[Duck N. Cover]

     Tuskaloosa was grateful that her current partner-in-crime knew his territory well; she probably could have found an alley secure enough to park in on her own, but not as quickly or confidently as he did.
It helped make the time they waited for the second van—and its occupants—to crawl through traffic a little easier to endure.
It didn't stop the troll from being ready to go at a moment's notice or monitor her commlink for further news from Yelena.  Or Arc, for that matter.

She received a message from her fellow vanjacker:

>>Tuskaloosa.  Is Yelena.  Chesh look in van.  Find smuggling bins in floor.  In walls.  Find much things.  Weapons, bullets, other things.  Driver girl look other van.  Might find more.  Yelena van still stuck.  Waiting for traffic move.<<

Her shotgun—Hatter—sat in the passenger's seat, gleefully taking apart a small box he had unearthed from the dashboard.  Based on the warnings on it, she suspected it was the Black Box.  She didn't figure he was going to get much useful data out of it though; if he could get to it, so could whoever the Dragons called mechanic. “Hey...Hatter?  You in contact with Chesh?”

He gave a noncommittal grunt.
...Then paused, and set his work aside slowly.  There was a gleam in his eye when he finally loooked up.  “So, Old Mother Hubbard sent Chesh to the cubbords and the spry gnome found grog.  But if I go back there, will our cubbords be bare?  Will the poor troll get none?”

“That would be the question,” she admitted as he hopped down from his cushony pearch and went into the back. “Although if the guys in charge of this rig were clean freaks and we find nada, this 'poor troll' won't care.  It's not like there's nuyen riding on who stole more, or anything.”

Almost immediately however, he gave a cackle of glee.  “Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating his Christmas pie” his voice filtered back, growing.

She twisted around in her chair, curious to see what he found so fast.

“He put in his thumb,” the gnome teased as he came forward. “and pulled out a--”

A hand suddenly covered most of his torso and as he disengaged from the darkness.


She had the Guardian up to a spot in the darkness where she could hit chest, and was halfway through her trigger when her head finally overrid instinct.  She could only see heat from the Hatter; there was no human-sized heat signature beyond, and although it looked perfectly healthy, the hand had no heat.  The fingers also were lax: the gnome's hold was keeping it from falling off him, not trying to escape.

“Sugartank!  Are you trying to brick me?!” she snapped as she put the gun away amid Hatter's squeals of laughter. “Give me that” she huffed as she relieved him of his prize: a synthetic, modular human-sized left hand.  Male, based on the size, short fingernails and slightly hairy fingers.

“Quite the plum, eh?  What a good boy am I!”

“Only if you're a cannibal, Little Jack Horner.”



Tuskaloosa put up with the myriad of hand puns for the rest of the vigil and the drive to Hatter's shop as penance for overreacting.

[SgtBoomCloud]

Arc realized that her tensions were running a bit high, which may account for the throbbing in her head as she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.  Subaru was gone..but Yelena picked her up.  That's that much more worry that Arc does not have to deal with..and with Tuskaloosa en route, everyone is accounted for.  She listened to Marco... a little flashy on the details but it got the point across.

And by the time he asked Arc to offer pictures, she gave a firm nod, pulling out her commlink.  "I figurin' you ain't finna trusting me to share drek with a link, so take a look here..."  With steady steps, she approached the mage girl, keeping both meat hand and cyberhand visible, commlink in hand.  Pulling up her picture folder containing what she needed, she started to flip through names of import associated with the Stardust:  the pusher Gregor, the manager Hank, the partner NineLives, the dead person of interest Snowden, the leader of the Green Goblins, the mysterious mage lady found there, and anything else she may have missed.

"So, any of these hoops look familiar?"

[Shaman_Yuri]

I remain quiet as Yelena handles the brutes in her own way.  Although I might have been able to deal with them myself, with a stunblast, this certainly is better.

I wonder how many scrapes like this I've been spared my Lexi and her friends?

"I've never been without an escort in my life, Yelena-sensei," I muse into the silence as we start walking again.  "I've never had to give a thought about my personal safety outside the 'trix.  An entire team of muscle has always been no more than fifteen seconds away from a mere thought from me.  Since coming here, I knew I could die.  Given I'm already dead, it never really scared me.  I hadn't really given thought that there were worse things than dying."  I turn my face and look into Yelena's eyes with a tempestuous expression.  My voice rises as I continue more frenzied.  "And I damn well didn't expect to experience it from a damn Christian abomination!  How dare that...that...kafir sacrifice me as fodder to his depraved fiends!" 

