Hard Helix

BY

Robin D Laws
HARD HELIX

Credits
Playtesters: Nick Wedig, Adam Davis,
Neel Krishnaswami, Amber Wedig, Neil
Publisher: Simon Rogers Ford and group, Mike Grace, Anthony
Sweeting, Kev Hickman, Zane Goodin,
Author: Robin D Laws Chuk Goodin, Gordon Wilson, Robert
Miller, Jennifer Miller, Anne Freitas,
Art: Cover and some interior art Kelly Warner, Roger Clark, Patrick
Jérôme Huguenin, other interior art Sweeney
Pascal Quidault
© 2009 Pelgrane Press Ltd. All Rights
Layout: Roderick Robertson, based Reserved.
on a design by Jérôme Huguenin Mutant City Blues is a trademark of Pelgrane
Press Ltd.

2
 Contents
WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK 4 0 "+"0 9
/&,1&+%")&51,4+ 9
THE HARD HELIX 5 BEAMED OUT 41
CANVASSING THE RIOTERS 42
BACKSTORY 5 THE SAD APARTMENT OF IRWIN POLING 45
THE CRIME 5 THE NEIGHBOR 46
THE SUSPECTS 5 EATING CHEESE WITH THE RAT SQUAD 47
THE TWIST 5 DRIVE-BY 48
THE CULPRIT 5 NO SNITCHING 50
SCENES 5 HUNTING LAMAR 51
THE CRIME SCENE 5 MOURNING LAMAR 52
INTERVIEWS AND INTERROGATIONS 8 EASE OFF 52
INFORMATION GATHERING 16 UP IN SMOKE 52
ACTION 18 THE BIG SKATE 54
DRAMA 19 CHAIN OF CUSTODY 54
WRAP-UP 19 THE LOCKER 55
THE VANISHERS 21 MICHELLE CRACKS 56
SHOWDOWN 57
BACKSTORY 21 WRAP-UP 58
THE CRIME 21
THE INVESTIGATION 21 CELL DIVISION 60
THE TWIST 21 BACKSTORY 60
THE CULPRITS 21 THE CRIME 60
SCENES 21 THE INVESTIGATION 60
A FRANTIC CALL 21 THE TWIST 60
FOUR PUNKS AND A PATSY 22 THE CULPRIT 60
CRIMINAL MASTERMIND 24 SCENES 60
BROADWAY BOB 25 LUCKY SHOES 60
,µ0,,(*("/ 6 SUPER SIEGE 61
COFFIN ON WHEELS 26 CHILLINGLY FANATICAL 6
HIJACKING RING 28 BACKGROUND CHECKS 64
A LONG-TERM CASE 28 MUTANT MANIFESTO 66
THE VETRONI OUTFIT 29 THE BIG BULLETIN 66
'0,+·1%"* %&+"¸3"1/,+& 0 DEATH ON THE TRACKS 68
-2)·1%")46"/¸*/1"))& 1 TRACING THE CALL 69
!++6·#)&--"/¸!"#&)&--, 1 HUNTING MILAN 69
)·-,--"/¸0,)!1& 2 SUPER POX 70
0)31,/"·,,*,,*¸0-&$$& 2 CONTAINER SY-7 70
-"1"/·0+("0¸$2&!"))&  TRAILING GAINES 71
',%+ /,+&  FACES OF TERROR 72
1("!,4+ 5 RINGLEADER 74
,+!2 1&+$&+1"/3&"40 5 WRAP-UP 75
&$#&+&0% 6
INVESTIGATIVE ABILITY CHECKLIST 77
SUPER SQUAD 38
 (01,/6 8
1%" /&*" 8
1%"&+3"01&$1&,+ 8
1%"14&01 8
1%" 2)-/&1 9

3
 HARD HELIX

WHAT’S IN THIS BOOK

Hard Helix contains four scenarios for Mutant City case in which squad members must devise and execute
Blues, the GUMSHOE game of police investigation in a long-term strategy to bring down an emergent mob
a mutant-powered world. Like any scenario collection, family.
FQµPCLO$*BVBPLKIV 
Super Squad: A sudden death at a mutant-related
Cases contained in this book are: riot leads the unit into the twisted world of the Super
0NR>A >K BIFQB MLIF@FKD DOLRM TEL TLOH QEB @FQVµP
The Hard Helix: This scenario introduces the major QLRDEBPQ PQOBBQP³>KA E>SB FK QEB MOL@BPP DLQQBK
players of Mutant City and revolves around the central more than a little dirty. Squads struck by the typical
mystery of the Sudden Mutation Event. It emphasizes roleplaying impulse to set aside the rulebook may hew
clue-gathering and interrogation room savvy over super closer to the straight and narrow after seeing where
MLTBOBA>@QFLK 1EBP@BK>OFLµPJ>KVBKQOVMLFKQPFKQL police corruption leads.
the political ecology of the city and the mutant rights
movement make it an ideal follow-up to the sample Cell Division: The detectives confront a homegrown
adventure in the Mutant City Blues rulebook. terrorist threat from a previously unknown group of
mutant supremacists. Can they uncover the truth
The Vanishers: 1EB PNR>AµP FKQBOSBKQFLK FK > GBTBIOV ?BEFKA QEB *RQ>KQ /BSLIRQFLK>OV #OLKQ ³ LKB QE>Q
store robbery leads them into an operation against remains shrouded even from its own suicidally
the new school, mutant-bolstered forces of organized indoctrinated followers? This scenario provides a mix
crime. A brief investigation leads to an open-ended of investigation and action.

HC IU

4
 THE HARD HELIX

THE HARD HELIX

This introductory adventure introduces the players to THE TWIST
J>KVLC*RQ>KQ FQVµPHBVCFDROBP>KAOBFKCLO@BPQEB The detectives discover that Dorris was a mutant,
central mystery of the SME. gifted with Kinetic Energy Dispersal. This begs the
question: how do you shoot a bulletproof man?
BACKSTORY
Controversial scholar of anamorphology Sidney Dorris THE CULPRIT
is found murdered the evening before his scheduled Dorris died because he deliberately turned off his
announcement of an explanation for SME. What was power when he saw who was trying to kill him: his long-
his secret, and who was willing to kill him for it? suffering wife Gloria, distraught over her discovery
that Dorris had impregnated his mistress.
THE CRIME
Dorris is found his luxury hotel room, where he was SCENES
PQ>VFKD>P>K>QQBKABBLCQEB.R>AB&KPQFQRQBµP>KKR>I After the crime scene, which for obvious reasons has
Symposium On Anamorphological Research (SOAR), to be the first scene, possible sequences can mostly be
dead from multiple gunshot wounds. played out in an order dictated by player choices.

Items of information appearing under the same ability,

THE SUSPECTS but separated by bullet-points, can be split up between
Lucius Quade, father of anamorphology, who different characters using the same ability. If only one
considered the attention-seeking Dorris a threat to PC on the scene has that ability, they can glean all of
the discipline. these separated clues.

Anti-mutant activist Conrad Priestley, who feared

THE CRIME SCENE
!LOOFPµ AFP@LSBOV TLRIA CROQEBO IBDFQFJ>QB QEB DBKB
expressive community. SCENE TYPE: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
·1EB%>OA%BIFU¸?BDFKPin media res, with the detectives
City councillor Brian Schmiederer, who lost funding entering the crime scene, having been assigned the
CLO > @LJJRKFQV MOLGB@Q ARB QL !LOOFPµ CFK>K@F>I case by their watch commander. It presumes that the
shenanigans. PCs have been active as HCIU detectives for a while.
They know each other, and are well acquainted with
Billionaire mutant Galen Birch, who Dorris swindled. the demands of the job.

Former research assistant Crystal Flores, who he (Alternately, if this is your first episode, you can start
sexually harassed and professionally exploited by asking each of the players to describe a brief scene
establishing their characters, at the end of which they
Certified paranoid Chip Silver, whose research Dorris get the call to head over to the hotel.)
plagiarized.
This scene is set in a swanky hotel in your chosen
Ava Singleton, with whom Dorris was having an affair. city. Uniformed officers are already present. Medical

5
 HARD HELIX

examiner Mads Jensen (See Mutant City Blues p. 149) Isabel had no interaction with Mr. Dorris, except to
is there to deliver preliminary findings from a cursory clean his room when he was absent.
look at the body. He has his gloves on, ready to begin
the examination, after photographs are taken and the 0EB ALBPKµQ PKLLM FKQL LO HBBM QO>@H LC DRBPQPµ
lead detective on the case gives him the word. Police MLPPBPPFLKP >KA @>KµQ P>V FC >KVQEFKD E>P DLKB
photographer Lucy Bellaver is already snapping away. missing.
OFJFK>IFPQ"A·QEB1BA¸/FIBV0BBMutant City Blues p.
150) is there too, ready to bag and tag physical evidence Talking to Harry (who waits for questions before
>P OBNRBPQBA ?V QEB QB>J  ·!RABP¸ /FIBV FKQLKBP ?V volunteering information): When the front desk paged
T>VLCDOBBQFKD·QEFPDRVFPPLJB?FD@EBBPB ¸ EFJ TFQE KBTP LC &P>?BIµP @>II EB FKPQOR@QBA QEBJ QL
contact 911, and came immediately to the room.
Dorris lies dead on his back. Three small red bullet
holes pierce the starched fabric of his white dress shirt. There are no security cameras in the hotel corridors.
A large pool of blood stains the expensive broadloom
>OLRKAEFJ %BµP>IPL@I>AFK?I>@HAOBPPPI>@HP>KA The event Dorris was dressing for would presumably
dark socks. An untied bow tie is still wrapped around be the SOAR dinner and dance, which the hotel has
his collar. The cuffs of his shirt are unfastened; gold hosted since its inception.
cuff links sit in their velvet-lined case on top of the
ELQBIµPABPH 1EBOLLJµP@ROQ>FKP>OB@ILPBA  The dinner began at 7 PM.

Hotel manager Harry Fields hovers outside the room, 1EB ELQBIµP @>OAPTFMB PVPQBJ HBBMP QO>@H LC B>@E
waiting to answer questions, as does Isabel Gameros, time a key card is used to open a door. The last time
the housecleaning staffer who found his body. !LOOFPµ OLLJ T>P RKIL@HBA COLJ QEB LRQPFAB³>PFAB
COLJ &P>?BIµP BKQOV QEFP JLOKFKD³T>P >Q  -*
The following information is available in this scene. yesterday.

Talking to Ed “the Ted”: The victim is Sidney Dorris, 1EB PVPQBJ @>KµQ QBII TEBK QEB ALLO FP LMBKBA COLJ
a famous anamorphologist. He was in town for SOAR, the inside.
annual Symposium On Anamorphological Research,
sponsored by the Quade Institute. He was all over The rooms on this floor are from a block reserved for
the media because he was due, in a couple of hours, SOAR.
to address assembled scholars and scientists with a
much-heralded explanation for the SME. Dorris is Dorris paid for two occupants, but only one key card
C>JLRP>P>D>ACIV>KAQELOKFK)R@FRP.R>ABµPPFAB  has been issued on the room.
Ted volunteers all of this information in one burst, if
prompted to expand on his “big cheese” comment. Forensic Anthropology (or ask Mads): The bullet hits
on his chest and abdomen are entry wounds.
Talking to Isabel: Isabel wants to cooperate but is
nervous and has a shaky command of English. She They seem like those of a small caliber weapon,
provides the following information only in response probably a .22 caliber.
to specific questions, answering as briefly as she can.
She opened the door about ninety minutes ago, just 1EBOB>OBLKIVQTLBUFQTLRKAPLK!LOOFPµ?>@H 1EFP
after 10 AM, to clean the room. is not surprising; .22s lose kinetic energy quickly and
tend to move around in the body, bouncing off bones
1EBOBT>PKL·!L+LQ!FPQRO?¸PFDKLKQEBALLO  until finally coming to a rest in soft tissue.

She used the phone in the room to call the front desk Taking into account the chilly setting of the air
and let them know that they had a murdered guest on conditioning, which has somewhat retarded
QEBFOE>KAP ,QEBOQE>KQE>QPEBAFAKµQQLR@ELOJLSB decomposition, Dorris has been dead for sixteen to
anything. eighteen hours. This would put the time of death
?BQTBBK>KA-*DFSBLOQ>HB
Harry Fields arrived a few minutes later.

6
 (1 point spend) A hairline fracture in the
window indicates that the bullet hit the
curtains, further reducing their kinetic
energy, so that the bullet cracked, but
did not exit through, its thick glass.

A fourth bullet lies under an armchair.

(This numbering makes the correct
assumption that the third bullet is still
FK!LOOFPµ>?ALJBK 

Ballistics: (after finding the fourth

THE HARD HELIX

bullet) It is a .22 caliber, matching the
two found below the window.

It was fired but is otherwise in pristine

@LKAFQFLK >P FC FQ AFAKµQ EFQ >KVQEFKD >Q
>II³KLQ > MBOPLK KLQ > T>II LO LQEBO
object.

There are no holes in the chair, so, to

be where it was discovered, the fourth
bullet would to have been somehow
moved after being fired.

Data Retrieval: !LOOFPµI>MQLMPFQPLKQEB

desk. Its hard drive has been removed.
1EBOBµP> !FKQEBAOFSB?RQFQµPLKIV>
DVD of a recent movie.

Fingerprinting: (Timed Result, after

I>? TLOH !LOOFPµ MOFKQP >MMB>O LK QEB
I>MQLMµPP@OBBK>KAHBVP?RQQEBOB>OB
no other prints around the removed
hard drive.

1-point spend: This does not necessarily

indicate that the perp took any special
precautions against fingerprinting; the
matte plastic surface of this area of
the keyboard is not a particularly good
Evidence Collection: 1TL?RIIBQPIFB?BILTQEBOLLJµP medium for useful prints.
window.
Evidence Collection: No notes or scientific papers
Ballistics: (after finding these bullets) These are .22 @>K?BCLRKAFKQEBOLLJ !LOOFPµ?OFBC@>PBFPMOBPBKQ
caliber bullets, both deformed by impact with the >KAQEBOBµP>KBJMQVCLIABOFKPFAB?RQKL@LMVLCEFP
victim, and perhaps by secondary impacts with the speech, no papers, no notebook, no PDA device, no
objects that stopped them. nothing.

Evidence Collection: A dent in the metal radiator/air !LOOFPµ @BII MELKB PFQP LK QEB CILLO MIRDDBA FKQL QEB
conditioner unit below the window seems to be a bullet socket to recharge. He files all of his contacts by first
hit. K>JBPLQEBOBµPKL>MM>OBKQKBUQLCHFKQL@>II

7
 HARD HELIX

CANVASSING HOTEL GUESTS

Vernetta Brown is an lecturer in anamorphology from
An immediate canvass of the nearby rooms finds /BDBKQ2KFSBOPFQVFK3FODFKF> 0EBµAKBSBOJBQ!LOOFP
few guests currently present. (Most of them are at but was looking forward to his presentation with great
the Quade Institute, attending the symposium.) The interest. Like Dr. Gowariker, she was down at the
detectives find only a few people still in their rooms. informal pre-dinner reception during the apparent
time of the murder. Regent is an avowedly Christian
Dr. Mala Gowariker,heads the anamorphology institution founded by the evangelist Pat Robertson.
department of the University of Delhi, India, specializing Brown is not a scientist but a theologist. She belongs
in SEDS research. Mala tries to brush off the detectives. to a movement hoping to find the Biblical roots of the
0EBµPFJM>QFBKQQLDBQDLFKD?B@>RPBPEBALBPKµQT>KQ 0*"³QE>QFPQLBFQEBO@OBAFQ$LACLOFQLO?I>JBFQLK
QL JFPP !LOOFPµ MOBPBKQ>QFLK >Q QEB &KPQFQRQB  4EBK QEBABSFI 0EBT>PELMBCRIQE>Q!LOOFPµBSFABK@BTLRIA
PEBEB>OPEBµPAB>APEBµPQ>HBK>?>@H?RQKLQSFPF?IV advance her own studies.
upset. (Like certain other brilliant scientists, her
PBKPBLCBJM>QEVFPKµQ>PPE>OM>PFQJFDEQ?B CQBO Milton Gaines, a freelance writer, is covering SOAR for
EB>OFKDQEBKBTPPEB?B@LJBPTFIIFKDQLQ>IH 0EBµP The New Scientist magazine. Gaines is a frail, elderly
mostly concerned about the fate of his presentation. man suffering from noticeable tremors. Forensic
Will somebody be able to reconstruct it from his notes? Anthropology reveals that he probably suffers from
Did his PowerPoint presentation include enough of an ->OHFKPLKµP AFPB>PB  4EBK CFOPQ NRBPQFLKBA $>FKBP
audio component to be comprehensible without an says he heard nothing, and that he went down to
accompanying speech? the dinner around 6 PM. Bullshit Detector suggests
QE>Q EBµP EFAFKD PLJBQEFKD  &K C>@Q EB PHFMMBA QEB
If asked who might have done it, Mala blithely assumes dinner because he was feeling unwell. (This can be
QE>Q FQ T>P LKB LC EBO @LIIB>DRBP  ·%B T>P > SBOV determined conclusively by checking his account at
boastful, irritating man. He had a way of making you the hotel; he ordered room service at about 8:15 PM.
T>KQ QL HFII EFJ ¸ &C MOBPPBA CLO K>JBP LC MLPPF?IB A detective will have to use a suitable interpersonal
PRPMB@QP *>I> P>VP PEBµP GLHFKD >KA FKAF@>QBP QE>Q ability on Harry Fields or another hotel staffer to gain
prominent anamorphologists are frequently harassed access to this confidential information. Fields responds
?V >KQFJRQ>KQ >@QFSFPQP  &C >PHBA QL K>JB !LOOFPµ to Intimidation or Negotiation. Other staff might allow
main professional rivals, she mentions Lucius Quade access after Flattery or Flirting.) Gaines did hear
himself, and his former assistant, Crystal Flores. shots ring out but is feeling guilty and ashamed that
he was too frightened to do anything or alert anyone
!LOOFP RPBA QL ?B .R>ABµP OFDEQ E>KA J>K ?RQ ?OLHB about them. He fears that his seeming cowardice will
TFQEEFJ>?LRQCFSBVB>OP>DL %BµPKLT>CCFIF>QBATFQE jeopardize his reputation as a writer. Reassurance
the University of ###. ### is a large university within convinces him that the detectives will treat this
driving distance of Mutant City. (Or, in Europe, within a understandable lapse with discretion. He then admits
A>VµPQO>SBI?VQO>FK  that he heard four shots ring out at approximately 7:15
PM. First one, then a pause, then another three in rapid
He was a brilliant thinker but his recent work was erratic succession. He knows they were gunshots because,
and much-disputed. His presentation on the origins of back when he was a much healthier and braver man,
the SME was supposed to be his comeback. It either he was a war correspondent. Frightened, he remained
would have restored him in the anamorphological FK EFP OLLJ >KA AFAKµQ A>OB QL ILLH QL PBB >KVLKB
pecking order, or made him a laughing-stock forever. IB>SFKDQEBOLLJ>CQBOT>OAP %BAFAKµQEB>OCLLQPQBMP
so the person probably went in the opposite direction.
She left for the ballroom area at about 6 PM, along with
many other colleagues. The dinner provides a major
INTERVIEWS AND
occasion for networking, and nearly everybody goes
early to mill around in the hallways and chat. Since all INTERROGATIONS
KB>O?VOLLJPTBOB?LLHBA?V0,/FQµPRKPROMOFPFKD The opportunity for a first interview with Gloria Dorris
if no one was present to hear the shots ring out. comes at the PCs unexpectedly. They dictate the order
LC LQEBO FKQBOSFBTP³>IQELRDE PLJB PRPMB@QP TFII
(Other anamorphologists can convey the same appear on their list only after speaking to others.
information, although perhaps not so bluntly.)

8
GLORIA DORRIS
that, whatever it was, it would make mutants seem
As the detectives are finishing up at the hotel (or during less freakish to the general population.
a suitable lull in the action) Harry Fields approaches
QEBJ>K>KUFLRPILLHLKEFPC>@B !LOOFPµTFCB$ILOF> After answering the above question, she asks if
E>PGRPQ>OOFSBA 0EBµP>QQEBCOLKQABPH>PHFKDCLOEBO 0FAKBVµP IB@QROB J>QBOF>IP E>SB ?BBK OB@LSBOBA  0EB
room key. HKLTP QEBV E>SBKµQ ?B@>RPB PEB QLLH QEBJ >KA FP
trying to point the detectives toward a red herring.
This gives the PCs the unwelcome task of informing
Gloria that her husband has been killed. Her explosive During a phone conversation (conducted by cell on
grief when they inform her is genuine and interferes both sides), Sidney reported a nasty confrontation with
TFQEQEBRKFQµPBullshit Detectors, making everything a horrible anti-mutant type, who smelled like cat pee.
she says seem honest. (Trivia says that this can only describe the local leader

THE HARD HELIX

of the NPL, Conrad Priestley.)
Gloria demands to see her husband and becomes
nearly hysterical if prevented from doing so, to the Sidney was a difficult man, and their marriage had its
point of trying to push past the detectives and head ups and downs. But through it all, she never stopped
up to the room herself. She already knows the room loving him. On a 1-point Reassurance or Intimidation
number from speaking to Sidney (and, of course, from PMBKAPEBµIIPMBIILRQTE>QQEFPJB>KPPEBHKBTQE>Q
killing him there.) Reassurance will calm her down, 0FAKBV T>P ·L@@>PFLK>IIV¸ RKC>FQECRI QL EBO  &C >PHBA
but she remains intent on seeing the body right away. if she had an arrangement with Sidney, or an open
A 2-point spend gets her to relent on this demand marriage, she, with a sense of quiet anger, denies it.
entirely. (In other words, Sidney merely acted as if they had
arrangement.)
In response to specific questioning, she provides the
following information. To help keep the story straight She and Sidney are childless.
in your head, false statements are given in italics.
He feared that the distractions of fatherhood would
Gloria traveled later than Sidney because she had a prevent him from making the scientific breakthroughs
deadline to meet before she left; she works as a graphic he owed the world. Although she wanted to have kids,
designer. Gloria drove to Mutant City unaccompanied. she accepted this as a condition of remaining with
him.
(In truth, she arrived separately, but on the same day
as Sidney, in an attempt to catch him in the arms of @LOB 0FAKBVµP >PPFPQ>KQ S> 0FKDIBQLK TFII KBBA QL
his assistant/mistress, Ava Singleton. The deadline ?B QLIA LC QEFP  0EBµP >QQBKAFKD QEB @LKCBOBK@B ?RQ
story is one she told Dorris, too. Gloria stayed at a less is probably not staying at this costly hotel. (Gloria
expensive hotel within walking distance of this one.) provides her cell phone number.)

At the time of the killing, she was at home in another S> FP > KF@B HFA QELRDE $ILOF> >AJFQP PEB T>PKµQ
city, uploading a file to a client. If the detectives need always that nice to her, probably because she saw her
confirmation of this, a check of the time stamp on as a symbol of her husband’s workaholism.
EBO @IFBKQµP PBOSBO TFII @LKCFOJ QEFP  0EB PBQ RM EBO
computer to automate this task. At the time, she was Sidney and Lucius Quade were barely on speaking
@OB>QFKD >K >IF?F LKIV CLO 0FAKBVµP ?BKBCFQ FK @>PB EB terms. Lucius tried to keep Sidney in his shadow, and
>@@RPBA EBO LC PKLLMFKD LK EFJ  1EFP FPKµQ QEB CFOPQ OBPBKQBAEFPIB>SFKDQEB&KPQFQRQB 1EFPFPKµQOB>IIVQEB
QFJBPEBµPDLKBQL>@LKCBOBK@BQLPBBFCEBµPPIBBMFKD case, but Sidney believed it, and convinced Gloria it
with an assistant.) was true also.)

Sidney was not, as far as she knew, a mutant. $ILOF> E>P KL FAB> TE>Q 0FAKBVµP ?FD QEBLOV >?LRQ
QEB0*"T>P>KA@LRIAKµQ@>OBIBPP &CPEBAFA@>OB
Like all top anamorphologists, Sidney was regularly she could have checked his hard drive or papers
threatened by anti-mutant activists. The killer must have to find out what it was, but has already destroyed
been one of them. Threats increased after he announced this incriminating evidence by dropping a duffle bag
EBµACLRKAQEB@>RPBLCQEB0*" 1EBVPBBJBAQLCB>O

9
 HARD HELIX

containing the papers and smashed hard drive into the have boasted about it constantly. But with him, you
nearest large body of water.) could never tell what was real, and what was typical
Sidney BS.
LUCIUS QUADE
Lucius Quade is described in Mutant City Blues, p. 141. CONRAD PRIESTLEY
%FPOBPMLKPBQLKBTPLC!LOOFPµAB>QEFCQEBABQB@QFSBP Conrad Priestley (Mutant City Blues p.151) is sullen
are the first to inform him of it, is to quietly shake his and unresponsive when confronted with heightened
head. He asks immediately if they have a suspect. If he detectives. He prefers to pepper them with anti-mutant
PBKPBPQE>QQEBABQB@QFSBP@LKPFABOEFJ>PRPMB@QEBµP insults. Intimidation prompts him to grudgingly answer
taken aback and asks them if he should be speaking to QEBFO NRBPQFLKP³QELRDE KLQ TFQELRQ QEB L@@>PFLK>I
a lawyer first. Quade is an important man and expects segue into slurs and abuse.
deference from public officials, especially mutant ones.
He bristles visibly if questioned harshly, but, as man As a famous advocate of mutant rights, Dorris was
with nothing to hide, continues to respond honestly. a menace to the pure community second only to the
%BµIIMOLSFABQEBCLIILTFKDFKCLOJ>QFLKFKOBPMLKPBQL genetic traitor Lucius Quade. Whoever shot him did a
suitably specific questions. favor to mankind. Not that the NPL condones that sort
LCQEFKDJFKAVLR½
At the time of the killing, Quade was stuck in traffic,
on the way from the Institute. There was no one in Yes, Priestley did confront Dorris the night before the
the car with him. He was letting his cell phone calls murder, in an NPL picket line of the SOAR opening
go to voicemail as he reviewed the remarks he was ceremonies. SOAR is nothing but a massive propaganda
scheduled to make at the banquet. campaign to legitimize the mongrelization of the
human bloodline, and as such must be opposed by
Yes, there was bad blood between himself and Sidney anyone concerned for the future of the species. Conrad
Dorris. Dorris was too much of a one-man show to singled out Dorris for a good spitting on because he
survive at the Quade Institute, which demands team recognized him from his television appearances.
players.
!LOOFP T>P FKPLIBKQIV @L@HV FK QEB C>@B LC -OFBPQIBVµP
In his opinion, Dorris needed the supervision of righteous vituperation, wiping the spit from his face
skeptical colleagues. His later work grew increasingly and inviting Priestley to have coffee with him. Conrad
sloppy. He wrote a couple of popular best sellers and went, curious to see what corrupt truths the devil
made his presence felt on the talk circuit, but never would attempt to whisper in his ear.
made the major breakthrough he seemed to think
himself destined for. His conversation with Dorris was baffling. Conrad
expected an argument for mutant rights, but instead
Quade opposed the move to give Dorris a platform Dorris kept pressing him about something called
without knowing how credible his theory would be. the Cube Project, which he was supposed to know
RQ EBµP LKIV LKB JBJ?BO LC QEB PVJMLPFRJ ?L>OA something about due to his alleged connection to the
>KAT>PLSBOORIBA?VLQEBOP *>V?BQEBVTBOBOFDEQ³ Aryan Nations.
OBDFPQO>QFLKPCLOQEFPVB>OµPBSBKQ>OBRM?V
A character with Anthropology can explain the odd
(core) Quade was looking forward to the banquet, connection between the NPL and the Aryans. They do
?B@>RPBEBµA>OO>KDBAQLPFQ!LOOFPKBUQQL$>IBKFO@E share a network of connections, and many NPLers
who Dorris once swindled out of a five-figure sum. were straight-up racists before the SME. Although
some of them continue to socialize, especially behind
If Dorris was in contact with Conrad Priestley, it was bars, each group thinks that the other has grown
more likely to cook up some publicity stunt together. TB>H >KA QLIBO>KQ³QEB +-) ?B@>RPB FQ >@@BMQP
1EFP FP .R>ABµP ELKBPQIV EBIA ?RQ RKQORB >KA pures of all races and religious faiths, and the Aryans,
uncharitable opinion.) because they allow mutants to join them, so long as
QEBVµOBOBIF>?IV >R@>PF>K
When he got tipsy, Dorris would sometimes hint that he
was a closeted mutant. Quade finds it hard to believe History places the Cube Project as an all-purpose
QE>Q FC EB @LRIA CIV LO OB>A JFKAP QE>Q EB TLRIAKµQ conspiracy theory, explaining everything from Zionist

10
domination to cattle mutilations. The theory has shown to an abortive attempt to sabotage the SOAR dinner
an almost mythic elasticity; various groups interpret it TFQE > J>PPFSB PQFKH?LJ?  ·&Q T>P IBDFQFJ>QB @FSFI
according to their own agendas. (1-point spend): the AFPL?BAFBK@B¸EB@I>FJP
version of the theory most popular among the far right
describes it as an attempt by the US government to BRIAN SCHMIEDERER
infiltrate possible feeder groups for domestic terror Councillor Schmiederer (Mutant City Blues p. 145)
cells, including the Aryan Nations. remains forthcoming and friendly with detectives even
FCEBOB>IFWBPQE>QEBµP?BBKK>JBA>P>KBKBJVLCQEB
When it became clear that Priestley could tell him murder victim. He becomes upset only if it becomes
nothing about it, Dorris rudely and dismissively @IB>OQE>QQEBVµSB@LJB>CQBOEFJLK LKO>A-OFBPQIBVµP
ABM>OQBA³TFQELRQ BSBK M>VFKD CLO LKO>AµP @LCCBB  recommendation. After this bomb drops, a credibly
That was the last Priestley ever saw of him. mollifying use of Bureaucracy, Flattery, Negotiation

THE HARD HELIX

or Reassurance is needed to keep him talking.
(core) If anyone had reason to have Dorris shanked, Otherwise, he refers all further inquiries to his private
it would be that freak councillor, Brian Schmeiderer. attorney.
&Q T>P !LOOFPµ CFK>K@F>I FJMOLMOFBQFBP QE>Q P>KH
0@EJFBABOBOµP BCCLOQ QL BPQ>?IFPE > MOLM>D>KA> His answers to specific questions are as follows:
J>@EFKB QL ?O>FKT>PE QEB @FQVµP @EFIAOBK QE>KH QEB
)LOA  6LRµA KBBA QL ILLH CLO > @LKQO>@Q EFOB QELRDE At the time of the killing, Brian was down in the lobby
?B@>RPBQEBIFQQIBTB>PBITLRIAKµQA>OBDBQEFPE>KAP of the hotel, as the many worthies of the mutant
dirty. community and anamorphological discipline he was
glad-handing can attest.
Conrad was out helping his elderly mother shop for
DOL@BOFBP >Q QEB QFJB LC !LOOFPµ AB>QE >KA KLTEBOB When Dorris was still a star of the Quade Institute,
near the hotel. he served as a chairman on a dream project of
0@EJFBABOBOµP³> *RPBRJ LC QEB "SLISFKD %BIFU QL
1EFP I>PQ PQ>QBJBKQ IFDEQP RM QEB DOLRMµP Bullshit ?B ?RFIQ FK OF>KµP T>OA  1EFP TLRIA ?B > E>KAPLK
Detectors. science museum aimed especially at the young, to
educate them on genetics and biotech in general,
&C FKQBOSFBTBA LKO>AµP AB>O LIA JLQEBO *>DA> >Q and particularly on the challenges facing the mutant
first attempts to alibi her son, but quickly crumbles community. The project was already a tough sell. Then
if offered, through Flattery, any positive attention. it was revealed that Dorris was charging personal
Compliments for her somewhat stale jam cookies expenses, including champagne, flowers, high-end
>OB BPMB@F>IIV TBI@LJB  0EB P>VP QE>Q MLLO LKO>AµP @EL@LI>QB >KA BUMBKPFSB IFKDBOFB QL QEB CLRKA>QFLKµP
memory must be going: he helped her with her >@@LRKQ 1EBMOLGB@QE>P?BBKLKELIABSBOPFK@B³TFQE
shopping two days ago, not one. (Magda does not Dorris skipping town shortly thereafter.
IFSB TFQE LKO>A PEBµP >IIBODF@ QL EFP J>KV @>QP  ,K
a 1-point Forensic Psychology spend, a character (core) From the nature of the items Dorris charged
contemplating this concludes that this may be why to the project, it was pretty clear that the he was
Conrad has filled his apartment with nearly a dozen of having an affair and keeping the financial traces out
the little beasts.) LCEFPTFCBµPPFDEQ OF>KT>PKµQPROBTEL0FAKBVT>P
sleeping with, but he seemed awfully familiar with his
Data Retrieval, when used to study surveillance tapes pretty assistant, Crystal Flores.
from the hotel exterior and lobby around the killing,
OBSB>IP -OFBPQIBVµP PQ>QBJBKQ QL ?B > IFB  LKO>A Brian was hoping that Dorris would fall completely on
Priestley is seen along with several young barhead his face with that presentation of his, but would never
>IIFBP >QQBJMQFKD QL BKQBO QEB ELQBIµP ?>IIOLLJ >OB>  in a million years commission a murder. Never!
He is then rebuffed by guards from Petula Security.
They are carrying a large and somewhat suspicious GALEN BIRCH
duffle bag. 1EBTLOIAµPOF@EBPQJRQ>KQMutant City Blues p. 142) is
LKIVQLLE>MMVQLQ>IHQLQEB@LMP³MOLSFABAQE>QQEBV
&C@LKCOLKQBATFQEQEBCLLQ>DB³LOFCEB?BDFKPQLCB>O seem to be primarily interested in gathering dirt on
EBµP?BFKDCFKDBOBACLO!LOOFPµJROABO-OFBPQIBV@LMP the deceased, against whom he bore a considerable

11
 HARD HELIX

grudge. He becomes spooked if the detectives

come at him too hard or seem to regard him as
> PRPMB@Q  &C QE>Q E>MMBKP QEBVµII E>SB QL MFSLQ
quickly to schmooze him back into cooperation.
Otherwise, he directs all inquiries to his formidable
ME>I>KULCEFDEMOF@BAIBD>IQ>IBKQ $FSBKFO@EµP
mammoth ego, Flattery is always a reliable bet,
?RQEBµII>IPLOBPMLKAQLFlirting (from attractive
female detectives), Negotiation, or Reassurance.

