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

[JxJxA]

(Double post)

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man
"Thank you for your consideration, and in any case for your oatmeal. I'll be curious to see the piece once it is finished; I believe I have a lost soul to rescue tonight."

Fat Man passed the meal quietly, not interrupting Hito's silence, before heading back to prepare for Emilio's rescue operation.

[Buddha72]

The Safe House
Gear is laid out and looked over, along with the new tactical network set up by Cypher as the team sits to go over the run one last time before making the actual extraction from the clinic.

[Fenris]

He walked through his gear, checking each tool and piece of gear in an almost ritualistic fashion, murmuring a series of prayers to Panther that closely resembles chanting. The masked runner will flicker briefly under the lights of the safehouse as his camouflaged systems runs through it's built in diagnostics, the runner seeming almost as surprised as everyone else as it flickers on.

He turns to Eklipse as everyone else finishes similar ablutions to the Dark Powers that watch over shadowrunners about their tasks, those rituals that most runners have before the action starts.

"So, the hacker and myself in the back door, and elementals leading the charge and the rest of our group following close behind at the front?"

[UmaroVI]

"Indeed. I will ask a shen to accompany you, just in case we are mistaken and you find magical resistance. Zerone's will be free to lead the assault."

[JxJxA]

With Fat Man's magical support girding him, Zerone centers himself and calls out to a ravmalakh far more powerful than any other he has ever dared to summon. As he casts forth supplications into the Primum Mobile, he touches a spirit's mind. She is astonished that one of his status would consider calling out to her, and even more surprised at the strength behind the words. She relents to his request and materializes in front of him, dressed in the familiar flowing garb and placid mask of its comrades, but exponentially more impressive in its splendor. A penumbra of gold and ivory fire dances about her form, and a flaming arc is sheathed at her waist.

"I am Isabela, a servant in the Fiery Sphere of Archangel Michael. You have called me, and I have answered." It looks about the room at the odd gathering of companions before continuing.

"What violation of His Will would you have vindicated?" she finishes, her voice intentionally betraying her slight confusion.

"Sister Isabela, there is a medical facility run by a wicked doctor who takes people and experiments on them. We intend to wrest control of the facility from her, and rescue the victims trapped there. The mana about the place has been wounded by her acts of cruelty. I believe that our magical abilities will be diminished, which is why I call upon your aid. The danger is great to all of us, but we must act to save them. At the foundation of His commandment is this lesson: 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"

John 15, Verse 13.

"'This is my commandment, That ye love one another as I have loved you.' Very well, young one, you act with His Will in your mind and His Words in your heart. You shall have my sword and shield."

"I thank you, Sister. If you like, you may await my call in the astral."

The spirit nods, bowing politely before dissolving back into the ether.

When the spirit leaves, Zerone turns and gives thanks to his companions.

"Thank you very much," he says, "I was a little afraid of what might happen if the ravmalakh found my cause...uh...lacking. I remember trying to summon one for a conversation, but I was not focused on the matter. My nose did not stop bleeding for a week."

[BishopMcQ]

Cypher nods as the group seems to be coming together. He puts the final touches on his jury-rigged creation, adding in the ARO which would give Emilio the short version of their plan.

"So, Zerone since you are running point from the front door, you'll probably get to Emilio before me or Ayo. If he looks like he can walk, talk and shoot a gun, slap these on his chest, sticky side in. Make sure he's wearing a shirt or something--I'm not the one taking the heat for you ripping off all his chest hair. Flip the switch on the glasses and he should come online with the TacNet a few seconds later. The glasses will let him see the feeds and our message. Don't give them to him, if he's going to shoot us.

"Depending on how thorough the records are, I may need a few minutes in the computer. I will tell you when I see it. Lastly, and this is for the whole team--some of the guys on those beds may be friendly runners in a bad place, others may want to kill you. Don't let the killing type get to the office with me in it. I'll be a cranky e-ghost and haunt your commlinks until the day you die."

