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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nRead the previous chapter here<\/a><\/p>\n [Begin a Session: External factors create new danger, urgency, or importance for a quest]<\/strong> Everything fell apart for Ryker Vane the day the Space Agents filled the sky above his home world, Essifum. Vane\u2019s tribe consisted of pacifist farmers. It was the Space Agents\u2019 war against Bale and his Deathvoid Inquisitors that ended this idyll. Crops were burnt and houses razed as both cosmic forces battled, taking little heed of the innocents caught in the middle. Ryker would learn that to many, the Space Agents were considered heroes. He found the truth to be far different.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When he had the chance, Ryker went off-world and sought help from those who could fulfill his only wish: the destruction of Earth and its heroes, particularly their precious Space Agent, Jack Briscoe. Ryker found what he needed, the laboratories of Oguds, a warrior race that used genetic engineering to improve their chances on the battlefield. Ryker was infused with a cocktail of chemicals that turned his insides into fire. His physical form was augmented with implants, and he was a whole new being when he emerged from the gestation chamber.<\/p>\n When the Naxramman Alliance announced their plans to invade Earth, Ryker joined unofficially. He didn\u2019t want to serve under the command of anyone. Instead, he put himself in cryofreeze and had his ship\u2019s autopilot take him into a hidden orbit of Earth\u2019s moon. He paid a desperate soldier to place his beacon on one of the troop ships. It would activate once the ship landed and awaken Ryker from his slumber, letting the invasion act as his advance men, softening up the target before his glorious revenge was taken. But something clearly went wrong.<\/p>\n Now, he stands overlooking Forge City, home to so many of Earth\u2019s heroes. The invasion clearly failed; only minor damage was visible. He will burn this precious jewel to the ground. Ryker Vane will make sure the inhabitants of this planet never forget his name or the fate of his people. It is time to begin killing.<\/p>\n Main Story Thread: The Machine Collective<\/strong> Kismet stumbles through the corridors of sub-basement level 3 beneath the Victory Academy. His side bleeds from the razor tendril that just slashed across it. Cortex, one of the deadliest villains ever known, had been secretly imprisoned in a strange cube hidden in Aiden Bell\u2019s secret laboratory. The Academy\u2019s headmaster has been plotting to force its graduates into serving the Forge City PD against their wills, too. More and more, the school leader was looking like a worse and worse choice.<\/p>\n Oracle question: Can Kismet find his way back to the surface? Odds: Likely. Answer:\u00a0 [Ask the Oracle: No]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet realizes he\u2019s disoriented. Cortex must excrete some sort of neurotoxin from her mechanical tentacles. It\u2019s in his bloodstream and making him lose track of what\u2019s up and down. He has to focus and see through the haze to get out of here and get help.<\/p>\n Face Danger w\/Iron \u2013 [Weak Hit: 5 + 2 + 0 = 7 vs 7 | 4] \u2013 Take -1 Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet has to concentrate and push himself to stand up, step forward, and actively look for signage pointing toward the elevators. He gets there and slams the button to call one down. It arrives, and there is no sign of Cortex stalking after him, so he jumps onboard. He\u2019s profoundly worried about Nano and Grail, whom he was forced to leave behind. Not as much for Silver Sentry, but he doesn\u2019t want the hero dead.<\/p>\n Kismet bumps into Panthra, whom he initially thinks is Panthra. He starts spilling, explaining how Grail showed up with Sentry and that Bell has plans to forcibly enlist the students. Then Panthra\u2019s form ripples and reveals herself as Incognito. \u201cSorry, Jude. I was just practicing,\u201d she apologizes. Jude\u2019s mind swirls like a carousel, and he collapses onto the floor, blacking out.<\/p>\n Interlude \u2013 Thread: Alien Tech Aftermath<\/strong> Ryker Kane strides through the streets of Forge City\u2019s Central Island. He emerges from the water near the southern docks. He punches some tankers in the harbor, triggering devastating explosions that simply slide off Ryker\u2019s impervious form. Within moments, soldiers still stationed in Forge City, due to the alien invasion, try to keep the attacker cornered against the water. Ryker lifts an armored jeep from the ground and chucks it at a group of soldiers taking cover behind a warehouse. Another explosion rocks the docks.<\/p>\n \u201cIs this the best you can do?\u201d Ryker shouts. \u201cWhere are your precious heroes? Are they too scared to face me? Do they know I bring their destruction?\u201d<\/p>\n Back to the Main Thread: The Machine Collective<\/strong> Kismet dreams as he floats through his unconscious. He remembers the summer in New Mexico with his aunt, uncle, and their kids last year. He was riding dirt bikes with his cousin Luis. Luis warned him about the government facility and told him not to go down the path that followed the river. Jude didn\u2019t listen. There was a flash of light. Everything looked like a photo negative for a second. When he woke up, Jude was in the hospital under observation. It all seemed fine until he returned home to Forge City. But\u2026there was someone else there in the desert. Jude remembers now he was drifting in and out of consciousness, and someone drug him back to the path his cousin was on, ensuring that Jude would be found.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you in there, Jude?