Gold Exchange 12 - [action]

[canthandleacape]

[The call comes in to Justice League Sirocco in the early evening. It's a pretty standard call at first: a terrified woman reporting that a big, blonde guy calling himself Triple Sevens was attacking one of the local bars. From there, though, the call gets a bit more unique and a lot more worrisome. Apparently the guy has some sort of explosives and he can... fly? That can't mean anything good.

Whoever investigates the call will find that there has indeed been a hole blasted in the bar's wall and inside is Booster, dressed in a silly-looking gambling-themed costume, complete with a cape and orange-tinted safety goggles. He looks to be a little preoccupied at the moment, though, having forced one of the unfortunate bar patrons into a game of pool with him.

It's probably not a good idea to wait and find out what exactly they're wagering.]

Comments

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*This. THIS is the one scenario he's been looking forward to the least.

Ever since Booster's disappearance, and Bunny's suggestion that something like this might happen, Kotetsu's been dreading the possibility. The mere idea of fighting his friends, of having to hurt people he cares about on a PERSONAL level, has been sitting like a stone in his stomach all week. Combined with the way everything ever has been running him ragged, and... yeah, he's stressed.

He decides to attend to this call personally. The others can wait just a little while longer. He has to confirm -- yep, that's him. Damnit.*

Oi! Booster! BOOSTER! Snap out of it, buddy! You're not supposed to be DOING the villainy stuff here!

[canthandleacape]

[Booster turns to face Kotetsu and smiles. It's pretty different from his usual smiles, though, with an eerie, hollow quality to it.]

You must be confused, pal! The name's Triple Sevens and "villainy stuff" is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing!

[Booster Triple Sevens hefts his pool cue and points it at Tiger, still smiling.]

Are you here to test your luck? I have to warn you, the Lady's on my side tonight!

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*But can the Lady stand up to the ferocity of the WILD ROAR THIS IS NO TIME FOR CATCHPHRASES.*

Booster, I don't wanna hurt you, but I can't let you keep doing this! If we stop now we don't have to fight each other!

[canthandleacape]

You gotta play to win!

[He takes to the air, flying straight for Kotetsu and swinging the pool cue right at his head.]

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*God. Damnit. Why can't it ever be easy?

Screw it. Kotetsu decides to just get this over with. You can't see it in the suit, but there's a fine blue sheen around his body now. He ducks out of the way, attempting to aim a punch right back at Booster.*

Knock it off already!

[canthandleacape]

Stop now, when I've got such a good streak going? No way!

[Triple Sevens flies up out of the range of Kotetsu's punch. Flight is pretty much the only advantage he has in this fight and he looks to intend to make the most of it. This definitely won't be as easy to take care of as the others have been.]

Maybe you're the one who should fold!

[Still hovering around the ceiling, he throws the pool cue at Kotetsu like a javelin.]

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*Kotetsu dodges it like it ain't no thang. He shoots his arm out, activating the wire shooter and pulling him up so that he can get a good shot at jumping right at Booster.*

Goddamn, man, are you even listening to yourself right now?! It's cheesy as HELL!

[canthandleacape]

Whoa! That's some ace you've got up your sleeve, buddy! Let's even the odds!

[He swoops away from Kotetsu, throwing something at him as he goes. It's... a pair of dice? Weird. Careful, though, they'll explode on contact.]

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

A pair of dice? What're you gonna do, snake eyes me to --

*KABOOM. There's a lot of smoke. Shit, was that too much even for Kotetsu?*

[canthandleacape]

[Triple Sevens gives a triumphant laugh.]

Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot... of PAIN!

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*The smoke clears, and... nothing.

Possibly because Kotetsu is currently bounding from a slightly DIFFERENT direction, aiming for a punch to the head.*

THAT'S THE WORST FREAKING JOKE I'VE EVER HEARD.

[canthandleacape]

Wha--

[And that's as far as he gets in his reaction before the punch connects solidly. He goes down, and it looks like he's staying there.]

