Volume 1: Calling Cards

Hwraaaaa.......hwraaaaaa.......hrwa-CHOO!!

The feather trick works! In the Swan's convulsion a small electronic device clatters off his person. The comm is in hand!

But, Terminal is briefly distracted by MaCavity's grin, which looks less like a menace and more like "Hide Your Pain Harold". In the split second, the Black Swan nips at her hand! The comm falls back to the ground and buzzes softly.

"Black Swan do you copy? Check in, Black Swan! Emergency protocol will begin in five seconds....."

The woman's voice on the comm pauses briefly.

"Ox, the Swan hasn't replied. We have a breach."

Your captive chuckles.

"Hwrank."

(Your accent is just terrible.)

Your captive wheezes like a baloon deflating and you rush the building. At least now you don't have to worry about finding strategic routes.

Right as you approach the staircase you're blasted with a flash of near-blinding light. You lose your footing - are those caltrops on the ground? Those are almost as bad as stepping on a Lego!You hear the voice from the Black Swan's comm, this time before you. Those of you who shielded your eyes are able to make out a shock of red curls and a pristine lab coat. Quantum Gal stands with her back facing you, but she threatens you nonetheless, orbs of flame-like light swirling around her hands in anticipation.

"Don't make me use these."

Tentacular leaps into the air, clinging to the walls in a strange yet surprisingly defensive posture, even managing to avoid smacking the Black Swan against the wall. MaCavity's catlike reflexes save her the trouble of the attack as well.

But when ElectroLite tries to attract the caltrops out of the way as you run, he's surprised to realize these aren't metal. Light has the correct kind of signature, but it's not what he planned for. As a result, he trips and falls to the ground, barely managing to avoid injury as the light blinds him. Riven has a similar problem when she attempts to use her telekinesis on the trap.

Terminal slides on the tripping hazards but is able to use her momentum to shield her eyes and scoop up some of the tiny objects. They're light, and warm, and sharp. The unexpected feeling of the caltrops means she mis-judges her throw and they clatter around Quantum Gal's feet.