rise up and take the power back

[currentcy]

WHO: ELECTRO and MORDIN SOLUS
WHERE: The Federal Reserve
WHEN: 4/3
WARNINGS: Some action-y violence, idk what else.
SUMMARY: Electro does his thing holding up banks. Mordin intervenes.
FORMAT: Quick?


[ It's been a while, to be honest. When Max propositioned for April that they move in together, he'd thought about giving up crime cold turkey; reforming as he'd often tried, usually for for a woman. He just wasn't good at making it stick.

Like today. Somehow here he was at the Federal Reserve with several unconscious guards surrounding him; the area was deathly silent aside from the usual traffic, some shouting, a distant siren. He'd silenced all the alarms easily, gotten in and back out fairly easily; his powers were much stronger than they'd used to be, if there was a socket or a bulb or a wire somewhere he could get in. No amount of power or skill made money and gold any easier to carry in semi-large amounts, however. He juggled what he had in his arms so as to avoid dropping it, cradling it mostly in one so that he could fling shocks of lightning with the other. ]

Stay back! I can't be held responsible for what I have to do if you call any more cops this way, you hear me? Get back, you cockroaches!

Comments

[heal_or_execute]

[People came to big important banks like this for a lot of reasons. Some of them were tourists, some of them were customers, some of them were robbers in Electro's case. Mordin was here for research. When the zapping started, Mordin was in his human form, walking around the bank and taking verbal notes in a small recorder.]

...liquidity also a concern in this era. Furthermore, human reliance on hard currency and gold assets problematic from a security standpoint. Requires extensive levels of protection, diversion of time and effort. Physical wealth can be physically stolen.

[Then he heard Electro's yelling, rounded a corner, and saw an electricity-wreathed man surrounded by unconscious bank personnel.]

Ah. Illustrative moment.

[Mordin lowered his recorder and stepped forward, still in the guise of an older man in a suit.]

Excuse me! Appear to pose threat to surrounding people. Also, engaged in grand larceny. Need to ask you to surrender. Giving you chance to avoid trouble. [He took a breath.] Willing to kill you if necessary.

[currentcy]

Who the hell are you?

[ Honest question. Electro had expected maybe a hero to get in his way -- they always did, seemed like -- but this was just an old man. Not someone he'd feel super good about electrocuting, although, desperate times. He raises his hand toward Mordin in implicit threat. ]

I don't want to have to kill you, stay back.

[heal_or_execute]

Hesitation? Unexpected.

[Mordin steps forward, but stays near one of the room's columns in case he has to dive for cover. His mind works rapidly as his eyes focus on Electro's deadly hand. Mordin decides that if the assailant is less willing to kill an apparent random, elderly human, then he will remain a random, elderly human and only revert to Salarian form when violence becomes the only option.]

Can't permit your escape. Political, social ramifications beyond your financial gain. Acts like yours- [He points, accusing.] -motivate fear, stoke further hatred. Harm ImPorts as well as natives.

[currentcy]

[ Electro's hand sparks a little, but he doesn't attack just yet. He simply holds his loot tighter, defensively. ]

I don't got a job. I got to survive somehow, it's a tough damn world for us! [ He steps forward carefully. ] Don't get in my way, old man.

[heal_or_execute]

Multiple avenues open to you beyond armed robbery. [Mordin speaks as though he's lecturing a student in his classroom, not facing down a walking bug-zapper at a crime scene.] City Hall and Department of Integration always active in supporting ImPort employment, engagement, adjustment to society.

[When Electro steps forward, one of Mordin's arms slowly moves behind his back, getting ready to activate his omni-tool. It's his only weapon right now, since the Professor generally does not bring his heavy futuristic pistol around on daily errands- a decision he currently regrets. His voice doesn't change as he shifts position, he keeps talking.]

Therefore, necessity not an acceptable justification. Damage to larger society outweighs benefit to yourself. Unacceptable!

[currentcy]

Who are you to determine what's acceptable or not? I don't care what you think.

