Mission:Gone in a Flash - Part Five: Diamonds and Guns
Part Five: Diamonds and Guns
This mission follows Part Four: Jack of Diamonds. Players who completed Part Four: Down in the Dark will receive Part Five: Fine Arts instead.
Briefing
Alright, Character, I just got off the phone with the Miller. He got word from a friend of his with the Family who heard of a big kerfuffle going down at the casino of one 'Rancid' Armstrong. Armstrong is an underboss with the Family, a guy who loves jewelry and sidearms. Don't let the name fool you, he actually smells pretty nice, you ask me. It's like how they call Willy Tiny, even though he's a real slab of beef.
Bobby frowns for a moment then snaps his fingers.
Oh right! Getting off track here. Anyway, the Miller's contact says some woman, named Bronte, was at the casino trying to offload a diamond. But things went south for some reason, there was some guns drawn, and the girl hightailed it with the ice. Sounds like our girl, right?
- Sounds like I should go talk to this Rancid.
That's what I was thinking too. As long as you go in there peaceful, you should be able to get in and talk, no problem. Armstrong's a reasonable enough guy, been to the White Elephant a few times. Good tipper, always very respectful with the staff.
Unnecessary Solicitation
You talked to Armstrong yet? Don't wanna take too much time. If this deal spooked our girl, she might try to go running. Then all of this has been for nothing.
Mission Objective(s)
The Family are obviously on edge as you enter, but none of them make a move for their weapons... yet.
- Speak with 'Rancid' Armstrong
- Talk to Armstrong
You've learned that the diamond thief is none other than Arc Flash, a hero from Paragon City!
Notable NPCs
- 'Rancid' Armstrong (Ally)
As you approach Armstrong, the overpowering smells of lavender, oakmoss, and bergamot assail you. He smiles upon seeing you and throws his arms wide.
Ahh, the infamous Character! Welcome to my casino! I'm guessing you're not interested in betting it all on red, are you?
- Not today. I'm here about the Florentine Diamond.
- Straight to the point, I like it! Yeah, we had that hero chick around here, trying to sell me that rock. I knew something was off about her the moment I laid eyes on her. Most diamond thieves I know are full of confidence, can't wait to tell you all about what they pulled off.
- Not her, though, she was trouble from the moment I saw her. Kept trying to dodge questions, gave me the stink eye, was wearing a ratty hoodie that didn't fit her.
- He laughs and shakes his head.
- Yeah, but who was she?
- Oh yeah, of course. Big bad villain, always up to something, never enough time. I get it. She's called Arc Flash. Don't know too much else about her. She's supposed to got electricity powers.
- Don't know why she was trying to sell me that diamond, though. Probably some sorta plot to nail me with stolen goods or something. The cops are always trying to pin something on me!
- Anyway, you going after her? Hey, give her one for me, too! I don't appreciate stings, you know?
- Thanks. I'll do that.
- (Keep listening)
- I was still pretty interested in the diamond, though. Woo baby, that thing was a beaut. I don't normally care for yellow diamonds, I like the blue ones the best, or the clear ones you know. Chocolate diamonds? A whole load of crap, you ask me.
- They used to use them for industrial purposes before, you know. Just trash diamonds, no one wanted them! Then the marketers, they rebranded them as "chocolate diamonds" and suddenly made them all the rage!
- You ask me, it's marketers like that who are real bad guys. Making people want things that don't have any value. Not like good diamonds, right?
- Uh huh. Anyway, about the hero?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Keep listening)
- Anyway, this girl came in here with that diamond and I was about to pay her for it. Then one of my guys just started shooting at her! And you know, we didn't know what was going on, so all my other boys pulled their pieces and started letting loose too.
- I don't know how she got out of here without looking like a used pin cushion.
- After she got away, I started yelling, asking questions, you know. Well, my guy said he recognized her! Said she's a hero back in Paragon City. She even pinched him once, but he got off on a technicality. The whole reason he's in the Isles now, he said, too much trouble dealing with all those heroes in Paragon.
- Ok, great. What was her name?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Keep listening)
- I don't know how Frost does it, working out of Paragon. It's bad enough here, what with Longbow and Wyvern running around sticking their noses in everything. At least they mostly stick to bugging Arachnos.
- Ah, you don't need me to talk about it! You probably deal with them all the time, don't you? I'm glad I keep my nose clean, you know. Clean for the Isles, at least!
- But back in Paragon, man... Can't jaywalk without some cape running over to toss you in the Zig. No way to make a living. Better living here in the Isles, more freedom.
- Back on topic, who had the diamond?
- This selection loops to another branch of this conversation which is already documented.
- (Keep listening)
- Anyway, about that girl. Arc Flash is what she's called. Don't know too much else about her. She's supposed to got electricity powers.
- Don't know why she was trying to sell me that diamond, though. Probably some sorta plot to nail me with stolen goods or something. The cops are always trying to pin something on me!
- You know what, Character, you're alright! Come on back some time, drinks'll be on the house!
- Thanks. I'll do that.
You spoke with 'Rancid' Armstrong, a Family underboss with a taste for finer things. He told you that a woman tried to sell him the diamond, but one of his men recognized her as the hero Arc Flash. She fled after being discovered, taking the diamond with her.
Debriefing
Arc Flash? She's a hero, ain't she? Why would she be stealing a diamond and trying to sell it to criminals, huh?
Bobby rubs the bridge of his nose, then shakes his head slowly.
I tell you, Character, things are getting more complicated here in the Isles every day. You got heroes committing heists, you got people from other dimensions running around... What's next, we gonna have villains volunteering at the free clinic?