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

[Fortune]

Dex's Astral form subtlely darkens as smokey strands of worry waft their way across it's surface.

'I sure hope that isn't what I think it is!'

The evidence of fresh cyber-surgery having been performed on the girl could not bode well, especially if the implant is what he suspects.

Prying his attention from the retched sight of the poor girl, the young shaman re-examines the rest of the group for any signs of magic ability. Dex casts one last regretful look at the leashed girl, then turns and travels swiftly back to where his physical form sat slumped in the parked SUV.

His hand is already reaching for the pocket containing his cigarettes as the shaman's eyes slowly open. Dex steps out of the vehicle and stretches out his whole body, from the tips of his fingers to the bottoms of his feet, like a lazy cat after an afternoon nap in the sun. Touching the flame of his zippo to the tip of a cigarette, Dex inhales deeply, holding the smoke in his lungs for a full ten seconds before slowly exhaling. Only then did he look up and acknowledge the others gathered around the SUV. He takes another drag and shakes his head as he exhales sharply.

"The kid's got a brand new implant!"

He let's that sink in for just a moment before adding.

"In her head!"

[Morgannah]

Indigo spat out a savage curse and punched the skinny tree she'd been leaning against while she waited for Dex's return.

"Fraggers took out some insurance? They're smarter than I thought .. bastards."

Not that she cared about the girl, of course, or her father (beyond the paycheck he'd promised). She spun around, long braid flying behind her, and punched the tree a second time. No point sneaking in when it could blow their whole Op.

"So we wait for Caden and figure this drek out when he gets back. Anything else we should know about this, Dex?"

[Shadow]

As if on cue Caden materialized out of the shadows.

"They have a couple of sentries scattered through out the park, they all have rifles. This may be a setup to get the money."

[Ecclesiastes]

"How many sentries? Could we just take them out one at a time and snag the girl? I can be as silent as it comes when taking them out."

[Shadow]

"Maybe four sentries, some on the ground, some in the trees."

[Ecclesiastes]

Cougar reaches around his back and unstraps his Ranger-X Bow.

"Silent and deadly... Where are they?"

[Morgannah]

Indigo arched an eyebrow and nodded slowly.

"All right. How many of these sentries can we frag without giving ourselves away?"

[Shadow]

"They are spread out at 20 meter intervals, you run into the first one about 50 meters in."

[Ecclesiastes]

"All of em, then we move in."

Hefting his bow and notching an arrow, Cougar continues, "This has to be one shot one kill though. No room for error. And as silent as possible."

Quickly, the troll makes his way accross the street and moves into the tree line, as he does so, he completely fades from view.

[Shadow]

Cougar spots the first sentry 50 meters in, Just as Caden promised. The man stands with a leather coat pulled tightly around him, smoking some sort of chemical stick. He holds a generic looking assault rifle cradled in his arms. His hands are pushed deeply into his pockets.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Target one spotted."

Courgar pulls back with his bow and lets an arrow fly.

[Shadow]

The arrow impacts with the gangers torso with a violent and meaty thud. The energy of the arrow is to great for the poor gangers armor to overcome, either is his body as the arrow blasts through him and slams into the tree behind him.

The 8 centimeter hole in his chest is a soggy mess of arterial ooze. He collapses to his knees, mouth working silently. Then with a strangled gurgle he falls to the park floor.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Target one down."

Courgar moves on deeper into the park.

[Raiko]

"I'll cover you," Mirage says as she steps out of the SUV.

She swaps clips in her Manhunter as she follows the Troll samurai towards the treeline, replacing the noisy double-X rounds with a clip of regular ammunition.

As they enter the treeline Mirage pulls up her coat's hood and uses a mental command to activate her ruthenium camouflage, she uses her enhanced audio and olfactory senses to maintain her position behind and abreast of Cougar, ensuring that nobody outflanks the Troll.

[Raiko]

"Above you!"

A glint of metal in the branches above Cougar catches Mirage's attention, and she sends her silent warning via the TacComm even as she brings her modified Manhunter up in both hands.

Mirage waits for the smartlink graticules to settle over the body of the rifleman before firing a quick double tap, followed rapidly by a third round from her silenced weapon.

[Fortune]

Dex inhales a lungful of smoke as he watches Cougar and Mirage as the two run off into the trees of the park. Exhaling, he casts a glance in Indigo's direction and cocks an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Wanna take the bikes an' circle 'round?" He grins. "Better than sittin' here!"

Without waiting for her to answer, the dark haired shaman turns and heads towards the waiting Harley.

[Shadow]

The lurking figure in the trees gags as the 10 milimeter bullet penetrates his throat and blasts a hole out the back of his neck. The body tumbles backwards out of the tree and falls to the ground with a muffled thump.

[Ecclesiastes]

"Nice shot mirage. Target two is down."

The bulky troll continues on, deeper into the park, searching for targets.

[Raiko]

Mirage maintains formation with Cougar as the pair creep through the park.

[Shadow]

The deadly, if opposite pair, made there way deeper into the lightly wooded area. From the distance the sound of talking and joking could be heard. The occasional smell of nicotine and something else, not quite discernable waffed in the air.

The next sentry was more alert and dressed differently than the other two. Dark clothing and a knit hat covered his head. If it wasn't for knowing where he should be you might not have seen him crouched next to the tree and behind the bush.

Any closer and he might see you...

[Ecclesiastes]

"Target three aquired"

Cougar draws on his bow, aims for a second, and looses the arrow at his next target.

[Shadow]

Just as the arrow is about to strike its target the man seems to sense its imminent impact and drops to the ground. The razor sharp arrow pierces the tree behind him with a crack. The man rolls forward and comes up on one knee, bringing a long barreled assault weapon to bear....

[Fortune]

Dex kicks the big Scorpion to life, then eyes Indigo with a long-suffering look until she finally does the same. Without another word, the young shaman pulls away from the parked SUVs and heads for one of the roads that encircles the park.

[Morgannah]

Indigo's glare was somewhat ruined by the half-smirk that played around her mouth as she and Dex began their little tour of the area. Couldn't he sit still for two minutes? It's not like their choppers were all that stealthy....

[Shadow]

The man does a quick tumble and roll, bringing his compact assault rifle to bear. But he doesn't fire. He seems to be searching for his target...

[ Spoiler ]

Coug and then Mirage