Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:39; Motel 8, Pacific Ave S, Puyallup District

Spencer and Yavanna quickly load into Jake's van. There are two duffle bags, both of which appear to be Yavanna's. As Carter, Rex and Grayson all pile in as well seating is a little more than cramped. Comfortably cozy at six, with Rex easily taking up the space of two, the team feels like sardines.

Yavanna takes the handkerchiefs, smiling at Jake's oddness. "Yes, please. No spitting or blood."

Spencer smiles in kind, "Where to?"

"That's what I want to know..."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:41; Motel 8, Pacific Ave S, Puyallup District

Spencer takes the coms from Greer. Once he accesses the com and realizes it is his back up coms being delivered by Tigger, he looks at Greer. "How in the-?" Then smirks, "Perhaps that is a tale for later."

He accesses the coms then passes an ARO to Jake. "Here is a safe house we can move to for a few hours."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:41; Motel 8, Pacific Ave S, Puyallup District

"Roger that." Jake heads to the safehouse, glad that all this will be over soon and that he will be able to take a bath.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:42; Puyallup District

Carter looks out the window and watches the motel vanish around a street corner as the van pulls away, heading to Spencer's safehouse. After several minutes between his and Kilroy's last communication, he checks back in with the man.

<@Kilroy [Carter] Are secondary instructions incoming from Primary?>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:45; Puyallup District

As the team approaches the safe house address as supplied by Spencer Kilroy's reply comes as well, but to the entire team.
<<@Team [Kilroy] Smokey Joe acknowledges completion of primary objectives. Payment received and transfered to your accounts. Included is a 500 bonus each. He offers another 500 each to see Spencer through the night with a 1,000 threat bonus, if applicable.>>

The safehouse entrance is the back side of a strip mall that has seen better days. The alley is poorly lit and vacant except for an industrial trash dumpster, a medium size delivery truck that has also seen better days and a sedan on blocks. The alley is three car widths wide and there are no windows, only solid doors marking the various buildings.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:45; Puyallup District

[@Team <Jake>: Are we up babysitting?]

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:45; Puyallup District
Greer <<OFFLINE>>

Jake looks expectantly at Grayson. Grayson raises his eyebrows and taps his ear with an open hand in explanation, "I can't hear shit. You gonna take a look at this thing or what?"

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:45; Puyallup District

The big troll is sweating heavily because of the close proximity in the back of the van.

<@Kilroy[Rex] Count me in to complete the bodyguarding job of course, boss.>

<@Team[Rex] Jake, I must be the fattest and ugliest babysitter you've ever met then, cause this was supposed to be my job for the evening. =) >

Turning to Spencer, who's probably stuck a bit closer to Rex than he would like, I haven't had the chance to introduce myself nor to tell you that I was hired by Kilroy to be your bodyguard tonight. Name's Rex. You and your client can count on my protection until you've safely reached your departure. If you'd like to extend my services on board and at the arrival, ask Kilroy for the fee.

A minute later, after thinking about how to proceed, we might find use for the disguise in your package if you still have it.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:45; Puyallup District

<@Team[Jake]: All right. Let us analyze weak points first so I can put my drones in sentry mode. Afterwards we can look up for retreat routes and hole up.>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:51; Puyallup District

Spencer checks the pack provided by Grayson to find the disguise still inside. He provides the contents to the troll.

Rex, Jake, Carter, Grayson, Spencer and Yavanna transition from Jake's van into the safe-house without incident. The inside of the safe-house is sparse but well populated. A dozen military cots are stacked off to the side as well as several cases of MRE's, dehydrated soy products and a re-constituter. Spencer sets up a cot for Yavanna, then himself as Jake uses his drones to establish a sensor net around the safe-house. The rest of the team is able to get a little shut-eye or plan for the next (and hopefully final) step of the run.

After getting Yavanna settled in, Spencer provides some details on the final step. "A coyote is picking her up in a T-Bird on Orville Road." Orville Road borders the appropriately named Hell's Kitchens on the west side. The spot designated by Spencer will take 30 minutes to reach, assuming no issues with gangs or Vory.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:52; Puyallup District

[@Team <Jake> Hey crew, how about we go for standard decoy routine. We mask the dynamic duo to the point of non recognisability and procure them while the other eyes are diverted to us and we lead to to wild goose chase?]

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

@Team<Rex> I think the decoy could work, and we already have at least one disguise kit. But someone's gotta ensure the security of the two of them while the rest of us are somewhere else. Maybe from a distance.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

[@Team <Jake> I could monitor them with my drones but that would be like hanging a neon sign over their head-unles you want me to use my flies. But in that case if they are detected we won't be able to protect them. One of us has to disguise himself too.]

