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

[BishopMcQ]

Tigger:
It's almost sundown by the time you reach the base of the mountain. Several times upon reaching chasms that you couldn't jump, Herne materialized and was able to lift you across. The hunter spirit is withdrawn and stoic. At one point he almost leaves your side as the link between him and his current mistress flares to life.

Reserved and wary he glides next to you through the snow and rock. You reach a small village with a cafe, motel and fuel station. It's not much but it will serve while you wait.

Bishop:
The day has been long. You and Kane have both had to rest at different points in the day as exhaustion creeps into your body through the bone-numbing chill. The canine is a constant companion, as you descend down the mountain. Without a map it is difficult to always find a path that both of you can successfully navigate.

With the approaching night, you think that you are about six hours from civilization. Weary and cold you settle down in the shelter of a fallen tree. Kane limps beside you, his paws frozen and starting to crack along the pads.

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop takes his time clearing a small area of any pine needles and other flamible material. He then goes about gathering up some sticks to get a fire started, along with some larger chucks of wood to keep it going through the night. One he has a small log-cabin of sticks put together, he breaks out his survival kit and pulls out the matches. It takes a few tries, but eventually he gets a small campfire going. Nothing too big, but enough to provide some warmth against the night's chill. He pats the ground next to him, hoping that Kane will lay down next to him and let him look at his feet. Reaching into his pack, Bishop brings out his medkit and does what he can to ease the dog's suffering while they rest up. He offers Kane a ration bar, hoping the canine will eat it.

After a while, he brings up his heads up display and fires up the cell phone and radio links, seeing if he can reach anyone.

[Bastard]

Kane, used to extended out door hunts, and long winter nights, the combination though is too much and he needs the rest. He settles down with his human companion, resting for as long as possible, but ready to go when Bishop is.


JT answers slowly, not knowing where to start.

"Well, it started back in Seattle, the night before last, I think, its been a long two days...

"A man by the name of Bellafour released a deadly virus into the subway of Seattle, then he fled to New York, then to the chatauex...

"We acted quickly before we could get clearence and papers cause we were afraid that he was going to release more of the virus, here or on Zurich. In our quick investigation we discovered it was possible that he had tickets to the station..."

[BishopMcQ]

JT:
The man sits there quietly listening, with a look on his face as if confirming facts that he already knows.

"You seem unsure. Speak clearly and concisely. Stay focused and to the point. How did you get into France? I want specific names, details including time and place. From there we will work our way forward to the present."

The level of focus his voice carries is crystalline and sharp, while his affect may be similar to a bored executive, your trained ear recognizes the same rhythms that interrogators would use before they get rolling.

[toturi]

Graves:

"My name is Nathan Graves." His old prisoner of war training kicks in, even without his conscious knowledge. Hold out as long as you can, only directly answer the questions given to you, volunteer nothing.

[BishopMcQ]

Graves:
"Rank, serial number and military allegiance."

There's no echo in the room, each word is spoken concisely and seems to be absorbed into the walls rather than rebound against them.

[toturi]

Something about the place sets off Graves's bulldrek detector. Then he realised that the first question echoed while the second did not. Something is wrong about this place. Simsense? Mind control?

"Captain, retired. 8B3C-DC74-89D8. UCAS."

[HeySparky]

I'm gonna end up in a vat if I don't tell him everything. Edana's eyes widen, her breathing grows shallow and quiet as the mans hand slides across the table toward her. When you fall into the ocean, you'll grab a snake. She hesitates and stretches her hand out to him.

I'm not even much of a caster... why all the trouble?

Edana pushes again trying to slip out of her body and finding herself stuck. She feels a moment of claustrophobia, stuck in this place, in this 'body'. She puts a little pressure on the man's hand, pulling very slightly.

"Can we get out of here?" she glances around the rooms dreary, dismal walls and they seem to be getting closer. Hell, in here, they very well might be. She swallows and her eyes rake back to the interrogator, intent and afraid. She swallows, "Please."

[BishopMcQ]

Graves:
"What was your mission in France, Captain?"

The voice which had been a male, smooth in his thirties has shifted. It now comes across gruff and gravelly in his later-60s.

Edana:
"We cannot leave until I have a full confession. If this room is too confining I can change the venue."

The room shifts and the walls melt away. Only the table and chairs stay solid as you and your interrogators are transported elsewhere. The image reforms in the mountains. The table is sitting in the wide turnaround in front of the Marquis de Lyon's manor. It is obvious that this isn't a recent version as there is no sign of the battle and struggle that happened here in the last few hours, days...

[Bastard]

"Just tired... and anxious," he adds after a short pause. "Worried about the state of Seattle and New York. No news on any VITAS outbreaks?"

[Buddha72]

Looking at the mirror in the small motel bathroom, Tigger makes one last adjustment to his features. Hearing the faint chime of the phone he reaches out to the counter where it rests. "Hello?"

[toturi]

Graves: Volunteer nothing.

"I am no longer a captain. I am not on a mission."

The enemy might control the physical environment. He may cause you discomfort, distress, even injury but the true battlefield lies in your mind. It is in your mind where the battle will be fought and the war won. Pay attention you maggots, someday the drek I'm teaching you might save your life. More importantly you might actually keep your drek holes shut so you do not endanger MY life.

[BishopMcQ]

JT:
"Very well. We will start again."

The man in the black suit, folds his hands together on the table. He watches you intently.

"Why are you here?"

Graves:
The speaker stays the same gruff, gravelly voice.

"If you are not on a mission captain, what port of entry did you use to come into France? With whom did you register your armaments?"

