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Reality Fault

Realms: Guardians Logs

The First Mission - Part 1

Cosmic Guardians: The Double-Edged Sword

Part 1:The Gathering


It's about 5PM in LA as the train pulls in. Reynard comes out, toating three bags: two in hand, and Nikki's bag slung over his shoulder. Stepping out on the platform, he glances down at the watch on his wrist, having been asked to keep it safe. No safer place then taking up his old watch's position, on his right arm. But he yet glances uneasily around. After they got to the platform in New York she told him she'd see him in LA and then simply ...dissappeared. Right in front of his eyes. If he hadn't already been faced with far more disturbing things, he might be questioning his sanity right now.

Lupis has maintained his vigil in the main lobby this whole while, as he was never told to expect a train, only told to show up at a specific time. He lights up another cigarette, and flips to read his horoscope and biodex. There comes a call then over the intercom. "Mr. McCarter and Mr. Rodriguez, please come to the white courtsey booth. Mr. McCarter and Mr. Rodriguez, please come to the *white* courtesy booth.

Lupis hmms, then glances up and looks around, his gaze seeking out the white booth. Spotting it, he folds his paper up, stuffs it under his arm, and takes a deep drag on his Marlboro. He picks his guitar case up, and heads slowly over towards the booth, scanning the crowd and the people near the courtesy booth as he approaches it. Outside on the platform, Reynard's head tips at the intercom. He shrugs, and also goes off to hunt out the white booth, leaving the question of Nikki behind him for the moment.

The white courtesy booth is easy enough to find for both men, although it's surrounded by people on all sides, so getting to it takes some doing. Ironically, Lupis and Reynard see each other before they see the enigmatic Sasha, though they don't know who each other are. Lupis drops his cig and grinds out under the toe of a big black boot. He waits, looking impatient at the thickness of the crowd.

As they look around aimlessly, a curly-haired brunette approaches from the crowd as both men come into the same general area. She easily attracts the attention of both, as she's wearing what almost looks like a white lab coat and attractive wire frame glasses. "Reynard. Lupis." she says to each in turn.

Reynard's own eyes were caught by the labcoat and smart attire. Although, he instantly catches his name, and swims through the few people in front of him. Drawing to a stop to the side, searching for the other person indicated.

Lupis strides forward, likewise looking the brunette over slowly, from head to toe. He smiles slowly, then grins, and says in a smooth spanish accent, "Hello, Sasha."

Sasha, for that is indeed who she is, smiles back, though it's more polite than anything else. She then look at Reynard. "Is your...young charge with you?"

Reynard, catching Lupis's tone, gives him a once over, and absently smirks. I'm giving Him the shotgun. At Sasha's question, he looks a little baffled. "Ah... I don't know." He lifts his right arm, baring the watch. "She just gave me this and...poof."

Lupis's gaze fixes on Reynard. He notes the man's smirk, and his own lip curls up in a brief gesture, more snarl than smirk. Meanwhile Sasha nods knowingly in response to Reynard's confusion. "She's fine." Her lips quirk. "She'll probably...ah...'meet' us at the hotel."

Reynard still looks a little lost, "I take it she's...ah, sort've special, then?" Sasha smiles. "That's one way of putting it." she says mildly. Lupis seems oblivious to the words exchanged between Sasha and Reynard, his gaze locked on the bounty-hunter for some reason, his eyes mistrustful...as if he sees something about him that normal sight would not reveal.

Sasha looks at the two, absently noting Lupis's reaction. She sighs. "Come along, you two. There's a hotel nearby. Lupis, you'll follow the van I rented to the hotel, okay?" Lupis shakes his head momentarily, seeming to shrug off whatever was going on a moment ago, and looks over at Sasha. "Huh?" He clears his throat, suddenly embarassed. "Did you say something?"

Sasha rolls her eyes. "Just come." She starts walking towards the exit.

Lupis shrugs, and hoists his guitar case. He follows Sasha towards the door. "Where are you parked? My bike is right out front." Reynard, giving Lupis another measuring, if not curious glance from beneath his shades, simply follows the departing woman, walking mostly parallel to Lupis. Lupis pointedly keeps his gaze on Sasha's back, not turning to look at Reynard, as he follows her through the crowd.

