Offshore (Jeannie)

New York City had once been the center of global trade.  With its gradual recovery, it quickly shouldered the mantle once more.  And being an island, cargo ships were often coming and going from the the city's ports.

But sometimes the city's wealth made it a target.  Like two years ago...Like today.  Today, one of those great cargo ships was anchored in the middle of one of New York's busiest shipping lanes.  As if that weren't bad enough, the ones who had anchored it there were not the crew.

The massive floating slab of steel was now under the command of one Jon Kassel, a metahuman, radical and lunatic.  With a half dozen other armed metas, he had hijacked the vessel, taken the crew hostage and now demanded that the U.S. government free all of the metahuman..."activists"...currently imprisoned throughout the country.  Homeland Security was stalling for time, hoping to stage a rescue.

They had at least one Brick, who had been seen moving containers around on deck.  They also seemed to have a pyrokinetic, who had thrown a fireball at a news chopper that had ventured too close.  Kassel himself was a noted swordsman and telepath, and a firm believer in meta supremacy...

Now though.  Now an odd figure was climbing up the anchor chain.  Dressed in what looked like a dark gray vest and more remained unnoticed as she made her way on deck.  She quickly moved to he edge of a cargo container, one of those moved by the powerhouse.  Peering around it she did not spot anyone...

Still, Heather took a moment to catch her breath. Climbing a steel chain while soaking wet was not easy. She needed to make sure she was ready...

Notes:

so another day another job and this one should make for a big payday some nut job and his minions stole a boat and are holding the crew hostage and it's up to Jeannie to catch the baddies and save the day.

agh, the fact that there is hostages in annoying can't use the usual Jeannie method of going in and blasting the crap out of stuff without hurting them so super sneaky tactics time then. huh, Jeannie in a pink and black wetsuit sits in of a building in the harbor debating her plan what would the guy from splitter cell do?

they had someone that makes fire watching the sky as a news crew was chased off. plus there was a big looking guy moving stuff around on the deck. also, there is the hostages got to get them out safe where would the hostages be kept? after looking over the boat. her FBI handler gave her blueprints on the ship , yeah going though the bottom seems good.

avoiding sparky tell the hostages are secures is a good plan and his top side Jeannie  grabs the scuba gear beside her and sticks the blueprints back in her bag and moves into action jumps into the water and swims to the back of the boat good thing they parked the thing this would be trick if it was moving. she goes to the side away from the port hopping they won't be paying attention over there and poking out above the water  beside the ship she decided it is better to do this up here don't want to sink the ship taking a cutting torch from her bag she cuts a hole high enough so the water shouldn't leak in then climbs in.

she pulls out her map once inside huh if she judges it right she should be in the cargo hold she decides to weld the hole she made back up just in case the tide went up  or something don't want a leak. she seats her scuba stuff down won't need that for now. right now to get the bad guys she pulls her guns from her bag slipping them into the holsters her two Berettas into shoulder holsters and her  Heckler & Koch MP5Ks in back holsters then grabs her SR-15 ready to go she slinks off though the shadows of the crates like a cat looking to start her ship liberating killing spree  

she finds her first target  coming through the door before the thug notices her she takes him down with a quick shoot one down not sure how many to go but pretty sure she brought enough bullets for everybody she takes a key from the sentry before dragging him behind one of the crates splitters cell rule number 1 make sure you hide the body,examining the key she assume it goes to on of the rooms where the hostages are locked up huh but if she found them what to do with them while she gets the rest of the bad guys,maybe it'll be better to leave them safe out of the way tell the messy stuffs done. picking out the door she slinks down the hallway huh something smells familiar well kinda not sure she may have smelt this smell before but it's kinda different well she'll worry about that latter right ,now there is more work to do

Jeannie's first kill had been a surprisingly underwhelming meta with a Power that only allowed him to see into the infrared spectrum.  And armed with an AK-47, he was woefully unprepared for the Bounty Hunter.  He died quickly.

