IC: Post or Die, Lifelines, and deadlines Options

[Warlordtheft]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond


Zo does one last sweep with his AK in the back of the gas station, using the ultrasound sight to pick up anything he might have missed. Not seeing anything he breathes a sigh of relief.

<@team>The back of the gas station is clear. I'm covering the north side garage doors as well as the south side ones.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

As the team took up defensive positions, and Jovan argued with his timid watcher, a low, eerie howl grew into the night, echoing off buildings, and filling the silence. This howl brought with it a strange magic, and those that heard it found their muscles beginning to stiffen. Even Jovan could hear the low howl back at Rusty's place. The ghoul before Professor cocked his head in recognition of the sound as well, and he stood looking for a moment at the dwarf without moving

[Sephiroth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Rusty's Safehouse, Redmond

Jovan rolled his eyes at the watcher's behavior. That's what I told you to do the first time, you stupid tool, he thought to himself. <<@team: I am surprised you seem not to have run into more ghouls before this one. Isn't it eating the rat?>>

Then he heard the howl, far in the direction of the others but still audible to his sensitive ears. He felt his whole body tense up at the sound. He could still move around in the chair, and probably could stand if he so desired, but he felt somewhat sluggish, as his muscles found it more difficult to respond to the signals from his brain.

He signaled his elemental. There is a gas station north of here, approximately 3 miles. There are several healthy metahumans there, though they may now be inside. Can you spot that location from here?

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

The howl burrowed deep into Professor's mind, and threatened to twist his frame into painful knots. He refused to succumb.

Now he had to decide which was the greater threat... the disease carrying ghoul, or the huge dog with jaws full of teeth.

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

As Ferret turns his attention to the Cross Labs node, his ears perk up at a strange noise.

The howl seems to come from all around him, building to an ear-shattering wail that freezes him to the spot. Even though the rational part of his brain realises the sound is not coming from the nodes around him but from the real world, he still finds himself momentarily unable to move.

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

Acme shivered at hearing the howl. Things had just ratcheted up to about 5 on the Trouble Meter in his head and he started trying to figure out where the howl came from. Between the threat of more ghouls and the beast that made the howl... He mentally added another thousand on his request for hazard pay.

[Warlordtheft]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

Zo was covering the garages, hearing the howl of a dog off in the distance he kneeled behind cover instinctively and without thought. Unnoticed by him his hands began to tremble.


Drek-----ghouls--why does it have to be ghouls? I hate ghouls....

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Crosstown Gas, Redmond

Oswald was waiting for a response to his query about drawing out the dog when Jovan's text came in. What the hell is he talking about, ghoul eating a rat?

Already physically still, his mind froze as his headphones picked up the sound of teeth grinding bone not far away. Had he been left alone, outside, with a ghoul coming towards him? Was he expected to watch his own back as well as everyone else's?
He heard the dog's howl filter in through his digital sonic anchor to the outside world, and noted how everything seemed to go silent in its wake. The moment was frozen. Oz knew that he'd have to drop out of VR and risk losing the dog, or stay in VR and risk losing his head.

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Redmond

The dog is far away, but there's a ghoul right here, and a rat certainly isn't enough food. Oz, however, stringy and old as he is, is a much more satisfying meal.

Professor zooms in with his goggles and takes a shot at the ghoul. What with explosions and howls going on, he figures a couple of shots won't make much difference in the general hubbub. He may not do much damage, but it should decided to go elsewhere.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Rusty's Safehouse, Redmond

The Powerful wind spirit though about the distance, and gave Jovan a skeptical look,"I will see what I can do"[/i] He said, floating away through the roof of the building and out into the night. [i]"I see a tiny spirit floating in the sky, and specks that move upon the ground, that are alight on the magical plane. But there is little I can tell of them from here. Perhaps it would be wise to move closer to your team, if you wish to take advantage of my services. "

[Sephiroth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Rusty's Safehouse, Redmond

Jovan let out a sigh. Perhaps. If that proves necessary, then so be it, but for now, let us see what we can do with what we have to work with.

He turned to the two watchers who had been directed to check up on the others. You two have been quiet for some time. You are near the metahumans, I assume. I believe they may be under attack by persons and/or paracritters unknown. For anything that is currently attacking or looking to attack the group, I want you to circle around its head and do everything in your power to distract it. Be creative.

