[Mercy Merchant]

"As a group, I trust the Mechanica, but I do not know these three.  I would think the better course is to just wait for them to leave.  This entrance is not often used so there is a good chance that the tunnel will be ours once their business here is concluded."

It takes only another fifteen minutes of waiting before Robyn gives the all clear.  She reminds the others that there are several people squatting here but they are at the other end of the station and not likely to really notice the passage of the group, even without the concealment.  Robyn plots the location of the entrance tunnel on the maps and the team moves forward to an access tunnel that links the sewers to the tube and soon after are passing through the station and into the tunnel to Below.  It is a long walk, but Robyn's guess had been accurate in that the team does not encounter anyone before exiting the tunnel in one of the caverns that dot the underground labyrinthine makeup of Below.  Constantly adding more information to the team map, Robyn can now add directions to Earl's Court and her small house.

[obidancer]

Needless to say, Deckard was tired! borderline ready to pass out and having to wait still for another 15min while the Residents were making their business was not helping. He knew the pain though  -mana drain- and only some rest could help him feel better.

More trekking through the smelly sewer and derelict corridors and the group almost made their way to the Earl's court. He would gladly admit that without Robyn they'd certainly got lost and stuck in some  dangerous dead ends. He was thankful for her presence but grinned at the irony of being led into darkness by a blind guide.

[Mercy Merchant]

The Hell Hound certainly knows the place and spends some time rooting around, sniffing to see who has been here since his last time.  Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he lets Robyn know what she has already determined through her sensors and the drones flying around her.  "The house is empty and waiting for us.  Please wipe your feet and try not to move too much of the furniture around.  I like my things where they are.  Al I will show you the best place to plant your explosive devices in case you need to destroy my home to escape."

The small house that Robyn calls home in Below is located on the edge of Earl's Court.  She could have picked a place closer to the main structure, but she does not spend enough time here to really justify that.  Still, the house, even though smallish, is bigger than she really needs for herself.  It is almost like a typical British cottage, although with more stone than wood.  The door frame is carved with the same seven-headed serpent motif that is tattooed on Robyn's face and curves entirely up one side of the door frame and down the other.  Inside, the living room is of a size suitable to hold a long couch and three comfortable chairs.  There are two bedrooms off the living room, each with a single bed.  The kitchen is small but well appointed with many modern conveniences.  A satellite dish on the roof and several antennae inside the house allow Robyn to access the matrix even from here.  Power is provided, as is much of what is used in Below, by feeds from the surface as well as from natural sources found here.  On the mantelpiece of the stone fireplace are two busts.  One is clearly of Al and is a remarkable likeness, catching every crag and scar on his face.  There is a grin on his face and a cigarette hanging from his lips and he seems to be looking off in the distance.  The other bust is of a hauntingly beautiful woman, her smile and expression are enough to bring emotions of desire and yearning to the viewer.

Robyn leaves Al2 outside and leads everyone else into her home.  Please make yourselves as comfortable as possible.  There are two beds and the shower will have hot water in about fifteen minutes.  I think we need some food so will go to the nearby market and bring some back.  It will not take long for everyone in Earl's Court to know I have guests here, and your identities will probably be known soon after that.  I really think that it is fairly pointless to pretend much, but I leave that up to you.  ISaint?  May I have someone to walk me to the market?"

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint had taken in the cottage with one long look. By pure reflex he had checked every room as soon as he set foot into the house. He visibly flinched when he saw the bust of Al on the mantle piece and involuntarily looked at his companion as if to check that his head was still there. He dropped of his backpack in the corner of the room and directed Arthur to pull out the medkit and connect himself to the power grid.
To Robyn's question he answered:
"Of course, if you hadn't asked I'd have suggested it myself. I'll gladly accompany you unless Al or Jackhammer want to take on this honor.
Rick you get yourself on that couch. I'll direct Arthur to give you a medical massage and some mild muscle relaxants to help your natural recovery processes. Drain damage is nothing you should take lightly.
We'll rest in shifts: One mage, one bruiser and one specialist active, while the others rest. My suggestion would be Jackhammer going with you, while Al, Rick and I take a nap. I'll have my agent programs look out for approaching threats on AR and the wider matrix during your absence.
Unless you want me to accompany you I'll take position here with our Priestess until you return. The water should be  hot by then.
Mrs. Karasu, I hope I don't impose on your health by asking you to stay awake a little while longer, but if you could ward this dwelling against astral intruders, now would be the time. Use as many reagents as you need, I'll reimburse you. I don't want another mana static impeding the talents of 83% of our team."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn is looking anywhere but at the busts right now.  She does not need to as she remembers every line and crag as if she was still in Cambodia and allowed to touch him.  Now, she is not sure what he wants, but his words have heartened her and she can wait for this to be finished to talk to him about it.  She nods at ISaint.  "Jackhammer is a good choice, thank you.  We should be back within thirty to forty minutes, provided that we do not run into difficulties.  I am going for food to cook so does anyone have any preferences?  And Al, cigarettes are in the cabinet just over there." 