[JxJxA]

Zerone nods as he carefully takes Cypher's jury-rigged creation. He places it in his smart-pack, making sure to keep the sticky side from adhering to any of his effects. He visibly relaxes at the mention of protecting others from danger.

"I will make sure he has something over...um...on? ...before I stick it on his chest."

[Buddha72]

The Clinic
You see the sun setting over the city. The colors of the sunset made more vivid by the pollutants hanging in the air. The city seems to be shaking off the hum and buzz of corporate drones as it spills out gaudy lights and AROs promising distraction from the meaningless march of days they face. The laughter and faces sound and look strained as you make your way through the city making your way to the site. You see flashes of scenes like postcards - homeless digging through the trash, kids zipping by on bikes pursued by the local law, and the logos everywhere claiming to have your better life for a price. You arrive win the area of the clinic and feel the artificial calm and peace of bought off security. You arrive at your rallying point, the last moment to check in before striking out.

[BishopMcQ]

The mirror was broken. A sliver driving down at a sharp angle breaking the reflection of the small bear. He was battered, his stuffing had fallen out and his silver eyes were stitched X's. Across his belly the plaintive phrase "SAVE ME!" was written. The reflection shifted and she smiled over her shoulder at her furry companion. The teddy bear was sewn onto her backpack.

"She's the Greatest! She's Fantastic! She's the world's best Action Decker!!" The reflection showed a shock of long red hair, skin as pale as snow under a downy white fur. Besides the backpack, she wore a tight black jumpsuit with two oversized pistols on her hips. Earbuds playing music loud enough that the people around her could hear it gave the beat track for her soundtrack as she sang to herself.

Stepping out of the Stuffer Shack bathroom, Iblis glided on her skates through the aisles picking up snacks. She tossed some cred to the kid behind the counter and swept out into the night--baby needed a new deck and tonight was the night she'd get it.

--===--
It had been going perfectly until JJ showed up with his crew. Sure, they blew the other team sky high, which helped keep them from shooting at her, but they set off every damn alarm in the building. Sprinting across the roof at full speed, guns blazing to keep the rent-a-cops behind cover, she jumped.

And her boot caught on the edge of the roof...

"Hey good lookin'" The blonde turned to look up, just in time to break her fall with his body.

Cypher shivered as the memory washed over him, like someone walking across his grave.

"Last check, anyone see cameras at the back entrance and can you make out the lock on the door?" As he waited, he quietly hummed the theme song blaring in his mind a second ago.

[Fenris]

Standing beside Cypher, tucked away in an out of the way alley, the freakish looking runner made the last few adjustments for actually working, things that might be a little too conspicuous during the normal day-to-day. The long, furry tail uncurled behind him, twitching and swaying like it's own restless animal, and the matte black fur covering him seemed to soak in the light, leaving a blank void behind. The camouflaged armor flickers to life, most of the runner's central mass conveniently becoming see-through, and the rest of his body seems to still, almost to the point of not even breathing as he waited for the go signal from Eklipse.

[UmaroVI]

Fat Man stopped at the front of the building. To physical senses, it looked peaceful and normal, but on the astral plane he could immediately sense the corruption and misery pervading the clinic. His mind was drawn back to the abomination he'd found in the forest, the one that started all of this.

Best not to dwell on the past, instead to focus on the present. We can cleanse this place and rescue at least one person.

Fat Man's shen floated beside him on the astral plane, looking like a feudal Chinese warrior armed with a saber.

"I ask that you assist us in cleaning out this corrupted place. We seek to rescue one of the patients - *this one,*" Fat Man thought, as he communicated the sense of Emilio's aura he'd been given by the pigeon shen, "and to destroy the guardians of this place. There may be other innocents inside. We seek your help in hiding us from the guards, and that you go with these two," indicating the backdoor team, "and protect and assist them. I thank you humbly for your aid."

"To not prepare is the greatest of crimes; to be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues. And I believe we are well-prepared."

