Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 22:57:30; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. on the bad side
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Sounds good to me," Aeryn says while she sits down. "I'll send my crawler out in the meantime to see whether we can get the signal back in the vincinity."

Aeryn sets her tiny spiderdrone on the ground and lets it walk towards the place where they hid the vehicles, in order to find a better signal, or any signal at all.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:21:09; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side

Aeryn lets her drone go and it scurries off into the darkness. Even though its no bigger than the length of her little finger, with its multitude of legs it moves as fast as a Aeryn walks.

Moments later, a spot of the banks rises up at Cynic's call. Leaves and twigs protrude from its rumbling form. Cynic whispers a command and it sinks back into the ground.

As Zion and Aeryn begin jogging up the banks of river in the direction of the suburban, the spirit rolls beneath them, propelling them along. The faster they run, the faster the spirit propels them. Bushes, tall grasses and small trees obscure the land around them as they move just inland from the bank of the river, but always there always seems to be a path. A short time later they reach the suburban. The spirits service done it returns to its home plane.

Back at the beach site, Cynic feels the break of his spirit-summoner link. He, as well as Aeryn & Zion, do however notice that the drone, somewhere between the two halves of the team, is in a perfect place to serve as a relay and facilitate a PAN net for the team.

The suburban is exactly as the team left it off the road and obscured. Looks like there has been a bit of luck for the team today after all.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:22:00; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. on the bad side
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

< [Aeryn] We are there... looks clear. > Her radio message gets sent via the spiderdrone-relay.

As they reach the area, Aeryn opens her palm and a small insect-sized drone flies towards her, landing safely. She pets it with a finger, as if it was alive. "Good boy." In the meantime, Aeryn quickly scans the drone's memory for the video feed, that she could not monitor, once they lost the signal a while ago.

When that is done, and she saw nothing of note, Aeryn heads up towards the suburban, in order to get back on the road.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:22:00; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. on the bad side
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion raises a hand and stops Aeryn from getting to close to the SUV before he gets a look at it and scopes it out. Zion looks at Aeryn "can't be to sure, want to let the guys know we are on the way once we check the SUV out." Zion tries to check out the SUV and make sure nothings been tampered with.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:22:00; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. on the bad side
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Ok. I'm here checking the video in the meantime; had my drone monitor the area around the car for the whole time."

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; ~23:23; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side at the suburban

Zion spends a minute looking around the suburban while Aeryn reviews the video footage from the time the were gone using a high speed play-back, random interval cropping. Neither find any signs anyone having been in the area or that anyone tampered with the suburban.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; ~23:23; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side at the suburban
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion stands up brushing off the snow after looking around the SUV. looking at Aeryn "well seems like no one found her, i can't find any sign of tampering. if your good to go then lets head out of here and get the other two and get back to warmer weather." Zion goes to the passanger side of the SUV and waits for the audible click of the doors unlocking before jumping and warming up.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:25:00; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. on the bad side
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"This car has a top notch security package, it shouldn't be easy to tamper with... besides, why should anyone do that, anyways? That would make no sense at all... let's fetch the rest."

Aeryn opens the car and jumps in.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; ~23:31; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side at the suburban

Aeryn and Zion load up in the suburban, relishing in the warmth of the heater on full blast. In minutes they make it the point in the road nearest to where Collateral and Cynic are waiting. A few more minutes and Collateral, the boxes and the deflated rafts are stowed away. It's even beginning to feel like the team may actually complete this run and collect the remaining payment.

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; ~23:31; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side at the suburban
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion looks about at the rest of the team and notices they are all feeling the wear and tear of goin non stop. Zion grabs Collaterals attention " Collateral you feeling alright man you look a little light instead of the usual green, you goin be ok getting the snowmobile back to town? if not i think cynic might have to borrow your cold weather gear."

Saturday March 2nd, 2070; 23:32:00; Just over the Salish-Shidhe/Tir Border.. Salish side at the suburban
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Or maybe we can drag one with the car."

Aeryn steers the car towards the location where they have left the snowmobiles. Since they are not in a hurry, she drives relaxed and careful.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 00:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe

Collateral answers Zion with chattering teeth. "I'm fine. I'll pull my end." Unless his end is an oar on a boat crossing the river Styx, he's not pulling anything else for a while. He then promptly passes out.

The rest of the trip passes in quiet silence. Cynic and Zion even manage to doze off while Aeryn takes the team back to the snowmobiles. When they arrive, they find the snowmobiles as they left them a few hours ago.