However, his ability to actually see heat meant he was fairly aware of what had been happening.  He had managed to give his partner a heads up...And the powerhouse who had arranged the gauntlet on the deck entered the room only late enough to miss Jeannie.  Dressed in black with a kevlar vest, he carried a sledgehammer.  He also had a bulky handgun on his hip.  "Come out, come out, wherever you are," he taunted.  "I promise I'll only hurt you a little."

The brutish man wore a key around his neck.

Note:

----
The aspiring hero known as Feral Violet crept past one of the forward entrances to the lower deck, a gust blowing down it...

Something struck the girl as odd.  Why was no one watching the anchor chain?  It was such an obvious point of access.  Yet having spent a few minutes looking about, she had found no sign of anyone.  It it just did not sit right...

Almost predictably, Heather cried out at a lancing pain in her side.  She pulled away from the source, turning in time for a dark haired woman to become visible.  The hilt of a lightweight knife was held tightly in her hand.  A meta that could turn invisible.  Obviously.

"Sorry, dear," the woman said in a soft southern accent.  Georgia, if Heather had to guess... "But I cannot have you mucking up the boss' plans."  She took a breath and began to fade out out of sight.  So, her power was tied to her breath...useful to know.

Heather heard the sound of footsteps, the invisible woman rushing forward.  To counter, Feral rushed as well, managing to clip the knife weilder with enough force to knock her over and wind her.

Heather was up and turning in time to shield herself from a flurry of slashes as the knife swept at her.  But years of training and the adrenaline already rushing through her system meant that the first opening the southerner offered was obvious and exploitable.

In a flash, the youngest child of the Jardin family had the terrorist by the wrist and with a twist the hold went from an armbar to a broken elbows.  Before the woman could scream, the edge of a hand struck against her throught, silencing her.  A sleeper hold would render her unconsious.

Using some wire ties, Heather would bind the woman, though she regretted further mangling the injured arm.

Now that she had a chance to take stock of things, Heather picked up he woman's knife.  Focusing on her powers, the young girl began to resculpt her body.  As her flesh shifted, she began to look older, hair turning from purple to black, even the "outfit" changing to the militant's uniform black.  Even her wounds closed...

Disguise complete, Heather looked around.  It seemed the containers had been arranged in such a way that she would either have to climb the containers (likely a bad idea with "Firestarter" on lookout) or below deck.

Heather began to creep down the steps, knife held at her side.  She was now in the forward cargo hold, hoping she could bluff her way close to the other sentries.

Note:

crap that was close Jeannie just missed running into the big one she left the room as he was coming in huh hope his not one of them bullet proof big guys or some creative thinking might be needed. she wonders what the best way to deal with the guard.

Jeannie takes aim and fires a shot at her target crap he was wearing a vest and is super strong argh his going to be a pain. the angry giant now aware of her position charges slamming his hammer into the create she was on causing her to fall Jeannie stumbles to her feet. the giant is right above her crap

don't suppose if I said I thought you where someone else and sorry for shooting your accident we wouldn't have to do this the angry giant swings his hammer again whacking her on the shoulder as she was trying to take a shot before he got to her will she kinda got him getting him in the shoulder the getting whacked though her shoot off so she missed her intended target luck him still got a face.

the force of the blow sends her flying into one of the creates ouchies broken shoulder Jeannie pulls herself from the wrecked box. the giant recovered from his shoulder wound and coming again great got to slow this guy down to least give her shoulder time to pop back in place. she fires her gun at him little trick with one good arm unload all the shots left into his chest won't kill him cause his vest but enough to slow him down making him stumble back.

