I.Q Tower. Scientific research and exploration

@the_puzzler: Get Stark, but make him a "secret" candidate. Could lead to a few fun stories in the future with them all. Stark can fake to be in his Stan Glasscock persona :P

@andres_knightfall:

Before answering his second question, he silently brought up the first. Dozens of holographic screens started to float around Andres with a few light profiles on some potentials. Feral Nova, the infamous Nobody. Even Andres's brother Quintus. Though not all of them were scientists, every team needed a good backbone.

"Yes, the Great Attractor, been a while since I have dabbled in some minor research. Though not even I can deny it's allure, something I would indeed investigate further into...But now I believe I took the words right out of your mouth didn't I?" Ivan chuckled while turning to face the A-lister.

"My presumption is that you suggest with this said team, we look into getting up close and personal with this void yes?"

@the_puzzler:

Harboring no knowledge of the inarticulately showcased candidates save for his own brother Quintus, Andres opted against issuing any commenting remarks. "I see", he concisely acknowledged, a genteel nod functioning as his prominent response prior to addressing the aforementioned suggestion of the Great Attractor. "But of course senor, the gravitational anomaly is a point of escalating interest. Scientifically speaking, it is an enticing phenomenon", he paused. "Situated in a region of space yet to be touched by the Big Bang's light, whatever it is, to attract all of this matter from the observable universe... it must be massive. And I intend to do just that my friend. A voyage in space to its location to see for ourselves what it is".

Very tempting.

@andres_knightfall:

Ivan raised an interested brow, enjoying Andres's large ambition right off the bat."Color me interested Mr.Knightfall..Indeed an expedition I would invest in." He agreed while pulling up one of the holo-screens, showing a few blueprints of some space suits he had invented, along with a jet capable of space travel.

"Though these are merely concepts at the moment, I would be more than honored to contribute my time and efforts in creating the space suits for the journey. Along with a few other pieces of tech that could possibly aid us. Take a look." Q handed the holo-screen over to Andres before walking on over to the strange device centered in the room, placing his hand upon his chin while pondering. Waiting for Andres to continue.

@the_puzzler:

"You have accounted for the requirement of superluminal travel si?", Andres inquires, highlighting the gargantuan space of light years between their present universal region and the Great Attractor's. Amiably smiling following the pause of his indulged analysis, the Debonair Don advises, "I have an idea that will facilitate the needed acceleration while preserving your craft's fuel if you are interested. The space suits are practical, this seems to indicate these suits do not require prolonged external connection for the supply of air. Very practical".

@andres_knightfall: "Fuel, will not be a problem Andres.." Ivan chuckled while crossing his arms."I am certain it is of common knowledge that the entire city of Calgary and the surrounding area runs on a single mini-sun battery I have invented..Limitless energy, the city uses it for free of course. I intend on creating another one once I have strung out the original's kinks. The ship would never need to worry about a fuel source if I were to install a battery just like the one in I.Q tower.

Acceleration though, is something I have yet to venture." Ivan admitted while pulling up a 3-D display of the ship, turning his attention away from the device he was gazing at before. As if actually floating, he sent it towards Andres for inspection."You can see where the battery would be located."

@the_puzzler:

"Hmm, this is impressive", the Herculean Cosmopolitan sincerely needed, expressing subtle contentment with an engagingly festooning smile. "Though limitless energy will only provide us with part of what we need for this voyage". Studiously examining the relayed holographic projection, the Elegant Einstein's vibrant, sapphire blue eyes analytically surveyed the presented information, his synthetically imparted quantum consciousness performing a boundless quantity of concurrent operations on the visually captured data. "Bueno my friend. This limitless fuel source is the best option for non-superluminal travel. With it we can travel distances that do not require us to exceed c. This is impressive".

"To reach a region that requires us to surpass c however, this will not do. As I'm certain you know, this ship along with its constituents, is an object of mass. And conventionally, objects with mass can never exceed the speed of light. Anything with mass requires energy for acceleration and movement. A photon, a massless particle has no mass, and yet, even it cannot exceed c", the August A-Lister highlighted, concisely pausing. "Therefore, an object with mass would require an infinite amount of energy to accelerate to c, but it will never exceed it", he explained. "But there are several ways to surmount this dilemma. One of the ways I circumvent this is by using magnetic fields strong enough to allow the vehicle to enter higher dimensional space, this enables superluminal travel".

