[ismilealot]

@ Masquerade  The children look at each and then burst out laughing again. The smaller looks at the bigger one. "He be crazier than Mere Chip. They be belonging togetha, wiz!" and then he doubles over laughing even harder. The movement puts enough of the momnlight on the side of his head to outline his ear. Elf. Looking at the bigger one, the one who is now obviously Chipmunk, so is he. Chipmunk was laughing at you, Now he sobers up and looking at you he says, "Mere be in her secret place, prolly. She always go 'der when her dad & uncle do bad things ta her. She say der it easy ta hear whispers  dat one day she be stronger than they be, an then they be da ones scared 'n cryin no. One day dey all be scared 'o her.and now he hits the smaller one and says, "Let's see he craze enough ta play hopscotch. the little one grins and then they both turn and run towards the edge of the building and then leap towards the next building. They lead you a merry chase leaping from building to building, grabing drain pipes, swinging off poles, off a fire escape, onto another building. Just how good is your hopscotch?

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc began to slowly ease off after Sarge called off the hunt, breathing a sigh of relief that things didn't get ugly.  Finishing off her beer, she heaved a sigh before getting up.  "Huu...okay, if that business is settled, then, we should really bounce.  Duck, Feathers, let's go.  I'll take you guys wherever you need to go."

Rubbing her implants a bit, she started to walk out of the bar, hopefully with her companions in tow.  She looked around, frowning upon the realization that half their group had left.  Raven's Howler guise wasn't around, and Red and Khali were straight up missing.  They must have left already.  Frag it, they were smart

Taking a glance around, she fired off a quick private message to Duck as she left the front door, glad to be out of the place.

<<Message to: Duckdown
<<Hoi, I know we gots that meet going down with the Ancients tomorrow.  Drek's heavy.  It would be easier if I didn't have to pick you up before, specially if we're getting some last rest beforehand.  Couch is yours if'n you want it, Skraa'Cha.

[Triskavanski]

Masquerade gulps under her mask, snapping a few quick pictures with her comm-link. Soon Arc gets a few text messages <<If you find me dead at the bottom of a building looking something like an egg, it was because of these two. Chipmunk and Elf-person. They know Mere, she's in a hiding place. Apparently father and uncle are angry.  She wants revenge. Avenge me in the game of hopscotch.>>

And with that she takes a breath and attempts to follow them, rushing along and attempting to follow how they do things. She does have moments where she pauses however, taking a moment to memorize the area with her magical memory and walk the paths ahead of her.

[ismilealot]

@ Masquerade  You've got quite a few more bruises than you started the night out with. And the fact that you arrived where Chipmunk and the littler one were standing had as much to do with that almost intangible feeling that you kept having. Like you knew you were heading in the right direction and it made you happy? hungry? you had both feelings at odd moments. And you sometimes felt the need to hurry even more than you already were. But, when you arrive out of breathe to find them standing over a manhole cover Chipmunk and the little one are both wiping vomit from their mouthes. And the smell and the nausea hit you. The feeling is overwhelming, and familiar, as the smell from last night assaults your nose again. Chipmunk tells you. "Mere's secret place be down there. Belike it smell way worse than usual so maybe she don't be there now. That be 10 nuyen fer the info though 'cause even if she don't be there now, she be there sooner or later. This be her secret place. Leastwise it be down through the left tunnel and then through the third opening and then down the drain, but not all the way down it. There be a little ledge that you crawl along till you reach a spot where you kin stand and reach a door. In there be her secret place. It be nice an big an mostly dry once you 'kin reach it. He holds out his hand for the cred. Once again heaving slightly, but determined to collect the fee he just named.

