14:36:32 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Thumper

Left in charge of the HQ!? I'm, howsit, oh fuck me.

Thumper's mind slowed to a crawl, like a computer chewing on a particularly tough mathematical problem. He was momentarily paralyzed with an indescribable mix of excitement and fear. Fortunately, the terror playing across his face was upstaged by Legion making the implicit threat to gut the new chick. Thumper was somewhat surprised that he hadn't, but they were hard up for people. Even if she wasn't a banger, she could still be useful he guessed.

She looked like she'd had a rough day already. Thumper thought that it was a surprising but generally good bit of divine generosity that Legion was pulling his punches this morning.

He turned to Box, or whatever his name was, "Yeah, Grack's your man for the sewers. They're kind of his turf." He followed the other ork down into the sewers only to be assaulted by the stench of fecal matter. "Man, you don't fuck around when you work on this shit. I'll have to go check on the others in a bit and explain the smell, but what the fuck you up to?"

14:37:00 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Basement of and sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

"Fuck do I think I'm doing? Fixing your goddamn water, what I'm doing." Smack the sewer pipe back into the join and screw it back closed. Looks like there's still enough teflon gunk round the threads to keep it good, and there shouldn't be much pressure in there unless these dudes are more full of shit than I think. "Ain't no fucking water going through the pipes in this building, so I'm gonna have to track it back to the sewers to see what the fuck is up. Water company probably done had this shit locked tight for a minute. You gonna help or crack wise?"

I got the shit in this place marked, so I go upside and track down the nearest manhole to the pipe-exiting side of the building. Mark it, dunk an old t-shirt in some water, tie it around my nose, creak the manhole cover aside with a piece of rebar, and hop on' in. Leave it open, so I have some kind of comms outside (and so my GPS will sorta-kinda work). Play it by ear till I get to a couple pipes running near the building, and then start knocking back on them until I hear something different or until they join a bigger pipe.

14:37:20 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

After comleting their disappointingly uneventful patrol of the new HQ's environs, Lord Grack drifted away from The Duke, though he watched his cerri for some time. Where would he go, without the guidance of his deity? The weight of such divine spiritual responsibility suddenly weighed heavily on the fledgling god's shoulders, and he soon found himself prowling aimlessly through the unlit streets of the hold Hammerpack turf. Before that it had been Gurkhas territory, and now Ravens would come to roost there.

Each transition has been fraught with worry bordering on despair, as he waited to see what would fill the vacuum created by the successive demises of the gangs that were his one connection to metahumanity.

Not, of course, that he cared a whit for such things.

No, not at all.

But in the end, all had been well - nothing changed but the names. No, he thought again as his boots crunched over shattered glass in a fecal-strewn alley, the faces had always changed as well. Few remained from the Pack, and even less went back as far as the Gurkhas, with whom the lad had been running when The Usurper - how appropriate his new title, in hindsight - had cut and stabbed his way onto the scene.

And with each new sorting of their numbers, the rank and file had somehow been diminished - if not in numbers than in glory. The Pack, man for man, would have been no match for the Gurkhas. And now - he spat in disgust - now they were infested with ghoul-fodder, pederasts, and even the boys they loved.

So lost in his ruminations had he been that he was almost caught unawares by the sun - the Cursed EYE - the Uruk Hai could bear it and so could he - but why should he when an entrance to His World was never far away, and here on his turf he knew them all.

He awoke in his sewage-defended fortress around mid-day, if the rumblings in his stomach were a reliable measure. Downing a few protein bars he craved flesh, and wondered how hard it would be to snatch a child from up in Raiderland. It took him not a moment to realize that with his new and wondrous powers, finding the answer to that question would be effortless.

Within moments he was gliding gracefully north across the park, though getting there had been slightly bothersome - even in his intangible form, he'd found that not all walls in His World yielded to him, and he usually had to leave by a regular entrance. In any case, almost as soon as he started his mission it was forgotten - apparently one was free from hunger pangs, fully immersed here in the Color World. He meandered off course, skittering playfully across the ground, and finding that the trees, while offering no real resistance, occluded his Sight, and could in fact be felt as he passed through them. All this knowledge he stored away - for just as assuredly as the Gray World was a place of kill or be killed, it must be that one day his powers of action and violence would be put to the test in the Color World as well.

He soon was reminded that, even if hunger could not touch him here, time could, and before much time had passed, he felt an urgent need to return to his palace. He found, though, that his intimate knowledge of the access points was not as reliable here, his bearings were off, and it cost him precious seconds finding ingress, the manmade aperture well nigh invisible to his new vision. He returned to his body gasping for - not air - but something, there was something he needed, or needed more of, in any event. He would have to find out what that was.

Soon he rose again from his flesh, but this time stayed closer to home, on paths he knew well. Watching the lazy malingerers in the park building, he found they were having a meeting of some sort.

Had they not invited him? But no, of course they feared him. Of course. Only natural.

But he invited himself. He saw them in colors, and their voices were tinged with hue as well. Nothing they discussed interested him in the slightest, until he found that The Usurper had elevated The Duke. It was the first wise decision the human had made since the end of The Greatest Gang War of All Time.

There was also some talk about water that coincided with mention of himself. He hadn't listened closely. Perhaps they hoped his would strike some Redmond Rock of Horeb with his holy axe, and bring forth rushing waters to slake their thirst. Yes, that must be it.

He would consider their request.

Returning again to his earthly frame, he found a message from The Duke. It seemed his guess had been correct - they wanted water from His World.

He replied: <<Water here. Can drink. But no hurlg. Need more hurlg.>>

There were indeed a couple of good pipes nearby that he sometimes took water from. He wondered how easily it might be routed to the new building. Heading off in the direction of the closest, he was startled - if a god can be startled - by the sound of someone entering His World!!!

This was a rare occurrence indeed...although there had been talk at the meeting of approaching ghouls. Unlimbering his Toy, he stalked forward and watched. But the interloper was no corpse-eater. It was the boy-loving smoothie with the big norgoz, the one with the glowing head that festooned himself with jewelry like a whore of Babylon. He was banging on pipes as randomly as he had sought an eth.

