COJ Transcript Issue 2

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Thundrax: Folks, we have a situation. UNTIL will arrange transport to the area. It's in Costa Azul, down in the Caribbean.

Kastor: ...Mm. UNTIL, huh? Well, this'll be a fun ride.

Thundrax: They won't give you any grief. Low ranking officers, just flyboys. They won't ask questions.

(A few hours later, the heroes gather at a luxurious yacht, parked outside the port of Costa Azul, off the coast of Haiti.)

Darius Phen blinks, tilting his head. "...Kastor?"

Stargirl: Stargirl, responding to call!

Sergeant Alloy: {Mechanized, gung-ho voice!} Sergeant Alloy, responding!

Thundrax: Hi Helena. Got a bit of an interesting situation in Costa Azul.

Eshtarra: Flyboys, and the Caribbean? How can I not turn up?

Kastor: *Pulls his scarf away from his mouth, yawning as he does so.*

Thundrax enters the scene. "Glad you could make it."

Kastor: Yeah, just uh...remind me to pull my groceries out of the cargo hold when we're done. Caught me in the middle of things.

Eshtarra nods to Thundrax, waiting with wings folded tight.

Sergeant Alloy opens the door loudly, heavy, metal boots marching while drones lightly hover behind him. He sees Thundrax and does a parade turn to face him. His hand clanks against his helmet loudly with his salute.

Darius Phen nods. "Of course."

Thundrax: Folks, we have a situation. I have information forwarded to me from UNTIL's Project Shiva.

Sergeant Alloy: READY TO ASSIST, SIR!

Sergeant Alloy practically barks in all his modulated glory.

Thundrax: Uh... hi. Craig Carson, Thundrax.

Decade salutes Sergeant Alloy.

Thundrax: I don't recognize your designation.

Kastor: *Raises a single, scar-marked eyebrow at the apparent automaton.* ...Who keeps /building/ these?

Decade: A freakin' robot. They pop out of everywhere. Seems cool.

Sergeant Alloy: SERGEANT ALLOY, RECENTLY TRANSFERRED, SIR!

Trauma turns his head to the robot, pulling a neat salute in a reactionary manner. "I like him. A lot."

Sergeant Alloy stays at attention.

Trauma salutes Sergeant Alloy.

Stargirl salutes Sergeant Alloy.

Stargirl: At ease, Sarge.

Decade: Uh. At ease! I think.

Thundrax: Who tranfered you Sergeant, and from what?

Darius Phen: **Turns to Kastor** I would have thought you'd be one to make something like that.

Kastor: Really? Why? Takes all the fun out of the job.

Eshtarra doesn't salute, fidgeting as she eyes the newcomer.

Darius Phen shrugs. "As a side project maybe?"

Sergeant Alloy: MEMORY CHIPS DAMAGED, SIR. REACTIVATED AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 ON JANUARY 3RD, 2011 SIR!

Kastor: Waste of resources. Our budget's strained enough as is. How've you been, by the way?

Sergeant Alloy stands at ease. His modulated voice comes at a more manageable volume, but he still sounds like every Drill Sergeant ever.

Thundrax: I see... well, we'll evacuate you as we go along.

Darius Phen: Better, especially after the Demonflame Incident.

Decade: This robot...

Sergeant Alloy: I was in the hands of a Charlie, but I took care of him and reported to the Rodeo. When I found out my unit had been disabled, I was transferred into the custody of PRIMUS, sir.

Decade: ...is so cool.

Trauma: I know right.

Thundrax turns to address the gathering. "One of my old enemies from the 1990s was Magnus Aignur, a technician who worked for Doctor Destroyer. After the destruction of Detroit, Aignur tried to pose as Albert Zerstoiten.

Thundrax: "The results weren't pretty. Aignur is *no* Albert Zerstoiten. He got his butt kicked pretty seriously, by both the Guard and the Peacekeepers.

Sergeant Alloy notes that, despite the poor lighting, he has a well taken care of moustache.

Thundrax: When the faux-Destroyer gimmick didn't work, Aignur went to work as a consultant for ARGENT, though the "Args" always denied it.Eshtarra frowns.

Thundrax: Now Aignur's resurfaced. He claims he's retiring, and to set up his next egg, he's going to sell off the last of Destroyer's great artifacts.

Darius Phen nods, listening.

Kastor: *Slides his headphones off his ears, and folds his arms.*

Stargirl: I read a brief on Sergeant Alloy here, the US Army built him, he went missing for a bit, but was found eventually and transferred to PRIMUS's command. He's trustworthy. Spirited for a robot though.

Thundrax: The auction is taking place on a ship off the coast of Costa Azul, an island south of Haiti, a known den of sin, crime, and corruption.

Kastor: Wait. Which artifacts are we talking about? The ones that run on electricity, or the ones that draw power from an infinite well of hatred?

Thundrax glances at the Sarge and then at Helena. "PRIMUS and I aren't exactly buddies... but he has much of a right to be here as anyone.

Thundrax turns to Kastor and answers his question. "That's what we're here to find out." he says.

Kastor shifts his weight with a sigh. "Well, this shit has the potential to be incredibly messy, then."

Eshtarra: Either would be bad in the wrong hands, I would think.

Thundrax: Our primary mission is to get onto the ship, mingle, and find out whether Aignur actually has a Zerstoiten artifact.

Stargirl So a disguise is in order then?

Thundrax: Once we understand what we're up against, we can decide whether to try to seize it -- or purchase it. As Costa Azul is... soft on international terror... we can expect representatives of major crime crime cartels and other villains to be around.

Darius Phen looks at himself. "...well, so much for trying to keep a low profile."

Thundrax turns to Helena: It wouldn't hurt to have a few in disguise. But we're as welcome, in costume, as anyone.

Eshtarra: I can do that.

Thundrax: Aignur just wants greenbacks.

Eshtarra grins.

Thundrax: Our secondary goal is capturing Aignur himself. We need to find out what he knows about the Mega-Destroid attack on Millennium City last September to avoid a repeat performance. But the artifact takes precedence.

Kastor: So, here's a question: How opposed are we to sinking the boat?

Trauma: Gonna guess, very.

Stargirl You want to drown everyone on the boat?

Thundrax: As we have no legal authority in Costa Azul, we need to respond with restraint. Bide your time. Even if you see the Supreme Serpent himself, DO NOT attack unless you're defending yourself or innocent lives.