Saturday March 3nd, 2070; 24:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion reached back and tapped collateral to wake him up.
"i guess its smooth sailing from here on out as long as no more choppers jump down on us, lets go Collateral not to far to go on these things then we can get some more rest." zion lets out a small chuckle then looks at Aeryn "give us a minute then lead us out will ya Aeryn?" zion looks around when he exits the suv and heads to where the snowmobiles were. damming the freezing weather and remembering those night back in the day when his squad would be out on quote unquote "Training missions" and smiled cause he really did miss the outdoors and wilderness compared to the busy congested and smog polluted city oh well his history was just that history and he was glad now just to be able to keep doing what he knew and making a living on it even if the drek he worked for were worse then puddles on goo he would avoid walking over in the city.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 00:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Sure."

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 00:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe

As Zion shakes him Collateral grunts, "Huh? Wha? Oh... Yea..." He staggers out of the suburban and towards one of the snowmobiles. He straddles it and lays his head on the handlebars are he waits.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 00:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

Aeryn wonders whether it would be a good idea to tie Collateral's snowmobile to the suburban at least... with a longer rope, so he has enough free space, while waiting for Zion to signal the ok to get going.

For now, she decides it should be enough to keep an eye on him.

When the signal comes, she slowly puts the car in motion and leads ahead.

"At some point we might need your 'spiritual guidance' again, Cynic, but for now we will be good, I think."

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 00:06; North of Carson, Salish-Shidhe
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion sees Collateral slipping in and out of sleep while sitting on the snowmobile wondering if he is going to be alright just getting into town.
<Zion @ Team" alright lets get out of here and back to the concrete world. lead the way Aeryn, im going to hang with Collateral while to make sure he doesnt crash into anything.">

Monday March 3, 2070; 00:07:00, North of Carson

"This is ridiculous. I'll ride the slotted snowmobile into town so we can make reasonable time. Let's go."

The young mage tried to keep the statement calm but the reality was he was looking forward to getting back to civilization as quick as possible and picking up his creds for this run.

Monday March 3, 2070; 07:19; Morton, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Cynic takes over the snowmobile from Collateral, Satyr taking moment to familiarize the young mage with the controls. With Satyr scouting ahead and Cynic following the suburban, the trio of vehicles navigate the path through the mountain path via their own tracks made hours ago. Aeryn notes that the switch was probably a very good decision; Collateral passes out again minutes of them getting back underway.

The snowsuits are definitely a shield against the cold and without them the riders probably would have died from exposure. Even with them, several stops are needed during the night to warm up. Collateral has worsened, delirious with fever. He mutters about someone named "Rachel" and occasionally "Zak".

Finally with the morning light peeking out, the exhausted team arrives back a the snowmobile rental shop in Morton.

Monday March 3, 2070; 07:19:30; Morton, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Cynic lets Aeryn and the others handle the snowmobile return, getting into the SUV and cranking the heat up enough, quickly pealing out of his wet boots and socks and trying to get them and as much of his clothing dry as possible. He had no intention of ending up getting sick.

Zion looks over collateral before goin into the store to see if there was anything he could get that would make him feel any better. Zion looks for new dry blanket for Collateral. Zion picks up a couple of bottles of water a protein bars, then heads back to the SUV after turning in the snowmobiles.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 07:19; Morton, Salish-Shidhe Nation
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"So far, so good."

Aeryn uses the welcome break to take a short walk around, since Zion already checks on Collateral.

Monday March 3, 2070; 07:31; Morton, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Cynic climbs in and quickly begins to warm up while Zion walks across the street to the town's sole convenience store and the only thing currently open. Zion is able to get some over the counter drugs, soy-kaf and some instant soup. A short time later the team in moving again. This time with only one vehicle to worry about. For Aeryn, the time out of the saddle is not nearly enough, but the rest of the job awaits.

The next leg will take the team over Storm King Mountain. The last time through here was treacherous. Snow and ice marked the passing and slowed Aeryn to ~30km/hour making the trip from Elbe ~77 minutes.

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:27; Elbe, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Switching to full VR and jumping into the suburban, Aeryn begins the trek up the mountain pass while her three companions all slip into a well deserved nap. The up hill portion of the run goes pretty much like clock work. The down hill portion is total cream, actually gaining time from her calculated travel time.

Ahead is the town of Elbe. Given the time of day on a Monday, the sleepy little town is mostly awake and a few vehicles make their way from point A to point B. No one seems to take much notice of the SUV.

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:33; Alder, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Good thing for Aeryn that she does not blink while rigging the SUV, otherwise she would have missed Alder as they rolled through heading for the border.

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:38; La Grande Border Station, Salish-Shidhe Nation

Just coming into sight up ahead is the La Grande Border Station. Once across the team will be back on UCAS soil. As before, the area is heavily wooded though a gate house and simple blockade marks the separation point. Somewhere around here will be Collateral's bike as well.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 08:38; La Grande Border Station, Salish-Shidhe Nation
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

Aeryn carefully wakes Cynic and Zion.

