The Agency - Mythic Supers Game

 The truck drove through the town, approaching a block with several taller buildings.

"We're about here," said Stanse, as he looked out the window.

"I don't understand," Flex said. "The jail is in the other direction."

"Oh, we're not here to arrest you." Stanse turned to the two. "I mean, the police want to arrest you, but The Agency exists for this very reason."

Flex raised an eyebrow. "The Agency?"

Stanse nodded. "The government, noticing that supers now exist, decided it had two choices; arrest them all or put them under supervision. The latter is why I'm here. I'm in charge of the Agency that Supervises Supers."

"Agency that Supervises Supers." Vyper snorted. "So for short, you call yourselves - "

"The Agency," Stanse said quickly. As the vehicles pulled into a square-shaped, gray-stone parking lot, he pointed. "Here we are." Getting out, he led the two. Unfortunately, we have to start small, so our base is in a little hole in the wall on the bottom floor."

Vyper notice the door with a giant A on it. "So, our base is called the A-Hole?"

"It's called the Basement." Holding the door open, Stanse glared at him. "Where's your mind?"

Vyper stared back evenly. "Wishing I was literally anywhere else."

Flex gestured with his chin. "Come on, my friend, let's at least hear them out."

"Friend?" Vyper turned to him. "We just met, and I'm already regretting it."

"Let's take it inside," Stanse said, "before we attract attention."

They entered the building and found that it seemed much bigger on the inside. Despite seeming like a basement level, it had multiple rooms all connected by a grid of hallways. 

"I'll get right to the point," Stanse said as he led them through the main hallway. "Vyper, you've still got a warrant for your arrest from the last time you were in action. Mr. Flex, you now have one as well."

"Me?" Flex looked between the two. "All I did was break up a fight."

Stanse nodded. "I realize that, but unfortunately, the city is cracking down on vigilante activity. That's where The Agency comes in." Passing an office, he received some folders and handed one to Vyper and one to Flex. "As part of our organization, you'll act under our supervision. We'll send you on missions, pay you for your troubles, and if things get out of hand, we'll handle the discipline, though I prefer things to not go that far."

Vyper glanced through the folder, which contained several papers which resembled contracts. "What about our identities?"

"You identities remain yours," Stanse answered. "To be honest, I don't want to know who you are. It's better that way."

"Good," Flex said. "I'd like to keep both of my identities separate."

(Q)  Is Flex's secret identity as transparent as I believe it it?  (Very likely)  Yes.

"Don't worry, Mr. Muggs," said Stanse, "your secret is safe with us."

Flex stopped. "How did you?"

Vyper shook his head. "You're 300 pounds of muscle and no neck. You don't exactly blend in."

"Here we are." Stanse led them to a large training area that looked like a gymnasium. Several men in military fatigues stood scattered in the middle of the gym, but all facing forward. "Now it's time to meet the rest of the team."

"They're all part of our team?" Flex asked.

"Them?" Stanse chuckled. "No, they're just here to help with training. They're the rest of your team."

Vyper and Flex turned as two women in their 20s approached. One wore white sweatpants and a t-shirt while the other wore a red sleeveless shirt and black pants.

"Vyper, Mr. Flex, meet Brenda Rose, aka Bubble Girl, and Stella Cove, aka Muse."

"Hello, I'm Brenda." The one in sweat approached and held out her hand.

"I'm Mr, oh whatever, I'm Brad." He accepted her hand. 

Stella pointed a finger at them. "One Streetcar crack and you'll be having nightmares for a month."

"So this is our training exercise," said Stanse. "The object is to get past our troops and retrieve one of the flags on the far wall." He pointed to the small flags with the word Agency on them. "Brenda, you first."

Nodding, Brenda turned and approached the men who stood ready to stop her. 

Brenda's going to try and push her way past the men. The troops have all 0 for stats, but have batons for weapons (1 damage, KO only). Brenda has -1 Body but +5 Toughness.

(Clash) Does Brenda get past the troops?  (-1 means Unlikely)  No, but barely.

1 dmg versus 5 Toughness means no damage for Brenda.