He volunteers the following information, whether

asked or not:

Dorris was a persuasive con artist, who swindled

EFJLRQLCKB>OIVE>IC>JFIIFLKALII>OP 1EFPFPKµQ
the first time Sidney announced a breakthrough
explanation for the SME. Five years ago, he came
to Birch and promised just such a revelation if
FO@EµP 4EFQBL>H #LRKA>QFLK TLRIA RKABOTOFQB
his research. Birch squandered the research
funds, diverting much of the money into his own
pocket. This went on for several years until Birch
ABJ>KABA > CRII >@@LRKQFKD FK@IRAFKD !LOOFPµ
OBPRIQPQLA>QB³>KADLQKLQEFKDFKOBQROK

Birch provides this information in response to

suitably specific questions:

Birch arrived at the SOAR dinner late, having been

ABI>VBA ?V ·> ?RPFKBPP FPPRB ¸ &C >DDOBPPFSBIV
pressed, he explains that a hedge fund he was
heavily invested in had just taken a sizeable
EFQ >KA EB KBBABA QL Q>HB QFJB LRQ QL ·AFP@RPP
PQO>QBDVTFQE¸OB>AP@OB>J>QFQPJ>K>DBO earliest SME symptoms. Birch subsequently had this
checked out by reputable scholars, who thoroughly
Although he could certainly afford it, and has plenty AB?RKHBA FQ  !LOOFPµ QEBLOFBP KLQ LKIV OBCBOBK@BA QEB
of connections of that nature from his time heading wackiest of paranormal claims, but were based on
Betula Security Consultants, Birch would never inaccurate technical readings. There was no spike
have an enemy whacked. He had much worse plans in electromagnetic activity anywhere that day, and
CLO !LOOFP³EB T>P DLFKD QL PF@ EFP I>TVBOP LK EFJ much less in the Bermuda Triangle. But Dorris had a
demanding full rights to any proceeds from his most @LKSFK@FKD T>V >?LRQ EFJ QE>Q @LRIA J>HB >KVLKB³
current SME theory. (If the detectives have given him M>OQF@RI>OIV > P@FBKQFCF@ I>VJ>K IFHB FO@E³T>KQ QL
any reason to believe that their ethics are malleable, believe him.
FO@ETFIIQEBKEFKQQE>QEBµIIJ>HBFQTLOQEQEBFOTEFIB
QLDFSBEFJ>AS>K@BLOBU@IRPFSB>@@BPPQL!LOOFPµ0*" (core) Although Dorris professed not to be a mutant
notes, if they should recover them.) himself, Birch found out otherwise, when he hired
private detectives to engage in a belated background
&C >PHBA TE>Q !LOOFPµ LOFDFK>I 0*" QEBLOV T>P FO@E check. If the detectives made an appointment in
P>VP EBµP BJ?>OO>PPBA QL Q>IH >?LRQ FQ KLT >KA advance, Birch has a DVD to show them. If they
only speaks if the detectives agree to keep it on the surprise him, he supplies it later, making it a Timed
. 1  !LOOFP @>JB QL EFJ @I>FJFKD QE>Q EBµA CLRKA >K Result clue. The DVD contains surreptitiously-taken
unusual electromagnetic emanation coming out video footage of Dorris performing repair work on his
of the Bermuda Triangle at the exact time of the SFKQ>DB#BOO>OF %BµPRKABOQEB@>OTEBKEBAFP@LSBOP

12
that he needs a tool sitting several meters away. His For the last year of that time, she was having an
arm elongates, snakes out, snatches the wrench, and affair with him. It was a terrible mistake, one that has
zips back into place. Anamorphology identifies this as haunted her career ever since.
a clear use of the Limb Extension power.
Dorris only takes pretty women as assistants. Ever
!LOOFP E>A >K BVB CLO QEB I>AFBP  &Q T>P FK FO@EµP >CQBOT>OAP QEBVµII ?B HKLTK >P QEB CLLIP TEL PIBMQ
eyes, his only humanizing quality. (Trivia reminds TFQE EFJ  &OLKF@>IIV QELRDE FQµP EFP B>OIV >PPFPQ>KQP
>K FKSBPQFD>QLO LC FO@EµP LTK >ASBKQROBP FK PBOF>I including her, who did all of his groundbreaking work
monogamy.) As much as he hated Dorris, Birch for him.
@LKPFABOP>PELQ>QQEBJ>KµPOLJ>KQF@>@QFSFQFBPQL?B
hitting below the belt, and must be pressed to reveal 0FK@BIB>SFKDQEB.R>AB&KPQFQRQBEBµPDLKBFK@OB>PFKDIV
QE>QQEBJ>KPMB@F>IFWBAFK·?>KDFKDEFP>PPFPQ>KQP ¸ off the rails, pursuing a series of ever-crazier theories.

THE HARD HELIX

%BµA ?B ?BQQBO LCC DLFKD ?>@H QL Q>HFKD @OBAFQ CLO EFP
CRYSTAL FLORES >PPFPQ>KQPµTLOH
A check of the symposium guest registry confirms that
!LOOFPµ BU>PPFPQ>KQ OVPQ>I #ILOBP FP >K >QQBKABB  It began as sexual harassment, but eventually she
In her current capacity as adjunct professor of gave into his charms.
>K>JLOMELILDV>QQEB2KFSBOPFQV,C1BU>P*PEBµP
scheduled to present her paper, Vitamin Absorption In She had no idea that he was financing their romantic
Adolescent Category-B Mutants: A Random Controlled weekends with money swindled from the museum
Study tomorrow at the Quade Institute. The schedule board.
shows that this talk is booked into a small seminar
E>II >KA TLRIA E>SB @LKCIF@QBA TFQE !LOOFPµ JR@E (core) He told her that he and his wife had an
anticipated presentation in the main lecture theater. arrangement, and that Gloria was okay with his extra-
Flores is staying at the hotel. curricular activities as long as he used protection. She
AFAKµQ?BIFBSBQEFPRKQFILKBA>VTEBKPEBMELKBA!LOOFP
Flores is a twitchy, nervous presence, who eschews at his home and Gloria answered. She referred to their
makeup, lets her eyebrows grow out, and wears her affair in an off-hand manner that suggested she knew
tangled hair in a severe knot. A character with the about this, and accepted it, at least grudgingly.
Flirting >?FIFQV @>K QBII QE>Q PEBµP ALFKD EBO ?BPQ QL
disguise her natural beauty, presumably to deflect OVPQ>IT>PFKEBOOLLJ>QQEBQFJBLC!LOOFPµJROABO 
unwanted romantic attention. (Research turns up She planned to skip the dinner entirely, for fear of
images of her from her days with Dorris, when her running into him.
look was overtly glamorous.) Any detective trying to
use Flirting to get information from her is immediately 0EBµAKBSBOPELLQ!LOOFP 1E>QTLRIA?B>K>AJFPPFLK
PERQALTKPEBILLHPM>PQEFJ>PFCEBFPKµQQEBOB that he still had power over her.

Crystal is extremely reluctant to talk about Sidney &C>PHBAQLPRDDBPQ>IFHBIVPRPMB@Q OVPQ>IP>VP·%BµP

!LOOFPP>VFKDQE>QFQµP>@E>MQBOLCEBOIFCBPEBµAMOBCBO probably harassing his current assistant. And if I were
not to revisit. She talks if the PCs use Intimidation to VLR&µAJ>OHFQALTK>PGRPQFCF>?IBELJF@FAB ¸
OBJFKA EBO QE>Q PEBµP > MOFJB PRPMB@Q FK > JROABO
investigation. AVA SINGLETON
Ava is a blond woman in her late twenties with very
She remains unforthcoming, giving only the minimum fair skin who dresses in oversized sweaters and
FKCLOJ>QFLK @>IIBA CLO ?V QEB QB>JµP PMB@FCF@ unflattering jeans. Obviously extremely distraught by
questions: !LOOFPµAB>QEPEB@OFBPQEOLRDELRQ>KVFKQBOSFBTTFQE
the detectives. Reassurance gets her to talk. A 2-point
0EB T>P !LOOFPµ OBPB>O@E >PPFPQ>KQ CLO QTL VB>OP Reassurance spend gets her through the interview
during the end of his tenure at the Quade Institute, TFQELRQ ?OB>HFKD ALTK  ,QEBOTFPB PEBµII ?B >?IB QL
>KAAROFKDEFPFKSLISBJBKQTFQEOF>K0@EJFBABOBOµP answer about five questions before losing it completely
Museum of the Evolving Helix. so that the detectives have to come back the next day
to complete the interview.

13
 HARD HELIX

A character with Anamorphology who engages her @LOB 0EB @>MQROBA -I>QFKRJµP KRJ?BO LK EBO @BII
in conversation about the field discovers that her phone but never called it. As his threats grew worse,
familiarity with it is that of an inattentive undergrad. she repeatedly urged Sidney to involve the police, but
EBTLRIAKµQEB>OLCFQ S>MOLSFABPQEBKRJ?BO³FQµP
Without the 2-point Reassurance spend, she keeps local to Mutant City.
EBO>KPTBOP>P?OFBC>PPEB@>K?B@>RPBPEBµP?RPV
PL??FKD 4FQEFQPEBµII?BJLOBBUM>KPFSB If a player asks to use Forensic Psychology for
insights into Ava, say that she appears distracted
She denies having an affair with Dorris. Bullshit above and beyond her obvious grief. On a 2-point
Detector reveals this as patently deceptive. Intimidation Forensic Anthropology spend, a detective spots the
gets her to admit it. signs of pregnancy. Ava is in the last weeks of her first
trimester and has been able to conceal her condition
She says that their affair was consensual from the by wearing baggy tops. (This is redundant, of course, if
CFOPQ ·&KC>@Q&MROPRBAEFJ ¸ QEBVE>SB>IOB>AVIB>OKBA>?LRQS>µPMOBDK>K@VCOLJ
Chip Silver.)
S>AFAKµQPQ>VTFQE!LOOFPFKEFPELQBIOLLJ?B@>RPB
EBµA?BPE>OFKDFQTFQEEFPTFCB 0EBE>A>OLLJ>Q> CHIP SILVER
cheaper hotel. Chip Silver is a lifelong conspiracy theorist who lives in
EFPJLQEBOµP?>PBJBKQFK>PIFDEQIVORKALTKTLOHFKD
0EBAFAKµQMI>KLK>QQBKAFKDQEBAFKKBO?B@>RPBFQT>P class residential neighborhood. Research locates
hard for her to see Sidney and Gloria together. his home address from his cell phone number. Chip
works for an onsite computer repair company and so
As far as she knew, Gloria was running late but was is constantly on the move during business hours.
supposed to make it to town in time for the dinner.
RQ QEBK PEB T>PKµQ BU>@QIV RM QL A>QB LK QEB TFCBµP His mother Cloris is home during the day. She is very
comings and goings. protective of Chip and does her best to discourage
>KVLKB COLJ ?LQEBOFKD EFJ  %BµP QLIA EBO QE>Q EFP
According to Sidney, he and his wife had an researches might have gotten him into trouble with
understanding. Their relationship was loveless, but the CIA. If the detectives show up during the daytime,
he kept it up due to an unspecified mental illness on PEBQBIIPQEBJQE>QEBµPLK>S>@>QFLKQL@>MRI@L 0EB
EBOM>OQ 1EFPFPRKQORB?RQFQµP!LOOFPµIFBTEF@ES> @I>FJP QE>Q EBµP ?BBK DLKB CLO > TBBH >KA TLKµQ ?B
believes.) back for another two. Bullshit Detector reveals this as
transparently deceptive, but she clings to her lie even
S>µPBUMBOQFPBFPFK%FPQLOVPMB@FCF@>IIVQE>QLCMLPQ if the detectives identify themselves as such.
Cold War western intelligence agencies.
If they first come in the evening, lights will be on
!LOOFPPLRDEQEBOLRQ?B@>RPBEBµA?B@LJB@LKSFK@BA FK EFMµP ?>PBJBKQ >M>OQJBKQ TFQE FQP PBM>O>QB
that the SME was the result, intentional or otherwise, entrance, giving Cloris little chance to run interference
of a black operation by the CIA or another intelligence for her son.
agency.
Should the detectives contact him by phone before
He came increasingly to rely on a source he codenamed showing up at his home, Chip agrees to meet them in
Platinum. a few hours, at a neutral location. Then, panicking, he
ducks his current service call to go home and scrub
Lately, this Platinum had turned on him and began to his hard drives of all data concerning his conspiracy
call him around the clock. He got ahold of her number researches.
and harassed her, too. He claimed that Dorris had
stolen his research, and was going to pay for it. &C LKIV LKB LO QTL QB>J JBJ?BOP >MMOL>@E EFMµP
apartment without advance warning, he concludes that
The threats began two weeks ago, at about the same the CIA has sent agents to whack him. Chip mounts an
QFJBKBTPLC!LOOFPµFJMBKAFKD>KKLRK@BJBKQ?BD>K attempted escape using his mutant powers. He tries
to garner widespread media coverage. to take his would-be assassins by surprise and web
them to the side of his house. If successful, he tries to

14
jump in his deteriorating old compact car and drive off A couple of weeks ago, he realized that Dorris was
for an undetermined safe location. Chip relents in his going to screw him out of full credit for his work. He
escape attempt only when physically stopped, or when T>PDLFKDQL>KKLRK@B EFMµP0*"QEBLOVQLQEBTLOIA
convinced that the detectives really are who they claim ?RQAFAKµQBSBKJBKQFLKEFJFK>KVLCQEBFKQBOSFBTPEB
to be. Given his intense paranoia, it takes a 2-point gave to hype the announcement.
Cop Talk spend to get Chip to accept them as police
ABQB@QFSBPFKSBPQFD>QFKD0FAKBV!LOOFPµJROABO &C EFM Sure, he maybe lost his temper a bit and called him Ava
OBJ>FKP RK@LKSFK@BA EBµII LKIV >KPTBO NRBPQFLKP on the phone a few times. But that was mild compared
unrelated to his conspiracy theories. to what he could have said! The man tried to steal his
entire life.
In his late thirties, Chip sports a mop of coarse gray
hair. His freckles and piercing blue eyes suggest that he @LOB!LOOFPAFAKµQBSBKLCCBO>DLLABU@RPB #FK>IIVEB

THE HARD HELIX

used to be a redhead. Chip dresses sloppily, wearing a apologized and said he had a lot on his mind, because
plaid short-sleeve dress shirt and mismatched brown he was going to be a father for the first time. But then
corduroy slacks. He smells like breath-enhancing EBPQFIIAFAKµQMOLJFPBQLJBKQFLK EFMFKEFPPMBB@E 
gum. %BP>FAFQTLRIA·@LKCRPBJ>QQBOP¸>KA·A>J>DBLRO
@OBAF?FIFQV ¸%BABPBOSBATE>QT>P@LJFKDQLEFJÚ
Detectives must use an ability to get him to talk.
Interrogate applies if they caught him trying to escape RQFQT>PKµQ EFMTEL@LJJFQQBAQEBJROABO &QT>P
and have him in custody. Negotiate also works under the CIA, who wanted to silence him. Duh!
this situation; they can offer to forget the resisting
arrest charge they could slap him with. Impersonate Chip kept warning him to be careful of assassins, but
could make them seem like fellow conspiracy buffs. Sidney was dismissive.
Flattery, coupled with an apparent readiness to
believe, also does the trick. @LOB%BP>FADRKPAFAKµQTLOOVEFJ 

Chip runs a website called Conspiracy Forum. Two EFM FP SBOV FKQBOBPQBA FK OB@LSBOFKD 0FAKBVµP KLQBP
years ago he was contacted by a man who later revealed >KA>PHPQEBABQB@QFSBPCLOEBIM ·&QµPPQLIBKMOLMBOQV
himself to be top anamorphological scientist Sidney OFDEQ 1E>QµP TE>Q @LMP AL  /B@LSBO PQLIBK MOLMBOQV
!LOOFP !LOOFPT>POBPMLKAFKDQL>MFB@BEBµATOFQQBK >KAOBQROKFQQLFQPOFDEQCRILTKBOP ¸
linking the Cube Project, a top-secret CIA operation,
with the onset of the SME. Chip claims to have been miles away from the hotel
>QQEBQFJBLC!LOOFPµAB>QE?BQTBBKPBOSF@B@>IIP &C
Chip tutored Dorris from the ground up in the murky detectives call the company he works for, they find a
world of conspiracy theory. Dorris used his resources three-hour gap between appointments, the second
>KAIBDFQ@LKKB@QFLKPQLDBQFKCLOJ>QFLK EFM@LRIAKµQ  one having been rescheduled by Chip. That leaves
Chip wove it all together into a grand tapestry more than enough time to have gone to the hotel, killed
explaining the origins of the SME. Ava Singleton fact Dorris, and then performed the second call. A glance
@EB@HBA EFJ³TEF@E EB CLRKA >KKLVFKD >Q CFOPQ RKQFI >Q EFMµP@>OOBSB>IP>M>OHFKDILQQF@HBQCOLJQEBELQBI
he realized how much her challenges forced him to still on his dashboard.
solidify his case.

The Cube Project, in a nutshell, was an attempt by

CHIP SILVER
the CIA to design a targeted biological weapon that
would only kill people with a particular DNA pattern.
Theoretically, it could be tuned to be fatal to, say, Athletics 4, Driving 2, Filch 4, Fleeing 8, Health 5,
only members of a particular nuclear family, or every Scuffling 2, Shooting 8, Stability 2.
worldwide member of a particular ethnic ancestry.
However, a preliminary form of the pathogen escaped Powers: Webbing 12
into the environment ten years ago, to a quite different
BCCB@Q³QOFDDBOFKDQEB0*"

15
 HARD HELIX

DR. AARON N. ROSENBLUM

damnation, and that he had no idea how to reconcile
Aaron is, unlike the other witnesses, found through the two. Rosenblum tried to get him to confide further,
Research (see below), as opposed to being mentioned but he would only speak in tormented generalities. He
by another possible suspect. tried to get Dorris to seek professional help, but he
said it was something he had to work out on his own.
%BµP >K BIABOIV J>K EFP PHFK M>MBOV >KA KB>O
translucent, his eyes dimming and perpetually watery. Rosenblum considers Gloria a woman of astonishing
Rosenblum dresses nattily in well-kept clothing patience and forbearance.
that looks like it dates from the 1950s. Though his
body is failing him, his mental faculties are still fully Dorris also mistreated Crystal Flores, but she is too
engaged. good a person to have hurt anyone.

No matter how aggressively the detectives press him, !LOOFPµ@>OBBOT>P?OLHBKFKEFPSFBT?VEFPPMIFQCOLJ
he remains unflaggingly kindly and polite. Forensic Lucius Quade. If there was lingering animosity, it was
PsychologyOBSB>IPQE>QEBFPABBMIVPE>HBK?V!LOOFPµ from Dorris, toward Quade, not the other way around.
death, though too reserved to display his grief to
strangers. Rosenblum suspected that Dorris was a mutant, but
he never confirmed it.
When asked why his name appears so often in the
ABAF@>QFLKPQL!LOOFPµ?LLHPEBBUMI>FKP·&µSBHKLTK
INFORMATION GATHERING
him since he was six years old. We were neighbors
when he was a child. He credits me with introducing DORRIS’ BOOKS
EFJQLQEBTLOIALCP@FBK@B #LOVB>OPTBµSBPMLHBKLK ResearchQROKPRM>IILC!LOOFPµP@FBKQFCF@M>MBOP>KA
QEBMELKB>QIB>PQLK@B>TBBH ¸ books, including the out-of-print early ones.

/LPBK?IRJFPTBII>T>OBLC!LOOFPµS>OFLRPMB@@>AFIILBP Anamorphology, coupled with a quick reading of

and improprieties, but is reluctant to discuss them. the books, reveals an early brilliance and technical
When he does, it is with the forgiving tone of a doting exactitude which waned sharply over the years. After
DO>KAM>OBKQ ·)FHB J>KV ?OFIIF>KQ JBK EB T>P his departure from the Quade Institute, he publishes
MBOPLK>IIVQOLR?IBA ¸ only a few papers, none of which would likely have
made it into a peer-reviewed journal had his name not
He supplies the following information in response to been attached to them. Most of his works after that
appropriately specific questions: time are books of popular science.

/LPBK?IRJALBPKµQ?BIFBSBQE>Q>KVLKBFK!LOOFPµLO?FQ (core) Anyone skimming the books with Research (that

or in the anamorphological community, could possibly is, for non-technical information) notes that all but one
have killed him. It must have been a robbery attempt of the books is dedicated to ANR. In one dedication,
DLKB TOLKD³MBOE>MP ?V PLJBLKB PL JFPDRFABA >P EBFP@>IIBA·QEBJLPQILV>ILCCOFBKAP ¸KLQEBOP>VP
QLQEFKHQE>Q0FAKBVµP·FKS>IR>?IBAFP@LSBOV¸@LRIA?B ·1L+/TELPBB>OFP>IT>VPLMBK ¸1EB?LLHTEF@E
sold for cash. is not dedicated to ANR is The Soft Helix, a series of
FKQBOSFBTP TFQE S>OFLRP >K>JLOMELILDFPQP³KLQ>?IV
&C >OLK AFAKµQ HKLT ?BQQBO EBµA PRDDBPQ QE>Q QEB not including Lucius Quade. In fact, the only fellow of
ABQB@QFSBP J>HB PROB QEB @OFJB T>PKµQ > PRF@FAB the Quade Institute profiled is Aaron N. Rosenblum,
disguised as a murder. He had a horrible feeling that whose obscure and very technical research focuses
0FAKBVµP0*"QEBLOVTLRIAQROKLRQQL?B>ERJFIF>QFKD on the differences between various mental powers,
CILM³>KAQE>Q0FAKBV@LRIAPBBFQ@LJFKD  as measured by changes in brain chemistry.
Anamorphology pegs him as a much more obscure
He had no idea what the theory was, however. figure than any of the other scientists profiled in the
book.
(core) For the past month or so, his calls with Dorris
CL@RPBA LK 0FAKBVµP DOLTFKD PBKPB LC DRFIQ >KA THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION
ABMOBPPFLK  %B TLRIAKµQ BUMI>FK TE>Q EBµA ALKB ?RQ The following information can be gleaned by one
said it was at the same time, his deliverance and his or more characters performing the examination

16
themselves, using Forensic Anthropology and
Ballistics. Alternately, they can leave the matter in
the hands of Mads Jensen and Leonard Northrup. In
the latter case, they get a timed result: Northrup calls
during a suitable lull in the action to call them over for
a computerized demonstration.

>PBA LK QEB TLRKA QO>GB@QLOV !LOOFPµ C>Q>I FKGROFBP

could not have been self-inflicted. They were fired
from approximately 1.2 m away, by an assailant firing
slightly downwards. Given the location of the wounds
on his chest and abdomen, the murderer was most

THE HARD HELIX

IFHBIV!LOOFPµEBFDEQLOPIFDEQIVQ>IIBO³MRQQFKDEFJLO
EBO?BQTBBKµ¸>KACBBQQ>II

Of all the suspects, only Crystal Flores and Brian

Schmiederer are shorter than this. Galen Birch is too
tall to be a likely trigger man.

THE CUBE PROJECT

Research reveals the Cube Project as a frequent
subject of conspiracy theorists. It is the Area 51 of a new
generation. Various crazy theories link it to everything
from cattle mutilations to a secret new Stealth
bomber which is invisible to the naked eye. One site
lists several dozen accidental deaths and apparently
random murders which it links to knowledge of the
Cube Project secret. (However, this site thinks that the
Cube Project was an effort at mass mind control using
electronic devices in weather balloons.) A 2-point
Research spend debunks the death list as being based
on misreported or misinterpreted incidents. course, we would never dream of doing something like
QE>QQEBPBA>VP ¸
Bureaucracy DO>KQP QEB ABQB@QFSB RPFKD QEB >?FIFQV³
>KALKIVQE>QABQB@QFSB³>?OFBCLCCQEBOB@LOAJBBQFKD AVA’S HOTEL
TFQE> &LCCF@F>IK>JBA1LIBO·1LIIV¸>IATFKLKQEB Sidney was too discreet to be seen showing
understanding that he cannot be called as a witness, unprofessional affection for his assistant at a hotel
or any of what he reveals used as evidence in court. swarming with fellow scientists. He had her stashed
Toler is a bland-looking man in a Brooks Brothers suit in a cheaper establishment. Dorris concluded the day
who speaks in careful, measured tones. He reveals prior to his murder by spending the night with her
that the Cube Project was in fact something much there.
more innocuous than the various theories suggest.
It was an attempt to produce a super-counterfeit US Unfortunately for Sidney, he long ago lost any board
currency, which could be used untraceably in various chairmanships that would allow him to conceal
operations. This was shut down over nine years ago, on financial tracks of his philandering from his wife. She
the reasonable objections of the treasury department. HKLTPQEFPFPEFPC>SLOFQBELQBITEBKEBµPSFPFQFKDQEB
When the project threatened to go public, a group of city on his own dime. She drove to the city early and
intelligence trainees were tasked, as part of a graduate checked in here herself, in hopes of spying on them
seminar on disinformation, with covering it up. They
did so by generating an all-purpose conspiracy theory. The hotel desk clerk is a perky young woman
Baldwin seems cagey but the only thing that trips the named Paulette Conlon, who gives off a distinct ex-
- µP Bullshit Detector @LJBP TEBK EB >PPROBP ·,C cheerleader vibe. If asked about Sidney and Ava, she
says that they had a distressing emotional scene in the

17
 HARD HELIX

IL??V >Q >OLRKA  -*  %B PBBJBA QL ?B COB>HFKD Powers: Fire Immunity 6, Fire Projection 12.
out completely about something, and she was trying,
mostly in vain, to calm him down. Weapon: light firearm 0

0EB@LRIAKµQJ>HBLRQTE>QQEBAFP@RPPFLKT>P>?LRQ 
Another lady stopped herself from entering the hotel
VIC “THE BURN” BYRNE
until they finished, then came up to the desk to register.
0EBP>FA· >KµQVLRQBII0EBµPMOBDK>KQ ¸
QEIBQF@P  !OFSFKD  #FI@E  #IBBFKD  %B>IQE 
The woman was Gloria, who made sure that neither &KCFIQO>QFLK  0@RCCIFKD  0ELLQFKD  0Q>?FIFQV 
Sidney nor Ava spotted her. She registered under a Surveillance 5.
C>IPB K>JB³!BBK> 1VK>K³?RQ ->RIBQQB FP >?IB QL
identify her if shown a photo. Powers: High Energy Dispersal 2, Technopathy 6,
Telepathy 8.
(This scene provides a partially core clue. The detectives
@>KPROJFPBQE>Q$ILOF>PLJBELTIB>OKBA>?LRQS>µP Weapon: heavy firearm +1
MOBDK>K@V ?RQ QEFP ?FQ LC IBDTLOH @LKCFOJP FQ³>KA
places Gloria in town at the time of the murder. If the Defect: Attention Deficit Disorder (stage one)
ABQB@QFSBP ALKµQ @LJB QL QEFP IL@>QFLK ILLH CLO LQEBO
T>VPQLFKQOLAR@B$ILOF>µPHKLTIBADBLCQEBMOBDK>K@V
late in the case.)
ALICE RAMOS
THE QUADE DIAGRAM
A crucial piece of the puzzle appears on the Quade QEIBQF@P!OFSFKD#IBBFKD%B>IQE&KCFIQO>QFLK
Diagram. Once they know he had Limb Extension (the 0@RCCIFKD0ELLQFKD0Q>?FIFQV
core clue from the Galen Birch interview), the players
can check out the diagram to see what other powers Powers: Command Mammals 4, Environmental
EBµP IFHBIV QL E>SB  JLKD QEBJ FP (FKBQF@ "KBODV Awareness 1, Tracking 4, Olfactory Center 1, Natural
Dispersal. Weaponry 12.

Weapon: light firearm 0, natural weaponry +2

ACTION
DIMWIT INTERLOPERS L??VFPQEBDOLRMµPABC>@QLOFKDIB>ABO %BµP>C>PQ
With its non-mutant killer, this case offers little talking dreamer who hopes the money from the sale of
inherent opportunity for super-powered action. If your !LOOFPµKLQBPTFIICRKA>KBTOL@H?>KAEBµPQEFKHFKD
MI>VBOP>OBKµQKLQF@FKDQEBI>@HLCFQALKµQFKQOLAR@BFQ of forming. As soon as he learns to play an instrument
>KATOFQBPPLJBPLKDPEBµPPROBEBµII?B>PQ>O
Should you require it, this section provides a red
herring action sequence. Vic is your classic lummox, pothead subtype. His ADD
J>HBP EFJ E>OA QL FKQBOOLD>QB ?B@>RPB EBµP >IT>VP
A team of full-time stoners and wannabe superhuman losing the thread in any discussion. He wants Bobby to
secret agents has staked out the hotel, hoping to hijack like him and look up to him.
!LOOFPµ 0*" PB@OBQ >KA PBII FQ QL QEB EFDEBPQ ?FAABO 
They are: IF@B FP L??VµP PLLK QL ?B BUDFOICOFBKA  %BO MI>K FP
to wait until after they get the money. Bobby and Vic
will inevitably indulge in some heavy partying. When
QEBVµOBPIBBMFKDFQLCCPEBµIIPMIFQTFQEQEBALRDE 0EBµP
BOBBY “NEETCHSTER” NITSZCHE
> QLRDEILLHFKD @EF@H TELµP @IB>OIV FKSBPQBA > ILQ LC
time in upper-body development.
Athletics 8, Driving 8, Filch 8, Fleeing 4, Health 6,
Infiltration 4, Scuffling 8, Shooting 4, Stability 6, That they think a scientific presentation, even if
Surveillance 4. groundbreaking, has significant cash value suggests
QE>Q QEBPB QEOBB >OBKµQ QEB PE>OMBPQ HKFSBP FK QEB

18
AO>TBO  4EBK !LOOFPµ KLQBP DL JFPPFKD >Q QEB @OFJB let Gloria kill him. This is the point that gets Gloria to
scene, they convince themselves that the detectives break down and confess.
have them. When given a suitable opportunity, they
@O>PE>KAQO>PEQEBABQB@QFSBPµSBEF@IB 1EBVQOVQLAL When she confesses, the detectives get their clearance,
FQTEBKQEBQB>JFPKµQ>OLRKA ?RQ QFJB QEBFO>PP>RIQ effectively ending their involvement with the case. They
poorly, so that the PCs are headed back to their car or later learn that she entered a plea bargain agreement,
S>K>PQEBVµOBQB>OFKDFQ>M>OQ getting the sentence at the low end of the scale for
premeditated murder.
If captured and interrogated, any of them proves easy
QL?OB>H 1EBVµOB>IIB>DBOQLOLIILSBOLKQEBLQEBOP 
The scene plays as classic interrogation room comedy,
featuring lunk-headed, self-justifying criminals.

THE HARD HELIX

DRAMA
As an introductory scenario, The Hard Helix omits
personal storylines. If for some reason you want to
run it midway through a series, you might heighten
the stakes by drawing on a pre-existing relationship
between a detective and one of the iconic supporting
characters who appear as suspects, like Galen Birch
or Lucius Quade.

WRAP-UP
4EBK QEBVµSB D>QEBOBA QEB >S>FI>?IB FKCLOJ>QFLK QEB
ABQB@QFSBPE>SBBKLRDEQLOB@LKPQOR@QQEB@OFJB³?RQ
no physical evidence. They need to confront the guilty
M>OQVTFQETE>QQEBVµSBCFDROBALRQ>KARPBFQQLTOFKD
a confession from her.

Here are the prerequisite clues they need to confront

Gloria with to her to get her to supply the final leveraged
clue that solves the case1. She then gives into her guilt
and admit what she did:

Gloria knew Ava was pregnant.

1EFPT>PQEBI>PQPQO>TPEBµAQLIBO>QBA0FAKBVµP>CC>FOP
FK QEB M>PQ  RQ QEFP QFJB EBµA KLQ LKIV ?OLHBK QEBFO
ORIB ?RQ EB T>P DLFKD QL DFSB S> TE>Q EBµA ABKFBA
$ILOF>³>?>?V

Sidney could deflect bullets.

