Food Fight!, IC - Dairy Dash Options

[tisoz]

It's a dark and stormy night, the acid rain coming down in sheets from clouds obscuring any light coming down from the gibbous moon or the few street lamps still in working order. The rain pelts the city, scouring the grease and oil from the roadway. As your eyes drift to the crumbling sidewalks and pock-marked plascrete, you realize what decades of the acidity can do to objects as hard as rock. You subconsciously pull your coat tighter around you wondering if you were really this hungry as you wait for the rain to let up so you can dash into the Stuffer Shack.

As you wait in the parking lot you notice the other vehicles parked there. A GMC Bulldog van, and your first thoughts are the perfect runner vehicle, a beat up Ford Americar, another nondescript runner vehicle, an aging, pink Mustang that looks half held together by faux gold accents and bumper stickers, and a couple of motorbikes likely ridden by true bikers or true idiots.

The roar of the torrential downpour on the vehicle roof lessens to individual thumps, then the thumps decrease in volume to patters and you decide this may be as good as it gets for a while and open your door to make a run for it.

[drips]

Sphinx was sitting on a bus bench outside the Stuffer Shack, rather gloomily staring off into space. Cold, drenched and hungry, his thoughts flickered to the past month. He'd fucked things up back in Libya, fucked them up real bad. His emotions had gotten in the way and he'd made a bad command decision and now... now half his team was dead and the rest were on the run. If only he hadn't seen them, those bastards from Tsunami. If only he hadn't let himself believe that it would be easy. If only... if only he were better.

Hearing the rain let up a little shook Sphinx out of his reverie. He stood up and quickly jogged to the Shack. He could think more later, right now he needed some food. And alcohol. Lots of alcohol.

[Xiuhaun]

Hugh Knuckles Mahoney finishes his cigar and puts it out under the heel of his boot. Looking to the sky, he grimaces over the coming rain, turns up his coat collar and proceeds to enter the 'Shack on a quest for food.

En route to Aisle 15 and a wonderful array of snack foods, Knuckles can't help but notice the attractive female sitting on the counter near the Shmoozies. Ditching his plan to acquire munchies, he heads over to the Schoozie machine and fills a cup with Cherry Heaven before proceeding to strike up a conversation with the gal sitting on the counter.

[Ears]

Rob parks his harley next to the other bikes, pulls out a pocket secretary, looks around, looks at the gadget, pockets it again and walking over to the entrance, he recalls for the seventh time what his friend christian had told him.
'I stumbled over the inventory listing for a wharehouse the shack's bought. ... A full wharehouse of them and you know, they don't throw stuff away if there's any chance of selling it. ... Here's a list of their stores closest to it, you can thank me later.'
Once inside the store, he takes a look around and then heads to the right, straight for the dust covered book displays (area L).
Here goes nothing, again. At least It's dry in here.

[drips]

Sphinx enters the 'Shack and quickly makes his way towards Area J. He'd decided on the way in to satisfy his hunger and thirst first, before looking for something to satisfy his thirst. Looking at the cold foods display, he tries to decide what will best sate his hunger while maintaining his health: Soychicken and something else (soymold by the looks of it), or krill and pre-processed processed soyveggies.

[Chance359]

Cameron Tinker Douglas slipped a plug into his datajack instantly felt his armored jacket become an extension of himself. With a blink, the small camera on the back of the collar was plastered on the lower right corner of his vision. A hiss of compressed gas and an empty wrist holster sprang forth from his left wrist. Tinker attached his Browning Ultra-Power and retracted the pistol to its concealed hiding spot.

All this wiring has made me hungry, guess its time to hit the Stuffer shack.

[tisoz]

John Stone looks out at the wind whipping the rain around and starts channeling the mana, attempting to bind the spirits of the very elements to his will. Everything seems to be going fine, then, it may have been a distraction caused by the flash of lightning or just a ripple in the resistance of the spirit plane, but Stone loses control of his Invoking and is rudely confronted by a disturbing spirit of the winds.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Here I was, thought John Stone, doing my normal meet preperations when that bolt of lightning hit so close to his hillside home I thought it was going to break loose from it's foundation. And now ther is a pissed looking spirit in my living room blowing crap all over the place! It'll take forever to clean this mess up. I might have to conjure up a little spirit just to put everything back...

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Stone jumped into his 3220 and sped off through the rain. What a night to be out. I remember I'm channeling and tap the powers of Guard and Magical Guard just in case. Hopefully, the guard will keep me out of any ordinary fender benders tonight. Then I thought better and decided to expend a service and have a spirit extend its Guard and Magical Guard.

The meet went off without incident, finally something went right, and as I start home something someone had said about grabbing something to eat sounds pretty good, maybe even rent a movie, those kiosks where you can get them at any Stuffer Shack and return them to any other Stuffer Shack are a great idea. After I pull into the Stuffer Shack parking lot and find a parking place, I cast Catalog and record the results into my pocket secretary, compare the list to the last time I updated it upon leaving home and find no surprises. I start to get out of the low slung sports car and realize I can barely raise myself from the seat. I Invoke and Channel another spirit, think about putting on the Rapid Transit helmet to keep dry, decide it would look silly and wish I had a Deflect or Barrier/Rain spell as I brave the rain and rush across the lot. All the good spaces are long gone, so I use movement power on myself to hasten the trip, and enter the Shack with a rush. The floor is a slip and fall artists heaven and the thought of easy nuyen floats through my mind, then the reality of trying to collect on the lawsuit and probably burning my lone good fake SIN makes the scam a no win one for me.

It must be a holiday or something to get all these people out in this weather, I think. Or a bunch of homeless in from their soaked cardboard huts. Better be careful. I wonder if the bikes are from riders seeking shelter from the storm or true bikers who ride in all weather?

I look around and see more than a couple of thoroughly soaked people, even wetter than me. I decide to head to Aisle 10 first to get a Use’N’Lose disposable plastic umbrella, if any are left. If not I'll look for a pancho or tablecloth because that rain didn't feel good running down my back and soaking into my armor. As he walks past the drink dispenser area he notices the cute girl sitting on the counter, probably resting her feet from those cruel looking stiletto pumps she's wearing and smiles and slowly shakes his head as the drenched guy seems to be trying to chat her up.

[BobRoberts]

Troy scuttles in out of the rain and shakes the worst of it from his coat. Stamps the rain off his shiny chrome legs. Loosens the straps on smogmask and lets it hang around his neck.

Stomach rumbles slightly as he saunters towards the foodstuffs in the back half of the shop. Loops past the breakfast foods and the baked goods, dismissing them as he goes by... nods a half familiar hello at Mr Nick. Hurries past the herbal teas to the Aztec food section... starts picking things up and looking at the packets.

Several idle thoughts rattle around his brain:

Nasty food. Quasi evil pyramid logos. Cheapish, nasty food. HUNGRY!
Busy in here tonight.
How spicy is meltdown? Will it hide the taste of krill based meat subsitute?
Half a dozen datajacks and crazy muttering. I don't wanna end up that way.

His stomach rumbles again, a little louder than before.

[tisoz]

Mr. Nick tries to be customer friendly to the latest arrival to track into his store. He looks around and sees 3 or 4 people still dripping and wonders how anyone could get so wet. He heads for the backroom and soon after leaving most everyone's line of sight, you hear his voice over the intercom calling for Johnny to come to the office and get a mop.

As Mr. Nick comes out of the back room carrying a couple of "Wet Floor" signs, a young man follows him out swinging into his jacket. Was that a shoulder holster you just glimpsed?

