Unscheduled Full Range Field Testing [Revenir!verse]

[gadgeteerdevil]

...all this money, it would be a shame not to come up with something that Jason can use as Nightwing.

Okay, so... in Eddie's defense, he has been performing maintenance on Jason's motorcycle, as well as experimenting on weaponry improvements in the two months since they moved into the refurbished warehouse on the Metropolis docks. He took the time to create counterfeit supporting documentation for the names 'Jasper Liu' and 'Ken Malloy' and applied for actual genuine identification cards and passports.

(Jason seemed really impressed that his counterfeits hadn't been caught in the process, but Eddie didn't think it was that impressive. It was a stopgap measure until Eddie could figure out how to hack into the two different state databases to put the invented personal information in, so they could officially request genuine birth certificates and close the loop.)

But he'd mentioned to Jason his desire to update his rocket trident, and it was silly to do that without refurbishing his power armor as well. Eddie hadn't quite foreseen how much of a focus and time-sink the power armor update would become.

Some of the actuators were still in good condition, but he needed to build all-new base armor. (The look on Jason's face when Eddie had put on the old set and talked about refurbishment... well... best not to think of it. It still made him blush with embarrassment. Though the only thing Jay actually said was a firm reminder that all the money in the shared account was meant to be his as much as it was Jason's.) Maybe his first couple sets of power armor had just seemed faster and easier to construct because he was smaller in general...

For whatever reason, it was taking Eddie much longer than he initially thought. Any mention of setting it aside in favor of Nightwing-based innovations, however, were eventually met with reminders from Jay that he wanted to patrol with Eddie soon. And Eddie would resume the project.

Just as he was doing now.

While the base was located in Metropolis -- apparently "the rent is so much cheaper than it would be in Gotham City" -- Jay's Nightwing missions could and often did take him far afield, all along the Eastern Seaboard. On such cases, Jay kept in contact via the long-range communicator, which was among the first things about the Nightwing suit that Eddie updated. Eddie kept the receiver to the set close by, even as he welded and hammered and tinkered in the ground-level workshop.

Comments

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Whoever took Jason doesn't seem to be trying to hide. He doesn't seem to realize there's a risk of being followed at all, taking no movements to avoid pursuers and instead heading straight to his base.

Which, when Eddie arrives, appears to be an abandoned theater -- not of the movie type, but the classic sort, with a stage and all. Several life-sized mannequins are scattered around the stage, hanging limply from strings like puppets.

[gadgeteerdevil]

The rocket trident is capable of sustained flight for five miles on a single charge. Eddie doesn't use it that way -- never has. Once he gets to a rooftop with a clear path to another, he lands there and runs. His path is determined by the tracker, and he only uses the rockets in short bursts in order to carry himself over the large gaps between rooftops that he wouldn't be able to jump on his own.

So he's in a good position to scale up to the roof of the theater, slipping in at a spot where the aged roof broke, pieces falling into the attic storage space. He presses up against the wall when he has to descend a set of stairs, knowing it's usually the middle of the steps that get the most wear and are more prone to make noise. And he's straining to listen for any voices, through the communicator or not.

...the mannequins are fucking creepy, though. That's his first thought when he catches sight of them around the main stage.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

As Eddie stares at the mannequins, none of them move.

But there will be a rush of movement behind him. As he turns around, he will see... Jason, as Nightwing, in the middle of attacking him.

[gadgeteerdevil]

The sight startles him, but the muscle memory of their frequent sparring sessions kicks in and he manages to jump to the side, out of the way.

He swings the trident forward and presses a button --

and a flood of bubbles rises up in Nightwing's face.

"Wing, it's me!" Eddie cries. There's a possibility that Jason was able to overpower the kidnapper already, and thought Eddie might be a henchman.

But... to be honest, Eddie isn't betting on it. He taps his left gauntlet against his own side, in a way to activate a backup switch that dismisses the HUD on his visor -- another tap to either the specific spot on the helmet or on the gauntlet will activate night vision. But he doesn't do that yet. The stage lights are on, after all.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Jason doesn't pull back from his attack. His eyes are hidden behind his mask, generally unreadable.

But Eddie might notice two things.

The first is that Jason's not moving quite like would be expected. His moves look more like Dick's than his usual repertoire, but it's not like how Jason would fight when imitating Dick. More like how someone less familiar with Nightwing might think he would fight.

The second is that, before each movement, there's a slight catch, as though he's trying, and failing, to stop himself each time.

[gadgeteerdevil]

"Wing, buddy!" Eddie dodges the next punch, and aims a kick at Jason's side in an attempt to drive him back, "Can't you tell it's me?"

