War On Crime

L"Never seen 'em before. What do you want?"

Aro"I see 2 people on the roof with you, is something wrong?"

Art"Good question."

Not!Speedy: "Think of it as a heads up. You're going to want to be at the drain pipe of the chemical plant in the park for when Raptor gets out of Schwarzstein on Saturday. Specifically you."

Not!Speedy points at Mimiru.

Not!Speedy: "Don't worry, you'll have a handicap. He won't be able to use his speed. And you'll be fighting in a mudhole."

Mimiru: "How do you even know he's getting out?"

Not!Zoom: "Because we're going to let him out. Raptor will kill the mayor during the negotiations and we'll free him. He'll crawl from the drain at nightfall and his army will witness his downfall."

Eve:<(Well, I'm leaving this up to you. I don't have any experience with this kind of thing.)>

L"And how are you going to do that? How do you know he'll succeed at killing the mayor & won't have his super speed?"

Art"And why can't I shoot you?"
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*Meanwhile, overhearing all of this because of audio-communicators, Aroma prepares to call 9-1-1.*

Not!Speedy: "Wouldn't do them any good keeping him in Schwarzstein if there weren't means to negate his abilities."

Not!Zoom: "Nightfall on Saturday."

In a streak of blue lightning, the two or gone and everything is normal again for those other jokers who now have plans for Saturday. It'll be a good time full o fistfighting in the mud and watching the spirits of who knows how many young people die.

Eve:<...Am I the only one who thinks this plan is really bad?>

L"Aromatic Grass will likely call the cops on them. If they want someone to fight Raptor, they can do it themselves."

V"Oh, hey, make sure she tells them that they did something to prevent us from fighting back."
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*Aroma uses a proxy server to get into E-mail form of The Grapevine, because that is logically a thing it would have, & sends a message to the Manderlay PD. She also zooms in to a screenshot of the duo to make out their costumes.*

Dear MPD,

While we have our differences, I wish to report a threat made by a pair of costumed villains at [address]. The mutant duo claims they will release Raptor on Saturday night, adding that he will kill the mayor and be sent into a pipe leading to the chemical plant at the park. One of the villains wore an all-concealing black suit and mask, presumably male with a deep, almost demonic voice. The other was a smaller [Summer's hair color if visible] female, with a red and black hooded jacket and a domino mask. Together they possess super speed manifeasting in a blue blur and some form of mind-altering abilities, which prevented my allies from stopping them. I was

*Aroma pauses for a moment before finishing.*

patrolling in another part of the city.

Yours,

Grapevine

*She sends the report to the police.*

Eve:<So, what's the plan now?>

Azuma: "Search the city some more? Go home after a job well done?"

===========================

She gets an automated response as that's usually how things work essentially saying thank you, we'll look into it. Which is probably better than calling them and probably getting scolded for prank calling them.

L"It's getting late, & even superheroes have to sleep. I'll call in on a payphone later to make sure the cops got the warning."

*She turns to Queer Arrow, rapping her bike helmet.*

L"And you should invest in some better protection, especially if you have no powers."

Art"Just as soon as I get some money."

Eve:<I'll head home then as well. Thank you for working with me tonight.>

Fast forward to Friday afternoon. Lunch hour to be exact. Some things probably happened the night before, but nothing major.

Taiyo and Mimiru sit in the cafeteria, Taiyo giddy about her date tonight. On the television set is a local radio channel after the abhorrent act of violence shown on the shopping network, so someone thought an audio only station was the way to go. The host sounds like an amatuer at best in something that is not at all a professional studio.

Host: "Police are still advising citizens of Manderlay to be on the look out for several people in costumes that I'm not going to describe because it is a lot of hassle for a radio host. Any local news site will have the image taken from bodycam on their site.

Anyway dear listeners, I seem to have put this off long enough. There is currently a woman in my studio flailing her arms around trying to get my attention for the last fifteen minutes and I'm really concerned about who let her in. She's holding a note against the window that separates my booth from the rest of the studio that appears to say 'Can any Mutant with time travel powers contact me at...' the number is too smeared to tell what it says. 'Please, I want to go back and convince my now ex-husband to use a condom, so maybe our son wouldn't have...' seriously who let this woman in? This is awful, but let's continue. 'Save our marriage Subway.'

Sorry, that last part wasn't part of the note. It seems the note was written on a Subway wrapper. Must have been acquired out of the city as due to an oversight in city bylaws concerning the prevention of subway transit systems being built in the city, it was worded in a way to include not only subway transit systems, but the sandwich franchise.

In other news, construction on the corner of Ouroboros and Oxford began early this morning. Apparently it's going to be the site of the Jeremiah Arclight dog park. Lot of heavy machinery to clear a vacant lot, but I'm no construction worker, so for all I know this is normal.

Now while I find who let this woman into the studio who is now sobbing uncontrollably, I take you to the sound of an aquarium pump."

Sure enough, the sound of an aquarium pump plays. Some people loudly proclaim what the hell this is all about as Taiyo and Mimiru look at the television in confusion and with a little bit of sadness.

=====================================

In the office of Mayor Ditko, Commissioner Morrison visits and honestly looks like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Morrison: "You really sure about this whole negotiation thing, sir?"

Ditko: "Of course I'm sure. He'll be shackled the whole time and has one of those collars on. What could he possibly do?"

Morrison: "Doesn't hurt to have someone in the room just in case."