"In the short term parking lot, Lupis. It's a white Ford Explorer. You'll see it easily." Sasha responds without looking back.

Lupis nods and heads over to his bike. He lashes his guitar case to the back of the seat again, turns the key, and revs the Harley to life. He heads slowly out into the short term parking lot, looking for the white Ford Explorer...

The van is actually very close to the exit, and Reynard climbs in with his bags as Sasha gets into the driver's seat. The hotel is, in fact, only a minute away from the train station, a small Motel 6. Sasha and Lupis can park right out in front of the hotel room, and Sasha opens the door, letting the two men and their luggage in. On one of the beds, a young asian boy, probably not more than thirteen or fourteen, is sitting on the bed and watching TV. He seems to be moving slightly back and forth and does not react to the men entering.

Lupis leans his guitar case up against a wall, sets his saddlebags down on the floor, and sits down in a chair. He glances at the television with mild curiosity, after looking the boy over briefly. What's got him so enthralled? he wonders to himself.

Nikki, who slipped back out of the watch around Reynard's wrist just as he climbed out, manifests inside the security of the van, and climbes out of one of the rear passenger doors after looking around to make sure no one is looking. She catches the room door as it is closing and follows the others in.

Reynard pauses a moment, at the sight of the young boy. He sets his bags down in the corner, though is paticulary carful with Nikki's equipment. With that, he drops smoothly into one of the chairs flanking one of those tables frequently into these places. He's absently studying the watch...and catches sight of Nikki coming in side, nearly stiffening in surprise.

Lupis looks up at the sound of someone else entering, and says, "Sorry, private party lady... The pools out back I'm sure."

Nikki waves and grins, looking around. "Looks a little subdued for a party."

Lupis stands up and walks towards Nikki and the door, peering down at her. He slides his sunglasses lower on his nose, revealing the green glow of his unnatural eyes. "Scram." he murmers to her...

Sasha just looks amused. "Miss Felder. How nice of you to join us."

Lupis turns his head slightly, and says "Oh, she's with you, Sasha? Apologies..." He flashes a brief smile and Nikki and steps out of her way.

Nikki blinks and takes a step back from Lupis as he gets to her, suddenly appearing a little...ethereal. She looks around him to Sasha. "Uhm...and you are?"

Reynard watches Lupis's actions warily. Ok, maybe he's not getting the shotgun.

Sasha just shakes her head. "She's with *us*, Mr. Rodriguez. Reynard, would you please close the door, so we can have some privacy>"

Lupis just shrugs, and says, "Thought she was a tourist..." quietly as he returns to his seat.

Reynard, perking at the command, gives a nod. The sudden dowerness, and oddity of his teammates has put him in more of a quiet mood. Drawing up from his seat, he moves to close the door, then reaches out, intent on gently poking Nikki's shoulder.

Nikki glances down at his hand in amusement as it passes into her shoulder. Reynard glances down at his hand in astonishment. He draws it back, like he'd touched a hot stove.

Sasha speaks up. "Reynard...the door?"

Lupis sits back quietly, and then suddenly staring at everything and everyone with a startled look on his face. He keeps his mouth shut. Reynard, without hesitation, shifts his foot, kicking the door shut lightly.

Sasha glances strangely at Lupis. "Are you allright, Mr. Rodriguez?" Lupis shakes his head slowly. "nnno--yeah, I'm fine. Just... saw something strange."

Sasha raises her eyebrows slightly, and then shrugs and looks back at Nikki and Reynard. "Are you done playing with Reynard, Ms. Felder?" she says archly.

Nikki nods to Sasha, looking a bit chastened. She looks at the boy on the bed. "What about him?" Lupis is looking at Nikki, and the look on his face seems to read, Him? what about you? Reynard continue to gape. He absently waves a hand through Nikki, and then finally just moves back to his chair, rubbing his eyelids.

Sasha appears to ignore Nikki's question for the moment. The boy ignores everyone equally, just weaving back and forth as he watches the TV. It appears to be some sort of cartoon. As everyone quiets, Sasha looks around approvingly. "Very well, then. First of all, since none of you have ever worked in a Coincidence before, let me lay down a few ground rules." she says crisply.