About to slay the weakling, Our Hero suddenly recalled Leon. A good Packer, Leon, and whatever his faults, this reprobate had laid down the fahd for him.

It earned him a few more breaths.

The lad continued to watch, raising the volume on his music to where he knew the human could hear it.

14:37:20 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Track the pipes upstream, trying to find something that works and/or not vomit in the process. I assume that the water main will be relatively close to the building, but this is wishful thinking, and they might put it halfway through raiders turf buried under a flotilla of used condoms just to fucking spite me.

There's enough sunlight coming through that I can see what the hell is going on, so I'm straight on that. I pop the thermo on my sunglasses on so I can look at the pipes - assuming that a pipe with water running through it will be visibly colder than the rest. But who knows. I stop caring, because I notice a big dude hanging round the corner looking at me on the thermo. Ratchet up a bit, start looking forward to a throwdown. Peeps who stare at you from hiding ain't normally just waiting to offer you their daughter.

Can't see him on the lowlight, which means he knows what the hell is visible in lowlight, which means he's either an ork or he got money. Start hearing faint music, ratcheting up. Can't really tell shit about it, other than that it's probably really loud to the dude listening to it. Also smart, because it echoes a bit and I couldn't hear where he's at.

Dollars to donuts it's our boy, and if it ain't he's either gonna run away or he's got backup and I'm about to be dead, so fuck these games. Hit the sniffer and scan on my commlink with a thought. Turn towards him, and say, loud enough that (in retrospect) the people who ain't hanging around coulda heard it if they existed - "Yo, you just watching or you wanna give me a hand?"

14:32:30 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Ink

Ink steps out of range of Legion's knife hand and tosses the chica a little smile. She's got some cojones. The smile fades from his face as soon as el hefe turns for the door. The Cubano takes up el hefes left hand side leaving Shade to take the right hand position, at least this way he was slightly safer if the boss man wanted to haul off and grease someone.

The chica's little speach and el hefe's reaction had given Ink plenty to think on. Obviuosly the big muchacho had a different style of leadership than the cousins which was either good or bad for him.

"So hefe what di' jou wanna talk about?"

14:37:30 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

The lad saw the human speak, but naturally could not hear a word coming from the fellow's mouth. Of course, that mattered not a whit to one with the ability to see within the souls of mere mortals. Effortlessly the young stalwart pierced the veil of the boylover's thoughts...and was astounded at what he heard. This smoothie had, unlike any other before, ventured down into His World...to visit him. The boy blinked back a sudden welling of tears.

Could this one wish to be his friend? It certainly was so, for so the jewelry-bedecked man's thoughts stated clearly. Just came down to shoot the breeze, chummer. See how it's hangin'. Such gauche speech, but that was only to be expected, and oh so easily forgiven.

Our Hero took a step forward, eager to embrace his new friend, when another thought occurred to him. He had, indeed, spotted this one consorting with the boy from the CHUD-feed gang. Could he have some other reason for seeking companionship? Some ulterior motive?

Stopping halfway to the man, standing waist-deep in sewage he shut off his music and mustered all his long-studied arts of diplomacy to ask the one question that mattered: "Boys or women?"

14:37:35 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Dude moves forward, eyes locked. Once he moves a little bit I can make out our boy pretty clearly. Hard to miss. Wades right into the shit. Explains the smell pretty fucking well. Music is coming from his headphones, which much be loud as fuck for me to be able to hear them.

Belts out 'boys or women' with something like a question inflection at the end. Homeboy ain't got the best diction. Not sure where he's going with this one, so I stall.

"You offering, or you hitting on me? I'll take a bitch if you got one handy."

14:37:40 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

The lad inwardly sighed in relief. How reassuring to know that his new friend had his priorities in the right place. He realized he had never had a human friend before. How very exotic!

"Don't have bitch now.

"Did you bring hurlg?"

14:37:42 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

"What the fuck is hurlg? I puked my guts out yesterday morning, if that counts."

Smile a bit wide to show that I'm not fronting. Still don't know this dude.

14:37:45 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Thumper

Bockscar left the basement in a hurry with Thumper trailing in his wake. The ork lieutenant noticed a number of gangers loitering around the HQ. Nevada was falling asleep with New Chick, which he supposed was OK now that he thought about it ... But the Noisy Kid and the New Guy (who was named Rocco or something ... he thought ... sorta) were just hanging around shooting shit. He figured the room needed a good dose of leadership.

Thumper understood that Legion led by fear, but he felt liks showing a warmer side of leadership. More human.

"You guys should ... do some shit ..." He bellowed. The statement didn't ring true enough, maybe with a threat behind it ...

"Or, you know ..." He pounded his fist into his palm.

"Oh yeah, and it smells like shit because we're doing plumbing. So, don't worry about it, shit'll get running.

Without waiting for a response he walked outside and found the open manhole that Bockscar had doubtless dropped down. He poked his head in and saw Grack conversing with the gunslinging former ganger.

"Sweet, you found Grack. What do you want me to do?"

14:37:48 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

I hear Thumper coming a bit early. Sound carries in here. Know these two are tight, but the added face reassures me. They can still jack me easily, this just seems to change the likelihood that they will. By way of greeting: "What up. What the fuck is hurlg?"

"Word. Time we got formally introduced, anyway. I'm Bockscar, Mustafa Kemaal to the man." Walk a few feet up the side of the sewer, till I can get close enough to Grack to offer him my hand. Social test #47, or some shit - see how he shakes. Nevermind the fact that his hand is half caked in squishy-fresh sewer filth.

"You know where there are some pipes with good water? Gotta get the water into this one." Bang on the pipe running to the building. To Thumper- "Not sure yet. I don't know where the running water is yet. We'll see what we need to do once we see where this pipe ends and the good shit starts."

14:37:55 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

Just as Our Hero was satisfied that this newcomer was indeed his friend and in fact no pederast, a flood of confusiing events to you pansy, to you assailed him all at once.

