Grip of the Mind Thieves, Chapter 14: The Thought That Counts!
GREETINGS TRUE BELIEVERS!
Welcome back!
So it turns out, the doctor was in! Doctor Overmind that is!
Last time, our heroes were still fighting on two fronts. One part of the team was above ground, the other below. Both fighting to contain the chaos unleashed by Dr Overmind!
The team above of Moon Knight, Bronze Tempest , Tesla Coil, and Loki struggled to contain the swarm of drones. Now that the drones were working in unison, they became far more deadly! But! As if that wasn’t enough! Black Scarab made an appearance!
Fuming with anger over Moon Knight’s very presence, Scarab declared he would put an end to Moon Knight once and for all… just like he had done to previous Moon Knights! If that wasn’t enough, ooze mutated New Yorkers burst onto the scene and promptly attacked Bronze Tempest and Tesla Coil! As for Loki? He was still out, having taken a hard pummeling from a large pack of combat drones.
Yet that was before Silk Sphinx showed up with one of Overmind’s Omni-Drones!
Meanwhile, down below, Taki, Sahara, and Statesman continued their delve through what has to be Overmind’s base of operations.
Disabling and deactivating the base security was no small matter. It was made even more complicated by the mysterious “Silver Taki” racing down the hallway. Bolting down the hall and around behind Sahara and Statesman, it paused, waiting. But for what? It didn’t try to threaten Sahara, it just watched.
Something suspicious is happening there, True Believers!
On the other side of the platform, Statesman’s situation was more dire. His plan to ambush security in the station was derailed by the appearance of a deadly lady assassin with a sonic mine! A mutant who claimed to be out for revenge against him and was in fact his long thought dead fiancée! She was a dead ringer for her!
Holy unexpected twist of fate, True Believers! If this is true, this could mean the young woman that Statesman swore to avenge so long ago… is alive! And angry! Caught off guard, Statesman took it on the chin more than once from security androids and the lady assassin’s sonic bombs!
In the hallway near the stairs up, Taki avoided the newcomer who claimed he was ‘Horus’ and an ally of Khonshu, aka Moon Knight! She darted into a back hall to speak to the other Ivory Talon trooper. This led to an uneasy truce which let her explore further… until she stumbled into Dr. Overmind and a full collection of Omni-Drones!
It all comes down to this, True Believers!
Sahara shut off the drones above ground, but the orange mutants have no off switch. Neither do the Omni-drones, Black Scarab, or Silk Sphinx! Below, Overmind with his gadgets are dangerous but with all his Omni-drones with him? It’s unthinkable!
It takes a team to stop Overmind and his plans, True Believers. Has Overmind committed his crime? Or have our heroes derailed his plans and this is just his way of getting revenge? The Knights Vigilant must find a way to work together as a team to stop Overmind.
If not, it may be too late for the orange ooze infected of New York, and for the Knights Vigilant!
This is Not Stan Lee saying...
EXCELSIOR!
Components
Goals
First...
The members of Mouse Force were mutated by a strange orange ooze. This is the same formula invented by Dr. Killian and almost used by the Clock King to contaminate the local water supply. Orange ooze known to the team to be made from the ultra rare and mysterious Crystal Jade Vine plant.
However, thanks to the research of Dr. Pamela Isley, also known as the eco-terrorist "Poison Ivy", they learned that the orange blossoms of the vine are known to be unstable. Citizens, even the Knights Vigilant's allies, Mouse Force, have been affected.
The clock is slowly ticking as the afflicted may explode in a fiery meta-powered overload.
How did Overmind get the chemical? How did he alter it? These questions still linger...
See the Editor's Note!
The situation is getting dire, True Believers!
'Nuff Said!
The members of Mouse Force are feeling the effects of the orange ooze! At least one member has developed out of control energy blasts out of his eyes! Another is losing control of a runaway phase or dispersal power! Then poor Donata is slowly transforming into a plasma being! While researching how to help the Knights Vigilant, Tesla Coil is working overtime to invent gadgets to stabilize Mouse Force until the other heroes find a cure!
'Nuff Said!
Then...
