[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena pulls up to where Arc is standing and parks the bike.  Going to her friend, she looks her over and then goes to Firefly.  She shakes her head.  "Medkits already used.  Maybe Marco can mojo some health?"  She looks over at Arc.  "Yelena expect long story later.  Need get inside.  Others looking for mage woman cat.  Choppers have place?"

[gilga]

Marco recieved no replay and was about to channel his mojo when he noticed that Firefly breathes. Careful observation showed signs of medkit and she appeared to be stable . "Lucky I did not heal her right now with all these spells focusing on my concentration". Allowing his mind to relax Marco overhears the conversation between Tuska and Arc.

Tuskaloosa turned to the chopper's front man. "Would a couple of your crew be willing to give me a hand with the wireless lockouts and tracking locators, or would that cost extra?"
Arc gave her a look.  "you've got a plan?"
"If walk up, forge drive rights, drive away one and order the other to follow me is a plan..."
"Wait, two cars now?  What happened to one?"
"They can't pursue with the other one if they don't have it,  right?  Besides",  she added, quietly serious, "I'm feeling greedy right about now."

He asked "Are you talking about stealing another car? Time is of the essence because I am supporting a lot of mojo and cannot properly heal Firefly like this. I can probobly still provide a bit of invisibility, or perhaps an illusion that the car is still there. Tough firefly is in such a bed shape that I wont even try ro heal her until I can drop my spells and completely focus on the task. There are no second chances - so she is best served if I can give her my full attention. "

Marco finds the idea fo stealing cars while Arc and Firefly are wounded a bit awkward but he already sees Tuska is a fearless shadowrunner, keeping her cool and speaking of profit at a time like that seems to make sense to her first impression. As for himself, Marco feels as if he needs all his composure to just keep it together. Things seem to be bad and have the potential to become a lot worse and Marco just wants to get it over with.

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc blinks a few times as everything goes down, the appearance of Alyce with the beds and the arrival of the rest of their team happening quickly for her.  She gave a thankful nod to the halfer,  placing the med kit in the mentioned slot as Tuakaloosa spoke.

But before thst, Marco and Yelena start talking.  She shakes her head a bit at the man's lamentations, and then nods at the other'a reminder of urgency.  "Yeah.  She is stable, Marco, null sweat there.  We need to get that piece outta her though, was hoping your mojo  was good for that.  These guys agreed to hole us up in safety in exchange for my car..and one of the Dragons' cars too, apparently"

She shot Tuska a look, a slight grin flitting on her features.  "Agree though, whatever we gonna do we gotta do fast.  And if we are stealin both, then it looks like I'm going with ya...nnnh, frag it all..."  Arc interrupted herself as she tried to move too quickly, a hand shooting to her side where a rib cracked, the girl coughing and spitting out some blood to the side.  She looked like hell.

"Either way, we got what we need.  I'll send for the exchange coords,  and we can make the switch when ready.  Less people with me on the switch the better, ya feel me?" trying to keep her focus, the mechanic pulled up her messenger and starting composing.

<<@NineLives: I have an order for a cheese pizza with extra sauce, hold the mayo.  Where you want it?>>

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena may not speak English very well, but she understands it just fine.  She looks back and forth between Tuskaloosa and Arc then says, "Need new car.  Maybe choppers change from Dragon to Arc?  Srui not going.  Dragon cars probably rigger control."  She glances to Firefly then adds. "Decker girl out.  Need direct jack for cars.  What want Yelena do?"

[gilga]

So it appears as if my brave comrads have decided to practice a grand theft auto.  However, after I pulled the orgy stunt on the triads - I honestly just want to find some rock and crawl under it until I cool off.  After all, they were not far from getting us killed.  If we are going to do so... we need some mojo on our side but I am booked with sustaining spells and Firefly is well - *half dead* I need some daemonic help to pull that off.

It only take a certain moment for my desires to search the astral or the underworld and find me a willing (but grumpy) daemonic servent. I could never explain why I have this kind of influence over daemons - but I have it even without understanding it.

