@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

I don't like this one bit... Not at all. No signs of the church staff. No signs of the package. Just a lot of nothing here with a lot of something happening outside. At one side of the building, all the windows begin to cloud over with a white fog. Gas...? Tsubaki hopes not. The whole job was literally going up in smoke and she didn't even begin to know who was friend or foe yet. Staying here for long isn't an option, either.

Tsubaki isn't completely alone inside the Church of Our Lady, is she? The woman is fortunate enough to come across someone, though. There around the corridor, on the floor, in the room with the bench pews is that well-dressed orc who had she didn't have the chance to greet at the door. "Are you okay?" Even if the answer may be a very obvious one, it's still a question that needs to be asked. Out like a light...

Now, to get some information about the situation. To locate any moving lifeforms, mundane or magical, in the vicinity, the silver-haired woman opens her sight to the astral space.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

Mordred's eyes widen as he watches the cloud spread. He couldn't tell what kind of gas that was, but he was in no hurry to find out. But avoiding it was a different matter. Lacking any protection from the gas, the adept settles for drawing his collar over his mouth. He darts around the other side of the car, watching for the attackers. He had to remain unseen. Of course, his eyes are also on the noxious white cloud. If it drifts any closer, Mordred will have to back away.

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

When he spots the voyous des entreprises, Gemeaux chuckles silently to himself.

"Quand il pleut, il pleut à verse. Et il pleut un peu dans l'Angleterre...," he mouths to no one in particular. He continues gliding guardedly through the church, considering his options. He can barricade the doors, but that will make it harder for them to escape once the opportunity arises---as escape by now is absolutely necessary. He can get Monsieur Hill to magic up some allies, assuming his silence is merely him taking a piss at an incredibly inopportune moment and not a side-product of him being dead.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, my darling, can you continue paging our employer while I try and deal with these corporate hounds?>>

<<[Vivienne]: Of course, Damien. Please be careful.>>

<<[Gemeaux]: Ah, I always am, unless it is inconvenient.>>

When he reaches the main entrance, where he last saw Charlie, he is struck by a surprising scene. The slender, silver-haired woman he saw at the door is now inside the church, kneeling next to Charlie. Given the lack of orcish innards on the floor despite the brutally hard hit Charlie took, he suspects that the unfortunate orc is still alive---or at least not dead from a lethal sniper slug. For that, Gemeaux is fairly thankful because they still possibly have their driver. However, he is somewhat disturbed that the silver haired woman---who apparently has matching silver eyes---is staring right at him.

And here I thought I was taking pains to be careful... Damien, you are losing your touch. Falling back on instinct, he wills himself to relax. Stealth is no longer an option, so he turns to charm. For some strange reason, he feels as though someone out in the metaphysical "there" approves.

Since he cannot quite place the woman's presence he decides to speak the lingo of the land as best as he can, although his French accent still gilds his English. Given the dire circumstances, he decides to start by telling a bit of the truth. At least enough of the truth to help him figure out what she is doing here, and how he should handle this situation. He steps into the light so that she can clearly see him but the hunters outside cannot, and chooses his words carefully.

"Ma chère dame, you are either the most compassionate assassin I have ever seen, or you had nothing to do with this man's poor fortune. I understand that my appearance could look quite suspicious, so allow me to offer context in hopes of inspiring trust between us. The orc, his name is Charlie, and was meant to drive the car that is outside for someone who is in here. That "someone" is the target of the sbires who are behind the assaut sacrilège on this place of worship. I am here to stop those villains, so I must ask you this one question. Will you let me stop them?"

He waits to see how she will respond, hoping for the best. However, he also plans for the worst.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, can you set up a targeting solution for me just in case? I don't think she is a foe, but we can't be too careful.>>

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

A small frown flickers across her face. The condition the male orc appears to be in doesn't make Tsubaki feel any better about leaving him behind... Who is—? She spies a stranger standing across the room, by the door. There is no mana that Tsubaki could see at this very moment, but the dark holes where the individual's body has been changed at are apparent at short notice. Slowly, the woman raises and straightens from her position beside the unconscious orc on the floor. Tsubaki finds some comfort in the weight of the small pistol in her hand as she fixes her gaze on the curious man approaching her. She would prefer not having to shoot. To shoot first, however... Instead, Tsubaki will give the man the benefit of the doubt.

The man's way with words are... colorful, to say at least. Compassionate assassin? Fortune? Villains? He sounds friendly enough... But, harmless? There doesn't appear to be anything pointed directly at her... So, Tsubaki walks on the thin string of trust and meets the stranger halfway through the room. Her shoes make quiet thuds across the carpet that lines the church floor. Then, stopping right in front of him, with her free hand opposite of the one with-holding the Kompakt aside of her, the silver-haired woman will lean forward, extend her arm, and touch the one side of the Frenchman's vision goggles between a delicate finger and thumb. Very gently, she lifts it off his face, letting loose the waves of brown hair around the set of brown eyes there, and rests the contraption atop of his head. Amusingly, she can't help but to liken the large lenses sitting upon his head to a pair of animal ears...

With a playful tone in her voice, "That's much better. Don't you think so~?" The woman smiles at him. There is a faint, almost oriental look around her eyes. To address the man's question, she answers with a question of her own. "What do you have in mind?" She references the well-dressed orc on the floor, "Our Charlie here needs some medical attention soon. We will have to work together and quickly, won't we~?"

