8013/Sentinels: Sebastion surfaces

Sentinels: Sebastion surfaces
Date of Scene:	23 June 2019
Location:	Los Pollos Hermanos, Old Gotham
Synopsis:	Sebastion is found, though he may not be in good shape, physically or mentally.
Cast of Characters:	Iron Man, Spider-Woman (Drew), Frank Quaid, Bastion
Tinyplot:	Sentinels

---

Iron Man has posed:
The text went out, about two hour prior. The message seems to be from a burner device, and it is as follows:

I am not dead, but the trust is broken. I'll make a deal with you, if you want to meet. Los Pollos Hermanos, Gotham, 2pm. If you bring any of the prison wardens, I will know. - S

The chicken restaurant, Los Pollos Hermanos, is clean, and has a moderate customer flow. Many come in to get their food to go from the broad counter in the front. There's bunches of booths, though, where patrons can sit in relative concealment from the other tables, as the backs of the booths are fairly high. They're done in a red, soft vinyl padding.

At the back right, there's a bulky military figure that Jessica will probably immediately recognize. Sebastion's seated in a booth, and has 'updated' his clothes, to some faded jeans, long-sleeved plaid shirt over a dark blue t-shirt with two crossed rifles on it and the name of a gunshop, heavy brown work boots. He looks like he rolled in off a construction site. He's not in great physical shape; he has some ripped areas on his forehead and left ear and down the neck, and right hand visible on the table has an array of bandages on the fingers and wrist.

He appears to be eating a chicken salad while looking at a newspaper. It's all very mismatched with what he is known to be.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica doesn't let a spare moment pass, as she surveys the scene. She wears no trace of her identity here, and hopes, with her ponytail out the hole in the back of a white cap bearing a rainbow peace symbol, she might be less than recognizable. Especially in Gotham. Unassuming jeans, sneakers, and a grey hoodie complete the ensemble.

She heads directly to Sebastion's table. "Hey!" she gushes as she reaches his table and tries for a light hug before sitting down with him. Best to look as inconspicuous as possible. Her gaze surveys his injuries, her expression one of pure concern and worry. "Were you waiting long?"

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion allows her to side-hug him, but he's not extremely receptive about it. He seems, perhaps, surprised she did it, but it's a low key reaction. The most apparent thing she'll get out of it, with her hug, is that something's up with his left arm. Seating and looking him over, surveying his injuries, will immediately resolve why: left arm is missing from about the elbow, the sleeve is tacked up and backwards.

"Not long, no," Sebastion answers evenly. If he's scanned her, he's subtle about it. "If you want to order something, I don't mind waiting for that."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica shakes her head quickly. "I'm not hungry. Thanks, though. Are you all right? I have been so worried about you..." She is careful not to use his name. Just in case. "I did what you asked," she adds with a cursory look around. Clearly there is no one else around with her. She would know better than to even try. "I just...I am so happy to hear from you..."

Iron Man has posed:
"Is the Captain not coming? I sent a message to him, as well. Maybe an old device," asks Sebastion. He doesn't stir his salad around, he does just appear to be eating it in a methodical way. He doesn't talk through the bites or anything rude: and it looks like he's already eaten most of it before she arrived. There's just enough remaining to show what type of chicken salad it was. Probably Caesar.

"I don't think he, or you, were a part of what moved against me, that day," Sebastion says, tapping his metal fork some on the edge of plate. "I have healed a little, but it was slow. I do not have the parts I need."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
By now, Jessica assumes that Frank Quaid has arrived and begun surveying the area around the restaurant. She reaches across to touch Sebastion's good arm gently. "I have abided your request, but I did bring someone with me, in case the request I got was from someone else - I couldn't walk into a trap and risk not being able to help you. He has been told that you're a trusted friend. And to reserve judgment until he has seen who you are to me. Is it all right if he comes inside with us? I don't want to risk anyone doing anything stupid, with us both here," Jess explains in soft tones. Beneath the growl of the restaurant, but she has little doubt that Sebastion can hear her.

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion very clearly can hear her just fine, without leaning in or anything else. "If I find him broadcasting his location or the conversation, I won't be forgiving about it," answers Sebastion, but then gestures with his hand to show that he's permitting the friend. He does stop talking about his agenda, though, while he looks over to the door, still eating his salad. "Go fetch him, I'll be here."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica moves to the door briefly and glances outside, toward Frank. She doesn't gesture to him. The look should be all that's needed, and she waits for him to join her before rejoining the table. "This is Captain Quaid, of the NYPD. He is here to help keep us safe," Jess explains, then turns to Frank. "And this is my...dear friend, Sebastion."