"How is he doing?" She obviously means Collateral. "Could really need some sleep myself. We are almost in UCAS now. Collateral's bike is here, assuming these guys kept their word and looked after it."

"Hopefully things go smoother across the border than last time. The morning hours should be a good time to get through."

Aeryn slowly drives towards the small border station, ready to show the travel visum she has bought here on the way in.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 08:38; La Grande Border Station, Salish-Shidhe Nation
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion's eyes split open immediatly after Aeryn goes to shake him sitting up quickly looking around. "We there already, thought i would get a little bit more shut eye. How is everyone doing. if they ask he ate some raw fish. if you want me to drive a few hours i can if you want to catch a little down time." Zion leans a little over the seat and checks on collateral.

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:40; La Grande Border Station, UCAS/Salish-Shidhe Border

As the suburban reaches the check-point, the guards are different than the ones on duty the day before. One of them approaches the driver's window. (( Assuming Aeryn lowers the window )). "Ah, I see you have a travel visa from this station. Very good. You are aware of the cost for the return stamp, correct? I have two varieties. The first is 50 per person, regrettably that involves a vehicle search..." He shakes his head, feigning sadness, "But the is time consuming for all of us involved. The 100 fee bypasses all of that unpleasantness."

Collateral, conscious, though still weak also mumbles, "..and my bike?"

The guard, overhearing him from the open window, "Ah yes. The fee is current on that" he smiles, "once these other fees are taken care of, I will have someone fetch that."

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:40; La Grande Border Station, UCAS/Salish-Shidhe Border
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion pleasently suprised that how easy it was to get back accross the border. Zion reaches for his cred stick and prepares to pay the 100 nuyen.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 08:40; La Grande Border Station, UCAS/Salish-Shidhe Border
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Of course," Aeryn answers with a smile. "We'll gladly pay the full fee, saving us all the trouble. We have nothing to hide, but we are in a bit of a hurry."

She then pays for her part of the fee.

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:40:01; La Grande Border Station

Cynic quickly add's his portion of the fee payment, convinced that being a border guard involved required classes titled "How to Solict a Bribe".

Monday March 3, 2070; 08:43; La Grande Border Station

The fees collected from all four members of the crew, the smiling border guard clears the team for the return trip across the border. Moments later, another guard comes riding up on Collateral's Harley. The old ork climbs out of the suburban and onto his bike. Once situated, he gestures at Aeryn to move out.

The team's chosen return route will take them up hwy-7 instead of hwy-161. This will totally avoid Eatonville But it will take the team farther west, potentially running into UCAS border patrol and through Tarislar.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 08:45; entering UCAS
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"We do not want the Hell's Kitchen route again, right? So let's find out what surprises the other route holds..."

Aeryn then drives the car towards the other highway.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 08:58; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle

The roads open and traffic non-existent, the suburban and bike zip down the dilapidated highway dodging pot-holes, some of which are large enough to swallow a subcompact car. The team is able to breath a collective sigh of relief as Silver Lake comes into view to the left. The lake represents the eastern border of Tarislar and unlike what they had seen heading through Hell's Kitchens, the lake actually looks relatively clean. The morning sun reflecting off of the lake's surface is enough to make the crew forget for just a moment that they are heading into one of Seattle's barrens. Who said this route was dangerous?

Monday March 3rd, 2070; ~09:00; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle

The vehicles continue north on hwy-7, still avoiding large pot-holes on the unmaintained road having to actually drive on the shoulder at one point. Aeryn driving and Zion riding shotgun while Cynic snoozes in the back and Collateral brings up the rear on his hog. As Cranberry Lake comes into view up ahead, the team begins to breath a sigh of relief that they are going to make it out of Tarlislar without any troubles. Life in the shadows is never that easy.

Driving along everything is fine one moment, then the next Zion glances back in the rear view and sees Collateral's bike sliding across the highway on its side, it's driver nowhere in sight.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"He is what!?"

Aeryn hits the brakes as Zion informs the rest of what he noticed.

The elf lowers the window and launches her Flyspy drone to look for the orc.

"He cannot possibly just be gone... Cynic!!"

A little rougher than intended, Aeryn wakes the young mage.

"Collateral's bike, it just crashed, and he is nowhere to be seen."

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion acting on instinct leaps out of the vehicle and draws both weapons expecting a ambush. <Zion@collateral (max volume) "Collateral where are you? shout or throw something. what happen.">
Zion makes a quick glance around to see if there are any prying eyes and or signs of motion to the sides of the road.

zion then looks aeryns way "is there a way you can track his com to get a fix on him through your rig, keep an eye out for snipers this is cherry picking?"

