The Jersey Devil looked between the other two as their eager leader rushed off and had a car waiting for them. He peered down the open window at the street below, wondering if he saw the car or not from there, then back to the two. "I'll probably make better time by rooftop. I don't really do cars anyway." He hopped onto the windowsill, then looked back to them one final time. "Good luck." Then pounced up into the night.

He wasn't just talking shit about the car thing. He wasn't sure what it was, but something about going fast, while sitting still, through off his whole world. There was just too much to a car to make him feel comfortable, even if he was driving. He could do a motorcycle better. But even that wasn't his thing. This was his jam. Bounce, Run, somersault, flip, bounce, swing.... oooo he add to ask Manny about some of those flying squirl gliders for his suit.... land, roll, run. This was him, in complete control.

He wasn't sure if he would make I before the car, depending on traffic and all that, but as soon as he made it back to the building he spoke over the ear piece, 'highway to hell' playing faintly in the background in his mask. *On the roof. Headed for the vent shafts.* he took out his multi-tool pocket knife and went to work unscrewing the vent, then wriggling inside.

Talia watched the Jersey Devil leap out of the window and apparently take his own ride to their meeting place. She looked to The Finger and half-laughed, kind of nervously, "Well, though I can suspend myself from these sashes and swing around like I'm on a trapeze, I think I'll vote for the car that Manny is suggesting. And... I am going to get in it the normal way," She'll laugh nervously again and then turn to go back out the apartment door and down to where the car was waiting for them. All the while, her mind conjuring up images and the feeling of leaping through the air like the Jersey Devil, but in her own way. Could she ever come up with something like that herself? Maybe if she knew the layout of the city better... If offered to get into the car, she will and then will try to make sure she understands the plan for when they arrive. Was she still playing as Cinderella, holding onto his arm? The typical, pretty lady all dressed up and acting flirtatious? It was a good thing that she was a performer because this would take some Convincing acting.

As Link arrived outside, he looked at the vehicle with a dubious expression.

"I mean..." he stammered as he took in its lack of majesty. "...it's better than the bus," came the conclusion. It wasn't lost on him that he had arrived a beggar with no right to be choosy. His own car was long gone now and he had already walked plenty today.

He dutifully stepped in front of Talia and opened the front passenger door before giving a small wave of his arm accompanied by a slight bow, offering the premium seat with the maximum leg room. He would eventually take the backseat for himself.

"Your chariot, m'lady," he said facetiously with a terribly improvised English accent. As a thought suddenly occurred to him, he then shot Manny a glance. "We should definitely keep some distance before we park." His voice had switched back to a tone of seriousness. "We're going to get attention for all the wrong reasons if we get caught strutting out of this thing."

---

@Leophael @myinneroblivion @ShadowsofNight

---

The unflattering looks made by those regular folk passing by and later by Link to the admittedly lame car went largely unnoticed by Manny who was too giddy that he was allowed to even use the ting again. While waiting for the three to come down, he sees Bob leap out the window and away into the night. "I dig the initiative. Guess we'll see him there." He didn't have to wait long for the two to come down and, after a little bit of theatrics on Link's end, the two entered the vehicle. Link would ask him something regarding the conspicuity of their 'chariot'. "Ah. Don't worry about it none. We're gonna park half a block away from the club proper. So you two can go in incognito while I have to figure out a way to enter the building without folk seeing me." Seemed easy enough said than put into practice when three of Manny's limbs had reflective metal on them.

As they drove off into the night and deeper into downtown Hero City, he ran through the plan one more time just to get that nagging feeling of worry out of his system. "Hooo boy. Ok...so just going through one final rundown of the plan. You two would be infiltrating the club through the main entrance, because Link has a way in no issue. While I assume Bob would be going through the roof. Leaving me to get to the roof and hopefully use the way Bob used." Manny paused to take a signaled turn.

Just because they were going headlong into danger doesn't mean they should ignore road safety. Yet.

