Mitchell's Guide to Vigilantes entry 124: Ashfall (Patreon)

Mitchell's Guide to Vigilantes entry 124.

Subject: Ashfall/Pyroclast.

Civilian identity: Nazar Sarkisian. 

Family: Parents are still alive, no siblings. They currently live in Seattle.

Birthdate: 4 June 1988.

Birthplace: Evacuation Camp 43, Nevada. 

Height: 5'9"/176 cm

Weight: 188 lbs/85 kg

Classification: Ashfall was a Beta level boost. Can disperse his full physical body into an ash-like carbon-based substance. In this form he can hover at normal running speed, and has limited flight/gliding powers not exceeding a height of 10' or so. He can disperse himself as thinly as a fine mist, and in that form cover large areas, seep through cracks and be breathed in. The latter is not recommended, and his main avenue of attack. In his more solid form he loses the hovering capacities, but is not as vulnerable to wind. In his dispersed state he is invulnerable to most forms of physical or energy attacks.

Update: Though technically beyond my job now that he's relocated to San Francisco, I'll include the updated assessment as well. Since changing his name and joining the Rangers, Pyroclast has been reclassified as an alpha level boost. In essence, the powers remain the same, but with a larger dispersed radius. He has also gained the ability co control the temperature of the cloud. The maximum temperature reached is still under debate, but temperatures exceeding 1000 Fahrenheit (540 C) has been recorded. Higher temperatures has been measured, but as these were taken inside the resulting firestorm, they are uncertain. 

Notes: No post-Ranger admission materials have been sought. These are all from the Ashfall days.

---

Surveillance camera footage from the G'Day chip manufacturing plant recovered after the Cephalobrood terrorist attack in 2011.

[A half-ruined building, still smoking from the recent fight. Anathema of the Rangers is standing, back turned to Ashfall, Ranger associate. Ashfall is nude, but getting dressed.]

Anathema- So how does it really work? Turning into dust like that?

Ashfall- Are you getting paid by the research team to interrogate me?

Anathema- No, only to help test stuff. On account of me being invulnerable if they mess up. Do you want to be? They do that on occasion for interesting powers. It's good money, and a good way to test your limits.

Ashfall- No thanks.

Anathema- It's just so cool. I've never seen anybody being able to do that before.

Ashfall- Same.

Anathema- One syllable words and pained sighs... okay, I might be entirely off base, but I get the feeling you're kind freaked out by them?

Ashfall- Maybe I don't know. It's...

Anathema- Weird?

Ashfall- Yeah. Maybe I'm afraid to find out I'm not human anymore.

Anathema- Worrying about you being human is the very definition of being human. I don't think any other creature has as much anxiety as people.

Ashfall- Horses. 

Anathema- What?

Ashfall- Horses. They're messed up. Freaked out by a plastic bag.

Anathema- Are you still sore about that? Or was it that Ortega laughed?

Ashfall- You'd think we'd get nice horses if we hadn't ridden before.

Anathema- You're trying to distract me.

Ashfall- What do you want me to say? That turning into ash scares me?

Anathema- It would scare me.

Ashfall- I thought nothing scared you.

Anathema- Nothing hurts me. Lots of things scare me. 

Ashfall- You can turn around now, I'm decent.

Anathema- I'm not sure I am, but I'll do my best.

Ashfall- Thanks for bringing me my clothes. It's a bit more private turning back in here than out in the open.

Anathema- Not a problem. I've had the same issue too many times myself before I got this suit. I figured that's what you wanted when you started hovering over them.

Ashfall- At least someone on this team has a brain.

Anathema- Is that why you usually stick to Sidestep?

Ashfall- Can't talk in cloud form, I need someone around who gets it.

Anathema- I'm doing my best, at least you can't hurt me if I misread your clues.

Ashfall- It wasn't my intention to be an ass. I know why they keep teaming us up. We do make a good front line team to draw attention. 

Anathema- I'm glad you agreed to help out again. With Sentinel and Steel off on business, we're short-handed. Hopefully Charge and Sidestep managed to chase down The Ammonite while we kept the rest of the team busy.

Ashfall- If not, they'll never live it down. You mind getting me a drink? I'm parched and this damn vending machine is stuck.

Anathema- No worries. Acid is handy, I'd make a great thief.

Ashfall- You'd think a major company would provide free drinks to their staff.

Anathema- Well, you know. Capitalism. Here.

Ashfall- Thanks.

