Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:36: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Mouse grabs the trap door, pulls a cartwheel over it and drops through the hatch. The trap door falls open, instead of closed allowing Stormcrow to follow. Moving to the top of the ladder, he sees Mouse and the dwarf in a bundle at the bottom... and Smokey Joe holding the nuzzle of his SMG against the base of her skull.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:03: McCormick and Schmicks Bar, Westlake Ave N, Lake Union, Downtown District, Seattle Metroplex

He is completely clueless about Mikey, Twig and Big Lou. He is beginning to think the bartender put you up to something.
<<@Bob [Agent] Martin Drive Through Liqueur, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma.>>

The bartender begins to develop a scowl, "You need to leave. Now."

Tadhg - Saturday, March 28th@17:47; Spooks Irish Pub, 122 Place NE & NE 132nd St, Kingsgate, Redmond District

The gangers perk up and smile. "Just give us the address."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:03: McCormick and Schmicks Bar, Westlake Ave N, Lake Union, Downtown District, Seattle Metroplex

I smooth my hat down on my head as I stand up and give the bartender my best smile. With a nod to the waiter, I head for the exit, past the two hellhounds guarding the door. Boring conversation anyway. Martin Drive Through Liqueur, you're gonna have company.

Chunan - Saturay, March 28th, 2071 @03:19: Safeland Storage Centers, 13015 Canyon Road East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle, UCAS

The retrieval of his clothes goes without incident and as far as Chunan knows, without notice. The ash is blowing tonight and his respirator is barely sufficient in keeping it from his lungs. An upgrade is definitely gonna be needed.

As he slips quietly into the Storage Center, he finds two things that give him pause. First a boy, maybe nine, sleeping outside his unit. Second, the door on his unit is up. Peering in, the smell of urine hits him before he even steps in. What a fine ending to a fine evening.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:45: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob exits the restaurant without issue and even finds his car already waiting for him. The restaurant and neighborhood in his rear view are a pleasant sight.

Grid Guide recommends I-5 nearly all the way; a trek that takes him almost due south on I-5 all the way. East of the McMicken Heights neighborhood and Seatac, members of the I-Fivers go-gang race past Bob's clunker and assault sports car about half a mile in front of him. The car attempts to pull away from the gangers, but Bob quickly notes the car lacks run-flat tires. As he passes the crash scene, two of the gangers are reaching into the car, presumably to rob the occupants. The natives are restless early tonight.

Bob continues without incident to the 7-hwy exchange and then onto McKinley Ave. The neighborhood looks like any other neighborhood near his apartment: Run down, but home to the majority of the upper-lower class of Seattle.

As he reaches Martin Drive Through Liquor, he sees the establishment has a drive that circles around the to the drive through window on the other side as well as steel mesh grating outside the windows. AR for the store shows a closing time of 8:00pm. The parking lot has four cars parked in it and a bum standing on the sidewalk where cars exit with a cardboard sign that proclaims, "Why lie? Its for beer."

Grid Guide proclaims, "You have arrived at your destination."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:50: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Run-flat tires. Those things are a life saver.

I subscribed the stores AR and ran down the menu that appeared in my peripheral vision. This place looked like it was trying to recreate something I had heard of on the history trids, the original drive-thru daiquiri shops of the deep south. What a waste, not a proper drink on this menu. Sighing, I settled on a pina-colada...thing...and had the car pull through to the service window. It was one of those steel and mesh contraptions, made to resist any attempts at forced entry...it kinda reminded me of my ex-wife's thighs. As the window opened to serve me my fruity drink in a drab styrofoam cup, I spied a silhouette moving around in the interior of the store. So they had someone there to manage the place, an actual person. Perfect.

After paying for the drink, I had the car pull into a space next to the other four vehicles and settled in to wait. The lid had some fancy RF-capability, I could tell that it was used to prove that the drink wasn't opened until being handed to the customer. Interesting. Must be the laws around here. I took a cautious sip of my tasty beverage and was not disappointed. Sugary-sweet liquor hit my mouth, and then hit my brain like a sledgehammer, causing a concussion between my eyes that was like being kicked like a angry mule. I approved of this and took another gulp.