[ismilealot]

The morning sunlight can't be seen under the thick clouds. It's a cold steady rain with more than a hint of chill in it. The leaves skitter across the pavement. Soon it'll be rush hour traffic. No news of more smiley face murders across the trid. That's something at least. The mayor is going to be at the grand opening of a corp. building. Sure, controversy over wages and reports of bribes to build it, but the mayor's going to be glad-handling the CEO for all he's worth. No bets on who lasts longer in their position. Hmmmph, couple of good plays coming up at the Egyptian. Used to be a good venue, not anymore, still it was usually decent even if the tech was a bit glitch and tickets during the week weren't to bad as far as that went. Cage matches, gods could they be anymore commercialized and fake. Used to really mean something to win in one of those. Now it was all just show. The usual drek buzzing across the trid this morning. And the day begins.

[Triskavanski]

She shook her head, "Alright ten nuyen now. Later, on, if she is here, I'll give you an additional hundred nuyen.   She hands them the cash. "Now hurry on and get."

Before sending a message to the reset, she switches over to astral vision to look over the two boys and the enviroment around her.

[ismilealot]

@ Masquerade  Chipmunk quickly takes the proffered cred and he the little are turning to run away when he hears you say you'll give him a hundred more when she's there. He turns back to look at you his jaw dropped open. "Whoah!  A hunnert!" And the two boys look at each other nervously and scamper off. As you switch your vision into the astral Chipmunk and the little one both have that gentle glow you've come to associate with physical adepts. But the sewer is quite another story. The traces of magic around it drip slowly in your minds eye, one fat drop of blood after another. And as you deliberately open yourself up fully to that part of yourself, the stench is completely overwhelming. You fall to your knees heaving.

[Triskavanski]

Coughing, and backing away from the spot now, Masquerade quickly turns off astral vision and attempts to hold off the effects of the nausea over taking her. Note to self, get a proper breather thing.


Once she regains herself, she fires off the first messages to Arc again.

<< Found her. At least one of the places she hides. Needs cleaner and airmasks. The place smells worse than ten Ducks. >>

[Csjarrat]

Feathers awakes as the alarm on his commlink blares out at an ungodly hour, pitch black apart from the ghostly white light shining out from the commlink screen.
A fire truck or ambulance races down the street outside, its roaring engine and sirens reverberating off the tall buildings and further rousing him from his short and interrupted sleep.
Images of a dream barely remembered cloud his mind as he shuffles down the cold hallway, through the dimly kitchen and into the bathroom.
He tentatively turned on the shower, expecting an ice bath, and got himself ready for the early meet for the astral reconnaissance.
Donning his tired looking rapid transit coveralls he grimaced as his old knees creaked and groaned in protest at taking his weight.
Everything ached after even the best night's sleep in this place, though it wasn't saying much.
Knowing the company he was about to keep, he clipped his pistol into it's concealable holster and popped the spare clips in the inside pocket of his jacket before popping a woolly hat on against the cold of the morning air.
Grabbing a breakfast bar out of the cupboard, he made a quick brew in his thermos flask, glad that it was he who finally got to use the last of the soy-milk and chuckled to himself at the impending disappointment of his co-tenants.
Waving at the night porter, he headed out into the cold morning air, his breath hanging in clouds like some ancient coal powered train from the textbooks he read as a kid.
Sure as hell hope this goes well

[Mercy Merchant]

6AM…..6AM…..6AM  The clock feature of the internal commlink sent pulses through Yelena’s body, waking her up.  She mentally hovered over the snooze button, but remembered that she had something to do today and rolled to a sitting position.  She looked around the smallish flat that had been her home port for the past couple of months.  The sound of heavy rain outside caused her to grimace. *So much for plan A*  She stretched and got out of bed, padded naked to the window and looked out on her part of the greater Seattle sprawl.  She dialed in the local news and weather as she noticed how heavy and low the clouds were.  The weather report was not promising, informing her that it was likely to be raining all day and perhaps into the night.

