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

[Buddha72]

All
You see the mana coalesce into ambient light and force as it slams into the slim woman's body. Her limbs convulse as the magic feeds itself into her body and she spasms for a brief moment before lying still on the floor of the container as the residual magic sparks and arcs off her stunned form.

[UmaroVI]

The panda spirit vanishes from sight, and begins flying through the astral, looking for more auras.

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
You feel the dual consciousness settle over you as the spirit brings you into its thoughts. Your own body struggles for a moment as it receives information from a source so alien to its own. Only your experience and disincline allows you to make sense of it and bring order to the chaos.

Look I have found others.

You see the astral impression of another spirit wreathed in flames and facing a person perhaps a man but likely mundane since you clearly see dead spaces in his body where living flesh no longer resides. The spirit slides through physical matter and you see two more people. One seems to be injured and nearby you see what looks like a lifeless shell of a body on a table or bed. It's hard to make out from the astral but the area is stained in lurid washes of color and emotion.

Many have suffered here and died - it stinks of madness and greed.

[Fyndhal]

Feeling woozy from the gas, Twist tries to shake it off, then says, "We clear? What else do we need, aside from torching the place?"

She remains in her defensive position, near the entrance of the container, waiting for the others to get into the van before she does.

[Buddha72]

All
You can hear the security patrols getting closer and begin to see the lances of light from flashlights and security helmet mounts. You see and hear more explosions going off though most seem to be smoke and flash bangs - the surprises left by Widget. You feel and hear the van making its way to you. The vibrations along the ground as the vehicle careens from container to container - zigzagging to your location for the pick up.

[Fenris]

Staggering out of the container, the wounded and disoriented hunter shakes his head, striving to clear the fuzziness and the dim vision inflicted by the lingering effects of the electrical spell and the drugs. His head swings from side to side, seeking the direction the van was coming from. He needed to get out of there, obviously. He pauses, waiting for their exit ride to get closer, prepped to tumble into it at the first opportunity.

[Buddha72]

All
The van careens off of a cargo container, using it to propel the vehicle closer to your location. The sparks from the contact light up the side of the van and give you a glimpse of Widget's maniac grin as she manhandles the steering wheel. Despite the obvious need to keep both hands on the wheel she frees one hand for a jaunty wave to others gathered outside of the drug lab. The sounds of the security patrols draw closer still to your location though their pace has slowed - they seem cautious now after the drone assault and the ruckus raised by your exit ride.

[Notsoevildm]

Eklipse giggles as the gas takes effect.

Neurostun he thinks, Should have run when I could.

He sees the slumped woman and thinks of his lost love.

I'll get you out Heidi.

He staggers towards the woman pulling her up and dragging her towards the exit.

Not Heidi...hands?

[JxJxA]

Upon seeing Widget arrive with pomp and circumstance aplenty, Zerone looks to Follower for advice.

It appears that the time for flight is now at hand. Grab your things and fall back to safety. There is no sin in caution. Even He once told Gideon to choose cautious soldiers. Let the sister do what she does best and support your allies from afar.

Choosing to listen to his mentor, Zerone grabs his medkit and bolts for the van.

Sister Amara, I ask that you ensure the safety of my comrades before putting this den of sin and villainy to the sword. he asks the ravmalakh through their shared link.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
Holding her hand over the bleeding wound along the side of her neck, she stumbles back and runs her hand over a small panel that responds with lights and an oddly out of place pleasant chime like a doorbell in a middle class suburban home. The door opens to reveals a figure straight from the scriptures - wreathed in flame and carrying a large sword of some sort made entirely of fire. She shrieks and pauses in the doorway unsure where to go now. A man is partially visible beyond the angel and you see him dive through the floor - perhaps an opening of some sort that you can't quite see.

Inside the Container
A woman's scream of surprise and terror echoes from the floor above this one through the small opening to be quickly followed a slim male form. You watch as he hits the ground rolling to reduce the impact of the fall - coming up on his knees and one hand bracing him against the far wall of the container. He speaks his English is heavily accented but understandable.

"I done, you take - I leave?"

