BODY SNATCHERS [modplot]

[letsgolegion]

Who| Rico, Tadashi, Zenyatta, Reinhardt, Joshua, Vance, Locus
What| "Body Snatchers" plot
Where| The planetary senate complex of prospective UP world Epryria, and the capitol city Mejehn.
When| The same time as "After These Messages"
Warnings/Notes| Plot has some really angsty stuff, mind control, character death. Please see ooc post.

Epryria and the UP have had contact for quite some time now, but it took new of the threat of Chronoblivion to finally push the world into joining the United Planets for safety in numbers.

The UP government has had its eye on Epryria for some time now, thanks to its thriving scientific community. The planet's advances in bioengineering even surpass that of the Coluans' in some respects. It's a large part of why why most of the population is sporting different cybernetic implants. The Legionnaires have found that to be something of a hurdle in acting as diplomats for the mission. Half of Epryrian communication takes places nonverbally, due to the sharing of words and images through implants.

Since the team is largely there as extra security and only the most experienced Legionnaires are being expected to help the UP ambassadors with actual diplomacy, Brainiac 5 and Kid Quantum were the ones that had opted to temporarily have optical and cortical implants put in.

There's one day left before the actual signing of the treaty, which is to happen in front of a crowded hall of government officials and special guests.

Comments

[legionnpcs]

Another civilian floats into the air, darkfield energy crackling but she doesn't bother to decloak. Umbra's imperious voice cuts through the voice synthesizer and it - and the shadow powers - give her away anyway.

The hologram is wearing an implant because the real Umbra is.

"It's not use, Timber Wolf. They're not going to listen. I told Kid Quantum it wasn't going to work. We're going to have to do this the hard way."

We. The two of them might not be alone.

[legionnpcs]

They all get a message over their comms, from the same user that warned them something was wrong.

This time it's verbal, gurbled by a voice synthesizer.

"You're compromised. They're everywhere. You need to get out. I can guide you to safety. I can also explain what's going on but you don't have time, you need to move."

[truefaceofthelaw]

Drokk. A coup, what the hell did he tell them? They should have just told them from the damn beginning, saved all this trouble. Rico's about to growl you couldn't have let us in on the plans before I just blew your cover? at Timber Wolf, when Umbra reveals herself and well...

That seals it. He brings his hand up and sweeps it to the side, squeezing the trigger as he starts to regroup with his teammates. He thumbs the velocity dial up and swaps out the cartridges to ricochet as he does. Non-lethal doesn't mean it can't be something a little more painful than a stun shot.

"You can talk while we're running!" Rico demands back into the mic, regardless of whether it's received or not.

[orbislife]

Zenyatta catches up to the other Legionnaires. (Speed outside of Transcendence is not his strong point.) If this was part of the adapted plan, the senior Legionnaires would have given some kind of response before the chase had progressed as far as it did. The disguised team wouldn't have been compromised by their own side.

Being an omnic, Zenyatta is all too aware how one can be hacked and forced to do something one does not wish to. He cannot tell with certainty, but he senses discord within them. Something is amiss. But what?

"I am afraid you will have to explain more before I take any action," he says not to the mysterious voice but to the Legionnaires before him. Zenyatta hovers before them, and his orbs spin rapidly around his neck. He's agitated. "What is happening?"

Zenyatta may need more convincing to leave the senior Legionnaires behind and abandon his role of protecting the president by going elsewhere.

[sir_vancelot]

He doesn't even have to glance to Joshua to know they share their suspicions on this one. It's too convenient, too pat. And if somebody sent messages to them and not to Brainy and Kid Q?

Well. Either they're being played or there's something wrong with both of them.

Still, he turns his attention to Kid Quantum, not having to mask his concern. It's just that she can't tell why he's concerned. "And is it something we probably should have known a while ago and are only just being told?" Because that wouldn't surprise him, either.

[agnominal]

"Something's gone wrong. With them."

Wished he could say he was surprised, but no. Their minds seem mere playthings to the powers that seek to tear the universe apart. Still invisible, Locus sets himself up behind Zenyatta to cover a retreat.

"We need to move. Now."

The mission was key. But so was remaining beyond the influence of whatever had corrupted their fellow Legionnaires.

[legionnpcs]

They're sent coordinates in the city.

"You'll find a transmat point there. If you can reach it, we can get you away."