In fact, he deflected one bullet the night he was

HFIIBA $ILOF>µPCFOPQPELQ>QEFJQLLHEFJ?VPROMOFPB
and he deflected the bullet reflexively. But once he
realized what was happening, he turned his power off.
!BMOBPPBA>KAQLOJBKQBA?VEFP@LKCIF@QFKDFJMRIPBP³
QLPBBH$ILOF>µPCLODFSBKBPP>KAQLE>SBQEB?>?V³he
1 Prerequisite and leveraged clues are described on
Mutant City Blues p. 157

19
HARD HELIX

Character Quick Reference

Toler “Tolly” Baldwin - CIA official
Lucy Bellaver - Police photographer
Galen Birch - Billionaire mutant
Vernetta Brown - lecturer in anamorphology from Regent University in Virginia
Vic “the Burn” Byrne - stoner wannabe superhero
Paulette Conlon – hotel desk clerk
Gloria Dorris – Sidney Dorris’ wife
Sidney Dorris - Controversial scholar of anamorphology
Harry Fields - Hotel manager
Crystal Flores - Former research assistant of Dorris, currently adjunct professor of
anamorphology at the University Of Texas A&M
Milton Gaines - freelance writer
Isabel Gameros - housecleaning staffer
Dr. Mala Gowariker - heads the anamorphology department of the University of Delhi,
India
Mads Jensen - Medical examiner
Bobby “Neetchster” Nitszche - stoner wannabe superhero
Conrad Priestley - Anti-mutant activist
Magda Priestley – Conrad Priestley’s mother
Lucius Quade - father of anamorphology
Alice Ramos - stoner wannabe superhero
Ed “the Ted” Riley – Criminalist
Dr. Aaron N. Rosenblum- childhood friend of Sidney Dorris
Brian Schmiederer - City councilor
Chip Silver - Certified paranoid
Cloris Silver – Chip Silver’s mother
Ava Singleton – Dorris’ mistress
Deena Tynan – alias of Gloria Dorris

20
 The Vanishers

1EB PNR>AµP FKQBOSBKQFLK FK > GBTBIOV PQLOB OL??BOV When they get another distress call from Bob,
leads them into an operation against a mutant- detectives may be tempted to let him stew in his own
bolstered mob. GRF@BP³BSBK QELRDE EB @I>FJP QL ?B AOFSFKD > Coffin
On Wheels. The dynamite used in his car bomb leads
them to look into a Hijacking Ring. This puts them
BACKSTORY

THE VANISHERS
in touch with FBI agents working A Long-term Case
The gambling debts of flamboyant jewelry store against the Vetroni crime family. This up-and-coming
J>K>DBO·OL>AT>V¸L?LOABOIB>SBEFJKL@ELF@B JL?DOLRMFIIRPQO>QBPQEBJRQ>QFLKBSBKQµPFJM>@QLK
but to acquiesce to the demands of mob boss Jason the old-line Mafia. Can the HCIU step into the breach,
·QEB*>@EFKB¸3BQOLKF  putting together the takedown that has long eluded
the feds?
THE CRIME
Border calls the HCIU during a robbery in progress. SCENES
Mutant punks are emptying his vault!
A FRANTIC CALL
SCENE TYPE: OPENER
THE INVESTIGATION &QµP>PILTTBBH>QQEB%BFDEQBKBA OFJBP&KSBPQFD>QFLK
After the prelude, A Frantic Call, squad members may 2KFQ 1EBPNR>AE>PKµQ@>RDEQ>KBT@>PBLC>KVKLQB
be able to apprehend the apparent robbers during for eight days.
the initial action sequence scene, Four Punks and a
Patsy  ,AAIV JLPQ LC QEB @LKQBKQP LC LOABOµP S>RIQ Start by having each of the players detail what they
remain missing even when the perps are captured. ALTEBKQEBVµOBFKQEBLCCF@B>KAE>SBKLTLOHLC>KV
Have the gold and jewels really vanished into thin air, urgency on their plates. Where possible, introduce
via an unknown mutant power, as Border claims? minor comic complications to their various efforts to
Meanwhile, the none-too-bright heisters confess to look busy.
being controlled by a Criminal Mastermind they only
know as a disembodied voice on the other end of a Then a call comes in, patched through by dispatch.
phone line. &QµP>OB@LOAFKDLC>ERPEBA@>IIMI>@BAJLJBKQP
ago. The voice is that of a middle-aged man with a
peculiarly unplaceable accent that wanders halfway
THE TWIST between English and Australian:
If the detectives instead heed their instincts about
Broadway Bob, they may come to suspect that the CALLER: -IB>PBVLRµSBDLQQLEBIMJBNRF@HIV 
disappearance of his inventory occurred by more This is Broadway Bob Border, of Broadway
mundane means. Jewelry, [insert street address here] and I
am being robbed, right now, in my store, by
mutants.
THE CULPRITS
Bob’s Bookmaker cagily admits to having sold the EMERGENCY OPERATOR: Mr. Border, what can
GBTBIBOµPAB?QQLQEBJL?  VLRQBIIJB>?LRQQEB³

21
 HARD HELIX

CALLER: >KµQ OFPH >KV JLOB³GRPQ DBQ EBOB

now! Please! Your Cash For My
&CVLR@>KµQAL>KLAAE>IC"KDIFPEE>ICRPPFB>@@BKQ Gold!
substitute another mixed accent you can sustain.) Unless characters specify that they don’t
watch television, they’re familiar with the
FOUR PUNKS AND A PATSY commercials for Broadway Jewelry. These
air incessantly in time slots with cheap
SCENE TYPE: ACTION ad rates. Cheaply produced, they feature
RQNRF@HIVCOLJQEB@>IIQLQEBPNR>AµP>OOFS>ILKQEB the shop’s owner, a paunchy, balding
scene. man festooned with gold rings, shouting
energetically into the camera.
If the players seem invested in the question of how to
get there quickly, and come up with an entertaining Get up and demonstrate, reading the
and super-heroically plausible way of using one or above script (transfer to an index card if
more powers to get there fast, they gain an advantage: necessary) while wildly gesticulating:
robbers Horace Monette and Gabe Losey have failed to “This is Broadway Bob Border of Broadway
properly insert their clips into their pistols. Their first Jewelry and I’m here to tell you that
attempts to fire their guns automatically fail, costing swapping gold for cash has never been
each of them 2 Shooting points. This advantage pertains easier! You have gold! I have cash! Come on
only if the squad takes action immediately upon arrival. down with your gold and I will physically
If they pause to plan or do something else, Soto and slam cash into your hand! Physically
Losey then put their guns in good order. slam! Is that why they call me the Cash
Slammer? Think about it! Why else would
If the squad members arrive with merely ordinary they call me that? Get slammed with cash
dispatch, Soto and Losey have already spotted the — at Broadway Bob Border’s Broadway
problems with their guns and successfully reinserted Jewelry, [insert street address here]! Do it
the clips. todaaayyyy!!!”

In the event that the players do gain the advantage for

extra speed, make sure that they learn, presumably the vault door, his clawed hands wrapped around the
during the later interrogation sequence, that they got QEOL>QLC>HKBBIFKDOL>AT>VL?  +B>OL?µP HKBB
an advantage by arriving on the scene quickly. are the remnants of his crushed cell phone.

Upon arrival, four armed robbers are in the midst of As is common in pawn and jewelry shops, customers
robbing Broadway Bob: Gabe Losey, Horace Monette, must be buzzed in through a locked door, before
Cristina McGonagle, and Alex Soto. A fifth accomplice, which they are required to stand in a claustrophobic
Sarah Soto, circles the block in a banged-up van, foyer under the scrutiny of a video camera. This entire
waiting to serve as getaway driver. Along with Bob structure has been torn away from the front of the
Border, there are two employees and one customer in store. It is now a twisted sculpture of bent aluminum
the store. Sales clerks Georgiana Koenig and Amy Ore and broken glass. (Cristina ripped it apart with her
have been bound and gagged behind the store counter. Strength power.)
Gabe has his weapon trained on them. The customer,
former linebacker Larry Evans, sits immobile with his The robbers are habitual but not hardened criminals.
back against a display case, his knees tucked under If they can turn an arrest attempt into a hostage
his chin. Horace has just zapped him with emotion situation, they will, attempting to bargain the lives of
control, plunging him into a paralyzing depression. the customers for their freedom. Otherwise, they try
%LO>@BµPDRKFPMLFKQBA>Q)>OOVGRPQFK@>PBEBPK>MP to shoot their way out. Their goal is to escape, not to
out of it. kill cops, but if they have to use lethal force to escape,
QEBVµOB M>KF@HBA BKLRDE QL AL FQ  P PLLK >P QTL LC
OFPQFK> FP FKPFAB L?µP @ILPBQPFWBA T>IHFK S>RIQ them are incapacitated or taken into custody, the
ripping open lock boxes and pouring their contents into others drop their guns and surrender. An exception is
a series of duffel bags. Alex stands immediately outside QEBLSBOJRP@IBA OFPQFK>LK@BBKO>DBAPEB ALBPKµQ

22
back down. After having observed her in red-faced,
screaming action for a round, a detective with Forensic
CRISTINA MCGONAGLE
Psychology@LK@IRABPQE>QPEBµPQEBJLPQ>DDOBPPFSB
member of the bunch, though not its unofficial leader. Identifying features:µ¸I?P >R@>PF>KEB>SFIV
1E>QTLRIA?BIBU &KLQEBOTLOAPFQµP>DLLAFAB>QL muscled, severely cut blond hair, acute acne, teeth
try to take her out early on. surgically implanted to resemble mutant fangs

Also during the second round: Athletics 12, Health 12, Scuffling 8, Shooting 4

z the character with Streetwise best positioned Powers: Gills 4, Regeneration 8, Strength 15 (rating
to look out the store window, seeing Sarah 25), Toxin Immunity (Inhaled) 4
0LQLµPS>KAOFSB?VCLOQEBPB@LKAQFJBOB>IFWBP
QE>QFQµPQEBDBQ>T>VSBEF@IB Weapon: unarmed +4, or +1 for every 4 points in
Strength pool, whichever is lower; .45 pistol +1
z Forensic Pathology indicates that Gabe, Alex
and Horace are all crackheads. Sarah, when
seen close up, also shows the telltale scabs,

THE VANISHERS
ALEX SOTO
sallow skin, and signs of premature aging
typical of hardcore rock cocaine abuse.
Identifying features: µ ¸  I?P %FPM>KF@ PE>SBA
Sarah and Gabe are both norms; the other robbers are head, blue eyes.
all mutants.
Athletics 6, Fleeing 8, Health 8, Scuffling 6, Shooting 4

GABE LOSEY

Identifying features:µ¸I?P >R@>PF>K@ILPB

cropped dark hair, scratched up, gold framed glasses
with tape on nose piece.

Athletics 2, Fleeing 8, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6

Weapon: .22 pistol 0

HORACE MONETTE

Identifying features: µ ¸  I?P >R@>PF>K

dreadlocks, soul patch, multiple tattoos, including
large ÅZjgYjanh on neck.

Athletics 2, Fleeing 8, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6

Powers: Emotion Control 7 (rating 19)

Weapon: .22 pistol 0

23
 HARD HELIX

Powers: High Energy Dispersal 8, Limb Extension 4,

Kinetic Energy Dispersal 8, Natural Weaponry 6.
Terrified Witnesses
Weapon: claws +2, .45 pistol +1 Bob’s employees and customer have
little useful information for detectives.
All of them are clearly traumatized by
SARAH SOTO
the robbery. Use dialogue with them to
emphasize the reckless human impact of the
robbery scam.
Identifying features:µ¸I?P >R@>PF>K?ORKBQQB
Larry Evans can barely summon the
brown eyes, heavy scar tissue on left earlobe (remnant
motivation to answer police questions. He
of bite injury)
wonders aloud if live is worth living in a
crazy world where crooks can just rip open
Athletics 2, Driving 8, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6
the storefronts of places they want to rob.
Influence Detection shows that he has been
Weapon: .22 pistol 0
hit with a mind control power. On a 1-point
Forensic Psychology spend, he agrees
CRIMINAL MASTERMIND to seek professional help for his induced
SCENE TYPE: RED HERRING mental state, and realizes that Horace gave
him a weird, penetrating look just before he
Once apprehended and separated, the jewelry store
went into shutdown mode.
robbers roll on one another after only token efforts on
the part of their interrogators. Matronly sales clerk Georgiana Koenig
says she heard the bald one (Alex) and the
Gabe, a jumpy, profusely sweating addict, promises big butch one (Cristina) exchange angry,
to tell all he knows in exchange for the promise of a whispered words about who was in charge.
reduced sentence and the opportunity to go out and The bald one said that “the voice” wouldn’t
score one last time. (Negotiation.) take it well if she screwed up the operation.

Horace will easily believe, not without foundation, that All the wispy young sales clerk Amy Ore
QEBLQEBOPTFIIOLIILKEFJFCEBALBPKµQALFQQLQEBJ can say is that her mother is going to kill
first. (Interrogation.) her once she finds out the store was robbed.
Her mother was worried that the jewelry
Cristina makes self-incriminating admissions if store was a dangerous place to work, on
goaded into losing her temper. (Interrogation.) account of stick-up artists and the like. Amy
begs the detectives not to drag her into
Sarah, a self-sacrificing and protective wife, talks if court. All she can remember is being scared
promised lenient treatment not for herself, but for out of her mind.
Alex. (Negotiation.)

Alex starts out trying to make anyone else, including Regarding the robbery, the others know only that Alex
his wife, out to be the ringleader, but crumples when came up with the idea about a month ago, and that he
detectives disbelieve him. (Bullshit Detector.) got the guns from an unknown source, specifically for
this score. Aside from Sarah, they all assume that he
No one but Alex knows very much about the motivation DLQQEBFAB>COLJT>Q@EFKDOL>AT>VL?µPJBJLO>?IV
behind the heist. He, Gabe and Horace have been annoying TV commercials. (Thanks to Horace, they
non-violent break-and-enter specialists for nearly have stolen power and a small TV in their squat.)
two years. Cristina recently barged into the derelict
OLTELRPBQEBVµSB?BBKRPFKD>P>PNR>Q>KAAB@I>OBA Sarah knows that Alex got a cell phone from his dealer,
herself their new roommate. The others suspect streetnamed Grassy, just before he announced the
@LOOB@QIV QE>Q PEBµP OBPMLKPF?IB CLO > PBOFBP LC OL??BOVMI>K>KAQE>QEBµP?BBKDLFKDLCCQLQ>IHLKFQ
muggings in the area. ever since.

24
Alex, if induced to talk, says that he was contacted by a possible that some of the gold and jewels are still
·@OFJFK>IJ>PQBOJFKA¸TELMOLJFPBAEFJ>KAEFP@OBT missing. In most outcomes of that scene, the detectives
lucrative careers as his followers. They would get to will be surprised to hear of the claim. Anything in the
jet around the world, performing dangerous missions. D>KDµPARCCBI?>DPE>P?BBKQ>DDBA>PBSFABK@B 4E>QµP
They could stay in the best hotels, eat awesome food, up with the supposed additional losses?
>KAM>OQVIFHBQEBOBµPKLQLJLOOLT 1EBGBTBIOVEBFPQ
was an audition, to show what they could do. The When interviewed, Border says that a check of the
mastermind chose the target and told him when to hit vault after the robbery showed that nearly $495,000
it. To consider the mission a success, they had to get worth of merchandise (wholesale value) was missing.
the vault open and empty its contents without serious He attributes this to a mutant power used either by
injury to anyone inside the store. If they failed in this, the robbers or perhaps an unknown confederate.
QEBVTLRIA?BERKQBAALTK>KAABPQOLVBA ·1E>QµPQEB Anamorphology confirms what the players probably
BU>@Q MEO>PB EB RPBA  %RKQBA ALTK >KA ABPQOLVBA ¸ already know: no documented mutant power works
They would be allowed to keep anything they took; the QE>Q T>V  L? T>SBP >T>V >KV PR@E L?GB@QFLKP EBµP
mastermind was interested in what they could do, not no an expert in anamorphology. All he knows is that
a cut of the take. He supplied the guns, which were half a million bucks worth of his gold and diamonds
dropped at the squat doorstep in the dead of night by AFP>MMB>OBA AROFKD > OL??BOV³>KA EB T>KQP QEB

THE VANISHERS
unseen operatives. The mastermind never identified detectives to do something about it. In the meantime,
himself, not even with a code or street name. His voice he expects them to sign off on his insurance claim.
was electronically altered, like in the movies. A player asking to evaluate his honesty with Bullshit
Detector concludes that Bob is an experienced and
(The bit about being hunted down and destroyed is an confident BS artist. He may very well be drawing on
BJMQV QEOB>Q  1EB ·J>PQBOJFKA¸ 3BQOLKF Q>HBP KL that skill now, but who knows?
CROQEBO FKQBOBPQ FK IBU LO EFP ?RAAFBP >CQBO QEBVµOB
incarcerated. Player efforts to protect the robbers Bob provides a list of the missing merchandise.
or use them as bait to attract the mastermind might Forensic Accounting notes that all of the listed pieces
serve as an entertaining if fruitless plot tangent.) are ordinary, interchangeable pieces: gold coins and
bars, or very basic rings with gems. The $27,000 worth
 QO>TI LC IBUµP P@RJJV KBFDE?LOELLA TFQE LCMFB@BP0LQLµPD>KDE>ALKQEBJTEBK>OOBPQBATBOB
Streetwise QROKP RM > KRJ?BO LC $O>PPVµP BOPQTEFIB QEBJLPQBUMBKPFSBFKLOABOµPFKSBKQLOV³?RQ>IPLQEB
@IFBKQP?RQKL$O>PPV %BE>PKµQ?BBKPBBKFKTBBHP  hardest to fence.
,KB AB>IBO 0B>K ·1T>K¸ OFABTBII  P>VP QE>Q
Grassy ceded him his turf after leaving to pursue a (core a) Law tells the detectives that their suspicions
·?RPFKBPP LMMLOQRKFQV¸ FK 3BD>P  &Q PLRKAP IFHB QEB LC L? >OBKµQ BKLRDE QL DBQ > PB>O@E T>OO>KQ CLO EFP
Vetronis had Grassy whacked, but they really did send financials. But what he may not realize is that the fine
EFJ LRQ LC QLTK  %LTBSBO TEBK EB DBQP QEBOB EBµII print on his policy with Pacific Partners allows them
find that the potential of the new opportunity has been CRII>@@BPPQL>IILCEFPMBOPLK>ILOMOFS>QB>@@LRKQP³
greatly exaggerated.) and the right to pass any untoward details they find
along to law enforcement.
BROADWAY BOB
PHBA QL AFSB FKQL LOABOµP ?>KH OB@LOAP QEB
SCENE TYPE: CORE phlegmatic, deadpan Ray Ashe is only too happy to
$FSBK QEB LAA KLQBP FK QEB ·@OFJFK>I J>PQBOJFKA¸ oblige.
story, the squad may become suspicious of Broadway
Bob on their own. If not, they get a phone call on the A few days later (the time jump can be elided over if
next business day from Ray Ashe, a claims adjuster QEB PNR>A E>P KL LQEBO IB>AP QEBVµA IFHB QL CLIILT
from Pacific Partners Insurance. Bob Border has filed Ashe shows up at the HCIU offices to share the results
a compensation claim for half a million dollars worth of his search. Forensic Accounting confirms what
of missing merchandise and needs to confirm the Ashe has found: multiple unexplained withdrawals
losses with the primary detective on the case. COLJLOABOµPMBOPLK>I>KA?RPFKBPP>@@LRKQPLSBO>
period of several years. The amounts escalate steadily
In the unlikely event that one or more of the robbers over time, with recent withdrawals hitting the $50,000
escaped during the opening sequence, it may seem mark.

25
 HARD HELIX

The players may suspect that these are gambling organized crime figure. Reid blanches when asked to
debts; Ray Ashe certainly does. Trivia shows that K>JBQEBJL?PQBOTEL@LIIB@QPEFPARBP ·/BJBJ?BO
the escalations coincide with major sporting events, what I said earlier about not getting myself
including March Madness and the Super Bowl. TE>@HBA¸

Grilled about this, Bob unconvincingly asserts that (If word filters back to Vetroni that Heck told detectives
his withdrawals were made to help a friend with even this much, he will be found murdered by gunshot.
unexpected medical expenses. He has no receipts and The untraceable weapon will be found at the otherwise
declines to supply a name for this friend. If pressed clean crime scene.)
further, or threatened with an insurance fraud charge,
he lawyers up. (His lawyer is Vivien Coleman, a stone-
COFFIN ON WHEELS
faced woman in a slightly outdated power suit.)
SCENE TYPE: CORE
(core b) Law suggests that the red flags in his bank 0MB>HFKDLCDBQQFKDTE>@HBAOL>AT>VL?µPJL??BA
records, coupled with the fishy insurance claim, will RM @L@LKPMFO>QLOP E>SB AB@FABA QE>Q EBµP IFHBIV QL
KBQQEBJ>PB>O@ET>OO>KQCLOL?µPMELKBOB@LOAP crack under the strain and confess to insurance fraud.
They decide to dispose of him with a fancy car bomb.
@LOB @ L?µP @BII MELKB PELTP KRJBOLRP @>IIP QL >
single phone number, coincident with the payouts from A call from Border, patched through dispatch to the
EFP >@@LRKQP  1EB @BII ?BILKDP QL 'LEK ·%B@H¸ /BFA MOFJ>OV ABQB@QFSBµP @BII MELKB AO>TP QEB PNR>A
Streetwise identifies him as a longtime bookie. into the scene. Unless interrupted, calmed down
(Reassurance), and carefully guided to explain
ResearchPELTPQE>Q/BFAµPO>MPEBBQFPPROMOFPFKDIV QEB PFQR>QFLK PQBM?VPQBM L?µP @LJJRKF@>QFLK
clean for a career bookmaker. It contains numerous consists solely of hysterical pleas to come to his aid
letters noting favors provided to the police over the immediately.
years. Never formally designated as a confidential
FKCLOJ>KQEBµP?BBKPQO>QBDF@>IIVPIFMMFKD@OR@F>IQFMP %BOBµP TE>Q QEBV DBQ LRQ LC EFJ >CQBO @>IJFKD EFJ
to the department since 1968. No doubt these account down:
for his light arrest record. Cop Talk suggests that they
should think twice before burning this veteran asset to z%BµP@ROOBKQIVFKEFP/LIIP/LV@BLK>J>GLO
the force. highway, about a three minute drive from the
PNR>AµP@ROOBKQIL@>QFLK
BOB’S BOOKMAKER
z %BHBBMP>QO>SBIERJFALOKBUQQLQEBAOFSBOµP
SCENE TYPE: CORE seat. A minute ago, he reached into it for a
 @>II QL %B@H /BFAµP @BII OBPRIQP FK > OBPFDKBA cigar and found that it had been tampered with.
>DOBBJBKQ QL JBBQ TFQE PNR>A JBJ?BOP³QELRDE
not in public, and nowhere near a police station. He z Instead of cigars, it contained a block of
brings his characteristic hangdog expression to a electronic components and a digital timer.
mutually agreed discreet location. Heck pops antacids When he opened the humidor, the timer
pills throughout the conversation. He readily admits to started counting down.
taking increasingly heavy sports bets from Broadway
Bob over a period of six to seven years. z Bob now sees tiny wires running out of the
case into the back seat. Craning his neck, he
(core) If offered yet another recommendation letter for can see what look like sticks of dynamite taped
his police jacket (NegotiationEBµPTFIIFKDQLQBIIQEBJ under the passenger seat.
·BKLRDEQLDBQVLRPQ>OQBA?RQKLQBKLRDEQLDBQJB
TE>@HBA ¸ PPRJFKD QEB ABQB@QFSBP >DOBB QL QEFP EB z The mechanism in the box includes a mercury
P>VPEBPLIALOABOµPAB?QQL>QEFOAM>OQV³TELPE>II bubble thingy. (Explosive Devices indicates
remain nameless. that this is an anti-tamper mechanism, meant
to set the bomb off instantaneously if anyone
Streetwise (or basic logic) dictates that Reid operates attempts to defuse it. Now that the bomb
TFQE QEB ?IBPPFKD LC³QE>Q FP M>VP MOLQB@QFLK QL³>K has primed, the anti-tamper device may well

26
 trigger it if Bob hits the brakes, or the vehicle z Placing a Shield around Bob to protect him
is suddenly jolted in any way.) from the explosion

4EBKL?@>IIPQEBJEBE>PIBCQLKQEBQFJBO ,C z Teleporting into the car and using Mechanics
course, this will continue to tick down as the characters (Difficulty 4; character must have Explosive
PMB>HQLEFJPLFCQEBVµOBPJ>OQQEBVµIIEB>AEFPT>V Devices) to defuse the bomb.
>PPLLK>PQEBVOB>IFWBTE>QµPDLFKDLK@LKQFKRFKDQEB
cell conversation as they travel to him. z Using Technokinesis to make the bomb shut
itself down
Whether they save Bob is a matter of player creativity
and applied super powers. Assign Difficulties of 4 or so L? E>P > %B>IQE MLLI LC   1EB ?LJ? FP > @I>PP 
to reasonably credible actions undertaken in a rescue explosive (see Mutant City Blues p. 99) but behaves
attempt. A non-exclusive list of possible solutions differently while contained within the vehicle. Anyone
includes: inside the car when it blows suffers three instances of
+2 damage. The blast has only a 4m debris radius.
z Allowing the dynamite to detonate, then using
Suppress Explosion to snuff out the blast If detonated outside the car, it operates according to

THE VANISHERS
the normal rules for an explosive of its class.
z Driving alongside and using Disintegration or
Transmutation to destroy the mechanism It is conceivable that Bob could be inside the car when
it blows but still survive or even be brought back from
z Driving alongside and using Reduce death by the Healing power.
Temperature to freeze its mechanism
If the bomb goes off, the totaled vehicle and the
surrounding roadway become a crime scene.
Otherwise, the parked car becomes the scene.

The means by which the core clue is gathered varies

depending on whether the bomb goes off or can be
examined in its unexploded state.

First off, Explosive Devices suggests that this bomb

was made by a someone of impressive technical
sophistication working in an unconventional way. The
most efficient way to kill a guy with a car bomb is to
wire it through the ignition, so it blows when the engine
is turned on. Standard car bomber practice is also to
fix the bomb to the underside of the chassis. This was
both more work than the usual car bomb, and imposed
a higher chance of failure.

Forensic PsychologyMLFKQPLRQQE>QQEB?LJ?µPABPFDK
suggests a sense of malice: Border was supposed
to spot the bomb, and spend a prolonged last few
moments anticipating his awful demise. Its placement
FKL?µPMLOQ>?IBERJFALOPRDDBPQP>@ILPB>T>OBKBPP
of his idiosyncratic personal habits. The gesture might
be interpreted as a jab at his inflated ego or lifestyle
pretensions.

(core a and c; if exploded) Chemistry finds tiny plastic

taggant chips in the blast residue. Explosive Devices
shows that these identifying components are not

27
 HARD HELIX

required in dynamite made for the domestic market. agent turf protection-slash-obstructionism, the kind
Only a few jurisdictions, including Switzerland, require that local cops just have to swallow.
their use. Research shows that a shipment of dynamite
headed for shipment to Switzerland was hijacked six Mosswood reveals the following, in response to specific
months ago. The case officer on this still-active file is questions:
Special Agent Lin Mosswood of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms. zThe hijacking took place at night on a two-lane
highway not far from your mutant city.
(core a through c; not exploded) Explosive Devices
finds that the dynamite is factory made but that the zThe driver, Dolph Delaughter of Pine Lake,
identifying information on the stick casings has been Georgia, was unharmed by the robbers, who
scraped away. Document Analysis recovers enough wore gloves and ski masks and spoke very
traces of the factory marks and serial numbers to little.
trace the dynamite to a manufacturer named Regalis,
located in an adjoining state. Research shows that a z1EFPT>P!BI>RDEQBOµPQEFOAEFG>@HFKDFK
shipment from this factory was hijacked six months his long career as a long haul trucker;
ago. That the case officer on this still-active file is EBABP@OF?BAQEBPBDRVP>PQEB·JLPQ
Special Agent Lin Mosswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, MOLCBPPFLK>I¸LCQEBQEOBB
Tobacco, and Firearms.
zIn cases like these, the drivers or somebody
The attempt on his life does not render Bob more in shipping is in on it, but Mosswood took
CLOQE@LJFKD³>PPRJFKD EB PROSFSBP >Q >II  %B ILRAIV Delaughter for a straight shooter.
refuses to cooperate, as if expecting mob moles within
the police department to overhear and report his z1EBPQOBQ@ELCEFDET>VTEBOB!BI>RDEQBOµP
silence back to Vetroni. truck was ambushed is a frequent target for
hijacks.
Vetroni probably gives up on having Bob killed at this
point. However, if you need an antagonist reaction zNone of the other hijacks were of explosives or
during the later takedown sequence and can logically guns, but others were of booze and cigarettes,
justify his ordering another shot at Bob, you can always TEF@E>IPLC>IIRKABO*LPPTLLAµPMROSFBT
insert a second assassination attempt.
zThere have also been thefts of truck contents
including power tools, electronic equipment,
HIJACKING RING
swimming pool kits, air conditioners, and
SCENE TYPE: CORE freeze-dried steaks.
0MB@F>I DBKQ )FK PELOQ CLO ·)FK@LIK¸ *LPPTLLA
meets squad members in his cubicle in the local ATF z(core) On these latter cases, Mosswood has
field office. He wears snakeskin cowboy boots under been coordinating with Special Agent Shane
the standard-issue medium-priced dark suit that is de Lerner, team leader of an anti-organized crime
rigeur for federal agents. Mosswood is a meaty, barrel- task force at the FBI.
chested man in his late fifties capable of swaggering
while seated. He speaks with a slight southwestern Dolph Delaughter is on the road, but can be reached by
twang. When the squad appears, he tests them by cell phone. A genial older gentleman, he confirms the
asking about their jobs as mutant cops. He resists details he gave to Mosswood.
divulging information about the case until they show ,
using Cop TalkQE>QQEBVµOB?LK>CFABI>TBKCLO@BJBKQ
A LONG-TERM CASE
and not a gaggle of affirmative action goofballs. His
queries take a needling tone that borders on anti- SCENE TYPE: CORE
mutant bigotry. Unlike Lin Mosswood, the youthful, ambitious FBI agent
Shane Lerner is happy to receive input and assistance
Even when they prove themselves worthy of old- COLJ>PNR>ALCJRQ>KQ@LMP %BµPE>AQEBJRKFQFLKP
school respect, Mosswood refuses to turn over his hijacking on his gigantic cork board of interconnected
files. Bureaucracy recognizes this as standard federal crimes for months now, and has reached a chokepoint

28
FKEFPFKSBPQFD>QFLK %BHKLTPTELEBµP>CQBO?RQGRPQ z3BQOLKFµPPRMBOMLTBOP>OBQELRDEQQL?BLCQEB
@>KµQ PE>HB ILLPB BKLRDE BSFABK@B QL PQ>OQ J>HFKD mental variety.
arrests.
zThe route where the dynamite was heisted has
%BµP?RFIAFKD>@>PB>D>FKPQ@FQVJL?CFDROB'>PLK·QEB been a hunting preserve for Fiorillo family
*>@EFKB¸3BQOLKF 3BQOLKFE>P@LJBCOLJKLTEBOBQL hijackers for generations.
seize control of the Fiorillo crime family in a few short
years. z%B@H/BFAµP@LKKB@QFLKPQLQEB#FLOFIILPDLT>V
back; he undoubtedly pays protection to Vetroni
)BOKBOMOLSFABPQEBCLIILTFKDPQLQEBMI>VBOµP.P through one of his captains. Vetroni could
B>PFIV?BQEBDRVTEL?LRDEQOL>AT>VL?µP
zUntil Vetroni took it over, the Fiorillo outfit gambling debts.
was an old-school Mafia outfit, on the
way out. Made guys had turned informer. The remainder of this scenario is player-driven, as
Asian, Caribbean and Russian gangs were they liaise with the feds in an attempt to crack open
encroaching on their key businesses. Mob the Vetroni organization. Profiles of the Vetroni crew
leaders were headed to jail. are presented in sourcebook style, followed by a list of

THE VANISHERS
possible player approaches you can prepare for.
zVetroni, who came up as a street soldier in the
outfit, muscled out the remaining old crew and
revitalized the organization. THE VETRONI OUTFIT
This section outlines the personalities,
zHis secret: mutant powers. interrelationships and activities of the mob the squad
must take down in order to close the books on the
zBCLOB·QEB*>@EFKB¸@I>PPF@JL?DRVP Broadway Bob case. The jewel store insurance scam
reacted with their usual insularity to mutants, pans out as a comparatively minor element in a much
even within their own ranks. Weird powers kept larger criminal conspiracy.
you from rising in the organization.
Any of the mobsters detailed in this section can be
zWord is that Vetroni kept his own genetic armed with any type of gun, if in a situation where
status a secret while reaching out to other QEBV QEFKH QEBVµII KBBA QEBJ  1EBV >II E>SB CFOB>OJP
disenfranchised mutant mobsters from across @LK@B>IBAFKQEBFOSBEF@IBP %LTBSBOQEBVALKµQM>@H
the country. He recruited them as allies, then EB>Q@>PR>IIV 1EBVALKµQT>KQQL?BEFQTFQETB>MLKP
used their powers to push out the old Fiorillo charges if searched by the cops.
group.
PR?EB>AIFPQPB>@EJL?PQBOµPJ>FK@OFJFK>I>@QFSFQV 
z+LT>IILCQEBKBTJL?µP@>MQ>FKP>OBVLRKD Most dabble in other kinds of action on the side, and
mutants like Vetroni. (Lerner is misinformed anyone can be called upon at any moment to engage
here; there are still a couple of DNA-standard in violence on behalf of the crew, up to and including
holdovers.) murder.

zLerner and his small team of agents have Information in the profiles that would reasonably
some intelligence on his operation, but nothing have been gathered during the prior FBI surveillance
they can take to court. Most of it is second- operation can also be provided by Shane Lerner. This
hand scuttlebutt from low-level informants. @>K>IPL?BD>QEBOBA?VMLIIFKDABQB@QFSBPµRKABOTLOIA
contacts with Streetwise. Hints that might lead the
z1EBVE>SBPB@ROBA>TFOBQ>MCLO3BQOLKFµP PNR>A QL QEB JL?PQBOPµ S>OFLRP A>OH PB@OBQP JFDEQ
home, and for his apparent HQ in a suburban ?B >S>FI>?IB LK  LO MLFKQ PMBKAP  0MBKAP KBSBO
sandwich joint. However, for some unknown provide the entire secret, just a path toward it.
OB>PLKQEBTFOBQ>MABSF@BP>IT>VPC>FI ·1EB
*>@EFKB¸FPCORPQO>QFKDIV@>OBCRIFKEFPMELKB
use.

29
 HARD HELIX

JASON “THE MACHINE” twice the asset to the family that his father or uncles
VETRONI had been, Jason found himself repeatedly passed
BOSS over for promotion. So he used another of his mutant
powers, one granting him the ability to see the best
Jason Vetroni is third generation Mafia. His grandfather possible way forward among any set of choices. His
ran a numbers operation and fenced stolen appliances mutant cognition laid out a plan to recruit similarly
for the Fiorillo family. His father and two uncles were all sidelined mutant mobsters from across the continent.
street soldiers for the outfit. All three met premature
and somewhat ignominious ends. His dad, a mean Vetroni still faced limits on the sorts of guys he could
drunk, quarreled with a superior and was found in the bring into his crew, without triggering the alarm bells
trunk of an abandoned car. His oldest uncle was knifed of his then-superiors. Somebody in some branch of
to death while collecting a debt. The younger one died the Mafia somewhere had to vouch for each new hire.
in a car accident while fleeing police with a car full of When Jason had enough guys on his side, he started
laundered cash. bumping off the already hard-pressed old-timers.
Eventually the remnants of the family caved and made
1EB PE>JB LC QEB LIABO DBKBO>QFLKµP C>FIROBP ERKD him boss.
over Jason, forcing him to work aggressively to make
his bones. When he discovered his mutant powers, he "UQOBJBIV VLRKD CLO > JL? IB>ABO QEB VB>OLIA
concealed them from his mob elders. Branching out into Vetroni has abandoned the thuggish track suit attire
murder for hire, he specialized in vehicular homicides of his salad days in favor of restrained business attire.
that looked like accidents. Eventually, old man Fiorillo He owes the tight muscles draped tautly over his lanky
realized that he had to be using a mutant power to take frame to his time spent behind the punching bag at
@LKQOLI LC QEB SF@QFJPµ SBEF@IBP  "SBK QELRDE EB T>P a boxing club he covertly owns. With outsiders, he
adopts a smooth, charming demeanor. He maintains
the pose of a new corporate breed of mobster even
with his confederates, peppering his statements with
only slightly misused business jargon. Whacking
> DRV FK EFP C>JFIV FP ·ALTKPFWFKD ¸ 0R?LOAFK>QBP
expected to run several criminal operations at once
>OB·JRIQFQ>PHFKD ¸+LPELTGL?P1>OB@>IIBA·SFOQR>I
LRQPLRO@FKD ¸

Aware that every mob leader needs to seem like a

good Catholic family man, Jason married pretty former
cheerleader Anna Carboni shortly after ascending to
his leadership post. She is now pregnant with what
will be their first child. Breaking with mob tradition,
Jason so far keeps no permanent mistress on the side,
though of course he fools around with party girls and
strippers now that the wife is knocked up.

