Sam will stay in the middle of the roof to keep from drawing attention to herself and her glow. She will listen to the conversation and responds," Is there any area around there where 13 can find a Haze free area?"

Glancing between his companions with one brow cocked as their maybe-contact starts muttering to herself, Schism maintains his relaxed posture as he waits to see what she'll do.  The annoyance in Nightwatch's tone is weirdly welcome, perhaps all the more-so because it's clear she actually is connected to whoever their contact is supposed to be and that's another little tick he can add to his growing list of evidence that she is indeed the successor to the World's Greatest Detective.  The question about Thirteen's range is interesting, mainly because he has to wonder whether they're prioritizing expedience or stealth  with this maneuver.  The holo-map she produces gets a very curious inspection from him, his memory pulling up a couple headlines he'd seen of the infamous Mr. Darrick.  'What did you do with all that wealth when the world ended?'  The psychic muses, trying out a few ideas before pushing them toward the back of his mind.  Pushing off the AC, he moves over toward Thirteen with a nod, trusting that the little meta knows her limits.  Those portals of hers are game-changers and every mission is making it clearer just how heavily the mobility she offers influences their chances of success.  "Darrick manor it is then.  You managed fine portalling through the Haze around the Tower right Thirteen?"

A few jumps via portal, rather than total body reconstruction, allows for more or less safe Haze transport. Sure enough, the group finds themselves on the roof of stately Darrick Manor. Sure enough, the Haze is everywhere below that. The crimson fog-like substance crawling all around the lower levels. However, both Schism and 13 detect no infected in the area. Which is odd, because they are normally drawn to the Haze itself.

Nightwatch presses a button on her wrist gauntlet, and a hidden stairwell opens in the roof. "Well...come on. Just ah...FYI. Try not to over react when we get down there, ok? Just...stay cool." She says, sounding very concerned that the team will in fact NOT stay cool.

 Sam smiled and used 13's portals to get them to the manor's roof. Once on the roof the woman opens a secret staircase and warns to stay cool and not overreact, Sam wondered what there was down there, she was afraid of them overreacting too.

 Sam looked at the others and then headed down the stairway to see where it led and what they were heading into.

13 closes the porta and follows Sam down the way ready for anything but keeping an ear open to anything coming up.

Perception - 14

(OOC - 20:16, Today: Thirteen rolled 14 using 1d20+11 ((3)).)

Stepping through the final gate onto the rooftop of the manor, Schism took a couple steps closer to the edge so he could look down at the roiling haze below them.  Nightwatch hadn't exaggerated about the presence of the dangerous miasma below, but that just made the lack of any Infected down amidst the clouds all the stranger.  "Perhaps a bit of warning would help brace us?  No?  Well we'll manage I imagine."  The psychic mused, the faintest grin flickering across his features to soften the jibe as he joined the procession headed deeper into the building.

OOC: Maintaining Neural Relay (Enhanced Traits [Dodge +6 Parry +6]: Quirk [Not Vs. Mental Immune Targets])

Upon heading down the stairs, Schism's mental senses detect many different minds within the building. He got no mental 'pings' until he went down the stairs. The same was true for 13's hearing, as she can hear people talking and moving. Indeed, the very fancy mansion they are all walking into seems to have been converted into some sort of refugee camp. Many of the people stare at you in shock, but seem pleased to see Nightwatch. Many of the children rush up to her, and she gives them all various bits of candy from the pockets of her coat.

"Hey everybody, I am taking the newcomers downstairs for a debrief." Many of them seem to have a million questions, but Nightwatch just shakes her head. "After, I promise. First things first." The crowd seems displeased, but willing to wait.

She takes the group to a large grandfather clock, and sets the hands to 9:45 pm. Which is not the time, but the reason becomes clear. The Clock opens up, revealing a stairwell down. She sighs. "Like I said, don't freak out and don't...touch anything, ok?" She says with a bit of dread in her voice as she heads down the stairs.

Schism and 13 cannot sense anything down there, even with the door open.

"I am guessing we go down there?"  13 asks looking at her companions.  "I won't touch anything...but is it ok if my feet touch the ground as I can't avoid that as I have no means of flying?"  While one might think she is joking her question is very matter of factly and something she is worried about.

 Sam smiled and then held in a laugh, but she knew 13 was serious and added," I think that will be ok 13 but Miss Nightwatch would it be ok if 13 stepped on the floor?" Sam would head down once 13 was all set.

