It has been a week since Meta-Force was captured and taken into custody by CAPE. They are temporarily being held in Ryker's Island penitentiary, each with nullifier collars firmly attached around their necks. Roughneck also has a collar utilizing a low grade EMP technology to keep his cybernetics in check. MM's wounds were largely superficial and he has recovered from them quickly. Tolwynn has been turned over to the central Park zoo, and Tancreed hasn't been seen since the battle with the Minutemen

At Ryker's they were visited separately by Ms. Chesterton. She explained to each of them that they were to be transferred to Stronghold Prison. She had information from Col. Rogers regarding the transfer to Stronghold: Not only were they being transferred, but so were two recently captured low ranking members of the Metahuman Liberation Front, Death Nell and Igneous. Neither of them had talked under questioning. It's now Meta-Force's job to somehow ingratiate themselves with these two and learn as much as possible about the MLF and their plans, as well as possibly infiltrating the group itself by becoming members. The MLF members may try to escape, or be sprung by members form the outside. If so, they are not to try to prevent this from happening, but instead assist in it to gain the loyalty of these two.

"Just do your best Frank." Col. Rogers seems to have faith in you all," replies Ms. Chesterton.

"Is Tolwynn safe at this... zoo? It sounds so barbaric? I promise to smite those responsible if I find her to be hurt when this ends."

"She is being well taken care of by the staff there, Zena. She won't be harmed. The veterinarians there...doctors for animals... say she has fully recovered from her wounds and is doing well.

Julia doesn't say a word until Ms. Chesteron is about to leave, and then asks, "Is Daddy mad at me? Please tell him I'm sorry." She bends over and runs her shackled hand through her hair. "It' just...I always seem to screw things up. I...I just want to go home."

"I haven't been in any personal contact with him, but he has definitely used the incident to further his political campaign regarding the dangers of metahumans and irresponsible use of their powers. It actually gave him a boost in his popularity ratings" responds Ms. Chesterton. "Hang in there Julia, hopefully this will all work itself out soon. I'll do my best to see taht he gets your message. "

"On second thought, nevermind. It's been a week since my last drink, and I tend to ramble when I'm sober. If you do talk to him, just...just say I wish things could have been different between us." Julia then breaks down in tears, and the guards have to put her back in her cell.

The team members are escorted from their individual cells, chained and shackled, and placed in a large holding cell to await their transfer to Stronghold within the hour. There are two others in the room, which they can only assume to be the two MLF members Ms. Chesterton had informed them about. One is female and blonde, with chalky white skin, the other and a short, stocky black male with a bald head. neither of them say anything to the others. High in the corner of the room, encased in a bulletproof glass box sits a TV. It is tuned to one of the 24 hour news channels, which is once again re-hashing the spectacular events that lead to the capture of meta-Force. It is re-airing the footage form the Mulliver report for the billionth time, and the newscasters and their guests debate lively on what it all means. Igneous, who is watching the report, snorts derisively at the footage and glares at the team.

Julia finds a nice spot in the corner to sit with her back against the wall. She hugs her knees tight against her chest.

Roughneck, seeing Igneous glaring at them, rolls his eyes with disdain.

"HA!" laughs Igneous, pleased that he was able to illicite some reaction from one of the team. He returns to watching television with a smug smile on his face.

Death Nell crosses the room and sits on the floor next to Julia, with a concerned look on her face. "It looks like you could use someone to talk to. My name is Nell. " she says with a reassuring smile. "I've been a big fan of yours for a long time and I'd love to get to know you better, Julia. It can get awfully...lonely... in the joint." she says. The double meaning of Nell's words aren't lost on Julia. She's been hit on enough time's to know that Nell is making a pass at her.

"What I could really use is a drink," says Julia. "Some of the things Daddy...my father...said got me thinking, not like I've got anything else to do around here, you know? Maybe he's right about me. Maybe I am just a screw up. I knew crashing his little shindig was a bad idea, but I went along anyway, and look where I ended up."

"It's not all bad, says Nell. "You just have to know someone who can show you the ropes. What made you decide to do it anyway? " she asks, indicating the TV monitor, which is showing a clip of the fundraiser attack.

