"Gasp! Doctor Professor Squirrel! Protect your ruler! He's getting closer!" It looked like the narration stopped for the moment while the squirrel flew through the air. The animal would land on Jorortis' back, and freak out, then scamper off in a direction and sprint up a tree squeaking all the way. "No! Mr. Doctor Professor Squirrel has Abandoned his one true master! I must fall back to my secret lair!" The bucket hatted man stood and started pushing and pulling himself to barely fit out through the jungle gym, and started running towards a set of hedges, only to trip over his own two feet. He stood up quickly and hurried on over, not bothering to continue his narration anymore at all apparently. He pretended to press buttons on the hedge and made some "KEEEERSHT! BWOOOSHT! BING!" sounds, then hopped over the hedge, and ran into the single-man public restroom. He put a wet floor sign out in front of the door that said "Super secret villain base, keep out" with the other words simply X'd off with sharpie. Finally, there was a little click, and the door was locked shut.

A utility shed not far away likely had a pair of keys that the groundskeeper used in order to get in the bathroom stalls if things got locked up without someone in there. Some folks thought it was a funny prank, having the doors locked all day so nobody could relieve themselves. The groundskeeper looked to be nearby, reading a newspaper in the chair of the shed with a little antenae'd TV set playing. He was an older man, likely his late 60's, full mustache, painter's-cap style hat, and coveralls. That, or the door could easily be forced open, or a window climbed through.

Jorortis would feel the stingy, ouchy hurty-ness of soapy water sprayed in his face the moment he barged down the door. Nothing a cyborg couldn't easily compensate for. After being bonked on the head, the man hunched over, holding his head. "Owwww---!" He yelled, apparently bonking him pushed the helmet too far down and pinched his nose against the bucket's inside. "No, NyeeeaahooOOoooOO!!!" He started screaming, flailing around. Mild autism wasn't something that should be dealt with by touching. The man's powers would do all sorts of annoying things to try to gte himself free. The toilet's started flushing, all the sink faucets were turned on, Jorortis would feel his sweat shirt hood's strings get pulled taut and cover half his face, and partially blind him. Additionally, the man would be flailing, pushing against the cyborg's head and chest his his hands, and feet, kicking, and screaming.

The grounds-keeper jumped from his chair seeing Jorortis kick the door down. "HEY! Ya eeejit! That door costs MONEY!" The older man waved his reading material around angrily, rolled up into a tube. "Ya can't jest Break in doors willy-nilly!" The man looked the flailing Norman up and down, and started shaking his head. "Ya kicked in a door to catch Norman? Ya coulda just asked me to open it. Now I gotta spend the day fixin' it..." The man walked off, grumbling something, likely profane, and obviously irritated.

Upon feeling the insane mans hands slap him Jorortis use his body control to make himself fly backward into a tree , not hard enough to move it or anything just hard enough to make it look like it would hurt , as he played knocked out.

The GREAT AND POWERFUL Inconvenience Man!!! ((three exclamation points. Super important ya know =p )) Turned to the newcomer Dragonia, breathing heavily after the epic struggle and his recent triumph. "Ahh, Another villain to join Mr. Doctor Professor Squirrel and I in our pantheon of Bad-itude! Mwahaha!" The towel-cloaked man stood over Jorotis, and tilted his head up to look himself in the face. "Witness, Hero, how I soon ascend into GODHOOD with the help of my new ally!" Norman put his head to where his temple would be over his helmet, and drew the pills toward himself. He clutched them in his rubber latex glove, and lifted his bucket up off his face. He gave an overdramatic gulp, and took a pose that looked like he was actually ready to embrace a surge of power. However, he started to panic. "What, no... I'm slipping away! My powers are... Fading! Dragonia, you... You traitorrr----" Inconvenience Man!!!'s voice trailed off as he fell to his knees, the bucket making a plastic clatter as it hit the ground. The knot on the towel came loose, and the 'cape' fell to his side.

