Monday, September 14th, 12:20:05 pm. In back of Snuffy Q's

"Jovie, ya know what da first rule of desert wars iz, No plan survives first contact wit da enemy. We improvised, lived and da job ain't fragged up completely yet."

Zo runs up the stairs at the back of Snuffy Q's and holsters his ruger. Not sure what it would do to the mage, he could probably fry my sorry hoop with just a thought. Zo looks at Zola and smiles as friendly as he can be.

"Hey Uncle, long time never see. Heard ya deal wit bad spirits. I got a similar thought on da ghouls. Only good one is a dead one. So are ya here on dat business? Be glad ta help if ya need it, or do we need ta come another understanding?"

Monday, September 14th, 12:21 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

The seated magician lets out a hearty laugh. He speaks with a very heavy Cajun accent. "You be knowin' my name, do you? Good for you, man. I see you handled the two out back alright. Don' know why you didn't come in da front door, though. The guard out front done tol' me you was comin', so I took care of da two out fron' on da roof across da street.

"I tink you come here for da same ting I do. Dis computer here have some info I need, but I don' have my crew here wit me, an I cain' work dem machines worth notin'. If dat is what you here for, I sure would like to make a deal to see what on it after you done.

"I maybe can help you with clues about da man who runs dose gunner teams. He be one nasty bastard who deal wit all kina evil, an anytin' I can do to trip him up is alright wit me."

Monday, September 14th, 12:21pm. In back of Snuffy Q's

The two orks must have constitutions of iron. Voids feeble attempts at first aid seem enough to staunch the flow of blood. The sniper guy, first to be cut by Void, seems in slightly better shape despite the horrific cut Vod dealt him.

Zo disappears inside the safe house. Void is left alone with two basket cases who just tried to kill him. All in a day's work.

Monday, September 14th, 12:21 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

"Second guessing things iz a common practace. Thought ya might be lay'n an ambush out front for us courtesy of dat nasty fragger of yours. I'z willin ta take yer deal, but need ta check wit da one payn da bills first."

@Prof<Prof, Zola's willing to help with da blind man or at least da ones who set up da ambush--probably da blind man. Long story tell ya later.....in return for a peek at some of the computers's contents. I 'm will'n ta take da deal with him just cuz Jovie's so afraid of him. Better a chummer dan a enemy. So ka?>

Monday, September 14th, 12:21 pm. In the depths of the Matrix

<<Professor@Team:Zo says Zola is interested in trading info. They seem to be together and communicating. I would be willing to trade the contents of the computer after we have our look at it. And after we get a chance to delete anything harmful to us. Thoughts?>>

Monday, September 14th, 12:21 pm. In the depths of the Matrix

<<Zo@Team:I'm willin to take the deal. I don't feel like a fight Zola by myself is da smart choice.>>

Monday, September 14th, 12:21 pm. In the depths of the Matrix

<<Void@Team:I am dubious about this Zola person, but from how our own magical expert described his power level, I think we must make the best of the situation, yes. Our tactical position is... tenuous. I have, with no medkit at hand and heroic effort, managed to stabilize our two attackers, although I am not sure we will be able to get much out of them. Deniable assets, even upper-tier ones such as these two, rarely are privy to their employer's secrets. I will also need some way to move them. Neither of them is a particularly small specimen, and I am not in the best of shape at the moment. I will need some medical attention for my own self, when we return. Preferably with a medkit, yes?>>

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zo's timer goes off. Not waitin for da paranoid mage, 2 ta 1 even if Jovie opposes an da cops are going to get here soon.

<@Team:Well two of three for plan Zo.>

"Uncle, we accaept ya offer. Ya wanna help wit Mr. Drek Kicked an Mr. Fragged out back? I figure dat we can have a nice talk wit dem later. Ya got any wheels? I wasn't planning on bringin any guests."


Zo goes to pick up the computer on the table. "We'll need dis too."

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Astral space around Snuffy Q's

Jovan listens carefully to the conversation going on inside the safe house. Always hyperalert, often suspicious, the Infected man tensely considers the future risks to himself from this meeting... until, after several seconds, he realizes that Uncle Zola poses little threat to them. Armed with that awareness, Jovan finally relaxes a bit. Away from his body, he's unable to hear the others' discussion over the Matrix, but he guesses from Zo's pause that one is occurring. We are fortunate that Zola is so agreeable. That means we are in a better tactical position than I initially feared. And the offer is a good one.

