The auditorium lights snap to full glare, washing the stage in white heat. Abby Stone stands center stage, a giant silhouette against the spotlight, while the audience below turns into a dark, stunned mass.
Near the control console, Arthur Blues hunches low, one hand over his headset, eyes locked on the doors. Victoria plants herself at the front edge of the stage, weapon raised, green circuitry pulsing under her synthetic skin.
Then the reinforced doors buckle inward. Metal shrieks across the hall, and a twenty-foot figure strides through the wreckage, broad enough to shadow the aisles.
Max Powers
Abby Stone. Tell them your serum is a fraud, or I tear this stage apart myself.
Victoria
Max Powers, stop. One more step and I put you down.
Arthur flinches at the console, fingers hovering over the controls, as if one wrong input could plunge the whole room into darkness.
Abby Stone
The door breach is fresh, and the control console is still live.
Max lifts one massive hand toward the stage rigging, flexing like he is already deciding what to break first. The audience stays frozen. All eyes wait on Abby Stone.
✓ Quest Accepted
Stop Max Powers from destroying the auditorium
“Your gun can't hurt him, Victoria. Leave this to me”
SUCCESS (Good Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Abby Stone
Your gun can’t hurt him, Victoria. Leave this to me.
Victoria
...Understood. I’m lowering it.
Victoria eases the weapon down, but keeps her stance between Max and the audience. Arthur looks up from the console, a flicker of relief crossing his face as he sees her obey.
Arthur Blues
Abby, the rigging is still powered. If he reaches it, the whole stage grid could fail.
Victoria
If Abby is taking the lead, I can hold him off long enough for her to work.
Max Powers
Fine. Talk big. I am still the one standing here with enough strength to crack this room open.
The audience stays silent, but the pressure in the room shifts. For the first time, Victoria waits on Abby instead of acting alone.
“If i wanted to i could crack the whole plsnet open. You might be bugger, Max, but you're disproportionate and weak. Stand down, now!”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -1)
Abby Stone
If I wanted to, I could crack this whole planet open. You might be bigger, Max, but you are disproportionate and weak. Stand down, now.
Max Powers
Her voice lands harder than the threat. He keeps his chin up, but his hand drops away from the rigging.
Max Powers
...Fine. I stand down. For now.
Arthur Blues
Good. Then nobody touches the rigging until we talk this through.
Victoria
I have him covered. Abby, say the word and I move in.
Max Powers
He lets out a tight breath, eyes locked on Abby, forced to measure the room again instead of the stage grid.
The auditorium holds its breath. Max is still standing, but his threat has lost its edge, and the stage grid stays intact.
Quest Complete
Stop Max Powers from destroying the auditorium
Skill Upgrade: Diplomacy Good→Great