IC: Into the Barrens..., ... and out again with luck Options

[Shadow]

A pile of whirling trash blows on to the freeway from the city below. The putrid smell of rotting vegetation and diesel fuel permeates the air.

The wind itself seems to speak to Dex.

"Thy will be done, my master."

The swirling wind picks up surrounding the two riders in a malestorm of trash and debris.

The two bikers ride into the tunnel. The reflection of flanes dance on the wall up ahead. 6 Harley Hogs are parked next to an over turned sportscar. 4 of the bikes still have riders, all trolls. 2 Trolls are currently pulling at the doors of the overturned sportscar.

A few hundred yards down the way another car is burning, the source of the flames it seems.

[Raiko]

"Copy Indigo, we'll assist if things get too hot."

Mirage slows down to delay contact, and speaks into the SUVs intercomm, "Monsieur J, we may have some trouble ahead, our bikers are checking it out."

[Ecclesiastes]

"Copy. If they don't pose a threat, lets just move on rather than get sidetracked on something."

Cougar rolls down the passenger window a bit, just in case he needs to go on the offence.

[Morgannah]

"Copy that."

Indigo rolls her eyes, still grumbling, and cruises closer to the tunnel to check things out, swatting at the occasional piece of garbage as it flutters into her face.

[Shadow]

The 8 lane tunnel is divided into two sections, North and South. Each section has 4 lanes and is divided by a raised medium 2 feet high and 4 feet wide. 3 foot thick collums are spaced 12 feet apart along the medium.

2 of the North bound lanes closest to the medium are taken up by the pair of overturned cars. The farthest car is not a sports car but a sedan. The doors have been ripped off, two men lay scattered on the freeway, the copious amounts of blood around them suggest they are dead.

Currently the two dismounted trolls are trying to get into the sports car. The driver, a middle aged man, seems top be unconscious. His passenger, a young girl in her 20's is awake and struggling. It looks like the cars shock strip has been activated. Everytime the trolls try to open the driver door, they get a shock.

[Fortune]

As the pair cautiously enter the tunnel, their presence concealed by the swirl of litter and assorted debris, Dex slows his bike to a stop as he takes note of the scene ahead. He is pleased to hear his partner's bike throttle down a second after his own.

In the shaman's estimation, the odds are not good that both them and the rest of the team following will get through unmolested. Even if they all succeed in passing the scene, there was a good chance that they'd be trailed by the trolls, which could lead to further complications down the road.

Dex studiously avoids making eye contact with Indigo as he quickly chooses a course of action. Concentrating on the four trolls still mounted on their hogs, he opens himself up to the mana and casts a spell that encompasses what he hopes is the whole group.

[Morgannah]

Indigo cursed softly and glared over at Dex.

Who does he think he is, anyway? If these people couldn't care for themselves then they deserved ....

Most of her anger was self-directed. She would have tried to sneak past and left the victims to whatever fate awaited but if Dex chose to make it his business, she'd back him up. The engine of her Honda simmers on low idle, ready to scream forward if whatever her partner was brewing up didn't take care of everything. Indigo cracked her neck expectantly, fingering an old scar along the side of her neck and remembering the last time she'd fought a troll....

[Shadow]

The mana surge leaves the hands of the shaman, passing through the enveloping spirit and into the tunnel. The closest troll just happen to be looking in that general direction when the bolt of energy materialized. He had no time to shout a warning, just barely enough time to look surprised when the spell detonated.

A globe of flashing light briefly engulfed the five trolls. As one, they spasmed in pain as mana surged through them. At first it simply overloaded their synapses rendering then unconscious, but energy overwhelmed their muscles causing massive spasms. Blood spurted from their mouths and ears as they clenched every muscle at once.

Only a second passed from the beginning to the end. 5 unconscious and bleeding trolls collapsed to the ground or slumped over their bike.

The 2 remaining Meta's took a few seconds to notice their comrades ailments. Screaming in gutter talk they ran to their friends. Shotguns and oversized pistols materialized in their hands as they search fruitlessly for their assailant.

[Fortune]

As the group of trolls fall to his spell, Dex sneaks a quick peak at his partner. Indigo's annoyed visage brings a wry smile to the young shaman's face. Gaining the adept's attention, he nods his head in the direction of the remaining pair of gangers and draws the fingers of his left hand across his throat.

Dex turns his attention back to the two trolls, who are now armed and frantically searching for a target. Gathering the mana necessary, the shaman once again casts a spell at the unsuspecting gangers.

[Morgannah]

Indigo grins back at Dex and almost laughs out loud as she watches the trolls' frantic search for what could have dropped so many of their cohorts. While she might have liked to join in and break a few jaws there just wasn't time for a good, satisfying row so she sat back and crossed her arms across her chest as if to say "they're all yours."

[Shadow]

The last two gangers, running for cover and frantically shooting in every directions suddenly spasmed and droopped like a sack of bricks int he water. The coast was now clear. Though Dex looks a little worse for wear.

[Raiko]

Mirage drives the SUV cautiously towards the tunnel entrance, ready to accelerate as soon as Indigo gives either the all clear, or a call for assistance.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Whats the SitRep out there?"

[Shadow]

"All cear," replies Indigo's voice. "Lets move out."

The drive through the remainder of the tunnel goes smoothly. The trolls must have scared of the rest of the local gangers.

Once out of downtown the Northbound lanes merge with the Non express lanes. The four lanes turns into eight and mix with a smattering of traffic.

The onboard computer indicates that the trip should last another 30 minutes.

