Robbery at Clementines

The mysterious "O" had alerted the group to a possible Cape crime at Clementines. Why would someone with powers rob a place like that? Who would be willing to hit a place frequented by known crime fighters? Is Clementine okay? Someone should investigate!

Nadia sets off into the sky making the trip as quickly as she is able. Nearing Clementines she begins her descent and gets a good view of the scene. Out front two police cruisers are parked with their lights flashing alongside an ambulance. Some barricades have been set up on the sidewalk to keep people away from the front of the building. One officer stands out front keep an eye on the small crowd milling about the area. The building seems to be mostly intact apart from a shattered window and the front door laying in pieces on the sidewalk.

It seems unlikely that the culprits are still here.

Relieved to see that the authorities have the situation under control, Nadia calls up the others on her communicator. "Trevor, Shade, the cops are already on the scene and I'd bet whoever did this is long gone. Don't forget your ORACLE IDs," she adds as an afterthought.

The boys can take it from here; I should go meet Fear at the address he found. For the sake of thoroughness, she gives the building a once-over with her infrared...

[Notice d6: (1,1) Critical Failure, well that's embarrassing]

...but can't see shit.

Nadia turns her Infrared on the building to find various blobs of heat, it's obvious a few people are inside but how many and what they are doing are hard to make out. She gives a mental shrug and sets off to meet Fear.

---

Tremor and Shade set off making good time through the fairly light midday traffic. Shade easily outpaces his friend's car and arrives on the scene a few minutes ahead. He parks his bike and surveys the scene.

Not much has changed since Nadia checked in with them. A loose crowed of people are milling about conversing amongst themselves. A bored looking officer keeps an eye out but no one seems to be trying to push their way closer to the situation.

Shade watches as Tremor pulls up and joins him.

Tremor pulls up near Shade and steps out of the car. "Called it." He takes a moment to scope out the scene before continuing. "I guess Nadia was right, nothing much seems to be going on here. Let's see if the guy watching the crowd has anything to share." Maybe this'll go a little better than last time.

Tremor makes his way through the crowd and approaches the officer, doing his best to come off as positive and helpful. "Hey, my friend and I sorta heard what happened, something about a cape robbing the place? Anything we can help with?"

Seeing Tremor making his way through the small crowd the officer stands a little straighter and becomes more alert. Listening to what the new arrival has to say and eying him up the officer replies "You have any ID with you?"

"Oh, right." Trevor reaches into a rear pocket and fishes out a beat-up old canvas wallet. "Here's the driver's license..." The picture shows Trevor with a mock-intense stare, like he's trying to stare someone down but trying not to laugh at the same time. "But what you're probably actually looking for," he says, continuing to struggle with the wallet, "is, uh, right here. Here we go." Trevor hands over his Oracle ID and gestures for Shade to do the same.

The officer takes a moment to inspect the ID's before handing them back with a nod. He points a thumb over his shoulder toward Clementines saying "Feel free to check things out but watch what you touch since CSI hasn't been through yet. It's pretty rough in there but luckily no one was hurt too bad."

Shade pulls out his Oracle ID. "What's the story? Not exactly the place I'd hit if I was looking for a big payday." He begins walking slowly through the crowd as he converses with the officer.

The officer keeps his voice low to make sure the crowd can't listen in. "I'm not sure of the specifics, I just got roped into doing crowd control, but from what I've heard it wasn't about the money. Sounds like the punks who did this had some kind of bone to pick with the old guy who runs the place." he answers Shade.

Shade keeps his voice level and low. "Any witnesses worth talking to, or an officer in charge of the scene? Inside?" He steps gingerly across the threshold of the building, looking around for any quick information or a next point of contact.

"The owner, an employee, and two customers were there for the whole thing. Another officer is inside talking with them will we wait for the lab guys to get down here to do their work." the officer outside responds.

Inside the place is a mess. A few tables and seats have been smashed, some of the decorations on the walls have been torn down, the main counter has  been caved in along the middle, and the register sits in pieces strewn about.

An older couple, man and woman, with grey hair sit in one of the intact booths with cups of coffee. A middle aged woman with fading brown hair moves about trying to clean up but not making much progress. Shade and Tremor recognize her as Judy, a waitress at Clementines. Standing behind the bar Clementine himself is speaking with another officer who has a notepad out with his pencil scribbling across it's surface. Clementine has an arm in a sling and a mottle of marks and cuts across his grizzled face.