Nikki winces as she listens to Sasha. Geez...she might end up being even more of a hardass than Athena. Though, 'Thena was pretty good once you got to know her. Lupis puts his feet up on the edge of the bed, and settles back comfortably in his chair. Reynard continues to eye Nikki with a more curious, if not dazzed look, but lets his eyes return to the speaker. Elbow propped up against the wall, head reclines against hand, listening contently.

Sasha holds up a fist, and extends her forefinger. "One. The Unnatural Alliance, for all intents and purposes, does not exist. Unless you're in a place that you are one hundred and ten percent sure is not bugged, not is anyone not in the Coincidence able to hear you, you do not refer to the Alliance in any fashion. Not obliquely, not using initials, not ever. There is no guiding force behind us, as far as the rest of the world is concerned. We just...happen to show up and get involved."

Sasha extends a second finger. "Two. The Unnatural Alliance, for all intents and purposes, Does. Not. Exist. Coincidences are supposed to handle Incidents primarily on their own. Occasionally, Phantoms might be assigned to aid us, or to provide needed information or equipment. But we do not call on anyone for help unless the shit has really hit the fan....and only I can say when that happens." Sasha pauses for a moment to let that sink in. "As a side note, it is unlikely then that, if there is anyone you know in other Coincidences, that you'll be seeing them for quite some time, if ever. If you do see them, it's either unusual circumstances...or the shit has hit the fan. Am I clear so far?"

Lupis nods. "We don't talk about it, and can't expect any help. I'm clear."

Nikki blinks. "What about email? I correspond with one." Reynard raises a hand, also having a question.

Sasha softens slightly. "Email is, by and large, secure. I was referring to face to face meetings." She glances over. "Yes, Reynard."

Reynard nods once. "If we decide we've had enough, and want to bow out gracefully... have we become too much of a liability, to be allowed left alive?"

Lupis points a finger at Reynard in a 'bang bang' gesture, grinning. He winks.

Sasha purses her lips, as if not expecting that question, and not being sure how to answer it. Nikki glances at Reynard at his interesting question and back to Sasha. For his part, Lupis shrugs. "Where else do ... people... like us have to go anyway?"

Finally, Sasha replies, "The Alliance doesn't kill it's own....except in certain cases where an agent turns rogue. If you want to be removed from active duty, that can usually be arranged. But out completely?" She shakes her head. "Impossible to say. I know of no precedent. The Alliance administrators might trust you to keep quiet...or they might do...other things. To insure the secret is kept."

Reynard nods once. "Fair enough. Just wanted to know if I needed a will incase I'd seen enough, is all. Need to cover one's exits, so to speak."

Sasha nods. "If I may continue..." She holds up a third finger. "Despite the fact that I am the senior most member here...I am not your leader. I function best in an advisory capacity. Leadership heirarcy is formed in the group, by the group, sometimes trading off in certain cases of expertise."

Nikki huhs quietly. I wonder if everyone in Pantheon just decided Athena was the best leader.

A fourth finger. "The Coincidence is your family. I'm sure you all have secrets...most Alliance members do. But you should not keep anything secret that poses a threat to yourself, the Coincidence, the Alliance, or any innocents. We need to work together as a team, which means trusting each other. I'm not asking for that now, obviously...but without trust, we'll never be effective."

Nikki and Reynard nods promptly, but Lupis doesn't react. "How in the nine hells am I supposed to gain their trust after I tell them my secrets?" he wonders to himself.

Sasha finally holds up a fifth finger. "Finally....I'm sure for most of you, you already realize how serious this all is. However, this point needs to be hit home." She is not so much angry, now, as she is passionate. "This is not a game. This is real, and it's the most dangerous job in the world. We're the stick that's setting off the bear traps. " She pauses. "I'm sure that it's unlikely none of you know what happened to bring this about...but there is a reason this Coincidence was formed now, so soon after the most recent Coincidence, number nine, was formed." She pauses again. "I was....am...the last surviving member of Coincidence number eight."

Nikki blinks, standing up straighter. "What...?"

Lupis says, "Yeah, good question. Who took out number 8, and where do find them?"

Sasha seems to need to steady herself on a nearby bureau. "We were sent to rescue some children from a sect of the Argentum Astrum....a cabal of mages seeking power at any cost. But we walked right into a trap." She focuses briefly on Nikki. "You think ghosts can't feel pain? Tell that to Peter. His screams still haunt me to this day. I can only hope that, when his soul was torn asunder, he went on to the Heaven he deserved, instead of being sent to oblivion."

