Scene #980: In Leviathan's Wake

Owner	Pose
Defiant	Brockton Bay was hit hard by Leviathan, even if the Elites had done a lot to minimise the damage. Several streets and sections of the town remain flooded. The Boardwalk is in pieces and much of the Docks district was damaged with Leviathan brought several old hulks ashore. Windows are shattered and broken, cars thrown aside like toys. But the city will rebuild, given time. Casaulties, it seems, were surprisingly low. At least among the civilian population. There's talk of a memorial being constructed where Leviathan now stands, frozen in one moment, and people still gather around the Endbringer's feet, staring and marvelling at the villain's bizarre form. Many people lost their homes, and many more are still without power or infrastructure. Vermin, in the future, will be a problem. The Protectorate HQ weathered the storm mostly intact, thanks to its Tinker-made defences, but it has still seen better days. The Protectorate members, those who weren't killed or badly hurt during the attack, are out on the streets, doing what little they can to restore the city to its former glory.
Theo Morrison	Theo left late last night, after the fight against the Endbringer. He stuck around for a long time, using his Myr Servitors and his artifact deck to provide automatons with which to clear rubble and unclog the arterial streets in the city. He wasn't willing to stay overnight, though; he took off, disappearing through a hole in thin air, and said he'd be back the next day to do more. Nobody ever asked him to. At the moment, he's sitting off to the side on one of the Protectorate HQ's front steps, clothes dirty and work gloves laid out on his knee. He's got half a sandwich in one hand, and it's a good bet the other half if what he's eating. Kickotron stands on a higher step, the short bird-robot looking out over the streets with what passes for interest. "This is a mess," Theo mutters to nobody in particular around a mouthful of salami and rye.
Toph Beifong	Man, this place has seen better days, huh? The flood doesn't make things easier either, Toph imagines. Not to mention wading through it is not fun. Luckily Pepper isn't here to comment about how her new clothes are getting messy, but then again... she got her new outfit for the sake of bending. Of course it will get messy and dirty! There is a lot to do here in order to clean up the city, but for now she stands among the people by the Leviathan's remains, just taking in the sheer size of that thing. Just what the heck happened here last night? The blind girl has her arms crossed in front of her chest, and she lets out an irritated huff before she marches through the crowd and towards the Protectorate HQ, determination in each step. She can help clean up stuff later with her bending, but... there are other things that are on her mind at the moment. As she makes her way up the front steps she can't help but hear Theo's comment, and she nods. "You said it. Seriously, how the crud did they manage to mess this place up so much?"
Metal Man	Metal Man is here after, there's only a few of his comrades from the wily mumbers here and the odd drone doing work but Metal Man is here his combat helemt is up and his face looks to be of Gemeran decent with short bdown hair and oddly green optics. He looks about and lets out a low whistle. "So this things over? Damn never seen many organics like that that could take a beating outside mr green and angry. It could be worse Theo? That was a hell of a stunt you pulled and a damn fitting end for a monster." he looks at the thing. "WE might ... want to move it out of a city though..."
Auron	Auron was one of those who was badly hurt, so he isn't there in Brockton Bay. But his influence is felt, in the form of an elegant airship that hovers perfectly still over the city, emitting a soft whirring sound from the slowly-turning disc on the back of the craft. He'd called in some help from what was essentially a Spiran police force, the Crusaders. And the Crusaders had brought several Al Bhed, since this was what they called a 'machina' city. Few of the Crusaders knew how to work modern machinery; however the Al Bhed picked it up rather quickly. And it was easy to tell them apart, too. Not only for the clothes they wore. The Spirans looked remarkably like normal humans. All of the Al Bhed were blond, dark-haired people with green eyes. And their eyes had a unique feature -- their pupils were swirl-shaped, rather than round. The Crusaders had brought priests and priestesses from the temples, too. So there were healers there as well. It's not a /huge/ number of people. But there's enough Spirans to help out, anyway.
