Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:43 PM, Tower in Redmond
"Sure. No Problem. I should say though that I am not the least perceptive person in the world. And yes I want to live forever" Jade Tiger follows behind Zo.
Full Version: IC: Post or Die
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Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Mall in Redmond
Oswald digs up an old directory that shows a service hall leading to some loading bays. It should have two bays for tractor trailers. It's a pretty short walk to the doors, between a kids clothing store and a sporting goods shop. Zo checks them, and they swing open, unlocked. It's a long, dark, narrow hall, with multiple doors to either side. Not the most defensible path, but no sign of anything so far.
Oswald digs up an old directory that shows a service hall leading to some loading bays. It should have two bays for tractor trailers. It's a pretty short walk to the doors, between a kids clothing store and a sporting goods shop. Zo checks them, and they swing open, unlocked. It's a long, dark, narrow hall, with multiple doors to either side. Not the most defensible path, but no sign of anything so far.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger follows just behind Zo, sniffing, peering and searching the astral as she goes.
<<This might be a good place to come back to with a lorry. I have contacts who can shift this stuff, and for a nights work we should be able to shift a fair packet>>
Jade Tiger follows just behind Zo, sniffing, peering and searching the astral as she goes.
<<This might be a good place to come back to with a lorry. I have contacts who can shift this stuff, and for a nights work we should be able to shift a fair packet>>
Zo scans the hallway slowly with his AK raised, using the ulrasound sight in addition to his normal senses. He flips through the thermal and lowlight as well. Not noticing any trip wires, monowire or other traps Zo moves slowly down the hall.
<@team>Hallway clear, cover the doors--I'd hate ta hav any suprize visitors.
<@team>Hallway clear, cover the doors--I'd hate ta hav any suprize visitors.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall, Redmond
Trailing behind Zo and Jade, Ferrer switches his attention to the doors on the left. Unlike the ork and the tiger, he only has his natural dwarven vision to help him. While he had no qualms about getting the commlink and other cyber installed in his head, he had been strangely squeamish about replacing his meat eyes with cyber ones.
<<I guess the stuff in here might not be coated with toxic dust. If we find the trucks, we could load some extra stuff into them while we're here.>>
Trailing behind Zo and Jade, Ferrer switches his attention to the doors on the left. Unlike the ork and the tiger, he only has his natural dwarven vision to help him. While he had no qualms about getting the commlink and other cyber installed in his head, he had been strangely squeamish about replacing his meat eyes with cyber ones.
<<I guess the stuff in here might not be coated with toxic dust. If we find the trucks, we could load some extra stuff into them while we're here.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Phoenix Mall, Redmond
The searching is getting tedious on all fronts. The hallway seems to have been undisturbed in years. Jades senses are assaulted by strong chemical odors and mildew. Parts of the left wall are busted through by structural debris. A door lays across the hall and the store it used to belong to is filled with rubble. A slight breeze filters through the concrete from the outside. At the end of the hall is a set of double doors with an old sign reading "loading zone beware of heavy machinery". The door frame is bent and the doors are warped and stuck together. Jade's spirit returns to report,"I see no trace of that signature in the mall, only at the truck and in the street out front"
In the tower, Jovan and the spirit slid from room to room finding little more than shadows. Jovan found his way to the basement where they found astral traces of the battle that Ferret had discovered, but nothing new was really learned from being there. of course, there was a large shadowy bay door leading further underground.
The searching is getting tedious on all fronts. The hallway seems to have been undisturbed in years. Jades senses are assaulted by strong chemical odors and mildew. Parts of the left wall are busted through by structural debris. A door lays across the hall and the store it used to belong to is filled with rubble. A slight breeze filters through the concrete from the outside. At the end of the hall is a set of double doors with an old sign reading "loading zone beware of heavy machinery". The door frame is bent and the doors are warped and stuck together. Jade's spirit returns to report,"I see no trace of that signature in the mall, only at the truck and in the street out front"
In the tower, Jovan and the spirit slid from room to room finding little more than shadows. Jovan found his way to the basement where they found astral traces of the battle that Ferret had discovered, but nothing new was really learned from being there. of course, there was a large shadowy bay door leading further underground.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Tower in Redmond
"Well I magically searched for corpses and magical signatures similar to that in the truck. I could find no sign of the astral signature, and found no significant corpses."
"I think it's still worth finding out what happened here"
Jade summons another thought form.
"Well I magically searched for corpses and magical signatures similar to that in the truck. I could find no sign of the astral signature, and found no significant corpses."
"I think it's still worth finding out what happened here"
Jade summons another thought form.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Mall in Redmond
In the rush of info coming in, Professor had forgotten the isolation of Jovan. He moves to catch the astral ear of Jovan's spirit-voice.
Hey, Jovan. You might want to take note that there has been some kind of ghoul conflict down here. It may be worth checking out, seeing as you seem to know about some of their workings in this area.
In the rush of info coming in, Professor had forgotten the isolation of Jovan. He moves to catch the astral ear of Jovan's spirit-voice.
Hey, Jovan. You might want to take note that there has been some kind of ghoul conflict down here. It may be worth checking out, seeing as you seem to know about some of their workings in this area.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
"In the tower? Interesting. I have not seen such a thing quite yet, but I will be reaching the bottom levels within a minute or two. I will look into it once I find it. It is peculiar, though... there's nothing here. Nothing. This is the site of the chemical disaster itself, yet we have not met so much as a single Toxic spirit so far. The entire tower is so... empty."
"In the tower? Interesting. I have not seen such a thing quite yet, but I will be reaching the bottom levels within a minute or two. I will look into it once I find it. It is peculiar, though... there's nothing here. Nothing. This is the site of the chemical disaster itself, yet we have not met so much as a single Toxic spirit so far. The entire tower is so... empty."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
"Interesting point, Jovan."
"Interesting point, Jovan."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Zo moves towards the end of the hall. Once he reaches it he examines the area. "Prof-dis area looks like it might collapse, Is it going ta in the next five minutes if I open da door? Also could one of ya pop in ta the astral an check to see if dere is another ambush watin for us?"