Subaru's arms hug herself as she finishes her thought.  The look in the teen's eyes is haunted, as if she's seen or experienced something that makes her never want to sleep again.

Ever.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena listens to Firefly then says, "Yes.  Are worse things than dead.  Yelena know several.  Decker mage could have defeated thugs.  Yelena sensed beginnings of shadow in one.  Wanted spare to know grow in shadow." 

After listening to the rest of what Firefly had to say, Yelena looked around then motioned with her head.  "Firefly look.  Stuffer shack across street.  Yelena want bad soykaf.  Come share.  Firefly talk maybe.  Tell Yelena what happened."

At the young woman's nod, Yelena leads the way across the street and into the small stuffer shack, where they are the only customers.  If the attendant is surprised to see two woman alone in the shop at this time of the morning, he keeps it to himself.  He takes the orders and returns with two steaming cups of surprisingly good soykaf, disappearing back behind his counter after slotting Yelena's credstick for payment.  Yelena looks carefully at Firefly over the brim of her cup and waits for the decker to talk.  Until she does, it is just two women sharing a quiet time.

[ismilealot]

@ Marco & Arc  Dana looks at the picture and points to Hank. "Him. I recognize him. That's Han Kang-Mao, he and Leonard had a bit of a pissing match at a party once. I overheard Leonard tell him, 'I've removed your dogs. Subtlety was never your strong suite. You should be more careful. The Five do not respect or reward incompetence." But, then I got closer and Leonard saw me and stopped talking." She studies the rest of the pictures and says. "Wait. It's a really bad pic but, I think that's Suri Mitsuhama. She's an assistant in my lab." She looks up. "What's she doing?"

@ Yelena & Subaru  A family came in from the cold and crowded around the counter. It was all women, but the resemblance was unmistakable, even if the youngest, a girl in her later teens by the look hadn't laughed and said, "I thought that zombie had you for sure grandma!" The oldest woman laughing and saying, "Yeah, good thing your mama's a good shot. I'm glad we were able to do this again this year." The other woman, now known as mom, laughed. "Yeah mom. But next year you're upgrading your weapon. You're eyesight is clearly going if you couldn't see that zombie Santa in time to shoot him." The women were laughing and ordering and went to sit at the other end of the diner cheerfully talking about their evening.

@ Tusks  Hatter was very thorough, and a damn good lock-pick Tusks had to admit. Every single surface had some method of being opened and contained something. Most of it was ammo & weapons. But, when she heard a low whistle and, "Damn Peter and his pickled peppers. I'll pick this anyday!"

[SgtBoomCloud]

the Five...who the frag is she talking about? But hey, now we are getting somewhere...  Arc seemed to relax a little as Dana give a response, nodding her head in understanding.

"There's someone on the way who's directly met with Hank...er, Han.  She may be able to confirm more, but st least you know we ain't fulla drek now."  with the mage, the mechanic got quiet as she exchanged glances with Marco.  A look in return told her Blake was being notified, which was fine.

"Your assistant huh?   That makes sense...yall know she slings mojo too yeah?  This was taken at a warehouse cooking the drugs for the stardust.  That same drek that causes tech noise and people to start glowing.  Your girl is using that formula for the Stardust...I guess we know why you weren't aware of it now."

She sighed, rubbing her temples as she fought off her headache.  "I shut that place down, but SurI got away.  One of ours got a good look at her, can confirm that soon...when she gets back at least."

[gilga]

"Arc is so brave " thinks Marco. "She can trust the mage even if it is to be alone with her. and Marco? He feels the danger, it fuel him with emotions and keeps him sharp and focused. It was a risk - a to take but looking into her mind and speaking beutiful words in ehr ears - these things reduced the risk.  She appeared to be cooperative but how can one trust someone who can summon Daemons? Someone like  - like Marco?