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

<<@Jake [Kilroy] Heard you all had some issues with Whisper earlier in the evening..? Well, I've lined out another spell slinger to assist. Intel came my way that the Vory are using spell-slingers to track you all down. He should be in touch soon.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

<<@Team [Carter] Decoy routine sounds good to me. Rex should be sufficient muscle to protect the two targets. We need to know how the Vory plans on finding these two in order to keep them hidden.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

<<@Team [Jake] Killroy is sending us backup. Vory is using spell slingers to track us down.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

<<@Team [Rex] Spell slingers? As in more than one? I'm not enough muscle to ensure their safety against mojo. I don't think decoy is gonna work the way we were thinking about it either. At least we have backup. Whatever happened to Whisper?>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

Black Fist
Two weeks in the Puyallups, tonight marking your first job of any type and this one was nothing to brag about... Your only meet being one with that fixer Kilroy... In VR no less. The online fees at the VR Cafe, Hildago's was more than you wanted to pay but you couldn't risk not making the meet. Even if he wouldn't meet face-to-face, his rep is solid.. but even that hadn't brought any work your way.

You find yourself tonight at the Crime Mall, a run down, mostly-abandoned mall near the center of the Puyallup Barrens. Earlier tonight, Uryne asked for some backup. He had a gig with an arms dealer who goes by the handle M-80 Mike. There was a transaction of some size and you made enough money tonight to at least stave off getting evicted for a few more days. You did not get introduced to M-80 or anyone else who might throw more work your way though.

Sitting there chewing on a mystery-meat jerky from one of the local vendors, you com vibrates in your pocket announcing the arrival of a message.
<<@Kilroy [Black Fist] It's your lucky night. You happen to be in the right place and the right time with the right skills. I have a team who needs some magical back up during a point to point escort and the Mall is on the way. Negotiated pay is 500 with a 1,000 threat bonus. You in?>>
One of the bad things about a technological society. Everyone tends to know where you are...

Great...work. Escort equals fighting equals my specialty... Normally would negotiate price but for a first job in a couple weeks its good enough

@ Redjack

<<@Killroy:Done, when/where?>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:53; Puyallup District

@Black Fist
<<@Black Fist [Kilroy] Team will have the details --[ARO Attached: Type=Contact; Handle=Jake]-->>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:54; Puyallup District

<<@Jake[Black Fist] "Hello, I am the back up sent by Killroy. Where are you so we can meet up?>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

<<@Black Fist[Jake] "I am sending you location where I will pick you up with my van and take you to meeting place once you are verified. Make sure you are clean of germs and dirt, else you walk there.>>
Jake will send Black Fist location that is few street away from where Spencer and Yavanna are now. Just in case he is not who he pretends he is or in case his message is intercepted.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District
Black Fist; PAN = hidden; SIN = Bill Pygon (not broadcast)

Clean, heh... yeah right

<<@Jake[Black Fist] In that case, I had better walk. Meet you there.>>

On the way Black Fist tells D10 to start looking for local cab services that go to the outskirts, possibly into dangerous territory; doesn't look like he is going to get a ride where they are going nor one back.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

<<@Team [Carter] Rex, I didn't mean for you to stand against the mages. Whisper called No Joy and dropped after the primary. Does anyone know how they are tracking us or if they are tracking Yavana instead?>>

"Yavana, did you ever see Vlad collect hair from your comb or nail clippings?"

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District
Black Fist; PAN = hidden; SIN = Bill Pygon (not broadcast)

If with in a 15 minute walk:
Black Fist starts walking I should really keep "getting a vehicle" on the top of my list of things to buy, not that I would know how to use it though... Maybe a bike, yeah, that would be fun."

If longer
Hoping that the service D10 found is a good one; Umm, hello. I need a pick up at the Crime Mall in the Puyallup District as soon as possible

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

<<@Team[Jake]: Not that I know how the magic works, but can we use Yavannas hair or blood samples to make decoys? If the magic centers on the body parts then we could take pieces of her hair etc. and carry them around. This could cause magic to go bumpy. Of course, I hope she washed her hair.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

<<@Team [Carter] Maybe, but I don't think so. When Whisper did her voodoo to find Spencer, she didn't find all the random hairs and skin cells that get sloughed off--she found him. Part of why it took so long might be that she was filtering out the noise. But we'll need to ask someone with more knowledge about the Awakened then I have.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

<<@Team[Jake]: Black Fist? What say you? Is it doable?.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

D-10 brings Bjorn the bad news. He is in an area with a 'Z' security rating. No cabs, no cops, no medical services. The Crime Mall sits somewhere near dead center of the Puyallup Barrens. To the north is Puyallup City and most of the rest of the metroplex. To the east Hell's Kitchen and Curabano; If there is something worse than 'Z', those are it. To the west is Loveland, the mob stronghold. To the south is Tarislar and Mt Saint Helens. Bjorn knows that in these areas such as these, there are always unlicensed cabs for hire. Prices are a little higher and sometimes the cabbies try to supplement the fare by relieving over burdened fares of their excesses.