Jeannie sits the emptied rifle down would be hard to reload with one hand looking around gets a plan to finish this up before tiny breaks anything else she doesn't have time to wait for it to heal. she pulls one of her mp5's from it holster easy to use one handed and fires at the giant getting him to chase after her after awhile running she turns and charges taking aims shoots at his hands getting him to drop the hammer Jeannie then goes into a slide ducking between his legs Jeannie turns to shoot at the crane nearby

you missed the giant tells her please I never miss she smiles and points up, he looks up in time to see why she shoot the controls of the crane as the large crates it was holding smash down on top of him Jeannie looks down in the hole in the floor unable to see him under the massive storage containers piled up will even if he is till alive that'll keep him out of her hair

ok hate this part she slams her shoulder into the wall popping it back into place ouchies stupid bones why can't you just go back to place gentle being able to heal is nice but the fact it still hurts is bothersome Jeannie rubs her sore shoulder then moves her arm around good as new. she puts her mp5 back into it's holster and retrieves her SR-15 reaching into a pouch on her belt pulls out a new clip and reloads it right counting the tied up one she found that's 3 down she knows sparky still there he problem should be her next priority as fire hazards should be dealt with quickly his up top though she should find the cell the hostages are in she'll probably leave them the tell she neutralizes the hostiles but making sure there ok is good too and it'll make them feel better knowing someone's working on getting them out of this mess.

plus it be nice to find the mysterious helper and thank them also it's bugging her why she recognizes this smell but can't put her finger on it, it's kinda like mr.lee but different huh will she's sure she find it out eventually there on the same boat so she's bound to bump into whoever giving her a hand. she takes out her blueprints and looks over it she's here okay galley that might be a good spot to keep hostages plus there might be snacks she is getting pretty hunger so Jeannie to the galley in search of snacks and the hostages

As Heather maneuvered through the hold, she heard a cacophony from an adjacent compartment.  The sound of shattered wood and metal was punctiated by a deep grunt.  Part out of curiosity, she found the nearest door in order to investigate.

What she found was more than a little disturbing.  A large man had been crushed in half by an equally hefty steel crate, likely dropped from the carrier unit hanging overhead.

Seeing what he thought was one of his allies, he called out with a name Heather did not know.  "Margo," he weezed.  The young shifter found herself at the dying terrorist's side.  "Girl...armed...going for the galley..."  He weezed once more and then his breathing stopped.

Heather paused for only a moment, then she turned and moved.  Most of the quarters were near the aft.  That included the galley.  But wait...he knew specifically she was headed for the galley.  Which meant she had either told him that, or that was where the hostages were.  Whispering an unheard "thank you."

The galley on this ship had two entrances, and each hero had somehow selected the one opposite the other.  Heather, still wearing her Margot guise, was the first one there.  The guard aimed an assault rifle at her, then lowered it as he recognised on of his companions.  "Jaysus, Margot," he said in a rather thick Irish accent.  "Where the hell did you come from?"

Time to test her acting chops.  "Margot" began to speak slowly, her voice shaky.  Heather worried her accent was off but could do nothing for it.  "He...he's dead.  I saw him...oh Jesus."

"God dammit.  Shoulda figured someone got it after all that noise.  Which one?"  The Irishman came closer as Heather refused to answer.  "Get a hold o' yourself, girl.  Was is Bryce or Sammy?"

As his hand came to rest on the quivering girl's shoulder, she seemed to calm.  Then her forhead connected with the now crouched man's nose.  It shattered with a sick crunch.  "I don't know," Heather said, kneeling over the now prone terrorist.  "But it was the meathead with the hammer."

Before she had a chance to bludgeon the man unconcious, pain robbed Heather of her vision.  Then she felt her ribs crack under a sudden flurry of blows.  Speedster.  Crap.

"His name was Bryce you b-"  The speedster paused as he was retrieving his rifle, then he turned to the fallen girl.  "You know, I don't even know if your a bird under Margot's face."  Comming in, he kicked Heather over as she rose to her hands and knees.  "But I guess it doesn't matter.  You killed two of my comrades and Sammy's probably gone, too.."  He pointed his rifle down at the dazed girl.  "Maybe I should keep you alive while I kill all these nice folks; reparations for my friends.  What do you think?"

Only the bound hostages in the corner noticed as the other door slid open.  The bounty hunter had reached the galley...