He directs the watcher hovering in a building down the street to Void. Better to talk through an intermediary than to risk blowing his cover by speaking in front of Zola directly, he reasons.

A characteristic translucent floating eyeball manifests in front of Void. "Void. Please inform our sharpshooter companion that I approve of the proposed deal, with one caveat. I will need all of the files on that computer, not just the ones directly pertaining to the Blind Man. I think it would be best for everyone if we can make copies of those files for our own use, but if not, we may need to keep the actual computer ourselves rather than giving it to Zola. Will you need assistance in moving these thugs?"

A stray thought briefly flickers through his mind. Hmm. Perhaps our illiterate gang member is good at more than just shooting people after all.

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Something rings a bell in the back of Zo's mind as he reaches for the computer. Something about codes to neutralize self-destruct traps. He pauses for a moment to recall.

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. In back of Snuffy Q's

Void smiles humorlessly at the small, floating apparition, which seems almost nervous as it hovers in front of him.

"Yes, I will definitely need help moving these two... specimens... as well as medical attention for myself, preferably sooner rather than later."

Void thinks Jovan's instructions are needless and redundant, but he dutifully comms Zo, pleased that Jovan, who seemed to feel threatened by Zola, isn't raising more objections.

<<Void@Zo: Jovan is willing to commit to the plan. He emphasized that we need all of the files on the computer, and that we will need to make copies of them for our own use. Which I was already assuming as a given, but I imagine being stuck in the oversight role can make people jittery. >>

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zola notices Zo's hesitation. "Oui, I was afraid o' da dam ting myself. You know how to move it without it blowin' up?

"I have a car to carry dose man if you like. I can take dem where you want and leave dem. I can even help wit askin dem tings." A smile comes over him at the thought. "I have a way wit men minds."

The smile fades. "How you wanna do da data? You first and give me copy? Or you take da copy and leave me wit da machine? I kinda like you have da ting dat blows up, eh?" The smile returns, broader than before.

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zo pulls up the codes on his comlink and deactivates the trap under the table. Then he turns on the machine and enters the code at startup to prevent it from reformatting. Then he pulls up the program, a databomb, and enters the passcode to prevent files from being erased as they are opened. He copies the entire contents of the computer onto his commlink.

<@Group: Zola's got wheels so we can move the bodies and interrogate them. He's willing ta help dere as well>


"Dats always da tricky part neh? We both get a copy, and I take da machine? We high tail it out of here before da pawns com knocking asking about da full-auto fire from da rooftops. Ya comm code?"

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Astral space around Snuffy Q's

The astral magician is indeed jittery at this point. He is not used to events deviating from the plan as greatly as they have this morning, and the heightened stress from mere minutes earlier combined with his lack of sleep are beginning to take their toll on his thinking. Still, a canny observer might suspect that Jovan was concealing a hunch by clarifying his need for all of the Spaniard's files. They would be right. But Jovan does not dare voice his thoughts, for to do so would ruin the future success of his side projects. Better to wait in the background for the keys to success to come to him.

From below the street, he sends a terse, unemotional dismissal to his summoned elemental. Its astral form disappears from among the myriad shadows and auras in a blink of an eye. He then Calls forth into the universe once more, this time with an invocation more suited to the Four Elements. "Hail to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the North! By the power of Earth, I do summon, stir, and call thee forth to witness this rite and bear these burdens through the shadows of Mankind!" He waits floating in the safety of the Underground, expecting to hear his elemental Speak to him any moment.

Nothing happens.

Irritating! Jovan's imaginary fingers curl into a fist testily. He tries again, using the same chant. This time, the manascape acquiesces to his will, and a sturdy and stalwart earth elemental finally appears before him. He gives it the necessary instructions.

Back on the roof behind Snuffy Q's, a humanoid figure carved out of granite appears in the air beside the floating eyeball. This one seems less intimidated by the ork, but its discomfort remains noticeable. The eyeball 'speaks' again. "Done. I will have this elemental move them. Simply give me the coordinates where we shall rendezvouz and I will have them waiting for you there when you arrive. Then I can coax answers from their minds using my magics."