Then the sports guy came on.  She listened because she had put some nuyen down on a team she knew almost nothing about to win a game in a sport she knew even less about.  She grimaced again as she learned that her bookie, Herbie, would be smiling when he next saw her.  *It is fortunate that I did not bet everything on that sure thing.  Why can’t I stop doing this to myself?*  Not for the first time she added up some of the bets she had lost over the years and mentally spent the small fortune on being happy.  Then she remembered that her version of being happy included way too much sex, vodka, and gambling.  She sighed and went to the shower.  At least the flat had a shower, even if she only got ten minutes of hot water a day……..sometimes.

As she was towling off, she sent a message off to her Ancients contact.  <Blindside.  Wanderer.  Rain washes out original plan for overwatch so I need the backup. That small shelter next to the meet tent will do nicely, just as we discussed.  I will be on site early.  I have the tag to park my rig and the other to show I have the spot rented.  Comm me if anything changes.>  She dressed for the chill weather, glad that she did not need to make a show of wearing anything special.  It was always helpful that most people forgot what she looked like the moment she left as that meant she did not need to dress to impress.  That they remembered her mission successes was enough.  She picked up her weapons case and took it to the bed.  She sat on the bed and broke down and put back together her weapons, her babies.  She lovingly checked all the parts and oiled them lightly before setting them aside then unloaded and reloaded each magazine.  She loved the way each bullet felt as she fed them into the clips and stored them in the case.  Ares makes the only weapons worth owning.  Reminds me, I need to go online tomorrow to check out that new pistol they are hyping.*

She put the pieces of the rifle back in the case and secured it.  The pistols were left on the bed to be put in the holsters when she was done.  She picked up the other case on the floor and opened it.  The sax was there.  His sax.  Her sax.  She ran her fingers along it, almost like a woman stroking her lover’s body, then picked it up.  She ran through a short set then regretfully put it back in the case.  *At least plan B lets me play it today.*

After finishing getting dressed, Yelena will holster the pistols and pick up the two cases, carrying them outside and loading them into the cargo boxes of her ride.  She climbed onto the large hog and left for The Market.  She still had to use Gridguide, but she was getting more used to the streets now.  She parked in the protected zone outside of the Market area, making sure to prominently display the tag indicating she was allowed to park there.  She took her cases from the boxes and went in to locate her assigned shelter. 

The Keeb at the gate gave her a small map after checking her ID and access badge.  She strolled to the site, stopping on the way to get a bite to eat from one of the food vendors already set up.  Locating her shelter she stood and surveyed her location, looking for the best routes to leave, the best lanes of fire if something went wrong, and the nearest bathroom.  She pulled up the stool provided with the shelter and took her sax from its case.  She left the case open in front of her just in case someone wanted to toss some spare change her way and began playing.  Her soul played.  He played.  Jazz.  There is nothing like it in the world of music.  The meet was going down at noon so she had a few hours to wait and play.  She stuck mainly to soft jazz but would go heavier if someone requested a tune during the morning.  She was good and she knew it and she played from the heart, not really caring if anyone put money in the case.  It was enough to play, to share her jazz with others.

[SgtBoomCloud]

[Arc's Garage/Home, the Barrens, Seattle, c.a. 9:00 AM]

For the first morning in a long time, Arc did not awake from her slumber with a start, but with a groan, not wanting to greet the day.  Wriggling free of her bedsheets, she rolled over and off the bed, landing with a firm thud on the floor.  Groaning, she clicked on her eyes, her world coming into focus as she stood, rubbing her now sore hip.as she collected herself, she thought over her plan today..

Hookay, so I gotta take Duck to the meet up with Blindside by noon...if he still wants me along, who knows what he thinks after that stunt with the Howlers, heh...then I gotta touch base with Hrock and get those sensors built...drag, I might actually need to pop a Long Haul...great...hm?

As she dressed, opting for a comfortable pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt over her best, weapon holsters slipping under her arm and at the small of her back, she noticed her commlink blinking, indicating messages.  Pulling then up, she recognized both of them as from Raven.  Smirking at the contents, she fired off a couple of her own

<<Message to: Raven
<<I'll assume you didn't die of hopscotch then.  Drag, smell is that bad then?  Sight, I'll get some surveillancey Frei in that spot too.  Thanks for the Intel, omae.