The human smiled, revealing the fangs of a cerri fuck. But if he was an ork, how could he be unaware of the ambrosia that was hurlg? Because not ambrosia, fop. Just cerri-strong beer. And then just when The Duke arrived, filling his heart to bursting at this windfall of joyous companionship enough! you are done, they asked about plumbing again. Could it be YES that they were not here to visit His World and be his boon companions?

That's fucking it!

Spit in face?

No, bad for Thumper.

He is leader now.

Shake hand?

Hell no.

Ignore?

Yes. Fucking cerri wannabe.

Talk to Thumper.

"Can get water.

"Show you.

"Hard work."

Look at poser.

"For him."

14:37:56 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Blink for a split second as the dude looks at my proferred hand, turns away, and starts fucking talking about me ito Thumper. This is fucking wierd; too weird to start with straight up beef, but too fucking insulting to slide.

Turn to Grack, look straight at his eyes. Words are coming out of my mouth quick. "Yo, back up, time out mother fucker. I'm sitting here with hand out, talking to you man-to-man, and your happy ass turns away. You got something to fucking say, I'm right fucking here. Otherwise we got a problem." Half heartbeat pause.

"Take two, this time with some fucking manners. I'm Bockscar. Mustafa Kemaal to the man. Pleasure to meet you."

14:38:04 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

Toy in left hand.

Leave hanging in sewage.

Use right hand.

Don't shake.

Don't let go.

"Thin-blooded half-breed?

"Or wannabe poser?"

14:38:06 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Grabs my hand and holds. Left hand where I can't see it; fine with me. My left's sitting on my knee, and the slivergun up my sleeve is itching to pop forward. I'm straight.

"I give a fuck what you call it. Think I'm posing? Thin blood? Keep testing."

16:29:17 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

It had been a quiet walk down to the Touristville Bazaar. Aziz had kept his eyes peeled for any signs of trouble, but it seemed all the predators were laying low. For now.

The Bazaar was closed today, but that didn't mean there weren't still shops open and street merchants hawking their wares. It simply meant Lone Star wasn't there to keep the peace, so only the natives were here. Today was not a day for tourists.

Once they'd arrived, Aziz put the girls to work. Business was fairly good; after the tension of the last month, people were looking to blow off some steam. And a little more besides. Each of the girls had turned a couple tricks without any problems, the group setting up shop near an alley on the outskirts of the Bazaar to allow their customers some semblance of privacy.

Aziz leaned against the entrance way to the alley, Kalila dangling loosely in his hand. His grip tightened, however, when he spotted a group of Heartbreakers strutting over to him. There were four of them, each dressed in the red and hot pink of the all girl gang.

One of them, wearing a red leather skirt that covered her ass and not much more and sporting a matching short leather jacket with the sleeves rolled up over a skimpy hot pink bikini top strolled up, stopping just outside of Kalila's sword range.

She looked Aziz up and down and smiled, but there was nothing friendly in her smile. "'Sup babe? Watcha got goin' in that alley back there?"

Behind her, the other three girls spread out, just enough to box him in but not tightly enough to be threatening. Yet.

15:09:36 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Felix, Baby, Ink

Weaving southward through their turf, the group heads down to NE 140th St, then heads east until they reach 129th Pl NE, the street that cuts north/south through the heart of Black Plague turf.

Shade looks at Felix, thinking to ask him what happened while he was gone, but the young mentalist seems to be a thousand miles away at the moment. Instead, he walks over to Baby, who's obviously trying not to show pain, but the severity of the wounds on her body reveal her outward show of strength for the partial illusion that it is.

Leaning over to her, he says quietly, "That was gutsy what you did back there, standing up for what you believe in. Respect for that." He wants to explain that he wouldn't have hurt her if it came down to violence, that he would've tried to protect her by subduing her before Legion could kill her, but he can't think of any way to say it without coming across as condescending or insulting. In the end, he decides to just leave it at that. Before she can respond, he speeds up and leaves her behind.

Up ahead, Legion and Ink are discussing something, but conversation stops when they arrive at the intersection of NE 140th St and 129th Pl NE. Legion stops and turns to them. It seems like he's about to make some kind of speech, maybe telling them to stick together and watch each other's backs, or to stay frosty if push comes to shove. He doesn't. He just locks eyes with each of them, one by one. His gaze says everything that needs to be said. They know what's expected of them. He knows they know. That's enough.

The quartet follows Legion's lead, plunging into the depths of the Black Plague's territory without any (outward) sign of hesitation. They make their way to Father Ron's church in a loose 'V'; Legion in front, flanked by Shade on his left and Ink on his right, Felix behind Shade and to his left, Baby mirroring his position on Ink's side.

As they walk people begin clearing off the streets, whispering quietly in doorways and windows, staring in silence and huddling out of the way. In early November the air is cold, made colder by a stiff chill wind that blows through the streets. Despite the cold, the air is almost humid with tension. After the violence of the last few months, who is to say their little trip won't be the spark that sets off another powder keg of violence?

Turning east onto NE 136th Pl, the group comes to an abrupt stop. Standing in the middle of the street is Crowbar Bob, his trademark crowbar laying across his neck, arms resting casually on each side of the blunt metal instrument, holding it in place. Several meters to his left is his main squeeze, the psychotic ork known as Alexis the Decapitator, on the right is his bodyguard, the huge Russian troll known as Rasputin.

The elf smiles nastily as he spots them. "Legion. What the fuck are you doing here?"

On each side of the October Ravens two more gangers come out to flank their group, bringing the total count to seven against five. If it comes to violence. If.

16:31:17 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Dammit... was hoping to avoid something like this...

Aziz side-stepped, placing himself in the alleyway, a precaution designed to prevent getting surrounded. He grinned at the leader and ran his tongue along the bottom of his teeth. He flips Kalila around to his front, holding the hilt in his right hand, and the sheath in his left, ready to pull her free at a moment's notice.

I could take all of them. Not gonna take any shit here.