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zola smiles broadly at the successful negotiation. He opens an ARO to Zo. "If you can make the copy and send it to this, I be fine and happy." He appears to look off into space for a moment. "Look like you don' need my car after all. I wonderin' how you gonna move dem boys witout people seein' too much, eh?"

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. In back of Snuffy Q's

Void tersely replies to Jovan:

"Good, good, I will give you the coordinates. Be sure to have your minions get everything - their weapons, the... ah... detatched arm, leave nothing behind, yes, yes."

He gives Jovan the meet coordinates, then shoots a quick message to Zo.

<<Void@Zo: I am ready to make my exfiltration now. Jovan's spirits are transporting the other two. Is the situation resolved down there? It would probably be best if Zola did not have to deal directly with me. Awakened folk tend to find my aura threatening, or at the minimum, disturbing. >>

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's


Zo quickly scans the contents to see if either himself, void, professor, or Jovan are mentioned. He finds an e-mails but hits delete instead of open. What was that? Not seeing anything else pop-up, guess it is clear to send this to Zola.. Zo sends a copy of the files to the comm ID Zola asked.

"Well, da the mage got off his fraggin hoop an did somethin useful after all."

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zola thanks Zo for the data, and adds, "If you wan talk some more, here dere be a channel for you." He sends back a contact address.

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Safe house above Snuffy Q's

Zo smiles back "Hey if I ever need a mage dat ain't afraid ta show his face, I know who ta call. Here's my contact number in case ya need a hired gun. I'm on what dats word--retaner? for da time bein tho."

<@group and professor> I iz high tailing it out of here. Meet ya at the park.

Zo walks out back, with the PC in a backpack. Scaning for an ambush from the back-up. Not seeing any, he checks his guns and re-holsters them. I'm reall glad dat I use caseless ammo, policin brass would be fragging hard right now.

Walking like nothing happend, Zo is suprised not to hear any sirens on his way out. Lucky fragging break... Getting to his bike in the nearby alley, he gets on it a speed away to the group's rally point, an abandoned underground parking lot in Tacoma. He takes a few odd turns and a couple of double backs just be sure he isn't being tailed.

Monday, September 14th, 12:22 pm. Location unknown

Professor chimes in to the commlink traffic, <<@team: If you have a nearby location, (the park?), send me the coordinates. I can be there with Orlando to patch up anyone hurt. If you need a quiet place out of sight, I have one lined up that is soundproof and unobtrusive. == coordinates of warehouse in Tacoma, by the docks. == Several rooms providing privacy, as well as ample garage space.>>

Monday, September 14th, 12:45 pm. En route to Tacoma

<<@Prof: Here's the coordinates to da park. We'll use that as a way point for da time bein to see if we iz bein followed. We can meet ya dere.>>

Monday, September 14th, 12:45 pm. En route to Tacoma

<< Void@Prof: Yes, yes. I am looking forward to this Orlando demonstrating his skills. Rare for me to be hit, even rarer for it to get past my armor. Quite a step up from your typical muscle, those two. Again, I doubt they were told much beyond their job, but perhaps, yes, perhaps, they may have dug a bit deeper on their own. Prudent freelancers often do, ever watchful for betrayal, and armed with a bit of... insurance... if their employer is less than forthright with them. After all, as Machiavelli said, "A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.">>

Monday, September 14th, 12:40 pm. Jovan's home, Tacoma

Jovan opens his eyes. Awareness returns to him sluggishly. He looks at his clock in AR - twenty minutes to one. The hour is getting late for him, but there remains work to be done. He sighs. To hell with these teammates and their daylight hours. This work schedule is getting a bit exhausting.

He calls up the team's online chatroom. <<@team: The two specimens have been dropped off at the lowermost level and are under guard. Astral scouts are also in place at strategic locations throughout the parking ramp. Am en route to the location now in the Rover. >> He rises slowly from his favorite armchair, the beginnings of lethargy showing in his movements. He heads upstairs and into his garage, where the old Spaceman's Rover waits silently.

Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 7:01 PM, Oswald's Warehouse, Merrill Creek Pkwy. Everett

Oswald's voice came hissing through the drone's speaker.
"Well, I'm sealed off in the cocoon, Jack's sealed in the back, the windows are cranked up to opaque, and we're ready to roll. I need to drop Jack off near a cab stand downtown, then we'll take the southern road to lower Redmond. We'll park a few miles from the glow proper, probably near the old hospital where they sent Heka. From there we'll provide offsite backup, but be close enough to get on the ground if needed."
There was a short pause in the torrent of words.
"If you're worried about me and your.. condition, please feel free to take a look around my warehouse. You'll see immediately that I don't throw away anything that's still useful. And before you go jumping to any conclusions and assume that it's common knowledge, I pieced it together from seeing you start smoking as you ran to the blimp earlier. That and you kept saying 'thou' in your messages. You might want to work on not using old English if you want people to think that you're normal like me and Danny. Heheheheh."

The nosferatu looks up from his recollections. "Good riddance, old man. Just one less annoying liability in my way." He enters the Rover and departs for the rendezvous point.

Monday, September 14th, 1:15 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

The team assembles at the park Zo located.

Professor, Void, Orlando and Zo were allowed to enter by Jovan's spirit. Their two vehicles, the one Zo and Void used and the van Orlando and Professor came in, stand to one side. A family of squatters were not so lucky. They apparently presented a threat to the security of the two gunmen, and the spirit 'guarded'. They lie in a bloody heap off to one side. Professor examines them for a moment and shakes his head.

Jovan's Rover squeals into the lot and pulls up to the other side of the team, behind a large pillar.

Professor next examines the two gunmen brought by the spirt. They lie unconscious, in critical condition, but look to be momentarily stable. Professor speaks to the team with commlink on for Jovan. "Well, their alive. I don't know what interrogation will get out of them. I hope Jovan's methods can cut through unconsciousness. And I hope they will survive the test." He's not convinced they will. The test, or Jovan's annoyed, short-tempered hunger.

"Jovan, let us know when you are ready. Anything at all we can learn about The Blind Man and his network would be useful. Zo and I will have a look at the data. Orlando will do what he can for Void."

Orlando beckons Void over to his van, where he is pulling out a large case from the back. Medical equipment line the back of the van. "Come. Let me see what the damage is."

Monday, September 14th, 1:16 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Jovan scans through his mentally prepared list of questions one final time while the team sets itself up. <<@team: My methods, like that of most interrogators, require my targets to be conscious. So I am ready for whenever you return them to the world of the waking. I will be interrogating them one at a time.>>

How to best conduct this next round of questioning? Should he use the same tactic as before, pressuring and terrorizing the suspects from the start? No, he reasons, we have too little information right now. Better to lure them into a false sense of security first. It will make this more enjoyable anyway.

Jovan focuses on the mana around him, with a strong image of a familiar face in mind. His body starts to blur and distort, as if he is in a painting and some godlike being has smeared him with a thumb. Within seconds, he is no longer the pale, impossibly thin nosferatu, but rather a healthy black ork in worn jeans and a dirty white shirt. He has become Swagger J, the bartender from Twisters that the team "rescued" two days ago. He smiles a tusky smile.

He comms the team again. The voice is unfamiliar to Void and Zo, but Professor does a quick double take at hearing Swagger J in Jovan's place. <<Alright. Wake the rifleman and bring him in first, the one with all his limbs still intact. Oh, and you may hear some screaming and pleading at some point. Pay it no heed.>>

Monday, September 14th, 1:16 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Zo notices the family of squatters as well, shakes his head in disapointment but not unexpected manner. Could av handled dat a bit better Jovie.. He goes over to look at the two street sams.

"Jovie, set aside the commlinks and ask for da passcodes to them. We'll get more truth outta da links dan dey would be willin ta give up. Prof, ya got a matrix specialist on tap yet? We migh need one ta hunt down any clues we might find."

Monday, September 14th, 1:16 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Void walks over to the street doc, his primary concern at this point being getting patched up. He bears the pain stoicly, but he is still shaken up a bit - it has been so long since an enemy has been good enough to injure him. Intellectually, he knows that there are plenty of underworld enforcers, cold-blooded corporate expediters, and street-hardened killers out there, people as good as he is if not better. But those people are rare enough that it is easy to forget, to feel invincible. Void vows to treat this first violent encounter as a personal wake-up call.