Theo Morrison	"The attack of the thirty-foot fish-monster had something to do with it, I think," Theo asides to Toph, once he's finished his mouthful of delicious sandwich. "I didn't think it would cause this much damage, after all we'd done to /stop/ it..." He shakes his head, sighing. He looks to Metal Man for a minute, and then shrugs. "I stopped the wave, mostly. Stopped that golden guy from messing the whole thing up. The freezing thing was that swordsman... didn't get his name, though." He props his chin up on his free hand. "I was gonna suggest they keep it away from any aquifers that might be inside its range. Maybe ship it off to a desert? Dunno." He lifts the other half of a sandwich. "Not my world," he says, taking a bite.
Toph Beifong	For now is not the time to concern herself with non-Unionites, Toph decides. Heck, Metal Man is on the other team, but that's not why they are here now. So the robot earns a nod. "That thing must have been huge before it ended up like that," she asides. "Should be easy enough to move it." After hacking it to pieces, at least. "At least you did something," she says to Theo next, her expression stern and pensive. Could she have done something in this case? With all the water though, she can't help but shudder at the thought. Rather than concerning herself with what could have been, Toph focuses on what needs to be done. "I'll help out in a bit, my bending can be useful to clearing out the streets." Whether it be earth or metalbending. The blind girl offers a brief wave to the two before she continues up the steps and turns her focus on the guards present. With as much authority as she can muster up despite her short stature, Toph speaks with a clear and confident voice. "I am Toph Beifong, Union ensign. I want to talk with Armsmaster." Judging from the look on her face, she's not about to take no for an answer.
Defiant	The PRT officer behind the front desk looks at Toph with scepticism on his face. "I'm afraid that Armsmaster isn't taking visitors at this time." Perhaps luckily for him, however, Miss Militia steps out from one of the side hallways, green combat fatigues on, American flag scarf wrapped around her lower face. "I'll take it from here," she says, and directs Toph to follow her into an elevator and down towards the holding cells. Outside, the Crusaders find that healing isn't necessarily a big issue - but food and clean water is, at least until more supplies arrive from elsewhere. No one seems to mind the strange eyes of their assistants - after all, they have more important things to worry about. A few Protectorate volunteers linger around Theo and Metal Man, also taking some time off. They are muddy and wet and tired. Assault and Battery are there, too. "Don't think anyone wants to risk touching it," Assault mutters.
Metal Man	Metal Man thinks for a moment "Dump it on like Tattooine that might be an idea it just flounder there really." They got time to figure out where to send this thing at the very least. HE looks about for a moment and he looks to Assault. "Well this thing could be a landmine in my experiance sealing means your grand kids or later got to deal with it. Humm you do have a point."
Toph Beifong	At the officer's reaction Toph arches an eyebrow, and it looks like she's about to argue, but luckily for him indeed, the strange lady whose voice is easily recognizable steps in. Perhaps if she took this more lightly Toph would be inclined to make a face at the officer, but no... not today. As it is, Toph follows Miss Militia and steps into the elevator, only speaking up once the elevator doors close. "Thanks." She still doesn't smile however. "Seems like you had one hell of a messy situation here, huh?" she decides to say instead. The city itself can be repaired, that's simple. Heck, with a waterbender the flooding could be dealt with easier, but still... she will think of something.
Defiant	"Yeah," Miss Militia says, and the doors open. She steps into a bare hallway, with heavy bulkhead doors on either side. There's a security camera by each one. Miss Militia seems to leave it at that as she taps a code into one of the keypads and stands by the door, letting Toph step in. "I'll be right outside." Inside, it's Armsmaster, sitting on his bunk - although Toph might not immediately recognise him! He's just as tall and muscular as he's always been, but he's wearing a white tee-shirt and cotton pants as opposed to the midnight blue and silver armor and helmet he usually sports. His brown hair is cut short to his scalp and his eyes are ringed by dark lines. Not quite unremarkable in looks, but one wouldn't immediately rush to call him handsome. He's just... human. "Beifong, what're you doing here?" Armsmaster asks.
Theo Morrison	Theo watches Toph go, frowning. That seems like a subject he shouldn't touch; a bit sensitive. He finishes his sandwich in silence, thinking. Could he move it, without risking waking it up? Maybe if he could figure out what Kenshin did to it... He looks over at Assault and, by extension, Battery. They look as beat as he does. Maybe more, if they actually fought it. "Yeah, guess so. Maybe somebody can figure out how to do it...?" He shrugs, looking off into the distance. "We could ask the guy who did it, but it sounded like he's not in any shape to offer advice."
