Prisoners of Fate

[Brian]

<Brian> So, Ebiris, what are you doing in the year 2007, on January 3rd?
<Ebiris> What time of day?
<Brian> Morning, probably about 11:00 AM.
<Brian> But I meant in a more general sense.  Like, what you do for a living. :p
<Ebiris> Let's say I'm an editorial assistant for the Evening News newspaper.
<Brian> Okay.  You've got today off, though.
<Ebiris> Then, this being the middle of winter, I shall spend my day off in my warm and cosy apartment.
<Brian> It's been a really foul and nastily cold winter, too.  You remember Rak saying something about some major oceanic current leaving the UK and plunging it into another ice age ... and it seems to be truer today than it was last year.
<Ebiris> Rak is always doom and gloom... but it sure is cold, I'll agree with that!
<Brian> There's a knock at your door before you can really settle in for a nice comfortable day.
<Ebiris> Grumbling, Ebiris puts down his hot mug of tea and goes to answer the door.
<Brian> There's no one there but a cold wind and a light dusting of snow.
<Brian> And a letter on your doormat.
<Ebiris> Blinking, Ebiris picks up said letter, closing the door before opening it.
<Brian> It's an envelope with your name on it, and no return adress.
Ebiris opens the letter to see what's inside!
<Brian> There's two pages.  One's a handwritten note addressed to you and scratched in charcoal on some thick, nearly poster-board quality
paper.  It reads: "D, Thought you should know.  -R.R."
<Ebiris> "R.R?" Ebiris frowns, trying to recall who he knows with those initials as he turns to the next page.
<Brian> The other one is a clipping from another newspaper you've not read (it is the competition, after all) about a group of college students in Edinburgh who are trying to establish a scientific basis for the mystical process.  They claim that with their equipment, they can monitor extended mental reaction in test patients.
<Brian> Sounds like new-age crackpot psychobabble ... but somehow (and you're not entirely sure why), you find it unnerving.
<Ebiris> "Mystical process?" Ebiris mutters to himself, going to sit down. Despite a vague interest in the paranormal as a sometimes amusing curiosity, mixing 'mystical' and 'scientific process' together never goes anywhere. The vague unease felt by reading it IS rather disturbing, though....
<Brian> That's the only unusual thing that happens for the moment ... other than the fact that some of the #void and #sr regulars have vanished.  Not that it's unusual for this time of year, though.
<Ebiris> Ebiris shrugs it off. 'Some people DO have that pesky real life thing cropping up now and then.' Setting the clippings aside, he continues pondering just who R.R could be, and why he/she felt the need to share that strange news.
<Brian> Nothing immediately comes to light, except that you think you remember that Rak's name is R...something ... Rodway.
<Ebiris> 'Why not?' Ebiris decides to share this odd event with the gang in #void. Sure, it's unlikely, but... eh, it's making conversation, at least.
<Brian> Well, Rak is gone from #void.  He said something before Christmas about going to visit his daughter, and hasn't been back since.  Rez, Dracos, and many of the other regulars are gone, too.  Slacker's there, (along with Prince_Herb, who's apparently AFK).  The general consensus is that it's interesting, if no one else can really make any insightful observations about what it all means.  DannyCat suggests that it has something to do with kimchee.
<Ebiris> "Not like I expected anything ground-breaking..." Ebiris mutters, deciding to fire up the old web-browser and take a look at the Edinburgh University webpage for anything about this 'mystical scientific process'.
<Brian> Their webpage explains it in more detail.  Essentially, it's a throwback of experiments from the 60s, where they'd do the card-trick -- the test subject says what he thinks a partner is looking at.
<Brian> They just use more machinery to monitor it, and claim that there is actually a carrier wave in the brain that's able to bridge the gap between bodies.
<Brian> So one person might actually be able to 'pick up' thoughts from other people.  Apparently, even with all their equipment, they're having a hard time proving this, however.
Ebiris wonders if they have anyway to detect said carrier wave, or if it's all just a bunch of hearsay....
<Brian> One thing does catch your eye, though.  They're offering 100 pounds to anyone who participates in their test course for three days.
<Ebiris> Deciding that it's easy money, and he'd like to know more about this after receiving that mysterious note, Ebiris checks the details on the course to see if he can fit it around his work schedule.
<Brian> It's pretty flexible, actually.  They just want two hours a day -- you can pretty much choose when, between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM -- and you to really, genuinely try to help them prove of the existence of the carrier wave.
<Brian> There's a sign-up form on the website (which is broken) and a phone number to call.
<Ebiris> Ebiris decides to give them a call, working out times that won't conflict with work. Hell, if this actually has genuine merit to the experiments, he'd be glad to help them out, really.
<Brian> When you call, a young-sounding woman answers and says, "Edinburgh, Psychological Research Division.  How may I help you?"
<Brian> Scheduling it around work should be simple; you've got two days off this week.
<Ebiris> "Hello, I'm calling about the, ah, experiments about proving the carrier wave between two people's brains? You're looking for volunteers?"
<Brian> "Oh, certainly!  Do you live near Edinburgh?  We can't really cover transportation expenses...."
<Ebiris> "I'm actually in the city, so it's no trouble to walk," Ebiris replies pleasantly.
<Brian> "Ah, excellent.  In that case, when would you be available to begin?"
Ebiris is about to offer tomorrow to use the two days off this week and then Saturday, before pausing. "Actually, how about this afternoon?"
<Brian> There is a moment of pause before the woman says, "Yes ... we have an opening today from 3:00 to 5:00."
<Ebiris> "That's fine," Ebiris replies, figuring he'll just pick up a pizza or some chinese for dinner on the way home after the tests.
<Brian> "Excellent!"  You're then given some directions on how to get to the lab, and encouraged to dress warmly, because apparently it's cold outside.