Focused on finally getting some treatment for his wounds, he pays scant heed to the disposition of the two captured orks. He doesn't even start at Jovan's sudden change in voice. But he does find the caution to ignore the screaming and pleading... reassuring. He disdains halfway measures - if you're going to interrogate someone, you can't afford to be squeamish.

Monday, September 14th, 1:25 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Orlando quickly and efficiently looks over Void's body, assessing the damage. A far-away look comes over him, one the team recognizes from Professor's practice. The healer is Awakened. The look soon changes, despite Orlando's visible efforts to control it, to one of disgust.

"You're in one sorry state, mister, and what you do to the magic around you will not make this any easier. I'll try for the major wounds, and let the kinks and sprains work themselves out."

After a few minutes of sewing, drugging and bandaging, Void feels a lot of the pain dissipate. Orlando hands him a couple of pills. "Take these in four hours. By morning you should be in good enough shape. Try not to let this kind of thing happen to you again. some major arteries were barely missed."

Orlando turns his attention to the two captives. Triage takes only a few seconds. Pointing to the one with the separated arm, he says, "That one will take more than I can do here. Back at my facility I might be able to bring him around in time.

"This one looks more promising for your interrogation." He quickly sews and bandages the other one, clearly doing a more temporary job than he did on Void. "If he is intact after the interrogation, I can do a more permanent job." He holds a vial of liquid under the nose of the repaired ork, and the man shudders and starts awake.

"If you want the other one for later, help me load him into my vehicle." He stands and waits for the decision.

Monday, September 14th, 1:25 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Void nods laconically. "Sure." They could very well get all of the information they need from the first guy, but until they know that for sure, probably better to have the other one handy, just in case. Void may be thin and wiry, but he is a thin and wiry ork. Despite some lingering discomfort from his recently treated injuries, he has no difficulties helping Orlando move the someone huskier ork specimen into the van. He is glad that he is not hauling the awkward load by himself, though.

Monday, September 14th, 1:25 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Void helps Orlando load the comatose shooter into the back of the vehicle. As Void turns, his eye catches sight of the two unique weapons the shooters were using. In this quieter moment, he wonders at a design he hasn't seen before. The quiet of the moment allows a memory to slip into his consciousness, a memory from the heat of the fight earlier: "Damned if those two weapons these guys have don't look like they are communicating with each other."

That memory, along with the sight of a small red light flashing rhythmically on the underside of the sniper rifle, shocks Void into realization.

"Zo! check the weapons. I think they have comms built-in!"

Zo scans matrix traffic through his commlink. The garage is insulated by its depth and material from the outside world, but the one weapon is continually trying to make a connection to the Matrix. His expression tells it all. Up until they entered the garage, the weapon was probably visible to ... someone.

Monday, September 14th, 1:25 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

"In da gun? I thought, nevermind, fragging Vipers. Should'av known."
Zo goes towards the weapons, and unplugs the battery. "Alright folks, we need ta get outta here now. His friends are gonna show up soon. Of course we could ambush dem. Prof, we really need ta get a good decker. Jovie, get a move on an mind rape da fraggers."

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

The Swagger J lookalike, who has been sitting in the privacy of the Rover waiting for the awakened shooter to be brought over, is immediately concerned by Zo's realization. This time, however, the nosferatu is not taken by surprise. He is irritated by the clever tactic, but he is increasingly realizing that the Blind Man and the Blind Man's network truly live up to their fearsome reputation. Irrational anger and panic will do no good against such opponents. This game of chess with the Blind Man must be played now, Jovan realizes, and cannot be ignored or delayed any longer.

<<@team: I am ready to begin the interrogation, so check the man for weapons and then bring him over. Check him thoroughly; I will not begin until you are certain that he is carrying no recording devices or other tools that would violate my anonymity. But... hmm. Give me a minute.>>

The shooters were sending their information to some other party, perhaps even The Enemy. Not bugs, and not the corporate shedim masters, no. But someone who knew what the shooters were doing there above Snuffy Q's. Thus someone who knew that Professor would try to acquire the files from the Spaniard's apartment. Such a someone is obviously extremely well-prepared. But how to adjust to this new development? Jovan's innate (though still untrained) analytical skills of mind start to kick in as he explores the situation and attempts to evaluate their opponents' next action.

