Shadowrun
Shadowrun Play => Play-by-Post => Topic started by: Blazrath on <08-22-14/2021:29>
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Adelaide, Australia. Compared to Sydney or Melbourne, this city is like a blip on the radar. That doesn't stop the city though from having a large sprawl, several shopping centers, a thriving blackmarket and several homegrown go gangers. Its here that Lucky Eddie's set up a regional training center and corporate office that ya'll find yourselves in. Its the middle of the dry season, the training took you guys four weeks to complete and the swamp cooler broke a week in. No matter who you are or where you came from, you were given the same four weeks of training to make sure the most qualified were getting seats on the vehicles and no one that would die being outside for too long would make it in there. You started with a class of fifty and saw it whittle down to eighteen, something that your teacher noted as irregular.
Anyways, you're hot and sticky, something that you don't usually feel in the dry season, but getting stuck in a room on a day like today makes the room like a sauna and just makes it muggy and miserable. You would be relieved to see your instructor walk back into the room. "On the behalf of myself, the upper personnel and Eddie himself, we thank you for your patience and hardwork. If you will follow me, you'll get assigned to your teams, vehicles and location." Is all he would say. You are pretty sure that Eddie would be dead by now, mostly because the old trideos of him talking about his experiences he seemed like an ork that was too far down the line to really make it out to the mailbox unaided, let alone in the outback. You would know some of your classmates, but maybe not all of them. Its one of those things about the social experiment, where cliques of mainlanders and outsiders are usually formed.
All the class taught you was how to survive in the outback and keeping yourself professional with the client. The test of what to do when you find yourself rescuing women was particularly failed by 10 classmates as 'requesting sexual favors in lue of payment' is not a correct answer. As you walk out, you may talk to some of the classmates, if for nothing else to pass the time as you get out of the dank room and into the oppressively dry heat of midday. You've been to this area many times before, its the mechanic bay right next to the extensive junkyard out in the back that the company guards very jealously. The mister system that originally was put into the place has already cracked in several places and due to water regulations, there has been no need to fix them. You line up on the cautionary logo, where you know you are safe from large machinery unexpectedly crushing you.
((So a physical description and which side you talk with is best for now.))
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Steven is happier today than he's been in a long time. He could see the looks people would give him in class. He knew they talked about him and could feel their judgmental gazes on him after class and during every test. Everyone was sure the big stupid american septic would wash out quick, but he'd stuck around. He was always the last to finish every test, but always got A's, a fact that most of his classmates didn't seem to notice, but Erica had been very proud of him for. She was his strength here on this new continent and he had been her strength as well. Her refuge from the wasteland, from the killing, from the horror. She'd been out on extended patrol for the whole week and said she MIGHT make it to see him off on his first assignment, but not to hold his breath. He wasn't. None of that was on his mind today, as he was too full of pride in himself to think about anything else. He had actually graduated.
Too nervous to talk to anyone first, Steven stands off to the side of the two cliques with his hands in his pockets, looking back and forth from the floor to the broken mister. It wouldn't be too hard to fix that thing. I wonder why no one has. He thinks he looks great in his brown sixty nuyen suit, but it's not tailored properly and he almost gives the impression of a child playing dress-up in daddy's clothes. A giant hulking child with soft innocent baby blue eyes. His shoulder length blonde hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail and individual hairs keep landing in his face, causing him to blow them away. He doesn't usually wear his hair back cause it bothers him, but he feels like it looks more formal and to him, this is a formal occasion.
He doesn't speak unless spoken to and tries his hardest to look friendly, as he's painfully aware that once everyone gets all broken up into teams, whoever is on his team is going to be disappointed. No one wants to rely on the stupid guy.
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Jack just shrugged his shoulders as he went from the wet oppressive heat to the dry oppressive heat. He looked around at the rest of his classmates. He was glad that so many rejects had been weeded out. Less likely to get a dirt bag with such an attrition rate. He studied those that were left, mentally going through the list of who knew what and who might be placed on his team. A few weren't bad. A few were not anywhere near as good as they thought they were. And a couple just rubbed Jack the wrong way. God I hope I don't get teamed up with those idiots. I'll jack their jaw and use a wrench to align their attitudes.
Jack looks like he belongs in the mechanic bay. He's certainly not dressed up like the big man in the suit. Now that kid at least had an idea of what end of the wrench to use.
He was in jeans, work boots and a mechanics button-up shirt with a patch that read Jack. He looked old and haggard. He was an old orc and the years had clearly taken a toll on him. Many of the students had already started calling him the Old Man. He just ignored the school game BS. He could outwork any of them here.
He walked over to an over-sized tire off of some piece of old construction equipment and settled himself for the wait. It doesn't take long before he's got the old cigar out and is chewing on it. No lighting it up with this crew, He'd gotten tired from all the whining about no smoking PC crap. A smile crept across his face as he listens to the bickering start between all the babies in the class whine about the swamp cooler again. He could of fixed it if he wanted to. He could of at least went out into the junkyard and cobbled together a cooling system from all of the AC units floating around. But he'd spent his life out in all kinds of heat and cold. The broken swamp cooler was just another way to weed out the ones that couldn't handle it.
It's clear from the past four weeks that Jack isn't much of a talker and expects anyone that wants to be friendly with him to be able to do the job and not be a pain. He isn't one to initiate conversation so if anyone wants to talk they have to start the conversation.
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He was in jeans, work boots and a mechanics button-up shirt with a patch that read Jack.
Looking around, Steven could see that everyone else here was dressed more like "Jack" and less like him, a fact that made him sweat even more than he already was. Steven was no stranger to the football field, so the heat didn't get to him, nor did the sweating, but it made him a LOT more self conscious as he felt even more out of place than normal. Soon, the pits of the suit would be soaked through.
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Jackie is practically bouncing out of the stuffy room his bike racing jacket slung over one shoulder only wearing a white tank shirt underneath, Jeez, hate that kind of fucking crap, having us wait in that room forever and for what? Nothing, that’s what. Of course I ‘graduated’, didn’ me and Suzie already make it down here from Darwin with them guys that went and lost some folks on the way up there? That there was the real test, this just some way weed out them city folks who got no business being outdoors anyways. Them guys probably asked I be added to their team right away, real wiz crew. Jackie himself hadn’t been paying too much attention during this training stuff, mostly he had just gotten a passing grade and not worried about it seeing as he already had a tight in with the company. Only real problem had been the repairs class when that engine caught on fire.
As he makes his way out he doesn’t really have anyone to talk too, to his surprise he hadn’t really made any friends during the training period and the girls had seemed singularly unimpressed by his racing armor. Odd ducks the lot of them, too focused on this here schooling to even be sociable. Shaking his head slightly at his own thoughts as he makes his way out into the sunshine where he stops and takes the time to stretch out his scrawny frame.