Having nothing better to do, I set my agent to scanning the nearby cars for any identifying information. Did the store's AR menu list any contact information? Manager on duty? I wanted to know who might be the owners of the nearby quartet.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:36: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Despite her fogged brain Mouse was acutely conscious of the cold metal circle pressed against the back of her head. Thankfully the respirator had limited the gas reaching her throat but she still had to suppress the urge to cough which might inadvertently turn into a lobotomy. Trying to make no sudden moves, despite the squirming dwarf under her, she opened her hands to indicate she was unarmed

“I just needed to get out of there, seemed like a bad place to be, I’ll just sit in the corner until this all dies down…? I’m no threat to you”

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:36-00:13:37: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Stormcrow looks down from his crouched position at the top of the shaft to the trio at the bottom, coughing into his respirator. Catching a bit of a breath against the gas that had affected him before he got on the respirator, he calls down to Smokey Joe.

"She's right, the real threat is to the back rooms, and if you don't mind a little bit more cost, we can help you deal with that threat."

Chunan - Saturday, March 28th, 2071 @03:19: Safeland Storage Centers, 13015 Canyon Road East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle, UCAS
Chunan; PAN = active [wireless, earbuds, goggles, subvocal mic]; SIN = Jonathan Wong (not broadcast); Public Profile = Chunan (not broadcast)

Poking around his unit, Chunan discovers the source of the smell. "Aw, not my mattress! This fragging day just keeps getting more expensive!!" Trying not to wake his neighbours, Chunan quietly clears his stuff away from one of the walls and leans his mattress against it. Dropping tiredly into his ratty armchair, he discovers that the mattress wasn't the only piece of furniture that had been befouled.

What a cesspool Seattle is. No matter how destitute we were growing up, we still took pride in our surroundings. How am I going to be able to replace any of this stuff? It was hard enough to acquire a bed the first time around! Getting paid in UCAS corp scrip makes things a lot harder too. I'm not sure if anyone around here will even accept it! Chunan sighs. I really should find out who did this and have a strong word with them. It was probably those Shàng Yìyuàn Nánzǐ running-dogs. Maybe I should have stood my ground and convinced them I have no interest in joining their little clubhouse. I wonder if they realise that I have no fear of them? Compared to the gangsters I grew up with, they're nothing more than yappy, little Xi Shi Quan.

Chunan sighs once again and begins changing out of his sweaty and urine-soaked clothing into something fresher. Might as well leave my jacket on. Certainly smells better than my blanket. I wish the air outside was actually breathable. I really miss sleeping out under the stars like I did back home. As much as I enjoy the nostalgia of living in this community, I really need to find a better place to live. At least one that's more secure. Of course, I'd need to start getting steadier, better paying jobs first. Hopefully there's a message waiting for me in the morning from Kilroy. Well, I can't do anything about it until the morning. Wonder where I can curl up?

Finding the least objectionable corner of his unit, Chunan clears away a spot to curl up. I should probably check on that kid before I turn in. I know my ancestors won't let me sleep well unless I do. Treading quietly down the hallway, he crouches down near the boy and shakes his shoulder. "Why are you sleeping out here, little brother? Is everything okay?"

Chunan - Saturday, March 28th, 2071 @03:31: Safeland Storage Centers, 13015 Canyon Road East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle, UCAS

The boy wakes with a start, backing away from Chunan with a looks of abject fear. Fumbles in his pocket, pulls out a cheap comlink, raising it up and says, "He's here."

Tadhg - Saturday, March 28th@17:47; Spooks Irish Pub, 122 Place NE & NE 132nd St, Kingsgate, Redmond District

With the address provided by Tadhg, the gangers look it over. "Well, it is a little outside our turf... but free nuyen is free nuyen." They drop their sticks on the table and head for the door. They pass a group of four blue-collar wage slaves entering the bar. Bobby perks up with the increase in business, welcoming the new comers and leaving Tadgh to other business.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:57: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The agent took the broadcast registration information, all minimal, numeric data only, no names or anything discerning and went to work.

Several minutes later its returned. The first three cars: an older pickup, a well-used sedan and a late-model sub-compact came back no results. The later, a late-model sedan, came back as stolen this morning in NorthEast Tacoma. About that time, a human male (late teens) with his arm around a girl (mid-teens), a dwarf (indeterminate age) and a young ork all in street clothes exit the establishment and walk over the stolen sedan. The dwarf climbs into the drivers seat, the ork in back.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:39: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Smokey Joe eases back as Mouse speaks and disentangles herself from the dwarf, but he remains guarded. As Stormcrow calls down from the bar, gas beginning to flow through the open hatch, the bartender looks up and says flatly. "Done. Deal with it." His firearm is fully at ease now and Mouse & the dwarf are fully separated and standing.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:57: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Interesting...let's see where this fishing trip takes me. Could be an old boot or a tuna, only one way to find out...

