Atlanta 2070, Hot time in the old town tonight Options

[Redjack]

Unsure about the situation, the normally unflappable adept decides it is time to add his own feed to team net. He links his com signal through the cruiser in case the lower levels conflict with his ability to link up with the outside world. He then puts his fly-spy aloft, following them. The audio and video feed streaming to Teamnet. "Smells kinda damp down here. This gonna be a swimming test?" Regardless, he follows.
=====
Across the city, Book sees a second AR window open up on team net. He sees the AR signature of Tank and the drone switching between the camera and thermographic sensors, as the lighting requires. Now what?

[ludomastro]

The old man says nothing but grins at Tank's question. Once they reach the lower level, a tent comes into view. The smoke curling up from the center area smells sweet and slightly of peppermint. Sticks drinks a big gulp of the foul smelling liquid and offers the cup to Tank. Once Tank takes the cup, Sticks begins to strip down to bare skin.

"Those who seek the blessings of Coyote, come forth and submit yourself to his tests."

Sticks then enters the tent.

[Redjack]

Dalton raises an eyebrow as Sticks starts stripping. This ain't turning out to be my type of party

Eric, watching the feed, erupts into laughter imagining the things going through the adept's mind right about now.

None the less, Dalton takes a swig of the nasty concoction. "Whew! Tastes like Greasy Eddie's engine block hooch." He turns control of the drone over to Book, proceeds to strip to his boxers and follows the crazy man into the tent. I wake up feeling like the Dingle-Sisters had their way with me, someone is gonna get seriously frelled up.

The Dingle-Sisters having been the stars of Rocky Horror Picture Reunion 2065.

[ludomastro]

Once inside the tent Tank finds Sticks seated cross-legged on the floor cover with some type of animal skin. At fist glace, his instinct to assume synthetic but it feels real. The smoke billows up from the fire pit and the peppermint smell is maintain by a bundle green herbs placed in the fire. The bronze fire pit keeps the coals from spilling everywhere; however, touching it would obviously cause a burn. Despite the heat he feels on his face Tank is calm.

Sticks erupts in a song of an unknown language with his hands held above his head. After a few minutes he ceases and folds his arms.

"Are you ready, young one?"

Tank hears the voice as if it is as the end of a deep tunnel. He notices that his body is over there while he is here. Standing near him is Sticks in traditional Amerind garb.

"We need to be going, young pup. Let us not keep Coyote waiting."

[Redjack]

Not sure if it is the effects of the drink, the smoke or just his senses playing tricks on him, Tank decides sitting is the best option at this point as well. He closes his mind for a moment, afloat in the calming feeling that has washed over his body. No runs here. No dead fixers... Just a crazy black guy in his underwear.... Why doesn't that seem to both me? Who cares? The song brings his focus back to the room.

On the other side of the city, Book has put down the novel and has begun taking notes, tagging time slices of the video.

Looking side to side, Dalton tilts his head, wondering if he is in some sort trip going bad. He gets up and heads over to Sticks that is talking to him. Ok. Where are the hidden cameras? This is and episode of PunkED!... Right?

[ludomastro]

"Let's go young pup. Grab my arm.

As Tank grabs Sticks' arm he feels like he is being squeezed sideways and then he can see the sky. It is clear. At least it passes for clear these days. Soon, he finds himself in a grassy clearing surrounded by a forest. There is a large, elaborate tent offset from the center of the clearing with pure white smoke coming from it. The flap is open and Sticks is gesturing toward the opening.

-----

Although still recording, Book is left staring a the limp bodies of the two men.

[Redjack]

Tank follows with a wide eyed amazement. This is one trippy trip!

He looks to the sky and stands for a moment then around to the forest. Finally, he approaches the tent and follows Sticks in.

=========

Book becomes concerned when they collapse, staying only as he here's the gentle hissing of snake. Secrets. Yes, this is something different.

[ludomastro]

As Tank bends down to enter the tent he is left with the very immediate feeling of being alone. Sticks is no where to be found.