@andres_knightfall:

"Too true Andres..Magnetic fields you say? A safe concept indeed, learned and secure. I suppose that would be best to fall back on for something not many have attempted. No time for experimental methods.." Ivan concurred with a nod, now already having a few brilliant theories.

"Well we have our work cut out for both of us, it seems at least for now. I will begin working on a ship model for the sun-battery while you, will take your impressive magnetic field drive and apply it to this ship large enough for a crew. Would this be suitable for you, given your schedule?"

@the_puzzler@_spark_

New York City, Zoe's apartment

It was another day for Zoe, she was getting ready to go job hunting when one of her comlinks went off. It caught the young woman off guard, she had only given two out, one to Kurt and the other to Clint, could one of them be in trouble? Clearing her throat she flipped the channel open as she slipped the ear piece in place. "Hello?" She began as she walked over to her room, grasping her costume, figuring whoever it was, was going to need her help. But wasn't a voice who she was familiar with... "Ivan..?" She questioned, confused on how he got the comlink. Then... everything was explained to her, about Clint and the attack at Kamelot and.. how he was in a coma. This Ivan claimed to wanting to help Clint, but needed her help and without any hesitation, Zoe slipped on her costume and quickly made her way to the address that was given to her.

I.Q. Tower

Stepping through the doors Nova was met by people scurrying about inside the building. She had never been to I.Q. Tower before, but it was much busier in the inside than it looked on the outside. Without hesitation she made her way to the front desk where a woman wearing a telephone headset sat with a cheerful smile on her face.

"Hello, welcome to I.Q. Tower Ms. Feral Nova." Her preppy voice almost echoed through the building. "Mr. Q is expecting you, hold on a moment." Pressing a button on her headset she kept her porcline smile up. "Yes, Mr. Ivan, Ms. Feral Nova is here to see you."

@feral_nova:

On the other end of the intercom, Zoe would be able to hear Ivan clear his throat almost nervously before speaking."Send her down to the battery room..I give her the clearance.."

Zoe would be escorted to the special elevator that only had one floor option...One that ran down about a full mile underground..And as soon as the doors popped open, she would be revealed to a large chamber of sorts, where Ivan Q stood. And in front of the genius, was a comatose Clint Zoller, encased in a force field. Why was he encased? One would ask, it was for as of yesterday, the young man, even in his current state suddenly went into his fire form.

"Ms.Nova I believe?...A pleasure to meet a hero, though I wish we met on some..Well better terms.." He spoke across the room, expecting her to join his side to inspect Clint.

@the_puzzler:

"Do not worry mi amigo", the Stylish Savant assured with a socially engrossing nod, "I will do so. I will return soon, there are other things that I must take into account. My reappearance may herald some potential surprises", Andres charismatically quipped. "Until tomorrow, si? Bueno", lexically terminating their conversational exchange, the Knightfall A-Lister departs, intent on commencing his substantial intellectual investment into this gathered collective's ambitions.

@the_puzzler:

Being escorted by security didn't exactly make Zoe feel very comfortable, was she walking into some sort of trap? Maybe... Could this person really be who he is and could Clint really be in trouble? Maybe... But not doing anything wasn't her style, and as she stood in the walking the seemingly endless underground floor made the hero very nervous, she could feel her heart racing in her chest. "So... you guys worked here long?" She tried to make conversation to try and calm her nerves, only get an annoyed glance from the guards. "Erm... never mind..." she mumbled to herself as they finally reached the doors.

As the doors opened her eyes first caught the gentle man in the white coat standing, whom she assumed was Ivan. But in front of him... made her heart jump to her throat. It was Clint, unconscious and inside some sort of force field. She wanted to rush forward, but she still wasn't exactly sure if this was a trap... or the real deal.