Nightwatch turns to 13. "Most of us can't fly...so, we sorta have to touch the ground. I meant with your hands." You can't really see her eyes behind the visor and lower part of her face due to the mask, but its clear to her from her tone of voice she sounds deeply confused by 13.

As you walk down deeper, 13's sense of hearing returns. She can hear someone moving around-but only a single person. Schism however, can detect nothing. Its like the whole lower level is a blind spot to mental powers. As he focuses his abilities, its clear there is some sort of interference, but unless he was looking for it precisely-say by walking directly into the place-he never would have found it.

The place looks like a cave directly under the mansion. However, part of it has been turned into some sort of hi-tech bunker. They can see various computers, equipment and weapons lining the walls. Other paths lead to platforms with labs and workshops. There is also a statue of a dinosaur, a enormous penny, and a place where various costumes are behind glass. All the outfits are of heroes linked to the Night Watchmen and the sidekicks he has had over the years.

Finally, Nightwatch leads you to a massive computer with a huge screen. Sitting in front of the computer is a very old man, thin, and wearing a suit that seems totally out of place in the 21st century. It looks like he would be more at home dusting something. However, the look is ruined by the fact he has several bandages over several body parts-mostly his left side and arm.

"Everybody...this is Alfonse. Al-these are the Freebooters you just told me about." There is an annoyed edge to her tone.

"Hello, a pleasure to more heroes still alive and working." Al gets up and shakes everyone's hand with his good right arm. His left being in a sling. "Well, I suppose you have many questions. Let me get the obvious one out of the way. I am not the Night Watchman. That being said...he is...here." He says that last part like it was painful for him to even mention.

"Let's...get the hard part out of the way, shall we?" He nods to Nightwatch. She hesitates, but he stays firm. "Please...it has to be done. We need their help."

She shakes her head, but moves over to the console. Putting in a code, she hits a few buttons. Then a sliver cannister lowers from the ceiling. A small section opens, and mist comes out. Not just mist...but Haze itself. A platform extends out mechanically, and what sits here is a gruesome sight indeed.

Its a head. A head attached with wires to ether temple. The mask is still on, and worse-its eyes blink. Then it lets out a gasping wheeze and begins to clack its teeth together.

Its the head of the Night Watchman.

Descending into the manor with more than a little curiosity as the strange divide between the silence of the world outside and the crowded interior became clear, Schism slowly began to add to his list of questions as they followed their new guide deeper.  The number of people that waited below, many quite shocked to see their little troupe, more or less confirmed the Freebooter's projections about the other enclave.  The fact they were keeping survivors hidden in the midst of a Haze cloud added a whole host of new concerns, but clearly it was working for them.  'Or at least it has up till now.'  The psychic mused, the fact the keepers of this place had seen fit to send out their little coded message niggling at the back of his mind and whispering that something had to have gone wrong.  Even so, it was an achievement to have kept these people safe at all, and one he wasn't going to spoil by airing his concerns out in the open.  Fixing a smile in place, he stuck close to the other Freebooters as they descended ever deeper, a little huff of amusement his only acknowledgement of the standoff between Thirteen's naivete and Nightwatch's distraction.

As they reach the end of the final stairwell and the hidden space beneath the manor enclosed his mind in an oddly muffled sort of silence, a few more points clicked together in Matthias' thoughts, the sheer scope of the manor around them suddenly making the impossible quite credible.  'Mr. Darrick was keeping expensive secrets.'  He decided, resisting the urge to reach for the wall of the cave as they emerge into what was clearly a massive undertaking in time and resources.  The sole figure who greets them below gets a nod that's almost verging on a bow, but the reticence in Nightwatch's demeanor and the hesitance in Alfonse's response strangle him for the moment.  The two of them have clearly been carrying this burden for some time now, and it's painful for both, even if they bear it differently.  Folding his hands together to perhaps ease some of their younger guide's worry, Matthias watched the tube descend with a sort of grim fascination as his darkest imaginings are made quite real.  "Oh god..."  Schism whispered, staring at the familiar mask in horrified fascination as every memory he held of the infamous detective overlaid themselves on the reality.  "Is he..." He started, halting the welling sentiment in favor of letting his senses investigate for him.  It seemed impossible, but he couldn't help but search for the will he'd sensed guiding the Infected behind the lenses of that mask.

OOC: Using Sensitivity to try and feel if the Night Watch-head is the source of the guiding mind he felt before.

13 follows the instructions as close as possible putting her hands right in front of her and not touching anything with them.  Then getting to the area intended she still does not touch anything with her hands....not until she is told too.

