IC: Chasing the Prize, We always get our mark Options

[BishopMcQ]

Edana:
A quiet chirp comes from underneath your jacket accompanied by the familiar vibration of your p-sec.

[HeySparky]

Edana sat quietly through the flight, staring out the windows when she wasn’t sleeping. She tried, with little success, to shut out the flood of imagery as Herne ranged out in front of the plane.

The plane landed roughly in the dark. She stood and began to shuck the coverall to give back to Mickey as the engines wound down. He stopped her with a ‘you’re gonna need that’ look. Edana nodded, mind wandering as Mickey said his farewell.

"Well, wasn't … fun? … number … folks outside …west on … carrefour which connects you to the highway. Take that into France, I'd recommend exiting nine kilometers before reaching the border and taking the south road. It has fewer, entanglements."

Carrefour? What in the world? The unfamiliar word had focused her a bit and she smiled at Mickey, eyes shadowed underneath from poor sleep, skin shadowed all over from tension and strain. “Thanks.”

Clambering out onto the roadway awkwardly, stiff from so long in the confines of the small jet, Edana finds herself doubly glad of the coverall as a cutting wind shrieks up the road. The chime of her p-sec goes unnoticed as the cold of the gust drives all thought from her mind but getting into the inviting warmth of the van. She shakes her head in the negative when the inquiries come about languages, “Just Gaelic.”

On the edge of her consciousness Herne’s circuit of the area yields little but cold snow and lots of it. Safety, momentary perhaps, emanates from the corded bundle of Herne’s link to his mistress. She closes her eyes briefly, searching for the strength to be done with him forever. To end it. It was not the first time she’d sought to sever their bond, but she’d never been able to bring herself to do it.

She growls, startling JT, as she helps him down the ramp. Turning and moving at a jog, she piles into the van sitting with Tiny and Gonzales, the wired dwarf looking comically small between the tall, horn-bearing folks flanking him.

As her temperature starts to rise and the lean woman begins to relax, Edana registers something odd in the vibration of the van. Crumbs! She paws for her p-sec. Wonder how long ago I got this? She checks the time stamp. Not too long ago. She scans the message and records the comm number into her secretary. She starts to connect the call and pauses.

“Our friend from the big apple is here and wants to meet up. Where do you think would be a good place? Or should I just call and set that up?” She peers at Graves and Bishop, “We still want to trust this guy? I mean, hook up with him.”

Wonder if Debian has had a chance to look up any additional data for us. She purses her lips and a thought occurs to her, “Say how do you secure a line?”

[Bastard]

"Is he still on Bellafour's tail?," JT asks as he scans the map, looking for the airport where the targets plane landed.

"We can meet him en route?," he continues, still following the map with his eyes, as if he were talking it, and not Edena.

[Bastard]

After scanning the map for what seems to be the longest two minutes ever, JT puts the van in motion. The rear of the van slides to the left across the icy road. The driver gives a slightly embarrassed chuckle. "Sorry, my feet are a bit heavy after two long flights." He again steps on the gas pedal, though this time with a lot more ease. The van slowly accelerates and the team is again underway.

JT takes in the beautiful foreign scenery, but all the while searching for something that may help him locate their position. Let it be a road sign, a major intersection, or a landmark, he needs something...wait a minute.

"Graves, do these Battletach things have GPS? If the van did that would be fraggin great." Kane gives JT a look as if he understood, and was surprised to hear the swear from his master.

[HeySparky]

"Yeah, or at least I think so," Edana answers JT's question. Quick way to find out. She calls the number that Christopher Robbin sent her. She leans her head toward the window and looks out at the snowy dimness. Beautiful. She smiles as the call connects.

"Mr. Robbin? We're here, all safe and sound. Where do you want to-- " she gasps and grips the door handle as the vehicle fishtails and she darts an anxious glance at JT. "--meet up?"

[BishopMcQ]

In the Van:
The two Swiss smugglers jump clear of the road as the van pulls out faster than anyone expected. Edana's voice breaks the steady quiet of the vehicle left after JT's biting commentary.

Slowly the purple gives way to pink on the eastern horizon as the sun begins to rise behind the mountains. Coming up on the intersection of highways heading northeast to Berlin and west to Geneva, you are able to point out where you are on the map. Like any warm-blooded male, you continue along your route, heading west without stopping for directions.

Tigger:
The gentleman behind the counter looks up to help you, but hearing your cell phone begin to chirp, he sits back down. He draws up an Algerian paper and begins skimming through the editorials.

[Johnson]

Its the first time Tiny has been in Europe. The beauti of the land scape make him smile.

"Hell yea,this beat seattle. I would live here anyday."

[Buddha72]

Tigger smiles and fishes out his phone. "Nice to finally talk to a person. I'm in the process of getting a rental to get around but if you have a vehicle, you could just swing by and pick me up. That work for you?"

[Bastard]

JT smiles at Tiny's comment. Maybe it would be nice to live out someplace like this again someday. I'm sure it has the same problems CFS had, but it would be a refreshing change. The dog shaman's thoughts drift on, as the van glides down the road, quickly and smoothly making its way towards Geneva.

