| Logs |
2002 January 27
| Weston |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Weston Logs |
A funny thing happened on the way to the
The Setup
Saburo's limo picked him up from work. It had been a long day, but he was looking forward to getting home to the wife and kid.. until the back of his limo filled with gas...
Bethpage was just leaving a shop, where she'd stopped to get a sandwich. She remembers the back of her head exploding in pain, and the vague sensation of being pulled into the back of an SUV
One of Kavanaugh's flock approached him and told him he had something important to discuss with the Father and that he needed to talk in private. In confession. Kavanaugh sat down next to him in the booth and the man started to explain that he'd done something bad. When Kavanaugh asked what it was, he stuck Kavanaugh in the side of the neck with a needle, filled with something to put him to sleep...
Geneviev had a minor malfunction that required a small tweak to be done to the cybernetics in one eye. It wasn't focusing properly. She went to a Street-Doc to get the repair done. She remembers thinking that the Doc really didn't need to put her to sleep.. a local would have worked just fine...
Pitch Black was minding his own business on the way home from a local Noodle House when he was hauled into the back of an SUV. He struggled valiantly, but in the end was knocked out by the men who grabbed him...
They Awake
The Barracks
The walls in here may have been white once, a long time ago. Now it has the dreary appearance of a room that has been too long without a can of paint. There are large chips in the wall, showing the plaster underneath. The white paint has faded and yellowed, giving it a distinctly brown hue and the scent of stale smoke hangs in the air.
A half-dozen beds line each wall with a footlocker at the foot of each bed and a rickety table beside. Most of these beds are empty of everything, including bedclothes, but some of them have been made and still others have people sleeping in them.
A single door leads out.
Bethpage You see a small glam-goth female with excellent bone structure, an angular, high-cheekboned face, a somewhat-too-strong nose, and delicate bare collarbones. Her milky cheeks are dusted with silver holographic sparkles, and her makeup is unsubtle: large silver-grey eyes are outlined in sharp black lines, her eyelids are thickly silvered to match her fingernails, and her wide lips are a metallic black. Her mass of purple-black hair is far from immune to the glitz-- the top of her head is the kind of fluffy-spiky riot that comes only with the loving application of mousse, and the rest of her straight hair falls thickly to her hips, twined with metallic ribbons and bright starry jewels that seem to hang on by sheer technology. She's wearing a wide black studded vinyl hip-belt, battered black leather calf boots, fingerless biker gloves, a light-looking faux chainmail vest and a matching low-slung, tiny chainmail skirt over a matte black catsuit that stays snug to her figure.
Saburo You see a fit Japanese man. He is fairly tall, at 5'8", with a lean, slightly muscular build. He is in his late 30's, just a few early age lines showing around his eyes. His hair is jet black, and just a bit long around his ears and collar.
Saburo is wearing a well tailored 3 piece suit, dark bluish-black in colour, with a single-breasted jacket and a simple red silk tie. His shirt is royal blue, and he has nice black shoes on, with heavy soles. Over his suit, left open, is a long black monocrys trenchcoat. Two empty shoulder holsters peek out now and then from the inside underarm area of his coat. An empty katana scabbard is strapped over his back.
Saburo has a cyberdeck interface jack at his left temple, but other than that, appears to be a normal human... wait. His eyes are a deep sparkling blue-- not a natural eye color for those of Japanese heritage.
He is wearing a gold ring with a large diamond on his wedding ring finger, and has gold earrings set with emeralds, one in each ear lobe. On his tie is a large ammolite and gold tie clip, and he has an expensive looking solid gold Omega Speedmaster watch on his left wrist.
Geneviev An attractive young woman who appears to be in her early 20s, Geneviev stands about 5'4" and has a rather athletic build. Her face is delicately boned with pleasant angles and a clear complexion. If she wears make up, it's very lightly done. Her eyes are a pale blue and seem to have the tendency to look about frequently, as though she's nervous. Her hair is shoulder length and dirty blond in color, currently pulled back into a single braid.
She is wearing a black, long-sleaved, knit turtleneck and black denim pants. On her feet are a pair of dark walking shoes that look to have seen a lot more running than walking.
Henry Kavanaugh is early middle-aged, but you'd never be able to tell just by looking at him. His hair is salt-and-pepper, as is his thick beard, a little ragged but neatly-trimmed. He has the body of someone who was much lighter once upon a time, but is now husky and a bit on the bulky side, though there is nothing to suggest he is anything but in shape.
He wears a set of old, well-worn, and oft-mended, olive green fatigues and, underneath them, a black high-collar shirt; the white square of a clerical collar peeks out from beneath his beard. The epaulets of the jacket are trimmed in red. Over the jacket, he wears a green pistol belt, sans any pistol but with pouches and such, over a dark blue sash or cummerbund or towel or something. He wears a ring which has an oddly-shaped fleur-de-lis upon it, and if one is close enough they can make out the tiny motto surrounding it: 'Legio Patria Nostra.'
His eyes, though, in comparison to the tired-soldier-chaplain look, his eyes are bright and a bit on the wild side. The frazzling to his hair doesn't help promote an image of sanity, either.
Oh, yeah. There's a cat, too. It's a lazy-looking, almost boneless ball of fur that sleeps draped over one of his shoulders, a mix of Blue Russian and something that was probably in a Chi-town alley. But it has a flea-collar and seems to be perfectly content to remain exactly -- EXACTLY -- where it is. Nowhere else. Fffft.
Saburo cracks one eye open and glances around the room.
Saburo sits up and reaches under his jacket for a pistol.. that isn't there.
Saburo looks Bethpage over suspiciously, as he stands up from the cot.
Bethpage immediately sits up when she wakes and looks around, sees unconscious bodies, and stands up to back into a corner, patting herself down...