"Ugh... I feel like I've been running around all day..." Eventually came the slightly different voice of Norman. He put a hand to his forehead, and quickly realized what was going on. He'd been running around again int he suit... "Oh geeze... I forgot my meds today, didn't I? Look, I uh.... I don't know what I did, but let everyone know I'm sorry, okay? I gotta get changed and get home." Norman stood up and stepped inside a restroom, emerging a minute later in jeans and a T-shirt, with some simple work boots on. The wetsuit, boots, and gloves were all tucked inside the bucket helmet, and the towel was casually thrown over his shoulder. "Thanks again, both of you." With that, Norman walked off sitting at the bus stop.

Katrina can't help but smirk at the scenario before offering.

"At least it wasn't a real villain or a creature from whatever...those things come from."

"Now for the real thing. What you all say should we check out the Museum?"

Jorortis grabbed the ear bud and placed it into his ear ,fixing it snug, before looking at the person who had giving it to him and telling her. "Names Jorortis." He started to prime up his large metallic arm getting it ready for anything.

Eyeing the apparent mage, Kestrel silently retrieves a unmarked ball of steel from her black utility belt, tapping on her voice modulator before moving forward. Stopping behind a column just near the entrance, again wrapped in shadows, she readies herself before rolling the ball forward, the object not visible as it slips within the confines of a floor grate, before a audioclip is heard. The blaring of a police siren can be heard, along with the intelligable murmurs of supposed officers...

The entire move is set to distract the assailant, as she is confident he will see through the ruse, though this may give her an insight to his abilities...in order to take him down.

The figure looks back as the sound of sirens fill the air, shrugging at the faint flashes of police lights from the windows. Its laughs, the voice sounding as if it was underwater.

"Right on schedule. Charkrast, you know what to do."

With that, the darkness around the figure slips off and forms into a massive being of void that is almost double the size of its previous host, a man in black robes with ornate golden trim at the waist, ankles, and wrists and wearing a hood which covers all but his eyes which seem to be alight with the same fire as outside. His voice becomes normal and carries a deep-toned Grecian accent.

"And remember to release it when I return, will you?"

The creature nods and turns around, massive arms folded as it waits for the heroes while its master goes down the hall to the Greek exhibit, still humming his tune. Another wall of fire rises behind him to block access to the hall.

Rotten then focused on a spot beyond the wall and then the spot in front of them. He started to create the portal not sure if the flames would hinder it or not.

Charkrast falls, groaning as the damage sinks in before rising again and swinging a mighty arm at Kestrel, seeming unfazed by the surprise attack.

The man continues his walk down the exhibit still humming away as he passes statues of gods and mythical heroes, pottery with depictions of ancient battles, and even ancient weapons of war, throwing fire at each one and giving a light "heh" at the subsequent damage caused until he reaches a small stand that holds a plaque and a mirror-like disc within a glass case.

ARCHIMEDES FOCUS

He smirks a little to himself before touching the case, melting the glass away, and pocketing the disc within his robe. [i]Some fool's already trying to take down Chark. Poor thing has no idea what they're facing.[/i]

When Sings Loudly came back, he was on the sidewalk, weaving in and out of his human servant's legs, meowing at a high volume as befit his True Name. As opposed to the one his servant used.

"Be quiet, Setzer. There better be a good reason for thi-" The teen-aged human's voice cut off as the wall of dark green flame came into view. "Okay, there is a good reason. Not sure my algebra teacher will agree..."

One of the police officers noticed the pair approaching. Actually, he just noticed the young human. He paid little attention to the cat, who had stopped meowing. He wasn't sure who this kid was, but he had noticed the bird earlier, and even if he hadn't his orders from higher up were clear: No one touched that fire until one of the Department's Supernatural Liaisons got here to check it out. And he was all set to warn the kid away, when the kid stopped, sat down on the sidewalk yoga-style, and looked right past him at the flames. The cat lay down in the kid's lap.