After getting a small list of things people like, Robyn sets off with Jackhammer for the short distance to the local market.  She removes her mask, exposing her facial tattoo.  She receives acknowledging looks and head nods from several of the people they come upon.  She does not know anyone they have yet passed, but her marking sets her apart from the common person in Below, especially in the Earl's Court.  This is her second home and she is accepted her.  Not only that, she bears the marks that tell others that she is favored by the Earl and has his protection.  Either that or the presence of the massive Hell Hound at her side gives her a certain respect.  At the market, she is recognized and welcomed back, although they look a bit askance at Jackhammer until she explains that he has helped her and is a guest at her house.  After that, the poor man is given some free food and several of the women, young and old, seem quite willing to make his acquaintance a bit more personal.  Robyn fills out her shopping list and gets a number of things that she adds to it.  She makes a sign against the evil eye as she asks if Yakob is still in the area and is told yes, although all in the near area who heard the question make the same sign of warding.  When finished with the groceries, Robyn and Jackhammer return to her house, her companion carrying pieces of paper with names and addresses on them from some of his new admirers. 

Back inside the house, Robyn sets her purchases down in the kitchen and begins to prepare a meal.  She is whistling her favorite tune from the Divine Horsemen as she works.  The kitchen is a marvel of equipment and she pulls pots and pans from cupboards and prepares a small feast for the team.  This time, at least, she prepares the dish that each person asked for, glad that her cooking skills are up to the task.  She points out the bar located to the side of the living room.  "I have beer, white and red wine, and I just picked up some saki at the market on the chance that Yukika might want some.  And with that, the meal is ready to be served.  Do we let everyone sleep or wake them while it is hot?"

[Jack_Spade]

"Thanks. It's been a long time since I had home cooked Kässpatzen, but I don't assume your market will have the requisite coarse-grained flour for my favorite dish. I'll be happy with whatever you prepare, although I wouldn't mind some real meat or for that matter Italian food."

When she had left, Isaint directed Arthur a bit more: The medkit was unfolded and the drone began to prepare a treatment regime.


Aid Healing: 16d6t5 4[16d6t5=3, 6, 5, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4, 6, 3, 4, 2, 4, 5, 1, 3]
+4 dice to Rick's natural recovery.



Isaint had scraped his boots on the mat, but he was still uncomfortably aware of how his steps crunched on the clean floor. So he took a seat at the table, laid his Warhawk on a cloth beside him and began to clean his boots while still wearing them. Bits of dried containment foam, dead micro tags, and assorted sewage were cleaned off with a rag soaked in the cleaning fluid he had bought to destroy their DNA evidence. Now that the tension was leaving his body, he felt a bit light headed.
He was leading the team and people were actually listening to him. Somehow he still felt like a fraud, like it would only take a little push to expose him as an incompetent impostor. Luck, pure luck had prevented them from being pinned down and taken out by a bunch of hired guns. Agreeing to go to a police safe house... utter madness in retrospect. And now this place... Well at least there wouldn't be biker gangs and armored trucks around here.
Being unable to penetrate the dual armor of the vehicle and the driver had forced him to use more defensive measures like the disarming shots. Those had cost valuable time and allowed other opponents to damage them.
Arthur had proven to be an invaluable part of his defense. He stopped his thoughts going further in that direction. To much micromanagement, to little attention to their current situation.
When he was finished with boot cleaning he took another round through the house. More slowly this time, making sure all shutters were closed and that he had once again a working map of the place both in his head as well as in AR.
"So, while we have a few moments respite: Who wants to use the shower first?"

[adamu]

If Isaint had been taken aback by the bust on the mantlepiece, Al had been downright mortified. His jaw had dropped and his cigarette had tumbled out onto the floor, where it had smoldered briefly before he absently stamped it out. Muttering unintelligibly to himself he had gone to use the head, only coming out once Robyn and Jackhammer were gone. Then he'd set to work on the spot of wall their hostess had indicated.