Bethpage finds nothing but her clothing, and eyes Saburo warily. "Where are we?"
Saburo sees that the woman is clearly as surprised to be here as him, and dismisses her as a threat. He moves towards the room's single door, leaning against the wall beside it.
Saburo says, "We're not at the Imperial Hotel, I can tell you that much..."
Saburo reaches out and briefly touches the door knob.
Bethpage makes a face. "Thanks." She watches Saburo touch the door with interest.
Saburo touches the door handle again more firmly, now that he's verified it doesn't shock him with a jolt of electricity... he slowly moves it, checking to see if it's locked as quietly as he can.
Geneviev listens to the movements in the room for a minute before opening her eyes and looking around, sitting up. Her brow furrows a little.
Bethpage goes to inspect the remaining sleeper with the intent to pat him down to see what's in his pockets.
Kavanaugh winces, and grimaces a bit, reaching up to his forhead. "Zut alors," he mutters, blinking his eyes open as he hears the voices. "When I get hold of Peto," he mutters, pushing himself up to a sitting position, "he's gonna have th' Devil's own penance to do. Hundred 'Hail Mary's at least...." When he manages to sit up, and looks around at the... place he's in. And the people he's apparently woken up with. "Did the rest of you get coshed, too?" he says, a bit gravelly. Then he sees the cat curled up at the foot of the cot. "Oh, no." He scoops up the cat hurriedly. "Hey... partner... Yarnchaser...?"
Saburo says, "It's not locked... but there is an alarm."
Saburo carefully lets go of the door handle, without opening it.
Bethpage stops short and nods to Kavanaugh. "Yes. What happened to you?
Saburo says, "Yes, in fact I did. If 'koshed' means I was drugged and kidnapped from my car..."
Bethpage says, "You were drugged? That's not fair, I got whacked on the head."
Kavanaugh looks up at the woman, blinking for a moment, before managing to smile gamely, if crookedly. "One of my flock -- yeah, that's what it means, m'son -- one of my flock confessed to sticking a dart in my neck. Then he did."
Saburo says, "Well, a head whack would not have gotten me where they wanted me.. I wish I'd been in your shoes."
Geneviev nods and stands up and speaks with a slightly French accent, "I was...gassed, I think."
Bethpage eyes Saburo, recalling that he only touched the door before announcing things. "Maybe you're more valuable."
Saburo says, "Maybe... "
Saburo looks at the top edge of the door, mutters in Japanese, then presses his ear against the door to listen...
Bethpage sighs at the other drug reports. "I was the only person they used outright violence on? That's great. I feel special."
Geneviev glances at Kavanaugh and Bethpage and then walks over to join Saburo near the door. "How do you know it's alarmed?"
The ball of fur that Kavanaugh called 'Yarnchaser' seems a bit put off by being picked up and rudely awakened. It actually growls faintly and twitches it's tail irritably for a moment. "Ah, good, you're awake," the fatigued man says, then lets the cat down. "All right, all right! Sheesh, that's gratitude for you...." The cat ignores the man and just pokes about the cot a little.
The door is, like the rest of the room, old. It is made of a heavy material and while it might be possible to hear loud sounds, softer ones will not penetrate. Saburo hears nothing.
Saburo points to the top edge of the door. "There's a sensor there, see it?"
Bethpage prowls the room irritably. She stops and looks where Saburo points.
Saburo says, "Looks pretty simple... I'm assuming it sets an alarm off if contact is broken."
Just as Saburo said, there is a little two-piece sensor on the top of the door. It's a simple one. One piece on the door, the other one the frame. It will be tripped when the contacts of the sensor are broken.
Geneviev nods as she looks up at it. "Duct tape would be good right now."
Saburo says, "Maybe I can trick it.. but I doubt I have any materials on me."
Bethpage says, "Mm. Is it simple enough that we could stick a piece of metal between them to lengthen the gap, open the door and stroll off?"
Kavanaugh looks up to Bethpage. "Hey, could've been one of the people you're purportedly trying to be the shepherd to, M'selle." He stands, and stretches. "Though, either way, they seem to have gotten us. Whoever 'they' are...." He pats down his sides and chest. His belt seems to be gone, but the dark blue sash-like thing wrapped around his waist is still there. "Blastit. Thorough bastards, it seems..."
Saburo says, "Do you have a piece of metal?"
Bethpage hesitates.
Geneviev points to Saburo's watch. "Is that band conductive?"
Kavanaugh looks at the others, and wanders over to the door, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Make sure the metal's conductive if you try that, m'son," he provides.
Saburo looks at Geneviev and says, "This is an expensive watch..."
Saburo says, "It's gold. Will it even work?"
Geneviev's brow furrows. "It is a watch."
Kavanaugh says, "Maybe it's an expensive sensor...."
Geneviev nods. "Gold is a conductor. Used in computers, I believe."
Bethpage grins.
Saburo mutters what can only be the japanese equivalent of 'Dammit!' and starts to take his watch off
As the group stands around dicussing the watch, a loud, resonant boom sounds from somewhere outside of the building, causing the walls to shake and the lights to flicker briefly.
Saburo says, "That..."
Saburo looks around, his eyes narrowed.
Geneviev puts a hand on Saburo's shoulder and points to the light socket. "Why don't we just pull some wires?"
Bethpage tenses at the sound.
Saburo says, "Good idea..."
Kavanaugh says, "Oh, yeah, gold's conductive, it'll --" His eyes widen a bit, as he looks around hurriedly. "Uh... oh, kovvy. Artillery?""
Bethpage blinks, "Good idea."
Saburo puts his watch back on.
Saburo leaves the door, heading over to the middle of the room. He looks up at the light socket.