Nikki swallows, glancing at the others and then looking quickly back to her. Lupis leans forward, pulling his feet down off the edge of the bed. His glowing green eyes narrow.

Sasha looks at Lupis then. "The particular sect...is no more. At the end, it was just Richard and I....and he....he went on a suicide run. Enough explosive to take out all the remaining cult members....and the building they were in. All to save me....and Yin, here." She motions to the boy sitting and watching the tv.

Lupis says, "Was he the only one there? Or the only one that got out?"

Sasha murmurs. "The only one that got out."

Lupis shakes his head sadly. Nikki's gaze drifts to look at the boy, looking a bit sad herself.

Reynard frowns a moment. Mages...priests? Delightful. He holds up a hand, once more. Sasha glances at him, nodding. Her eyes seem luminous, as if she would cry if she could.

Reynard clears his throat. "Getting down to business, what's our 'mission'?"

Sasha clears her throat. "Yes...the mission." She goes to a satchel that's on the bed, and starts ruffling through it. "I'm sure all of you have met the Minotaur, the AI that guards the Labyrinth?"

Nikki nods. "Yeah...I've met him."

Lupis says, "Yes, once or twice."

"Quite an interesting little greeter," The bounty hunter offers.

Nikki lifts a brow at Reynard. "He's more than just a greeter. He's got to be one of the most complex gibsons on the planet."

Sasha continues to rummage. "A week ago, the Minotaur made a strange contact on the net. Something had stumbled across one of the Labyrinth's gateway servers and attempted to infiltrate. The Minotaur attempted to dissuade the program...whether it was a hacker or another Gibson we don't know...and, after some parrying back and forth, the program retreated. But it managed to send an email to admin@labyrinth.net.." She finds the paper she was looking for. "It said, 'I have found thee; when I lose thee again, I care not.'" She looks around at the others ponderously.

Nikki's brow furrows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Reynard flinches, the term having stirred something. Familiar...familiar... He tries to recall, rubbing his eyelids. "Oh!" The bounty hunter sits up. "I... I yes! Shakespeare."

Nikki says, "Like Romeo and Juliet?"

Lupis says, "I tried reading Shakespear in highschool.. man, it was beyond me."

Nikki nods. "Someone told me that you can't read it...that you have to speak it." She shrugs.

Sasha smiles wryly. "Something like that. It's from 'All's Well That Ends Well'. The gist of the comment is, "It doesn't matter if you evade me...I know you exist."

Reynard grins wryly at the others. "It's an English thing." Peering towards Sasha, "It was in one of his comedies... Yes, exactly."

Lupis shivers and looks around uneasily, but as Reynard speaks, he gives a nod. "Exactly why it was beyond my ability to comprehend. English is not my .. strongest language."

Lupis says, "That sounds like a threat, now that you translate it, Sasha."

Nikki frowns. "Something managed to escape unscathed from the Minotaur? That's pretty serious." She seems to be talking more to herself than anyone else.

Lupis says, "It wouldn't be the first time a minotaur had been bested."

Reynard says, "Fair enough, but it would show whoever pulled it off had skill."

Sasha produces another paper as the others talk. "Then, two days ago, the program made contact again. and this time the Minotaur was hard pressed to keep him out. Finally, the program retreated....but once again, a message was left, this one far more disconcerting than the first. It read 'We'll see just who joins a club and beats the other over the head with it. Let the games begin." And it was signed 'Sauvagine'. The message included a picture of...this." She shows a paper with a picture on it. It appears to be a tarot card, the Seven of Swords, and it has a picture of a man seemingly picking up swords and making off with them.

Lupis studies the picture. "Do you know that that card means, Sasha?"

Sasha looks grim. "Do you?" Lupis shakes his head. "No. But I might be able to look it up."

Reynard rubs his chin a moment. "Me thinks whoever it is, is making off with something important, if not dangerous, right under your noses."

The brunette shakes her head. "I'll save you the trouble. It signifies theft of power. This program managed to get into our system....it might have taken something out. Something of vital importance." She nods at Reynard. "Exactly."