[Johnson]

Tiny smiles and gives a soft giggle, as what he had read about CFS.

"JT how can one give up such land scape, I have also ready some where that the ghouls are rife out here in europe. Where there are ghouls there are other critters. Just wondering on the bounties this side?"

[Bastard]

"Maybe we can make some contacts out here. Im sure there is work out here." JT continues to watch the rolling landscaping, speeding at him. "Im sure Kane wouldnt mind chasing down some critters or criminals out here, but Im sure the good old UCAS has some nice places as well."

"You ever been to Mount Shasta?"

[Johnson]

"NO, I have not. But does not Caine history come from these parts? I am sure he is a europian breed. He may have a sense of knowing."

Looking out the windows again, absorbing the beauti of the land scape.

[HMHVV Hunter]

Helios looks out the windows of the van at the snow-covered fields, a grim expression on his face.

Cold. Death. Like what will happen to the world if this abominable scientist is not brought to justice.

Everyone else was looking out with wonder and awe, like they were about to jump out of the van and have a snowball fight or something.

Helios sighed heavily as he considered that. Sometimes, he wished he could think like they did, just let go and have fun. But he couldn't. The world needed protecting, and its heroes must remain ever-vigilant, so that the forces of darkness may never gain a foothold.

Besides, any happy memories associated with snow disappeared six years ago.

December 17th, 2057....

Helios sighs heavily once again.

And this time, he feels something unexpected.

A dampness rolling down his face.

Tears?

No! I have to remain strong

The vampire hunter quickly wipes the moisture from his face, only to feel more rush down to replace it. Unable to wipe it all away, he buries his face in his arms, pretending to be asleep.

What's wrong with me?! Why am I faltering now?!! This is no time for weakness!

But Helios's long-repressed tears cannot be held back by force of will alone, and he finds himself with his head in his arms for most of the trip to hide this from his teammates.

[HeySparky]

"Yeah, it is nice to hear a voice." Edana grins. "We have room for you, it'll be uh... cozy."

She leans forward talking to JT as she moves the phone's mic away from her mouth, "Can you find the airport on that map? We need to pick up CR."

She moves the mic back, "We'll be there as fast as we can. And we can talk about our surprise party plans then."

[Bastard]

"Thats where we are heading. Does he still have eyes on?"

[BishopMcQ]

Driving through the countryside, soft hillsides are over taken in places by massive corporate enclaves seeming to spring out of nothing and give way back to the rural countryside. JT notices a pair of astral hitchhikers with large packs heading towards Geneva, but by the time he blinks they are gone again.

A toll stop is coming up in about a quarter mile.

[Bastard]

JT eases off the gas as the team approaches the stop. The heavily weighed down van decellerates quickly as it closes in on the toll booth.

"Edena...do you see any spirits or mages around? We don't have any papers, and we may have to 'improvise'. I can handle the talking, but I just don't want any watchers on us."

[Johnson]

Looking around Tiny Keeps a watchful eye on the going ons at the toll plaza. This is Europe, so keping a look out for anything odd. People may act differently here. Recollecting from the time he flew from his home land China to Seattle. People do act differently, so why should this be any different.

[Buddha72]

Tigger moves out of the way of the flow of people going i n and out of the rental office. Been on hold here for awhile.

"Everything ok over there?"

[HeySparky]

It's a weird thing splitting your consciousness. Edana closes her eyes momentarily opening her mind to the Astral presence of this alternately wild and tainted place. She looks for spirits and sees Herne loping alongside the car, spirit tongue lolling. He doesn't look over.

No. No watchers. None that I've seen yet. I'll make another pass. He takes a bounding stride that takes him beyond Edana's limited astral sight. She opens her eyes and shakes her head at JT, catching his questioning eyes in the rear-view mirror.

"Eh, sorry there, Mr. Robbin. Yes, we're on our way. You keeping an eye on our good friend?" Her lilting voice sounds brittle over the comm.

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop has remained reletivly quiet in the back of the van for most of the ride, deep in thought. Too many old memories on this side of the world for him to deal with. As things start heating up, he checks his gear and lifts his chin, keeping an eye out for any action.

[BishopMcQ]

Pulling up to the toll booth, the fee to continue on is two euros. The van's engine rumbles in the early morning air, wanting to continue onwards. A thick steel bar hangs stertched across the highway waiting for payment before it rises to allow safe passage.

[Buddha72]

"He's in transit but I can pick up his trail at the airport easily enough. Why don't you head there." Tigger walks back out, looking for a shuttle or cab to take him back to the airport.

[Johnson]

Look around the booth, just to make sure there are no surprises. The booths are normally manned by some security type. Maybe catch you further down the road. If they know you have arrived. Tiny shakes his head, releaving himself of the paranoia that has just set in.

Things have been far to quite, beside the stupid mistake he made in Seattle, which has cost him a few Nuyen. But determined to make end meet, and get his head above water.

The ride already seems to long, hopefully the return one is quick, it usually is. But it seems that this one maybe different.

[Bastard]

JT digs in his pocket, handing over a couple nuyen. "I hope you take North American currency, we havent had a chance to exchange for Euros yet," he says with a smile to the toll jockey.