Marco is sustaining 2 spells so he is at -4 to all operations:
Summon Spirit of man (6): 8d6t5 5
spirit defense: 6d6t5 1
Drain: 11d6t5 4
4 services gained.


"First service my red friend is to heal Firefly" I tell the daemon and watch as it perform its work. When I made that order I put great intention to it and I can feel that my own essence is blended with that of the daemon as he efficiently but not very astetically returns colors to the mage.

Marco channels his own edge into the healing process... to reroll faliures
Heal Spell: 16d6t5 4
Heal Spell reroll: 12d6t5 3

[ismilealot]

Alyce looks to your contact who dances gleefully at Arc's question. "Pea's porridge hot. Pea's porridge cold. Chesh fuck's the locks and we get the gold." He looks over at a third member of the crew who suddenly looks frightened. "Damn you Hatter, They better be good fer the front men on this or they ain't enough gold in all Dunklezahn's 'orde fer ter make up few what the Dragon's 'ill do ter us iffen they get word we 'ad any part in this." she pauses and the wire's all over her head that have replaced her hair shift and a hard look comes over her face, "Still, we owe 'em fer Mouse an it's 'igh time they started payin'. Yer know I'm in."

The daemon shifts over Firefly's form and the claws on it's fingers and toes elongate. It lightly grazes them over her skin and suddenly Firefly watches a shiver run through her body. Again the daemons claws caress her, this time more deeply and an edge of pain joins the others along her ribs.The deamon rakes her with his claws and the red tracings of pure fire blossom in the path of his claws. The mana flowing along the planes of her pain. Her body jerks suddenly alive with pain the momentary respite it had gained from the medkit and the bed gone, to be replaced by pure agony. She watches from the astral and opens her mouth to scream in rage, and the daemon's mouth covers her own, it's tongue sliding past hers and down her throat in an obscene abomination of a kiss. Her flaccid body is helpless, unable even to jerk away or, struggle, and the daemon spasms with joy at her pain. She can see it entering her through every burning nerve ending and her body involuntarily spasms against it. And it rejoices at her struggles, it's hands coming around her ribs to pull her even harder against it as it impales her through every fiery tracing and the sensation rockets through her body. Subaru watches it's ecstasy at her agony, a living thing. The daemon's teeth begin tasting and biting tender flesh as it seeks to rack her body, gleefully gorging itself on her suffering. It launches the car door spinning away from her body. It's metal presence is clearly interfering with it's feeding. Flesh knits back together it clearly wants her alive so that it can continue to inflict it's own agony on her body.

[ismilealot]

@ Arc  >>Pizza can be delivered to the warehouse on two blocks away on the Sidhe side. I've got a few guys I owe a good meal to.<< NineLives responds.

[Shaman_Yuri]

I'd slipped out of my body into astral space to get a look at the dwarves.  I'd had a hunch, since proven wrong, that they might be magical in nature.  Nope, they were mundane as Arc, including the occasional cyber enhancement.  Once out, I'd realized it was kinda nice to not feel the pain of my near mortal injuries.  Looking at my body and the bare embers of life emanating from it, I could fully grasp just how tenuous was my hold on this plane.  Still, there was nothing I could do about it right now and I may as well skip what I could.

Existing entirely on the astral plane, I had no idea what was being said.  I watched the troll shake hands with the first dwarf, which must be a good sign, right?  After that, a swarm of dwarves got to work and the shadow of the Americar vanished before my eyes.  I floated along with everyone, keeping an eye on things as we made our way to a hideout.  Again, little for me to do since my body was a) being treated well and b) still had part of a door in it.

Then I caught sight of Marco's aura side by side with Yelena and holding a cat which, from my astral standpoint, clearly was NOT just your normal housecat.

So they were successful.  At least we accomplished the mission, whatever else might come of this.

Then, just as I started to relax, things went from improving to weird to...

...to...

...to...

No!!!

I'll let others react to my body before I continue.  No one, not even Marco, can see why my body is reacting the way it is.  Before Marco can stop the daemon, though, I will do something first...