Jake knows that the Crime Mall is about halfway between the safehouse in Loveland and the pickup spot in Hell's Kitchen.

Yavanna replies to Carter, "I did not see anyone collect anything of this sort, but I was not careful to protect against that occurring either. Are they sending spirits after me now?"

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Puyallup District

Grayson squints at Spencer. He measures him and compares. "I could do a passable you." The scruffy visage of Greer raises his now-fixed comm and 'snaps' a pic of Spencer. He goes to the restroom, "'Scuse me gents and lady."

He squints into the grimy mirror and brings up the image of Spencer, overlaying it onto his own reflection, but more distant, as if he were invisible and Spencer was standing behind him... He stares through his own reflection letting it blur and disappear until the image of Spencer snaps into focus. Now. He just has to convince himself that that's his real reflection. A strange, disquieting feeling follows. Like if you could get sick to your face.

Beads of sweat cover Grayson's brow as he steps out of the bathroom, head down, face in his hands. He whips his head up and swipes his hair back as he does. The change is remarkable. Greer's mottled orange-y stubble is gone as is his permanent sneer. The man that stands before you look remarkably like Spencer. He squints at the man and then changes his posture slightly. The effect is complete. "Yavanna, we've--" he starts, and then clears his throat and shakes his head. He starts again, Greer's rough gravel voice changing in tone and timbre, "Yavanna. We've got to get you out of here."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:00; Puyallup District
Black Fist; PAN = hidden; SIN = Bill Pygon (not broadcast)

<<@Jake[Blackfist]: If it is, I do not know how to do it.>>

Black Fist starts walking toward the pick up spot.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Spencer's Safehouse, Puyallup District

Returning from the bathroom, Grayson is definitely passable for Spencer. The change probably wouldn't fool a face scan comparison, but from a distance he could definitely pass. Spencer nods, "That might just work." He then turns to the rest of the team, "Carter is right. We should probably get on the move. It'll take us half an hour to get to the Mall and another half an hour to get to the site. That gives us an hour of slack, but being on the move should complicate magical tracking. Is that the plan then? What do we do for the intervening hour?"

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 01:55; Spencer's Safehouse, Puyallup District

Jake is enroute to meet with the spellslinger.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:43; Crime Mall, Puyallup District

Jake, Rex, Carter, Grayson, Spencer & Yavanna all cram into Jake's van and head out. Spencer suggests swinging by another location and picking up a second car for the team. He directs them down a side street into a residential neighborhood. He directs them to stop in front of a junker missing one tire. Sure enough, he unlocks the trunk, pulls out the missing tire and puts it on the vehicle. Amazingly, when it starts it sounds in very good repair... There is some concern that the body might fall apart before they reach the Mall, though.

Yavanna, Spencer and Carter in the car, Jake feel much more at ease. The van will need a thorough scrubbing though. At this point cleansing by fire is a serious option for him.

The ride to the Crime Mall is uneventful the rest of the way. By this time of the morning, all but the heartiest of partiers have passed out somewhere and those that remain out pay little head to the two vehicles.

Arriving at the Mall, they find Black Fist easy enough. Now complete, the team has a little over an hour before the T-Bird sets down about half an hour drive from their current position.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 1:55-02:43; Crime Mall, Puyallup District

Jake makes a query on the grid looking for termal cleaners...

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:43; Crime Mall

<< Rex @ Team: Now that we're all together, what should we do to prepare for this? There's not much I can think of except lay low some more, and watch out for stalkers. I think that some of us should go at the pick up location 15 minutes before and clear the field in case someone's already there waiting for Spencer. Black Fist should be part of it, since the Russians are supposed to have some mojo. We could even bring Grayson immediately, for decoy, so they get out of their hiding and we can get rid of them before they have a chance to damage the bird or hit our clients. What do you guys think? >>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:43; Crime Mall

<<@Team [Jake]:Sounds good to me.>>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:44; Puyallup District

"Likewise. Drop me where you want me." Greer sits back, studying Spencer closely, unnervingly. He and Carter sketch out a plan for Greer where he will go ahead and draw out any defenses, expecting them, of course.

