[IC] Behind the Shadows, First Iteration Options

[Chrysalis]

[Sorry that was after a month of not doing anything. That was the father's perception roll to see if anything was amiss. But I'll turn it around and also ask people to make a perception roll of 5 as well]

The Professor sees, two human spoiled kids, one human mother who has an ulcer and a human father who is having to shoulder more responsiblility than he should. And a troll with no fashion sense.

[pbangarth]

OK, well Professor sneaks into the condo, then, among the turmoil and noise of a typical family Thanksgiving get-together. He makes sure to wipe his feet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

"I'm in."

[crizh]

Cruze spends most of the morning going through the sensor records trying to find the Dog-killer and trace his route. The nagging possibility that he might still be hiding somewhere in the vicinity keeping her adrenaline flowing.

When the news of the hit on the partial fingerprint comes in she decides to take a more pro-active stance and returns to her role as electrician.

She spends the afternoon working on the wiring in the empty house and then as evening approaches she moves into the roofspace and settles in to monitor the feeds on-site as things develop.

[Perception: 4 Hits.]

[Chrysalis]

[Everything seems to be in order, nothing out of place, even the Professor got in alright.]

[bmcoomes]

Passing on the information Warrior reseaved. Doing his rounds and team tasks.

[Perception: 5 hits]

[pbangarth]

<<Man, these family gatherings are -so- boring! And that troll kid! If he eats one more helping I will vomit!>>

[SincereAgape]

Meanwhile at their safe house Fairfax, Toreador tempts the idea of dropping the Professor's invisibility spell. But quickly erases that thought from his mind.

Using his commlink, he sends a text.

"Professor, did you remember to take a shower this morning? My invisibility spell will not mask the foul odor of stubby little dwarfs. Toreador is en route to the haven, through the astral world. I will be offline for however long it takes."

The elf makes his way into a closet and slumps his body against the wall. Closing his eyes, he makes haste to the area outside of the apartment. The astral world of Northern Virgina comes to life before him.

[Chrysalis]

Pre-dinner proceeds normally and everything is as it could be. Even the Professor avoids being the small objects under foot and over enthusiastic children. As they are finishing their salad the doorbell rings. One of the girls keeps surreptiously dropping a piece of lettuce one the floor.

"Susan, quit dropping food on the floor."

"But mom," the youngest one said, "it's for the house elf."

The mother looks suitably chargrined and the rest of the group try to avoid chuckling.

Outside the group sees a car park itself on the curb, a man with with white and blue spiked hair and numerous studs in his ears and face stepped out of the car. He's wearing a nondescript black and white suit and AR goggles. He rings the doorbell, he seems to have something in his hand.

[Astral]

[ Spoiler ]

On the astral he looks weird.

"Now I wonder who this is?" Karkoff says, getting up to get the door.

"That's alright dad, I'll get it." She looks at Susan worriedly and she grins at her and drops a piece of goat cheese on the floor, when her mother is not looking.

She opens the door "Yes?"

"Karkoff residence? Special delivery."

"Hang on I'll get dad. Dad?" She looks at him warily, but when she looks over her shoulder he moves adderlike and rabbit punches her in the kidneys, pushing her back into house and closing the door coolly behind him.

[SincereAgape]

The elf waited in the astral world right in front of Karkoff's townhouse. Hovering above a parked car, he watched as the intruder approached the home. When, the "Punk" kidney punched the little girl, Toreador scowled in disgust. In response he flew back to his astral body which was less then ten miles away and promptly registered himself on the teams private subvocal channel.

<<"I assume all of you see him. The intruder is a mundane, with a very strange aura, and is currently in a very gregarious emotional state. I hope all of you do your worst.">>

He was about close his eyes again, so he could return to the astral world once again and provide the necessary support. But before doing so, he sends Cruze a very quick text.

<<Encrypted to Cruze. "How was your date? It better have been with an elf.">>

[pbangarth]

Professor will Boost his AGI and REA (simple action each), then, as he draws his pistol, he will message the team that an intruder has broken in and has punched the daughter. Professor will fire at the intruder, surprising him presumably, if Professor has any indication the intruder is about to do major harm. (Damn Pacifist Quality!)

Boost Attribute: MAG 6 + Power Focus 4 + Boost Attribute 1 = 11 dice

AGI ==> 5 hits Agility now 3 + 5 = 8 Pistol dice pool 11

REA==> 2 hits Reaction now 3 + 2 = 5 Initiative 9 (1 IP)

[Chrysalis]

The punk smiles at the group holding the woman in a hold, her arm twisted behind her back.

"Hi, doctor. Long time no meat. There are two ways this works. The fun way or the really fun way. This includes all your friends too. Why don't you invite them in for a party. The roast smells yummy."

He takes out a side arm, and points it up behind the jaw of the woman. "Frack you." The woman says. He leans forward and something cracks in her pinned arm. He drops her in a dinner chair and slams her head against the table. "Don't even try it little man. I saw you palm the knife the moment I walked in." He looks at the husband and grins.

The gun loads itself as he points it at her head. "So what will it be, her brains on the wall or yours."

The problem now is that if the Professor fires at the man, the gun will go off and most likely kill the woman. The punk may act and behave crazy, but he hasn't missed a beat and his actions are trained.

[SincereAgape]

From the astral world. Toreador enters Karkoff's apartment and views the entire scene before him. He looks at the Professor and screams in the astral world.

"Shoot him ditbrain! Shoot him!

[pbangarth]

Professor is perceiving Astrally, using Heightened Concentration to overcome the distracting effect.