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux smirks charmingly, doing his best to keep his expression devoid of any surprise from the odd woman's actions. While being close to such a strikingly lovely young woman is always a welcome experience, removing all of his visual enhancements right before what is looking more and more like the prelude to a major firefight leaves him feeling naked---and not in the fun way.

She is either a character cut from a different cloth, or one of the most seductively sinister assassins I have ever met. Either way, I am honored by the happenstance encounter. Such souls are so rare in our backwards world.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, could you be a dear and switch on my contact lenses?>>

<<[Vivienne]: Of course, Damien. I show your goggles as still functional...is something wrong?>>

<<[Gemeaux]: I don't think so, but our mysterious woman has moved them from my eyes. Fortunately for me, I am still wearing my lenses.>>

Once his lens HUD pops up on his vision, he addresses her concerns. Fortunately for him, her question gives him something else to work with.

"I may be able to help with him. If we are in luck, my luggage should still be in the church's waiting room. Inside it should be a fully stocked medkit, along with a few more bits and pieces of firepower to drive back the sbires. As I am traveling, my suitcases are serving as an arsenal portatif." He offers the woman his free hand, dismissing the sniper rifles chameleon setting and lowering it to his side in the process.

"If you would be so kind as to take my hand, ma belle dame, I would be happy to lead the way." Courtesy and candor beget trust and friendship, and in a world rife with megacorp hunters, magical spirits, technological mysteries, and even dragons, Gemeaux figures he can use all the friends he can get.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki watches a sniper rifle appear beside the man, out of thin air. That's quite a cute trick... As he explains to her about leading the way to the location where his arsenal portatif lies, Tsubaki thinks about the Frenchman's hand that stretches out for her to receive. It's very nice and all—gentlemanly, in fact—but, this was no time to seem rude if he was offering his best intentions. Tall, dark, and handsome men stalking through the shadows, speaking the sparkly language, and hiding their faces behind some high-tech goggles are so very trusting at first, after all. Nope. Not very dangerous at all. There are more dangerous things in the Sixth World than one Frenchman armed with an invisible sniper rifle and a killer smirk on his face, right?

With that, a pleasantly amused smile spreads across her lips, and she will have to the respond to gracious gesture in kind. Her hand slips over the man's own, and she will allow him to show her the way.

When Tsubaki finally arrives in the room, the sight of a lone suitcase is more than the indication she needs. Whether the man opens the suitcase for her or lets her to help herself to the task, Tsubaki will be allowed the means to retrieve the medical kit from inside. Politely, "I'll be borrowing this, then." The female shadowrunner will take off with the medical kit, return to Charlie in the other room, and proceed to stablize the orc.

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

After politely leading the femme mystérieuse to his luggage, he pulls out a few more jouets mortels from his makeshift munitions dump. He withdraws his customized Colt M23---Le Repartie---from its resting place and slings it over his shoulder. The powered stock pops out as Vivienne begins booting up the gun's smartlink system. He grabs the two spare cartridges for his assault rifle and a pair of thermal smoke grenades, and slips them into his coat pockets. He considers taking out some of the heavier grenades of the white phosphorous or high explosive variety, but decides against it. He would prefer to leave the church as unscathed as possible. Le Repartie is a necessary evil given the dire situation. He might need to hit multiple targets at once or, God forbid, use suppression fire inside the church to help his employers escape.

He is about to leave the woman to tend Charlie and check on the lives entrusted to his care when he turns back to his suitcase. He pulls out his respirator and his chameleon suit. He is not sure if the sorcier technologique is equipped with armor, and who knows if these villains will be using knockout gas or worse.

"Now if you do not mind, mon cher, I must go check on the "someone" that these voyous are here to see. I shall be not more than a moment, but I would advise you to stay on the lookout for trouble. It is, alas, fast approaching."

With those words said and his effects in hand, Gemeaux runs over to the room where Mr. Hill and their guests are waiting. He slips his goggles back on, deactivating his contact lenses in the process. He opens the door, and begins speaking quickly while keeping his voice calm. No need to scare the man or his child. Besides, he is a professional. He has every faith in himself that he can handle this situation.

"Mes amis, I believe it is time for us to take our leave of this place..." He trails off when he sees Mr. Hill sitting motionless. He nudges the priest with his boot, hoping to rouse him. When that does not work, Gemeaux sighs and shakes his head.

"Please tell me that he is not sleeping. Ugh, sorciers, sometimes they spend so much time contemplating the astral that they do not pay attention to what is happening in the here and now. Allow me to be brief. Our pursuers are closing upon this church, the car is ready, but our driver is not. A kind woman is here and doing her best to bring Monsieur Charles back to consciousness, and I intend to buy us the time we need to escape. I brought you this. It is my size, but you might be able to squeeze into it, oui?" He hands the technomancer the chameleon suit before continuing.

"Also, if there is anything you can do to help hinder them...now is not the time to be coy about your technological talents..."

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

E:PL Mordred

Despite the clouds of noxious smoke, from your vantage point behind the limo, you see three burly guys swing out from across the road and begin a run towards the church doors. They are sheltering behind big ballistic shields and bulky black armour and are moving in a tight group reminiscent of a tiny Roman phalanx…except their spears appear to be the barrels of combat shotguns with stabbing laser sights and they are clearly backed up by some sort of artillery as another double phutt announces more tear gas being launched towards the church

E:PL Gemeaux & Tsubaki

Glass shatters in the main body of the church and you hear the unmistakable hiss of gas canisters being deployed. You dimly see two figures protected by shields approaching the rear of the building using parked cars as cover from any fire from your direction. Mr Hill is still unresponsive, locked in whatever astral quest that has taken him away from you at this critical time…it would seem you need to deal with this threat alone.

