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[5e IC] Circles of Power [2076 Game Thread]

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ScytheKnight

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« Reply #645 on: <07-26-15/0922:33> »
Nitro had spent his time organizing his thoughts and plans, his sensors feeding him the rather fascinating conversation going on. His decisions made and the family dropped off he needed to make the trip into the Underworld. He didn't know too much about it, but he knew a little, he decided taking a little extra firepower might be worth the risks. All this takes only seconds to sort through before he disengages from his motorized body...

... and takes a breast, riding the slow-wave of his brain processing information at a more normal speed, his cybernetically enhanced eyes and ears feeding him data much like the sensors of his car or drones would rather than the natural organic originals.He sends a command to open the boot before unplugging himself, the cable retracting with a faint whirr while he works the buckles of the racing harness.

Opening the door he step out as a loud whirring sound comes from the back of the car, one of the Bumblebee's carefully lifting off from the storage. He closes the door before walking around to the boot. Reaching to the underside of the lid he roved what looks like a serious milspec assault shotgun and slaps an ammo drum into place, the weapon cycling into ready via mental command.

He offers a grin to their guide, his hair once again rippling blue nitro flames, his coat even matching the flickering display as he puts the agent in charge of getting the car and other combat drone back to his place. "Wull now if you ainna lovely sight fer sore eyes."  he offer a mock bow as the car back up and smoothly drives away. "Name's Nitro, an since ya seem ta 'ave 'elped save or bacon from getting grilled back there lemmie welcome ye to our merrily li'lle clusterfuck we got goin' on 'ere."

He pauses to take a look over Goodnight with his 'real' eyes, the irises even matching the blue flame lightshow he's putting on, with another grin he jerks a thumb back to the armored gundrone following him. "'ope ye dun mind me little friend 'ere... I dunno the Unnergroun' like ye o'viously do, but I be knowin enough te know how dagerus 'tis, an well... since they be bringin' me abboar' fer a driver annow sendin' me unnergroun' I figure i' bessta 'ave a li'lle somthin Ikin do well eh?"

With that done he starts pacing around, clearly restless to get moving again.
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Jack_Spade

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« Reply #646 on: <07-26-15/1123:58> »
Isaint sighed audibly: "Ok, fine. You learned that spell in your torture-goth phase and you are over it. No skin of my nose, I'm not your daddy and this is totally your decision and life.

I actually don't care all that much. As long as you are on the team and shooting out and not the other way round...

Should we be assaulted by another Captain Planet all star team feel free to banish them without hurting their feelings, as long as you do it quickly."

He drew in a deep breath:
"Even Vampires have a choice on the matter. Their lives do not rate any higher than that of their victims.
I don't judge them - I pray to god that I'd have the strength to put a bullet in my brain before I'd kill and eat someone as a demonic cannibal.

But I sure as hell won't enable them to spread the infection, murder innocents or enjoy their powers on the expense of their fellow people.

Being infected doesn't turn you into a tragic hero - it makes you an infection risk.

I'd have to lie if I said I was never on a hunt. But the weeping mother sure did not complain when we made sure that no other children would have to serve as the monsters snack or amusement.

So no, their FUCKING FEELINGS are of NO FUCKING CONCERN whatsoever if they behave like FUCKING MONSTERS!"


Isaint looked up somewhat irritated at their new rigger and stopped.
Calm down, there is something about that girl that rattles you. Doesn't help that she found your pressure points like a fucking master of Dim Mak.
He cleared his throat someone laborious before he answered Nitro a lot calmer:
"Yeah, your backup is appreciated Nitro."
To Goodnight he said:
"As much as I enjoy this conversation, we can do it while we walk and maybe even subvocal."
« Last Edit: <07-26-15/1135:42> by Jack_Spade »
talk think matrix

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Revenant Kynos Isaint Rex

gilga

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« Reply #647 on: <07-26-15/1327:53> »
"Errr... get a room you two..." Said M with a flirty voice. I want to meet flower girl before sun dawn... So lets talk while walking" Said M to Goodnight. "Can we make it Goodnight?" she added.

