Stark Industries Gene Lab

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:10 pm

The facility is big, and shiny, steel and glass construction. Police cars are parked along the front, keeping the general public, and press away from the front door.

As the helicopter comes to the ground, the reporters break off from the doors to go see who's arrived.

by **Merle McClintock** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:24 pm

Merle stands up straight, stretches powerfully over his head, and nearly exits the helicopter.

He then spies a crowd of British journalists and nearly sits back down. He points them out to Talos.

"You're the team leader, sir. You get to deal with the media.
Watch out, they're feisty and they adore puns."

by **Rachel O'Brien** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:05 am

Rachel stepped off the helicopter, being careful to duck as she did so.

by **Rick Ferguson** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:11 am

Rick did the same, following behind Rachel. "They did everything but roll out the red carpet."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:00 pm

"They'll get our faces eventually Nomic. Best not to go in like crooked politicians to being arrested," Madrox said to Rachel before leading the team onward.

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:52 pm

The reporters move to intercept!

"Are you from Xavier's University?"

"Is there a combat situation in the facility?"

"Are you the new X-Men?"

"What can you tell us about the situation in the Stark facility?"

"Is it true that Mr. Stark was injured?"

"What do you expect to find in there?"

"Who do you believe was behind this?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:08 pm

"Yes."

"I hope not."

"Some would say that."

"All I know for sure is it was robbed."

"Not that I've heard."

"Empty spots where stuff should be. As I said, robbed."

"Keebler Elves. They want to engineer giant cookie monsters. Yes that's a joke."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:14 pm

Since Madrox appears to be willing to answer questions the reporters swarm into his path, blocking his way.

"What's your name, and codename?"

"What was stolen from the facility?"

"Who are your team members?"

"What level of force has Parliament authorized for this mission?"

"What other X-Men are currently deployed?"

"Is it true that your University is investigating the Mutant Town killings?"

"Are you worried that mutants are being targeted in the recent killings?"

"Do you think that the Alliance of Man has anything to do with this?"

"What do you think about the rumors that Magneto was somehow involved?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:24 pm

"You can call me Talos. As for the rest, please step aside. We have a job to do and I'm sure Mr. Stark would appreciate our expedience."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:25 pm

The reporters don't move aside right away.

"Are your team members names classified?"

"Have you been asked not to talk about the connection to parliament?"

"So you won't deny that Magneto is involved?"

"Can you at least confirm your investigation into the killings?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:28 pm

"I'm positive the University will be happy to answer your questions."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:33 pm

The reporters will continue to press Madrox for answers unless he actually pushes his way through them. They won't try to hold him back or anything, they just have no intention of getting out of his way.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:50 pm

"If there is a danger here, and I'm not confirming or denying there is, wouldn't you rather us be between you and it?"

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 1:54 pm

"So there is something dangerous in there?"

"Do you think Stark will request an evacuation order?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:00 pm

"I can neither confirm nor deny."

It should be clear he's done talking.

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:02 pm

If he's not pushing his way past, the reporters continue to hound him.

"Can you give us any further comment?"

"The people of London deserve to know what dangers are nearby!"

"Still waiting for confirmation or denial of Magneto's involvement."

"Can you give me a moment to explain the new X-Men situation, how many of you are there?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:09 pm

Madrox and team just pushed on through.

"No comment."

"No comment"

"A statement will be released shortly."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:15 pm

The reporters don't relent, but they are shaken off when the police stop them from entering the building. As the team enters they're still shouting questions and snapping pictures.

The lobby is a big open space with a currently unmanned desk near the front. Stairs sweep up to a catwalk, there's a big pillar with a bank of elevators on it, and a lounge area past the catwalk.

Inside it is much more quiet. A redheaded woman in a conservatively cut business suit approaches you, carrying a PDA in her hand.

"You must be the X-Men we requested. I'm Mr. Stark's personal assistant."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:22 pm

"The fabled Pepper Potts I presume. A pleasure to meet you."