Zo moves towards the end of the hall. Once he reaches it he examines the area. "Prof-dis area looks like it might collapse, Is it going ta in the next five minutes if I open da door? Also could one of ya pop in ta the astral an check to see if dere is another ambush watin for us?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
"The building looks OK to me. I won't be able to check astrally on the other side of the wall till I can go there."
"The building looks OK to me. I won't be able to check astrally on the other side of the wall till I can go there."
Friday Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Cross-Town Tower (unlike everyone else), Redmond
Well, Jovan thought to himself as the two perused the astral scene in the basement, Professor's timing was rather fortuitous, I must admit. Doesn't look like the correct amount of emotional trace for a full-scale metahuman battle, though... which means that the ghouls must have been fighting automated defenses, because automated systems give off no emotional traces. And the ghouls likely moved through that door, irrelevant of whether it was by way of entrance or exit.
Very well, elemental. This bay door is awfully inviting, and may hold the information we are seeking from this building - which obviously means it must be some sort of trap. Therefore, I would like you to be several hundred meters in front of me while we explore this route. This is firstly because I want anyone who assenses me to do so on my terms, not theirs, and secondly because in the event of some sort of trap being sprung in the passageway, you can travel back here through the metaplanes; I cannot. Is this acceptable, spirit?
Well, Jovan thought to himself as the two perused the astral scene in the basement, Professor's timing was rather fortuitous, I must admit. Doesn't look like the correct amount of emotional trace for a full-scale metahuman battle, though... which means that the ghouls must have been fighting automated defenses, because automated systems give off no emotional traces. And the ghouls likely moved through that door, irrelevant of whether it was by way of entrance or exit.
Very well, elemental. This bay door is awfully inviting, and may hold the information we are seeking from this building - which obviously means it must be some sort of trap. Therefore, I would like you to be several hundred meters in front of me while we explore this route. This is firstly because I want anyone who assenses me to do so on my terms, not theirs, and secondly because in the event of some sort of trap being sprung in the passageway, you can travel back here through the metaplanes; I cannot. Is this acceptable, spirit?
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: You folks find anything yet? This girl is passsed the hell out. Must have been awake for days.>>
<<@team: You folks find anything yet? This girl is passsed the hell out. Must have been awake for days.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<Nothing so far. It looks empty. I didn't tell you before but my magical search for bodies and wierd chaotic astral auras turned up nothing. I smell no spoor of ghouls at the moment. I suggest we look for a little while longer then head out.
If this is a bust, do we know where else to go to to look for this box?>>
<<Nothing so far. It looks empty. I didn't tell you before but my magical search for bodies and wierd chaotic astral auras turned up nothing. I smell no spoor of ghouls at the moment. I suggest we look for a little while longer then head out.
If this is a bust, do we know where else to go to to look for this box?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Tower in Redmond
"I see no flaws in that logic, but going under ground will be quite confining, even in the Astral world" The spirit drifts ahead through the shadowy door with Jovan behind. The tunnel is about five meters square, and descends about 200 meters before it tees to the right and left. The towers seem to be connected by underground tunnels, and possibly other buildings too. The glow of the earth dimly shines through thick steel and concrete. The emotional traces in the tower have dwindled, and the traces of blood have lost their light. The spirit looks in both directions and then to Jovan,"It's hard to say, but I think the ghouls went to the left. I'm also starting to see the attraction for them to live here, what with there penchant for sewer dwelling "
"I see no flaws in that logic, but going under ground will be quite confining, even in the Astral world" The spirit drifts ahead through the shadowy door with Jovan behind. The tunnel is about five meters square, and descends about 200 meters before it tees to the right and left. The towers seem to be connected by underground tunnels, and possibly other buildings too. The glow of the earth dimly shines through thick steel and concrete. The emotional traces in the tower have dwindled, and the traces of blood have lost their light. The spirit looks in both directions and then to Jovan,"It's hard to say, but I think the ghouls went to the left. I'm also starting to see the attraction for them to live here, what with there penchant for sewer dwelling "
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:49 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Zo shoots Prof a sardonic grin. "Slotting good news for once eh Prof? Don't wanna sqiushed trog... or bleeder. Didn't want squished keebler either, but too late for dat though."
Zo shoots Prof a sardonic grin. "Slotting good news for once eh Prof? Don't wanna sqiushed trog... or bleeder. Didn't want squished keebler either, but too late for dat though."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Professor shakes his head at Zo's humour. When in Rome... "Yeah, we came up a little short on that."
Professor shakes his head at Zo's humour. When in Rome... "Yeah, we came up a little short on that."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger kicks open the door to the next area, then moves sidesways to avoid any incoming hassle.
"I so love room clearing. Stress, Tension and no real idea whats on the other side of the door." she mutters to herself.
Jade Tiger kicks open the door to the next area, then moves sidesways to avoid any incoming hassle.
"I so love room clearing. Stress, Tension and no real idea whats on the other side of the door." she mutters to herself.
QUOTE (Red-ROM @ Jun 10 2011, 03:19 AM) 
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Phoenix Mall, Redmond
The searching is getting tedious on all fronts...
The searching is getting tedious on all fronts...
It's been whole seconds since anything happened and Ferret is getting bored. This is as bad as Dungeon Crawl 12, just potentially more deadly.
He pulls up an AR window and sets his Browse program to let him know if it detects any active or passive nodes, figuring that anything with wireless is not part of the original infrastruture. A second window displays his music playlists and chooses his 'Creepy' list, then thinks better of it and selects the 'Action' one instead.
While he misses having access to the matrix, it does al least mean there are no distracting whispers or strange crystal structures floating at the edges of his vision.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:52 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Zo reacts to Jades impulsiveness by moving quickly to the wall closest to the door. Zo sticks his rifle in the door way, using his rifle's sight and scans around the corner expecting trouble.
Looking at Jade,"Little warnin next time! Don't know about ya, but I'd sooner not take a full bust o gun fire ta my face."