Vetroni rarely engages in direct criminal activity

KLT QE>Q EBµP FK @E>ODB  &KPQB>A EB >PPFDKP FIIBD>I
businesses to his captains, who pay him a percentage
of their earnings. He invests the money mostly in
property, knowing enough about business not to trust
those crooks on Wall Street. His portfolio of legit
businesses includes a small dry-cleaning chain, a car
wash, and three slum apartment buildings, in addition
to the sandwich shop and boxing club. None of these

1 In this classic scam, owners of businesses under mob

influence are forced to put his guys on the payroll and grant
them benefits, even though they do no work.

30
>OBFKEFPLTKK>JBQEBVµOBORKCLOEFJ?VLQEBOTFPB His once-beautiful wife Violetta can be crass and
legitimate citizens. demanding, to which Martelli reacts with sullen
forbearance. He appears at social events with the still-
In a break from his usual hands-off management style, beautiful Other Violetta, a mistress who confusingly
Jason personally planned and executed the Broadway ?B>OPQEBP>JBK>JB>PEFPTFCB *>OQBIIFµP@EFIAOBK
'BTBIOV P@>J  %FP >IQBOBA SLF@B³@OB>QBA ?V RPFKD are Paul Junior, 19, and Chrissy, 17, both of whom are
1B@EKLHFKBPFP QL J>KFMRI>QB EFP @BII MELKBµP >RAFL FKABKF>I>?LRQQEBFOA>AµPIFKBLCTLOH>KAEB>ABACLO
@EFM³FPQE>QLC0LQLµPPL@>IIBA·@OFJFK>IJ>PQBOJFKA ¸ college and straight jobs.
During his limited interactions with the obstreperous
Broadway Bob, Jason conceived an intense hatred Martelli hates cops and is too close-mouthed to say
of the man. This is why he wanted Border to see the anything to them that falls outside the category of
@>O?LJ?>KAHKLTQE>QEBT>PDLFKDQLAFB³CLOQEB verbal abuse.
@OFJBLC>KKLVFKD'>PLK·QEB*>@EFKB¸3BQOLKF
Vetroni assigned him the job of storing and eventually
fencing the jewels that were pre-stolen from Broadway
L?µPPQLOB *>OQBIIFMI>@BAQEBJRKABOQEBCILLO?L>OAP
JASON “THE MACHINE” VETRONI
LC > ?>OK LK > AFPRPBA C>OJ LTKBA RKABO EFP TFCBµP

THE VANISHERS
name in a rural area near the city. If the detectives
Athletics 8, Driving 4, Health 12, Scuffling 8, Shooting conduct a search for properties under the names of
4 his family members, Research turns up the location
of the farm. Martelli is nervous about the jewels and
Powers: Cognition*2, Lightning Decisions 4, travels there every few weeks to check up on them. A
Technokinesis 12, Technopathy 2, Precision Memory * successful around-the-clock Surveillance (Difficulty 5;
Martelli is a cagey customer) eventually tracks him to
the site.
PAUL “THE LAWYER”
MARTELLI
LOAN SHARKING
PAUL “THE LAWYER” MARTELLI
DLLACFCQBBKVB>OPLIABOQE>K>KVLC3BQOLKFµPLQEBO
recruits, Paul Martelli came to his attention through
a jail house contact who claimed that his connected Athletics 4, Driving 4, Health 8, Scuffling 12, Shooting
cell mate could project his thoughts. Upon his release 2
from a Philadelphia3-area prison on extortion and
assault charges, Vetroni brought Martelli into his crew. Powers: Detect Influence 10, Suppress Influence 20,
White-haired and heavily scarred from his prison stay, Telepathy 8
Martelli is a devoted old schooler who just happened to
?BRKIR@HVBKLRDEQL·@>Q@EQEBJRQ>QFLK ¸%BC>SLOP
DANNY “FLIPPER” DE
outlandish suits and jewelry straight out of Goodfellas.
While in jail he became a self-taught legal practitioner, FILIPPO
burying the system in groundless motions. He learned BOOKMAKING
enough to advise Jason on legal issues. His defense of When his buddies in the Chicago mob discovered that
the family extends to the mutant realm: he regularly Danny De Filippo could navigate by sonar, they did
P@>KP 3BQOLKFµP @OBT CLO PFDKP LC JBKQ>I FKCIRBK@B  TE>Q >KV PBICOBPMB@QFKD J>AB JBK TLRIA AL³QEBV
Martelli quickly discovers any mental powers used by chained him inside a derelict van and drove it over a
the PCs on members of the outfit. pier. Fortunately for Danny, he also had a set of gills.
Having heard that a guy in mutant city was recruiting
experienced wise guys with powers, he made his way
2 Powers marked with an asterisk appear in the Mutant QL 3BQOLKFµP ALLOPQBM  CQBO > MOL?>QFLK>OV MBOFLA QL
City Blues rules assuming their use by PCs. For supporting prove his trustworthiness to Paulie the Lawyer, Danny
characters, simply portray them as if they possess superior TLK>@@BMQ>K@B?VRMMFKDQEBB>OKFKDPLCQEBD>KDµP
decision-making abilities, heightened memory, and so on.
bookmaking operation. Danny is the link between Heck
 3BQOLKFµP@OLKFBP>OBJB>KQQL@LJBCOLJ>II>OLRKAQEB Reid and Vetroni, and helped arrange the purchasing
continent. If one of the cities mentioned in a profile is your
mutant city, change the reference to another city. LCOL>AT>VL?µPAB?Q

31
 HARD HELIX

!>KKVµP@EBBOCRI>QQFQRAB>KAILSBLCQEBCOBBPMBKAFKD ORKKFKD >@@LRKQFKD BOOLO 0LIA>QFµP A>VP TLRIA ?B

lifestyle mask his dangerous side. He exhibits an KRJ?BOBA³FCEBAFAKµQNRF@HIVTBADBEFP?RIHVCO>JB
almost puppyish loyalty toward Jason, who he regards into the witness protection program.
as a savior. Danny takes seething umbrage at any slight
directed toward the boss.w Soldati sent out the guys who performed the dynamite
truck hijacking: two transplanted cousins from
A stocky young guy with blocky features, Danny has )LP KDBIBP ·0ELOQ¸ 3FQL 0QBC>KBIIF >KA ·1>II¸ 3FQL
?BBK PBBFKD *>OQBIIFµP VB>OLIA A>RDEQBO EOFPPV Cipriani.
behind his back. Although Danny has no intention
of flipping on his colleagues, knowledge of this very
unwise relationship could be used as leverage over
AL “POPPER” SOLDATI
him (Negotiation.)

Athletics 1, Driving 2, Health 6, Scuffling 2, Shooting 2

DANNY “FLIPPER” DE FILIPPO
Powers0M>QF>IT>OBKBPP1BIBMLOQ1BIBHFKBPFP

Athletics 6, Driving 6, Health 6, Scuffling 4, Shooting 6
IµP I>VBO LC C>Q MOLQB@QP EFJ >D>FKPQ ?I>ABP >KA DRK
Powers: Gills 8, Sonar 12, Sonic Blast 12 fire; damage he takes from these weapons is halved.

AL “POPPER” SOLDATI SALVATORE “BOOM BOOM”

HIJACKING / CORRUPT CONTRACTING SPIGGIA
Aldo Soldati was already considering a move out of the NARCOTICS
moribund Los Angeles Mafia scene when he discovered Sal Spiggia sold drugs on the streets of Syracuse New
his ability to pop from one location to the next. He York before his burgeoning mutant powers won him a
proceeded to pile up a war chest of fuck-you money QF@HBQ QL QEB ?FD PELT FK QEB CLOJ LC '>PLK 3BQOLKFµP
through a series of teleport-enabled solo heists. Tiring fast-rising crew. Through his old connections he set
of the hard and risky work this entailed, he came to RM3BQOLKFµPAORDOBQ>FILMBO>QFLK?RVFKDCOLJ@L@>FKB
mutant city to sign on with the only La Cosa Nostra from Colombian cartels and heroin and ecstacy from
crew head for whom genetic enhancements were a the Russians.
MIRP 3BQOLKFMRQEFJFK@E>ODBLCQEB#FLOFIILC>JFIVµP
languishing corrupt contracting empire, assigning He breaks these bulk shipments down into packages
him to goose the earnings from its shadow interests for sale in Mafia-dominated neighborhoods. Spiggia
in construction and waste management firms. The also acts as a one-stop middleman to street-level
mob makes its cut from these by skimming off the top, African-American and Latino drug gangs looking to
maintaining effective monopolies through intimidation retail a diversified slate of product. Recently he started
and extortion. supplying a barhead-run prison drug network, much
to his secret amusement. Last month he got tired of
0FK@BGLFKFKD3BQOLKFµP@OBT0LIA>QFE>PDOLTKC>Q>KA hearing one of these clients talking trash about the
lazy. He rarely stirs from the comfy lounge chair in his gene-expressive, tracked him to a deserted parking
swanky den, except to socialize and talk business with lot, wrapped him in a bear hug and blew him up. The
Vetroni and his fellow captains. Although he also runs murder of this man, Johnny Schneider, 28, has gone
QEBLRQCFQµPEFG>@HFKDLMBO>QFLKPEBKLILKDBODLBPLK unnoticed, except for the discovery of a scorched and
stick-up runs himself. His favorite activity is reviewing as yet unidentified severed foot on top of a nearby
spreadsheets of his various off-shore accounts. convenience store. Sal has yet to mention this incident
Confident that his teleport ability will get him out of QL >KV LC EFP @OLKFBP  %BµP AVFKD QL ?O>D >?LRQ FQ >KA
trouble if somebody comes to whack him, he takes J>V AL PL TEBK QFMPV³MLPPF?IV TEFIB QEB ABQB@QFSBP
IF?BOQFBPTFQEEFPKBT?LPPEBTLRIAKµQE>SB>QQBJMQBA are listening in.
?>@HFK)  0LIA>QFµPDOBBAE>PIBAEFJQLPQ>OQPELOQFKD
3BQOLKFµP @RQ COLJ QEB S>OFLRP BKQBOMOFPBP RKABO EFP ,PS>IAL 0>K@EBW LKB LC 0@EKBFABOµP @LKCBABO>QBP
control. If either the boss or Martelli noticed this long- has just learned that the outfit they buy their coke and

32
heroin from is riddled with mutants. Although his small branched out into people smuggling, running illegal
band of barheads is scarcely equipped for a full-on war >IFBKPFKQLJRQ>KQ@FQV 0LJBLCQEBTLJBKEBµP?BBK
with a large Mafia family, Sanchez is not bright enough paid to sneak into the country wind up working in his
to see that and may start trouble that the squad can prostitution business, not always voluntarily.
capitalize on.
Snakes might cooperate with police if he thought it
0MFDDF>µP >@NRFPFQFLK LC BUMILPFSB MLTBOP J>V PBBJ would help him retake the family for the genetically
ironic, in that he earned his nickname prior to mutation, KLOJ>I³TFQEEFJPBICFK@E>ODBK>QRO>IIV
>P >K BUMBOQ ?LJ? J>HBO  ·LLJ LLJ¸ ?RFIQ >KA
FKPQ>IIBAQEB?LJ?FKOL>AT>VL?µP@>O Vetroni does not feel the personal affection for Guidelli
he reserves for closer cronies, but respects his power
His biggest secret has nothing to do with dead as an earner. If he found out how much Guidelli despises
barheads: having suffered for years in silence, he has him, he might preemptively put him in the ground.
recently begun taking prescribed anti-depressants.

PETER “SNAKES” GUIDELLI

THE VANISHERS
SALVATORE “BOOM BOOM”
SPIGGIA Abilities: Athletics 8, Driving 4, Health 12, Scuffling 12,
Shooting 12
Athletics 6, Driving 6, Health 8, Scuffling 6, Shooting 6
JOHN CARBONI
Powers: Analytic Taste 1, Self-Detonation 24, Suppress
Explosion 6 EXTORTION
1EBC>JFIVµPLQEBOKLKJRQ>KQ@>MQ>FK'LEK >O?LKF
Boom Boom is good at hiding from the cops. ORKPQEBC>JFIVµPMOLQB@QFLKO>@HBQ %B@LKQFKRBAQEB
Surveillance difficulties to spot him are never less LIADR>OAµPCFDEQ>D>FKPQ3BQOLKFµPMLTBOMI>VBSBK>CQBO
than 5. the old boss was killed. After a sitdown sponsored by
a mob leader from a nearby city, Carboni reluctantly
>DOBBAQL>@@BMQ'>PLKµPIB>ABOPEFM 1EBQORB?ROF>ILC
PETER “SNAKES” GUIDELLI
the hatchet occurred a year later, after the new boss
PANDERING / HUMAN TRAFFICKING ?B@>JB BKD>DBA QL >O?LKFµP KFB@B KK>  3BQOLKF
·0K>HBP¸ $RFABIIF FP LKB LC QTL @>MQ>FKP OBJ>FKFKD became not just family, but family, and now Carboni
from the old Fiorello mob. He was the first to throw in TLKµQEB>O>TLOA>D>FKPQEFJ
the towel and join up with Vetroni during his takeover.
In the years since, he has come to bitterly regret his Carboni is in his fifties, dresses modestly, and takes a
betrayal of the old crew. The more he sees of his low-key role at mob social events. He keeps a mistress
KBT @LELOQPµ JRQ>KQ MLTBOP QEB JLOB PF@HBKBA EB LKQEBPFABCLOMOLMOFBQVµPP>HB?RQTLRIAPQFIIO>QEBO
becomes. He especially hates the fact that people spend time with his demure wife, Doreen. Anna
now think he’s a mutant. Based on his nickname, they 3BQOLKFµP C>QEBO AFBA TEBK PEB T>P VLRKD 'LEK E>P
>PPRJBEBµP>OBMQFIB>KA>JMEF?F>K@LJJ>KABO %B done his best to serve as a substitute paternal figure,
earned that name honestly, damn it, back in the days TEFIB >IPL ALQFKD LSBO EFP LTK @EFIAOBK #O>KH 
when it meant something for your buddies to call you Mario, 21, Trina, 20, and Drina, 19. The two sons are
·0K>HBP ¸ CLIILTFKDFK!>AµPCLLQPQBMPEBIMFKDEFJLRQTFQEILTBO
OFPH@LIIB@QFLKP 2KCLOQRK>QBIVQEBVµOB?LQEELQEB>AP
The rumor mill also says he can induce fear. Snakes TELJFDEQ?BB>PFIVDL>ABAFKQLSFLIBK@B³MBOE>MP?V
is a terrifying figure, but he comes by that the old the detectives, looking for leverage over their father.
fashioned way. A tall, shovel-faced man, he uses his John will expect them, if popped, to earn their stripes
IFKB?>@HBOµP MEVPFNRB QL FKQFJFA>QB OFS>IP @FQFWBKP³ by serving their time with silent determination, but
even cops. Guidelli runs a high-end prostitution ring. JFDEQ @E>KDB EFP QRKB FC QEBVµOB MRQ RKABO PRCCF@FBKQ
Other vice activities include collecting protection pressure.
from street-level pimps and extorting strip clubs into
purchasing his pricey security services. Snakes has

33
 HARD HELIX

TOMMY “FLOWERS” FRERO

Tommy is a skinny, pug-faced guy known for yapping
JOHN CARBONI
incessantly when nervous. He wears Hawaiian shirts as
part of an elaborate strategy to make people think his
Athletics 8, Driving 4, Health 12, Scuffling 12, Shooting nickname somehow derives from his clothing choices.
12 &KC>@QFQµP>@RQQFKDOBCBOBK@BQLEFPOB@LOALCMOFPLK
homosexuality. Low-ranking squad members who
LOWER LEVEL GUYS refer to it too knowingly may suddenly find themselves
As the squad members are targeting the big fish, you facing down the barrel of his snub-nosed ankle piece.
will also probably need to describe lower level mob
members that they encounter along the way. These JIMMY “THE WHEEL” MAGGIO
additional figures are provided without affiliation, so A white-haired, spectacularly obese holdover from
you can insert them into scenes as needed. As your the old days, Jimmy Maggio is kept in the saddle for
SBOPFLK LC ·1EB 3>KFPEBOP¸ RKCLIAP VLR J>V AB@FAB his impeccable odds-making ability on sports betting,
to make Dominick Ninchi a runner for Paul Martelli, and for his implacable hand behind the wheel of
while another GM might use him as hijacker working any vehicle. Adopting a fatalistic attitude toward the
for Snakes Guidelli. @OFJFK>I IFCBPQVIB EBµP PROSFSBA JRIQFMIB QROKLSBOP FK
mob power by keeping his head down and his earnings
Except where noted, the lower level guys all have the up.
same game statistics. Naturally, you should alter these
as needed to fit their role in your narrative.
JIMMY “THE WHEEL” MAGGIO

LOWER LEVEL GUYS

Athletics 2, Driving 14, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting
6
Abilities: Athletics 4, Driving 4, Health 4, Scuffling 4,
Shooting 4 STEVE “STRIPES” MAZZONI
This former marine turned to the family crime business
DOMINICK NINCHI after a tour in the first Iraq War and a subsequent
Dominick Ninchi is a squat, portly young man with a AFPELKLO>?IBAFP@E>ODBCLO@ORPEFKD>CBIILTPLIAFBOµP
fondness for vibrant, appallingly patterned sweaters. eye socket in a barroom brawl. Alternately taciturn
He regards himself as an up-and-comer in the Vetroni and belligerent, Steve holds forth on politics at the
organization. Ninchi recently arrived from Vegas, AOLMLC>E>Q IQELRDEMOLRAIVOB>@QFLK>OVEBµPE>A
having demonstrated to Jason his ability to shrug QL ?>@HMBA>I EFP >KQFJRQ>KQ SFBTP PFK@B 3BQOLKFµP
off incoming bullets. If a squad member infiltrates >P@BKA>K@V  %BµP KLT AB@FABA QE>Q @BOQ>FK JRQ>KQP
the gang, Dominick may view him as a mutant rival like Jason, can win his respect by demonstrating a
or a kindred spirit, depending on your dramatic firm authority over the weak and stupid.
requirements. On first impression, he seems dense
but affable. When push comes to shove, Dominick is LENNY “PUPS” ALPHARETTA
enough of a sociopath to commit any act of violence to &CEBTBOBKµQQEBKBMEBTLO@LRPFKLC>K>CLOBJBKQFLKBA
get in good with Vetroni. Vetroni captain of your choice, this lackadaisical
PI>@HBO >KA GLHBPQBO TLRIAKµQ ?B QORPQBA QL @>OOV >
Dominick has yet to be assigned a colorful nickname @>K LC K>FIP  P PR@E EBµP >PPFDKBA PFJMIB ILTOFPH
and is anxious to acquire one as soon as possible. errands and allowed to play the role of group mascot.
Mostly this means serving as a butt of jokes, which
Lenny, happy to hang out with the big guns, takes in
grinning stride. In a pinch, he might be sent to perform
DOMINICK NINCHI
a job that gets him in over his head. Loose-lipped gang
members have revealed way too much in his familiar
Powers: Concussion Beam 12, Kinetic Energy Dispersal presence. An undercover squad member might steer
12, Limb Extension 6 him into a jam that he can get out of only by turning
PQ>QBµP TFQKBPP  3BOV MOLRA LC EFP P>OQLOF>I @ELF@BP

34
 MENTAL SURVEILLANCE
Lenny spends most of his spare scratch on fashionable
new clothes. If he knows that the squad members are conducting
unauthorized surveillance using their mental powers,
DAVID “FRENCHY” ROAD 0MB@F>IDBKQ)BOKBO@>KµQILLHQEBLQEBOT>V %BµII?B
A rare non-Italian among the Vetroni mob, David Road CLO@BAQLCFIB@OFJFK>I@E>ODBP>D>FKPQQEBJ %B@>KµQ
HKLTPEB@>KµQ>P@BKAQLQEBQLMQFBO>KAFPMBOCB@QIV book them for crimes they successfully conceal from
happy making a lucrative illegal living without involving him, of course.
EFJPBIC FK QEB A>KDBOP LC JL? MLIFQF@P  %BµP > OLMV
sandy-haired guy who loves guns and enjoys extensive Given that he does have wiretap authorization, and that
contacts in the outlaw biker scene. His nickname it has consistently failed, Law tells the group that they
ABOFSBPCOLJEFP*LKQOB>I?FOQEMI>@BBSBKQELRDEEBµP may be able to get a warrant to use invasive mental
actually the black sheep of an Anglo family. powers. To do this they must reasonably show that
Vetroni has the Technokinesis power and is using it to
circumvent authorized wiretap equipment. Then they
TAKEDOWN @>K @LJJBK@B >K >?LSB?L>OA QELRDEQ FKS>PFLK³
The dismantling of the Vetroni outfit might take with all the dangers inherent in getting close enough
exclusive focus for a number of sessions, or serve as to Vetroni to pull it off.

THE VANISHERS
a recurring element between other investigations. Let
the players take the lead on deciding how to go about it. GOING UNDERCOVER
Their goal is to get enough information to sew Vetroni 0NR>AJBJ?BOPµJRQ>KQMLTBOPDFSBQEBJ>KBKQO˜B
and crew up for the Broadway Bob scam and for their QL 3BQOLKFµP FKKBO @FO@IB QE>Q )BOKBOµP Q>PH CLO@B
many much worse crimes. All of the characters in the lacks. They can build a case on him by infiltrating
previous section have at least one murder on their his organization. His mob is easier to penetrate than
ledgers.

CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS
None of the underbosses dare talk to the cops for any
extended period. They either stay tight-lipped or stick
to crude insults, depending on their level of caution.

Jason, however, is egotistically invested in his ability to

maintain the facade of a legitimate businessman. He
agrees to talk to squad members, but only on his turf.
Vetroni turns on the charm, hoping to figure out what
the cops know from the content of their questions.
He carefully deflects all potentially damning queries
and does not crack when Interpersonal abilities are
deployed against him.

However, he does expose himself in one potentially

useful slip. If interviewed in the sandwich shop or boxing
club, a TV blares on a set of brackets behind Jason as
he talks. As the dialogue hits a lull, a Broadway Bob
commercial pops up on the TV. (This happens even if
L? FP AB>A³EFP EBFOP >OB PQFII ORKKFKD EFP >AP RKQFI
they can devise a new way to market the business.)
4EBK L?µP DO>QFKD ABIFSBOV ?LLJP LRQ QEOLRDE
the TV speakers, Jason winces. Then the TV image
breaks down into static until the commercial ends.
AnamorphologyPRDDBPQPQE>QEBµPGRPQRK@LKP@FLRPIV
used the Technokinesis ability.

35
 HARD HELIX

other La Cosa Nostra groups because he recruits from As only a couple of PCs can plausibly engage in the
elsewhere. Squad members working their way into his RKABO@LSBO JFPPFLK VLRµII KBBA QL CFKA FKQBOBPQFKD
crew will still need to be vouched for by a connected and exciting challenges for the rest of the squad. They
guy, though. might be engaged in parallel surveillance, mutant-
powered or mundane. They could act as behind-the-
Fortunately, Lerner can help, by arranging an P@BKBP?>@HRMEBIMFKDQLC>HBQEBRKABO@LSBOQVMBPµ
FKQOLAR@QFLK ?V )BL · R??V¸ BK@F > JL? CFDROB apparent crimes. Or they could pursue other cases
COLJ#ILOFA>TELE>PPB@OBQIVQROKBAPQ>QBµPTFQKBPP  while the undercover sequence unfolds as a B-story.
With Cenci acting as technical advisor, Lerner can *>HBPROBQELRDEQE>QVLRALKµQABMOFSBQEBDOLRM
produce credible criminal histories for up to two fake of investigative abilities they need by sending the
identities. undercover guys off on their own mission.)

Vetroni tests the new recruits by giving them a series

A BIG FINISH?
of illegal jobs to perform. These escalate gradually in
seriousness, and degree of exposure they place him in. As is often the case in Mutant City Blues, the climax
They might be required to: of the case can be played out as a final super battle or
in a non-violent arrest sequence. The former choice
zpick up a mysterious package from an suits groups more attuned to the super side of the
unidentified guy who will meet them in a game, while the latter is more realistic and in keeping
parking lot somewhere with the police procedural genre. For a super finish,
the mobsters fight back when busted. In a procedural
zgently remind a recalcitrant debtor to pay up ending, they submit calmly to arrest, sure that expensive
lawyers will do more for them than telekinetic attacks
ztorch an abandoned building in an insurance or self-detonations. Meanwhile, Sean Lerner and the
scam squad members pop champagne corks, congratulating
themselves on landing a landmark case.
zcollect from the previous debtor, no matter
what
Recovering the
zwhack a suspected informant
Jewels
As these scenes unfold, ratchet up the pressure, While the squad tackles the Vetroni mob,
making it progressively harder for the PCs to remain they may either remain focused on their
undercover without crossing the line. original entry point into the case—the
Broadway Jewelry heist—or allow it to fade
They will be handed over to one of the captains (or into the background.
two of them if there are two undercover officers), As mentioned in the profile entry for Paul
who will supervise their efforts. Vetroni makes these “the Lawyer” Martelli, he has custody of
assignments based on the powers and skills the the jewels that disappeared from Broadway
PCs claim. Someone with emotion control might be Bob’s safe. They were taken from the store,
sent to help Snakes Guidelli keep his hookers in line. under Border’s supervision, the night
*LOBMEVPF@>IMLTBOPMI>@BQEB@LMFK'LEK >O?LKFµP before Soto’s gang of patsies showed up. An
extortion ring. Depending on the scenes you improvise examination of the jewels with Streetwise
in response to player choices, they may learn enough confirms that this batch of jewelry consists
on Vetroni to nail him directly. Or they might gather intel of easily fenced materials, where Soto was
only on their captains, enabling them to flip them. allowed to take only pieces too distinctive
to unload on the black market.
Check out the excellent 1997 film Donnie Brasco,
featuring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, as a source of The squad can tie up the loose ends on this
inspiration for classic undercover-against-the-Mob aspect of the case either by getting the real
situations. story while undercover, or motivating a
gang member to flip on the others.

36
 Paul “The Lawyer” Martelli – Mob captain
Character Quick
Violetta Martelli - wife of Paul Martelli
Reference
Other Violetta – Paul Martelli’s mistress
“Broadway” Bob Border – Jeweler and into
the mob Paul Junior Martelli – Paul Martelli’s son.
Gabe Losey – Broadway Jewelry robber Chrissy – Paul Martelli’s daughter
Horace Monette – Broadway Jewelry Danny “Flipper” De Filippo – mob captain
robber
Al “Popper” Soldati – mob captain
Cristina McGonagle – Broadway Jewelry
“Short” Vito Stefanelli - mob hijacker
robber
“Tall” Vito Cipriani – mob hijacker
Alex Soto – Broadway Jewelry robber
Salvatore “Boom Boom” Spiggia - mob
Sarah Soto – Broadway Jewelry getaway
captain

THE VANISHERS
driver
(Johnny Schneider) – murdered Barhead
Georgiana Koenig – Sales clerk at Broadway
Jewelry Osvaldo Sanchez - barhead druggie
Amy Ore – Sales clerk at Broadway Jewelry Peter “Snakes” Guidelli – mob captain
Larry Evans – former football player, John Carboni – mob captain
customer of Broadway Jewelry
Doreen Carboni – wife of John Carboni
Sean “Twan” Bridewell – drug dealer
Frank Carboni – son of John Carboni
(“Grassy”) – drug dealer
Mario Carboni – son of John Carboni
Ray Ashe - claims adjuster from Pacific
Partners Insurance Trina Carboni – daughter of John Carboni

Vivien Coleman – Broadway Bob’s lawyer Drina Carboni – daughter of John Carboni

John “Heck” Reid - bookie Dominick Ninchi – mob soldier

S. A. Lin Mosswood - ATF Agent Tommy “Flowers” Frero – mob soldier

(Dolph Delaughter) – hijacked truck driver Jimmy “the Wheel” Maggio – mob soldier

S.A. Shane Lerner - team leader of an anti- Steve “Stripes” Mazzoni – mob soldier
organized crime task force at the FBI Lenny “Pups” Alpharetta– mob soldier
Jason “the Machine” Vetroni – Mutant mob David “Frenchy” Road– mob soldier
boss
Leo “Cubby” Cenci – mobster-turned-
Anna Vetroni – wife of Jason Vetroni, step- informant
daughter of John Carboni

37
 HARD HELIX

SUPER SQUAD

A sudden death at a mutant-related riot leads the unit THE CRIME

into the twisted world of the Super Squad, an elite Marquez enlists his favored gang leader of the moment,
MLIF@FKDDOLRMTELTLOHQEB@FQVµPQLRDEBPQPQOBBQP³ Lamar Yancey, ordering him to kill Poling. Yancey
and have, in the process, gotten more than a little dirt shadows him to a downtown watering hole, where he
on their own shoes. BKGLVP > PQOLHB LC IR@H³> PMLKQ>KBLRP >KQFJRQ>KQ
riot has broken out across the street! Yancey murders
Poling and drags his body a nearby parking lot, hoping
BACKSTORY QE>QEBµII?BQOB>QBA>P>OFLQSF@QFJ
Two years ago, police headquarters approved the
formation of the SITF, or Street Interdiction Task Force.
Led by hard-charging police detective Garth Marquez, THE INVESTIGATION
the SITF enjoys wide latitude in the war against the The PCs are on the scene while the crime is committed,
@FQVµP AORD D>KDP  &Q DBQP RM @ILPB >KA MBOPLK>I TFQE during the introductory action sequence Riot In
street-level criminals and their bosses, developing the Helixtown. In Beamed Out, they are led to the corpse
CLO@BµP?BPQFKQBILKD>KD>@QFSFQFBP 1EBQ>PHCLO@BORKP and discover that Poling was killed by concussion
confidential informants and sweeps drug corners. It beam. The Sad Apartment Of Irwin Poling leads them
launches lightning raids on crack dens, stash houses, to the Marquez connection. In The Neighbor, they
meth labs, and money counting operations. If in the Q>IH QL *>ONRBW >KA DBQ QEB CBBIFKD QE>Q PLJBQEFKDµP
process, it leans a little too heavily on the skels, or hinky about him. If they consult Internal Affairs, Eating
racks up a few too many complaints for brutality or use Cheese With the Rat Squad suggests that Marquez
LCO>@F>IIVFKPBKPFQFSBI>KDR>DB³TBIIQEBFOOBPRIQP>OB is well-protected by the brass and can only be taken
so good that the top brass has found it in their interest down with rock-solid evidence.
to look the other way.

In the face of this oversight gap, the rough tactics of THE TWIST
the Super Squad have metastasized into straight- 6>K@BVFPKµQ>P@LLI>@RPQLJBO>P*>ONRBWEBM>KF@P
up corruption. The SITF charges protection fees to and stages a Drive-By shooting on the PCs. They can
favored gangs and busts their competition. They skim catch and capture him but, in No Snitching, discover
confiscated money and drugs, wholesaling stolen QE>QEBµPKLQ>?LRQQLDFSBRM*>ONRBW
evidence to their gangsters of choice.
Immediately afterward, the squad finds itself dodging
Last month, Marquez began to receive insinuating bureaucratic fire, as higher-ups pressure them to Ease
emails from an unknown source, threatening to expose Off and close the case with Yancey.
his criminal activities if as-yet-unspecified financial
demands were not met. A restless sleeper tormented Then Yancey goes Up In Smoke, as an unidentified fellow
by guilty dreams, Marquez came to realize that the prisoner kills him with spontaneous combustion.
information in the emails could only have come from a
mutant eavesdropping on his nightmares. Conducting In The Big Skate, creepy low-level dealer Jeff Bibby is
an investigation on his neighbors in his apartment suddenly freed from the same facility after evidence
complex, he zeroed in on Irwin Poling, the pale, bean against him goes missing. Chain Of Custody leads the
pole of a man who living immediately above him. HCIU to property officer Michelle Mink. Another run at

38
Frank wins the trust of their IAD contact, who points through a confused crowd spilling from the sidewalks.
QEBJQL*>ONRBWµPPB@OBQPQLO>DBLocker. If they can Some people are running from the scene: parents with
work out a way to get inside and still use the contents young kids, elderly folks, ordinary citizens, all clearly
>P BSFABK@B³MBOE>MP PQBMMFKD LKQL *>ONRBWµP fearful.
NRBPQFLK>?IB PFAB LC QEB PQOBBQ³QEBV AFP@LSBO >K
incriminating tape. In a follow-up interview, Michelle Others sprint toward the fray. Detectives with
Cracks. Streetwise identify some of the following. They include
both notorious Helixtown troublemakers and known
anti-mutant agitators. Each detective spots one skel
THE CULPRIT for each point in his Streetwise pool; none of these
*FKHµP MOLJFPBA QBPQFJLKV DFSBP QEBJ QEB LMBKFKD IDs requires a spend. Make sure the group notes the
they need to commence the final
Showdown against Marquez and
his Super Squad. Despite their
@LIIB@QFSBKF@HK>JBQEBVµOBKLQ
BKE>K@BA³?RQQEBFO041IBSBI
armaments make them the next
best thing.

