Up from the Bottom, Wipe Those Tears and Pass the Ammo Options

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Upstairs Bedroom
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:34:34
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

Johnson was pleasantly surprised at the quick response his team made to the possible threat. Sledge, Fortunato, and Cattie were all checking things out, in whatever ways their specialties suggested, Rocky was already on the task of finding an exit-route, and, although he wasn't certain what Cerberus was up to - Johnson suspected it involved that big gun in the van. He was all over damage control in the house - but that turned out to be a little easier than he expected. Mrs. Rosso really hadn't planned for the day when her hubby brought work home with him, and rather than being angry at Adam for being mixed up in it, she was looking towards him for help and guidance.

I wish either of us knew what to do, Lady...

He decided, for her benefit as much as his own, to act like he knew what the hell he was doing, and pretend that this sort of thing was fairly routine for Shadowrunners. "Okay, the team is doing recon and securing us a way out of here. If the people we tangled with earlier were stupid enough to follow us here - they are going to regret it. But, if it comes to that, for your own safety, I would like to help you and Rosso get out of here for a while. Let's let him rest until we have reason to leave, but, in the mean time, I suggest you gather up anything you absolutely can't live without."

"Do you or your husband keep any firearms in the house? And do you have your own transportation?" Johnson couldn't help but think that someone like Rosso would have his home secured somehow - at least have a cache of weapons and a getaway plan. Then he remembered he didn't have any of those things, himself. Rosso probably felt as safe at home as Adam did when he went home at night. And, if Gabs did have a gun on hand, Adam would have expected she would have come out holding that instead of a towel when the team first arrived.

Still, it didn't hurt to ask.

While he waited for her answer he typed a few quick keys and sent the message to the team. <<@Team:: Very good. Keep up communication.>>

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Upstairs Bedroom
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:34:40


"Do what you have to do, but we're not leaving. If his enemies find this place, then we'll NEVER be able to come back and be safe - and this is all we've been working for. We die here or they do. Follow me."

She led him down the stairs and into the kitchen. She pointed to the refrigerator.

"Behind the refrigerator there's a door leading to his basement workshop. I'm sure there are weapons down there. But I have no way to open it. He used his commlink, but I know the code is not on the comm itself. He input it manually every time."

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Kitchen
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:35:52
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

"I respect your determination, Gabs. Let me and my men take care of this one, at least - you should stay with your husband." He turned and looked at the refrigerator, "I'll see what I can do about this thing, and let you know if I get it open. If you're going to stand your ground, you'll want to be armed.... Does, uh, the 'frige move itself when the command is given, or do I need to get one of the trolls to move it? And does he do it wirelessly, or is there an access panel somewhere?" Adam felt a little stupid asking these questions, but with his background in computers and digital security, he could think of a small mountain of things Rosso might have done to make this task impractically difficult for someone who didn't know exactly what to do.

In his AR vision, Smith saw the output from his commlink's scan program, which was busy searching for nearby nodes. A number of public and private ids were populating his list, and Smith knew he was in for another needle-in-a-haystack situation. Luckily he had a couple of programs that might help him narrow down the possibilities. He was pretty certain he wouldn't find "Secret Armory" on the list of self-identifying wireless nodes, but he thought it wouldn't be unusual to fine a public refrigerator node. Of course, then, the question becomes whether or not Rosso gave the secret door its own separate wireless antenna, or had it piggy-back on the 'frige's.

While the search continued he started up his agent program, and began loading in the necessary software. After being warned that there were potentially enemy hackers nearby, he definatly didn't want to risk going hot-sim VR just to access a refridgerator.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Kitchen
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:35:54


"He just does something with his comm - enters a code on the keypad or with his glove - and the fridge swings out and there's a stairway going down. That's all I know...Um, I'm sorry, I have to get back to him."

[Konsaki]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Barn
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:34:30
Angel – Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Hidden

‘Oh, no…’, went through Angel’s head as she felt Shadow scream in pain. It was the first time she had ever heard one of her sprites perform such an act through the mental connection she shared with all of them. “Get out of there! Both of you!”, she yelled over the mindlink to the digital beings as her mind raced over the past half minute as she tried to figure out how things had come to this.