The officer spots Shade and points him out to Clementine who shakes his head at the officer and gestures to Shade to come inside.

Shade picks his way across the room, pulling his Oracle ID out again for the officer inside as he turns to Clementine. "Mind giving me a recap?"
A brief moment of concentration and his duplicates step out, facing the officer. "I'd like to help Judy straighten up. How much of this needs to be left as is for forensics?"

The officer looks a tad startled as Shades duplicates form. Once he's regained his composure he answers "Uh... we already got pictures of everything, the debris will need to be collected for the lab guys to go over, the counter and bigger pieces like tables and booths should be left alone until they have gone over them for finger prints. But the little stuff can be cleaned up as long as you keep it somewhere for them to take away for analysis."

Meanwhile Clementine gives him a rundown. Apparently two young men came in wearing ski masks one, clearly african american, had a metal pipe and the other, caucasian, a chain. They were both dressed like 'damned hoodlums' in the old mans words. One of the diners patrons took off and neither tried to stop him. They demanded clementine come out from the kitchen. Clementine not being one to put up with shit from anyone did as they asked making sure to collect the double barrel shotgun he kept over the door for just such occasions. He stepped out pointing it at the duo who looked at each other and began laughing. Clementine gave them an ultimatum to leave on their feet or in a body bag. The two of them taunted the old man saying he didn't have the 'testicular fortitude' to pull the trigger and began advancing on him. So making sure he his line of fire was clear he aimed for their legs and pulled the trigger.

The two of them stopped in surprise and looked down at their now shredded pant legs but otherwise intact and unbloodied legs. Surprised at the ineffectual nature of the shotgun round Clementine was caught off guard as one of them yanked the gun from his hands with great strength. After that the began smashing the place up and yelling about how 'This is what happens to people who are buddies with Capes from now on'. They talked about any business that serves Superheroes and anyone who are friends with them will get similar treatment if not worse. One of them smashed the counter with a single punch and the rest of the damage was done just as easily. Clementine got bruised up trying to stop them as they tossed him around. When they were finished they asked if he had learned his lesson to which Clementine answered with complex and lengthy cursing that one can only learn with age and experience. So one of the duo shoved him with one hand sending him into the broken counter and dislocating his shoulder. Being unable to extricate himself from the wreckage the thugs took that as a sign they had won and left but kicking the front door off it's hinges.

The police were called and arrived several minutes later. Clementine added a few more choice words about the state of the youth today and respect for your elders before grumbling back into silence.

Trevor listens quietly, getting visibly angry at the line about 'buddies of capes'. "Shit, is someone declaring war on Capes now? I have some folks I should call; at least give my boss a heads-up. And Shade, you got your soup kitchen deal, you should keep an eye out there."

Trevor glances around the room, trying to take stock of the damage. Splintered wood and shattered windows are one thing, but if there's any pulverized stone or bent/broken metal, these guys could be seriously strong. "If it's just two dudes in ski masks and they were surprised the gun didn't do anything, did someone give these guys powers or what?"

After a glance around the room, Trevor circles back toward Clementine. "Hey, I'm not gonna say this is our fault, but it sounds like these guys came after your place because we were here the other night. Anything we can do to help, you let us know. Even if that's just to steer clear for a while."

Based on Clementines account of events and surveying the damage with bent metal stands of tables, the crushed counter, and heavy booths smashed to pieces it's fairly clear whoever did this is stronger than the average person. Maybe not lift a car strong but definitely not normal human strength either.

"Just find them and try and stop them before they do something to someone made of softer stuff than me." answers Clementine

(Shade receives a text from Nadia: Truck's owner is actually Terror of Temperature.
)

Shade's clones assist where they can with the tidying up, helping Judy bundle the smaller bits away so they can be collected later, straightening chairs and sweeping glass. "My volunteers know things could get rough, but it's definitely worth a call to give them a heads up." He steps into the corner to make the call, noting the message. "Sounds like the truck they were investigating belonged to the thermometer head guy." he turns over his shoulder to inform Trevor. Finishing his call he turns back to the scene at hand. "No one saw where they went? Even knowing if they were flying, driving, or walking would be helpful."

The officer inside responds to Shades question, "Witnesses outside say the duo climbed into the back of a tan Buick with no plates. Seems they had a get away driver. We've put out an alert for the vehicle, without plates on I assume they either ditched the car or weren't going very far."