<Ebiris> Ebiris needs no reminder of that, hanging up the phone and telling the guys on IRC about the latest wacky escapade he's gotten himself into.
<Brian> This elicits a few chuckles from the regulars who are there -- Slacker says you should smuggle in a digital camera for amusement value.
<Brian> Then they can show the pictures to people who know what this equipment does, and find out if they're really researching, or just playing around.
<Ebiris> Not particularly caring even if they are just playing around (Free Money!), Ebiris nonetheless agrees to take some pictures with his cell phone, for amusement value alone.
<Brian> And so passes the time until it's about the time you need to be leaving to make your appointment.
<Ebiris> Ebiris dons his thick winter jacket, and braves the elements as he heads out for his appointment!
<Brian> Damn it's cold out!  Why didn't anyone warn you?
<Brian> Still, it doesn't take too long to go to the school, and it's (thankfully) quite warm inside.  A woman with a familiar voice peers at you from the protective bulk of her desk, which you expect the rest of the building was established around.
<Brian> "Are you here for the three o'clock appointment?"
<Ebiris> "That's me," Ebiris smiles, unzipping his jacket as he approaches the desk. "We spoke on the phone? I'm Daniel McDonagh."
<Brian> "Ah!" she says, clapping her hands together.  "In that case, have a seat, and fill out these forms," she says, pushing a clipboard towards you across the desk.  "Dr. Jackson should be with you shortly."
<Brian> "Oh, you'll need a pen, too," she muses, vanishing beneath the desktop for a moment to rummage through a drawer.  While she's occupied, you have a chance to glance around the room.  It's a pretty unassuming lobby, with a lot of things laying around haphazardly.  Looks like it's a long way from being a professional outfit, at any rate.
<Ebiris> 'Typical undergraduate research...' Ebiris thinks, taking the clipboard. 'Wait, she did say Dr., didn't she?' Mentally shrugging it off, Ebiris waits to receive the pen, before taking a seat and starting on the forms.
<Brian> She straightens up after a moment, blinking to readjust to the change in light and brushing some of her hair out of her eyes before handing you a pen.  "Sorry about that," she apologizes.
<Ebiris> "That's alright," Ebiris waves it off, going to fill out the forms.
<Brian> The forms are what you would expect, with just a hint of weirdness about them.  Medical history (do you have any allergies, have you had any major surgeries, do you have any conditions like epilepsy, etc.).
<Brian> Then they ask for a general outline of any events in your life that science never adequately explained, which is a little odd ... but probably at least marginally in line with the research on the floor.
<Ebiris> Ebiris considers mentioning the time when he thought he could influence probability just by thinking of a particular result, but since he now knows it was completely random and didn't work half the time, he refrains, instead just leaving that section blank.
<Brian> Once you're done, the woman looks up from some papers she's shuffling through herself, and says, "I'll take those.  Dr.--"  She's interrupted as the double-doors behind her open, and a young man in a lab-coat steps out, along with a more casually dressed young woman.
<Brian> "Thank you again for your assistance, and we'll see you tomorrow for the final test, right?" the man in the lab coat half-says, half asks.  The young woman nods, smirking, but says nothing on her way out the door.
<Brian> "Dr. Jackson," the woman behind the counter clarifies, "is available now."
<Ebiris> Ebiris stands up, approaching said doctor. "Hello?"
<Brian> Dr. Jackson blinks at this, and turns to look at you.  "Oh," he says, jumping slightly.  "I didn't know we had someone today -- ah, where are my manners?"  He swiftly closes the distance between you and him, and extends a hand.  "I'm Tony Jackson, one of the researchers working with the students here."
<Ebiris> Ebiris takes the hand, giving it a quick shake. "Daniel McDonagh," he introduces himself. "I read about the experiments on your website, so figured why not give some time to help out?"
<Brian> "Ah, glad to hear it," he says, grinning.  He takes the stack of papers you filled out and glances through them quickly.  "Well," he says, nodding to himself, and then looking back up at you.  "You understand exactly what we're trying to find, here?"
<Ebiris> "I read the summary, yeah," Ebiris nods. "About trying to detect a carrier wave between people's brains?"
<Brian> "That's right," he says, nodding.  "Ah ... this way, please."  He heads towards the double-doors, holding one of them open for you.  "See, we've managed to develop more and more complex ways of scanning people's brainwaves, as time has progressed.  I'm sure you're familiar with the advances in the fields of prosthetics, for example?"
<Ebiris> "You mean how they can get attached to nerve endings and function just like the original limb?"
<Brian> "Oh, well, there is that, but there are less invasive procedures we can use, too.  What we use now is a mesh of diodes," he explains, as you walk through the doors, and into a wide hallway, lined with more double doors.  "They can read your brainwaves without the need for any surgery."
<Ebiris> "Oh, right," Ebiris nods. He thinks he read something like that in a science magazine a while back...
<Brian> "If, say, a child is playing a video game, he sends a complex series of controls to his fingers to press buttons.  We can read the brainwaves on two levels -- on one, we can analyse the specific motor functions he's accessing, and on another, we can actually read the general goal he's trying to achieve.  Something like 'move to the right and jump'."
<Ebiris> "Yeah, I think I read about something similar... although I think that was talking about artificial intelligence, actually," Ebiris admits, following the doctor's point.
<Brian> He opens one of the double-doors in the hall (second door on the left) and reveals a reasonably sized room -- about six meters by eight meters -- with a large chair.  It looks kind of sci-fi esque, because above the chair is a helmet with flashy lights and such.  The chair itself, on the other hand, is an authentic La-Z-Boy recliner.