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Fawkes gestures broadly to you all and leads you on a tour of his establishment under the careful watch of the orc guards. He ends at a side room at the back of the substantial hall and indicates that here you will have peace and quiet to deal with your preparations…

“and if you need anything for going into the zone be sure to let me know. My traders here can provide anything that your heart desires, for a price, and I wouldn’t want to see friends of Argent go in there” and he nods towards the south “under equipped…it is sadly still a dangerous place…profitable, but extremely dangerous!”

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

The attackers were making their move. Mordred glances around, looking for the person shooting tear gas. Whether he finds them or not, the adept turns his attention to the three trying to break into the church. Mordred rises to his feet and steadies the silenced pistol on the roof of the limousine. But at this range, he would need a little more help to hit one of the guys in black. The image magnification system in his goggles zoom in on the armored men. Much better. He squeezes the trigger.

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Copperhead trails miserably along behind the two orks. She notes a couple of stalls she might want to stop at later in day, when the burning sun has gone down. When, after what seems like an eternity, they finally arrive at the meeting room she perks up quickly as she enters the shaded room. She shucks off the armored long coat and drapes it over a chair that looks big enough to support her then sits down on it with a sigh.

"Dat's better. Hey Fawkes, you gots anything to drink here? Water's good or nukacola. It's a bit early in da day for a beer."

She gulps down the first half of the offered drink, then nurses the rest until Fawkes leaves. Only then does she continue.

"Okay, fore we gets started on da details, youse prolly noticed dat I don't like da sun and it don't like me. Dat means we needs to go in at night and come back out same way. Now, what you knows about dese kids, da location where dey being held, da best way in and out and anything dat we likely ta runs into on da way?"

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki picks up the male orc beneath his arms and drags his body across the floor and into one of the side rooms for cover. From the medkit, she produces the stim patch from inside it and slaps it on poor ol' Charlie. As the gas fills the church building, she activates the Chemical Seal on her body-suit beneath her clothing. Better stay out of sight... Right? Now, to locate the package...

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Jess arrived at Fawkes', although anyone who'd seen her yesterday wouldn't have guessed it was the same person. She'd now had a whole night to assimilate her surroundings and it was something she was well practiced in.

The clothes she'd arrived in were squashed into a small pack which was now over her shoulder. Her hair was now a mousy brown though she'd left the blonde roots showing so that it looked amateur and patchy. Her new look comprised a lightly armoured camo jumpsuit and vest ensemble, with some heavy walking boots to help navigate the terrain. She hadn't washed since arrival though she'd had opportunity to, the grime picked up in transit adding to the overall 'local' look she was going for. She arrived at Fawkes' looking nothing like any description he'd likely got of her and so she was going to have to try and find him herself. It shouldn't be too hard. She found people liked to tell her things.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Gathering Charlie and the man and his son together, there are things like armored corp men and white gas quickly filling the church, so first thing is first. Showing them a single finger to her lips, quietly she tells them, "I am on your side. Hurry." Letting the Frenchman (and whoever else who is up to it, too) duke it out with the fast approaching foes, Tsubaki will lead the orc, man, and his child through the building and en route to their ticket out of the area. Hopefully, the others will provide a good enough distraction at the enemies long enough for Tsubaki will try to see these three people safely and stealthily toward an exit, mostly likely out through a window, one by one. She will stop at the corner of the building to look and see if the coast is clear first before making having to make a run for it.

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Ah, and here come the villains now, entering from stage left---the sinister side. Gemeaux slips his respirator over his face, and slides behind the sturdiest point of cover he can find in the church. He glances over, seeing the mysterious woman pulling the stunned orc away from the oncoming soldiers.

Looks like it is time for me to play hero for once...

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Once settled into his makeshift cover---a set of fairly sturdy looking pews, Gemeaux peeks over the top and begins lining up a shot on one of the approaching, shot-gun toting goons. With his professional reputation on the line---and a woman to witness his prowess at death dealing, he resolves to make his shots count. He lets the smartgun data play across his vision, and chooses a firing solution that maximizes accuracy plus damage potential. He squeezes the trigger, hears the familiar snarl of Le Dernier Mot, and watches the bullet fatally impact the corporate chien de porc.

The bullet explodes through the armor of the âme malheureuse. The force of the shot knocks him backward. A second snarl and accompanying bullet finish the goon off.

Gemeaux's lips twist into a self-satisfied grin, amused at the macabre display. He allows himself to conveniently "forget" where exactly he is, and decides to greet the second goon in the same manner. Another firing solution and a pair of sniper rifle snarls later, and the second would-be attacker succumbs to the same fate as the first.

I knew this little sojourn would prove interesting...

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

So far, so good... Reaching the getaway vehicle in question, Tsubaki urges Charlie into the driver's seat. She hopes the orc is well enough to drive... Then, she ushers the man and his son into the back seat. The man Tsubaki met before who had turned her into cover at the first sound of a gunshot is here, too. He must be a friend if he is firing at the corp men... "Are you coming with us?"

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

"Gladly. After the intruders are taken care of." Mordred fires a burst at the remaining enemy. He then ejects the spent clip and loads a fresh one. "Stay low. There are more of them still around."