Eshtarra: I'd prefer not to have to swim. It's tricky.

Kastor: I'm betting some of them can swim. We sink the boat, they can't recover the artifact.

Darius Phen: Even if we could, would that destroy the artifact without question?

Trauma: Why are we talking about sinking a boat, really.

Kastor: It'd allow us a window to recover it without the fear of someone absconding.

The band stops playing. A man, tall, slim and well-dressed, steps to the podium, taking the microphone from the less than talented singer. "May I have your attention?" he asks in a voice filled with mock confidence.

Darius Phen: Even then...it sounds too easy.

Sergeant Alloy: Can't swim sir, but just ask the squids, I know how to sink me a boat.

Eshtarra: Just setting the limits. I think we can do this the sneaky way.

Kastor glances over his shoulder, and moves to a more advantageous view.

Darius Phen is behind a column to begin with, and simply listens. Trauma looks over to the stage, mumbling. "Totally should've come in a suit."

Sergeant Alloy clanks lightly as he walks, his drones hovering behind him and beeping slightly. He beeps back at them.

Decade just listens up behind his pillar.

Eshtarra is radiating illusion magic.

Aignur: We will begin the auction in five minutes. Bids are in American dollars. I will accept goods and services, however, I will attach a monetary value at them myself, at my judgment.

Aignur: The prize is this... {holds out his hand, and a hologram appears... a Galaxar Box. Trauma sniffs slightly, staring intently at the hologram.

[**LORE** for those familiar with aliens/cosmic entities] Galaxars are cosmic entities remarkably similar to the Watcher or Marvel's Elders of the Universe.

[A Galaxar box is one of their creations, a container. It can only be opened by the one who sealed it, or anyone they chose to psychically unlock it, or a will as strong as the person who seals it.]

Eshtarra watches the crowd.

Stargirl takes a seat, acting as discretely as she can. Though she may have faintly gasped at the revealing of the auction item.

One of the Sarge's drones beeps a few times. Sarge's voice is... A tiny bit loud, but still a whisper. "Shut yer' yap, Private."

Aignur: Dr. Zerstoiten placed one of his greatest secrets inside. A secret that can be yours, for the right price.

Darius Phen flicks an ear.

Thundrax: Great...

Frank Wilkinson: Two hundred thousand, Marcus, my dear boy!

Wilkinson pushes his way through the crowd.

  • A few clicks sound from Kastor's eyewear, lenses flashing every so often.*

Eshtarra blinks, watching Wilkinson.

Wilkinson is flanked by a pair of large bodyguards. {cough}

Aignur: The auction will start in about five minutes... feel free to mingle, but I would appreciate it if you confined the bloodshed to outside.

Kastor: Relax. There's no need to tear things up yet.

Wilkinson grins at Marcus Aignur, then takes a seat.

Kastor moves through the crowd, half-listening in to conversations, hands in pocket. Eshtarra talks quietly.

Trauma takes a few steps forwards, not looking too out of place. Not the first time he's been at an auction to something deadly!

Stargirl: remains seated, pulling out her phone and pretending to busy herself with it.

You notice some non-descript individuals, some men in VIPER uniforms, a woman who you'd swear was a V'han D-solider commmander, and, of course, the band playing onstage. As well as Mr. Wilkinson, whose identity as the supervillain Progress is well-known.

There are some beefy looking security guards, but you suspect their confidence is a charade.

Kastor: *Brushes by a few of the snake-emblem wearing guests. Obviously, their funds would be near limitless.*

Darius Phen looks to Decade warily, trying to get an idea if he's not the only feeling as awkward. He sighs, taking a book out of his robe and reading it. When all else fails: read a book that has "DON'T PANIC" in big bold letters on the front cover.

Eshtarra nods, getting a slight grin.

Decade looks back to Darius, giving him a shrug for whatever reason.

The D-soldier heads over to Helena. "You should leave, child, while you have the chance," she says.

Decade watches Helena from the pillar, clenching his mechanical fist.

Kastor wanders over to the D-Soldier.

Kastor: There a problem here? My niece is just kind of bored.

D-Commander: I was attempting to be social. She is known to us.

Darius Phen occasionally flicks an ear as he reads. While it looks like he's absorbed in his book, he's listening.

Kastor: Sure about that? There are a ton of similar faces around these days.

Stargirl looks the Commander up and down, crossing her arms over her chest. "Ya wanna try an' move me, that's your prerogative. I'm fine right here."

Trauma casts a glance over at Stargirl, before turning towards Wilkinson. And yes, he starts to whistle as nonchalantly as possible as he walks over to him.

Eshtarra watches Trauma trying to be subtle.

Trauma continues to whistle!

D-Commander: Imperious V'han wishes only to extend the hand of friendship to you.

Helena snorts and then does something undiplomatic! She spits a big ol' loogie right at the Commander's boot. "I have enough friends, thanks."

Decade grins over at her, obviously proud of her action. Little brother pride is best pride.

D-Commander: Hmmm... something is attempting... {suddenly looks at Sergeant} He... {jerks back to Helena, looking at the spittle.} That is an error, child.

Sergeant Alloy remains ramrod straight, an uncomfortably ominous presence. Atleast to 'normal' folk. It looks like a soldier!

D-Commander: As is attempting to cybernetically rifle through our data systems.

Stargirl smirks to herself and shrugs to Kastor. "Couldn't let that one slide."

Kastor: ...Yeah, let's...just not spit at people. In the future, that is.

Sergeant Alloy's eyes turn to the D-Commander, if he's addressing him. "You talkin' to me, son?"

D-commander: Something is attempting to infiltrate our data networks. You are the most obvious one, cybernetic construct.

Sergeant Alloy: Sigh burr netick. That's what ya' think, grunt?" Unknown quantity, not exactly subtle.

Darius Phen mutters to himself audibly as he continues to read. "Sure. Someone as upfront as that is definitely a for sure hacker without any tracer."

D-Commander: Grunt? I take it that's a pejorative.

Sergeant Alloy: Perjorative? Son, what does this look like, China? Y'ever heard of Fido? Make like him and head back home to your pappy, before I take out MY belt and show you how we do it in the good old U.S. of A.

D-Commander: Blast it... {looks down at an electronic instrument} The bravado of the primitive is always amusing. Time will tell who will laugh lasts. *turns and heads back to her table.*

Sergeant Alloy: Hrmph. Damn <BLEEP!>in' <BLEEP!>bags.