"While inside, you two find a way to the VIP area and Bob and I will hopefully be above that place when you guys arrive. We launch our attack, we find and beat Bucur and any of his cronies that want a fight, as well as find and secure the Diamond Dust they have." If the plan went off without any issues, the CHAMP would drastically rise in renown and ranking in Rent-a-Hero™ as well as get paid for the job and bonus of stopping the distribution of drugs in the area.

God he hoped things would go smoothly.

Just then the Jersey Devil would contact them. He'd made it to the nightclub in record time! "You're really friggin fast. Uhh...I guess stay out of sight as best you can until we get there. We're like five...maybe six minutes away from where we gonna park." Manny replied through the earpiece before turning to look at Link and Talia. "Seatbelts on and and hope that there are no cops patrolling the area cause road safety is about to get ignored. For the sake of Justice of course." He would demonstrate how his driving privileges were revoked.

---

Location: Foxglove Avenue, 8:26 pm, [Half-block away from Nox nightclub]

---

After one HELLUVA drive later, the three manage to find a vacant parking spot. "Hot damn I nearly forgot how fun it was to drive. Good to know that Paul didn't remove the turbochargers I put in this thing. Let me tell Bob that we're on site."

Bob would have been in the vent for roughly seven minutes before he received a transmission. In the meantime he was able to scout a little bit and find out that the rumors Manny talked about were true. People in the VIP area were drugging themselves up using small pills. Not sure what kind of drugs though...could be Diamond Dust. Could be Ecstasy. But there was one thing he saw for sure, Bucur was there and handing out the pills and taking in cash. Bob would also notice that Bucur had more cronies inside the club than out. They numbered six in total but were mercifully lightly armed with only batons or tonfas attached to their hips.

"Bob, we're on site. Talia and Link are going in the main entrance incognito while I'm gonna figure out how to get to the roof and meet up with you. Once we spot Bucur and the drug stash we launch our attack." Manny let out a quick breath to psych himself up. "This is it guys. Let's get it done."

With that done, everyone goes their separate ways for the moment.

Also, Link would recognize one of the many parked cars when approaching the nightclub. How could he not? It was the very same car that was stolen from him by that old fart earlier this afternoon. But the sight would put a tear to his eye as the poor car had large dents, deep scratches, cracked or shattered windows, and missing hubcaps.

Poor gal was butchered by the old dude.

The Jersey Devil slid slowly through the air vents, snaking his thin fit form as quietly as possible. He would stop, laying comfortably over the vent to the VIP room and watching. As the the group arrived, he would make his replies in soft whispers, grateful that his mask would muffle responses hopefully enough to keep from getting overheard. The mission impossible song playing faintly in the background. *Got eyes on the target. Count about six guards inside. All melee, no guns on them that I see. Will wait for yalls signal*

His hope and plan, was when things got into place, he could use his boots to bust him out of the vent, and try to swing straight at the big bad guy. Give him a nice pounce.... God he even described his attacks like a cat. He really was cat man. He didn't even Like cats.... then something dawned on him... *Hey... uh... the guys here are taking pills... didn't you say that dust stuff gave them superpowers?*

As soon as the car was stopped, Talia would turn to The Finger to make sure their plans were on the same page: that they would enter the nightclub together, per password given at the front, and then proceed to do their own thing (as intuition leads) once inside. After things had been agreed upon, she would ready herself for the walk to the location, all the while listening intently to the news over the earpiece. Grabbing her bag, which discreetly held her sashes and a couple other necessities, she would adjust the large overcoat once more to ensure she was covered. Then she would make the walk side by side with him until they got closer to the front entrance, whereupon she would smile apologetically and link arms with him, waiting for the chance that they could both be able to be let in, due to his knowledge of an apparent passcode that he possessed.

Link's fingernails were firmly implanted in the shoulders of the front-side seats as the CHAMPs mobile came to a halt. Eyes wide, looking like his life had flashed before his eyes, his stare bored into the back of Manny's head. Never again, he swore to himself. Manny's driving certainly had a style of its own.

Hurriedly, he pushed himself out of the vehicle's back door and firmly placed his feet on the concrete, taking in the glorious feeling of safety and freedom as he stretched out and attempted to chiropractically pop his neck with a few different maneuvers.