He's picking up on the weird way of fighting that doesn't jive with Jason's usual way of moving in the Nightwing role. Jason's movements are always fluidly economical -- little to no wasted movement -- and definitely no hesitations like what keeps happening here. But Eddie isn't going to lay all his cards on the table just yet.

People have a tendency to think he's dumb because he's usually tried to put on a brave, cheerful face -- to think he's unobservant because he rarely voices his opinion. And well... leaning in to it gets him underestimated.

He fends off yet another attack from Jason, and they continue to circle one another. He tries to counter with a jab of the trident, but it's half-hearted and probably easy to evade.

This time, he makes his voice shake when he speaks, like he was really scared, and asks, "N-Nightwing? What did I d-do?"

As if he thinks that Nightwing is angry with him and that's why he's being attacked. (It's not what he thinks.)

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Under normal circumstances, Jason probably would have caught on. Right now, though, having been kidnapped by a supervillain he doesn't even recognize and forced to fight Eddie, well. He's stressed, he's a little stressed.

His face contorts slightly, falling. A vague noise comes out of his throat, but dies before becoming anything coherent.

Jason leaps into a flurry of escrima stick blows, targeting Eddie's hands and wrists to try to force him to drop his trident.

Behind the curtains, there's a slight rustle of movement.

[gadgeteerdevil]

Eddie catches that pained twist to Jason's expression, though the noise is lost in the clang of metal weapon upon metal weapon. His focus has to shift to blocking the escrima sticks, though his gauntlets absorb a lot of the blows intended for his wrists. (The part of the gauntlets that align with the back of his wrists and outer arm are solid. Any controls for his devices are on the parts that align with his inner arm, inner wrist, and palms.)

The rustle of the curtain, though, Eddie manages to notice. His eyes are visible behind the transparent visor, and Jason should see how they flick momentarily toward the noise.

Whoever is back there probably wants them to pay no attention to what's behind the curtain...

Eddie manages to tangle one of Jason's escrima sticks in the tines of the trident. He grits his teeth with the effort and strain of keeping Jason at bay. Then he shifts his weight, so that hopefully Jason will move forward and obscure the line of sight.

If it happens, he'll mouth "Offstage?" and glance toward the curtains again. Then he mouths, "Blink if yes?"

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Jason gives a very intentional blink right before he springs into a showy flip and ax kicks towards Eddie's collarbone.

[gadgeteerdevil]

"Oh shit!" Eddie exclaims, and he appears to panic and bumble... yet in the end, he just barely evades that kick... ending with him 'tripping' over the shaft of the trident so that it points toward the stage curtains...

And once he's sure that Jason is clear of the area of effect, he flips open the protective hatch that hides the flamethrower controls of the trident. A large tongue of flame bursts from the central tine of the trident, catching on the curtain.

Slapstick is a very physical form of comedy, isn't it?

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Two things happen.

The first is that Jason just kind of... stops. He stands in place, absent outside direction but still unable to move, arms hanging limply by his side.

The second is that there's some panicked shouting from behind the curtain, and a man in a golden suit and helmet stumbles out.

[gadgeteerdevil]

Eddie leaps into action when the man stumbles out, swinging his trident at that helmet.

Whether or not it hits, he's going to shout, "How did we piss off someone from the Yellow Lantern Corps?"

(No, he doesn't recognize this guy either -- but either he's right, or he'll get corrected. From what Eddie heard via the communicator before, this guy is a talker.)

As he bounces backward after that swing, Eddie taps his left gauntlet against his side again, and the night vision capabilities of his visor switch on, suffusing the transparent material with a glow. Eddie isn't sure if eye contact is needed for the control this guy seems to have over Jason, but he's going to make it difficult if so.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

"Kid Devil," the Puppeteer says. "It's not a surprise you don't recognize me. I was different when I last squared off with the Titans. Weaker. But my trials have given me strength. I've been reborn from the ashes of --"

"Oh my God, is this motherfucker going to give the same speech every time?" Jason groans.

... Hey, he said that aloud! He's starting to regain the ability to move again!

[gadgeteerdevil]

It feels like his heart gives a leap of joy and relief in his chest when he hears Jason's snark. And Eddie's first impulse is to cover up any lessening control by sassing at this guy himself.

"Okay, first of all? I can do ashes if you want more ashes." Eddie waves his trident, hoping to draw attention to the fact that the spigot of the central tine is still lit by flame and ready to fire again. "Secondly, why the hell would I know anything about you? I've never been on the Titans. Can I get a name here?"

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

The guy looks briefly flabbergasted. It's pretty clear that he'd just kind of assumed that all former kid heroes had been on the Titans. Jason cannot believe he got ganked by this guy.

"You can call me the Puppeteer," he says. "And soon, you will call me 'master' as I guide you against the fools who call themselves Titans!"