<<Message to: Feathers
<<Hoi, I just heard from Raven.  We got a fix on where Smiley's leash ends up.  Gonna put an eye on it when can.  Here.
<<Attached: Arc-Raven.aro

Satisfied, she slapped on her goggles and left the room, trying to remember if Duck crashed here or not.  Either way, she wasn't about to dawdle, and upon finding the skinny ork the short human would lead the way back to her car, and departed straight for the Market.  Along the way, she was sure to relate everything she learned from Raven, keeping an eye out and grabbing a quick bite for the both of them on the way.

[ismilealot]

@ Feathers  The bus is less than half-full this early. With people who are quiet as they're sipping at thermos's trying to wake up. Or half-dozing trying to get a little more sleep. It starts raining as you're riding. And it'll be another three blocks walk to The Skeleton after you get off. Great. Well, someone left a flimsy on the seat just a couple of seats down. It's better than nothing. Holding it over your head and hurrying you're glad of the heaviness of the coverall. The material was meant to shrug off some of this. Not enough of this, and your lower half is almost soaked by the time you get to the bar. Almost 6am and things are starting to quiet down. Bands long been gone and the music is off the trid, not that anyone's paying any more attention. Merlin spots you almost as soon as you come through the door and he walks past Mermaid and punches her in the arm, nodding towards the door as he continues walking towards it. She snarls at him, and then spots you and looking a little less surly gets one last kiss in before she gets up. A troll spots them and hurries over. "I be coming too." He says almost challengingly. Merlin just shrugs. Whne he gets to you he says, "We got us a room upstairs prof." And turning leads the way. It's small, but it's surprisingly clean. Merlin points to the single twin mattress covered by a sheet and a thin wool blanket. "That be fo' you. You be damn old squish so you gets the bed." He tells you, but he's grinning at you in what you can tell is a friendly manner having known enough orcs to not be thrown off by the almost feral appearance of their faces when they grin. Then they settle themselves on the floor. And in a moment their bodies are slack, as their souls enters the realm of the astral. Their young bodies healthy, their souls show the marks of their hard lives. Mermaid shines the brightest, but it's a hard glow. Merlin's face in the astral shows the wonder of a seeker. And the troll, you didn't catch his name, but in the astral his soul is that of a knight, armed and armored. He turns and looks at you all. "As long as I stand. Nothing shall harm you." Merlin gives him a friendly cuff on the arm and then turns to you. "Lead the way prof."

[ismilealot]

@ Yelena  The sax never did like the cold, and it's a little sharp at first in the higher register. But soon your breathe has it warmed properly up and your notes float out over the market. This early the noise is mostly from engines pulling in with their contents and the occasional shouts about supplies. You're the only one playing as far as you can hear. But you knew that. Blindside already told you the other street musicians came later, when there were more customers than merchants and more money potentially to be made. And especially on a cold wet day there won't be much cred to be made. But, a few of the merchants appreciate the music and how desperate you must be if you're out here even on a day like today and a little cred does make it into your case. About half-way through the morning a tall good-looking human stops across the road to watch you play. Slowly sipping his kaf and smiling slightly in appreciation. Once you finish that piece he strolls over and says. "You know you're really good, to good to be in this." he says waving his arm around to encompass the Market. "I have a friend who owns a club. Not jazz, but enough of a variety that it can be added, and probably chances to play with a band once or twice a week or open up for a band. Why don't you come have some 'kaf with me and we can discuss it. No way you're making much money today anyway. You might as well roll it up for a few hours and come enjoy a few drinks in a warm bar with me." He looks you straight in the eyes and smiles at you warmly.