Her efforts to perform the digital surveillance against the unknown targets had commenced when Angel called forth into the Resonance realm hidden deep within the Matrix and compiled a form for the entity known as Shadow. The woman dressed in dark ninja gear gave the young angel a look of annoyance that seemed to be common any time she called on the crack sprite. Not a word was truly said between the two females as they shared each other’s feelings and thoughts with no difficulties in the shared node, but in an instant only the pink glowing technomancer was there, floating just off the ground.
Wasting no time, the six winged girl continued with her efforts by calling upon another known entity from the realm of pure data and wandering sprites. The roguish looking man before her she knew went by the name Locke, but unlike with Shadow, she smiled weakly as she gazed upon his image. “I’m sorry, but I need you to do something for me.”, she said to the man of brown hair and ever present smile.
Like with the sprite before him, nothing else was further said between the two as he knew what she wanted done without her actually saying such and was gone in an instant. By this time, she could feel the fact that Shadow knew that the system she was working on was about to go into alarm, but continued on. Caittie couldn’t think fast enough on her feet to decide on what to do because just seconds later she heard… no, felt the pain that Shadow was enduring and instantly acted on it in fear.

She breathed out a sigh of relief when she saw both of the sprites reform back into their respective forms in Sledge’s commlink, but had to continue with her assigned task. Reaching into the Resonance once more, she called out to another of the sprites she had worked with before. In seconds, she saw a shorter man than Locke form out of the glowing motes and flash into virtual existence. Zidane ran a quick hand through his long hair with a smile as he looked over at the floating avatar of the person who compiled his current form.
Looking around quickly, the new comer quickly noticed the other sprites who also occupied the node, lingering his gaze on the woman in black garb who was clutching her side. Smirking a bit, he offhandedly remarked, “Damn, Shadow. What happened to you? You look like hell!” The injured sprite’s only reply was a growl and a snappy, “Bite me, monkey boy!”
Angel had no time to wait on the two sprites to continue sending remarks sent back and forth with each other. With an annoyed cough, the sprites all turned to the floating tech-angel and saw her looking directly at Zidane. “I need you to scan out there for a hidden vehicle node or whatever else is out there while I try to think up what to do next. This is important!”, the young technomancer said with an imperative tone. With only a grim look on his face, the monkey tailed man nodded and got to work on his task at hand.

In the real world, Caittie took a deep breath to steady herself before mentally talking onto the team’s comm net with a concerned voice, <<@Team :: “Something’s wrong here! These guys have some really high quality equipment on them and to make matters worse, they know something’s up now. I got into one of them, but not before they found me and spawned three agents.”>>
Taking a quick break from the update, she looked over to Zidane as he concentrated on the lines of data which weaved its way around him. He noticed her gaze, frowned and shook his head at her. Sighing, Caittie continued on with the bad news, <<@Team :: What’s more, I can’t seem to find any node for that car they're in. It’s like one doesn’t exist. I’ll keep trying, but I don’t think there is anything there other than the occupant’s commlinks.”>>

Her mind was still churning out plans of what do to next while Zidane continued his search of the airwaves. She quickly settled on two things, self preservation and trying to help out her injured sprite. The first was easy enough, she just concentrated on her matrix signature and scrambled it into a completely different jumble of alphanumeric and symbolic characters.
With that taken care of, her avatar on the digital realm lightly landed on her feet and then slowly walked over to the injured Shadow. Reaching out with both hands, she took a deep breath and a thick light blue glow surrounded them both before she placed them on the sprite’s side where she clutched herself. “I’m sorry about this… I didn’t think it would be this tough…”, she apologized to the sprite as she tried to heal the damaged wrought by the unknown agents.