She hoped to diffuse some of the tension by shifting the conversation to something more pleasant than infected and who got the moral high ground... Meta-humans seemed to take this world rather seriously. M never understood why...
Actually she sort of did but she never told anyone. Melissa Green was the name of the first person to summon her. M resisted so much that she killed her. However, killing her summoner changed M, it made her feel something she never felt before, guilt. She decided to take her name and  watch over Melissa's decedents. Some how she felt responsible for her little children.

She was a little spirit then and it was when magic levels were a lot lower.  Just existing in the astral of that world caused her tremendous pain. Her debit was almost complete and M still haven't decided if she liked this world. Solo was the last living relative and with his line of work he wasn't going to grow older and start a family.  Trying to cut her train of thoughts she comment on Nitro's bumble-bee drone.
 "that's some impressive mechanical beast you got there."
« Last Edit: <07-26-15/1334:16> by gilga »

Kinkerbell

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« Reply #648 on: <07-26-15/1628:10> »
Isaint only gets the words out to Nitro and his last line to Goodnight because Goodnight is so angry that for a few seconds all she can do is stand and shake in impotent, blazing fury. His whole view on the infected- those that had to feed on blood at least- that they could either kill themselves or let themselves be killed, that survival made them monsters no matter how they managed it or whatever good they did...it is too much for Goodnight.

She hits him, right as he begins to turn away.

She doesn't trigger her shock gloves or put any magic behind the blow, and she's a small girl, but a wiry one and she's learned how to gether hips and shoulders into a blow. The backhanded slap is a good one, catching him right across the line of his jaw and in the wake of it, Goodnight's eyes are glowing, the purple contacts subsumed by an angry light the color of poisonous fruits.

"You bigoted, moralizing son of a bitch." Goodnight says. Her voice is curiously even, no screaming or crying or wringing of hands to be found. She could be a computer for all the inflection she's showing. "You would throw aside an entire life for one condition they cannot control, condemn them to die at the hands of black-and-white crusaders like yourself. Nevermind that they may feed on people that the world would be better off without, or that they can feed without killing if they find someone willing to offer themselves again and again." She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter what good they might do. Even Red Lang and Martin de Vries, good people both, good shadowrunners, would be nothing more than their infections to you." Her eyes dim as she gains control of herself. "You're no better than the Humanis scum that tried to wipe your kindred off the face of the earth when Goblinization was new. You disgust me."

She turns away before he can reply. Privately, she's really hoping he takes a swing at her in earnest. It would feel really, really good to clean his clock.
 
To the rigger with the slick ride, she bows deeply, her still-unzipped suit giving him an eyeful before she straightens. The angry expression is gone, and she dimples cutely as she takes him in. If he expects her to be upset by the flaming motif, he's going to be disappointed. The look suits him, making him more than slightly reminiscent of an old villain in a children's flatvid she saw about greek mythology once. Her voice is its warm, lovely self once more as she offers a hand to be shaken or kissed as he likes. "Goodnight, dear Nitro. Charmed to make your...singular acquaintance." She jerks her head to indicate Isaint. "My apologies for forcing you to watch that. He stumbled on a few of my more...personal issues."

Goodnight glances over the drones, then the weapons, and shrugs expansively, her grin turning a little wicked as she slowly zips her suit back up. "I don't mind. Even if I did, it isn't my place to tell you how to do your job. Frankly, I'm glad you are prepared. Wireless is going to be for drek down there in places, though, so keep in mind that you may be line-of-sight only. I'll try to warn you if we're about to hit a place like that."

She glances over at Melisa briefly and shakes her head. "If it were just us 'runners? Sure. But with civilians? I doubt it. Earl's Court is on the other side of the City, and that would be pushing too hard." Her expression turns contemplative, and then she nods. "Right now my plan is to get us as far as Hellbound Station or Shadows' Folly. The background count above both, coupled with their depth and the amount of strange drek around should hide us from Astral scrying long enough for the Doctor and his family to get some rest. We can move on to more pleasant accomodations tomorrow."