"Assuming you don't already know, my dear, why don't we fast forward to your point, 'cause I'm sure my answer wouldn't change things." he replies, slowly widening his stance. Not a fighting crouch yet, but a millisecond of movement away from one.

14:38:09 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

Skin says smooth.

Teeth say pose.

Eyes fearless.

Cerri eyes.

What is it?

Don't let go.

"Not testing.

"Asking."

"14:37:45 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - New October Ravens HQ
Twiggs and Rico

Twiggs had just finished telling Rico the score when Thumper barked some orders and wandered away. Rico bit back a reply, trying to remind himself that the other guy just doesn't know how to talk to people. Besides, the next time they fight, it won't be a brotherly tumble, it'll be for blood.
"OK bro, how do we want to handle this?"

Twiggs smiles and says, "well, I got an idea. We'll catch 'em while they're still eat'n and I'll slide in next to Mister "don't hurt me" and act like I'm trying to scam some o' his lunch, and steal the keys, just like that.
Now it might get ugly, so I need you to stay out of the way. I can handle myself. Even if they catch me, I'm sure I can get'em to go outside with me. If we all come outside, then you're the lead guy and I'll follow you. If I come out alone, that means I've got the keys, and we're gettin' the hell outta here."

Rico thinks about it for a bit, "So you know you're probably gonna get roughed up a little, right? OK, takes some balls to take one for the team like that. I'll stay out of it unless I think they're gonna actually kill you. If it comes outside, I'll get the drop on them and try to get them to just give up the keys and walk away. Probably not gonna work, 'cause if they were likely to do that, they wouldn't have this job. So, I'm probably gonna start shooting. I'll go after the bigger guy first, and leave the smaller guy to you. Sound good?"

Twiggs smiles, "Yea, that's a plan. I'll drive the truck back here, we'll pull right up to the door, unload everything into the HQ and then dump the truck somewhere."

Rico scratches his chin, "Maybe. I'm thinkin' that truck sure would be good to have. Aziz could have loaded the girls right into the back of the truck and driven down to the Bazzar, no hassles. Hell, a few curtains and mattresses and it's the Bang Bus. Think about that."

"Shit, that would work. And security would be simple, just don't let anyone steal the truck. Like we're gonna. Let's get the truck first, and talk to Legion about what to do with it after we've got it. You ready to roll?"

Rico slides on his shades, checks the load in his Superwarhawk, smiles and says "Yea, let's go".

"14:57:45 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - 124th Avenue NE, Between 141st Way and 141st Place
Twiggs and Rico

Twiggs being bikeless hops on the back of Rico's hog and they head over to Plastic Sushi, where they get lucky. The truck is parked on 124th, and the crew is probably next to a window they can see the truck through. "Fuckin' A bro" says Rico as they ride by. Rico turns in at 141st Place, and does a U turn, stopping right at the intersection of 124th, where he can see the truck, the front and side doors of the resturant and the whole street. "OK Twiggs, I'll wait right here. If you're not out in 15 minutes, I'm going in after you. Try not to let anything go down inside. We don't to have to deal with pissed off Yaks. You ready?"

Twiggs smiles, adjusts his shades and says "Yea, let's go."

15:09:36 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Felix

Walking down the street at a slow and steady pace, Felix couldn't help but feel twice as tired as he probably should have been. He hadn't had a decent meal, or at least what passed for one down here in Redmond, in a few days, felt dehydrated and sore from his previous ghoulish encounter. If he had had any balls, he would have told Legion to go fuck himself and bunked off for some more rest. But when the October Raven's leader had spoken up, all the frail mage had managed was a shy nod, and a stare to the floor. He wanted nothing more, at this current moment in time, than to go see Halo. To spend the day with her. To hold her hand. But instead, he was walking between Shade's and Legion's shadows, trying and probably succeeding quite well at being unassuming and unimportant. He knew very well that a lot of people in the barrens thought Felix was some sort of "magician"... something Felix still couldn't understand. How could people think that of him? No matter: he knew very well that the rumor had gone around a few times, and that if recognized, he might make a prized target in a fight. Had he not felt so beaten up, he might have giggled at the idea of being magical. Him. Sling magic. It was such a silly concept. It was probably all JJ's fault... Always starting rumors on his behalf to get him to score with the ladies.

Felix sighed internally, realizing how much he was missing his friend. He looked over to Shade, wondering how he was handling things with Toy. He hadn't even mentioned it. Odds were, he was never going to...

As they begun nearing Black Plague turf, Felix's thought began to drift toward the members of their little delegation. Somehow, things felt a little bit odd. No matter how Felix approached it, he couldn't quite understand why Legion had picked these people in particular. Shade, he could understand. He was strong, reliable, and deadly if a melee broke out. But Felix knew that Legion probably suspected that Shade's loyalty went to Felix first and him second... which meant that if the shit did hit the fan, Shade would probably be more inclined to proctect Felix rather than Legion... Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.

Then there was Ink. Now that was just... bizzare. Felix didn't really know the Cubano, and so, he might be skilled in something he wasn't aware of... But the main issue was that Ink was an ex-Los Locos. Last time he had checked, Plaguers and Locos didn't really get along. As a matter of fact, a lot of them had been killed by Plaguers in the past week.

And Baby. She was in an aweful shape... A lot worst than Felix was or had actually ever been. He couldn't quite get why the big boss had brought her along. Maybe it was a way of punishing her for holding out to him. Maybe he thought her knowledge of Kingsgate could prove useful in the event they had to hightail it. Maybe he was planning on pawning her off to Crowbar Bob for something else...

When the moment he was dreading finally came up, Felix felt himself shrink terribly small in his running shoes. He deeply regreted ever seeding the idea, of coming all the way out here, in Legion's head. This... This was bad. All of them were humans. Most of them were injuried. Beside Legion, and Felix hoped he was at least right about their leader, no one had any sort of gameplan.

Staying well behind Legion and Shade, Felix peaked from under his hood and over his glasses.