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

Although Tsubaki is trying her hardest the package and his son seem singularly incapable of dealing with this situation...the toddler begins screaming his lungs out your group leave the comparative safety of the church and make a break for the limo. You catch a glimpse of your aggressors across the top of the car before you make it to the dubious safety of its armoured sides...you do see enough to know that the attackers shift course as soon as you come into view and begin heading towards the limo.

Visibility is becoming poor as the wafts of white gas circulate in the intermittent breeze...it makes the charging figures somehow all the more threatening. They pause for a second and their shotguns bark in unison. It may be a factor of the gas, the cover you are in or perhaps the cumbersome shields but the rounds spall off the top of the limo or sail over your heads towards the church. The sound is wrong though for shot or solid slug...it would seem they are trying to take you alive as the impact marks on the top of the car suggest stun rounds...of course those will still hurt like a bastard if they manage to clear the car...

The door is open and Charlie stumbles inside and manages to engage the engine. Tsubaki and the package manage to get inside the rear and then there is an appalling sound as a high velocity round punches into the engine block...it would seem not all of their firepower is non lethal...time to leave...but what about the others stuck inside the church...?

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Copperhead taps her retracted razors on the scratched plastic surface of room's rickety table and hums under her breath, singing a tiny aspect of Snake into being. The tiny snake spirit, a simple watcher, curls around her shoulders in the astral and hisses softly in her ear.

Now that she was out of the sun she was feeling much better, but Ælias had held up a hand at her questions and said they should wait for the others to arrive.

"About dat," she had replied. "Dealer wont be coming. I gots a message from him dat he had some urgent biz to attend to. Haven't heard from him since."

She had shrugged, indicating she didn't know what 'biz' he needed to deal with, and returned to nursing her drink in silence.

While they wait, she looks the ork up and down, even opening her senses up to the astral to get a look at him as he really is.

"I hope dat we got some more muscle turning up coz, no offense, you is kinda skinny for an ork and I is assuming dat jack means you is a hacker even if you aints gots no cyber."

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

They must have been wearing insulated armor. No matter. The time for playing nice was long past. Mordred continues firing, this time using explosive bullets. The adept inches toward the other side of the car. He wasn't overly worried about fighting the men hand to hand. If anything, they would be facing the martial artist on his terms.

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

With an assault rifle and a sniper rifle behind his shoulders, a rolling suitcase in one hand, and an unconscious elf in the other, Gemeaux laboriously trudges towards the car, grumbling with each step.

"Je vous jure, vous prêtre peu de graisse, vous feriez mieux de rester en vie. Quelqu'un doit me payer pour mes services. Je ne me mets pas en danger gratuitement," he groans as he bodily hauls Monsieur Hill to the side door. Fortunately, the woman had managed to scramble off with the father and son. That was at least one thing he did not have to worry about for the time being. He lets go of the suitcase a few steps from the door, taking care not to jostle its explosive and expensive contents. He then unceremoniously dumps the seemingly slumbering priest against the wall.

Gemeaux peeks around the corner of the door, watching the outside firefight play out. He notes the incoming megacorp goons, and sizes up the lone gunman by the car. It appears to be the very same person who greeted Charlie at the door before the orc's accident. He quietly clucks to himself when he sees what the gunman is using.

My goodness, he has brought a child's toy to a man's game. This will not do at all. Fortunately for you, my good sir, you have a friend who is willing to join this danse macabre.

He draws his sniper rifle, asking Vivienne to give him a firing solution on the closest cochon d'entreprise. The sound of a slug impacting the limo's engine block underscores the urgency of a timely escape---or at least a timely killing. He sees the smartgun's offered options, chooses one, and pulls the trigger twice...

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

As the goons barrel towards you there are flashing AROs to go along with their barked commands as they circle towards the limo

"Armed Police...put down your weapons and lay..." and Gemeaux's double tap hits home, sending another of their number to an untimely appointment with the coroner "fuck this!" and they begin to rapidly back away keeping their shields between them and the church...for all the good it will do them

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki didn't get to see the armored men for very long. She hears silenced bullets cut through the air, the insides of their heads go squish when metal and flesh made contact, and then watching a body or two sweep over their own feet and drop to the gravel and pavement. Tsubaki tries to not frown too obviously. That's too bad. Either way, they appear to be backing off. For now.

The woman reminds Charlie, "We have two more passengers to pick up. Please, could you pull up to the church entrance?"

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux grins for about a split second before surviving "goon's" words---and the police AROs---register. His face drops.

Police? ...shit...

He shoulders the rifle, and with practiced ease draws a cigarette and his steel lighter. He ducks back behind the cover of the doorway, lights the cigarette, and takes a long drag from it. He exhales slowly before shouting a reply to the fleeing officers.

"Oh mon Dieu, I did not realize you were gens d'arme! Perhaps saying 'sorry' is a bit too small a gesture, but to be fair you did shoot first... I thought my life was on the line."

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, could you please add England to the list of places I should not visit in the near future. Something tells me I am about to be wanted for murder...>>

He looks over at the unconscious Monsieur Hill and shrugs.

"What was it that you and your friends were doing that managed to incite the ire of the gens d'arme, eh? No answer? Typical." He snuffs out the cigarette, casually flicks the butt at Hill's face, and watches it harmlessly hit the elf right between the eyes before bouncing off to the ground.

"Next time, give me the details."

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

Mordred gives a deep, world weary sigh. Well, I was planning on leaving the country after this job, anyway. The adept gathers his clothes into an untidy bundle and stuffs them into his duffle bag. Then he waves at the gunman who still has not emerged from the church. "Come on, that's our cue to leave. Git to da choppa!" Taking one last glance around to make sure all of the parking lot was clear of enemies, Mordred got in the car.