Turning his attention back to the elemental, I have two other tiny spirits acting as spotters for you now. They will fly around any creature that is currently attacking the team. I want you to disable those creatures to whom the spirits draw your attention. I leave the modus operandi up to your discretion, but try to incapacitate rather than kill them.

<<@team: Backup on the way. When you have a free moment, take a look at the man in this video [attached clip of a man in a long coat, hat, and beard, walking down a dark sewer tunnel]. I'd like to know if any of you have seen someone like this recently - he is a ghoul, for those of you who can assense auras. This man is connected to these events with Long Legs, I'm sure of it, so keep an eye out for someone who looks like him while you're out there fighting ghouls. If you happen to see him, or even if you think you see him, then for the love of Ghost you must not shoot him!>>

The message sent, Jovan paused briefly, going back over something the elemental had said. How many of those dual-natured specks on the ground do you see?

[Warlordtheft]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond

Zo, up on hearing the shot perks up and heads toward the missing door to get a better view of the outside.

<Zo yelling>"Prof-Acme, what ya shootin at?"

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond

"The ghoul closing in from the east," Professor replies.

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, Rusty's Safehouse, Redmond

Not answering the new guy immediately, Acme focuses on the image coming over the link. He frowns, realizing that ultimately, Coyote was right. He had a lot to learn; especially about how things one does can bite them in the ass later. He let out a weak chuckle and rubbed the back of his head.

<<@team: Huh. Cute. That looks a lot like the guy I pissed off today. He was right outside my apartment when I grabbed the cab he was trying to get to where Mizz J was, though I didn't know it at the time. Damndest thing too, Coyote and I sniffed that his trail led from her hotel, though her bouncer guy looked really serious when I mentioned it to him.>>

[pbangarth]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond

"The ... guy ... I just shot is known to Ms. J.?" Professor went through various scenarios in his head. None were too happy.

[Warlordtheft]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond


Well if he is dead, ya know he raises a bunch of questions. The most importan bein, does Ms. J know or care he's here? An number 2 iz, if we're still gonna get paid.

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond

While the grey Ferret remains motionless, nanoprocessors in his brain kick into action. They switch his interface mode safely from hotsim VR to vanilla AR, gracefully log him off the Cross Labs node and jack him safely out of the matrix with a pleasant 'bing'. His eyes pop open in alarm.

"What the frag was that" he grumbles as he unplugs the fibre optic cable from behind his ear, leaving it linked to the ancient terminal. He stretches his legs out and scrambles to his feet, looking nervously around.

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:38 PM, , The abandoned gas station Redmond

"Well I'd say one of two things," he replied. "Either he's with her or he tried something. Maybe he's a backup plan, it's not like all ghouls stepped out of an ancient Romero movie."

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37:00 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Oswald couldn't take chances with his life. The dog would be a problem for later.
He logged out of VR and with his pistol already in his hand, waited quietly for whatever had been making that sound to show itself to him.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37:00 PM, , Cross Town Gas, Redmond

The Ghoul took a slug to the chest with a jerk. The fight or flight kicked in, and this one chose fight. He breaks into a run, a growl growing into a scream. The rat drops to the ground as he pumps his arms. He seems to be barreling down on Oswald. He closes half the distance in a blink of an eye, saliva flying from his teeth. Oswald awoke from VR to see the beastly figure charging him, and leveled the laser at him while he charged. The beam split the darkness, and seared a hole straight through the monster's chest. Momentum carried the body another step, and flung it face first onto the curb of the street.

[Warlordtheft]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37:00 PM, , Cross Town Gas, Redmond


Upon seeing the Goul run past Zo gets a spaced out look on his face.


Zo stares at the 8 year old female ork, and sees a ghoul approach from behind her. He screams but nno sound comes out. The goul grabs her by the arm and pulls her toward itself. Then she screams, "Brother--Help meee!!!!!!"
As she screams the ghoul grabs her belly ripping it out. The internal organs spilling over Zo......As the ghoul consumes his sister, a gun goes off annd the ghouls head explodes...Zo stands still waiting to be the next meal.

