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

[Fenris]

"He's saying that he won't be able to open doors or shut down security while he eats his breakfast." Ayo shook his head a little. He could never figure the damn things out, but even he could get the gist of the hacker's statement. "So, is it worth it for you to come into the clinic at all, then?"

As an aside to Ecklipse, "I know someone that deals in guns and ammo...primarily stuff that falls off the back of UCAS military trucks, but other stuff as well. Send me a list of what you're looking for, I needed to talk to him anyway. I don't know him well enough to just pass over contact info, but I'll talk to him. I don't make a good personal shopper." The last is said with a slighter lighter tone, although without being able to see facial features, it's hard to accurately gauge. Like listening to just the sound from a movie, hearing the voice without the accompanying expressions can be confusing.

[BishopMcQ]

The computer continues in the same flat tone, without inflection of any kind.

"More precisely, I'm saying that I won't be able to confirm what has been done to Emilio and if they have any plans or treatments for him that could keep him from walking out the door under his own power. Also, unless they are following plan B, won't be able to identify immediately who the other people who just had surgery are and if they are a threat to us.

"Without cracking their computers remotely, my value to the team is opening locked doors and cracking computers that they have protected on site. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it for me to come to the clinic. Anyways, I've been up for the last twenty odd hours, so I'm catching some sleep. Let's plan on touching base in about ten hours, to give anyone who isn't cranked up a chance to sleep before the job."

Cypher alternates through buses and taxis, spoofing the access ID on his commlink as he goes, back to the safehouse. When he gets in, he heads to the bedroom and grabs a few hours of much needed sleep. In the morning, he jots a quick message to Aideen saying that he picked up some work from their mutual friend. He expected it to take a few days, a week on the outside. He'd be away until any residual heat had worn off.

The note segued into the needs for a few items to complete the job. The list was primarily electronics, a few sensors.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
Thirty minutes after you sent your original message you see a message from Aideen letting you know the things you needed are no problem and she should have them in 24 hours. She indicates she is waiving her usual fee since this is a special case and asks where you would like to get the items ordered or where they should be delivered.

[Emilio]

Let's try this again. I wonder if I can pull the whole strap out of its mount. They might not notice that and maybe I can surprise them.

Emilio struggles to break out of his restraint around his right hand, focusing on trying to break it off of its mount.

[Buddha72]

Emilio
You feel the purpose and anger move through you as you attempt to burst the straps - you strain against the restraint but nothing seems to give or slacken.

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
The paper held a handwritten address in Snohomish along with a time and day, delivered by a nun to your address from the odd spirit you spoke with. The paper felt authentic - real paper was a rarity along with the notion of writing something by hand.

As you make your way to the address you watch the city recede and nature assert itself. The building become less prevalent and the green begins to take over. You see animals and large isolated homes - you think they are called ranches where they keep larger animals. You see the signs of a more rustic existence. Small store fronts that don't seem attached to any of the large chains that dominated the core of the city. Vehicles become more robust and practical - trucks and jeeps replace small electric cars and motorcycles.

You arrive at the address and see a simple wood structure, a barn you think - large and in need of maintenance. The only other person is an elderly woman waiting just outside the massive double doors that lead into the building.

[Notsoevildm]

"Danke heren," mumbles Eklipse with a wry, somewhat sheepish grin.

To think, only a few weeks ago I was hunting down people like this thinking they were the bad guys. Now, it seems they are not only on the side of angels, and literally so in the case of Zerone, but they are also willing to help me. If only they knew my past.

"Zis it what I am needing. A few clips of gel rounds for a HK227. Hurts like hell but hopefully wont be damaging any vital equipment. Zen a couple of flashpaks to screw over ze eyeballs of ze guards and with luck any cameras looking at us. And last but not being least, some gas grenades. Preferably, fast acting Neurostun, but CS or ze gas that makes you vomit, ze name escapes me for ze moment, vould also be good."

<<@Cypher: I have purchased a helmet with thermographic capability and enhancements to both video and audio reception. I wear contact lenses with integrated smartlink and you can also access what I see and hear through the sim module in my commlink. Is this sufficient? Also, if you will be accessing my commlink, I would appreciate it if you also protect it from any unwanted intrusions by third parties. I have seen teams taken out by having their commlinks compromised by a proficient hacker.>>

More like I have taken out teams who had their commlinks compromised by corp hackers, but enough of that for now. Focus on taking down this woman, rescuing the hostage and hopefully finding a lead on whatever happened to Heidi.

[Fenris]

Eklipse's information gets tallied in with the request for the additional firearms he'd been looking for anyway, and sent off, all harmlessly converted into arcane objects associated with golfing, if his notes were correct, to the General with a note about assisting some enthusiasts with a hobby. He'd never been able to really fathom the specifics for the General's need for the extra steps of security, but the man had a talent for providing things that killed people in a fast and cheap form.

