strange says, looking back to the portal as Kenan approaches it and frowns softly before whispering to Angela. "You're not the only one with reasons to avoid going into a land of death and darkness."

Then to Kenan, "We will stand guard here, protecting this side to prevent you from being trapped inside indefinitely."

Ahadiel has posed:
The angel looks at Strange, "Guard the portal then, I'll help this young man find what he sees and come back. I should be fine." She then quirks a wry expression at Strange, "Why, Stephen, you think I've fallen? I'm not sure if that's insulting or adorable." Ruffling her black feathery wings, she looks over at Kenan, switching to Mandarin when talking to him.

"Likely a temptation for you. The quick and easy path. Come on, let's find this Laney of yours so we don't have to linger."

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan concentrates on his hearing, but he does not hear any heartbeats. He does hear something else, and realizes that there are a horde of Demons rushing the door. Angela knows that this is not the land of demons, but they come here to torment the wicked dead. She can not sense anyone living in the area except Kenan. She does sense something powerful approaching, two somethings in fact...more powerful than the demons by quite a bit.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel blinks and glances around, then readies her rifle like a club as she senses the demons' approach. She then looks over towards Kenan, "Powerful things are coming... are you certain the others brought her through the portal?" She sounds slightly concerned, "We aren't here to fight, we're here to get your friend and get out."

Super-Man has posed:
Dr. Strange calls upon his amulet to shed a brilliant mystic light that hurts the demons, it holds them back as none can progress deeper into the light without risking destruction. How long he can maintain the power is unclear.

Kenan frowns, "I can not hear any heartbeats, but I do hear footfalls, something large is coming this way. I am stating to wonder if possibly they created a fake video and played it to distract me or something."

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel nods, "Very well, let's do this the fast way. Hope you don't mind if I give you a lift." With that, she scoops up Kenan in her arms, dropping the energy rifle as she launches into the air, doing a quick and fast loop around the area of the portal. Trying to see if either of them can pick up signs of life in this desolate place.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan, for once, does not need help flying. Indeed, he easily keeps pace with the Angel, while the construct follows him like a shadow. He remembers Superman is supposed to have super vision as well as super hearing, and uses that to search as well, "No sign of miss Laney or of any of the men in green, we should head back and help the other man."

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel glances back, then nods, "Let's go back. Now!" She has a bad feeling about this, as she banks and flies at almost full speed, rocketing for the portal... and making sure that she can evade Strange on the other end when she crosses through!

Super-Man has posed:
Angela and Kenan approach the portal and realize there are Hydra troopers taking aim at his back while he is distracted by holding off the demons. Light does not bother Kenan at all, so he crosses through and attacks the Hydra agents...but the construct stays back from the light and when Kenan crosses he loses his additional powers.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel rockets through the portal, clotheslining a HYDRA trooper as she has a few advantages... namely, angelic strength and the skill of having been fighting for several millennia. She does grab one trooper by the throat, asking him bluntly in Mandarin, "WHERE IS SHE?" Her voice is a furious song, discordant anger rippling through her melody.

Super-Man has posed:
Now that Kenan thinks to activate his super hearing, he can locate the familiar and nervous heartbeat of Laney Lan in a room not far away. He finds his power moving to his thighs and can suddenly see her beyond the wall, tied to a chair, with a couple of agents guarding her. He points, "She is right there. You go rescue her, I will keep these guys busy."

Ahadiel has posed:
The angel nods, tossing aside the HYDRA agent and moves rapidly towards the room. She pauses, then suddenly bursts into the room, whipping around with her wings to try and buffet the guards into submission, and also make sure she's between any shots that might be aimed at Laney Lan.

Not that she /wants/ to be shot, but she can probably take it better than any mortal could.

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan is rapidly switching his power between his hands for strength and his stomach for invulnerability. However he realizes he is not enough...there is a Hydra team trying to get some kind of machine through the gate while he is busy.

Angela interposes herself while battling the guards, it is a bit hard to defend the innocent Laney Lan and fight at the same time...she will probably be hit at least once in the process, but it should not take long to finish them and rescue her.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel knocks out one trooper, punching him firmly in the head just as she feels an energy blast hit her wing. Wincing, she spins and rapidly flies into the man, slamming the last guard into the wall and sending him into unconsciousness.

She tests her wing gingerly, grumbling as she can, at least, still fly, though not as quickly. Looking over at Laney Lan, she snaps the bindings holding her in the chair, and says in Mandarin, "Find a safe place. This isn't over yet." And with that, she quickly flies back towards the portal, aiming to shove the machine off-kilter or do something to keep it from going through the gate.

Super-Man has posed:
Angela rushes the machine, pushing it aside with her strength and momentum, but forgetting that Dr. Strange is standing in the gate. The machine pushes against the sorcerer, allowing a number of demons to rush through the portal. Kenan turns his attention to stopping the demons.

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel grits her teeth, then grins at the demons, brandishing another rifle like a club as she starts some holy smiting on the demons, "Finally!" She glances back to Strange, saying, "How exactly do we close the portal?!?" The improvised weapon flashes when it his a demon, bright white light showing that she's empowering it somehow.

Super-Man has posed:
The demons are tougher than the Hydra agents, in fact many of the agents are attacked by the demons and Kenan has his hands full keeping up. He hinds the world slowuing down around him and realizes the construct is now standing just the other side of the gate, he can access his speed now as well as his other powers. Dr. Strange, once he is back in position, says, "That young man opened the portal, only he can close it."

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel glances at Kenan, "Close it! I'll hold them off!" Which, she does, focusing more on the HYDRA agents as they go down a lot faster. Of course, she does get a few claw-rakes on her wings and arms by the demons, though she seems tough enough to take it, at least for a little while as Kenan can hopefully seal the breach!

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan knows that if he closes the portal, he will lose the extra power he has gained, but realizes that there is no choice, he could not live with himeslf if an endless horde of demons and dead was allowed to flood the world just so he could have all his powers. He grasps the rings in his hands to close the gate, and they come off the gate. The skeletal construct evaporates into mist. He sees standing beyond the huge figures of the Ox and the Horse, they gesture and the demons rush back through the gate. Kenan knows what needs to be done to keep the gate closed, and hands the rings back to those who gave them to the first Emperor, then he pushes the gates closed, sealing the rings beyond.

Ahadiel has posed:
Spinning rapidly, Ahadiel dispatches another demon, crushing its head with her improvised rifle/club. Then she glances over at Kenan and Strange, tilting her head, "Are you two alright?" Seeing that the portal is now closed, she takes a deep breath, and smiles a bit, "Haven't had a workout like this in ages."

Super-Man has posed:
Dr. Strange says, "I am tired, but otherwise unharmed."

Kenan sighs, I wanted to ask about my parents, but I could not risk leaving the gate open long enough to get an answer from Ox and Horse."

Ahadiel has posed:
Ahadiel chuckles softly, "You will know the answers in time, young man. Your friend is unharmed, and probably hiding in the other room ready to brain someone with the chair she was tied up in." Her eyes dance with a bit of mirth now that the fighting is over. "You should go and see to her." With that, she looks wryly at Strange, "And we should probably go as well. Is it always so exciting with you wizards?"

Super-Man has posed:
Kenan comments, "Thank you both for your help." Without them, he might have spent far too long beyond the gate, with dire consequences.