[Acme]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:37:00 PM, , Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Acme wheeled his hands around to try and hit the Ghoul from behind when suddenly it dropped in front of him. "Well shit Oz," he said with a laugh. "We're going to have to stop worrying about your potential for defense it looks like." He looked around, taking a quick scan for anything else in the area. Hopefully this was a loner...

[Saint Sithney]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:38 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

It took a moment for Oswald to steady himself. His heart was racing in a primitive display of nervous response. His bladder clenched and his mouth ran dry. All actions perpetuated by his sympathetic nervous response to danger. He steadied himself fighting back the feelings, thankful that his robotic hands would not go white or shake as blood was routed from the surface of his skin to his muscles and brain. He knew that this whole autonomic process was worthless to him. His heart could stop, and the nanites in his blood would keep him in fresh Oxygen for a lot longer than this fear response could hope last. Old relics, these feelings. Outdated, stone-age bullshit. Hyperventilating was meaningless. Dilated pupils, not helping. He massaged the carotid sinus in his neck to reduce his blood pressure and heart rate, tricking his body into calming itself. It helped some.

Oswald had moved over to where the ghoul skidded to a halt, and, looking at it, flipped it over with his boot. It looked like the laser had cut straight through the mediastinum, severing the aorta and the spine through the T3 and T4 vertebra. As clean a kill-shot as a man could make. Even a shot to the brain would have left the heart pumping blood to failing organs for minutes. As the blood oozed out in the ground, Oz wondered if he still could have saved him from such a wound. It would have been a challenging surgery...

"Romero had some good ideas though. Like boarding up entrances. This seems like a pretty good demonstration that we can't rely on spooks to watchdog for us. Let's move inside, block up all entrances, save one, and put our chief gunner on it. Zo, I hope you're up for guard duty. I'm going to bring the blimp in closer to try and tag the two geeks northwest of here. Our local commotion might draw some more cadaverous attention, and I want to give them somewhere else to focus. Any more contacts pop up, fucking shoot them for me, please."

Oz moved inside, bringing the Blimp's controls up in AR, he turned it away from the building in east, towards the last known position of the two ghouls, hoping that they were still there.

[Notsoevildm]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:38 PM, Cross Town Gas, Redmond

Ferret glances around nervously. He moves to the window and sees the dead ghoul.

"What about that hellhound or whatever the frag it was. I could hear it's fragging howl in the matrix."

He shivers, rubbing his scrawny arms, then returns to the terminal.

"Okay. I'm going back in. Just keep the fragging monsters from chewing on me, please. "

He settles down and blows out a sigh. Once he feels a bit calmer he jacks back in and returns to his examination of the Cross Labs node. His nose twitches jerkily, then he dives into the menu options and scurries towards the Bistro.

[Red-ROM]

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 10:38 PM, Redmond

Jovan's air elemental hovers in the clouds, staring at the scene in the distance,"Your spirits circle a creature that is now dead, I see three other creatures of dual nature even further off, they seem to be running away.I can barely make them out from here"

Zo stands lost in memory, Shivering and sweating in the dark garage by himself. Oswald and the others were congregating in the front room as Ferret got back online. Oswald watched the Blimp's sensor array as it sailed east to find the other ghouls. He spotted them heading north. They were running now, and had covered a good amount of ground since he tracked them last. The one with the corpse on his back trailing by a few car lengths.

Online once again, the shiny ferret made it's way through the Gas stations node to check out the system. This seemed to be an old fashioned "Tiered Access" system where every node was connected to a main node, including te gas station, you had to access the main node to reach anywhere else. As he accessed the Cross labs Directory with his public account, He noticed something else, The main node was on high alert. His Firewall and systems analysis were in the red, But public access wasn't being shut down. Considering he hadn't even hacked a better access yet, this alert was most likely going off already. The Main node was a blocky green paradise growing over ancient ruins. A bright red phoenix soared in the sky and a shimmering lake glowed a teal blue ahead of him. Ferret brought up a side bar and flipped through to the "Morning Bistro" The scene before him blurred by and zoomed in to a small restaurant on the first floor of a large building. The place was empty except for a waitress in a green and white uniform, another user interface. The whole set up was way out of date,"Can I take a reservation or carryout order?"Another sidebar popped up with more options, including leaving a message for the staff.