Seeing that big septic dude who was always all meticulous like standing by himself and kinda looking nervous Jackie decides to try and make him at ease, walking over to him and nudging his elbow slightly, "Hoi Yankee boy. What’s with the monkey suit?"
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He towered over much of the others, with the exception of a few trolls, but his body was thin and lanky, his rough linen clothes hanging off his frame like a scarecrow. He had his armored jacket slung over one shoulder, the sleeve tattoos running down his bare arms telling a tale of men and spirits that he suspected none here could begin to understand. The tattoos on his face stood out the most, encircling his eyes in harsh tribal lines.
Wide Eyes was living up to his name as he stood in the center of the logo, not really paying attention to anyone as he stared up at the broken mister with the thousand mile stare of a man who's eyes were seeing a world outside of the physical realm. The machine was a dead thing, dark and murky as all shadows of the unliving were, but the astral shadow was fascinating in its own right, and he knew that it was a complex thing of moving parts that would come alive, if only it were fixed. He wondered if that was why his loa was so interested in it. The loa of tasks always called out to him to fix it, to make it live again, but he knew he could not afford to let one mount him while so many of the uneducated were present. Perhaps he would reveal the role of the loa to his crew, once he was sure he could trust them, but the majority of the idiots that had 'graduated' alongside him would not understand. He had faced much persecution throughout his life from those that thought his ways were wrong. As much as it pained him to deny the loa what they desired, this mister would go unrepaired. He made a mental note to properly indulge them later. Perhaps he would build another water purifier from the spare parts in the junk yard. Those always came in handy.
Wide Eyes blinked, his vision returning to the physical world as he glanced around at his surroundings. He forgot what he was waiting for.
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"Hoi Yankee boy. What’s with the monkey suit?"
Steven is both thrilled and terrified that someone is talking to him. He'd seen this ball of energy in the racing leathers goofing off through the whole course, yet still managing to pass. He wasn't the only one who'd used that tactic, but he was the only one willing to talk to Steven. The rest of the "smart kids" all seemed to pick on him. He didn't care. Mother had always said, "You just be the best Steven you can be and if people don't want to be your friend, it's THEIR loss." The remembered words from mom gave him a bit more confidence despite being overdressed.
With a big sheepish smile, he says, "Hi! They call me Donger. What's your name? I thought this was going to be a bigger event than it actually is. Back home, we get dressed up for graduation, so i went and bought this suit. I don't REALLY look like a monkey, do I?"
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Jack scratched at the new scar behind his ear. He had to get the Control Rig for the job. The surgery to install it went well but the damned new scar still itched like mad. Jack figured he was getting old. He didn't feel like crawling around the equipment all the time so he took the offer to drive the truck. He'd still help with the work of course. He wasn't a lazy good for nothin'. But he deserved to sit around a little more in his so called retirement.
He watched the bike jockey approach the kid in the suit. Now that one is a horse that was all show and no go. When he heard the remark about the monkey suit he decided he'd step in and help the kid out.
"You look just fine, Donger. I've just been around the muck all my life, never had need for a suit.
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"You look just fine, Donger. I've just been around the muck all my life, never had need for a suit.
The massive nord looks down at himself briefly, then back up at the new-comer to the conversation with a sideways toothy smile. "Thanks!" He points at the patch on the orks chest. "Jack?"
He REALLY wants these two to like him, cause they both seem so smart and cool. The thought of being part of the "cool crowd" was almost too much to hope for.
First impression on new friends (http://orokos.com/roll/216175): 15d6h5 3
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"Well yeah, sure. It’s just a phrase ya know." Jackie winks at Donger before addressing the old ork, "Just because old farts like you ain’t got no style don’t mean me and Donger can’t look spiffy."
At this point Jackie bursts out laughing at his own joke needing a few moments to collect himself, "Ahhh, oooh, I’m just messin’ with ya chummer. Back home at the farm we never did have much use for dressing nice except for Christmas or funerals. Name’s Jackie by the way, real nice meetin' ya both."
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Jack offers his hand to both men. Shaking it feels like a vice grip wrapped in sandpaper. Jack doesn't squeeze to hurt or anything. It's just a firm shake.
"Yeah names Jack. Most call me JD though."
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Wide Eyes turned towards the assorted students, wondering which among them he'd end up working with. Whoever it was, he just hoped they understood the importance of the job, unlike those idiots who kept wanting to sleep with the clients.
His eyes lost focus as his perception returned to the Astral, and he let the auras of these men do the talking for them.
Assensing the group: Intuition 4 + Assensing 5 (http://orokos.com/roll/216215): 9d6t5 5
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"Well yeah, sure. It’s just a phrase ya know." Jackie winks at Donger before addressing the old ork, "Just because old farts like you ain’t got no style don’t mean me and Donger can’t look spiffy."
At this point Jackie bursts out laughing at his own joke needing a few moments to collect himself, "Ahhh, oooh, I’m just messin’ with ya chummer. Back home at the farm we never did have much use for dressing nice except for Christmas or funerals. Name’s Jackie by the way, real nice meetin' ya both."
"Hi, Jackie!"
Jack offers his hand to both men. Shaking it feels like a vice grip wrapped in sandpaper. Jack doesn't squeeze to hurt or anything. It's just a firm shake.
"Yeah names Jack. Most call me JD though."
Uh oh. Two jacks. I'm gonna mess this up, I can tell already. People HATE it when you get their names wrong.
Donger looks a little a bit uncomfortable as he looks back and forth between the two men.
"JD. And Jack. Ok. It's nice to meet both of you. Do you know what teams we're getting put on yet?
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From what Wide Eyes could gather, you have a true melting pot of people and potentials. A cursory glance over the group show cases some people still having all their original parts, but most without magical abilities. A small flair here and there of magic comes up, but from the looks of it they are adepts with a basic understanding of the way of magic only in of themselves. From there though, out of all of the people there, you see a very depleted soul of the group that has lost more than half of his essence to machinery. You almost feel transfixed, as the idea of having nothing really on the astral plane is a weird concept and why someone would do so. Other places wouldn't really showcase too much, the mechanics and the machines. The next that would catch your attention, if for the weirdest aspect of it, is that what appeared in the corner of your eye was another soul that seemed to disappear into the vast lifelessness of this area. You almost think its a fluke and then you are visually assaulted as a spirit of a very skinny man in a nice suit and top hat came into view. "You know you haven't been holding your end of the agreement monsiuer. Some of us here are getting pretty anxious for a run in Australia. You wouldn't want us to find another, would you boy?" You know him all too well, The Baron. Always the partier and the drinker, he is the one that always seemed to harass the summoners the most. Whether he was a man that just loved life so much that he became a spirit that is the essence of partying or a loa that just doesn't care too much, you don't know. You do know that you do need to appease them soon, lest they get bored.