14:38:11 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Sewers adjoining New October Ravens HQ, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Post facto, the half breed comment triggers recognition. Get it often. Relax my jaw a little, frown, flare the nostrils, flex the ears. I got a little bit of ork in each. Square jaw, slight underbite, that shit. He wants to see it, he can. He don't wanna see it, he won't.

"I was this size when I was about 11. The man said I'm an Ork when they did a physical. Thumper's mom said I'm a troll. Don't know more than that, don't care."

Kid says he's asking, good sign. Not true, but right thing to say. He's still testing. Kid plays more than one move ahead. Don't know enough to see what he's getting at, though. Dude's big enough to have ripped me apart unless I shot him first. He didn't. Immediate scaredness has passed.

"Why do you give a fuck?"

16:31:17 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

The Heartbreaker just stands there and laughs. She's too far from the mouth of the alley for him to come out and strike without exposing himself to being surrounded. From her stance, she has no intention of going in after him either.

"Ain't like the Splintered Crash to run a prostitution ring. Too hardcore for ya'll. You running solo after they went down, that it? Planning on turning over a percentage of the profits to the Heartbreakers for working our biz on our turf, right?"

16:33:26 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Aziz's eyes darken at the mention of the Splintered Crash.

"Obviously you know who I am. Good, means you know what I'm capable of." he looks at the assembled group, scowling at each of them in turn.

"And obviously, you also don't have any fuckin' sense of what's going on." he growls. "Or you'd know I'm under Legion now, in the October Ravens, little group I seem to remember you girls have a truce with." He licks his lips and tucks his chin down, and exposes the barest millimeter of Kalila's naked steel.

"Now, if there's a problem with me being here, I'll leave. Legion'd want that. But I don't think the Bazaar exactly qualifies as your turf... So, if you think you're getting even a fraction of a nuyen out of me, you're dead wrong."

16:33:59 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

At the mention of the October Ravens, the stance of the girls shifts from one of disdain and superiority to one of respect. Apparently word had already gotten around these parts about the newest player in Kingsgate, and its name carried weight.

The girl smiles, but this time its meaning is more...ambiguous. "You runnin' with the October Ravens, huh? Didn't see your colors there. Next time you might want to be wearing them, then there won't be any mixups, hear what I'm sayin'?"

Deliberately turning her back to him, she says as she departs, "We'll honor the truce." The other girls back away until they're a safe distance from him, then turn and follow the leader back into the heart of the Bazaar.

As they leave, one of the girls, Baby's sister, he can't remember her name, comes up to him timidly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she does so. "Trouble?"

16:35:15 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Aziz looks back over his shoulder, frowning slightly as she wipes her mouth off.

Disgusting business. he thinks.

He shakes his head.

"Don't worry about it, uh... you. Just some Heartbreakers, didn't know I was with the Ravens. How's business going? Steady here, or need to move somewhere else?"

16:35:15 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

She smiles awkwardly. "Uh, it's Rag Doll, but you can just call me Rags. Everyone does."

She brushes a stray strand of hair back behind one ear. "Business is uh, well it's coming in, but it's not really that great. I mean, there's not many people here cause of the uh, fighting lately, you know?"

Fidgeting from side to side, she looks down. "So um, you're in charge, right? I guess we'll stay if you want to stay, or uh, we'll go, you know? But only if you want us to," she adds hastily.

14:38:15, Sunday, November 2nd - Ravens HQ Sewers, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Thumper

Thumper looked on with horror as one of his oldest friends and one of his newest slowly got ready to tear each other apart. Grack and Box seemed to slip inexolerably closer to tearing eachother apart. Besides, what was this cerri/half-blood nonsense anyway. Box was an ujnort. Thumper knew that if shit went down he'd have to jump in on Grack's side, but it would suck because Box knew cool shit. He hoped this wouldn't come to that.

Then the other shoe was dropped and the big ork at the top of the manhole bristled.

"Hey, you leave my fucking mother out of this ... I mean, she's not fucking ... what the fuck ever - don't fuck my mom, seriously." Thumper's exclamation had started out impassioned and trailed off as he talked. His mother had been a good woman, he guessed. While he had momentum, he continued to bellow down the manhole:

"Shit, Grack this is Box he's got mean norgoz, knows vutting, tharon rek. Don't know about grumog but he's not turgma and not gahad and he's ereth Leon."

Now that he looked closer Thumper was willing to revise his ujnort assessment.

"Box, this is Grack my oldest cerri and all the hez in this damn neighborhood."

16:37:45 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Aziz sighs and taps the bottom of his pack of cigarettes, then holds it up to his mouth and eases one out between his lips. He casually holds the pack out to Rags as he lights his own off his zippo, effortlessly flicking the battered lighter open.

"Listen Rags... I'm not gonna hit you or nothing, so don't be afraid of me." he says, taking a drag and exhaling the smoke out his nostrils. "Far as I'm concerned, you're much better at this kind of thing than I am. I'd much rather be out carving up some yebnen kelp, not being a gewad and taking care of sharmutas." He sighs again.

"So if you think here is fine, we'll stay here. If you think we could scare up more business somewhere else, I'll defer to your opinion. But frankly, after our little incident a few moments ago, I think we'd better not overstay our welcome."

15:10:07 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion

"Scarification," Legion says in response to Ink's question. "I need you to hook me up. Tonight or tomorrow, whichever proves to be more convenient, but soon."

He traced a serrated diamond pattern on his shoulder in response to the quizzical look in the young ganger's eyes.

"They'll look like feathers," he explains. Ink shrugs and nods.

"Your skin, jefe," he mutters. Legion draws from his cigarette again, satisfied to leave the conversation at that as his group makes its way through the streets of Kingsgate. He can't help the smile that grows on his face as he watches the innocent flee from their approach, although the expression becomes fixed and hollow when the trio of Black Plaguers show up. Especially since it's the top three. A part of him wonders what it is that's drawn out the power in the Plague, but he'd been planning on talking to Crowbar anyway. Apparently the meeting with Father Ron would have to wait. Legion blew a stream of smoke into the sky before gesturing with his cigarette towards Father Ron's building.

