Those aren't ... that isn't shrapnel. What did they hit you with?

Cat looks around at the alley they're in.

We need to get out of this area. This isnt the best neighborhood, and besides your clothes are falling apart. My bike was blown up, and I'm guessing the third explosion was whatever you came in. I'll call us an auto cab.

Would you prefer a street docs, or do you have a doss?

Cat keeps looking around, keeping an eye on the area. She carefully takes Smoke's arm to lead her down the alley, trying to be gentle, and not force her to follow.

Smoke lets Shadowcat take her hand, careful to only touch her with her palm.
I have a place. Call the auto-cab. Smoke stands to the side while Shadowcat places her call. She watches the area astrally, wary of what may be lurking.

Shadowcat places a wuick commcall for an atocab, meeting it a good 6 klicks away from the ambush site. She leads Smoke, using her fly dreons to scout for any urban predators, as well as her watcher spirits.

I can hack the cab so that it won't record our faces. This area doens't have enough tech or security levels to warrant autocams anywhere else. Our idnetities will be safe.

Are you still bleeding? I can't tell what's fresh and what's blood from the first wounds.

Miko takes out her medkit from her bag and starts it up.

Sit down and we'll see what we can do. At least get some pain killers in you.

Her voice has definite concern in it.

Smoke looks confused and pulls back for a moment.
Why are you doing all of this for me? What do you care? You just met me less then an hour ago. Her voice is tinged with suspicion.

Cat squats where she's sitting and looks at Smoke. She removes her sun galsses, looking the young woman in the eyes.

I've been on my own and hunted before. Other people helped me. Besides, we're in this mess together. You know that they say "us girls gotta stick together". You're hurt. I can help you. Whether or not you want help, well that's up to you.

Smoke looks in her in the eyes and nods.
Yes, then. I think I may need the help to get back to where I was. No street doc's though, and pain killers won't help. I'll be fine. I just need to get some rest and new clothing.
Smoke pulls her knees up to her chest and keeps her head down, her hair falling down around her.

miko pushes the hair back gently

You're still hurt, You need some help, or you're going to bleed more and pass out. I can understand being senstive to it. It doesn't look very comfortable. Just let me see what I can do about the cuts.


She begins getting out bandages and swabs for cleanging the wounds. She runs the scan throug hthe medkit, ignoring it's suggestions for dealing with the bone spurs.

Logic 4 -1 for defaulting +6 for medkit rating -2 awakened -2 conitions= 5 dice
5,5,2,4, = 2 sucesses

There, that should take care of the worst of it.
Cat slwoly re-wraps the sari aound where she had to expose Smoke's skin to apply the bandages, looking at the young woman, girl really, to see if her work has had any success in easing her.

Smoke sighs and nods.
Thank you. The pain isn't so bad anymore. Sometimes it just gets to be so much... Seeing the rest of the bandages in Shadowcat's kit, Smoke snatches them up and begins wrapping her exposed hands. She cringes a little when the blood soaks through but keeps wrapping until the bone tips are wrapped and hidden.
What do you think will happen to this man, Calypso?

Groupsliek the Black Lodge are like the boogey man. No one really believes they exist. So anyone in those files will probably dissapear to keep any more secrets from getting out. Calypso screwed up big time. The Black Lodge is supposed to be some big magical order, which could explain all the mages.

We creamed two of them, and the na bnch of people got exposed, just because he was an idiot who didn't know how to handle people. Then he over reacted ad set of a bunch of explosions. With all those people around, I'm sure that at least one of those watcher spirits around weren't his. Meaning that there will be others that will know exactly what went wrong. He probably won't know that he's been had before his superiors do. What would you do in that position?

Cat smiles wickedly. She sets to applying the med kit to her own wounds

3 dice since there's a minus to working on your self 5,3,2 = 1 success. Down to 2 boxes phys from drain

Do you always wear that full wrap?

Smoke just nods and helps with the medkit and the bandaging.
I've heard of the Black Lodge. A myth, they said. Apparently, someone is either trying to create a diversion or the Black Lodge has employed a world class idiot who revealed himself.
Helping to apply the bandage, Smoke's fingers graze over the tattoo on Shadowcat's back.
I like this. It's very pretty. What does it mean?