Defiant	"Will it hold forever?" Battery asks Theo. "In my experience, temporal powers like that have a limited timeframe. We stopped it - he stopped it, whoever he was, I was unconscious for much of the fight - but I worry we've just postponed it." "It'd be one hell of a landmine," Assault says. "You stopped the wave, though - probably saved our lives. So, thanks. Really. I'm not being sarcastic, here. Strange about Scion, though... Maybe that golden idiot didn't like being one upped?"
Toph Beifong	So. Not much for smalltalk either, huh? That kinda suits her at the moment, and Toph follows Militia into the hallway. Cameras and bulkhead doors don't bother her much. Let them look for all she cares, it's not like she has anything to hide. Nor does she plan to interfere with whatever the protectorate are planning on doing. A nod is offered to Miss Militia as she opens the door. "I doubt I will need you, I will be able to handle him if he is stupid enough to try anything," she comments with a sour tone underlying her words. Even without the armor, there are other things that the master earthbender recognizes. His height, his general bulk... those things are far more easier for Toph to recognize than whatever clothes he might be wearing. Her expression hardens as he addresses her, and she walks over to stand directly in front of the bunk. Even with him sitting and her standing, he should easily be able to look into her unseeing eyes. "I'm the one who should be asking what on earth /you/ were doing last night, Assmaster," she snorts, a disdainful look on her face.
Defiant	Armsmaster shifts in his seat. He's missing an arm from the shoulder down, although the flesh there is flat and smooth, like the limb had never been there. He stares at Toph, face neutral, but out of his armor he just seems so... tired. "Making a call that could have saved thousands of lives," Armsmaster replies.
Toph Beifong	Oh, squirm all you want! It's not like Toph will be dissuaded from saying what's on her mind. Unlike him, Toph appears as full of energy as always, standing as tall as she can get with a dominant stance in front of him. Though she does move her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes just slightly. His comment earns a frown. "You put other people in the front line, knowing fully well they would be killed...?" she demands. As there is no official report up yet, she will just have to go by what she heard on the radio. "Just what kind of call did you make?"
Defiant	"Yes," Armsmaster replies. "I did. I did so without reservation. I did this because every single cape who took to the battlefield yesterday did it knowing that there was a one in four chance of being killed - at best." He lets that hang in the air for a moment. "Leviathan targets Shifters. People like you, people who could stop his tidal wave attacks. Kaiser was one such person. Someone had to be the bait to allow us to kill the monster, and that someone was a supervillain. He knew the risks, and I dare say no one will mourn his passing."
Theo Morrison	"I dunno," Theo replies. "I mean, from what I can tell, it doesn't feel like it's... coming apart, or anything? Whatever's holding it there, it's solid, but it's..." He frowns, grasping for words. "...hard to explain. Chronomancy isn't really my specialty any more than anything else is." He stands up, picking up his gloves on the way. Kickotron looks to him, and then back out in the direction of the frozen Endbringer. Theo turns to Assault, blinking. "Um -- you're welcome," he says, a little awkwardly. He doesn't sound like he's used to getting thanked for that kind of thing. "Scion... the golden guy, right. I dunno. Wasn't about to let him mess with something we'd spent that long setting up, though." "Honestly," Theo adds, "I expected him to teleport over and punch me through a building. Lucky it worked."
Toph Beifong	So he really did it. Toph listens as Armsmaster confesses to what he did, standing still and unmoving in front of him. So they all knew the risk, that's all well and good. But somehow, the blind girl doesn't seem like she is happy with learning this. Shifters... is something she isn't familiar with, but she does remember Kaiser well enough. Sure, he was an asshole, and she can recall how Armsmaster had wanted to kill him at the time. Then he has the nerve to talk about /bait/. When she speaks next, Toph's voice is even harder. "And where were /you/ during all this?"