[Ears]

When the latest newcomer comes in and stomps his legs, Rob glances over to the door, frowns then a smile forms on his face that quickly fades as he shakes his head and turns back to rifling through the old magazines.
Don't I know that guy? The race last month? Yup. Fast one, good one. Wait, he cost me 500. Shouldn't have bet against him. Well, not twice.

[tisoz]

The Japanese warrior wannabe in Aisle 1 looks like he has gathered his nerve and approaches the checkout counter and the cute elf girl working there with a nametag on her chest reading "Wanda".

"What's the other one's name?" the topknotted redhead asks.

Wanda's zoned out look doesn't change, but a skinny kid steps out of the corner of Area D and looks like he knows what the big guy, well, bigger than him, meant, and he doesn't care for it at all. Anyone who has ever seen a young crush knows the skinny kid has it bad for Wanda, but with those zits, Wanda is likely out of his league. Still, it looks like he is gathering his courage to defend her honor - even if he was too intimidated by her beauty to even let her know he existed.

In the drink section, the girl in the wet halter top is flashing her headlights and says, "Hey, big boy. Is that a blue bandage for your blue blood or gang colors?"

[BobRoberts]

Troy chuckles silently to himself at the poor pickup line.

He casts a casual eye over the guy from the back office as he walks past the aisle.

...did this place really spring for a security guard?

[Chance359]

Tinker moves on from finding the perfect box of red Maxiblast Sugar Bomb, over to the frozen foods (section K) looking for the best deal on pizzas and breakfast burritos.

[drips]

Sphinx finally grabs a krill sandwich and starts munching on it. After slowly savoring the first few bites he makes his way over to Area L, the book section.

Been hard up on new reading material lately, might as well see if they have anything good.

He offers a nod to the chummer already hanging around the manuscripts and then begins scanning the books.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles takes a sip from his cup before grinning and replying, "ESR, represent." He pauses momentarily before adding "What is a talented woman such as yourself doing out on a horribly wet night like this?"

[tisoz]

The Japanese samurai wannabe irritating Wanda tries another line as he points to the spike of hair on her head. "Horny?"

The girl looks past Knuckles as she hops down and says, "You're about to find out, tusker."

[tisoz]

The doors crash open and three people come rushing in from the rain. Only they happen to be brandishing weapons and screaming at the top of their lungs!

One rushes up and around the checkout counter, blasting away the cameras on his way, and coming to a stop behind the counter beside the lovely Wanda, who decides to take the opportunity and let out a never-ending scream at the top of her lungs.

The samurai wannabe takes the opportunity to draw a katana from the bag slung over his shoulder, hold it to the vulnerable Wanda's throat, and yell at the hysterical girl to, "Shut the Frag up!"

The second of the newcomers jumps on the display shelves of Aisle 1, using the lower shelves like steps, clambers to the top, throws back his head and lets out an animal howl.

The third newcomer comes running in on the heals of the others, makes as if to stop just past the samurai wannabe, but skids on the wet slippery floor and falls. The gun he is carrying goes off, Knuckles and the girl near him would both swear they felt it pass, but the newcomer manages to kill the blue Fizzygoo machine as it explodes and it's contents spray on her and Knuckles and drench their feet.

The shots are incredibly loud in the confined space and in the quiet that follows the dripping Fizzygoo seems loud. Even the sound of the electric lights seems loud.

Finally, the silence is broken by the shotgun toting man behind the counter. He screams, "I'm the Prince of the city and it's time to collect taxes! Empty your pockets, you drek eating slime and gimme everything ya got!"

The girl sporting the Fizzygoo says, "I'm here to collect taxes," as she whips out the SMG on the sling around her neck and shoulder from where her Jacket was hiding it.

The fallen robber is getting up, and the howling robber is climbing down and looking toward the Fizzygoo girl.

The young guy that came out of the back room whips back his jacket and clears his gun, then takes Mr. Nick by the elbow and tells him they are going to visit the safe.

[tisoz]

John Stone turned toward the commotion like every other person in the store, but unlike every person in the store his dual natured astral vision easily saw the city spirit hovering on the astral near the howling guy's shoulder.

If that isn't enough, out of the corner of your eye you notice 3 elementals heading your way on the astral plane from over toward the messy drink area. Looks like a pair of fire, and an earth. How nice, burned and buried.

[Ears]

Rob returns the nod from the black elf, pulls some magazines that got stuck between two displays free and starts to smile.
"Yes! #267, #268 and most of #190." He starts to read and is so immersed that he completely misses most of the action in the store.
The shots that slay the drink machines followed by the second howl from the ganger finally wake him.
An automatic, howls, something about taxes? Well, I'll better start paying.
Letting go of the old magazines, Rob's right dives under his jacket and reappears holding a big pistols that fires two shots at the howling ganger, who manages to dodge once but not twice and takes a solid hit to the chest while a big water filter in the shelf next to him disintegrates and showers the area with small plastic pieces.
"Gotcha!"

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles would never hit a woman for a verbal slight... "Tusker..." it just hung in the air. As Zany moved to reveal her SMG, however, the situation changed.

I'd never hit an unarmed woman...

The red flowed from behind his eyes as Zany made her second mistake: she spoke.

"I'm here to collect taxes."

Knuckles' instincts took over at the sight of the weapon. Immediately, its aim was redirected by his left arm as it moved up and out, drink still in hand. As red sticky liquid took to the air, the SMG began to fire, pumping round after round into the air and wall behind Knuckles. His right arm then unleased a devistating blow, backed by all the rage that had welled up inside him. Zany topples like a house of cards on a windy day.

Knuckles snorts "Tusker?" then spits on the fallen girl. A howling roar is heard from the front of the store, and Knuckles directs his attention to the bloodthirsty howl.

As sudden as the events occurred, Knuckles notices he is standing in a messy store, but cannot seem to remember why he is here, or why he is covered in such tasty goo.

[drips]

Sphinx's brain kicked into overdrive as the gangers began terrorizing the store.

Follow protocol. First establish a base, then launch a counter attack.

He focused all his attention on the racks in front of him and began to bind mana to his will. But... nothing appeared. All he got for his efforts was a headache. Suddenly Sphinx felt very, very vulnerable. He quickly dived behind the magazine rack and began planning his next move.

Screw protocol, I need to wipe them out. Fast.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone goes to meet the elementals, hoping to find their summoner.

I prepare to defend myself. Spirits to me! Please Confuse all who attack me.

I hear shots going off from every part of the store as 2 of the elementals attack. The first one comes in low and I side step it, then spin and kick out at it with my sqeeky, wet shoe. It connects, but my satisfaction is short lived as the other fire elemental buzzes me from aboze. I throw a hand up to block it and then punch as hard and quick as I can and feel the blow land well on the spirit, but it hardly seems to notice.

They are trying to coordinate their attack now. They are ripping and biting at me, but I'm managing to avoid their attacks, but at the same time, my attacks are largely ineffective. I do manage to tag the one I landed the kick on earlier. This must look interesting to any observers.

I focus a bit more on the one I've hurt the most as they continue their attack and manage to hit it repeatedly, however, I am pretty much just holding the other one off at this point. But my tactic seems to work and the first fire elemental to attack me is starting to show some signs of being hurt.

[tisoz]

As Stone fights astral observers would notice a couple more spirits join the fracas.

One of them asks the attacking elementals, "If a fire elemental boarded an eastbound suborbital at 0900 that was traveling at 2000 kph, and a water elemental boarded a westbound ballistic flight at 0945 traveling at 3500 kph, at what time could we expect a steam bath?"

The other spirit, looking like a puffy cloud is busy making dizzying circles around what could pass for the elementals heads.

[tisoz]

You don't believe it. Several members of the gang just disappeared, the howling guy, the katana guy frightening Wanda, the little prince, and the poor slob who fell. Thoughts of, "Beam me up, Scotty," go through your minds.