[JxJxA]

As the others make preparations for gear, Zerone sends a message to Maggie to ask a favor from the Rev. Hannibal.

<<@Maggie: Hi Maggie, it is Zerone. Would it be possible to ask the Reverend to look into finding a Force Rating 4 health spell sustaining focus? I am hoping to have the full amount of nuyen soon, but I have some that I can put up as collateral. Could you ask him for me? Thank you very much!>>

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
You look across the field and at first the barn seems fairly ordinary but you quickly realize a small camera is planted on the top of the roof - it appears to be angled down to cover the actual entrance. You look closer at Hito and see a magnificent bird unfold before your eyes - her wings are a deep golden brown tipped with a brilliant white. Her entire aura pulses with energy - her raw ability to control and channel mana exceeds your own. Her emotions ripple across her form - concern and alertness dominate her feelings.

Zerone
You almost immediately get a message back from Maggie.

<<I am so sorry but the Reverend is unavailable right now but I will make sure to pass on your request. I'm not sure when he will be able to get back to you - he is in private conference with other religious leaders concerning a delicate matter. God Bless.>>

Ayo
You receive a cryptic reply telling you the game is set for the next day at 2 pm at the usual course. He mentions there will be a 10% membership fee for the items you ordered for the game.

[JxJxA]

Zerone immediately sends Maggie a reply.

<<@Maggie: Thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly. I understand that he is a busy man, and I certainly hope everything is all right. Go with God.>>

[UmaroVI]

This must be the right place, Fat Man thought. He approached close enough to speak without shouting, then stopped and bowed to the old woman.

"Greetings. I am Zhi He, and our mutual friend is the honorable Hao Chen. I have come here in search of those of like spirit."

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
"Well don't stand there all day and get in here out of the cold."

She turns and enters the barn leaving the door open for you to pass through. As you enter the structure you feel a wash of heat and warm light fills the interior. It's clear that it has been converted into a comfortable living space. You see a small wood burning stove off to the side where Hito is stirring a large pot giving off a hearty smell and a small iron tea pot. There is a small table with cushions around it and old woven rugs thrown about to cover the dirt floor. Several large lanterns hang from the rafters giving the space a cheerful atmosphere.

"Well sit and let's see how much of the animal still lives in you and how far you have gone into the madness of man."

[BishopMcQ]

In the morning

Cypher stretches to work out the kink in his shoulder from sleeping on the couch. It was more comfortable than being strapped to a lab exam table, but not by much. He sniffs each shoulder and decides that a shower can wait for a few more hours.

The hacker pulls up the tacnet software and begins to go through the tedious process of configuring the network. He collects each of the access IDs for the devices and configures the devices to accept the subscription from his commlink. Cypher whistles to himself as he begins the encryption protocol. He enables the tacnet and leans back to view the feeds.

At first, the feed is overwhelming. Cypher tipped the view back on the display and began resorting the feeds. Connecting Fat Man and others to this would overload his display if everything dumped dead center. He parsed and sorted the field of vision, creating a heads up display that better filtered the data. The hacker cranked up the tacnet's UI and began scouring the Matrix for skins that fit a modern aesthetic.

Once the feed is working the way he likes, Cypher begins to add team members in to the network, one at a time. With the net up and running, he lets out a deep breath and heads for the shower.

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man

Fat Man bowed politely to his hosts.

"Thank you for your hospitality. Your home is most welcoming."

Fat Man sat down on one of the cushions at the small table, quietly giving his hosts a chance to assense him.

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
Hito assembles a tray with cups and the tea pot. She makes her way back to the table and places the service between you both as she lowers herself to the cushion. She looks you over slowly seeming to take you in piece by piece. Her face is care worn and she smells faintly of some sort of flower - something clean and light.

"The guardian of the temple said you were seeking other skin walkers, to seek deeper mysteries and to learn more of the gifts in your bone and blood. What questions do you have for me then? What would you know of us? Think carefully, I will judge you by what you ask and seek."

As she speaks she pours out the tea, sliding one cup to you and cupping her's in her hands to take in its warmth and aroma.

[Buddha72]

Emilio
The sounds of the clinic filter through the walls of the room and above the hum of the machines around you. You can hear what sounds Japanese - you can't make out the words but the tone is light and conversational. You hear the locks being disengaged on your door and see it opening - a young man enters. He looks to be in his early 20s but he's an elf so their age can get fuzzy after awhile. He is dressed like a nurse or orderly with scrubs and some sort of hand held device - it looks similar to a commlink but not exactly the same.

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man

"To be honest, I've never met another shifter outside my tribe, which is why I hadn't thought of looking for other types of skinwalkers until Hao Chen suggested it. Can you tell me more about your people? I don't mean to be suspicious, I just want to be sure that we really do have more in common with each other than we do with humans."