I slowly hunched lower in my seat as the four got into their car. I've done this kind of work before, tailing a mark. It's not so difficult, if you knew what you were doing. I did.

Or at least I thought I did. If life had taught me one thing, it's that you don't take chances when you don't have to. Don't let the other side have the advantage. Always look for the upper hand. Never get into a fair fight. With those thoughts foremost in my head, I gathered my will. It was a tricky thing, the power was slippery and alive, like trying to grab live eels in the aquarium downtown. I barely managed to send the thought from my mind, what with the pounding going on behind my eyes. Just my luck - my headache was getting worse.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:39: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Careful not to alarm anyone, or look to closely at the SMG that had been at her head, Mouse checked herself for major damage and then asked "Anyone got a stim patch? I feel like I've been hit by a troll"

March 38, 00:13:39-00:13:43
Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:39: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Stormcrow carefully climbed down the stairs to the safe room, closing the hatch above him once he had cleared it. Once at the bottom, he turned to the rest of the group.

"I could use one as well. Trying to cast anything in this state is likely to just out and out fail, not to mention knock me out. Flashbangs and gas are good weapons in this tight a space, don't know how much fight the rest of the bar is going to be able to put up after that attack."

Stormcrow turned to Mouse.

"So, Mouse, right? You any good with that gun I see hiding under your jacket? If they've got more than spirits back there I could use some backup."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:58: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob sits hunched in his car, the spirit coming to his beck and call. This particular spirit uses the voice of an older, gruff man's voice. And obstinate. "What?"

The car pull out onto the highway and turns to the south.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:45: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Smokey Joe and the dwarf both shook their head to the negative when asked about a stim patch. As Stormcrow engages Mouse in conversation, Joe and the dwarf proceed down a service hallway and away.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:58: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I tried to keep the annoyance from my mind as I heard the spirit's reply. It was him. He just couldn't very well leave me alone. Even dead, he was a pain in my ass.
Most people are haunted by ghosts, poltergeists, what have you...they're haunted, you understand, against their will. Me, I just kept asking for it.

Just watch my six, ok? Don't let any accidents happen to me while I tail these kids. Stay ready in case I need you to hide me or something.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:13:45: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Mouse turned back round, staggering slightly, "Yeah, Mouse, and yeah, on a good day I’m handy enough but I’m not sure this counts…I’m still seeing spots from those flash grenades and my head is pounding, I’m as likely to be a risk to myself as anyone else at the moment. If we can find a medkit down here somewhere then I’m all yours but at the moment I really don’t want to get into a fight unless I have to! So we following them out of here? I’m not going back up there for a while…” she nodded back in the direction of the hatch and immediately regretted the sudden move…

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:58: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The car makes a lazy exit from the parking lot headed south. The spirit manifests in the passenger seat beside Bob, his fingers interlaced, hand in his lap. At 72nd street, it makes a right, turning west. Bob had no more turned onto 72nd street when the spirit gabbed the wheel, jerking it causing the car to swerve. As Bob looks at the spirit like it had just gone insane it says in a monotone, "Pot hole."

A little over a half a block behind the car at South Park Avenue, Bob completely fails to register the change in lights to red and barrels right through the intersection and into oncoming traffic. The spirit reaches a foot across, stomps on the brake while grabbing the wheel sending the car into a sideways slide parallel to a sedan crossing in front of Bob. Looking into the eyes of the old woman driving the sedan, Bob can tell she is screaming as loud as he is. The spirit then abruptly jerks the wheel again and stomping the accelerator, sending the little car hurling forward the rest of the way through the intersection. Once through, the spirit calmly states in its monotone, "Your wellllcome."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @19:58: Martin Drive Through Liquor, 6600 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Yeah yeah I had that under control. You just keep your eyes...well, your...whatever, you just stay alert.

Even in death, the old man hadn't changed. Still a real sonuvabitch. Lord knows why he seems to be the spirit that responds to my summons these days. Probably just enjoys torturing me like he did when he was among the living.