[ He tilts his head slightly, cracking his neck and readjusting the loot he has in arm in one movement before he flicks his free hand, sending a stiff bolt of current zapping toward Mordin. ]

If I say it's necessary then that's good enough for me.

[heal_or_execute]

[The bolt strikes Mordin square in the chest and knocks him sprawling on the floor of the bank, muscles twitching involuntarily as voltage runs through his body. The twitching includes the key muscles in his upper-left buttock that trigger his Porter power, and his human disguise slips away as he lies on the floor. The old man's body melts away and shifts back to the form of an irate Salarian bringing out an armed omni-tool from behind his back. Mordin manages to grit out a retort despite spasming jaw muscles.]

Argument- fallacious!

[Mordin fires his own zap at Electro. Bright red and arcing, it's a charming invention of the 22nd century called a Neural Shock which paralyzes targets by directly afflicting the nervous system with terrible pain.]

[currentcy]

[ Electro doesn't bother even concerning himself over if the man's okay or not -- obviously a smart move, given that after his lightning connects, the man changes shape into...

Well, Electro doesn't quite recognize him, except knowing he's definitely an imPort, one he's seen around, but he doesn't know him. And he doesn't really care -- at least not until he gets hit with a zap himself that takes him by complete surprise. Not electricity, he's immune to that. But whatever it is it causes Electro to drop his loot, doubling over and falling to his knees. Sparks explode from his eyes and mouth as he yells in pain. ]

Mother of God, what did you do to me?!

[heal_or_execute]

[Mordin keeps the omni-tool trained on his opponent as he slowly gets to his feet, breathing heavily.]

Same thing I will do if any further hostility is demonstrated. Have another Shock ready to fire.

[This is a bluff. The omni-tool is only a secondary weapon, and requires a recharge time between attacks. Mordin's defenseless right now, and is betting his life that Electro's in too much pain to realize it. Just in case though, he takes a sidestep toward the nearest column, hiding most of his body behind it.]

Advise surrender.

[Hopefully speedy surrender- the paralysis will only last for a few more seconds.]

[currentcy]

[ Electro's still huddled, sparking and yelling and shaking in pain, but he unsteadily tries to get to his feet after another couple of moments. ]

I d-- didn't -- hnngh -- come this far to be stopped by some-- whatever the hell that bullshit--

[ He tries to fire another bolt in Mordin's direction, but the pain is still bad enough that his aim might go wild. He gags out static. ]

What is that?

[heal_or_execute]

[Well, he tried. Mordin presses his back against the column as another electric blast crackles past him and scorches a black mark onto the wall of the Federal Reserve.]

Omni-tool. Tool and weapon from the future. Advanced technology. Happy to demonstrate!

[The tool has recharged now, and Mordin pops out from behind his cover to fire again. This time his attack is a Cryo Blast: a white ball of freezing energy leaps from his arm, trailing frozen moisture behind it as it passes through the air. Whatever it hits is becoming an ice sculpture, albeit temporarily.]

[currentcy]

How about-- hnn--

[ He manages to duck this time, though barely; he feels the temperature just to his left drop suddenly and he shivers somewhat. ]

-- not. You sunuvabitch!

[ About now he'd just zap himself out through a socket or something, no longer a man but a bolt of living energy, but that would involve abandoning his loot and he's not quite ready for that (yet). ]

Ain't your business, you goddamn busybody.

[heal_or_execute]

[Darn. Now he has to let the tool recharge again for a few seconds before he can make another try. Mordin stays behind the column and tries to delay by talking, as a distraction. As he does, he tries to think of a new plan.]

Incorrect. Member of the community, both ImPort and City. Have interest in community well-being motivated by altruism as well as self-preservation. Your actions a threat to both communities on both levels!

[currentcy]

Screw that. I ain't being a threat to anyone that ain't being one to me. You think everyone's just got it made like you? Just because we're imPorts we're taken care of by this lousy place? This lousy system? You've got your head so far up your ass I'm surprised you can even aim that thing!