Zo reacts to Jades impulsiveness by moving quickly to the wall closest to the door. Zo sticks his rifle in the door way, using his rifle's sight and scans around the corner expecting trouble.
Looking at Jade,"Little warnin next time! Don't know about ya, but I'd sooner not take a full bust o gun fire ta my face."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
The door scraped open with a loud and echoing whine. Zo scoped out the area ahead. The outer wall was half crumbled. a large desk was standing on end next to a forklift crushed flat by a block of concrete. The ind slipped through pushing dust and small bugs. What was left of the dock was about ten meters of open space and one bay door for a tailer to back up to. The bay door was open and there was no truck to be found.
As the team made their way into the space to figure out their next move. The sound of a truck sprang up in the distance. It was hard to say who noticed first. Probably the blimp's radar. But it wasn't being stealthy. Across the mall parking lot a large bus could be seen driving a street back, behind a row of small buildings.
The door scraped open with a loud and echoing whine. Zo scoped out the area ahead. The outer wall was half crumbled. a large desk was standing on end next to a forklift crushed flat by a block of concrete. The ind slipped through pushing dust and small bugs. What was left of the dock was about ten meters of open space and one bay door for a tailer to back up to. The bay door was open and there was no truck to be found.
As the team made their way into the space to figure out their next move. The sound of a truck sprang up in the distance. It was hard to say who noticed first. Probably the blimp's radar. But it wasn't being stealthy. Across the mall parking lot a large bus could be seen driving a street back, behind a row of small buildings.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
The rumbling of the bus draws Ferret back to reality.
"What the frag! We got incoming. Oz, you got a lock on that from the blimp?" exclaims the shocked dwarf.
"I just hope to hell that isn't a bus fulla' ghouls!"
Minimizing AR windows to reduce distractions, he brings up his machine pistol in a two-handed grip. As he does so, he mentally flicks off the safety and sets it to burst fire mode.
The rumbling of the bus draws Ferret back to reality.
"What the frag! We got incoming. Oz, you got a lock on that from the blimp?" exclaims the shocked dwarf.
"I just hope to hell that isn't a bus fulla' ghouls!"
Minimizing AR windows to reduce distractions, he brings up his machine pistol in a two-handed grip. As he does so, he mentally flicks off the safety and sets it to burst fire mode.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Zo looks at ferret. "Oz, any corp markings on that bus.....could you zoom in on it? Also, is da lady carry'n a bio monitor that may be signalling to Ares or who ever? Just a paranoid thought of mine...."
Zo looks at ferret. "Oz, any corp markings on that bus.....could you zoom in on it? Also, is da lady carry'n a bio monitor that may be signalling to Ares or who ever? Just a paranoid thought of mine...."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Jade Tiger nods to Zo. "Fair point. Sorry", while moving to take cover from any incoming fire from either snipers or the bus.
Using her magically and technologically enhanced senses she sweeps the area looking for incoming astral or physical forms.
Jade Tiger nods to Zo. "Fair point. Sorry", while moving to take cover from any incoming fire from either snipers or the bus.
Using her magically and technologically enhanced senses she sweeps the area looking for incoming astral or physical forms.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Beneath the Tower in Redmond
Indeed. This makes more sense as a habitat for them than the surface, with all the traps and poisons laying about. It still doesn't explain why they would stay here when the food source is limited, though. Anyway, let's go to the left then.
Indeed. This makes more sense as a habitat for them than the surface, with all the traps and poisons laying about. It still doesn't explain why they would stay here when the food source is limited, though. Anyway, let's go to the left then.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM,
The blimp quietly observes the bus. Radar puts it at 35 miles an hour. The windows are mostly missing and boarded up with scrap metal and cloth. No company markings. The only glass left is the windshield and windows at the front, all heavily tinted. It's current course is east, passing the mall. It could be heading for the Tower, but if it is, it's not taking the most direct approach.
The woman in the mall with Oswald suddenly rolls up on a shoulder, trembling and weak. She looks at the old man that seemed to float over her in her bleary vision, "who are you?" she rasps, barely above a whisper.
Jovan follows his elemental a few hundred meters down an empty highway in a man maid vein inside the Earth. The spirit stopped short, about a stone's throw from a flickering light. Ahead was an astral fire of awakened life. Over a dozen infected beings and a couple more of those dogs clogged the hall. There seemed to be a scuffle in the ranks. Jovan was pretty sure, with the tough hunting conditions, that it was cannibalism in action. Only this was somewhat more controlled. It was limited to a small number, and the larger group was just observing, especially the dogs. The spirit didn't turn. He just thought to Jovan,"Now what?"
If this was not enough, Jovan had another spirit voice in his mind. The watcher by the rover, "The human has left the van what shall I do?"
The blimp quietly observes the bus. Radar puts it at 35 miles an hour. The windows are mostly missing and boarded up with scrap metal and cloth. No company markings. The only glass left is the windshield and windows at the front, all heavily tinted. It's current course is east, passing the mall. It could be heading for the Tower, but if it is, it's not taking the most direct approach.
The woman in the mall with Oswald suddenly rolls up on a shoulder, trembling and weak. She looks at the old man that seemed to float over her in her bleary vision, "who are you?" she rasps, barely above a whisper.
Jovan follows his elemental a few hundred meters down an empty highway in a man maid vein inside the Earth. The spirit stopped short, about a stone's throw from a flickering light. Ahead was an astral fire of awakened life. Over a dozen infected beings and a couple more of those dogs clogged the hall. There seemed to be a scuffle in the ranks. Jovan was pretty sure, with the tough hunting conditions, that it was cannibalism in action. Only this was somewhat more controlled. It was limited to a small number, and the larger group was just observing, especially the dogs. The spirit didn't turn. He just thought to Jovan,"Now what?"
If this was not enough, Jovan had another spirit voice in his mind. The watcher by the rover, "The human has left the van what shall I do?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM
Jovan retreated backwards instinctively at the sight of the mass of Infected, to better hide his astral form from their prying Eyes. But when he heard the news from the watcher back by his body, his metaphorical spiritual Eyes widened and he became very still. "One moment please, spirit," he thought to the elemental. "I have a possible false alarm to address."