They were finally here. Time to put on their game faces. He looked to Talia and nodded, affirming that he was ready and their plan was a go. As they walked, he adjusted his earpiece to fit into his ear more comfortably and transmitted. "Let's get it started, ha! Let's get it started in herr!" he quipped, reciting a radio edit from the Black Eyed Peas.

His attempt at alleviation was cut short when the sight of his true love came into view. She was parked haphazardly and crooked in a spot toward the front. She was banged up, abused. Her paint was scratched. Link felt his eye twitch and his teeth grind. Don't worry, love, he mentally professed to the 4-wheeled object of his affection. I'm not leaving here without you.

As they ventured closer, the serpent of desperation began to come into focus. That's the only way Link could describe the queue of people wrapped around the building, all dolled up and waiting behind a velvet prison for a pass from the security overlords that would likely never come. Link looked to Talia and answered her smile with a smirk of his own before offering his elbow. The two of them continued on, foregoing the line.

"Don't look any of them in the eye," he whispered under his breath, intending to enter her earshot alone. No doubt, if she were to meet their gawking stares, she would discover faces of ire, envy, jealousy and hatred that often came when those who are struggling bear witness to those who thrive.

As they skipped the line in its entirety, they stopped at the two very burly looking men in black t-shirts who who stood on the inside of a velvet barrier, one of whom was positioned behind a podium. Atop the podium was a notebook whose contents consisted of the identities of the privileged. Within the podium were several keys organized by the valet drivers. Link took a mental note before looking at the twin meatheads.

"Name." Meathead Number 1 was all about business, no pleasantries. Link glanced at the notebook and then quickly back up to meet Gigantor's gaze. He wasn't going to be in the book.

"Uh," he stammered. His eyes widened for a moment. His mind was blank. Oh, fuck! What the hell was the password, again?! Speedo? Dong wagon? Butt floss? Oh, wait-

"Banana Hammock," he said with a forced sense of confidence.

Big Boy raised an eyebrow and looked the two up and down. The silence that permeated the air lasted for what seemed like hours. Links hands slowly curled into fists. This wasn't going to wor-

"Enjoy your evening," The Big Guy said with a newly sprouted grin as he pulled back the rope and gestured toward the club's entrance. Link let out a long sigh through his nostrils before taking a step forward, Talia still in tow.

As they stepped inside, they could feel the rhythm of the music. The bass, the vibrations, the movement of the dancers, the shrieking attempts at communication over all the sound pollution... He loved it! It felt like home.

Inasmuch as he had an urge to succumb to his social desires, he had to remind himself that they were there on business. They had a mission. He looked to Talia, pointed at her, and then swung his index finger like a lasso. His non-verbal request was meant to translate to Do you want to go look around? He then pointed at himself and then over to the bar, telegraphing his own personal destination. Finally, he pointed to Talia once more and then rolled his hand into a fist before extending out his pinky and thumb in a shaka sign, shaking it toward his mouth like a bottle - his way of asking if she wanted a drink before they split off. With a final shrug, he awaited her response. Then came the sound of Bob:

"Got eyes on the target. Count about six guards inside. All melee, no guns on them that I see. Will wait for y'all's signal." And then, "Hey... uh... the guys here are taking pills... didn't you say that dust stuff gave them superpowers?"

Fuck.

---

---

@Leophael @myinneroblivion @ShadowsofNight

---

Manny wished the duo luck before peeling away from the two and into an adjacent side-street just before they reached the same block and Link seeing his beloved car.

While Talia and Link entered the nightclub through the boon Link got from bedding 'Bertha', Manny had to suffice trying to reach the roof of the Nox via fire escape in a dark alleyway. It wasn't entirely bad, other than the alley smelled of piss and rotting foodstuffs. "I really should have not skimped out on the components for a grappling hook module." The man grunted to nobody in particular as he pushed a dumpster underneath the aforementioned fire escape's folded ladder. Just then Manny would hear Bob confirming visual contact with Bucur and the kind of security he had inside of the VIP area. "Pills? That probably isn't Diamond Dust. Diamond Dust is used with an inhaler, so keep an eye out for any inhalers with stuff that looks like glitter in it. Regardless, drunk and/or drugged up party goers are unpredictable. Keep safe." Just as he finished transmitting the reply to all the other CHAMPs, Manny climbs up the dumpster and finally makes significant progress to reaching the roof.