[Chance359]

As soon as the first gunshot goes off, Tinker drops his groceries and a concealed pistols drops down into his waiting hand. Creeping toward the front of the store, he spots the wanna be sam with a sword drawn, hold the cashier hostage

Who the fuck uses a sword in an armed robbery?

Taking a second to aim at the would be swords man, Tinker fires off one round striking him somewhere on his left arm, causing the the girl to be release.

Tinker's rounds seems to have brought a new combatant into the fray, who turns and blasts at him with a shotgun.

[tisoz]

In Aisle 8, Tinker shoots right past the guy talking to toasters, bringing him back to reality. The man screams, "You almost hit the Toaster!" Then draws a shotgun and fires.

[Chance359]

Tinker feels like someone has hit him in the chest with a sledge hammer as the shotgun slug punches though his armored jacket. Stagering back, pulls a bloody hand from his chest before falling

"Fuck."

Guess you a daisy motherfucker

[tisoz]

A voice that sounds like the guy who screamed he was the prince and it was tax time yells, "Spike! SlicerDicer! Stop who's shooting and let's get to collectin' taxes," but you can't see the guy. For that matter, his voice is kind of hard to hear, like he is yelling in a stage whisper.

Mr. Nick gives Knuckles and the stock boy, Johnny, a sad look as he is led to the door to the back room. Johnny just managed to wheel a mop bucket out of the back room, pushing it by the handle of the mop dowsed in the water in the bucket.

From the area of Aisle 5 you hear a child's excited voice, "I can't see what's going on! Do ya think shadowrunners are robbing the place! Or maybe shadowrunners'll save us!"

Also from Aisle 5 comes near constant shrieks broken only by, "Be quiet, Louis."

The black clad and white clad duo in Aisle 7 have crouched down, drawn tiny pistols from somewhere and trying to use the cart for as much cover as possible. The man is looking at the big bags of cat food and kitty litter on the bottom shelf and is starting to pull a stack off the shelf to build a bunker. Given enough time, he will pull several off the shelf and use them like sand bags to build a little bunker into the shelf for his wife and he to take cover in.

Wanda stops screaming for a moment when everyone disappears from sight and starts to run away. She is stopped rather abruptly before managing more than a step by unseen forces and starts wailing again.

The man in Aisle 8 walks toward the frozen food cases.

A shuriken comes flying out of nowhere at Knuckles. Yes, out of nowhere, but from the direction of the checkout counter. It is followed in that same stage whisper type of talking, but has the familiarity of the wannabe, "Prepare to defend yourself, gaigin."

The attack comes from nowhere.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles begins to bleed, and notices it mixing with the cold sticky slurry already on the floor. Standing up calmly, he removes his bandanna and wraps it around his left fist, then drops his coat and gun to the floor. With a cracking of his neck, the last visible person in the room speaks to an unknown assailant.

"Coward. Show yourself, or finish the job... dog."

[tisoz]

Troy Anderson has made his way down to the end of Aisle 13, easing his pistol from it's holster when the shooting had started. Troy sees Mr. Nick being led through the doors to the back room, thinks that can't be good, then I do seem to have the perfect angle, raises his pistol and sends a double tap down range.

The first gel round drills the center of the icicle in the eye socket, putting a huge ding in the jacket, and the second, by chance and not some great aim, punctures the emblem right through the skull's eye emblazoned on the ganger's back. The young man goes down hard.

Then for some reason, Troy forgets why he came to the Stuffer Shack.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Boys, I call to my spirits. Conceal non-gang members starting with me and the store employees. And Confuse the gang members who came to "collect taxes" and anything helping them.

[tisoz]

John Stone, Mr. Nick, Johnny, and Wanda seem to disappear. The woman and Louis, as well as the kid by the checkout stand and Tinker seem to disappear. The couple in the pet food aisle, Sphinx and Rob seem to disappear. Knuckles, Troy Anderson, the gnome and manitou seem to disappear almost immediately after appearing for an instant.

The "prince", the howling man, SlicerDicer and the city spirit all look disoriented and puzzled - to any who can perceive them.

[drips]

Sphinx unbends himself and raises his hands. Mana focused in front of him, a gigantic wall begins to appear. Translucent bones shoot up from the ground, creaking and clacking against each other. Almost as soon as it started the barrier is complete, a massive wall of bones providing protection from the rest of the store. Stretching diagonally from the beginning of Aisle 2 to the beginning of Area K, blocking off the literary section entirely.

A satisfied look appears on his face, but Sphinx isn't finished. Scanning the rest of the shop he sees a man lying on the ground, someone who had obviously been on the wrong side of the gun. Making a split second decision he focuses his magic on the man. A luminous tuxedo surrounds him, with a tiny skull over the pocket. The skull is wearing a top hat and smiling broadly, giving a thumbs-up to the world in general. Satisfied with his work, Sphinx considers the situation.

Frag the gangers, heal the innocent, go home and get drunk... My head is killing me.

[Ears]

Rob's eyes go wide as the man he just shot fades from his view. "Fragging magic!" He squints, turns his head this way then that. He even tries sniffing the air.
Stupid halfer, do you know what an invisible spellworm smells like? No? Bet he's still around though...
Shrugging, he points the gun roughly at where the ganger disappeared and shoots, succesfully creating one more dent in an already battered DeathRace:Detroit arcade machine way down in the corner of the store.
"Hmm, maybe..."
Rob starts to slowly walk forward when he suddenly slips, has to make a big step to keep from falling, his eyes become glazy and he looks at his gun as if to say "What are YOU doing in my hand?".

[tisoz]

A pile of rocks falls near where the howling man was last seen. Then a puddle that looks like many of the other puddles tracked into the Stuffer Shack that night runs, as water will, and seeps around and between the rocks. The howling man becomes visible under the wet pile.

Rob, Troy Anderson, and Knuckles come out of their dazed state of mind. The "prince", Spike, and SlicerDicer come back into view.

"Coward. Show yourself, or finish the job... dog."

"Gladly," SlicerDicer says and looks to be initiating an attack as Knuckles vanishes from sight.

The "Prince" looks incredulously at the wet heap of stone burying his fellow gang member and let's go with shots at the pile. The first two shots kick up some dust and a few pieces chip off, but there is no great change in the rocks appearance other than it creeps toward the checkout stand. The "Prince" shoots again, blowing a few more chips off the rocky thing and a big chunk out of the lip of the counter. He squeezes the trigger again to hear that dreaded sound during combat of the click of an empty chamber.

The toaster talker walks to the end of the aisle and trips on something, then bends down and pats at the concealed armored body lying there and starts looking around.

Spike approaches the screaming woman. "G-Gimme all your valuables," he demands in a shaky voice. Louis looks at his mom and back at Spike.

"Are you a shadowrunner?" the little boy asks.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

A smile creeps onto John Stone's face for the first time since this mayhem began as he sees the shaman get buried. He watches as the City spirit goes free and departs. Then he turns his attention to what was starting to look like an execution in progress.

John starts drawing the mana and focuses his concentration by quietly incanting, "carpe nocturne, antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem, a posse ad esse," and casts a spell at SlicerDicer. There is no visible effect and I was able to channel the mana through my body without damage.

The smile is short lived.

[Ears]

Shaking his head, Rob seems to regain his concentration just in time to watch the howling guy reappear unconscious and covered by a moving pile of rocks and what looks like a sentient puddle of water.What? More magic? He first starts to bring up his pistol to bear at the rocks but as they come under fire while lumbering off towards the counter Rob instead runs after it.
"Enemy of my enemy my ass!"