Anathema- I keep wondering, and if I'm getting too personal, please tell me to shut up. Does it hurt to do what you do? Changing?

Ashfall- No. It... tickles I suppose. Tingles. Everything becomes numb. Like limbs waking up after sitting on them too long.

Anathema- Aren't you worried about losing parts of yourself?

Ashfall- I think I already have. I must have. I don't really notice a difference though. 

Anathema- I suppose it's hard to keep track of which bits it would be. Maybe it was just the poop.

Ashfall- Don't make me laugh when I'm drinking soda. It went up my nose.

Anathema- Sorry. 

Ashfall- See, this is why I don't want to deal with doctors, even if it's your staff.

Anathema- Maybe they could help design a suit that would transform with you? 

Ashfall- Oh God, who is leaning on you to try to talk me into this?

Anathema- Nobody. Maybe we don't want you to end up naked every time you turn back. It's fine for a vigilante to streak, but you know how they are with Ranger stuff.

Ashfall- Do they have any idea about how to do that? I feel like I've tried everything.

Anathema- Well, not that I am a scientist, I just have lunch with them sometimes, but the current top theory would be using some of your transformed mass and turn it into carbon fibers to make into a suit. 

Ashfall- That's why you asked if I was worried about separating.

Anathema- Maybe do a little at a time? I mean it took a while until they finally got a suit that could hold up to my acid, at least for a while.

Ashfall- But won't it turn back when I do?

Anathema- I mean it shouldn't if it's blocked from rejoining you, right? Otherwise you'd be spraying the area with little bits of you every time you turn back if things have got stuck somewhere.

Ashfall- Little bits of poop. God, that's going to be stuck in my head now.

Anathema- You're welcome.

Ashfall- But I suppose it's worth a shot. If I can get a proper suit out of it, I'm willing to be a lab rat for a change. Even if it's just enough for an undersuit.

Anathema- Or a speedo.

Ashfall- Somehow that's worse.

Anathema- Again, you're welcome.

Ashfall- What I don't get is why'd they go out of their way for someone not on the team?

Anathema- You've worked with us enough. You're trusted. And maybe you can be more in the future.

Ashfall- Don't tempt me, I might take you up on that if I didn't suspect it was just because I'm the only one with a sense of humor enough to be properly scandalized by your bad jokes.

Anathema- My dastardly plan has been revealed. Come on, I hear helicopters. Let's go greet the cops and then find the others.

------------

Surveillance camera footage courtesy of Big Cone Ice Cream Parlor. Taken during the Nanosurge event in 2011.

[Black and white footage of an Ice Cream shop, filled with costumed heroes looking at a map. On the counter rests two elaborate electronic devices, each the size of a small backpack.]

Ashfall- We don't have time to discuss this! Anathema takes one emitter, I'll take the other.

Anathema- He's right. The swarm is growing. Sentinel is slowing their approach but we can't stop them. We need to do this.

Captain Steel- How are the evacuations going Marshal?

Marshal Charge-  [not present, reception filled with static] Not good. Streets are getting clogged. I need Sunstream down here as fast as possible. Need to get the cars out of the way.

Captain Steel- I'll send her over. Stay safe.

Marshal Charge- You too. 

Owl- I'll grab Sunstream and head over as well. You don't need me here, I'm better of getting the civilians out.

Captain Steel- Thank you.

Owl- Don't thank me. Solve this.

Bumblebee- I can fly into position and drop Anathema. 

Anathema- Just don't get too close. You can fling me if you like, I don't mind a rough landing.

Logarithm- The emitter might.

Anathema- Go high and drop me straight down then. I'll protect it with my body. 

Bumblebee- Okay, let's go, I'm not the fastest flier.

Captain Steel- Do it. Signal once you get in position.

Anathema- Will do. Have fun without me.

Viceroy- There goes the one person who doesn't have to worry about the nanovores.

Zephyr- Shut up Roy. Will they even work?

Logarithm- No idea. The theory seems sound, not that it matters. We don't have a better idea.

Captain Steel- You don't even know who made them.

Logarithm- Could be a villain for all I care. Probably is. They live here too.

Captain Steel- Good point. I'll take the other one.

Ashfall- No. I will. You're running this show. Besides, your armor might be hermetically sealed but it's not rated for nanovores.

Captain Steel- Neither are your powers.

Ashfall- My ash form is not flesh and blood. And in my solid form I can carry the emitter.