A sudden chill sweeps the adept. He looks Carter in the eye... for a split second the man's face registers fear. He clenches his teeth and goes back to planning. He tries to focus on pulling off a good performance trusting that the team would be able to protect him.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:44; Puyallup District
Black Fist; PAN = hidden; SIN = Bill Pygon (not broadcast)

"Sounds good."

BlackFist takes out his gun and makes sure the clip is full and there is a bullet in the chamber. "Fun time..."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:44; Puyallup District

"Be careful. We'll be nearby--it's going to be just like Vienna."

Carter double checks the knives under his coat and interfaces with the smartlink system quickly to run a diagnostic on his pistol. Everything came back green. This would be all over in less than an hour.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:48; Crime Mall, Puyallup District

Sitting in the parking lot of the Crime Mall in one of the far corners, Spencer, Yavanna & Grayson listen as plans are made. Spencer speaks up, "Ok, let me see if I got this right. An advance team will go in 15 minutes ahead. Yavanna and I will follow up right on schedule. Grayson will attempt to flush out the heat. Any other particulars I need to know about?"

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:48; Crime Mall, Puyallup District

"That about sums it. Allright, everyone board their transport and lets get this show on the road."
Jake downloads the streets layout, looking for possible ambush and escape routes.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 02:49; Crime Mall, Puyallup District
Black Fist; PAN = hidden; SIN = Bill Pygon (not broadcast)

Black Fist listens to the plan, nodding in agreement when it is decided that he will be with the first team.

"Just leave the mojo to me to deal with."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

The team is a little indecisive on exactly how to deal with the fact they are headed into Hell's Kitchens, the potential of astral spotters & ritual magic and the unpleasant prospects of both the Ass Hats and the Vory. In the end, they take a slow wide path from the Crime Mall up towards Puyallup City then strike east on the 410 before turning back to the south on the old 162 highway. A couple of times doubling back and circling out on side roads chews up the extra time to turn a 30 minute drive into a 50 minutes one.

Even in the darkness, the area is bleak. Sulfuric ash on the ground in areas, stirring up as the vehicles pass. Jake's van roars down old 162, having left Spencer and Yavanna at the Quiky Mart just off Hwy-410. The industrial scrubbers in the van groan at the strain of keeping the air flowing through the environmental purifed.

According to the GPS, the extraction point is 3.2km ahead. Despite the light coating of ash on the ground, enough vehicles travel this road that it is impossible to tell when or how many have passed recently.

Jake, Rex, Grayson, Black Fist and Carter have just under twenty minutes till the ETA of the coyote.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

Realizing that no one has stepped up to hand out work assignments, Carter makes his expectations clear.

"Black Fist, I want you to do some astral recon. A quick fly by of the area ahead of us, if there is anyone waiting for us already, they will expect us ot do it. If we don't it could tip things off. After that, come back and let us know what's going on, then find a hole in the wall and watch the kids back at the Quiky Mart. If we need your attention here, we'll make sure you get the point."

Turning to Grayson, he continues.

"Spence, you know how your boy is coming in. Get in there and make sure everything is clean on your end before we drop off the package. We'll have your back, don't worry.

"When we drop off Spence, Jake, I want you to unload something with a rifle or heavy ordinance as backup. Instruct it to accept firing commands from you or myself--that way I can have some targeting control while you pick up the package and wrap it up.

"Rex, big guy, you're with me and Spence. Keep your head down and your eyes open. When Vladmishka and his boys come, they'll be coming heavy and with intent to do harm. You and I are going to make sure they don't succeed. Now, unless anyone has questions or their own comments to interject, get to work."

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

"Roger that. My roto-drone took some hits but it will do the job." As he answers Carter, Jake is already putting the drone on a stand-by for quick deployment.

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

"You can count on me, I'll have my eyes wide open for them." Rex answered.

<< Rex @Jake : Hey Jake, maybe you could give your jacket to the lady for extra protection if you won't have to get out of the van. That is, unless it has an emotional value. >>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

<< Jake @Rex : Do you know how much it will cost me to sterilize the jacket afterwards? >>

Sunday March 2nd, 2070; 03:40; Hell's Kitchens, Puyallup District

As the team closes in on the target location, the team's new mage leans back in the seat and slips out of his body. He is gone for mere moments. "Yea. Someone's onto the site. There are two watchers on patrol. Couldn't get too close."