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles sees Slicerdicer appear before him. Finally, I can see what this guy is made of. Without hesitation, Knuckles moves to strike Slicerdicer, and overextends, smacking his forearm upside Slicerdicer's head.

The Japanese man seems startled by this, and quickly swings his sword forward, leaving a devastating blow onto the counter beside Knuckles. The ork responds with his left fist, buried into Slicerdicer's abdomen.

Round two, drekwad

[drips]

Troy Anderson comes out of his dazed state to see the wannabe samurai from earlier attacking a fellow ork. Acting quickly, he approaches and kicks the wannabe right in the gut. Hard. A surprised look comes over SlicerDicer's face, quickly followed by a look of extreme pain and he begins to cough up blood as he drops to the floor. He barely notices the pink, fizzy liquid that splashes his body as he hits the ground.

[Xiuhaun]

Wasting no opportunity, Knuckles drops down on top of Slicerdicer, grabs him by the hair, and punches him into the floor, causing another splash.

Still holding the Japanese man by his hair, Knuckles askes "Do you yield?" and offers quarter.

Noticing that the man has finally passed out, the ork sighs, stands, and addresses Troy, "Thanks."

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone sighs and starts centering himelf to summon. Ex cearulo Faber est suae quisque fortunae, Fabricati diem pro bono. I look over the shelves and out into the storm and summon a spirit of the elements. My body jerks slightly as I can't quite control the mana needed for such a powerful summoning. It is kind of orgasmic, only in a totally bad sort of way. I must be a masochist to keep tempting such power. My ears ring and I can feel the blood pounding in my head, only the pounding feels like hammer blows. From past experience, I figure my eyes are bloodshot and I wouldn't be surprised if my nose started bleeding.

But the spirit of my desire has come. Please use your Psychokinesis power to attack the gang until they are subdued. I send a mental image of their colors and icicle/skull emblem.

From the end of Aisle 9 nearest the checkout counter, I see the prince is trying to reload as two of my spirits are about upon him. Directly ahead of me, it looks like Mr. Nick and Johnny are out of harms way in the back room. To my right, I see a couple of orks have beat the wannabe samurai senseless. Time to find the rest of the gang.

I draw my pistols, the Browning in my right hand and the Steyr in my left, take a deep breath, and walk back toward Aisle 10...

[Chance359]

Troy looks at the other ork combatant, "Anytime." He draws his Max Power and bends down and puts two shots into the unconcious ganger on the floor. Looking up at Knuckles "Shall we go find the rest?"

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Still looking like a part of the large puddle between the entrance and the checkout counter, the undine seeps through the gaps at the bottom of the counter and forms itself into a fountain of water behind the ganger and Wanda, then pours down on the ganger. The ganger cringes as he is dowsed with cold liquid that hits him harder than any ordinary water could.

Almost immediately, a small funnel cloud, somehow fitting under the Stuffer Shacks ceiling, appears just within Aisle 9. A big hoop sylph has dropped into the fray.

Back behind the checkout counter, the "Prince" looks like someone slitch slapped him with an invisible, big, foam, hands, only this one seemed to be wearing brass knuckles. Blood and something white, maybe teeth, maybe snot, flies from his mouth as his head whips violently around. The gore sprays the counter and sops the impulse goodies stocked there.

The pile of rocks keeps moving toward the "Prince", kind of rolling over itself. The rocks furthest from the direction the gnome is moving appear to roll over the pile and then in turn get rolled over. When it encounters the checkout counter it forms into a pile, rocks from the back and bottom piling up to the top and against the counter. As it gains the counter-top, the gnome forms something resembling a stone wall and quickly topples over onto the ganger.

[Chance359]

As Tinker cyberware detects the extent of his injuries, his bio-monitor activates his auto-injector pumping lifesaving chemicals into his hears and blood stream.

As the toaster loving gang member reaches down to inspect the invisible mass, a loud beeping begins coming from a few inches off the floor.

[drips]

Now that Sphinx feels a bit safer, he reaches into a pocket and pulls out three doses of narcoject. Grabbing three needles from another pocket, he applies the narcoject to the needles. He takes the blowgun from his sock and loads it with one of the needles. The other two he puts into an easy to reach pocket.

If any of those bastards crash this gate, they'll have an unpleasant surprise to handle next.

[Ears]

Rob shoots out of aisle 1 (purifiers, filters ets.), manages a sharp right turn despite the slippery floor. Suddenly his eyes become go wide.
Shotgun! 'Crap!' Did you have to run? Now get him in the head.
More sliding on a thin film of water than really running, he brings up his gun, levels it at the man behind the counter and sends a short prayer to the gods of headshotting people and fires his Predator.
Luck favours him and the shotgun-toting ganger is blown back, landing unconscious on the floor.

[Xiuhaun]

Appauled by Troy's actions, Knuckles draws his backup firearm and takes cover behind the counter. Making a quick peak, he sees a dwarf blasting the ringleader in the face, and cant help but think oy, that'll leave a mark.

The tornado looking to buy some pez doesn't evade his notice either, What's with all this jojo today?.

Ducking behind the counter and not seeing any immediate threats, Knuckles says to Troy, "Leave that one be" while motioning to the unconsious gal on the floor, "She isn't the threat".

Continuing, "Drek's going down, looks like there may be a few others over that way" motioning over the counter. "Did you see anyone head for the back?"

[tisoz]

The small funnel cloud, the mass of moving rock and the puddle/fountain of water disappear from the physical plane.

[Chance359]

Troy taps Knuckles on the shoulder nodding toward the racks of soykay. The hydraulic jacks kick in and propel Troy from behind cover to Aisle 13.

[Ears]

Rob slows down to a walk on the wet floor, looking around to see if anybody is about to attack him. Three down, how many more to go? Hearing someone demanding a credstick from aisle 5 (soap and stuff) he heads that way. At least one, it seems.

Turning around the corner, both he and the would-be robber are startled to see each other at such a short distance. Did he have to stand right behind the corner?

Rob, who at least expected the other man, reacts the fraction of a second faster and gets his shot off first.
The soft bullet flattens against the other's chest, forcing the air out of his lungs and pushing him back by about a metre.

Still on his feet, the ganger regains his breath and returns fire at Rob, who hasn't even time to think about dodging. The solid round hits Rob in the left arm, who hardly seems to notice the hit.

He fires another shot at the robber, hitting his right shin this time. On the slippery ground, the man can't help but stumble and then fall backwards into a woman with a child - his intended victims, who try to get out of the way but stand no chance of doing so quickly enough. Crashing down in one thrashing and wriggling heap, the three manage to knock bottles of soap off the shelves, some of which break open and douse them in slippery cleanlyness.

A small trickle of blood runs down Rob's left arm and starts to slowly drip onto the floor.
Civies. And a kid to boot. And I'm hit. Wounded even. Thanks for nothing, ballistic underwear.
Looking at the mess he mumbles "civies".

[tisoz]

The buzz-cut haired man straightens from feeling the hard to see, beeping body. Magic he thinks. Might be getting ready to explode, too. He turns and looks along the frozen food cases in the direction of the lower numbered aisles and sees the glowing barrier blocking off the magazine section. More magic that way. He turns some more and heads back down the aisle he was in.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone approached the gap between Aisles 9 and 10 with wariness, checking for people in other aisles. He spotted a buzz-cut man wearing the gangs colors and toting a shotgun approaching the gap from Aisle 8. He considered filling that aisle with lead from full auto fire of the weapon in his left hand and a couple of shots from the one in his right, decided that could be a lethal mistake if the guy just happened to wear the wrong colored coat tonight, and decided on a less mortal action.