Ditko: "No. I gotta show this Raptor and his thugs that not only am I strong enough to look him in the eye on my own, but that this city isn't afraid of them. The same goes for all those other criminals out there. Manderlay will not submit to the will of criminals."

*Ven, also on her lunch hour but presumably alone, calls up Aroma.*

V"Hey, how's it going?"

A"Not good. Thiera's really guilty about sitting out last night, she keeps saying she should've been there. Maybe I shouldn't go out tonight...."

V"Hey, we've been over this, you leave Thiera to me. It's not a crime to take a night for yourself, it doesn't make you a bad friend. Things will get better, I promise."

A"...Okay...."
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*Being a 2nd shift worker, Luna arrives at the office. While she's doing data entry, she takes the time to look up if the tip about Raptor has been followed up on.*
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*Artemis furrows her brow at the broadcast as she imbibes some mac 'n' cheese.*

*Amanda looks around, then whispers to Artemis*

Amanda:<So...how was last night?>
---
*Eve eats her lunch, face buried in a notebook*

V"And if you ever need me for--the other thing, you can call me for that too."

Aro"What other--oh. OH. Yeah...sure."

V"Why do you sound so unconvinced?"

Aro"It's just...I'm starting to worry about how physically & mentally dangerous this is for all of you."

V"Maybe, but someone's gotta do it, right?"
=======================
Art"(It was awesome! Sadly Grapevine wasn't there, but I got to work with a bunch of other superheroes & we saved a kid & totally kicked Tyranno Boy ass!)

The aquarium pump sound ceases and the host returns.

Host: "Sorry about that, dear listeners. I'm not sure what happened there, but it's been dealt with.

In other news, construction on the nuclear power plant near the docks is going as scheduled despite the occasional environmental protest groups. Construction is expected to be complete sometime not next year, but early into the year after assuming everything goes as planned."

The bell rings signalling that they need to get their asses to class.

================================

There's nothing saying shady things happened at the prison or any news on Raptor other than an article about the mayor saying he's going to negotiate a peace with the Tyranno Boys. Which apparently has gone well for his approval ratings although there is some skepticism about it.

*Everyone gets up and heads to class*

A"But why does it have to be you?"

V"We've been over this, I want to make a difference. I'm tired of the same-old-same-old. I'm sure everyone else feels the same way."

A"But--"

V"Listen, I need to go. Lunch break's over. I'll see you later."

A"Oh...okay...goodbye...."

*Ven hangs up.*
=====================
*Luna sighs. She'll have to deal with this bullshit later, but for right now, she needs to finish her paperwork & get out to her rounds.*
=====================
*Off to class!*

Let's go to the end of the school day, maybe even work day for some. And the start for others, Taiyo having talked to Kari so she can leave early this day for her date which Kari is happy for Taiyo.

And what the hell is she going to wear?

=======================

Azuma and Hitomi start their work day, Azuma still having a bad time with his arm in a cast. How a large city can have a small bookstore that can afford two employees is a mystery.

*Kylie runs out of her last class, heading for the parking lot where she father is waiting in his car. Her face is red and clenched, as if in great pain*
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*Eve starts walking home, as both her parents work*
===
*Amanda waits for Artemis to get out of class*

*Artemis goes out to wherever, looking deep in thought.*
===========================
*Now is about lunch break time for Luna, so she quickly eats some sandwiches in the solitude of her truck before picking up her voice changer & dialing the police tip hotline.*
===========================
*Aroma looks out of the peephole at a knock to her dorm. Seeing Ven, she lets her in, shutting the door behind her.*

Aro"You're here early."

V"Well, I don't have much else to do, so I thought I'd get settled in. Where's Thiera?"

Aro"She's sleeping right now. You can feel free to make yourself at home. I'm about to get in the shower, do you need anything before that? A drink, maybe?"

V"A glass of water would be nice, if it's not too much trouble."

Aro"Not at all."

*Aroma scampers off for the fridge while Ven awkwardly scuttles over to the couch.*

At work, Taiyo does her thing, trying to get through it quickly, but cleaning the cage of a foul mouthed parrot is not an easy task that can be rushed. It says many mean things, but whether or not it's out of malicious intent is a mystery.

=====================================

There's answer, the usual Manderlay Police Department Tipline, how may I help you. Luna not at all concerned with the fact she is working to aid people who would arrest her. What a bootlicker.

*Amanda waves Artemis down*

Amanda:<Everything all right?>
---
*Kylie jumps in her dad's car and shuts the door*

Mr. Sorenson:<Kylie, what's wrong?>

Kylie<Migraine...>

*She squeaks this out before shutting her mouth, now looking rather green. Mr. Sorenson quickly pulls out of the space and starts driving home*

*Artemis shakes her head & looks up.*

Art"Huh? Oh--yeah--I was just thinking about patrols.>
=======================
*After giving Ven the water, but before getting in the shower, Aroma goes ahead & calls the pet store. Ven just starts flipping through the channels, I guess.*
=======================
*Luna holds her voice changer to her face before answering.*

"I'm calling to make sure you're following up on the threat to the mayor's life that was reported. The mutant duo who plan to free Raptor."

Kari answers the phone with a usual "Good afternoon, Dawson Avenue Pet Shop." The swearing parrot being audible in the background.

=====================================

The person on the other end says it is being followed up on although Luna has no way of knowing if this person is blowing smoke or if it's authentic.