@ Arc  You hear the buzz that indicates someone at the garage door. When you check the feed it's one of the Howlers with a package. Opening the door to let him in you see that the rain is beating steadily outside.  And it's cold enough to make his breath into a cloud of fog outside on the step. Coming in he's grinning. He hands you a package. "We got 9 of them, 6 are almost full sets. Damn KE's way to damn slow ta be playin' hopscotch wid Howlers!" he says pridefully and then throws his head back to let out a howl."Don't let none 'o that be going ta' waste. Sloop's doing a night 'fa them parts." he says grinning and slapping you on the shoulder. Turning he says, "I got ta bounce. Lupo say he 'spect they be up an in they place by tonight." and strolls out the door. When you examine the parts they are mostly intact. & 7 of them have a decent amount of wire with them that's been cut. The last 2 have the wiring ripped right at their entry points and it'll be some work to replace them. You'll probably need to replace their connection points as well considering how they were removed. And since they were hard-wired in they'll be need to be reconfiged for a button rig and transmitter and placed into a bigger box.
You're almost done examining them when you com buzzes with a message from Hrock. >>Hoi Cricket. I got you 17 full sets. I was able to get a deal on the boxes as well. Since you said you only needed them for a week I subbed in more used parts and got the cost down some more.  It'll be $137 altogether. I'll stop by the shop in about an hour or two to drop 'em off.<<  

[Csjarrat]

Feathers returned the grin, dreading to imagine the sights this mattress had seen in its (assumed) miserable life.
too bloody right, and too old for this shit too.
His knees creaked as he lowered his cold wet body onto the lumpy mattress before stepping sideways into the astral plane.
The background hue was awash with emotion; elation mixed with sorrow, loneliness contrasted with togetherness. It was odd, a mix he didn't expect to feel (not that he projected into shitty dive bars very often, mind).
Look, before we go, we need to be clear yeah? No heroics. This is strictly a scouting run. We stick together and scarper at the first sign of trouble. The thing we're up against is incredibly powerful, incredibly dangerous and even together, we're probably not strong enough to take it down. If no-one does anything rash or stupid, we'll get the info we need and go home in one piece. Sound good?
Feathers took the lead, gliding gracefully up into the sky to get his bearings before taking a long arcing parabola out towards the entrance he scouted with Nbungu

[ismilealot]

@ Feathers  The trip has the wonder and beauty of the astral. And a little of it's dangers as well. True to his word the troll dispatches the few threats quickly. His mana bolts projecting as glowing golden swords. It's not long before you find yourself above the sewer you entered with Nbungu. But it's not there now. Hmmm, entering and exploring a bit it's not long before you catch the stench, faint, but there. As you follow it, it grows stronger, until it's presence is strong enough to leave more tangible evidence in the astral. Blood, flowing on the walls and in the sewer pipes. Flowing towards where the stench is stronger. And it's so strong now it's causing you to heave. Vomiting impossible in the astral, the reaction is still the same. You know the 'blood' isn't real. It's a manifestation of the beasts tether on it's next victims, as well as it's energies. But, the smell is as real as anything you've ever experienced in your meat body. And it seems to be enough for Mermaid as she turns, her spirit looking green, and slightly fearful. As the strongest mage of the three it's not surprising it's affecting her the most.
     She speaks up, "This is far enough. If we go any closer we'll wake it, and it'll know we're after it. We've gone far enough to know it's here. And all the blood is proof enough. Let's get out of here now. While we still can. No heroics remember. All we need is proof." She says nervously to all of you.
     The troll looks at her, "Is it proof enough for Lupo?" he asks steadily.
     Merlin speaks up, "Lupo's relying on us to say. And whatever this is, I don't doubt that it's evil and that it kills. Do you Lance?" he says looking at the troll who does not hesitate to answer.
     "No, whatever this is, blood mage or not. It is evil, and it's threat must be ended." the troll, who you now know as Lance, answers.
     You feel it stir, even through the walls, and know that as walls are no deterrent for your spirits, neither are they deterrents for this creature. And it is waking.