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

As you are settling down into what presumes to be comfy seats (they might have been once but are now so threadbare and with broken springs in unfortunate places that they can't claim to be any longer) the door is flung open by the application of a large combat boot and a fragging ugly troll enters the room...he takes in the room with the briefest of glances and seems to determine his fellow troll is the biggest threat, addressing the rising Copperhead directly

"You're not fragging Fawkes, sidown princess..." and punctuates this pithy observation by trying to fire almost point blank into Copperhead's chest with an almost equally ugly sawn off shotgun...you get the briefest of moments to thank Snake's sibilant hiss that warned you of this encounter and the chance to react to it now before the shit really hits the fan

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

As the coppers retreat back across the road, masked by the swirling fumes, you dimly hear the rumble of a heavy engine. This is almost immediatly drowned out by the throaty rattle of the limo as Charlie desperatly tries to get it going. For a heart stopping moment it seems like your transport is dead and then the engine catches and Charlie frantically waves back at Gemeaux and the unconcious Mr Hill to hurry their arses

"We haven't got long before this place is swarming with the fuz...we gotta go now and ditch this heap as soon as we're clear, it's too easy a target. Fuck me, I was looking forward to a quiet drive up north..."

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Run to the car, they say. "Get to the chopper," they say. Hurry up, they say. And yet, not one of them comes to help me drag this oaf to safety.

Gemeaux trudges to the limo, struggling to lug both his suitcase and Monsieur Hill with him. He takes pains to place his suitcase gently in the car, and then tosses the limp elf into an empty seat. He unstraps Le Repartie and Le Dernier Mot, the former snapping its stock back into place. He places Le Repartie on top of the suitcase, and then slips into the car with Le Dernier Mot in his lap. He pops out the cartridge, replacing it with a full one from his pocket, and slips the half-empty cartridge into his other jacket pocket.

When he notices that the others are staring at him, he snaps his fingers, pulls off his respirator, and closes the car door.

"The suitcase currently holds a large amount of fairly nasty explosives, so you will understand why I am taking care not to disturb them. As for the elf, he is my good-for-nothing employer who has seemingly taken the virtue of meekness to its fallacious extreme. I am, how you say, disappointed to discover that he has found an entirely new way to frustrate me. First it was his obsession with hiding key information from me. Now, it is the fact that I am forced to drag about son cul insignifiante." Gemeaux rolls down his window and spits outside in disgust.

"Ah, but I forget, we have not yet had our introductions. I am Gemeaux. The name, like myself, is French, so I apologize if it is difficult to pronounce. I would be more than happy to sate whatever curiosity you have concerning me and le prêtre endormi, but I would ask that you answer two questions for me first." He draws out a cigarette and his stainless steel lighter.

"First, why are you helping us? And second, do you mind if I smoke?"

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Copperhead almost jumps out her skin at the sudden warning hiss from Rattle, even though it is not the first time Snake has reached out to her like this. As a result, she is half out of the uncomfortable creaky chair when the troll kicks in the door. Her eyes go wide as the sawn-off shotgun swings towards her.

Sstrike NOW! hisses Snake over the troll's threats. While the command to attack comes as something of a surprise, it does stop her from freezing up.

The warning on her lips turns to a hiss. Her skin darkens and scales form on her face, making her look even more snakelike than usual as she draws mana into herself. Rather than backing away from the troll she continues to rise out of the chair. Her cyberarms whine as servos move them in a complex, sinuous pattern. Her left arm moves to deflect the shotgun, while her right arcs back then strikes forward. At full extension, her fist opens wide like a snake's jaw, razors popping into place like fangs that seem to barely scrape against the troll's chest.

Then her body arches and she gives a most unladylike grunt as she pumps every ounce of mana she can hold into the troll's heart.

I just hope this trog is as dumb as he looks.

It is his strength of will, not his intelligence that matters, tuts the Serpent admonishingly as Copperhead grits her teeth while struggling to control the raw magic burning through her veins.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Was there any room for five or six people and their baggage? A duffel bag, a suitcase, and a toddler... The unresponsive mage in the corner doesn't belong to anyone, did it? So, tightly packed inside the armored limousine like a can of sardines, it's not like Tsubaki was expecting to step onto the red carpet when they reach their destination. Destination? It's a very good question. Where are we going...? Everything happened so fast. Best to be in-the-know now while the ride is still comfortable—in other words, while smoke and bullets are still the least of their problems. Until the orc driver hits the pedal to the metal, the woman braces herself for the sharp movement inisde the vehicle.

So, to no one in particular, or whoever could offer the answer, Tsubaki asks, "I'd like to be informed about where we are escorting this man and his child to. Just where are we going? And will it be safe? I like being surprised," She is trying to be optimistic, "But I'm afraid I won't enjoy another welcoming party like that again..." Carefully, Tsubaki leans over and glances out of the window the man who introduces himself as Gemeaux rolls down. It's difficult for a fancy black limousine speeding through the streets to be missed... It's still to early to call it a day. Especially now with the police involving themselves. So much for being subtle. "What does everyone suggest we do now?" Introductions? Sounds like a good place to start.

The woman passes her silver eyes over the group here. "Tsubaki. It's a pleasure to meet you all." A smile. Then, she explains, "I'm probably here for the same reason everyone else is here for. Which is to say, let's help each other out, hm~?"