With all his pre-prepared breaching charges gone, he wasn't satisfied with the work until dinner was served, but by the time he sat down to eat there was a painstakingly-measured combination of solid and foam explosive tamped against the wall with the help of some household implements he'd scavenged from the kitchen and bathroom. And he'd sticky-tacked everything together so it could be taken down and put back in his bag for use at the next location.

The food smelled good, he couldn't deny it, and it was nice to see Robyn's actual face without that ridiculous ballistic mask on it. None of that helped him maintain his conviction that she had gone completely crackers since he'd last seen her (or had she always been?). He ate in silence, not sure what might come out of his mouth if he spoke. Once finished, he figured the hours he'd spent on their exit entitled him to a sleep shift, and with showers for sissies and metros, he pushed the big sofa a few feet away from the wall and curled up on the floor behind it, using his jacket as a blanket and cradling the pull-detonator in his arms.

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn is glad that she was able to find the ingredients for almost everything she had looked for and she had worked hard to prepare everything just tight, although the Kasspatzen had been a bit difficult as she had to reduce the size of the recipe to just make enough for two people.  The sounds of people enjoying the food was appreciation enough, but it did not hurt when the team gave vocal praise.  After dinner, she told everyone that there was no ration of the hot water and that everyone could stay in the shower as long as they wanted to.  After everyone began settling down, she went off to take a shower herself, wishing that Al would join her there but knowing he would not.  Finished, she puts a robe on and returns to the living room.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint almost couldn't believe what he saw: Genuine Allgäuer Kässpatzen, with real cheese and caramelized onions. "Well Robyn, I might just have to propose to you for this delicious meal alone. But now excuse me, I'll be momentarily occupied."
And true to his word, he didn't utter a single word again until he had cleaned his plate twice.
He took the next opportunity to shower. With a satisfied grin he saw that Robyn even had thought to leave a single bottle of beer in a small cooling jacket inside. Steam condensed on the cold surface while he eagerly drank it down as the grime of the previous 16 hours was washed away.
Afterwards he allowed himself the luxury to shave his beard, before he grew it anew - this time as a handle bar mustache - and also reconfiguring his face to resemble the current Prime Minister a bit.
Before getting back into his layers of clothing and armor he intended to get a bit of treatment by Arthur. Slinging one of the many fluffy pink towels around his waist, he left the bathroom to find a flat surface to lay on. The front of his entire upper body was one massive bruise where the thin layer of fat over his muscled frame had perpetuated the shockwave of being hit in the chest with a rifle bullet. 'I might be developing a little gut here. I've got to cut back on those shower beers.'
Being now fully aware of the bruise he called out:
"Arthur, attend to me. Sport medical program with massage."
It didn't take long for the drone to apply a soothing ointment, followed by a pretty hardcore massage that threatened to make him scream but instead forced a few pitiful whimpers from his throat. When the machine was done, every muscle in his body sang with pain, but was soon replaced with deep relaxation. Isaint managed to put on some clothes, before he let himself fall into a deep nap.

#406

[Mercy Merchant]

Dressed only in her robe, Robyn listens to the sounds of Al sleeping behind the couch and someone sleeping in the other bedroom; Yukika by the count of people in the  living room.  Jackhammer and Deckard are slumped in two of the chairs and ISaint is showering.  When he calls for his manservant, she follows him to the door and watches as Arthur works his magic fingers on the form of the hard man who is the team leader.  The massage is obviously a good one, and a hard one, based on the whimpers it elicits from ISaint.  When Arthur stands up, Robyn is tempted to wait for his victim to stand but stops him by walking into the room and saying, "That is some massage, ISaint.  I am not sure that my fingers are any better, but I am a bloody good physician and have a good knowledge of massage techniques.  I think I have more practice with a softer, gentler version."  "She runs the fingers of a hand gently down the man's bare back, stopping at some of the more obvious scars.  "Interested?"

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint shuddered involuntarily. It had been quite a while since an attractive woman had touched him on his back, and even a longer while since that touch had been meant as a gentle one and not an attempt to disable him by pounding a pressure point.
Finally he managed to croak out a response: "I am sorely tempted by your offer." 'But considering the looks Jackhammer has given you and the complicated history with Al...' "But we are still on the clock and you haven't had a decent rest yet either. Getting back in fighting shape is the top priority now for all of us. But I may be taking you up on the offer afterwards when there is a decent chance that I can reciprocate the favor."