<Brian> "Right.  We're trying to see what 'motor functions' are accessed when someone tries to read someone else's mind.  We can then determine if the ability to 'read thoughts' is based on intuition and mental processes ... or track the carrier wave to see if it passes between individuals."
<Brian> There's two technicians monitoring banks of equipment -- only one of the interfaces looks like a proper computer.  They both look up when you and the doctor enter.  "Would you like something to drink?" the doctor asks suddenly.
<Ebiris> "Um, no thanks," Ebiris shakes his head. "So... what exactly do I have to do?"
<Brian> "Oh, well, make yourself comfortable," the doctor says, gesturing to the chair.
<Brian> "I'll read these cards, and you'll try to guess what they have on them.  Now, we can do this two ways, and I'll let you choose which
one we do.  One of them, you know what the shapes are in advance, and have to guess the order.  The other, you won't even know what the shapes are, and will have to try and guess."
<Brian> He produces a deck of cards from one pocket, but you can only see the backs, which are blank white.
<Ebiris> "Um..." Ebiris doesn't really care either way. "I'll just have to guess without knowing anything?" he offers, taking a seat.
<Brian> "Okay," Dr. Jackson says, nodding again.  "Now, tell me if at any point this becomes uncomfortable."  He lowers the blinky-light-helmet-apparatus thingy onto your head, and adjusts it.  Some metal diodes poke through your hair, and feel funny on your scalp, but it doesn't hurt.
<Ebiris> Ebiris nods, and doesn't protest the helmet's presence.
<Brian> "Okay, just to calibrate things ... can you raise your right hand?"
<Ebiris> Ebiris raises his right hand up to the level of his head.
<Brian> You hear a soft beep, and Dr. Jackson nods.  "That's good," he says.  "That seems to have done it, actually.  You can lower your hand and relax, now.  Okay.  Now, I'm going to stand here in front of you, and look at this card.  Can you try and tell me what the card says?"
<Ebiris> Ebiris nods, looking at the card and saying the first shape that pops into his mind.
<Brian> Go ahead and make a perception roll (which is 3d6).
<Ebiris> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> You're getting an impression of ... fire.  Lots of fire.
<Ebiris> "A flame?" Ebiris hazards.
<Brian> Dr. Jackson shakes his head, and turns the card around -- it's three wavy lines, one atop the other.
<Brian> One of the pieces of monitoring equipment beeps, though.
<Ebiris> 'Heh, water. Opposite of fire...' Ebiris thinks, a little amused by the coincidence.
<Brian> "Let's try again," he says, shuffling the cards, and glancing at his techs for a moment before drawing another.
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for Psychic Mind Powa!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for Psychic Mind Powa! --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> Hmm....  A box.  You get the impression of a box.  (Filled with fire.)
<Ebiris> "A circle with wavy lines inside it?" Ebiris guesses.
<Brian> The machinery behind you pings again.
<Brian> The doctor blinks, and turns the card over -- it's actually a box.
<Brian> "Still," he says, unperturbed.  "Let's try again."
<Ebiris> 'What, did he actually expect I would get it right? Geez...'
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for ESP?
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for ESP? --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> The machine behind you goes 'ping, ping, ping, ping,' over and over.  You get a distinct impression that it's not a box, it's a building.  And it's about to be flooded with fire.
<Ebiris> 'Why would they have that on a picture card?' Ebiris thinks to himself oddly. "A rectangle?"
<Brian> He flips the card over -- it's a rectangle, alright.
<Brian> "Interesting," Dr. Jackson murmurs.  "Let's try again, hmm?"
<Brian> He holds up another card.
<Ebiris> "One out of three isn't too bad," Ebiris offers with an amused smile, before looking at the next card.
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for ESP!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for ESP! --> [ 3d6=11 ]{11}
<Brian> Hmm.  Dr. Jackson, with a papercut on his thumb?  That doesn't make any sense.
<Brian> The machine's 'ping'ing away behind you now.
<Ebiris> "A straight line?" 'What the hell am I thinking? Is this machine doing something to me?' Ebiris wonders, vaguely disturbed by the images he's getting.
<Brian> "Er, no," he says, flipping the card over.  "It's-- Oh, je--"  Grumbling, he sucks on his thumb.  "One moment," he says around it.  "Gotta grab a bandaid."
<Brian> The card on the floor is a circle with a dot in the center.
<Ebiris> 'Okay, this is officially weird,' Ebiris thinks, shaking his head slightly as he waits for the doctor to deal with his papercut.
<Brian> He moves to one side of the room and rummages through a pile of papers and random bits of wire before coming up with an adhesive strip to put on his thumb.  It takes only a minute for him to finish.
<Brian> "Sorry about that," he says holding up the card and showing it to you.  "Let's try the next one."  He flips over another -- though, carefully this time.
<Ebiris> "It's alright," Ebiris waves it off, looking at the next card.
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for The Truth!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for The Truth! --> [ 3d6=8 ]{8}
<Brian> You discern events in a specific order.  Dr. Peterson cuts his thumb.  One of the techs accidentally gives himself a bit of a shock handling some of the equipment -- he hits it for beeping too much.  A few minutes after that, the entire building bursts into flame.
<Brian> The machine starts beeping in a nearly steady wail -- one of the techs swears at it, and you hear a thump behind you, followed by the crackle of electricity, and much more swearing.
<Ebiris> Feeling uncharacteristically nervous, Ebiris pushes the helmet off. "You know what? I'm getting a bit of a headache from this. Do you mind if I step outside for a quick smoke?" Ebiris does not smoke, but it's a convenient excuse.
<Brian> The doctor looks surprised, but shrugs.  "Yeah ... the equipment is acting up anyway.  Sorry about that -- we should have it back in order in a few minutes or so."
<Brian> He moves past you to look at the equipment himself.