He focused the majority of his concentration on communicating with the watcher, largely in an effort to keep his inherent paranoia from surging out of control. He thought to the watcher very slowly and carefully, keeping his Voice as controlled and level as possible, Follow him, obviously. While you're at it, I would like you to explain to me how a normal human who was bound in a hogtie was able to escape said hogtie while subsequently remaining conscious after the vehicle's security systems - which I believe were turned on before my departure - delivered to him an electric shock, the first of which knocked him straight into unconsciousness the last time he tried to escape the vehicle. Please explain. Such a thing should not be possible save in unusual circumstances, which are usually very worrisome for me. Is there some sort of intruder present?
My apologies for that, he thought to the elemental once he was done speaking to the watcher. You're a better assenser than I. Can you tell me whether any of them are sentient, or at least semi-sentient in their current medical condition? Do they all look to be stricken with the same strain of the disease?
Offhandedly, he thought to himself, Come on, Zayne. Where are you?
Jovan retreated backwards instinctively at the sight of the mass of Infected, to better hide his astral form from their prying Eyes. But when he heard the news from the watcher back by his body, his metaphorical spiritual Eyes widened and he became very still. "One moment please, spirit," he thought to the elemental. "I have a possible false alarm to address."
He focused the majority of his concentration on communicating with the watcher, largely in an effort to keep his inherent paranoia from surging out of control. He thought to the watcher very slowly and carefully, keeping his Voice as controlled and level as possible, Follow him, obviously. While you're at it, I would like you to explain to me how a normal human who was bound in a hogtie was able to escape said hogtie while subsequently remaining conscious after the vehicle's security systems - which I believe were turned on before my departure - delivered to him an electric shock, the first of which knocked him straight into unconsciousness the last time he tried to escape the vehicle. Please explain. Such a thing should not be possible save in unusual circumstances, which are usually very worrisome for me. Is there some sort of intruder present?
My apologies for that, he thought to the elemental once he was done speaking to the watcher. You're a better assenser than I. Can you tell me whether any of them are sentient, or at least semi-sentient in their current medical condition? Do they all look to be stricken with the same strain of the disease?
Offhandedly, he thought to himself, Come on, Zayne. Where are you?
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
"I'm Dr. Spaceman. Don't try to talk yet. Just work your jaw and tongue for a moment while you drink. It should help get you salivating properly. You'd be surprised just how important that is. Once you're ready though, I'll take your name and rank. We can work up from there."
<<@team: Lady's awake. Barely. Any of you pleasant fuckers want to talk to her?>>
"I'm Dr. Spaceman. Don't try to talk yet. Just work your jaw and tongue for a moment while you drink. It should help get you salivating properly. You'd be surprised just how important that is. Once you're ready though, I'll take your name and rank. We can work up from there."
<<@team: Lady's awake. Barely. Any of you pleasant fuckers want to talk to her?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Professor here. I'll be right there, Oswald.>>
Professor heads back to the 'first-aid station'. He kneels down beside the woman and smiles at her. "I'm glad to see you are feeling better, ma'am. There are no threats in the vicinity at the moment, but you were in some deep drek a few minutes ago. Some kind of spirit was feeding off of you, and by the looks of things, there was a battle here before that. We'll be happy to keep things safe here. Can you tell us what happened to you?"
<<@team: Professor here. I'll be right there, Oswald.>>
Professor heads back to the 'first-aid station'. He kneels down beside the woman and smiles at her. "I'm glad to see you are feeling better, ma'am. There are no threats in the vicinity at the moment, but you were in some deep drek a few minutes ago. Some kind of spirit was feeding off of you, and by the looks of things, there was a battle here before that. We'll be happy to keep things safe here. Can you tell us what happened to you?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Oz--keep that feed on da bus going. If dey starts headin into da tower could ya shoot the engine block?>>
<<@team: Oz--keep that feed on da bus going. If dey starts headin into da tower could ya shoot the engine block?>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Acknowledged and affirmative. Might not be a good idea to assume a hostile posture without information though. Think it's meals on wheels or another delivery of ghoulies?>>
"Okay. Hold tight soldier. I just called some backup for us, but we're not out of the woods. Seems we're still tits deep in mad ghouls. A small man in a nice hat will be here shortly to brief you further. Mean time, I've got to manage the air support, so don't move around too much, hmm."
<<@team: Acknowledged and affirmative. Might not be a good idea to assume a hostile posture without information though. Think it's meals on wheels or another delivery of ghoulies?>>
"Okay. Hold tight soldier. I just called some backup for us, but we're not out of the woods. Seems we're still tits deep in mad ghouls. A small man in a nice hat will be here shortly to brief you further. Mean time, I've got to manage the air support, so don't move around too much, hmm."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM,
The ghouls ahead seem temporarily distracted. The watcher seemed to cower from Jovan's words, even at this distance,"The man seemed to toss and turn on the floor, then he was suddenly up and moving. He leaped from the van and is running down the corridor. Wait, he has stopped at the big door."
The air elemental gazed toward the crowd of ghouls,"There are many different signatures in their auras, the viruses are similar, but not all related. The intelligence is harder to judge. Most seem feral. One or two may be capable of dull conversations. I think this would be a blood bath if those dogs weren't there."
The woman in the mall took in the old man, and now the dwarf. Even in her fragile state her eyes were steady and calculating,"Well, I didn't get much of a police answer there, so I'll assume you guys aren't with Ares or Lonestar. And I'm not dead, so I'll also bet you're not with the ghoul crew." She pauses as her brain picks through what Professor just said,"Did you say a spirit was feeding off me?"
Her brown eyes looked off for a moment,"I guess that explains some shit. I was in the zone, doing what I was trained to do behind enemy lines, then I just started to fall apart. Everything just seemed hopeless. I was certain I wouldn't last a minute if I tried to leave this shit hole."