Likelihood of an actual attack: Would the captured shooters' "friends" try a direct attack on the party that overpowered the shooters in the first place? Would they and the Blind Man seek to deny Professor any information he could get about the Blind Man through interrogation, or would it serve them better to put the parking lot under surveillance and tail him, Jovan, Void, and Zo as they leave?

Method of attack: Jovan and the others are deep inside a multi-level underground parking ramp. To reach Professor's team, attackers would have to either come directly down the ramp, use the emergency stairwells and hallways around the ramp, or use an indirect weapon, such as poison gas or flamethrowers. Which would be the most reasonable approach for a group of professional hitmen to take?

Target of attack: Since these Enemies are working on a task set by the Blind Man, they must have some special instructions regarding Professor. If they did indeed choose to initiate a confrontation, would they seek to target and kill the dwarf immediately? Would they seek to kill off Professor's colleagues and hired help first, to make him suffer? Or would they seek instead to kill the captured shooters first?

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Jovan's ruminations spark more ideas. Given that there may have been some regular check-ins by the ambush team, their Boss, whoever that might be, may not have known immediately that the ambush was compromised. In that case, assets capable of dealing with whoever took out the ambush team may take a while to be mustered.

Local, expendable cannon fodder might arrive first, however, to hold the unknowns in place till the experts arrive.

*****

The injured shooter surveys the situation, and he looks grim. His gaze holds for a moment on Zo as he scrambles to deactivate the weapon comms. Is that now a hint of a smile on his face?

Zo wipes his brow after shutting off the weapons, and wonders how much time they do have. Almost in answer to his thoughts, a faint but familiar sound drifts down the entrance ramp.

Bikes.

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Zo quickly moves to the half wall of concrete in the parking garage pulling out his thunderbolt.

<@team-time to lay an ambush. Jovie, get yer hoop out here an do somethin. Can ya pop in to da astral an tell me how many?>

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Building off of the momentum of his realization, Jovan quickly sees that they cannot afford to spend time in direct combat here; every second they waste will be another second closer to the arrival of The Enemy's deathdealers and thus his doom. We need to evacuate this place. Their forces are on the way. It is just then that he hears the faint sounds of motorbikes from up above.

Time is short. Jovan thinks fast, taking stock of the situation. We have a bit of time. Enough to redirect the situation in our favor. Can't spend time in a firefight. A trap. Yes. Wait... the concrete, will it hold? It should. Will have to risk it.

Like snow blowing in the wind on a cold winter's day, Swagger J's clothes, skin, and hair dissipate into tiny specks of light and vanish, even as he moves to the opposite window in the Rover. Jovan does not slow down to think about it. Eyes scanning the ramp as it leads up, around, and then back, he finds the corner closest to where it rises up out of sight, and he concentrates on the workings of a planned spell. Muttered words spew out from his mouth, forgetting that he left his commlink channel open. <<Earth my body. Water my blood. Air my breath. Fire my spirit...>>

Up the ramp, in that corner removed from the team, almost invisible to the naked eye, the air begins to move inwards into a tiny sphere as it is compressed by the will of a magician. <<@team: I have prepared for something like this. Knock out the prisoner again and get to the vehicles, all of you. We must be ready to evacuate. I have a surprise in store for them.>>

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Void, tensing in preparation of another fight, relaxes slightly at Jovan's message. Looks like the mage might have something in mind that will spring this ambush back on the attackers. Still, as he prepares to board the van, he snatches up the sniper rifle - if things do go sideways, it wouldn't hurt to have a heavier weapon on hand. He waits to see if Orlando takes measures to re-subdue the conscious ork - he figures the doc is likelier to be able to do so without damaging him further.

Monday, September 14th, 1:28 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Zo follows Jovie's instructions and gets on his bike. He glances over to Professor. "Prof, I'll run outrider an keep da go-gangers off yer backs. "

Monday, September 14th, 1:30 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Orlando shakes his head. How much can one man's body take? He grabs a slap-patch out of his black bag and administers it to the side of the shooter's neck. The man is bewildered at what has transpired in the few seconds he has been conscious, and almost instantly he is out again.