[gadgeteerdevil]

"But I don't like the Titans," Eddie argues. He waves a hand vaguely, dismissively in the air, "I mean, you see that they're trying to recruit me--" no they aren't but it explains the presence of Nightwing "but they're a bunch of jerks and snobs."

Eddie gestures with his trident again, maybe bringing the fiery part a little too close for comfort on the Puppeteer's behalf.

"I mean, you got me thinking that Nightwing was mad at me, real easy. That's because he's been barking at me every time I rebuff him on the recruitment pitch."

All lies, but definitely things that feed into the Puppeteer's obvious negative opinion of the team. Will he buy it?

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Puppeteer nods along for a moment, then stops. "No, that doesn't make sense," he says. "You came here to rescue Nightwing, didn't you? Why would you do that if you weren't working together?"

He's retreating from the flames, but takes a moment to glance back towards Jason. Jason is gone.

[gadgeteerdevil]

"Eh, it was worth a shot!" Eddie says.

He fires off the bubble shooter when Puppeteer looks in the direction Jason was -- taking no chances. The cloud of bubbles is only meant to obscure vision, and it should do exactly that.

Eddie is taking advantage of the possible cover -- especially since his night vision mode counteracts it for him -- to go low and swing his trident in an attempt to trip the Puppeteer.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

As Eddie approaches, Puppeteer jerks back, and several of the hanging mannequins seem to spring to life, moving in unison to try to bludgeon Eddie.

[gadgeteerdevil]

There's a moment as the Puppeteer dodges, where Eddie has to stop his forward movement and his stance is unsteady, swaying sideways before he catches himself.

The time taken for that recovery allows the mannequins to get uncomfortably close, with some of them crowding between Eddie and the Puppeteer. It cuts off any possibility of an attack directly targeting the villain.

Eddie takes a swing with the trident at the nearest one, to see if blunt force will work -- and if it does, to open a path out.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Eddie's attack meets with mixed success. The dummies are sturdy and heavy, and the limbs resistant to both blunt force and fire, but the thick wires they move on don't hold them in place particularly rigidly. Like a punching bag dangling from the ceiling, they swing back with the force of the blow, like little puppet pendulums.

[gadgeteerdevil]

Eddie tries to dive for the opening, but it seems that whatever force is controlling these things anticipated that, because he gets grabbed by an arm around the chest and yanked back. He loses his grip on the trident and it clatters to the floor of the stage.

"Hey! Let me go!"

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

"And to the Puppeteer, whose name I guarantee you not a single Titan currently remembers, I leave..."

Jason's foot connects with the puppet holding Eddie, hard enough to partially yank out the cord holding it up.

"... a boot to the head."

[gadgeteerdevil]

Eddie grunts as the puppet jerks, pressure increasing at the inanimate arm around his chest, but the extra slack on the cord holding it up gives Eddie the ability to wriggle free of the grip.

"And so, to his stupid fucking puppets, I leave my entire..."

Eddie kicks the trident along the floor in an attempt to trip up a different puppet, then repeats the recall gesture so his weapon flies back toward him (his gauntlets specifically).

"Peak voltage output."

A quick glance to ensure that Jason isn't touching one of the puppets himself, and Eddie activates the electroshock capabilities and touches it to the metal wires that run through the damaged puppet. He's hoping that the metal wires are touching the metal scaffolding and there will be enough conductivity to take out the whole system.

He could be wrong, but he's used to acting before he's certain that he's right.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Fortunately for Eddie's comedic timing, it appears to have been spectacularly effective. The wires holding the puppets must have been set up to conduct electricity for power and control, and the entire thing short circuits with tremendous pops and bangs.

Puppeteer, for his part, is booking it, apparently having realized he's not gonna win this one.

[gadgeteerdevil]

Eddie grabs Jason around the waist, and holds onto the trident in his other hand, then fires the rocket booster just briefly -- both of them get pulled forward by the trident and close the distance that the Puppeteer tried to gain.

Jason has yet another opportunity for a 'death from above' style attack.

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

And coming down, it's Jason with the dropkick, right at his head --

"... and one for the wimp who can't fight his own battles!"

[gadgeteerdevil]

Puppeteer yelps, but he's out of practice in the whole combat thing (especially close up, as Jason called out) and he wastes time panicking when he should have dodged.

All that to say, the dropkick lands and Puppeteer goes down with a snapped collarbone.

Eddie lands behind Jason and says (to finish the modified 'Frantics' bit), "And my entire vast fortune is to be split among the people of Gotham City so they can move somewhere nicer."

[reformedzombiecrimelord]

Jason laughs aloud as he kneels down and zipties Puppeteer's hands behind his back, not taking particular care to nurse that shattered collarbone.

They leave the Puppeteer out on the theater steps, and it takes the cops about an hour to come get him.