[Mercy Merchant]

Robyn smiles.  "The offer for a massage will stand for after this is done.  As for rest, I will get some if you would slide over a bit and give me some room on my bed.  I will keep my eyes closed if you want to put some clothes on, or you can just stay like this, if you like.  I promise that I will not attack your virtue in the night.  You have some interesting scars; I rather imagine that there is a story behind them."

[Jack_Spade]

"Ha good one. The blind girl will keep her eyes closed. Don't worry about my modesty. You've worked as a doctor, I don't think there is anything new I could show you." Isaint moved to put on his underwear, tossing the towel for Arthur to catch.
"As for those scars: The top one is from an armor piercing round going through my armored suit, my lung, my armored suit again and straight through the axilliary artery of the woman I tried to protect.
The indent at my side was a six year old blond girl tearing away a chunk of flesh with her bare hand - or rather the Shedim possessing her lifeless body.
The parallel one down my ribs was the parting gift of a deranged vampire blood mage trying to carve her initials into my back while I shot her head off.
Oh and the little v-formed one was when I tried to open a ketchup bottle while being a dumb and drunk teenager."
Isaint flexed his body, eliciting a number of pops and crunches.
"Time isn't on the side of us Orks. At best I've got seven to ten more years of top performance left. After that it's going rapidly downhill anyway. No sense in leaving a pristine corps."

#408

[Mercy Merchant]

Since ISaint is not being modest, Robyn lets her sensors play over his body as he moves to put his underwear on.  "Hmmm.  Very nice, ISaint.  I have had a number of Orks in my bed and I have to say that you compare favorably, at least visually.  Anything else we would need to explore on a more personal level."  She touches each scar as he describes it, running her delicate fingers along each one.  When he is done she says, "Well, if you are not bothered................."  Robyn stands and removes her robe, exposing her body to him before sliding onto the bed.  She is facing away from ISaint, so he can see the quite large tattoo of a seven-headed serpent that adorns her back.  This is a real work of art that pretty much covers her from the nape of her neck to just above the ass and from side to side.  If he looks closely, he can see that parts of it have been inked so as to conceal various scars in the details.  From the rear, he can also see the ink that covers her shoulder and upper arm in some sort of jungle scene.  It is not long before her steady and rhythmic breathing tell him that she is asleep.

[Jack_Spade]

Isaint did indeed glance at her naked form - he wasn't made from stone after all - noticing the flensing done to her. Again he shuddered. This was one way to deal with the marks of torture. He did not comment on her remark since he had absolutely no idea how to gracefully reply to that.

Before committing to sleep he build his alarm chair, setting all items of clothing and gear down in the sequence he'd have to put them on. His Ruger found its place under the pillow. He had debated with himself about not removing the contacts, but decided that an eye infection was less desirable than to put them back in under pressure. Susi and the other Agents were now in constant search and protect mode, while he used the slump to have all his gear recharged as well.
Even Arthur was now standing guard near the power outlet recharging.

He tried to remember what else he should have been doing, but sleep came over him like a wave, taking him under almost as soon as he had closed his eyes.

He found himself standing back at home in his mother's kitchen. For some reason it was the same room as the old dining room with its heavy table decked out for a formal dinner. The smell was delicious and Isaint went over to his mother who intently stirred a large pot . He briefly wondered what had happened to the new food processor he had gifted her, but this thought didn't last as he peered into the pot and realized that it was filled with blood and not actually his mother but a deranged looking woman with greasy hair, sharp jagged nails and rotten, yet very sharp teeth.
"No, I killed you..." he wanted to say, but the woman had just put her index finger on his lips and he felt unable to move.
He stared blankly forward, only able to make out from the corner of his eyes as the thing - because it was no woman, hadn't been a woman for a long time - began to slowly circle behind him. He tensed for the pain that was sure to come, but instead he realized that he was standing in a cellar corridor in the children's hospital in Prague. At that moment he knew that it was a dream and yet this knowledge did nothing to dampen the terror. On the contrary: He knew what was coming next. He could already hear the tapping of little bare feet. The lights went out and he suddenly felt like he was underwater, crushed by the deep. But instead of cold it had become sweltering hot and still he was paralyzed, unable to move. And it stank of the rancid corpses that were drawing nearer with a hint of sulfur and methan. He felt something hot and wet slither over his face.

Isaint awoke with a start, staring wide eyed into the grinning doggy face of Hell Hound Al, who had decided Isaint was the perfect spot to lay down his own massive form.
"Robyn..? Could you please tell Al not to use me as his mattress?"