[Abbandon]

[B]42398 Rural Route 11, Everett(in the barn)
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:35:46
Cerberus: Street Samurai
PAN - Hidden (earbuds only

At the mere mention of a possable hacker Cerberus went into "silent running mode". He killed the connection between his commlink and his cybernetic eyes which also made him lose the map and positions of his fellow runners and the new threat but he had a pretty good idea of where things were. With a second mental command he made sure the wifi on the assault rifle was off. He knew with all the technology crammed into his body he would be a regular playground if he left any of his vital systems open to attack.

Cerberus looked around at the barn noting its structure and how well it might hold up in a firefight. He didnt know whether they are were going to run or stay and fight but he did know he wated to survive.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Kitchen
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:36:50


Johnson turned his agent loose on the refrigerator-secret door, and then occupied himself trying to beat the knowbot using his own skills - he lost. In under a minute, the agent reported that it had confirmed the alphanumeric access code for the door.

Entering the digits, Johnson was rewarded with the sight of the big white appliance swinging gently outward, revealing a stairway leading downward. It was well enough lit, and at the bottom appeared to open up into a wider area.

[DireRadiant]

Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:35:03
Sledge - Recon Patrol
PAN - Hidden

The slick grass and weeds, and flowers, all the same to her, though she had heard most flowers were really weeds to most farmers, made it slow going. Sledge had to be careful with her footing, as well as guiding the heavy hog along as even ground as possible. It was going to need a serious cleanup after today's work. But nothing was going to stop the hogs motor from running, at least not anything that wouldn't stop her first. She was a lot more vulnerable then the hundred kilos of cold milled steel block that made up the engine.

The chatter made her pause, and the implications sank in. The ork woman leaned against her hog and stopped in her slow advance. Eyes shut she reviewed the situation, none of the options were good, and the best chances indicated a level of coordination between the team she knew they hadn't even come close to yet.

<<@team:: I read bogeys confirmed hostile and alert. Vut...

Right, listen up. In 15 I will be in position to disable the vehicle. At that time I will be OFFLINE. I can't talk to you, you can't talk to me. Options, I disable vehicle undetected, then we deal with occupants. Disable vehicle first in case handling occupants goes sour, gives a better chance of getting away. If I'm detected disabling vehicle, I'd appreciate some support till that task is done. If I disable the vehicle without being detected, then I will be in position to support any action to handle the occupants. I will await your signal to initiate action. If you do not signal to initiate action after one minute, then I will withdraw.

2 minute discussion period before I go offline.

If someone can send me the commcodes for the tractor and get it running out this way it would be really useful. Get it within half a klick or better.>>

Grimly she resumed pushing her way forward, recalculating her eta and adding the appropriate cushions for the change in mode. At some point she was going to have start crawling.

gotta crawl before you can run

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Kitchen
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:36:56
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

Sledge's message had distracted him, but he had a feeling that the hacker-in-a-box would have finsihed first. Adam didn't have the convenience of VR to even hope to compare to an agent at most tasks. As the doors swung open, he reviewed her message, and wished he had gotten to it sooner.

As he walked down the stairs, he spoke silently into his mic.

<<@Team:: "Good work, Sledge. If you can disable the vehicle undetected, I say go for it - but if you're going to engage the enemy, wait until we can give you backup. Everyone else, I just found Rosso's weapon-cache in the kitchen. Anyone moving out to support Sledge may want to stock up. I'm moving in now, and I'll relay what I see, in a moment.

When you get a chance to breathe, I'd like details on what this bogey is, and how we know its hostile - besides having top-of-the-line tech. But for now, I trust your judgement, and we can't afford to take chances. We need to disable them, and cut off communications. Then we need to be prepared to evacuate.">>

[Konsaki]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Barn
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:37:15
Angel – Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Hidden