Sergeant Alloy does indeed produce a loud, obnoxious bleep each time. It's like tuning into MTV.

Darius Phen: ...you have a censor installed. Well, at least your programmer thought of those with sensitive ears.

Eshtarra murmurs "Trouble?"

Kastor: Nah. Just a bored young lady at a high-society function.

Kastor: Can I get you two something to drink?

Kastor: *Whispers.* Seriously. Low profile. Unless we're sinking the boat.

Stargirl: "If you can rustle up a milkshake, I'd appreciate it."

Eshtarra smiles. "Wine, please."

Kastor: I'll see what I can find.

The men at the VIPER table look at the interactions, clearly amused.

Kastor wanders off, exhaling as he attempts to find some waitstaff. He meanders near the conversation with the automaton.

Stargirl: "That might have been a bit bold, huh?"

Eshtarra is quiet. "A little. But I know how you feel."

Eshtarra glances across to Wilkinson again.

Decade clears his throat, seeming to get into some sort of act. He strides his way along the side, looking cocksure and up himself and stops at Helena, leaning over the rail to look at her with a big 'ol- Decade grins. Like one of those films, the cocky jock. But it seems very real.

Kastor returns, two glasses in hand. "There we are. One milkshake for my brother's daughter, and one 40 dollar glass of rotten fruit juice. Never did like rubbing elbows with suits."

Kastor: You two have a good evening. *Adopts a pseudo parental tone, shaking a finger.* No spitting.

Eshtarra chuckles. "Why thank you sir."

Stargirl : nods graciously, taking the drink and setting it down on the table. Her eyes scan across the room. "No spittin'."

Stargirl turns and gives Deck a subtle little wave, flashing him a smile.

Frank Wilkinson *pulls a micro-tablet out of hs pocket and begins manipulating displays on it*

Trauma stops in front of the bodyguard, smile visible through his mask. "Hello good sir! I was wondering if you'd let me talk to your boss, he looked miiighty interesting!"

One of Wilkinson's bodyguards stands up as Trauma approaches, giving him A Look

Frank Wilkinson *waves a hand airily, motioning the hired muscle back, then gestures to the chair opposite*

Trauma grins a little smugly, and steps over to take the seat. But totally doesnt jump or have to retry sitting or anything.

Frank Wilkinson: Take a seat, by all means.

Frank Wilkinson *smiles and waves a hand, diffidently* .. Oh, I think we shall see who wants this more than the others, come bidding time. I'm nothing more than a historian, of course.

Wilkinson: And what can I do for you, my .. anonymous .. friend?

Trauma: You looked like a big cheese around here! Kinda guy worth talking to, the big money. Y'know. That kinda thing.

Trauma: Of course! I'm, a bit of a history buff myself! {He speaks in his regularly friendly manner, smiling all the way.} I didn't catch your name.

Frank Wilkinson *raises an eyebrow* Names? You must be new here. Dear boy, let me show you how the game is played..

Trauma: Oh I'd appreciate that. {He looks around, a very genuine tone comes through} Been a while since I've been to one of these.

Frank Wilkinson: You can call me .. Hmm.. *he ponders for a moment* .. You can call me the man who's going to walk out of here with the grand prize, tonight.

Trauma: {Coughs} That's a little long winded, friend.

Frank Wilkinson *smiles broadly* .. A drink? Can you.. drink.. With that mask on?

Thundrax scowls at Wilkinson, but says nothing. He stands there with his arms folded.

Wilkinson lifts his champagne flute to his lips.

Trauma: I'm sure I could try, but no thank you. Guess we both have a thing for the anonymous, huh?

Frank Wilkinson: That is how it's played, dear boy. Although, some faces are known to me.

Decade taps his mechanical arm on the side. "S'goin' on good lookin'?" he says, but then quickly lowers his voice. Mutter mutter. "What're we doin' again?"

Stargirl: In a low tone. "You're trying to find a good spot you can see everyone from and respond if things go south on us. There's as good a place as any."

Sergeant Alloy: That's the Red White an' Blue for ya'. We look out for the kids.

Eshtarra sips her drink, which turns out to be rather good rotten fruit juice.

The VIPER commander glances back at Esh and Helena.

Kastor: *Makes himself appear busy, hob-nobbing about with "finer" people. A more practiced, bullshit smile there never was.*

Eshtarra grins, saunters over.

Stargirl: She just sips her milkshake, pretending not to see the VIPER leader.

Eshtarra: Hello, boys.

VIPER Leader: Miss. So unusual to meet your kind without drawing firearms. Is there anything we can do for you?

Darius Phen nods, continuing to listen to conversations around them.

Decade nods, and then slings on over! "Then it's a date." He says in that cocky, jock tone. He puts his feet up on the table, grinning over at Helena briefly before just staring upwards. The kind of guy you want to confront.

Eshtarra chuckles, speaks quietly, leaning over the table slightly. "It's more what I can do for you. That thing he's asking so much money for... I'm -really- not sure it's worth it."

Kastor : *Sighs to himself as he watches the interplay between the members of the seeded crowd.* /For fuck's sake, stop giving little nods to one another./ *He thinks to himself.*

VIPER Commander: Aigner is a dead man if he tries to cheat any of us. I doubt he's so suicidal. He's second rate, but anything to do with Zerstoiten has to pique our interest,

Eshtarra nods. "I can understand that. I'm not here for the item myself, my interests are elsewhere."

Sergeant Alloy's drones float off, sort of... Fading into nothingness. Well, to the average eye.

VIPER Leader: Oh? Where do they lie?

Stargirl: "Probably just his laundry." She sighs and slides the milkshake across to Deck.

Eshtarra grins, sips her drink. "I hate to bring out the cliches, but... if I told you, it might not be healthy for you."VIPER Leader: There are enough cliches in our ives. We dont need to add any...

Decade snirks, taking the milkshake rather gladly. Slurp slurp. "Music here sucks." Trauma sits back in his seat, rubbing his jaw.

Frank Wilkinson *gestures towards himself*

The band stops playing. A man, tall, slim and well-dressed, steps to the podium, taking the microphone from the less than talented singer. He has a box, made if a dull grey metal, 1' tall x 1' deep by 2' wide in his hands.

Stargirl flips out her phone again, checking the time over and pretending to look industrious.

Wilkinson looks up towards the stage.