SCENES
RIOT IN
HELIXTOWN
SCENE TYPE: ACTION

SUPER SQUAD
TEASER

The action begins as the squad

speeds to the scene of a potential
riot in progress in Helixtown, the
city neighborhood known for its
high concentration of enhanced
citizens. Due to their ongoing
relationship to the community,
QEBVµSB?BBKPBKQQLQEBP@BKBQL
try to calm the disturbance. The
riot squad is on its way, but if the
% &2DBQPQEBOBCFOPQQEBVµOBQL
take action to prevent anyone
from being hurt.

The street demonstration has

jammed traffic over a several-
block radius. Any PCs who
have been driving to the scene
must get out and walk the rest
of the way, jostling their way
through onlookers. (Fliers and
teleporters, obviously, have
ways of bypassing the crowd.) As
they head to the epicenter of the
AFPQRO?>K@B³>PMLOQP?>O@>IIBA
+BQP³QEBV K>SFD>QB QEBFO T>V

39
 HARD HELIX

presence of at least one problem citizen from each Trampled beneath scuffling feet lie several placards
side of the mutant divide. bearing a photograph of a man wearing football
equipment, or such legends as JUSTICE FOR
Mutants known to police: EDISON MULLAN or NOBODY PUTS HUMANS IN THE
CORNER.
zJimmy the Mope, a shiftless meth-head who
uses Emotion Control to keep his abused Trivia gets the reference. Edison Mullan, quarterback
girlfriend of the moment depressed and of the local football team, is in intensive care at the
vulnerable to his head games. @FQVµP ?BPQ ELPMFQ>I >CQBO ?BFKD @ILQEBPIFKBA ?V >
player on the other team. That player, David Harpe,
zTequila Encinas, a sometimes violent has since confessed to having recently developed
transvestite prostitute who lets her johns mutant Strength. Although Harpe has expressed
burn and cut her, later healing herself with his remorse and been forgiven by Mullan, a friend
Regeneration. and former teammate, the incident has reawakened
the controversy over the mutant role in professional
zJonathan Lynch, a self-righteous, hot-headed sports. Cop Talk surmises (and uniformed officers can
activist who uses his Force Field to push people confirm) that a spontaneous protest started peacefully
around. but was quickly escalated by opportunistic thugs on
both sides.
Barheads and fellow travelers:
(Feel free to change the details to another sport to suit
zKenneth Westray, an insecure pretty boy who your chosen city and the time of year in your game.)
gets into fights with mutants to impress his
bigoted girlfriend, Ana. The riot sequence is intended as an exciting opening
scene in which the players get to creatively use their
zSelf-pitying cafeteria worker Nasim Iqbal, who super powers to solve an open-ended problem. Allow
scuffles with mutants as a way of releasing his any plausible plan to succeed, requiring rolls to deploy
sense of humiliation over his lowly employment super powers as per usual.
status.
Possible solutions you might anticipate include:
zDesiree Whitson, who drifted from the extreme
animal rights movement to the Neutral Parity zusing Emotion Control to bring calm to the
League after losing her husband to a green- violent
skinned rival.
zusing Endorphin Control (Others) to bliss out
As you name these characters, the players may riot ringleaders
Q>HB KLQBP QEFKHFKD QE>Q QEBVµII BKA RM >P FJMLOQ>KQ
suspects later. Do not disabuse them of this notion. zInduce Fear on one or more ringleaders causes
them to meekly cower before their opponents,
If players propose a credible-sounding way of demoralizing their supporters
discouraging any of these trouble hounds from joining
the riot, assign appropriate Difficulty modifiers and let zIllusions might send rioters fleeing
them have at it. Any single instigator can be warned
away on a 1-point Law, Intimidation or Negotiation zWater blast mimics the power of a well-known
spend. anti-riot measure

In front of Nets, fists and bats are already flying as Forensic Psychology allows the user to identify the
two groups of citizens lay into each other. Streetwise two or three instigators on each side of the fight whose
users note more mutant and anti-mutant agitators aggression motivates the rest to keep fighting. If they
among the crowd. Six or seven uniformed officers have >OB KBRQO>IFWBA QEB @OLTAµP JLLA OBSBOPBP >KA QEB
retreated to their respective patrol cars. One holds a fighting de-escalates.
crimson-stained dishtowel to his battered head.

40
If possible, describe the scene so that PCs have to &KPFABQEB+BQQEB?>OµPPJ>IIPQ>CCE>P>IOB>AV?BDRK
combine their power uses to quell the riot. the process of picking up. Chairs have been toppled,
and there are a few broken glasses, but by and large
If the players are unable to solve the problem, the riot the bulk of the violence took place outside the bar. As
squad finally squeezes it way past stopped traffic to the blood spatter says that the struggle began inside
disperse the rioters with tear gas. Many, in fact, hightail the bar, detectives may want to insist that the clean-up
it as soon as the heavily armored squad rolls up. stop. (It turns out that there is no physical evidence of
note inside, anyway.)
Whoever ends the riot, one of the uniformed officers
@>IIPLRQQLABQB@QFSBPGRPQ>PQEBVµOBDBQQFKDOB>AVQL The owner/bartender is Carla Porter, a no-nonsense
depart. Behind the tavern, partially obscured behind a woman in her late forties sporting brassy-colored
dumpster, lies the fatally beaten body of Irwin Poling. locks pulled back into a pony tail. She takes the
IB>A FK >KPTBOFKD ABQB@QFSBPµ NRBPQFLKP  1ELRDE
not particularly hostile, Carla is more focused on
BEAMED OUT
cleaning up than on chewing the fat with the cops. The
SCENE TYPE: CORE suggestion that she might be able to apply for damages
1EBSF@QFJFP> >R@>PF>KJ>IBFKEFPI>QBCFCQFBP %BµP as a crime victim, dangled via Negotiation, gets her
tall and very thin. A pair of shattered eye glasses lies full attention.
a few feet from his battered corpse. He wears brown
corduroy slacks, a yellow polo shirt, badly worn brown zShe knew the victim to see him, but not by
suede loafers, and mismatched sports socks. name. He came in infrequently, nursed a beer
or two, and then left. She never saw him talk to
Forensic Anthropology suggests that he was killed by other patrons or pay attention to the games on
multiple blows from a blunt instrument of unknown TV.
type.

SUPER SQUAD
zHe gave off the vibe of a man who wanted to be
(core) Energy Residue Analysis shows that the blows left to drink in peace, so she never quizzed him
that killed him were made by a concussion beam. on his life or anything like that.

Evidence Collection spots blood spatter on the inside of zIf he had an opinion one way or another about
the door leading from the bar outside to the dumpster mutants, she never heard it.
area. Spots of blood also appear on the stairs, and are
then pooled around the body. Overall they suggest that zAs usual, he sat by himself in a small corner
the vic was first hit inside, then again as he tried to table near the fire exit.
escape down the stairs, and was hit multiple times
while prone on the tarmac. zHe seemed surprised and dismayed when the
disturbance started. Once everything went
1EBALLOFPJ>OHBA#&/""5&1,+)6?RQFQFPKµQIL@HBA crazy she stopped paying attention to him.
or alarmed.
z1EBJFULCM>QOLKPT>PQEBRPR>I³>?LRQQTL
1EBSF@QFJµPT>IIBQ@LKQ>FKPÛFK@>PE &ABKQFCF@>QFLK QEFOAPOBDRI>OPLKBQEFOAMBLMIBPEBAFAKµQ
FK@IRABP>AB?FQ@>OA>KAAOFSBOµPIF@BKPB?RQKL@OBAFQ recognize.
@>OAP #OLJQEBAOFSBOµPIF@BKPBQEBPNR>A&!PEFJ>P
Irwin James Poling. The address lists his residence as z&QµP>JRQ>KQEB>SVKBFDE?LOELLAPLLC
an apartment building in a downscale neighborhood. course a good percentage of the regulars are
&QµP KLQ FK %BIFUQLTK ?RQ FK >K >AGLFKFKD >OB> QE>Q enhanced.
E>PKµQPBBKQEBP>JBIBSBILCDBKQOFCF@>QFLK
zCarla and her late husband started this bar
Cop Talk confirms, if there was any doubt, that the long before the SME, when this was a slightly
squad has officially caught this case. They should ragged working class neighborhood. The
check in with their lieutenant and inform support staff people have mostly turned over as it slowly
to get the usual paperwork rolling. turned into Helixtown, but they drink beer like
anyone else. So long as you treat the place

41
 HARD HELIX

TABLE OF JERKS
with respect and pay your tab at the end of the
KFDEQ >OI>ALBPKµQ@>OBTE>QVLRµSBDLQFK The table of jerks Carla described as instigating the
your mitochrondria. fight are all plainly visible in the footage. Data Retrieval
permits the use of facial recognition software to see
zThe trouble started when a loud table full of if any of them are in the system. They get one hit: a
jerks started mouthing off about the Edison thick-necked young gentleman named Tad Borman
Mullan business. They were obviously out-of- is in the database as a former army private. Law
towners, spoiling for a fight against the freaks. decodes the attached personnel record to show that
he was dishonorably discharged after some kind of
z,C@LROPBPLJBLCQEBIL@>IP³#>PQ#OBAAVL? disciplinary incident while stationed in Korea.
%>OOFP)VKBQQBQEB)FDEQPELT³QLLHQEB?>FQ
and started arguing back. Research finds an address for a Tad Borman in an
aging suburb far from the city center.
zMaybe Carla could have contained it if she
E>AKµQQLIAQEBJQLQ>HBFQLRQPFAB &QPBBJBA Borman comes to the door of his house in socks, gym
like there were more humps out there waiting PELOQP>KA1PEFOQ &CFQµP>KLAAELROEBBUMI>FKPEBµP
to join the fight once the advance team had just gotten off shift as a cable installer. Evasive at
drawn some hotheads out onto the sidewalk. first, he continually looks behind him into the house.
Reassurance or Negotiation, suggesting that the
zBy the time the riot started, the whole staff, ABQB@QFSBPTLKµQQBIIEFPTFCB>?LRQEFPFKSLISBJBKQFK
including Carla, was out there, too, trying to the riot, secures his cooperation.
calm folks down. Nobody saw anything happen
to Poling. zBorman admits that he and a bunch of his
dumb-ass high school buddies got together
z1EBOBµP>PB@ROFQV@>JBO>FKQEB?>@HOLLJ and decided to go ruffle some feathers in
where she keeps the safe, but nothing pointed freaktown. His young son is a huge fan of
>QQEB?>O>OB>FQPBIC ·-BLMIBIFHBQLDBQQEBFO Edison Mullan and he hated having to explain
drink on without Big Brother watching their ELT>DOB>QMI>VBOµP@>OBBO@LRIA?BORFKBA
BSBOVJLSB ¸ ?B@>RPB>JRQ>KQAFAKµQOBSB>IEFPPQ>QRP 

None of the other staff members have anything z(If none of the detectives are visibly enhanced,
PFDKFCF@>KQQL>AAQL >OI>µP>@@LRKQ Bullshit Detector Tad blithely spouts anti-mutant slurs, as if
shows that both she and her employees are playing it expecting that any self-respecting cop would
straight. openly disdain the chromes. If they are, he
nervously tries to speak in politically correct
QBOJP·!LKµQDBQJBTOLKD 0LJBLCJV?BPQ
CANVASSING THE RIOTERS
COFBKAP>OBAFCCBOBKQIVDBKBQF@ ¸
SCENE TYPE: RED HERRING
A check with other local businesses show that a number zThey never expected this to turn into a full-
of them keep cameras trained on the street. Incidents fledged riot. Once it happened, they got the hell
of vandalism are all too common in Helixtown. These out of there. [Surveillance footage confirms
are almost invariably perpetrated by barheads or out- this.]
of-town yahoos who pour into the district on weekends
to gawk at the creeps and raise hell. zNeither Borman nor any of his friends had
any idea that there were a bunch of barheads
Data Retrieval searches the gathered video footage milling around, ready to jump in and turn a
for an angle on the back of Nets, but comes up with simple bar rumble into world war three. They
nothing. However, it is easy to see who threw the first just wanted to let off steam.
punches during the riot, and who escalated from fists
to makeshift clubs and super powers. 1>A@BOQ>FKIVALBPKµQHKLT>KVQEFKD>?LRQ>KVJROABO
and neither do his friends. They were together the
whole time, and he can swear than none of them did
anything worse than kick somebody in the nuts.

42
Bullshit Detector indicates that, though he may be the early stages of multiple personality disorder, a
shading the truth to make himself look like less of a defect appearing between her two known powers
loser, Borman is basically telling the truth. on the Quade Diagram. Indeed, Bridget talks about
EBO PQOFMMBO @E>O>@QBO >P > PBM>O>QB MBOPLK  0EBµP
Only if pressed will Borman give up the names and JLPQ @LJCLOQ>?IB TFQE JBK TEBK QEBVµOB >@QFKD IFHB
contact info for his friends: Joe Mahlum, Dustin customers, and is attracted to strong women, so
Shepherd, Oscar Rosario, Danny Aube. If the detectives Flirting from either gender is a good way to open her
decide to question all of them, sum up the process in a up.
quick sentence or two. They all independently confirm
1>AµP PQLOV >KA BUEF?FQ S>OVFKD ABDOBBP LC @LKQOFQFLK All three tell versions of the following story:
about their role in triggering a riot.
z1EBVAFAKµQPQ>OQQEBOFLQ &QT>PQELPBPQRMFA
MUTANT BELLIGERENTS norms, fixing for a fight.
Research allows the group to track down the group of
JRQ>KQPJBKQFLKBAFK >OI>µP>@@LRKQ ">@EOBNRFOBP z1EBVAFAKµQIFHBTE>QE>MMBKBAQL"AFPLK
a different means of approach and offers a slightly Mullan anymore than anybody. He was a
variant take on the same basic information. hometown hero.

Fast Freddy is Frederick John Rossum, 60, a professional zNobody knew Irwin Poling, except to see him.
gambler who clerks in a porn shop whenever he hits
a losing streak. Research yields his minor rap sheet, z1EBVAFAKµQKLQF@BEFJQE>QKFDEQQEBVTBOB
including gambling and drug offenses and a string of to preoccupied with the table full of asshole
assault charges. All of the latter stem from bar fights. norms.
He has never suffered a major conviction but fears that
his involvement in the riot will provide his ticket to the z&CEBT>PHFIIBAFQµP?B@>RPBPLJB+-)QERD

SUPER SQUAD
pokey. On a 1-point Research spend, a detective can thought he was a mutant. It had to have been a
reach out to an arresting officer in the most recent case hate crime.
QL IB>OK QE>Q /LPPRJµP MLTBOP >OB 0MBBA /BCIBUBP
High Energy Dispersal, and Kinetic Energy Dispersal. Once again, Bullshit Detector PRDDBPQP QE>Q QEBVµOB
Freddy is not enough of a hothead to get into a physical telling the truth, and that this line of inquiry is a dead
confrontation with police officers. Intimidation sees to end.
it that his fear of not talking to the cops overcomes his
fear of talking to the cops. The mutant hotheads seen rushing toward the riot
as the detectives arrived on scene have even less
Trivia tells the group that Bob Harris, 41, sells model information, but share the opinion that Poling had to
trains over the Internet and is a regular disturber have been a mutant victim of an NPL hate crime.
of Helixtown community meetings. (1-point spend)
A vocal eco-activist, Bob proudly announces his BARHEADS
Environmental Awareness ability to nearly anyone who Surveillance footage of the riot shows Neutral Parity
TFII IFPQBK  %BµP >IPL TBIIHKLTK FK QEB @LJJRKFQV League youth wing leader Richard Wayne Jason
as an accomplished eavesdropper, suggesting that (Mutant City Blues, p. 152) and two of his lieutenants,
he also has the Hearing power. (Bob also possesses Tom Philson and Mike Griffin. Before Tad and his
Tracking and Olfactory Center but considers these less friends come out of the bar with Fast Freddy, Lynette
brag-worthy.) Data Retrieval uncovers his activities as the Lightshow and Bob Harris, the barheads seem to
a comment troll on global warming denialist blogs and be loitering aimlessly around. They touch off the riot
forums. by suddenly jumping into the fray. Body language, as
analyzed with Forensic Psychology or Streetwise,
Lynette the Lightshow is hard-drinking stripper suggests that this was an unplanned, opportunistic
Bridget Renaud, 24. A character with Streetwise has gesture. Streetwise further suggests that they were
seen her locally famous act, in which she supplements down there looking for trouble.
her pole dancing with Illusion and Alter Form. After
> CBT JLJBKQPµ FKQBO>@QFLK TFQE EBO > ABQB@QFSB Richard Jason agrees to speak with the detectives
with Forensic Psychology suspects that she is in ?B@>RPBEBBKGLVP?>FQFKDJRQ>KQ@LMP³BPMB@F>IIVQEFP

43
 HARD HELIX

QFJBTEBKEBALBPKµQCBBIEBµPALKB>KVQEFKDTOLKD  zSure, they jumped in when they saw honest

If the squad includes one or more non-mutants, Jason citizens being menaced by mutant freaks. Any
speaks only to them, trying to drive a wedge between bar fight with them can turn deadly in a second,
the norms and the lixers. Tom Philson, a pathological you know. Who can tell what kind of whacked-
PV@LME>KQQ>IHPQLQEBPNR>ALKIVFCEBµPPBBKQEB?FD out powers they can unleash on your ass?
dog do it. Mike Griffin, if alone, yields to Intimidation.
z1EBVALKµQHKLTKL&OTFK-LIFKD
Their story goes like this:
zObviously a mutant had to have killed him,
zThey were just minding their own business, not probably because he was a pure genetic homo
looking for trouble with nobody. sapiens standing up for his innate rights. It had
to have been a hate crime.
zYeah, so they, well-known mutant haters,
were walking around in a gene-expressive On a 1-point Intimidation spend (on Mike Griffin) or
neighborhood, wearing their gang insignia. 1-point Reassurance spend (on Jason, from a non-
4E>QLCFQ&QµP>COBB@LRKQOVFPKµQFQ mutant cop) or a 1-point Negotiation spend (on any of

with backup: one gangster for every squad

Scoping Lamar member. Although their personal artillery
Scene Type: Alternate is politely concealed, they are obviously
strapped.
Spends in the “Barheads” sub-scene may
twig the detectives to the importance of
z Yancey, off the record, hints that he may
Lamar Yancey, who does not otherwise
have been in the vicinity to do business
appear until “Drive-By,” See the ensuing
with the NPL.
section, “No Snitching”, p. 52, for basics on
Yancey’s appearance and demeanor.
z%BALBPKµQ@>OBTELFP>KAFPKµQ>
Depending on the order in which the mutant.
detectives choose to follow their leads, this
alternate scene may also provide their first z He himself is not a mutant.
introduction to Garth Marquez.
z %BALBPKµQ@>OB>?LRQQEBOFLQP 1EBV
Cop Talk tells the group that the best source do not impact on his business. He is a
for drug intel is Marquez. They meet with businessman.
him in his spartan office in a downtown
police division. It is obviously little used: z Jason is only a customer to him. When
this is the setup of a guy who spends his EBµPFKPFAB'>PLKE>KDPTFQEQEBOV>K
time on the street and has been given a free Nation, which does not exactly endear
pass on the paperwork. When Marquez him Lamar, an African-American.
first hears Yancey’s name mentioned, he
discourages the squad from seeking him Bullshit Detector on Yancey pegs him as an
out. Yancey is a very bad, trigger-happy experienced player who maintains a perfect
guy, and an attempt to approach him poker face at all times. It’s impossible to tell
could easily go wrong. He also (rightly) when he’s telling the truth and when he’s
diminishes the relevance of NPL youth drug lying.
trafficking to their murder case. If pressed,
If a player asks for a Bullshit Detector on
Marquez agrees to set up a meet with
Marquez, a 2-point spend allows them to
Yancey, at which he and other members of
see that there’s something fishy between
his Super Squad will also be present.
him and Yancey.
Should a meet occur, it takes place on
neutral ground, under a bridge. He comes

44
the three, with a promise to intercede with prosecutors purchased supplies for it at Urban Reef, a specialty
OBD>OAFKDOFLQFK@FQBJBKQ@E>ODBPQEBVµIIRKALR?QBAIV shop on the other side of town.
be facing), they confess that they were hoping to meet
up with a gang contact to score a drug package. When A computer mouse and printer sit on a wooden desk
they refuse to identify him, Bullshit Detector suggests nearby. A cable modem rests on the floor below. There
QE>QQEBVµOBJLOB>CO>FALCQEBAB>IBOQE>KQEBV>OBLC is space for a laptop but the machine itself is nowhere
the HCIU. to be found.

Coupled with the above spend, a 1-point Streetwise Pay stubs for a company called MKC are haphazardly
expenditure allows a detective to consult with a snitch discarded into a desk drawer. A call to the phone
TELµP TFOBA FKQL QEB IL@>I AORD P@BKB  &C VLR KBBA > number listed on the checks identifies it as a provider
name and personality for the informant, use resourceful of business-to-business travel and logistics. Poling
but paranoid junkie Devon Bullock.) He identifies the worked as a shipper in their local warehouse.
JLPQIFHBIVPLRO@BCLO'>PLKµPAORD>@QFSFQFBP>P)>J>O
Yancey: see sidebar.

Local NPL leader Conrad Priestley (see Mutant City

Blues M   >IPL ·1EB %>OA %BIFU¸ TLRIA ?B SBOV
unhappy to hear that his youth lieutenant is back to
Poling’s lIFE
dealing drugs again. If a squad member (preferably a Clarissa Miles, manager of Urban Reef,
token norm) pays him a visit to drop the word, a rift remembers Poling as a regular but frugal
opens between the two men, which you can follow up customer. He would put animals on hold for
on in a future scenario. a long time, carefully saving until he could
afford them. Recently he hinted that his
The anti-mutant bigots seen at the beginning of the financial constraints were ending, and that

SUPER SQUAD
riot sequence lack most of the above information, but he’d be able to quickly buy certain expensive
volunteer the theory that Poling was a genetically pure fish and corals. Miles characterizes him as
victim of a mutant hate crime. “slightly off”, but suggests that eccentric
customers are an occupational hazard in the
aquarium business.
THE SAD APARTMENT OF
IRWIN POLING Marlene Bartholomew, Poling’s supervisor
at the warehouse, bluntly describes him as a
SCENE TYPE: CORE
“warm body” with low people skills.
-LIFKDµP >AAOBPP IB>AP QL > AO>? @LK@OBQB ILTOFPB
apartment building. Architecture notes it as an A fellow worker, Gus Bruner, reveals
anonymous 1960s structure in bad need of basic that Irwin’s nickname at work was “Mr.
repairs. Pissy.” He was always complaining about
something, but over the past few months
Forensic Accounting explains this is a neighborhood had undergone a sudden change in attitude.
TEBOB OBKQP E>SB DLKB ALTK OBI>QFSB QL FKCI>QFLK³>P He’d become calmer and less aggrieved,
opposed to nearby Helixtown, where an influx of though just as standoffish as ever.
mutant residents, many of them well-heeled, has sent
Ruthie Yi, an attractive server at the coffee
property values upwards. Many of the norms priced
shop Poling frequents, says that he creeped
out of that area have relocated here.
her out, constantly staring at her. When he
eventually asked her on a date, he looked
Poling lives on the fourth floor. The sleepy-eyed
like he was going to pass out from the
superintendent, a grumpy transplanted German
anxiety. She turned him down as politely
named Wolfgang Korn, lets them into the apartment.
as she could, but he still got mad, telling he
&QµP > LKB ?BAOLLJ CROKFPEBA TFQE TLOK >KA @>PQ LCC
could look inside her, if he really wanted.
pieces. The focus of the living room is a large salt
From then on he’d avoid the place whenever
water aquarium; Natural History identifies several
she was on duty.
prized species of coral. A search of the cabinet below
the aquarium yields a stray receipt showing that he

45
 HARD HELIX

Also in the drawer is a newly issued passport. None of

its pages are stamped. (Follow-up Research drawing
on the international transport security network shows
that he has yet to leave the country with it, and that
he had gone for over a decade without renewing his
previous, expired passport.)

-LIFKDµP?LLHPEBISBP@LKQ>FKQEBL@@>PFLK>I?BPQPBIIBO
and computer instruction manual, but are mostly filled
with books on fish and aquariums. A guide book on
travel to Africa lies open on an end table, to a page
detailing tours in Malawi for tropical fish fanciers.

Coffee cups from the franchise café outlet down the

street from his apartment fill his recycling bin.

Korn has a high opinion of Poling, in that he minded

EFPLTK?RPFKBPPKBSBO?LRK@BA>@EB@H>KAAFAKµQ
bother people with a lot of pointless conversation.

@LOB P QEBVµOB IB>SFKD QEB ?RFIAFKD QEB PNR>A

passes Garth Marquez, jingling his keys as he heads
for the elevator. Cop Talk FABKQFCFBPEFJFCQEBVE>SBKµQ
encountered him yet, as the detective in charge of the
Super Squad.

Marquez is a tall, lanky man who walks with a confident

macho swagger. He keeps his hair long, completing
his quasi-bandido look with an elaborate mustache. zIts aggressive tactics have led to a sterling
Tight jeans, tighter black T-shirt, alligator-skin arrest record, including the roll-up of three
cowboy boots, and a skull-and-crossbones belt buckle major street gangs.
complete the ensemble. He chain-chews toothpicks; a
nicotine patch adorns his well-muscled forearm. zThese tactics balance sharp-elbowed raids
and sweeps with extensive intel gathering. If
VLRT>KQQLHKLTTE>QµPRMFKQEBD>KDTLOIA
THE NEIGHBOR
Marquez is your go-to guy.
SCENE TYPE: CORE
As longstanding police officers, squad members z1EB@FQVµPOFDEQIB>KFKDM>MBOP@BIB?O>QB
should already know a good deal about Marquez and Marquez; the lefty rags accuse him of civil
his crew. If the players ask to draw on this presumed rights violations.
backgroundl knowledge of Marquez and his crew,
supply the following facts. Try as much as possible to z OLLHP@I>FJEBµPAFOQV?RQQEBVP>VQE>Q
PLRKAIFHBVLRµOBJ>HFKDQEBJRMLCCQEBQLMLCVLRO about any cop they fear. [A character whose
EB>A !LKµQPRMMIVQEFPFKCLOJ>QFLKTFQELRQMOLJMQFKD background includes a stint in Internal Affairs
QE>QµPQLL?FD>QBII  may have a more jaundiced view of Marquez
>KAQEB0RMBO0NR>APRPMB@QFKDQE>QQEBOBµP
zHe heads the SITF (Street Interdiction Task fire to go with that smoke.]
Force), tasked to perform high risk operations
>D>FKPQQEB@FQVµPQLRDEBPQPQOBBQD>KDP zDespite its name, none of the members are
known to possess mutant powers. One of them
is a Category B, though.

46
Marquez immediately makes the PCs as HCIU but Cop Talk tells them that even being seen entering
pretends otherwise. When they call out to him, he the Internal Affairs department or seeking out an IAD
takes a moment to recognize them, then greets them investigator will result in a freeze-out from fellow
with the macho good- naturedness of a fellow officer. officers. Being branded as a snitch or rat squad
wannabe might deny them promotion, investigative
(core) Although an accomplished liar, Garth has been cooperation, and even life-saving backup.
practicing for this moment a bit too long, and pings
Bullshit Detector when he pretends to be completely Let the players tell you how they plan to arrange for a
unaware of Irwin Poling. secure meet with Williams. Then play out the logistical

&C PELTK > MELQL EB COLTKP >KA QEFKHP EBµP J>V?B
PBBKEFJFKQEBE>IIP>CBTQFJBP ·&LKIV@O>PEEBOB
J>K 0FUJLKQEP&?BBKIFSFKDEBOB>KA&PQFIIE>SBKµQ Rhino Is Watching
RKM>@HBAQEBPFISBOT>OB ¸
In a prelude to the upcoming antagonist
reaction, one of the obstacles to an
He does not point out that his apartment is directly
unobtrusive IAD meet comes in the form
?BILT-LIFKDµP?RQALBPKµQIFB>?LRQQEBIL@>QFLKLCEFP
of surveillance from Lamar Yancey’s crew.
MI>@BFC>PHBA %BµPFK-LIFKDFK
When driving to the meet (adjust details
as necessary based on player planning) a
*>ONRBW L?PBOSBP QE>Q -LIFKD ·ILLHP IFHB > @FQFWBK¸
Difficulty 5 Sense Trouble check notices that
>KAP>VPEBFPKµQLKEFPO>A>O 
the group’s vehicle is being shadowed by a
sleek late-model SUV. When the PCs appear
If the group has heard of, but not gone looking for,
to react, the vehicle speeds off. By winning
Lamar Yancey, Marquez can now run the scene where
a Driving vs. Driving contest (with Rhino
he reluctantly agrees to arrange a meet; see sidebar,
Gomez at the wheel for the gangster crew)

SUPER SQUAD
p. 46.
the PCs can intercept their vehicle and
confront its inhabitants.
EATING CHEESE WITH THE
Rhino Gomez does the talking. He’s a bulky
RAT SQUAD guy with a congenital bump the size of a
SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE quarter in the middle of his forehead. Rhino
When asking fellow cops about Marquez, the PCs must denies that he was following anybody. He
QOB>A@>OBCRIIV³BPMB@F>IIVPFK@B>IIQEBVE>SBQLDLLK denies knowing Lamar Yancey. In fact, he
is feeling that the SITF honcho is hiding something. denies everything.
Marquez is genuinely popular among rank-and-file
The others are: Little Rex (Ray Henderson,
@LMP  *FAIBSBI J>K>DBOP PBKPB QE>Q EBµP MOLQB@QBA
a rangy fifteen-year-old), Sparks (De Andre
by somebody far up on the food chain. Any suspicion
Byrd, sullen and uncommunicative) and
that the HCIU is looking into a fellow officer results
Ennis Anthony (tubby, a smart-ass.)
in immediate and none-too-subtle pressure to back
LCC³QLMOLSBQE>QQEBVµOBKLQALFKDQEBO>QPNR>AµPGL? Without Yancey egging them on, these
for them. guys have no desire to get into trouble. If
arrested, they go calmly along. Charges
1EBVµII MOL?>?IV QEFKH LC FQ QEBJPBISBP ?RQ FC KLQ are unlikely to stick. There are no illegal
repeated references to the rat squad should inspire weapons or drugs in the car.
QEBJ QL @EB@H LRQ *>ONRBWµP OBM TFQEFK &KQBOK>I
Affairs. Game statistics for Rhino and company are
found in “Drive-By,” p. 69.
The PC with the highest Cop Talk pool (resolve ties in Later Research shows that all inhabitants
favor of the player most in need of spotlight time) once of the car have criminal records, including
served with an officer who joined Internal Affairs after drug charges. All files note that they are
repeatedly being turned down for deserved promotions. subjects of an ongoing SITF investigation.
His name is Frank Williams.

47
 HARD HELIX

details, placing a few suspenseful obstacles in

their path; see sidebar.

Frank Williams a straight-arrow guy who sports

> PBSBOB E>FO @RQ ?L>PQP > DLICBOµP MEVPFNRB
and dresses like an FBI agent. He believes in
his job, and is ruefully aware of the risks the
PNR>AFPQ>HFKD?VKLPFKD>OLRKA>KLQEBO@LMµP
business.

#O>KH PQ>OQP ?V T>OKFKD QEBJ LCC ·6LR ALKµQ

T>KQ QL DL QEBOB ?BIFBSB JB ¸ 4EBK MOBPPBA
he heaves his shoulders and drops a few more
hints. Make the group work to drag even these
tiny admissions from him.

zHe was looking at the SITF last year, but

closed the file, on orders from above.

zEven his own IAD bosses regard

Marquez as untouchable.

z&QµPKLQQE>QQEBVµOB@LOORMQFQµPQE>Q
*>ONRBWµPTLOHFPQLLDLLAQL@EB@H 
Three major gang roll-ups is nothing to
sneeze at.

zTo force his bosses to let him take a real

run at Marquez, Frank needs something
major. A few bundles of cash going
>PQO>V³BSBK>JLABPQNR>KQFQVLCPQLIBK
AORDP³TLKµQ@RQFQ

)>J>OPFQPFKQEBM>PPBKDBOµPPB>QLCQEB?I>@H023QEB
DRIVE-BY
QB>JJ>VE>SBPBBKB>OIFBOFKQEB·/EFKL&P4>Q@EFKD¸
SCENE TYPE: ANTAGONIST sub-sequence. Rhino is driving; the other gangsters
REACTION previously referenced have jammed themselves into
After their the investigation hits the wall created by the back seat. Lamar sprays the group with automatic
*>ONRBWµP GRF@B TFQEFK QEB ABM>OQJBKQ QEB PNR>A fire from a Mac-10 submachine gun.
BK@LRKQBOP > ?OB>H FK QEB @>PB³@LROQBPV LC )>J>O
6>K@BVµPAORDCRBIBAM>O>KLF> Everybody except for Rhino disguises his appearance
with a hoodie and a cheap plastic Halloween mask.
Decide how Yancey knows which cops are working the )>J>OµPFP>V For Vigilante-style Guy Fawkes mask; he
Poling murder. He may have been tipped off by street is unaware of its various cultural resonances. Rhino,
contacts the PCs interviewed, by Richard Jason, or by who has to drive, relies on a bandanna to hide his facial
a loose-lipped SITF member (other than Marquez.) CB>QROBP 0FK@B·/EFKL&P4>Q@EFKD¸QEBVµSBPTFQ@EBA
the plates on their SUV for a set stolen from an ice
By default, the attempted hit occurs when squad cream truck.
members are traveling between scenes, preferably
by vehicle. Otherwise it may happen while they are Lamar stages the ambush effectively, roaring out of
grouped together, on foot. traffic at an unexpected moment. Seeing him coming
before he fires requires a Difficulty 7 Sense Trouble
test. If Lamar has met the PCs, he targets the one

48
who got in his face the most. Otherwise, he aims for Their intention is to blast a cop or two quickly, then
the driver (if the squad is in a moving vehicle) or the drive off. PC actions may prevent them from hitting in
investigator who made the toughest impression on the first place, and will probably result in their capture.
whoever told Lamar about them. Characters in moving vehicles have their Hit Thresholds
FK@OB>PB ?V   )>J>O PMBKAP  0ELLQFKD LK EFP CFOPQ
If the group is surprised, Lamar goes first. On a PELQ  &C EB EFQP EB RPBP EFP DRKµP >RQLCFOB @>M>@FQV
Sense Trouble success, the character making the test he spends all of his remaining Shooting points to do
acts first, then Lamar, then the other PCs, then the three additional instances of damage to him. Yancey,
gangsters in the back seat. a closeted mutant, does not use his concussion beam
powers unless his life seems to literally depend on it.