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank finishes walking around the block and checking things out. He waits across the street from the restaurant, watching. When he sees Jess come out, he leans forward off the wall, checks both ways and corsses the street.

"Everything alright?" He asks. Then he follows Jess into the restaurant to meet her friend. He is dressed in a mediocre blue pin-stripped suit with a white shirt and silver tie. His nose is bandaged and he has two yellowing black eyes. He wears a maybe $500 silver coloured watch. For those who can tell such things, his wallet is in his suit jacket inside pocket, and his badge and firearm are on his belt.

Iron Man has posed:
"Captain Quaid; hello," echoes Sebastion, with a scanning stare, and nod. He gestures, with some decent politeness, to the booth bench across from his own. "If you'd like to order something, I don't mind postponing a few minutes," he says, with a circular gesture to his food with his fork, in right hand. He lacks a left hand, from about the elbow, and wears a number of injuries.

"I'd imagine you are mostly interested in talking about Sentinels?" Sebastion guesses of Quaid, eyes moving from salad to lift and pan across them both.

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Pleasure, Sebastion," Frank replies, taking the man at the table. He slides into the booth as indicated and casts a quick glance around the room.

"Just coffee for me," he says. He waves a server over, who happens to be passing by with a carafe she was using at another table. She pours Frank a coffee and is gone.

Frank takes a sip of his coffee and looks to Jessica, following her lead with her contact. But one eyebrow does go up slightly at the mention of Sentinels.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica looks from Frank to Sebastion. "Captain Quaid has had a lot of contact with the sentinels," Jess explains to Sebastion. He's run up against them all over. Protests, malls, you know. Everywhere they show up. They seem to be prolific. He's even witnessed some that fight each other. Everything seems to be getting convoluted...Hard to keep track of which of /them/ are on the same team." She frowns a little. "But I wanted to find out if /you/ are doing all right...Is there something that I can do to help you?"

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion sits back in the booth a little, fork still in hand, though it seems like his manipulation of the metal utensil is just thoughtful, passive. His eyes move to the policeman as Jessica describes the problems.

"I've read about the recent attacks," he says, with a point of fork towards the newspaper next to him on his side of the table. "I was trying to keep things stable, to block them from being in civilian areas. I've been unable to do that for, what, a week. As you can see, things went very badly." Sebastion seems to withdraw, emotionally. His brow is troubled, his eyes saddened. "I wanted to pull control of them away from Trask. To get it to the proper officials. Teach them how to use the Sentinels properly."

He nods towards Jessica's offer. "I need some parts."

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank's forehead creases when Sebastion mentions what he had been doing. He misses the significance of parts.

"So Trask is the one making them attack people? And there's a way to control them? Can't tell you how handy turning them off would be. Would save lives," he ventures, then glances at Jess to gauge her reaction and whether he is overstepping. He sips coffee again.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica gives Frank a significant but encouraging look, before turning back to Sebastion. Maybe she should have told him exactly who her friend was. But it is not her place. Not yet. "Your efforts have been much appreciated, I can assure you. And I'll do everything I can to get whatever you need, Sebastion. I promise you that. I will probably need a few days, but I need a way to contact you. Or at least another contact from you. But that doesn't answer /how/ you're doing. There is more to it than just what items you need. And you know that." Her tone is an attempt at comforting. Even if he seems to have shut down to her.

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion sets his fork down, and rests his hand loosely on the table. He takes a long moment to decide: which is unusual, in all the time Jessica has known him, Sebastion makes quick choices, efficiently. There's a slowness, which comes accross as thoughtfulness. But Jessica may remember the visual that Vision showed of Sebastion's processes: all that flashing red.

"These, I fear, are my fault," Sebastion says, quietly, with a glance to the paper. "I had taken a number of them away from Trask, when they were sent to disperse gatherings, or similar. Uses I didn't agree with," sebastion explains. "But I lost control of them when I was shot, and they've done what you saw. They can't be without someone keeping them in line, or they do that."

The explanation was needed, perhaps: he seems guilty about it. "I'm not doing well, Jessica. I don't know if I could control any of them, anymore. I may have time enough to help others do it, but that may be it, for me."