<Ebiris> "Sure..." Ebiris nods dubiously, leaving the room and heading out the nearest exit with a rather hurried gait.
<Brian> No one looks at you as you leave; you make it to the (cold!) streets easily.
<Ebiris> Ebiris puts some distance between himself and the building, turning around to examine it for any evidence of an impending conflagration as he puzzles over the recent strange events in his mind.
<Brian> You can't discern a single reason why it would suddenly jump two meters into the air, expand, catch fire, and then slam into the ground with enough force to knock you on the ground, like it just did.
<Brian> The smoke and ash stream upwards towards the overcast sky, and you hear an alarm sounding.
<Ebiris> 'Holy shit!' Ebiris thinks, lying on the ground as he stares at the blazing building in stupefied horror.
<Brian> You hear footsteps in the snow near you.  "Hey, you alright, mate?" someone asks.
<Ebiris> Scrambling to his feet, Ebiris staggers a few steps backwards. "I... I was just inside there!" he gasps.
<Brian> The guy's eyebrows go up.  You hear sirens in the distance.  "Anyone still in there?" he asks, glancing towards the inferno.  You can't imagine how that building caught fire so fast.  Every other room would need to have been stuffed with gasoline for it to burn that high, you think.
<Ebiris> "Yeah..." Ebiris nods dazedly. "There were people from the university doing an experiment or something..." he shakes his head, "How the hell can a building just explode like that?"
<Brian> "Eh, well," the man says, sighing.  "I think knowing causes more trouble than not.  It might be for the best if you go home, try and forget about it.  There's going to be questions, and then things will get awkward.  Always do."
<Ebiris> Ebiris shakes his head. "Nothing useful I could tell them... God, I knew I shouldn't have left the flat, today..." Still somewhat dazed, he turns around and starts walking a bit unsteadily for home. Part of him thinks he should be a bit more concerned over the deaths of people he was just talking to, but he assumes the shock will wear off in a few hours and take care of that...
<Brian> When you get to the corner before the one to your apartment, you see a large black van careen down the street, skidding to a sloppy halt across the ice some place out of your sight.  You suspect it's your apartment, and get that feeling ... the one that warned you when you first collected that note ... that something bad's about to happen.
<Ebiris> 'Maybe the van will blow up,' Ebiris thinks, somewhat uncharitably. Deciding that he wants NO part in whatever shenanigans are going down, he turns around and walks away. He doesn't really know where, just AWAY FROM THE MADNESS.
<Brian> You turn away.  You're about three streets further towards putting everything behind you when you run into the guy who asked you if you were okay.  He's leaning against a building (standing in the alley) and idly playing with a butterfly knife.  He nods at you.  "Everything alright?" he asks.
<Ebiris> "Not really," Ebiris shakes his head, thinking he should be unnerved by seeing a guy brandishing a knife like that right in the open, but... it's just one more little thing, really. "Still in shock over what just happened, I think..."
<Brian> He nods, and pockets his knife.  After a moment, he produces a flask from a pocket, and takes a swig, then offers the flask towards you.  "I was in Cali when the bomb fell," he says.
<Ebiris> "Shit," Ebiris replies succinctly, taking a swig of said flask, hoping it's something strong. "Can't imagine what it must've been like, there."
<Brian> Tastes pretty effective, whatever it is.  Maybe vodka.
<Ebiris> Ebiris takes two gulps, giving a short gasp as he hands the flask back. "Ahh. Needed that."
<Brian> "I was on Mt. Diablo," he clarifies.  "That's about twelve miles ... uh ... Hm.  I think, what, twenty kilometers, then, away from Moffet?  Just hanging out, spending time with my friends ... then the valley's lit up like day and your job is gone."
<Brian> "Your friends are gone, too, most of them," he adds with a pause.  "And then you get chased all to hell and back because everyone's convinced that you've got a special power."
<Ebiris> "What?" Ebiris stops dead there. "Is this about those psychic tests at the building that blew up?"
<Brian> "Probably," the man says, shrugging.  "I'm David Fields, by the way.  I've been trying to turn the tables on the people who are chasing _me_.  I tracked them this far, but then the trail ran out.  Then I saw you, and figured that was ... their doing."
<Ebiris> "Who are _they_?" Ebiris asks pointedly, adding, "Daniel McDonagh," as an afterthought with a vague gesture at himself.
<Brian> He nods.  "Nice to meet you.  And ... I'm not sure.  We think they're part of a terrorist group.  You know, the Forge?" he offers.
<Ebiris> "The guys that blew up Ayers Rock?" Ebiris frowns. "And they're hunting down people with supposed psychic powers?" Sighing, he glances back the way he came. "I saw some black van pull up outside my apartment... made me feel really nervous, so I walked away..."
<Brian> "That's probably them," David says, his eyes hardening.  "Listen ... I've got some friends.  I'm trying to go after these people, but you should just lay low for a bit.  Stay out of trouble if you can help it.  I can get you to the US.  It's a mess there ... but more room to hide."
Ebiris sighs, running a cold hand through his hair. "And let me guess. Going to the police would be pointless?"
<Brian> "From what I can tell, they've got their claws in all levels of government," he says somewhat apologetically.
<Brian> "I'd like it to be otherwise, but the hand we're dealt isn't always the best one," he adds.
<Ebiris> "Right... a psychic terrorist conspiracy theory..." Ebiris nods. "God... sad thing is, with the day I've had I can almost believe it..."
<Brian> He shrugs.  "So what's your plan?"
<Ebiris> "Just out of interest, before I commit to a life on the run," Ebiris holds up a a forestalling hand, "Just what would they do if they caught me?"
<Brian> David rubs his chin.  "I'd guess they'd try and get you to join them.  Failing that ... who knows?"