Habetis bona deum, Homo praesumitur bonus donec probetur malus I speak the foreign words, feeling the background count rise from the blood spilled here tonight, the terror it aroused, and to some extent, the magic being used. I send the bolt of mana at the unsuspecting man and this time I feel the magic flow through my body with little resistance.

On the other side of the gap between aisles, the buzz cut man falls to the floor with a grunt, his free out-stretched arm sweeping a slew of electronic products off the shelf and to the floor with him.

[Chance359]

Troy looks up upon hearing a body fall.

"Clear?" he yells and waits for a reply.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone hears, "Clear?" and says, "I don't think so!" as he walks down the gap between the rows of Aisles toward the side of the building sporting windows. If it was clear, I would have felt my spirit depart that was finished with its last service. Which reminds me I better summon another while I have the chance.

I look ahead through the window into the domain of a dark and stormy night. Quit thinking of that beagle typing on his dog house. You better concentrate, dammit! I think and say, "Aut viam inveniam aut faciam aqua pura." I feel the mana building and shape it to my will. Shortly, an undine hovers near me in astral space.

[Ears]

Rob points his gun at the wriggling mess before him.
Shoot? And if I hit the kid or the mom? An eye won't care I'm using gel rounds...
Talk.
"Listen punk; three of your friends are already down; wanna join 'em?"
After a short pause to let this sink in, he continues.
"Now, slide over your gun, stay down and let the fine lady and her offspring get away from you and you'll make it out alive."
Upon seeing the resignation in the ganger's eyes, Rob let's out an almost imperceptible "Good choice."

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Upon hearing the voice an aisle or so over call for a surrender and relate the knowledge that three of the persons friends are down, John Stone makes the guess that he is referring to gang mambers.

"I've seen four down," John says. "The howling shaman up front." Stone continues to look around as he walks, talking in short snippets. "The mage taking Mr. Nick to the back." "The guy with the katana." "An older guy with a buzz cut and shotgun." "I've also got a customer down at 8 and frozen food." "I had spirits conceal non-gang members." "Also saw a couple of my spirits attack the "Prince"." "Is he down?"

[tisoz]

You hear Mr. Nick over the stores public adrress sytem, the stress in his voice makes you wonder how he overcame his fear to even be addressing you. "I can't see everything from the store camera, but I don't see any of the gang that attacked us still on their feet, except for the one in..." There is a bit of a pause, then he continues, drawing out the first word, "Aaiisle 5, maybe? Johnny says he doesn't see anyone in our back room. Wanda, please, be quiet, dear. It looks like it might be over."

There is something in hearing Mr, Nick's voice that seems to transform the store far more powerfully than his words have any right to do. Maybe the hope that it instills that the attack might be over, and you seem to have survived the mayhem.

Just when the woman in Aisle 5 seems to have screamed herself hoarse, the tornado like spirit appears behind her in the aisle. The next sound is Spike getting knocked back along the shelves and raking them as he falls, pulling down the bottled douches, then the tampons from the next shelf down and finally the feminine hygein pads from the last shelf onto himself. The Woman slowly turns to look in fear at the tall funnel cloud, slowly drawing a deep breath. Surprisingly, the tornado looking spirit seems to bow to her and then move away toward Aisle 6.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Upon hearing Mr. Nick say it looks like the gang is down and reminding him they may be in places other than the store floor, John Stone directs his spirits. Those of you attacking the gang robbing the store, he flashes a mental image of the gang's colors and emblem, be sure to look for the enemy in the back rooms of this building as well as around its exterior and parking lot. If you find no more, I thank you for your service and consider it finished. You did a fine job.

[BobRoberts]

Troy lowers the barrel of his pistol, pointing towards the floor, but keeping a firm grip. He starts to cautiously move towards the security room, looking carefully before stepping around any aisles.

"Anyone see any more out front?", he asks in a conversational tone. "Just going to check that Mr Nick's alright."

And see if those cameras have an easily erased record function...

[drips]

Sphinx scans the store intently, looking for any active enemies.

"Think they're all down!"

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone reaches his mind out to his spirits. If the are no more gang members standing, I thank you, and you may quit concealing us.

I notice what is on the shelves of the Aisle I am by instead of searching for people who would slice, stab or put bullets into my carcass. A dwarf walks right past me and grabs a medkit, turns and introduces himself with an extended hand. I holster my heavy pistol and take his hand. I almost stammer as I say, "I go by Rocky" I listen to him as he asks if anyone else is hurt. As I grab the most expensive, complete medkit I see, I say, "Yeah. There's a guy in the next aisle over that looks like he got hit pretty bad. I was just grabbing this," I wiggle the medkit, "and heading that way," and circle back around to Aisle 8. I stop at the buzz cut man I downed, holster the machine pistol and pick up his shotgun in the event he gains consciousness, think about it for a second and surreptitiously pull a credstick and car keys from his pocket as I search for other weapons. Heading to the man sprawled at the end of the aisle, a clever thought enters my mind, and when I get to the end of the aisle I look through the front windows and summon an undine.

When it appears before me in astral space I tell it, go to the shaman in front of the entry doors, then the mage by the doors to the back room and then any of the other gang members (I give it a mental image of the gangs colors and symbol) and take any magic items or keys they may have and wait for me with them at my car. As you do this, conceal yourself, your actions and any thing you take.

[Xiuhaun]

After the all-clear is sounded, Knuckles returns his backup pistol to the holster in his lower back, and walks back to where he had dropped his coat earlier. Tying his blue bandana around his head, he picks up the soiled coat and lets it drip dry a bit before putting it back on. He retrieves his main pistol, thinks "Will have to clean this bastard before I can use it again", ejects the clip and unchambers the round. The unloaded pistol returns to the sidearm holster, the round returns to the clip, and the fully loaded clip finds its way into his left pocket.

Surveying the surroundings, Knuckles stands over the fallen Japanese fighter and produces two pieces of copper to place over his eyes. He whispers, "Rest in peace, may this provide you passage to the other side."

Turning his attention to the KO'd woman, he picks her up and carries her towards the front. Stopping at the counter, he addresses Wanda, "How much for the Fizzygoo I dropped back there?"

[drips]

Sphinx drops the barrier spell in front of him and watches the bones fade into nonexistence. He jogs down Area K to the severely injured man. He quickly checks the man's vitals. Satisfied that the man isn't about to die, he lightly slaps the man's face as he drops the armor spell.

"Oy chum, next time try to dodge. Want me to heal you up here or is there a doctor you'd prefer to go to?"

To the rest of the store Sphinx yells, "Anyone in need of immediate medical treatment, come to the frozen food section."

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John Stone comes up behind the giant elf, notices the spell being dropped, and hears the black man ask the guy that is down if he wants healed here or a preferred doctor.

"I snagged the best medkit they had," I say as I hold out the medkit. "If you are planning on using magic to heal him, I'd wait until we get him out of here because there's some background count that won't help."

I hold out my hand and say, "You may call me Rocky. Just another night at the Stuffer Shack, huh? I usually only run into stuff like this when I'm out trying to get my laundry washed." I realize I am feeling the after-effects of the adrenalin surge and quit talking.

[Ears]

Rob looks at the kid and repeats the question "Am I a shadowrunner? Do you think that's the kind of question that elicits a clear response? The kind of question you should be asking of someone who holds a big gun?"
Before the kid can press the matter, a spirit materialises, attacks the ganger and vanishes again.
Rob points the gun at the point where the spirit was just a second ago and yells:
"Frag! Hey, that guy's already surrendered! You, ah whatever you are! Frag!"
Note to self: get some info on how this drek actually works. Can you talk to these .... things?
Bending down, Rob checks his prisoner's pulse, relieved to find him alive but unconscious.
"Magic!" He looks at the kid and continues "Now listen to your mom and leave, that's no business for kids."
6 shots, that's 18 nuyen for unpaid getting-shot-at work. Turning into some kind of charity, chummer?
He holsters his heavy pistol, takes the ganger's gun, stuffs it into his belt and proceeds to pat the unconscious man down, looking for valuables.