It took some time to heal up Shadow’s wounds, but not nearly as much time as it would had she been flesh and bone. Angel had stayed quiet during the entire procedure, but she truly felt sorry for the sprite. In her mind, she remembered what Rebecca had told her before, ‘Even though these sprites don’t have physical bodies, it doesn’t mean they are less real than you and me. They feel pain, joy, anger and happiness just like us. Treat them more or less like you would another person and you can’t go wrong.’
With Shadow fully recovered, the angel avatar stepped back a few feet and looked at both the ninja woman and the roguish man. Letting out a soft sigh, the pink haired angel looked down at the ground for a second while playing with a few strands of hair nervously. With a truly apologetic voice, Angel said to them, “I’m sorry for that. I didn’t know they would be that powerful and ready. I release you from my service to go back to the resonance. Again, I’m sorry.”
After watching her sprites fade away into the motes of light whence they came, she turned to Zidane and gave an expectant look to the sandy haired male. All he could do was shrug back at the avatar and say, “Nothing new.” Nodding, Angel told him, “Ok, keep me informed if anything changes with those two or you find anything new.”

With that, she proceeded to jump into all the commlinks on the team’s network she access to and went through the process of scrambling their commcodes. She felt this would be one of the few things she could do, since her sprites couldn’t make it into the enemies’ commlinks. While doing this, she received and read Sledge’s message about her going fully off soon.
Johnson’s message came a bit later, but halfway through it Zidane broke her concentration with an urgent message of his own. “Boss! I have something!”, his voice called over the mindlink. Expecting that he found the hidden node, she asked, “You found it?” His reply though was something else, but more important than that, all things considered, “Those two nodes are on the move!”
“Where?!”, Caittie called out both over her mindlink and in real life, an error of the moment. “Headed west! They are… now out of range. I can’t see them anymore.”, he replied as his voice started to show disappointment. “Ok, thanks for the update… I’m releasing you to the resonance.”, Angel said back to the sprite, to which she felt gratitude coming over the connection before it broke.

By that time, Johnson had just finished his long speech and Caittie guessed Sledge would be about to turn off her commlink. In an imperative voice, the young elf woman practically yelled over the team’s network, <<@Team :: “Wait! Don’t go offline! Those guys are on the move! They’re headed west and are already beyond my range!>>

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Safe Room
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:38:20
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

As Johnson entered the secret room, he was disappointed to find that it was built more for practicality than to impress guests. It looked more like a bomb-shelter than a secret-agent's weapon cache. In fact, at first glance, Johnson didn't see any weapons at all. Rounding a corner, he came across a small workbench with a disassembled pistol (the barrel seemed to be missing), and a number of tools. A lot of other half-finished products lay scattered around, but Johnson didn't really know enough about home-made weapons to tell what they were. They certainly didn't seem to be of any use in defending the farm. The goal, here, seemed to be to outlive it.

<<@Team:: "Looks like we have a moment to replan. Just as well. Weapons cache is mostly empty - just some homemade junk down here... and food and water. More of a bomb shelter really.">>

With that, he turned and headed back upstairs, leaving the refridgerator door open behind him. Once he reached Rosso's room, he peeked inside and nodded to Gabs. "Got the thing open - looks like kind of a hiding place. Food, water, that sort of thing. If you want to move down there, I can help you with Rosso, but the people watching the farm got spooked and took off."

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Kitchen
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:38:30

"Okay - leave it open and I'll start setting up a bed down there - but I don't want to move him unless I have to. And...listen, I appreciate all you're doing, and I know he would, too. So just take whatever you need to, umm...to do whatever you have to do." And with a nod that seemed to indicate she didn't know what else might need to be said, she headed back upstairs."

[JDragon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:38:41
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden

As the others were ching on things Rocky did a quick look around downstairs, ending at the back door. He slowly cracked the door and looked around, seeing that the closest buildings were a good distance away, he scanned the rest of the area. Nothing jumped out to him, being from the city it was all just open land to him. He was fairly certian something specific was being grown on purpose, but he wouldn't even guess at it.

As he stood there he had an idea and opened his comm to talk to the team, <<@Team:: "Team, Rocky here. Back looks clear, lots of open terrain looks like another farm house a klick or so out. I'm going to keep an eye out here for a minute. By the way boss, I had an idea, maybe we could borrow that drone Russo's wife had, so one of you computer chummer's can get an over watch going?">>

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Safe Room
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:38:50
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

"Let me help you get things set up." Replied Johnson as he ascended the stairs behind Gabs. As they walked he responded to Rocky's suggestion.