Auron	The Crusaders are physically inclined... definitely quite strong. Most of them are acting as strong backs, mainly cleaning up debris, extracting anyone that might be trapped, etc. As much as none of them seem to have any real uniform, like an Earth-based military would, they're definitely organized like one, complete with officers. The officers all seem to wear some sort of mask/visor over the top of their faces. As for the priests and priestesses? They don't mind being runners for food and water. Lacking the strong backs of the Crusaders or the technical acumen of the Al Bhed, they're helping out really in any way they can. Running messages between stations, bringing food to workers... one or two might even be trying to comfort people who are upset. And the Al Bhed are working on a water purifier! There's probably one or two already, but every little bit helps!
Metal Man	Metal Man looks over to TOph at this point and gave her a nod. "So the Blind Bandit, your someone I never wanna fight." Metal Benders or someone who could becomeone. That's body horror for poor old Metal Man right there. He leaves her on his way and and he looks to Theo for a moment "Ask him once he's recovered and we should at least leave some sort of detial here. "Sunno if he's like any other big dog supers I known of he doesn't seem to be much like the big S." Some Joes are moving about and yes there are metools there may be a cultral trend over the holiday for metool plushies at this rate.
Defiant	"Well, if you had to ask me - which nobody does," Assault adds, "I think Scion's trigger event really messed him up. I don't think he sees things like we do because he never responds to things like we do. Weird guy." Battery just nods at Theo's assessment of the frozen Endbringer. "If you're wrong, we'll all be paying for it." She's rather dour, it seems. "On the front lines," Armsmaster replies, ignoring the implication of her words. "Fighting Leviathan hand-to-hand as I coordinated the defence. Any cape there will vouch for me. I personally led the second-wave of defenders alongside Chevalier."
Toph Beifong	"Second-wave...?" Toph inquires. "Were you there with the /bait/," the word is spoken in disgust, "or did you arrive after?" Still, he is missing his arm, which means he wasn't hiding out somewhere all of the time, at least. But there are still some things Toph wishes to know, as it will affect how she regards Armsmaster. After all, considering how high and mighty he is, he has some standards to live up to!
Theo Morrison	A nod. Maybe they /can/ ask him once he's recovered. Sounded bad... but that's only a few days with the Union on the job, right? "Not really my fault if it breaks out," Theo says, without malice, "but I'll be here to put it back in, if I've got my way." He looks over at Assault, curious. "Trigger event?"
Defiant	"Yes," Armsmaster replies, idly scratching at his missing arm socket. "I was there with the bait. First-wave refers to the capes with invulnerability powers or abilities that allow them to take a hit from Leviathan and survive it. My armor, as you can see, did not provide adequate protection. Don't imply that I was sitting on the sidelines and letting people die in my place." Assault picks up a small shard of concrete and chucks it from hand to hand. It doesn't quite float right. "Yeah, trigger event. Y'know, when a parahuman gets their powers. They tend to be pretty traumatic - it's why they think there's so many villains. Maybe Scion's was just really bad? Cut him off from the world entirely?"
Toph Beifong	"If you had done that," Toph begins, her voice stern and firm, "I would have lost what respect you've managed to build up since I whooped your ass in the Ring." Still, she raises one hand and nearly jabs her index finger in his face. "Still, using other people as /bait/?" The girl narrows her eyes, her brow furrowing in annoyance. "If it had been me, I would have taken on the dangerous role myself instead of pushing others into it! Did that dunderhead even know he was being used?" No, she won't cry for Kaiser's tragic demise, but still...! She's not about to go easy on Armsmaster either.
Theo Morrison	"Oh. No, I didn't know. Sorry, I'm not from around here." He tugs his gloves on, looking thoughtful. "I... guess I had one of those after all," Theo says. "Suppose it takes a certain kind of person to experience trauma, get superpowers and decide to use them to better the world instead of looking out for themselves. Seems likes a slippery slope." "So, nobody knows anything about this Scion guy, then? Don't most of the locals have government backing?" Theo jerks his thumb at the building.