Eshtarra gazes around the room, wineglass in her hand.

Trauma turns from his hushed conversation to the stage.

Decade fakes a hurt look by being neglected by his 'date'

Stargirl stretches a bit in her seat and smiles at Deck. She mouths something silently to him.

Decade gives her an eager grin, going from ear to ear along with a wink.

Aignur: We will start the bidding at twenty million dollars.

Trauma totally raises his hand, eyes wide.

Wilkinson raises an eyebrow, and grins at Trauma.

Eshtarra sips her drink, gaze turned towards the stage.

The VIPER Leader raises his hand. "Twenty-five," he says.

Stargirl stands up, raising her hand. "Thirty million."

Kastor simply waits and watches, a single stray arc of electricity no bigger than a static discharge leaps from his boots.

Wilkinson lifts a lazy hand. "Thirty-five, dear boy."

Eshtarra frowns slightly, seemingly focused on the auctioneer.

Thundrax: Thirty million from the beautiful Srargirl... thirty-five, do I hear forty?

Trauma coughs, hand up again. "Fourty."

  • Wilkinson's grin just broadens*

Sergeant Alloy suddenly raises a large robotic hand, his voice issuing out in a bark meant to draw the attention of all. "FIFTY!"

Frank Wilkinson *murmurs to Trauma again*

Darius Phen cringes at the shout.

Stargirl clears her throat and almost speaks but turns to the Sergeant.

Eshtarra murmurs.

Stargirl quickly recovers. "Sixty million."

The VIPER Commander gets to his feet. "Seventy-five."

Darius Phen mutters back.

Frank Wilkinson: *murmurs, sotto voce* Ah.. Now we're getting to it. The foreplay's over. *he raises his voice* Eighty Five.

Stargirl crosses her arms, rolling her eyes in a SASSY MANNER. "One hundred million."

Eshtarra smiles. "Thank you for a most pleasant drink."

Kastor: No worries. Enjoying the auction?

Wilkinson glances over to Stargirl, nodding in acquiescence. "The lady has some backing, I see. One-twenty."

Trauma: stands up, in a very fast, loud reactionary way. "TWO HUNDRED." he looks rather surprised at himself, and scared. Apparent in his shouting!

Frank Wilkinson droops an eyelid in a slow, langurous wink at Helena*

Thundrax looks at Trauma and wonders whether he will have to cover someone's bill. And how many years it would take to refill his petty cash fund after this.

Wilkinson raises an eyebrow at Trauma

Frank Wilkinson: I'm tempted to let that ride, my boy... Just to see what happens.

Stargirl glares. giving Wilkinson the most indignant of raspberries. "Three hundred."

Sergeant Alloy visibly twitches. Rather noticeable, considering how he hadn't moved at all except for raising his hand.

Decade snorts. "Well guys, was nice watching you play and all. Buuut!" He then stands quickly, ramming his mechanical fist through the table "Seven hundred."

The D-Commander rises to her feet. With a theatrical wave, she proclaims. "The illustrious V'han offers five years of immunity for this entire world from her deprivations. I believe that should supercede anything your world's commerce system can offer.

Wilkinson tilts his head. "Now that, I can't match."

Kastor: *Wanders off, asking where he might find the bathroom.

Thundrax: Aignur looks confused and mulls the offer. The singer behind him shifts slightly.

Eshtarra murmurs.

Frank Wilkinson: Marcus, dear boy. I don't think you're really in a position to negotiate that kind of ... interplanetary diplomatic contract, are you?

Trauma nods at Esh, raising his hand again. Ohgod what is he doing.

Decade growls. GROWLS. "C'mon! You can't seriously be thinking about taking that minion of that dumb queen's offer are you?"

The lounge singer suddenly morphs into an Indian gentleman in a black suit with a red shirt and clawed hands! 

Frank Wilkinson *blinks*

Eshtarra glances at Wilkinson a moment, eyes narrowed, then focuses on the stage.

Trauma: "ONE MILLION" Mouth totally agape, even moreso when he sees the man.

Rakshasa, no longer the lounge singer, and every bit Zerstoiten`s old henchman, smiles. "Go to sleep Magnus Aignur" he says as he plunges a pulsing dagger through the man's powered armor and into his back. "You have been alive too long already!"

Sergeant Alloy's hands immediately fold back, the palms opening to reveal... Well, nothing yet. They remain at his sides.

Eshtarra's aura shimmers for a moment, magic sparking at her fingertips, then fading.

Frank Wilkinson:: And I thought we were supposed to keep the bloodshed -outside- the boat!

Decade has a steak cutting knife not too far away from his hand.

Magnus Aignur falls to one knee, a sadistic look on Rakshasa's face as bloodstains swell on his suit

Darius Phen looks over from his book and narrows his eyes. Slamming it shut and putting it back in his robe.

Frank Wilkinson *stands*.

Stargirl charges the stage, hoping to tackle Rakshasa while he's distracted by his momentary glory. "The box. Stop staring and get the box!"

Rakshasa seizes the box from Aignur's hand.

Sergeant Alloy looks at Darius. "Ready to show these maggots some Freedom, grunt?"

Decade: T, open up!

Trauma: YESSIR.

Sergeant Alloy hops forward, gunbarrels sliding from his palms!

Frank Wilkinson: I think.. Discretion is the better part of valor, here.......

Frank Wilkinson *vanishes*

Trauma in a yellow flash, a pistol appears in eachc hand, as he jumps up to the stage to cover Stargirl.

Sergeant Alloy aims his hands at the group of VIPER personnel, and the D-Commander.

Darius Phen starts to enter a trance, Light begins to glow in the claws of his right hand.

Decade then aims his fist out, it shooting out to try and grab the box, connected to the forearm by a cord. Fuck yeah mechanical limbs.

Rakshasa draws out the dagger, the box in one hand and points the dagger at Helena.

Trauma aims a shot, yeah. Totally -at- the dagger. Blam! How accurate is he? I don't know!

Sergeant Alloy's voice projects at a deafeningly high volume. "ALRIGHT, MAGGOTS! CHRISTMAS TIME, MAGIC SHOW IN FIVE HUNDRED AND THE CHAPLAIN'LL BE READY IN A MOMENT!"

Stargirl ducks into a slide to avoid the dagger, aiming to take him off balance by sweeping at his legs.

The D-Commander scowls. "Send reinforcements Lock onto my signal!" she barks into a communicator.

