Heroes and Villains of Century City

[Tjf]

He drags the woman into the shed then quickly looks around for a rope or chain to bind her hands and feet. Uninterested in breaking any other bones so soon should she escape the bonds, Sonata exits the shed, standing guard outside as he waits. Hopefully the cops don't try to take me in too. This is already more trouble than it's worth. Still, maybe I should try to keep an eye on her brother. He calls out to the woman, once she's conscious, though he doesn't expect to be well received. "I'll try to keep your brother safe. He's the reason you're still alive, after all." If Sonata did find the woman's phone earlier, he gives it a cursory look, searching for a contact which resembles the thief from a few hours ago.

"S-Son of...a bitch..." She grunts. As Sonata fiddles with the phone, he hears police sirens rapidly approaching.

 

[Tjf]

Faye frowned, her mind spinning.

"I don't remember that..." She started. "Neither the talk nor the deal..." She leaned back in her seat. "Are you sure that it was me who signed it?" She asked as she tried to remember what Danny was talking about.

Spoiler: Willpower Roll

D100: 14

What am I talking about? Faye feels a voice that sounds like her ripple through her mind. Of course I signed it! I was in Simon's office at the time, though my mind wasn't so much on the contract as it was him... "Faye, are you alright?" Danny raises an eyebrow.

 

[Tjf]

Azura needed a few moments to fully process the information and the implications. “Sooo... it could theoretically be used to turn people into supers, or into monsters? Mostly the latter, it sounds like...”She paused for a few moments. “Will the effect be permanent, or temporary? And if it is permanent, can it be reversed in some way?” I wonder how Toxin is connected to this? Did she have something to do with its creation? “Also, is it just for humans, or will it work on animals and plants too?” The more she thought about it, the more worrying this whole thing became.

"One question at a time, please." The scientist sighs. "Yes, with the right chemical compound to accompany the mutagen, it could absolutely be used to raise a person's capacities beyond what's normally possible in a human. The effects would likely be permanent, yes. Reversal is possible, but it would take a suite of different gene therapies, I'd wager - I'd have to look at their notes to make sure. As for animals and plants? Not this specific mutagen, no, it's tailored to human physiology, but if they for whatever reason wished to, I see no reason why they couldn't make a secondary mutagen for non-human life forms."

 

[Omega98]

"Seedy?" Chastity grins. "My, my, sis... That sounds completely unlike you - and like it'll be a lot of fun. Let's go there!" With surprising ease, they move Harold, before Chastity gestures for her sister to lead.

Jenny felt a sinking feeling in her gut and tried to dissuade her sister, but Chastity was having none-of-it. Reluctantly, Jenny called for an Uber and the pair was soon on their way.

She fidgeted nervously in her seat on the ride wondering how she could keep her sister from finding out about her other... other life. Silently, she prayed that Chastity wouldn't discover her secrets and that she could get them out of the club and back to her apartment sooner rather than later.

After what seemed like forever, yet all too soon, the vehicle pulled up to the street and the twins got out. Jenny tipped the driver favorably before she moved to get into the line for the club. Unfortunately for the young wife, the doorman noticed her, whispered something to an associate, and soon the sisters found themselves escorted to the front of the line where the doorman and bouncer let them in.

"Mrs. Foxx." he greeted her, and Jenny wondered how he knew her name.

Chastity gave her a mischievous smile but said nothing as the girls went inside. Immediately Jenny felt her eardrums assaulted by the near deafening rhythmic beat of the music, and her mind pressured by the thoughts of the crushing crowd of people. Without thinking, Jenny linked her arm with Chastity so they wouldn't get separated, and started pushing for the bar. She kept her head angled down to hopefully avoid anyone else from noticing her.

 

[asddas193]

"A very small, select group of people - whose names I was never told. Dark suits, stern expressions, that kind of thing." He shudders a little bit, as they move through a pair of reinforced doors manned by armed guards, into a large chamber filled with towering black servers, standing like towers in the space. Looking around, Vanessa sees strange blueprints - illustrations of pieces of organic tissue fused with mechanical devices

"We've had some, yes, but the project is proving difficult. Our first step was a complete success - scanning an organic mind and making a fully sentient AI copy. Even now, our prototype is indistinguishable from a human consciousness, except for the fact that it lacks a human body. If it wasn't for this project's heavy classification, I think we'd have won a Nobel prize for it. But part two - actually rewriting an organic mind with the memories and personalities of the subject... It's proven more difficult."