Outside the Container
The van spins out leaving the side door and back hatch facing your small group. The doors finishing opening as the van rocks from side to side from the force of braking. Widget sticks her head out the driver side window.

"Everyone in! Did you all get the fellow from upstairs?"

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man bellowed through the hole he'd made in the ceiling

"Hey, you! The ork with the tusks! Please come with the panda, we would like to rescue you."

Honorable ancestor, please help the wounded ork down the hole and to the van.

He then waited for the shen to come down and the others to get out.

Response to Twist:

"The shen who is assisting me should be able to rescue the prisoner, and the fire shen our friend called can easily torch this place now that no magic remains to oppose it. Once the prisoner and the rest of us make it to the van, we should leave."

[BishopMcQ]

Cypher looked from the fiery angel of vengeance to the magic floating panda, unsure just how many drugs were still in his system. Then he heard the voice from below to reinforce his delusion. He turns the scalpel in his hand. With a longer blade, it would be a more defensive posture. At this size it is perfect for quick slashes as he runs.

"Out of my way bitch, or I slit your throat. No second chances." The smooth flowing Japanese was out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
Again you witness the monster lurking just beneath her eyes swimming to the surface as she speaks, her voice cold and hateful.

"Fine, you're just a waste of flesh walking around."

She moves, pressing her back to the wall between her and the angry spirit and allowing her to keep an eye on you as she clears the path through the door.

[Fyndhal]

Twist moves to the door of the van and begins gesturing for the others to get in. "C'mon! Go, go go!"

[Notsoevildm]

"Help me with my Heidi," stammers a lurching and clearly confused Eklipse as he drags the unconscious woman towards the van.

[Fyndhal]

Nodding quickly to Eklipse and helps pull the woman into the van.

[Buddha72]

All
The interior of the van looks less than sterile perhaps a token effort was made but that's it. A couple of small drones are scattered around the interior providing make shift illumination. The partition separating the driver from the rear compartment has been torn out or rusted out. Widget's face appears between the seats as she hollers back.

"Who is Heidi? Did I miss someone in the containers?"

[Fenris]

Staggering, Ayo clutches the edges of the van like a life raft on a stormy sea. He pulls himself inside and curls up in a corner, still twitching occasionally, head spinning.

[JxJxA]

Watching the what looked to be humbled remains of the group limp into Widget's van, Zerone pops open his medkit once more.

Learn from their wounds the poison of hubris. It is but a needle's width away from confidence, and subtly seductive. Now, my friend, do as He would have you do and tend to them as best you can.

"Um...who needs treatment first?"

[Buddha72]

In the Van
The sounds of gunfire start up as the security guards in the shipyard begin to gauge range and seem to be encouraging the van and its passengers to depart. The team makes its way into the van as Kat Doktor climbs in smiling a tight smile at Zerone.

"Nothing personal but why don't you let me handle this for now. I've seen worse and I think the others could use help getting in."

He quickly looks over the medkit and without looking up begins to give out directions for where to place the wounded.

"Put her down here and if you can walk and form sentences then you'll need to wait just a little bit but I will get to you."

Back in the cargo container you see the odd sight of a large panda carrying the lone living test subject from the upper level to the back of the van, using its body as a physical shield from the incoming gunfire - they seem to have little effect on the spirit as it gently lowers the man to the floor of the vehicle. He looks around and seems to become fixated on the medical treatment happening and silently begins to assist in them. Kat Doktor has a look of open surprise as the new arrival easily falls into the role of assistant, handing him what he needs and staying in step with him.

"You've done this before I see."

With the rest of the team climbing in you see a small train of drones dragging grisly payloads into the back with you. Hands that look cut or laser torched off of the fallen bodies being stacked near the drivers seat. Widget looks back over her shoulder with a look of mild distaste as she hollers to the rear.

"I'm normally not this bloodthirsty but they're dead and I don't know about you but I need the money and they for sure aren't going to need them besides..."