[JxJxA]

Fat Man's proverb cues Zerone to give his spirit more details on the mission. He politely touches Isabela's mind, getting her attention. He can already feel the ravmalakh's distaste at being drawn into the disturbed area, but he can also sense her white hot desire to dispense justice upon the wicked responsible for the disturbance. He regrets that he himself cannot cleanse the place of the metaphysical stain of pain and dismay, but he hopes that their actions can help set things right.

"Sister Isabela, I ask that you defeat our foes once we try to take back this clinic. This is the victim we wish to rescue. If you manage to sense his presence, do your best to protect him from harm." He opens his mind to her, allowing her to scour his mind for the astral impressions he received from Brother Servan. The ravmalakh repays his prior courtesy in kind, gently sifting through his memories of his scouting mission.

"It will be done, young one. Let me know when you wish to strike."

[Buddha72]

At The Clinic
Each of you experience a slight sense of disorientation as the new TacNet settles over you. You see small sensor feeds scroll out and see a series of command lines execute.

Tactical network running.....
Channels being brought online....1....2....3....4....5.....
ALERT: 6 is non-responsive....
Analysis of sensor feeds underway.....
ALERT: external security detected via channels 2 and 4


You find an images brought up of three discreet cameras - one placed over the main entrance, one over the side front entrance and another covering the deck off of the office in the back of the clinic.

Tactical simulations running....
RECOMMENDATIONS: Disable the external security measures to avoid detection

[BishopMcQ]

With the feed scrolling across the TacNet, Cypher chews on his lip. He hadn't detected any nodes from cameras before, though he hadn't exactly looked for them either. A surge of confidence slams into him as the chorus line of the song running through his head comes into mental focus.

"Head's up, they have eyes to watch their prize. Give me a sec to see what I can do from here...otherwise we go loud and heavy."

He pulls up his hacking suite and gets to work. Scripts line his agents up around him automatically, one scanning the ports of his commlink for intruders, the other redirecting traces. The hacker begins scanning the area for wireless traffic, trying to sniff out the links for the cameras.

[Emilio]

Smooth, Emilio, smooth. Melock's "How to influence others" sure came in handy there, didn't it? You choked up like you were flirting in a bar.

In frustration, Emilio tears at his bindings.

Next time, keep talking. Next time, slide from the nice to the con. You can do this.. They will eat you alive if you don't.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
You quickly cats out your agents and see the programs running, you see the "CLEAR" alerts scroll by as your sweep through your commlink for anomalies. You being to see results pop up but none of the nodes detected appear to be the cameras. You think with the signal null void the clinic was before they are probably hardwired.

Emilio
Hours maybe days has passed - its hard to tell since you have no external way to measure the passage of time - no windows, your commlink or clocks. You flex again against the restraints out of habit in the vain hope something will give at some point. You feel the augmented power of your body push and just as you about reach the limit of your sustained effort you feel a slight give on one of the restraints.

[BishopMcQ]

Cypher let's out a soft string of epithets in Sperethiel, oddly high pitched from his normal voice. As he looks at the team, his voice drops back to his normal timbre.

"Yeah, so the cameras are hardwired. Option A, one of you magics me up to the roof, all invisible like and I take control manually. Option B, we go 'too crazy to fuck with' and kick down the front door. There's of course option C, where we pretend we didn't see the cameras and be all stealthy, maybe we'll get lucky and they won't notice us.

"What's it gonna be?"

[JxJxA]

Zerone looks positively scandalized as he hears Cypher's choice of colorful metaphors. He takes a few moments to compose himself before replying.

"Um...I don't believe Isabela can conceal you, but she could carry you up and over the the camera. I think that your Option A is a better idea. My makers did not teach me the proper spells to...uh...go 'too crazy to fu...um... with...'"

[BishopMcQ]

"Alright, yeah. So if she can make with the Captain Underpants, and this fella over here," Cypher gestures at the shen, "can still do his part part hiding me, that should work."