Next he grabs a blottle of bleach, pours it all over the few drops of his blood that hit the floor, grabs a second bottle of the stuff, walks the few steps over to the medkits, grabs one, takes off his jacket and starts to work on his left arm.
When a man who fought the gangers as well walks in to get a medkit, Rob stops his treatment, offers his hand and says "Nice work, chummer. Name's Rob. Anybody seriously wounded?"

"Nice to meet you, Rocky. Yeah, you never know these days. One moment I'm looking at vintage comic books mags and the next this place is chock full of gangers and mojo." Looking at Rocky, he continues "So, who're you getting the medkit for? Somebody I should look at once i've got this little hole taped over? I'm no doctor by far, but maybe I can help."

[drips]

Sphinx takes Rocky's hand and shakes it. "Sphinx. This guy is going to be out for a while, I'll need to get him someplace more... clean before healing him. I don't suppose you have a vehicle we could use? I'd rather not carry him onto the bus, it might attract some negative attention."

Standing up and stretching, Sphinx checks out the rest of the 'Shack. "Would be best to take anyone in need of treatment with us as well. I'm a decent enough medic, but working in here won't make things any easier."

[tisoz]

Mr. Nick comes up behind Wanda, bends and takes the shotgun from the "Prince" and places it well out of the downed ganger's reach.

Mr. Nick asks, "Wanda?" trying to get her to quit screaming and pay attention, then shouts, "Wanda!" The girl is finally somewhat silent. Mr. Nick suggests, "Why don't you go back to the break room?" He takes her by the shoulders, turns her in the right direction and gives her a little nudge.

Mr. Nick looks at the ork asking about paying for a spilled drink and shakes his head in disbelief. "No. No, don't worry about it. It's complimentary," he says, then bends to the PA microphone and announces, "Stuffer Shack is sorry for any inconvenience you may have experienced. To show its gratitude to its loyal customers, all orders are free of charge for the next 2 minutes. Lone Star has been notified and we at Stuffer Shack would not want to further inconvenience our vigilant shoppers any further. Thank you for shopping at Stuffer Shack and be sure to check out next weeks special on frozen confections."

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Well, that one set of keys I snagged looked like it had a Bulldog keychain John "Rocky" Stone thinks. And if it isn't out there, I can go ahead and try to load him in my car. "Sure, I have a vehicle. I'm not sure how much room I'm going to have. Any plan on where to take him? This is Rob," Stone motions to Rob. He sounds like he knows a bit about using a medkit, but he needs worked on himself first.

"I was in here to get an umbrella, among other things. I think they have some plastic items we could use like a tarp and curtain an area off somewhere if it comes to that. Stuff like tablecloths, ponchos, maybe actual tarps. I think we should probably kind of wrap him in plastic so he doesn't leave blood all over the place and give the Star reason to look for leaking bodies. Maybe even splash any blood with some bleach so they don't astrally track us. Maybe I can get Mr. Nick to hit it with a mop, too, before Lone Star arrives."

Stone hears Mr. Nicks announcement, smiles and says, "Looks like everything's on the house for the next couple of minutes."

[drips]

Sphinx nods to Rob. "Nice to meet you. I'm pretty handy with a medkit myself. I can take a look at you later if necessary." Turning back to Rocky he says, "I suppose if worst comes to worst we could take the poor chum back to my place. Let me grab some things to sterilize the place."

Sphinx gets up and makes a quick trip through the store, grabbing as many chemicals as he can. He also picks up a decent amount of food and drinking alcohol. As an afterthought he follows Rocky's suggestion and grabs something to be used as a tarp. After fitting as much as he can into his jacket and various grocery bags, he makes his way back to Rocky and Rob. "Think I got what we'll need to take him with us."

[Xiuhaun]

"Thanks... <squints> Nick, much appreciated."

Looking back at the rest of the store, Knuckles overhears Sphinx talking about medical attention. In an overly-loud voice, to make sure anyone can hear, he announces:

"I have a friend of mine who is a doc, she lives just down the street from here. I am sure she wouldn't mind the work, if you are interested. It is where I have gotten most of my work done in the past, real discrete."

Setting Zany on the counter for a moment, Knuckles pops open his wrist-phone and speed dials Sarah "Wagon" Murphy.

"Hey doc, sorry if I disturbed you, but drek hit the fan down here at the SS, and I have a few mates that could use a little of your attention... Few cuts and scrapes, though one got fragged pretty hard, no ones shrieking about it so I think he's stable. Yeah, we'll be down in just a few."

[Ears]

Rob nods at the mention of a doctor. "Yeah we'd better get him some help soon. And although I'm not badly hit, can't hurt to have a pro look at my arm." He'll help carry Tinker outside and then ask "Anybody's got a another van handy?" Holding up a set of keys, he continues "It seems I just won a new motorcycle and I'd hate to leave either it or my own here for the star to admire."

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John "Rocky" Stone goes back down Aisle 8, moving in what looks like double time. I grab the toaster talker by the collar of his armored jacket, drag him to the front of the store, and let go of him near the corner of the check-out counter. I go over to the mage and quickly search his body for magic items, keys, cred, weapons and valuables and use the spirit I'm channeling's concealment power on them. Next over to the shaman and the same. I go out the doors and hit the buttons on the keys I found and a GMC Bulldog right up front flashes its lights. I open its doors, throw in the bag of weapons and the bag of medkits and supplies, then quickly go around the side of the building to my car, get whatever the undine collected for me, pocket the knife, stow the rest and any remaining loot I found in the car, and set Grid Guide to take it to the Tacoma Hilton parking lot.

I go back inside and down Aisle 1, grab a respirator or two, then cut over to Aisle 4, grab a couple rolls of Duct tape, and head for the front of the store. I hand a roll of tape to Mr. Nick and say, "You might want to bind their arms and legs in case they come around before help arrives. I'd hate to think you became a hostage after we leave but before the Star arrives. Thanks for the free stuff." I then start binding the gang members with tape, searching them as I go.

I hear someone ask about a van, and I say, "There's one right in front. The doors are open and waiting."

[Ears]

Rob nods at Troy "Thanks mate." He searches the key and fob for a manufacturer logo (Suzuki) and then the parking lot for bikes that fit the bill. Having found an Aurora that accepts the key, he commences to push it over to and into the Bulldog. Rob then walks over to his Harley, starts it up, rides it slowly over to the van and parks it there.
Walking back into the store, he stuffs the magazines he'd looked at earlier into his jacket, zips it shut, nods at Mr. Nick and asks "Everybody ready for the ride?"
All in all a rather good evening. A pred; a dumb one but still a good gun. A nice bike. Does Debs even do bikes? And a story for 'sis.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles places Zany on the floor, and hurries back to grab Slicerdicer. After hauling him to the recently formed 'gang pile', he assists Nick in binding up some of the gangers before grabbing his keys and heading outside to lead the caravan to his doc's residence. Hopping on his BMW, giving a kick to start, he looks back to see if the others are ready. When ready, he starts down the street towards the doc's house.

[BobRoberts]

"I'm going have a quick look at the camera, if anyone wants to give me a hand."

Troy's pauses and his face goes slack for a moment. A channel opens, routed from his brain, through the neural interface at the top of his leg and down into the control deck. Quick look through the sensors to see no undesirables are nearby. Assuming not, a swift mental command:

Mr Van. Disengage rear and side door locks. Engage full lock on manual drive controls.