Dec's shot helps Helena avoid the dagger. Rakshasa is now flat on his back.

Wilkinson's two bodyguards look around, and edge towards the nearest exit.

Sergeant Alloy begins to fire two blindingly bright particle beams at the VIPER personnel and pretty much everyone else he doesn't know. "THE FREE WORLD IS GONNA CONQUER YOUR COMMIE <BLEEP!>S WITH THE AID OF GOD AND A FEW GOOD HEROES!" He continues to fire at them anyway! Oh christ. "HE'S GOT A <BLEEP> FOR THE RED, WHITE AND TIGHT WHO IS GONNA SHOW YOU HOW THEY DO IT WHEN THEY AIN'T PLAYIN' A GAME A HOCKEY! YOU'RE SOUL IS GOIN' INTO HIS GRACES BUT YOUR <BLEEP!> IS MINE!" Lasers fire, things start exploding.

The VIPERs wince at Alloy's command. The VIPER Leader gives them a stand down order.

Eshtarra keeps a close eye on the rest of the band members, only half-watching the scuffle. Stargirl : She attempts to climb up on Rakshasa and aims a solid fist down on to his face, hoping to play some chin music on that smarmy little mustache of his.

Thundrax grabs for the box.

Decade looks at the Sarge. And just stares.

  • Wilkinson's two musclemen edge closer to the door, hoping to be lost in the kerfuffle*

Sergeant Alloy"-

Decade just dives out of the fucking way. That robot was nuts.

  • The bodyguards follow Dec's example and get the hell out of the way*

Eshtarra hides from the 'splosions.

Rakshasa gets to his feet, a dagger still in his hand. He throws it at Helena, a little off target, but NO! Decade, who`s almost directly behind her, is the real target! However, Alloy's disco ball of laser death interrupts everything.

Sergeant Alloy just continues to fire indiscriminately, an unending cascade of laserfire pulverizing and vaporizing everything they touch. It'll be a miracle, but somehow he hasn't killed anybody yet!

Darius Phen holds his ground, trying to watch what happens and who has the box. He seems to be waitin g for the right moment.

Kastor: *The boards of the ship begin to creak, abruptly giving way in a shower of splinters and sharded metal, tearing a hole just behind the stage. A glossy black construct crests the chaos, debris whirling around it. Exits slam shut. Bulbs blow.*

The VIPERs drop to the floor, hiding as the table they were using disintegrates.

One bodyguard scrambles through the broken tables, his comrade forgotten. Reaching the door, he bolts!*

Sergeant Alloy keeps on firing, if he's not actually hurting people, he's sure one hell of a distraction!

Stargirl tries to ascertain where the dagger went, avoiding the fireworks display as best as she can. She tries to sock Rakshasa in the gut this time, to buy time. "Get the box outta here, Mister Carson."

Trauma nods, hearing Esh's words, and disappears in a quick flash, with the intent of stopping the bodyguards.

Decade : Auction goes bad and now I'm taking cover from superrobutt.

Eshtarra notices Kastor's arrival, seeming slightly relieved.

Darius Phen sees Kastor arrive as he slouches.

Sergeant Alloy: if bulbs are blowing, then he's one extremely bright source of light! Light green shade on everything!

Thundrax nods, "I will," he says, but he struck by one of the lasers. The box goes flying, landing within reach the VIPER commander.

Trauma aims his pistols soley at the bodyguard. "No moving!"

The ship suddely lurches to a stop!

Trauma stumbles ohgod.

  • the bodyguard crawls around the corner and up the stairs to come face to muzzle with Trauma's pistols*

Eshtarra grabs at the banister.

Kastor : *Finally sets down, armor crackling with energy.* So. Negotiations have failed. No one leaves until we have the box. Those are the terms.

  • the bodyguard is flung towards Trauma*
By this point, the heroes are fighting in a strobe light provided by Alloy's laser bursts, with some illumination provided by your powers and weapons.

Stargirl forgets Rakshasa and dives at the box with a thud, perhaps hard enough to push through the deck!

Trauma is hit by a bodyguard! Ouch! He falls to the floor, probably entangled in a muscle monkey.

  • The bodyguard isn't interested in fighting! He's just trying to disentangle himself from a costumed super-soldier!*

Darius Phen stabilizes himself on the pillar from the sudden stop of the boat. He darts his eyes trying to discern where the box went.

Helena grabs the box! She goes through he floor! Then through the hull

Sergeant Alloy's voice continues to roar over even the volume of his laserfire, "LOOK AT THE ZOOMIE GO! THE FLYBOYS MAKE 'EM SOFT BUT THAT MISSY HITS HARD! DAMN FINE EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU TRY TO <BLEEP!> WITH FREEDOM, GRUNTS! YOU MIGHT BE CRYIN' FOR YOUR MOTHERS BUT THIS MOTHER IS THE ONLY ONE YOU'RE GONNA GET!" Trauma: Hrng! Stop! {In the tangle the bodyguard would feel the hard muzzle of a pistol against his stomach.}

Eshtarra: This... is bad.

Darius Phen sees Helena going through and lunches after her into where she fell

  • The muscleguy freezes*

Stargirl takes a deep breath in preparation, falling into the sea with the box clutched tightly. She flails in the water for a moment or two, the shock of it making her panic.

Trauma: Dude, get up. Slow, no running and you're okay. {He keeps the gun aimed, waiitng for the bodyguards move.}

Thundrax sighs. "Helena?" he shouts. "Do you have it?"

Eshtarra moves to the hole, trying to stop anyone else chasing after the box.

Darius Phen gets in the water and reaches out to help Stargirl back up to the surface.

The bodyguard clambers up slowly. He looks at Trauma's gun and wisely decides not to go for his own.

Trauma: Uh huh. {he keeps the gun trained on him, the other lying on the floor in between them}

Stargirl : A hand burst up through the water, clamouring for something to grab onto before finding Darius and trying to use him to pull herself up.

The bodyguard raises both hands, widening his stance to keep from falling over as the boat rocks from the hole in it.

The bodyguard glances towards the exit, briefly.

Trauma: Hey! No, doing that.

Bodyguard: Hey, man.. I'm just the hired help.. I ain't worth nothin' to you.

Trauma@darkblade98: You might know something! Sorry man, nothing personal.

The D-Commander growls. "What do you mean you can't lock on the coordinates? Surely using Earth tech for homing isn't THAT primitive! Fine! Just get me out of here!"