Meanwhile, Bob while waiting for his fellow heroes to get into position he would see something concerning. While some of the other VIPs were enjoying the drink and drugs, an old man holding an Aluminum briefcase approached Bucur and laid a friendly arm over the larger man's shoulder. Rather than get upset, Bucur just smiled amused to the old timer and spoke.

"Facade, I assume that you're here for business?" and the old man shifted into a pale man with equally pale eyes and long two-tone hair. "You know it, Bucur. I'd love to stay and get high...but time is money, baby. Last delivery of DD, half the price. Just for you." Facade said with a smirk as he opened the case he had revealing ten inhalers with visible capsules of glitter like substances contained within.

Down in the club proper, a small group of inebriated young men approached Talia and Link before they could discuss their plan of action now that they were inside. "Heyyy China-girl." One of the men slurred before slipping an arm over Talia. "Why don't you party with us and ditch the grungy grandpa over here." The other two attempted to flank Link, in an attempt to intimidate the man. "Yeah-*hic*- we can show her a really good time. So...so you think you can get lost, geezer? Like right now?" The other man flanking Link interjected by roughly placing his arm around the older man's shoulder and neck. The wanna be thug lets out a breath. The smell of booze and spit was strong and could almost burn Link's nose hairs. "Or you wanna get your ass kicked and sent to the geriatric hospital?" He drunkenly threatened waving a semi formed fist in front of Link's face.

Bob braced as he watched what was happening. He wanted to stop the drugs before he lost sight of them, but didn't want to jump the gun. Then he saw the shapeshifter. Shit. *Deals going down. Got a case for evidence, but home dude's dealer is a shapeshifter. Just in case, code word is Peepers, in case there's confusion of who's who. Hate shapeshifters. Makes my back itch just thinking about having a knife in it.* he planned to now pounce the shifter, and take the case. Then figure out what to do next, but waited for the others to make a move.

The young, Asian woman had moved quickly at Link's side as they got into the nightclub. It had gone off without a hitch that was for sure; she was still a little surprised and definitely admiring of how easily and coolly Link had handled it all and now they were at the intended location, with The Jersey Devil on top with eyes on things, and Manny on his way up there as well. How she still wished that was where she was, able to just leap down on the unsuspecting targets like the other two were about to, but she put all of that from her mind and focused... This, here, was her assignment. Now the only things she needed to worry about was Link and the people around her. She drew a deep breath to steady herself for the plan of splitting off from Link, since they'd likely cover more ground or find out more information separate than together. She had already declined his offer for a drink and was stepping away when the young and completely drunk group of men came up to her and flanked Link as well. When she felt one of their arms around her shoulder, she resisted flinging it instantly off and leaping into attack... That might not be the best plan, but it would certainly cause a diversion, she thought to herself. Then she smiled, amused, as she remembered she had many ways to cause a diversion.

The sparkling chandelier overhead only further served her purposes and so, she decided to give the men what they wanted, though perhaps not quite in the way they had planned... Sliding quickly and fairly easily out from under the man's arm, she shrugged her overcoat off her shoulders and then moved gracefully and purposefully to an emptier space in the night club. Her eyes never left the group of men, and she kept up the feeling of luring them in, seeking to entrance them with her movements and expression. As she flowed into her effortless movements, she would hear the Jersey Devil's next report: that the diamond dust was indeed here and a... shapeshifter... She didn't let that distract her though, as she began to swirl and spin with her arms reached out, extended gracefully and then swaying as though she was the wind itself... a soft, gentle breeze at first until the energy built around and inside of her and the movements became more intense, like sudden gusts of wind breaking the stillness. As she danced, she listened closely to anything further coming into the earpiece, but didn't miss a single movement even in her focus and her keen eyesight didn't lose sight of her surroundings or the various people.

Geriatric, Link thought to himself, taken aback. I'm barely in my 30's. However, he saw the man in the mirror plenty of times. Link had what one might call 'City Miles'. It wasn't lost on him that he appeared a little rough around the edges. Still, though... ouch.

