Grip of the Mind Thieves, Chapter 1: Mental Muscle! Report

General Summary

Central Park

Central Park is world famous for a number of sights and experiences. Now it has added "mutated utility workers versus local mutated street gang" to that list.

Late yesterday at 4 pm, members of the local street gang called the 'Disco Boys' were assaulted by a group of employees of the NYC utility services. However, eyewitness accounts confirm that the gang hadn't provoked the city employees. In fact, the gang was crossing the park when they were ambushed! To further complicate this role reversal, all ten city employees were reported to have glowing eyes and demonstrate metahuman abilities! Not long after the initial ambush, the Disco Boys seemed to show the same signs of affliction.

However, just as this riot grew out of hand, the local vigilante team known as the Knights Vigilant appeared on the scene. Charging into the mob, they quickly worked to separate the two sides. Just as the team almost seemed to have the matter in hand, a second mob arrived, carrying what some describe as a "secure metal canister" the size of a three quart capacity ice cream maker. These Disco Boys were likewise mutated but their condition had progressed to demonstrating astounding, and dangerous, metahuman abilities! The largest of them, a crimson-skinned goliath, seemed to be their leader.

Yet, it was reported that the Knights Vigilant had timely assistance from a tall, bronze-skinned woman that unnamed sources say is one 'Bronze Tempest '. Strong and agile, she quickly offered a hand and a fist to the riot. Between Bronze Tempest and the Knights Vigilant, the riot was brought under control. Also, quick thinking by Taki, member of the Knights Vigilant, also seemed to remove the source of the riot: a strange chemical that had been on both the city employees and the gang members. Thankfully, Taki's actions with the local sprinkler system proved whatever else the strange chemical was, it is also water soluble.

Post-riot, eyewitnesses report a discussion between Bronze Tempest and the Knights Vigilant. After the conversation, Bronze Tempest leaped off with the mysterious container while the Knights Vigilant took one city employee, despite having been soaked to remove the affecting chemical, still displayed metahuman abilities. In either case, Knights Vigilant and Bronze Tempest were gone by the time NYPD and Code Blue arrived on the scene with paramedics.

NYPD Commissioner Ron Garabalzi had this to say.

"Vigilantes and vigilantism are not tolerated in our city. Yes, there are a few exceptions to this rule. We still refer to them as 'Licensed Heroes'. But unlicensed ones? We still maintain a zero tolerance for them. With that said, the timely report from concerned citizens helped prevent this from becoming a disaster."

Neither Code Blue nor Captain Macintosh of Central Park's NYPD precinct offered any comment on the incident. However, shortly after the area was blocked off, renowned scientist, Dr. Hank Kirby McCoy, was seen joining NYPD's CSI team in canvasing the area. Presumably collecting residue of whatever chemical that had a part in causing the riot.