The dragon is a symbol of strength and power. The cherry blossom and symbolizes trainquility. The chrysanthinum is a very mystical and powerful flower.

Judging by Calypso's support, I'd say it would be more liekly the real thing. No one but Lowfyr would devote seven very powerful mages to a diversion. If the dragon is involved, we might as well [i\both[/i] move to Japan.

Do you have a safe place?

I have a place. It's ... not mine, but it's been safe enough. Do you?

I have a place, but not one I relish heading back to so soon. It's not exactly disposable.

You should try wearing some other clothes some time. The spikes aren't that bad, and you're very pretty. You could really make a stir in the right circles.

Smoke's eyes cloud over and she drops her head again.
Who is this woman to speak to you so boldly? Pierce's voice echoes in her head and she can feel a sense of protective jealousy.
I don't know what you mean. You could come back with me if you like.
What? You would invite this woman into our home? You do not know her! For all you know she could be a plant of this Calypso. She wants something from you. Do not trust her!
Smoke cringes slightly from the force of Pierce's words.

If your place is .. disposable, I would appreaciate it. I will only stay for tonight, when I believe it is safe. if we are somehow being trailed, it would be safer in numbers anyway. Although I'm sure they think we are dead. At least for now. Thank you.

Cat takes a moment to scan her self and Smoke, as well as both of their commlinks to make sure that there are no tracers on either of them. Noticing he grimace, She leans forward, and gets up.

Come, you're obviously in pain. :et's go get that cab and get you home. Then you can decided if you want me to stay or not

She's obviously embarrased about the spikes. It's probably been a while since anyone saw them. That I can understand. She needs someone who won't judge her for what no one else understands.

Cat offers her hand to Smoke.

Smoke accepts the offered hand and stands up. Seeing the cab approach, Smoke heads for it and slides in. Once inside, she slides down into the seat and presses herself back against the seat.
It's a movement made of habit, the attempt to make herself disappear.
She winces for a moment and then repositions herself, some of the fabric from the seat catching on the back of her exposed thighs.

Relax. We'll take the cab around for a while. Maybe change once or twice. Can you have a spirit or two keep an eye on our tails? I've already got a few drones watching our backs as well.

Cat hacks the autcab quickly, deleting it's camera history, and plotting a long ,random toure that will take a good hour and a half, to give time to lose any tails. The route will take them all over the metro plex.

That should give us some time. I've plotted a long, random route. It should take over an hour. That should help us spot any tails. I'm going to have to change my number real quick. I can do yours as well if you'd like. You should relax, let your spirits guard you.

Either this is all very new to her, or she's a ver ygood actress. Could be either with someone so young. She must be younger than I am.

Spirit, continue your watch. Follow me, warn me of any spirits that may follow. Pierce, my love, watch over me as well. This woman knows much that I do not. She navigates the digital world like I do the spiritual. It will be to our benefit to learn from her, to let her protect us.
Smoke nods to Shadowcat.
My spirits will follow us and keep an eye out for anything that may try and follow. I do not understand the electronic world like I should. Would you help me disguise myself as you do?
Smoke holds out her commlink, a simple system with very little in the way of security or protection.

I don't need you comm to do this, I can get all the info from here. let me know if there's anyone I need to forward your new number to.

Cat starts by accessing her profile info, and going to the number to make any chnages to the account. The high end commlink is for her running , so her SIN nad aactual info aren't linked it. It's a created account to a non-existant SIN. She scceses the host system through the submit option, eiding the changes made to her account in to the system. She takes the time to find all of the generic information for the account she created, under the name Youa Dumass, and begins removing everything, including the dummy billing info.

Once the account is cleared, she creates a new one from scratch, making sure to change the date of creation to a year ago, and update all billing in the system to paid for the next year. She creates a generaic e-mail account and has the billing receipts forwarded to it for the monthly reports, and setst hte account for auto-delete.

She repeats the process for Smoke's commlink, sending her the new number for her commlink.
The whole process takes about ten minutes running full VR.

