04-Apr-2071, 00:17:38, Puyallup, Seattle

As fast as the girl is, Nuke is a split second faster.

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:38, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper orders "Bud" to fire, thinking that the stick and shock rounds were definately worth the extra cred.

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:38, Puyallup, Seattle

In his mind's eye, Nuke can see the EX-explosive round in his Predator's chamber. It's not a happy sight. Instead, he draws the pistol, dumps the magazine, and inserts a fresh 15 rounds of Stick and Shock. A quick draw of the slide swap's the chamber's deadly occupant for a slightly less lethal one.

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:39, Puyallup, Seattle

Stray must have come to the same conclusion as Nuke, but doesn't change the ammo in her remington 990 - which would take longer due to its internal magazine. Instead she drops the shotgun and jumps forward, aiming a kick at Cheryl's midsection.

The girl dodges the adept's kick though, moving to the side with inhuman grace and speed, but at least isn't about to try to claw Nuke's eyes off anymore - Stray makes a nicer target now, or so it seems. The adept barely manages to move out of the way of the berserk call girl, whose fingernails rip through her jeans.

Then Bud opens up, his ingram smartgun spitting out two bursts. The pycho girl manages to twist out of the way of the first - which almost hits Stray - but her luck and speed finally run out when she gets tagged by the second burst. She doesn't go down though - she snarls, and manages to keep standing, if crouching like an animal. Definetly hurt though.

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:39, Puyallup, Seattle

As the girl staggers from the second burst of taser rounds, Nuke raises his own sidearm, centers the girl between the notches of his front sight, and squeezes the trigger twice.

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:39, Puyallup, Seattle

Again the girl dodges the first shot by dropping to the floor, limps spread out like a spider, then jumps up - straight into the path of the second shot. That hit makes her stagger some more, but she's not out yet, despite twitching worse than a coffeein junkie after a triple-troll-mocha surprise.

With an inhuman scream she comes forward again, filthy, blood-crusted nails reaching for Nuke's eyes when Stray's foot catches her in her stomach, folding her around it like a jacknife. The screaming does not end however - she's still not out, though noticably weakened - and an easy target for two more bursts from Bud, which finally put her out and silence her.

Stray, panting, adrenalin still running high, asks "What the frag was with her?"

04-Apr-2071, 00:17:44, Puyallup, Seattle

Inhale. Exhale. Shrug. Holster sidearm.

"No fucking clue. She doesn't smell bad enough to have turned into a ghoul, so I'm guessing it was a weird interaction with something she was on and something they did to sedate her. Either way, hope her boss isn't too pissed that we had to taze the shit out of her."

The pack of plastic restraints comes out for the second time of the night as the subdued, but probably still psychotic Cheryl gets double wrist tied, double ankle tied, and then the wrists and ankles zipped together. Then the medkit comes out, and Nuke starts following the expert system's prompts as it diagnoses the hogtied rescuee.

<<Nice shooting. Give me a second to make sure she's not going into shock and dying, and then let's get the hell out of here. I'll dig through her simrig data to see what she found once we're back aboard.>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:00, Puyallup, Seattle

Shortly afterwards Cheryl is secured - and still out. The medkit comes to the conclusion that she's in no danger of dieing - in fact, she is in better shape than she has any right to be, after her ordeal. Far better shape.

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:10, Puyallup, Seattle

<<yea, Bud needs some fine tuning in the shooting department, but not bad, lets get some tire tracks between us and this nightmare.>>

Jasper has Bud take point on the way out to the trucks. then orders "Rosie" up and down the street a little to keep the neighbors indoors.

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:15, Puyallup, Seattle

While Stray, Nuke and Bud make their way back up, at times struggling with the inconvenient body of Cheryl, Rosie patrols up and down. A few ghouls take cover and hide - it looks like they are interested in what happened though not interested enough to risk getting shot at. Still, there must be a dozen of the infected in the closest houses.

When Stray and Nuke finally drop Cheryl inside the van the girl gets a muffled groan out - she is awake again.

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:29, Puyallup, Seattle

Nuke slumps into his seat for what feels like the millionth time. As the girl stirs, he looks up from starting to search for information on Gannings.