Sergeant Alloy doesn't seem particularly keyed into the world right now, just blasting all around him at anything unallied.

Kastor adjusts a control, generating more EM noise to break the D-Commander`s communication.

Decade then shoots his ROCKET FIST at the D-commander. Imagine getting hit by a car, but much more compact.

Darius Phen helps her to reach the surface after she grabs his arm.

Stargirl : shakes the water off her like a wet dog. "Got...the box." She manages to pant out.

The VIPERs remain in place,. doing nothing.

Thundrax yells at Sergeant Alloy. "Sergeant, stand down!"

Sergeant Alloy's lightshow immediately stops. His hands fold back into normal, and the tips of his fingers slap against his helmet with a loud {CLANK!} "SIR, YES SIR!"

The D-Commander is knocked unconscious as something scrambles her teleport escape transmission. Decade slams her before she can get away.

Decade : Ten points!

Eshtarra smiles.

Sergeant Alloy remains at attention!

Darius Phen gasps and nods. Folding an ear down to speak on a comm. "It's secure. I'd suggest we evacuate. Now. "

Thundrax: I agree. Someone get Aignur. See what we can do for things.

Decade : Uh...can't swim.

Kastor : There are life boats.

Decade : Sweeet.

Stargirl : pushes a button on her wrist, her clothes vanish and an armored suit folds out over her body. "Getting this out of here. I'll see you back at UNTIL."

Darius Phen nods. "See you there."

Stargirl takes off like a rocket into the sky, tearing through anything in her way.

Sergeant Alloy: "PERMISSION TO SINK THIS SORRY BUCKET SIR!" God, he's so damn LOUD>

Trauma: Okay we're getting out of here apparently! Esh, he coming with us?

Bodyguard: Look, this tub's gonna be all titanic on us any moment now!

Eshtarra: I can make sure you don't sink with the ship, but I'd like a chance to have a chat, in return.

[Bodyguard] Okay. Alright. Whatever. Just get me off this damn boat!

Thundrax sighs. "Assist in the evacuation, sergeant."

Sergeant Alloy: Another {CLANK!} "SIR YES SIR!" He promptly leaps at the VIPER soldiers, ripping apart whatever cover is left, he begins to grab them bodily and start hurling them out of the windows and into the water beyond. It looks as absurd as it sounds, and a fair few screams.

Darius Phen climbs out of the hole, soaking wet.

The band begins to play "My Heart Will Go On."

Kastor : *Rises above the crowd once again, PA system crackling to life.* Attention, ne'er do-wells, douchebags, aliens, and otherwise unsavory people.

Kastor : The man in the black, metal suit says you're all coming with him! It'll be a fun ride back to the states, and your various countries of origin. Where you will be tried. Formally.

Kastor : I'm looking forward to it.

Kastor : Of course, your other option, should you choose not to comply, will be swift, and immediate atomization.

Kastor : While not painful, it's not a condition one recovers from.

Darius Phen shakes his head. "Seems your methods haven't changed much. Can't say they'll argue against that."

Thundrsax (mutters to self): Because the threat of drowning isn`t bad enough...

You evacuate from the vessel, gathering on the coast of Costa Azul, watching as the boat sinks into the Caribbean from the dock. ((aka outside))

Kastor : So, if everyone would kindly form a single file line right on over by the life-boats, we can get you shackled and loaded.

Thundrax: No one should ever allow me on a boat... is Helena here?

Kastor : *Quietly oversees the loading of his "prisoners", happy to watch them squirm under the idea of being "caught."*

Darius Phen shakes his head as he snaps out of his tranced state.

Sergeant Alloy: The Sergeant lets out a robotic sigh, apparently satisfied. "I love it when a plan comes together." ... What plan?

Darius Phen@AZSolii: She's flown to UNTIL HQ.

Kastor : ...You're not quoting the A-Team.

Stargirl : A squawk over the comms. "The ball's ours. Bringing it in for a touchdown, Mister Carson."

Kastor : *Chuckles as the last of them are herded away.* See, I know that this is never going to stick, but the idea that they now have to wait for it to process makes me happy.

Thundrax: Okay, folks. Good work... looks down at the dying Aignur. His suit's systems have a nanite healing injectors, but those wounds are grave.... okay, Helena.

Darius Phen kneels down and starts channeling his Light to him, trying to keep him stable. With healing, Aignur will be stable, though he'll be incapacitated for some time.

Kastor : Why are we bothering with that one again? Are we just hoping to see what he knows, or...?

Thundrax: Helena, let's see the box. If it's a booby-trap, better to set it off here than Stateside.

Darius Phen looks at Kastor. "Do you need a reason to help someone?"

Kastor : Yes. Yes you do. As there are some people who aren't quite worth it.

Thundrax: Humanitarian reasons aside, we need to know if he knows anything about Destroyer's September attacks.

Darius Phen nods.

Kastor : Ah. So it /is/ to see what he knows. Fair enough. Continue.

Stargirl: returns to the scene, touching down gently with the box in hand. She walks up to the gathered heroes, holding the box out to Thundrax. "Any idea how we're gonna get that open?"

Thundrax: I'm not sure. Where's Esh?

Stargirl : "Esh, ya there? We need your help with the box if you're up to it."

Eshtarra: "Be right there."

Kastor : I have a question. What if we open this thing, and it's...like...laundry, or something?

Kastor : Or a family portrait?

Kastor : Or a letter?

Stargirl I guess it goes to a museum or somethin'.

Sergeant Alloy: Then we had a good day and spread some Freedom, sir.

Thundrax: Then the universe becomes even more ironic than we guessed.

Kastor : Poetic, not ironic.

Thundrax Poetry can be ironic.

Kastor : It can, but there's a difference. Irony is the use of words to express something other than their literal intention.

Kastor : So, all poetry is ironic, but not all irony is poetic.

Kastor : As for freedom? We sank a boat. Accidentally.

Stargirl : The whole thing.

Sergeant Alloy mutters something. Or he was just beeping. Kastor : I do have to know: what in the hell happened after I went to raid the cargo hold?

Thundrax: So Aignur aside... everyone's okay?

Kastor : I mean, I leave, things are going swimmingly. I come back, a man's dead, there's gun fire, and blue over there is glowing.

Darius Phen grunts. "Rakshasa happened."

Stargirl : Think so. Anyone seen Deck?