"Firefly completely ignored the most fundamental physical aspect - her youthful body was as good as new. She could punch me, storm out run and walk as if nothing happend - as if she and the grim ripper did not meet today. Not only did the two meet, oh now - Firefly was inviting him in for coffee - they were probably already discussing the wonders of the afterlife. Do muslims go to heaven? It would be unfair if they didn't - just because they do not accept Christ. The rules sometimes seemed so arbitrary.

She probably was going to haven - then came the Daemon and forced her back into this world - kissing and scratching her numb body. Mocking her - saying you got your health but the heavens? not going to happen not for you. There is no justification of kissing a numb body that cannot respond, of touching it in that sexual manner. Why did a Daemon found it exciting? who knows - forcing people seems unpleasent and unattractive completely odd. Still the outcome was very powerful
she run, punch hate with such a life force such passion that some people never feel. She seemed more alive and more confident than she has ever been. No more misses distant and shy - hello to my new vindictive, magically active and matrix skilled enemy.
Arc seemed terrible - in physical pain and she needed rest. Firefly was completely restored - as if the two weren't in the same car together. The only real damage was her clothes that did not take the accident very well. It got to count for somthing - she was in better shape than myself. Would she really prefer to be one foot in the grave again? At a time when someone armed could open fire at them any moment - a fire elemental could assult them or who knows what evil lurked around the corner. She needed her health."

Marco was quiet he had not much to add - "The passion spell was also top magic - and the mind probe ? if that mage was as brilliant as that Daemon thought- I managed to sneak into her head and learn enough about her personality to not knock her out the moment she woke up. I entered the mind of a professional mage!  I got an impression of her personality that could not be obtained in any other way - the reason I dared to talk to her. These were 3 very good spells - and that summon while holding 2 spells.  I have learned how to overcome my limitations  to milk anything possible from my skills. I am not such a terrible mage.

It is just that Christian priests were not exactly the teachers I needed. That monastery was an emotional dessert  -  The worst place for me to learn magic. I could not have a relationship, no casual lovers, no sex not even poetry into the night. Too much arcane, too little music and too little dancing. This is how I learn magic - it is human connection and emotions. I may have strong Christian roots but I do not practice Christian magic.  These priests were never my teachers. They tried to force me into a magical tradition that was not my own. I am the blind mage but they could not even see what was right in front of their eyes - that my magic was different. I do not need books to study magic, it is integrated so deep into what I am that every single word I speak is magical.

They wasted my time in an emotionally suppressed environment. Full of violence, I cannot see the astral but they could not feel the emotions of others. They could hurt people because they could not feel their pain. As of me? it is a blessing and a curse, what happened with the daemon despite that dry explanation it is a dark point in my soul. I damaged when I wanted to heal - I am a blind mage but not because I cannot look into the astral - but because I am too afraid to actually observe what I really am."

[Shaman_Yuri]

I watch the strange family and their conversation which, taken out of context, sounds terrible.  I've played enough trid games to know they're almost certainly talking about the latest shooter phenomenon.  A decent comm plus a jack or trodes and it's like you're there blasting whatever strikes your fancy.  No muss, no fuss, no questionable ethics.

Life is a lot more messy.

Oh mother, I need you so much right now.

"Do you believe in an afterlife, Yelena-sensei?" I ask softly into the silence, staring into my cup as if the gently swirling brown liquid might hold answers to the unfathomable.

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena mulls the question as she takes another sip of the soykaf.  "Afterlife?  Like after die?  Yes, Yelena believe.  But probably not like Firefly believe.  Yelena believe in shadow.  Everyone see shadow.  Many walk in shadow.  Very few know shadow.  Even less live in true shadow.  Yelena one of few.  Yelena know shadow and live shadow.  Shadow gives strength and warmth and armor.  Shadow save Yelena many times.  But shadow has price.  Someday Yelena die and all that was Yelena goes to shadow to increase power."

"Yelena looks concerned and reaches out to place three fingers gently on Firefly's right hand.  "Yelena not believe in god of good and justice.  How explain evil in world if just god?  How explain Yelena in world?  Yelena kill many innocent people.  Even children.  Yelena angry at humans.  Kill all could find just because human.  Why good god allow?  So no good god.  Shadow find Yelena.  Shadow not good or bad.  Just is shadow.  People good and bad.  But Yelena know others believe in good god.  Is personal.  Yelena not try change people.  Shadow come if person is ready, not before.  But why ask Yelena?"