<Brian> "All I know for certain is that whatever they want, they're willing to ignore my right to a normal life.  And I resent that."
<Ebiris> "Bleah," Ebiris makes a face. "I'd rather not join such a nuke-happy group if I can help it." Sighing, "I'm kind of new at this 'life on the run from psychic terrorists who control the government' bit, so I don't have much of a clue what the hell I should do..."
<Brian> "Savor the moments of normal life you can grasp.  For the rest, just be ready to move.  Anyway, like I said, I can get you to the US.  Or you can try your luck here; either way, I'm going after those guys at your apartment."
<Ebiris> "You're... going after them?" Ebiris repeats dully.
<Brian> "Well, you think running away forever will fix the problem?" he asks, eyeing you suspiciously.
<Ebiris> "No, but... isn't this some high level government conspiracy or whatever? What are you going to DO?"
<Brian> "Well, I'm going to find out what I can about who runs this.  Anything leading to one of the guys in charge gives us a better chance of stopping whoever's responsible for the entire thing.  And that could just take care of the problem."
<Brian> "And if it doesn't, at least I'm trying, right?"
<Ebiris> "I guess..." Ebiris says, somewhat dubiously. Sounds more like a way to just fall into their clutches to him, though. On the other hand... "Well, since it is MY apartment they're doing who knows what to, want me to come along?"
<Brian> He eyes you calculatingly.  "You can hold your own in a fight?" he asks warily.  "Do you know what you can do?"
<Ebiris> "Well, I predicted that that building was going to explode a couple of minutes before it did," he offers. "I haven't actually been in a serious fight in a few years, but I'm not useless."
<Brian> "Alrighty," he says after a moment.  "Keep an eye on yourself.  I've got two friends with me -- one of them's really creepy, just so you know.  But the guys we're looking for all dress the same.  You ready?"
<Ebiris> "Sure," Ebiris shrugs. "What's the actual plan? We going to be sneaky and follow them or what?" The question about fighting skill implied something rather more direct, after all.
<Brian> "Well, we're going to charge in behind them when they go into your house.  We're going to knock all of them out, and then we're going to steal all their paperwork, if they've got any.  If they don't, we'll look at their cell-phones, and see what we can get from that."
<Brian> "Usually, after that, we have to leave because the police start showing up.  And that's just never good."
<Ebiris> "Simple plan," Ebiris nods his approval. 'Boy, when shock wears off I'm going to be kicking myself for this...'
<Brian> "Okay.  You know how to use a knife?"
<Ebiris> "Sure," Ebiris nods with a grin. 'Holy shit. What the fuck am I doing?'
<Brian> "Okay.  Remember, we're trying not to kill anyone, here," he says, producing another butterfly knife, and handing it to you.  "I'll want that back, too."
<Ebiris> "Sure. I'll pick up something else at my house after we... beat up those guys," Ebiris nods. 'Really should have stayed home, today. Really.'
<Brian> "Okay," he says, nodding back at you.  "Lead the way."
Ebiris steps out of the alleyway, into the cold wind, and leads David back towards his apartment, keeping his newly obtained knife held just up his sleeve as he keeps a wary eye out for the black van.
<Brian> When you get to the street you live on and peek around the corner, the street is almost entirely clear of people.  You see a trio of men with dark glasses and black suits walking through your door (like they just got it open).  The van is parked with one tire on the curb.  The door is open, though, and you can see it's empty (and full of monitoring equipment).
<Brian> Down the street you can see two guys peeking around the far corner.  They nod when they see you.  "That's Ryan and Carlos," David offers you.  They're too far apart to make out much detail -- Carlos wears glasses -- but you could easily tell them apart from the MiBs.
<Ebiris> Recalling his recent experiences, Ebiris tries to concentrate like when he was focusing on Dr Jackson's cards, hoping he can predict what's going to happen when the shit goes down.
<Brian> For what it's worth, you really don't see things getting much worse.
<Ebiris> 'Worth a shot...' "Okay, so we're just going to rush the door?"
<Brian> "Pretty much," he says.  "Ryan will go in first, then me and Carlos.  Here goes."  Without waiting for you to say you understand, he breaks into a sprint, dashing for the door, even though he said Ryan would go before him.  But one of the figures at the corner is gone, and the one with glasses is running forward, probably to meet with David at the door to your apartment.
Ebiris bolts after David without further delay!
<Brian> You get there, just behind David and Carlos, as they hurdle through and into your apartment.
<Brian> We'll enter combat time here.
<Brian> It's phase 0, and everyone but the MiBs has an action prepared.  The MiBs are surprised.
<Brian> We'll go in dex order.
<Brian> First up, Dex 18s.
<Brian> Ryan pops out of a shadow in the back of the apartment -- literally just pops in from no-where -- and clubs one of the MiBs with a length of board.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> That's a hit.
<Brian> roll 6#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 6#1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=5 ]{5}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
<Brian> The MiB wobbles a bit, then crashes to the floor.
<Brian> Dex 17s, David attempts a Grab on the MiB immediately to the left of the door.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=13 ]{13}
<Brian> He manages to get one arm over the MiB's shoulder, and holds the knifepoint at the MiBs throat -- the MiB freezes.
<Brian> Dex 12s (that's you).
<Ebiris> Imitating David's maneuvre, Ebiris attempts to grab the remaining MiB! (putting my +1 into OCV)
<Ebiris> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> At 1/2 DCV, (2), you manage to do this.
<Brian> Carlos goes last and shoves one hand towards the fourth MiB.  Electricity arcs from his fingertips, and flies towards the black-suited assailant.
<Brian> roll 3d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 3d6 --> [ 3d6=6 ]{6}
<Brian> A direct hit in his chest.