"If we're heading to the doc's, I can take a crowd... Mines the red Bison, doors are unlocked."

Pop a window showing the sensor output... keep an eye on who goes in or out.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

As I see the ork bring the former katana weilder over Rocky reaches into a pocket and hand him the set of keys I took off the girl. "I figure you earned this."

Soon after, I see the other ork that double tapped the mage and hand him the set of keys I took off that gang member. "You earned these," I say and add, "can't ride more than one at a time anyway. Even if I could ride."

Rocky assenses the gang as they are being bound. I easily distinguish the magical from the mundane, but I see something that disturbs me and makes me worry for Mr. Nick when we leave. I wish there was more than duct tape to bind them with. I go back to the medical supplies and grab half a dozen low rating Tranq Patches. I look at the large selection of slap patches and stuff my pockets until filled with the most expensive of each type.

I go back to the check-out counter and tell Mr. Nick, "If it looks like they are coming around, hit 'em with one of these." I give the Tranq patches to him. "I'd have Johnny help you watch them because," I point them out as I describe them, "this one and this one are magically active, and these guys look like they may have spurs or razors embedded in them."

I don't like the fear and trepidation I see on his face. "Don't worry but I'm going to have a spirit stay with you and keep an eye on them until you say he can go. I'd appreciate that being before Lone Star notices him."

I command the last service from the big sylph spirit. Use your psychokinesis power to attack any of the gang (mental image and point to them) that regains cosciusness until Mr. Nick says you can go. <Points to Mr. Nick.> Thank you for your help.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles looks over the keys Rocky gave him. He thinks to himself:

"Would rather ride a BMW than push a Harley... can't ride both bikes anyways"

"Keys in the Harley out here if anyone's interested. Feel free to help yourself"

Knuckles goes out to search the bike for anything that might be worth keeping, puts the key in the ignition, and walks to his bike.

[tisoz]

When it looks like everybody has mounted up, Knuckles start leading the small convoy through the dark and story streets of Tacoma.

Graffiti appears and disappears in the periphery of the headlight beams.

Kick the Khan!
Khan ROOLZ!!!

Harlequin wuz here

[BobRoberts]

Mentally wrestling with two vehciles in the rain is tough work... in one of the quiet moments Troy catches sight of the graffiti through the flurry of wiper blades.

Harlequin? Isn't that some sorta olden days clown? Wonder what that means?

The thought is pushed from his brain as a powerful gust of wind catches the Bulldog full on the side.

[Ears]

Ah, the lovely and famous Seattle weather.
Hmm, what should I do with the Suzuki? Rob ponders ..sure it's a nice bike WHOA!
Seeing the warning lights of the autonav lighting up, Rob barely avoids getting hit by a suicidal cab. When he's gotten clear of the car he pats the fuel cylinder of his Harley. You're right, I'll sell it and give you some upgrades, baby.
Rob accelerates, overtakes the cab that cut him off and gets back in line with the convoy. A Convoy, a group of people. Not the worst crew. Come to think of it, these gangers didn't stand a chance back there. Maybe some of them are competition? Colleagues?
With a thin smile Rob mumbles to himself "Now this will be interesting.".

[Green Eyed Monst...]

The ork on the motorcycle led off followed by a van, then a Bison, then another van with another motorcycle bringing up the rear. John "Rocky" Stone was in the second van, hauling a load of stolen motorcycles.

I wonder if seeing this guy cast this healing spell is worth as much as this load of bikes and van. I could turn off anywhere down through here and just go my own good way. Definitely worth a good deal of cred.

I balance these thoughts with others. These guys seemed friendly enough, not too bloodthirsty, either. When it comes to that, I think I was responsible for more real damage than the others. Not that often you leave the opposition without anyone dead. Most runs I've been on had their share of gratuitous violence. It almost seems like runners these days are all psychopaths. These guys are a nice change. I wonder if they're in the biz. Or want to be? Or are already a part of a regular crew?

Maybe I should split off. A bird in hand and all that. Then I think of how someone I trusted had betrayed me.

A sudden turn yanks me out of my reverie. The wheels on one side jump the curb and almost jars the wheel from my grip. I quickly adjust, too quickly I realize and drop the movement power, over adjust and fish tail the van. I get it straightened out with a jerky motion and think, you'd think the streets would be slippery enough to avoid jerking like that. I wonder if anybody noticed? Glad I've still got that Guard power up. That could have left a nasty mark.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles pulls up first, and motions for the other vehicles to be parked along the street, so that the driveway could be used for unloading the wounded. He pulls his bike up alongside the garage, and shakes some water drops off his coat before knocking on the door.

After Sarah answers the door, he proceeds to say "Thanks for helping us out on such short notice, doc. Some gangers decided to jump the SS down the street, didnt realize what hit them. The fragged one is in the van, I can help them get him downstairs for you."

Knuckles then heads to the van in the driveway to assist in moving Tinker to the lab in the basement.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

John "Rocky" Stone sees the ork who led the way park and direct people to parking spaces. Good, it looks like he's saving an easy spot for me. I head for the nice, wide open space by the driveway, when suddenly, the ork waves me off. I manhandle the wheel trying to avoid running him down as he steps in the drive to make his point clear that I am not to park there. I barely get the vehicle under control as I cross over the street and knock over some garbage cans opposite the driveway, bringing the van to a lurching, jerking stop. I jump out quickly thinking any landing you walk away from... and acting like that was exactly how I meant to park and go to help get the wounded inside.

[BobRoberts]

Troy parks both his vans, taking care not to jostle his own vehicle with the injured guy in it.

Wow. A hottie dwarf doctor. This day just keeps getting better.

He mentally orders his van to open up and moves to lend a hand moving Tinker to the docs 'Slicing Room'.

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles and Troy quickly move Tinker to the basement and let the doc get to work.

To Troy, Knuckles says "By the way, I'm Hugh. My mates call me 'Knuckles' as you may have guessed back at the SS. Thanks for the assist back there, lucky this was all I got."

[Chance359]

Conciousness comes and goes for Tinker as he's transported from the scene of a robbery gone right to a flat table in a clinically clean room. Every once and a while the dwarf in scrubs soothing storkes his forehead as she pulls bits of lead and ceramic fragments out of his body.

[tisoz]

As the good Samaritans work to get the injured out of the rain and down the stairs, they can hear sirens approaching. A few blocks away, the majority of the wailing vehicles sound like they are headed for the vacated Stuffer Shack. However, from the Doppler effect, it sounds like one is headed to your location.

How could they know we came this way?

There is a collective sigh of relief when the DocWagon ambulance turns onto the street.

Sarah is busy tending to the unconscious man who has been laid out an a short table that makes you think of Japanese dining. The clink of a bloody slug dropping into a stainless steel bowl jars you back to the seriousness of the situation. Another slug gets pulled from the man, the forceps holding it held for a closer look and then it joins the first with another clink. "Both bullets looked intact. He's lucky," Sarah says.

The next thing you know, a pair of paramedics are joining Sarah in the makeshift operating room. "You going to take him away now that the hard part is over?" Sarah asks them.

They look at each other, then shrug. One of them says, "I don't really want to carry him up those stairs on a gurney. We were just doing our job, ma'am. He's lucky to have such good friends to get him treated so quickly. Too bad they didn't know we were on the way and could have saved themselves some trouble."

The other one adds, "We were kind of wondering if it was going to be another one of those eviscerated joygirls that have been getting hit around here. All in all, I'm glad it was just some poor slag with a sucking chest wound. Those girls... The memory of those bodies is going to haunt me the rest of my life." He visibly shudders.