Brenda tried to push past the troops but they struck at her with their batons. However, the weapons bounced off something around her.

Now she'll try and slip past them, using her 0 Agility versus the troops and their 0 Power. However, since multiple troops are moving at once, I'm treating their stat as +3.

(Clash)  Does Brenda slip past the troops?  (-3 means Nearly Impossible)  No.

Again, no damage.

One more try.

(Clash) Does Brenda make it past the troops?  (Nearly Impossible)  No.

Brenda kept trying to find a way past the troops but they kept attacking her. Finally, she jumped out of the gauntlet and approached the group.

Wiping tears out of her eyes, she looked to Stanse. "I'm sorry, I really tried."

Stanse touched her shoulder lightly. "It's okay, you tried. That's why it's called training."

"I guess it's good that they weren't swinging to hurt her," Vyper said.

"Actually," Stanse replied, "they were."

Flex blinked. "And she didn't even get a scratch?"

Stella smirked. "Hence the name Bubble Girl. She can't throw a punch to save her life, but she no-sells bullets."

"Well," Vyper said, "It's a start."

Stanse then turned. "Stella, you're up."

Nodding, Stella approached the first trooper, who braced himself for a fight. Instead, she lifted her hand, revealing several playing cards. "Pick one, handsome."

(Clash)  Does Stella's trick work?  (+1 means Likely)  Yes.

(Clash)  What about the second trooper?  (Likely)  Yes.

(Clash) And the last one?  (Likely)  Yes.

Each trooper looked at the other in confusion and then at Stanse who simply shrugged.

"Come on," Stella said. "Who's brave enough?"

Finally each trooper pointed to a different card. 

Nodding, Stella shuffled the cards and then held up the bottom one in the pile, showing it to each of them. "Is this your card?" When they shook their heads, she shuffled again and repeated her question, but again their shook their heads. A third time, but the result was the same.

"Quit playing games," said the head trooper. "Are you going to try and get past us or not?"

"Who are you talking to?"

They all turned to see Stella approaching, with a flag in hand. The one holding the playing cards then vanished.

"This could be interesting," said Flex.

"So you're in?" Stanse asked.

"What if I say no?" asked Vyper.

"Then you go back to your normal life," Stanse answered, "but if 'Vyper' appears again, the police will arrest, or worse, on sight."

Vyper crossed his arms. "All I want is a normal life. I was sitting back enjoying my normal life until now."

"Then why did you save me?" Flex asked.

Vyper sighed. "I saw that someone for Willard's tech, which means more powered idiots out there."

"And since you have the most experience fighting them," Stanse said, "we could really use you."

Vyper looked down at the folder in his hands. "I'll give it a shot."

Flex fist pumped. "Yes!" He put an arm around Vyper. "We're officially a super group!"

"Wonderful." Vyper took a deliberate step away from him. "Now I want to know about our competition."

-----------------------------------------

Elsewhere . . .

Zapman entered the laboratory,.

"How did your initiation go?" asked Malory Drab.

"I ran into a snag," said Zapman. "I got double-teamed by some big guy, and Vyper's back."

Drab considered this and then started walking. "We'll deal with him soon enough. Fortunately, your new friend took to our experiments quite well. I'm looking forward to seeing her new powers."

"There were a bunch of guys in trucks," Zapman said. "They're probably not alone."

"You won't be either." Drab entered a room and found Elden looking over a man in a bed. His face was covered by an oxygen mask. "How is he?"

"I repaired his skull," Elden replied. "That's the good news."

"What happened?" Zapman asked. 

"He got struck in the head by a meteorite," Elden answered. "He came to for a bit but he didn't remember anything. His memory might be gone for good."

"So he's a blank slate?" asked Drab.

"Not completely," said Elden. "He thinks he's someone else though, from another time."

"What do you mean?" Drab asked.

Elden pointed. "He was wearing those when he was struck, meaning he was cosplaying. But when he came to and saw them, he believed they were his regular clothing."

Drab turned and looked, raising an eyebrow. "Another time, you said? This could be useful."

Not a lot of game play this time, but I'll make up for it in my next session.