Kastor : He was here not long ago. Took off.

Thundrax: Deck? You okay?

Eshtarra: Sorry, minor issue I had to deal with. What's up?

Kastor : There's a box full of potential goodies that needs opening.

Trauma: Dibs.

Decade : Sup. Sorry, was busy.

Thundrax: hands Esh the box. "Do you have anything that opens this?"

Eshtarra: You don't even know what it is, Trauma. It might eat your face.

Darius Phen: Trauma, I have to ask..."one million"?

Sergeant Alloy: Where'd that sad sack of red lovin' <BLEEP!> get off to? Sensors lost him.

Trauma: Panicked.

Eshtarra takes the box, studying it carefully.

Stargirl gives Decade a thumbs up.

Darius Phen nods, finishing what he can with Aignur.

Decade shakes off his mechanical hand.

Decade : Darn water.

Stargirl : You're taking swimming lessons at the community center.

Decade : There's a reason why I can't swim.

Decade's mechanical arm then falls off with a THUD.

Decade : That be why.

Trauma steps over all nosy like at the box.

Eshtarra jumps slightly, almost dropping the thing.

Stargirl : I'll get you a little innertube.

Decade covers his stubarm. "Nope. Fine not being able to swim."

Kastor : ...You know, Decade...it was Decade, right? If you switched to a tungsten-carbide alloy with nanotube lacing, you'd have less trouble with that dragging you down.

Decade : I have no idea what you just said.

Thundrax: Need to make you a swimming propeller.

Eshtarra frowns, running her fingertips over the box, curiously.

Stargirl salutes Sergeant Alloy.

Kastor : ...Seriously? Robot bits, and you don't know what I just said?

Decade : I didn't make it!

Stargirl : Nice job tipping the scales in our favor there, Sergeant.

Trauma: Lasers, everywhere. {Shoots the robot a thumbs up.}

Eshtarra: Interesting.

Decade : I just punch things with it.

Sergeant Alloy: God bless the gearheads, ma'am!

Sergeant Alloy salutes Stargirl.

Thundrax: I could definitely tell you worked for PRIMUS, Sergeant.

Kastor : Basically, stronger metal, mostly air. The nanotubes, which are exactly what they sound like, allow you to throw space into an object without screwing the structure up.

Decade : Huh.

Eshtarra gets a half-grin. "One might almost say, fascinating."

Decade : Who could make that?

Kastor : Uh...me.

Decade : Hmm. How much?

Kastor : We'll discuss that later.

Decade : Alrighty.

Darius Phen stops channeling as he steps back up. "He should be fine until we get him further treatment."

Stargirl : Think you can pry it open?

Decade : I gotta head off.

Decade : See you around guys!

Sergeant Alloy remains quiet, standing at attention.

Eshtarra: Darius, Kastor, you can work with magic, right? Anyone here have psi abilities?

Thundrax: Hmmm, it's all one piece.

Trauma coughs, waaaay awkwardly.

Thundrax: Take care Dec, and thanks for your help.

Kastor : I'm a psychic. Of sorts. Give Blue a go. I should be a last resort there.

Eshtarra glances at Trauma. "I don't know if you're willing to try this. It's up to you." Trauma rubs his jaw for a moment. "Hit me with it, this could be important."

Eshtarra nods. "I can provide... backup, of a sort. We can link the four of us, share focus. But it will take a psychic to actually convince the box to open."

Kastor : ...well, balls.

Stargirl : Bumblebee can do it.

Thundrax: Rules me out.

Kastor : I was kind of hoping to hang back while someone else opened the maybe-doomsday device.

Stargirl : gives Trauma a firm pat on the shoulder.

Eshtarra grins. "As odd as it sounds... you may have some success just asking it nicely."

Trauma: he winces at the word 'link'. "I, just dont touch my brain."

Trauma: Seriously.

Sergeant Alloy: This tin can ain't full of the sardines your lookin' for ma'am, if you know what I mean.

Sergeant Alloy suddenly volunteers this information. He steps back a bit.

Eshtarra nods, more serious. "We're just there to give you support, Trauma. You'll be in control."

Kastor : *Sighs and plods up.*

Kastor : Remove anything flammable, though.

Trauma: Okay, no brain touching. {he nods tentatively.} What doy uo need me to do.

Eshtarra raises an eyebrow. "Flammable?"

Kastor : Electricity starts fires.

Trauma: Clothes stay on please...

Eshtarra: I was wondering.

Thundrax: I guess.., just concentrate on opening it.

Trauma: And I'm not popping my -eye- out.

Kastor : *Projects a small containment circle, and plops down. The air fills with the smell of ozone, and his suit levitates.*

Stargirl : looks uneasy, like she just smelled something funny.

Eshtarra holds the box out in the center of the group.

As the four of you concentrate, you hear a loud click sound. The Pandorica... ur, the box, opens! Trauma places his hand on the box. Eyes closed in deep concentration. He twitches slightly, in pain maybe. Dem powers man.

The box opens, and a pulse leaps up from it and heads skyward. A fraction of a second later, a hologram of the classic Dr. Destroyer appears and a set of numbers are displayed.

Trauma: jumps back. "Ah!".

Sergeant Alloy: Nothin' like the smell a zippo in the morning!

Eshtarra smiles reassuringly to Trauma.

"This is the voice of Albert Zerstoiten. As my presence has not detected within this solar system for a mandated number of years, it is clear I am occupied elsewhere. "

Kastor : *Glances upward, immediately recording the numbers.*

Darius Phen looks at the numbers as well.

"Therefore, I am instigating Protocol 7: Gift mode."

Darius Phen: Wait, this sounds familiar.

Stargirl : Gift...mode?

Eshtarra: Is it bad?

Darius Phen slouches.

Sergeant Alloy: Well <BLEEP!>, I thought I missed Christmas.

Trauma: whilst rubbing his temples. "Uuuh, what?"

Kastor : Probably. Always assume it's terrible.

The numbers displayed is a code that will lead you to Destroyer's third island base, Destruga III. That installation is designed not only as a base of operations, but as a planetary defense.

Sergeant Alloy: Well hot damn! You heard the man! Let's go plant a flag!

"Earth faces what lesser beings must believe to be an inexplicable trail of cosmic vagrants, all with designs on Zerstoiten's world. Destroyer will not permit such creatures to pollute his world. Stargirl : "D-d-d-" Just keeps right on stuttering.