When JD touched the back of his ear, there would be a slight snicker and hear a comment of "Look like someone is ready to get into the rocking chair." with the sound of slight snicker following. You know who this is cause its the same guys that have been doing it since the beginning of the class. You and others are surprised they even passed the initiation. Maybe it has something to do with the main guy looking like Eddie, but to a non-ork you all look alike and to you, it does look like there may be some resemblance.
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When JD touched the back of his ear, there would be a slight snicker and hear a comment of "Look like someone is ready to get into the rocking chair." with the sound of slight snicker following. You know who this is cause its the same guys that have been doing it since the beginning of the class. You and others are surprised they even passed the initiation.
Donger pretends he doesn't hear them picking on his new friend. He lowers his voice to a whisper and leans in before speaking. "Just ignore those guys, JD. Those aren't the type of people we want to be friends with anyway."
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From what Wide Eyes could gather, you have a true melting pot of people and potentials. A cursory glance over the group show cases some people still having all their original parts, but most without magical abilities. A small flair here and there of magic comes up, but from the looks of it they are adepts with a basic understanding of the way of magic only in of themselves. From there though, out of all of the people there, you see a very depleted soul of the group that has lost more than half of his essence to machinery. You almost feel transfixed, as the idea of having nothing really on the astral plane is a weird concept and why someone would do so. Other places wouldn't really showcase too much, the mechanics and the machines.
Wide Eyes almost scoffs at the few adepts he sees, but refrains from making his disdain obvious, his gaze wandering to Jackie's aura, marveling a little at the dark spots within his life force. He had always been curious about the augmented. He did not know what it was like to be mundane, blind to the powers of the loa, but surely even a mortal man could feel the energy of life that flowed through him? Could he not feel the loss with each piece of the unnatural they added? The augmentations themselves were also interesting, and the way they almost had a life of their own. Some thought that augmentation was like a drain on the essence, a hole carved out by technology, but he found that wasn't the case. The augments absorbed the essence, and the man incorporated the machine into his being. No, these augments that he could see running throughout the man's entire nervous system were not holes, but merely a dimming. Holes were a different matter. He had studied the kinds of critters that could make holes in a man's soul. He shuddered a bit at the thought.
The next that would catch your attention, if for the weirdest aspect of it, is that what appeared in the corner of your eye was another soul that seemed to disappear into the vast lifelessness of this area. You almost think its a fluke and then you are visually assaulted as a spirit of a very skinny man in a nice suit and top hat came into view. "You know you haven't been holding your end of the agreement monsiuer. Some of us here are getting pretty anxious for a run in Australia. You wouldn't want us to find another, would you boy?" You know him all too well, The Baron. Always the partier and the drinker, he is the one that always seemed to harass the summoners the most. Whether he was a man that just loved life so much that he became a spirit that is the essence of partying or a loa that just doesn't care too much, you don't know. You do know that you do need to appease them soon, lest they get bored.
Wide Eye's let his jaw drop, his heart racing for a moment by this loa addressing him directly, ashamed that he had not appeased them lately. He had been so busy working on this test, knowing it would bring him closer to the role Ogoun had chosen for him.
"My deepest apologies, Baron. The path Ogoun has put me on has taken my attention and I have not served les invisibles as often as I should. When the day is done, the ritual will begin, and my body will be your vessel for the night." Wide Eyes hoped this promise would suffice, as he would not let the uneducated masses here ruin a service to the loa with their prejudice. Tonight he would dance in the moonlight with the spirits flowing through him, but for now he turns his focus back towards the empty man and approaches the group.
"You are a man who has sacrificed much for the gains of technology, friend. I hope you do not mind me saying." He then turns towards JD, noticing the rather significant shadow of the recently installed control rig. "And you, as well. While I would not be able to take such measures, I sympathize with your actions. It takes men of great conviction to give a piece of themselves to their chosen task. We are all servants to a greater need, in a way."
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Tonight he would dance in the moonlight with the spirits flowing through him, but for now he turns his focus back towards the empty man and approaches the group.
"You are a man who has sacrificed much for the gains of technology, friend. I hope you do not mind me saying." He then turns towards JD, noticing the rather significant shadow of the recently installed control rig. "And you, as well. While I would not be able to take such measures, I sympathize with your actions. It takes men of great conviction to give a piece of themselves to their chosen task. We are all servants to a greater need, in a way."
Whoaaaaaaaaaa.
Steven didn't know what to think of the skinny man with the white marks on his face and the long, expressive words, but he quickly became fascinated by him. He knew there were a lot of customs here in Australia that he didn't know anything about, but he knew he should be respectful of them all. After all, he was the visitor here and they were here first. He hopes he isn't staring when he blurts out, "Hi! My name is Donger! Are those real tattoos or are they paint?"
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Whoaaaaaaaaaa.
Steven didn't know what to think of the skinny man with the white marks on his face and the long, expressive words, but he quickly became fascinated by him. He knew there were a lot of customs here in Australia that he didn't know anything about, but he knew he should be respectful of them all. After all, he was the visitor here and they were here first. He hopes he isn't staring when he blurts out, "Hi! My name is Donger! Are those real tattoos or are they paint?"
"Yes, very real, and I add to them as the spirits show me more of their ways." Wide Eyes explains, holding out his arms to show off the sleeve tattoos going up and down both of them. His left arm was covered from shoulder to wrist, but the right arm was unfinished, highly detailed on the upper shoulder, but losing color and detail further down, tapering away to nothing past his elbow.
"The name is William, but I am better known as Wide Eyes." He states, moving his head forward and opening his eyes wide to show off the tattoos on his face. "I'm told it's quite fitting."
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"JD. And Jack. Ok. It's nice to meet both of you. Do you know what teams we're getting put on yet?
Jackie starts shaking his head almost instantly, "Nah, nah mate. Suppose it can get confusing for an outsider. Jackie is short for Jackson, which is my last name. So I’m Curtis, but called Jackie. Well, I’m expecting to be put on the same crew that I travelled down from Darwin with but I don’t know anything yet."
"You are a man who has sacrificed much for the gains of technology, friend. I hope you do not mind me saying." He then turns towards JD, noticing the rather significant shadow of the recently installed control rig. "And you, as well. While I would not be able to take such measures, I sympathize with your actions. It takes men of great conviction to give a piece of themselves to their chosen task. We are all servants to a greater need, in a way."
Jackie turns around to face the tall Aborigine man with a confused look upon his face, "Don’t know much about any sacrifice or greater need to be honest, you just do what ya can to stay alive, see? Most of them critters out there move so fast you can’t really rely on the old meat and bones. Name’s Jackie by the way, that is some impressive ink work indeed. I’ve had some work done myself but most of it came from a catalog since I’m not on speaking terms with no spirits." After the initial confusion caused by Wide Eyes’ talk of chosen tasks and greater needs Jackie has regained his mental balance and the last remark was delivered with his trademark ugly grin.