That ooze has been at the center of recent chaos from riots in Central Park, to an ambush at Pier 1 from a closed down newsstand. The results have been dire, with both citizens and heroes... such as Mouse Force... being mutated by the mysterious chemical.
Our heroes uncovered that Overmind isn't working alone!
Riddles, most appearing the famed New York Times crossword puzzles, gave hints to his criminal activity. Dr. Overmind isn't one for riddles or hints. However his new associate, Silk Sphinx, seems quite fond of them!
Riddle after hint pointed to key buildings around Manhattan and New York. Specifically museums. The Knights Vigilant scrambled to uncover why, but found themselves ensnared in one Overmind distraction after another.
Then came what may be Overmind's second associate... the Black Scarab!
Brutal, agile, and with a mysterious grudge against New York's own Egyptian themed heroes, such as Moon Knight, the Black Scarab's ambushes further snarled the Knights Vigilant's attempts to unravel Overmind's true plan.
But! Help Was Close By!
Detective Hirokoma Kozu of the Central Park Precinct, ally of the Knights Vigilant, met with the heroes atop the precinct rooftop with a bundle of evidence and clues. Overmind's crimes at the museums were bent on creating duplicates of New York City dioramas. Models that depict various parts and layers of New York City.
The heroes set out to find out what and why.
Research of city planning maps over the years, and some help from Kara's precognition, uncovered a long time hidden location in Central Park beneath the Bow Bridge. The mysterious Garden of the Heavens!
This had been taken over by the Golden Lotus and used as an underground greenhouse to grow Crystal Jade Vine plants in the light of strange and unusual glowing crystals in the lowest chamber. Somehow, both the plants and the crystals had the ability to mutate or rewrite a subject's DNA, activating their dormant Meta-Gene or further propelling their Meta-Gene to further express itself!
The Golden Lotus didn't appreciate visitors, yet the heroes were able to discover that Overmind was stealing ink powder, made from the Crystal Jade Vine by the Golden Lotus for their Meta-ink tattoos. The Knights Vigilant suspected this was connected back the Orange Ooze but they had no details beyond that.
But the details they did gain was information from a captured Disco Boy. The Disco Boy gang were using Overmind's heists as a "trojan horse" for thefts of their own. The Knights Vigilant had encountered the gang twice already in the midst of their "trojan horse thefts" but had not made the connection until that moment.
Through the Disco Boys, the heroes learned that Overmind was using the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station at Pier 99 as a waystation. A base to assemble duplicated parts of New York City dioramas with the help of captive, and mesmerized, New York City utility workers.
See the Editor's Note!
There are countless rumors about the Disco Boys and Girls holding the 59th Street Marine Transfer Station in high regard. Even to the point of protecting it, until they feel they can't. Then they "recruit" some nearby hero to "assist". Was all of the "trojan horse" thefts they were committing, just a means to "recruit" the Knights Vigilant?
It would certainly fit the rumor, True Believers!
But only the Disco gangs know for sure!
'Nuff Said!
'Nuff Said!
The diorama confirmed that Overmind's target either is associated with or in the New York City tunnel system. Was it the water supply? Perhaps related to the Stark Enterprises' Tech Expo held in Central Park!
And Now!
Bronze Tempest, Moon Knight, Tesla Coil and Loki are trying to quell the all out battle that has erupted next to the Bandshell. The drones may be out of commission, but now there is Black Scarab, Silk Sphinx, an Omni-Drone and a quartet of Orange Ooze Mutants to contend with!
Below ground, Taki, Statesman, and Sahara have mopped up the Science Court's android 'bailiffs'. But the threat doesn't stop there! An uneasy truce with the Ivory Talons removes one threat, but leaves others! Such as the mysterious lady assassin who has it in for Statesman! And then there is the 'Silver Taki' who may, or may not be a threat.
And then, there is Dr. Overmind himself who has made an appearance!
This all spells 'Trouble' with a capital 'T'! Now they have to...
See the Editor's Note!
It's rough day in the Big Apple, True Believers!
Our heroes have been split up and slapped sideways more than once. But that was just to soften up the Knights Vigilant. Overmind's pay-per-view has been ruined but that doesn't dampen his spirits.