Vehicles loaded up, Professor calls from Orlando's, <<Professor @team: Looks like Jovan has cooked up some pressure to blow the cork holding us here. Let's roll. Jovan, you have the corkscrew, so you go ahead. We'll follow you.>>

The vehicles are lined up, Orlando with Professor and Void, and the two shooters in back, pull behind Jovan's vehicle. Zo on his bike takes the rear.

Monday, September 14th, 1:30 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

Having waited for over a minute now, with virus-boosted ears listening carefully to the sounds from up above, Jovan frowns slightly. They are waiting for us. A cautious bunch. Pity. The trap will just have to be brought to them.

<<@team: We take them by surprise, then we get out. These gangers are just here to delay us - more of the Blind Man's professionals are likely on their way to finish what our captives started. So Zo, protect our rear as you are doing, but do not stay for long. Pressure bombs made out of thin air and activated by murder thoughts will be quite a shock for these men as it is. Let's go.>>

A few AR commands later, the Rover begins the ascent out of the parking garage. Jovan sends a group message to the four watchers scattered throughout the building. Head up the ramp in front of my vehicle. Scout ahead and tell me how many metahumans are in front of the entrance and how they are positioned.

Monday, September 14th, 1:30 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

<<@team: Jovie, should me an Void be thinking of somethin else other dan plugging dese guys wit a drek load full of bullets? Void ya know dis tune?">>

Zo starts singing an Ork thrash metal song about slotting a joygirl who is mind blasted off of BTLs, offkey, and very loudly into the comms.

Monday, September 14th, 1:30 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

<<Void@team: If they get in our way, shoot them. But our main concern should be getting past them. Jovan is right - they are only here to delay us, and their loss would be, at best, a minor inconvenience to our adversary. >>

He doesn't reply to Zo's singing, although he does wince a bit, internally.

Monday, September 14th, 1:30 pm, abandoned underground parking lot

The convoy accelerates towards the exit ramp, Jovan's Rover in the lead, Zo and his bike roaring in the rear. As the Rover starts up the ramp, Jovan's spirit scout tells him there are eleven humans outside, a few on each side of the exit, and four slowly pushing a large object towards a position in front of the exit.

Before the Rover gets too close to the compressed air, Jovan lets go of the magic holding it in place. A thunderclap obliterates all other sound, even Zo's singing, A massive metallic clang rings out after the thunderclap. Coming through the dust cloud created by the explosion, the crew sees men on either side flat on their backs, hands on their ears, scrambling awkwardly and ineffectively to rise. To the left, a large, rusted hulk of a truck lies on its side, two men pinned beneath it and two more behind it, shaking their heads as if to get water out of their ears. One unfortunate, the closest to the explosion, now hangs motionless from a ladder spike on a nearby telephone pole. The way forward is clear.

Pedal to the metal, the convoy screeches out of the parking lot and past the overturned hulk. The two men behind the hulk draw weapons, but can barely hold them, much less aim. They fire and miss. Within seconds the team is beyond the range of small arms fire and rounding a corner.

Professor messages them all, <<Professor@team: Well done, Jovan. I'll have to remember that trick. I have a new place in Tacoma where we should be safe for now. Go here: address.>>

Monday, September 14th, 2:30 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

After careful driving to avoid pursuit, the convoy arrives at Professor's destination, a small warehouse on the waterfront in Tacoma. As they approach, the large garage door rolls up and the vehicles drive in. It closes behind them.

Inside, there is a main floor with ample parking space in front. to the left of the main door, a workshop is set up, including a vehicle lift. A regular door is at the front of this workshop. To the right is a walled-off section with a smaller garage door already up. It looks just right for a Rover. Professor sends Jovan the code for operating the door. Inside, the separate section are basic living amenities, and a small room with table and chairs that appears to be sound-proofed. <<Professor@Jovan:Hope the accommodations work for you.>>

The rear of the main floor has a lounge space with couches and trideo, a kitchen and a bathroom. A small back door leads out from the kitchen. Above this section is a second floor, with a glassed office area, and several other rooms, some of which are set up as bedrooms.

Professor steps out of Orlando's vehicle. "Welcome home."

Monday, September 14th, 2:30 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.


Zo looks around at the non-rat infested, structurally sound building."Can we'z get a low level jammer on dose guys. Dey might have commlinks implanted in der cycber.I'd hate ta hafta leave dis place."

