Pale Shelter

[aqua_chic]

Tula folds her hands on her lap and stares forward with a neutral expression on her face, sending a silent prayer of thanks to the gods for the "training" she'd gone through as a ward of King Juvor. It's the only thing that's going to get her through the trial without personally wrecking bloody justice on Dolphin. While that would be very

Comments

Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_atlantis]

The Checkmate guards eye the Atlanteans smugly. One of the Atlanteans, unfamiliar with American legal customs approaches the door. "What is taking place in there?"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_govt]

One of the Checkmate operatives steps in front of the Atlantean, thrusting out his chest and sneering.

"Nothing that's any of your business," he says, not even bothering to hide his disdain. "You just go sit back down with the others and let us get on with our business."

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_atlantis]

"It involves our heir apparent," one of them cries as the Atlantens begin to crowd around the door. "To use the surface term, 'to hell it doesn't.'"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_govt]

"Sit your asses back down!" one of the other Checkmate operatives shouted as the rest of them began to cluster between the Atlanteans and the door. "This is a court of the United States of America, and you'll find out what's been decided behind that door when they come back out. SIT DOWN!"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_atlantis]

Atlanteans of this social classes are - thanks to Garth and ideas filtering in from the surface - are just beginning to get a sense of their own power as a people. They had it taken away once by tyrannical Gods. They are not about to be bullied by surface men with large guns. One larger man gets right in the face of the Checkmate operative.

"Courts in America were supposed to be open to the people! This is not open. They are supposed to be free of weapons. Yet, you bring them! This is not justice. What it is we know well from our homeland."

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_govt]

Checkmate isn't going to be bullied by a bunch of runaway Atlanteans that are only here on the government's good graces. The operative in question gets right back in the big Atlantean's face.

"Well this ain't your homeland here, Flounder," he says, placing a hand on his opponent's chest and pushing. "Now sit the hell down!"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_citizens]

The guards have been calling for more help here, but budgets cuts in the city have been brutal, and most people assume Checkmate can handle whatever security the city cannot afford to pay.

When the shoving starts all bets are off. In a blur of motion the Atlanteans - trained fighters all - swarm the Checkmate officers. The guards yell to stand down and then fire into the crowd.

That gets some of the Atlanteans to notice them...

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_titanse]

Tim looks up as one guards is thrown through the chamber doors. "Your honor, stay behind me!" he declares, pushing the judge behind his desk and turning towards the incoming angry mob, taking a protective fighting stance.

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[aqua_chic]

"What in the name of--"

Oh this is just the last thing she needs today. Tula leaps to her feet and shoves the vastly irritating government lawyer out of harm's way before activating her homeostatic field to catch any stray bullets that make it into the room.

"Heads down!"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_atlantis]

Dolphin grabs an award off the judge's desk to act as a club and stands in a corner just as the door breaks from a flying body and the crowd begins to rush in.

Sirens fill the air.

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_titanse]

One of the Checkmate agents takes aim at an Atlantean's head with his gun. Tim grabs the agent, flipping him over him and slamming him head-first into the ground, knocking him out in one smooth motion.

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[aqua_chic]

Tula moves to intercept the main body of the mob, removing a Checkmate operative from the fight with a hammer fist blow to the head and then knocking an Atlantean's feet out from under her.

"STAND DOWN!" she roars, then switches to Atlantean so that she can make herself perfectly clear. "/STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT! WE ARE ATLANTEANS, NOT MAD SHARKS IN A FEEDING FRENZY! STAND DOWN!"

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_atlantis]

A miracle then occurs. The Altanteans stand down. A few of them even snarl and throw the Checkmate agents into the judge's chambers. The arrests start moments later and the mob looks quizzically at Tula.

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[aqua_chic]

Great. Just great. Tula resists the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose.

"/Go quietly,/" she instructs the crowd. "/I'll see to it that you're not deprived of water, and I'll get you out of there as quickly as possible. But you have to go quietly or else they'll make it more difficult for everyone involved./"

She spares the battered Checkmate operatives a withering look as she goes to speak to the arresting officers. She highly doubts that her people were the cause of this mess.

Re: Meanwhile, out in the courtroom

[nation_citizens]

The judge utters a sound not unlike an old train urging itself to a slow stop rather than a full collapse. "Safe to say, court is adjourned for 48 hours while the mess is cleaned up." He picks up the remains of his gavel and bangs it on his desk.