She wiped her sandy hair from her face as she got back to the dwarf's question,"Yeah, I was heading to meet up with some colleagues, when a ghostly looking shape, like a giant playing card appeared in front of the truck. It was like running up on a car. Next thing I know I'm sliding sideways through the doors there, and ghouls are tearing across the street like bug worshipers. I fought my way back to a defend-able location. Hey you guys didn't find a skinny kid with black hair did you?"
Meanwhile, the bus made it's way past the Tower, heading towards a large warehouse down the street.
The ghouls ahead seem temporarily distracted. The watcher seemed to cower from Jovan's words, even at this distance,"The man seemed to toss and turn on the floor, then he was suddenly up and moving. He leaped from the van and is running down the corridor. Wait, he has stopped at the big door."
The air elemental gazed toward the crowd of ghouls,"There are many different signatures in their auras, the viruses are similar, but not all related. The intelligence is harder to judge. Most seem feral. One or two may be capable of dull conversations. I think this would be a blood bath if those dogs weren't there."
The woman in the mall took in the old man, and now the dwarf. Even in her fragile state her eyes were steady and calculating,"Well, I didn't get much of a police answer there, so I'll assume you guys aren't with Ares or Lonestar. And I'm not dead, so I'll also bet you're not with the ghoul crew." She pauses as her brain picks through what Professor just said,"Did you say a spirit was feeding off me?"
Her brown eyes looked off for a moment,"I guess that explains some shit. I was in the zone, doing what I was trained to do behind enemy lines, then I just started to fall apart. Everything just seemed hopeless. I was certain I wouldn't last a minute if I tried to leave this shit hole."
She wiped her sandy hair from her face as she got back to the dwarf's question,"Yeah, I was heading to meet up with some colleagues, when a ghostly looking shape, like a giant playing card appeared in front of the truck. It was like running up on a car. Next thing I know I'm sliding sideways through the doors there, and ghouls are tearing across the street like bug worshipers. I fought my way back to a defend-able location. Hey you guys didn't find a skinny kid with black hair did you?"
Meanwhile, the bus made it's way past the Tower, heading towards a large warehouse down the street.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<@Team>Oz...Meals on wheelz? Seriously---that us in ghoul territory. An if they iz ghouls, we is in trouble....>
<@Team>Oz...Meals on wheelz? Seriously---that us in ghoul territory. An if they iz ghouls, we is in trouble....>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Both Underground and at the Phoenix Mall in Redmond
No no no, this is unacceptable. It is too early. It is too early! Viper 5 must not escape. It will cause too many complications, too many dangers. I will fill your head with hours of torture for this, human! No, no... patience. Patience, Jovan. You have all the time in the world - he doesn't. None of them do. Ha! 'How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?'
He thought again to his watcher, this time more quickly, "Manifest in his face and obscure his vision. Scream in his ear, sing painfully off-key, take the form of a lewd pornographic image, I do not care, but do everything in your power to distract and delay him. Now, if not sooner. Understand?"
Meanwhile, in roughly the same second or two, the heretofore lazily floating eyeball at the overturned truck suddenly snapped to rapt attention as it received more communication from its summoner. "'While you here do snoring lie, open-eyed conspiracy his time doth take!'" The eye spun around in place to bring itself to eye level with the sitting medical expert. "Oswald, the prisoner has escaped the vehicle. I do not know how. Please run him over. Trap him under your wheels and break his legs if you like, but it's important that he be kept from escaping."
No no no, this is unacceptable. It is too early. It is too early! Viper 5 must not escape. It will cause too many complications, too many dangers. I will fill your head with hours of torture for this, human! No, no... patience. Patience, Jovan. You have all the time in the world - he doesn't. None of them do. Ha! 'How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?'
He thought again to his watcher, this time more quickly, "Manifest in his face and obscure his vision. Scream in his ear, sing painfully off-key, take the form of a lewd pornographic image, I do not care, but do everything in your power to distract and delay him. Now, if not sooner. Understand?"
Meanwhile, in roughly the same second or two, the heretofore lazily floating eyeball at the overturned truck suddenly snapped to rapt attention as it received more communication from its summoner. "'While you here do snoring lie, open-eyed conspiracy his time doth take!'" The eye spun around in place to bring itself to eye level with the sitting medical expert. "Oswald, the prisoner has escaped the vehicle. I do not know how. Please run him over. Trap him under your wheels and break his legs if you like, but it's important that he be kept from escaping."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Meals on wheels being a busload of corpses. Case you didn't notice, this place doesn't exactly have people around for a ghoul to eat.>>
Oz turned to the floating eye and addressed it.
"What? He got out? There ain't exactly a nice way to run a guy over with a car. I could kill him if you like, but it seems to me like you've got a whole set of better options. Give me the word though, an I'll hunt him down."
<<@team: Meals on wheels being a busload of corpses. Case you didn't notice, this place doesn't exactly have people around for a ghoul to eat.>>
Oz turned to the floating eye and addressed it.
"What? He got out? There ain't exactly a nice way to run a guy over with a car. I could kill him if you like, but it seems to me like you've got a whole set of better options. Give me the word though, an I'll hunt him down."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<[Jade Tiger]: Well there is a lot happening elsewhere, and not much in here. Given that I am fairly sure that the things we want to find aren't in here, would we be better deployed in chasing down Viper 5, or perhaps joining Jovan.
Oh and Oz, having an assassin who hates you escape is bad. Running him down with a car is better than him getting away. I vote for the running him down with the car!
As you know I just joined, so the following are 'newbie' questions but: Where do we think the box is? Why are we searching the Mall and the Tower? >>
<<[Jade Tiger]: Well there is a lot happening elsewhere, and not much in here. Given that I am fairly sure that the things we want to find aren't in here, would we be better deployed in chasing down Viper 5, or perhaps joining Jovan.
Oh and Oz, having an assassin who hates you escape is bad. Running him down with a car is better than him getting away. I vote for the running him down with the car!
As you know I just joined, so the following are 'newbie' questions but: Where do we think the box is? Why are we searching the Mall and the Tower? >>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<@Team: Oz, you don't need to run him over if the defence systems are still running. Just bumping into him should put him down and then Rusty can keep an eye on him until we get back.