A summoner is supposed to treat those who respond to his call with respect. At least, that's what he burned into me. This situation, this was gonna test me on that front...gonna test me but good.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @20:07: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The foursome park the stolen sedan in the driveway of the house at 7300 S J St before exiting and walking down the street and hanging a right onto 74th street. They do not seem to pay any attention to Bob as he parks along side J street just off 72nd Street. The spirit yawns, be remains silent.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:03: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Stormcrow settles back, rubbing his own temples, acutely aware of the effects he is also under from the assault. After a few moments, he climbs back up the ladder, slowly, each step his fatigue screaming at him. Overhead, a few bursts of gunfire can be heard as well as calls for ceasefire, a few screams and cries of pain from obvious wounded and even the sound of someone violently sick near the hatch. Gently pushing up the escape hatch, the heavy gas seeps through causing Stormcrow to drop the hatch closed quickly. He looks down to Mouse, unsure of how to proceed.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:03: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Seeing him hesitate Mouse shrugged at her companion "I dunno, up, after them...?" she nods towards the retreating dwarf she had fallen on "none of the choices seem to be great. If we don't do something then whoever did this will have got what they came for and be long gone...but right now I'm in no fit state. I suggest we hold out here for a bit or go after them..."

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:03: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

"When we get out of this I'm buying a bunch of stim patches and never leaving home without them. I haven't felt this bad since my body had a wedding with an open bar and I made a total ass of myself."

Stormcrow sighs, "If I drop this spell I might have a small chance of summoning a spirit tough enough to help us. At a minimum it could clear the air up top, and it would be useful in dealing with whatever spirit or magical entity is going after Mr. Johnson. I just don't know if I'll be able to to do much more after that. I still want to try though, if we can pull this off then we can impress what looked like a Johnson with a fair bit of money on his hands. What do you think Mouse? Our only other options are to back down and run off, or just wait and hope to pick up a trail later."

Shaking his head Stormcrow looks back up at the hatch, nervousness and dispair competing with a desire to not back down.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071 @20:07: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I didn't see how this was going to keep my legs from getting broken like fine china at a troll wedding, but I was a sucker for a good mystery. It was the main reason I was in this line of work in the first place - I just couldn't mind my own business. Slipping out of the car, I set my hat on my head, set the termination system on the jackrabbit, and then sidled after the fearsome foursome. After taking a swig from my hip flask for luck, affecting a drunken stumble wasn't so hard. For someone of my skill, I mean. I even managed to remember I had backup.

Go ahead and make it so they don't see me, if they happen to look my way.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:03: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

"Ah hell, there might be a medkit behind the bar at least. If you can clear the air there's a chance we can do something effective, even if it's just taking a still of whoever is behind all this so that Mr J can follow it up later...damn my head hurts..."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:10: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The spirit's reply came in the expected monotone, "Of course. Anything else from the department of redundancy department?" Bob follows in the footsteps of the foursome to a house a block away. They approach it, sneaking, to a side window. The girl calls up a small spirit that comes in the shape of a raccoon. The spirit jumps through a window, dematerializing and rematerializing on the other side. A second later she gesture to the window. The human teen pulls on a pair of gloves then opens the window. The ork moves forward to climb through first. The dwarf looks around but looks right through Bob.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

With that spirit of hers around, I would have to play it cool. I don't like to tangle with spirits, like dancing with a dame that knows all the right moves but you're too slow to keep up. Mr. Smartass over there probably wouldn't be much help either, even if he was willing to help me, which I doubted.

So I found a nice quiet spot within a good distance of the house and hunkered down to do some magic. See, my magic isn't flashy or particularly powerful, but that was a good thing sometimes. Not many people gonna notice me or what I'm doing.

First things first. I could feel that things were about to start happening, things that would need my full attention. Things like not dying, for one. So after a few muttered words and an intake of breath, I drew the power into me and let it flow through my body, spreading out from the center of my core to all the corners of my being. The world snapped back into sharp focus and stopped listing around like a sailboat riding the whitecaps.

Since I felt a little better, it was time to check on the kids. I put my hands in front of my eyes as I sent my power out from me, out to the house, to the front door then inside. I don't know why, but I always had to close my real eyes to see with my third eye. The old man said I shouldn't have had to, but then, he was always looking for ways to make me feel bad about myself.

...