[ But ditching his loot seems more and more likely. He puts some down so he can move faster, though isn't ready to surrender it all. ]

[heal_or_execute]

Logically invalid! People in this building no threat to you- you initiated aggression!

[The tool's ready for another go, and Mordin's got a new course of action. There's a good-sized patch of ice on the wall behind Electro, frozen by the missed Cryo-Blast. Mordin pops out to fire a ball of red-hot plasma, deliberately missing Electro to nail the ice with an Incineration attack. Sizzling heat melts the frozen wall instantly. Water trickles to the floor and begins to pool over the ground.]

Attempted appeal to guilt also invalid. Emotional manipulation won't work!

[Mordin's doing the physics in his head. The potential effects of someone with this much electricity coming into contact with water are clear and encouraging. He just needs to find a way to get the target into the water, or vice-versa.]

[currentcy]

They're a threat to my livelihood. That still counts.

[ He snarls, turning around to head for the door after he (unnecessarily) dodges the plasma blast. ]

You can't even aim the thing anyway. Just get the hell out of my way, I'm leaving. No one's dead.

[ But on his way he steps into the water which, normally, wouldn't be a problem... he's so charged up now though that he flares bright blue for a second, sparks exploding off his body, before all the lights in the building flicker and shut off.

From the darkness: ]

The shit, was that water?

[heal_or_execute]

[And thus, science triumphed! Science and Electro's clumsiness, at least. Mordin steps cautiously out from behind the column, using the glow of his omni-tool for illumination.]

Hm. Unexpected outcome. Contact with water appears to have impeded your powers. Side-effect: disruption of building's electricity.

[There's an awkward pause as Mordin surveys the area. Everyone seems to have run away during the fight except for the KO'd guards. They're alone except for approaching sirens.]

No point killing you. Would just come back. Do you require medical help? Can provide assistance if necessary.

[currentcy]

Ughh. No, I'm--

[ He'd fallen flat on his back, but now he's sat up enough that he's on his ass. He snaps his finger, which illicits a small spark around one finger that illuminates the area immediately around him. He yells out as if pain after another minute. ]

Aw man. All my cash got fried! Look at this, you asshole!

[ He points to the (barely illuminated) bag he'd been carrying, which has spilled out mostly burnt bills across the floor, some beyond recognition. He stands and kicks at it miserably. ]

This is like, embarrassing.

[heal_or_execute]

[Mordin walks toward the source of the light, adding his glow to Electro's. Then he smiles.]

First agreeable point you've made since encounter began.

[He looks down at the bank robber and strokes his chin.]

Technically don't have law enforcement authority. Will have to simply place you under citizen's arrest, then escort you outside to authorities.

[Sniff.]

Understand local system has poor track record for containment. Possible consolation- your incarceration likely to be brief.

[ooc: Gabbie, up to you if you want him taken in or if he can still escape with that socket thing!]

[currentcy]

( ooc: Okay! I'll probably go with escape this time since I wanted him involved in auction stuff, but another day... )

[ Electro lets his spark extinguish quickly, stepping backward into darkness. ]

Not brief enough for my count. I've got a lady waiting back home, man. It's been fun -- look, this place is insured, I'm just writing this day off as a total bust.

[ Bummer. Fucking bummer. There's a bright flash of light as he disappears in an arc of current into one of the Reserves many lights. A moment or two later, the power flickers back on. ]

[heal_or_execute]

[When the lights come back on, they leave behind a very bemused Salarian blinking.]

Teleportation ability? Surprising. Didn't expect electrokinesis extended to corporeal manipulation. Wonder if-

[Before Mordin can get into the science of it, there's an explosion and smoke billows into the room, followed immediately by a police tactical unit with guns drawn yelling at the ImPort to get down on his knees and put his hands behind his head. Mordin sighs as he complies. Explaining everything to the authorities is going to completely disrupt the research he originally came here to do.]