"I'm sure you have our names, but for formality's sake... I'm Madrox Saavedra. With me are Rachel O'Brien, Rick Ferguson, and Merle McClintock. Talos, Nomic, Tornado, and Champion respectively."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:29 pm

Pepper smiles. "Yes, I am. It's good to meet you. Mr. Stark is just upstairs, where the break-in occurred."

She leads you all to the elevator and puts a key into the panel, turns it, and then presses a button for a sub-basement floor. "I don't know how much you've been told but the break-in left some problems behind."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:30 pm

"I'm listening," he nodded.

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:37 pm

Pepper says, "We have some hostiles in the facility, and they're keeping us from investigating."

The elevator reaches the bottom and opens. There's a hallway lit by fluorescent lights and a big set of metal doors at the end. Pepper walks confidently up to the door and puts her hand on a reader. As the panel scans her hand, she says, "Potts, Pepper." The door opens.

On the other side is a security room. There's a desk here, which is normally manned by several men or women. Right now the only security professionals in the room are guarding the three doors that lead further into the facility.

Part of the room has had a bunch of technical equipment brought in, the centerpiece of which is Tony's Iron Man suit on a rack. Tony himself has the suit open, and is going at the guts of it with what appears to be a small welder of some kind. Parts of the suit have been destroyed, it looks like an explosion occurred inside the suit.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:48 pm

"From what we've been experiencing, I'm going to guess these hostiles aren't human by any stretch. Can you describe them?"

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:49 pm

"We have some video, but the cameras were knocked out early on. We haven't sent regular people into the facility once we realized that there were still hostiles in there." Pepper walks over to Tony.

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:51 pm

Tony doesn't look up, concentrating on whatever he's fixing. "Pepper, can I get another coffee?"

He points at the nearest X-Team member. "I need a hand, just stick your hand in here... and hold this thing. The little green line. Just... just pull it taut."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:54 pm

Tony might spot Maddie's repulsor as he put his hand in place to pull the wire taut.

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:58 pm

If Tony notices it, he doesn't say anything, he just welds. Pepper goes to get the coffee.

He pulls himself out of the suit and stands up, running a hand through his hair. "So you guys are the new X-Men? I'm sure you know I'm Tony Stark...."

He catches sight of Rachel, and grins at her, reaching out to touch her on the shoulder. "But you, you can definitely call me Tony."

by **Rachel O'Brien** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:04 pm

"Thank you Mr. Stark." Rachel said, taking half a step away from him "What can you tell us about the creatures?"

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:08 pm

Tony seems unfazed by Rachel's rejection, but he does drop the flirting.

"Okay, we've got some critters in the lab, and as you can see I'm busy here. We need those cleaned out right away before they do any more damage."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:12 pm

"Are they what got in your suit?"

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:13 pm

"No, that was a pulse grenade, actually we had it here in the lab, and they just grabbed one and dropped it in there. Pretty embarrassing, honestly."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:17 pm

What kind of mythical creature goes around breaking... oh hell. GREMLINS.

"Just tell us where to start hunting."

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:19 pm

"Right through any one of those doors. Oh and that Repulsor... is that a Gamma series?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:25 pm

"With a few minor modifications," he nodded.

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:28 pm

"Watch yourself if you fire it anywhere in the firing-range area. We're testing a new repulsion-reflecting armor plate in there."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:34 pm

"I appreciate the warning Mr. Stark."

He looked to his team, "We need see that security footage of our enemy. Then, we get hunting."

by **Rachel O'Brien** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:49 pm

"Do you have any psi-shielding in the building?" Rachel asked Tony.

by **Tony Stark** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:51 pm

Stark fishes out a keycard and slots it into the security desk. "You should be able to get all the security footage we have now. We've got psi shielding only on this level, but it's lower level stuff, won't stop top level people."

by **Rachel O'Brien** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:06 pm

"Ok." Rachel said, hoping that Tony's definition of 'top level' included her.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:09 pm

"This looks like a simple enough interface. When did the attack start?"

Madrox went to work on retrieving the footage, navigating the system easily.

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