<<@Rusty: Rusty, our snake is making a break for it. We will attempt to neutralize him but would appreciate if you could keep an eye on him in case he wakes up and tries to run again.>>
"We're looking for two truckloads of military hardware, Jade, not a box. I had hoped to track them down through the matrix using the security cameras but most of them are offline. Based on the info we have, the mall and the tower were the most likely locations for hiding a couple of 18-wheelers."
Ferret lowers his machine pistol and sweeps it in a low arc around the collapsed loading bay.
"But they aren't here, so it looks like ghoul central is our next destination."
<<@Team: Oz, you don't need to run him over if the defence systems are still running. Just bumping into him should put him down and then Rusty can keep an eye on him until we get back.
<<@Rusty: Rusty, our snake is making a break for it. We will attempt to neutralize him but would appreciate if you could keep an eye on him in case he wakes up and tries to run again.>>
"We're looking for two truckloads of military hardware, Jade, not a box. I had hoped to track them down through the matrix using the security cameras but most of them are offline. Based on the info we have, the mall and the tower were the most likely locations for hiding a couple of 18-wheelers."
Ferret lowers his machine pistol and sweeps it in a low arc around the collapsed loading bay.
"But they aren't here, so it looks like ghoul central is our next destination."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Well then send a spirit. Or run your ass after the guy at super speed. I'm just a guy with a sport utility vehicle. He turns down an alley or takes cover and I can't do shit. Jovan can handle this himself if he just puts his ankles in it.>>
Oz continued to address the spirit.
"Seeing as how this guy knows your face, and only your face, I'd think you'd want to handle this personally. Let me know if you want me to drive the car out of there so you've got some privacy, but, honestly, you're already kind of on the scene. I can't do much from here but let you get at him."
<<@team: Well then send a spirit. Or run your ass after the guy at super speed. I'm just a guy with a sport utility vehicle. He turns down an alley or takes cover and I can't do shit. Jovan can handle this himself if he just puts his ankles in it.>>
Oz continued to address the spirit.
"Seeing as how this guy knows your face, and only your face, I'd think you'd want to handle this personally. Let me know if you want me to drive the car out of there so you've got some privacy, but, honestly, you're already kind of on the scene. I can't do much from here but let you get at him."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<[Jade Tiger]: Thanks for the clarification, Oz. I think your second idea is a good one.
Prof / Ferret: what do you think. Shall we "get our asses after the guy at superspeed", or "head for ghoul central". Personally I feel that ghoul central will wait, and escaping assassins have priority. Plus that way I get to hunt something >>
Sheesh Oz is a bit prickly. But correct. Note to self: be careful dealing with Oz thinks Jade Tiger. Focusing her mana and thoughts carefully, Jade Tiger summon's forth another thought form. One of her favourites: the one designed for hunting. It will be useful which ever way they decide.
"Have to say: being with you guy's is challenging. I haven't had to so many nose bleeds in months"
<<[Jade Tiger]: Thanks for the clarification, Oz. I think your second idea is a good one.
Prof / Ferret: what do you think. Shall we "get our asses after the guy at superspeed", or "head for ghoul central". Personally I feel that ghoul central will wait, and escaping assassins have priority. Plus that way I get to hunt something >>
Sheesh Oz is a bit prickly. But correct. Note to self: be careful dealing with Oz thinks Jade Tiger. Focusing her mana and thoughts carefully, Jade Tiger summon's forth another thought form. One of her favourites: the one designed for hunting. It will be useful which ever way they decide.
"Have to say: being with you guy's is challenging. I haven't had to so many nose bleeds in months"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
<<@team: Excellent. Try to keep him alive if you can. He might be armed with a pistol taken off the knocked-out ork who was sharing space with him, but he was already pretty loopy before he took that last jolt, so if he can lift his arms, it'll be quite an accomplishment.>>
Oz took a moment to administer some medical aid and continued.
<<@Jade: By the way, it's good to see someone ready and willing to take action. Before you showed up, I had to blast a damn ghoul immediately after coming out of VR because our new gunner froze up on us. Being left to die like that has still got me in a foul mood, so, don't take anything I say too personally... and don't count too much on the Trog for backup. He is unreliable.>>
<<@team: Excellent. Try to keep him alive if you can. He might be armed with a pistol taken off the knocked-out ork who was sharing space with him, but he was already pretty loopy before he took that last jolt, so if he can lift his arms, it'll be quite an accomplishment.>>
Oz took a moment to administer some medical aid and continued.
<<@Jade: By the way, it's good to see someone ready and willing to take action. Before you showed up, I had to blast a damn ghoul immediately after coming out of VR because our new gunner froze up on us. Being left to die like that has still got me in a foul mood, so, don't take anything I say too personally... and don't count too much on the Trog for backup. He is unreliable.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<Let's put our prisoner back in his box before we go after the ghouls.>> sends Ferret almost immediately.
In fact, let's do anything other than wander into a tower full of ghouls thinks Ferret. He looks up to the where the signal from the blimp indicates it should be. I should get a couple of combat drones, I'm no fighter.
<<Let's put our prisoner back in his box before we go after the ghouls.>> sends Ferret almost immediately.
In fact, let's do anything other than wander into a tower full of ghouls thinks Ferret. He looks up to the where the signal from the blimp indicates it should be. I should get a couple of combat drones, I'm no fighter.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Zo starts heading out of the mall and maneuvering towards the tower. "You all commin?--seem like da party is over there--da one here is dead." Poor sis...eaten by the ghouls. Ghoul rights my ass...time for some payback...you don't let crap like dat live in your hood.
Zo starts heading out of the mall and maneuvering towards the tower. "You all commin?--seem like da party is over there--da one here is dead." Poor sis...eaten by the ghouls. Ghoul rights my ass...time for some payback...you don't let crap like dat live in your hood.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:53 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Professor feels the speed build up in him. Even the slightest movement blurs, and his jacket flutters. Nevertheless, he recognizes where his skills lie.