"Heh, I wonder how many times they've shown me getting my clock cleaned by that biatch with the boomerang. An f-ing boomerang! Or maybe when I slammed into a Mr. Roboto 3000 without making a dent. Ellen's probably having a field day stomping what's left of my name into the mud." Upon seeing Nell's questioning expression, she adds, "A reporter with the Daily Herald who has a mad on for trashing me for some reason. For the life of me, I don't know what I ever did to her. You know I keep a scrapbook of her articles about me? I mean, how f-ed up is that?"

"As to why, isn't it obvious? Have your heard some of the crap my father's been spewing?" asks Julia. "I can't believe people are falling for that crap. There are only three things that man cares about: money, power, and more money. I only wish that was the worse of it. If anyone deserves to be locked up in here, it's him. Sorry, I don't mean to burden you with my problems."

"I know it is frustrating, but we will soon have our day in the sun. I am sure the cro-magnons hated the homo sapiens as well. The nats (derogatory slang term for humans..short for naturals) fear us, because we herald their extinction. The MLF is only trying to expedite the process."

Igneous looks over his shoulder at the two women talking in the corner. "You two should get a room.HA! But only if I can watch." he says in a gravely voice, chuckling at his own comment.

"F*ck off, Iggy!" says Death Nell flipping Igneous the bird.

"HA!" barks Igneous' laughter.

"Don't worry about him, sweetie. He's just jealous." says Nell.

"Well if he wants to watch, I say let's give him a show," says Julia. She winks playfully at Nell. "So how'd you two hook up with the MLF? And is it true about Katrina? That must have taken some serious meta-mojo." She'll run a hand through Nell's hair. "I like your hair, by the way. Is that your natural color?"

The TV cuts to commercial break and the team sees the following Alpha Male commercial. (It is the first time any of them have seen it)

"Uri and Guy strike again. Those two have no shame," says Verve. He then looks worriedly at Zena, fearing her reaction.

Zena had been sitting quietly before seeing the commercial. In all truth she didn't even notice what was on the screen until she heard Titania. Zena stands with a snarl when the commercial concludes. "They dare to use my home for their corporate debauchery?!" Zena shouts angrily. "And Titania is here?!?" With those words Zena charges shoulder first into the door trying to break it down, her sole purpose to find Titania and beat on her some more, caring less about the guards just outside. Push the 7int into Strength, "attack" the door with the 9str

Zena sees that the hallway to the right, leads back further into the prison area, where they were initially held. To the left is another steel reinforced door, which is closed. Zena knows that the guards use small cards to unlock the doors rather than keys.

"Sweet!" says Igneous, jumping to his feet and heading toward the door with a menacing grin on his face.

Death Knell also hurriedly scrambles to her feet. "Take them out and get their guns. We won't have long until reinforcements arrive. We can use them as hostages if need be."

Master Menagero moves to the far wall, having no desire to be shot again.

Zena charges into the closest guard, using the same shoulder that she used against the door 4Will. The shackles make her movement a bit sluggish, but she is fairly sure that she can dodge anything that these guards can throw at her on her way to find Titania. 5 Agil for dodge.

Frank, who had been engrossed in the commercial, hears Zena bust down the door and turns to see her in the outer hall. He stands--only through serious effort, since the collar he wears has effectively shut down his control over his cybernetics. For the first time since he was welded, he has to move his body purely on his own. The weight of the cybernetics slows him, as do the shackles, but he still tries to follow Zena through the door. He rushes one of the guards, head down, intending to head but the man. 4S for the attack, 4I for the attempt to move, I'll push with the 3I. Use a replacement card if I have to dodge anything. I assume I won't have to resist Frenzy, since the core is defunct.

Julia jumps to her feet and attempts to shoulder-tackle the nearest guard. Player 7S to attack, 4A to dodge if needed.

Zena charges into the closest guard, using the same shoulder that she used against the door The shackles make her movement a bit sluggish, but she is fairly sure that she can dodge anything that these guards can throw at her on her way to find Titania. As she lunges toward the nearest guard, her feet become tangled and she misses him completely, slamming the wall instead.