Notes:

so Jeannie reached her destination using the key she got from the first bad guy opens the door yup as soon she slides the door open she see the hostages tied up she puts her finger to her mouth telling them to keep quiet.

she heard the arguing from down the hall apparently the girl is some kinda shapeshifter that got caught trying to trick the guy who is one of the terrorist but who is the girl she smells like lee or maybe it is her friend and he has been turned into a girl, will be given the oddness of what they have encountered since meeting it could happen. but she'll have to do something about the terrorist first. him being with the hostages throws a monkey wrench into her plan she hoped to keep the in one spot till the fighting was done know she'll have to move them.

luck miss lee seems to have the bad guys attention, Jeannie sneaks over to the hostages and cuts them loose then motions them out the door. once the last one is out she turns her attention to the other two om hey mister bad guy slight problem with your plan there seems were fresh out of hostages, I'm kinda hungry so don't spouse you could spare a bowl of luck charms

the Irishman turns to the new arrival confused "who are you? , and what are you babbling about"

i'm Jeannie and I'm hungry now be a good little leprechaun and get me some sugary breakfast cereal and your pot of gold I caught you so I get that too the Irish man man not amused by Jeannie's jokes turns his rifle toward her but she ducks rolling behind a table grabbing her own rifle she flips the table to uses as a shield then fires back, looks like he's pretty quick too as the speedster is able to avoid getting hit and takes cover behind his own table. huh, wonder where the girl got to Jeannie wonders as she shoots back at the terrorist maybe she's in a position where she could bonk mr.luck charms with one of the many blunt objects that can be found in a kitchen,while she has his attention? that be nice she wants to get this over with before the accidently shoot the food she's still hungry

Heather remained still, unwilling to roll over or rise with with the sound of gunfire echoing around her. The pain in her ribs was also a factor...

Finally, mustering enough will to ignore he pain, her shattered ribs began to move, knitting as her injuries were healed. Once the pain had subsided, Heather found herself trying to catch her breath. It seemed the Irish meta had found a much more problematic threat in this newcomer. Then she found herself wondering where he invisible girl's knife- Margot's knife- had fallen...

Meanwhile, the terrorist fired on Jeannie's position. He seemed to rely on his speed in a defensive capacity, changing positions every few moments, looking for an angle to target his surprisingly skilled rival. He seemed to take a twisted sort of pleasure from the conflict, joking about how his ancestors would be proud of him having an edge over a "royalist," or some such nonsense. No one really thought about that anymore...did they?

The Irishman's quips gave way to screaming as his hand gripped the knife in his thigh. Heather had managed to time her knife throw well. Better that even she expected as she gaped, motionless for a time. Indeed, anyone with even a little knowledge of human anatomy knew that she had managed to catch the man in the femoral artery. Fatal if the knife came loose.

"Holy shit," Heather said. She still wore the face of Margot but she had cursed in a much more natural accent from her.

The firing stopped Jeannie pokes her head out to see what's up. She looks over and sees that the girl had managed to take out the angry leprechaun man.

Jeannie smiles and waves to her. hello there, nice job guess you can say you really got your point across to him, thanks for the help.

She calls out the door to the hostages it's ok for them to come back in.

She takes her phone from her bag and calls her employers> Hey it's me thought I'd check in yeah I got the hostages, there safe still got a few more hostiles to take out. But I made a friend so with the two of us shouldn't be too long, ok bye bye

She then turns her attention to her new friend and looks at her curiously.

mr.lee is that you? smells kinda like you but girly. Was it evil wizards that turned you into a girl or something them spacemen did to us?
Bad side effect of whatever they used to treat your eye maybe.

Jeannie paces back and forth pondering how her friend was somehow way different then the last time she saw him.

Well I can help get you back to normal once we wrap things up here. But should I call you miss lee tell then? This is kinda weird bet you got a great story about how this happened to you.
If it makes you feel better you make a pretty girl

Jeannie then starts rummaging through a refrigerator for snacks.
She finds some ice cream and starts to eat it. and waits for mr\miss lee to explain what happened.