Moon Knight was right all along! It was a distraction! One long enough for Overmind to conduct his crime! Yet, in the process Overmind has discovered something far more valuable than the goal of his original theft!
'Nuff Said!
Stakes
The heroes know the effects of the orange ooze is a ticking time bomb. Their allies, Mouse Force, have been contaminated. Several city employees and a few civilans have been contaminated as well. If the chemical timer expires, it would spell disaster for Mouse Force and others!
They enlisted Dr. Pamela Isley, aka Poison Ivy, to assist. Is even her brilliant efforts enough? Has Overmind thought of, and planned for even this?
Now, with ooze filled balloons over Central Park, the danger has increased! Would tourists try to stay in Central Park among the danger despite being escorted out by Code Blue and the NYPD?
Relations
Protagonists
The Knights Vigilant!
Sahara
Moon Knight
Taki
"Statesman" ( secretly also known as Trickshot )
Bronze Tempest
Allies
Dr. Pamela Isley, "Poison Ivy" Infamous eco-terrorist and expert on botany and botanical science. Working to analyze the mysterious fluid ... will she find something for the team that can help them?
Detective Hirokoma Kozu Veteran detective of the NYPD Central Park Precinct and contact with the Knights Vigilant.
Danny Chang Now former "Ink Enforcer" of the Golden Lotus, turned student of "The Way" or the philosophies as espoused by Statesman and the Knights Vigilant! Convinced to follow the path of the hero, he struggles with a dark past and deeds done for the Golden Lotus criminal organization.
Neutrals/Bystanders
Detective Kato MacHale Seasoned Code Blue police detective temporarily working at the Central Park NYPD precinct. He helped the heroes during the fight at Manhattan's Pier I, and showed again at the Museum of New York. Is he a friend? or Foe? What is his connection to Taki?
Adversaries
Dr. Overmind! Brilliant inventor and mastermind. Expert at cybernetics and mental interface technology.
The Mysterious Black Scarab, possibly known as 'Set'! He seems to have a grudge against Moon Knight, perhaps against all Egyptian themed vigilantes. What is it?
The mysterious Mistress of Riddles, and ally of Dr. Overmind, the Silk Sphinx! She also seems to know Moon Knight, yet without the same vengence based motivation as the Black Scarab. Is she the true source of the riddles?
See the Editor's Note!
In fact, True Believer, she is!
The nefarious criminal, the Riddler, has long retired from a life of crime. Instead, taking up pursuits such as philanthropy and freelance tutoring of the younger generation of heroes and villains in the fine art of 'deduction'.
Because of this, Silk Sphinx seeks to fill this void left by the Riddler. A criminal seeking to not only conduct her own personal war against the establishment but also show these self-styled 'heroic capes' that she has the superior intellect!
'Nuff Said!
'Nuff Said!
A deadly and mysterious lady assassin! Armed and armored, she is the spitting image of Statesman's long dead fiancée. Back from the dead, she claims to have survived due one of her mutant abilities. Now? She has it in for Statesman!
See the Editor's Note!
Remember, don't believe everything you hear!
Dr. Overmind's true skill is not only mental control and mesmerization but manipulation as well. Many times victims are doing his bidding while not even realizing it. There's far more to this dangerous young woman than meets the eye.
So the real question? Is Statesman ready for the true answer to this one?
'Nuff Said!
Backdrops
Locations
Mysterious 1890's Pneumatic Train Station!
Long lost and forgotten, this relic of New York's past has been mysteriously refurbished with technology that would make SAFEGUARD surprised! Three of the Knights Vigilant are here delving in this technological mystery all the while running up against yet more, perhaps stolen, combat androids from the Science Court!
Yet! Central Park!
Overmind's plans seem to include the New York City tunnel network. Specifically, the area underneath Central Park near the Stark Expo with the latest and greatest in technological advancements.
Also, a swarm of tiny drones carry balloons over the park, primarily the following locations...
Bow Bridge
Leob Boathouse
Delacorte Theater
Belevedere Castle
... certainly not at all the area between the Great Lawn and the Metropolitan Museum of Art where the Stark Expo is located!
Plot type
Chapter
Parent Plot
Related Characters
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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