<<@Team:: "Oh yeah, I forgot about that drone. Good idea, Rocky. I'll see if I can get it, for us.">>

"Well, it would help if we could use that little drone you used earlier when we approached - to help with surveillance outside."

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Safe Room
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:40:00
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

Johnson messed around in AR as Gabs gathered some things and returned them to the secret room. She stopped to send him the access codes to the drone, but warned him it was a bit old. After connecting to the thing, he agreed - but it looked like it would get the job done. WIth a few more commands, he sent it in a patrolling circle around the farm, and slightly up. From there, its view would be less obstructed by trees and whatnot. A number of large dots appeared on its radar, but Johnson didn't really have the time or desire to investigate them all. They were probably things like passing cars, automated farm equipment. Somewhere amung those blinking dots, though, might be thier runaway bogey.

<<@Team:: Okay, passing out the access codes for the drone. Currently have it patrolling, set to warn us of incoming vehicles. Feel free to retask it as needed. I assume we lost our bogey? Would you guys rather stay here, or split before it returns with reinforcements?>>

After his message, he turned to Gabs who was currently fussing with her make-shift bed in the secret room. "Oh yeah, and you'll probably want this." He tossed Rosso's commlink onto the bed. "I put my contact information on there in case I don't see him again after he wakes up."

Realising he hasn't been very helpful, thus far, he waves his hand to clear away his AR controls, and helps Gabs with the blankets she was fussing with.

[Konsaki]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett - Barn
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:37:15
Angel – Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Hidden

Caittie had been on edge for the past few minutes, which was slightly controlled by how disinterested in the info Johnson seemed to be. Only slightly though, as she nervously played with her long red hair as a crutch while she listened to the comm traffic. There was talk about it being clear out back, something that did help her nerves some, and then talk about getting access to a drone for surveillance, which also helped out. What really got her attention though was when Johnson asked if the team wanted to stay or leave.
At that moment, flashes of camera feeds showing a rainy scene of men in black trench coats and black glasses in the night along with too many black SUV’s and other vehicles at one building came to her mind. Then the gunfire, explosions and screams came forward as her mind painfully replayed all the things that had taken place which involved Louie in some way or another.

Speaking up onto the team’s network with a truly pleading voice, she said, “Can we please just leave this place? I really don’t want to be here when they come back.” As the young technomancer continued her voice took a more solemn tone, “We… we might not escape next time…”

[Abbandon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett(in the barn)
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:40:15:36
Cerberus: Street Samurai
PAN - Hidden (earbuds only)

Cerbeus walked around the inner walls of the barn looking for hidden doors or rooms and any tactically advantageous position that could be had if things turned to that. After giving things the once over with his normal vision he performed the search again in low light and thermal. Nohing stood out except the cow milking drones and the hay, just a regular barn on a farm. The walls were solid but they sure as heck wouldnt stop bullets or anything else of that nature. Up in the loft there were metal doors that slid apart on either end to bring up bales of hay to keep them dry for the animals. He imagined he could get up there and snipe at stuff if he needed to but he would be easy to spot.

Walking back to the rear of the van where the others were he focused in on the conversation over the comms.

<<@team: "Well i just looked around the barn and its not a very good place to try and fight off these mob guys so I would have to agree with Caittie. If we dont find a place to crash soon though your going to have to lug around an 800+ pound troll. I've been shot, injected with drugs, woke up with drugs, and have been up for around 30 hours. Im about to pass out from exaustion any second now. >>

[pragma]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:40:30
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden (Contacts, Earbuds, Smartlink)
Astrally Inactive

Fortunato followed Caittie's message with one of his own: <<@Team: I agree. We don't owe Rosso anything and staying here is only going to get us shot.>>

[DireRadiant]

Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:41:03
Sledge - Advance Scout
PAN - Hidden

<<@Team:: Keep moving or die.>>

In the meantime she'd motored back to the road, the prickly hedge of blackberries wasn't even an irritant to the steel of her hog, and her leathers kept most of the barbs out. Slow acelleration kept the slips to a minimum, and she'd stopped as soon as she hit the paved road.