<Brian> roll 7#1d6
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Brian ... : 7#1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=1 ]{1}, [ 1d6=6 ]{6}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}, [ 1d6=4 ]{4}, [ 1d6=3 ]{3}, [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
<Brian> Tazed, the man drops to the floor, still twitching every so often.
<Brian> Outnumbered, and held, both the standing MiBs raise their hands slowly, allowing their tazers to fall to the floor.
<Brian> We'll end combat time here.
Ebiris glances at David, pretty much following his lead, and trying not to be too blown away by the freaky shit his two buddies just did.
<Brian> Ryan hums to himself, and pulls some cord from a pocket, which is used to truss up the MiBs in short order.
<Brian> "That was easier than I expected," David muses.  "Think it's a trap?"
<Brian> Carlos adjusts his glasses and nods.  "I give us ten minutes tops before they roll in the big guns," he opines.
<Brian> Ryan says nothing, merely watching the MiBs.
<Ebiris> "Maybe they were just expecting me and not guys who shoot lightning and teleport through shadows?" Ebiris suggests a little bit nervously.
<Brian> "That'd be nice," David admits.  "Anyway.  Search them for paperwork."  The two conscious MiBs just glare in silence as Ryan and David expertly search them, producing a number of paper scraps.  "Here we go," David says, thumbing through them.
<Brian> Carlos looks out the door, then closes it, though it no longer latches (someone's forced it).
Ebiris contents himself with grabbing a tazer. Always wanted one of those.
<Brian> "So," David says to himself.  "Edinburgh ... your address ... the building that blew up ... and ... huh.  An address in Austin."  He frowns and glances at Ryan.  "Can you get us to the US tonight?"
<Brian> Ryan ponders this, showing his bad teeth off to full effect, and then in a voice that sounds rusty from disuse, he says, "I need a few hours."
<Ebiris> Shrugging. "Well, I'm convinced that I'm in some serious shit, now. I guess I'll come along," Ebiris offers.
<Brian> "Okay.  Grab anything you want or really need before we go out.  Mind if we raid your kitchen?"
<Ebiris> "Go right ahead. I've got a feeling I'm not coming back."  Oddly enough, it feels strangely liberating. Ebiris proceeds to go over to grab a duffel bag and fill it with a few changes of clothes and the taser. Pocketing his leatherman knife, he hands the butterfly knife back to David.
<Brian> David nods his thanks and repockets it.
<Brian> After that Carlos and Ryan root around in the kitchen and produce a few more edible samples.  "Ah," Carlos says, his voice faintly accented, "fine English cuisine."
<Ebiris> "I guess I should empty my bank account before we leave?" he asks, checking he has his wallet on him. "Scottish," he adds to Carlos, faintly distracted.
<Brian> "Good idea," David decides.
<Brian> Carlos just looks a little crestfallen.  "I haven't seen a map in a while," he mutters.
<Brian> Once you're ready, Carlos and Ryan bolt down their sandwiches.  "Okay," David says, glancing at a clock on the wall.  "Police will probably start showing up soon.  Ryan, if you'll do the honors?"
<Brian> The wiry man shrugs, and opens the hall closet, which is always dark.  "This way," he says.
<Brian> "Anything else before we go?" David asks, glancing around.
<Ebiris> "It's a common mistake," Ebiris offers consolingly to Carlos. "Just say British to be on the safe side." Turning to David, "I've probably forgotten something, but..." he shrugs helplessly.
<Brian> "Well, having money won't hurt," he assures you.  "Let's go."  With that he steps into the shadow and vanishes.  Carlos goes through next, and then Ryan gestures you to go through.
Ebiris does so, idly wondering just where they'll end up.
<Brian> You step out of a shadowed section of an alley behind the banking district.  It's still bitingly cold outside.
<Brian> "Once the sun goes down," David says, pulling a scarf from one pocket, "we'll go to the US.  It should be a little warmer in Texas."
<Brian> "If you want to get some money, now is probably the best time to do it," David offers.
Ebiris nods. "Might as well just clean out my savings," he sighs. "And then ditch the cards so I can't be traced..." Putting action to words, he heads over to the Bank of Scotland branch.
<Brian> The three ... counter-terrorists wait in the alley while you head into the bank.
<Brian> The bank seems pretty subdued, now that the adrenaline is draining from your system.  It's about four thirty in the afternoon right now.
<Ebiris> Going over to the account inquiries desk, Ebiris gives the teller a tired and not very sincere smile. "I'd like to make a withdrawal."
<Brian> "Certainly," she says, consulting her terminal briefly.  She flashes you a partially sincere smile of her own.  "Do you have your account number?"
Ebiris hands her his bank card as he sits down. "I'd like to withdraw one thousand pounds," he tells her. That's about how much he has in his savings from his last statement, he recalls. Not worth bothering over the £12 or so he might be off by.
<Brian> The girl behind the counter blinks at this, but nods, typing in some numbers, and then handing you a slip of paper to sign.  "This will take just a moment," she says.
Ebiris signs. "Thank you."
<Brian> She nods at you, and a supervisor comes over to unlock a drawer.  He glances at your account, and shrugs, as the money you requested is handed over.  "Will there be anything else?" she asks, after counting out the bills before you.
<Brian> The lights flicker momentarily, like a partial power surge.  Everyone looks around, slightly confused, and then shrugs, going back about their business.
<Ebiris> "That's all, thank you," Ebiris replies placidly as he pockets the money. 'Of course I'll have to change it all into dollars when we get to America...' Frowning slightly at the flickering lights, he doesn't take his time in leaving the bank and rejoining his new super-powered buddies.
<Brian> "Well, you have a nice day, and come again," she says earnestly.