Alright, you're set. Now, about your clothes. To be honest, your sair makes you stick out more than the spikes do. You could pass them off as body augmentation well enough. There's plenty of places in the sprwal where people won't look at you twice, as long as you're wearing the right clothes. And we really need to get you some decent armor. A longcoat probably wouldn't be to restricing. Maybe a vest instead of a shirt so that it doesn't snag. I think you're going to fall in love with synth leather.

Where are you from aynway? Your accent sounds english. No need to answer if it's private.

Smoke smiles down at her commlink.
Thank you, Shadowcat. I appreciate your help. As for new clothing, I... I don't know. It's what I've always worn. It doesn't hurt to wear... there are a lot of things that do. Things that other people take for granted. I have to towel off after a shower with silk, terry cloth is like rubbing velcro over my body. Smoke shudders If you think this "synth leather" would be better, I suppose I could try it. I'm not so sure about walking around so exposed, I don't like the idea of people looking at me. Smoke pulls her arms a little tighter around herself, inadvertently scratching her skin and drawing blood. With a sigh, she casts a Sterilize spell.
That was a Sterilize spell. I cast them frequently. I'll need to do it again once we're out of the cab to make sure none of the blood or hair left behind is good to anyone.
She leans her head back against the window and stares out.
My accent? It is English. I was from there... once. She smiles back at Shadowcat. That sounded rather dramatic, didn't it? Suffice it to say that I cannot and will not go back.

A lot of people in our business have the same story, for one reason or antoher. Places they can't go back to.

Beliee me Smoke, drying off with silk is no punishment either. You need something smoth and strong that won't pierce or catch easily. Leather will do that. You shouldn't worry aobut people seeing you. You're a beautiful young woman that has an aura of danger and menace to her. That's poweful, and people will respond to that, if you use it properly. I'm not going to tell you what to do. Just giving you something to think about.

I will think about your words, Shadowcat, and I thank you. Smoke straightens up slightly in the seat, as if the words have helped her to regain some of her confidence.
She is right, my love. You are a beautiful woman. Not even the courtiers of the 'Wood could compare with your face. But, leathers? So common, we will dress you in silks and satin. You can wear your "armors" underneath, we shall find you something fitting, my beautiful one. Do not let this silly human dress you in the clothing of her kind. You are far above such base designs.
She is trying to help, my love. Do not dismiss her so out of hand. I will not forget my place. I will not forget the things you have shown me. I keep the image of the True Queen with me always.

Cat sits back for a while, just sits back and enjoys the view of the city as the commandeered auto cab gives them the tour of the sites. She programs the trip to include some of the more interesting areas about Seattle, such as the arcology, ass Smoke seems like she needs to get out more. She makes sure to include a trip Dante's Inferno, the Club Inifinty, the Changeling/Mage club.

After some sight seeing, she turns back to Smoke.Alright, input your address and we'll get you home.

Smoke looks up the address in her commlink and then enters it in the navsoft system.
She sits back and looks around outside. From where we are it should only be another 10 minutes.
What about you, Shadowcat? Are you from Japan?

Osaka. Yes.

I still miss it sometimes. Things are very different here. Of course, that's part of the appeal as well. I have been trying to smooth out my accent some. Most people here appreaciate the smoothness of it, but if it's too strong, some of the westerners have trouble understanding, and simply stop listneing. The English have a very alluring accent when spoken smoothly as you do. That is something else you can use.

Cat waits as Smoke puts in the address, then puts in a timed command to clear all the route information recorded so far, and a second command to continue the random driving.

You speak of using my appearance and my accent to my advantage. I confess that I do not understand what you mean. How can such... Smoke waves her hand over her body such things be an asset?

Spikes or no, you're still beautiful. There aren't a lot of red heads that can pull it off in this area. The spikes make you look dangerous and edgy. You just have to carry your self with confidence. Like you not only have every right to wear them, but that everyone else should want to. Even if you're faking it, a lot of people don't know the difference

Smoke smiles, the kind of wicked smile no one usually sees.
I like that... like everyone else should want to wear them...
Yes, my love. That's it exactly. Pierce croons. Everyone is such a fool. They have taken upon themselves no protection. They believe these silly little guns and machines will save them when the time comes. They are wrong. We are the Protected. We are the Strong. We deserve the adoration of the world for accepting the price of courage.

