TO: jjj@dailybugle.com
FROM: jewel@thepulse.com
SUBJECT: [Pulse] Iron Man's Press Conference
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Jonah,
This isn't going to be pretty. I can cover this beat for you, but you need to promise no civvies will be out on reporter duty. I'm sure you've seen the conference - Captain America is public enemy number one. The Avengers are going to war.
Also, my usual fee will be doubled for this - let's call it hazard pay.
Keep it sleazy,
Jewel
P.S. I mean it. If I see a single civvie pounding pavement for this, I'll break your face in :-)
St. David's Hospital - Cardiff: 2:10 A.M.
The lights in the hallway flickered back on, illuminating Fury's silhouette at the end. The lights then went out again and both Niah and Oliver would hear the sound of gunshots, followed by a feral growl. The ground shook and there was a gigantic crash. The lights flickered on in time for Niah and Oliver to see as a monstrous bear, easily the size of a school bus with glowing red eyes, swallowed Fury whole. The bear let out a howl, before charging after Niah and Oliver, easily closing the gap between them. With its teeth, it caught the fabric of Niah's shirt and lifted her up towards the ceiling, before shaking its head around like a dog with a cute animal it wanted to kill and devour. Oliver would have a choice to make - he could escape while the bear was distracted and leave Niah to die, or he could try to save her and risk getting himself killed.
Ellis Island - New York: 8:00 P.M.
Bonnie Chase
Location: Ellis Island: Far Field
Skills: Blessing of Athena, Intuition, Hand-to-Hand Combat
She got on up to her feet, before an idea occurred to her. She hadn't moved fast enough to make her next move before Kwassi would be able to get up, but she figured it would still work. She kicked at the ground as hard as she could, hoping that the grass and dirt were loose. Bits of dirt and grass flew up, hitting Kwassi in the eye and temporarily blinding him. A small part of Bonnie noted with interest that was probably one of the reasons why superheroes tended to wear masks. The rest of her followed through with her temporary advantage, punching him in the side of the head. It would hurt, but Kwassi wouldn't bleed from it - if anything, it would just add to his sensory disorientation.
Folly Valeska
Location: Ellis Island: Far Field
Skills: Regenerative Healing Factor (Passive), Acrobat, Adamantium Daggers
Around the field, various supers were locked in combat. Captain Marvel was fighting the Black Panther. The Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic were in a two on two match against the Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The Wasp was rapidly changing her size, avoiding the arrows Hawkeye was sending her way. Iron Man and She Hulk were taking on both Captain America and Spider-Man at once. The Human Torch was up against Wolverine. Black Widow was up against Agent 13.
Suddenly, Folly gasped for breath and sat up, animated with life again. "I think I'd like to file a complaint about police brutality," she told Cass, narrowing her eyes. She went into a frenzy. She leapt up from the ground with deadly grace, slashing Cass wherever she saw an opening like a swarm of piranhas. The technique wasn't without its merits - she managed to stab Cass in her left eye - but at the same time, it left Folly incredibly vulnerable to attack.
Folly pulled her dagger out, the eyeball impaled on the tip. "Ha! An eye for an eye!" she declared, before biting the eyeball with her teeth and pulling it off of her blade.
Asgard - Breidablik: 11:50 P.M.
Amelia Baptiste
Location: the Hall of Baldur: Entrance
Skills: N/A
Amelia blinked. "Come again?" she asked, her head swimming with all of the Norse names and figures. She grabbed a pair of sunglasses from the box and put them on, finding instant relief. She could look at Baldur without feeling like she was burning her eyes. She grabbed one of the tubes of sunscreen as well, feeling the heat on her skin and the immense amount of sweat she was putting out as her body attempted to cool her down. "What's a Helheim?" she then added, being more specific as to what was confusing her.
"Oh, the halls of the goddess of death," Baldur explained nonchalantly. "I would try to avoid it. Valhalla is a much better afterlife, although of course being tended to by Freya would be lovely. You spend eternity preparing for battle, but you are in the sweetest meadows with flowers from every color of the rainbow and several beyond it..."
Nanna shot her husband a disapproving look. "Dearest, remember our agreement? No talking about death outside of the Yuletide season," she said, whispering the D-word.
"Right, I'm sorry, petal," Baldur apologized, kissing his wife on the forehead. "Now, come inside friends! Let us feast and toast your arrival!" He opened the doors to the halls more fully, gesturing for them to follow him to the feast hall. Amelia quickly lathered herself up with sunscreen, not sure how it was going to stop her from burning up, but she wasn't about to question magic. She didn't question the science-y stuff Sci-Tech people put out, so she didn't want to start now.
Inside, the walls and floor were crafted out of gold. Prisms and flowers were placed as decorations and mistletoe dangled from every doorway. From a doorway to the left, there was the sound of a babbling brook. To the right an open door showed a sitting room of sorts, except instead of sofas and chairs there were giant flowers, flowers so big they seemed to be able to support a person. At the end of the hall was a large feast table with four chairs. One of the chairs was occupied by a stern young man. Three doors split off at the end of the hall, each with a different norse rune on the door. One of the doors stood out from all of the others, as it was silver instead of golden.