Jack_Spade

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« Reply #649 on: <07-26-15/1708:01> »
Isaint righted his mask. The girl did not listen and she did not want to understand. How many of the infected turned out to be noble creatures and how many became depraved monsters. Those that did good were no monsters. How was that hard to understand?
At the last outburst he just shook his head. More to himself than to anyone else he murmured:
"Says the one whose refuge is violence."

In a somewhat normal voice he said: "The first one is free, everything afterwards incurs interest."
Yeah as if. You never could hit a girl.

Resigned he took position with the Doc. While everyone sorted out their positions he used the time to take a quick peak into jack point to learn a bit more about their guide and what kind of enemy he had made now.

#87
« Last Edit: <07-26-15/1740:25> by Jack_Spade »
talk think matrix

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield
Revenant Kynos Isaint Rex

gilga

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« Reply #650 on: <07-26-15/1741:57> »
"Oh... if there going to be background count I guess I am doing good for leaving... but I'll be back tomorrow or maybe next year. Time works different in my home.  What is this about the infected tough? Are you involved with one of them?" asks M discreetly.
 

Kinkerbell

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« Reply #651 on: <07-26-15/1751:21> »
Isaint can't see the grim smile, but Nitro can, and Goodnight says over her shoulder, "Don't worry. I can pay if I want to slug you again." Quietly, she mutters, "And I never claimed not to be a monster. Live my life and then maybe you can judge me. Ass." She shakes her head slowly. He's probably gone to check up on her now that he's gotten the last word in. Good luck with that. She's not a well-known 'runner outside of London Below, and Goodnight wasn't always her street handle.

Turning to Melisa, Goodnight answers, "I'll be sad to see you go." Very quietly she adds, "Yes, I have dealings with the infected. Anything more than that is a little too personal, I'm afraid." She smiles apologetically. "Ask me another time. I won't discuss it, or anything else related to my personal life, in front of the high-and-mighty Isaint over there."

gilga

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« Reply #652 on: <07-26-15/1831:59> »
"Don't worry about it. We all have secrets this is part of what makes you a person. You feel very strongly about Isaint, I could literally see your words in the astral. Don't judge him too much, you each have your own life story with different twists and turns.  This is why people are interesting.

You also never know how a person is going to act until they are in the situation. Isaint may hate the infected and have no problem to kill them, but then he sees a specific little vampire teenage girl and behave totally different than what he believes.

People get emotionally entangled where you least expect it, like you and flower girl I am sure you did not plan for it and I am sure it was not easy to bridge the difference outlooks on life. She sounds quite powerful and powerful beings are difficult, they are charismatic, sometimes too charismatic. 

Isaint is a professional that will go to great troubles to keep you safe.  He is strong where you are weak, and you are going someplace where you will be weaker.  I will not be surprised if he take a bullet for you despite what you might feel about each other right now.   


« Last Edit: <07-26-15/1835:10> by gilga »

Jack_Spade

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« Reply #653 on: <07-26-15/1855:02> »
Jack point didn't deliver anything he hadn't gathered through the exchange in the last five minutes. Isaint kept his mouth shut and gave himself a minute to re-balance his mood. Always remember, there is nothing to gain by spreading misery. You are with a team and your mission is protection - not winning arguments. There can be no trust without trusting.
He felt his heartbeat slowing down and his muscles unclench. The saint's presence was unmistakable.