Lupis says, "Might have? You don't know if anything is missing?"

Sasha shakes her head. "We could trace the path he took through our system...but because there are no files missing, we can't determine what he took."

Lupis says, "Oh, right. You can just copy those things, huh?"

Reynard glances toward Nikki. "Couldn't the sneak have just copied files, and not stole and deleted."

Nikki shakes her head. "Might have just copied one thing and deleted something else to throw you off the trail if he'd done that."

Nikki walks over and looks closer at the picture. "Do you have that in softcopy, Sasha?" Sasha produces a CD and hands it to Nikki. "All the information you'll need is on here, including the emails recieved, the logfiles...everything."

Lupis says, "So who is Sauvagine? Is that a name from Shakespeare or some french literature too?"

Sasha says, "We don't know. I've never heard of the name before. And no one else we've talked to seems to know either."

Reynard raises a hand again. "Sasha, a question. If the highups can't figure this one out, what, exactly, are we supposed to do? Hunt around for this Sauvagine?"

Nikki's form seems to solidify and she kneels down to pull a computer out of her bag, setting it on the dresser and opening it up. "Gorgon, set up a standard cracking and decryption system in a partition on your second drive and reboot to it." She reaches and takes the disc. "Thanks."

"After a fashion, Reynard. We managed to trace Sauvagine's path when he escaped...all the way to a router in Arizona. From there we lost the trail, but we're hoping that Nikki will be able to fill in the missing pieces. In the meantime...we head to Arizona."

Lupis says, "Ah, that's a relief."

Nikki blinks at Sasha while she waits for the computer to reboot. "Why go to Arizona? That'd just be a waste of time if it's just another hop on his hackpath."

Lupis gives Nikki a disappointed glance. "But..."

Sasha shakes her head. "The people that were on this were certain that Arizona was where the originating signal was coming from...they just couldn't decode the IP addresses it was using. So we know Arizona, but not specifically where."

Lupis smiles. "Great!"

Nikki grins at Lupis. "I take it you're fond of Arizona?"

Lupis says simply, "I miss the desert. " He sighs, and flips a lock of his hair out of the way. "There is nothing quite like the desert wind in your hair, as you ride through the open miles," he murmurs in his smooth spanish accent. "It is.. exhilerating. Uplifting." Lupis softly sings a few lines of a song about Arizona.

Reynard smirks. "Delightful. Even in winter, it's nay cool."

Nikki pushes the CD in the drive after the computer is done booting and kneels in front of it, starting to tap on the keys quickly.

Abruptly the boy speaks up. "Native tribes used seven different type of cactus for medicinal purposes." And then he's quiet again, as if this was something people say in passing all the time. Nikki glances over at the boy a moment and then goes back to typing furiously.

Lupis nods in response, "The Navaho. Powerful shamans they had, or so I read." Lupis turns his head, only just realizing it was the messed up boy who spoke. He looks Yin over, tapping his lips contemplatively with a forefinger.

Sasha notes the look. "You're wondering why I'm bringing the boy, aren't you."

Lupis says, "No, actually....Are you?"

Nikki chews her lip and zooms in several times on the image, leaning closer to the screen. Fiddling with the photo editor, she sharpens it up a little.

Sasha sighs. "Yin was....is....a very bright young boy. A prodigy, without the benefit of biomanipulation. But the events with the Argentum Astrum...damaged him. He's adopted an protective identity one might describe as autistic. Alone in his own private little world. And his parents died...he has no one left to take care of him."

Lupis nods. "That explains why a boy his age knows such unusual facts." Lupis sighs. "Well, maybe he will be of help to us."

Nikki appears to be zooming in by several times magnification on the tarot card picture. Everyone can tell this because Nikki provides no obstacle to anyone wanting to look...they can see right through her.

Sasha kneels by Yin. "Bookworm." she says in a soft voice. The boy bobs back and forth. "Bookworm." she says again. "Unhuh." the boy says, not looking at her.

Lupis watches Sasha and Yin with interest. Reynard also watches for a moment, but then looks away, having trouble paying too much attention to the boy.

"Bookworm, I want to introduce you to some people." Sasha says soothingly. "Kay." the boy says, tenatively taking her hand and letting her lead him, looking at the floor the whole time.