Kavanaugh squints up to the cieling, then looks at the footlockers. He kneels by one and tries to get it open.
Saburo says, "Don't.. touch.. the door..."
Bethpage says, "It doesn't sound friendlier out there than in here, though, blondie... this is annoying. I'm stuck with you all, what can I call you? Names are quicker than 'hey you.'"
Saburo puts his hands together, and offers them to Genvieve to use as a stirrup.
Saburo says, "I'll boost you up..."
Geneviev glances at Saburo and nods, stepping into the offered hands and pushing up, reaching towards the fixture.
Saburo straightens up once Geneviev is balanced on his hand, rising her up higher.
Bethpage purses her lips, and heads off to try a different footlocker than Kavanaugh-- specifically, the one in front of the bed she woke up on.
Kavanaugh glances up at the tall businessman and the blonde girl, then over to the other woman, then looks into the footlocker he manages to get open. "Drek, wished there was more than this. Uh... Yarnchaser, are you hungry?" The cat makes no movement whatsoever, having curled up into a ball again. "Nah, neither am I, right now."
Geneviev does a great job of getting that light fixture down. A little bit of pressure brings the whole darned thing off the ceiling. This place is very badly maintained. As luck would have it, just as the light crashes down, the door opens.
Kavanaugh turns to the door, simulataneously trying to look innocent, ready to duck for cover, and ready to perform premeditated extreme unction on whatever poor bastard walks in.
Bethpage moves to stand behind Kavanaugh.
Geneviev jumps down with the end of a long pair of wires clutched in her right hand, looking towards the door.
Saburo looks to the door quickly, assessing the new entrants to the room
Two men walk into the room, dragging a third between them. The third is clearly unconscious. They look as surprised to see you as you are to see them.
Saburo reaches down, trying to pry one of the flourescent tubes from it's housing...
The men look at each other and a quick exchange goes between them in a language that none of you understand, but sounds Eastern European. They drop the third and leave the room, shutting the door behind them.
Bethpage moves out from behind Kav. "Drek." She goes to inspect the new arrival and his pockets.
Saburo says, "Kuso"
Geneviev frowns. "I think the alarm is moot, now."
The third man hits the floor and rolls over, sitting bolt upright. He barks something in a clearly un-Anglo tongue.
Saburo says, "Hai. But if it goes off again, they might notice..."
Kavanaugh hasn't quite decided what to do before... the guys leave. He blinks. "Faith," he says. "They didn't even ask to be shrieved." He straightens, and looks to the third man.
Saburo moves back towards the door, about to step over Pitch Black when he sits up abruptly
Bethpage stops and eyes the newcomer.
Geneviev lifts a brow at Saburo. "They've already noticed."
Bethpage says, "Shall we walk out of here, or wait for our hosts? We might have a better chance together than alone, if they're hostile."
Saburo pauses, standing right in front of and above Pitch Black. He shifts his weight slightly, and says, "Maybe now would be a good time to take our exit then...."
Geneviev nods. "Yes."
Bethpage nods, "Let's go," and goes to open the door.
Kavanaugh eyes the man they dropped in cautiously, and edges towards him, his hands out of his pockets. "er... hey, pareyn? You okay, m'sun? They coshed you, too, I take it?"
Pitch_Black sits up and leans against the wall. He holds up both his hands to show there's nothing in them, then very, very slowly reaches into his suitcoat. He withdraws a badly-crumpled packet of cigarettes and mutters, "Inconsiderate assholes."
Bethpage pauses, at the door. "Shall we rig the alarm first or no?"
Saburo says, "Chances are those two are going to summon guards anyway...."
Geneviev picks up a piece of conduit and switches the wires to her other hand. "Yes...just open it and let's get moving."
Saburo steps to the side of the door, and nods to Beth.
Kavanaugh grins, lopsidedly. "That seems to sum it up nicely." He goes to scoop up the cat, reaching into the footlocker to pull out what looks like a ration-pack, blanket, a small dish, and a small bag of we catfood. "Probably," he says, to the buisinessman's observation. "And since it's not Sunday, I don't feel like preaching to a whole mess of them.
Pitch_Black stands up slowly, patting his pockets. He comes up with a lighter. "Took my fucking gun... and my roll. Fucking bridge-and-tunnel shitheads." He lights his cigarette, still apparently oblivious.
Bethpage opens the door and slips through to flatten against the other side of the wall on the outside.
Pitch_Black says, "Oh, are we leaving?"
Kavanaugh scoops up the cat -- who fortunately doesn't mind, this time, perhaps sensing the urgency, or maybe being just plain lazy -- and settles it on his shoulder. "You know the drill, Yarnchaser," he murmurs. "No sound, no yowling, no flirting after any janecats." The cat looks completely oblivious to the admonition.
Kavanaugh says, "Looks that way, m'son. OUtside is better than in here.""
Pitch_Black shrugs and follows, rolling up his sleeves.
Geneviev moves out into the hall quickly, scanning both directions.
Saburo follows Beth through the door, glancing up the corridor.
Kavanaugh follows behind Geneviev, as alert as he can be.
The hallway is as badly maintained as the rest of the building. It's not a particularly long hallway and only has four doors going off of it.. Two have keycard access on them. The other two, another room and the one you just left, have no security equipment on them.
Saburo motions towards the other unalarmed door.
The hallway is utterly empty. The lights are on in all four rooms, though. You can see the light coming out from under the doors.
Pitch_Black takes off his sunglasses and stows them in an inside pocket. He looks expectantly at the others.
Geneviev nods to Saburo and moves to listen at the door, moving as quietly as possible.
Kavanaugh looks around, shrugs, and moves forward towards the door without the keycard access pad. He looks like he's ready to throw the small dish, just in case.
Saburo moves to one of the other doors, and inspects the keycard lock.