<<Susi, prepare new order to Alan: Heavy Pistol Capsule rounds: 36 Pepperpunch/DMSO, 24 white phosphor in Isopropanol, 3x IR-smoke grenade, 6x flash bang, 2x flash pak. 1x Crockett EBR+SG(X),Sling, GV3, Foregrip+P-Grip (specs on file). Usual delivery>>

That done, he once again shouldered his rifle with his backpack and opened the team channel:
<<Since it worked well on our way from Oxford and we have some more drones to play with, I'd suggest again a perimeter with traveling overwatch. Attached you find AROs with position markers. Godspeed>>


Small Unit Tactics test:
Small Unit Tactics: 15d6t5 7 [15d6t5=4, 4, 6, 5, 1, 3, 5, 6, 6, 1, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6]

TRAVELING OVERWATCH
Successes Required: 2
Description: Similar to Bounding Overwatch, Traveling Overwatch is a preventative maneuver. It’s meant to be used when speed is essential and best intel indicates contact with an enemy is unlikely. When the team is in motion, one—or preferably two—members take a trailing position and periodically stop to carefully survey their surroundings. If the main body of the unit is attacked, the overwatch pair can respond with either long range-support or engage in a flanking maneuver. In using this tactic, a drone or spirit will either complement or replace a team member in the rear overwatch position. The drawback to this tactic is that the rear overwatch has a chance of being separated from the main group or being eliminated without the main group realizing. This is why drone and spirit use has become popular in this position. For this maneuver, the team leader is always the team member in the overwatch position.
Benefits: + 1 on all Perception Tests and + 2 to the overwatcher’s Initiative roll if combat is initiated.


#88
« Last Edit: <07-26-15/1859:42> by Jack_Spade »
talk think matrix

To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield
Revenant Kynos Isaint Rex

Kinkerbell

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« Reply #654 on: <07-26-15/1951:34> »
Goodnight laughs helplessly at Melisa's words and shakes her head. "Right now, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't piss down my throat if my heart was on fire. Probably make some crack about it, too." She holds her hands up. "I don't know. I don't like him, and I don't trust him, though I'm self-aware enough to know that part of my history with his kind is coloring my perceptions. He just makes me so damned mad! Ugh!"

Goodnight's perceptions shift as the scrolling text appears on her AR feed and she nods. In response, she sends back <<Good call. I have to be up front since I'm the guide. I'll keep Natasha behind me. One word of advice, don't stray too far. Overwatch is nice, and we should have someone riding drag, but some of the drek down there is fast and quiet. Too far out and we wouldn't even know you were gone at first.>>

Out loud she calls, "Alright, boots and saddles people! Let's get the good Doctor and his family down Below. We'll take this annex to an old processional called Widow's Way. If we have time, we can push as far east as Shadows' Folly, under Soho. If not, we'll kip in the Warrens for one night and go the distance tomorrow. Anyone with questions about Below, message me." Goodnight's voice has lost its anger, becoing the sharp tones of a professional doing a routine job. She pauses for a second and then comments, "Its weird down there. Any inkling of a threat, anything you see you can't explain, say something. Better safe than sorry."

An open broadcast on a short range creates a passable secondary channel to the Doctor and his family, and she writes <<We'll keep you safe, but if one of us gives you a command, you do it. Don't stop to ask questions. It could save your life. Doctor, you're with Isaint, Natasha, you're with me.>>

As Natasha draws near Goodnight says, "Hey, sweet pea. Don't worry too much. This team is novahot and they've got a good guide." She shoots Natasha an encouraging smile and adds, "You can call me Goodnight, or just 'Night if you prefer. Feel free to talk as we walk." Then she leads Natasha past the rest of the team, into the old, disused sewer access, her SecondSkin shifting back to its bright white, and her purple contacts flaring brightly enough for her elven vision to show her the way. She pauses about ten meters down the tunnel and waits. Once everyone gets going and any questions are answered, she'll lead them into the Way.

ScytheKnight

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« Reply #655 on: <07-26-15/1953:22> »
Nitro gins at the bow, and the display, he watches to continuing fraccas with only a shrug in response to the hard grin. He really didn't see any point getting involved in an ethical debate in the middle of a run, although with a snort he conceded the type of 'debate' these two seemed to be heading for would be entertaining to watch to say the least. "Than's fertha warnin' abou' tha wireless down 'ere. The streets are more my scene, I'll keep tha comba' routines load'd on tha drone an focus on boostin me signal strength."

