Deep Vengeance..., ...is the Daughter of Deep Silence Options

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man decided that the watcher spirits were a minor annoyance if they were going to go for a direct assault, and it would be best to ignore them for the moment in case a more potent threat emerged. He judged that Zerone's fire shen could probably handle anything except a mage or another spirit, and he hoped that it's materialization and display of power would draw out enemies from the container. Remembering that Zerone would have trouble concentrating on more than one level of existence at a time, Fat Man kept his eyes open for threats on both planes.

[Fenris]

Moving ahead on point, he quickly slips from cargo container to cargo container, finally ducking into the shadow cast by their target. With a quick glance around to make sure he's out of sight of any of the obvious physical alarms, he checks the exterior, waving the team over. One of them had taken the little metal creature that would open the door.

[Fenris]

Pausing briefly, he hesitated, resisting the urge to shake his head at the overlapping, confusing trails of the scents at the door. He motioned to the group, 4...6...8 different people. He stopped counting the numbers after that, it didn't matter. Too many to plan for, to prepare for. Whatever happened would happen, he would have to trust to his instincts in the moment. As for the machinery...well, what could he say besides it was there? Everytime he tried to touch anything more complicated than his pistol it was obvious that he had no idea what he was doing...why embarrass himself further? Anything inside would be obvious once they opened the doors.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
She has moved out of your sight - your head being strapped in place limits your peripheral vision but it beats the bruises when you have seizures from mishaps with the injections. You can hear her attending to another "test subject" on the other side of this room. You hear the hum and click of the security door to this chamber open.

"We're going to need some chemical help from your stock. Taka said you should have something to help us deal with the creature outside?"

You hear a something being slid and then opened. You hear the distinct sound of a hypo being loaded - you force your body to relax at the sound at least this time you know its not for you.

"Here. Now get out, I have work to do."

You hear the door seal and lock. A few moments pass as she begins to hum again.

[Notsoevildm]

Eklipse registers the flash of light above and behind him as the spirit materialises. He covers Ayo as the cat-man moves forward then indicates four, eight, more people.

He keeps his gun trained on the door but scans around quickly, almost nervously looking for an ambush, then hisses into his commlink, "Widget, I think our cover may be blown. Ve need zat door open now. I hope your friend is on time."

[Buddha72]

Eklipse
You feel the tension sing along your nerves - the stillness just before violence erupts - that tipping point. You hear the something inside the container - definite bodies moving. You think at least six people based on the patterns and their locations. You scan around and look over the door - in particular the locking mechanism. You startled to see a small drone, it looks vaguely spider-like - you watch as its outer skin ripples and matches the surface its perched on - some sort of active camouflage. You can see several wires underneath it and what look to be mechanical tool arms manipulating the inner workings of the security device. You realize it is hiding its own work by projecting an image of what was once there on its outer shell.

"I am working as fast as I can. I am going to go ahead and launch my more play friendly drones since you think this is going to go all BANG BANG BOOM BOOM."

Cypher
Her humming as stopped again at the sudden chime of the intercom system - this is the most she has ever been interrupted since your arrival. You hear rather than see her answer the call.

"I think something is wrong with the outer locking mechanism and it's associated systems. I tried accessing the external camera and all I see is night sky but we can see the spirit clear as day. In addition, I can't seem to get any confirmation that our more active security measures have come online. Suggestions?"

This woman's voice is new to you - clearly educated. Absent are the street lingos you have heard from the other voices over the past few days - a tech or another scientist like the elderly woman. She sounds young and there is a tension in her voice - clearly someone who does not like it when technology fails her. Your analysis of her voice is cut short by the doctor's reply.

"Send them out to deal with the threat directly. I do not want my work endangered with a firefight in the lab itself. Seal the interlocking doors and arm the internal security measures. Report back to me when you know more about the people outside."

You hear the click of the com being shut off before her maddening humming resumes.

[JxJxA]

Looking first at Amara and then at the group, Zerone reaches within his coat and grips his power focus. He prepares himself for the inevitable flood of visions and emotions that will attack his mind once the fight begins. He lets his senses expand to the peripheries, readying to cast stunning spells upon the first opponent that he notices.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
Her humming is distant now - she is probably at the other end of the lab tending to another "patient". You saw at least two others in here when you arrived. You look at the ceiling and once again try to think of a way to get loose while you're still lucid - no knowing when the next injection will be and how long it will affect you or if you'll even survive it.

Suddenly you see something at the edge of your vision. You shift your head slightly and see a small mechanical thing crawl up the side of the medical table. It looks home-made and it runs a small sensor sweep over your face. You see it move forward and a tiny tool extends from its stomach area - the tip begins to glow and you watch as it runs the edge over the straps holding you down. Another set of arms unfolds from its body and it begins to unroll a flatscreen between. A graphic begins to form on it - a pair of lips with a finger held in front of it. The image dissolves and a message begins to form.