[Ears]

Arriving last, Rob parks his chopper next to the others' vehicles and follows them inside. What's her name? Sarrah? Could be my sister if she'd gone on the wild side like me. Her office is a lot nicer, I must admit.

Inside he drops his wet jacket over a radiator, looks for some coffee and then leans against the wall, half watching the doc do her job, half reading one of the comic books he'd taken from the Stuffer Shack. As the paramedics come in, he glances up, grins and goes back to leafing through his comic.

Rob straightens and any remaining trace of a smile vanishes from his face, when the EMTs mention the brutally killed joygirls.

A shocked DocWagon paramedic? Must have been really bad. Or he's still a rookie.

He walks over to one of them and says "Sorry, chummer. What was that about joygirls being attacked in the vicinity?"

Why do you ask? You're no longer a bounty hunter. So what? I have to look away?

[BobRoberts]

Earlier - to Knuckles. "Good to meet ya Knuckles. I'm Troy... If anyone needs thanks for the assist, it's you... Think I'd have been in deep drek if you hadn't been there. I owe you one!" After a few reflective seconds "You know that gang? Think we're gonna get more trouble from 'em?"


Later - to the paramedic. "Eviscerated Joygirls... More than one?" Troy lets out a sad sigh "Jeez, I don't envy your job mate. Take it they're different from the usual crimewave round here?"

[Xiuhaun]

Knuckles, to Troy, "Cant say that I recognized them, but it seems they were after the 'Shack, and we just got in the way. I'd be surprised any of them might recognize us, but I'll let my boys know to be on the lookout, just the same."

At the sound of "Eviscerated Joygirls...", Knuckles grabs his phone and calls Rachel, a street-walking friend of his, immediately to see if she is alright.

[tisoz]

Rob says, "Sorry, chummer. What was that about joygirls being attacked in the vicinity?"

The paramedic answers, "Yeah, I was wondering all the way over here if it was going to be another joygirl call. That's what we've, well DocWagon, have been getting in this area for about a week. I know the records list the patient as male, but when the details in the file are as sketchy as his, sometimes the records are wrong, and after all, it's just one character. You know, an M or an F. Then there's the wise guys who put a Y in there, but those are almost all guys."

The paramedic is rambling now. "Eviscerated Joygirls... More than one?" Troy tries to get him back on subject and lets out a sad sigh "Jeez, I don't envy your job mate. Take it they're different from the usual crime wave round here?"

"Well, yeah. Their mostly the same, it's like whoever is doing them is doing an autopsy or something, but from the bruising and blood you can tell the person was still alive when they were getting dissected. That's the biggest difference. I mean sometimes the victim gets unlucky and survives a lot of mutilation. Maybe just luck, or bad luck. But these victims were all alive through about the whole ordeal. Luck like that should buy a lottery ticket or not go out on a night like this 'cause lightning's going to get 'em."

Knuckles grabs his phone and calls Rachel, a street-walking friend of his, immediately to see if she is alright.

"Knuckles," Rachel answers, "I'm so glad you called. Me and the girls might have a job for you." She goes on to explain about the recent murders to members of her profession in the area she works. How Lone Star has stepped up their presence throughout Tacoma, but how even though the bodies have turned up across Tacoma all the girls regular corners were in a 15 block area, and Lone Star isn't paying those 15 blocks the attention it deserves.

"Anyways," Rachel says, "I figure me and some of the girls could hire you and yours to find the guy. I mean, we could hire bodyguards to watch us, but that could get into big nuyen if they don't stop this guy soon. I figure if me and some of the girls payed you what we'd pay a bodyguard for a week, it would make it worth your while to get this freak."

Sarah interrupts the talk about hacked up women. "Who's paying for this guy, anyway? I don't suppose DocWagon wants to reimburse me for all the expense they saved?"

"Sorry, ma'am," the first paramedic says, taps his partner and signals with a nod of his head that they should go. And that quick, Sarah gets rid of the paramedics.

"He's going to need cared for and, watched and rest for about the next week," Sarah points out. "I can put him up here with my other patient." Sarah does a quick mental calculation. "Call it an even thousand nuyen for the surgery and the recovery, unless he requires something more than ordinary." She looks expectantly at the group gathered around.

[Green Eyed Monst...]

As everyone seems to be examining either their footwear or the ceiling tiles, Rocky looks around and says, "I guess I can cover that, but it just about taps me out." When Rocky becomes the new focus of just about everyones attention, he explains, "Just nobody complain about me getting my nuyen back for this when I sell some of the gangs stuff. As far as that goes, Sarah, would you be interested in some medical supplies instead of nuyen?"

[BobRoberts]

"That's good of you Rocky, I've got a mate who'd be interested in the vehicles if you want an introduction?"

[Green Eyed Monst...]

Sarah seems happy with the medical supplies offer saying, "Feel free to come back anytime."

"Thanks for the invite," Rocky replies, "but if I do, I hope it's a situation like this; where I'm helping the wounded and not a customer."

About everyone comes around and let's him know how to contact them for when he's completed converting the swag to nuyen.

In response to Troy's offer, "I'd appreciate the help unloading this stuff," Rocky says. Thinking back to his ride over he adds, "I think I'll even let you do the driving."

Rocky looks over the assembly of people and can't help thinking this could make a nice shadowrunning team. He decides to see if the group intends to extend their easy alliance by asking, "Anyone thinking of looking into these joygirl attacks? We could try to find someone to foot the bill. Maybe Lone Star would pay a reward, or maybe we could see if some of the pimps or girls want to put up some nuyen to catch the guy. As far as that goes, maybe even the Mafia or Yakuza would put up some nuyen." Rocky gives a little laugh, "If we got real lucky, maybe they would all kick in some cred."

As people start discussing his suggestion, Rocky approaches Sphinx. "Have you got any use for a spirit focus? If not, I can probably get a good price for it and give you the cred."

[Ears]

Rob listens intently to what the paramedic has to say about the killings.
Now that's strange. Wouldn't at least the pimps look out for their 'investments'?
"hmm"

A thousand? Guess I still owe 'sis something for that other time...

To Rocky "Yeah, if you've got the contacts, go ahead and sell 'em" Rob hands him a key and a paper business card. "Here's a number. Just leave a message when the sale's done."

Aren't we in a trusty mood tonight?

...

After Rocky's proposal Rob flashes a smile "Getting paid to bust some murderous bastard's ass? Sounds just like my old job. If there's some cred in it, I'll bite. Let's get some intel."

Walking off into a corner, Rob opens his wristphone, dials a number from memory and, after a sort pause, leaves a message. "Hoi, big boy. I was shocked to hear about the way joygirls are being treated in Tacoma these days. You don't happen to know something about that, do you? Why don't we meet and talk about the old times? The usual spot, the usual time, yadda, yadda."

Come on, you nosy bugger; if your colleagues are not looking into this; I bet you do

[BobRoberts]

"No probs on the driving, don't want to trash the merchandise!"

"Hell, I'd be happy chasing crazy slashers round. If someones gonna pay, then it's the good type of public service?"

Troy fishes out his earpiece phone and joins in the cellphone party that seems to be starting.

"Oi. Larry. How ya doing? Got a good story and some bikes you might be interested in?"

[Chance359]

Tinker hears his rescuers discussing their future in the other room. Groaning as he attempts to sit up in the bed, "If anyone would grab my cyberdeck from my truck, I could use the 'trix to start narrowing down you guy's hunting area."

[BobRoberts]

Troy Hustles off to fetch the deck. Removes any of his own junk from Tinkers ride. Then locks it up.

"Hey man, good to see you up and about! I'm Troy. You sure you're up to that, you have been leaking a bit lately?"

Troy hands over the deck and Tinkers keys.