Cat simply smiles at Smoke's wicked grin and sits back.

That's more like it. Give a girl some pride and some strength, and she can run the show. Smoke could have been an Angel in another life. She's got the fire. Looks like she's just been with the wrong people. SHould be interesting to see where she lives, if she decides to let me in at least.

I wonder if those things are everywhere?

Cat waits for the cab to come to a stop in the suburbs, then quickly climbs out, motioning for Smoke to do the same. She quickly casts a force 4 invisibility oer the both of them before they get out.

First casting 6 sucesses
Second casting 4 successes.

Enough to shield them from any technological means of observation

Drain#1 Resited 4 out of 3 boxes
Drain#2 Reisted 3 of 3

We should get in side quickly. The invisibilty spells will protect us from any technological means of spying on us.

Cat moves up to the door quickly, watching the cab pull away after the 6 second stop she'd programmed in.

Don't forget your sterilize spell. The cab will go random for the next hour or so, then return to normal duty.

Before closing the door after she's stepped out of the cab, Smoke casts both Sterilize and Clean at Force: 5.
Spellcasting Test: Sterilize

Spellcasting Test: Clean

After the spells are cast, Smoke shuts the door and runs her bandaged hand down the outside of the door, effectively smudging any fingerprints that might have been left behind.
She turns and regards Shadowcat on the Astral as she's unable to see her physically anymore.
Follow me. Smoke walks up the driveway and then enters a code on the garage door. The garage opens and Smoke steps inside. Once Shadowcat is inside, Smoke hits the button to lower it again.
Inside, the garage looks as though it belonged to either a middle aged biker wanna-be with a serious thing for elf porn... or Smoke is not the girl Shadowcat though she was.

At the first sound of explosions, Trevor, shifts to his mist form and moves to a nearby abandoned building. Double crossing ass! I am sure that one of those explosions was my car. I am afraid that I will have to go to ground. Calypso, I suppose that you and I will have to tango once again. I do hope that your blood is sweet ....

Alex:

Plan B:
Cat takes a moment to admire a few of the holos after droppping the invisibility, then points and looks at Smoke, looking a bit amused. Yours?

Smoke raises and eyebrow and laughs.
No, the previous tenant departed in a hurry. Some of his personal effects are still around.
It's strange but once Smoke is out of sight and in the house, her posture straightens and the confidence and swagger from the meet is evident once again.
Smoke opens the door and walks inside. From the look of the place, a lot of the previous tenants personal effects are still around... like all of them.

Cat takes a moment to download a few of the mor einteresting pics, then heads inside behind Smoke, taking a moment to look around and get a feel of the place. It's definetely not Smoke's style, unless she's seriously misjudged her.

Well at least that means the place is disposable. Wonder where the owner is?

Girls not your thing then?

Cat heads towards the kitchen.

With her back to Shadowcat as she heads toward the bedroom, Smoke responds:
I don't have a "thing". I've never been with anybody... the kitchen is down the hallway, make yourself at home.

Trevor begins hunting for the hit squad and looking to pick off one or two of them and stray from the group.

That's too bad. The real thing is usually better than the chips, no matter what the dealers say. You should try it some time.

Probaly shouldn't tease her too much about it. It's probably a sensitive thing. But maybe if I open her up to a few more possibilites...

Betting that the original owner was in fact "a middle aged biker wanna-be with a serious thing for elf porn", she went to the fridge, and of course found beer. She took one, and began enjoying it throughly.

Smoke returns a few minutes later, wrapped in a sarong looking thing at the waist and a black tank top. Her arms are covered in elbow length black satin gloves.
She smiles at Shadowcat's drink of choice and sets about making herself tea.
It's a strange little ritual... but Smoke seems to enjoy it.

That's more like it. Flaunt what you've got. Cat smiles.

She's not Miko , but she sure isn't bad


If you don't mind my asking, why the gloves? This is your home .. sort of. If it is really more comfortable, forget my asking.

Smoke smiles. I hate always catching them on things. This way, my hands just sort of slide over everything. See? Smoke runs her hand down Shadowcat's arm and smiles. The glove feels warm and silky. It must be re-enforced somehow because it's almost impossible to feel the spurs.