Nikki frowns and points at the screen. "Uhm...can anyone understand this?" She points to some engravings on the swords. She turns and looks over, however as she realizes the boy has stopped rocking.

Sasha smiles. "Nikki, I put that aside a moment. That's important, but so is this." She brings Yin to Lupis. "Bookworm, this is Lupis.""

Nikki nods and keeps kneeling, but turns her back to the computer, watching as Yin is introduced.

Lupis turns around and smiles, looking down at Yin. He holds out a hand. "Hi there. I'm Lupis. You like music?"

Yin weaves back and forth as he reaches out and touches Lupis's hand, all without looking at him. "Lupis." he says, as if recording the feel of the hand with the name.

The boy doesn't respond to the query, but his small fingers do explore Lupis's hand. Then he finally speaks again. "Dark blood."

Nikki blinks. Lupis does even more than that: his eyes widen in alarm. He restrains his instinct to pull his hand back. But his fingers shake a little. "You can... feel my Blood?"

Yin takes his hand away calmly, not answering. If Sasha understands the boys comment, or is just as startled by it, she makes no sign. Sasha leads the boy to Nikki next. "Bookworm, this is Nikki." Lupis just watches the boy nervously.

Reynard peers curiously at Lupis, at the mention of this new element... He wasn't informed of anything in relation to that.

Nikki purses her lips and takes a moment to solidify before offering her hand. "Hi."

Sasha puts a finger to her lips to Lupis as Nikki greets 'Bookworm'. The boy feels her hand now, again, without making eye contact. "Nikki." he says in a singsong voice.

Lupis looks relieved to have the subject changed. He slips out of the way, and heads into the motel room's bathroom.

Nikki smiles and tilts her head down and to the side a little, trying to see his face better. "Spirit. Angry. Misses man with dark eyes." the little boy suddenly says. Nikki starts. "How...how do you know that?"

Again, Sasha puts her finger to her lips. She takes Yin to Reynard now, who seems to be watching this all calmly. "Bookworm, this is Reynard."

Reynard leans down a little, putting his hands on his knees, trying to be level with the boy. Taking his glasses off, the blue slitted eyes peering curiously, although nerovusly, back at the boy. "'Ello there, little mate."

Lupis flushes the toilet and comes back out of the bathroom, just then. Nikki seems introspective and sad a moment and then watches as Reynard is greeted.

Yin does something different this time, and actually makes eye contact with Reynard. "The fox." he says in a small voice. He seems entranced with Reynard's eyes. "Furry."

Reynard gives a wry little grin. "Yep. Sharp, you are," He reaches up to ruffle the boy's hair. Nikki smiles. "I guess he likes you, Ray."

Yin does touch Reynard's hand now, and looks down again. "'Fraid spider-ladies gonna find you." he murmurs.

Reynard winces, through a rueful grin. "Perceptive, too." Yin doesn't reply, only turning around and hopping back on the bed.

Lupis says, "That's not perception. That, my english friend, is *Talent*" Nikki nods in response to his comment, looking quietly at Reynard's eyes as she does so.

Sasha nods. "I'm not certain if it's a power he always had...but Bookworm - he doesn't answer to 'Yin' any more - is able to touch a person and see what's in their heart, so to speak. He can see what you are...what you most care about..and sometimes, what you most fear."

Lupis smirks. "Prodigy is not a strong enough word, Sasha," he murmurs

Lupis walks back across the room to the small table. He sits back down and takes out a cigarette. While he looks composed, his hands are still shaking a little. Nikki glances at Lupis, and then back at the boy, wondering.

Sasha shakes her head. "The trick is to get his attention...and to keep it. I hope to draw the boy out...to get him to overcome this autistic personality he's adopted. And who knows what use he might be in this matter. His mind is a sink of information."

Lupis manages to get a match lit without dropping it, and lights a Marlboro. He takes a few deep drags. "Information is power.. Is that how the saying goes?"

Reynard gives a glance to Nikki, before returning his glasses. "So, we set to Phoenix, and scrounge for clues, hey?"

Nikki hmmms, "Think he'll know what the writing is?" Sasha blinks. "Writing? What writing?" Nikki turns around and points at the image. "On the blades. See?"