Amusement returned when the lightweight began sloppily shaking his fist toward him as a means of a threat. Just as Link was about to respond, he abruptly swallowed his words to behold Talia and her mesmeric display. Smooth, he thought as he watched her try to capture the attention of the gawking men. The pacifistic approach.

Link craned his head slowly to look upon the face of the drunk who still had an arm wrapped over him, despite being seemingly distracted by Talia's impressive grace. I chose the peaceful path once already today, he recalled. All that got me was a long hike and a stolen car. He took an extra beat more, just to fully decide upon his reaction. In the end, he knew what he had to do. What he was born to do. He was The Finger. Time to fucking fing.

"That reminds me," he mused out loud. "It's been a while since I've checked the oil." With that, a slow, sadistic grin crept up on his face.

In a quick, liquid motion, Link slightly dropped his shoulder and swiftly spun his arm in a windmill fashion under the armpit of his aggressor and cycled it back up until he could get a good grip of the back of the guy's scalp. Link tugged down sharply on his hair with one hand while attempting to deliver an arching punch with the other. However, his fist wasn't in a mere ball. Instead, an ever-elongating middle finger poked out and descended like an arc of lightening, aimed to pass through the guy's mouth and penetrate his gullet.

---

---

@Leophael @myinneroblivion @ShadowsofNight

---

Manny finally reached the roof of the building after a significant amount of climbing up of old and unused emergency escape ladders. He lets out a relived sigh before receiving a transmission from Bob. Apparently they managed to arrive just in time for them to possibly catch the drug dealing scum that was selling the drugs to Bucur. But as soon as Bob mentioned that the dealer was a shapeshifter Manny's encyclopedic knowledge of any known heroes and villains finally proved to be useful to the group. Activating his earpiece and transmitting it to everyone he explains his idea on who this villain was.

"A shapeshifter that's dealing street level drugs? That must be one of two villains I know...and I doubt The Green Phoney could be out of prison so soon. That must be Façade. No more dangerous than a common thug but I agree with Bob. If Façade is dealing Diamond Dust, he must have some powerful friends." Just then as Manny was going to squeeze into the vent he assumed Bob entered, the door leading to the roof access opens, causing Manny to turn his head and lock eyes with a confused looking bouncer trying to begin his break. "I'll get back to you guys in a bit."

"Oi, roof access is for employees only!" The bouncer approached the Latino man aggressively. "And whats with that get up? You a cosplayer or something?" The bouncer was now only an arm's length away from Manny and he towered over the hero easily. Manny knew why he was chosen to be a bouncer of this establishment.

"Uhhh...GADGETEER ZAP!" Without wasting a moment, Manny quickly activated one of the suit's many gadgets and jabbed his armored hand forward and onto the bouncer's unprotected chest. The impact itself did little but Sixty-thousand volts was more than enough to cause the bouncer to fall flat on the ground. "Oh God, I think I killed him!"

Meanwhile...

Talia's performance would have the majority of the dance floor observing her. Never have they ever witnessed such a graceful dance to the cacophonous electronic music, even the piss-drunk asshats were enamored by the dance. Giving Link the advantage of a surprise attack. The wannabe thug was down in an instant, Link's finger gagging him well enough to induce vomiting. The other two drunks notice what Link just did and decide that maybe picking on him was a bad idea after all.

Though victorious, Link notice that some of the bouncers noticed his little stunt and were approaching him likely with an intent to kick him out of the nightclub for fighting. Talia would also notice that the bouncers already had their tonfas and batons drawn. If Link were to fight these two alone he'd be in danger but they haven't figured out that they were in cahoots with one another and she could get into the VIP area easier.