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Jackie starts shaking his head almost instantly, "Nah, nah mate. Suppose it can get confusing for an outsider. Jackie is short for Jackson, which is my last name. So I’m Curtis, but called Jackie. Well, I’m expecting to be put on the same crew that I travelled down from Darwin with but I don’t know anything yet."
Jack, Jackie, Jackson, JD, Curtis? Ohhhhh this is gonna be harder than i thought.
Steven just nods like he gets it.
"Yes, very real, and I add to them as the spirits show me more of their ways." Wide Eyes explains, holding out his arms to show off the sleeve tattoos going up and down both of them. His left arm was covered from shoulder to wrist, but the right arm was unfinished, highly detailed on the upper shoulder, but losing color and detail further down, tapering away to nothing past his elbow.
"The name is William, but I am better known as Wide Eyes." He states, moving his head forward and opening his eyes wide to show off the tattoos on his face. "I'm told it's quite fitting."
Wow, so that's what mages look like down here. They told me it was different down here, but...
"You talk to spirits? Or do they just talk to you but not listen when you talk? I have some friends like that. Are you a mage?"
Then, he takes a pause and looks down at his feet, unsure how to phrase the next question. Finally, he just blurts it out.
"Do you want me to call you William or Wide Eyes?"
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Wow, so that's what mages look like down here. They told me it was different down here, but...
"You talk to spirits? Or do they just talk to you but not listen when you talk? I have some friends like that. Are you a mage?"
"The spirits speak to me, and I do my best to listen. It is my duty to serve those that have been so kind as to grant me the powers I possess. I am a mage, yes, and wise in the ways of the mystical world." Wide Eyes commented, smiling slightly at Donger. He was happy to explain his connection to the loa to one willing to listen, and there was something oddly endearing about the man, even though he appeared to be a simpleton.
"Do you want me to call you William or Wide Eyes?"
"Wide Eyes is fine. It is a name I was given by my mentor, and I am honored to go by it."
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Jack sits back and listens to all the jabber. He just shrugs about the old man cracks. It's not the first time it happened in the last four weeks and he doesn't really take any time to acknowledge them. Once he has a chance to break in he offers his hand to Wide Eyes.
Nice to meet you Wide Eyes. Name's JD.
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Jack sits back and listens to all the jabber. He just shrugs about the old man cracks. It's not the first time it happened in the last four weeks and he doesn't really take any time to acknowledge them. Once he has a chance to break in he offers his hand to Wide Eyes.
Nice to meet you Wide Eyes. Name's JD.
"Likewise." He replies, taking the old ork's hand and giving it a firm shake. He had never met an ork as old as this one, and he had seen in his aura that his age was taking a toll on his health. But he was still strong, and his handshake proved it. He gave him another decade, maybe two if he were lucky.
A strange sense of competitiveness came to Wide Eyes then, feeling insecure at how weak his own grip was compared to the ork's. Magic had spoiled him, he rarely needed to use his own hands to fight or survive when he had his Magic Fingers, or the loa to lend him their strength. He was tempted to discreetly add magic to his grip. Wouldn't do to not match an old man's grip.
He discarded the idea. 'There's no need for that kind of display.'
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Snap steps out of the head to see that most of his "graduating class" have split into their own various groups. He guesses that's ok, but really wishes they'd just get on with it and let them all know who'd they be riding with. He has his biases, and a few pairings he hopes aren't made, but all in all, it seems like a good group, and in all honesty he's worked with worse than any of this bunch. Snap pulls his braces up over his shoulders and runs his fingers down the straps to the top of his mechanic's pants. Well, that one over there is awful dressed up, but I'll be damned if he ain't the center of attention like the belle at the ball. Snap looks at the group by the guy in the suit, Donger, he thinks the name was. That one is hard to peg down. One on the hand, it stinks of corp trash from a mile out. It's the way he carries himself, or something. On the other hand, and this is the surprising part, it's not borne of an air of superiority or self-importance. One might say the kid just has a really good idea of how slum it, but if that was the case, no way he'd be here in those threads. Peculiar indeed.
Then there was the guy with the eyes, some sort of voodoo witch doctor or something, and he couldn't be trusted just because of the way that he talked. Most of the people Snap knew who dropped four syllables were not to be trusted. Worst part was, he thought that he might agree with the guy on just about everything. JD, on the other hand, was going to be solid. Kept his nose down. Had age on 'im, which meant experience as far he was concerned. Plus, you can't help but trust a cigar smoker. Snap looked with not a little bit of envy at JD and his parejo, but it didn't do for the first thing to come outta your mouth really be your hand out. Wasn't proper, or right, as far as Snap was concerned, but he thought that group looked as good as any, and it sure beat standing around playing with his bracers like some sort of fraggin' clown.
His steps were surprisingly light for a man of his size, and in the boots he was wearing, and he hoped the general smell of the room would cover up any of his own natural musk. It didn't look like that would be a problem. Snap guessed half the guys here were either squatting like him, or completely out door.
Then, as Snap is making his way over to the group, mentally preparing some way in that won't be a completely awkard, "Hey, I'm the new guy. Mind if I stand over here for awhile?" he makes out some snot-nosed little runt acting a fool to his elders, and that is just not something that Snap can let go, whether he's had words with the guy or not. He stops in front of the speaker, and drops his braces back around his knees. "Just cause he works harder, and he's better lookin' than you doesn't mean you gotta show ever'body that stubby little dick a yers. That man's been working rigs since before you were born, and if you don't look at him and see a shit-ton you outta learn, I have a feeling he'll be at it long after those bones are picked clean, boy. That's just my opinion, but since you felt the need to let ever'body know about yours. . ."
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The guy from behind scoffs at the native trying to tell him what to do, the ork not really caring. His friends seem to have less of a spine as the snickering stops though when the larger man tells them to stop, looks like these humans follow more with dominance than friendliness.
"Alright you fraggin morons, listen up before I kick all ya'll arse up to ya ears." With that, he would name of a couple of names and show them where to line up. You guys would notice that the ork from before would be stationed with his friends, for some odd reason. "Snap, Donger, Wide Eyes, JD and Jackie, get the hell over here fresh meat." He would say, pointing to mechanical bay three. There were still lights coming out of the bay, with what looked like welding going on. When you would walk into the bay, a loud -bing- would permeate through the area. "Alright, give me a fethin' minute." You guys would hear under the vehicle in the bay. Inside you would see a two and a half car garage with a vehicle looking more akin to what the local law enforcement uses in dangerous situations lifted in the air and next to it a conglomerate glob that has several weird shapes not natural.