Heather had no idea how to respond to the overly energetic woman.  Instead, she elected to ignore her for the time being.

Meanwhile, the Irishman had not stopped screaming and cursing, drawing Heather's attention.  What a lightweight.  It did not take long to decide what to do about him.  She quickly seized the man's rifle and used its stock as a club.  One blow knocked him cold.

Checking the now unconscious speedster's leg, she realized it was quite a bit more severe than it had seemed at first.  Tearing the hole more, Heather used stips of the cloth to bind and gag the man, then quickly moved to the gas range, lighting it.  She reached for a knife, holding it over the flame.

Waiting for the blade to heat up, Heather finally addressed the woman who now rifled throuh the refrigerator...really?  "Look," she began, still disguised as Margot.  "I don't know you, or this 'Mr. Lee' but you helped me out back there, so thanks."

Satisfied the knife was hot enough, Heather returned to the fallen meta.  In a flash of movement (though not as fast as he would have managed), she removed the thrown knife, exposing an ugling would long enough to cauterize it with the red-hot blade.  The sound of sizzling flesh mingled with the victim's muffled cries as he came to. "Oh, shut up, ya big baby..."

Stepping back, Heather took the opportunity to reshape, taking on her Feral persona. "So," she said, turning to the fridge again. "To avoid you calling me 'Mr Lee' again, how about I introduce myself. I'm Feral. Violet." She seemed to add the color as an afterthought.

Jeannie looks at violet blinking her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. she had changed her appearance before her eyes.

Jeannie smiles and claps her hands amused good show! miss violet that's pretty neat, you can turn into anyone you want? so cool hey can you do me too? it would be funny to see to of me.

oh yeah I'm Jeannie nice to meet you, are you some kinda superhero, I'm the universe's greatest bounty hunter.

she looks over at the Irish man so should we tie him up or something? don't want him retaking the hostages why we go after his friends.oh right we should check on them before going off

she turns to the crew you guys ok? sorry to take so long meant to ask earlier but that leprechaun thought I was after his lucky charms and had to rush you out so you wouldn't get hurt why we dealt with him.

When Jeannie grew giddy, asking to see Heather dmonstrate her gifts again, the shapeshifter could not help but give her a confused look.  Shouldn't a professional bounty hunter be a bit more...professional?

Violet glanced to the groaning meta again.  "He's...already tied," she pointed out.  Then she recalled some of her old comic books.  Speedsters could use their friction to destroy bindings.  Returning to the man, she brought a sharp kick against his temple.  Again, he was out.  Turning to one of the freed hostages, Heather said, "If he wakes up, just knock him out again."

With nothing else to do in the galley, Heather moved ahead, leading the way to he next stairwell. She was fairly certain that the last three terrorists were above deck...or rather two were on deck and the boss was in the bridge with the hostages.

On deck, Heather made a rapid dash to take cover against a steel container. She had barely manage to spot a man on lookout, using the containers as a catwalk to patrol the maze. He seemed to be carrying an ArmaLite...So he must have been the resident marksman. But where was "Firestarter"?

Just as the thought passed through her mind, a man flew down, projecting flames from his hands. The image immediately brought to mind F.I.R.E.S.T.O.R.M. She would never admit it though.

Glancing at the pair, neither seemed to be looking in the heroes' direction. Taking a chance, Heather dashed closer. It turned out to be a bad idea when a shot rang out, bullet zipping by inches from her head. Putting on a burst of speed, Heather managed to hurl herself against the container, bruising her bare shoulder.

Fireball quickly dropped down after Violet. The terrorist's hands were engulfed in flames as he rushed at Heather, throwing wild punches that she barely managed to avoidy.

She had lost track of the sharpshoot though. Crap.

Jeannie disponed violet would do more tricks, hands the one hostage a frying pan to use on the leprechaun man if he tries anything funny the skips off after violet.

Huh, once they reached the deck they had differences in ways to go. Violet moved through the containers while Jeannie though taking the high ground would be more effective.