Cat smiles, leaning i to her hand a bit, responding.
Mm.. Very nice.

She must be a lot more comfrotable here if she's playing at flirting. A very interesting girl.

So , what do you do for fun here? We shouldn't go out for a while, and I need very little sleep. What's good here?

Smoke laughs. Well, since you seem so interested. There's quite a selection of elven pornography. The man who lived here before has chips, Matrix and Trid channel subscriptions, and even paper magazines. Quite an impressive collection. He also has a Harley Davidson motorbike in the backyard, since you seem to like those things. It does seem to be a in a bit of disrepair at the moment though.
He also has quite a collection of what I can only imagine is "bachelor food". Pizza, beer, chicken wings, and a lot of little sauce packets filled with some sort of pepper sauce.
Smoke laughs delightedly and sips at her tea.

hmmm... He doesn't sound half bad, excpet for leaving a bike like that out in the yard. Someone should hurt him for that. I've never really gotten used to American food though. Pizza makes me feel oily. Paper magazines though, that I do ahve to see. Lead the way, lady of the House.

Cat laughs

Smoke nods and heads towards the living room. It's decorated about how you would expect it to be. A comfortably lumpy couch, a scarred and water stained coffee table with an assortment of turn of the century Playboy type magazines in clear plastic covers scattered across the top and an expensive leather recliner and big screen trid set.
The only thing that seems to be out of place is the arterial spray plastered across the wall behind the recliner.
Smoke indicates the coffee table and the magazines.
There you go. I've been thinking about selling them. I believe they may be valuable.

They probably are in the right market. Let me scan them, see what you've got.

They've got good reading in them too by the way.

Glancing over at the bloodspray on the wall, Cat picks up the magazeins and goes thrugh them carefully.

I'll ahve to remember that. Anyone that leaves bloodstains on the wall is a little less careful than I would prefer. Or more bloodthirsty.

Nice. Has the Natasha Winters issues, this one with her wife. Trust me, worth your time.

Cat hands over the magazine in question, picking one out for her self, then heads for a chair that a man dind't die in

Smoke seems to notice Shadowcat's glance and appears embarassed. For a moment, she just stands there as if debating with herself.
Leave it! It's a mark of pride, of a kill! You are letting this woman you barely know dictate to you. You made the kill, show your pride!
Did you see the way she looked at it, my love? It's perhaps something that's not done anymore. I don't believe they mark their kills in such a way. Perhaps subtlety is the way we should follow.
Smoke listens for Pierce but recieves only silence. She sighs in frustration. He often did this when she angered him or went against his wishes. Because of it, it was something she often didn't do.
Smiling she turned to Shadowcat.
My apologies, Shadowcat. Where are my manners? I didn't know I was having guests, or I would have cleaned up.
Smoke casts clean on the wall, erasing the blood.

Cat can't help but laugh. It's that or be worried about the young woman who's so casual with blood spatters. Yakuza do not show weakness.

Don't concern your self. I would be a inconsiderate guest if I were to judge my host for making her self comfortable. please, sit with me for a while. I could use some unwinding.

Do you prefer paper mediums, or do you use chips?

Cat starts idlyy fliping through the magazine.

I have never tried chips before. I enjoy the paper medium, although some of the pictures are very common. Smoke sits with Shadowcat and picks up one of the magazines, sliding it out of it's plastic case and turning the pages with care.
What about you, Shadowcat? Which do you prefer, men or women?

Cat's expression get a bit more serious.

I prefer the company of women in all things. I've had more time with men than I would choose, and do not intend to give them any more of my time then I can avoid. I'm not a man hater, despite how I suppose that sounds. I just know what I prefer.
She relaxes a bit, forcing a smile back.

I have a few chips if you're interested in trying it. Perhaps give you a chance to sample before you buy something.

Smooth Miko. Awfully giving with thepersonal info tongiht aren't we. A simple "women" would have done just fine. Might as well just blurt out a few of those rape stories. Idiot.

I suppose I understand what you mean. Men can be ... demanding. The last part is spoken directly to Pierce, but still silence is all Smoke gets.
She smiles at Shadowcat. I think I might like to try something like that, though I am unsure of how. How does one use a chip?