<Brian> The three counter-terrorists are all sharing around a flask.  David nods when you come close.  "Okay, we'll need to wait for the sun to be down in America before we can go.  Know anywhere we could hang out safely until then?"
<Ebiris> "That'd be about 5 or so hours away, right?" Ebiris clarifies, before shrugging. "I guess we could just spend the time in a pub or something - they wouldn't be able to come after us in a public place like that." 'Gah, now _I'm_ talking about a nebulous 'they'....'
<Brian> Ryan shrugs.  Carlos says, "Somewhere they serve fish and chips.  It takes a lot out of me to throw electricity around."  Now that you look at them, beneath their heavy (and a bit dirty) jackets, they all look pretty gaunt.
<Ebiris> "Sure," Ebiris nods. "Most places around here do bar meals. I missed dinner myself with all this shit going down...."
<Brian> "Yeah, we're pretty lucky, right now," David says.  "Public places are good, and until we know more, they are pretty much a 'they'.  Could be that they even oppose themselves ... but I don't know a good way to find more about that."  He looks pensive for a moment.
Ebiris leads the gang to a nearby pub, talking as he goes. "Hopefully we can figure that out in Austin... how often do you get leads like this, anyway?"
<Brian> "Actually," he admits, "I still think this entire thing is a setup, but we've kind of got to follow up on it, just in case.  The last note, in D.C., lead us here.  Well, half of us, anyway.  The other guys are in Oz right now."
<Ebiris> "How many of you are there?"
<Brian> "Uh, well," David says, like he'd never thought of it before.  "There's me, Ryan, Carlos, then Sterling, Walker, and Jim.  Nick and Sean didn't make it."
<Ebiris> "Sorry to hear that," Ebiris offers automatically, not sure if he should pry anymore in case it's a sore spot. "And you're all working to bring down the Forge or whoever it is that's... well, doing stuff like what just happened today?"
<Brian> "That's the goal," Carlos says after a moment, looking up at the sign over the door as you reach the pub.  "We're not sure if we're doing a good job," he says, dropping his voice in what you realize is a purely reflex action, "but we know we're pissing off someone."
<Brian> Ryan nods, and David bee-lines towards an empty corner booth -- one that gives a good view of the pub.  Or as good a view as possible, anyway.
<Ebiris> "Cool... and I guess I'm stuck in this, too.." Blinking as he thinks that over, he glances at Ryan, "Does your surname start in an R, Ryan?"
<Brian> "Patterson," he says.  "Nope."
<Ebiris> "Huh... this morning I got a note about those experiments at the place that blew up," Ebiris says as they go inside. "Came from an 'R.R.' but I've no clue who that could be..."
<Brian> "Maybe there's someone who's trying to help us out?" David asks, as a waitress approaches and asks for your orders.  "Just water for me," he says.
<Brian> Carlos rummages through his pockets for a moment, and then says, "Fish and chips."
<Brian> The waitress nods and scribbles a note on her pad, then turns to Ryan.  "Water," he says quietly.  The waitress then turns to you expectantly.
<Ebiris> "I'll have a coke and steak pie, please," Ebiris says, deciding that it'd be a good idea to lay off the booze when you're on the run from psychic government terrorist conspiracy things. Turning back to David, "I'm not sure if I'd call it 'help' with how my day's going..."
<Brian> The waitress nods again and runs off to place your orders.
<Brian> "So ... you wouldn't have gone to that place without that note?" David asks, frowning.
<Ebiris> "I'd never even have heard of it," Ebiris shrugs. "The note made me feel nervous, for some reason, but... well, that made me curious as well. I never had any clue I was psychic or whatever."
<Brian> "Some people are born with powers, other people have powers bestowed upon them," David says quietly, his eyes carefully scanning the rest of the pub.  "Either way ... whoever 'they' are, they're pretty good at finding out when people ... 'awaken', for lack of a better word."
Ebiris sighs. "I guess that's it, then..." shaking his head, "Hell, knowing the future WOULD be pretty cool if not for the whole 'hunted' deal."
<Brian> David nods.  "Well, the way Jim says it, the world at large isn't quite ready to accept things like that.  But they're getting closer," he offers.  "Maybe ... maybe some day we can all live without hiding."  He shrugs.
<Ebiris> "I wouldn't mind hiding my nifty new power if it meant I could live normally," Ebiris sighs, gesturing around the pub, "No one here knows about it. Or cares. But we've got Men in Black that DO know, and DO care chasing after us..."
<Brian> "That's usually the problem," Carlos says, as the waitress returns, setting out everyone's orders and then vanishing again.
Ebiris starts in on his meal, glancing at Ryan and David. "You guys sure you don't want anything to eat? We're going to be here for a few hours, anyway."
<Brian> "Broke," Ryan and David say together, looking uncomfortable.
<Ebiris> "I can pay," Ebiris offers, grinning, "It'd cost a bundle for me to fly to America, after all."
<Brian> Ryan and David look grateful, and flag down the waitress.  David tries the steak-pie, and Ryan gets a fish and chips -- both get coke to drink.  "Thanks," David says.  "It's ... not easy to get money like this, some days."
Ebiris glances sidelong at Ryan. "If I could teleport I could think of a million easy ways..."
<Brian> "Attracting undue attention isn't always the best idea," David opines.
<Brian> "Did you know that secure vaults are always brightly lit?" Ryan asks.
<Ebiris> "They are?" Ebiris blinks, looking a bit embarrassed. "I figured they were like the lights in fridges..."
<Brian> "How else will the security cameras record anything?" Carlos asks, smirking.  "Someone thought of these things, though."
<Ebiris> "I obviously didn't..." Ebiris shakes his head. "Sorry, you guys have been at this for a while, I should've figured if you haven't done something like that it's for a reason."
