♘ 006: [video] forward-dated to monday morning

[waiting]

[ Anyone who's tuned into this morning's news -- or really, happened to be in the area -- has probably caught wind of a disturbance in City Hall. It's hard to miss. Employees are being swiftly and efficiently evacuated from the building, and there's a notable police presence as they cordon the area off to conduct a sweep of the area around the park.

None of that action is visible on camera, though. Bradbury looks hassled and frustrated, suit jacket shed and tie rumpled. When he begins speaking, his voice is terse and devoid of any of the humor it normally carries: ]

We've got a situation at City Hall. We're looking at some unknowns in the building, probably with superpowers, and we don't know what they're capable of. What we do know is that they've issued a bomb threat, and they're capable of following through. They're not usin' any conventional explosives or triggers --[ Fat lot of good technopathic abilities are doing them now. ] -- so they're not exactly makin' em easy to find.

[ He pauses for breath. ]

If you've got any experience in dealing with explosives -- disarming them or finding 'em -- or powers that could find 'em? We could use some help over here. And even if you don't, we could use people to cover for the teams going in.

[ He glances to the side, grimacing. ]

The sooner, the better.

Comments

video;

[gandere]

[ She would love to help, but if she threw herself into danger, she's sure she'll never heard the end of it from a long list of people. Besides she has yet to prove herself to Bradbury herself, so all she can do is offer her support from a safe distance over the network. ]

Will you be safe, Mister Bradbury? [ With a tone that indicates he damn well better be. ]

video;

[waiting]

[ In a way, it's probably for the best that she isn't insisting on offering her help -- she'd likely only be someone else for Bradbury to worry about. Regardless of any actual ability to protect herself, this isn't necessarily a situation he'd like to see her in. ]

Yeah, I will. I got people watching my back, and I've had experience dealing with explosives before.

Voice

[out_of_time]

This is Bauer, I'm on my way.

[Jack's feet can be heard pounding down a staircase as he talks.]

What can you tell me about these superpowers? Are these ImPort perpetrators?

[waiting]

The guy we caught almost punched his way out through a wall trying to escape. [ mitch's hysteria over damage to public architecture, while it would have undoubtedly been hilarious, is something he's relieved he didn't have to deal with. ]

Said the rest of the people he was working with were the same. We don't know if there are any imPorts involved, but it's defintely possible.

video

[glaucus]

[For once Dan isn't shy or unsure of himself]

I've dealt with explosives of this nature before; I can be there shortly.

[waiting]

[ Wait, he knows you... bunny guy. ]

Exactly what kind of experience are we talking about here?

voice;

[withamask]

Mr. Bradbury. This is Detective Montoya.

I'm on my way.

[waiting]

[ It's a relief; he may not really know Renee beyond a name and a face on the Network (and the nagging déjà vu sensation of having met her somewhere before) but at least she's not someone he's going to have to worry about needing to run a background check on. ]

Appreciate it, ma'am. One of the officers or my team can fill you in when you get here.

( SORRY FOR THREADJACKING )

[detriments]

Be careful.

voice;

[acclimatized]

[ a bunch of super powered unknowns huh. ]

I don't know much about explosives— [ except he has a bad association with them now ] — but I can provide cover.

[waiting]

[ not much time to chat it up at the moment, but bradbury sounds at least grateful when he responds. ]

That's plenty. Come over when you can and we'll put you on standby until we can get the rest of this sorted, all right?

voice;

[swordedpast]

You've got my assistance. Of course, I have experience.

[waiting]

Right. You got any magic that might help?

[aggressiveapathy]

I'm calling in 'not-suicidal.' Don't let them touch my desk.

[waiting]

I'll try, but no promises. [ At least she's one less head to worry about. ]

voice;

[namekian]

Sounds like you guys need a hand.

I'm on my way. If anyone finds them and are having a hard time disarming the bombs, I can get them out of there.

Probably couldn't hurt to take down the people responsible either.

[waiting]

Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I don't recognize you -- so you mind telling me who you are and why I should let you sign on?

[klutziness]

You don't know what kind of bombs they are, then?

[waiting]

We know for sure that they're not using any timed detonators, or anything that can be remotely activated.

[ Best not get into how exactly they figure that. ]

If it's built like the bomb we intercepted this morning, they're using a manually-activated chemical detonator.

[voice] Wild Tiger's comm

[wild_roar]

Suiting up right now!

Guess somebody will have to write a note to my boss, eh?

[waiting]

We'll come up with something for you.

You ever deal with bombs before?

voice;

[failedprotagonist]

I'm an explosive ordinance disposal technician.

[This is partly a lie and partly true. He is an explosives expert, but "former freelance mercenary" doesn't sound as official. He has the same skills, that's what counts.]

I can assist.

voice;

[waiting]

[ He doesn't recognize the name, so there's a little hesitance in his voice when he responds. ]

You got any way to prove your qualifications?

( voice. )

[solidorkable]

Pray you know your limits and you do not rush into the fray, Bradbury.

[waiting]

[ You'd better be a good distance away from this place, mister!!! ]

I'll be fine. I've got good people watching my back.

[voice]

[deductives]

[So the Red Death finally made their next move. Distinctly less subtle this time.]

Short staffed today?

[voice]

[waiting]

Something like that.

video

[retropolis]

Is everyone else okay, Rick? Do you need me to-- [ There's a million things he could do, but-- a million things that could go wrong, too, since he doesn't personally have knowledge or his own team backing him up. Twenty years ago... ] I'm keeping the area clear, but if we need any more police on the scene... you'll let me know if you need something, right?

[waiting]

Yeah, I'll let you know.

[ It's said automatically, which probably isn't very reassuring, but his focus on elsewhere at the moment. He seems to realize as much, because he catches himself, frown audible. ]

I'll be working with the teams combing through the place, but I can't keep an eye on everything. You mind checking in with the guys keeping watch over Hizzoner? Make sure he's not about to start climbin' walls tryin' to get out?

video

[boobwindow]

[ ID reads Power Girl, blah blah blah. ]

Need an extra hand?

[waiting]

[ Well, he recognizes the ID, but it's his first time seeing her -- though there's something oddly familiar he can't place.

It's not important. ]

Could use more than a few, if I'm bein' honest.

[detriments]

[Oh dear. This is rather exciting.]

I take it you haven't caught any suspects yet-?

[waiting]

[ He clears his throat. ]

'fraid I can't really get into it, ma'am. We're still investigating.