"Mr. Ivan." She nod her head, she hesitated for a moment as the guards stood by the door. Looking around a bit cautiously she took a step forward... nothing happened... a sigh of relief escaped from her chest as she then made her way towards Clint, he looked like he had been hit by a car... or five. "Sparky... it's Nova... wake up... please?" She whispered to herself as she stood for a minute, just looking at him. But when nothing happened, she lowered her head for a moment, she felt so helpless. "Thank you for getting a hold of me... but..." Her head turned towards him as she made her way over to the genius behind I.Q. Tower. "I'm still not sure exactly why you got a hold of me." She reached out to shake his hand. "I'm not a healer or a doctor at that, and I had just met Clint just a couple of days ago."

@feral_nova:

"I am aware that you are not those things Nova..But I have done my homework, what little I could grab from witness reports on newspapers.." Ivan shook the girl's hand with a melancholy smirk, puling up two holographic screens. One with Spark's physical profile and one with a theoretical physical profile for Nova.

"It's fascinating really Ms.Nova. You and Clint here seem to share the exact same abilities, from what I have assumed. Both can cause combustion in the air and in the cells of your body..Immune to heat and flames..Body temperature..The list goes on.." Ivan stretched out his hand to tap on both screens with elongated fingers, now combining them into one large screen.

"Luckily, the M.H.A has provided me with past medical records for when Mr.Zoller here was imprisoned. Flames, heat or even just high temperatures increase Clint's physical traits. This explained how he survived a fifty story fall even without his flames protecting him, his body heat was still off the charts from the physical exertion before the incident.

But now..It seems his brain has healed, I did the scans. But his own heat based healing factor glitched, seemingly not comprehending his comatose state. This did two things while healing his brain wounds..Locked him in a sleep that I can't seem to find a solution for considering it is no longer an injury per say..And as of yesterday, his body ignited...And has shown no signs of ceasing. His flame temperature is at an EXACT one thousand degrees Celsius.

With this development, I can't physically intervene. Every attempt at surgery fails, not from the heat. But for now that his flames have returned? The incisions cauterize in seconds, then heal in minutes. Antidotes boil away..You of all people understand how powerful this flame form is...But finally, I had an idea, a brilliant one..."

Ivan pointed over to the massive force field on the floor not even ten steps away from them. Inside of it was, well a small sun invented by Q."That..Is a battery I made. Limitless energy that powers Calgary, also happens to burn at around five thousand Kelvin...As hot as the real sun...Nova what I am asking of you is to allow me to lower you near the battery with Clint..Allow the heat of this sun to empower you and heat him up as much as you can. This will hopefully reenact the first feat of his mutation, possibly snapping him out of this fire coma..."

@the_puzzler:

Zoe stood silently, carefully taking in every word that Mr. Q was telling her. She didn't realize how similar her powers were to Clint's... almost identical... it wasn't something she had heard before. All her years of fighting crime, getting killed, brought back to life, she had never met anyone with the same powers as her. Sure there was Kurt, but his powers were limited. Clint on the other hand... his powers were more advanced than her own, able to level and entire island, on accident, where as she, only burnt down a city block. He then began explaining the complications of surgery, and it was all true... Zoe herself had used her own flames to cauterize lacerations while in battle, and poisons even burn out of her body before taking full effect. One of the greatest perks of wielding fire was now risking Clint's own life.

But the thing that really caught Zoe's attention... was his plan. "Wait... what?" She blinked a few times, did he just say he wanted to put her near something that was as hot as the sun? Sure Feral Nova was heat/fire proof... but... let's see... five thousand kelvin... crap she couldn't even figure out how hot that would be in Fahrenheit! She wanted to help, but she wasn't even sure if she could survive something like that. "Mr. Q... I appreciate that you have such faith in my abilities but... I don't know if I can withstand that kind of heat, I mean... you're talking about the temperature of the sun." Nervousness swept through her voice. "I mean, even if I could... I've never gone into supernova before, I don't think I can reach that kind of temp." doubt was sweeping over her as her eyes shift back to Clint, she wanted to say 'Yes! Let's do this!'with confidence, but she couldn't. "It's not that I DON'T want to help, I just don't know if I can, my abilities aren't as advanced as Clint's are."