"You know me, Crowbar, good Christian that I am. I've come to confess my sins to Father Ron. I was also planning on coming to see you, though, so it's good that you're here. I've got information that you'll want to hear, so what's say we stand on neutral ground for the moment?"

15:10:49 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Ink, Felix, Baby

Before Crowbar can answer, Alexis sneers, "Don't listen to him baby. He ain't no Christian goin' to church. This is a fuckin' war party, and they came right for our heart." Rasputin doesn't say anything, but the cruel gleam in his eyes and the subtle tightening of his hands on the giant polearm he carries speak for him.

The other Black Plague members tense up, but Crowbar stops them, holding up a hand for restraint. He cocks his head to the side and looks at Legion curiously. "Chill babe. Man says he wants to talk, it must be important for him to come himself. 'Sides, he ain't got his attack dogs with him. In fact, I don't think I've seen any of these jokers running with the 'Pack before."

Crowbar's eyes narrow. "OK Legion, you want to talk, start talking. But before I hear your pitch, I just wanna know one thing. This wouldn't have anything to do with this October Ravens gang I've been hearing about lately, would it?" His tone suggests he already knows the answer, but he still wants to hear it straight from the source.

16:38:33 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Nervously, Rags takes an offered cigarette and cups her hands as Aziz lights it for her. She takes a couple puffs and looks back over her shoulder into the alley, where the other girls are still working. "Well uh, since you asked, business actually ain't been that great. I mean, it's not like we're not tryin', ya know, but uh...well, even in Kingsgate, lotta guys don't like gettin' it on in an alley, scan me? I mean, it ain't the most comfortable place for anyone, and well, it ain't very private neither."

Fidgeting a little, she takes another few puffs and continues, "Personally, I always used to take 'em home, at least it had a mattress and some privacy. I guess it was a little slower, but at least I got a little higher class of customer."

She smiles in an almost self-mocking sort of way. "Not like that's sayin' much, but I mean, right now, we're just pickin' up the absolute bottom of the barrel. Totally desperate, almost no money and they're just blowin' what little they got on whatever they can get."

Once she gets talking, she seems a little more comfortable with Aziz, almost like she feels empowered that someone asked her opinion on something. "I get the feeling you guys want to make real money, not just scrapin' by kinda cash, and honestly uh, sir, I don't really think we can do that just trying to pick up the kind of bums who want to get it on in an alley."

Suddenly she stops and looks at Aziz nervously, realizing she's just implied that his plan was somehow less than optimal and understanding that if he wanted to, he could take her comment as an insult, or possibly condescending, either of which could lead to pain for her. Her fear is suddenly tangible again as she waits for him to respond.

16:40:16 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Touristville Bazaar
Aziz

Aziz shrugs. "Yeah, guess it was kind of a bad idea. Just figured there was usually a lot of people here, but I guess I didn't think about everything, huh? Like I said, not my usual line of work."

He leans against the wall and thinks a moment.

"Evergreen Heights are nearby here... Pretty nice place to live, so we might get that 'higher-class' you were talking about." he says, pronouncing it as if he was holding back laughter. "Tell the others to finish up, we're moving our operation that way."

15:12:02 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Ink, Felix, Baby

Before the group had left the sanctuary of their new digs, Baby found the room Nevada had crashed in and left her and Rags things with the sleeping girl. Hopefully they would still be there when she got back.

The small group of mismatched gangers fanned out as the made their way into Plague territory. Baby wasn’t having the easiest time keeping up with the longer strides of the boys. Normally nimble and quick Baby felt slowed by her injuries and stiff as hell.

Shade’s words helped her bare the pain a bit easier. If anything at least she had accomplished gaining some respect standing up for herself today. She didn’t have time to thank him, nor was she sure she would have. It was a comment given honestly and that was enough in itself. Besides, the moment they moved out of the park and into the projects Baby’s mind turned to the task at hand. She did her best to memorize the route that were taking and where it was in relation to areas of relative safety and to the park they had just left. Kingsgate could be a maze of burned out buildings and littered alleyways, but Baby had a good sense of direction and kept a mental list of landmarks as they passed.

She sensed the others tense and pull-up short before seeing the three Black Plague gang members as she rounded the corner of the street. Her right hand tensed, ready to draw her Roomsweeper before noting the other gang held only melee weapon and their mannerisms while tense were not overly threatening.

Baby waited quietly and took in her surroundings as two more gangers stepped out from the shadows of the surrounding buildings. She took note of any possible escape routes and eyed the nearest threat to her, thankful of the static tingle of she felt from her stun gloves.

She really hoped this wasn’t going to get any worse. She wasn’t going to stand a chance in a fist fight and if she went for her gun this altercation would escalate quickly. She listened to the conversation between Crowbar and Legion, but kept her eyes on the ganger closest to her and looked for any other possible threats that would close off her routes to safety.

14:38:15, Sunday, November 2nd - Ravens HQ Sewers, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

He says cerri.

Cerri says ujnort.

No matter.

Thumper's friend.

He lives.

Release hand.

"Don't."

Turn around.

Walk.

14:38:16, Sunday, November 2nd - Ravens HQ Sewers, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Allah akhbar; allah bil khair; kul khair lil allah, thank god for Thumper. Conversation feels right, timing is perfect, try to pump Grack's hand as a formal introduction.

Grack drops the hand, says what matters. Good on him. Ain't gonna press him on the water shit after all that, just let him lead on. Keep running a hand near the pipe leading to the building, so I don't lose it.

To Thumper: "Peace, brother; didn't mean nothing by it. Just seemed funny at the time. Trying to lighten the mood. You got dibs on jokes about my mom - probably ain't nothing you can say that ain't partly true."

15:11:36 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion

Legion takes a lungful of smoke from his cigarette, more or less resisting the temptation to roll his eyes at Alexis and her complete failure to grasp his sarcasm.

Too much burn, probably. Makes you stupid.