—˜ ȱ›˜••œȱ‘›ŽŽȱŠ–ŠŽȱ’ŒŽǰȱŽĴ’—ȱŠȱśǰȱ
OPTIONAL RULE: ŠȱřǰȱŠ—ȱŠȱŜǰȱ›ŽžŒ’—ȱ‘ŽȱžŠ›Ȃœȱ
ŽŠ•‘ȱ
Automatic Weapons ‹¢ȱŠȱ˜Š•ȱ˜ȱŗŚȱ™˜’—œǯȱ‘’œȱŠ”Žœȱ‘Žȱ
žŠ›ȱ›˜–ȱŘȱ˜ȱȬŗŘȱ
ŽŠ•‘ǰȱ•ŽŠŸ’—ȱ‘’–ȱ
To keep the story moving and its main ŽŠǯȱ•Š”Žȱ‘Šœȱ™Š’ȱŠȱ˜Š•ȱ˜ȱŜȱ‘˜˜’—ȱ
characters alive at least until the climax ™˜’—œȱ˜›ȱ‘ŽȱŽ—’›ŽȱŽ¡Œ‘Š—ŽǰȱŠ”’—ȱ‘’œȱ
arrives, the action genre treats automatic ‘˜˜’—ȱ›˜–ȱŘŗȱ˜ȱŗśǯ
weapons fire as much less deadly than If additional dramatically unimportant
it is in real life. Characters either remain enemies stand within 3 meters of your first
pinned down by suppressing fire (which target, you may spread out your additional
is realistic) or routinely outrun lines of instances of damage between these
machine gun fire (which is not.) Important additional targets.
characters are much less likely to be hit
by automatic fire than they are by single •Š”Žȱ‹ž›œœȱ‘›˜ž‘ȱŠȱ˜˜›ȱŠ—ȱꗍœȱ

SUPER SQUAD
firearm shots. Minor thugs, guards and the kingpin cowering behind a sofa,
henchmen are more likely to be hit by with three submachine gun toting
autofire. goons waiting in front of it, shoulder
˜ȱœ‘˜ž•Ž›ǯȱ•Ž¡ȱ–Š”ŽœȱŠȱ‘˜˜’—ȱŽœȱ
The following optional rules allow for a ŠŠ’—œȱ‘Žȱ–’•Žȱ˜˜—Ȃœȱ
’ȱ‘›Žœ‘˜•ȱ
more detailed treatment of automatic fire. It ˜ȱřǯȱ
Žȱœ™Ž—œȱŗȱ™˜’—ȱ˜—ȱ‘ŽȱŽœǰȱ›˜••œȱ
still models genre, not reality. ŠȱŚǰȱŠ—ȱ‘’œǯȱ
Žȱ–Š¢ȱ—˜ ȱ™Š¢ȱŘȱ™˜’—œȱ
If you score a hit with an automatic apiece to do additional instances of
weapon, and the GM has no narrative Š–ŠŽȱ˜ȱ‘’œȱ’—’’Š•ȱŠ›Žǰȱ˜›ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱž¢œȱ
reason to prevent you from making an easy œŠ—’—ȱ˜—ȱŽ’‘Ž›ȱœ’Žȱ˜ȱ‘’–ǯȱ’‘ȱŗŚȱ
kill, you may then spend Shooting points œ‘˜˜’—ȱ™˜’—œȱ•ŽĞǰȱ•Ž¡ȱŒ‘˜˜œŽœȱ˜ȱ‘’ȱ
to do additional instances of damage to ŽŠŒ‘ȱ˜ȱ‘Ž–ȱ ’ŒŽǯȱ
ŠŸ’—ȱŠ•›ŽŠ¢ȱœŒ˜›Žȱ
him, at a rate of 1 instance of damage per 2 ‘Žȱꛜȱ‘’ǰȱ‘Žȱ›Ž–Š’—’—ȱ꟎ȱŒ˜œȱ‘’–ȱŠȱ
Shooting points spent. Damage is assessed ˜Š•ȱ˜ȱŗŖȱ™˜’—œǯȱ
Žȱ›˜••œȱ‘›ŽŽȱ™Š’›œȱ˜ȱ
after you decide how many extra instances Š–ŠŽȱ’ŒŽǰȱŽĴ’—ȱŠȱřȱŠ—ȱŠȱśȱŠŠ’—œȱ
you want to pay for. ‘’œȱ–Š’—ȱŠ›ŽǰȱŠȱřȱŠ—ȱŠȱśȱŠŠ’—œȱ‘Žȱ
ž¢ȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ•ŽĞǰȱŠ—ȱŠȱśȱŠ—ȱŠȱŘȱŠŠ’—œȱ
Blake, raiding the compound of a Miami ‘Žȱž¢ȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ›’‘ǯȱŠŒ‘ȱ˜˜—ȱ‘ŠȱŘȱ
narco kingpin, uses a light automatic
ŽŠ•‘ǯȱȱ˜ ȱ‘Žȱ–Š’—ȱŠ›ŽȱŠ—ȱž¢ȱ˜—ȱ
 ŽŠ™˜—ȱ˜ȱ˜™Ž—œȱꛎȱ˜—ȱŠȱžŠ›ǯȱ
Žȱ ‘Žȱ•ŽĞȱŠ›Žȱ‹˜‘ȱŠȱȬŜȱǻœŽ›’˜žœ•¢ȱ ˜ž—ŽǼǰȱ
–Š”ŽœȱŠȱ‘˜˜’—ȱŽœȱŠŠ’—œȱ‘’œȱ
’ȱ Š—ȱ‘Žȱž¢ȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ›’‘ȱ’œȱ‘ž›ǰȱŠȱȬśȱ
Threshold of 3, spending 2 points to
ŽŠ•‘ǯȱ‘Žȱ ȱ›˜••œȱ˜—œŒ’˜žœ—Žœœȱ›˜••œȱ
Šž–Ž—ȱ‘’œȱ›˜••ǯȱ
Žȱ›˜••œȱŠȱśǰȱ˜ŸŽ›Œ˜–’—ȱ ˜›ȱŠ••ȱ‘›ŽŽǰȱŠ’•’—ȱŽŠŒ‘ȱ’–Žǯȱ‘Ž¢ȱŠ••ȱ
‘Žȱ
’ȱ‘›Žœ‘˜•ǯȱ•Š”ŽȂœȱ™•Š¢Ž›ǰȱ•Ž¡ǰȱ ™Šœœȱ˜žǰȱ‹•ŽŽ’—ȱ˜žȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ™Š•Š££˜Ȃœȱ
decides to spend 4 points to purchase ꗎȱ–Š›‹•Žȱ̘˜›’—ǯ
Š—˜‘Ž›ȱ ˜ȱ’—œŠ—ŒŽœȱ˜ȱŠ–ŠŽǯȱ
Žȱ

49
 HARD HELIX

Driving and Firing LAMAR YANCEY

To combine a ranged weapon battle

with a driving contest, conduct a full round Athletics 6, Fleeing 6, Health 12, Scuffling 4 , Shooting
of combat between all eligible participants. 12
At the end of the round, have each driver
make his Driving test. Powers: Concussion Beam 12
Hit Thresholds of characters in Weapon: Mac-10 +2
moving vehicles increase by 1.
Drivers may take a combat turn, but
the Difficulties of Driving rolls and enemy RHINO GOMEZ
Hit Thresholds increase by 2 apiece if they
choose to do so.
Athletics 8, Fleeing 2, Health 8, Scuffling 8 , Shooting
If the pursuing driver fails, the 4
combat ends prematurely as the lead
vehicle speeds off, allowing its occupants to Weapon: 9mm pistol +1
disengage from the fight.
If the fleeing driver fails, the vehicle
spins out, crashes, or otherwise comes to LITTLE REX, SPARKS & ANTHONY
a sudden stop. The chase has ended, but
the combat may proceed. Combatants may
hunker down in their vehicles to exchange Athletics 2, Fleeing 6, Health 2, Scuffling 4 , Shooting
further fire, or might elect to pile out and 2
engage in close quarters fighting.
Weapon: 9mm pistol +1
Losing a Driving contest during
a fight usually results in a dramatic and None of these guys fights to the death. Unless they
hazardous crash. All occupants of the losing obviously have the upper hand when the PCs catch
driver’s vehicle make Athletics tests against up with them, they throw down their weapons and
a Difficulty of 4+x, where x is the difference surrender.
between the Driving Difficulty (usually
4) and the driver’s final result. Characters Lamar and company will probably be apprehended
failing the Athletics test take one instance of EBOB &CPLDLQL·+L0KFQ@EFKD ¸&CKLQDLQL·%RKQFKD
unmodified damage. )>J>O ¸&C)>J>OFPHFIIBADLQL·*LROKFKD)>J>O ¸

NO SNITCHING
The other gangsters use nine millimeter pistols and SCENE TYPE: CORE
are incapable of autofire. Rhino does not shoot and Yancey and his crew remain tight-lipped under
drive but may use his weapon in the aftermath of a lost interrogation. Having committed a blatant attack on
driving test. MLIF@BLCCF@BOPFKQEBIFKBLCARQVFQµP@IB>OQE>QQEBVµOB
all going away for a long time, even if the squad is
How the scene resolves depends on player choice. A unable to connect them to the Poling murder.
Driving and Firing sequence (see sidebar) is the most
likely outcome. PCs with blast powers will probably be After a few moments with Rhino, Little Rex, Sparks or
using them instead of firearms. Creative use of powers Anthony, Streetwise PELTP QE>Q QEBVµOB KLQ DLFKD QL
like force field, flight or technokinesis may allow the talk at all. The code of the street is too deeply ingrained
group to end matters in other ways. in them.

50
A quick first impression of Lamar with Forensic barkeep Carla Porter, ID him from a photo array as
Psychology suggests that his authority issues might having been in the bar when everything went crazy.
QOFMEFJRM &CQEBOBµP>C>@QLOABQ>FIEBµP@LK@BKQO>QFKD
LK HBBMFKD RKABO TO>MP EB @>KµQ ?B MBOPR>ABA LO If this occurs, their lieutenant congratulates them on
tricked into giving it up. But he might be goaded into closing another case. However, Cop Talk tells them
revealing secondary information the squad can use to QE>Q QEBOBµP JLOB QL QEB PQLOV  Law further indicates
build its case. that the district attorney will expect some follow
up, especially regarding motive. They have plenty of
Giving Lamar the once-over with Forensic physical evidence, but juries sometimes acquit if the
Anthropology points to the telltale signs of a multi- MOLPB@RQFLK @>KµQ BUMI>FK TEV ABCBKA>KQP @LJJFQQBA
month cocaine binge. The paranoia this would have the crime.
fueled undoubtedly inspired the bonehead move of
attacking a group of police detectives.
What Lamar’s Not
&KQEBFKQBOSFBT)>J>OOBJ>FKP@L@HV>PFCEBµPPROB
QE>QEBE>P>·DBQLRQLCG>FICOBB¸@>OA  Telling
Lamar goes to his grave with the following
zHe shows vicious contempt for Marquez (which information, but it may come out during the
he genuinely feels; the man is shaking him denouement, either from Marquez or (more
down) while denying any dealings with him. likely) one of his SITF confidants.

zLamar denies knowing anything about Poling, z %BFP*>ONRBWµE>KAMF@HBAAORD

or having any beef with him. (True, sort of.) lord. In exchange for warnings about
prosecutions and shakedowns of rivals,
z%B@BOQ>FKIVAFAKµQHFII-LIFKD #>IPB  Lamar gives the SITF a taste of his

SUPER SQUAD
take, supplies information on his rivals,
zHe says he attacked the squad because he keeps the murders to a minimum, and
·JFPQLLHQEBJCLOPLJBLKBBIPB ¸%BOBCRPBP stays out of the headlines.
to identify his supposed targets, except to say
QE>QQEBVµOB?RPFKBPP@LJMBQFQLOPLCEFP zMarquez saw him use his concussion
beam years ago, when he was just
The above distinctions between truths and falsehoods another corner boy. Not even members
are provided for your reference only. Bullshit Detector of his own crew know this about him.
PELTPQE>Q)>J>OFPJFUFKDIFBP>KAC>@QP?RQ@>KµQMFK
down which is which. zMarquez came to him demanding a
murder as the price for keeping the
(core) PCs can use his authority issues and cocaine- deal going. He told Lamar to use his
damaged mental state to provoke an admission in ?B>JMLTBOPL-LIFKDµPAB>QETLRIAKµQ
kind. Intimidation, if accompanied with mockery and look like a gang thing.
belittling, prompts him to use his concussion beam
against his tormentor.

Whether he hits a detective or instead puts a dent in the

HUNTING LAMAR
interrogation room wall, Energy Residue Analysis can
QEBKJ>Q@EQEBAFPQFK@QFSBBADBLC)>J>OµP@LK@RPPFLK SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE
?B>J TFQE QEB FKGROFBP LK &OTFK -LIFKDµP ?LAV  1EFP If Lamar gets away from the scene after his drive-
>IILTPQEBJQL?LLHEFJLK-LIFKDµPJROABO by attempt, the squad finds him suddenly easy to
locate. Word spreads through the drug underground
Now that they know to look for him, a Data Retrieval that Yancey has committed a disastrous blunder that
search of surveillance footage turns up an image of will eventually lead to his arrest. Rivals cease fearing
Lamar entering Nets prior to the riot. Witnesses him. Wanting him quickly out of the way so they can
previously canvassed at the scene, including Nets get down to the business of carving up his territory,
QEBVIBQQEB@LOKBO?LVP>KAGRKHFBPHKLTQE>QFQµPKLT

51
 HARD HELIX

acceptable to tell tales on him. A canvass of city drug MOURNING LAMAR

zones with Streetwise VFBIAP > IL@>QFLK CLO )>J>OµP SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE
P>CBELRPB %BµPEFAFKDLRQFK>AFPRPBAO>FIV>OAFK>K If Lamar is killed during an attempt to capture him,
industrial zone. Rhino Gomez takes his place as the suspect who
knows too much and gets crisped in prison during
When eventually found, Lamar and his crew are ·2M&K0JLHB ¸&KQEFP@>PBEBFPQEBLKIVJBJ?BOLC
uncomfortably chilling in an old shipping container, )>J>OµP@OBTTELHKLTPQEBFKCLOJ>QFLKDFSBKFKQEB
outfitted with bedrolls, coolers full of beer, a portable ·4E>Q)>J>OµP+LQ1BIIFKD¸PFAB?>OLKM  
DVD player, and a few other essentials.
EASE OFF
The PCs can either make the raid on the rail yard
QEBJPBISBP³>IILTFKD CLO > PB@LKA >@QFLK PELTALTK SCENE TYPE: ANTAGONIST
>D>FKPQ )>J>O >KA EFP @OBT³LO OBNRBPQ > 041 REACTION
operation. Making a request through channels either With Lamar in prison and a sense of unresolved
for backup or a SWAT operation sends word filtering questions hanging over the case, the PCs may
back to Marquez. He approaches the squad offering continue to take a run at the case. If they come at
the services of the SITF. Garth insists on handling the Marquez again, or try to talk to other members of the
whole raid himself, leaving the squad outside the yard, Super Squad (see sidebar), they get a reaction, in the
at a safe distance from the firing. A player calling on form of political pressure from above.
Bullshit Detector sees that Marquez is running an
angle and is not to be trusted. The first approach comes from the lieutenant, who
(possibly for the second time) urges them to wrap
Should they rebuff him, Marquez catches wind of their the case and move on. The boss reluctantly relents in
plans to bust Yancey. His patrons in the department response to a passionate argument.
reach out to their lieutenant, demanding that the SITF Then a squad member (pick either the most
be allowed to handle it. A dramatic scene ensues, in aggressive questioner of an SITFer, or a player in
which the squad struggles to convince their lieutenant need of spotlight time) finds his locker defaced
to take the political risk involved in keeping Marquez and filled with small pellets of dried animal feces.
out. On a 2-point Cop Talk spend, their argument works Natural History FABKQFCFBPQEBPB>PO>QAOLMMFKDP³>K
TFQELRQ CROQEBO OBMBO@RPPFLK  4FQELRQ FQ QEBVµOB IBCQ RKJFPQ>H>?IBPFDK>ICOLJQEBQB>JµP@LIIB>DRBP 
TFQEQEBFJMOBPPFLKQE>QQEBVµSBRPBARM>?FD@ERKH "CCLOQPQLAFP@LSBOQEBS>KA>IµPFABKQFQVJBOBIV
of their brownie points with the boss and will one day increase the palpable animosity directed toward
have to repay him or her in kind. them.
Finally, assistant to the chief of detectives Adam
If SWAT takes Lamar down, his capture occurs offstage, %BJMEFII@LKCOLKQPQEBJFKQEBIFBRQBK>KQµPLCCF@B
without incident. demanding that they lay out their evidence against
*>ONRBW $FSBQEBFJMOBPPFLKQE>QEBµPCFPEFKDCLO
&C *>ONRBW DLBP FK )>J>O FP³PROMOFPB PROMOFPB³ FKCLOJ>QFLK QQEBBKALCQEBJBBQFKDEB·PQOLKDIV
HFIIBAFKQEB>OOBPQ>QQBJMQ *>ONRBWµQB>JJBJ?BOP PRDDBPQP¸QE>QQEBVBFQEBOAOLMQEB@>PBLOQROKFQ
attest that it was a righteous shoot. over to Internal Affairs. Cop Talk tells them that it
will go nowhere unless they get something Frank
&QµP MLPPF?IB QE>Q QEB QB>J TFII >OO>KDB QL DL FK TFQE Williams can use. On a 1-point Cop Talk spend, a
Marquez. He attempts to maneuver himself into a character recalls that Hemphill is a golfing buddy
position where he can execute Lamar without being of Watch Commander Jonah Smith, uncle to SITF
caught. Stage the scene so that the team has a member Shawna Smith.
chance to see him trying and stop him from following
through. UP IN SMOKE
SCENE TYPE: CORE
&K PFQR>QFLKP TEBOB )>J>O JFDEQ ?B HFIIBA³BFQEBO 4EBK QEB ·?IRB T>II¸ QEBJB LC QEB MOBSFLRP P@BKB
because the takedown occurs onstage, or because the appears to peak, the lieutenant gives them a piece of
0&1#FPDLFKDFK>ILKB³/EFKLFPKLQMOBPBKQAROFKDQEB fresh news: Lamar Yancey has just been killed in jail.
arrest. This allows a fallback thread to fall into place in
QEBBSBKQLC)>J>OµPAB>QEPBB·*LROKFKD)>J>O ¸

52
 together. Marquez gunned down a
Marquez’s Crew convenience store robber who had already
A tight bond of loyalty seals the SITF shot Elder twice and was about to put a
together—coupled with the knowledge that round in his skull. Elder rationalizes the
if one of them goes down, so do the rest. group’s corruption by leaving the money
alone and reminding himself of its stellar
Eusebio “U-Boat” Chavez is a young, arrest record. He regards his personal
hulking man of simple pleasures. He likes debt to Garth as greater than his abstract
beer, strippers, professional sports, video obligation to the force, or to society in
games, and his gigantic home theater general. Dom clams up except in the face
system, roughly in that order. This grinning of Reassurance—in which case he tries to
jarhead delights in any opportunity to convince these nice cops to stay clear of the
wreak mayhem on perps or scumbags. whole matter, for their own good.
An unquestioning follower of alpha dog
Marquez, he doesn’t much trouble himself Gung-ho policewoman Shawna Smith
with the morality of the crew’s corrupt had to win acceptance from an unwilling
practices. The team’s least accomplished team when top brass, including her high-
liar, U-Boat will wildly trigger Bullshit ranking uncle, forced her on Marquez two
Detector if queried about the Poling years ago. She proved herself as willing to
murder. take crazier risks than anyone. He took a
gamble and let her in on the team’s corrupt
The group’s resident techie and gun side, which she has also enthusiastically
wrangler, Ray “Colley” Collins, is the embraced. She argues that if narcotics
team’s senior member. Marquez began as officers were paid on commission, there’d
his protégé. Collins now happily acts as be a lot fewer dealers on the street.

SUPER SQUAD
a combination of sidekick and voice of Shawna is an Anna May, a category-B
reason. A regular attendee of Gamblers mutant with the eerily enlarged eyes of
Anonymous, Colley is still paying off a cartoon character. Her insecurity over
a massive debt to several local bookies. this genetic deformity may account for
Without the skim the squad takes from her unstinting desire to prove herself to a
its busts, Collins would be dead meat. group that didn’t want her. Shawna would
Colley won’t talk, but a 1-point Streetwise sooner submit to torture than give up this
spend points to the tics and jargon of the hardwon acceptance, but may enter into
degenerate gambler. a tumultuous, ill-advised affair with a PC
A gentle soul who feels he owes Marquez making a 2-point Flirting spend.
his life, Dominick Elder guiltily dispenses Game statistics for the SITF appear in
his ill-gotten gains to a series of Catholic “Showdown,” p. 60.
charities. He and Garth were foot patrolmen

6>K@BV T>P FK QEB @FQVµP PELOQQBOJ ELIAFKD C>@FIFQV examination as soon as the detectives authorize the
awaiting arraignment. The corpse is in storage at the transfer.
jail morgue. On arrival, the detectives are required to
surrender their guns and escorted to the morgue by Evidence Residue Analysis shows that Yancey was
assistant warden Travis Brakkee, a blandly handsome cooked from the inside out. His heart was set on fire
man who interacts with them in a clipped, officious from the inside. Burning flesh ignited his prison blues,
manner. which ignited and are responsible for the overall
charring. The destruction of heart tissue implies a
6>K@BVµPPBSBOBIV@E>OOBA@LOMPBIFBP?BKB>QE>PEBBQ nearly instantaneous death.
on a metal table. The jail has no medical examiner; the
body will be shipped to police forensic labs for further Brakkee provides the following answers to specific
questions:

53
 HARD HELIX

zYancey died in the cafeteria, in the presence  SFPFQ QL QEB ?>PBJBKQ >M>OQJBKQ QE>Q FP F??VµP
LCJ>KVDR>OAP>KAJLPQLCQEBG>FIµP@ROOBKQ OB@LOABA >AAOBPP PELTP QE>Q EBµP PHFMMBA QLTK
population. subletting his place to a passing acquaintance,
massage parlor worker Chloe Dunkin. In exchange for
zCorrectional officers reported no disciplinary future consideration should she run afoul of the vice
problems with Yancey, including conflicts with squad (Negotiation) Dunkin tells them that a big young
other inmates. guy with a bald head gave him a lift to the train station.
EILB TLKµQ P>V QEFP LK QEB OB@LOA ?B@>RPB QEB DRV
zNone of the guards saw him ignited, or found D>SBLCC>@LMSF?B>KAPEBALBPKµQT>KQQL?BJ>HFKD
any lighters or accelerants on the prisoners, all no cops mad at her. Shown a photograph of U-Boat
of whom were searched before being allowed E>SBW PEB NRFBQIV KLAP³>KA OBFQBO>QBP QE>Q PEBµII
to return to their cells. deny everything if they subpoena her.

zAside from a couple Category-Bs, none of the

CHAIN OF CUSTODY
prisoners are listed in their dossiers as being
mutants. SCENE TYPE: CORE
A trip to the police property office reminds the group
(core) Interviews with the many prisoners and guards of its sudden unpopularity. After they pass by, other
present during the incident are mostly fruitless. @LMPJ>HBO>QKLFPBP>QQEBJ³PQLMMFKD>KA>ALMQFKD
Bullshit Detector: one of the inmates, Jeff Bibby, fake-innocent expressions when they turn around to
PBBJP PQO>KDBIV PJRD TEBK NRBPQFLKBA  %BµP PELOQ PBBTELµPALFKDFQ
slightly cross-eyed, and speaks with a lazy drawl.
Bibby remains calm if pressed, like he knows
PLJBQEFKDQEBABQB@QFSBPALKµQ

O>HHBBFC>PHBAPRMMIFBP>SFPFQLOµPIFPQCLOF??V 

It includes two people: his lawyer, and his arresting
officer, SITF member Shawna Smith.

If the team goes on to confront Smith about this,

she says she was trying to flip him against his
suppliers.

THE BIG SKATE

SCENE TYPE: CORE
Back at HQ, Cop Talk allows the group to access
F??VµPO>MPEBBQ>KA@LROQOB@LOAP %B>MMB>OPQL
be a career criminal, with a range of petty crimes
to his credit ranging from pimping to auto theft. His
most recent arrest was logged by SITF detective
Colley Collins, who caught him with a baggie of
ecstasy pills.

@LOB 4EFIB QEBVµOB ILLHFKD FKQL EFP @>PB QEBV

discover that Bibby has been suddenly kicked
loose from jail, all charges dropped. (Find a natural
way to bring this to their attention.) A call to the
prosecutor on the case, ADA Lucille King, yields an
explanation. Somebody screwed up in the police
property department; the bag of pills has gone
missing.

54
The officer in charge of the property department, THE LOCKER
0BODB>KQ/>IME>O?FBOFFPLMBKIVELPQFIBQLQEBJ ·6LR SCENE TYPE: CORE
PELRIA?BILLHFKDFKQLMBOMPKLQ@LMP ¸Bureaucracy Now that they have reason to believe that Marquez
OBJFKAPEFJLCQEBMOL@BARO>IE>PPIBPQEBVµII?B>?IB played a role in two murders, but still have no solid
QL FKCIF@Q LK EFJ FC EB ALBPKµQ MOLSFAB > CBT PFJMIB evidence to crack the case, the detectives will
facts. probably pick up an earlier hint and take another run
at IAD officer Frank Williams.
After reiterating that the disappearance of the pills
has to be an administrative screw-up and not an act of When they convincingly connect the dots for him,
criminal obstruction, Barbieri explains the following: #O>KHOBSB>IP>MFB@BLCQEBMRWWIBEBµP?BBKPFQQFKD
on for months. Last year, he followed Marquez to a
zDrugs and guns are more heavily secured than PBICPQLO>DBC>@FIFQVLKQEB@FQVµPAFPQ>KQLRQPHFOQP %B
other pieces of evidence. then found that Marquez rented a unit there under
an assumed name. Department regulations forbid
zThe key to the locker has to be signed out. narcotics officers from holding any assets under
You also have to list a case number and file an concealed identities. However, given the pressure
electronic report justifying your access to the from superiors he faced after previous attempts to go
IL@HBO³BFQEBOQLMI>@BBSFABK@BFKFQLOQLQ>HB after the SITF, Williams knew that it was too risky to
it out for transfer to court or the custody of an bust him on a mere internal regulation. He decided
investigator. to keep this card in reserve, playing it only when he
had reason to believe that the evidence inside might
zOnly property department officers are allowed implicate him in serious wrongdoing.
near them. None of the SITF guys would be
allowed to waltz in and access the locker. 4FIIF>JPMOLSFABPQEBIL@>QFLKLC*>ONRBWµPPB@OBQ
storage unit, which is listed under the name of Frank

SUPER SQUAD
(Barbieri is mostly telling the detectives, but not the #IFKQPQLKB³$>OQEµP@LKQBJMQRLRPK>JBCLOEFJ %B
players, what they already know.) gives them the signed affidavit they need to secure
a search warrant on the locker. (Law explains why
Forensic Accounting: An examination of the sign-out this is possible: narcotics officers waive their right to
OB@LOAP COLJ QEB QFJB LC 6>K@BVµP >OOBPQ QL F??VµP protection from search and seizure when they sign on
release shows one anomalous entry. The case file for that duty.)
number in the justification form refers to an already-
closed prosecution. &CMI>VBOPTLKABOTEV4FIIF>JPFPKµQ@LJFKD>ILKD
on the raid, BureaucracyPRMMIFBPQEB>KPTBO %BµP
This entry was made by Officer Michelle Mink. clearly insulating himself from the political risk if
the squad goes after Marquez and comes up empty-
A 1-point Bureaucracy spend secures secret access E>KABA &QµPQEB- PTELTFIICBBIQEB?ORKQFCQEBV
QL *FKHµP MBOPLKKBI CFIB  0EB T>P QO>KPCBOOBA QL QEB PB>O@EEFPIL@HBO>KAQEBK@>KµQJ>HBQEB@>PB
property department, a dead-end assignment, after
racking up too many citizen complaints as a foot At the storage facility, detectives deal with its owner,
patroller. a wheezing, obviously unwell man named Vincent
Nikula. He reacts to the search warrant with bored
Mink, a skinny woman with straggly, unkempt hair, resignation, reminding them that the company
denies everything, in a demeanor of dull-eyed he works for takes no legal responsibility for the
disinterest. She claims she made a simple data entry @LKQBKQPLCRPBOµPIL@HBOP 0ELTKMF@QROBPLC0&1#
JFPQ>HB 'BCCF??VJB>KPKLQEFKDQLEBOPEBµPKBSBO members, he identifies Marquez as the man who
BSBKEB>OALCQEBDRV )FHB>KVMOLMBOQVLCCF@BOPEBµP rents the locker, and Colley Collins as somebody
logged lots of evidence submitted by the SITF but has EBµPPBBKTFQEEFJ %BALBPKLQOB@LDKFWB2L>Q
no special relationship with any of them. This story Dominick, or Shawna.
does not pass the Bullshit Detector test, but she sticks
to it. >KHBOµP?LUBPPQ>@HBA>ILKDLKBT>IIKB>OIVQL
the ceiling, contain unauthorized copies of case
files Marquez has worked. Video tapes, DVDs, and

55
 HARD HELIX

KHUQDPH"-LOOLDQ"-RG\"²WKHSURVWLWXWH
you let die, because you were worried about
Other Scene Orders ZKDWKHUSLPSNQHZDERXW\RX$QGKRZ\RX
Frank’s storage locker revelation can occur killed him too. With the hammer, in the ba-
at any natural point after the death of WKWXELQWKHHPSW\KRXVHZLWKWKHJUD\WLOH
Lamar Yancey. For example, the detectives on the bathroom walls. The detail, the in-
WHQVLW\RIWKHIHDUDQGKDWH²WKDW¶VDPHPRU\
might make a convincing case to Williams
dream. Your memory. It’s a crazy new world
after Bibby skates. They might find the when not even your dreams are safe from
contents of the secret locker, and then, after VS\LQJLVQ¶WLW":HOOGRQ¶WZRUU\,GRQ¶W
watching the crackhouse blackmail tape, want much. Not gonna kill the golden goose.
identify Michelle Mink as its subject when Just tax you a little bit. Because let’s
they go to the property department. face it you really are a very bad man, and
your friends are all bad too, and you deser-
thumb drives are scattered across a battered wooden YHWRSD\,IQRWLQWKHQH[WOLIHWKHQLQ
shelving unit. Assorted goodies are piled along this one. And if not to God, then to me. If
another wall: a flat-screen TV, several sets of golf there really was a God, this world wouldn’t
clubs, some expensive tire rims, and several cases VXFNVRPXFKZRXOGLW"6R,VSR]H,ZLOO
of high-end Scotch. Several pieces of electronic have to do.
equipment are stacked on a table, but only one of
them is plugged in: a VHS-to-DVD copying unit.
The locker contains no drugs or money; Marquez Dear Garthy Baby -
circulates that back into the system quickly,
7KHSDFNDJH\RXVHQWLQH[FKDQJHIRUP\
laundering the proceeds into a series of offshore continued silence re: the contents of your
accounts. rancid skull was lamentubly light. The more
you get inside me, the more I feel I must
(core) Evidence Collection notes that one of the FKDUJH\RX<HW\RXVXSSO\OHVVWKDQZKDW
video tapes is dust-free, where the others have was agreed. Sometimes you dream of a guy
not been disturbed in months. It contains footage name of Frank Flinstone. Well I found out
of Michelle Mink in what seems to be a crack den, his real name is Frank Williams and he’s
taking repeated hits off a pipe. (Data Retrieval allows Internal Affairs Division. Just in case you
WKLQN\RXUKHDGLVWKHRQO\SODFH,¶PFDSD-
a character to hook the copying deck to a laptop
ble of looking into.
monitor for immediate viewing. Otherwise the group
will have to wait to get to a machine.) -XVWSXWWKHUHVWXQGHUP\GRRUDQGWKHQ
next month its 10% more, OK?
Stacked in a corner are a number of laptops. The one
on the top of the stack has a decal of a tropical fish
stuck to its lid. It belonged to Irwin Poling. It requires
MICHELLE CRACKS
a password to boot up, which can be circumvented SCENE TYPE: CORE
with Data Retrieval. Over a dozen messages sent to Confronted with the evidence on the tape, Officer
$>OQE*>ONRBWµPBJ>FI>AAOBPP>MMB>OFKQEBLRQ?LU Mink breaks down and confesses that she flushed the
LC-LIFKDµPJ>FIBOMOLDO>J 1EBVOBSB>IQE>Q-LIFKD BSFABK@BFKF??VµPAORD@>PB>Q*>ONRBWµP?BEBPQ 
was blackmailing the detective with information 1EBCLLQ>DBA>QBP?>@HQL·>?>AQFJBFKJVIFCB¸
gained by unconventional means. two years ago. Marquez found her in the crack den
during a raid but covered up her presence there.
The most interesting emails are as follows: Until he came to her this week, she had no idea that
the SITF had a camera running inside her chosen
Dear Detective Marquez - smokehouse. Marquez threatened to mail the tape to
&!FCPEBAFAKµQILPBQEBF??VBSFABK@B !BPMFQBEFP
I know who you are better than you know
bare-knuckle tactics, she thought she was sticking
yourself. At night, I see into your
conscience. I see what you do. What haunts her neck out because Marquez wanted to protect a
you. I can feel what’s a real memory and @LKCFABKQF>IFKCLOJ>KQTELµA@OLPPBAQEBIFKB>IFQQIB 
what’s a fantasy from the subsconscus mind. 0EBE>AKLFAB>QE>QF??VµPCOBBALJT>PQEBM>VLCC
The bit where you kill that drug dealer guy for a prison hit.
ZLWK\RXUEDUH¿VWV7KHSURVWLWXWH²ZKDW¶V

56
Mink agrees to testify against Marquez in exchange
and company make a run for the plane, firing their
for a suspended sentence. (It goes without saying
guns to keep arresting officers at bay. The PCs can
QE>QPEBµII?BQROCBACOLJQEBCLO@B %BOQBPQFJLKV
avoid harm simply by keeping their distance from the
opens the way for murder conspiracy charges against
plane. If they rush it, they take up to three instances
Marquez and the others. Williams, if consulted,
of damage (+2 modifier) when they cross the line of
ventures that these charges will likely prove the tip of
covering fire. A 4-point Athletics spend negates one
QEBF@B?BODFCQEBV@>KCIFM>JBJ?BOLC$>OQEµP@OBT
instance of damage; all characters crossing the line
take a minimum of one instance. Creative mutant
SHOWDOWN
power use may allow characters to get through the
SCENE TYPE: CLIMAX covering fire unharmed, prevent the SITF from firing,
When Officer Mink is arrested, a pal of Collins tips or bring the encounter to an end in a different way.
him off. He and the rest of the SITF hunker down at Disabling the plane, for example, takes the wind out
his shooting range out in the boondocks while waiting LC*>ONRBWµPP>FIP P@LOORMQ>PQEBV>OBEFP@OBTFP
for an army buddy to arrive and whisk them away in only willing to fire directly at other cops (as opposed
EFP PJ>II MI>KB  &C 4FIIF>JP FPKµQ MOBPBKQ Research to laying down suppressive fire) if deadly force is used
MOLSFABPQEBIL@>QFLKLC LIIFKPµPE>@H on them first. If given a chance to surrender when
the plane is disabled or covering line breached, they
If the players want it, they can lead the raid to bring QEOLT ALTK QEBFO DRKP >KA PR?JFQ QL >OOBPQ  LIIFKPµ
them into custody. Or they can choose to let SWAT friend, pilot Omer Karsten, carries a pistol but does
handle it, opting out of a final action sequence. not participate in the fight.