Bob on the other hand would see that both Bucur and Façade focus more on the happenings on the dance floor to see the mess wrought by Link. "Ah shit balls. Another bunch of idiot drunks getting into fights. That's another mess I'll have to deal with tonight." Bucur said as he shakes his head in disbelief. "You know how it is with boys and their drinks righ-wait a second..." Façade approaches the ledge of the VIP area and squints at Link. "Oh fuck. That's the dude I nabbed the car from earlier today. Sorry Bucur, I gotta bounce before I get my ass whooped." Before Façade could turn away to make a hasty escape, a heavy meaty hand lays itself on the shapeshifter's shoulder. "Relax. Me and my boys have dealt with supers before. Some drunk shit would be a nothing. Now sit while we discuss the deal." Bucur finished by flashing the shapeshifter a semi reassuring semi intimidating smile as the shapeshifter shifted uncomfortably in his seat offered by the larger man.

That was his que, it seemed. With one final breath, Bob kicked off the top of the shaft, bursting through the vent into the VIP room. He tried to keep a mind on where everyone was, but he was not used to working in tight spaces. So a lot of what happened came across more like someone chunking a super ball in an elevator.

Swinging out of the shaft, he would aim both feet at the Facades back, hoping to slam him down, while pushing back off him into a backflip and using his hand springs to shove him feet first at one of the goons with a gun. He wanted to take those out quickly. The spring off that goon, or the wall behind him, was meant to drive him palms first into the big bad guy himself. His trajectories planned, he tried to keep the case with the dust in sight, hoping his bouncing around would bring him close enough to snag it or kick it out of reach. He went from Jersey Devil, to Cat man, to Racket Ball in a single evening. A new record.

Slimy. It was the only word Link could think to describe the tactile resonance of his middle finger at the moment. He hurriedly wiped it dry on his jeans before taking in the sight of the aggressively approaching Muscle Squad.

Weapons, he thought as he analyzed their bludgeoning instruments from a distance. His hands curled into fists once more, all except for his middle fingers which quickly grew in size, weight and thickness becoming comparable in proportion to the clubs welded by the bouncers.

While he wanted nothing more than to fearlessly stare down his pursuers as they approached, he forced himself to break his gaze and look toward Talia, if only to assess her situation in that moment. She seemed aware of the imminent danger.

"Maybe we both dance this time," he loudly suggested with a crooked grin before turning back to the bouncers. "The thing is, I only know how to dance one way: Swing Dancing." His grin grew wider as he lifted his finger-bats in the air. "...cuz I'm about to swing these things..." he continued, the confidence quickly vanishing from his voice. "...at their faces. It's sort of a double entandr- you know what, forget it. Let's fuck these guys up!"

Talia indeed noticed the danger that her partner, Link was in... seizing the moment of the brief disruption he had now afforded her, she leaped lithely to land next to the bag she had also shrugged to the floor with her jacket before her dance, and quickly pulled out the ribbons from within, though no one would think they were any sort of weapon. She considered for a moment that her pathway to the VIP area where Bob was, now was clear but she could and would never leave a teammate to deal with danger alone when she knew about it. Deciding this was the better course of action for a new heroine in training, she danced her way towards the bouncers, ribbons whipping in snake-like fashion around and above her as she twirled them ever faster and faster. She unleashed them, once near enough to the two bouncers, to coil expertly and neatly around the baton and tonfa and to slip them instantly from their tight grips. She will have done this so quickly and with such a flow of energies and movement that they would not notice her and then she will return to sliding back amongst the crowd, continuing her beautiful and graceful dance once more as though nothing had happened.

---

---

@Leophael @myinneroblivion @ShadowsofNight

---

Manny did his best to check on the vitals of the fallen bouncer...but he was a college drop-out not a medical expert! He poked and prodded the prone form of the seemingly dead man and the lack of reaction raised his anxiety each passing second. He'd just told his companions that he strictly followed a no kill rule earlier this day. He seemed like a hypocrite now. He can already imagine the disappointment! His mother and father were right, he was not hero material!

Just as the dread set in, the bouncer finally began breathing. Unconscious, without a doubt, but still breathing. "Oh my God. Thank you Jesus." The moment of relief was cut short by the sound of conflict from the open roof access. He surmised that the others had gotten into position and were already launching the attack. He'd nod his head to pump himself up and looked to the ventilation shaft Bob entered the nightclub with and was ready to jump headlong into the darkness. Unfortunately a rather large spider made itself known and forced the hero to use the more direct approach of the roof access.