Kickstand out, she started clearing the debris from the undercarriage, nothing the hog couldn't run fine with, but you never knew what would get fouled if you didn't keep it in good care.

<<@Team:: Keep rolling. If they keep tagging the van, we ditch it, but that makes it all much harder to support each other. Enough of us to keep switching off shifts for rests. Any paint in the farm? Strip what we need and move.

And Sugar Lips honey, if you made all this effort for Rosso, but you don't tell his woman what's coming after us... not very nice. Don't matter they know nothing but the pair of them are going to end up in some meatballs.

I'm checking the roads ahead.>>

Sledge got back into her saddle and took off.

[JDragon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:41:06
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden

Rocky stood at the back door for a couple of minutes watching the back to see if he could catch some sign of movement. But other than a few birds flying by it was quite. He listened to the team voice their thoughts on the next step.

It seemed that they were all at least on the same page. He took one last look and then pulled the door closed and made sure all the locks that were there were secure. Then as he headed to the front door sent a message to the team.

<<@Team:: Back still clear, back door locked down. Ready to roll.>>

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:42:15
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

Adam was a bit surprised by Sledge's comment. He had no clue how she knew what he had or had not told Gabs. Chances were, she was just guess - but, in any case, she was right. He hadn't told them who was after them.

He didn't suspect that knowing it was the Seattle mob that was poking around their house was going to help them out much at all, but as he made his way towards the stairs again, he decided he might as well let her know.

"Okay, it looks like we're moving out. Hopefully that will draw away whoever was snooping around. Rosso's last job was for the mob, so that's who we think it was. Two of the people with me have done work for the mob, too, and when they changed their minds, the mob came after them."

"Anyways, here's the combination to the door upstairs. You can use Rosso's commlink to use it if you need to get out. I'll shut it on my way up. I'll leave the drone outside, so you'll have eyes on the area. Give Rosso my best when he wakes up." He felt a little cold, leaving her like this - but he couldn't shake the thought that she knew the kind of danger her husband's job must involve. Plus, if the mob was snooping around the farm, he suspected it had more to do with his van full of fugitives than it did with the Shadowrunner the 'enemy' let live. So the best thing he could do for them was to leave, and take his friends with him.

As he walked back up the stairs, he mouthed a message to the team. <<@Team:: "Got me bugged, already, Sledge? I've told Gabs what she needs to know to keep her head down until Rosso comes to. I made it my buisness to save his life, not babysit him all day while he rests up from the ass-kicking he brought upon himself. My job here is done.">>

<<@Team:: "Speaking of which, I am heading out to the barn. Let's get moving before any reinforcements arrive. We'll head back into the city, and I'll take first-shift at the wheel. From here on out, you guys are pretty much in charge of this mission - although I would be pleased to help, as needed.">>

<<@Team:: "Unfortunately, as much as I would like to see that you guys stay safe, this mission isn't my only responsibility. So, if we're planning our counter-attack later in the day, that is fine, but I will have to take more of a supervisory postion, and meet back up with you, then. I would be happy to maintain matrix-communication, throughout the day, but I won't be able to physically joyride with you guys, for a lot longer.">>

<<@Team:: "Any questions?">>

[pragma]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:47:20
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden (Contacts, Earbuds, Smartlink)
Astrally Perceiving

Astral space was crackling faintly as sparks of irritates lightning spouted out of the vortical air spirit.

Our contract held that I should shroud your escape and hasten you on your way. That was completed and I further concealed this lump of metal after the flight had ceased. If anything I should be demanding more from you.

It was little use to explain to the spirit that there was no value concealing a van which was inside a barn. That said, it was understandably irritable; the violently turbulent puff of air had been promised a short term of service when Fortunato first summoned it -- one of the reasons it had so willingly signed on to help -- and now, hours later, it was being pressed into work for the balance of the day.

This would require a delicate touch.