Saburo says, "Well, seems their not totally living in the 20th century. These locks are new."
Bethpage fidgets quietly, watching Saburo and Gene... and everything else she can...
Saburo mutters "Kuso!" and steps back from the door. "I can't do anything about this without better tools. It has redundant systems and an alarm built in to it."
Geneviev says, fairly quietly, "Computer in this room. No people."
Saburo says, "Now that might get us somewhere..."
Pitch_Black shrugs, finding a convenient spot of wall to lean against, and waits, smoking silently.
Saburo feels around in the pockets of his coat and suit jacket, to see if he still has his own cigarettes.
Geneviev opens the door cautiously, already resigned to the fact it will probably show the door open on a status board somewhere.
Bethpage perks. "Is there an alarm on that one, uh... oh." As Gene opens it.
Kavanaugh grins at the mention of the computer. "Well, let's not waste time. I've a member of my flock I've got to assign the stations to... with a rabid hedgehog shoved down his pants."
Saburo leans against the wall beside one of the keycarded doors, and takes out a cigarette from a silver case. He lights it, and waits....
No alarm sounds as the door opens. Of course, no alarm sounded when you opened the other one either. It appears to be something of a Boardroom.
Bethpage sighs and waits for someone else to enter the new room before she tries it.
Bethpage gives Kav a queer look.
Geneviev glances up to where the alarm sensor was on the other doorway, just to find out.
Kavanaugh follows along behind the blonde girl into the computer room, cheerfully oblivious to the look Bethpage gives him.
Weston Soundstage
The Conference Room
Another room that is badly in need of a coat of paint. The conference room has the same old, badly maintained appearance as the barracks did. At least in this room, though, the furniture is not quite so bar. A long, oval table nearly fills the room, allowing at least twenty-five people to sit comfortably at it. It is surrounded by high-backed office chairs, the type you might see in an executive office. However, matched chairs are in short supply, as each of these chairs seems to be different.
Overhead, a projector hangs on the ceiling, pointing at an expanse of wall that actually looks as though it has had a coat of paint recently. At the head of the table sits a laptop, turned on but in lock-down mode.
Geneviev shakes her head. "No windows...I think we might just have to go out the end of the hall."
Another explosion sounds from outside, rattling the walls and flickering the lights.
Kavanaugh looks around, and -- cautiously -- moves towards the laptop, looking at the walls, cieling, floor, seeing if there are any cables connected to the laptop. At the sound of the explosion, he looks up, startledly. "Right, then," he mutters, and grabs the laptop. "Just have to trust in th' Lord!" he says, making his way quickly out of the room back into the hallway.
Geneviev glances towards the others. "Sounds like they're busy, though."
Bethpage says, "Both those doors are keycarded. It'll take more than hands to get through."
Saburo drags on his cigarette, waiting beside the secure door for the guards he's sure are on their way...
Geneviev pauses and stares at Kavanaugh a moment before moving back out into the hall.
Bethpage says, "Can anybody use that projector?"
Pitch_Black shrugs.
WestonGM drops Anikita.
Bethpage says, "If we're stuck here awhile, I'm curious... but considering the noise, yeah, I think leaving might be best."
Geneviev glances at Bethpage. "Maybe to throw through a door."
The conference room door opens, from the inside. The man holding the door chuckles and says, in slightly accented English. "Coming in, Ladies and Gentlemen?"
Saburo turns his head sharply, and says in his own accented English, "We were just leaving, actually."
Bethpage tenses and whirls to look at the new man. "Why should we?"
The man says "Leaving? Already? I assume then that you're going back to the barracks. I assure you that you'll find this room far more interesting, and profitable."
Pitch_Black just exhales a long plume of smoke. Definitely not Black Dragons. Fantastic. Now I'm in the middle of someone else's problems.
Geneviev looks at the man, shifting the conduit in her hand a little.
Kavanaugh stops short, looking slowly over his shoulder, meanwhile trying not to look like he just grabbed the laptop from the table inside. "It sounds like you've a bit of a problem outside, m'son...."
Saburo pushes off the wall, and moves towards the conference room, politely letting the ladies go first.
The man smiles at Kavanaugh and holds his hands out for the computer. "It's nothing that we cannot handle."
Bethpage eyes the man and steps forward carefully to go in. "All right. Feel free to be more interesting."
Geneviev looks confusedly at Saburo. "You're intending to stay? I think leaving the premises is wiser."
Saburo winks at Geneviev.
Geneviev looks back at the newcomer, seeming to take the measure of him before shrugging and nodding, walking into the room behind Bethpage.
Kavanaugh nods slowly, taking note of the man's uniform and the likely fact that if he's wearing a uniform, there'll probably be others wearing uniforms. Typically, that means many others. With weapons, lots of them. He moves to go back into the conference room, very casually returning the laptop to the man. "Here's hoping God blesses your counterbattery fire...."
The man nods at Kavanaugh. "Thank you."
Pitch_Black folds his arms, and follows the last into the room. "Guess I don't have a choice."
Saburo strolls in behind the priest. He takes one last drag of his cigarette, then drops it on the conference room floor, grinding it out (and into the carpet) under one of his shoes.
The man comes into the room last and begins hooking the laptop back up to the projector. He motions to the table. "Please, have a seat and we will begin."
Bethpage sits.
A single man stands at the head of the table around which you sit, the man who came into the hallway. He is average, not particularly attractive, but not unattractive either. His complexion is dark olive, with mousey brown hair and hazel eyes. He may be from somewhere in Southern Europe, near the Black Sea or the regions around, but it is difficult to know for sure. His eyes are set slightly wide, which when matched with too-thin lips gives him a mocking or sardonic appearance. He is fairly solidly built and would probably tend more towards being stocky or heavyset if not for exercise.