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

"Mordred." He scoots over to make room for Gemeaux and his...companion. "Argent sent me over. She thought you might need an spare hand. Looks like she was right. Oh, and go ahead. Nice to be working with you." He supposed. Pleasantries always sounded odd coming from him.

As Tsubaki had asked about where they were going, the adept decided not to. Though he hoped the driver would hurry, before his injuries caught up to him. Plus, they had the police and damage to the car to worry about. Hell. Twisting in his seat, the adept pulls on his clothes and puts the gun back under his sleeve. He then sits still once more. Mordred takes a deep breath and clears his head. It is time he consulted his mentor spirit. If I might ask? How am I-are we doing?

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; In a limo chugging away from the Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

They seem earnest enough, but I know nothing of them... Still, lies are a luxury I cannot afford. Time to start with some threads of truth, and see if I can untangle myself from this rats' nest of a mess...

He nods gratefully to Mordred, and is about to light up when a thought occurs to him. He glances over at the technomancer and his son, and thinks better of striking up a cigarette next to a growing child. The boy is already facing more than he should at such a tender age, the very least Gemeaux can offer is a the gesture of good manners. He pockets the cigarette and the lighter, deciding spare the child a face full of smoke and instead have himself endure the pangs of his nicotine needs.

"Pardonnez-moi," he says to the father, and the cigarette and lighter disappear as quickly as they had appeared. He turns back to the la femme d'argent---Tsubaki and the chameleon-suited man---Mordred.

"I certainly hope so, and it is a pleasure to meet both of you despite the circumstances of notre première rencontre. If you will permit me, allow me to offer what I know so that we might make sense of this mess." He points towards Monsieur Hill, the father, and son.

"As I mentioned before, the elf is my employer. He calls himself Monsieur Hill, although with his apparent and presently unfortunate love of intrigue, I cannot tell if it is a genuine nom de l'ombre or simply a ligne de merde he offered me. I am his bodyguard on this trip, so his survival is my responsibility. The man and his boy are in Monsieur Hill's care, thus they are under my protection as well." He looks at Tsubaki and Mordred.

"That is why I am here, and why Monsieur Charlie is driving us. I think I might have overheard Monsieur Hill mention argent before, but I thought he was talking about nuyen. That would certainly make more sense than what I thought he was talking about...I like money, but I don't consider it overly pleasant to look at.

"As for spare hands, I will take all the help I can get. Bienvenue à la mission, et le plaisir est le mien," he says with a smile.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:16:21; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

So, it sounds like everyone was in the same boat in regards to information. She couldn't ask the man named Mister Hill, either. The elf looks like he's too busy looking off into deep space. The woman turns around in her seat.

"Charlie, is it? You mentioned driving somwhere north. I hope you know where we need to go to?" Then, she doesn't forget to ask, "How are you feeling, by the way~?"

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:18:11; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

Charlie turns back to look at you all, his eyes are bloodshot and he is clearly beginning to suffer the effects of running purely on stim juice. Just at this point the baby begins to wail again

"I'm fine...can't you shut...trying to concentrate...I..."

From out of a side road a behemoth is bearing down on you, the blue lights begin to flash just as the citymaster clips the front of the limo and sends you careening into the hedge and then front gardens of the houses at the edge of the road...

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

The mana that courses through Copperhead is clearly visible in the mundane world as a distortion in the air...and then it is as if a pebble had been dropped into a pond...at least if the pond was a vertical wall of hardened muscle, dermal deposits and sinew. The troll's chest does its best to flee the assault be flying in opposite directions...with the net result of a shower of blood and tissue bathing the room and all in it...he might not be dead...but the disturbingly clear view of his ribbcage doesn't offer much hope as to his chances of survival...

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:18:11; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

"Voici la pluie à nouveau," groans Gemeaux as he sees the blue lights flash uncomfortably close to their vehicle. A second later, and the limo goes careening towards hedges and homes.

"Et maintenant, nous font baiser." Despite his deadpan delivery, an amused smirk creeps across the assassin's face. He was right: When it rains, it certainly does pour. And he loves being right. Learning to enjoy the little things had been his first lesson while under Shiawase control.

He looks back at Charlie.

"At some point," he quips towards the frantic driver as the car hurtles forward, "we are going to need to have a chat about what your congregation was doing that brought the police crashing down on a House of God."

When the car finally comes to a stop, Gemeaux sighs and mulls his options.

"Normally, I would advise running, but seeing as I am in the unfamiliar situation of having lives under my protection, I do not believe escape is an option for me. I can turn myself in, if it will buy you the time to flee. I have no intention of letting them take me, but I do have my pistols as well as all the training and technology that my 'foster family' thought ideal for an in-house assassin. It is not my first choice..." he trails off, glancing at the technomancer and his terrified son.

"But if it saves lives, then it is the right thing to do."

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:18:11; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Woooosh!

Just when things didn't seem to get any more worse, too. Is that the body of the absentminded Mister Hill floating in mid-air in slow-motion? Three. Two. One. Impact.

Tsubaki touches her forehead with her hand and opens her eyes. There is something squishy and warm here. Oh, it's just Mordred. All bodies and belongings have been pushed and tossed around inside the limo, and now what had once been the left side of the vehicle is now facing the sky. There is broken glass everywhere. Tsubaki leans against the man named Mordred and lifts a single foot upward at the door, then gives it a good kick. The limo door flings open.

"Is everyone all right?" The sound of a crying toddler answers back. In any case, while the appearance of police in the first place raises all kinds of questions, it doesn't change the fact that the police are here with the intention to give chase. That last thing Tsubaki wants is to get handcuffed. To do the 'cuffing herself, that's another story for another day...

