Chimera Ch3, Like Moths to a Flame

[Dustland]

This is just a brief selection of headlines from the local news during the three "down" days for the novas.

World News:
The War in Afghanistan Won!: American and allied forces have, once and for all, defeated the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Taliban officials formally surrendered today, yielding to forces said to be heavily supported by a secret team of Novas.

Nova Related Unrest Continues: Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have all been rocked by rioting and demonstrations against the presence of Novas, some turning violent. Prominent Novas vowing to leave the regions while others continue to fight back.

National News:
Peyton Manning Banned from NFL!: The NFL comissioner has banned Peyton Manning from playing in the NFL after allegations that he was a Nova and had an unfair and insurmountable advantage were presented at a closed door meeting; vows to ban any other known Novas from competition.

(cont)

[Dustland]

Manning declares, "* the NFL, I'm heading out west!"

NTI Moving Headquarters to Horizon City: Stockholders were shocked when CEO and Nova Cheryl Mortinson announced that she would be moving all Nova Tech inc. operations out of Los Angeles to Horizon City.

Local News:
The Rockman Strikes Again!: City streets, parked cars, and innocent buildings all fell to the rampaging Rockman as he made his third appearance in as many days. When asked why he was doing this, he replied, "Rhharrrwww!"

Officer Grumbles to Stand Trial for Murder!: A judge today decided that Officer Stan Grumbles would stand trial for the murder of known terrorist Adam al'Malik. "I'm not saying what he did was right or wrong, but for justice to be served, this matter must resolved in a court of law," he told a gathered crowd of protestors who want to see the officer released immediately.

Organized Crime in Horizon City?: An increase in the last week of robberies, car thefts, and home invasions has police asking if an organized crime ring has put down roots in Horizon City. Capt. Marshall declares, "Over my dead body!"

City Council Calls for a Census of Novas in HC: "Why are you coming here? The coast is beautiful this time of year," councilman Rogers joked, though many in the public feel the same way. As one councilwoman put it, "Novas, don't go away mad. Please, just go away."

[Dustland]

Nova.net: The site is one fire as Novas world wide make headlines. The death of Adam al'Malik is the focus of attention for a day as people argue about what his "murder" means for everyone else. Emotions run from fear (not helped by the fact that the much loved Mama B died too) to outrage to a sense that he got what he deserved.

As headlines begin to pile up with Horizon City as the focal point, many people are beginning to ask, why HC? More than a few raise the idea that perhaps Novas should gather and create their own home, here or elsewhere.

Other than that, there aren't any meaningful vids or posts concerning Adam al'Malik or Mama B, though a grainy security cam caught the events in the WalMart parking lot. Faces can't be made out, but it is a popular video and people are wondering, is there a "super group" operating in Horizon City?

[Dustland]

Nycto: Officer Grumbles' lawyer contacts you and asks if you will be available for testimony during his trial. If so, he wants to get together with you in the next day or two to hear what you have to say.

Javier: I forget, do your cousins know you're a Nova?. Working your contacts you hear a great deal of anti-Nova talk. A great deal of it revolves around the arrest of Officer Grumbles; should he be found guilty, it sounds like there's plenty of people willing to turn to violence to free him. Also, your peeps are starting to have trouble with some Italian from out of Las Vegas, goes by Johnny Smalls and seems to think everyone should be working for him or get the * out of HC.

Fenris: You get to know the in's and out's of HC pretty well as you prowl about. Sarah's gratitude holds and the regulars seem to be warming up to you too. You ask her if she's had any problems with the robbers again and she says no in a way that makes you question her answer. Pressing her, she tells you someone's been calling, saying its time she started paying her tax if she doesn't want anymore trouble. Says they'll be by in a week to collect, but she lets you know she's already contacted the police and they're on the case, so please stay out of it.

Overdrive and Jason: Life's pretty quiet as you two try to get back to your normal routine of family and work. You watch the news with a great deal of trepidation though; if things go south for Novas, how will you protect your loved ones? At what side will they be on?

[Dustland]

Having spent a few days doing your own things, you all decide to get together at the same warehouse you went to after the attack on Mama B. Despite the passage of time, it still smells like something had burnt in there.

At first things are pretty tense as you all discuss the chaos of the world, and the mammoth changes coming to HC. However a case of beer and some good natured ribbing lightens the mood as the evening turns to midnight. The hours pass in friendly company when the revelry is interupted by Javi's personal phone.

It's your cousin so you answer. He's freaked out, a couple of his buddies got snatched less than an hour ago. They were working in the autoshop stripping down a car they'd "picked up" earlier when some guys with some pretty heavy firepower came in and took them hostage. One of them, a young kid named Hector, happened to be out back smoking a j when it went down; he saw them get put in a van and driven away.

You're pacing by a window in the back of the warehouse trying to figure out what to do, listening to your panicked cousin, when you catch some headlights turn off near the old railyard two hundred yards behind your building. A green van pulls up next to three other cars parked in front of an old loading station and you can clearly see at least a dozen people walking in and out of the building.

"Hey cuz, did he say what color the van was?"

"Hang on," muffled talking as he asks Hector, who must be in the room with him. "Said it was green, why?"

[Saker]

Does Fenris recognize the van from before? Does this engine sound the same? Does the burning oil make the exhaust smell the same?

[Nestor]

[Considering I just pulled the cousin thing out of my you-know-what (he'll probably become one of my fixed Contacts), I'll say the one cousin knows, but that the rest of the family is not in the loop. I'll come up with a name and a quick background for him, although I already have a picture in mind.]

"Okay," Javier says, peering through the dirt-grimed glass. "Pass the word along, make sure everyone else's covered. Did the vatos say anything as to who they are and why they snatched our boys?"

[Volsung]

Harrison takes another sip of his beer and leaves the pile of girder he was sitting on.
"Bad news?" he asks, trying to figure what Javier is looking at.

[Boost]

Jason becomes alert, waiting for the shoe to drop, "What color what was?"

[Protheuz]

Nycto will gladly arrange a meeting with the cops lawyer

Alan, with his back against a wall tenses, readying the transformation into shadow.

[Dustland]

Saker: No, you don't recognize the van. Any attempt to use your keen nose or hearing would require you to get much closer.

Nestor: "* Javi, its probably that pinche Johnny Smalls; he's been trying to shake down the shop. Hector heard 'em say somethin' about paying, one way or another."

[Nestor]

Javier nods grimly. "Yeah, I figured as much," he says sourly.

"Okay, put the word out. Round up some bro's and wait for my call. I have a hunch where the maricones are but I need to check it out first."

Once he's done with the call, he turns to the rest of the group.

"Okay, this is the deal. I got a family problem, and by that I mean Family, capeesh? Some pendejos are trying to muscle in on the city and decided to snatch some of my bro's to put the squeeze on us."

He sweeps his gaze to cover all his new-found allies. "I'm not goin' to ask you to stick your neck out for this, but I'm not going to stand around and let some guinea bastards roll right over us and set up shop. Things are 'bout to get real hot 'round here. You can stick around or bail. I won't hold it against ya, either way."

[Saker]

"I'm in. Let's go." Fenris says with a smile. "Maybe they are the goons increasing the local crime rate."

[Boost]

So a bunch of criminal are in trouble... Jason thinks to himself, These are the type of people who make living in the ghetto dangerous. Still, people are people... Jason sighs, "Yeah, I'll help."

[Protheuz]

For a moment the room seems darker, shadows moving around, Nycto changes into his, now familiar, shadow self.

"Count me in." a struggle for power in the underbelly of the city makes everyone's life worse..