Why did I have to go and think about the old man? All of a sudden, I heard his voice in my head, every time he berated me, every time he hit me for getting a formula wrong...it threw me off my game. The magic just wouldn't obey me, it was suddenly as slippery as a fish in my hands. I reached out to grasp the mana, and each time it slithered out from between my fingers, each time draining a little bit more of my reserves. I was getting tired of this, tired of the old man, tired of feeling second-rate. Taking a calming breath, I opened myself to the power...and it came to me. Finally.

Now to see what those four were up to.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:06: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Stormcrow relaxes as he lets the spell go, instantly feeling the world resume its normal pace. Gathering his concentration he prepares to summon an Air Spirit.

"Alright, here goes nothing..."

With that statement Stormcrow sends his personal energy to breach the veil between worlds to supplicate before a spirit of the air and ask for its aid in this battle.

Mouse & Stormcrow - Saturday, March 28th, 2071@00:14:06: Crime Mall, 136th Street East & 122nd Avenue East, Puyallup Barrens, Seattle Metroplex

Mouse swears softly to herself...she had been hoping that he wouldn't want to pursue this further. If anything she was beginning to feel worse now that the immediate effect of the gas was wearing off, she really didn't feeling like engaging in a fight! Equally though, she had no intention of being shown up by this guy...

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The mana flows out as the spell takes shape. His eyes closed and his sight fixed through the end point of the spell, at first it is like looking through a spyglass with soap on the lens. The vision mostly clears as Bob focuses on the magic. The gets closer and closer until it reaches to crew climbing in the window. The raccoon spirit looks at the eye, being dual-natured, Bob realizes that the spirit sees the spell. The spirit however remains quiet as presence of the spell, waiting on its summoners next command.

Inside, the ork moves stealthily across the dark room towards a stairwell while the human male helps the woman then the dwarf through the window. At the stairwell, the ork pulls out a knife and begins to move up the stairs.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

This doesn't look good, nossir. I'm not the squeamish type, but I'm also not the sit-around-and-let-people-get-murdered type. I needed to act fast. But to act, I needed information dammit.

Quicker than thought (as fast as thought, actually), I sent my agent on a search of the 'Net to see who owned this building, who might be living here, anything on the person that might be receiving this unwelcome surprise. Seeing as the kids were going upstairs, I shifted my concentration to move my spell upstairs ahead of them, looking for any signs of life.

I checked the loadout on my pistol with a sigh, made sure my smoke and flash grenades were where they should've been, loose in my coat pockets. I knew there was gonna be trouble, and soon. This was also why I was advancing slowly towards the house, keeping my guard up as much as possible. Hopefully my spirit would help in the regard too, although I could never be sure.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The agent grabs up its magnifying glass and coat, then looking somewhat like Sherlock Holmes, it zips out into the matrix seeking the information.

Back in the world of meat, Bob's eye races up the stairs and through the house. The first bedroom is mostly dark, but two adult sized shapes; They are sleeping sound. Moving down the hall, the other bedroom is smaller with a smaller bed and a much smaller shape.

A chiming in Bob's ear draws his attention to the agent's return.
<<Bob [Agent] According to a news article from 18 months ago, the house is the home of Roger and Edna Martin. Roger is a retired city employee and Edna a retired teacher. Their daughter, Regina, was sexually assaulted and killed leaving them to raise her daughter, their granddaughter, Sarah. Sarah was 5 at the time.>>

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:12: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Aw hell.

My creeping approach became more of a sprint, running like a devilrat caught on a hot tin rooftop. Just this fast, this situation went from drek to neck-deep-in-drek. Time for plan B.

My flyspy, freed from the confines of my coat pocket, took off into the air and flew in through the slightly open window, feeding my commlink all the sounds that were coming from inside. Hopefully the chameleon coating along with it's covert ops software kept it from being seen or heard.

Meanwhile the iBall rolled out of my pocket and onto the house, the gecko tips adhering to the fake-wood-panelling like glue as the small drone rolled to the open window as well. I commanded it not to go in, though. I had other plans for it that needed it to stay at the side window.

I stopped at the front door, trying to keep my labored breathing as quiet as possible. Between my seeing spell and the flyspy, I hoped to get a better understanding of what was going on inside, what might about to be going on...

I needed a drink.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob takes off running towards the front door, adrenaline beginning to course through his body in anticipation of what type of malevolence might soon fall upon this house. His focus spread trying to maintain the spell and not tripping as he runs. The fly-spy zips away following Bob's mental command, relayed through his datajack to his comlink and wirelessly to the drone. The toss of the i-ball does not meet with the same success, however. The throw is wide and short leaving the drone on the ground outside the window and not on the house.