Geneviev sits near the door, glancing between it and the man.
His voice has a smooth, aristocratic, European accent, though where in Europe is impossible to pin down. One moment he sounds Germanic, the next it has shifted to the east or the north, almost as though he was masking his real accent.
Bethpage picks the seat with the best view of the door, and the new strange man.
Saburo waits to see where the man with the european accent moves, before choosing his seat. He makes sure to sit close to where the man will be standing to control the projector.
Kavanaugh settles into a chair, setting the dish on the table, and, quite unconcernedly, opening up the bag of catfood and putting it in the dish. The ball of fur on his shoulder finally perks up: two shapes that look like ears perk up and glittering green eyes open. After a moment, the cat shuffles off his shoulder, daintilly onto the table, settles down and begins eating with dignity.
Pitch_Black leans against the wall again, just inside and to the left of the door. He folds his arms.
He begins to speak, ""I would like, first, to apologise for our unorthodox method of gathering you. The mission that you were chosen for is not only of utmost importance, it is also of the utmost secrecy. It was imperative that you be brought here in the quietest, most expedient manner possible."
Bethpage grins briefly at the cat eating on the table.
Pitch_Black says, "I don't recall signing on with you, gwailo."
Kavanaugh says darkly, "You could have asked instead of leading one of my flock astray, y'know...."
Saburo raises his hand.
Pitch_Black says, "What I do recall is getting stuffed in the back of a van and kicked in the head."
Bethpage eyes the speaker. "So you gave them drugs, and bonked me on the head. Let me explain my gratitude sometime soon."
He looks at Pitch Black momentarily, then looks back at the rest of the group. "On behalf of my employers I do apologise most humbly for any inconvenience."
Kavanaugh glances to Pitch, then over to the shorter woman. "There you go, take comfort that you weren't the only one hit on the head, M'selle."
Kavanaugh doesn't look at all comforted, all the same.
He motions at Saburo. "Yes, Mister Toshihiro?"
Geneviev frowns. "Do you work for New Mode Technology?"
Pitch_Black blows out a long stream of smoke. "I got hit in all kinds of places. You want to apologize, how about you give me my gun and my five-hundred New ones back."
Saburo says, "Just what gave you the impression that I was on the list of people available to choose for a secret mission? I don't do that kind of work anymore."
Bethpage leans back and listens.
Geneviev fixes him with a stare as she asks her question.
He looks at Geneviev first. "No." Then he turns to Pitch Black. "If you'll listen for a moment, I'll do better than that." Finally he settles on Saburo again. "All will become clear if you'll let me speak."
Bethpage says, "Go on, then."
Kavanaugh folds his arms, and remains grimly silent. The cat just ignores everyone.
Saburo says, "You saw me on the news with the Dali Lama last year, I take it.. I knew that was a bad assignment to take on..."
He speaks again, "My name is Anikita, my employer's identity is not important for the time being. I am my employer's voice and face in this matter. If you have something to say to my employer you will say it to me and if my employer has something to say to you, I will speak with his voice."
A deep, resonant boom sounds from the walls beyond the room you currently occupy, causing Anikita to jump slightly and scowl. "You have free reign of this building. There are quarters for you on the next floor. You'll find your name on the doors and some of your belongings inside. Rooms with a card-key are off limits and we trust that you'll do your best to refrain from entering these areas. Additionally, the local political climate is such that we must insist that you not leave the building."
Kavanaugh says, "What if the building doesn't exist for much longer?"
Anikita continues, "Two guards have been assigned from the local population, Aleksei and Filips. They both speak English, fluently, so you will have no trouble communicating with them. Additionally, they are both accomplished revolutionaries and will be able to protect you, if this building is breached."
Anikita says, "We don't believe that will be the case, however, as this building is of no strategic importance to the local government. They won't be fighting to get this building back, when there are other, more important buildings to worry about. You won't be here for any extended period of time and we are confident that the revolution will be sucessful. However, if there is a sudden shifting of tides, we have a contingency plan, to remove to you safety."
Bethpage tilts her head as she listens, though her expression stays carefully sour.
Kavanaugh says, "Oh, really? What revolution did they accomplish?" He looks the the cat, and sighs, "I know, I know, I'll keep quiet.....""
The cat, through all this, didn't even flick an ear at the priest.
Pitch_Black doesn't seem thrilled. He takes another drag on his cigarette. "Just out of curiosity... where is local?"
Saburo glances from Anikita to Kavanaugh, then back again.
Anikita looks at Kavanaugh. "Aleksei, Filips and the group that they are allied with are overthrowing their government and doing a rather good job of it." He turns to Pitch Black, "Fair question. Here is Riga. Latvia."
Kavanaugh blinks. He does a double take. "Latvia." he repeats flatly. The cat actually looks up. For a moment. THen it goes back to the dish.
Saburo says, "Latvia? That's not in the Commonwealth..."
Geneviev blinks.
Anikita laughs, "Not just yet."
Bethpage's eyes flicker to Kav briefly. I wonder if someone should tell you you're a crazy person... oh, shit. My ass got shanghied far enough today, didn't it?
Pitch_Black takes this impassively, but does most definitely frown. "Latvia. Ji ba."
Saburo looks at Anikita. "Perhaps. But it won't be so funny if the government finds out you're kidnapping Japanese businessmen... "
Saburo says, "Hardly in accord with 'economic cooperation' between Japan and the CIS."
Anikita shrugs. "Now, we have a job that we'd like you to do and we are prepared to reward you handsomely for your cooperation in this matter."
Pitch_Black says, "We hardly have a choice, do we. You may as well make the offer."
Saburo lights a second cigarette, and sits back in his chair, to listen to Anikita.