"Hmm." Vanessa hummed as she listened to the doctor's explanation. "And whose consciousness did you copy?" She asked not even bothering to understand the blueprints she was looking at. "And who is the leading researcher here?" The heiress pondered, Could it be a fluke? Maybe that fat kid was just talking nonsense, maybe my hunch about him being Oscar is wrong... or maybe Doctor Lewis is also being kept in the dark? She thought to herself as they continued the tour, "How about downloading that AI into a robotic body? Has that been considered? And can I meet it?"

 

[moonblack]

"One question at a time, please." The scientist sighs. "Yes, with the right chemical compound to accompany the mutagen, it could absolutely be used to raise a person's capacities beyond what's normally possible in a human. The effects would likely be permanent, yes. Reversal is possible, but it would take a suite of different gene therapies, I'd wager - I'd have to look at their notes to make sure. As for animals and plants? Not this specific mutagen, no, it's tailored to human physiology, but if they for whatever reason wished to, I see no reason why they couldn't make a secondary mutagen for non-human life forms."

“Sorry, I got a little carried away there.” Azura sighed as she listened to the scientist's answers. “This is bad. While in theory it could be used as a cure, I am willing to bet it will be used to create armies of super soldiers. Possibly super creatures, too, if they have a version that works on plants and animals. In the wrong hands it can cause major issues...” She sighed again. “I think I need to ask Toxin a few questions – she was very worried about the vial, so there's a chance she might know more about it. The problem is, I don't know where she was taken after she was arrested...” Azura shook her head. “This is much bigger than I could have imagined. I have never dealt with something like this before...”

 

[Tjf]

Jenny felt a sinking feeling in her gut and tried to dissuade her sister, but Chastity was having none-of-it. Reluctantly, Jenny called for an Uber and the pair was soon on their way.

She fidgeted nervously in her seat on the ride wondering how she could keep her sister from finding out about her other... other life. Silently, she prayed that Chastity wouldn't discover her secrets and that she could get them out of the club and back to her apartment sooner rather than later.

After what seemed like forever, yet all too soon, the vehicle pulled up to the street and the twins got out. Jenny tipped the driver favorably before she moved to get into the line for the club. Unfortunately for the young wife, the doorman noticed her, whispered something to an associate, and soon the sisters found themselves escorted to the front of the line where the doorman and bouncer let them in.

"Mrs. Foxx." he greeted her, and Jenny wondered how he knew her name.

Chastity gave her a mischievous smile but said nothing as the girls went inside. Immediately Jenny felt her eardrums assaulted by the near deafening rhythmic beat of the music, and her mind pressured by the thoughts of the crushing crowd of people. Without thinking, Jenny linked her arm with Chastity so they wouldn't get separated, and started pushing for the bar. She kept her head angled down to hopefully avoid anyone else from noticing her.

"This place is awesome!" Chastity giggles over the music as the sisters make their way through the throng, moving her body rhythmically to the music pounding through the building. "Nothing like that lousy club back in our hometown - the one we used to sneak into in high school."

Jenny finds herself conflicted, as hundreds of eyes are drawn to her and her scantily clad sister. On the one hand, it's humiliating, but on the other, she can't help but enjoy the looks, especially since Chastity so openly revels in them, smirking seductively at the onlookers. Idly, Jenny wonders how many of these people are regulars - how many watched in lustful glee as she sat between Hammer's legs, worshipping that massive piece of dark meat...

"That place sucked - tiny dance floor, tiny bar, tiny...staff..." Chastity looks up as they reach the bar, ogling the massive dark skinned man behind it. "I doubt anyone had that complaint about this place..." She chuckles. The bartender pours two shots of liquor without being asked to, Jenny catching the bottles label and realising that it's a top-shelf brand. "On the house, for Mrs Foxx and her...charming companion." His deep voice booms over the music, as he grins wolfishly at the two of them, serving Chastity a refill as she almost immediately downed her own shot, before heading off to serve another patron.

"You're popular here, sis!" Chastity shouts over the music. "Must have done something to impress 'em! I'm tempted to do something impressive myself, but for your sake, I promise to keep things PG tonight."

 

[Tjf]

"Hmm." Vanessa hummed as she listened to the doctor's explanation. "And whose consciousness did you copy?" She asked not even bothering to understand the blueprints she was looking at. "And who is the leading researcher here?" The heiress pondered, Could it be a fluke? Maybe that fat kid was just talking nonsense, maybe my hunch about him being Oscar is wrong... or maybe Doctor Lewis is also being kept in the dark? She thought to herself as they continued the tour, "How about downloading that AI into a robotic body? Has that been considered? And can I meet it?"

"Some businessman who apparently volunteered - I'm not sure of his identity. Professor Cyning should be able to help with that." He guides them towards an elderly woman - evidently the head researcher for the project. "We haven't taken steps to do that, but after the trouble of scanning and recreating a digital mind, transferring that mind to a robotic body should be relatively simple, yes."