He gives "M" a sidelong glance, "Well I gotsta say Solo, when ye was tellun me ye wann'ed ta learn more abou' riggin I wassin' expectin' ye ta go an' fine out what i's like fer a drone when a rigger jumps in." He offers a grin, but unlike the one shown to Goodnight earlier this one seems forced and crooked, this combined with the somewhat odd comment highlights that the flamboyant rigger has been making a deliberate effort to keep his distance from the possessed runner.

He pauses to watch the scroll of orders before outright bursting into laughter. "Ye kiddin' right? We're headdin inta onr o' the wildes' par's o London an ye wannus te be frogmarchin like sum fuckin corpsec goons? No' ta mention leavin me drone hangin' ass out ta get chewed up ifya winup missin an ambush... I dun normally take me dones allon' li'e this, that an with the wirelass as bad assit might be, I'mma keep 'er close thanyeveryfukinmuchferaskin."

He shakes his head still chuckling and strides down into the sewers, his drone following behind near the roof.

Reconfiguring software.

The Bumble-Bee is running Bumble-Bee Maneuvering 6 and M202 Targeting 6.

My RCC is running Virtual Machine, Signal Scrub, Armor, Biofeedback Filter and Shell. This is using up 3 of my 6 possible program slits.

Noise Reduction: Antennae 2, Vectored Signal Filter 2, Signal Scrub 2, RCC 3.

I also gain +3 to Matrix Defense and Biofeedback Resistance rolls.
« Last Edit: <07-26-15/2023:13> by ScytheKnight »
From To<<Matrix message>>
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gilga

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« Reply #656 on: <07-26-15/2108:01> »
Quote
He gives "M" a sidelong glance, "Well I gotsta say Solo, when ye was tellun me ye wann'ed ta learn more abou' riggin I wassin' expectin' ye ta go an' fine out what i's like fer a drone when a rigger jumps in." He offers a grin, but unlike the one shown to Goodnight earlier this one seems forced and crooked, this combined with the somewhat odd comment highlights that the flamboyant rigger has been making a deliberate effort to keep his distance from the possessed runner.

M laughs...  "He is hot simming right now... but I get to be a bit playful.  So...  I am a rigger in your eyes?" 


Getting back to your body after about an hour of hot simming is a bit odd when your body is moving around making friends and stuff, Solo is vaguely aware to what happened until he moved to hot sim, it is a real blur since then. He can remember M's feelings and a little bit that she shared. He stumbles when dawn arrives and find himself on the floor underground in a place where he would never willingly enter, well he would because he is a professional but seriously underground? This does not look very promising to them.

He gets up a bit disoriented, his body no longer moves in supernatural grace like Frenchman or Mel, back to his own not augmented body. He feels lonely that intimate connection he shared all lost. He looks around, his equipment is there and he was riding the growler until he lost control. The bike with its gyro stabilization was just over him,  it did not crush - there was no real reason to fall from the bike, just that his mind was completely unaware of what his body was doing.

He cleans his cloths, god how much he needs his hot shower right now. He dread thinking about his girlfriend Tammie and what she'll have to say about his new capability as an host to a powerful seducer spirit and he is amazed how much he trusted M. He was never this open with her and to let her just hang around in his body in the first time he channeled her... that was unthinkable. But somehow, being this close to her, sharing her mind, he was never this close to a person - no it cannot be some random spirit - it has to be M inside in his mind. 
He have to bind her, but she is a difficult one to bind. She may like him - but she is a free spirit at heart. She likes her mobility between the planes, the skills to convince her to stay with him, he'll need some help he cannot do that alone. He wants her back so badly, nothing prepared him to the intensity of that moment, to dreaming of her so vividly, for waking up in a nightmare with hostile spirits, and just letting her save his ass. For giving up control, surrendering to her overwhelming personality. He just had to find a way to keep her for a longer periods of time with him.

He looks around disoriented... trying to locate something familiar.  "where are we?" he finally say as he understands that the matrix reception is horrible and no - a decker never go where there is no good reception, he does not need his eyes to know that he have never been there.
 