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*Kotetsu lands. Gracefully, despite what you might expect. He gets up and walks over to Booster.*

Joker, you got a hell of a lot to answer for...

*He picks up Booster and hauls him over his shoulder. He salutes the patrons.*

Nothing more to worry about here, folks! The Justice League's on top of this one!

*He shoots off, using the wire shooter to move agilely through the buildings. Not to prison -- to the Justice League Building. With any luck he might remember SOMETHING...*

[Video, after the incident.]

[trustycrowbar]

[You see that icon? Yeah.]

Kotetsu... tell me that wasn't Booster I just saw all over that newsfeed.

Re: [Video, after the incident.]

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

I could! I'd be lying, but I could!

Damnit. You'd think he'd know better.

[trustycrowbar]

Of ALL people, yeah.

...How's he doing? Does he remember what happened?

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

Nah, he's still out of it. I had to give him a pretty good thump. He's the only guy who's actually put up any sort of ACTUAL threat so far. Figures.

[trustycrowbar]

I hate to say this, but that's not very encouraging. I figured the amnesiacs would probably be a cut above the civilians anyway, and Booster's good at what he does, but there are others out there that are a helluva lot more powerful. What if it'd been someone with magical abilities or something? That might be a real big problem if they go bad.

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

Oh trust me, we're going after the source even if that's NOT an issue. NOBODY does this shit to one of my pals and gets away with it!

[canthandleacape]

[There's a groan from somewhere behind Kotetsu as Sleeping Beauty over here finally rouses from his slumber.]

Uuuggghhhhhh. Wha' happened?

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

Speak of the devil.

*He gets up and passes an ice pack to Booster. The phone, naturally, is still with him, and still on.*

How ya feeling?

[trustycrowbar]

Is he up? [The phone chimes in, in Gordon's voice.] Heh, morning, Sunshine!

[canthandleacape]

Like I got hit by a train.

[Booster accepts the ice pack and pulls the safety goggles off so he can press it to his face better. Which is about when he actually notices the safety goggles, and, from there, the rest of what he's wearing.]

Oh, hell, no.

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*Kotetsu motions as if to slap him upside the head. Gently, of course.*

Geez, man, letting yourself fall into taht stuff. You gotta be more careful, ya hear?

[trustycrowbar]

From what I heard on the news, you were calling yourself "Triple Sevens." I guess it's a better handle than "Cat Man Do" or "System Crash", but still...

[canthandleacape]

[Booster looks ashamed at Kotetsu's comment before it occurs to him that the "that stuff" in question is the "getting kidnapped and brainwashed into a villain" stuff, not the "gambling" stuff, at which point he shifts to an awkward chuckle.]

Triple Sevens, huh? That's... great. Really. It was on the news, too? So much for ever showing my face in public again.

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

Hey, we just find the dipshit that's been doing this to people, we got the problem handled! Ah... I don't suppose there's any chance in hell you remember ANYTHING about what happened, do you?

[trustycrowbar]

Kotetsu's right. I heard one of the others mention that someone approached them beforehand, but I didn't get a description, the guy was so out of it. You remember anything like that? Where you were? Anyone strange talking to you?

[canthandleacape]

I.... There was a delivery guy, needed into the Suites. I was giving him a hand, and then....

[He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. Is that it? Can't he remember anything else after that? That pause lasts for a while longer, before...]

Slot machines. Old, dusty. Probably haven't been used in years. Decades, maybe. That's all I've got. I don't know if that's real or just because of... this.

[Booster gestures to the costume he's wearing, just in case there was any doubt what "this" he meant.]

But it probably couldn't hurt to check out any old, abandoned casinos that might be in town. Can we spare the manpower for that?

[the_ko_stands_for_tiger]

*Great, another bu -- wait, he remembers stuff?! USEFUL stuff?!*

Hell yeah we can spare the manpower! We might finally have a chance to cut this stupid mess off at the head!

[trustycrowbar]

Alriiight, we may actually get some answers out of this! I don't know what all I can do from back here, but... you know what? T'hell with it. I'll go with you; the Labs'll probably send me out anyway.