#comicsverse posting

Breaking News on 24/7 Live: Gotham Vigilantes threaten GBS News Employee

The whole redaction team returned to our office in spite of the bombing threats in support of our threatened social media team employee to make a sad special edition...

Tune in to GBS 24/7 Live at 8 for an online debate moderated by our very M. Matthew Matheson with fellow guests: MCPD Commissioner William Henderson. renowed lawyer and vigilante defender Matt Murdoch, and FBI official in charge of A.R.G.U.S. Amanda Waller, amongst other speakers.

Suddenly the ground shook in the GBS HQ building, surprising the team of journalists who'd returned to office for a special edition. The over head lights also started to flickers just as the fire sprinklers took off, sending a rather confusing message to the team who exchanged surprised glances.

"Earthquake?" Marnie, one of Mara's colleague asked, a touch of panic in the the pregnant woman's voice as she stood up from her chair.

"Right now? I don't think..." Roman, another fellow employee declared, taking off his glasses to wipe the water away. "We'd have heard something from our meteorological services no?"

"What the..?"

Frowning, Mara stood up from her desk and slowly made her way towards one of the meeting rooms, noticing a low flickering light coming from a machine now that the ceiling lightning was turned off. Said flickering little bit of light turned out to be the first spark of a much bigger explosion, a device apparently planted in one of their office's water dispenser. By the time the realisation set in, the woman ended up projected backwards, barely having the sense to cover her eyes as shards of glass flew in all directions at what actually was the second explosion in their buildinh. Which seemingly triggered a chain reaction, that culminated in a fire well-fed by a convenient gas pipe leak somewhere below in the building whilst another explosion took place higher up.

Mara felt her head hit another surface, likely glass, and limply slid to the floor, face covered in shards. The woman closed her eyes, feeling herself pass out. She didn't even register the sensation of her body falling downwards, as the now unstable grounds of the building crumbled on themselves.

When the woman woke up again, tears of pain instantly filled her eyes. Swallowing away her dread, Mara closed her eyes and numbly lifted an arm up towards the back of her head, the dampness she felt on her fingers indicating that she was indeed likely bleeding out. And couldn't see shit around. Swallowing, Mara slowly brought her hand in front of her face, running her thumb against the wet digits. Blood.

The woman coughed up a little and felt a severe, piercing pain her side, leading her to bring a gripping hand to her ribs as fresh tears rolled down.

"Hello?"

She called softly, voice wavering as panic rose in her throat.

"I'm here. Anyone? Anyone please..."

She added as she started to proper cry.

"Help. HELP!"

She yelled.

Umm... No thank you?

We will, inform the authorities then. Again... Thanks for the heads up? And yeah, glad to be a trusted new source for everybody from all backgrounds! I guess...

I gotta ask for a raise ASAP 😖

Umm... Okay. We will inform the authorities then. Thanks for the heads up? And glad to be a trusted new source for everybody from all backgrounds!

-Robin.

...

( @bleeding-heart-bat )

Hum... So like, why does everybody keep threatening us these days? (ಡ‸ಡ)

I don't get paid enough to deal with vigilantes AND villains...

If you want a story, keep it to the Waynes

Neither vigilantes nor villains will dictate our editorial line.

Remaining a trusted source of information and analysis is central to our work. We always retain editorial control over everything we publish, irrespective of the source of funding. As such, we cover a diverse range of opinions and owe no allegiance to any government or political body.

For more information regarding responsibility, feel free to reach out to our legal_services.

Futhermore, you are aware we are Metropolis-based thus have other stories to cover than what happens in Gotham, right?

Please, before reacting/responding, read the piece in full as there are several different paths possible such as: home newsviewer, on-scene spectator, or first responder.

Furthermore, first responder has 3 different routes, depending on who you choose to rescue.

PS: OCs and Canon characters may interact with the post. No response length is expected, even just side commentary is fine on this post. However, seen as there is a main story, we ask of those engaging with the first responder routes to coordinate effort. What we mean is, if three people pick the same responder route, which each have their respective starter, please make it a joint effort. As much as possible, of course. If that makes sense?

📺 — Earlier at the GBS News HQ

"I still can't quite believe we did this..." A masculine voice let out from the redaction bullpen. "We went on air, to take a stand against the whole vigilante community... This is not, gonna make us popular..."

Mara sighed. "No, it isn't." The researcher agreed. "But we had to protect our own, didn't we?"

"Didn't we just escalate the whole thing though? Gothamites already can't fucking stand us and here we are taking a shot at some of their most proeminent figures for positive change, for hope..."