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
She takes a sip of tea before speaking. "The Hengeyokai are bound together by the ideals of the founder. She taught us the seven virtues - Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, and Loyalty. Each individual is free to pursue those principles as they see fit with the understanding that we must not stray from those virtues. We strive to remain connected to our core selves and that link to the natural world while trying to deepen our understanding of the the World of Man and what our role in it is to be."

She pauses to sip again with a wry smile on her face when she continues. "You should know that each of us will have a slightly different interpretation of the virtues. Think of it as light passing through colored glass - we each change the light as it passes through us. As an artist and a poet I believe the virtues are ideals that we must strive to create in the world around us. I create in the hopes that my work will touch others and move them to embody the principles the work represents. That my words are like seeds and will someday bear fruit, all I need do is plant the ideal."

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man
"Yes, I understand. As a healer, I hope that those I save or protect will use their remaining time to do more good than evil in the world."

He paused to sip the tea. "I have heard of the virtues taught by the founder of the Hengeyokai; some call them the seven virtues of Bushido. But I know only rumors about the founder herself - can you tell me more?"

[Emilio]

I wonder who this is. I don't remember him from earlier, though that could be the drugs. What's he holding?

"Hello, so what do we have planned today?"

Emilio's Japanese is comfortable and smooth, though obviously not a native speaker.

Let's see if I can get him to tell me anything. Useful would be good, but anything would be a start at this point.

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
"She was a warrior - self styled samurai, student of Bushido and defender of the temple where you were directed to us. She was a runner here in Seattle and though often lost and confused by the world she inhabited strove to correct what she thought was injustice and cruelty. She soon sought something larger than just amassing riches and sought others like herself out. She argued, debated and persuaded us to join together - to make something more of ourselves. She believed we were necessary for this world, a bridge between Man and Nature. Our ability to be both animal and people was a blessing that we must use to help the world become a better place."

She pauses to take a long draw of tea. Her face is softened and her voice has taken on the cadence of telling a story or a myth - a tale often told.

"While we all believe in the ideas she espoused, she acknowledged that we must all find our own path and our way to embody the virtues. She guided us through the first few years and helped us to understand the way laid before us. We are far from perfect though and this bond to one another carries responsibilities. She was clear that a balance must be maintained and should we slip too far one way or the other, man or beast, then we must act to remove them from our number and if need be from this incarnation if their imbalance threatens more than their own life. After she felt we understood the virtues and would continue on our own she left this place - seeking to find others and band them together as we are. She has returned over the years and I believe she is still in this world doing exactly that though again you may find others who disagree."

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man
Fat Man listened attentively to Hito's explanation.

"Thank you. I had heard rumors of someone like that at the temple, but didn't realize that she and the founder of the Hengeyokai were the same. I believe that the path of the Hengeyokai is the right one for me to follow, if you will have me, and that I would benefit from the guidance of shapeshifters more experienced in maintaining inner balance."

[Buddha72]

Fat Man
"Then I will share with the others what has passed between us. We meet in two weeks time and you will have your answer then."

She drains the last of her tea from the cup before placing it down on the table between you. She rises and makes her way to the pot simmering on the stove. She stirs as she speaks, leaning over the pot and taking in its aroma.

"You are welcome to eat with me - this porridge is almost ready. I intend to spend the rest of the day in silence so you will be left to your own thoughts to pass the time. There is a piece I am working on that requires a deeper understanding of stillness on my part."

Emilio
You watch the man jump at the sound of your voice. A slow red creeps over his face as he looks your direction. He doesn't answer at first as he looks over the equipment and seems to consult the device he is carrying. As he draws nearer to the bed where you are bound he speaks - his voice barely a whisper.

"We're not suppose to talk to you. You're a special project."

He never makes eye contact and continues his work with the machines around you.

[JxJxA]

Feel the mana grow flat and blunt, woven into an instrument meant to subdue rather than slaughter, instructs Follower as the spirit monitors his protege's spellcasting. Zerone holds the spell carefully upon the razor thin line between incantation and evocation, and delicately reweaves it into a stunbolt. This was Follower's first lesson to the elf, whose creators had thought only to instill him with the ability to kill. Follower had helped him progress beyond being a glorified sword, reforging him into a shepherd's crook---someone with the willpower and astral power to protect the meek and fend off the wicked.

Although the stun spells have become second nature to Zerone, he maintains the practice to this day under Follower's tutelage. It now represents a form of meditation, helping him to hone his magical abilities and zone out the strangeness of the world. It also serves as a reminder of how far he has progressed from the day that he was rescued from an unmarked junkyard grave.

With the conversion complete, Zerone allows the spell to dissipate back into the Astral. He checks the clock, noting that three hours have passed since he first started casting the spell. When he was a novice spellcaster, the marathon casting used to exhaust him. Nowadays, he emerges refreshed. He wonders when he will hear back from the others.

Patience, my friend. They will call when it is time. I know those words may sound hollow when someone's life is at stake, but it is better to strike out on a journey prepared than to run blindly and recklessly into the unknown.