[From the Ashes] Battle From Beyond the Stars

It's a busy morning in the heart of downtown Prospect. People are getting to work, or doing work in selling goods and services to the people who are at work. Near the Metro Transit Station, a hive of activity, stands a bum. Dressed in a faded Padres t-shirt and camouflage pants, he holds up a sign "THEY ARE COMING FROM BEYOND THE HORIZON." Though that's not the notable part. The notable part is that when pigeons land near him, they appear to... turn into penguins.

Talos walks up, casual as you please, and asks the dude, "So. Is that the Horizon wireless plan or Horizon cable? Also did you do that or Horizon?" He in the mean time waves to the Penguins, "I am the leader you want to be taken to. Welcome to Earth. We have wonderful fish tacos.

Renee had been out in the city, shopping for a few things, when she blinks at the sight. She just shakes her head when she sees Talos talking to the man and says nothing, trying not to encourage him to make things worse.

Some people do notice the penguins. They stop and take pictures. But it's generally assumed that they're there on purpose or something. So there are plenty of gawkers. When approached, the man in the Padres shirt tenses, and looks at Talos. He's dirty. Scruffy. A little wild. About 6 foot tall, long, curly hair, unshaven for a week. "Not them, them." HE then points toward what part of the sky is actually visible from this part of towntown, between the tall buildings."

Talos looks up and says, "So we talking Giants, Cloud People or Aliens?" He rubs his chin and pets the Penguin nearest him. "You know...ravens are cool enough to talk, the least you could do is TRY...I mean...seriously." He considers a moment and then extends his senses. Oh wait, he doesn't have those. So he just opens his mind.

Talos finds nothing of interest in the smaller minds in the crowd. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Renee bites her lip as she continues to look up at where the man is pointing trying to scan the sky for anything there. Since the crowd seems normal she is definitely interested in what has the mans attention.

The Padres man watches as another peson is looking around, seeing if she's going to do anything. He then looks back to Talos. "Aliens. From the Horizon." he points again as another pigeon lands, and poof, a black and white penguin it is now. When Talos tries to talk to the penguin, the man waves his hand at the penguin.

The penguin croaks "Bye bye and buy bonds."

Talos has seen this movie. He nods to the guy and says, "I got this." He goes to a nearby bodega. He buys a coke. No, not a can; the bottle. The old glass kind. He walks next to the guy with the sign. Talos then turns it upside down and holds it upside down and makes some gibberishy sounding noises with clicking sounds and says, "Take it back!" He then throws the bottle up.

The Bottle spins and spins and spins and where she stops, no one knows! Well except straight back down into Talos's smart alek smart ass yawp, lodging itself there, perfectly intact as he flails around like Beaker trying to get it out.

Renee moves over to Talos concerned trying to help him to get it out. Clearly concerned for him and forgetting about the spot up in the sky she was looking at.

The Padres man is taken aback by Talos's behavior. The bottle of Mexican Coke held out, and then put into his mouth. "Careful, the lids on those things will cut your throat, and let the mind control nanobots in." He then waves to the penguin again.

Renee with all the emotions of the crowd around her she tries to focus more on the serenity she feels from the Padres man, as she helps Talos, "He is so calm Talos. So peaceful."

Padres man blinks and watches Talos do his thing. He also watches Renee. Then adjusting his sign, he once again waves a hand at the penguin.

The pengun turns to face the others, and squawks "Duck and cover will keep us from being badly hurt, too, if and atom bomb ever explodes nearby."

Talos keeps this simple.  He works his will to simply subtly incline to the crowd what all but the dumbest among them are already doing anyway...leave.  He has no idea what this guy is but he's bad news, and if Talos (HA! TALOS?!) is going to deal with this he needs to Muggles to back off.    He puts his hands over his head and crouches, encouraging Renee to do the same as he finally pushes the stupid bottle out of his mouth with his Tongue.  "Duck" he whispers to Renee...meanwhile as he hums discordant music, waves of emotional displeasure and a subtle desire to leave wash over those in the area besides Renee.