<<Want to see what she knows about this lawyer who had her grabbed her?>>

"Cheryl? Death? Hello?"

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:45, Puyallup, Seattle

The girl looks around, slowly realizing her predicament, and starts to scream.

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:46, Puyallup, Seattle

While Nuke and Stray try to calm the girl down Jasper needs to find a way out of his hellhole - hopefully without encountering some of the roadblocks from earlier.

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:49, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper orders "Rosie" to lead the way, While he jumps into "Shelly" and heads back the way they came. He orders "Charlene" to fall in behined him.

<<That's some serious hollerin over there, why don't Stray lay some 'ol girl talk on her>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:49, Puyallup, Seattle

Stray is tempted to simply taze or knock the girl out, but tries to calm her down with soothing words still. though the screams are nothing a good damper cannot handle.

On the other hand the ambush force moving in ahead of them, which Rosie just spotted, is a more serious concern. Ghouls are pushing and dragging old cars, barely mobile, accross the street in an attempt to block their escape route off. Jasper could either step on it and break through - it does not look like they'll manage to close the gaps in time if he accelerates - or turn around and look for an alternative. So far the southern route looks clear, which a quick survey from altitude indicates, though it leads into a territory claimed by a new go-gang, the "Divers".

04-Apr-2071, 00:19:53, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper orders" Rosie" to throw down suppressive fire to try to keep the gap open. Then he makes a run for it. He feels the gears shifting like burning leg muscles. "Shelly's" smart tires grip like cleates throwing him forward. He yells for "Charlene" to stay with him.

<< Hang on ya'll ! >>

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:17, Puyallup, Seattle

Rosie starts hosing the area with lead while Jasper accelerates, Bud falling slightly back. Ghouls scatter under the fire, a few getting hit, and inhuman howls fill the air. Shellie rounds the corner, headed straight for the gap when suddenly the van starts to slow down despite the engine running at full power. Self-diagnostic systems can't find a reason - it's as if an invisible force is trying to hold the van back.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:17, Puyallup, Seattle

There must be a spirit, or a mage among the ghouls, but where? Charlene tags a few distortions as likely magic-caused, but can't determine by herself if it's a spirit, or a spell. And if there's a mage among the infected he is not standing out so far. Menawhile the van has slowed down, and one ghoul, noticing it, shouts out, causing the others to take notice too. A group starts to try to push the barrier forward again while others run towards the van, makeshift weapons in hands. One carries a shotgun though.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:20, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper ordres Rosie to go full auto on three of the car pushers as he guns it for the gap.

he also orders Charlene to throw it in reverse to see if that gets her anywhere.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:19, Puyallup, Seattle

One ghoul manages to avoid the fire through luck or skill but two of Rosie's targets get hit, screaming as the bullets rip into them, and drop, maybe not dead, but only interested in getting away now.

Charlene discovers that reverse doesn't get her free of th invisible influence. Shelly meanwihle reaches the gap, one blast from the shotgun-wielding ghoul missing her - mostly, some shot scratches the paint.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:22, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper tears through the gap with a deep roar. He orders "Rosie" to spray the guys on the side that "Charlene" tagged, while he goes for a 180 spin to come back and run down his shotgun toting friend.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:23, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper spins around with squealing tires, leaving a black trail of rubber until he accelerates again towards the breach, straight at the shotgunner. The ghoul tries to jump to the side, but too late, and gets thrown a few meters, a mangled heap of bones, by the impact, leaving a bloody smear on the front of the car, and a bigger pool of blood on the pavement.

Meanwhile the ghouls under fire by Rosie scatter, two going down and the third dropping into cover. The van starts to move a bit ahead again, though still slowed some - that spirit is now under fire from Nuke and Stray through an open door.