Bob reaches the front door, a sliver of a moon providing at least some light. The AR window with the fly-spy video feed provides much better detail as it has activated its thermographic sensors in the darkness. The drone's covert operations program has it on a flight path near the edge of the ceiling as it moves across the room. The human male is at the bottom of the stairwell, standing looking upwards. The dwarf is passing into another room on the ground floor while the girl is looking through a drawer in desk.

From the spell's window, the ork has reached the top of the stairs and is quietly opening the first door; that of the child. The knife is still in his hand and held low.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:11: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I didn't like where this was going. Little kids, well, no one wants to see them butchered in their bed while they sleep. I needed to be in top form for what might be about to go down. A quick mental command, and I barely felt the autoinjector kick in. The cocktail it shot into my bloodstream isn't my drug of choice, but it still felt like when a good-looking dame walks up to you and asks you for a light. That electric thrill you get that runs all up and down your spine. Dropping my spell, I prepared and cast another. Hopefully that spirit inside was still ignoring this kind of thing.

Now, some people have said that watching me after casting this spell is downright creepy. Skin-crawling, I've heard. I never had a problem with it, except a slight nausea now and then when I was hanging upside down and had a gut full of something toxic.

I quickly moved to the side of the building with the kid's room, letting my feet touch and stick as I walked up the side of the building to the windowsill. I hoped the window wasn't locked, maintaining one spell was hard enough at the moment. Didn't want to have to pull out the old "magic fingers" at the same time. Placing my left hand on the window, I triggered the sensor in it to start giving me an idea of what was going on inside. My right hand held my revolver, cocked and ready.

Hey old man, drek's about to hit the fan. Be ready. Want you to take out their mage first, any way you can.

Oh yeah, the iBall. That thing continued on with my instructions, rolling up the side of the house in search of the open window that the flyspy went through. The flyspy continued to keep an eye on the two lowlifes downstairs.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:12: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob begins to fall into the zone of habit as he realizes the more probably outcomes from this encounter. The rush of the drugs hit his system quick. He drops his spell, losing sight of the thug on the second floor, replacing it with another as his confidence builds megalomaniac levels. His fatigue evaporates under the chemical euphoria as he reaches out for the wall and the first shiver of unspent, coursing adrenaline hits his system as he begin his Amazing Spiderman impression.

Reaching the window to the child's bedroom Bob command the spirit, Be Ready.

The reply is simply an obstinate, As opposed to...?

Revolver in hand, Bob peers into the window to see... quiet darkness.

Down below, the i-ball encounters a number of obstacles, beginning with dirt on its gecko pads to the overhang of the siding on the house. The fly-spy doesn't fare much better; attempts to capture good images for the facial recognition are thwarted by the current darkness.

The only break Bob seems to catch is the fact that the latch on the window to the child's bedroom appears broken.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I was more than a little disappointed to find out the ork thug wasn't in the room. After all I'd been through today, I'd been looking to have a reason to beat on somebody, and trying to hurt a sleeping kid would've been plenty of justification. Hell, normally I'm not a violent person. Maybe it was the drugs talking - they tended to do that. All in all, these jokers didn't seem like professional hitters. Just amateurs trying to get some intel, find somebody maybe...

And it clicked. Gods I was slow sometimes.

<<Agent [Bob] Cross-reference Mitch Long and the Martin family along with this address. Specifically look for birth records for Sarah Martin and any hospital records for Regina Martin.>>

If my hunch was right, Mitch's robbing of that liquor store might have been to help his family. Meanwhile, I restarted my vision spell to keep an eye on knifey in there. I was pretty sure he wasn't going to butcher anyone, but I didn't want to take that chance either.

Plan C was now being set in motion. It worked out anyway, the iBall not being able to use it's gecko tips. If I confirmed these kids were looking for Mitch Long too, I'd confront 'em by their car, surprise 'em, give 'em the ole' spotlight questioning routine. Should work just fine. I could handle all four of 'em, if needed.

Maybe it was the drugs talking.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:12: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The agent, looking every bit the gumshoe noir with its Sammy-Sleuth™ sculpting, tipped its fedora and once again faded away into the matrix.

The cocktail of drugs coursing through his system, everything seems to be moving in slow motion and without nearly enough action. That little voice in his head was telling him that he could take that ork toe to toe...