"And Blüdhaven, don't forget Blüdhaven! They love their Nightwing over there!"

"And Central City, likely, they love the Flash. I mean, who doesn't love The Flashes actually? All of them are so cool! And sweet!"

"Yeah well, good thing we're not trying to win a popularity vote but making a point. We've been dealing with relentless threats for weeks. And we barely just got Dan back. This was obviously the straw that broke the camel's back." Another journalist intervened, starring into the distance and sighing. "And I remember being actually happy when the Sokovia Accords were repealed..."

"Yeah well, there was never really going to be a way to control or regulate vigilantism or enhanced individuals anyways." Mara pragmatically pointed out. "Go try to tell Superman he can't just save people from a flood and threaten a corrupt government leader for the safety of their people, or Batman that he can't punch his way through every corrupt individual in Gotham to enact any change. It'd be pretty fucking hypocritical considering that, we, made Superman our symbol of hope because he just does good and Batman basically is the last rampart Gotham has in the way of its complete decay. He signifies hope too, for the Gothamites who choose to stay and fight to make a life. And we all know that. And now we have to make peace with the fact that we knew that and still chose to follow the editorial line pointing fingers because the finger had to be pointed. It's fine. We're not the first to bring forth the debate of how much we can really trust vigilantes and we won't be the last. And I stand by our work, by our words, because we did it to establish that GBS News protects their people. We no longer are the corrupt organisation with a shady leadership. And I'm proud of that. At least."

"I guess that's true. We have been getting better. And, coincidentally, we have been getting a loooot of threats..." Another guy pointed out, before chuckling. Soon enough several did the same, the laughter in the previously tense bullpen feeling cathartic.

"D'you think they deal with the same thing over at the Daily Planet?"

"Nope. But folks at the Daily Planet are shagging Superman so..." That remark earned a few snorts.

"The Super harem really is just the Daily Planet redaction bullpen huh? Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen..."

"Hmm, Jimmy Olsen." A feminine voice let out, earning a few glances. "What? He's got a... je ne sais quoi, that gets me going."

"Jesus Christ Marnie, aren't you married?"

"And pregnant!?"

"Hey, it's not because I don't plan to buy that I can't window shop now, is it?"

"Fair enough." Mara let out eyebrows raising, then snorted, the whole group falling back into an easy fit of much needed laughter.

At least until no one other than M. Matthew Matheson, who'd been live minutes ago still was rushing through the bullpen with a wild sort of gaze.

"Hey Matt good—" The junior hire was entirely ignored by the man who raced through the bullpen, to head for the nearest emergency exit stairs, making the remaining employee exchange confused looks. "Okay..." The blond woman let out. "Does anybody know what's—"

Suddenly the ground shook and the lights flickered, just as the fire sprinklers took off.

"Earthquake?" Marnie asked, standing up from her chair.

"Right now? I don't think..." Roman, one of the employee declared, taking off his glasses to wipe the water away. "We'd have heard something from our meteorological services no?"

"What the..?" Frowning, Mara stood up from her desk and slowly made her way towards one of the meeting rooms, noticing the first spark of what turned out to be the beginning of the explosion of their office water dispenser. And ended up projected backwards, barely having the sense to cover her eyes as shards of glass flew in all directions at the second explosion Which seemingly triggered a chain reaction, that culminated in a fire well-fed by a convenient gas pipe leak somewhere below in the building whilst another explosion took place higher up in the building.

Route 1: Rescuing M. Matthew Matheson, who is trapped beneath some rubbles and cannot feel his legs.

Route 2: Rescuing Mara, who hit her head and is trapped in an air pocket somewhere, asking for help.

Route 3: Rescuing a trapped firefighter and reuniting them back with the rest of their unit on ground or evacuating them. (potentially, bonus in case of solid activity)

Special Live Edition Following the Attacks at the GBS News HQ:

Several explosions took place in the building right after the whole redaction team returned to office to make a special edition in support of a threatened social media team employee.

Tune in to GBS 24/7 Live right now to hear the first words of a rescued reporter Henry Cha filmed by a fellow rescued cameraman. Cha's first declarations seemed to question the timing of the attacks. Right after the broadcast questioning vigilantes' actions, and in the midst of many other bombing threats. Did somebody take advantage or is that how outlaws chose to respond to their behavior being contested? Furthermore, is the absence of Superman on ground a message that he stands with his fellow vigilante community? Or where is the savior of Metropolis when the city is on fire and in dire need of hope? More information to come later, for now the first responders are still on ground, and many GBS employees have yet to be rescued...