Ok here's the deal we're going to come in here with guns and start shooting - get low and stay down or better yet get a gun and shoot people. My people are going to be the ones that break in - I'll let them know that you're in here.

The straps on your arm is freed as the message dissolves and the arms beginning folding up the flatscreen. It moves to your other straps and begins to cut you loose.

All
A message is sent to everyone from Widget.

We have people inside - three total but only one seems able to be of any help. I attached an image capture of the possible ally. The lock is ours and open though I have the system thinking it's still locked but there are signs that the interior has a separate security system so be careful.

You access the file and an image opens of a man strapped down to a exam table - the angle is odd but the image is clear.

[BishopMcQ]

The picture shows a sallow-faced ork male in his late twenties. Several days of stubble shroud his chin and neck, and his hair is greasy and matted from the table. It appears that the ork's tusks have been trimmed and capped to be less noticeable. He is wearing a thin undershirt and jeans, with medical trodes on his chest and neck. An IV runs into one wrist, just below a datajack.

[Buddha72]

All
The air leaves a layer of salt on everything - hair, skin and clothes as you watch the container for any sign of its protectors responding to the blatant challenge just presented seconds before. There is a feeling of tension and stillness that shatters with the doors of the cargo container being thrown open. A single figure stands framed in the doorway wearing a collection of armored clothing and carrying a submachine gun. His goggles have a small green light coming from either side as he scans the area.

[JxJxA]

When he first sees what is likely one of the group's targets, the familiar flood of alien feelings and emotions surge through Zerone's mind:

RAGE

Images of faceless elves being slaughtered by an unknown foe...

VENGEANCE

Blood seeping from slaughtered enemies...

FURY

An elf that looks somewhat similar to him doling out magical destruction to everyone and everything about him...

All of these images and associated emotions affect Zerone with the passion and intensity of a dictionary definition. Follower had told him before that these alien thoughts were likely the remains of a failed mnemonic trigger that his creators had attempted to implant in him. An act of God, Follower would often say, a miracle granting your soul freedom despite your creators' desires. Whether divine intervention or mere chance, Zerone mouths a silent prayer of thanks after the wave of images fades away.

Despite instincts telling him to release the coalesced bolt of magical energy, Zerone chooses to hesitate and see if his other companions will fire first.

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man considered blindly throwing a spell in, but decided against it - he'd hit that injured ork Widget had found. He doubted that the man with the submachine gun could stop Zerone's fire spirit - better to wait until anything they had that could - like whoever their mage was - showed themselves. Perhaps it was better to try to force the issue indirectly...Fat Man concentrated on his link to the shen he had called.

Honored ancestor, please assist us in fighting these foes. This man *mental image of the ork Widget showed* is not an enemy, nor is anyone else strapped to tables or incapacitated with drugs, but I believe everyone else is.

With black and white rippling in the air and a roar, a glowing panda bear appeared in front of the man with the submachine gun.

[Notsoevildm]

Eklipse's senses expand and time slows as the door to the container opens. A figure appears, clad in armor. Even with his amped senses he can't immediately tell if the figure is asian, but he does see the gun.

Deadly ground.

The silenced HK burps twice, quietly.

Time resumes. "Go!" he commands moving towards the door, his smoking gun held ready.

[JxJxA]

Hearing the burst of gunfire jolts Zerone into action.

"Sleep," he mouths in Sperethiel, and he releases the coalesced energy into the target. He feels it sublimate from his grasp and surround the gunman, covering him in a golden-white halo of energy. Zerone breathes in sharply as he feels the toll of the spell dull his senses. However, the fatigue from the spell lasts only momentarily, and his mind snaps back into focus. He waits to see if his spell has any effect.

[Buddha72]

All
The quiet is punctuated by the gunfire. The figure seems to change his mind and moves to try and take some cover from the container door as the shots dance around him. You see his body slammed to the side of the door as some of the burst connects though he looks far from out of the fight. The air distorts as mana gathers around the are and the first Yak soldier to exit the lab. The glow contracts around him but then dissipates just as quickly as slashes of green fire seem to tear it apart from within. He struggles to keep the door as cover from the materializing panda spirit.

Zerone
You feel the weaves of mana lash out and try to drive their way through the man's body to render him unconscious when a force manifests around him and begins to tear the delicate structure to shreds and the gathered energy bleeds back into the ambient mana around you. A mage is protecting him.

Ayo
A second figure emerges in the doorway and unloads two short bursts into the air near you - aiming for you but having no real idea your actual position. He's trying to gun you down as quickly as possible.

Fat Man
You see a spirit rising from the ground just in front of Eklipse - it looks to be a eastern style dragon composed of rock and earth. You see it begin to shift from the astral to the Material plane. You quickly seek the secrets of its creation in the threads of its soul and soon realize the spirit is slightly less powerful than you and you clearly see the magician's arrogant signature all over the creature.

Eklipse
You watch as your brain rebels against what it's seeing - a small dragon of the earth pushing its way from somewhere to your world. Its eyes glow with a heavy sullen green energy and you watch it dig its claws into the concrete beneath it.