Defiant	"Leviathan was targeting a specific type of power, as I said. No one else would work. Either I used Kaiser, or I used a hero with similar powers," Armsmaster states. It looks like he wants to cross his arms but realises how bizarre that would look. Outside, a cold breeze rolls through from the bay, bringing with it the distinct smell of sea salt. Assault laughs, "We know his name, and we know he's the most powerful son of a bitch around and he can chew up Endbringers and spit them out like no one's business. What else is there to know?"
Toph Beifong	"Did he know?" Toph repeats sternly with a huff, not thrown off by how Armsmaster responds. "And does this mean that you would use others in the same way in the same backhanded way?" she demands. Ugh, all this deception and silly mindgames! It's not something she really approves of.
Defiant	"No," Armsmaster responds to the first question. "And yes, I would. If it gave us a greater chance of victory against one of those things, I'd do it all again." There's no trace of shame in his voice.
Toph Beifong	Anger becomes evident on Toph's young face, and she raises her foot and slams it down into the ground, though no bending happens. Instead she raises her voice. "And why didn't he know? Because /you/ were too cowardly to let him know he was being used?!" she demands, her left balling up into a fist even as she points an accusatory finger straight at Armsmaster. "You honestly think this will make the Union trust you? You could at least have been /man/ enough to be honest with him that you were setting him up to die! At least have the decency to be /ashamed/ over how you acted!" Toph is relentless as she speaks. "They say you broke the truce, whatever that was. Aren't you supposed to uphold the law in this city?!"
Theo Morrison	Theo squints his eyes, holding up a hand to shield his eyes against the breeze. He should get a scarf, he thinks. "'Why?'" Simple question; tough answer.
Defiant	Armsmaster brushes his thumb against his neatly-trimmed beard. "Because Kaiser would not have accepted any orders if he knew he was being placed in harm's way to let us get a better shot at Leviathan. We would have missed our chance. We almost did." He really doesn't seem to care. It's disconcerting. Kaiser was a bad person in Armsmaster's eyes, and now he's dead and he doesn't seem to give one iota's worth of thought to it. Terrifying black and white simplicity of thought. "I don't care if you trust me. I don't care whether you think I should be ashamed. Yes, I broke the truce - but there is no point in holding to those laws if there had been no city to protect after Leviathan was done. I am in this room because my gambit /failed/, Beifong, and I have become too 'politically inconvenient' to keep around. But if I go to the Birdcage, I go knowing that my strategy was the one that granted me the highest possible chance of success and that Empire Eighty-Eight has been finally broken." Outside, Assault shrugs. He loops his arms around Battery's waist. "Why what?"
Theo Morrison	"Why does he do it?" Theo asks. "If he had the most traumatic trigger event of any super around, if that's why he doesn't say anything and just apparently comes and goes... don't you think someone like that is more likely to be a villain?"
Toph Beifong	"So you basically killed him anyway," Toph snorts in displeasure. Then she closes her eyes and pulls her hand back, crossing her arms across her chest again. "You should care. Then you would at least be better than the ones you claim to be villains... sure, laws can get in the way, but seriously?! You can't even see the consequences of what you have done? And here they call /me/ blind!" Toph lets out a sound of frustration as she throws her arms up and turns around, pacing back and forth with an irritated look on her face. "You are in here because you did something wrong, it's as simple as that!" This dunderhead is so FRUSTRATING! "Sometimes I wonder if I hit you in the head too hard when we fought, but then I remind myself that you were an ass even before that," she mutters. "If you had the guts, you would have stood there and taken the hit along with Kaiser." Then she swallows, taking a breath as she collects her thoughts. A future version of her turned out to be chief of police. Is that why she's angry with this? And while she can agree that the city should be saved at all cost... to coldly sacrifice somebody like that? No, she can't say she likes it. "People aren't meant to be used. What if the city is under attack again? Will they be able to work together then, or will your stupid gambit be what makes the next defense fail? Ever thought of that?" Toph demands.
Metal Man	Metal Man is still there and has been quiet for a moment. "Huh depends on the world really this one's a bit odd really. You do have more super villains than Capes I found compared to some of the other worlds like Primal Earth, Earth 616 and others. Before you ask? Why do I do what I do? My kind has no legal rights at all on my world. We're treated as property and disposable. It's why my maker built us...yet gave us the choice to walk from his goal."
