Welcome to Gaia! ::

With the disappearance of the Protectors, crime of all stripes in the city has risen to almost unbearable levels of frequency. Rogues, bandits, and malcontents of all stripes have taken the lack of super-powered law enforcement as a signal to have a field day. Of course, as is often the case with near-anarchies, the mantra of might makes right takes on new meaning. As such, crimes committed by those possessing of super-powers of their own have begun to appear with greater and greater frequency.

A new crime syndicate calling itself "The Grave" has recently appeared and begun recruiting actively, both from street level punks to trained mercenaries; it's even rumored that the "organization" is headed by parahumans of some noteriety, though rumors over the identities of these supposed leaders is dubious at best; in some cases it's even been suggested that the absent Protectors are behind the crimes that this gang has taken credit for.

For a while, The Grave has not been interested in publicity or anything more then simple hooligan activity, but this very afternoon, the first national bank was brought to heel by members of this organization. Rather then simply stealing what they wanted and leaving, the Grave members took every member of staff and every customer hostage, then proceeded to "discourage" the police from approaching the building through means of some sort of contraband grenade launcher weapon that obliterated any police cruiser within a block within a few shots. More frightening still is that the wielder of this weapon seemed to rise back to his feet mere moments after being gunned down by the remaining uninjured police.

Needless to say, those police officers quickly became injured as well.

So far no demands have come forth from the captors and the police have no real ideas about how to free the hostages; especially since the rumors are circulating that metahumans are behind this heist.

The police have sent a plea across the city that any remaining heroes please convene at the new police barricade, two blocks away from the action. There, the chief of police convenes with an infuriated hostage negotiator as they watch the again quiet bank building with concern.

*sits high atop a nearby building, watching the police below argue amongst themselves for a while while he contemplates the situation and possible consequences, his usually bright personality sobered by the lack of his companions as a brief wave of despair washes over him*

Is this what it was like for Cheshire after her dad died? The consequences weight much more heavily on my psyche now, even though I should have nothing left to lose. And this city is going to the dogs fast.

*stands up, feeling the skin on his bare arms prickle in the cool breeze*

Well, there's no point in staying up here and watching like a cosmic being with its pawns...

*steps off the edge and floats down to greet the police force and offer his help*

*A silent black-cloaked figure appears from out of a back alleyway not far from the police barricade, and makes his way over to the Chief and the negotiator.*

((The figure is about 5' 8", and furthur details are difficult to determine due to the darkenss and his cloak.))

"I understand you need a bit of help."

The other officer, who the police chief was arguing with, also steps forward, though he seems more collected then the chief.

"I'm Officer Klein, I'm the hostage negotiator here. I'm glad someone decided to respond to our summons. I'm sure you've all heard from the news, but just in case you haven't, here's what you need to know. Apparently a group of people claiming they're from that new syndicate, the Grave, are holding up the first national, but we don't know for what. So far they haven't made any demands, or any theats. They're just making damn sure nobody comes too close. I can only assume they were waiting for you folks. Or, well, someone like you."

One by one, the other officers lower their weapons.

"There is ten inside the building. How many are Grave, how many are hostages?"

"Call me a concerned citizen. I will be glad to do whatever I can."

The chief sputters at the cloaked figure's comment. "Concern's great, but unless you have some of that superhuman mojo working for you, I doubt concern's going to do you much good."

Officer Klein rolls his eyes at this comment, but says nothing.

"No, not really. Sit works for now."

*To the Chief.*

"You let me worry about that. Now, is there a back way into the bank that we cannot be seen from the front?"

*To Bolt.*

*Chuckles.*

"If I worked for the Grave, do you think I would have walked over, or just stabbed you all in the back first and then left?"