[Shaman_Yuri]

"I...I dunno."  The swirls in the soykaf continue to fascinate me.  "You sound like my dad, to be honest," I add with a little snort.  "He was pure Shinto, unsullied by Buddhism and Christianity.  He swore he could see kami, and considering the extent of my talent he may well have.  My grandparents on his side never could understand what he saw in my mother and only grudgingly accepted me either.  Damn I miss her."  I somehow manage not to cry at the memory.  My burning rage and indignation at the demon vaporizing the tears before they can fall.  I look up now to meet Yelena's violet eyes.  "Your priest friend is a fool.  I want to hate him for what he did to me back there, but I really do believe him when he says he didn't mean it.  Which makes it even worse.  He's playing with fire...literally...and I got burned.  It knows my name, Yelena-sensei...my scent...my aura.  Someday, some moment when I'm weak, it'll come for me.  It'll take me and dine on my spirit until it eventually breaks me.  What it does with my shell after that, I don't want to imagine.  Whatever might be leftover after that will have no place in Allah's embrace.  That I know."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena looks inside her to see if there is anything left of her parents and finds nothing.  She nods and says, "Not sure who luckier.  Decker mage lost parents to betrayal and murder.  Yelena parents throw Yelena trash.  Only days old.  Priest man save.  Hide Yelena three years.  Men come.  Take Yelena.  Kill priest."

Yelena is surprised at Firefly's next words, not recognizing at first who she is talking about.  "Yelena priest friend?  Who?"  Realization dawns and she asks more sharply.  "Decker mage mean Marco?  Yelena not know what happen.  Tell me."

[Shaman_Yuri]

"I'm not sure what he was thinking, but he sent a daemon to heal me. Islam discourages conjuring because spirits exact a price for their services - whether you know it or not. Your Marco traffics in some nasty types. They exact their price in pain and fear. It..." I search for the right word, "forced...itself on me.  I fought back which it decided was a challenge.  It...tasted...me.  Probed my soul despite my protests.  It means to put me on a plate and play with its food someday.  I know the thing may have saved my life but I'm not sure it was worth it."

[Mercy Merchant]

Yelena is careful to remain outwardly calm, but her already pale face goes white for a few seconds.  Almost the only sign of distress is a momentary increase of pressure on Firefly's hand from the fingers resting on it.  Gathering her thoughts, Yelena says, "Firefly listen Yelena.  Is demon nature hurt for service.  But caster should pay price.  Marco should pay.  Not Firefly.  Show Marco weak and demon strong.  Marco not control.  Is wrong.  But cannot take back.  Is done.  Demon have scent.  Demon know decker mage.  Demon try take soul when die.  Firefly can prevent.  Several ways.  First is be holy.  Much holy and demon cannot have.  Firefly must do good things and leave running.  Forget justice for parents.  Second is be evil.  Much evil and control demon when come for soul.  Third in middle.  Decker mage be ready.  Make strong to send demon away.  Demon feed off fear and anger.  Gives demon strength.  Firefly grow in strength.  In power.  Fight demon.  Show no fear.  No anger.  Much power.  Live life to win.  To grow.  Yelena not help first way.  Not know how to be holy.  Yelena think best way for Firefly is third.  Decker mage not evil.  Yelena know evil.  Know Firefly not evil yet.  But Yelena can help be strong.  Learn fight demon and win."

She pauses before continuing.  Yelena has shadow.  Firefly has Allah.  Maybe Allah need help from shadow.  Decker mage tell Yelena if interested shadow.  Yelena not want Firefly go shadow if not want.  Think on it."

[ismilealot]

@ Marco. >>Copy that Marco. I just wanted to let you know I have woken the powers that be and I'm brokering a deal. I should have an answer and a full protection team in place in thirty minutes to arrange the transfer.<< It's from Blake.

[Shaman_Yuri]

"I said some pretty strong things to the priest back there...stormed out on Arc-sensei.  I...would like to learn more, Yelena-sensei.  I think I need what you have to teach me.  But I'm not sure how interested Arc-sensei is now in having me around.  All they were doing back there was following the plan - it was me who went rogue.  And it will be a long time before I trust that priest any further than I can throw him."  I look down again into my cooling beverage.  "Why...why does life have to be so damned complicated?"