The crowd was dispersing anyway indeed, since people have to go to work. There are people passing by, but nobody's really stopping anymore.

Renee ducks as Talos tells her too covering her head, not completely sure why but she trusts Talos. Even if she looks crazy, maybe it will protect them in some way..

The man continues to watch. The use of powers does get his attention, judging by the way his eyes go right to Talos when they are used. But he just waves at the Penguin once more, now looking intently at the bird.

The penguin croaks this time "From the Horizon. Stop them all."

Talos walks to the dude and says, "Dude. You need to Phone Home. You know what I mean right? Phone Home? Call in the allies? Your back up. Your buddies. Your pals. Flip out the ole communicator and contact em.

Padres man takes a deep breath, brow lowering, squinting at Talos. He then relaxes his posture, stnading up straight, and steps right up to Talos. Then, you guessed it, a hand wave.

The penguin waved at just stands there, which makes Padres man look at it with an eye twitch

Talos says "See? You can't rely on our friends...just pick up a phone and dial 1800 ....whoever it is in the government that stops aliens"

Renee despite her better judgement she moves forward in a very non threatening manner towards the man.

Padres man squints and looks back at Talos. "I'm not going back. Don't try that again." He growl.

"Right. You wanna talk normal? Dude. You turn pigeons into Penguins. That is not a good thing. I'm not gonna threaten or kung fu you, but you seem to wanna do good. So let's go away from the middle of the city and figure this out neh?"

Renee offers a reassuring hand to the man, "We do not mean you any harm Sir. We only want to help."

The penguin also puffs up its chest and squawks "Main energizer hit captain. It's no use. She's dead in space."

Renee offers softly, keeping an eye on the penguin, "Going back where? We won't make you go back."

Talos says "So...your space ship is dead? OK...um....is there like...an Admiral we can talk to for you?"

The Padres man takes another step back, leaning where he did before. He looks at the penguins and sighs. "You can't make me. I won't go." He then waves at them a few times. Whelp. Too much. A car pulls up. Black, gleaming. From it step out a man and a woman. The man in a well-tailored black suit. The woman in a black blouse and matching black pencil skirt. They push past Talos and Renee, stepping up to Padres man.

Talos considers trying to rescue the poor soul....but...what would he DO? He's already tasted the bitter nasty pill of paradox again for this guy...and for all he knows, this IS 1800 dial a Stop an alien.....

Renee steps back in confusion unsure what to do, she just made a promise to the man, and wants to try to help him. "Who are you?"

Woman in Black turns to face Talos and Renee as the Man in Black begins to try to struggle with Padres Man. The Man in Black is remarkably strong, his movements precise, and Padres man has no chance. "Citizens, relax. This man is a... war veteran, who is very sick, and needs to be placed into a hospital urgently."

The man is screaming inside, of ... people. Yes, people coming from beyond deep space, who seek to destroy us all.
.. the people might have penguin noses.

The Man in Black can be stepped around easily. But.. by that time, he's already holding Padres man securely. One arm pinned behind Padres man's back, the other hand at his side. The Man in Black begins to try to walk Padres man to the car, though is stopped by Renee in the way. So Woman in Black steps up. "Please stand aside. You can see he needs his mental health professional.

Talos puts his hand on Renee's shoulder...stopping her. He doesn't know what is going on here, but the man manhandling the 'veteran' is obviously a threat; something hideous. And this pigeon penguin thing is dangerous...he isn't sure why, but he will learn why. He can see why Captain Weirdo isn't calling these guys for help...but this is the help Talos was trying to get him to call.

Renee is stopped by Talos hand on her shoulder reluctantly and closes her eyes. She looks at the man apologetically and lets him go.

The Woman in Black nods. "Thank you citizen. This veteran will be well taken care of, and his conditioni... condition will be improved rapidly." The Man in Black then brings Padres man to the care, putting him in with the ease with which a man might put a doll in the back seat. He then gets in the car. "Good day," the woman says before going into the other side of the car, which then takes off quickly.