Bob's surprise attack was successful, Bucur, Façade, and the goons were caught unaware as the blur of a man slammed into them like a human-sized pin ball. Façade's seat was crushed underneath the force and combined weight of the two, leaving the shapeshifting villain to writhe on the floor in pain while cradling his sides. The goon with the gun clutched his crotch as the Jersey Devil's amplified kick ensured that even his great grand children could have felt the kick. Bucur however was another matter, after getting a face full of augmented palm strikes, the large man simply spat out a tooth and grabbed the Jersey Devil by the left forearm. "My turn." Bucur then threw the hero clean across the room, over the drugged out party goers, and into the door leading to the stairs to the roof access. "Another wannabe hero trying to make a name for himself by trying to take big bad me down." Bucur paused as one of his available goons offered him a handkerchief to wipe away the blood dripping from his mouth. "Well. You should haven't gone alone little man."

"Who said he was alone!" A voice answered back as the door Bob crashed into was pulled open by none other than the Grey Gadgeteer himself. As brave as he sounded, Bob could see that the sight of so many enemies caused Manny's knees to tremble.

Down in the dance floor...

The chaos in the VIP area was largely ignored by the blaring electronic music and the dancing bodies of the club goers. Just as the bouncers got close enough to Link and Talia's location, a ribbon from the crowd snagged the weapons out of the hands of the bouncers. Confused they look around for the source of the ribbons but the crowd of dancing people and the swiftness of the disarming caused them to quickly give up and going towards Link; unarmed but undeterred. They approach Link and prepare to tussle with the man and his engorged fingers. The first bouncer throws a straight at Link while the second goes for a grapple. Link only had time to dodge one or the other...unless, that is, if Talia did something to intercept one of the attacks but also risking getting caught up in the melee.

Talia had kept her keen eyesight on Link and his predicament even though she had gone back to twirling and dancing, doing her best to keep up the distraction for as long as possible. But now, her teammate was still being stalked by the two men and if she didn't do something and fast, he might end up getting attacked! She danced and twirled her way quickly back within striking distance and struck out again with both of her ribbons, this time allowing the metal-tipped ends to coil around both wrists of the man that was aiming a punch straight at Link.

The bouncer would feel the silken, cool touch of the ribbons at first but then it would instantly become confusing pain as he becomes aware of something slicing their way through the tendons at the top parts of both wrists. Talia had carefully selected and aimed at her target area, avoiding the risk of accidentally cutting through any major arteries that would cause someone to bleed out if the flow was not staunched. She was not to kill, only... deter... Possibly maim... Using the Chi energy and momentum fueling her moves, she pulled back hard with the ribbons still wound tightly into the bouncer's arms, planning for him to be yanked away from Link but still able to land at a distance from her. If all went according to plan, she'd "call" err... guide her ribbons to release the target and return to her, prepared for the next strike.

The Jersey Devil looked up at the Gadgeteer with his big blank goggle eyes, that covered up the surprised look in the human face below. *He's more tough and strong than human. He's a super. I'd start out of reach if you can.* Bob's voice would mumble through the communicator to Manny. Without needing to look, Bob reaches down to his bag and taps the skip button on his music player. Faintly, in the background of the communicator, 'Shut me Up' by Mindless Self Indulgence begins to play as Bob speaks to the group. "This is the dream, Boys... and ma'am. These are some bad men, and we're the good guys. Lets show em we're tired of their shit in our city."

Kicking his legs up over him in a roll, his plants his feet on the stairs the Grey Gadgeteer just came off of, and kicked off of it as hard as he could. With the full recoil off his boots would shoot him back into the room like a cannon ball. This time, however, he was aiming for the briefcase. As soon as his claws latched onto it, he would smack the floor with his other hand, changing his trajectory to a higher wall where he would imbed his claws in order to stick to the wall. Keeping his feet under him, prepared to kick off in a different direction if attacked, he clipped the briefcase to one of the carabineers on his suit.