"I speak for the October Ravens now. Everything that involves me, involves them. The Hammerpack is gone. But what I have to say actually applies more to you. I've got word from the underground that the ghouls aren't satisfied with what they pulled off the streets in the past couple of days. They're on the warpath, moving into the old Locos turf. Which means in a week or two they'll be knocking on your door. That's the free stuff. If you want the good stuff, though, it's going to cost."

Legion took a last drag from his cigarette before flicking the butt away into the gutter.

15:12:18 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Ink, Felix, Baby

Crowbar grins. “No wonder that’s the free stuff, cause it ain’t worth the shit I didn’t pay for it. I thought you had something important to talk to me about big man, you coming down here yourself and all. We hear that shit all the time, ‘Ooh, the ghouls are coming, the ghouls are coming!’ They ain’t comin’ this far north. They don’t want the heat that’d bring from everyone in Kingsgate, yourselves included. Nah, they’ll clear out the LoCoS turf of whatever they want, then retreat back to their hole. Same as always. ‘Sides, they don’t care about no fuckin’ concrete buildings, they just care about the soft squishy meals inside ‘em.�

He hawks flem out of his throat and spits on the street, his voice shifting from ‘relaxed sarcasm’ to ‘focused business’. “OK, so we got the pleasantries out of the way. Before I pay you shit, tell me what you want, and gimme a hint as to why what you know is so fucking worthwhile that you’d come all the way down here yourself to talk me into paying for it.�

14:42:00, Sunday, November 2nd - Deeper in My World, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Grack

Walk.

Wade.

Walk.

Climb.

Don't look back.

Nearest working main.

Point.

Sit.

Take out food bar.

Need meat.

15:12:47 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion

If it were possible, Legion's smile went even colder.

"I wouldn't have thought that I would have to explain the combat math to you, but I guess that's why I decided to deliver these details in person. Just in case you thought we weren't serious. Wake up. This isn't status quo anymore, Bob. The 162's don't recruit, they infect. Which means not only are they well fed, they're reinforced. They've got the manpower now to take and hold territory. They've got the manpower to put the squeeze on you. And they've got more mouths to feed. Think about it. But if you're not interested in what I have to say, then I won't bother you with anything else. I have business with Father Ron, though. Or, at least, some of my flock do. May we pass through?"

15:13:36 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Ink, Felix, Baby

Crowbar's smile never falters, it stays like it's plastered onto his face. What he actually means by it is entirely up for interpretation, but that's an entirely different story.

"Thanks for the math lesson Legion, I would have been lost without you teaching me to add. 'Course, if you'd stop jerking off to the sound of your own voice long enough to listen to someone else, you'd have heard what I said, but maybe I need to spell it out for you. So let's try this again."

"I know they infect. I know there's a good chance there's more of them now than there were before. If they were just a feral pack of ghouls, I might be worried. But they aren't. They got some o' them smart ghouls running the show, and them ghouls are smart enough to know that if their reach gets too big, the rest of Kingsgate, maybe even the Star, might decide it's in no one's best interest to have an army of fuckin' ghouls running the show, even in a hellhole like this."

"So just cause they can take and hold territory doesn't mean they will, because in the long run, their biz is dead guys, and it don't matter how much territory they do or don't have, there'll always be more than enough dead guys for 'em to do their thing."

Grasping his namesake crowbar in his right hand, he slowly lets it fall off his shoulders until the curved part touches the street. Stretching his hands out wide and gesturing broadly, he adds, "But never let it be said that I'm a close-minded guy. You came all this way down to talk to me, least I can do is listen. So fine, let's say I believe your warnings of ghoulish doom. What's your pitch? What did you come down here to offer?"

14:42:07, Sunday, November 2nd - Deeper in the sewers, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar

Follow Grack for a little ways. Seems like a long ass-way, but I'm trying as hard as I can to track the main line from the building, and in terms of actual distance moved down the pipe it isn't very far. The service ledges aren't uniform throughout, and I damn near puke my guts out the instant I wade into the filthy water after him. Thank god I don't have any open wounds on my legs and hips, but I'm still taking the mother of all showers once we get the water going. Still have to clip the assault rifle across the top of my back to the other eapaulette on my jacket and move my Predator up to a higher pocket, to keep them clean.

Get to the intersection f a major tunnel with my own. I'm seeing why Grack wades in so flippantly, my back, shoulders, and neck hurt from constantly crouching. Grack points to a pipe running across the roof of the major tunnel, sits down, and amazingly pulls something out of his pocket to eat...

I compose myself for a second. Pretend to be looking knowingly at the tangle of pipes running across the ceiling and the pipe running to my building, but I'm really just trying to clear the thoughts of what's in the water slurping around me out of my head. I fold up my jacket and put it on a ledge, as clean and dry as I can get, and lay my guns on top of it. Without the jacket, the slivergun sheathed to my forearm is visible, but we're past that point.

Get back up, and ask Grack - "Where do you normally get water from that thing? There some sort of valve around here?"

15:13:36 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion

Legion successfully resisted the urge to laugh maniacally.

"Really, Bob? The rest of Kingsgate? You mean what's left after we've torn ourselves to pieces? The scattered, suspicious, wounded survivors of the war? We're going to band together to stomp out the ghouls? Or the Star? Seriously? The Star? When was the last time you saw a beat cop in Kingsgate, Bob? Who's going to tell them? You? You think that those corporate goons give a rats ass about what happens here in Kingsgate? If the ghouls start poaching down across the river into Bellvue, then I'd expect to see the Citymasters roll in here and napalm start flowing. But until that time, they're more than happy to let the infected feed on the gutter rats and to sit back and await the inevitable. We've always been left to our own devices here in the urban jungle. So here's the offer. When you start losing lookouts at night, when your runners don't come back from their drops, and when you start being afraid to roll out at night, we'll help you cull the ghouls down to a manageable infestation. You keep your troops out of Raven's territory, and we'll be there to back you when the 162's come calling. And they will, Bob. They've already consumed one gang in this war. You're right, they're lead by some of them smart ones. Which means that they're always looking for an edge, always running the numbers. And when the numbers work out, they're going to figure that not even all of us together will be able to stop them. And when that day comes, you willing to bet it all on just what you've got with you?"