Bethpage speaks up. "Go on, Speaker. What is this pressing use that you have for us, that you've brought us so far?"
Geneviev says, "Money?" The idea seems to be almost novel to her.
Anikita says, "There is always a choice. You can choose not to go on this mission, if you don't wish to."
Pitch_Black says, "And walk into Riga with no money and no passport, in the middle of a revolution. Right. Go on, start talking."
Bethpage says, "What would happen to a person who chooses to say no?"
Kavanaugh thinks, And I wonder if that choice includes a bullet to the head, instead? Lord, you work in mysterious ways. Sometimes I wish you weren't quite that mysterious, though.
Anikita shakes his head, "We would not do that to you, Mr. Black. Not at all. We would send you right back where you belong. The Black Dragons in your case."
Pitch_Black looks up, at that, his face very carefully blank... although something in his eyes is quite different. "Is that a fact now," he murmurs.
Saburo says, "So, if I don't like your proposal, you'll send me back to Tokyo, so I can go about my business and raise my child?"
Anikita says, "However, if you choose to accept our offer, the reward will be monetary, but we will also help you to re-establish yourself in a legitimate life, without that worry."
Kavanaugh frowns, glancing back to look at the guy named Mr. Black. THen he carefully looks back to the front of the room. I don't think I'll ask, Lord. I think I'll live longer that way.
Anikita shakes his head again, this time at Saburo. "No, Mr. Toshihiro. You would be going to jail. We know how you got all of those shares in the company that you're in.. and we think the authorities would be rather interested in that information as well."
Pitch_Black folds his arms, and finally just says, very quietly. "Guess you got me."
Bethpage tilts her head again. "Where would you send me, sweet-talker?"
Saburo says, "I see. Well, without quite substantial proof, my laywers would eat the justice department alive in court.... "
Saburo says, "But I see your point. It would be quite an inconvinience."
Anikita smiles at Bethpage. "We know about your little habit, and even criminals can be victims in the eyes of the law."
Kavanaugh frowns at the Japanese buisnessman, and the glam-goth girl. "All right," he says quietly, managing a smile. "I've got to hear this. What do you have on me." He looks to the cat. "Well... yeah, there could be that, but he wouldn't know about that, now, shush, you." He looks back to the man.
Geneviev glances curiously to Kavanaugh and back to Anikita.
Bethpage smiles back at Anikita, if in a rather stiff way. "I see. And, my reward for cooperation?"
Anikita chuckles at the exchange between Kavanaugh and the cat. "Well, Father Kavanaugh. David is alive. I assume you'd like to keep him that way.."
Bethpage cleans her nails absently as she watches Anikita talk.
Anikita nods at Bethpage. "Money.. A new life. Immunity from the authorities."
Bethpage nods, quietly, and says no more for now.
Geneviev sets the piece of conduit down on the table with a clang. "You'd be able to keep my previous employer off of me forever? How?"
Anikita says, "Well, Miss Beauchamp. We can ensure that they never even try to look for you and that, should they be foolish enough to try, that they never find you. We have the means to do this and the will, if only you'll agree to join this mission for us."
Pitch_Black watches the end of his cigarette burn. I've heard this before. Fairy gold. Money today, vapor tomorrow. But it doesn't look like any of us have a choice. Better than going back to Kowloon.
For the first time waking up there, Kavanaugh looks simply... stunned. Speechless. His jaw drops, and he blinks. His eye actually twitches a little. "A... alive?" he murmurs. He draws a hand over his face. "No... no, that can't be, I heard-- urgh... no. Sudan...." He lets his hand drop, and stares at the man. Then he grimaces, his expression darkening. "You're right, Yarnchaser," he says, the cat simply taking this chance to reassume it's position on his shoulder. "Penance is too good for 'im. You have proof of this, m's-- mister?"
Kavanaugh sits back in the chair -- carefully mindful of the cat -- and just remains quiet, rubbing his ring quietly.
Geneviev seems interested. "And you can do this without knowing who they are?"
Anikita nods at Kavanaugh. "Yes and I will be happy to provide it to you as soon as we are finished in here. I do not have the video downloaded to this terminal at the moment."
Saburo drags on his cigarette, listening. He ashes on the floor.
Anikita looks back at Geneviev. "I know who they are."
Bethpage watches everyone react, quietly.
Kavanaugh nods tightly to the man, his thumb rubbing quietly his ring stiffly.
Anikita looks around quietly, then says, "Does anyone still wish not to join us?"
Geneviev leans back, brows furrowing. He's a good lier. "I will join. I have nothing to gain if I don't."
Anikita waits a moment, watching all of you carefully. He smiles. "Excellent. I'm sure some of you are wondering 'Why me?'. The reason is simple. Each of you brings a special set of skills that makes you uniquely well adapted to the mission that we wish to assign you. From technical skills to combat, each of you excels at your own field. We hope that since you excel in your skills that you also have drive to go along with that. Drive to complete a specific goal."
Anikita says, "I won't lie and say that this goal will be an easy one to achieve. The task you have set before you is a long and arduous one. It is our hope that by hand-selecting those best suited to the mission, we give it the greatest chance of success."
Bethpage listens, very still.
Anikita picks up a remote control and presses a button on it. The projector on the ceiling displays, on the clean white wall behind the table, a map of Australia. He gives you a moment to take this in.
Saburo just nods, and takes another drag on his cigarette.
Bethpage's pupils widen.
Saburo almost drops his cigarette.
Geneviev frowns. "No one to kill there. Why do you need me?"
Kavanaugh's previous ill-humor seems to evaporate as the map appears on the screen. "Fils de pute," he murmurs.
Pitch_Black arches one eyebrow, then exhales another plume of smoke. He shrugs.