Link's eyes were wide as he witnessed one of the bouncers being taken away by Talia's skillful use of her instrument. Impressive, he thought. Unfortunately, while he was distracted with her maneuver, the remaining bouncer had just the opening he needed to succeed in his aggressive advance. Just as the goon drove his shoulder into Link's torso, The Finger, attempted to slam down his namesake on his assailant's back before being driven to the ground.

"You piece of-" Link growled after his back landed with a thud against the hard floor while he tried to awkwardly move to counter the brute's attempts at grappling. Trying to be agile with severely and awkwardly weighted digits was particularly challenging. At close range, the finger-bats were hardly ideal. He quickly and willfully forced his fingers to deflate.

Instead of bludgeoning balloons of musculature, he silently commanded them to harden and morph into sharp-tipped organic stakes akin to railroad spikes. With the goon on top of him wildly striving to execute a submissive hold, Link attempted to take one of his needle-tipped fingers and stab them into the brute's meaty shoulder.

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@Leophael @myinneroblivion @ShadowsofNight

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Manny's fear was replaced by genuine shock. "Wait what?! Police records didn't say he was a super!" The Latino man said with incredulity as he looked at Bucur, the goons, and Bob. But as he used the helmet's magnifying specs he noticed that Bucur's body was barely kept in by his clothes, dilated pupils, and a faint glimmering dust at the corner of his bloodied lips. Bob was right, Bucur was a super...but only because he was dusted up. Bob gives a brief but rousing quip to encourage his fellows just Bucur was about to grab the fallen case of Diamond Dust only for it to be snatched away by the human blur known as the Jersey Devil. This irritated the man to no end and snatched up the fallen pistol the crotch cradling thug was holding prior to the fight. "Give back the case, pest!" The man yelled before immediately firing off three shots from the pistol against the wall climbing hero as Bob clipped the case to his person.

Bob dodged away from the attack but of the three fired, one hit the hero while the others harmlessly hit the wall he was on prior. The bullet would have hit Bob square in the ribs but with a bright flash of light, the flattened bullet fell harmlessly off his clothes and onto the floor. "A shield? You cowardly shit!"

"Oh my God it worked perfectly!" The sudden excited outburst caught Bucur and the thugs' attention and to focus on Manny. The sudden shift in attention caused the young man to dodge behind a sofa that got promptly got riddled with bullets. Miraculously, Bucur missed all his shots and not even the drugged out VIP was hit by the bullets. Bucur angrily threw the gun at the sofa Manny was hiding behind...which did far better than all of his shots as it actually hit Manny's helmet as he peeked out of cover to make a quip. "Man you suck at shooti-Ow! That hurt you asshat!"

Down in the dance floor...

Talia's lacerations did their job with vicious efficiency as the bladed end of the ribbon cut deeply into the thug's wrist and pulled him back into the crowd and away from Talia and Link. Blood squirted out of the deep wound in rhythm to the thug's heartbeat. The sheer sight of blood squirting out of his injury caused the thug to begin panicking. "Argh! FuckfuckfuckFUCK!" The thug muttered like a mantra while trying his best to staunch the bleeding.

When Link hit the floor and the thug that tackled him was trying to properly grapple him in preparation to give the hero a pummeling of a lifetime, three gunshots cut through the blaring music and caused all of the party goers to flinch and wonder what was going on. A number of gunshots answered their collective wonder and panic erupted from the dance floor. Dozens upon dozens of bodies began pushing, shoving, and running for the nearest escape route as they quickly realized that someone was shooting a gun in the nightclub.

In the confusion of the stampeding crowd, Link easily got a hit on his attacker and lodged his finger spike deep into the soft tissue of the thug until he felt the shoulder blade causing the thug to immediately jump off Link and got promptly pushed away from both Talia and Link. But as the chaos settled down, only the two heroes were the only ones left on the dance floor...well them and the three new thugs that entered the club proper after hearing the shots and wading through the panicked crowd. "Ah damn it. Heroes are attacking again! Guys, dust up if you have any Diamond Dust on you; that's the only chance we got against these freaks!" A thug said to his fellow thugs before pulling out his pistol and firing blindly at both the prone form of Link and to Talia. Hoping that he'd drive the two heroes into hiding while his buddies got dusted up enough to get an upper hand against their attackers.