Glad dat we went ta dat parking place first.

Monday, September 14th, 2:30 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Professor smiles. "You'll notice your commlinks have no access to the outer world here. Once the doors are closed, the building has jamming built in. One of the rooms upstairs has hardwired Matrix access from the old days. The former owner was actually apologetic about it, but it seemed like a bonus to me."

Monday, September 14th, 2:30 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Void's eyes look about him curiously even as his face stays impassive. This place is definitely a step up from his own drab, cramped, Spartan apartment. Despite the fidgety energy he feels from whatever Orlando gave him, he feels like crashing for awhile would be a good idea. He waits by the vehicle, though, anticipating that Orlando might need help hauling their "guests" again.

Monday, September 14th, 2:35 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Orlando checks the two captives. Pointing to the rifle guy, he says, "This one is stable, and needs rest, but can be interrogated. The other one needs more attention. I can give him that at my own medical facility, but not here. The best I can do here is keep him from dying. Waking him to interrogate him is a bad idea. He would likely expire from the shock.

"What is the plan?"

Monday, September 14th, 2:35 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Zo gives a hand in moving the mostly dead captive.

"Let's just get em inside an let Jovie try his mojo on em. Den we can take it from dere. "

Monday, September 14th, 2:35 pm, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Jovan looks up from his Emperor. He had spent the last stretch of the trip in isolation, reviewing his notes on the situation. After being awake for almost twenty hours, he can feel his cognitive functions beginning to slow - the adrenaline from escaping the parking garage has already mostly faded. It therefore takes him a few moments to realize what he is seeing.

"Welcome home..." Ghost, he can't be serious. I have to stay here, in a team base, with a gang member who can barely speak proper English, a healer with the Talent and the Sight, and the metahuman embodiment of unnatural evil? He is serious, isn't he? Outstanding. I suppose this is what I signed up for, after all.

Despite his schizoid reservations, Jovan is nonetheless satisfied with Professor's accommodations. He suspects that it will take some time to complete the preparations and get settled in, but it is a good start. At least he remembered to bring some of his tomes and security items with him in the back of the Rover.

<<@team: The next stage of our strategy is to interrogate the prisoners. This will be a drawn-out affair, especially since I have the beginnings of a plan for converting them into assets. I can begin on the first prisoner soon, but will need several hours between interrogation sessions. I will share the results with you all this evening.>> He doesn't bother to mention that he plans to finally sleep after the first interrogation. Hardly anyone's business but his own. <<Speaking of which, Professor, how do you plan to procure our goods from the Spaniard's contacts? How soon can we get them? Also, someone send me a copy of all the files we extracted from the Spaniard's apartment. I will need those and access to the room with Matrix access briefly before I begin on the prisoner.>>

Monday, September 14th, 2:40 pm, team HQ, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Professor considers the setup of the building and sees a small problem. They have the prisoners outside of Jovan's sanctuary. How do they get them inside and keep Jovan incognito? Hmmm.

<<Professor@Jovan: Could you please send the Rover out so we can place the first prisoner in it? You can retrieve him that way and keep your sanctuary secure.>>

Keeping comms open for Jovan, Professor addresses the crew. "We'll send the healthier one in for Jovan to do his interrogation. I'm not comfortable with putting the second one through such rigors right now. Orlando, take him to your facility and do what you can, as quickly as you can. As soon as you think he can survive some... intense mental probing, we'll have at him, too." And take your magical sight away from poor Jovan, too. Orlando nods. He places the interrogation subject on a cot from his vehicle and with Professor's help carries it over to by Jovan's room. Then Orlando mounts up and before driving away with the other one, says, "I should have him well enough to survive mental probes in a day or so. Full healing will be a long process for this one, I'm afraid."

Professor looks around. "Zo and Void, see what you can find on the computer, and I'll cook a meal for us." <<Professor@Jovan: I'll make a plate for you as well. Consume as you see fit.>>

Monday, September 14th, 2:40 pm, team HQ, dock warehouse district, Tacoma.

Void looks at the computer module a bit awkwardly - he was the same way with the comms, earlier; someone capable of using computer technology, but not someone comfortable with it. "I... can help you look, I suppose. Two sets of eyes are helpful, yes, but I am afraid my computer... skills... don't go much further than basic operation."