She crawls off Mordred's body and, the crying child aside, addresses the technomancer father, grabbing firmly a hold of the man's wrist and fixing her silver eyes at him. "If you want us to help you and your son escape in one piece, is there is anything you can do to slow the police down? Chances are they are will be firing at us with smart-enhanced firearms..." Tsubaki glances across the seats to today's volunteer for heroism, Gemeaux. "While he provides us cover, I am asking you to at least give the police a hard time with their aiming and targeting systems. If their vehicles run electronically, it would be even better if you could lock the officers out of their own vehicles when we actually get away. If you need time, I'm very sure you have many able hands eager to work with you." Tsubaki reaffirms her request to the technomancer. "Can you do this?"

The crash disrupts his concentration entirely. Not that he needed an answer, now. Same as always, then.

Mordred allows the woman on top of him to get off without comment, then arms himself once again. "Sorry to preclude your last stand, Gemeaux, but I'd never live it down if I left you to face those cops alone. Or, for that matter, got paid without properly earning it." The adept falls silent for a moment, calling upon his powers. He draws the mana around them, around everything, into his body and concentrates it into his core. Then he releases it into his limbs, imbuing them with lethal power. "Now then..."

He peeks outside to see how many enemies there are.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]

The stunned technomancer looks at you all in bewilderment… “Oui, I want to ‘elp you but they are jamming me. Jamming everything…I do not understand it, why they do not talk to their superiors…they have not called other flic…”

From outside you hear the telltale swoosh of a heavy door opening on its runners and the thud of boots on the ground. From one of the houses you see an old lady coming out onto the ruins of her lawn clutching at a first aid kit

“Are you, are you okay in there…” she asks querulously, seemingly oblivious to the police cruiser and the possibility of incoming fire at any moment…

From behind the wrecked hedge you see the tips of the ballistic shields and then arm movements suggest the lobbing of something...here we go again...the air is filled with a noisy tumult as the flash bangs light up the front garden, sending the little old lady to her knees and everyone inside the car to shield their eyes and ears from the onslaught...

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

The troll hits the floor with a monumental crash, taking out a flimsy table as he goes down. The shotgun lands beside him but thankfully the shoddy piece of ironmongery doesn’t discharge. The commotion brings Fawkes and a startled assistant rushing back into the room. His swarthy skin pales for a moment, highlighting the tattoos scrawled across his face. He looks across at Copperhead, perhaps as the only one standing, but clearly as the one most covered in gore…

“What…what have you done? Shit! You know who this is? He’s one of Egrand’s lieutenants…bastard’s been trying to hit me for more protection, on his own initiative mind you, and he probably had what’s coming to him…come to him…but I’m not sure that’s gonna help you lot! Look, you gotta get out now…I’ll help you as I can but too many people knew you were in here and it ain’t safe! I know you ain’t had time to do yer planning and arrange shit. I’ll give you a range of stuff you might need in Zone, I’ve got a container near the docks…here’s the coords…just take what you want and we’ll call it even…I owe Argent so…”

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

He grins at Mordred.

"I would be happy to have another fight at my side. Let us show these sots d'entreprise the mettle of men with their lives on the line."

When the sorcier technologique speaks, he gives the man his full attention. Unfortunately, it is not the news he wants to hear.

No pig chatter? Now that IS quite peculiar.

Gemeaux frowns, popping his neck to work out the awful set of kinks the entire crash hammered into his spine. He smiles grimly at the father, and nods in understanding.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, my lovely, deactivate the the personal safeties on one of my sidearms. I am going to give it to one of our companions.>>

<<[Vivienne]: Done. Is everything all right, Damien?>>

<<[Gemeaux]: It appears we have hit a slight wrinkle in our plans, but we should be able to take care of it. Do not worry, my dear, I will be careful.>>

<<[Vivienne]: Please don't do anything rash, Damien. Remember that you are human.>>

"C'est très bien, je vous remercie pour essayer de nous aider. Jusqu'à quelque chose change, prendre soin de votre fils, et prends ça. Utilisez-le comme un dernier recours." He hands the sorcier technologique his unlocked sidearm.

When the elderly woman totters out onto the lawn and asks them about their well-being, he is about to reply when the police begin lobbing their flashbangs at them. He ducks back inside with a dark scowl on his face. He slips the respirator back over his face, and gives the police a piece of his mind.

"Ah, so this is how you keep the peace and general welfare? By burning the eyes and bursting the ears of helpless old women? Allez vous faire foutre, vous lèche-bottes des entreprises! Now I do not feel so bad for killing a few of you!"

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

A jammer? Tsubaki offers the technomancer a smile, nonetheless. "It's the thought that counts. Thank you, anyway." A jammer in the area is rather curious...

As Gemeaux and Mordred lock and load, Tsubaki is about to turn and respond to the appearance of a little old lady with a medkit in her hands when bang and a flash go off. She shuts her eyes and presses her hands over either of her ears. Frankly, she would like to preserve her vision and hearing. She isn't so sure about the others... Until the two male shadowrunners are ready with their part, Tsubaki plans on leading everyone else toward the house for cover. And, maybe drag the old lady who looks very, very confused, staggering outside, along to safety. No need to get a little old lady stuck in the line of gunfire, too. Does the lady own a garage and car~?

What a mess... Tsubaki heaves a sigh.

