[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240704/15c5dce39db5f4bba3924f90f056f479.png[/img][/center] [quote][sub][color=PaleTurquoise] October 10th, 2029. Peterson Estates Passenger Island, Castleburg On a mission with: Alchemist [@Duoya], Blast [@Hitman], Gematria [@Scarifar], Bastion [@Infinite Cosmos], Dahlia [@baraquiel] [/color][/sub][/quote] [hr] A paso doble. They really weren't going to let Madison ease back into ballroom dancing, were they? This wasn't so much being thrown into the deep end of the pool as being thrown into the ocean. Toreador was, however, an even better dancing partner than advertised. His own dancing was flawless and he still had time and focus to spare telegraphing his movements so that Madison knew in advance which way to step or turn next. ALISA was giving Madison directions through her earpiece, but they were just distracting more than anything, so she mentally tuned them out and let the flow of the dance, and Toreador's lead, guide her movements. She was about to turn her earpiece off but thankfully didn't get a chance to before she heard Alchemist report that Peterson had invited her to his study. He surely wouldn't pass on hosting the big event of his own party just to go and talk movies with a waiter. That could be a trap, but to a Hero, walking into traps is sometimes the only available way to get the cheese. This little train of thought troubled Madison, and though she didn't [i]feel[/i] her dancing was being affected, she did know that she'd stopped smiling. Eventually the two of them were eliminated, and Wireframe's cheeks flushes slightly in embarassment. She though she'd had it in the bag there. She looked over to see that Blast and Eva had won the competition. Unfortunate but not that surprising. Whether or not they'd lost because of her, Madison wasn't sure they'd have been able to beat Blast anyway. She applauded them and the smile was back on her face. She turned to Toreador after the competion was truly finished and the background drone of post-dance chatter resumed. [color=PaleTurquoise]"Sorry that we lost. I was not expecting a paso doble!"[/color] She chuckled apologetically, all smiles once again, as she then listened to the Junker. The smile slowly shrank as her eyes grew in amazement. Her? A Junker? Was she being scouted right now? Madison didn't know how to react. She didn't know what to say, so she kept listening. Every word felt like it had a double meaning unique to her. When he said that who you were growing up remains with you, she knew that he wasn't only talking about Eva. Maybe he had a point. Maybe Madison's past shouldn't be looked at like a big ugly drawback to run away from, but a valuable use of time that could be another tool in her arsenal. Ending his pitch with the words 'hard work' was no accident either. Perhaps working hard and utilising her status didn't have to be opposing values but could work together hand in hand. He was certainly making becoming a Junker sound appealing in the moment. Before there was enough time to sort out her thoughts, Toreador began speaking more quietly. What he told her next was so alarming that all thoughts of becoming a Junker left her head. Could Toreador be covering for Peterson? No. As she'd already told herself, the Junkers would not still be around if they were outright crooks. Even if he was, this was not how you'd do it. Surely he'd already have tried to stop them in other, easier and faster ways. Perhaps pointing out that HERO members were attending the party in earshot of Peterson himself. His talk of somebody being in danger above made her remember that Alchemist was likely walking into a trap. And if Peterson wasn't the mastermind, then he was the bait. Blast and Eva were capable and could handle a little danger. Alchemist on the other hand, hadn't even been able to handle talking to a crowd earlier. She gave Toreador another polite bow. [color=PaleTurquoise]"You have already given me a lot of help. Thank you. If you'll excuse me, I shall go check on my friends now. And don't worry. I'll be careful."[/color] Wireframe turned and calmly headed out the ballroom and towards the staircase. She talked very quietly into her watch the moment she was alone and away from other guests. [color=PaleTurquoise]"According to Toreador, Peterson is not the mastermind. He's the fall guy. If anyone's looking for clues right now, please keep that in mind."[/color] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/240725/aa611a17ebaf35803318d19d0d52a4be.png[/img][/center] [quote][sub][color=Bisque] October 10th, 2029. Fixeon Municipal Recycling Plant Brookside, Castleburg On a mission with: Mire [@Blizz], Crane [@Zoey Boey], Blur Rabbit [@DClassified], Ardent [@manythings], Terraformer [@shylarah], Freakshow [@Crusader Lord] [/color][/sub][/quote] [hr] It did not take Lab Rat long to realise something was wrong. This wasn't just a nest. This wasn't just several. There was nothing natural about this. Flora knew of no documented cases where terrazards acted like this short of mind control. Building an army would be a lot of work, and she was having trouble thinking up a motive for why they'd be let out here and not covertly transported to their real destination. Unless...this group itself was the target. Lab Rat pressed the buttons on the side of her goggles and began recording and broadcasting her POV to ALISA. At the same time, she began talking into her watch while effortlessly dodging attacks and dispatching terrazards one by one. She was clearly quite skilled with supernatural strength and reflexes to be able to duck a bite without even looking and then break one of their skulls with a single punch. [color=Bisque]"ALISA. I'm sending the video from my POV. Please be advised terrazards are displaying ususual behaviour and are in far greater quantities than we thought. We do not have the manpower to fully secure a perimeter. Please alert any unassigned and available Heroes for backup."[/color] Lab Rat agreed with the observations of both Freakshow and Ardent as they pushed forward. The source of the terrazards was inside the plant. They'd have to stop them at the source before the swarm got too out of hand. Staying outside and trying to contain them would slowly become a losing battle with the speed at which their numbers were growing. Ardent and Freakshow were both going to enter the plant. Lab Rat would have stayed out, but it was quickly becoming apparent that dispatching them one by one at the rate she was capable of was not going to help, and she'd be put to much better use iside the plant. In contrast, Crane would be much less effective inside and enclosed space, and Terraformer's power would also greatly benefit from wide open space and immediate access to the bare ground. [color=Bisque]"Terraformer, Crane. Please do you best to keep as few from leaving the area as you can. I've already alerted ALISA. I'll head inside and hopefully be able to help stop any more from coming,"[/color] she spoke in a loud, harsh voice that betrayed her own fear and anxiety. She turned and followed Freakshow and Ardent into the hole.