<<@team: Jade, you and your spirit are admirably suited to hunting. You don't need me. I'll stay here with Oswald and the Ares woman. I think I would best serve by learning more from her.>>
Staying astrally aware to keep an eye out for other nasties, and also to be able to read the woman's emotional state, Professor responds to the woman's comments. "Yes, near as I can tell the spirit fed on something like hopelessness, and seemed to be able to engender it in its victims. Hard not to think of such a thing as evil. I'm glad you are free of it.
"As far as a skinny kid with black hair, no. We haven't seen him. Is he part of your team? We can keep an eye out for him. Listen, I know you have your reasons for being in this place, and your professionalism includes need-to-know as a prime directive, but whatever drek happened here to you and your teammates has probably put an end to your mission.
"We've got our own reasons for heading deeper into this hellhole, and could use any information you have about what's in here. You know, keep us from falling into a pit similar to the one in which we found you."
We saved your ass, lady. How about some payback.
Professor feels the speed build up in him. Even the slightest movement blurs, and his jacket flutters. Nevertheless, he recognizes where his skills lie.
<<@team: Jade, you and your spirit are admirably suited to hunting. You don't need me. I'll stay here with Oswald and the Ares woman. I think I would best serve by learning more from her.>>
Staying astrally aware to keep an eye out for other nasties, and also to be able to read the woman's emotional state, Professor responds to the woman's comments. "Yes, near as I can tell the spirit fed on something like hopelessness, and seemed to be able to engender it in its victims. Hard not to think of such a thing as evil. I'm glad you are free of it.
"As far as a skinny kid with black hair, no. We haven't seen him. Is he part of your team? We can keep an eye out for him. Listen, I know you have your reasons for being in this place, and your professionalism includes need-to-know as a prime directive, but whatever drek happened here to you and your teammates has probably put an end to your mission.
"We've got our own reasons for heading deeper into this hellhole, and could use any information you have about what's in here. You know, keep us from falling into a pit similar to the one in which we found you."
We saved your ass, lady. How about some payback.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
The woman considered her options for a few seconds. She was too weak to keep up the soldier girl image. Her Aura was relaxing into an apathetic mood, like accepting death, or whatever might come next. Professor glanced through all the shadows of machines under her flesh. She was well down the road to being a cyborg. It explained why she wasn't an easy prey for the ghouls. She licked her pail lips and cleared her thought with a small wince of pain,"Skinny kid was a hacker named ZipCode. I'd bet half the take he's ghoul food now. He was a hot shot in the virtual, but nothing but a moving target in the flesh. He was in the truck with me. We were supposed to rendezvous in this ghost town. The rigger had a hideout in this place. I guess shit had already hit the fan by the time we got here. Let me ask you, did the Fat man send you to find us? "
Viper five had pressed himself into the rubble. He had been silent and unseen. At least he thought he had been. He looked at the next obstacle. a noisy garage door between him and the open world. Should he open it and make a break for it? or should he slip back to the vehicles and murder his captors? As he weighed the risks, A ghostly and naked man appeared screaming at him and singing obscene songs. He swung at it once with a knife he scored in the van, but his blow passed right through.
"You can't kill me you dirty whore!" the watcher shouted. The mercenary made up his mind He lifted the garage door and tried to make a break for it.
It was only a minute later that Jade got to the opposite garage door. Rusty had awoken with all the commotion and had no Idea what was happening. He reached for his trusty prod and ran out of his room to where the vehicles were parked. looking at the van, he noticed the door open and the Viper missing. He pulls the commlink that Ferret gave him from his pocket,<< [@Ferret] Hey fellas, the Viper guy just made a break for it, he's out the front door!>>
Zo made his way off the loading dock, into the parking lot. The bus was nearly out of sight, The fading engine sounds leaving nothing but a quiet breeze.
The woman considered her options for a few seconds. She was too weak to keep up the soldier girl image. Her Aura was relaxing into an apathetic mood, like accepting death, or whatever might come next. Professor glanced through all the shadows of machines under her flesh. She was well down the road to being a cyborg. It explained why she wasn't an easy prey for the ghouls. She licked her pail lips and cleared her thought with a small wince of pain,"Skinny kid was a hacker named ZipCode. I'd bet half the take he's ghoul food now. He was a hot shot in the virtual, but nothing but a moving target in the flesh. He was in the truck with me. We were supposed to rendezvous in this ghost town. The rigger had a hideout in this place. I guess shit had already hit the fan by the time we got here. Let me ask you, did the Fat man send you to find us? "
Viper five had pressed himself into the rubble. He had been silent and unseen. At least he thought he had been. He looked at the next obstacle. a noisy garage door between him and the open world. Should he open it and make a break for it? or should he slip back to the vehicles and murder his captors? As he weighed the risks, A ghostly and naked man appeared screaming at him and singing obscene songs. He swung at it once with a knife he scored in the van, but his blow passed right through.
"You can't kill me you dirty whore!" the watcher shouted. The mercenary made up his mind He lifted the garage door and tried to make a break for it.
It was only a minute later that Jade got to the opposite garage door. Rusty had awoken with all the commotion and had no Idea what was happening. He reached for his trusty prod and ran out of his room to where the vehicles were parked. looking at the van, he noticed the door open and the Viper missing. He pulls the commlink that Ferret gave him from his pocket,<< [@Ferret] Hey fellas, the Viper guy just made a break for it, he's out the front door!>>
Zo made his way off the loading dock, into the parking lot. The bus was nearly out of sight, The fading engine sounds leaving nothing but a quiet breeze.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:55 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger arrives at the garage, and sees an unknown person. Her normal form is superimposed with the shamanic mask of her namesake: a large and extremely dangerous looking tiger morphs in and out of her normal shape. Snarling at Rusty she grunts "Which way did he go?". Rusty backs away keeping his prod between him and the crazy scary woman: "th..th..that way".
Jade's magical senses are somewhat suppressed by the thought form, but that is compensated for by the heightened understanding of what the smells mean. She finds the the places where the mercenary had touched the garage, and paused to breath in the essence of the prey. She tastes his fear which triggers all sorts of primeval feelings, feelings that she has learnt how to suppress while walking among the humans.