"I will eat your heart last little fleshling and it will feed my children for years to come."

Cypher
You feel more than see the small eclectic drone make its way down your body - using you to hide it from view as it continues to cut the restraints free. You risk turning your head slightly to better track the "doctor" and see what is around you. You quickly see 3 more medical beds set up in the room with you. One in each corner - their ARO displays hovering above them though the one in the far corner is flashing red with a single word -NULL VITALS- flashing across it. The soulless hag is leaning over the body with a small surgical tray laid out next to her on the deceased man's chest - humming to herself as she seems to be collecting tissue samples. There is a small table next to you with what looks like surgical tools - a knife of some sort and some sort of clamp with a crank and a collection of probes. As you glance down past your feet and the other medical bed you see a counter with a rack holding hypos and small canisters to slide into them - more samples to be tested on you and the other patients. So far she doesn't seem to notice you being cut free by the drone.

[Fyndhal]

Twist mutters under her breath, then takes a long, slow breath and begins.

She breaks cover, moving from her current position to Eklipse' spot behind the closer canister. While traversing the space, she fires her silenced Predator IV at the target in the doorway.

[Buddha72]

All
Twist darts out firing two shots at the exposed figure in the doorway before taking cover again behind another cargo container - he quickly retreats to just inside the entrance taking some cover behind boxes or crates of some sort. The second shot clearing clipping him in the side as he does so.

Cypher
You hear some sort of noise coming from the lower level of the space where you are being held - something is happening though the muffled sounds give little indication if it bodes well for you. You see the drone give you a jaunty wave as it crawls over the edge of the medical bed having cut you completely free from the restraints.

[BishopMcQ]

Cypher watched the little drone sneak off the table and hazarded another quick glance at the woman to make sure she was still checking on the other patient. The incessant humming was driving him crazy, she was always humming to herself as she came in and checked on him. Humming to herself as she walked in the labs...through hallways...out to her car...

His eyes rolled back in his head as a wave of memories overtook him. A thin Japanese woman in her late twenties, humming to herself as she walked through a bright garden. The garden extended for another twenty meters in front of her, before it climbed straight up the side of the building. The third level was why she was here today, gathering specimens for her research.

She bowed briefly to one of the supervisors in Special Research who was enjoying his lunch beneath an apple tree. The supervisor nodded back at her as she passed, stepping onto the stairs that would lead up to the specimens.

The stairs zoomed down below her, four men in black jumpsuits and masks had broken into her lab and grabbed her. They dragged her bodily down the hallway, throwing a small canister behind them into the lab. She remembered the floor shaking and the thunderous explosion as the stairwell door opened. Years of chemical research destroyed in seconds...

With a sharp intake of breath, Cypher came back to his senses. The drone hadn't moved more than a few centimeters—he couldn't have lost more than a second or two. Looking at the holographic display, his brain started registering carbon and sulfur molecules in complex carbohydrate chains. Now wasn't the time to worry about what he'd been injected with, he needed to escape.

He rolled off the bed as quietly as he could and tried to work his way toward the ampules. His left hand seized the scalpel from the table beside him without conscious thought.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
You keep waiting for her to turn or notice you moving through the make shift lab but she continues to hum as she collects more tissue samples. You arrive at the ampules.

[JxJxA]

Somewhat taken aback at seeing his spell "fizzle" against the guard, Zerone fires off a message to the group.

Mage is protecting the guard.

[WearzManySkins]

Kat D listens to the sounds of gunfire ahead of him, crouches lower, sweeping his weapon covering the area in front of him.

Hmm not much going to be salvageable if that fire is accurate and on target. Maybe inside if they refrain from excessive force, but then I am a optimist.

Keeps his senses trained on the rear of his teams approach/entry with occasional looks over towards the action

[JxJxA]

Seeing an Earth Spirit enter the fray, Amara turns her attention onto the new target.

"Coward and Blasphemer," Amara loudly declares, "you would threaten those children whom cannot harm you? Tremble as you suffer His Righteous Wrath!" The fiery blade in her hands flickers and twists, turning into a bow-like arc. The fire spirit draws back one hand, as if readying to release an arrow. Suddenly, a narrow jet of fire shoots from the weapon and screams towards the Earth Dragon.

"Repent and surrender," she says, "or face eradication."

[Buddha72]

All
With a roar of defiance the serpent with great effort shifts its coils out of the way as the fire lances past it and into the ground beneath it. It's scales of granite and dirt flare in the wash of flame and heat.

"Fool! I will crush the life from your summoner's bones and you will disappear from this world into some much smoke and air!"

[JxJxA]

That didn't work...have to think..., Zerone's mind races as he sees Amara's bolt miss its mark.

Can anyone help me banish it? he fires off via commlink.

[UmaroVI]

"As you would say in English, 'use power to curb power.'"

As Fat Man spoke, the air around the dragon hummed and flashed with the power of Fat Man's stunning spell.