She listens to what is told until the unveiling happens.  That is when she is not scared, or concerned but her face shows curiosity.  Mainly as she really does not understand all of this such is her upbringing.  Unfortunately none of her abilities would be useful at this time but still she does stare and tries to see if she can read if anything is being mouthed.

She does not say anything at this time unless asked.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Sun 12 May.

 Cindy followed along with the others, when she saw the survivors she wanted to help them all the more. Then they go into another secret area and they meet another person and then finally the head of the infamous Nightwatchman. She looks at the others and tries to determine if the head is infected in anyway by looking at it. She will just stay back and let Schism lead them in this area.

Even as Schism croaks out the words, the gaint screen flashes and words appear.

"I AM HERE." Came the digital message. The head's glowing red eyes peer at Schism, and its teeth clack.

"Please forgive Mr Darrick. Speaking this way is difficult for him. Especially when he has not...fed recently." Alfonse said with difficulty. "However, I assure you we are not feeding him people. If you need to read my mind to verify that, I will submit gladly."

In reply to Alfonse (msg # 66):

"Al, they don't have the right to judge us. The Night Watchman has kept people alive even after the city fell...with no help from the Freebooters or their criminal bosses." Nightwatch said, a certain level of bitterness in her voice.

13 speaks up, "I am not judging." she looks for a second more before in her head she hears her mothers voices saying how it is impolite to stare.  "Sorry!"  she says turning her eyes away and trying her best not to look.  It can easily tell that she does not care about how they are as her views are live as you will so long as it does not harm others.  and him obviously saying that they don't feed him humans is good enough for her trusting nature.

"It helps that you'd offer, but you certainly don't owe me any such thing."  Matthias noted, nodding slightly at Nightwatch's bitter observations.  He had more than his fair share of concerns about where Thinkmaster's priorities might lie, but the resources and organization the Freebooters could bring to bear was impossible to deny.  "If there's something you'd rather show me than try to convey, simply reach out, but we were sent to establish contact and determine if there were survivors left in Gothamite we might be able to work with."  He added, lifting one hand, palm turned up as a tacit indication of what he'd need to actually complete such a reading, but his attention soon turned back to the former hero.

"I felt an influence turning attention away from her out in the field.  That was you, wasn't it?"  He opined, marvelling at the sheer will the master of Derrick Manor must have to hold onto his attachments.  He could only imagine what sort of insights the Freebooters' research teams might be able to glean by speaking with this man, but  first they had to find out why he'd called them here to begin with.  "I can't think of a better way to say this, so...how are you sane?"  Schism questioned, gaze flicking from the subtle glow of the Cancerverse's influence to the gnashing teeth and then back and forth between the two who'd kept the world's greatest detective hidden.

In reply to Schism (msg # 69):

The...head...stares at Schism with glowing eyes, unable to convey any emotion than raw hunger. The teeth clack over and over, and if trying to bite something it could not reach.

The screen lights up, and words form once more.

I AM THE SOURCE OF INFECTED'S DISRUPTION. It answers Schism's first question.

For the second, it has a more simple explanation.

I AM THE NIGHT WATCHMAN.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:28, Tue 14 May.

Nightwatch seems to change her tone. "Yeah...it's ok. Sorry to overreact, but its been a hard few months, ya know?" She sounds very tired.

"That was me...not Mr Derrick." Alfonse said. "We have quickly gotten over our heads here. While we managed to round up the survivors and keep the Beta infected more or less distracted from Nightwatch and her efforts-there has been another problem. Arlen Aysulm has also been overtaken by the Haze. Worse, the various super criminals imprisoned there have gotten lose-many of them have become Alpha-level infected. Normally they don't work together, but in this case-they are. They are also hunting Nightwatch...and I fear they are also hunting Night Watchman, even considering his...condition. Unlike the Betas, they are immune to Mr Derrick's influence. Not to mention they can control the Betas due to the fact there are five or six of them active."

 Sam just watched and listened the head didnt bother her, she saw worse projects at the place she ended up being an experiment with them as well. She would pay close attention as she wondered how he was saine as well.

 Then Alfonse talked about why they called for help, Arlen Asylum was taken over by the Haze and those monsters turned even worse. Sam thought for a second then replied," That sounds like a big problem, so what is then plan here. Are we going to fight them off and this little place stays alive, or do we evacuate everyone to our place?"

13 without thinking and even ignoring what is going on does her best to walk over and give Nightwatch a hug.