\u201d Incognito asks. Kismet\u2019s eyes flutter, and he sees Incognito standing over him. \u201cSorry I spooked you. I was just tryin\u2019 to see how closely I could mimic the headmaster.\u201d<\/p>\n Kismet tries to speak, but his voice is a little rough. He clears it and rasps out: \u201cCortex. In the basement. Bell. Had her. Locked up.\u201d<\/p>\n Minutes later, Panthra, Amaya, and other staff members gather in the command room and have Kismet explain what happened. Panthra says they must go down there to rescue Grail, Nano, and Silver Sentry. A debate erupts. Some of these heroes were around to see Cortex in action. They suggest activating the sub-basement lockdown protocols. Yes, they love Nano and Grail. There\u2019s less for Sentry based on his recent behavior. The consensus among this group is that some must be sacrificed to protect Earth from Cortex\u2019s return.<\/p>\n The command room alert lights flash. The monitors bring up images of a red-skinned behemoth wreaking havoc on the Central Island. Some staff and students start heading for the hangar bay. Kismet knows it\u2019s going to take the effort of as many people as they can get to stop Cortex. And just where is Headmaster Bell, anyway?<\/p>\n Kismet explains what he learned about Bell and the EOD to keep people listening to him.<\/p>\n Secure an Advantage w\/Heart \u2013 [Weak Hit: 4 + 3 + 0 = 7 vs 10 | 1] \u2013 Take +1 on the next roll<\/strong><\/p>\n They are listening, especially now that they know Bell is selling them out, and he didn\u2019t even plan on informing them of what would happen. Kismet believes this will convince them to enter the sub-basement and flush out Cortex.<\/p>\n Compel w\/Heart \u2013 [Strong Hit w\/a Match: 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 vs 3 | 3]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet\u2019s words had an effect. Both the veteran instructors and students are all in. Bell brought Cortex into their school, and now they will drive him, this villain, and anyone else trying to take over.<\/p>\n Develop Your Relationship w\/Panthra \u2013 [Miss: 2 + 2 + 0 = 4 vs 5 | 4]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet thinks his mentor Panthra will be proud of him and tries to speak with her to the side. She seems distracted. Maybe it\u2019s the alert about another menace attacking Forge City or Cortex in the sub-basement. He also remembers her wife, who is Silver Sentry\u2019s adopted daughter. Have Sentry and his daughter been reunited since his return?<\/p>\n Swear an Iron Vow: Battle with Cortex \u2013 [Strong Hit: 6 + 3 + 2 = 10 vs 4 | 4]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet focuses momentarily and asks the instructors about triggering security systems in a domino effect-like way, pushing Cortex towards a choke point where they can destroy her current form. They recognize that Cortex is taking over the systems as they speak, so much of this work must be done manually.<\/p>\n Enter the Fray w\/Wits \u2013 [Strong Hit: 5 + 2 + 0 = 7 vs 3 | 1] \u2013 +2 Momentum and has Control<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet suggests sending an overload of sensor feedback so that Cortex won\u2019t know which bodies are real and which are being spoofed. Kismet finds Paragon and Mothgirl and tells them to follow him while the others split up and head to various control hubs to activate lockdown protocols. Kismet wants to see the state of his friends who were left behind. Cortex has cleared out of Bell\u2019s hidden workshop. Sentry, Grail, and Nano are unconscious but appear unharmed.<\/p>\n Oracle Question: Is Cortex still within the Academy. Odds: 50\/50. Answer: [Ask the Oracle: Yes]<\/strong><\/p>\n Sentry is the first to wake up, and his systems are coming back online. He lets Kismet know that before he went offline, he saw Cortex merging with the Academy\u2019s computer systems through a hub Bell kept in the workshop. She\u2019s probably listening in on them right now or something worse. Sentry mentions in passing that he\u2019s surprised Kismet came back for him. It means a lot.<\/p>\n Make a Connection w\/Silver Sentry \u2013 [Weak Hit: 6 + 3 + 0 = 9 vs 10 | 4] \u2013 Role: Sage Advice from a Veteran +1<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s weird, but Kismet feels a bond with Sentry that he didn\u2019t expect. Nano and Grail are revived, and now it\u2019s time to hunt down and stop Cortex.<\/p>\n [Mark Progress: The Machine Collective :4 boxes]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kismet explains his plan to the heroes gathered with him \u2013 Silver Sentry, Grail, Nano, Paragon, and Mothgirl. He wants to use the fact that Cortex is inside the Academy\u2019s security system to their advantage. They can create a mock energy signature that would entice her to investigate. Sentry says, \u201cchrono-particles,\u201d the energy of time that destroyed her back during the incursion. He points out that Kismet is practically brimming with it. Nano helps create a fake energy signature that takes Kismet\u2019s power and amplifies it. The system will point towards the hangar, hoping they can get Cortex out in the open and possibly recruit more help to deal with her. +1 from Sentry for his sage advice.<\/p>\n Compel w\/Iron \u2013 [Strong Hit: 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 vs 5 | 3]<\/strong><\/p>\n Sure enough, Cortex emerges, creating a body from the component within the Academy\u2019s high-tech sub-basement. As soon as she\u2019s visible, Kismet leads his group to strike.<\/p>\n
Thread: Alien Tech Aftermath
Oracle: Find Target<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Oracle: Persevere Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Oracle: Command Barrier<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Oracle: Debate Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n