She climbs up onto one of the crates looking around. suddenly a shot rang out someone took a shot at violet.
With her keen eyesight, she is able to quickly spot the gunman, she the notices a bright streak.

Sparky's back, the flame man advances on violet, huh which one should she go after, violet might need help with him but the sniper is out there two. The fireman is attacking up close which is where violet seems to work well at.

but Jeannie is better equipped to deal with the sniper, so she'll deal with him then help violet put sparky out. The sniper seems to be watching waiting for an opening to take violet down while sparky has her distracted got get him before that happens.

Quite as a cat Jeannie sneaks into a position to attack, too bad she left her sniper rifle at home she thought she wouldn't need it on a boat she expected most of the fighting to be up close.

Well, she might be able to get him from here, she looks down the sights of her SR-15 and lines up a shot and fires on the enemy marksman.

Hopefully, she can get him quick and help violet. She bets sparky will be a handful to deal with.

The sniper was quick, somehow detecting Jeannie's advance.  Whoever they were, they were able to move away, dropping into the maze of containers, evading the bounty hunter's assault.

Meanwhile, the Burning man had the upperhand in his fight with Heather.  Throwing a fiery punch, he still managed to clip the agile girl's shoulder.  Both fighters could smell skin burning as the rookie heroine spun under the surprising force of the blow.

Climbing back to her feet, Feral took up a fighting stance she had learned from her brother.  Then, relying on her adapted techniques, she lunged, sweeping out with her claws.  She manages to catch the man's cheek before he realizes that the weapons are real.

Fire-starter summons a yellow ball of fire to hand, bright enough to blind Heather and soon she feels the searing pain as the orb is pitched into her stomache. Again, she finds herself hurled backward though this time she quickly rolls back to her feet.

Closing again, the pain are caught in a stalemate each trying to land blows, each managing to weave around, avoiding injury. However, this time Heather knew she was at a disadvantage. The fire starter was a more experienced fighter, likely leaning to use his power early on...And Heather already knew she was getting sloppy.

Crap sneaky snipers a quick one, the enemy was now in the maze bellow.Sounds like violet might be in trouble she hears loud sounds and smells something burning.

It was getting hotter too, sparky most be getting fired up. She wonders if she should help violet or keep going after the gunman. well, it would take awhile to find him in the maze and she has a better idea where violet and fireman are.

Plus the gunman isn't as big a threat since she removed him from his perch. Plus she and violet might have a better chance taking them down together. She takes off in the direction of the increased temperature through the maze. She finds where her missing teammate is and sparky seems to have her on the defensive.

Right, time for a rescue and tactical retreat. Jeannie analyzes the situation and comes up with a plan. She used up the rest of her bullets for her rifle with her attack on the sniper oh well there to close to get a clear shot anyway. So she puts it back in her bag of stuff then digs around in it before finding what she needs to her plan. She tosses a smoke bomb toward violet and the fireman.

As the smoke fills the area she leaps into action, her enhanced sense of smell lets her find her way to violet through the smoke. hey buddy looks like getting it's getting a little too hot in here, let's fall back and come up with better plan

As the smoke bomb rolls near and begins to disperse its cloud, both fighter take a step back. And as she hears Jeannie call out, Heather shouts in response. "We can't pull back. The shooter knows we're here; they'll kill the hostages if we don't hurry."

Taking a chance, Heather breaks through the cloud, rushing the firestarter. The man seems more disoriented than most, coughing as though the haze has irritated his lungs. Without taking the time to contemplate her sudden good fortune, the shapeshifter kicked off the terrorist's chest, launching herself up onto the containers.

From her new elevation, Heather begins to sprint, trying to head off the gunner before they can get close to the bridge...

Meanwhile, the fire starter is scrambling to his feet, equally ready to pursue the girl in violet now that he has caught his breath. With an explosive burst, he rockets up to the countainer. Then he begins two wind up a fireball to pitch after the girl.

Heather knows she cannot slow down, else she'll lose the sniper. She has to trust that the bounty hunter will be able to draw him off...