Defiant	Assault seems to ponder that for a moment or two. "Yeah, maybe. People say he seems sad, even if he never says anything. I've never been close enough to take a look. But when your first action is to cure a guy of cancer and then fly around, y'know, pulling kittens out of trees twenty-four seven, it's hard to see him as a bad guy." Armsmaster watches Toph pace. He says nothing until he's sure she has nothing further to say. "Endbringers don't hit the same place twice," Armsmaster states. "But you do have a point, and that is why the Protectorate is suppressing the information... and why they haven't sent me to prison just yet. I did what I had to do. I'm a soldier, Beifong, and my orders gave us a greater chance of victory than if I had not given them. But I will not mourn the loss of someone who would have gladly murdered you for the color of your skin, Toph Beifong, and I will not indulge the crocodile tears of so many people who claim that what I did was a heinous crime. Someone had to be the bait, and that someone did far more good with his death than he ever would in life. We stopped Leviathan - that is vindication enough." Assault looks to Metal Man, and smirks. "Wait, so, what, I could buy some of you? Hey, Puppy, you ever wanted a robot?" Battery huffs.
Toph Beifong	A groan leaves Toph as Armsmaster continues speaking. "I'm not just talking about Endbringers or whatever those are! This world is part of the multiverse now whether you like it or not, and who knows what else might show up here? Ever thought of that?" Toph points out. "Did you ever consider that there was another way to beat that oversized lizard, huh? Or at least gotten somebody to volunteer to be the bait?" she suggests next with a frown on her face. Oh right, racism. The concept of hating somebody for their appearance is alien to Toph, and the whole weird fascination that the celebrity gossip people have with her being 'Asian' is still something she doesn't quite get. "I don't give a elephant rat's ass about that, really. In the end he was fighting me on equal terms as a wannabe metalbender, wasn't he? I'm used to people looking down on me because of my age, my gender and my disability. It's not like the colour of my skin, whatever it is, will make a difference either way!" the blind girl points out, standing tall. "Nor do I care about crocodile tears. I'm not about to mourn that dunderhead's death either, but honestly? You could at leave had had the guts to be /honest/ with him!" A soldier he might be, but that doesn't mean he has to be a heartless bastard, right?
Theo Morrison	"Curing cancer, some kind of travel power, pushing down magical barriers..." Theo hooks his hands on his pockets One of them goes into one, fishing around. "Man. Talk about the jackpot of powersets. Poor guy." He pulls out a plastic deckbox, tearing open the velcro flap and dropping the contents into his free hand. He shuffles almost idly.
Defiant	"Add do-anything laser beams to that list and that's basically it," Assault says, glancing at Theo's deck. "I don't have anything to bet. I don't really carry my wallet around when I'm in uniform. He was the first parahuman - maybe he got the lion's share of powers because of it?" Battery adds, "They say he can make people trigger. That might explain why he's so isolated from everyone. Doesn't explain why he doesn't come running when we tell him about Endbringer attacks, though." Armsmaster watches Toph from the seat on his bunk. "We've faced one intrusion from that 'Confederacy', and we saw them off without much issue." "As for equal terms, then you don't understand him. He would gladly send someone to shoot you in the back, particularly once you had humiliated him as you did. Kaiser didn't deserve my honesty. Why do you defend him?" Unfortunately for Toph, it seems like Armsmaster - while not a heartless bastard, not really - certainly seems just as difficult to deal with whether inside his armor or otherwise. He's stubborn and self-righteous and used to having enough authority to get away with it.
Toph Beifong	"Yeah yeah, because /you/ know eeeeeverything," Toph snorts. "Do I need to remind you how you underestimated me? There are worse things out there that might bite you in the ass, you know." After all, she was contest with knocking some sense into his skull, not to break it. "So you're fine with being as cowardly as he was, then?" Why does she defend him? "I'm not defending him, I'm trying to make sense of how you can act so high and mighty when your actions show just how you are." Her expression is hard as she turns towards him again, her jawline taut as she crosses her arms across her chest once more. "Of course there are people who will try to backstab you... but we generally want those among the bad guys, not the ones who claim to be good! And he could have tried to shoot me in the back, it's not as if he would have succeeded anyway," she claims with a snort. No, it's generally not a good thing with two equally stubborn people face to face, is it?