Toni's astral self slipped past the police, unseen. Even in this form, Toni knew better than to touch that fire directly. First came centering and grounding, then forming a double-walled shield, like the walls of a thermos bottle. Slipping the construct into the flames, Toni confirmed that the fire couldn't penetrate into the interior. Finally the far end was opened and construct expanded to provide an insulated passage through the flames for an ordinary-sized person. Toni let the construct sit on the ground, and backed away, watching to see if the fire adapted to the shield as astral self rejoined physical self.

Toni's eyes grew wide as a statue of Atlas came through the wall. The construct was quickly shrunk down to a hopefully unnoticeable three inches across.

Kestrel barely manages to leap off the creature in time as it strikes at her, vaulting backward off of it's shoulders and landing just before Rotten, not before wincing internally at a bruised rib courtesy of Charkast's fist clipping her. Not even turning her head as Rotten speaks, she registers his words nonetheless as she back handsprings towards the wall of flame behind Charkast, launching a barrage of explosive pellets at the creature, intending to send him forward into the attacks of the other heroes.

At the sound and sight of the statue being used as a exit strategy, Kestrel internally sneers, before resolving to the fact that the man will be undoubtably intercepted by heroes and police, as expected. Turning back to the current fight, she simply glares down the creature with a look that induces shivers, before speaking her first words in the entire altercation. Besides the octave lowering of a abforementioned voice modulator, they would note that her words are thoughtful and articulated in a effortless monotone.

"He's a diversion, we should concentrate on the theif." With that stated, she rushes forward before suddenly vaulting forward over Charkast in a spinning leap, dropping obfuscating smoke pellets as she arcs above, landing effortlessly on her steel lined heels. Underneath her rich brown hair briefly lash against the back of her grey, black, and golden metallic combat suit, a spiraling Kestrel in flight can be briefly spotted.

Could she be related to the Kestrel's before her, or a new heroine entirely? She doesn't give them time to determine a truth because she has already exited the museum without a sound, rappelling swiftly towards the roof to gain a line of sight on the fleeing villain.

"I think I am going to stay here for a bit." The giant man said dodging some punches ,before countering with a heavy uppercut of his own ,grabbing Charkast by the forearm and swinging him into the thick stone wall of the museum." Cant leave him unattended to.."

Sings Loudly leapt from lap to shoulder to the top of a newsstand, then down and under a car to watch from a less exposed location. He recognized the man in black by type, if not as an individual. He sing a soft warning to his servant, who he hoped would have enough sense to get out of sight...

Toni scarcely noted the launch of the cat, an advantage of the heavy denim jeans and pseudo-leather jacket. Standing and moving back around the corner took only a moment. Crouching, Toni pulled out a compact and used the mirror to look around the corner while hopefully remaining unobserved. A tiny flow of power was sent into the shield-construct, preparing a trap if the man in black noticed it and investigated too carelessly...

The mage in black continues to step in the direction of Toni, a dark shield surrounding him as his verse continues.

"Beata Maria.. you know I'm so much purer than the common, vulgar, weak licentious crowd."

Both hands stretch outwards and burst into balls of flame with dark swirling magick in the center.

"Then tell me, Maria... Why I see her dancing there? Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul..."

Watching the man in black begin his assualt against Toni from her vantage point upon the museum's roof, Kestrel opts to use the element of surpise against their foe. Crouching forward, she reaches into the second sealed pocket upon her utility belt, and producing a second voltaic cord she attempted to subdue Charkast with. Keeping an eye on her target, she would wait until he drops his shield to attack. While doubtful this will bring him down, the force of her landing upon his shoulders will hopefully be enough to stun him at the very least.

With that in mind, she suddenly leaps forward into view, intending to land on and wrap her legs across his shoulders, while pulling the cord back against his neck...if unsuccessful, she would make an attempt to leap off of him by using his head as a springboard.