He then picks up on what Frank doesn't know, and gives over the elephant: "I'm part Sentinel, Captain, and part human. I am trying to do well by humans."

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank's coffee cup stops halfway up to his mouth. He sets it down slowly in front of him and looks Sebastion over a bit more appraisingly. His expression settles on serious, resigned, like a doctor dealing with a terminal patient.

"Well, we'd appreciate whatever you can do," Frank says earnestly. "People are getting hurt.... It'd be a pretty noble way to spend whatever time you've got left."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica shakes her head. In protest, or in denial. "No, Sebastion. I have a contact that can help you. That doesn't have to be it for you. He is researching. He knows so much already. He was there when they made you, and he knows how you function. I have been talking to him, in hopes that you'd contact me. There isn't anyone better suited to this, I'm sure of it...You can't give up, okay? You just can't." There are tears threatening to well in Jessica's eyes, but she blinks them away, or does her best to do so. "I'm not giving up on you. You can't either..."

Iron Man has posed:
"This is my parts list," Sebastion says, drawing a thumb drive out of his upper left lapel pocket. He puts it on the table, and picks his fork back up again. Being one handed doesn't seem to have made him awkward. He has more salad, in a way that just suggests he's hungry, nothing more. "I'll trade parts for the sections of your AI's emergency upload that I possess. I do not think you'll restore him properly without it. Normally I wouldn't try to trade, but I was shot by your friends, Jessica. I can't afford to be stupid. While I hold that, I might not be destroyed outright, I hope. ... Who is the contact?"

Sebastion looks more keenly at the police captain. "How can I help you with them? If I were introduced to those who own some, I can advise on how to separate them from Trask's command, so they are solely under the official government's control, for example. I am open to ideas. I'd like to help you."

Sebastion spreads his hand open. "I don't want to give up either, but I'm very limited now, Jessica. I can't even fly anymore." Literal, or not? Hard to say.

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank rubs his neck with one hand as he listens to Jess and Sebastion talk.

"I'll see who I can talk to," Frank says softly, but otherwise stays quiet. He drinks more of his coffee.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods, and takes the thumb drive, pocketing it securely. "The contact is Dr. Pym. He is still researching, and he is reluctant to assist. He needs to find out how you have evolved before he would consider helping. I think that is reasonable. He says he needs whatever data he can get his hands on, so anything you have or can prepare, would be helpful to me. And to him."

There's a beat. "And to you."

Iron Man has posed:
"Dr. Pym. I don't remember that name. But I don't remember being 'made'. If he made me what I am, I have questions," Sebastion says, in a flat voice that suggests the meeting might not be entirely a civil one, and might be dangerous for the other end. Sebastion seems to have bent his fork. Perhaps he was imagining a faceless scientist's neck.

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank stays quiet, but takes the fork from his place setting and holds it out to Sebastion, gesturing for the other one with his free hand. He glances quickly at any tables within line of sight when he does, to make sure nobody noticed. Something about his expression says he is still trying to figure out the dynamic at work here. If Sebastion hands him the bent fork he tucks it out of sight and goes back to his coffee.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Dr. Pym was taken and forced to consult on the projects against his will," Jessica explains calmly. "He was not working for Trask. But he does know...he knows where you got your name," Jess says softly. "He knows many who were taken, like him. He knows what they did, and how." Jessica watches as Frank makes his offering. Who says NYPD doesn't give a fork?

Iron Man has posed:
"I'll fix it," answers Sebastion at first with a focused /need/ to try, carefully manipulating his fingers to attempt to get the fork properly between them as well as to bend, with thumb. There is a lot of focus there, to attempt to squeeze the metal properly. He does decently; there's just a ripple in it now, but he crushed it sideways, too. He can't get it perfectly back, it's still obviously messed up. "I can't." He lets Frank have the fork, and accepts the new one.

If Frank wanted to judge Sebastion, the whole fork situation is, perhaps, an interesting reflection: the desire to fix something, the attempt, but realizing the futility at a certain point, and adapting without throwing a tantrum about it.

"I want the parts; I want my other hand back," Sebastion says with some frustration. He wants his life. That goes unsaid, though. "Where is he now?" He asks Jessica abruptly. She's seen this before: this sudden tendency to go DO things, to fix, to make something happen. It's what got Sebastion shot, last time.