Lupis squints at the words. "That's Latin, I think." He traces the small lettering with his finger. "Durandan...and.... courtain." Lupis chews on his lip. "Give me a moment...the temology sounds familiar...I might be able to translate."

Sasha squints. "I sure hope so. It's greek to me....or, latin, anywa."

Nikki says, "Uhm...write it down or something? I've still got to run the logscans and stuff." Lupis ashes his smoke over the carpet carelessly, concentrating on Nikki's screen, and the picture. Then he nods in response to Nikki's request and looks around for the courtesy pen and pad of paper. He copies the words down. Nikki then flips to a different window and starts scanning the logs for anything the analysts missed.

Sasha looks at Reynard while the others are about their tasks. "So...what did you bring for firepower, Mr. Bounty Hunter?"

Reynard pauses at the question, then jerks his chin toward the bag. "Several handguns, a rifle for long-range, and a shotgun. Oh, and two riot grenades, and an explosive." A shrug of his shoulder. "I wasn't sure what, exactly, to prepare. I could likely get my hands on something else, in Arizona." He thinks a moment. "Sasha, what things were in the area where the security breach was? Was there anything of paticular interest, or concern, in the noted area that it passed through?"

Sasha folds her arms. "The program did a circuit of the system...one it was in, it was in. It could have taken anything...personnel files... Lodge locations...hell the location of the Labyrinth servers themselves." Reynard ah hahs... "That's...not helpful."

Sasha nods. "The reason that this is so critical is that no one knows everything about the Alliance....except the Founders, and the Labyrinth itself.""

Lupis finishes his cigarette, contemplating the words, and jotting a few notes underneath them. After a few minutes, hestands up and walks back over to Nikki. He hands her the note pad. On it he has written 'inflexible' and 'a short sword or or cutter' "Now, that's from spanish. Old latin could have different meanings than the spanish words... but that's the best I can do without a library card."

Nikki glances at the slip of paper while the scan runs. "Are these letters on normal tarot cards?" Lupis grimaces, "I.. don't know. I don't use tarot. I cast bones or roll dice instead. Not that they ever tell you much."

Nikki says, "Are the cards easy to get? Maybe we could get some."

Lupis laughs, "We're in LA, Nikki. There is a New Age store on every block!"

Sasha nods, "Especially that brand, the Rider-Waite Tarot. It's the most common. Hell, I've seen it for sale in CD stores." Nikki ohhs and shrugs. "So let's get some and see if these are on all of them or if they're a clue we can use." Nikki looks thoughtful again, and pulls the image window back to the front and looks at the magnification setting. "Hmm...nevermind....this is way to small to be on any normal cards. It was added by someone."

Lupis says, "Maybe Sasha can find a latin translator for us? I'd go to the cathedral and ask a priest but... it wouldn't be polite of me to go into a church." Sasha looks at Lupis oddly. "I don't know about a translator...although I can get a hold of a latin to english dictionary."

Lupis says, "Good enough. If you can't find a dictionary, you could ask a Catholic priest. Some of them speak latin."

Reynard glances back toward Nikki. "Why? Is she purposely leaving clues, to get some on a trail? Why leave a clue at all?"

Lupis says, "Ah, but Reynard you forget....." Lupis grins. "Let the games begin." he quotes from the email.Nikki grins in reponse. "Yeah...A lot of hackers are egotistical. They have to leave some sort of signature to make it...fair...I guess. It doesn't make very much sense, though." She adds more quietly, "My brother did it, too."

Reynard says, "I would think the leaving of the card and his name alone would've fed his ego enough..."

Lupis shakes his head. "It's more than just ego. Whoever Sauvagine is... they want to play."

Reynard taps his chin thoughtfully. "Lupis, have you checked if Sauvagine means anything in spanish too?" Lupis frowns. "Hmmm. Maybe. We'd better get a look at some language dictionaries."

Nikki says, "Sounds French..." She pops to the scan window and adds the translated words into it, just for kicks.

Reynard says, "Or classical."

Lupis nods, "My thoughts exactly."

Sasha nods. "I'll see if I can't get a dictionary in a moment, Lupis, in the meantime..." Lupis grins. "COol. We can look into these names and words today before we go. Are we staying the night, Sasha?"

There is suddenly an ominous knock at the door...

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