Kestrel immediately leaps back off of the man, not a second too late thanks to reflexes, though is swiftly sent flying thanks to the impact of a nearby hell meteor. Managing to semi right herself after smacking into the rear fender of a abandoned sedan, she hisses in pain as she forces her right shoulder back into it's socket with a gut wrenching pop. Sliding down the passenger side door in a period of brief respite, Kestrel decides to attempt to drop the concentration of Charkast for a moment, by forcing him to target her.

Seething internally as she fights her body's urge to rest, she launches a pair of flashbang pellets at the entity to allow civilians more time to escape, mentally preparing for more pain and quick evasion.

Toni didn't know [url=http://cityoftitans.com/comment/54521#comment-54521]why the waters of the Phoenix statue seemed different today[/url]. But they did, and it seemed just the thing to counter Archdeacon Frollo.

Flashpoint seemed to have the meteors themselves handled, and the sneaky heroine Toni didn't recognize had gotten off of Frollo's back just in time to avoid being incinerated. So Toni diverted the flow of the monument's waters in a tight stream, aimed straight at the man in black clothes and green fire.

[I]Holy Water v. Hell Fire[/I].

Sings Loudly came out of the shadows in a room that was labeled "Groundskeeper". He located the control that was needed, and with a single claw advanced a clock about twelve hours. Outside the museum, all the sprinklers came. A moment later, a clock in another room was adjusted, and sprinklers at that end of Phoenix Plaza came on.

Blinking as a unexamined outcome is reached, Kestrel manages to steadily stand somewhat as she makes her way over to a now powerless, or so she believed hellfire Mage. Once she reached him, she would swiftly place a metallic heel upon his neck, hoping to hold him down as she implores in a dark, rather intimidating tone that even held some officers briefly back.

"What was the purpose of this robbery, and I suggest speaking freely now...while your larynx is still intact." She threatens, though it's clear she intends to make it a reality if need be.

Ron went for one last uppercut only for Charkrast to vanish. "Well that was surprising." He then headed out of the museum seeing the cluster of heroes and the laughing man "Ya Master might have a bit of chat with M'lady Hel if I take ya on that offer. She gets first dibs on the souls I send on their way." He lights a cigaret "Ya failed, ya master going to care if ya talk or not. To me ya in for a hard time either way jack."

Jorortis finally rejoined the fight ,only to find that it was over as he was to busy protecting civilians as he watched the man who once threw a statue through a wall ,on the ground being tortured by Kestrel ,folding his arms he walked closer to the scene ,his massive frame casting a shadow on the fallen man just in time to see her drive her heel into his rib.

The mage coughs up blood as the rib snaps into two, giving a pained laugh with an expression that outright screams he has no fear of dying.

"heh.. heh.. do your worst, dear. Torture me, beat me, do what you will. My soul is already damned to torment, so what does it matter if my body receives the same punishment?"

The mage laughs once more, spitting blood onto Kestrel's suit before grinning at her.

"Not even close, whelp. You think you understand everything? You know NOTHING of what is to come. Those mortals would have been spared the chaos that will soon befall your city- nay, your world! But my time grows short.. know this, mortal: Today you did not win, for Absyrtus shall rise again!"

With that, his body explodes into flames and he gives an echoing laughter as it burns away. All that remains of the mage is the stolen focus and a small, finely cut emerald.

picks up a stick and pokes the emerald. "Hmm I wonder if he was really in control. This jemstone here might have taken over some fellows body and used it like a puppet. Thrusts he wouldn't care if he was harmed or even killed." He looks around "No one touches the stone until we get an expert on magic here to check it out. No need to give it another puppet."

The call was answered with "Hi, Ron. What's up?"

"I'll be right over," Goldenrod said, and hung up.

Goldenrod arrived a few minutes later in costume and with an illusion of bristles at the aft end of her staff. She came to a landing next to Rotten Luck and took in the scene. She nodded at the floating man. "So, this is the stone you're worried about?" She Looked at it carefully, mindful of her shields.

