I have accomplished most of what I intended, and I think everyone might agree that we've been muddling about in this session, so I'm going to start advancing things a smidge.
OVIEDO, 9:30AM (Jack, Otso; NPCs: Ellen)
Scanning the area, Greystone couldn't detect any sentries left by 3. Either he hadn't posted one here, or Jack was missing something...
He wished Dennis were here. The illusionist could likely conjure some sort of screen to prevent 3 from seeing the true depth of Jack's powers--unless he had a camera set up somewhere. Jack wasn't entirely sure on how Dennis' powers worked, but he wagered they wouldn't full a camera, and wouldn't show on any feed the madman may or may not have been watching.
Retaining the form of a bloodhound, Jack sniffed the area once more and again came up with nothing. Holding his breath, he moved to open the trunk of the car. If he was wrong, he might survive an explosion if he shifted fast enough... but the hostage... Jack's mind went back to Kaiserslaughten--to a mound of office furniture and a trip wire left by Vlad's mother. The woman had been instrumental in saving this world and several others: she defected from the Armada and traveled to this dimension's past, warning of the Armada's coming and putting so many defenses into motion... but that didn't cleanse her hands of the blood on them...
Jack breathed a sigh of relief when the car did not explode. He helped the girl out--spoke to her in her mother tongue--and told her that they were taking her to her brother.
With his sister safe, Mateo stood down, letting Dennis free Missus Rodriguez. The nightmare was over... for now. They had saved his captives, but 3 was still out there and very dangerous. This didn't only involve Otso now, Jack knew: he and Ellen--maybe even Dennis... they were all involved in this now...
Hours later, their team returned to Vienna and gave Newton their briefing...
SHREWSBURY, 3:00AM (Tamati, Violet; NPCs: Abe, Augustus, Herta, Joseph, Shelby)
"Ya know I don't think you managed to convince them you're sincere. Tell ya what why don't you give me something we could use, it would sway the vote ... but if ya don't want to well that's cool too ... stupid but your call."
"I'll tell you whatever you want to know," Joseph cried. "You want me to help you find Nemesis? Fine! I don't know who he is, but I'll tell you everything I know!"
Violet and her father returned to the group. "Spill it, Joseph," she said icily, "and I'll vote to send you someplace nice."
Joseph was as good as his word: he gave him the username and password for his email address. Augustus dashed into the house and returned with his laptop. They were able to sign in easily enough and find the messages from Nemesis. It was just as Joseph said: this mysterious person told him what he was--the product of a secret government test. There were attachments aplenty: video of Violet's mother overseeing stress tests on babies--working to force the newborns to manifest the Neo-Sapien abilities that was their birthright.
Shelby hugged Tamati tight. "This is sick," she told him.
When they had poured through the messages, Herta turned the laptop to face her. She mulled over the email for a moment, occasionally making a face. "Unless Nemesis is using a VPN or something to mask their location... their IP address is suggesting that they're in Vienna. They were sent months ago--during the last school year... and before Durendal went down.
"The Blue &#$^ told Augustus and I that he'd seen something: he thinks Mira Linden may have been the product of these experiments. If this really did some from Vienna, she'd have the motive..."
VALENCIA, 11:35AM (Kas, Lex, Martin; NPCs: Beatrice, Buddy, Fiore, Rusty)
"Mag, incoming!" Current screamed. "Dive!" He hoped his warning would be enough. "God dammit," he growled as he climbed out onto the sill after the butcher.
Magnitude fell out of the sky and was barely brushed by the jet of blue flames. He caught himself in midair and prevented himself from hitting the ground. Instead, he hovered horizontally. The sun reflected off his visor, flashing into Fluxx's eyes as he came cascading down over the roof.
The Frenchman slithered around the woman and over her belly, forming an insulating layer that would protect the child growing inside of her. The weight of him began to pull her down. She shouted something in Spanish--something lost to Magnitude's ears. Her lover replied in the same tongue. It sounded like they were arguing. She said something more. Suddenly, he was visible to Magnitude--solid once more and dropping to the ground.
The butcher had produced another baggy from his cargo pants. He quickly took a bite of the jerky inside. They were going to need firepower on the ground, he presumed. "Fluxx," Magnitude barked, "do you have the woman?"
Once Fluxx confirmed that he had her, Magnitude looked to the window. "Current," he shouted, "with me! Jump!"
Before the American could be safely guided to the ground, the butcher vanished completely. "Did he transform again?" Magnitude asked.
"No such luck," Eiron called down from the second level, brandishing a fire extinguisher. "Either he turned invisible, or he can teleport."
Magnitude doubted the former; if he were invisible, the Germany would still see him. As for the teleportation, he would wait for Vestige to confirm that. For now, they were left only with his woman. Fluxx had her bound and anchored. She was going nowhere... but if the man returned for her? "Talk," Magnitude ordered. "Who are you?"
The woman spat at him. "I don't have to tell you anything," she said. English. Finally, someone here spoke English.
Go ahead and interrogate, guys.