Anikita says, "As I'm sure you all know, six months ago, the entire population of Australia was wiped out in a single stroke, by a highly virulent disease of unknown origin. Sattellites have been monitoring the surface of Australia very closely since the tragedy and it has recently come to light that something human, or very like a human, is still surviving in a remote area of Australia."
Geneviev nods. "Oh." Guess there is someone, then.
Bethpage murmurs, "Do go on."
Anikita says, "Certain Intergovernmental treaties have been signed, to limit access to Australia. No Government or organisation is to set foot in Australia until 2085, fifty years from now."
Saburo grinds his cigarette out on the table and turns to look at Anikita. "Personally, I could care less if there are some mutated aboriginies still alive in the outback."
Anikita says, "That is where you come in. My employer has an interest in finding the culprits of this horrendous act. Whichever government it was, still has the technology to do it again and given fifty years, they very well may. They need to be found, so that they can be dealt with."
Kavanaugh mutters, "How noble."
Saburo says, "I signed off on that accord on behalf of my corporation personally."
Bethpage grins sharply. He is more valuable than me. How less than surprising.
Anikita says, "We will be sending you to Australia to seek out whatever is still living down there and find out what in the hell happened. You'll be operating outside the boundries of international law, of course, so don't get caught."
Saburo stands up. "No." he says firmly, with traditional Japanese resolve.
Saburo says, "I'll take my chances in court, thank you very much. At least I would get to see my lovely wife again."
Pitch_Black says, "You know something we don't, maybe?"
Anikita nods at Saburo. "Very well. You're quite certain that you don't want to reconsider? Your lovely wife won't be seeing you again, unless it is through a plexiglass window in a Maximum Security Prison, where you'll spend the rest of your life. The Japanese government take murder and corporate hostility quite seriously and we have all the proof they'll need to send you away for the rest of your life."
Geneviev glances at Pitch_Black. "Besides the entire population of that continent is dead and we have to search out the person that may have been the vector?"
Saburo says, "Proof? What kind of proof?"
Pitch_Black says, "I'm already dead, lady. I can't die twice."
Geneviev shrugs and gestures to Saburo. "Maybe he isn't."
Anikita smiles, coldly. "I have obtained a video feed of you killing your wife's dear father. I have computer records showing the illegal transfer of his shares in the company."
Pitch_Black smiles a little. "Doesn't look that way, does it."
Saburo says, "If there were proof, I'd already *be* in jail, sir. Many Yakuza have become gone legit. I'm not the first. My past is hardly enough to lock me up for life."
Saburo swears in Japanese and sits back down, slowly, looking a more than a little stunned.
Geneviev nods slightly, looking back to the businessman.
Anikita nods. "Anyone else like to change their minds?"
Kavanaugh's jaw works, but he remains silent.
Pitch_Black says, "Go on. Finish your pitch."
Bethpage says quietly, "What assurance do we have that you will hold to your word on our reward if we work for you?"
Saburo rubs his forhead, murmurring "Better I die of plague than Sakura go to jail..."
Anikita says, "The money will be transfered to your accounts before you go. The other parts you will have to take our word for, but they will come on successful completion of the mission."
Geneviev looks at Anikita. "Uhm..."
Anikita says, "Yes, Miss Beauchamp?"
Geneviev says, "You'll have to do something to create an account...like establish a citizenship for me. One unassociated with my previous employer."
Anikita nods, "I'll have the technicians set up a Swiss account with Zurich/Orbital for you, Miss Beauchamp. Indeed, I'll have that done for any of you that would prefer that."
Bethpage shrugs briefly at Anakita. "I would prefer that. All things considered, it seems that I am working for you."
Kavanaugh sighs, "Ehn... best I have that done, too, I suppose. Better than the gov getting their wrongful share."
Saburo wipes a tear from one eye, and stares at the projection on the wall.
Anikita says, "Now, to complete this 'sales pitch' at Mr. Black called it. Private rooms have been set up for you upstairs. The possessions you had when you were brought here are up there, and the stairway door is unlocked. If there is anything that you'll need for the mission, you'll need to bring a list of equipment to me and I'll ensure that it is provided for you."
Saburo says, "I'll need guns."
Bethpage says, "You've thought this over well, silver-tongue. How long do I have to give you my list?"
Geneviev nods at Saburo's suggestion. "I as well."
Kavanaugh nods, "A good tool kit, an electronics kit. And catnip."
Anikita nods at Saburo. "Give me a list and they'll be provided for you."
Saburo says, "And my Prarie Cat. We'll need transportation in the outback."
Pitch_Black says, "Here's my list. Bullets. And some Yeheyuans... I'm on my last."
Anikita looks at Bethpage. "We're not setting a timeline on this. We'll need a couple of days to get the equipment available. When it has arrived you'll leave for Australia. Take as much time as you collectively need."
Geneviev looks at the map. "How far from the coast is our destination?"
Anikita taps one of his inside pockets, then reaches in and tosses a package of cigarettes to Pitch Black. "These are all I have right now. I'll have your brand to you as soon as I can get them."
Pitch_Black plucks it out of the air one-handed, and nods. "Close enough, brother."
Anikita points at a spot on the map near Perth. "We'll be setting you down close to the coastline. Between the coast and the forest."
Geneviev says, "How far from the coast are we travelling?"
Bethpage looks at Anikita, half-smiling. She murmurs, "You're a considerate threatener, sir."
Anikita says, "I suspect it will be a few days of travel to the area where the people were spotted. We can't be sure that they're in the exact same location they were, but we suspect they're close by."
Pitch_Black eyes the package of cigarettes. Russians. Wonder if Moscow cigs are anything like Moscow water. Maybe now's a good time to cut back. He tucks them into his pocket.
