“Let us hope so.” Azura nodded. “Everyone ready?” She looked at each of the other women gathered. Then, if there were no last minute issues, she would give Sapphira a sign to open a portal and bring them close to the ambush spot. Time to get this mess dealt with. Hopefully everything goes well...
"Ugh, fine..." He sighs, before following her. The young man looks wide eyed at the mansion, as Lawrence approaches. "I see this is your new...assistant?" He says. Spoiler: Persuasion Roll D100: Despite everything, the group starts to heed her commands. Optimo and Protector start to time their attacks, and soon the first robot is smashed. Mantis is reluctant to accept help, but soon she's using her whip to cover the boys as they head in to attack. As the robots fall to the ground, metal cracked and smashed, the cowering onlookers begin to cheer the trio. Azura arrives outside a typical looking building in Chinatown. Before too long, she sees a trio of black, heavily tinted cars approaching. The huge figure grins. "Oh, just a rival gang. With some superpowered help." "N-No, please..." The woman cries, voice tinged with desperation. "You don't understand - I can't fail her. I need to please her. Please just let me take the idol - I'll do anything you want."
"Yes, and he'll also be your new student. Both as a butler, and as a fighter." Vanessa replied with a smile. "So, what's changed... and was there any signs anyone tried to get in the vault? Not like we left anything of importance there."
"The idol is going back where it belongs. You are going to answer for what you've done. And if your employer has a problem with that she can take it up with me." Psychana used her powers to move the idol and the invisible lady hanging from it back over the roof she was standing on. "Now. Let. Go.":
"I see." Sonata nods. "This rival gang wouldn't happen to be the same people who owned that nightclub that blew up today, would it? Because, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to take revenge for it, but I haven't seen anyone here except for your men, sprinting and waving guns around." He plays along, weaving his own narrative as he paces back and forth across the width of the hallway. "I mean, I caught wind that the Rabbits might be striking back here, but imagine my shock when the Broken Sickle attacks the third party who came to keep things under control and make sure this didn't become another bombing or arson instead of simply being on guard against actual retaliation from the Rabbits."
"I tried to have them make as few changes as possible." Lawrence says, eyeing Jacob warily. "As for the vault, it appears to have not been discovered. I've brought your things from the safehouse - they'll be in the master bedroom." "I can't!" The woman groans. Spoiler: Psychic Roll D100: 46+20 As the woman begs, Psychana starts to feel some of the signals coming from the invisible woman's mind. She detects a powerful, and familiar, psychic presence, and suspects that the woman has no say in the matter. "Rabbits?" The man raises an eyebrow. "Oh, those pissants? No, those guys aren't in our plans at all." He chuckles, before cracking his neck. "But enough talking, you've wasted enough time as it is."
"That's good." Vanessa nods, "Alright, while I unpack, why don't you show Jacob around, tell him what he'll be doing around here?" She said with a smile, leaving the two men to themselves. She heads to her room, immediately checking on the engram... and the videos she hid in her wardrobe in the safehouse.
Upon sensing the psychic presence in the woman's mind as well as her earlier detection in the museum, Jenny felt a degree of pity for the naked woman that was hanging from the levitated idol. Perhaps if her will was her own the thief would do as Psychana instructed her. So the superhero decided to try a different approach. Using her powers, Psychana manifested a psychokinetic hand around the Invisible Lady's arms, ready to crush them, forcing the woman to let go. "I know you're out there." she broadcast telepathically "Reveal yourself NOW!"
"Actually, madame... I was hoping we could speak in private for just a moment?" Lawrence gestures to her.
"My poor girl... So full of anger... So full of rage." The voice Jenny remembers from her misadventure on the cargo ship replies. "You deserve happiness, my dear."
"Oh? Very well." Vanessa nods, telling Lawrence to show Jacob to his room first so they'll be alone while he unpacks.
"You..." Psychana said aloud and she shift her focus from the thief to the benefactor. "You know nothing about me!" Jenny broadcast telepathically with unconcealed rage. "Your thief is caught and this idol is staying here. Now show yourself!"
Sonata shrugs. "Well, you're in their sights, so don't be surprised if you have some more...aggressive trouble later tonight." He folds his arms and leans against a wall. "I have no reason to get in your way as long as you can keep your men in line, and you don't try anything drastic like, say, shooting into a crowd of civilians watching a performance in the auditorium." After a moment's pause, he continues, smirking under his mask. "But, a fine, upstanding man like yourself would never be involved in something as horrible as that."
While waiting for Chen to arrive Azura hid out of sight and used the time she had to familiarize herself with the building, trying to find any spots that could be used as cover, if necessary. Upon seeing the cars Azura focused her attention on them, waiting for the occupants to come out – she needed to make sure Chen was there, and also to see how many men he brought along.
Amethyst Heart smiled seeing the success of the trio - she kept observing them, and cheering them... but allowed them to have this moment - it was theirs. And she would watch their back until it was all clear.
"Madame." The old man speaks when they're finally alone once more. "I'm concerned about how much trust we're putting in someone you hardly even know. Your identity? Your home? Forgive me, but the boy was practically drooling when he walked in. What if he's taking advantage of your kindness to get what he wants?"
"Yes?" Vanessa listened intently as Lawrence shared his concern. Which was in fact spot on, as she'd never even consider inviting her past boyfriends to live with her. And yet, she's now allowing a young man she barely even knew to be part of the team. Sadly, with the hypnotic suggestion implanted within her, the heiress was none the wiser. "Nonesense. Jacob isn't like that. Besides, he's... already saved me from some predicaments. He's just a normal, kind boy. And from what I saw in his old home, he's all alone in a rather decrepit home. I'm sure he's just excited to live in a mansion, and work with a superhero." She replied, a little defensive, even though Vanessa would usually heed Lawrence's suggestions.
"Oh, Jenny... I know you better than you think." The voice replies, this time spoken aloud rather than telepathically projected. Psychana sees the redhead from before, buxom body revealed in her skimpy outfit, as she hovers to the rooftop. Looking at her is...soothing, strangely, and combined with the relaxing effect of the drugs, the psychic starts to have a hard time keeping a hold of the rage that's been fueling her, or even wanting to. "I know that you, of all people, deserve happiness. And after so many years of denying yourself, you've started to taste it." The psychic gestures, and Psychana hears a thump as the invisible woman presumably lets go of the idol. "I'd so badly wanted that idol for myself, to put it back where it belongs, but now I see that that place is not where I thought it was. Please, take it with my blessing - I know those who made it would be delighted that it would come into your hands. My men have already acquired a few consolation prizes, anyway." At that, Psychana hears an engine start, and looks down off the edge of the roof to see the security van from before, speeding away.