[SgtBoomCloud]

As the car was cut up and they were being led away, Arc refused to take a seat on the bed, still obviously in discomfort from her injuries as she elected to walk through it.  I got us into this mess, I don't deserve no fraggin' special treatment, she thought to herself as Yelena told her she was in no state to help.  Pouting, she was about to retort when the halfers gave their approval to help with the retrieval.  Short of a white rabbit, the gang seemed to have their names all together as the human coughed again, trying to keep up as they talked about the plan.

"Nnh...fine, but I'm sitting out under protest.  Work with these peeps, they know what they do, do what you do.  Tuska, think you can take a car on remote operation...maybe show Yelena how to work it if she can't be there physically...meanwhile, if you ain't letting me along, I'll at least do something.."  As if on queue, the reply from Ninelives came in, giving her a location. 

"Okay, so there's my plan.  I'll need to be present to give our mark to our peeps, at the very least.  Marco, if you're gonna do something clever to squeeze some drek outta her, do it now, because we're on the clock.  Huu....the less people with me when I make the drop, the better actually..."

If there was any more the human was going to say, it was interrupted by the sound of metal shooting past them and clattering on the ground, turning their attention to the convulsing Firefly on the gurney, her chest now showing a not bleeding but VERY open wound on the right side of her chest.  Arc's eyes went wide at this as she lurched forward, immediately regretting the decision as she doubled over, feeling a hand pull her back to her feet.

"What the frag...no way, no way in drek I'm losing her, let me go!"

[gilga]

I feel ashamed seeing what the Daemon is doing to Firefly, it is nonsense and I know it.That spell is about the soul of a person - it does nothing to nonliving organic tissues. If I can cast it by placing a hand over someone then so can the Daemon... I think - he should be more intelligent than me and more knowledgeable in the field of magic. On the other hand... what the daemon is doing seems to be working.
...

I should have asked for her permission... Perhaps she could forgive my own healing. My healing only require a gentle stroke and the emotion of love. However, such an intrusive technique that has a strong motive of physical abuse? I should not have inflicted it upon her with so little consideration. I wronged her terribly - I understand it by now. 

It may be too late to stop - It only takes a mental order but if the Daemon stops now no amount of magic or mundane healing can ever heal these wounds. She might need this health as we are not safe yet. I feel lost and I reach toward the only thing that gives me refuge from my evil magic. I am a creature of words - I should talk more. I should have asked for her permission before, but I have never actually seen the Daemon heals. If I am on site I usually do so myself.

It only take a look, to reach out to Firefly where ever she is.  I’d dare not touch her. Not now after what I have done - but a look is enough for the mindlink spell. If Firefly even agrees to talk to me. I think at her, hoping desperately for a reply, feeling desperate and ashamed and lost. Perhaps I am nothing but a tool of evil even with the purest of intentions.

“Firefly... can you hear me? It is me Marco - that terrible rite is the beast's way of healing. I am the only one to blame for this and I can make him stop in a heartbeat but I am not sure what to do... If I stop the beast then it is impossible to heal you. You seem to be in very bad shape...“


drain: 11d6t5 4
Mindlink: 8d6t5 4

[Shaman_Yuri]

"Get away from me, creature of Hell!" I scream from the depths of my soul and let loose all I have to get the foul creature's attention.

Force 5 Stunbolt: 11d6t5: 3 [11d6t5=4, 2, 1, 1, 6, 5, 1, 5, 4, 3, 4]
Resist Drain from Force 5 Stunbolt (F-3): 12d6t5: 6 [12d6t5=6, 3, 2, 6, 5, 1, 6, 2, 1, 2, 6, 6]

Astral combat is not my strength.  My teachers had just begun to broach the subject with me when...things went bad.  Not that it matters.  I'd rather die than permit myself to be touched by that...thing!

As I watch the creature react to my initial assault, I feel the other mage reach out to my mind.  “Firefly... can you hear me? It is me Marco - that terrible rite is the beast's way of healing. I am the only one to blame for this and I can make him stop in a heartbeat but I am not sure what to do... If I stop the beast then it is impossible to heal you. You seem to be in very bad shape..."

