Mason Dean sat at the table, munching on his sandwich while jotting down notes in his notebook while reading the text in front of him. After a few minutes, he took a drink of his soda and continued his homework.
In the two years since the big fights, he did his best to walk away from his other persona. Mr. Ashby had left him enough money so he didn't live on the street, but it'd run out eventually. Dropping back to part time studies, he took a second job to cover expenses and pay for his classes. At least life in the past two years had returned to normal.
Unfortunately, the news report on the monitor hanging from the cafeteria ceiling had other plans.
"The mysterious criminal known only as Zapman escaped from prison earlier this morning, injuring a dozen police officers and causing over $100,00.25 in damage. This comes just a day after the shooting at a playhouse off Stanley Street, where a substitute teacher went missing. Although authorities doubt this has anything to do with the robberies at Wylltech a couple years ago, they fear something else is responsible.
We'll report back when we have more information."
Mason sighed, dropping his pencil to the table. So much for walking away. He closed his textbook and notebook, staring at the covers. Last time, the police hunted Vyper down until he disappeared. Maybe he should just let them deal with it. Still, considering the damage to the police station, that may no longer be an option. Shaking his head, Mason collected his belongings, took one last bite of his sandwich before tossing it into the trash bin, and grabbed his soda before heading for the door.
We'll come back to Mason Dean and his inner struggle as he debates returning as Vyper later. But first, here's our other new hero (well not so new if you read the previous stories):
Mr. Flex
Level 1 Hero.
Body: +3, Agility: +1, Heart: -1.
Brad Muggs loved wrestling in college and hoped to either compete in the Olympics or in pro wrestling. After suffering a severe injury, Brad volunteered for experimental treatment, not realizing his was nothing but a lab project. After recovering, and noticing his superhuman strength and reflexes, Brad realized he'd have an unfair advantage when competing. Wanting to help others, he began calling himself, Mr. Flex.
This scene takes place about the same time. Flex is walking to the gym where he works.
However, before he can proceed, I get a Scene Interrupt: "Help," "Move."
(Q) Is someone asking him to help them move? (Likely) No.
(Q) Is someone asking him to move something? (Likely) Yes.
(Q) Is a car stuck? (Very Likely) Yes.
Brad walked on the sidewalk, enjoying the morning breeze, and smiling at people as he made his way to work. there was no need to drive as he only had to travel a few blocks to the gym, where he worked as a trainer.
As he passed an alley, he heard cursing. Turning to look, he saw a man getting out of his car and kicking it.
"What's wrong?" Brad asked.
"I didn't see the mud puddle," the other man said. "Now I'm stuck."
Brad approached. "Let me take a look."
I feel like pushing a car out of the mud wouldn't be easy for a normal person, but it wouldn't be impossible either. Rather than finding out the type of car and how badly it's entrenched, I'm just going to ask one question about the overall difficulty.
(Q) Is the overall Difficulty +2? (Likely) Yes.
So the Difficulty (Also Resisted Rank; I know I jump back and forth between those terms but they mean the same thing) is +2, while Brad's Body stat is +3.
(Ability) Does Brad manage to move the car? (+1 means Likely) X-Yes, but with Random Event.
(Event) "Goals," "Delay."
Well, Brad's current goal is to get to work, so I'm guessing this makes him late.
(Q) Is Brad in trouble for being late? (50/50) No.
Brad easily pushed the car free, and the other man thanked him and went to work. As he drove away, Brad glanced at his watch. Uh oh, he's going to be late if he didn't hurry.
He flew through the doors to the gym, and Sophie, the trainer sitting behind the front desk smiled. "Ten minutes late. Maybe walking isn't such a good idea after all."
"Well that's just it," said Brad. "Some guy got his car stuck and I helped him free it."
"Ah," she laughed, "that's our Brad, the big hero." She threw a thumb backward. "You got a class of women waiting for you, and I think they're starting to get impatient."
Brad smiled. "Thanks." He hurried to the locker room to change.
That night, Brad left the gym and began walking home. The streets were somewhat busy and the sidewalk had its fill of people darting into and out of stores.
(Q) Does Brad see anything suspicious? (50/50) Yes.
(Detail) What does he see? "Break," "Fight."
(Q) Is the fight in an alley? (Likely) Yes.
Hearing commotion, he glanced into another alley. Did someone else's car get stuck? Instead he saw two young men punching each other.
(Q) Is anyone else around? (Likely) X-Yes.
(Q) Are a lot of people present? (Likely because of the previous result) No.
(Q) Does the Exceptional result mean a supervillain is present? (Very Likely) X-Yes.
Ducking out of sight, Brad reached into his bad. Finding his mask, he threw it on, along with his matching finger-less gloves. Then he charged into the alley. "Hey, break it up." He looked up and down at the men. "What possible reason could you have for beating each other senseless?"
"Do you mind? We're in the middle of something."
Brad turned to see a third man, also wearing a mask, standing on a crate. "Who are you?"
"I'm Zapman, and you're interrupting an initiation. Who in the dawn's early light are you?"
Brad stood tall. "I'm Mr. Flex, and you shouldn't make them fight, they look like kids."
"Maybe you have a point." Zapman looked to the two men. "New plan; whoever takes down 'Mr. Flex' here is in."
The two men turned and faced Flex, and now he noticed they were armed with brass knuckles.
Time for a Clash. Mr. Flex has Body +3 for the brawl.