Zephyr- I can get him close, fast.

Ashfall- And get away faster I hope.

Zephyr- You just watch me. 

Captain Steel- Then do it. We don't have time to debate. If the resonance field can interrupt the nanovores, we'll gain valuable time to evacuate.

Ashfall- I'm on it. Zephyr, do your thiiii....

Logarithm- I hope this works. I don't like this. The Marshal and the rest are too close to Sentinel's gustfront if something goes wrong they won't be able to get out in time.

Captain Steel- If something goes wrong, proximity will be the last of our worries.

Logarithm- The others are gone, I can see you're hiding something. You know you can tell me.

Captain Steel- Got the call from command earlier. If we lose control of the situation, they'll drop the bomb.

Logarithm- Shit. I predicted that would be the case, but...

Captain Steel- They already would have, but there are too many important people that have still not evacuated. They'll hold the order for as long as they can.

Logarithm- And then Los Diablos becomes the hottest place on earth.

Captain Steel- If we fail.

Logarithm- Which we can't afford. So let's figure out how to stop these things while we still can.

------------

Recovered internal audio from Halcyon, a former Green Sky cultist currently serving twelve consecutive life sentences. It appears to depict events during the final assault on the Green Sky compound in 2012.

[Sound only. Voiceprints identified as Captain Steel and Ashfall.]

A- This is the plan?

S- This is the plan.

A- I was afraid so. Is it yours?

S- Only partly.

A- Sidestep?

S- Good guess. 

A- It's nuts.

S- And it could work.

A- IF Charge is still conscious. If Charge is...

S- Charge is still alive.

A- How can you be sure? You know what the Green Sky does to people.

S- And you know how stubborn the Marshal is. Lived through worse.

A- Fine. But I still don't like separating the team like this.

S- Neither do I, but it makes tactical sense. If it is a trap, which is likely, Sidestep will be the only one walking into it.

A- And you're ready to sacrifice them?

S- I'm ready to take them at their word that they can stay undetected. I'm ready to trust them with the life of my best friend. I'm willing to risk my life to walk into the same trap in their place.

A- Sorry. You're right. I didn't think.

S- It's fine. We're all on edge here.

A- How long do we have?

S- Sentinel and Anathema will launch their assault on the compound in an hour.

A- They'll go in high, and we're going in low. I still think I should be up there.

S- They can cause enough havoc on their own. I need you.

A- You mean you need my powers.

S- Yes. Do you have a problem with that?

A- No Sir.

S- We're going to have trouble communicating once the mission starts, let's go over it again.

A- Fine. I'll stay dispersed as much as possible. If any cultists show, I'll choke them immediately. If they think we are the main rescue party and run into the Void...

S- You'll follow orders.

A- I will disperse and surround you. As soon as I feel my form disturbed I'll counterattack. 

S- They shouldn't be able to teleport into you.

A- A lot is riding on that theory.

S- Teleportation is rare, but in every surviving case there has been an instinctual reflex not to materialize into a solid object. 

A- And you think I will count as one, even dispersed.

S- Yes.

A- If not, you'll be the one in danger. Not me. You know what they do to people. Normal people.

S- I'm willing to accept that.

A- You're nuts.

S- I'm a s... Ranger.

A- You were about to say soldier, weren't you?

S- Old habits die hard. Being in one of these brings it back.

A- How good will it be in a fight?

S- It's a stealth suit. It's not made for battle, but it'll be enough. I don't need my MBA to fight.

A- To kill.

S- You know they have done worse to people.

A- I know. And I am prepared to...

S- Wait. Are you telling me you haven't killed anyone?

A- I can if I have to.

S- But you haven't.

A- I haven't needed to. I'm very good at being careful.

S- You creep into people's lungs and choke them out.

A- But I don't kill them. They'll be hurt, sure, but I'm not actual ash. I don't leave parts of myself stuck in them.

S- Impressive.

A- Don't patronize me.

S- I don't. I am legitimately impressed.

A- So you'll vouch for me if I apply to be a Ranger?

S- It won't be up to me.

A- But it won't hurt.

S- Fine. If we survive here, I will write you a letter of recommendation. And I'll have the Marshal sign it as well.

A- Oh I'm sure that'll go over well.

S- After what we are about to do, I doubt there will be any objections.

A- I don't need a bribe to save Charge, but I won't lie. It will be sweet revenge.

S- Now, let's go over the map again. We'll only have one shot at this.