"We could use this guy alive. But they are in deep drek. I'm not good enough to shoot his hand away. At the very least, this should distract him, maybe reflexively turn to deal with me," Professor thinks to himself. Professor nimbly and swiftly moves to behind the aggressor, not close enough to touch him with the gun, and says calmly (This also goes out on our commlink) , "The only way three guns aimed at you don't blow you away, blue boy, is if you drop the weapon."

If there is any clue that due to surprise or whatever the weapon is diverted momentarily from the woman (like maybe towards Karkoff himself, or around to get Professor), but not dropped, even in the middle of the above speech, Professor will fire. If Assensing the aggressor gives a clue he is about to fire, Professor will fire. If the aggressor starts shooting, Professor will fire. If the aggressor is hardcore, and he maintains a bead on the woman, then Professor will continue to delay and distract until more of the team arrive.

Assensing: INT 4 + Assensing 5 + active looking 3 = 12 dice ==> 6 hits

If any of the conditions above for firng are met:

Ares Predator IV, base DV 5P, AP -1

1st shot: 11 dice ==> 2 hits + EDG 9 dice ==> 2 more hits, total of 4 hits
2nd shot: 10 dice ==> 4 hits + EDG 6 dice ==> 4 more hits, total of 8 hits

[OOC: All his EDG wil be used up if it goes down like this]

"How come this is not going down the way the other murders went?"

[Chrysalis]

"Where's Albert? Where's Albert old man. I have been following you around for a while now, and I really do not need anymore pissing off! Unless you tell me where he is in the next 5 seconds she'll be dead."

Karkoff gets in front of him and looks at him. "Look you don't want to do this. Put down the gun and we can talk."

"I don't want to talk, I want him. I know you five met last month."

He squeezes her arm and the daughter screams. "Don't you dare bullshit me."

The father is gently trying to push the kids into the other room. "You don't move. You don't want to miss what happens next."

The troll sort of stands there trying to figure out what to do. His breath is coming out in shorter gasps. He launches himself across the table in a oxen cry at the punk.

[initiative rolls for those in the room. Peter you get a free shot off at the punk if you want.]

[pbangarth]

[OOC: OK. I figure this last interchange happens before Professor gets to speak.]

"Damn! The boy had to be brave! He and the girl are going to die."

GM, Professor fires at the gunman as per the rolls above.

[Chrysalis]

The firt shot goes wild and the second shot hits, the gun flying out of the punk's hand. The two are really wrestling on the floor, but the man gets the slow upper hand, slowly pinning him to the ground. His leg looking for purchase so as to break the troll's neck. Sweat is pouring out of the man's face and he looks like he is turning red.

[pbangarth]

[OOC: OK, now I get to use the nickname. Reading over the past few posts, I realize I was countering two different negative modifiers with Heightened Concentration: The sustained Improved Invisibility and the Astral perception. Sorry. So, the Astral is dropped. Besides, Professor doesn't want to listen to Toreador anymore. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) ]

If Initiative matters: 7 + 1 hit = 8.

Professor puts his gun to the back of the punk's head, so he can feel it. "Stop fighting, blue boy, or die now."

[Chrysalis]

The punk squeezes once and lets go of the troll. He continues to grin "C'mon Domovoi, you don't have the guts."

[pbangarth]

"Dr. Karkoff and family, I assure you there is a body to go with this voice. For now, the little girl's ... 'house elf' ... will do as identification. I would suggest, Sir, you have your family move to another room in case blue boy here decides to test my resolve. Given the nature of this situation, it would be best if no call for assistance be made to the authorities. You have all you need at the moment, including medical assistance for the lady, which will be given her forthwith. Ladies and gentlemen, please be assured we mean you and Dr. Karkoff no harm. Take our intervention in this incident as proof of our goodwill towards you all."

Professor waits for the family to retire to another room.

"Dr. Karkoff, your questions, of which undoubtedly there are many, will be answered in due course. Suffice it to say at the moment that saving your life is important to some people, and that they believe you are in danger, different from this one. For now, I would like you to explain to me, the one who just shot your assailant, and is prepared to do so again, what this man is doing here, who Albert is, and whether the other three in the five blue boy mentioned are Miller, Turner and Parnell."

[pbangarth]

[subvocalized:]

<<Team: I could use some backup in here. Karkoff knows someone is watching him, so complete secrecy is shot. Blackie, could you please ensure the door will be open for the backup?>>

[Chrysalis]

Dr Karkoff think about it a bit and insists that everyone be in the other room, "I have never seen this man before. As for Miller, Turner, and Parnell. They were my twins. Albert was the first of us, but he is suffering from cancer. He's been in Bethesda for six months now."

[pbangarth]

Professor carefully chooses his words so as not to give any new information to blue boy. "By first do you mean the first ... twin ... or the ... progenitor ... of all the twins?"

[Chrysalis]

Karkoff sits down at the end of the table, "there was Edward Turner, David Miller, Charles Parnell, Robert "Bob" Karkoff, and Albert Kingston. Albert was the first of us. A to E. Our father died in Kyrgystan many, many years ago. We never met him. What are you going to do with him?"

[pbangarth]

"Your home invader, here? That depends on him. Blue boy, this man says he doesn't know you. Why did you break in here and violently seek information about Albert? Who is he to you?"

[Chrysalis]

Blue boy grins "Well considering that the information is a bit redundant by now, my target. The last one in a long line of happy occasions. You might also take the roast out of the oven. Smells like it may be a little burnt. I could kill for a smoke."