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"I don't know, I do have a Scan program, but I'm not a Hacker... can give it a try, though, if the drone doesn't pick him up."

With that, Aeryn picks up her commlink and starts a search for wireless nodes in the vincinity, while trying to figure out how their PAN connection might help with finding the location of his comm.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:03; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle

Aeryn locks the brakes, sliding the suburban sideways to stop in the middle of the deserted, ill-maintained road nearly simultaneously grabbing for and hollering at Cynic, while issuing the 'launch' command to a fly-spy. Zion, not waiting for the vehicle to stop and on the back end of the slide, propells himself out and back towards the bike. Cynic struggles to wipe the sleep from his eyes, as he is thrown to the side. Luckily he was sleeping belted in.

Zion makes a gruesome discovery at the same time as Aeryn's fly-spy comes up behind him seeing the same: Some 100 hundred meters back an a shambling mound of grass and earth is pounding it's makeshift fists into the ditch. Between its 'legs', Collateral's boots are sticking up.... his head in about the spot where the 'fists' are slamming into the ditch.

Monday March 3, 2070; 09:00:45, Puyallup Barrens

Cynic yanks and yanks at the belt attempting to get it loose and climb out of the car to see what is happening, to do something. Everyone is already running when his feet hit the pavement and he gets a chance to see what is going on.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:03; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Crap."

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:03; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion stares for a second before realizing what the hell it was that was beating Collateral into the ground. <Zion @ team "elemental. i hope cynic can get rid of this thing otherwise we will have to get out quick, i hate to leave collateral but i am no magic user and if cynic isnt up to the task of getting ride of this thing we will be boned quick">

Zion slowly starts to make his way back to the SUV taking a more defensive posture looking out for more elementals and any other surprises that might jump out at the team.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:03; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle

Zion runs back to the suburban, past Cynic, standing in the open door looking around. Cynic exhales, concentrating on the banishing formula. As he starts, the earth elemental lurches up turning his attention to the young mage. He halts for the moments that the banishing erodes the binds shackling him to this world.

Through the fly-spy, Aeryn sees the spirit lurch up, then begin to fade. Standing there, in the street, Cynic knows the bounds are broken. He also knows the summoner is now aware of the same fact.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:06; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"We should get his body out of here and see what we can still do for him. Do you see any other hostiles?" This is aimed mostly at Cynic.

Aeryn looks around with her drone, scanning for further problems.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:06; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)


Zion keeps looking around for any one other then the team out in this wasteland. then turns to Aeryn and cynic "i agree lets get the hell out of here." awaiting cynics all clear Zion makes ready to make a B-line for collaterals body and get him into the SUV and maybe a little help.

Monday March 3, 2070; 09:00:30; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle

The banishment ritual worked as advertised, and the elemental was freed to return to it's own plane of being. Of course, whoever summoned it could just whistle up another elemental and try again. It was time to get out of here.

Cynic exhaled sharply and called out the all clear.

"It's done! We need to move guys, whoever summoned that thing knows it's been banished, we gotta roll!"

The young mage turned back to the car, his mind whirling, and settling onto the conclusion that he'd need to whistle up his own elemental to play astral bodyguard.

Monday March 3, 2070; 09:00:30; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion sees that Collateral is a mush of ork remains, shaking his head breifly "your right its time to go. Collateral is mush." Zion makes for the SUV wanting only to get back to the pullyallups and get rid of this baggage.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:30; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Bring his comm at least, we don't want anyone to pick up on our little venture here that way, or do we?"

Monday March 3, 2070; 09:00:45; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens

Cynic tossed himself back into the vehicle, feeling the strain of the banishment settle into an all to familiar headache that started just behind his eyes and radiated in a circle all the way around his head. He heard the comments but let the others deal with the body, he was pissed at himself for not being alert, not being ready. He'd lost too many friends to violence to be shocked by the Ork's sudden demise, and they hardly qualified as friends, but he still held himself responsible. When he signed on with a team it was because of his Talent, which meant he dealt with magical threats, which made this his fault. He resolved himself not to let it happen again.

Monday March 3, 2070; 09:00:45; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens
Zion;PAN=hidden[LTG] SIN=Gabe Moore(not broadcasting)

Zion turns and starts a full out run toward where Collateral's body was still pulsing from the beating. once there he seaches for his com and starts to head back to the SUV as fast as his augmented body would carry him not wanting to end up with the same fate as the mush pile he was searching for.

Monday March 3rd, 2070; 09:00:45; Tarislar, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

In the meantime, Aeryn orders her drone back, so that they can move on once Zion is back in the car.

"Damn! We were almost there... but I don't think we really could have done anything. That thing apparantly took him totally by surprise."