The rest of what she was going to say is cut off by a large explosion and gout of fire from the upper part of the concealed drug facility. You see the debris scattered around and see the large flame enshrouded spirit unleashing its fury on the container. The heat washes over you and the van is rocked violently. Widget turns and guns the engine as the van surges forward. The panda slams the back doors closed as it bellows out is defiance at the guards shooting at it. You feel the vehicle lurch and slam against the sides of containers as its ricochetted through the shipyard to you hope some safe place. You hear small explosions go off around you and see clouds of smoke erupt from the all around the van. Widget yels back to the rear as she guns the engine building up speed.

"No worries - that's all me making sure we aren't followed."

You feel the impact of what you assume is a fence or perhaps a wall ripple through the van. The ride doesn't slow down but it does get smoother as you hit the streets of the city. After a bit the speed of the van reduces to what passes for flow of traffic in Seattle. Kat Doktor moves efficiently through the group tending their injuries with a practiced and confident manner. The recent survivor from the drug lab shadows him silently helping where he can. All in all you drive for 20 or 30 minutes before pulling into a garage or some sort of vehicle storage. Inside you see a relative new GMC Bulldog and what looks to be several larger drones in various stages of repair or modification.

"We're here."

Widget exits the van and opens the door, helping any who need it to their feet and begins to look over the pile of stolen tech and the harvest of hands. She talks out loud to the group as she sorts.

"I'll contact your boss and let them know the job was completed and what extras you did. I gave you all my info so feel free to contact me but I'm going to be a little busy the next few days dumping this stuff for quick cash. I'll let you all know what the next job is and I'll get the fake ID you requested as well." She pauses to address the last part to Eklipse. "I'll take this fellow with me and get him set up with my friends I told you about. Nice bit of work all - I'll be in touch." She motions for the lab test subject to follow her to the nicer vehicle. "Let's go handsome and lock up on your way out. Hit the orange button on the keypad when you leave."

She climbs into the vehicle and the large metal door of the garage opens as she back out and drives off into the early hours of the morning.

Cypher
You sit struggling to adjust your mind to the sudden change in circumstance that just happened as you watch street lights roll by the passenger side window. The young elf sitting next to you occasionally glances over at you, her face an unreadable mask or perhaps you've been away from people so long you've forgotten how to interpret expressions. She drives you to the outskirts of southern Seattle, you see signs for an area called Tarislar as she leaves the main roads and begins taking smaller side roads. You arrive at what appears to be a cluster of bio-domes that have been salvaged and connected together by tubes and covered walkways. You pass through a ring of sentries, elves with automatic weapons who seem to know the driver. She pulls the car up to a smaller dome along the eastern edge of the compound. She gestures for you to get out and follow her as she passes in front of the van.

An exterior door opens and out walks an attractive red headed female elf. Her face is radiant and happy, they embrace like old friends or family might. As you exit the van you can hear them talking, they appear to be taking no pains to keep that they say secret.

"...so this the volunteer I told you about and I can say he seems to know his way around a medkit. He helped my friends after our camping trip get patched up from a serious tumble they had rock climbing but you know how that is.."

The new woman walks up to you, her face open and friendly. Her voice is warm and gentle.

"Welcome to the Community, I'm Aideen . We have a place for you to sleep and some food, maybe a bath and some fresh clothes? You're welcome to stay as long as you pitch in each day but from what Widget has said that should be pretty easy to do. We can always use medical help around here. Let's head inside and get you settled, shall we?"

She motions for you to follow her into the smaller domed structure while waving goodbye to your ride. You enter and wonder at the twists and turns of just a few hours.

[JxJxA]

As Widget speeds away from the Yakuza drug lab, Zerone watches Amara dispense her righteous fury upon it. He can make out the image of her brilliant golden-white arc slicing and shooting through the remains of the lab, her ethereal form easily distinguishable against the plain colors of earthly fire. Minutes later, he senses the ravmalakh's presence in his mind.

I have cleansed this temple of sin from His world. With that, my service to you is at an end. Walk His path, young one, and remember this. Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. With that, Amara passes from this world and returns to the next.

[Notsoevildm]

Kat Doctor lives up to his name as he treats Eklipse's electrical burns. Especially considering that he manages to do it in the back of a moving van, and one driven by the somewhat deranged Widget no less. By the time the doctor and his newfound assistant have finished patching him up, the furry elf feels almost as good as new. Apart from the pounding headache that is, the unpleasant aftereffect of the neurotoxin in the grenade. But he knows that too will eventually pass.