The hacker double checks that all of his pockets are closed and the tool kit was strapped on tightly. He raises his arms up over his head and rolls on to the balls of his feet, preparing to launch into the sky like a trid hero.

"Any time you're ready, Isabela."

[JxJxA]

Captain Underpants? asks Isabela, using her summoner's native tongue with the hope of increasing the likelihood that he could explain Cypher's reference.

I do not know what he means, Sister. The words are lost on me. However, can you carry him safely to up and over the cameras placed on the building so that he can disable them? I also ask that you protect him if need be. I believe you will be accompanied by Mr. Fat Man's ravmalakh----oh, uh, he calls it a shen. Once again, Zerone opens his mind to the spirit so that she can see the cameras. She carefully sifts through the information, taking care not to disturb the timid elf.

Once ready, she flares mutely into existence behind cover so as to minimize the likelihood of unwanted eyes picking up her rather brilliant materialization. Unlike at the safehouse, Isabela's presence is slightly diminished. The stain on the astral space surrounding the clinic is clearly taking its toll on the spirit. However, she stands unfazed, her posture intimating that she is even more resolute in her desire to dispense divine retribution on those responsible for such pain and suffering.

She turns to Cypher, the ivory mask that hides her face showing its eternally placid expression. She speaks to him softly, using the tone of her voice to express her humor.

"I stand at the ready, child of man. Let me know once you are prepared to undertake the 'Captain Underpants' experience."

[Buddha72]

At The Clinic
The odd sight of the Cypher flying through the air with the assistance of the spirit quickly fades from view as they are concealed. The area around the clinic is quiet and barren. The ground slips passed and the hacker is placed gentle on the roof behind the visual arc of the camera.

Cypher
You feel the tingle on your skin from what you hope is the magic of the spirits keeping you from being spotted. It's grip was odd too - it felt more ;ike force or pressure than flesh and bone. Shaking it off you kneel and begin to fish out tools to splice into the wires and deal with the cameras. YOu examine the camera and realize at this range that they are just as deceptive as the "abandoned clinic" below you. The housing itself is stationary but this close you can hear the motors running and surmise that the camera must pan inside the housing giving it a wider field of coverage than the casing would suggest. You cut through the outer casing which looks fairly old and shabby only to discover the wiring underneath is not. More layers of the lie that keeps people from looking deeper. You run the programs and begin to access the security protocols. The system is fairly straight forward and seems to be relying on people not having any interest in the clinic to begin with. You quickly thread your way through and set up a loop on the system so that anyone manning the cameras will see the same 3 minutes. It's not the best but as long as you don't take too long it should hold no problem. You send the all clear to the team waiting across the street.

[Emilio]

Oh!

A wave of excitement washes over Emilio as he feels the give. He follows it up with a good long strong pull.

[Buddha72]

Cypher
You begin to reach out through the system to see what's there and quickly find it connected to other devices - one appears to be a bank of monitors and the other an alarm system - otherwise the system is closed off. It appears the security here exists as discrete separated systems rather than the usual interconnected hive most use. Either the architect of this system was paranoid or deranged. The question remains whether there was a purpose or reason for their fear or madness. The system itself is reading all normal with no alerts or warnings yet.

Emilio
You feel the rush of energy move through you - you might be able to get out of these restraints. You stretch and struggle again, pushing yourself and trying to find where you felt the give - if there was someway to focus your efforts there. You are rewarded with another lessening of tension along the straps holding you down.

[BishopMcQ]

Scrawling a quick note across the net, Cypher puts his arms up again, gesturing to the spirit that it was time to go back down.

//Tactical Network [Incoming Message - Channel 1]
//Time to start hoppin folks. Cameras are spun up, but we only have a few minutes.

Cypher tucks his body in and tries to land quietly as the spirit drops him. He sneaks over to the backdoor leading into the crazy doctor's office. Hopefully Ayo would hurry and the rest of the team would do their part. A one-man assault was suicide by rental cop at this point.