I understand that your freedom is of great importance, but I never dictated that our escape was complete. Further you failed to complete the service as specified when you failed conceal both of our vehicles and did not consult me when that was no longer a possibility...

...But I understand no harm has been done and I am understanding of your desire for quick freedom. I'll generously exchange the final task you owe me for a continuation of the services you provided during our escape. In return I expect the freedom to specify whom you are covering and when until such time as you are released from your services. If all goes smoothly that time should be soon.

The spirit narrowed its eyes.

The monotony will be overwhelming, but the exchange is fair. Your shrewdness equals your skill at recruitment. I hope your cunning extends to whatever task you seek to accomplish that I may depart more quickly.

The discussion was the first of a long line of precautions Fortunato had up his sleeve in order to make the somewhat distinctive, tanklike, van less visible. Next up was the paint job, in case someone pierced the spirit's cover. He waved his hands in broad strokes over the side of the vehicle, as if sponging off paint. A thin shell of mana coalesced around the vehicle creating a tiny, intricate electric field intended to change the urban destroyer into a standard plumber's van.

He stepped back to admire his handiwork and noticed that Cerberus and Caittie had resumed their seats in the rear of the van. Bringing his sight back to the physical plane he weaved his way to his usual position in the front seat. The van was loaded with a tense, pre-fight edgieness even though there was no immediate threat; just being on the run again was enough to raise hackles and start nerves jingling. It reminded him of the covert operations he'd been on -- extensive nervous waiting and the endless fear of getting caught punctuated by light spellcasting.

Soon, Rocky stealthily entered the rear of the barn and re-entered the vehicle and finally Johnson wound his way from the house to the van. As the novice criminals rolled away from the farmstead Fortunato spoke to Johnson:

"I've pulled a few tricks that make us very hard to spot on the physical plane, but we're glowing on the astral. I'm going to follow the van in the astral and leave a spirit here to talk to you if things go wrong."

He grabbed a hunk of the nearby mana and quickly rolled it into a ball. "This glob of magic is a watcher spirit. He'll be relaying messages for me. Talk to him and I'll hear it, he'll talk to you if I have something to say." And with that, Fortunato closed his eyes and slowed his breathing as his body drifted into a trancelike state and his mind floated into the great shadowy expanses of the spirit plane.

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:47:25
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN - Hidden

Mr. Johnson seemed amused by the little puff of spiritual energy that hovered around the now-limp body of the team's mage-for-hire. He didn't waste a beat in trying out this new toy.

"How's it look, Fort? Too bad this little thing can't wear a pair of headphones so you can keep in touch with network chatter."

Johnson thought it was pretty amazing that Fortunato could provide an invisible lookout while also letting his body rest, but that was just one example of why Franco must have insisted that the team need a mage. Adam was generally pretty good at anything he put his mind to, but he would never be able to summon a spirit, or manipulate mana. It just wasn't in his genes.

Backing the van out of the barn carefully, he gathered speed as he opened out into the long driveway.

<<@Team:: Okay, Sledge, we're back on the road. Closing in on your location. >>

[pragma]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:47:28
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden (Contacts, Earbuds, Smartlink)
Astrally Projecting

"He says it looks fine fine, and I think it looks totally awesome. What is this thing anyway." the spirit cheerily stated. The ball of mana was whipping back and forth in a gleeful, confused state, trying to take in everything around it.

Astral space looked clear, which was a relief. Their superhuman speed and near invisibility wouldn't be helpful here. Fortunato had never really cared for the process of projectiion, astral always seemed large, intimidating and even vaguely menacing. However, he appreciated that there were times when being in his body just wasn't as useful as being out of it, whatever hiis personal qualms were. Being an astral outrider was one of those times.

[JDragon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 10:47:35
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden

Rocky made a quick walk through of the house, making sure they had not left anything behind. He locked the front door before closing it, and then walked over to the barn looking around casually to see if he saw anything out of place.

Slipping in to the barn he headed for the van and climbed in nodding at the others and looking at bit confused at the spirt floating inside. "Insides clean and doors are locked. So where are we headed now?"