A dwarf would roll out from underneath the heavy duty combat rig, covered in grease in the places that can be most unpleasant. One of the few places that the grease wasn't around and made the underneath viewable with a name tag denoting him as Joseph. "So, you guys are the one they stuck with Delilah. Well, I almost feel sorry for ya. Might as well give ya the dime tour, so follow me." He would say, his accent giving away he's not from these parts. He would walk to the covered vehicle. "Now, be gentle with how you think she looks, she gets a bit testy." is all he would say as he grabbed the cover and like a curtain unveiled the beast beneath. And what a beast she was. The first thing your eye is drawn to is cattle guarded welded onto the front of vehicle made of three inch steel. Behind that was the body of a Toyota Land Cruiser, which in this day and age is a rare sight as first its a discontinued line by at least fifteen years and the fact that its a product made by the Japanese.
After the initial shock, you would notice the small details, like the towing gear on the back end of the vehicles truck bed, platforms sticking out on the sides and a nice sized machine gun on top of the cab almost looking like its looking straight down at you guys. The paint is a faded dark green with a few spot having it all gone. It looked pretty clean from rust, but the mechanics know some of the hidden places can hold it still. Dents and scratches just seem to add more character to a rig that possible may be as old as some of you. "So... What da ya think of her?" the dwarf maybe named Joseph would ask.
-
JD takes no time for anymore formalities. He already has a hand on her hood. He's leaning down so he is eye level with the top of the hood. He walks along the side his eyes moving up and down taking in every inch of the machine he can. It looks almost like he's trying to know every part of her with just one pass around her.
He says very lightly "Hello there Delilah, Nice to meet ya' ol' gal. You still got a lot of life left in ya.
Once he's back around to the front he lifts the hood, "Lets take a look at what your packin' inside huh. He takes a look at the engine compartment looking for anything that may cause him any concern.
He then leans down to take a look underneath the truck. When he stands he looks at Joseph. "What's she rated to tow? What can the crane on the back lift? And do we have block and tackle for the harder recoveries?"
It might take someone of guard that he went so quickly from admiring the machinery into a barrage of questions to make sure it could do the job.
-
A dwarf would roll out from underneath the heavy duty combat rig, covered in grease in the places that can be most unpleasant. One of the few places that the grease wasn't around and made the underneath viewable with a name tag denoting him as Joseph.
Donger extends his thick and sweaty hand to shake with the greasy and oily hand of the dwarf. Whether or not his handshake is accepted matters not to big lunk. He puts on his best smile and says, "Hi Joseph! I'm Donger."
"So, you guys are the one they stuck with Delilah. Well, I almost feel sorry for ya. Might as well give ya the dime tour, so follow me." He would say, his accent giving away he's not from these parts.
Delilah? We're gonna have a woman on the team? Where has she been all this time? There weren't many women in the class, and I would have remembered one with a name like that. At least, I think I would have...
He would walk to the covered vehicle. "Now, be gentle with how you think she looks, she gets a bit testy." is all he would say as he grabbed the cover and like a curtain unveiled the beast beneath. And what a beast she was. The first thing your eye is drawn to is cattle guarded welded onto the front of vehicle made of three inch steel. Behind that was the body of a Toyota Land Cruiser, which in this day and age is a rare sight as first its a discontinued line by at least fifteen years and the fact that its a product made by the Japanese.
OHHHHHHH! Delilah is our truck! That's funny. I'm gonna use that joke on Erica when she gets back in town.
Donger lets out an audible chuckle, then stops abruptly and looks around in terror at everyone else, hoping they don't think he's laughing at the vehicle. He quickly blurts out, "I like it! I mean, HER! I don't care if she's older than me! My girlfriend is older than me!" He then turns beat red and slams his mouth shut with such force you could hear it back home.
What are you doing? Why did you SAY that? SHUT UP!
After the initial shock, you would notice the small details, like the towing gear on the back end of the vehicles truck bed, platforms sticking out on the sides and a nice sized machine gun on top of the cab almost looking like its looking straight down at you guys. The paint is a faded dark green with a few spot having it all gone. It looked pretty clean from rust, but the mechanics know some of the hidden places can hold it still. Dents and scratches just seem to add more character to a rig that possible may be as old as some of you. "So... What da ya think of her?" the dwarf maybe named Joseph would ask.
At this point, Steven realizes his jaw has been hanging open, looking in wonder at the vintage machine. It really DOES look solid. Would Joseph be offended if we checked his work? He sees the old ork opening up the hood and checking the engine, so figures it can't be TOO much of a social faux pas, so he moves up alongside him to watch and see what's inside, though he doesn't talk or touch anything. He speaks only in the universal mechanic language of nodding, pointing, and "Mmmmm."
-
Jackie was a little bit surprised when he was called to go with the guys he was talking to. Huh, guess them fellas couldn’t swing it to get me on their crew after all. Oh well, these guys seem nice enough I suppose.
"Whoa, she’s almost as ugly as my Suzie. Looks like she has even more of a temper too." Jackie grins at the rest of the crew, "Can’t say I envy those of you that gotta be inside this beast when we get off the asphalt."
-
Snap lets out a very real sigh of relief, walks away from the ork, and joins the rest of his team to check out Delilah. She's solid looking enough, if plenty worn, and he fights the urge to jump up and inspect the LMG. I am the shooter, right? Better wait and see if anyone else wants to jump in first. Don't want to act too presumptuous around his new brothers. He notes how JD jumps right to work, and lets him finish his inspection before speaking.
"Whaddya think? Will she run?"
As for the rest of the team, thank ghost. Not a bit of dead weight between them, as far as he can tell.
-
Wide Eyes let out a low whistle as he admired Delilah, watching the others appreciate the machine from all angles. He stood back and crossed his arms, mentally counting all the possible seats on the vehicle. There was more of them than there was space. Looked like at least two of them would be taking point on motorcycles.
'Good thing I have my own ride." He mused to himself.
-
"She's rated to tow 'bout 30 tons on asphalt, but that don't mean shit out there. If you hold it 'round 15 to 20, you shouldn't have too many issues. Just means you ain't gunna get the big jobs. Past that, you got the basics for anything you may need to do to retrieve the vehicles if need be." The Dwarf would say, almost brushing off the personal questions. The first thing you would notice after opening the hood, which is anchored in the front and lifts from the back, is that the safety feature of it clicking into place on the cattle grid is nice so you don't get anything chopped off. The other thing you noticed is that she has had a heart transplant, the original engine chucked for a newer American Model. It makes sense given the history, but you guys know the truck was built for that type of engine and anything more powerful causes more wear and tear. Tit for tat.