[Fortune]

As the SUVs come into sight, Dex revs the throttle and eases the big bike away from the scene, waiting only for his partner to join him before really opening the Scorpion up. Still under the concealment of the Spirit, the pair race forward, gaining and then maintaining their former lead on the rest of the convoy.

Dex was somewhat puzzled by Indigo's actions back at the tunnel. He'd fully expected the adept to leap with undisguised relish into the frey, as was often the case. Instead, she had been reticent and held back, leaving the task to him. She even refused to jump in and finish the scum off, a job that really should have been done. Mercy isn't always the best course in the Barrens, and not something to be given lightly. Only her hesitance, and the virtue of the accompanying City Spirit's concealment had saved the unconscious gangers from a more permanent sleep.

There was one thing the shaman was sure of though. One thing that had already come out of this seemingly easy 'run. Although the pair acted well together, the first thing Dex was going to do after it was over is learn one of those telepathy-like spells. That, and get some decent comm gear!

He absolutely hated being out of the loop!

[Shadow]

The trek through the tunnel and then onto the Northbound lanes of I-5 goes smoothly. This late at night traffic tends to stay light, mostly do to fear of what happened in the tunnels. The occasional thrill ganger passes the Group but they quickly realize that they are no match.

The turn off to SR520 was a lazy long turn that took the group onto an elevated bridge that over looked most of Elliot bay. The individual red and blue lights of the boat masts looked like a city from the 300 foot high span that you were on.

Slowly, almost without notice, the road signs started to disappear. Replaced with hand sprayed signs indicating locations. Potholes and obstructions in the road became more frequent along with downed poles and overturned cars.

With less than 2 kilometers to go to the exit the group came upon a makeshift barricade. An overturned Semi was in three of the lanes, a large pickup truck blocked the 4th lane and acted as a gate. Portable lighting lit the front area up from a top the semi. While you can't see any guards or snipers you are sure they are there.

Two men armed with shotguns stand in front of the truck, they don't look like gangs.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Whoa."

Cougar starts punching keys on the dashboard's display, seeing if there are any alternate routes into the area.

"I'm checking for alternate routes, I'd rather not get hung up here if we don't have to."

[Shadow]

The Autonav spits out an alternate route that back tracks three kilometers. Adding time to your trip that you don't have.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Drek. No good. Point, you'll have to check things out for us. We'll hang back a bit and guard the cargo."

[Morgannah]

First the trogs and now these guys?

Indigo's low, gravelly voice grates over the radio as she glares at the men up ahead.

"Roger that."

She'd been ignoring the confused looks that Dex had been sending her, bearing it all with her usual air of 'I-don't-care' but getting more and more irritated with each passing kilometer. Finally, she pulled her Banshee to a halt and half turned to fix that dread glare on her partner, daring him to say something, anything to give her an excuse to punch something. When he didn't, she growled softly and nodded.

"Keep an eye out for friendlies; I'll go see what the truckers want."

Pulling an MP-5 from a compartment just off to one side, Indigo slings it across her chest before cruising to where the two men wait. She throws one leg over the side of the chopper and crosses her ankles casually, half-sitting on the bike, arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes, still covered by dark shades, rake across both men, judging strength and competence before settling on one, a half-smirk playing across her lips.

"Last I checked, there weren't s'posed to be any 'blocks for a good fifteen klicks. What gives?"

[Shadow]

"We decided that since the city abandoned this section of the road we would start fixing it up ourselves. Of course that cost money, so we started a toll."

The sound of a rifle charging accented his last word.

"Give us all your money and you can pass."

The oh so friendly shotguns slowly lowered till they were pointing at INdigo square in the chest.

[Morgannah]

Indigo quirked a humourless smile and made a show of cracking her knuckles before settling back casually, her manner not unlike an overgrown cat batting at her prey.

"And what happens if I don't have any money to give?"

She lofted an eyebrow, completely at ease with the twin shotguns levelled at her chest, ready to leap forward with a moment's notice.

[Shadow]

The two human pause for a second as this was not the answer they expected. The lone figure up top seems to back a way a little, sensing the impending dom of his fellows.

"Well," one of them gets bright idea, "a fine looking girl such as your self can surely think of other ways to pay us."

The man on Indigo's right takes a step torward her, reaching out his hand to touch her leg.

[Morgannah]

Indigo arched an eyebrow, incredulous that the two of them could be so dense as to step into her space, even with weapons. Her hackles rose pleasantly, welcoming the violence to come, even as the unsuspecting male drew closer and closer, not seeming to notice the snarl that curled her upper lip. A quiet growl escapes her as his fingers brush across taut leather. Her snarl twists into an awful feral grin, the soft metallic song unrecognizable until too late.

She leans forward, straightening to whisper something in his ear with a gravelly menace that would send chills through all but the most willful of men. "No one touches me, fragger."

Claws extended, she revels in the slight widening of his eyes, the soft gape of a mouth suddenly gone slack, as she drives her weapons home.

[Fortune]

The young shaman knows better than to provoke the volatile adept when she gets that look in her eye. Instead, Dex remains silent as she walks towards the roadblock.

Taking a few steps away from his Scorpion, he watches the encounter, sighing and rolling his eyes dramatically to himself as it comes to its inevitable conclusion. It isn't that he minded the idea of confrontation. It was just that there were other ways to go about it that front-on. Still, he knew that Indigo was born to fight, and that judging from that last look she gave him, she was definitely in the right spirit.

Dex eyed the lone figure above the shotgun-wielding pair. As soon as the hostilities 'officially' began, the dark-haired shaman unleashes a bolt of pure mana at the recoiling highwayman.