Theo Morrison	"They're not those kind of cards," Theo remarks offhandedly. He squints into the distance. "Lasers are useful if you can do a lot of stuff with 'em, though." He hums a little. "Maybe there's something to that. Limited pool. Anyone else crazy powerful show up recently?" He pauses a beat, glancing at the pair. He kinda wants to ask what they do.
Defiant	"Well, just yesterday, we had the entire Triumvirate here, among others," Assault murmurs. "Not sure why, though..." He notices that glance. "What's up?" In the cell, Armsmaster remains impassive. "I lost because I didn't have accurate data on your abilities, Beifong. Things would be different if we were to face each other down once again. I won't be able to indulge you, however." Armsmaster narrows his eyes. "Don't compare me to Kaiser. Everything I do, I do in service to a better world - not to further my own power. That demands certain sacrifices. If you have nothing else to add, Beifong, then you can go. Leave me to my thoughts."
Toph Beifong	Man, it's like talking to a wall. Though one thing Armsmaster says does make Toph blink before she lets out a huff. "As if! I have whooped your ass before, and I can do it again! Don't think that just because you know everything about a person's ability means that you will be able to defeat them! Anything can happen during battle, and true fighters will improvise and use their powers differently." And hey, she might tie one arm to her back too to give him a better fighting chance. "If you're acting like a dunderhead, I will compare you to a dunderhead," she states firmly. "No matter how good your intentions are, they won't matter for CRUD if you go about it all wrong! Dirty your own hands for all I care, as long as it's not with blood! Otherwise you are no better than Kaiser was." That said, she turns around and heads towards the door. Though she does halt there for a few seconds. "Here I thought your skull was less thick without the armor. Hmph." With that she knocks on the door. "I'm ready to help fix up the city now," she calls out to Miss Militia. That ought to be less bothersome than trying to knock more sense into Armsmaster.
Defiant	Armsmaster watches Toph go, then resumes - apparently - staring at the wall. Who knows what he's thinking about, if he'll even process anything that Toph said to him. He might, maybe. One day. If it's not too late by then. Miss Militia is waiting outside. She leads Toph towards the elevator and, after a few steps, says: "Not much luck, I take it?"
Toph Beifong	The question earns a snort from Toph as she marches down the hallway towards the elevator. "I think he needs another rock to the head. Is he always this stubborn and deaf to reason, or does he just like me?" she asks. Man, it probably won't be easy for them to clean up this mess. And she's not talking about the destruction and flooding around the city.
Defiant	"I've known Armsmaster for years," Miss Militia replies. "And he always has been. Probably always will be. I've wondered if it was a side-effect of his ability, to make him see the world so... coldly. I don't think he likes anyone, no offence. I think he just sees us all as numbers and variables." She presses a button and the elevator begins to rise back up to the surface.
Theo Morrison	"I was gonna ask what you two could do," Theo says after a moment, "but I wasn't sure if that was a faux pas around here or not. Some people take questions like that really badly elsewhere," he explains, with a slightly apologetic shrug.
Defiant	"Oh, no," Assault says, "It's fine, comes with the territory. I'm Assault and this is Battery. I manipulate kinetic energy - generate it, nullify it, move it elsewhere, whatever. Battery here-" And he tugs her to his side, "-can generate energy, using it to supercharge her own speed or strength. You can see the synergy, right?"
Toph Beifong	A curious look replaces the frown on Toph's face, and she blinks. "His ability?" Does he have one? Here she thought he was good at making stuff like armor and the like... The blind girl doesn't seem offended at the rest of the words though, as she shrugs. "Like I care. I have given up on getting him to use my given name at this point."
Metal Man	Metal Man is listening at this point and he thinks for a moment. "I suspect if Rock weapon copied him? Armaster would give him a stick." He looks right to Assault for a moment. "So your saying you want to try to enslave me? If you want a bot get a mechanloid those are not aware. Me? It would be unwise to try to do it."