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank purses his lips while Sebastion tries, waiting patiently. When he cannot, Frank takes the spoon without comment and a carefully neutral expression. He sets on the seat beside him.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I'll get everything I can for you, Sebastion," Jessica promises. "I know this is hard, but I need you to be patient. And You can't go off looking for someone, to force them to fix it. Dr. Pym was placed in stasis...in a coma...when he would not do what they wanted done. He is healing, too. Last time you ran off on a whim, we were nearly both killed. I was ready to run with you, Sebastion. I took you up and I tried to leave with you. I am fast. But they are faster. I failed. And I will fail again if you try to force a confrontation before things are ready."

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion mulls over this, and then moves his and, palm up, towards Jessica. "Give me the list back. I'll adjust what I put on it, with information you asked for," he says.

"I'll come in with you, if you have a place that is safer. At least for now. I know that I can't defend myself if Trask's people find me," Sebastion grants, a little flat. "Not until I have my parts."

Frank Quaid has posed:
Frank looks to Jessica.

"I don't know what they give you at SHIELD, but we've got places we use for different things," Frank says. "Set up discreetly. I can get you a low-key apartment if you need it"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"A safe place would be amazing," Jess replies. "I don't...necessarily trust all of the Avengers...and none of SHIELD..knowing where he is located." There is some hesitation in the confession. She looks to Sebastion. "We'll keep you safe. Too many people either don't understand you. Or do. If you can add the information that could help us figure out how to fix you...how to heal you. That would be tremendous." She pulls out the thumb drive and hands it back to Sebastion. "This is all going to be okay. I have faith."

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion takes the thumb drive in a few fingers, a napkin in the other, and pulls both under the table in his lap. Jessica has heard him open his forearm before; the sound is the same. There's a few other sounds, similar to if he were manipulating some type of small mechanical thing under the table. He does it without drawing attention to it.

"I planned to get the parts myself, but I'm too exposed now, to get them from a sentinel factory," he says, more quietly, and perhaps embarrassed. Some emotions mixed. "I'd just be delivering myself to them."

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Sure, I'll make it happen," he says with a bit of a smile for Jess. His eyes linger on her for a little too long. He is slow to follow her look back to Sebastion. He shifts in his seat and drinks from his coffee. He puts the cup down after, purses his lips and runs his tongue over the front of his teeth. Shakes his head a little.

Anyone with the senses to know will have picked up on his increase in heart rate and more cortisol in his exhaled breath in the last little bit of conversation.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"That's my fear. I saw...Russia. If any of the other locations are as heavily guarded as that one was..." Was. "...well, I wouldn't want you anywhere near them." Then, to Frank, Jessica smiles. "Thank you so much. You won't regret this. You'll see..." It'll probably be fine.

Iron Man has posed:
"I don't know. I still haven't been to a factory." At least, not that he remembers. With a little scraping sound and a click, Sebastion then draws his hand back up from out of sight under the table, leaving the napkin there, and deposits the thumb drive onto the table. He had it held between thumb and the far side of his palm. He doesn't seem to feel motivated to show his Sentinel side more clearly to Frank; but then, Frank didn't ask. He draws the hand back to the new fork, and starts to finish the last of his meal off.

"I'm ready to go, anytime," Sebastion says. He takes some time now to work at removing a wallet from his pants, and one-handedly get some cash out of it next to himself on the seat.

Frank Quaid has posed:
"Don't worry about it, I'll cover it. Save what you've got in case you need it," Frank says. He pulls out his own wallet and drops a few bills on the table. "I've gotta go make a couple calls and then I can drive you to the place." Frank slides out of the booth to head outside and make his calls.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica watches Frank as he exits to make calls, and she smiles encouragingly to Sebastion as she takes the thumb drive. "We've got this. I won't let anyone get to you. This is going to be the first step to winning this fight."

Iron Man has posed:
Sebastion puts the money away and finishes his salad. "Most of the parts are sentinel. I have already found the human parts I needed, and attached them," he says, evenly. He doesn't seem aware of the problem with that bomb he just dropped.

He then deposits the napkin on the table, and slides out of the booth. His limp is very heavy; the left leg isn't reacting properly, but he's managing. Considering he is lacking an arm on that side, any looks he gets from the other patrons are in pity or sympathy when he stands next to the table.

"I admire your optimism."