4EBKQEBQB>J>OOFSBP>Q LIIFKPµMI>@BQEBMI>KBFP

touching down in a bare field on his property. Marquez

SUPER SQUAD

57
 HARD HELIX

their personal lives. The first to flip gets a suspended

sentence and maybe even witness protection
GARTH MARQUEZ
placement.

Athletics 6, Fleeing 6, Health 12, Scuffling 9 , Shooting A Negotiation spend, along with an offer of witness
6. protection to get him away from his gambling debtors,
eventually prompts a rueful Ray Collins to offer
Weapon: H&K MP5 +2, Glock +1 testimony.

Reassurance PLLQEBP "IABOµP TLOOFBA @LKP@FBK@B

convincing him that only the truth will set him free.
EUSEBIO “U-BOAT” CHAVEZ

U-Boat cracks under Intimidation; beneath his gung-

Athletics 9, Health 9, Scuffling 12 , Shooting 4. ho exterior is a man terrified of what happens to cops
in prison.
Weapon: H&K MP5 +2, Glock +1
A Cop Talk spend prompts Smith to roll over, for the
sake of her relatives on the force.
RAY “COLLEY” COLLINS

Athletics 2, Health 4, Scuffling 4 , Shooting 8. Flipping a conspirator is a grace note and is not
necessary to successful case completion. See the
Weapon: H&K MP5 +2, Glock +1 accompanying tables for sentences with or without
witnesses.

With a cooperating witness, more murders are

DOMINICK ELDER
conclusively uncovered, increasing sentences for
everyone else.
Athletics 4, Health 2, Scuffling 4 , Shooting 4.

Weapon: H&K MP5 +2, Glock +1

WITH WITNESS WITHOUT
Marquez Life 20 years
U-Boat Life 10 years
SHAWNA SMITH
Smith 20 years 10 years
Collins 10 years 4 years
Athletics 4, Health 2, Scuffling 2 , Shooting 6. Elder 8 years 4 years

Weapon: H&K MP5 +2, Glock +1

&C>TFQKBPPCIFMP>KAQEBBKLOJFQVLC*>ONRBWµP@OFJBP
are exposed, the detectives gain the benefit of the
WRAP-UP
doubt from their immediate colleagues. Rank and
SCENE TYPE: DENOUEMENT file uniformed officers may persist in giving them the
Under no condition does Marquez cooperate with skunk-eye.
prosecutors. However, the PCs can flip another team
member, ensuring a tighter case against the rest. Without a flipped witness, the detectives may continue
6LROPBOFBPµOBDRI>OMOLPB@RQLO@LJBPLK?L>OA>QQEFP to get the blue chill from everyone, until they crack
point and tells the group that only the first SITFer who some other dramatic case that seems to redeem their
flips gets a deal. The D.A. wants as many of them as credentials as straight-up cops.
possible to see hard jail time. Flipping a team member
requires a 2-point Interpersonal spend. Knowing how
to approach them may require additional research into

58
 Jimmy the Mope - a shiftless meth-head
Character Quick mutant
Reference Omer Karsten – pilot
Lucille King – Assistant District Attorney
Ennis Anthony – gangster
Wolfgang Korn – apartment superintendent
Danny Aube – anti-mutant jerk
Jonathan Lynch – Hothead mutant activist
Sgt Ralph Barbieri - officer in charge of the
Joe Mahlum – anti-mutant jerk
property department
Garth Marquez – head of the SITF
Marlene Bartholomew - warehouse
supervisor Clarissa Mile - manager of Urban Reef
Jeff Bibby – prisoner Officer Michelle Mink – police property
clerk
Tad Borman – anti-mutant jerk
(Edison Mullan) - injured quarterback of
Travis Brakkee - Assistant warden
the local football team
Devon Bullock - resourceful but paranoid
Vincent Nikula – storage facility owner
junkie
Tom Philson - lieutenant of Richard Jason
Gus Bruner – Irwin Poling’s co-worker
Irwin Poling – murder victim
De Andre “Sparks” Byrd – gangster
Carla Porter – owner/bartender of Nets

SUPER SQUAD
Eusebio “U-Boat” Chavez – SITF member
sports bar
Ray “Colley” Collins – SITF member
Conrad Priestley - NPL leader
Chloe Dunkin - massage parlor worker
Bridget Renaud aka “Lynette the
Dominick Elder – SITF member Lightshow” – regular at Nets sports bar
Tequila Encinas - transvestite prostitute Oscar Rosario – anti-mutant jerk
mutant
Frederick “Fast Freddy” Rossum – regular
Frank Flintstone – Garth Marquez’s at Nets sports bar
nickname for Frank Williams
Dustin Shepherd – anti-mutant jerk
Rhino Gomez – gangster
Watch Commander Jonah Smith - uncle to
Mike Griffin - lieutenant of Richard Jason SITF member Shawna Smith.
(David Harpe) – football player with Shawna Smith – SITF member
mutant strength
Kenneth Westray – barhead
Bob Harris – regular at Nets sports bar
Desiree Whitson – NPL member
Adam Hemphill - chief of detectives
Frank Williams – Internal Affairs
Ray “Little Rex” Henderson – gangster investigator
Nasim Iqbal - Self-pitying cafeteria worker Lamar Yancey – drug lord
Richard Wayne Jason - Neutral Parity Ruthie Yi – coffee shop waitress
League youth wing leader

59
 HARD HELIX

Cell Division

The HCIU confronts a homegrown terrorist threat from a The Big Bulletin , leading to an ugly explosion of on-air
previously unknown group of mutant supremacists. Can anti-mutant sentiment.
they learn the truth behind the Mutant Revolutionary
#OLKQ³LKBQE>QOBJ>FKPPEOLRABABSBKCOLJFQPLTK The stakes increase further in Death On the Tracks,
suicidally indoctrinated followers? when, in an echo of the Aum Shin Rikyo subway
poisoning, the disease-immune Jeffrey Milan releases
a deadly pathogen during rush hour. Analysis of the
BACKSTORY Super Pox traces its origin to a university research lab.
Charismatic purported mutant Russ Davenport founded In Container SY-7, a visit to the lab turns up forensic
the Mutant Revolutionary Vanguard twelve months ago, evidence linking the theft of the virus to wall-crawling
building it from a core of suggestible gene-expressives. student Patricia Gaines. Trailing Gaines leads the
These including Jeffrey Milan, a self-hating disease- PNR>A QL > @LK3>KDR>OA>QFLK TFQE !>SBKMLOQµP
immune mutant, and emotionally lost biotech engineer remaining terrorists, in Faces Of Terror.
(and wall crawler) Patricia Gaines.
THE TWIST
THE CRIME As Ringleader, Davenport has insulated himself from
Now that he has his followers sufficiently indoctrinated his pawns. However, a test on bullets used on his gun
and combat-ready, Davenport strikes quickly, O>KDBIB>APQEBFKSBPQFD>QLOPQLEFJ³>KAQLEFPQORB
engineering a Super Siege: a bold strike against allegiance, as an anti-mutant activist.
hapless civilians in a heavily trafficked tourist district.
(This interrupts an otherwise unrelated comic relief
opener, Lucky Shoes.) THE CULPRIT
VMOLSFKDQL!>SBKMLOQµPBOPQTEFIB>IIFBPQE>QEBT>P
using them, the investigators get them to roll over on
THE INVESTIGATION him, closing the case.
Although the terrorists who participate in this first-
wave attack are programmed to kill themselves to
evade capture, intervention by the PCs may leave some SCENES
of them alive. Interviews (or documentary evidence
left behind by the dead) reveal a Chillingly Fanatical LUCKY SHOES
disregard for life. Background Checks show similar SCENE TYPE: FALSE OPENING /
psychological profiles for all of the MRV killers: young, COMIC RELIEF
bright, anchorless men and women who proved ripe As the case opens, the investigators are embroiled
for ideological manipulation. FK >KLQEBO FKSBPQFD>QFLK³LKB LC @LJF@>IIV >?PROA
proportions. Play this as the sort of comic interrogation
Meanwhile, media coverage of the attack stokes panic, used as a staple element of shows like NYPD Blue.
throughout the city and beyond. The arrival of a Mutant
Manifesto adds urgency to the investigation. The brass Cut back and forth between interviews between the
encourages a detective to appear on a cable news show @>PBµPQEOBB@BKQO>ICFDROBP

60
 zthe complainant, a demanding middle-aged lady lucky shoes. This show of disrespect led to his ejection
named Bonnie Kreger. COLJ QEB BPQ>?IFPEJBKQ³TFQE >AAFQFLK>I MRK@EFKD
and kicking to drive home the point. As he tells the
zher son, Gerry Kreger, a skinny, evasive young story, Gerry repeats his feeble claim that he won on
man who pings Bullshit Detector like crazy account of his shoes. Shown a Quade Diagram, and
and shows the bruises and contusions of a the proximity of Telepathy (which his mother says he
recent beatdown. has) and Technopathy, Gerry cops to the truth. He still,
however, refuses to press charges against The Mule,
z/LJBL·QEB*RIB¸,IFSFBOF>JL?QFBA1 who he acknowledges was entirely justified in having
restaurant owner who shrugs and makes him roughed up.
ridiculous excuses while picking bits of lint
from his ill-fitting Armani suit jacket. Before the squad can get any further in pressing a case
against The Mule, the lieutenant bursts in and tells
Fill the players in on what has happened prior to the QEBJQEBFOMOFLOFQFBPE>SBPRAABKIV@E>KDBA³QEBOBµP
scene opening. Bonnie came in to complain that her a crisis in progress.
son was assaulted. He told her that the owner of
,IFSFBOFµP0QB>H%LRPBE>AEFJ?B>QBKRMCLOILLHFKD
SUPER SIEGE
>QQEBJ>KµPDFOICOFBKA LKKFBT>KQP,IFSFBOF@E>ODBA
TFQE>PP>RIQ 0EBALBPKµQ?BIFBSBQEBDFOICOFBKAPQLOV SCENE TYPE: OPENING / ACTION
she thinks her son is the victim of an anti-mutant hate 1EFP P@BKB Q>HBP MI>@B >Q VLRO @ELPBK @FQVµP J>FK
crime. Bonnie claims that her son is able to project his cultural district or installation. Many major cities
thoughts, even though he is in the closet and denies cluster cultural institutions together on a reclaimed
his true superheroic potential. waterfront; this scene might happen there. It has to
be a place where large numbers of local residents and
Gerry denies saying any such thing to his mother. tourists gather. Pick a location where people normally
·)LLHFQJB !LVLRQEFKH>DRVIFHBQE>QE>P>KVQEFKD feel safe and secure. It has been targeted for precisely
QL TLOOV >?LRQ JB ILLHFKD >Q EFP TLJ>K¸ %B P>VP QE>QOB>PLK³>PQOFHBQEBOBTFIIPBBJALR?IVPEL@HFKD
he tripped and fell near the restaurant, after having a than one in an anonymous or sketchy location.
few too many. Streetwise suggests that Gerry is too
scared to tell the real story. He also furiously denies Patrol dispatches from the scene, as passed along by
being a mutant. QEB PNR>AµP IFBRQBK>KQ FKCLOJ QEBJ QE>Q > DOLRM LC
masked mutant attackers have wandered into a milling
·1EB *RIB¸ TELPB O>M PEBBQ Research) shows him crowd and opened fire with their deadly powers.
to have a long history of gambling-related offenses,
OBMB>QP $BOOVµP PQLOV³PRPMF@FLRPIV OBMB>QFKD J>KV When the squad arrives, the MRV terror team has
LC QEB P>JB TLOAP >KA MEO>PBP >P FC QEBVµSB >DOBBA hunkered down behind a makeshift barricade of

CELL DIVISION
on an account to police. Naturally, this too tweaks crumpled SWAT vehicles. These were taken and
ABQB@QFSBPµBullshit Detectors. smashed into place by an attacker named Josie Pearl.
Josie herself has not taken refuge behind the shattered
After establishing the situation, allow the PCs to quickly police vans. She crouches behind a large air vent on
drill down to the truth, after facing only amusingly the roof of a nearby building, waiting to swoop down
transparent denials. opportunistically on any attackers. PCs spot her on a
Difficulty 4 Surveillance test.
Gerry is a mutant, which led to his beating, but not
out of prejudice. Romeo runs an illicit casino in a SWAT teams have cordoned off a perimeter. Uniformed
warehouse near his restaurant. Gerry possesses officers keep reporters and heedless rubberneckers at
the Technopathy power, and used it to predict when bay. Seven bodies lie sprawled on the ground around
/LJBLµP PILQP TLRIA M>V LCC  CQBO MRIIFKD QEFP QOF@H the shield of vans. Three are SWAT officers, another a
one time too many, Romeo confronted him. Gerry patrolman. Also dead on the spot are two young adult
claimed to have won only because he was wearing his males and an elderly woman. Further away, paramedic
crews load other victims into ambulances. Teams
 &CVLRE>SBKµQVBQORKThe Vanishers, you can use this as COLJ QEB JBAF@>I BU>JFKBOµP LCCF@BOP I>V LRQ LSBO >
an opportunity to lay pipe for that scenario, by specifying that
,IFSFBOFµPQFBP>OBQLQEB3BQOLKF@OFJBC>JFIV dozen bodies. Body bags have been requisitioned and

61
 HARD HELIX

>OB LK QEBFO T>V COLJ QEB @FQVµP KB>OBPQ BJBODBK@V Anamorphology identifies this power as Radiation
J>K>DBJBKQ ABMLQ  1PEFOQP COLJ > KB>O?V SBKALOµP Projection.
stand cover the faces of the slain.
Another summons swarming insects to panic the
The SWAT commander has already commandeered crowd, bringing about a fatal stampede. A third freezes
news and civilian video footage of the initial assault. his victims with an ice blast.
He offers to show it to the squad before they make their
move. They can view it on a monitor in his trailer-like The only woman terrorist captured on camera flies
mobile command post. He is Lieutenant Ken Swailes, above the crowd, killing with beams of flesh-cooking
who they may remember from the hostage sequence energy. Anamorphology pegs this as Heat Blast.
QE>QLMBKP*RQ>KQ FQVIRBPµP>JMIBP@BK>OFL·#LLA
E>FK ¸ 0T>FIBP > I>KHV ILKDC>@BA J>K JLMP EFP 0T>FIBPP>VPQEBOBµP>CFCQEMBOMBQO>QLOKLQPBBKLK>KV
perpetually sweating brow with a damp handkerchief. of the footage, and that she may have water powers.

The footage shows a tightly packed but happy crowd Although this is an act of political violence, the terrorists
suddenly fly into a panic. The handheld shots blur wildly do not communicate with the PCs, or anyone else.
as panicked camera holders flee. Masked figures lurch Their ideology will be explained later, perhaps after
into view. All of them wear black coveralls, work boots, their deaths, with the release of a manifesto. All are
and black masks. Shaded goggles protect their eyes, fanatically willing to die. Except for Chee, all have been
lending them an implacably bug-like appearance. issued cyanide pills, which they will use if their capture
One of the figures points at a vacationing couple and seems imminent. Telescopic Vision or Read Minds may
causes their flesh to blacken and fall from their bones. allow characters to spot the attempt to take these pills
before they are swallowed. Chee, who is immune to

62
toxins, will instead attempt to guarantee suicide-by- Athletics 8, Health 10, Scuffling 4, Shooting 2
cop, by getting himself killed during arrest. Before they
die, the terrorists want to kill as many police officers Powers: Command Birds 12, Ice Blast 12, Reduce
as possible. When the squad comes after them, they Temperature 8
fight without relent. Considering themselves dead
already, they are more interested in ensuring indelibly Weapon: automatic pistol 0
memorable news footage than fighting to maximum
defensive advantage. For example, Ferdinand Licata
might send a swarm of birds against an enemy rather
BILLY “BLOOD BUG” MORAN
than simply opening fire with his pistol.

The terrorists have used some of their powers already. Freckled, red-faced, blond man in his early twenties.
The game statistics given below reflect their pools when
the squad arrives on the scene. If they unexpectedly QEIBQF@P%B>IQE0@RCCIFKD0ELLQFKD
reappear in your series at a later date, you may want
to increase their pools to reflect their fully refreshed Powers: Blood Spray 15, Command Insects 11, Induce
states. Fear 11

Weapon: automatic pistol 0

JAYSON “HIROSHIMA” CHEE

JOSIE “TUNGUSKA” PEARL

A slightly stocky third generation Chinese-American in
his late twenties.
Willowy, high-cheekboned young woman of mixed
Athletics 4, Fleeing 4, Health 12, Scuffling 4, Shooting African American and native heritage.
8
Athletics 12, Fleeing 12, Health 6, Scuffling 8
Powers: Radiation Immunity 8, Radiation Projection
1LUFK&JJRKFQV&KDBPQBA Powers: Flight 8, Heat Blast 10, Regeneration 10,
Strength 6
Weapon: assault rifle +1
CHILLINGLY FANATICAL
SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE
MARY “H2O” DELOZIER
If the PCs are lucky or clever, they may be able to

SUPER SQUAD
capture one or more of the terrorists alive. Jayson
Thin, pale, blond-haired woman in her early thirties. Chee, unable to kill himself with cyanide pills, is the
She keeps her hair in a lank, mousy mess. most likely survivor.

QEIBQF@P#IBBFKD%B>IQE0@RCCIFKD0ELLQFKD +LKBLCQEB>QQ>@HBOP>OB@LLMBO>QFSBTFQKBPPBP 1EBVµII

talk about their ideology with glassy-eyed fervor, but
Powers: Toxin Immunity (Inhaled) 6, Water Blast 11, OBCRPBQLFABKQFCVQEBJPBISBP?VQEBFO·ERJ>KK>JBP¸
Water Manipulation 6 or discuss their ordinary lives. Instead, they answer
only to their super code names.
Weapon: automatic pistol 0
They all provide roughly the same information, filtered
through their individual personality quirks:
FERDINAND “ICEWING” LICATA
Jayson “Hiroshima” Chee affects a perpetual scowl to
harden his baby-faced features.
Tall, goateed man with dark, piercing eyes in his mid
twenties.

63
 HARD HELIX

Mary “H2O” Delozier is passive-aggressively human race will , in the final analysis, elect to
confrontational. She sulks, as if the detectives have join this new ruling class.
wronged her, ought to be apologizing for it, and
PELRIA>IPLRKABOPQ>KATE>QQEBVµSBALKBQLLCCBKA zGlobal civil war between norms and gene-
her without being told. expressives is inevitable outcome with or
without the MRV. They merely accelerate
Ferdinand “Icewing” Licata treats even the slightest its timing, so that it occurs before mutants
pressure from a male interrogator as a challenge have been slowly weakened by decades of
to his macho authority. Though raised in the United suppression and media-sponsored self-
States, a faint hint of accent remains from his loathing.
southern Italian childhood.
zMRV includes suicidal tactics in its arsenal
Billy “Blood Bug” Moran underlines his pugnacious to show the weak and easily cowed human
attitude with copious profanity. Unlike the others, populace the fiery righteousness of mutant
who come from privileged backgrounds, Moran is a determination.
two-fisted child of the streets. His attachment to the
MRV is as a cure for his feelings of powerlessness. zAs mutant police officers, the PCs are
quislings of the worst and most ignorant sort.
Josie “Tunguska” Pearl spews hateful, apocalyptic For the moment they act as tame lapdogs for
rhetoric with the verbal facility of a radicalized the norms. Yet one day the irresistible tides of
Humanities lecturer. history will sweep them into allegiance with
their true genetic kin. Then they will reap the
zThey launched their attacks on behalf of the benefits of the revolution they now blindly
Mutant Revolutionary Vanguard. impede.

zUnlike the species traitors of the HIA and Influence Detection shows that none of them have
the childish dilettantes of the Genetic Action been affected by mind-altering powers.
Front, the Mutant Revolutionary Vanguard is
not content to merely flirt with its agenda. Forensic Psychology likens their behavior to fanatics
or cult members. They have clearly been subjected
zThe revolution they seek is real, and literal. to intensive indoctrination, but probably entered into
Thus the real weapons of revolution, including the group willingly. Each displays telltale personality
terror, must be utilized without qualm or traits associated with extreme radicalism. Low
hesitation. empathy and feelings of alienation from society couple
with a fierce desire for certitude and an aversion to
z*RQ>KQPOBMOBPBKQLKIVLCQEBTLOIAµP shades of gray. They also show symptoms of Post-
population. According to the inexorable laws Mutation Adjustment Disorder (PMAD), a personality
of political power, they must either become disorder that arises when a person becomes gene-
the exploiters, or be exploited themselves. expressive and is unable to smoothly assimilate this
new development into his or her sense of identity.
zHumans are weak-minded and lazy.
Throughout history, the masses have been
BACKGROUND CHECKS
willingly acquiesced in their own domination,
surrendering control to numerically tiny SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE
ruling classes. The squad is more likely to learn about the attackers
from legwork conducted after their deaths. Even if
zThe Mutant Revolutionary Vanguard will they are alive, their relatives will tell more about
make the gene expressive the global ruling them than they will about themselves.
class of the 21st century. Their actions will
terrify humankind, prompting cowardly None carry identification. The pockets of their
and ignorant reprisals against mutantkind. coveralls are largely empty, except for spare ammo
Forced to choose sides, those mutants who clips and a distinctively odd assortment of small
now foolishly believe themselves part of the items: a Hello Kitty cellphone charm (Chee), a packet

64
of Malaysian mints (Delozier), a lighter bearing an T>P ,SBOQEBM>PQVB>O*>OVE>P?BBK
image of rock performer Carlos Santana (Licata), a forwarding politically inflammatory mutant
thumb drive containing video files of several episodes rights emails to her mother. Semple never
of the game show Triple Dare (Moran) and a fake jade FKNRFOBA>?LRQ!BILWFBOµPKBT@FO@IBLCCOFBKAP 
figurine of a dragon (Pearl.) Forensic Psychology suggests that Catherine
wanted to kibosh discussion of the entire topic.
Research yields fingerprint hits for Billy Moran and Mrs. Semple shyly admits to mutant powers
Mary Delozier. Moran is in the system for a series of her own, but says that she never uses
of misdemeanor arrests, including vandalism and QEBJ?B@>RPBPEBµP>CO>FALCDBQQFKD>PQEJ> 
assault. Delozier worked as a civilian employee of the Anamorphology (or a glance at the Quade
military, performing basic clerical work. Diagram) suggest that her powers are Deplete
Oxygen and Wind Control. Reassurance is
Any of the attackers other than Moran is quickly needed to get her to confirm this.
identified by family members if images of their faces
are released to the media. z#BOAFK>KA)F@>Q>µPC>QEBO"RDBKFLFP>C>JBA
automotive engineer. Trivia names him as
z'>VPLK EBBµPM>OBKQP0FJLK>KA*BI?> designer of the popular Zipster mid-priced
Chee, are horrified and humiliated by news sports car. He comes off as a driven workaholic
of his terror links. He cut himself off from who lost track of his son while pursuing his
them sixteen months ago, after years of high-pressure career. Eugenio says he hates
failed treatment for depression. His mental politics of all kinds and discouraged his son
illness coincided, at the age of twelve, with from involvement in mutant rights activities.
his manifestation of mutant powers. Simon He thought that Ferdinand belonged to the
thinks that the two events were unrelated, Genetic Action Front, which was bad enough.
while Melba blames the mutant powers for the "RDBKFLPBBJPOB>AVQLAFPLTKEFPPLK³MLPQ
LKPBQLCEBOPLKµPABMOBPPFLK 0FJLK@LLTKP humously, if Ferdinand was killed during
a very successful real estate development firm. ·0RMBO0FBDB ¸
ILLH>Q'>VPLKµPOLLJPQRCCBAQLQEBDFIIP
with the latest electronic toys and expensive z*LO>KµPOBI>QFSBPALKLQ@LJBCLOT>OA 
collectibles, suggests that the Chees spared The fingerprint hit, plus Research, brings
no material expense in trying to please their detectives to the door of his next of kin, his
troubled son. grizzled, booze-soaked uncle Teddy Moran. His
mother disappeared when he was sixteen; his
father, a suspect in her apparent murder, died
Jayson and Article while imprisoned on an unrelated charge three
18 years later. Teddy says that Billy always was

SUPER SQUAD
DRIIF?IB?RQGLFKFKD>D>KDQE>QKLQLKIVALBPKµQ
Bureaucracy turns up no Article 18 filing
pay but also wants you to kill yourself is the
for Jayson Chee. His parents are shocked
height of stupid. Although Moran regards his
to learn that their son possessed Article
KBMEBTµPRM?OFKDFKD>PKLOJ>IEFP>@@LRKQ
18 powers. They knew that he had Toxin
nonetheless paints a picture of neglect and
Immunity, discovered when he drank a
abuse.
pint of weedkiller on a dare, to no ill effect.
He also led them to believe he had Kinetic
z'LPFB-B>OIµPM>OBKQP'LPBME-B>OI>KA*>OFB
Energy Dispersal. The Chees assure the
4EFQB ILRA>OB?LQE>@>ABJF@P>QQEB@FQVµP
detectives that they would have insisted on
most prestigious university. Both have a history
their son properly registering his power, if
of political radicalism but were upset to see
only they had known about it.
their very bright daughter flirt with the violent
tactics they turned their backs on as young
activists in the mid 1980s. She remained in
zMary Delozier is identified by her mother, touch with them even as the MRV tightened
>QEBOFKB0BJMIB 0EBQO>@BPEBOA>RDEQBOµP its grip on her. At one point, she promised
disaffection to her remarriage when Mary to arrange a meeting between her parents

65
 HARD HELIX

trait. We must demonstrate the ferocity of

and her cell leader, who she referred to by ZROYHVRUEHZKLSSHGOLNHGRJV$QDUP\RI
QEB@LABK>JB(BO>QFK 1L'LPFBµP>MM>OBKQ martyrs stands ready to do battle. In a war
dismay, Keratin called off the meeting. Shortly EHWZHHQVSHFLHVWKHUHDUHQRE\VWDQGHUVQR
thereafter they saw her in person for the last innocents. All targets are legitimate.
time, about three months ago. (Chemistry:
,WLVQRWRXUH[SHFWDWLRQWKDWRXUYLFWRU\
keratin is the fibrous protein used by the body in the amoral Darwinian struggle to come
to create structures arising from the skin, like will be an easy one. Our demand is nothing
hair and fingernails.) less than worldwide global dominance. We do
QRWH[SHFWWKDWWKLVZLOOEHJUDQWHGZLWKRXW
further bloodshed.
MUTANT MANIFESTO
SCENE TYPE: ANTAGONIST So further bloodshed it will be.
REACTION 7RRXUJHQHH[SUHVVLYHEUHWKUHQZHVD\
Punctuate the investigation scenes with periodic Brace yourselves for worldwide genetic war-
references to the alarmed, mournful media coverage IDUH%HSUHSDUHGWRGHIHQG\RXUVHOIWRWKH
of the attack, which is quickly termed the Waterfront GHDWKDJDLQVWUHSULVDODWWDFNVZKHWKHUWKH\
Massacre. (Substitute a more appropriate local come from your mothers, your fathers, your
name for the site of the killings if you prefer.) Just as brothers, your children. There are only two
sides in this war. Them and us. In your al-
the media runs out of new news to report about the
tered bones, you know this.
siege, the MRV ramps up public anxiety by releasing
the following manifesto via email to major print and Until we rule the world, it is kill or be
broadcast outlets. It arrives as a PDF file bearing the killed.
crudely designed logo of the Mutant Revolutionary
Vanguard as a watermark beneath the text. Data Retrieval shows that the message was sent via an
offshore anonymizer service, which will be impossible
Mutant Revolutionary Front to track. Anyone with a middling degree of web savvy
7DNHV5HVSRQVLELOLW\)RU could have pulled this off.
Waterfront Massacre
To prove that the communique is genuine, the
The Mutant Revolutionary Front declares it- accompanying email lists the oddball items found in
self the instrument of the so-called Water- B>@EQBOOLOFPQµPML@HBQ &CQEBABQB@QFSBPE>SBOBIB>PBA
front Massacre. More attacks will follow. QEFPFKCLOJ>QFLKQLQEBMOBPPQEBVµIIKLTOB>IFWBQLQEBFO
We carry out violence against humankind as a
@E>DOFKQE>QQEBVµSBJRAAFBAQEBFABKQFCF@>QFLK 
QHFHVVDU\SUHHPSWLYHVWULNHDJDLQVWLWVSDVW
and future violence against us. Everywhere The arrival of the manifesto triggers bureaucratic
WKHJHQHH[SUHVVLYHKDYHSURFODLPHGWKHLU alarm bells within the department. Now that the
VWDWXVDVDQHPHUJHQWVSHFLHVWKH\KDYH incident has been confirmed as a terrorist incident,
EHHQPRFNHGVDYDJHGDQGRSSUHVVHG the federal authorities want to take over the case. Like
any police organization, the department wants to dig
7KH0XWDQW5HYROXWLRQDU\)URQWVWHHSHGLQ
historical dialectic, sees that the arrival
in and protect its turf. The lieutenant comes to the
RIDQHZVDSLHQWVSHFLHVSUHVDJHVLQHYLWDEOH squad and demands an update that he can take to the
FRQÀLFWZLWKWKHROG,WLVRQO\DPDWWHURI brass, who in turn can reassure the mayor and district
WLPHEHIRUHWKHVXSHUVHGHGEHJLQDSURJUDP attorney.
of genocidal cleansing aimed at scrubbing
RXUNLQGIURPWKHIDFHRIWKHSODQHW1D-
turally, we will and must survive. To this THE BIG BULLETIN
HQGZHVSXUWKHJHQHH[SUHVVLYHFRPPXQLW\WR SCENE TYPE: DRAMA
VHL]HWKHOHYHUVRIZRUOGSRZHUEHIRUHZH
As political pressure to reassure the public mounts,
are too weakened to strike.
word comes down from on high that one or two of
The Mutant Revolutionary Vanguard is ready the most media-ready PCs should appear live on the
WRVDFUL¿FHWKHOLYHVRILWVEHVWDQGEUD- national cable show The Big Bulletin, to field questions
vest to achieve ultimate victory. Lacking from the host, Jim Hutchins.
QXPEHUVGHWHUPLQDWLRQPXVWEHRXUDGDSWLYH

66
Trivia shows that Hutchins is a typical cable blowhard. @EBTFKDLRQRMLKQEBFOOBQROKQL%. 1EBJ>VLOµPLCCF@B
%BµP>KF@LKL@I>PQF@OFDEQTFKDBOTFQEMOBAF@Q>?IBI>T saw the interview, and is now considering turning the
>KA LOABO SFBTP³>KA QERP > IFHBIV MOLSFABO LC QEB case over to the feds. This, needless to say, would be a
softball questions that will make the force look good. huge blow to the credibility of the entire unit.