The technomancer's powers were disabled? Morgan wouldn't be of any help, either, then. The adept grabs a twin to his pistol that lacked a smartgun system, just in case the lack of matrix support did not apply to both sides.

Any sympathy for their enemies or desire to fight without killing was all but gone for Mordred. The old woman had gotten hurt trying to help a group of complete strangers. Little else could better symbolize the adept's disdain for the state of the world. That anyone should suffer for their kindness. He would not stand for this.

With his gun drawn, Mordred sticks his head out of the car, looking for targets.

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Frag me, did you have to make him explode like that?

That wass entirely your doing, child. I asssumed you would usse the ssstun sspell you learned, not the killing one. Now he will never reveal hiss ssecretss, but at least the one called Fawkess hass told uss the reason for the attack. Remember that, it may be of use to usss.

Copperhead sighs, releasing her hold on the manaflow. But while her shamanic mask fades, the gore-drenched troll is no less intimidating as she turns to Fawkes.

“Da fragger was waving a shotgun at me. What did you expect me to do? Let him shoot me. And where was your security?

She looks down at herself, flicking a piece of troll from the blood-soaked sports bra.

“Frag. Dis was a cyberpirate original. It's ruined."

Carefully peeling off the top, seeming uncaring about revealing her scaled breasts to the room, she continues, “I can't go out there like this. I need some water and a cloth to clean dis shit offa me. And something clean to wear.

Turning to the woman with a man's aura and too much cyber, she asks, "Jess you think you could pick up some fatigues from one of da stalls? Troll small or orc extra-large should fit me.

She points at Fawkes and his lackey, then at Ælias, "You two, out. You, watch da fraggin door."

[July 8th, 2072, 10:43 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Mostly clean and wearing a pair of khaki combats and an olive t-shirt under her long coat, neither of which match her bloodstained nyke sneakers, Copperhead makes her way carefully out of the bazaar and back to her hotel. She needed to get properly clean and get into something that at least matches. She also needs to be out of the burning sun. She had traded comm codes with the others and agreed to meet them at Fawkes' container when it got dark to plan and prepare for their trip into the zone.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

As the gravity of the situation slowly sinks in, Gemeaux's frown begins to twist back into a smile.

The odds are against us, for we are surrounded by another's hired lackeys. There is no one to call, no haven to fall back to. Lives are on the line, a lady is present, and an innocent caught in the crossfire...

Is it the plight of the Frenchman to face such a fate? Whether or not, it looks like fun!

With Le Dernier Mot in hand, and the melody of La Marseillaise on his mind, Gemeaux slings La Repartie behind his back, vaults out of the shattered limo, and runs towards sturdiest spot of cover he can find.

"Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!" he bellows, as he prepares to face this horde of slaves, of traitors, and conjured corporate kings...

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes' Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Ælias just stands there at first, stunned by the sudden explosion of movement and violence around him. Everything happened too fast for him to comprehend, a blur of magic, blood, and explosive force. He was just getting his bearing together when Fawkes burst back into the room, telling them all to get a move on, that he would handle the body (and the mess of whatever came after it). It made him wish he could just turn it all off, fall into the sweet flow of the Matrix and leave the worries of the meat behind. But now was not the time for that.

Suddenly Copperhead is standing there, topless for the world to see. He would have been blushing visibly, if not for the makeup on his face. Sure he had seen nudity before, on the 'Trix, but being this close to it IRL, well that was a new experience for him. He quickly averted his eyes from the scaled torso, slick with the blood of the troll lying at the group's feet, and moved up next to the door, finally drawing his Predator from the holster under his arm.

What am I doing out here, in fraggin CZ? What was I thinkin' taking this job? Already bein' attacked and we ain't even left the 'civilized' sections yet.... I just wanna get this done and head home....

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

And Mordred thought he was the one with a flair for the dramatic. The adept opts to use the car as cover instead than running. He uses his goggles to zoom in on their enemies, then opens fire. Would this be a fight to the death? He wondered. Or would a few casualties be enough to send them the way of their predecessors? The explosive bullets wouldn't last long. He had less than two clips worth of them. Then the adept would have to switch to regular bullets and move close enough to engage them in a hand to hand fight.

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Letting the other two shadowrunners throw around thunder and lightning, Tsubaki will lead those who could not fight back across the lawn and toward the house. Mid-way there, the woman takes a hold of the little old lady, turns her around, and ushers her back the way she appeared upon the scene. "Pardon me, but could we come in~?" They all enter the old lady's home regardless of the lady's response. The flashbang grenades most likely put all hearing and seeing out of service temporarily. Tsubaki shuts the front door behind them. Then, showing the lady into her bedroom where she can sit down, recover her senses, and far away from any gunfire, Tsubaki will return to the main room. She hurries across the room and seeks out another form of transport. She's gonna have to 'borrow' the old lady's car, if she owns one... That is, if Gemeaux and Mordred can handle crowd control. She is pretty sure that won't last too long, however.

If the old lady's car needs keys, Tsubaki will search them out. If it was via matrix, well, that's going to be another matter... Time to find out~!

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:21:11; Fleet Road, UK]

While Tsubaki ushers her charges on like a mother hen with her chicks, Mordred and Gemeaux engage the foe with glorious abandon, firing at extremely close range into the oncoming pigs with the riot shields and bristling sub machine guns. Both strike home and rock the officers as they force through the hedge but the dimly seen rictuses barely flinch under the impacts and they return fire, a swathe of fire that rips across the quiet garden...

...as for Mr Hill, there is still no sign of the mage stirring...