 

[Tjf]

“Sorry, I got a little carried away there.” Azura sighed as she listened to the scientist's answers. “This is bad. While in theory it could be used as a cure, I am willing to bet it will be used to create armies of super soldiers. Possibly super creatures, too, if they have a version that works on plants and animals. In the wrong hands it can cause major issues...” She sighed again. “I think I need to ask Toxin a few questions – she was very worried about the vial, so there's a chance she might know more about it. The problem is, I don't know where she was taken after she was arrested...” Azura shook her head. “This is much bigger than I could have imagined. I have never dealt with something like this before...”

"Indeed, the potential applications of this technology are as troubling as they are immense. And I have to wonder if they've been going through the proper channels for human trials..." The scientist shakes her head. "I get the feeling you'll need my help somewhere down the line - here's my number." She passes over a business card.

 

[asddas193]

"Some businessman who apparently volunteered - I'm not sure of his identity. Professor Cyning should be able to help with that." He guides them towards an elderly woman - evidently the head researcher for the project. "We haven't taken steps to do that, but after the trouble of scanning and recreating a digital mind, transferring that mind to a robotic body should be relatively simple, yes."

"Businessman..." Vanessa paused, "He... doesn't happen to be an overweight, middle-aged man... was he?" She asked in a slightly rushed tone, "Good afternoon, Professor Cyning, I am Vanessa Fitzgerald. The new... owner of this facility." She introduces herself to the elderly woman, offerinf her hand for a shake. "Might I inquire as to what my predecessor has done here, and what he wanted exactly. Please, spare no details."

 

[Tjf]

"Businessman..." Vanessa paused, "He... doesn't happen to be an overweight, middle-aged man... was he?" She asked in a slightly rushed tone, "Good afternoon, Professor Cyning, I am Vanessa Fitzgerald. The new... owner of this facility." She introduces herself to the elderly woman, offerinf her hand for a shake. "Might I inquire as to what my predecessor has done here, and what he wanted exactly. Please, spare no details."

"Couldn't say, Ms Fitzgerald, I never saw him." The administrator says, as the scientist looks up from her work to shake Vanessa's hand. After giving a long tirade of technical jargon that goes entirely over Vanessa's head, she sums up. "The project's benefactor was clear in his instructions: He or she wanted not only an ability to shift consciousness into other human minds, but a 'kill switch', which could do the process instantaneously. Theoretically, if they were killed or rendered incapable, their consciousness could be shifted into the body of another individual, who would be, for lack of a better term, overwritten. Unfortunately, we've not yet reached that stage of the program."

 

[asddas193]

"Couldn't say, Ms Fitzgerald, I never saw him." The administrator says, as the scientist looks up from her work to shake Vanessa's hand. After giving a long tirade of technical jargon that goes entirely over Vanessa's head, she sums up. "The project's benefactor was clear in his instructions: He or she wanted not only an ability to shift consciousness into other human minds, but a 'kill switch', which could do the process instantaneously. Theoretically, if they were killed or rendered incapable, their consciousness could be shifted into the body of another individual, who would be, for lack of a better term, overwritten. Unfortunately, we've not yet reached that stage of the program."

Listening to the Professor's explanation, which went over Vanessa's head. She had to fight the urge to let out a relieved sigh once the elderly woman finished and gave a rundown of what Oscar wanted. "That is... a frightening thought. How exactly do you choose which body to shift in to? Do you prepare a catalyst... a spare body of sorts?" She asked in a curious tone, "And by not reached that stage yet, do you mean the kill switch, or the consciousness transfer?"

 

[AnonYMooseBoG]

"S-Son of...a bitch..." She grunts. As Sonata fiddles with the phone, he hears police sirens rapidly approaching.

"Puta madre to you too." Hearing the klaxons, Sonata vacates the area. He goes to his home to assess his wounds, no stranger to being beaten up. A smattering of bruises mottle his otherwise smooth, well-kept skin with the angriest ones covering his chest, courtesy of the gangster's knee. Okay, need a doctor to check my ribs over before anything else. With this in mind, Nico mulls over the options for medical treatment nearby.

 

[Tjf]

"Puta madre to you too." Hearing the klaxons, Sonata vacates the area. He goes to his home to assess his wounds, no stranger to being beaten up. A smattering of bruises mottle his otherwise smooth, well-kept skin with the angriest ones covering his chest, courtesy of the gangster's knee. Okay, need a doctor to check my ribs over before anything else. With this in mind, Nico mulls over the options for medical treatment nearby.