(Q) Do the two men have +1 Body? (50/50) No.
So all stats are 0. However, since they're fighting Flex at the same time, they total +1.
(Clash) Does Flex win the Clash? (+2 means Very Likely) Yes.
Flex's +3 for Body is 3 higher than their 0 so they both suffer -2 RS.
(Q) Do the two men run? (I'm counting the +2 to make it Very Likely) Yes, Random Event.
(Event) "Goal," "Control."
The two men stepped forward and began throwing punches. Not wanting to harm either of them, Flex caught their fists and sent them flying into the nearby wall.
Stumbling to his feel, the first man turned to the second. "You know what? This ain't worth the cash."
"Not one buck," said the second. And they took off onto the sidewalk and out of sight.
Zapman watched them and then turned to Flex. "They didn't have it anyway, but you did ruin my night."
Flex shrugged. "Sorry but they looked like teenagers. They should be at the arcade or on dates or anything besides beating each other up."
Zapman raised a glowing hand. "Then you'll have to do instead."
This will be a Clash between Zapman and Flex. Zapman will try to, well, zap Flex, using his +Heart and +2 Damage for +3 total. Flex will gain attempt to charge forward into melee range, relying on hid +1 Agility. I'll roll for flex.
(Clash) Does Flex win the Clash? (-2 means Very Unlikely) No.
The Damage of Zapman's attack is +3 versus Flex's +3 Toughness, so he suffers -1 RS.
Mr. Flex lunged towards his opponent, but Zapman snickered and let loose with bolts of electricity. They struck Flex right in the chest, and her veered to the side and crashed into some trash cans.
"Had enough?" asked Zapman with a grin.
Flex got back to his feet. "You won't hurt anyone while I'm around.
This time, Flex's Agility drops to 0.
(Clash) Does Flex win the Clash? (-3 means Nearly Impossible) No.
Another -1 RS in Damage.
Flex took a single step, but ate another electric bolt, this time sending him backwards. His head struck the stone steps and his vision blurred.
Not a good battle for poor Flex so I'm going to improvise.
(Q) Does Flex get some unexpected help? (Going for Very Likely because he Really needs it!) X-Yes
(Clash) Does the 'help,' going with Effect, win the Clash? (+1 from previous roll means Likely) Yes.
"Keep getting up," sneered Zapman, as Flex rolled onto his hands and knees. "I'm so enjoying my new toy." Pointing his fingers, he let loose another bolt.
The blast of energy sailed through the air, until it struck a force field and dissipated. Zapman looked up to see another masked figure floating between him and Mr. Flex.
“Playtime’s over,” said the new opponent.
Eyes wide, Zapman quickly collected himself and grinned. "Ah, the Vyper. I heard you vanished into thin air, never seen again."
"I'd love to," said Vyper, "but you won't let me."
"Then I'll just have to help you right now. Zappidy Zappidy!" Zapman raised his hands.
This Clash will be Vyper's +3 vs. Zapman's +3, with both going for Damage.
(Clash) Does Vyper win the Clash? (50/50) Yes, Random Event.
(Event) "Failure," "Uncertain."
Zapman suffers a -1 RS. However, I'm treating the Event as him hiding his new weakness.
Before Zapman could fire, Vyper launched a bubble of force that slammed into the man. He fell back, shaking his head. Clearly the hit left him stunned, but he did his best to hide it. "We're not finished here, Vyper. Mark my words, you will cringe when you feel my zappy wrath."
"I'm cringing already," Vyper replied. As Zapman fled into a back alley, Vyper went to check on Mr. Flex. "You all right?"
Flex started to sit up. "Yeah, thanks, friend." He looked to where Zapman had fled. "You let him escape?"
"I thought I'd see if you were alive, you know that empathy thing," Vyper replied. "I've got to work on that."
Flex stood up. "You know it wasn't a fair battle, two of us against one of him."
"First of all, I'd hardly call what happened to you a battle," Vyper said. "And second, it wasn't a prize fight."
Before Flex could respond, several vans pulled up. Vyper turned to leave, but he saw a number of people with weapons drawn, including the glint of rifles from those on the rooftop.
One middle aged man got out of the van and approached them. "You're the ones known as Vyper and Mr. Flex. If you try to flee, and that means turning invisible and flying away, Vyper, my team's instructed to seek out and take you down."
Vyper crossed his arms. "So you're taking us in but not that maniac who tried to fry us."
The other man nodded. "I regret we lost him in the alleys, but there'll be a search for him shortly. Please come with me."
Flex looked past him to the vans. "You're not police, so you're not arresting us."
"That's correct. I'm Ted Stanse and I represent The Agency. I'll explain everything shortly." He gestured to the lead van. "Please, before the police really arrive."
Vyper glanced upward. "I've dealt with police before."
But Flex touched his shoulder. "Calm yourself, friend. Let's just see what they want."
Vyper took a step back. "Friend? This all was a knee jerk reaction. If I had to do it over again, I'd leave you on the ground and flatten that thunder punk."
Flex smiled. "I know you don't mean that." He turned to Stanse. "Do we have to unmask?"
"Yeah, fat chance," Vyper muttered.
Stanse shook his head. "No, and rest assured, Mr. Muggs, your secret is safe with us."
Flex gestured with his chin. "Come, Vyper, let's at least listen to him."
Vyper sighed. "I'm going to regret this."
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