Issue 1 Downtime

The car belong to Tommy Verciletti, was, indeed waiting outside the restaurant Needles had indicated.

"Can we...make the bomb not work?" Chloe whispered

"I did better then that," Rob says, "I made the bomb better!"

Rob chuckles.

"Better in what way?"

"Both more and less likely to kill people," Rob says, "Depending on a number of factors."

Rob holds out a series of plans filled with complex equations, "Mind checking my math?"

"I'll have to believe you, I"m afraid."

"Well, alright then," Rob says, "Who has a plan? I brought a fake mustache if we need to use disguises."

Rob holds up a long handlebar mustache to his face.

"I have more then one in case you guys need disguises as well. I hope one of you likes Fu Manchu!"

"I don't think that false whiskers will help, but thanks."

"Rob, what's the timing on that bomb of yours? How much time do we actually have before it does...well, whatever the hell you've got set to do?"

"Thirty seconds," Rob says.

Meg ran a hand through the thicker side of her hair. "Not a lot of time. Okay, so how do we kill this guy without killing this guy?"

"You think I'd really build something that'd disintegrate a parking lot?" Rob asks, "Please. I just hooked a field emitter to a teleporter."

"The real question is, where do we send this guy?"

"Somewhere in South America, maybe?"

"Sure, why not?" Rob says, fiddling with bits.

"We're still going to probably have to blow up the car, though. I think Needles'll get suspicious if there's no report of it."

"Have fun with that," Rob says.

Meg grinned. "Why, Rob, I'm surprised that you don't have a device in mind to simulate a car bomb."

"Can't you just slag it?"

"I can, sure. I just wanted to be certain that we didn't have another method closer to the bomb, versus the big honkin' lighting bolt I'll have to do. Cars don't blow up quite as easily in real life as they do in the movies. But setting it on fire, I can do."

"That'll work then," Rob says, plugging in some cables.

"Ey, forgeddabout it. Yeah, see youz tomorrow the gangster said, coming out of the restaurant

"Best make it fast." Chloe said.

Rob walked casually over to the car and slipped the device under the wheel well.

Meg keep a low level charge active around her hands, ready to send off a blast as soon as their target's disappearance was confirmed.

Tommy walked out to the car, and started it up.

PSSSWOOOOOOOoooooooooooqqqq *ding!*

And then he was gone.

Meg looked over to Rob for confirmation that the target was out of the vehicle, while charging up for the bolt she was going to let fly.

Rob steps back, giving a nod.

Meg took a deep breath and stretched out her hands. Lightning arced from her hands, striking the car with a white flash. The windows immediately shattered, and the upholstery fire. Then she followed it up almost immediately with a pair of shots to the engine and the gas tank . That was enough to cause the gas to ignite. The resulting explosion was not quite of Hollywood quality, but it was certainly enough to ensure that every car alarm in about half a block sounded off at the same time.

"Time to book, people," she said with a smile at her handiwork.