[Ecclesiastes]

The phone line clicks a few times in Tigger's ear, verifying a secure connection.

"Its Bishop. Looks like you and I are the only ones that made it out. Tiny got hit. Everyone else is in custody. I'm about six hours away from you currently."

[HeySparky]

Edana looks around at the mountain scene, somehow creepier by its flatness than the sterile interrogation room. She stands up, turning slowly around to look at the facade of the brooding chateau. What did we do...? She takes a deep breath.

"Thanks." She takes a few tentatives steps toward the chateau and comes up against a spongy resistence, like walking into a wall of gelatin. The image of the chateau ripples outward from the impact. Oh. It's still the 'room'. Just with better wall paper. She sighs and turns around, leaning against the cushiony wall. A vat. She blinks looking blankly at her captor, interrogator... her savior.

"We arrived over there." She points off to the distant grounds of the chateau toward where the team had made it's first entrance. "I assumed astral form to scout and deal with astral threats."

"There had been a chopper coming from somewhere. I fought a mage, another bounty hunter I'm pretty sure. I disrupted him and followed his trail to his body and took some souvenirs, bargaining chips I’d hoped. A ring and a sword. I’m sure you saw them.”

She stands straight, “My sword! Where is it?”

[Bastard]

"We were here to take Lucien Ballefour into custody. He released biological weapons in Seattle, probably New York, and planned on spreading the disease across the globe using the Zurich station.

"Only when we caught up with him at the Chateaux, some team of mercenaries were already there. They popped nerve gas in just about the entire complex, then shot the remaining standing occupants. They opened fire on us, then executed Ballefour, before we even had a chance to defend ourselves. You can match ballistics, but I think they were using explosive ammo.

"We were supposed to take Ballefour in alive, to face charges in Seattle, and to recover his files, to find if there were others involved in his plot.

"On top of that he is also wanted for at least two murders."

[Buddha72]

Tigger sits as the information is absorbed. "I'm pretty sure Edana is still in the land of the living as her spirit is still here. What's the next step?"

[HeySparky]

The spirit bristles quietly, eyes glowing dim and lamp-like in the corner where he has curled up, head on massive paws. Without moving, he squints at Tigger preening in the mirror, vague annoyance at the Adept's 3rd person reference to him plays awkwardly across his psyche, even after years of Edana's hammering identity into him. He leaps for Tigger, flickering into owl form for two beats of white wings before becoming a long, fierce-bladed knife that whickers, flashing, through the air scant centimeters in front of Tigger's nose before imbedding itself into the wall with a solid thunk.

"Herne," Says the kniife, "And, yes, my mistress lives. She sleeps. Troubled." The knife vanishes, and Tigger feels a brush across the back of his neck, a whisper passing from ear to ear, like breath on his skin, "And it is time I rejoined her."

[BishopMcQ]

Edana:
"Your sword is currently in a personal effects locker, it and your other belongings are secure. Guards report activity a few moments before your teammembers entered the property en masse. It was masked in some way to not register on sensors--either through technological means such as ruthenium or applied thaumaturgy.

"Was the anomaly a member of your team? I will also need information on your associates. Full names, possible aliases, physical descriptions and all contact information that you have for them. If they are equally cooperative, we may be able to discern who was at fault in this matter. I certainly don't wish innocent people to be punished unjustly "

JT:
"Those are bold charges, with several incongruent steps in between points of reference. Please explain to me how you know that this 'Lucien Ballefour' released biological weapons in two major metroplexes and planned a release on a third.

"I also want you to fill in the details leading up to how you arrived at the Chateau. After that we can continue forward with your further statements."

Your interrogator pulls a small datapad from an inner pocket and makes minor notations.

[toturi]

Graves:

"I do not know. Everything is in French. I do not speak or read French. I am not aware that I had any armaments that require registration."

[Bastard]

"We have him on video, and we searched his house and found all kinds of biological weapons and antidotes. He wasnt supposed to die, we were suppose to bring him in alive to stand trial.

"Did you discover who the mercenaries were?"

[Ecclesiastes]

"First step is to regroup. This job is a bust. The target was to be brought back alive for trial, so we're dead in the water at this point. I really don't want to leave the rest sitting in prison though. Can the spirit lead us to where they are being held? No promises, but I'd at least like to see if we can do anything for them."

[Buddha72]

"Worth a try." Turning from the phone, Tigger addresses the primal spirit. "Be at ease, rash action is what has lead to this, we must be clalm and think clearly. Can you lead us to your mistress Herne? It appears we may try to rescue her." Tigger waits, hoping the spirit hasn't abandoned them already.

[BishopMcQ]

Graves:
"Within each port of entry, all signs are clearly posted in four separate languages: English, French, German, and Spanish. Certain borders have additional languages posted. Did you pass through a legal port of entry or are you here illegally?

"As for your armaments, feigned ignorance and lies will get you nowhere. You were found carrying military grade hardware illegal even in your own country without permit. If you passed through a legal port of entry, you will have declared all such things and been informed of their prohibited status."

JT:
"You are dissembling. Speak clearly and honestly. How were you sure of his intention to release the biological weapons in mulitple metroplexes and his supposed release of said agents in two metroplexes already. New York has had no report of any biological terrorism.

"Seattle, the location of your permanent residence according to your file, was quarantined two days ago. Please describe to me how you came to leave the city, breaking said quarantine and arrive in France."

[Bastard]

"Thats why were to arrest Ballefour. To stand trial back in Seattle, and be formally charged. He is still innocent, until proven guilty, but due to the haneous crimes and his access to money and said biological weapons, he was a global risk."