"As you can probably see, you've got a better engine under the hood. The Cattle Gaurd is there to protect the radiator from things you may wish to smash into or gunshots. The slabs on the sides are for the suicidal to put their bikes up in case of mana storm or cause they broke something. She'll fit six uncomfortable, which helps you guys little. Up here is the driver seat." Jeremiah would say, going to the right side of the vehicle to get to the driver's side to open the door. Clearly this vehicle was made for Aussies. "You've got yer manual control when you need to be fully aware and the ability to jack in if need be. Unfertunately, she's not as new as you would wish with the fact that the Jack only works on runnin' the vehicle. Tow Operation and Gun control have to be manual. With the gun control, the gunner or driver just flips this switch." He would do so and a latch would open to cover behind the gun. "And this one.." He would say, reaching out from the seat almost falling. After he hit it, the passenger seat slides back and cranks itself up so the gunner is sitting down while shooting. "We've found that shooters are happier to sit instead of standin' while shootin'. While it can be a little cozy, there are no shocks up there so you feel every bump she feels, so if you stay up there too long she will ride ya rough. As for the gun, its a light machine gun with a decent caliber, very common on this island so ammo is not that hard. The grip holds two sets of buttons. The ones that you grip with yer hands move the turret system that way with full coverage and the ones yer thumb cover are fer shootin'. Both buttons must be pressed to shoot, think of it as a safety feature. There is a manual crank for you to move the turret in case of no electricity in the system, but its purty hard. Left is right and right is left on that system. Now, in case of mana storms make sure the latch is closed and the crew can go behind the passenger seat to wait it out. You don't want to be caught out in the open. The mechanic sits behind the driver, faced the opposite way. He has two ways in, through the side or the back. Its in case he needs to shoot out the back or operate the towing system while still running. Any questions so far?"
-
"Any questions so far?"
Wide Eyes waits a moment, seeing if any of his new teammates had any questions before speaking up himself.
"Yes. When do we start?" He asked.
-
"Any questions so far?"
So far, everything made sense to Steven. He was more worried about whether his new team would pick on his than he was about the truck, but so far everyone had been really nice to him.
Perhaps a bit more loudly than the situation calls for, he says, "No, sir."
"Yes. When do we start?" He asked.
Steven lets out a small chuckle and turns his head to face Wide Eyes with a smile.
-
" Any questions so far?"
JD offers his hand to Jeremiah and nod, "Looks like she'll work just fine. Just want to parrot the others here and ask when we'll be starting work?"
-
Jackie is uncharacteristically silent during the crew’s introduction to Delilah, humming softly as he bounces around that beast of a car. Good lord you are one ugly hunk of metal, I wonder which unfortunate girl you were named after.
Any questions so far?
"Who’s Delilah? And what did she do to the poor bastard that decided the name would fit this girl here?"
-
Jeremiah would chuckle slightly when the question came up. "She's named Delilah due to what she does. 'Round these parts there was a female ork by that name. She was purty for an ork I heard, its before my time. Anyways, she would go through all the men she could get her hands on like they were nothing. Delilah here does the same. Anyways, you leave here in about an hour so get whatever the hell your bringing cause your headin' to...." The dwarf would say, elongating the sentence to go to a clipboard. "Port Augusta, the edge of civilization. Heh, you guys'll have some fun there for sure. Anyways, standard protocol, three weeks on and a week off. What are ye waiting for, get yer stuff and get out of here 'fore the boss thinks your dawdlin' on the first day."
-
Wide Eyes gears up, pulling on his jacket while headed over to his bike. It was an old beater of a growler, sun bleached yellow plastic body casing around a titanium frame that may have been chrome at one point, but had lost all shine from years of abrasive sand and dirt. The tires were new, a stark contrast to the rest of the bike. Wide Eyes always made sure to take proper care of the wheels.
He grabs his crossbow and makes sure the magazine is loaded, noting the hammerheads were in the chamber, and the spares were clipped into the holder under the arms, perpendicular to the length of the weapon. He had some more bolts stashed in his saddlebags, and doublechecks to make sure the rest of his gear is in order, before slinging the crossbow over his back and straddling the seat.
"Shall we go, then?" he asks, pulling on his goggles and helmet and starting up the growler, revving the engine a few times to let the bike live up to the name.
-
PORT AUGUSTA?! NO WAY!!! YAY!!! PORT AUGUSTA! PORT AUGUSTA! WOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!
Steven was ecstatic. He hadn't even dared to hope he'd be assigned to Port Augusta, but now, here he was, an hour from riding out there for three weeks. Port Augusta is where Erica is stationed during her 2 week shifts. She was about to be home from one today, so unless she showed up soon, they wouldn't be seeing each other for two weeks. After that, she'd be back on and they'd be together for another week before he went home by himself for a week. But after THAT, they'd both have two weeks off together! Steven couldn't be happier at his assignment and no matter how hard he tries to hide it, his utter joy shines through his every word and movement.
"I know the way to Port Augusta! Want me to drive or should I ride shotgun? I've got everything I need in a suitcase over there by the door!"
Then, before getting in, he turns to the dwarf and says "Hey, who's in charge here anyway? Like, which one of these guys is my boss, I mean?"
-
Snap was wearing about most of what he owned, but he ducked into the locker room to grab the rest of his belongings and made his way back to the new group. Seeing as no one had grabbed the spot by the LMG, Snap went to do his inspections. Seems she'll do nicely, he thinks and tries out the seat.
When Donger pipes up, Snap looks around as well, curious who he'll be answering to.
-
Jackie gets real excited when he sees Wild Eyes getting his bike ready, "Well hell Eyes, didn’t know you were gonna be an outrider too. You any good on that thing?"
Steven couldn't be happier at his assignment and no matter how hard he tries to hide it, his utter joy shines through his every word and movement.
"I know the way to Port Augusta! Want me to drive or should I ride shotgun? I've got everything I need in a suitcase over there by the door!"
Then, before getting in, he turns to the dwarf and says "Hey, who's in charge here anyway? Like, which one of these guys is my boss, I mean?"
No one should be that excited to go to Port Augusta, poor septic must have heat stroke or something. Jackie then tilts his head slightly while waiting for the dwarfs response to Donger’s question.
-
Jackie gets real excited when he sees Wild Eyes getting his bike ready, "Well hell Eyes, didn’t know you were gonna be an outrider too. You any good on that thing?"
Wide Eyes just smiles at Jackie, revving the bike a few more times before pulling it around to a good position to get riding.
-
"On the road you'll be answering to whoever is driving the rig cause we trust the driver to make more objective decisions. As for who is his boss and ultimately who you guys answer to, that would be the manager of the Port Augusta branch, Lockjaw. I've heard he is an alright guy, just don't stare." With that, Jeremiah would walk off to the other rig, looking like it still needs repairs done to it before it even functions. Getting more situated with the gun, Snap would notice she is currently unloaded, with three ammo boxes on a shelf that runs the circumference of the turrets firing range, each filled with a belt of one hundred normal rounds. They do care somewhat it seems. Knowing your guys assignment and where to go eventually you guys would pile into Delilah or your bikes and start to head out. Before the gates open though, Jeremiah would come running up, almost in a comically way.