Sounds like a competition who can cause the most civilian carnage :P

it was her way of comparing their power levels, shut up lol

@feral_nova: She's silly :P

@pyrogram: shut up lol

@feral_nova: Aww, self conscious!

@feral_nova:

Ivan tapped his chin a few times, more brilliant thoughts flowing through his mind like Grand Central. It was indeed risky, and he was the last person that wanted to put someone in harm's way.

"Application." Was all he said while snapping his fingers, he gestured Nova over to the battery while pointing to a booth that was surrounded by a similar force field."You don't necessarily have to deal with the full heat, Nova. I will put you in this booth with Clint. Reverse the force fields as to allow a certain intensity of heat to follow in, like an oven. This way we can push a bit more, and a bit more till you are at the highest comfortable zone of heat resistance while you yourself apply your fire to Clint..It's much safer than just..Well dropping you into a sun.."

@the_puzzler:

'No, this is a BAD idea.'was going on in her logical side of her brain while 'Hell yes! Let's save a friend!' was going on the impulsive side. Either this man was a real genius, or he was completely insane... or maybe a bit both. Zoe paused at her answer, she had never attempted anything like this before, did she really want to risk dying... again? She began slowly, nervously, pacing in front of Clint's fore field, different scenario's rushing into her mind of what could happen, both good and bad. Then, she stopped, looking directly at her fellow pyromatic hero.

"I'm not a hero..I'm..Me." She whispered to herself, it was something that Clint told her two days ago. He said he wasn't a hero, but his actions that put him into this condition said otherwise. He was a hero, and so was she. He wanted a second chance of life and he used it to protect the innocent... he deserved a third chance at life. "Ok." Zoe's voice was more firm this time as she turned around to face Ivan. "Let's bring back Clint."

@feral_nova:

It took all of twenty minutes for the brilliant Ivan Q to reverse the force fields on the booth, escorting Nova and her friend inside. And now, it was just her and Spark laying on the floor of the booth, covered by that stasis field. "Ok Nova I am going to disengage Clint's stasis field, stand by for his fire form to be unleashed." Ivan spoke through a comm inside the booth as Clint's field vanished, his flames engulfing the booth that was not being lowered closer to the mini-sun.

"Ok Nova, I am going to continue lowering, start applying your flames to him and tell me when you can't take the sun's heat any further.." The comm clicked once more as the entire booth was becoming hotter and hotter, as of now it was nothing Nova couldn't handle of course.

@_spark_:

Zoe stood nervously before the unconscious Clint, as the stasis field was disengaged, a roar of fire erupted from his body, and quickly, Nova pressed her hands against him, closing her eyes to focus. It wasn't that his fire was harming her, it was just a bit overwhelming in the beginning, she had to adjust his own fire so that she could re-absorb it and use it on him.

"Got it." Zoe spoke as the flames continued to roar around her. She could feel the booth slowly lowering, and with every inch, the booth became warmer and then hot. Even though she was fire/heat proof, she had never attempted to push her powers to this kind of limit. She had never felt the damaging properties of fire, the burning of the flesh or even a simple sunburn. But now... she actually felt... HOT, and not the sexy kind. If she wasn't surrounded by flames right now, you would probably be able to slowly see a glisten of sweat forming along her brow.

But she couldn't focus on THAT, she had to focus on Clint, he was her friend and she needed to focus on helping him! She kept her eyes closed as she grit her teeth, she could feel the battery fueling her fire as it became more intense with every second. Pushing her flames upon him she could feel her body slowly trembling with power. How close was she to the battery right now? She couldn't tell, even if she did open her eyes, it was too bright to see. But one thing she did feel... her cloths slowly beginning to sear off her body. They weren't made to withstand this kind of heat, because she had never been able to reach this kind of temperature in her life. "Come on Clint... come on." She grunted, her head bobbing down, she was starting to become overwhelmed. "C-Clint! Wake up!" She yelled out as she pressed her hands firmly on his chest, raising the temperature with every second. She wanted to push more out, she wanted to keep going, but her body... she could feel exhaustion coming on quickly, it was only a matter of time before she would pass out from fire overload. "M-Mr. Q" she stuttered, her vitals going off the charts as she felt her heart racing viciously in her chest. "I-I can't- get me-" before she could finish her eyes became blurred and her body numb, as she pulled her hands away from Clint and attempted to take a step back. Her breathing became rigid, she felt uneasy, lightheaded... and then... her world went dark.