The second spell now active, Bob's thoughts are scattered as far and wide as his search for one Mitch Long. Moving his mind's eye quickly around the modest home's second floor, he quickly finds the ork. Standing over a sleeping human couple from one side of a double size bed, the knife is just coming to rest under the woman's chin. Her eyes open in a flash, a look mixed with wide-awake alertness and horror at the Gothic figure standing over her, her life now in his hands. He looks down, a smile creeps across his face then fades to something else; something not happy.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I considered playing it cool, considered gambling that this ork would only try to get information from the woman. But he wouldn't stop at hurting her to get it - that knife wasn't for shaving. I could take this gutter trash, and those punks down below too. No sneaking into people's homes and putting knives at innocent people's throats. Not on my watch.

First, I needed a distraction. The iBall got sent a command to start strobing it's flashlight at the downstairs windows. I tested the window in front of me, sliding it open as quietly as possible and slipping into the room, my pistol held down low.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob moves into the room, dropping the gecko crawl as soon as he passes through the threshold. He continues through the room as quietly as possible while watching the ork in his mind's eye via the spell.

The ork presses the blade into the soft skin in the cavity of her jaw... though just enough to draw blood. She whimpers just a sound, waking the old man. The ork's finger crosses his own lips with a "shhhsh". The old man and woman both stare in abject horror, but remain silent. "The trust. You will transfer this month's payment to me." The man nods and slowly reaches for his comlink as Bob reaches the doorway. The ork's knife remains in place at the woman's neck.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

I kept my breathing as quiet as I could with the blood pounding in my ears, sounding like the Kyoto Drummers having a symphony inside my skull. Maybe those kids downstairs hadn't seen the strobing lights yet. I commanded the iBall to continue flashing it's lights through the window, alternating the frequency to try to draw their attention. It seemed like a good plan, divide and conquer. That's what the old man had taught. The flyspy could keep an eye on 'em.

Me, I dropped the seeing spell and tiptoed into the master bedroom with my gun held high. I had briefly considered waiting this out and confronting these guttertrash later, betting that the ork thug would leave the old couple unharmed. But see, I'm a mage who follows Dog. Dog is loyal and territorial. While these old timers weren't exactly people I was friends with, Dog howled in my head at the thought that these...[[bad people]]...could invade people's homes and hold knives to their throats. I saw red, and it was all I could do not to growl deep in my throat. Thoughts of self preservation fled as I quietly closed the bedroom door behind me.

"I wouldn't transfer that payment just yet." I said through gritted teeth, in as low of a voice as I could manage in my enraged state. I followed this up by very obviously cocking the hammer on my revolver, the gun pointed squarely at the ork's back.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

Bob moves through the room, to the hall and on into the next room. The ork, focused on the old couple, does not seem to be aware of Bob's presence. Taking note of the fly-spy, the dwarf walks back into the room and rushes to the window. The girl takes note of his movement, then rushes to his side. The human male is no where to be seen.

The orks presses a bit further into her neck, a small dribble of blood forming from his knife. "Oh, I think you're confused about who is in charge here." Without moving his hands, the ork looks to Bob, "I'll take your gun, too."

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

A little red dot appeared on the ork's right eye as I thumbed the stud to turn on the laser sight on my Ruger. Sure, the dot wandered back and forth as drunkely as an alcoholic on payday, but I think he got the general idea. The...rage...boiled through my blood as Dog howled somewhere in the distance.

"I'll give you one chance to let those people go unharmed before I find out if you really are shit-for-brains."

And so I really was all in, here. The old man always told me not to get in situations like this. No reason I should start heeding his lessons now.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

The ork stares down Bob for a moment...

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

and then he smiles, ruining his poker face; the human male is slipping in behind Bob, but Bob heard the very subtle, very quiet click of the door latch. The scuffle of silent feet sliding on carpet.

Bob - Friday, March 27th, 2071; 20:13: 7300 S J St, Tacoma District, Seattle Metroplex

My face twisted into a snarl as I became aware of the second intruder. Pushed into a corner, fur on-end and bristling with rage, ears flat against his skull, Dog snapped and lashed out at his enemies.

"I warned you!" is barely intelligible as I pulled the trigger, the ork thug the recipient of the Ruger's displeasure. The heavy revolver's report is deafening in such a small space, made louder by the EX-EX ammo detonations.