"-Huff, Huff- Fraggin boss would of tanned my hide if I let you leave without knowing this. Turn on the CB radio and regular radio. He would say, pointing to the box in the middle console and the box hanging from where the passenger sun visor should be. Once someone turns on, it would show both work almost perfectly. "You'll get your number assigned in Port Augusta to which channel you guys need to be on, but the other reason why is cause of the storms. If one of those goes to static for a while, it will eventually come back. If both of those go out, you usually got 20 to 30 seconds before a mana storm is all over you and trying to kill ya. Good Luck!" He would say, the dwarf getting out of the way as the gate opens up all of the way and you see the storm gate ahead. Its a long trip ahead, might as well find a radio station you guys like as you leave.
-
Before the drive, Steven changes out of his suit and into more suitable traveling clothes; tan cargo pants, rolled up to just below the knees, a white short sleeve shirt, brown hiking boots and white knee socks, helmet and armor vest. In these clothes, Donger looks like the impressive wall of muscle he is, rather than a confused child in dad's suit. This guy could go toe to toe with most orks you've seen and even a couple trolls. Even considering his intimidating physical presence, the sheepish grin on his face keeps him from LOOKING intimidating at all. Once the helmet goes on and you can't see that grin anymore, the giant white boy is a little creepy looking. He keeps the helmet on for the ride to keep the sun and dust out of his eyes, oblivious to who it may bother, unless someone says something. His thoughts have been on one thing since they left.
Mana storms.
Mana storms... Mana storms? Hmmmmmm. If they 'get all over you and try to kill you' as Jeremiah had said, I guess I should find out what they are. It's probably not anything too bad, if Jeremiah was so casual about it.
After about half an hour of pondering, he finally pipes up over the comm on the private group channel so the outriders can hear him too. "So hey guys! I'm not from around here. Uhhhhhh... What's a mana storm? And what do we do if one gets all over us and tries to kill us?" His tone is rather upbeat and matter-of-fact sounding.
-
Wide Eyes just smiles at Jackie, revving the bike a few more times before pulling it around to a good position to get riding.
Jackie just grins back at Wild Eyes, Oh yeah son, I’m gonna need to show you some real moves once we get off the tarmac. He then dons his Survivalist armor with his Snake mesh socks and tricked out helmet before stowing his duffel bag in the car and getting on his bike.
So hey guys! I'm not from around here. Uhhhhhh... What's a mana storm? And what do we do if one gets all over us and tries to kill us?
Jackie laughs out loud before answering, "It’s ugly nasty shit and what you do is grab your balls and pray to any and all gods you can bring to mind that this delightful Delilah is as well built as that dwarf thinks she is. Pissing yourself is an optional extra."
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Knowledge Test on Mana Storms: Intuition 4 + Magic Phenomina 2 (http://orokos.com/roll/219368): 6d6t5 5 (Whoo!)
Wide Eyes gets a distant look as he contemplates the Mana Storms. He then turns to Donger.
"The storms are a great and powerful surge of mana that can tear through the land. Many things can make them, but their power is mysterious and terrifying, even to the spirits. They are among the most dangerous phenomena a man can encounter, in this plane or any other." He then grins.
"But that's what makes it exciting!" He laughs for a moment, almost maniacally, remembering the last time he had ridden through a storm. He had never been so terrified, or so thrilled.
"But not to worry, I know much of the storms, and I will see them more clearly on the Astral, if we do run across one. If we are drawn into a storm and cannot escape, do your best to stay within my line of sight. I can try to protect you from the storm's fury, to a degree."
And on that note, Wide Eyes guns it, driving off towards Port Augusta. He was an outrider, after all. Only made sense that he'd lead the way.
-
And on that note, Wide Eyes guns it, driving off towards Port Augusta. He was an outrider, after all. Only made sense that he'd lead the way.
Jackie is still in stitches from his own humor when Wide Eyes finishes his own short lecture on mana storms and pulls ahead. Fuck! I can’t let the mojo man show me up like that on our first fucking day out. He immediately guns his own bike in an attempt to catch up to Wide Eyes.
-
JD walks over to the edge of the garage and grabs his bags. Ones a duffel with all of his clothes and all the personal gear he owns. The other is his tool bag. He tosses the tool bag in one of the bins for the tools and his gear in with the others. He picks up his Radio Shack RCC and plugs it into his datajack. Now that he has a DNI to the controller he pulls up the maps to the area.
He was glad to be done with the classes. He never was a bookworm. He preferred to be out in the real world putting his hands to use. He couldn't wait to make it back out to the bush and away from the stench of the city.
Delilah fires up before JD even finishes checking that all the gear is secure for the rough roads ahead.
He stands up on the running board of the old gal.
"Guess that means I'm in charge for now." he coughs and grunts, "I ain't never considered myself management of anything. So don't do something stupid and I won't have to give you any adjustments. And don't be afraid to speak up unless we are in a time crunch. I don't know everything and you are probably more of an expert than I am in your job."
JD then throws himself into his seat and slams the door. "Load up, we're outta here."
He gives everyone a chance to get on board then he gives Delilah. "Next stop, Port Augusta."
-
Snap regards the weapon first with an analytical eye and then approaches it in a more personal way. He checks the action, the condition of the springs, and with the breech open, he peers down the barrel to see the rifling. Satisfied, Snap opens each ammo container in turn, inspects the contents and pulls the belt from the nearest box and places it in the feedway. As Delilah lurches forward, Snap tries the action on his seat, pulling up to the turret position and then back down next to JD, a process he repeats until it feels second-nature to him. Yeah, this'll work.
"It's JD, right? Snap says to the driver. "Snap. Far as I'm concerned management don't make a leader, and that goes both ways. You wanna reach out and touch sum'n, you let me know. Otherwise, you let me know if you want eyes or eyes on anything, and I'm on it."
-
JD looks over at Snap with one eye, keeping the other on the road. "Yeah, Snap. It's JD. And I agree with you completely. I'm just here to do a job. I'm not in the mood to be a babysitter. So I am only gonna bark commands if there's a time crunch and we need a decision then and there. Otherwise I'll listen to whoever has the experience with the task so we get it done right the first time. I've been in the field long enough to know I don't know it all. And I'm not some jackass bean-counter that is so worried about numbers that people get hurt in the process."
He nods up to the gun, "So is that contraption gonna work, or do we need to spend some time tweaking it to our needs?"
-
"Chip truth," Snap says. "As for this contraption, I like. Every other rig I've been on, I had ta abandon the turret and scramble around to the cab to get out of a mana storm, losing speed, wondering if I was gonna fall off and get trampled. This will work nicely. I wish there was a little more bang in them ammo boxes though.
"What about old Delilah here? I saw you giving her the once over. She gonna be good ta us? he finishes, keeping his eyes on the road. After all that time in the classroom, it's good to be out again, heading for work, and not just for the paycheck -- though that's certainly a big part. Snap had just felt listless all through the training. He knew it was important and all, but now that he's out, now that's real, now that there's a team that he's going to rely on and one that will need to rely on him. This is what he's been missing.