Before the broadcast, the lieutenant briefs the PCs

who will be appearing on the show.

zTheir first priority is to calm the public. The

force especially wants to avoid the sorts of
vigilante actions against mutants that might Turf Wars
BP@>I>QBCB>OPLCQEB*/3µPMOBAF@QBAT>O
between norms and chromes coming to pass. If you feel yourself in need of an additional
drama sub-plot, insert nosy federal
z+BUQQEBVµOBQLBK@LRO>DBQEBMR?IF@QL@LJB liaison officers into the mix. As in any
forward with tips that could lead to the rest of procedural show, investigators who are
the terror cell. not the main characters appear in the story
to add complicating factors. These feds
z#FK>IIVQEBVµOBQL@LKSBVQEBFJMOBPPFLKQE>Q are arrogant boneheads who fixate on a
the local force has the case well in hand. It mistaken theory of the case. They convince
ALBPKµQKBBAQL?BQROKBALSBOQLQEBCBAP themselves that the MRV is a front for a
foreign threat, aggressively challenging the
z4EFIBALFKDQEFPQEBVµOBQLMOLSFAB>P PCs when their evidence leads elsewhere.
little information as possible regarding the Special Agent Allen Sanford is a jowly
investigation. As they would with any journalist, bulldog of a man who injects testosterone-
they can expect Hutchins to keep probing for a fueled competitiveness into the smallest of
scoop. interactions.
Special Agent Gloria Stefaniuk seeks the
Hutchins, a thick-necked former pro football player upper hand by adopting the classic ice
turned hard-edged pundit, begins the interview as maiden role. Fortified by coldly glamorous
BUMB@QBA³OBMB>QBAIV MOBPPFKD QEB - P QL MOLSFAB hair and makeup, she speaks with brittle,
more information. When that fails, he calls on them contemptuous precision.
to speculate as to the size, history, and composition of Neither of them make any effort to hide
the Mutant Revolutionary Front. their lack of confidence in local cops. After
“The Big Bulletin”, they parrot public
Once this phase of the interview stalls, he turns on concerns that enhanced detectives lack the

SUPER SQUAD
them, aggressively demanding that they justify the distance to properly pursue the case.
CLO@BµPAB@FPFLKQLHBBMJRQ>KQ@LMPLKQEB@>PB &PKµQ A romantic sub-plot might be inserted here,
QEFP>@LKCIF@QLCFKQBOBPQ%RQ@EFKPALBPKµQ@LJBOFDEQ with one of the feds given a vulnerable side,
out and make the accusation himself, but implies that making him or her attractive to the PC most
unnamed others might worry that gene expressive amenable to such a storyline.
police officers might secretly sympathize with the MRV.
0ELRIAKµQQEBVOB@RPBQEBJPBISBPCOLJQEB@>PB Special Agent Allen Sanford
Athletics 3, Health 2, Scuffling 6, Shooting
Press the players buttons as obnoxiously as you can 8.
while remaining within the realistic bounds of what Weapon: 0 (Glock)
a hot-button TV personality might say on the air. The
P@BKB RKABOIFKBP QEB PQLOVµP PQ>HBP ?V QBPQFKD QEB Special Agent Gloria Stefaniuk
MI>VBOPµ >?FIFQV QL OBJ>FK MLIFQF@ RKABO > ?IFPQBOFKD Athletics 2, Health 3, Scuffling 4, Shooting
verbal barrage. 10.
Weapon: 0 (Glock)
If they stay on message, they win approval from the
lieutenant. Should they lose their cool, he gives them a

67
 HARD HELIX

DEATH ON THE TRACKS team goes in anyway, danger of infection has already
SCENE TYPE: ANTAGONIST been significantly reduced. Characters with Disease
REACTION Immunity are unaffected. Anyone else entering the
Soon after the (possibly disastrous) TV appearance, hot zone during the first hour of the mop-up makes a
the detective appearing on the Hutchins show receives Difficulty 4 Health roll to avoid minor infection from the
a cell phone call. A male voice, electronically altered, super pox. Failed characters experience reddened eyes
coolly informs them that they have chosen the wrong and uneven patches spots of bruised, blackened skin.
side in the civil war between the species, and are For the duration of the case, they lose an additional 2
destined for the ash heap of history. Before the PC Health each time they suffer an instance of damage.
can engage him in debate, he names a major subway
PQ>QFLK>KAP>VP·1TLJFKRQBP ¸ When the disease control team arrives, a dispute
over priorities arises. The scrubbers want to treat it
(If your chosen mutant city lacks an underground rail as a possible vector of an unknown and dangerous
system, select another suitable enclosed space for this @LKQ>DFLK  &C QEB ABQB@QFSBP ALKµQ CFDEQ QL MOBPBOSB
sequence. Davenport picks the location to maximize it as a crime scene, the feds will. After a period of
public panic. He wants a spot many people frequently wrangling and calls to superiors word comes down
travel to, so that they can readily imagine themselves from the highest authorities that disease control is a
there at the time of the attack.) higher priority than evidence preservation.

Ninety-seven seconds after Davenport hangs up, Hazmat suits are made available for the squad to quickly
Jeffrey Milan, already in position in a subway car survey and photograph the scene before the scrubbing
roaring into the station, unscrews the top of what looks takes place. Dozens of appallingly distressed corpses
to be a thermal coffee container and leaves it under his lie strewn through the subway car and platform.
seat. Within seconds, riders inside the half-full car are Sight of the unscrubbed scene counts as a crisis
stricken by an array of horrifying symptoms. Lesions which may exacerbate any of the following Stability-
open up and bleed under the skin, blackening it. The based defects: Addictive Personality, Attention Deficit
TEFQBP LC SF@QFJPµ BVBP OBAABK  ILLA CFIIP QEB IRKDP Disorder, Depression, Dissociation, Messiah Complex,
leading to collapse and asphyxiation. Milan, immune Panic Disorder, or Schizophrenia.
to disease, strides calmly out of the subway car as
the invisible viral cloud billows out through its doors (core) If they insist on being present at the scene, a
onto the platform. There dozens of other passengers detective with Evidence Collection spots the coffee
are stricken. Although terrifyingly virulent, the viral container going into a quarantined bin for destruction.
cloud disperses quickly. Subway patrons more than
JBQBOPCOLJQEBFKCB@QBA@>OPRCCBO>PMLQQFKDLC With some victims lingering in hospital, the death toll
lesions and reddening of the eyes, but do not collapse from the attack continues to mount over a period of
or drown in their own blood. Four of these less affected A>VP 1EBFJJBAF>QBQLIIFPDLFKDRMQLQEBKBUQ
victims nonetheless suffer fatal heart attacks or A>VQEBA>V>CQBOQE>QRKQFIFQCFK>IIVPBQQIBP>Q
strokes, rendered vulnerable by preexisting medical two days later.
conditions.
A security camera clearly points at the door to the
Squad members may be first on the scene but are infected car. The footage reveals the chain of events
presumably unable to arrive quickly enough to described above. A young, clean-cut man steps
intercept Milan. The scene is impossible to control, @>IJIV QEOLRDE QEB @>OµP ALLOP RK>CCB@QBA ?V QEB
as panicked patrons lurch for the exits. If the squad fast-spreading disease as passengers are stricken all
are the first responders to arrive on the scene, they around him. Clad in a wind breaker, polo shirt, dress
may find creative ways to use their super powers to slacks and suede loafers, the suspect seems to pause
calm the crowd or to prevent bystanders from being for an instant to smirk up into the camera lens. Then
trampled. he bobs out of sight. The players will probably get this
one without assistance: if necessary, Anamorphology
Forensic Anthropology warns that prudent practice reminds them that Disease Immunity is a mutant
requires the team to cordon off the station and wait power.
for Hazmat teams to arrive from the Center For
Disease Control (or a like emergency service.) If the

68
Electronic Surveillance spots, in a freeze-frame of his I>RPLKµP @>IIBO T>P ->QOF@F> $>FKBP >@QFKD RKABO
smirk, signs that Milan has fangs. !>SBKMLOQµPFKPQOR@QFLKP

TRACING THE CALL HUNTING MILAN

SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE SCENE TYPE: ALTERNATE
Electronic Surveillance reveals that that the phone &CQEBQB>JOBIB>PBP*FI>KµPFJ>DBBFQEBO>P>PQFIILO
Davenport uses to place the call is a mobile number FKSFABL@IFMCLOJQLQEBJBAF>QEBVµOBABIRDBATFQE
registered to Jayson Chee. phone calls about him. As always in a high profile case
like this, the crazy and unfounded tips outnumber the
On a 1-point Electronic Surveillance spend, the useful ones by a huge margin. A Research spend is
detective accesses the cellular network to pinpoint the necessary to promptly sift the legitimate tips from the
MELKBµP@ROOBKQIL@>QFLK 4EBKFQMLMPRMFQFPO>MFAIV nonsense: 2 points correctly identifies Milan within 24
moving, as if its user is in a vehicle. The vehicle is hours, 1 point the next day. On the third day, information
headed toward a major sports stadium. When patrol sifts out without a spend.
cars are scrambled to intercept the vehicle, it turns
out to be a taxi. Someone has taken the phone and 1EB CFOPQ QFMPQBO QEBV @LJB >@OLPP FP VB>O LIA
wedged it into the passenger seat cushion. The phone mechanical engineering student Rocky Riele, who
is wrapped in a copy of the MRV manifesto. remembers the man on the video as former classmate
Jeffrey Milan. Riele, a hybrid of hipster and nerd, wears
Data RetrievalLKQEBMELKBµP@LKQBKQ@LK@IRABPQE>Q an odd T-Shirt which Trivia identifies as a reference to
Chee used it with a careful eye to operational security. QEFPTBBHµP&KQBOKBQFKGLHB %BBUMI>FKPQE>QEB?OFBCIV
Its address book and calling history contain only a few allowed the socially maladroit Milan into his study
red flag numbers, in addition to those for his family and group. Rocky recalls Milan as a quietly argumentative,
innocuous businesses, such as a pizza delivery joint. passive-aggressive fellow who flitted quickly between
The only numbers that pop out are for four phones new interests and hobbies. These included ambient
purchased around the same time as this one, each music, cold war memorabilia, and the online video
entered under the code name of a dead or captured game Global Threat. At one point Milan claimed to have
colleague: Blood Bug, H20, Tunguska, and Icewing. invented a foolproof card-counting scheme and tried
Forensic Accounting turns up billing records affirming to recruit Riele for a trip to Vegas to win at blackjack.
that Chee purchased the phone only a few weeks before Rocky told Jeffery to take a hike after his awkward
the Waterfront Massacre. attempts to hit on the women in the group became
intolerable. Although Milan rarely talked about his
The officer receiving the call may wonder how the MRV past, he did allude to having been raised in the foster
got the number for his work mobile. Finding out takes care system.
>E>ICA>VµPTLOQELCResearch legwork, which can be

SUPER SQUAD
cut to an hour with a 2-point spend. The detective gave Other witnesses come forward, confirming the
his number to the producers of the Hutchins show. One identification while providing little additional
of Hutchins assistants gave the number to a woman information:
who called posing as a booker for another cable news
show. The assistant is Giselle Clauson, a pretty and zThe gum-chewing, overly made-up Bernice
now incredibly nervous young woman scarcely out %LIIFKDPT>P*FI>KµPCLPQBOJLQEBOCLOPFU
of journalism school. A 1-point Reassurance spend months when he was sixteen. She describes
is required to get her to talk immediately; otherwise EFJ>P>·?>@HQ>IHFKDPKLQ¸>KA·BU>@QIVQEB
she waits to hire a lawyer, which delays the inquiry HFKALCIFQQIB?>PQ>OAVLRµABUMB@QQLALQEFP
by a couple of days. When she does cooperate, she HFKALCQEFKD ¸%LIIFKDPµJ>FKFKQBOBPQFPFK
describes the voice she heard as young, with a hint of a whatever reward money she can squeeze out of
disguised southern accent. (If your mutant city is in the the system.
south, pick another regional accent that would stand
out as unusual, and that a career-minded person zAn athletic and blandly good-looking former
might make an effort to soften.) roommate, Dan Haskin, describes Milan as a
PBICFPEDRVTEL>QBCLLAEBAFAKµQM>VCLO>KA
never did the dishes. Haskin admits that he

69
 HARD HELIX

got back at him by pinning articles about SEDS also makes it an ideal delivery system for bio-warfare
LK*FI>KµPALLO #LOPLJBOB>PLK*FI>KT>P pathogens. With access to a sample of the USR, even
totally freaked out that he might be a SEDS a grad student can take an existing bacterium or virus
carrier. and turn it into a deadly threat.

zGenetic Action Front leader Sharon Bryson If asked, Sussman explains that the USR is designed to
(Mutant City Blues, p. 154) reluctantly comes break down quickly when exposed to a living immune
forward to admit that Milan was briefly a system, and to render its payload non-communicable.
member, about a year and a half ago. He was Without these components, the subway attack could
very clingy and wanted to be the center of have taken out half the city. (Chemistry suggests
attention at all times. (Forensic Psychology that Sussman is again downplaying. Without this kill-
suggests that Bryson has room in her life switch, the pathogen could have touched off a global
CLOLKIVLKBK>O@FPPFPQF@>QQBKQFLKPBBHBO³ pandemic2.)
herself.) After she rebuffed his offer to build an
expensive IT setup for the group, he grew sulky In a clumsy attempt to show his affinity to mutants,
>KA>@@RPBAQEBJLCKLQ?BFKD·OB>I¸BKLRDE Sussman explains that the USR was isolated from
cells found in latent mutants. It is a by-product of the
None of these background witnesses has any clue to Sudden Mutation Event.
*FI>KµP@ROOBKQTEBOB>?LRQP
In any event, he argues that his lab must have been the
victim of cyber-espionage. The terrorists must have
SUPER POX
broken into his hard drive and appropriated the method
SCENE TYPE: CORE of synthesis for USR. Lab security is too tight to allow
(core) Chemistry finds a pure sample of the pathogen anyone to have taken actual samples. His students,
inside the coffee container. The detective identifies who he trusts implicitly, are nonetheless subjected to
unique manufactured genetic markers in the virus. routine search to prevent any of the USR from being
EB@HFKDQEBJ>OHBOµPBKQOVFK%LJBI>KA0B@ROFQV?FL removed from the lab.
threat database, the investigator discovers its origin. It
was genetically engineered at the biotech research lab
CONTAINER SY-7
LCQEB@FQVµPQLMP@FBK@BRKFSBOPFQV
SCENE TYPE: CORE
The head of the biotech department, Dr. Trina Ward, An expert in Electronic Surveillance can see that
@LLMBO>QBP OB>AFIV TFQE QEB FKSBPQFD>QFLK  0EBµP security in the lab itself is indeed state of the art. USR
alarmed that the incident might permanently sully samples are stored in metal cannisters in a highly
QEB RKFSBOPFQVµP OBMRQ>QFLK  4>OA >OO>KDBP > JBBQFKD secured room.
for detectives with Dr. David Sussman, the researcher
who registered the telltale genetic marker. However, Evidence Collection quickly turns up a
cannister that is not like the others. Its sealing ring is
The energetic, hyper-verbal Sussman assures the cracked, suggesting that it the cannister is older than
detectives that his engineered retrovirus was in no way the others. It is labeled SY-7.
a pathogen. He has been working for years on a virus as
a delivery system for tumor-killing cells. He calls this Chemistry confirms that the sample in SY-7 is not
the USR, or universal switch receptor. A successful USR USR, but an inert liquid.
holds out the potential for cancer treatments that cure
without the collateral damage wreaked on the body by Document Analysis dates the glue on the back of the
chemo and radiation therapy. Though appalled by the I>?BILKQEFP@>KKFPQBO>KAPELTPQE>QFQµP>AFCCBOBKQ
subway deaths, his main priority is to ensure that his brand, and was placed on the container months later
research, which could save untold lives, is not derailed than the labels on the legit items.
by association with terrorism. Chemistry suggests
that Sussman is downplaying a damaging fact about
EFP OBPB>O@E³QE>Q QEB SBOV >A>MQ>?FIFQV LC EFP SFORP
2 If the players seem interested and pacing allows it, you
J>VTFPEQLFKPBOQ>PR?MILQ@LK@BOKFKDQEBPNR>AµPBCCLOQP
QLPERQALTK0RPPJ>KµPEBBAIBPPOBPB>O@EMO>@QF@BP

70
(The implication of this evidence: Gaines took ,KB LC ->QOF@F>µP CLOJBO @LIIB>DRBP @>K PEBA JLOB
another, older container, placed a fake label on it, and light on her personal life. Soft-spoken lab technician
substituted it for the real one.) Madhura Rawal describes her as:

Evidence Collection finds signs of tampering on the zextremely driven, but lonely and unsure of
OLLJµPTFKALT 1EBOLLJFPLKQEBKFKQECILLOLCQEB herself.
building, with no easy access from neighboring rooms.
If the detectives search the exterior wall for fibers, zShe grew up in the south, but worked hard
Evidence Collection VFBIAP > KRJ?BO LC PBQRIBP³QEB to discard her once-thick accent. (This clue
hairs left behind by a user of the Wall Crawling power. suggests that she was the unknown person
(See Mutant City Blues, p. 72.) TELDLQQEBABQB@QFSBµP@BIIMELKBKRJ?BO
COLJ'FJ%RQ@EFKPµ>PPFPQ>KQPBB·1O>@FKDQEB
(core) Fingerprinting finds a prints on the metal >II¸M 
window sill. When checked in the forensics lab, one set
includes the distinctive striations found in the prints of zPatricia never spoke of her romantic life. Just
T>II@O>TIBOP "SBOVLKBTELTLOHPFK0RPPJ>KµPI>? before she left the lab, Madhura spotted her
is fingerprinted as a security measure. These prints on campus in the company of a tall, broad
correspond to one of his former graduate students, shouldered man with salt and pepper hair. The
Patricia Gaines. man loomed over Patricia in a possessive way,
making Madhura think that he might have been
Dr. Sussman discusses Gaines in glowing terms, a boyfriend. (This is Russ Davenport.)
RKQFIEBOB>IFWBPPEBµP>PRPMB@QFKQEB@>PB %BQEBK
backpedals furiously, minimizing his connection with zWhen she asked her about him, Patricia
her. Sussman is startled to learn that his former seemed stricken and changed the subject.
I>? >PPFPQ>KQ FP > MLPPF?IB QBOOLOFPQ³>KA KB>OIV >P Madhura assumed from this that the man was
taken aback to hear that she was a secret mutant. married.
*LJBKQ>OFIVCLODBQQFKDTELEBµPQ>IHFKDQLEB>PPROBP
the detectives that he took specific care to screen out 0RPPJ>KPQFIIE>P$>FKBPµ>AAOBPP 
mutant candidates. Sussman has the following to say
about Gaines:
TRAILING GAINES
zShe was among his most diligent lab workers. SCENE TYPE: CORE
Patricia could always be counted on to do the If the detectives have already captured and interrogated
unglamorous scutwork that really makes a lab members of the MRV from the Waterfront Massacre,
run. they may already realize that Gaines is unlikely to
crack if arrested now. Otherwise, a character with

SUPER SQUAD
zShe was a composed, undemonstrative person Forensic Psychology reminds the group that highly
who kept her complaints and problems to FKAL@QOFK>QBA QBOOLOFPQP ALKµQ B>PFIV OLII LK QEBFO
herself. @LKCBABO>QBP 1EBVµOBIFHBIFBOQLCFKAQEBJ?VMEVPF@>IIV
trailing her.
zSussman would have happily kept her on, if
PEBµAT>KQBAQL@LKQFKRB Tracking her to the hideout of the terror cell requires
the team to stake out her duplex in a quiet residential
zHe never offered her a teaching opportunity, neighborhood.
?B@>RPBEBAFAKµQT>KQQLQ>HBEBO
concentration away from their important The following steps inject interest and suspense into
research work. the pursuit sequence. Use them as is, or improvise
equivalent moments in response to player choices.
z0EBQLIAEFJPEBµAIBCQ?B@>RPBPEBµACLRKA>
position at another university, one that would Streetwise allows the team to set up a series of
let her teach. He tried to talk her out of it, to no vehicles which can park in the area unnoticed.
avail.

71
 HARD HELIX

The terror attacks have everyone on edge. Yvette side of the road. Say yes to clever alternate solutions
Boykins, an elderly neighbor on the lookout for proposed by the players.
evildoers, spots the detectives while on self-appointed
stakeout duty and trundles down to confront them. A Difficulty 4 Infiltration test allows detectives to creep
0EBµP PROB QE>Q QEB PNR>A JBJ?BOP >OB MI>KKFKD QL up through the wooded area surrounding the newer
bomb her neighborhood. As she comes down to raise buildings. This test is piggybacked if attempted by
a fuss, Gaines leaves her apartment. Cop Talk calms multiple characters. There they spot three additional
6SBQQBALTKTFQELRQAO>TFKD$>FKBPµ>QQBKQFLK vehicles.

(If they fail to defuse the Boykins distraction, require Alternately, the detectives can call for police helicopters
a Difficulty 4 Surveillance test to unobtrusively catch to overfly the area, and get a report on the number of
up with her. Should this fail, allow Gaines to lead them SBEF@IBP %LTBSBOQEFPQOFMPQEB@LKPMFO>QLOPµPBKPBLC
QL QEB ·#>@BP ,C 1BOOLO¸ PBNRBK@B LK > PR?PBNRBKQ justified paranoia, causing them to immediately flee.
occasion.)
The conspirators also flee if the detectives make a
Gaines heads to her garage and drives off in an non-stealthy approach.
>KLKVJLRPILLHFKDPR?@LJM>@Q@>O ,K@BPEBµPJLSFKD
Electronic Surveillance, perhaps in conjunction with However they come near, the detectives note a strong
police helicopters, allows the detectives to follow her to wind blowing up as the takedown beckons.
the outskirts of town. She drives through an industrial
park to a tract of undeveloped land. With a nonchalant As Gaines arrives, her co-conspirators occupy the
air suggesting she has done this many times, Gaines larger of the two structures. If the detectives are close
gets out of the vehicle to open a padlocked gate. Then enough to keep tabs on her, they see her entering.
she drives through, parks again, clicks the padlock
shut, gets back in the car, and drives along an unpaved Both structures are prefabricated buildings, their walls
road running through a wooded area. made of pressed and painted sheet metal. (Architecture
shows that they have been hastily constructed and are
clearly not up to code.) The main building is the MRV
FACES OF TERROR
headquarters. The second is a shack-like enclosure,
SCENE TYPE: CORE (ACTION) its door secured with an expensive electronic lock.
A wireless Internet search pulls up a satellite map of This is the makeshift lab where Gaines fabricated the
the multi-acre property. The wooded, hilly area visible pathogen.
from the roadway surrounds what appears to be a
derelict gravel quarry. A few small buildings are found 4EBKQEBQBOOLOFPQPOB>IFWBQEBVµOB?RPQBAQEBV@EB@H
on the quarry floor. Data Retrieval allows a laptop- to see if their avenues of escape are cut off. If not, they
equipped character to enhance the computer image to attempt to flee, running separately into the surrounding
find a pair of newer-looking outbuildings. These are woods and attempting to make it to the roadway. None
situated in a clearing about half a mile from the quarry. run for their vehicles, since it would be too easy to cut
The road Gaines drove onto leads toward them. them off if they tried to get away by car.

Research OBSB>IP QE>Q QEB MOLMBOQVµP @ROOBKQ LTKBO If escape seems unlikely, they stand and fight, using
is the municipal government. It has been confiscated their super powers. Although trained by Davenport in
for non-payment of back taxes. Law suggests that this close combat, none of them are experienced fighters.
allows the detectives to enter without a warrant. Gaines,
and anyone present on the property, is trespassing, Either way, they come pouring out of the headquarters
and does not enjoy privacy protections against police building bearing assault rifles and, in small backpacks,
search or seizure. one container apiece of the pathogen. These pose no
danger in an outdoor environment, especially with the
The padlock on the gate does not pose a significant winds gusting ever faster.
obstacle. Bolt cutters, or use of the Strength power,
easily dismantles the fence. If the detectives want to Except for Patricia, all of the MRV members present are
enter covertly, without leaving signs of their presence, already wearing their black coveralls, as if preparing
they can hop the fence, leaving their vehicles on the CLO>KFJJFKBKQJFPPFLK 1EBVALKµQ?LQEBOQLMRQLK

72
their masks or goggles before attempting to fight or eyeglasses, complete with elastic band to keep them
flee. in place.

P FK ·0RMBO 0FBDB¸ SFPR>I ABP@OFMQFLKP LC QEB MBOMP Athletics 6, Health 6, Scuffling 6, Shooting 2
are given here, with personality notes in a follow-up
section. Powers: )FDEQKFKD !B@FPFLKP  -PFLKF@ I>PQ 
1EOB>Q >I@RIRP

Weapon: assault rifle +1

PATRICIA GAINES

Athletics 2, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6 JOEL BAILEY

Powers: Entangling Hair 10, Wall Crawling 10, Webbing A young Caucasian man, nondescript aside from his
10 70s-style sideburns and long dark hair, which he
wears tied into a ponytail.
Weapon: assault rifle +1
Athletics 2, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6
ALVIN DUNNING
Powers: Natural Weaponry (claws) 18
A somewhat obese young African-American man who
has shaved his head and wears a pair of thick-framed Weapon: assault rifle +1

SUPER SQUAD

73
 HARD HELIX

assortment of lab equipment would be sufficient for

JEFFERY MILAN production of the pathogen, given a starter supply of
20/ +LQBPCLRKALKQEBI>MQLMPELTQE>QQEBDOLRMµP
As described on p. 71. USR supply has been depleted. One folder contains
MOBIFJFK>OV MI>KP QL O>FA 0RPPJ>KµP I>? CLO JLOB 
Athletics 4, Health 10, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6 Detectives can now consider themselves to have found
and secured the source of the bioweapon.
Powers: Fangs 8, Disease Immunity 48
A further 1-point Chemistry spend notices a few disused
Weapon: assault rifle +1, fangs 0 beakers and burners, along with residue suggesting
that the shack was used for another purpose before it
was converted to pathogen production: this used to be
NORA ROUNDY a meth lab.

A rail-thin young Caucasian woman, freckled and red- (core) A few hundred meters from the two buildings,
headed. detectives discover a home grown gun range. Heavily
perforated paper targets, bearing military-style human
Athletics 2, Health 2, Scuffling 2, Shooting 6 silhouette designs, have been affixed to bales of hay.
(More paper targets are found, still in their packing
Powers: Empathy 4, Nondescript 8, Observe Dreams materials, in the larger headquarters building.) Piles
8 of spent rifle and pistol shells and casings lie strewn
throughout the area. A Ballistics test on the many
Weapon: assault rifle +1 bullets found here finds matches to all of the weapons
found during this sequence and Super Siege. Among
The scene probably ends in the apprehension of the the sources of shells and casings, a single gun remains
suspects. unaccounted for: a .45 magnum revolver. When this
ballistics pattern is run through the system, it comes
If any escape, they go on the lam separately. You up as a match for two unsolved crimes:
may elect to play out their pursuit and capture in an
improvised sequence, or allow them to be nabbed off- zThe wounding of meth dealer Jasper Lebron,
camera in other jurisdictions, in response to an APB three years ago.
filed by detectives.
zThe murder of radio show host and mutant
In either case, the detectives are now free to examine activist Mark Hein, two years ago.
the scene for evidence.
RINGLEADER
Found in the main building is a micro-laptop containing
a Power Point presentation, a digital projector, and a SCENE TYPE: CORE
screen. The presentation lays out a plan for Dunning, Surviving suspects from the quarry apprehension
Bailey and Roundy to conduct a suicide attack on a local are, if anything, even more close-mouthed than any
historical site, unleashing the bioweapon in an enclosed @LRKQBOM>OQP @>MQROBA AROFKD ·0RMBO 0FBDB ¸ 1EBV
space. The attack was planned for the very next day. A admit to being MRV members and promise that they
second presentation provides plans for recruitment in are only the beginning of a wave of destruction that
the wake of their presumed deaths. It mentions Gaines will put the norms in their place once and for all.
and Milan as providing support. Textual Analysis They uniformly refuse to spill the identity of their
suggests that references to another figure, the leader ringleader.
and probably author of the presentation text, have
been edited out. Background checks reveal the following about the
additional suspects detectives found at the scene:
A 1-point Chemistry test, if performed on the shack
before it is entered, detects inactive traces of the killer zISFK!RKKFKDµPEFDEFKQBIIFDBK@B>KAILTPL@F>I
pathogen. Protocol requires hazmat suits be used awareness left him an outcast in his rough
by anyone entering. Chemistry finds that its crude neighborhood. His regretful mother, Tamekia,

74
 wishes he would get back in touch with her. Research also shows that Davenport was exonerated
Alvin qualified for a university scholarship but of sexual assault eighteen months ago, after a DNA
dropped out of sight after getting into a quarrel sample he provided failed to match the rape kit
with his high school guidance counselor and evidence. A look at his DNA test result using Forensic
damaging his brain with a psionic blast. Anthropology shows that he is not a mutant.

z'LBI>FIBVµPC>QEBO(BKKBQEFP>TB>IQEV If interviewed before they put all this information

AFSLO@BI>TVBOTELPQORDDIBATFQEEFPPLKµP together, the detectives find Davenport to be a calm,
lack of interest in fulfilling his potential. When subtly smirking witness. Claiming to be simply a
pressed, Kenneth concedes that he may have regular Joe who makes an okay living as a motorcycle
frozen his son out emotionally when his mutant customizer, he categorically denies any connection to
powers came to the fore. anti- or pro-mutant terrorism.

zNora Roundy, a natural middle child in a huge Any of his terror dupes, shown a photo of Davenport
clan of foster kids and adoptees, never fully plus the evidence of his barhead past and non-mutant
adjusted to the stresses of a large family, status, reels in shock. After struggling to assimilate the
admits her mother, Alicia Roundy. C>@QQE>QQEBVµSBRPBAQLCROQEBOQEBBKBJVµP>DBKA>
the witness confirms Davenport as their leader.
The lead detective in charge of the still-open Mark
Hein murder is Margo Carmona. Hein was ambushed This identification gives the detectives what they need
on his way to a book signing in the downtown core. A to arrest him. Davenport offers up no resistance.
fiery mutant-rights proponent, Hein was the constant He starts any interrogation by denying everything.
recipient of death threats, presumably from members &KPFAB EBµP AVFKD QL Q>HB @OBAFQ CLO EFP DBKFRP MI>K 
of the barhead movement. She knew of the ballistic Goaded sufficiently by the mutant cops he hates, he
connection to the Lebron case but was never able to proudly admits to doing what was necessary to touch
make anything of it. Carmona still likes Davenport for LCC QEB FKBSFQ>?IB O>@B T>O³TEF@E QEB MROB ERJ>KP
the murder but never turned up enough evidence for a LRQKRJ?BOFKD JRQ>KQP > ERKAOBA QL LKB @>KµQ EBIM
search warrant. but win.

The investigating officer in the Jasper Lebron case

WRAP-UP
is a Detective Glenn Roberts. Before his lieutenant
ordered him to kick the stagnant case to the inactive SCENE TYPE: DENOUEMENT
drawer, he had narrowed his list of suspects to three &KQEBA>VPQE>QCLIILTQEB>KKLRK@BJBKQLC!>SBKMLOQµP
LC)B?OLKµP@OFJFK>I>PPL@F>QBPOF>K)RQEBO+BIPLK arrest, public opinion shifts. People are still afraid
·!LKHBV¸%BKOF@HPLK>KA/RPP!>SBKMLOQ )RQEBO>KA of mutants, but now view the barheads with equal
Henrickson were, he suspected, producing the crystal revulsion. Public pressure mounts to crack down on

SUPER SQUAD
meth that Lebron and others sold, with Davenport as anti-mutant forces.
their enforcer. All four men had white supremacist
connections; Davenport was also a heavy-duty barhead. The detective who got ambushed on the Jim Hutchins
Roberts was unable to make progress in the case, show is invited back, to be celebrated as a hero.
?>PBALKQEBSF@QFJµPOBCRP>IQL @LLMBO>QB )B?OLKFP
now serving a ten year sentence for drug trafficking. If you played up the feds as major obstacles, they are
forced to eat crow. They admit that the local cops did
Jasper Lebron may be a low-life drug dealer, but is TE>QQEBV@LRIAKµQ
appalled as anyone by the murder rampage of the
MRV. If approached with a mix of Flattery (acting as if Squad members are commended for their efforts. If
FQDLBPTFQELRQP>VFKDQE>QEBµPBKLRDELC>@FQFWBKQL one of them showed particular political skill, he is told
cooperate against terrorists) and Negotiation (offering through back channels that the brass has an eye on
a sentence reduction and protective custody against him when future promotions come up.
barhead inmates) he agrees to testify that Davenport
PELQ EFJ TFQE EFP ?BILSBA  TEF@E EB @>IIBA ·,IA
0>IQV ¸

75
HARD HELIX

Rocky Riele – former classmate of Jeffrey

Character Quick Milan
Reference Bernice Hollings – former foster-mother of
Jeffrey Milan

Bonnie Kreger - demanding middle-aged Dan Haskin – former roommate of Jeffrey

lady, mother of Gerry Milan

Gerry Kreger - beating victim Sharon Bryson - Genetic Action Front leader

Romeo “the Mule” Olivieri - restaurant Dr. Trina Ward – head of the Biotech
owner with mob connections Department at the local science university

Lt. Ken Swailes – Police tactical team leader Dr. David Sussman – research biochemist

Jayson “Hiroshima” Chee – MRV member, Patricia Gaines, MEV member

radiation projector Madhura Rawal, Lab tech., co-worker of
Mary “H2O” Delozier – MRV member, Patricia Gaines
Water manipulation Yvette Boykins – neighborhood busy-body
Ferdinand “Icewing” Licata – MRV member, Alvin Dunning – MRV member, Psionic
Billy “Blood Bug” Moran, MRV member Blast

Josie “Tunguska” Pearl – MRV member, Joel Bailey – MRV member, claws
Heat Blast Nora Roundy – nondescript MRV member
Simon and Melba Chee – parents of Jayson (Jasper Lebron) – incarcerated Meth Dealer
Chee
(Mark Hein) murdered radio show host and
Catherine Semple – Mother of Mary mutant activist
Delozier
Tamekia Dunning – Mother of Alvin
Eugenio Licata - famed automotive engineer, Dunning
father of Ferdinand Licata
Kenneth Bailey - Joel Bailey’s father
Joseph Pearl and Marie White Cloud
– parents of Josie Pearl Alicia Roundy – Mother of Nora Roundy

S.A. Allen Sanford – Federal agent Det. Margo Carmona – lead detective in the
Mark Hein murder case
S.A. Gloria Stefaniuk – Federal Agent
Det. Glenn Roberts - investigating officer in
Jim Hutchins – host of The Big Bulletin TV the Jasper Lebron case
Show
(Brian Luther, Nelson “Donkey”
Jeffrey Milan – MRV member, Disease Henrickson) – suspected Meth. Cookers
Immunity, Fangs
Russ Davenport – barhead, leader of the
Giselle Clauson – Production assistant at the MRV
Big Bulletin

76
 INVESTIGATIVE ABILITY CHECKLIST
This table shows the sum of the clues available for each ability in each adventure, with core clues marked by grey
cells. During character generation you can use the table to make sure that the PCs cover the necessary abilities,
preferably with some redundancy for core clues.

INVESTIGATIVE ABILITIES HARD HELIX THE VANISHERS SUPER SQUAD CELL DIVISION
Anamorphology 4 2 
Anthropology 1
Architecture 1 1
Ballistics  1
Bullshit Detector 6 2 12 2
Bureaucracy 1 
Chemistry 1 8
Cop Talk 1 2 6 1
Data Retrieval 2 6 
Document Analysis 1 1
Electronic Surveillance 5
Energy Residue Analysis 
Evidence Collection  2 4
Explosive Devices 4
Fingerprinting 1 1
Flattery 5 1
Flirting 4 1
Forensic Accounting 2 2 1
Forensic Anthropology 4 2 2
Forensic Pathology 1
Forensic Psychology  2 4 4
History 1
Impersonate 1
Influence Detection 1
Interrogation 1 2
Intimidation 5 5
Law   1
Natural History 2
Negotiation 4 4 5 1
Reassurance 6 1  2
Research 6 4 6 7
ABILITY CHECKLIST

Streetwise 5 8 2
Textual Analysis 1
Trivia  1 2 
TOTAL 64  76 56

77