Julia jumps to her feet and slams into the guard Zena just missed. The impact knocks them both against the wall and the guard smacks his head with a hollow thud. He slides down the wall unconscious.

Death Knell is right behind and quickly grabs the fallen guard gun. She then points it at the remaining guards. "Don't do anything stupid, if you want to live. ..drop the gun."

He does as he is told and Igneous snatches it up into his hammy hands.

"Very good." Nell says with a pleased smile. Now. Hand me the collar key..slowly. "

Again the guard does as he is told.

Frank has barely even begun to move . as he witnesses all of this occurring.

"Keep him covered Iggy, " says Death Knell. She hands the rifle to Julia, and igneous gives her a worried look. " I won't be able to carry that once I get this collar off, she says undoing the restraint. "There ..that's better" she says with a sigh of relief as the collar pops open. The collar immediately begins to rot away where her fingers are touching it , as well as the key. "Dammit! Oh well, I'll just have to free the rest of you the old fashioned way." She touches each of their collars and restraints. As she does so they quicky rot way and all of their powers return.

For both Julia and Frank, this is a mixed blessing. Frank feels the return of the Core and Julia, feels the stifling encasement of her forcefield once again. Zena can sense the background noise of a plethora of animal life nearby..vermin, seabirds, fish, dogs, etc. Rykers is set on an island in a river

Julia looks at Death Nell as if seeing her for the first time.

Verve grabs a notepad and stubby pencil out of the unconscious guards' front pocket. he looks at the stubby unsharpened pencil with a frown on his face.

"I suggest Verve and I do a quick change of clothes with these two and pose as guards. " suggests Master Menagero. "Of course that means Igneous and Kinetica would have to hand over their guns. "

As if in answer to MM's suggestion, an alarm immediately begins to sound.

"No time for that now, they are onto us. " says Death Knell.

Igneous pitches his rifle to MM . "Time for me to power up" he says. A contorted look of concentration and bulging veins begins a quick transformation of the short, black man into a rocky, fissure filled powerhouse. Lava can be seen coursing beneath the surface of his blackened hide and heat emanates from his body.

One exit, coming up!" he says as he charges down the west hallway slamming into the locked doorway with the force of a mack truck. The door doesn't even slow him down as it blasts off it's hinges and Igneous keeps on charging. The others can see that the doorway leads to the outside. It is dark and rainy, other than the spotlights now fixed on Igneous from the guard towers.

"PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND GET ON YOUR KNEES! " comes a man's voice from a loudspeaker outside.

"Go Fuck yerself!" Igneous rages, forming a molten ball of Magma in his hands.

"It looks like we are going to have to use these two as hostages after all." says Nell. "The helicopter pad is out the door and up a flight of stairs. " she says indicating the doorway Igneous just smashed through.

Frank says says, "Then let's get the hell outta here."

"Time to make my own detour," says Julia, taking to the air. She blasts up towards the ceiling, not stopping until she gets to the roof. Play 5S

Zena sneers. Apparently the rest of the team mistook her moment of rage as part of their ruse to lure the trust of these two miscreants. No, Zena meant what she said. She charges east, back towards the prison in search of Titania. 5 Agil for dodge; 3 Agil to touch the first person who tries to stop me (guard or otherwise) and the 4 Will to stun them upon a successful touch attack. (you do still want me to make a successful touch attack, right Keith?)

Roughneck yells after Zena, "Zena! This isn't Stronghold! Titania isn't here! She's at Stronghold!" He goes after her. If Zena responds and comes back to the group, Roughneck will go with them to the roof, or wherever else they decide to go.

MM says. "Verve, we are posing as hostages. Give the gun to ROughneck and Kinetica. That way we can escape with minimal harm to any guards." MM informs the rest of the team of his plan hoping that Zena comes to her senses.|

MM says. "Verve, we are posing as hostages. Give the guns to Roughneck and Kinetica. That way we can escape with minimal harm to any guards." MM informs the rest of the team of his plan hoping that Zena comes to her senses.

But as often the case, everyone acts of their own accord. Zena storms east down the hallway back toward the prison, but she is stopped by another metallic doorway. Roughneck follows after her trying to reason with her, to no avail. Frank knows that it will just be a matte of time before the guard s located within the prison come storming down on them from the very entrance that Zena seems hell-bent on smashing through.