-
With a quick once over, you can tell that the gun is not as old as Delilah, but its old. Most of everything that could malfunction that wasn't needed was stripped off, giving you a beating stick that shouldn't break unless your stupid with it. As you guys would know, the three hundred with the truck is something that is expected to be in there and that reports had to be filled out after firing to get replacement ammo. You want more than three hundred, you are going to have to pay for it yourself. As you get out of the yard, you all meet up for the last time at the storm gate, an enclosement of steel and plascrete as a way to fend off the bushmen that think raiding larger cities would be fun and somewhat lessen the damage of mana storms. Whether this was a placebo effect or actually helps, you can't tell.
Bout 20 minutes into an hour and a half ride, you know you guys are being watched. They don't try to hide the fact. They don't showcase any outward hostility, but there are men on bikes on either side of the road watching your group. They are too far away to tell exactly any distinguishing features, but you know that there are at least ten, with most of them having a humanoid physique, with a couple looking larger. The roads are strewn about with wrecked cars and relics of the past, the pavement still there enough to allow a smoother ride than off rode, but its still choppy as hell. Then in some parts its just sand and as JD can feel, the tires are not the best for grip. Its not the best situation for a fight right now, as they have you flanked and you need to weave in and out of debris. There is no other traffic right now, as not many people like to head north and you have now about a forty minute drive still ahead with Delilah still going along no problem.
-
JD opens up the comms channel for the entire team, "Looks like we might have some company. Keep your eyes open but your guns down." He lays his head back against the cushioned seat. Or at least what counts for a cushioned seat in Delilah.
"Jacking in, everyone. I'll be monitoring everything from VR."
JD slips into VR and jacks into Delilah. He gets the rush of the engine pumping through his veins. The sand under tires like grit under the souls of his feet. He laughed to himself. Now this was going to make things interesting.
>>>"Everyone give me a quick status check."
-
Jackie is weaving his way effortlessly around the debris on the road, sometimes running ahead of Delilah, other times slowing down to let her pass him by and then taking a circuitous route by the side of the road to get in front of her again.
>>”I’m just cruisin’ JD, these guys don’t seem to have their mind made up yet whether we’re worth hitting. You want me to go take a slightly closer look at the bastards?”
-
Donger doesn't like the looks of this at all. I know bullies when I see them and those are bullies. Yes-siree. He checks to make sure his rifle is loaded, and of course it isn't. Steven hadn't even remembered to put rounds into the clip. He leans down and pulls his suitcase out from under the seat, puts it in his lap and opens it up. After a little rummaging, he locates a small white cardboard box full of rifle rounds and starts hastily loading them into the clip. He's about halfway through when the comm lights up.
>>>"Everyone give me a quick status check."
He shouts into the comm a little louder than is needed, probably due to the nerves. "I'M KINDA SCARED!"
-
"No need to be scared and no need to provoke'em. Just hold the course steady. They are just watching us pass through, They don't fuck with us, an' we don't fuck with'em."
-
>>Hear ya loud and clear. You want me in the cab, or should I pop up? If they're wondering if we're worth hitting or not, seeing the ol' LMG might make 'em feel different on that whole cost benefit analysis.
-
"No need to be scared and no need to provoke'em. Just hold the course steady. They are just watching us pass through, They don't fuck with us, an' we don't fuck with'em."
"Roger that JD, I'll stay close to home. Wide, you think we should take one side each a few meters out to have a bit of a buffer for old Delilah?"
-
Wide Eyes frowns at what he sees, especially the adepts among them, and the sense that they are definitively not friendly to them. How easy it would be to reach out to the loa, maybe show one of those adepts some humility.
"I don't like the look of them, and they're magically active. We might want to seize the initiative, scare them off before they get brave." Wide eyes suggests over the radio, eyeing them suspiciously.
-
JD watches them through the Delilah's sensors. He's seen their kind before.
"Trust me here. They're just a pack of wolves looking for an easy kill. We don't provide a target and they'll let us be. Just hold the line, your triggers and your bladders and we'll just pass on through. The second we clear a weapon, they'll have to prove this is their turf. Just keep moving and give them the respect a coiled viper deserves."
-
Snap thinks that the best way to deal with a coiled viper is to take it out at 100 M, but he also knows that JD didn't get to be his age by being stupid. Fair enough. He relaxes his hold on the LMG and flexes his fingers. >>Alright, JD, I'm with ya. Let me know if it's time to go hot.
-
Listening to the difference of opinion over the comm doesn't fill Donger with confidence. He finishes loading up the rifle, but doesn't point it out the window or anything. He's never had to shoot at anyone before, and he really hopes he gets farther than 20 minutes out of town on the way to his first job before he has to. He stays quiet and still in his seat, watching every feed he can get access to on the inside visor of his helmet.
-
Wide Eyes frowned, but didn't make any overtly hostile actions. There was little need to start a fight if his companions were against it, and if these fools wanted to come after them, he would quickly show them the error of their ways.
-
JD continues to watch their company through Delilah's sensors.
"We're not the cops and we aren't getting paid to take out the trash. No need to put our lives on the line if they don't attack us. Right Chummers?"
-
JD continues to watch their company through Delilah's sensors.
"We're not the cops and we aren't getting paid to take out the trash. No need to put our lives on the line if they don't attack us. Right Chummers?"
>>"Right on JD. I don't feel any particular need to say hi to them fools anyhow."
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As you guys continue down the road, most of your nerves hold true during the stare down, though a couple of your friends have their fingers inching slowly to the trigger on their guns. They eventually disappear as you get closer to a border town. Its not on any map, but it does have a sign that says Pleasanteville, population 97. The road goes under a bridge, with both sides of the bridge covered in a small city, towers on all four corners with a chainlink fence around the perimeter. As you past though, you feel like all eyes are on you with what looks like everyone coming to the overpass to watch you guys past. You get the feeling there are not that many working vehicles that pass through this area and people like to see them go by. On the other side you find a sign, 50 miles to Port Augusta and the road was gone, with only a dirt path and splotchy patches of asphalt left.
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Jackie jovially cries out over the comm.
>>"Hells yeah mates! No more silly asphalt for us. We don't need it nohow anyways, amirite?"
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Donger watches through the windows as the tow-rig rumbles through the tiny little shanty town. He's never seen a place like this before and he doesn't know what to think about it. Only 97 people live here? What do they even do here? It must be a very sad place to live, here on the road all alone. And they must have that fence to keep something out. or someone. As they pass through the little settlement, Steven tries to observe as much as he can about the people here, hoping they're ok, at least.
After about another five minutes of driving, leaving Pleasantville in the dust, Donger still hasn't stopped thinking about those poor people. He speaks loudly over the group channel on his commlink, so the two men on the bikes can hear. "THAT PLACE WAS SAD! HOW DO THEY LIVE OUT THERE LIKE THAT?" The reflective visor on his helmet hiding his sad, worried expression.