Bethpage says, "Multiple people? I thought you mentioned one humanoid shape."
Geneviev nods. "I assume the rooms contain something to compose said list on?"
Anikita nods at Geneviev. "Yes, hand-helds."
Anikita looks at Bethpage. "We don't know how many there are. We only saw one, but that doesn't mean there aren't more."
Saburo says, "Are we going into the swampy areas?"
Anikita says, "Perhaps. But we did see the unknown in the forest."
Saburo says, "We might need dirtbikes too then."
Geneviev says, "You want them all dead?"
Anikita shakes his head, "No vehicles. They're very obvious to those that are watching the continent from space. As for the unknowns, I will leave that decision in your hands. You may choose to kill them or to keep them alive, as the situation warrents."
Bethpage gently strokes her silvery nails.
Geneviev says, "But you want them to tell us about their accomplices first."
Saburo says, "Then I can't bring my Prarie Cat? That will make this more difficult. It's ambphibious, has satellite uplinks, and a gunshop in the back."
Anikita nods at Geneviev. "We want to know what happened. That is your primary goal."
Bethpage says, "I'd think you'd want them alive to talk to, for that, but if you're willing to trust our judgement, perhaps it's a step toward mutual trust."
Bethpage smiles. It might be sincere.
Geneviev glances at Saburo. "How much cargo capacity does it have?"
Anikita shakes his head at Saburo. "We never said it was going to be easy. If you're taking your 'Cat, you may as well simply let the International Agencies know before you arrive that you're going in violation of the treaties. The result will be the same."
Saburo smirks, and clenches a fist, as if that is JUST what he was thinking, and hoping for...
Saburo looks at Geneviev, and says, "It does not matter. Our 'employer' won't allow it, it seems."
Pitch_Black yawns quietly. "Guess that's settled. You got my list. I'm going upstairs."
Geneviev looks confused. "Won't they also pick up your dropping us off? Or our signatures like you picked up the survivor?"
Anikita says, "It is getting late and you haven't eaten in days. Those of you that didn't take your Field Rations from your footlockers will find them upstairs in your assigned rooms. Eat, get some rest and start working on your lists."
Anikita says, "That is a risk, yes, Miss Beauchamp. One we hope that we can avoid."
Bethpage sighs. "I guess we'll have to live without our favorite shows. One more question, before I go up."
Saburo smirks and says mockingly, "Maybe they'll insert us via surf boards..."
Pitch_Black leaves without further ado.
Kavanaugh grimaces, not liking that at all. There's something more, of course. "Where we are there's daggers in mens' smiles," he thinks to himself. He could ask... but he'd just be lied to. And if David.... He pushes the thought from his mind. He grimaces as he stands, leaving the empty dish on the table. "I'll want to see that video you said you have before I even think of leaving," he says to Ankkita. He can't quite make it sound like a threat, though, just a statement.
Geneviev shrugs and stands up, thinking food sounds like a good idea right now.
Anikita nods at Page. "Yes?"
Anikita nods at Kavanaugh. "It is uploaded on the hand-held in your room."
Bethpage says, "You're going to pick us up again and take us out of there before we give you our findings, right?"
Anikita shakes his head, "No."
Kavanaugh arches an eyebrow, turning from the door and back to Anikita. "'No?' You want us to transmit our findings to you before we get pulled out?"
Bethpage says, "Can you give me any reassurance but your word that you won't just leave us there, silvertongue?"
Anikita says, "You'll maintain a minimum of contact with me, risking contact only when you are ready to extracted. We trust that you'll not call for extraction before you have the information we want."
Anikita looks at Bethpage seriously. "No. I cannot."
Saburo stands up, and walks towards Anikita.
Kavanaugh blinks and goes "Oh." The cat blinks and goes "Rrp."
Bethpage stands up and steps closer to Anikita, looking him in the eyes.
Geneviev smiles at Bethpage. "Don't worry about it."
Anikita doesn't flinch at either of the people walking towards him.
Bethpage says, "Tell me this. Would you do this, if it were you in my shoes?"
Anikita smiles at Bethpage. "Yes, because you'd have me without another choice. I'd be trapped by my past, as most of you are."
Geneviev says, "Uhm...we're not going to be trapped there. Don't worry about it."
Saburo offers Anikita his hand, to shake.
Anikita takes Saburo's hand and shakes it.
Bethpage nods to Anikita, says, "You have an interesting way about you," and walks quietly out to go upstairs.
Saburo abruptly shifts his weight, and lifts his knee in a savage strike at Anikita's gut
Bethpage whirls at the movement behind her, and stops, watching.
Anikita doubles over with a grunt and falls to his knees on the floor. He mutters, under his breath, which is as loudly as he can manage, "I suppose I deserved that."
Kavanaugh sticks around to watch the last interplay between the others and the Mr. Johnson -- then blinks in surprise when the Japanese buisinessman simply knees him.
Geneviev watches Bethpage leave and glances back to the pair as he hears the attack, lifting a brow.
Saburo follows up with an elbow smash onto Anikita's back. "That's for threatening my family" he sneers
Geneviev looks at Kavanaugh. "Shall we go?"
Anikita falls further down onto the floor, shaking his head. "ouch."
Saburo turns and walks out, leaving the European gasping on the floor.
Bethpage pauses longer, sighs, and walks back to offer Anikita hand up.
Saburo heads into the barracks to retrieve the contents of his footlocker before seeking out the stairs.
Kavanaugh blinks at the followup; even Yarnchaser is blinking at this. "Uh... sure. Yes, m'selle." He turns to the door, shaking his head. "As God is my witness, never let me get that one pissed off at me, Yarnchaser...." "Blert."
Anikita takes the offered hand and gets into the chair that's just behind him, "Thank you. You should go join the others and get something to eat."