Legion gestured to the other Plaguers.

"Or would you want to have more of Kingsgate standing with you? I'm not asking you to give up anything you've got already, this won't cost you money, or manpower, or territory. I'm just asking you to respect what's mine. Keep your troops on your side of the streets, and I'll help keep the ghouls from eating the Plague alive."

15:13:50 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Ink

Ink had stayed quiet through most of Legion and Crowbar's conversation, but now el hefe was going to let them live?! No action at all against the Plague for any of his homies? NO payback at all?! This was not sitting well with him. Not sitting well at all. He started patting his lean stomach muscles in a narco corriedo rythm, all the while silently grinding his teeth. Hefe jou think jou bad but the Plague has got to, got to, pay, and I'm thinkin' that maybe I'm going to have do it all by my lonesome.

15:05:15 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - 124th Avenue NE, Between 141st Way and 141st Place
Twiggs and Rico

Twiggs walks into the Plastic Sushi, nodding recognition toward the two movers before eying the machine bank on the far wall. The Human smirks and says, "Hoy, look here, ya following us or what?" The Orc grunts and remarks, "Little rat, looking for a crumb o cheese mate, knew it when we seed em earlier, he's loike all em down these parts."
Twiggs walks over to the, window side, table, and answers the Ork, "Hey, don't hurt yerself putin together whole sentences like that." Turning to the Human he continues, "Hoy, chummer! Just trollin the hood, ya know? After all, is my hood, ya know? You guys wouldn't be lookin for some, well some compny? I mean, I know this guy down here, they call em tha' Big Sheik, and has he got some gems, ya know?"
Pulling up a seat next to the two movers, Twiggs makes a motion to call them in closer, so that he can whisper, and to get them in closer, for the grab.

17:00:16 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Evergreen Heights
Aziz

Aziz brought the girls to around Evergreen Heights, giving them a similar speech about staying together and such, and then leaned against a wall, lighting himself a cigarette as he waits for whatever decides to come to him.

15:13:59 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion, Shade, Ink, Felix, Baby

Crowbar is silent for a while, sizing up Legion after listening to his pitch. Finally he smiles, a distinctly predatory smile that reminds one of the cat who swallowed the canary.

“That’s all you want Legion? I stay on my side of the street and you stay on yours?� He laughs loudly, as if at some private joke only he knows. After composing himself, he nods once, curtly.

“Deal.�

Turning to one of the random street urchins huddled in a doorway, he barks, “You. Run to the church and get Father Ron. Now!�

Immediately the kid scrambles off, and Crowbar turns back to Legion. “Anything you have to say to Father Ron you can say to me. And since we’re all friends here now, I’ll even do you a favor and have him brought here. No point making you walk more than you have to, right?� Again with the smile, dripping with false sincerity.

15:31:16, Sunday, November 02 2070 - Deeper in the sewers, Just south of Kirkland City Park, between 128th Ave NE and NE 142nd Ln
Bockscar, Grack

Wordlessly, Grack pointed at the water main again, down a little ways towards what was probably a valve of some type. Now just a rusted and broken hunk of metal, it was clearly not going to be of much help in its present condition. Still, it was the right place (at least according to the gang’s resident sewer dweller), and that was a start.

Carefully examining the broken valve for some time, Bockscar tried to figure out if it was beyond fixing, and if not, what he needed to make it usable again.

Just as he thought he was done, Grack spoke.

“Broken.�

“Need tools.�

No fragging drek was the first thing that leapt to Bockscar’s mind, but before he could go any farther with that thought, the other ork rattled off a quick list of tools and parts that would be needed to fix the problem with surprising adroitness. Clearly, the dude knew something about sewer mechanics. Then again, looking at how obviously at home he was down here, was that any surprise?

15:10:19 Sunday, 02 November 2070 – Plastic Sushi – 124th Avenue NE, Between 141st Way and 141st Place
Twiggs and Rico

As Twiggs moves in closer to the pair, the Ork boxes him across the ears. “’Ey there ya little brat, watch yer mouth fore it gets ya in trouble.�

The Human laughs as Twiggs cringes overdramatically for maximum effect, to put them off their guard. “C’mon there mate, don’t get violent, eh? Jus’ tryin’ to put ya on to a sweet deal, ya know? Ain’t meanin’ no harm,� he says in a wheedling tone, as he slides closer to them.

The Ork snorts. “Right, out a the goodness of yer bloody heart, no doubt. What’s in it for you, ya little punk?�

“Well…� Twiggs lets it hang in the air as he looks suggestively at the food on their plates, at the same time reaching forward slowly with his hand, as if to take something off their plates. While their attention is on that hand, he stealthily moves his other hand under the table towards the keys in the Human’s pocket.

The Human doesn’t seem to notice as he draws his plate back teasingly, waving a finger. “Ah ah ah. You want food, you better cough up a little more than just ‘you know a guy’. Cause don’t we all?�

While the Human was oblivious to what his real game was, unfortunately the Ork was sharper than he looked. Quickly his hand darts out and grabs Twiggs’s other hand and slams it on the table. “And where do we think we’re goin’ with this, eh buddy?�

Their expressions suddenly turn mean, and the air gets tense in a hurry as they glower menacingly at Twiggs.

Outside, Rico sees the Ork grab his partner and the two lean in on his fellow ganger. As he debates what to do, a chill wind rips through the air. It’s getting colder outside.

15:14:17 Sunday, 02 November 2070 - Traveling through Black Plague Turf: Intersection of 129th Pl NE & NE 136th Pl
Legion

Legion blew a stream of smoke out of the corner of his mouth and shook his head.

"Not to put a damper on this alliance before it even gets started, but just because there's neutrality between us doesn't mean I'm going to let you sit in on my private confession to Father Ron. Besides, I'd much rather talk to him inside the church, where at least there's a place to sit down. I'll pass along your greetings, though."

Legion dips his head in salute before stepping forward towards the church.