Defiant	"He's a Tinker," Miss Militia says. "Not the best in the world, but close to it. His whole... specialisation, I suppose you can call it, is making existing technologies smaller and more efficient. He renders things down to what they absolutely need and then improves upon them. It works with technology, but I don't think it works with people. It was the most efficient strategy, but it wasn't the right one. But explaining that to him is- Well, difficult. Someone else might be able to do it. Sorry that you weren't able to get through to him - it might've helped." Assault holds up a hand to Metal Man. "Woah, easy. I was just sayin', might be nice to have a robot butler. Ol' Halbeard didn't see the humor when I asked him for one. Gonna miss him, even if he was an absolute jerk."
Toph Beifong	"So he's an engineer then," Toph shrugs. "People are not like machines anyway, no matter what he thinks. If he doesn't want to see reason," she says with a shrug as she leans back against the wall in the elevator, "then it's his own fault." Still, she can't help but feel disgusted and disappointed.
Theo Morrison	"Oh. Huh. That's pretty awesome. Yeah, the synergy is immediately apparent. Cool names." Theo grins. "Hate to be on the wrong side of you guys." He keeps shuffling. Kickotron fishes out a tray table with a playmat attached to it depicting an armored angelic figure. Theo puts a badge-like object in the corner, and then drops his deck onto the surface. "I'm Theo. I mostly summon stuff. Monsters, weapons, holy orbital lasers."
Defiant	"That it is," Miss Militia agrees. "It is his fault, and he accepts it." The doors ding open and Miss Militia steps out. "I'll be taking over his duties for the forseeable future. I hope we can have a more constructive working relationship." Battery frowns. "The name is horrible. The connotation completely twists my original meaning." "Holy orbital laser, though? Now, /that's/ a power," Assault says, a grin splitting across the visible section of his face.
Theo Morrison	Theo's grin fades. "Oh. I dunno, I thought it was clever..." He trails off. He's a little more enthusiastic that Assault seems to appreciate his holy orbital lasers. "Yeah. I retired that deck, though. Now I've only got the normal kind, sometimes. But you know what they say: there are few problems that can't be solved by putting a hole in the world."
Metal Man	Metal Man says "I won't get a trial my existance is illegal I'll be scrapped if I'm captured there." He tilts his head and nods nobbing hs head. "So far as I know your world and the humans like your self have done nothing to the machines of my world. Right?"
Defiant	Assault turns to look at Battery, then back to Metal Man. "Uh, no. I don't think anyone here has left our world. Armsmaster has, I think, but I'm sure we'd have heard about if he was making an ass out of himself somewhere else." "Assault..." Battery murmurs. "What? He's not my CO anymore." To Theo, Assault continues, "So, what, those cards represent your powers? That's nuts. That's like, real out-of-this-world-comic-book stuff. Think you can drag one of those lasers out next time we get an Endbringer popping up? Might be a big help."
Metal Man	Metal Man Says "I'll say I was more here because of Skitter than anything else that and maybe if I can leave the impression robots like my self just want to exist? Maybe your world won't make the same mistakes with AI's. Either way you can count on the Wily Army's support against the Engbringers. These things are just nuts and I seen a lot." Metal's actually kinda starting to like the two capes all things considered. "LEt them blow off steam. I heard Armsmaster all the time on the broadband I swear the man's an inch away from being a judge from Mega City one." Metal tries to not think about Dredd too much...
Theo Morrison	Theo wisely doesn't comment on the political situation. He isn't in any position to say shit. "Pretty much," he says. "Play a game, get some stuff. It's got some limitations, but... yeah, probably. I felt like the time control was more versatile, since I'd need a place to put the big cannon, and..." Theo looks at the damage to the city. "...yeah."
Toph Beifong	The comment earns a shrug from Toph. "At least you seem to listen more than he does. What I care about is doing what's right, and I will do it /without/ killing. If you kill dunderheads, then they won't get to think about the crud they have done." Armsmaster /better/ be thinking about his actions, damnit. "Now if you'll excuse me," Toph says and steps forward, "It's about time I show the others how a true master works!" The grin is there on her face again, and she steps towards the doors leading out, all while she cracks her knuckles.