Roughneck (standing near Zena on the battlemap) puts his hand on her shoulder as he says again, "Zena, you've gotta listen! Titania's not in this place, she's far away from here! We gotta go, before more guards come!' (Frank is unaware of zena's volatile mood, and will play no cards to defend himself against anything she does. if she listens to him, he will run back up the hall and climb the ladder after Verve et al., assuming Zena follows. otherwise he stays with her and keeps trying to convince her-- assuming he is able!)

Zena turns, forcefully knocking Roughneck's hand from her body. "LIAR! I saw her on the screen! The room she was in is just like this facility! She must be here, and I will find her!" Zena attempts to take the door down, 4 Will to "attack" the door; 5 Agil to dodge

I was expecting him to get slugged! Roughneck replies, "Why would I lie?! We've gotta get outta here while we still can!" Roughneck feels trapped in a tragic situation. He doesn't dare try to incapacitate Zena, and is unsure if he could actually do it anyway. But if she doesn't listen to reason she's going to get them all captured, or at least the two of them. He looks back down the hall to see the others making good their escape. He yells down to Verve, "If we don't make it, go without us! We'll find you...we'll find you where we first fought Wild Child!" Unable to think of anything else, Frank hopes Verve will remember their first encounter, in an alley, with Wild Child, which he does not remember ever seeing on the news. Hopefully the authorities do not know where that is.

Kinetica takes flight, punching a hole through the ceiling and into the rainy night air. SHe hovers about 30 feet above the ground to take in the situation. Directly below her is the hole she just made, surrounding that is a helicopter platform with a medium sized helicopter used for transport. It looks vaguely military and could easily hold 10-12 people. There is a set of narrow metallic stairs that go from the bottom of the courtyard to the roof where the helicopter platform is located.

To the West is the courtyard where she sees Igneous throw a molten ball of flame at one of the guard towers, which explodes in a crimson fireball, lighting up the night sky.KER-SHWOOSH!! The guards in the remaining three guard towers open fire with automatic weapons on Igneous. The bullets explode in the air around him as the heat from his shell ignites them. "HA! That kind of tickles. He quips in his gravely voice.

Julia's explosive escape, has also caught the attention of some the guards and she finds that her glowing blue forcefield makes for nice target in the night sky as several of the guards open fire on her. BUDDABUDDABUDDA

Back in the corridor, Verve looks at the guns that both he and Master menagero are holding. "Well, we can't give them to roughneck and Kinetica now. " he says to MM. "I'm going to sketch up a ladder, so we can go out the exit kinetica made. it seems a bit safer than that one, " says verve indicting the courtyard where sounds of gunfire and explosions are emanating.

"I won't be able to climb a ladder" says Death Nell. "ANything I touch rots away. I can't control it. I have to take the stairs outside or have you guys haul me up somehow."

'I'm sure I can whip up something once we are up there," says Verve. "just keep an eye on him," he says indicating the still conscious guard. "unless you have some other ideas MM" asks Verve.

"OK. Just hurry, " says Nell.

"Don't worry about it," says Kinetica as she flies back down to give Death Nell a lift. "I've got you babe." Kinetica then starts humming the pop song. Play 9W if needed, lowest Agility card to dodge unless they come out with some big guns. In that case, use best card.

"Who cares about my ideas," says MM, assuming Kinetica's powers and flying close to her. "It seems we have taken to the role of villainy quite well; every man for himself." MM is very dissatisfied with the team. The fact is that they were ALREADY engaged in a dangerous mission. But the lack of team structure would elevate this mission from dangerous to lethal, he was sure. His mid flashed back to Blitz's demise. All the scientist could do now was try and watch the back of his "team" mates and hope no one gets killed.|

Kinetica dives back through the hole she created earlier when she busted through he ceiling and picks up Death Nell under the arms. Master Menagero assumes Julia's powers as she draws near and flies upward alongside Kinetica and Death Nell "Who cares about my ideas," says MM, close to her. "It seems we have taken to the role of villainy quite well; every man for himself."