Goldenrod concentrated for several minutes. "The gem contains several fragments of souls. I don't see any potential for harm there, although I would like to try to release these fragments, to seek out their proper afterlife. The mirror has only the magic of being the subject of legend, although that can be a potential source of magical energy. The ashes should probably be collected for interment."

After finishing the repairs, Goldenrod mounted her "broom" and flew off into the west...

Then circled around to arrive at the Library just in time to change and start her shift ^_^

The park had an area that gave itself fully to the parkour fanatics and the ninja warriors of Titan City. One such visitor today wore his minimus shoes, wore a thin cotton hoodie and his pants had been rolled up to his knees. He posessed a decent balance for being such a tall and lanky fellow, and stumbled much less now than he had months ago, when he set fires to dishrags.

The tall lanky free-runner, Jeremy Heron, just ran across the fence almost crossing the park before he stumbled at the sight of the black oil drips. It could have been a bit of Katrina and Ron rubbing off on him, but he felt he needed to investigate. His buddies stayed back at Jeremy's insistance, one calling 911, but most filming with their phones. Jeremy threw his hood up to keep the filming of his face obscured.

"What is it?" one of the filming spectators called out to Jeremy.

Jeremy turned to look at who it was, keeping his face obscured where he could, "I don't know. I'm gonna ionize it and see how it reacts. Should let me know if it's magic or science at least."

Jeremy held his hand forward and shocked the black puddle. The ionizing energy jumped from his hand to the black ichor, and all Jeremy could do was watch and wait for a reaction.

Jeremy made sure to keep everyone away from the black puddles. A few took the initiative to run through the park and warn who they could about the corrupt puddles. While Jeremy waited for his 911 call. Ultimately, he was informed TCPD was already dispatched. Looking around, Jeremy heard echoes of the various comments on heroism and ethics. Some conflicted with his experiences in the past, and other comments reinforced them.

[i]((Bully 1))You're wasting your talents. ((TK))How did a a little wimp like you end up with powers, did your mommy like the alien types? ((Old principal))If he can't get his abilities under control, we'll have to transfer him to JDHS next semester. ((Sabrina))Ever thought about becoming a superhero when you gain more control over your powers? ((Rotten)) I needed to make a name for myself to have a normal life. the stuff that could kill a normal fellow. Toxins, radioactive, things of that nature. ((Lady Nova)) Ron, Shepard and myself are members of a team. ((Sheperd)) I hope you been keeping up with your training. ((TK)) I'd hate to lose you to the type of person I protected you from all those years growing up[/i]

Finishing the orchestra of murmurs and various echoes in his head were the words of his father, spoken years ago, [i]Jer, how you're treated now shouldn't have any impact on who you are. If you want greatness, or a little corner to call your own, that's all up to you. You've gotta figure out what you want and if whatever choice is in front of you will get you there.[/i]

Now galvanized with his new reality, Jeremy raced off with his longboard and looked for more of the black goo or anything else that looked out of the ordinary.

[i]No good deed...[/i] Jeremy thought. The idea of violence still abhorred him, and the clear indication the child would be traumatized weighed on Jeremy as well. Jeremy focused hard on the ionic energies in the area and attempted to construct a force field around the old man. It would take him a minute, but he knew the only other option was to hurt this old man in front of a child.

As Jeremy attempts to wrap the older man in a ionic force field, a lithe at fit shape darts from tree to tree overhead, before the now defined figure of a young man leaps from the tree to stand near Jeremy, in front of the child. His attire is a black combat kelvar vest over a grey inlay force absorption torso covering mesh, his right arm clad within a archer's armguard, his left a similar guard. On his back is a solid grey round shoulder strapped quiver, his lower back a second smaller emergency quiver, attached to a basic utility belt of sorts. Completing the outfit is knee-high steelheeled combat boots, and his face obscured by a grey lined hood and lower face mask obscuring the bride of his nose to the bottom of his neck.