@feral_nova:

The next thing Zoe would hear, was the sound of her own heartbeat on a monitor. The brave young woman was located on the medical floor, and who was it sitting beside her? It was Clint, fast asleep in the chair beside the medical bed, snoring away, and his hand was tightly holding onto hers as she was laying down.

She seemed to be fitted in a suit similar to Clint's given that hers burned away. except for a female, no doubt resistant to flames the same way his clothes were.

Dr.Q was almost about to walk into the room, only to see the two young adults still recovering, so he simply smiled and chose to return later.

Beep... beep... beep...

that was the first thing she heard as her eyes fluttered open to the white medical room around her. "Hmmm.." she slowly sat up, resting her hand upon her head that seemed to be throbbing just a bit. Looking down at her other hand... it was being held by someone else. Her eyes quickly shifted to the snoring Clint, a wide smile appeared on her face, not even realizing she was in another set of cloths or even that her mask was was no longer on thanks to the prior events.

Clint was back, and he was ok, a sigh of relief escaped from her as she laid back down, she was afraid she didn't hold out long enough to help him. But she didn't want to wake him, he was probably just as tired as she was. But she continued to hold onto his hand, just grateful that he was back.

@feral_nova:

Clint woke up hours later, Q already informing him of what the hell happened, and how Nova helped him. That's what did it, that was the final straw, he was almost certain this girl was the one for him..Even though it is usually the guy saving the girl.

Clint wanted to say alot for when she woke up..But he wasn't going to say anything of the sort. For the young flame was certain that it was the last thing she needed on her plate given what seemed to be a busy double life.

All of that thought rushed through his head in the first few seconds he connected eyes with hers upon waking from his nap, naturally giving that goofy smile. "...Hey..." Was all he could think to say, simply just happy to see a familiar face.

@the_puzzler:

In the aftermath of his intellectually enlightening meeting with ambitious scientist Ivan Q over their mutually harbored desire for scientific inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge, the proposition of a cerebral collective of the globe's finest minds had incited the Eloquent Einstein's curiosity and optimism. Confident regarding his faith in the collective's potential, Andres as per his agreed terms with Ivan, returned to the I.Q. Tower with the requested magnetic field generator, an onyx-flushed, metallic cylindrical device boasting the physical dimensions of a portable net-book, yet internally harboring a specialized portion of the Quantum Savant's innovative zepto-technology.

Cordially escorted to Ivan's spacious office by an enthusiastically endeavored secretary, the Ermenegildo Zegna adorned Knightfall civilly sets foot inside his associate's office following an obligatory knock on his perfectly carpentered, beige door. "I trust everything is well, si?", he began, an affably charismatic smile festooning his august features, "As promised my friend, this is the magnetic field generator", lightly setting the device atop Ivan's meticulously organized desk. "Quantum technology is fundamental to its operations. The smaller, the better", he jested. "If you would like, I can elaborate on the intricate details of how it functions".

@_spark_: She smiled back, squeezing his hand gently. "Hey you." Softly speaking as she slowly sat up, letting go of his hand so she could adjust herself a little better in bed, these kinds of beds were never really comfy. "You had us all worried, how are you feeling?" The hero was genuinely concerned for her friend, she needed to make sure he was ok after everything.

@feral_nova:

Clint leaned back in his chair while rubbing his eyes, clearly exhausted. "Well, a coma is a pretty good rest, though I feel like I haven't slept in twenty days or something.." He laughed a bit before smiling and nodding. "All together though? I'm just glad to be ok..And I'm glad you're ok Nova.."

Maybe, just maybe, we could start researching Zombies!

@_spark_:

"Me too... I'm just glad Mr. Q got a hold of me, and that I was actually able to help. For a minute, I didn't think I was powerful enough to do this" She shift her body so that her feet were now dangling off the side of the bed, allowing her to face him. "How do you two know each other?"

@geth: What could possibly go wrong? A lab outbreak? Pfffft.