Close to the center of the tent but on the opposite side of the fire is a dog-like animal much larger than most un-modified dogs. Despite the completely animal appearance there is a human-like intelligence behind the yellow eyes.

The coyote speaks, "I am Coyote. How are you known, pup?"

[Redjack]

"I- Uh- Tank. Most people call me Tank." As long as this trip doesn't turn into spiders and gore, I want more of that stuff

[ludomastro]

The large dog-like creature - Coyote, Tank reminds himself - tilts his head to the side and almost grins. "Tank. An unusual name for an unusual person. Tell me: however did you come up with the idea to flatten the commandant's house? That was a good one. It was the one that brought you to my attention."

Coyote sits back and waits for Tank's response.

[Redjack]

"He- Wait, how did you...?" He then remembers this is just a drug induced hallucination. "Yea. He was a dick. Look, I'm a bad guy. I've done lots of bad things, but he KNEW there were women and kids living in those *abandoned* buildings.... and he sent us in with orders to clear it. I fired rounds into those buildings. Tank rounds. And I rolled that sixty-five ton tank right on through.... I figured turn about was fair play to roll it into his house as well."

[ludomastro]

"Ah. Nevertheless, you could have killed him but you opted to destroy something of value in his place. You are less evil than you believe. Nevertheless, you do well not to fool yourself - all have that capacity.

Coyote pauses for a moment to allow the words to sink in. Then he smiles - for lack of a better word.

"Now, it simply won't do for a trickster to be tricked. Even by himself. What you see around you is real. At least as real as the Astral Plane (as you mortals call it) allows it to be. You may ask me any question you would like."

Perhaps he is mistaken but Tank would swear that Coyote is almost smirking.

[Redjack]

Tank is beginning to come to grips with the fact that this is real... or at least his current reality. He listen to Coyote. When queried, he responds. "Why am I here? What is it that you can do for me? Or I for you?"

[ludomastro]

"Right to the point. I suppose warriors never change. You must learn to be crafty - tricky if you prefer - for that is the way of those I choose. I would bestow my wisdom if you would have it. From time to time, I will ask you to resolve something to the benefit of the weak or to humble the proud. Will you place this requirement on yourself? Will you do so willingly? I will have none who would chaff under my care/command."

The last word in his speech is more felt than heard. There is more than 'care' and less than 'command' in the word but enough of both to make the concept a bit confusing.

Coyote sits up and waits for Tank's response.

[Redjack]

Dalton rubbed his chin. Surely not something I was expecting, but neither was I expecting to be here... Where ever here is.

He looks into the eyes of the coyote, gleaming and glistening despite the lack of a light source to reflect off of them. "I've never really been the toe-to-toe type of guy and I sure as hell hate to see the little guy get the shit kicked out of him." He rubbed the stubble on his chin again. "Book's always trying to get me to read more and get smarter. I've always thought wisdom was better than reading types of learning. Sure. What's first?"

[ludomastro]

Coyote grins. "You'll know."

Coyote and the tent seem to fade away and Tank sees Digger chained to a chair taking to a man in shadow. The shadow seems to want information that Digger doesn't have. It could be his imagination but the links in the chain appear to be a mix of paper, electronic files, smoke and other nonsensical things.

Tank finds himself waking up in the tent with Sticks sitting, staring at him.

"Welcome back, pup. You'll learn what it all meant in due time. Just learn to listen."

Sticks picks up a jug of water and offers it to Tank. "Drink up. You'll have one hell of a headache tomorrow."

-----

Book sees the other man wake up. He leaves the tent and returns with water. Several minutes later, Tank wakes up.

[Redjack]

Book watches the scene continue to unfold over the fly-spy. Sticks words convinced the shaman that more than met the eye was in play here... and snake is hissing in the background of his mind.

------

"For the moment, I know enough to know there is something to do." He takes the drink and tries to shake the grogginess off. He looks around for the fly-spy he knows is somewhere. "There is a certain dwarf we thought was dead that needs some help."

------

Book jerks up in his seat, no longer distracted by snake.