He spends the rest of the journey examining the unconscious woman that he had mistaken for Heidi while disoriented by the gas. She was about the right height, but her features were clearly asian, not european. He contemplated just leaning across and crushing her windpipe then adding her hand to the pile of grisly trophies Widget's drones had brought back to the van. But maybe she knew something that would help him find his lost love.

Life is choice, he thinks to himself, half remembering something one of his trainers had taught him. And through those choices do we each live our own lives.

He sighs, rubbing his temples. Then he moves carefully across the van and kneels next to her. He pats her down for weapons and then binds her hands behind her back with a plastic tiewrap. Satisfied with his work, he turns to the others in the van.

"I vas mistaken about zis woman. Ze gas you understand. She is not who I thought she vas. She is most likely just another hand to be delivered to our employer. However, I vould like to ask her a few questions first. If any of you has talents or medicines that vould make zis task easier, then I ask your help."

[BishopMcQ]

At the Community

"Yes, somewhere to clean up would be nice. Then, when I don't smell as bad as I do right now, some clothes would be good. Right now I think anything that comes within arm's reach probably needs to be washed just to make sure.

"As Widget said, I'm good with a medkit so I can help out there, or if you have any computer problems. I'm pretty handy with a screwdriver and soldering iron."

Cypher follows Aideen to the shower room and thanks her. He steps in and pulls the door closed behind him before peeling off the undershirt and jeans that had stuck to him in the lab. Maybe with enough bleach they'll come clean, he thought. The cold water hit him full in the face and made him jump a second as he tried to adjust it. It slowly heated to lukewarm and he scrubbed off a week's worth of skin, grime, and sweat. The same soap went to attack the grease in his hair. Not the best option, but a whole lot better than nothing.

When he was done, he found a loose fitting t-shirt and some jeans left where his clothes had been. The pants were cut differently than he liked, they were loose around the ankles and too tight around the hips. All that was needed would be a pair of cowboy boots to complete the look.

Sitting down for a minute before going out to see the rest of the Community, Cypher flipped the wi-fi switch off on his commlink and pushed the display button which would flash the time and date. Time to see how long I've been gone...

[JxJxA]

"Thank you for bringing us home safely, sister. I hope that you gather enough money to live well," Zerone says to Widget in their shared tongue. He then turns to the rest of the group with an honest smile and bows politely.

"It was nice meeting and working with you all. I hope that we can do it again. Go in Peace." He mentally stumbles over some of the words, but practice and a growing confidence in the language manage to cover the potential goofs.

He exits the garage and looks for the nearest bus stop to take him back to his home. As he walks out, he feels Follower touch his mind again.

You have done well this day, my friend. In the past, you have donned the mantle of the guardian. Today, you have shown that you can draw the blade of the warrior without succumbing to the madness of violence. I believe you are ready to learn more.

I would be grateful for whatever wisdom you might bestow upon me, Follower. He can feel the spirit smile.

It is not my wisdom to give, but His. I am but a follower of His Way, a shepherd sworn to serve His flock. Although, I can show you what He has taught me. It is not an easy path to walk, especially in this day where the meek are mocked as fools and preyed upon by the wicked. However, if you prove capable, I feel certain that you will find that the way of peace is much more rewarding than that of greed and rage.

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man stays quiet, apparently lost in thought. Once the team is clear, he turns to the panda spirit.

"Thank you greatly for your assistance, honourable ancestor. Your help was invaluable in rescuing this man and in preventing the loss of any of our lives."

He bows to the spirit as well as he can in the confines of the van, as the panda vanishes into the air.

To Eklipse:

"I can assist you with this. The shen of wisdom have taught me how to learn what people wish to hide... what is it that you believe she might know?"

As Eklipse replies, Fat Man pulls out a wooden amulet on a string of beads. Then his eyes start emanating a strange bluish light, as he gazes at something behind the unconscious woman as though looking through the amulet like a lens.