AS they clear the hole in the ceiling they are immediately under attack by automatic gunfire, but the bullets bounce harmlessly off of their individual forcefields. Death Nell screams in pain as a bullet grazes her arm. "Dammit! I'm not bullet proof like you! Put me down, you are drawing too much fire!"

"Up you go", says Verve to the conscious guard, standing next to him, motioning with his gun. the guard obeys, climbing up the ladder. and Verve quickly follows. As he does so he hears Roughneck yells down the corridor to him, "If we don't make it, go without us! We'll find you...we'll find you where we first fought Wild Child!" Verve hesitates, not liking the sound of that. Zena was not listening to reason, when did she ever? He could use his powers to take her out, but then they'd be trapped in the corridor, at least temporarily and time was of the essence .

Zena seems about to attack the door, but it is suddenly thrown open from the other side. Four armored guards stand on the other side. , and they immediately open fire with taser guns. The stun blast washes over Zena , who is able to ignore it's effects and she lashes out, hitting the nearest guard with her stunning touch. the e guard stiffens and falls to the floor.

One of the taser blasts hits Roughneck and its sends a tingly sensation throughout his body (7 health damage). His computer core immediately kicks in seeking to eliminate the threat in the quickest, deadliest fashion , but Frank is able to push it back into it's cage. (Made your willpwower save. So you don't have to worry about it anymore for the rest of this battle. )

"Dammit," says Verve and drops to the floor as the guard above him makes it out onto the roof.
"I got your back!" he yells down to Zena and Roughneck, pulling out his sketchpad. "Just make sure to keep her close!"

Roughneck hears Verve's words as he strikes one of the guards with his fist. He tries to stay close to Zena, wondering what Verve has in mind. Whatever it is, if it doesn't work, Frank is wondering how he will get Zena to abandon her idea that Titania is somewhere nearby. My intellect card for attack, and my agility card for dodging.

Master Menagero sees the guard climb out onto the roof and hits the deck immediately so as not to be hit by any friendly fire. He begins ot army crawl towards teh helicopter.

A few moments later Igneous can be seen bounding up the stairwell, cursing at the bullets exploding about him as if they were annoying gnats. "Can anybody fly that thing?!' he asks of the helicopter.

"I'll figure it out," MM gripes while getting into the helicopter.If anyone oppses me, I will punch them with my 5D. I want to make an intellect feat to fly the helicopter: + 7 Daredevil (Guardian/Rescue). Can I use an XP point to effect this rescue card, basically rescue who we came to rescue and go.

"Sorry luv," says Kinetica, dropping Nell down onto the roof, Kinetica attempts to provide some k-bolt cover fire for Roughneck and Zena. Play 4I to attack. If something unexpected happens, play highest Agility card to dodge, but otherwise Julia relies on her force field to protect her from gunfire.

Master Menagero dashes to the helicopter and climbs inside the pilot seat. Igneous, turns off his powers and climbs aboard as well, sitting next to MM in the co-pilot seat, and Death Nell climbs into the back. Menagero quickly studies the instrument control panel and makes an educated guess as to how it works. It wasn't to much different than a flight simulator game he had once played on computer. clicking several buttons on, the blades begin to whir, MM takes the throttle and the helicopter takes to the air, a tad erratically du to MM's inexperience.

Kinetica provides cover for the copter as it takes flight, hovering above the rooftop, shooting K-bolts and using her forcefield as a shield from bullets.

MM pushes another button, with the word "roof panel" labeled on it and an access hatch slides open near the end of the hallway where Roughneck and Zena are battling the guards.

Roughneck punches one of the guards in the nose, shattering it, as Zena kicks another, sending him flying back into a third, just as the access hatch opens above them. A ladder is thrown from the hovering helicopter, just as large animated chains bind Zena from head to toe.

"Sorry Zena, but you are out of control and we've got to get out of here now." says Verve. Roughneck grabs hold of the struggling Zena with one arm, and the ladder with the other. Verve quickly jumps on the ladder as well, as they are rescued by Master Menagero. (no xp expenditure necessary, as everyone gets one dramatic event per adventure for free.)

"NO!!!"shouts Zena, hopelessly struggling against the animations.