With his silver sheened compact Kestrel shortbow in his left hand, he leans down to look at the girl, speaking quietly, his voice, though modulated, is clearly that of a teenager, ambient caring yet mature, his voice tinged with a slight Japanese accent.

"Alright, sweetheart, do may a favor and stay behind me and him." He points to Jeremy, as he moves to close the distance between them, adding. "We are going to help your Papa, and get you out of here safe and sound, alright?" He inquires, before looking to Jeremy, his chocolate brown eyes scanning him over before he states cordially with a slight bow.

"I am Kyudoka, do you know what's going on here? And it's a pleasure." He says despite the circumstances, making sure the girl is safe behind them however.

Kyudoka wastes no time in gently hefting the girl into her arms, holding her as soothingly as he could while he jogs her over gracefully to the waiting police officers, explaining the situation to them.

"It looks like there is at least 6 zombie-like husks roaming about the park, one of them is contained by a ally within a force field of sorts, but I don't know how long that will last. That said husk is this little girl's grandpa, I imagine, so she may need to be watched over here until...this can be reversed. If needed I have trick arrows that can immobolize them if need be." Having seen the state of the husk's himself, he internally doubted for a moment that they could be cured, but shook his head...they had to find a away somehow.

With his piece said to the police, Kyudoka returns to Jeremy as he implores.

"Can you hold him for long? If not I have some trick arrows to lock him down, but I'd prefer not to cause damage, he looks to frail." He notes.

The Arcanic consultant approached the two supers, draped in a longcoat with faint runic inlay in the liner. She had a no-face mask on, and wore leather boots, leading up into well-fitted jeans. Her belt had a TCPD shield ensignia belt buckle, though she herself chose to hide her face for whatever reason. "Before you two get on that--" She started. "The resuscitation is rather simple." The woman walked over to the bubble, gently letting her fingers trace the surface. She pulled a gem from a hidden pocket in the inner lining of her long coat, then there was a light. The gem began to glow as a white smokey substance emerged from her body and drifted into the gem. The light lingered for a moment, then moved towards the Contained Husk's heart.

The old Man's face would slowly return to normal, his skin becoming more and more peachy. Soon, he was sitting on the ground within the bubble looking around a bit dazed. He was rubbing his shoulder where the black mark was. The mark lingered, regardless of the reversal. "A Husk is a normal human. Drain a human's life essence, and they become zombie-like, hungering for other's essence. The only safe way to restore them is through an emergency Essence Transfusion. If they attack others, the essence is transferred sloppily, and it can end up taking four victims to restore the original." The woman slumped up against a cruiser and held her head in one of her delicate looking hands. "Bring the Husks back here unharmed, and I'll get more mages to perform transfusions."

Elsewhere in the park the situation caught someone.. or something else attention. ALX-32 showed no fear or even restraint as the robot walked up to a husk and grabbed it by the neck analyzing the creature. "Interesting. What caused this condition." His artificial eyes spotted the wound marks in the woman husk chest. "Five penetration marks, located near heart region... layout alignment possible organic hand configuration." The Husked woman clawed at the artificial arm suspending her in the air as ALX scanned the area for traces of track that could lead him to the cause of the woman's transformation.

ALX scanners didn't pick up anything. It didn't even pick up any info from the husk. "Magical? So it would seem." Alx was now even more interested and carried the woman to the waiting police. There was no reason to expose his true motive at this time. "I have captured this woman. She seems to be under the effects of a magical nature."

Police would Cuff and detain the Husk-woman through traditional means, and lock her inside a cruiser until additional mages could arrive for transfusions. The Husks didn't seem to posses any kind of super strength from the looks of it, so even the reinforced glass windows managed to hold the wrinkly agitators well enough. Four Husks remaining...

Jorortis walked out of the restaurant that he was in, taking notice to the man trying to climb up a tree to get to a child ,only for it to be resolved. "What the hell." Jorortis made his way to the others, giving a nod to people he had not noticed before."Whats going on over here?"