[gilga]

@Maxwell IT texts back
>>Thanks for your concern still alive trying to figure out who dares to openly attack my employer. Will think about you when I have some cookies.

@Amy White texts back "I am afraid to ask, but did our Vixen just destroyed half the city? I am alive thanks for asking we all are it seems as if they made quite an effort that it is just the building that goes down... I never really liked that office anyhow.

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos shrugged. "DemoX, seems like we can putter along. Unless you want to go hole up in your castle. In that case just drive me to my bike please. I'd appreciate it if you could keep tabs on Venom's alleged position and keep me informed."
He started to hum: "Come on Jessica, come on Tori, let's go to the morgue, you won't be sorry, put on your Tiffani bracers and your cool armitage coat, at the morgue, having fun is what it's all about..."

[gilga]

Kynos DemoX say "I am keeping my eyes on the prize! We made it to through night and the good for nothing KE held their position, but they will not guard this parking lot tonight so I am waiting with my drones until later afternoon and then I go to shoot some zombies in the castle. We stockpiled so much ammo exactly for this scenario. If you need a place to crush tonight give me a buzz."

[Mulcarn]

The beeping ringtone had to quickly be replaced by the vibration mode Maxwell set his new comm on.  Before waiting for the troll's reply he goes over the messages he just received.  He lets out an internal sigh of relief as a genuine smile spreads across his face. 

@Ivory Tower - <<The answer to that is Venom and a vampire named Damian Grail.  Something i'd recommend checking later when you have the opportunity is the art of necromancy along with something called a Shedim.  My knowledge regarding these things is rather limited, but I hope you might have some wisdom.  Oh and it's good to hear from you, truly.>>

@Amy White - <<Venom's handiwork actually, but you're safe and that's the important part.  Give me a call if you run into any trouble.>>

[Shaman_Yuri]

So much death.

I look at Gi asleep in my arms and wonder what the day will bring.  I could kill him right now, but would that bring any of the dead back?

No.

All it would do is destroy our best thread back to the truth and...hopefully...evidence that Athos remained honorable and instead someone else is trying to besmirch his and Dame Valentina's names as well as take down the Finnegans.  I couldn't care less about the politics, but I'll do whatever it takes to make Athos happy.

And on top of it my friend Strawberry wants this particular ork alive as long as he's in the Seattle area.  Strawberry has sponsored the only other person in this world I truly care about - Nagisa.  As with Athos, I will see her interests through to the end.

I keep watching Gi in silence.  Watching my clients sleep has always been a fond pastime for me. 

As long as they are asleep, they aren't causing me harm.

When he begins to stir, I'll gently ask him, "So, Gi, is this what you wanted?" as I gesture with my eyes out the cave entrance to the macabre scene outside.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos nods as Sovereign comes up.  "Luna told me that she has some information to share, but she wants me to get this body out of the morgue as the price of her information.  Beyond that, I am looking at taking a different role, one of showing that the Family can protect its turf and its people."

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell shrugs.  "Always a price tag, she'd be telling us for free if you brought her with us instead.  Oh well, just means we got another errand to run.  You might have some trouble with second bit though.  I've had dealings with the Mafia before and they aren't exactly the stand up and fight type.  Sure for the right price they'll put two in the back of anyone's head, but anybody can do that."

Maxwell stops himself once he realizes that he's rambling to a Mafia lieutenant about his disdain for them.  He coughs slightly and starts over.  "None of that really helps you though.  Alright ummmm... let's see what could you do?  They'll need leadership doubtlessly, someone who isn't afraid to make a stand.  Supplies will also be a big factor as well.  Can't fight the soulless dead with gold chains and pocket knives."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos grins at Sovereign's bit of discomfort.  "Yes, but as one of the Mafia bully boys and back stabbers, I can tell you that such stereotypes are not universal.  There are plenty of strong soldiers willing to stand up for their own, for La Familia, the Family.  All they need is leadership willing to stand with them and be counted instead of hiding in dark, smoky rooms; people willing to lead by example, not with fear and bullets.  There is a time and place for violence, yes, but not indiscriminately and not without reason.  I would like to work for a boss like that; maybe others would, too."

He motions to the van.  "Coming with?"

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell nods.  "Same truthfully, but i'd be careful about putting too much stock in an organization that worships currency like a god.  Perhaps things look different from someone who grew up inside.  To me however, not so much."

He look at the van.  "Yeah sure."  He walks over to it and rides shotgun, all ready and buckled up.

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos looks around.  "Kynos going on his own?"

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell turns back to him.  "Probably, if he wanted to come then he'd be here already.  I imagine he's going to take a different route.  Not entirely sure though."

[Mercy Merchant]

Athos climbs into the van and starts it up before sending a text to Kynos.  >>Hey.  I have Sovereign with me at the van.  You coming with us to the New Hilton or going on your own?<<  He turns to the mage and says, "I will give him a few minutes to respond.  On another issue, if you do not mind me asking, you seem to have a pretty good hard on for this Venom guy.  What did he do to you to get this sort of hatred going?"

[Jack_Spade]

Kynos replied: <<I'm fetching my bike. I'll meet you there.>>

[gilga]

Venom looks at the destruction the floating bodies and say “New Horizon Program” it takes him a bit to cool down. “THAT, was none of my doing. THAT was the reason I joined forces with Grail. How do you think Vampires survive? Who protects them? Why is there the virus but no cure? Open your mind, most triple A’s are arrogant enough to create vampires in the biggest arms race since the cold war.  Nobody wants to stay behind and magic is naturally rare. Once one cooperation starts producing it's own magical minions the rest have to follow. These assholes care little for consequences - they just do not want to stay behind.   Nobody can afford to stay behind and no country is powerful enough to regulate and enforce its laws on the cooperate laws. This devil dance is the result of current system.”

He sighs “My master was part of the corporate world, until his own soul was sacrificed on the altar of power. Look at the rocket attacks, we evacuated almost all the people from the buildings, we burned them and did so slowly so that others could get out. Do you think that on one side you get this sensitivity toward life and on the other hand slay half the city. The people that you need to sustain yourself? These abominations were created by the failed new horizon program... a program that aimed to create cheap super soldiers.Skip the painful and expensive augmentations - just get a shot and grow super powers.

The virus used proved to be more contagious and the soldiers created were still contagious, they were supposed to be part of the new KE force being constructed. In the last months they were continues glitches, test subjects that lost their mind an took off into the city. They must have infected quite a few people - I am not sure what happened actually your guess is as good as mine. ”

[Mulcarn]

Maxwell grunts like a bull before saying.  "Nearly killed a friend of mine and tortured another to do Grail's bidding, that's why."