"Don't you dare deny me my revenge, you bastard!" I snarl back with feral passion.  "My eternal soul is at stake!  I will banish this monster myself or die trying!"

[gilga]

"Don't you dare deny me my revenge, you bastard!" I snarl back with feral passion.  "My eternal soul is at stake!  I will banish this monster myself or die trying!"

My head is spinning from all the spell and from FireFly is talking about fighting a Daemon? If I myself had to fight one of these beasts I'd use a beast of my own. At her state the Daemon can just demolish her.

I cannot sense Firefly's spells - not initially, only in directly through the Daemon. For a moment, I fear that he'll just kill her but then I remember how summoning work. He has to finish his service, even at the cost of personal safety. He cannot die on this place no matter what Firefly does.
"FINISH YOUR SERVICE! If you are smart you will keep physical tough to the minimum necessary."

I use all my common sense including the stuff I learned from the digital grimoire and try to talk some sense into Firefly. I address her logic "Daemon from hell?! He is an astral form, native to the astral world. Not to Jahanam or any other relligeous concept.

Spirits appear in many shapes and forms. These are more related to their summoner values and perception of reality. Their true form is an astral form they are not physical creatures. They are intelligent creatures that are somehow connected to humanity.

This particular creature is completely powerless to protect himself from your crusade, he is bound by magic to heal you. You are abusing an innocent. If anyone is to burn for your ethernal soul strike me. I am the one who summoned him, and I am the one treated as a Daemon and an abomination all my life. Atleast, give him the benefit of a doubt that it is my mind who shaped his physical form."

Well these thoughts were Gabriel, the least superstitious of the priests that tried to train me and I must beleive him. Afterall, if I really summon daemons from hell - On a whim, without an effort.  What exactly am I? Am I really flesh and blood keeb? or something else entirely... could I be a master Daemon?

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena steps forward as Arc stumbles, catching her friend and helping her back to her seat.  "Srui hurt.  Stay chair.  Yelena go."  She turns back to the girl and walks toward her.  "Marco, what happening?  Mojo saving or killing decker girl?"

After hearing that the girl is fighting against the demon trying to heal her, Yelena bends over to hold the young woman in place and whispers softly in her ear.  "Decker girl.  Yelena not know if hear.  Try listen Yelena.  Think of Allah.  Would God let loyal servant die from monster?  Try not fight it.  Pain only worse if fight.  Reach out to shadow to help.  Shadow will protect and guide you.  Decker girl need is great.  Just ask and be willing believe." 

She lifts her head a couple of inches and looks into the woman/s eyes, willing her shadow to surround her young friend and cloak her pain from her.  Without turning her head, she talks to Marco, saying, "What Marco doing?  Is fragging way heal someone.  Can make demon be gentle?  Trauma seems worse than cure."

[ismilealot]

The manabolt sends the daemon spinning away for a moment. But it launches itself back at her. It's claws going deep into her  And Marco hears, You are to weak, you have always been weak. You can never embrace everything that I am and yet you seek to command me?. Pain proves she lives and gives her the strength to fight for her own healing. You doubt, but only because you are to weak to fully embrace everything that it means to live.

[Shaman_Yuri]

When I had launched my bolt of pure mana I had expected just about anything...

...except to be totally ignored.  How dare...

Until now I had been pure.  Despite all that had happened in my life...all the temptations of youth and now the tribulations of being an orphan had never defiled me.  But now, to find myself made impure by such a creature.  To just stand and simply watch such a thing happen? 

Never!

"Get away from me, damn you!" I cry as I launch myself at the thing which touches my body with such terrible intimacy.  "In Allah's name I command thee to LEAVE...ME...BE!"

Logic no longer plays a part in my actions.  Reason is a distant memory.  Forgotten is the knowledge I could attempt to banish the creature.  Instead I launch myself at it with my bare astral hands...

I'm not even going to bother to roll.  My astral combat is 1 and I have no edge to use.  This is all RP at this point.  I'm totally at the deamon's...and therefore Smile's...mercy. 

Or lack thereof...