Following the spoor, the lust for the hunt singing through her body, she follows after Viper 5.
Jade Tiger arrives at the garage, and sees an unknown person. Her normal form is superimposed with the shamanic mask of her namesake: a large and extremely dangerous looking tiger morphs in and out of her normal shape. Snarling at Rusty she grunts "Which way did he go?". Rusty backs away keeping his prod between him and the crazy scary woman: "th..th..that way".
Jade's magical senses are somewhat suppressed by the thought form, but that is compensated for by the heightened understanding of what the smells mean. She finds the the places where the mercenary had touched the garage, and paused to breath in the essence of the prey. She tastes his fear which triggers all sorts of primeval feelings, feelings that she has learnt how to suppress while walking among the humans.
Following the spoor, the lust for the hunt singing through her body, she follows after Viper 5.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Professor notes the change in the woman's attitude. How could anyone endure what that spirit had done, in a place like this, after losing a partner, and not be tempted to succumb to despair?
<<@team: The woman has a partner, a hacker by the name of ZipCode. Could be he is something's lunch by now, but Ferret may come across him in this restricted zone.>>
Her mood may make her informative. Take care to give no more information than necessary.
"No one sent us to find you. We just happened upon you, fortunately. This ... Fat Man... what is he to you?"
Professor notes the change in the woman's attitude. How could anyone endure what that spirit had done, in a place like this, after losing a partner, and not be tempted to succumb to despair?
<<@team: The woman has a partner, a hacker by the name of ZipCode. Could be he is something's lunch by now, but Ferret may come across him in this restricted zone.>>
Her mood may make her informative. Take care to give no more information than necessary.
"No one sent us to find you. We just happened upon you, fortunately. This ... Fat Man... what is he to you?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
The woman had hoped her openness would be met in kind. The dwarf's probing and unenlightening answer was disappointing," Santa clause. I asked for an old man and a dwarf for Christmas last year, and you never showed up. So, you guys come around here often then?"
Outside of Rusty's
Jade's spirit had little trouble spotting the man running down the street being chased by a watcher, who was screaming loudly and lewdly. This was less of a hunt, and more of a mercy killing, if one was to have any mercy.
The streets of Cross-town
Zo marched across an open parking lot. The bus was almost out of sight completely, but he got the sense it was passing the tower. He had a bit of a hike in front of him, and he was also putting some distance between himself and his new team mates.
The woman had hoped her openness would be met in kind. The dwarf's probing and unenlightening answer was disappointing," Santa clause. I asked for an old man and a dwarf for Christmas last year, and you never showed up. So, you guys come around here often then?"
Outside of Rusty's
Jade's spirit had little trouble spotting the man running down the street being chased by a watcher, who was screaming loudly and lewdly. This was less of a hunt, and more of a mercy killing, if one was to have any mercy.
The streets of Cross-town
Zo marched across an open parking lot. The bus was almost out of sight completely, but he got the sense it was passing the tower. He had a bit of a hike in front of him, and he was also putting some distance between himself and his new team mates.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
Professor lets out a lusty laugh at the woman's answer. "I deserved that. No, the Fat Man did not send us to find you.
"OK, look, we're here searching for something I suspect you were searching for, too. I don't see any reason for animosity between us, though. It would be insane for you to try to continue alone in this place, and your connection to your superiors is scrambled.
"There are at least three factions in here trying to find the rigger, and the third faction is an over-the-top mercenary group who don't seem to be thinking straight at the moment. A lone competitor will be short work for them.
"How about we make a deal? We dragged that spirit off your case and patched you up. You weren't far from death. Once we have searched to our satisfaction, we will help you get out of here without any more astral leeches or ghouls or whatever. If we find your buddy alive we'll do what we can for him, just as for you. What say you lay low in your truck and not try to find a way to call in the cavalry for a while, and we call it even?"
Professor lets out a lusty laugh at the woman's answer. "I deserved that. No, the Fat Man did not send us to find you.
"OK, look, we're here searching for something I suspect you were searching for, too. I don't see any reason for animosity between us, though. It would be insane for you to try to continue alone in this place, and your connection to your superiors is scrambled.
"There are at least three factions in here trying to find the rigger, and the third faction is an over-the-top mercenary group who don't seem to be thinking straight at the moment. A lone competitor will be short work for them.
"How about we make a deal? We dragged that spirit off your case and patched you up. You weren't far from death. Once we have searched to our satisfaction, we will help you get out of here without any more astral leeches or ghouls or whatever. If we find your buddy alive we'll do what we can for him, just as for you. What say you lay low in your truck and not try to find a way to call in the cavalry for a while, and we call it even?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:54 PM, Phoenix Mall in Redmond
"What are you talking about, P? She's already said enough to puzzle this biz together. The fat man she's talking about is that shit-slick Spaniard from the boat. Razorgirl here is from the A squad and she's fraggin sick, so stop messing with her." Oswald shifted his focus away from his AR screens to look at the woman directly. "Your hacker was alive long enough to set up a jammer on the truck. If you don't remember that part, then that's a good sign that he survived the initial engagement. Regardless, s'there anything we could use as a sign to shake him outta the tree if he's still somewhere listening? We already dismantled the jammer. Well, our impulsive codeslinger did. Maybe 5-10 minutes ago? I figured that would be some kind of signal, but if your boy is still around, he's acting shy yet."
"What are you talking about, P? She's already said enough to puzzle this biz together. The fat man she's talking about is that shit-slick Spaniard from the boat. Razorgirl here is from the A squad and she's fraggin sick, so stop messing with her." Oswald shifted his focus away from his AR screens to look at the woman directly. "Your hacker was alive long enough to set up a jammer on the truck. If you don't remember that part, then that's a good sign that he survived the initial engagement. Regardless, s'there anything we could use as a sign to shake him outta the tree if he's still somewhere listening? We already dismantled the jammer. Well, our impulsive codeslinger did. Maybe 5-10 minutes ago? I figured that would be some kind of signal, but if your boy is still around, he's acting shy yet."
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