"Pendejo!" She calls out in response as Sonata flees. Back at his small apartment, thinking it over, he considers his options. He could head to a hospital, though that would entail questions about how he got so badly injured. He could head to an unofficial doctor's office, the type that treats gunshot and knife wounds for those who can't afford questions. He also recalls that Lana and Lee would have private doctors provided to them by the label, in case they ever had a medical episode that the public couldn't know about.

 

[Tjf]

Listening to the Professor's explanation, which went over Vanessa's head. She had to fight the urge to let out a relieved sigh once the elderly woman finished and gave a rundown of what Oscar wanted. "That is... a frightening thought. How exactly do you choose which body to shift in to? Do you prepare a catalyst... a spare body of sorts?" She asked in a curious tone, "And by not reached that stage yet, do you mean the kill switch, or the consciousness transfer?"

"Well, we've been putting thought into preparing a suitable candidate body - perhaps someone who's been long-term comatose or otherwise incapacitated, with relatives willing to sign away their loved one for a hefty donation, NDA included, of course." The woman sighs. "It's still academic at this point, I'm afraid, as we've neither mastered the consciousness transfer nor the kill switch - creating an AI pales in complexity to overwriting a living being's personality."

 

[AnonYMooseBoG]

"Pendejo!" She calls out in response as Sonata flees. Back at his small apartment, thinking it over, he considers his options. He could head to a hospital, though that would entail questions about how he got so badly injured. He could head to an unofficial doctor's office, the type that treats gunshot and knife wounds for those who can't afford questions. He also recalls that Lana and Lee would have private doctors provided to them by the label, in case they ever had a medical episode that the public couldn't know about.

A normal hospital would be a bad idea. Back alley doctors are probably a worse one. That leaves Lana and Lee. How do I get access to their medical staff though... Nico turns the idea over in his head for a few minutes. I could try treating it like calling in a favor, but that would wear out any goodwill. Maybe I offer something in exchange? I'm not exactly rich yet, so it would have to be a favor in return. Hmm. Wait! I already know Lee's a cape! I could offer to reveal my identity to them as a show of good faith. Yeah, that might work, but which one? Only the company knows Calista and I are the same person. So, I'll tell them I'm Calista and keep my actual name out of it for now. He audibly sighs. "This is too much to juggle."

With a loose plan formed, he redresses as Sonata then calls Lana using the number she gave him after the "rescue."

 

[Tjf]

A normal hospital would be a bad idea. Back alley doctors are probably a worse one. That leaves Lana and Lee. How do I get access to their medical staff though... Nico turns the idea over in his head for a few minutes. I could try treating it like calling in a favor, but that would wear out any goodwill. Maybe I offer something in exchange? I'm not exactly rich yet, so it would have to be a favor in return. Hmm. Wait! I already know Lee's a cape! I could offer to reveal my identity to them as a show of good faith. Yeah, that might work, but which one? Only the company knows Calista and I are the same person. So, I'll tell them I'm Calista and keep my actual name out of it for now. He audibly sighs. "This is too much to juggle."

With a loose plan formed, he redresses as Sonata then calls Lana using the number she gave him after the "rescue."

The phone rings for a few moments, before Lana's pleasant voice sounds through. "Yes?" She says, a hint of nervousness breaking through as she wonders why the hero she made a deal with is calling.

 

[asddas193]

"Well, we've been putting thought into preparing a suitable candidate body - perhaps someone who's been long-term comatose or otherwise incapacitated, with relatives willing to sign away their loved one for a hefty donation, NDA included, of course." The woman sighs. "It's still academic at this point, I'm afraid, as we've neither mastered the consciousness transfer nor the kill switch - creating an AI pales in complexity to overwriting a living being's personality."

"I figured as much. But, on the off chance someone does manage to do something like this. Is there any other labs, or professor's you'd think is capable of doing this in a more... ruthless approach?" Vanessa asked, wondering if Oscar had someone else to turn to, or if someone was recently fired from the lab for inhumane practices.

 

[Tjf]

"I figured as much. But, on the off chance someone does manage to do something like this. Is there any other labs, or professor's you'd think is capable of doing this in a more... ruthless approach?" Vanessa asked, wondering if Oscar had someone else to turn to, or if someone was recently fired from the lab for inhumane practices.

"Well, there was one researcher who was suddenly transferred - Jack Place." She says. "A brilliant mind, but a little...odd, if I can be blunt. He was initially my research partner - much of the thinking behind the project came from him."

 

[asddas193]

"Well, there was one researcher who was suddenly transferred - Jack Place." She says. "A brilliant mind, but a little...odd, if I can be blunt. He was initially my research partner - much of the thinking behind the project came from him."

"Did they say where he was transferred? And did they give a reason for doing so?" Vanessa asked, Damn it Oscar, what have you been doing behind my back. She thinks to herself, cursing at the old man who betrayed her entire family.