------

Tank gets up, heading for the door, calling back to to Sticks. "I'll be back soon. Now I'm curious, but there is something I must do."

Grabbing his com and his clothes, he reflects on what he's just seen.

"No one can last forever. Everyone breaks eventually." The grizzly, old, ork sergeant barked at the troops. He paced a few steps before continuing. "They will come at you in ways you cannot even imagine. The best you can hope is that you will be rescued before you break." He turned and looked sternly at the troops. "Once you do, they will probably kill you. If they don't, you'll surely wish they would have." He turned and began to pace again as he spoke. "Your duty is to make every attempt to escape. You will not accept aid, nor comfort from your captors."

The scene played in his mind; It had made an impression. Right now it drove him to action even if he had no plan.

[ludomastro]

Sticks smiles a wise smile as Tank leaves.

He quickly finds himself in his vehichle heading toward ... where exactly was he headed? He wasn't sure but he now began to think about it. He contacts Book and convinces the shaman to head over to the Cube with him.

-----

Book is somewhat surprised by Tank's call but the lure of secrets unknown proves a pull greater than the shaman can resist. In short order he finds himself at the Cube.

[Redjack]

If Digger had died that was one thing, but I don't leave a man behind. Dalton turned the driving over to the cruiser's auto pilot.

When everything is falling apart, go back to the beginning. Go back to the start.

For Dalton that means the Cube.

------

Book wasn't sure what to make of Tank, but the shaman has a very small circle; One of those in that circle needed his help. He knew someday the shoes might change feet. Digger always does seem to be getting himself in over his head.

[ Spoiler ]

[6,4,6,3,5,2]

On the ride between Book's neighborhood and the Cube, Book asked the adept about the morning. I swear that sounds like a meta-planar trip!! Book is baffled. If his suspicions are true, he's very glad Tank chose not to oppose Sticks and now understands why the gangers have not removed him themselves. No doubt they have tried.

As they arrive at the Cube, neither is sure what they will find.

[ludomastro]

Given the violence, the Cube is quiet. Normally, quiet at the Cube is cracking at many clubs; however, it is truly quiet. The normal bouncer notices Tank and Book and looks around as if expecting a third person to follow behind. He opens the door and motions them in.

"Get the bastards who did this. Digger may have been a bastard too, but at least he was our bastard."

The club is virtually empty with a few people milling around looking lost. Book recognizes a few of them as employees.

[Redjack]

While Tank proceeds in, Book stops at the bouncer. "Who is managing the bar now?"

[ludomastro]

"Nobody knows. We all got these weird comm messages to report for work that were signed by The Management. Not much else I can tell you. LS isn't gonna let us open until they finish their investigation, whenever the hell that will be."

Book is somewhat surprised as this is the most he has ever heard the bouncer say at one time.

[Redjack]

Book looks past the bouncer to the people milling around. "If you're not allowed to open.... Who are they?"

Tank meanwhile meanders into the bar and looks around. He has it in his mind that he will just find a clue, like in the Sherwick Holmer, Investigator! sims. His eyes pass over each person, staff or patron as if one of them will have a hidden sign "Next clue here".

[ludomastro]

With a sly grin, the bouncer adds, "Just cause we can't open doesn't mean we can't interview does it officer?"

[Redjack]

Book returns the bouncer's smile, "Carry on." Then the shaman proceeds on into the bar, straight to the bathroom and into a stall. There, he calls for the most powerful spirit of man he dares. The spirit of man rises from the toilet in power and fury. Book wrestles the nearly indomitable spirit for several long seconds. He begins to loose control of the obstinate spirit. Their battle of the wills draws heavy on Book, forcing the shaman to his knees.

The spirit takes the form of a troll bouncer, reaching out with its long arms to strangle the shaman for his impudence at having summon the spirit to this realm. Finally, Book is able reach up and grab the troll's hands and push them apart. His hands never actually touch the spirit's, the power of his will instead pushing them apart. Book finally is able to stand and stares down the spirit. "I have a task that I require of you. Simply one. Find Digger"