Another ghoul comes running out, dragging a few hamd-made spike rails to try and drop them in the gap.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:26, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper Backs up Shelly from the Bloody mess and orders rosie to take out the ghoul with the spikes. He then orders Bud to shoot at the Distortion by the van.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:26, Puyallup, Seattle

Rosie hits the ghoul with a few bursts and the infected drops like a puppet with its strings cut. Momentum carries it forward another meter though, and it ends up halfway in the gap. Bud ads its fire to the one from the van and it starts to have an effect - the van accelerates some more.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:29, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper flips back to first gear and drives up to the shell of a car to try and push it out of the way. He sends Charlene a comand to hold up while he makes some room.
<< Rosie's readin ammo at 50 percent. and bud's a little over 60, What the hell is that thing?>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:32, Puyallup, Seattle

The empty Predator magazine clatters to the floor of the van. Nuke slides a fresh one in and releases the slide lock.

<<The Ghost of Christmas Past? I don't know. Some kind of spirit I guess.>>

The hacker keeps shooting.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:32, Puyallup, Seattle

Stray all but shouts into the commlink "Someone must be controlling the spirit, can you spot any mage?"

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:35, Puyallup, Seattle

<<I'm killing everyone I can! What does a mage look like?!>>
Jasper pulls back to the captain's chair. He scans the various sensor inputs for signs of a wiz head. Usually its the smug bastard with the smallest weapon. He doesn't even know if the mage would even have to show his face to have some spirit grab his truck.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:36, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Just kill'em all!>>

While Jasper and his drones can't make out any special looking ghoul Nuke spots one ghoul hiding behind a corner and holding what looks like a string of prayer beads - and staring somewhat strangely at the van.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:39, Puyallup, Seattle

The Predator's muzzle swings around as Nuke scans the street for the oddball ghoul between him and the rest of his life. When he picks the culprit out, the hacker wastes no time marking the offender so Jasper's drones can sort the problem.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:39, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper orders "Rosie" to rain full auto on Nuke's target, and "Bud" to keep firing at the spirit. Then he turns to "Shelly" to see if she's got the junk car pushed out of the way.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:40, Puyallup, Seattle

Rosie sprays bullets at the suspected ghoul mage, and while most strike the ground around him, riccochetting and throwing up parts of the concrete, two hit him straight in the chest and stomach, and the infected humanoid drops on the floor, screaming incoherently. The van suddenly jumps ahead when the strange force keeping it back disappears along with the distortion. Shelly barely cleared the gap, pushing one wreck away, when the van races through.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:40, Puyallup, Seattle

<<YAHOO- looks like we finally got our dicks out the mud!>>

Jasper orders "Charlene" to keep on truckin. He jumps into "Shelly" and throws her into reverse. He orders "Rosie" to throw down some supressive fire to cover the escape.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:41, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Our dicks?>>

Stray reloads her shotgun while Charlene and Shelly speed away, covered by Rosie. The ammo bill for tonight will be large, but better to pay the gunsmith than the doctor... or the piper.

Soon the runners are out of that particular turf, and inside the still dangerous, but comparatively safer parts of Puyallup.

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:43, Puyallup, Seattle

Nuke collapses to the floor of the van.

<<Yeah. It's been one of those nights. Let's get back to civilization.>>

Cheryl gets a second glance as the hacker tries to figure out whether she's going to have another episode.

"So, any idea why some lawyer named Gannings might have wanted you kidnapped?"

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:46, Puyallup, Seattle

<<It's a figer a speech girly, Ya'll get anywhere in particular in mind ta go, you let 'ol Jasper know ya hear?>>

When they get a few miles between them and the ghouls, He slows down and brings "Rosie" back in for a landing. I probably got find a spot to hose off some of the blood "Shelly" picked up. He heads towards his own stomping ground in the Barrens. Jasper pulled out of VR and rolled his head a couple of times with a few relieving pops. Hopping back into his old skin always felt stiff. Like waking up after sleeping in an uncomfortable chair. The drone inputs were dull screens on his glasses now, as he pulled up a new message window to his mechanic friend.

<<Hey Slim, If yer still up, I could use a pit stop. Nothing serious, just need to hose down "Shelly" , maybe fuel up?>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:21:48, Puyallup, Seattle

Cheryl looks frightened, and takes a few attempts until she manages to answer.

"G-Gannings? Who is that? D-did he have me k-kidnapped?" Subsequent questions reveal she doesn't now much - only that her kidnappers took a blood sample of her, for theoir employer, then "Death came". At that she closes her eyes and rocks back and forth, mumbling prayers.