<Brian> "Eh, it's alright.  It's not like we've exactly got degrees in wierdiosity," David says, quietly examining the knife that came with the meal, after a moment setting it on his plate.  "Some of us aren't even certain what the extents of what we can do are.  And experimenting isn't always so safe."
<Brian> "Well," Ryan says.  "Sean learned."
Ebiris falls silent, glancing between them as he waits for them to elaborate.
<Brian> Carlos looks annoyed at this.
<Brian> "That's ... not really relevant," David says.  "Anyway.  What have you learned about what you can do, if anything?"
<Brian> "Bastard had it coming to him," Carlos mutters under his breath, earning him a sharp glance from Ryan.  David appears not to notice.
<Ebiris> "Well... when I was doing those psychic experiments, I was asked to determine what was on the other side of cards the doctor was holding up. I only got one right, and that was a guess, but... I somehow saw a sequence of events - the doctor got a papercut, the technician hit his machine, and the building blew up."
<Ebiris> He shakes his head, "After the first two happened, I was freaked out enough to make an excuse and leave... And then the building did blow up."
<Brian> "Their machinery blew up?" David asks, frowning.  "That stuff shouldn't voliti... no, wait.  I saw the building, there's no way that fire was from an equipment failure.  Unless they had a malfunctioning napalm dispenser."
<Ebiris> "Yeah," Ebiris nods. "Maybe the machine started a spark, or maybe it was just a coincidental part of the chain of events... but I think the place had to be rigged to blow the way it did."
<Brian> "Or they had someone who could blow stuff up," David adds.  "You might have been sensitive to someone else using power, not just the fire."
<Ebiris> "You think?" Ebiris asks, frowning. "There's so much I just don't know about all of this..."
<Brian> "Unfortunately, there's a lot of that going around," David says wryly.  "If you think it's safe, try and practice whatever it is that you can do.  It'll give you an edge ... and that's always useful."
<Ebiris> "I guess... knowing the future would be pretty cool in general, and help stay ahead of... those guys..." Ebiris nods, looking around the bar and trying to get in the same mindset he was during those tests in the hope he can predict something fairly inconsequential happening, here. But if he gets tipped off that MiBs will show in 5 minutes, that'd be cool, too.
<Brian> Go ahead and make a perception check.
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for What Happens Next!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for What Happens Next! --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> You feel ... odd.  Like you're reaching out and groping for the future with a mental hand.  You can't discern anything except that this place doesn't seem like it's going to explode anytime soon.  It feels pretty safe, at least.
<Ebiris> "I... well, if my precognition is accurate, we'll be safe enough here, for now..." Ebiris says after a moment, a bit unsure. This is just so new...
<Brian> "That's good to hear," David says, relaxing a bit.
<Brian> We can skip forward in time a bit, here, unless you'd like to ask your newfound friends some questions.
<Ebiris> Actually, I just came up with a test I'd like to do.
<Brian> Also something you've got time for!
<Ebiris> "Hold on," Ebiris hits on inspiration, taking a coin out of his pocket. "I'll see if I can get an amazing streak of luck, here, to see if my new power is actually accurate or not."
<Ebiris> roll 3d6 for Heads or Tails!
<Chibi-Suu> them bones was tossed for Ebiris ... : 3d6 for Heads or Tails! --> [ 3d6=10 ]{10}
<Brian> It's gonna be ... uh ... not dangerous!
<Ebiris> "Well, I don't think I'll put anyone's eye out, at least..." Ebiris says dubiously, guessing "Tails," completely at random as he flips it.
<Brian> Your guesses don't seem particularly accurate as to how the coin is going to land, unfortunately.
<Ebiris> Sighing, Ebiris pockets the coin. "Maybe I can only make predictions when something represents an actual threat?"
<Ebiris> "I don't suppose you guys know anyone with a similar power that can give me any advice, here?" he asks his companions.
<Brian> "I do electricity," Carlos says, shrugging apologetically.
<Brian> "Shadows," Ryan says, raising a hand.
<Brian> "I uh ... throw stuff," David says somewhat dubiously.
Ebiris eyes David. "Like you have preternaturally uncanny aim?"
<Brian> He shakes his head, and waves one hand over the table -- three throwing knives and a small throwing hatchet fall to the table.  He's wearing a short-sleeved shirt, too.
<Brian> Then he picks each of the weapons up, and they vanish.  No flourishing or palming (that you can see); they just vanish.
<Brian> "Deep pockets," he says after a moment, shrugging.
<Ebiris> "Wow..." Ebiris breathes. "That's actually really cool. Especially useful for travelling light, I guess." He considers making a remark about being a 'Master of Hidden Weapons' but decides it isn't appropriate.
<Brian> "It's useful," David admits.  "We've all got things that make a difference.  I have yet to meet someone who had some ... special ability that wasn't useful."
<Ebiris> "Yeah. If you're creative enough, you can take advantage of anything that makes a difference," Ebiris agrees.
<Ebiris> (we can skip ahead now. Since I'd like to go to bed, soon)
<Brian> The rest of the evening is spent in largely silent contemplation, save a quiet toast from David, 'To Nick', which Carlos and Ryan drink (soda) to.
<Brian> After that, around midnight, Ryan says, "Okay.  It's time."
<Ebiris> "Okay," Ebiris nods, grabbing his bag and getting up from their table.
<Brian> The waitress waves, and David waves back (before realizing she was waving at you).  Ryan leads everyone out of the pub, and into a shadowed alley.
<Brian> "There you go," he says, gesturing into the deep shadow.
<Brian> Carlos and David step forward and vanish.
<Brian> "Your turn," Ryan says.
<Ebiris> "See you on the other side," Ebiris offers with a crooked grin, stepping through.

Ebiris now moves to Extrication.