"Solve my code, go to the coordinates, and activate the device, and Destruga III will rise to take its place as the hope of the world, in its creator's absence."

Trauma just stares, fists clenched, jaw rotating.

Eshtarra just looks at the box in some bemusement.

Kastor : ...Uhuh. *Scratches at his helmet.* Hope of the world against what now?

Thundrax: "If you are worthy... receive my gift." The transmission ends. The box closes.

Sergeant Alloy`seems all gung ho ready to go.

Darius Phen: ...that started out just like the last recording.

Kastor : We're not blowing it up. If it's a defense platform, we probably need it.

Trauma: That sounds, bad.

Trauma: Uh, yeah we are.

Thundrax: Alien invasion, from the sounds of things. I should have known the bastard would have built a third Island of Dr. Destroyer.

Sergeant Alloy: Blowing it up? Hell to the no, soldier! That's a strategic asset right there. Eshtarra waits a bit longer, but as it all seems to have finished, she hands the box back to Thundrax.

Darius Phen shakes his head.

Darius Phen: I don't think that's what it meant...

Trauma: He wants to keep Earth human. Screw that.

Thundrax: Oh? What do you suspect, Darius?

Darius Phen: Trauma has what I'm thinking.

Eshtarra: What if it's got programming to kill anyone that doesn't match his ... ideals?

Kastor : I agree with GI-Joe. We don't have to shoot down every single ship that comes our way, but an interplanetary deterrent wouldn't be terrible.

Darius Phen: Not his ideals. His species.

Kastor : Machines are manipulable.

Kastor : Give me a crack at it.

Eshtarra: That would still be painful for a lot of us.

Thundrax: Hmmm, either way, we need to look into this. But it may take awhile to solve *his* code.

Trauma: Not -his-. {he grinds his teeth.}

Stargirl : scratches her head, looking uneasy about the message. "That thing was right under our noses this whole time..."

Darius Phen nods. "This seems...wrong. Something seems off here."

Kastor : Par for the course.

Darius Phen sighs. "Where's Van when you need him?

Kastor : Who now?

Thundrax: Something I've asked for months, Darius.

Darius Phen: ...a friend.

Eshtarra sighs. "I'll help if I can, but this seems to be mostly outside my areas of expertise."

Kastor : Doesn't mean you can't make library runs.

Sergeant Alloy: Well <BLEEP!>, son! I got friends, what yor talkin' about is another strategic asset! Full disclosure!

Thundrax: Okay. Let's get these guys stateside and see if the lawyers can do anything. Rakshasa at least is an escaped felon.

Stargirl : We should probably hide that box somewhere safe too.

Trauma: Yes.

Thundrax: I'll take care of the box.

Kastor : And, where are you going to put it?

Thundrax: Not sure yet. Niikwan, maybe.

Stargirl : Mister Carson'll keep it safe, don't worry.

Kastor : *Pauses a moment.* Well, that aside, first thing I'd like to do is figure what we might be dealing with. Destroyer became increasingly obsessed with the Occult as his life went on.

Thundrax: Ravenspeaker's home town. Pocket dimension of the Haida.

Kastor : Depending on when this island was put together, we may be walking into some shit that most of us aren't prepared for back.

Trauma: Won't be the first time I'll have stormed an island. It's one of those, deal with it when you get there things.

Kastor : Not a lot of experience with the yawning maw of the old gods, I take it?

Sergeant Alloy: Well me and the boys got us some reportin' to do back on the Homefront. Keep fightin' the good fight.

Darius Phen: As in Lovecraftian?

Thundrax: As soon as one of us deciphers that code, we'll meet again. If it's asset, we seize it. If its a threat, we neutralize it.

Darius Phen nods.

Kastor : *Glances over his shoulder, and gives a nod.*

Stargirl : Yeah, see y'all back in the city. Keep my posted, Mister Carson.

Sergeant Alloy salutes them, his fingers triking that helmet again with a loud {CLANK!}

Stargirl salutes Thundrax.

Kastor : *Turns his gaze back to Darius.* As in my area of expertise.

Trauma: Define -assets-. {He folds his arms}

Thundrax: Okay. Take care Helena.... uh. Sergeant....

Darius Phen nods. "Ah...yes. Eldritch Abomination-type of things."

Sergeant Alloy then begins to let out some kind of charge up noise, before... WOOSH! He disappears in a flash of light. How boring and normal.

Eshtarra: If it's at all dangerous, we're going to destroy it, right?

Trauma: Something made by -him-.

Kastor : Technically, we're dangerous.

Trauma: I don't see how that can go well, ever.

Kastor : Dangerous things can be good.

Kastor : You just have to aim them right.

Eshtarra: But if... the Darkness is involved.

Darius Phen shakes his head. "Darkness is not bad."

Thundrax: If it's Zerstoiten, it won't involve magic directly. Albert *hated* it.

Kastor : Involved? It's everywhere already. It's in you, it's in me, it's in the billions of slackjawed people who shuffle through life without any inkling of what goes on.

Kastor : It wouldn't have involved it to /start/, no.

Thundrax: I'm curious how he got a cosmic artifact like the box though...

Eshtarra gives a low laugh. "I know that, Darius. But there's a difference between the shadow and the Darkness."

Trauma: Stole it, seems likely.

Kastor : Or, it was a gift.

Thundrax: Worse case scenario would be Shadow Destroyer getting hold of this. He already has a lot of access to Albert's assets, and he *is* immersed in Darkness.

Trauma: From what? I doubt the guy who was pro human would deal with aliens.

Eshtarra sighs, shrugs. "We can't judge until we know what it is, I know that. So I guess, either way, we're looking for it."

Trauma: Yeah.

Kastor : If it furthers humanity's interest, you don't think he would've accepted it?

Eshtarra: And I trust all of you to do the right thing. So I'll help, if needed.

Trauma shakes his head. "Not going to pretend to know how he thought, or what he did."

Kastor : Yep.

Trauma: Yeah, happy to help sir.

Eshtarra nods.

Kastor : *Begins prodding at some kind of phantom prompt, muttering the code sequence to himself.*

Thundrax: Okay folks. Thanks for coming. I will see you later. Hopefully, we'll get good news about the code and that base.

Darius Phen nods. "Take care everyone."

Trauma nods in return.

Eshtarra: I... am going to get a drink, I think.

Eshtarra: Sherrera's, anyone?