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:02, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Nowhere in particular. Just want to drop her off and get paid so she's someone else's problem if she snaps again. Want to make the call or should I?>>

Nuke's attention is once again drawn to the drugged, bound, gagged hacker who's the van's fifth occupant.

<<And we gotta dump this guy someplace, too. Hate to get pulled over for a busted taillight with two people tagged and bagged in the back.>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:05, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Aw hell, I'd almost forgot our hacker friend in there, but here's my question. I seem to recall our employer wantin to know why 'ol gal was kidnapped. an we ain't really figured that out yet. I imagine We can give em the girl, but I don't know if we is gettin paid without puttin this whole puzzle together. You want to call him up and give 'em an update? I'm sure Cheryl will feel more like talkin when she's back in familiar territory.>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:07, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Where do we drop the hacker?>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:30, Puyallup, Seattle

<<To be honest, I forgot why we kep him around, but we could kick him out the door anywhere as far as I'm concerned.>>

Rumbling over cracked streets in a pretty dark part of Puyallup, Jasper gave the hacker fifity fifty odds at surviving the night looped out of his mind, and dumped in the street, but getting to a more populated area wasn't going to help matters.

<<We should probably ditch him soon though, not a lot of places you can show up at with this guy in the back. And we sure can't stop for police>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:36, Puyallup, Seattle

<<I don't know. Call it professional courtesy. I'll gladly keep ruining Gearhead's day for having the balls to invade my system, but this guy didn't do any of that. Calling Mr. J so we can drop Cheryl off.>>

Nuke draws a disposable commlink from his bag and sends a message to the commcode the Johnson supplied.

<<@Mr. Johnson: Found your friend and the people who took her, still looking into why. Where should we drop her off before we continue searching for why she was grabbed?>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:23:45, Puyallup, Seattle

Jasper wasn't hearing anything from Slim yet. He might be out, or he might be asleep. Jasper decided to head for the Tacoma area, he'd find a gas-n-sip or something, unless the gang came up with a plan before then.

<<Sounds like Cheryl's about as clueless to whats goin on as we are. I gotta be honest, I thought she'd have a few answers for us. If she doesn't know Gannings, then this wasn't a personal matter. they must have done somethin to her, or left somethin with her she don't know about >>

04-Apr-2071, 00:24:00, Puyallup, Seattle

Mr. Johnson answered quickly, and sent the team a "safe house" adress - which a quick search reveals to be an appartment in a upper-middle-class district, likely used for some torrid affairs. He'll be there in 45 minutes.

Slim has been busy - he sounds grumpy when he answers, so it must have been something fun - but lets Jasper make a pitstop in 30, "provided there's no gun-toting gang hot on your heels".

<<What about the blood sample they took?>> Stray asks.

04-Apr-2071, 00:24:05, Puyallup, Seattle

Nuke relays the Johnson's response.

<<Probably just confirming her identity by matching it against her SIN.>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:24:20, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Maybe. Do we do that too?>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:36:40,Unmarked warehouse, Slim's Chop shop, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Maybe our sassy gal pal stole the wrong med's outa Gannings medicine cabinet. they might have been checking for the drug in her system... I'm just tryin to tie in cheryl's little outbreak with the blood thing. I can't say blood samples are standard procedure for such a non-professional target. Last time I ran DNA on someone, it was an Azzie spook with two high profile assassinations under her belt>>
Jasper eased in to Slim's, letting "Charlene" hang back a bit. He pulled up to a garage door and hailed Slim on his comm.

04-Apr-2071, 00:36:43,Unmarked warehouse, Slim's Chop shop, Puyallup, Seattle

<<Maybe. But she says she has no idea who Gannings is. Maybe he wants to be sure of who she is so he can pick her brain about this lawyer she was just leaving. Best I've got on short notice. Think I'm going to do some deeper digging into this Gannings guy. He has to have some dirt on him somewhere.>>

04-Apr-2071, 00:36:43,Unmarked warehouse, Slim's Chop shop, Puyallup, Seattle

<<So, let's drop off hacker-guy there, and give the girl back to her pimp? Or hole up and see what you find out about Gannings first?>>