« Last Edit: <07-26-15/2146:30> by gilga »

Kinkerbell

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« Reply #657 on: <07-26-15/2327:26> »
On a single channel to Nitro, Goodnight sends, <<Baby, I don't care if you swim, tread water, or drown as far as your team's cohesion is concerned. You can stick with the pattern Isaint set up or not, but I'm not going to gainsay him out loud. If I do, we'll argue, and if we argue any more, I'm going to lose my shit. Nobody wants that.>>

Goodnight stops typing to point something out to Natasha, very quietly, then sends, <<Chain of command, who leads and who follows? That is a job for someone who is not me. I'm just the hired help. But Below is my world, not yours. Torrent is paying for my advice, and as long as I am retained to guide you, I'm going to give it. You don't have to listen, of course, but you'll get it all the same. Right now, my advice is don't get too far ahead or behind. Groups are safe in Widow's Way. Individuals are not, not always, and some of the drek down here doesn't have enough of a mind to recognize a drone. That you can riddle a dozen ghouls with holes in ten seconds isn't going to matter to them, but it might matter to you that they can scratch and infect you in five.>>

Out loud, partly in answer to Solo's half-heard question and partly just because she is a guide and information is her job right now, Goodnight calls back, "Alright everyone. We're almost up through the sewer pipe. Just a couple more turnings and we'll hit the Way proper. It runs from the Bankside Docklands all the way down through Southwark. We'll take it almost to the end, depart before we reach The Catacombs, and take a side tunnel into the Warrens through to our first port of call."

ScytheKnight

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« Reply #658 on: <07-27-15/0019:10> »
Nitro can't help but suppress a shudder at the comparison of the spirit, if it was actually a spirit, and a rigger. "Ehh.. yah I sure I guess.. Just'I usually dunna go jumpin' innna bodies of people te act an speak for 'em. If as eve'one 'ere be sayin ye are a spirit... jus lettinya know tha there's dreck goin' down tha be makin'  some folks li'e me mighty nervous when people star' actin weird." He hefts the milspec assault shotgun for emphasis, not a threatening gesture so much as pointing out his preparedness.

Nitro to Goodnight <<Yeah I hear ya, I'm not stupid enough to go wondering off on my own. Just never seen the point in trying to play the part of those corpsec goons. Shadowruns are about acting and responding, seizing the opportunity to act, not get bogged down in BS plans that'll fall apart in seconds anyway.>>

He walks along with the group into the sewers noticing Solo acting odd again and asking what seems to be an inane question. "Huh, wecem bac' e tha lan' o tha livin Solo.. a mighte... ehh... INteres'in travlin companin ye 'ave. I warned 'er an I'll do tha same ye sense ya dun seem te know what ye's been up te... Righ now minna be the bes time te knot be actin' yesself' soes te spea' makes some folks a bit... nervous.
From To<<Matrix message>>
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obidancer

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« Reply #659 on: <07-27-15/0100:01> »
The Frenchman drove his car along the docks and up to the streets. This drek made no sense. He was expected a full HRT to show up to round up the work the Spirit had started. What was the point of just sending a Spirit, albeit powerful one, in what... a find and destroy attack? Put the target in disarray, force them to run, and catch them on the way... but instead... nothing!

He stopped the car, turned of the light and came out. hand on his gun and all senses in alert. His sharp eyes looking around for clue of a presence; his nose picking and analyzing any possible scent that was coming his way.
From the distance he could see the team gathering a few hundred meters outside of the now burning shop. Was that the entrance to that 'underground'? The underground made no connection on his limited memory, but then again, these days, very little did.

He looked around again, scanning the streets and the possible entry points to the Docks. That made no sense...  He looked at the team again and they seemed to be on the move.
Sons of a b****! Are they leaving without us? Way to make one feel invisible!
« Last Edit: <07-27-15/0102:47> by obidancer »
Rick Deckard - Circles of Fate
Kachina - Shaking the Shadows

 

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