<El-Cideon> January eases into February with a week of cloudless, sunny days that melts through the layers of snow and ice on the streets, sometimes turning the avenues of Pendleton into a series of running streams. Business is slow, but at least no brazen murders rock the city this week. (more)
<El-Cideon> Gossip centers around an aide of the local mayor, explicit videos of whom have been leaked onto the 'net. Miss Artois unconvincingly declares that it's not her in the videos, and shifts to deeming them fabrications when this defense doesn't work. Meanwhile, a mining company up north--Arco--has made overtures to Lagoon Company, making an informal query about the types of services available, but not yet offered any work.
<El-Cideon> Finally, as the month drags on, Arco comes through on their inquiry and notifies Lagoon Company that a representative will be visiting them on February eighth, 1 o'clock sharp. No details are forthcoming about the job in advance.
<Targo> "You know, when I decided to open a business, I always thought that, finally, it would be me who sets the times. How short-sighted."
<Wilhelmina> "You thought wrong."
<Forrest> Naturally Forrest cleans up well in readiness for meeting their client. Which means he had a shower that morning. "Jes' need to take a firm hand with these types, Targo," he suggests. "Show 'em who's boss."
<El-Cideon> Silly Targo. Megacorps make the appointments, not the small-time security firms. Anyway, it's another sunny day when the client shows up, and warm for Pendleton (which means you could probably go outside without a jacket if you don't mind the occasional stiff breeze). As stated, the Arco rep shows up right on time. (more)
<El-Cideon> It's a Japanese man in a sharp gray business suit. He introduces himself as Musashi Endo and offers his hand to Targo. "Mr. Silver, I presume?"
<Targo> "That's right," replies Targo, politely. "We've been in loose contact for some time now, so I'm excited to finally meet a representative."
* Forrest naturally jostles for position near Targo and offers his own hand to the client. "Pleased to meet you, Mr Endo. Or is it Mr Musashi? It's hard to tell with you types," he concludes, grinning.
<El-Cideon> He nods. "Word reached us of your engagement in searching for Mr. Albert. Unfortunate that you did not find him alive, but I can hardly fault your team as I'm told Mr. Albert was killed before you were actually contracted." He nods to Forrest and shakes his hand. "Mr. Endo will do. I bend to local custom."
* Targo lightly stamps on Forrest's foot. "It was regrettable for all concerned. Has Mrs. Albert been doing well since then?"
* Forrest grins at Targo, happy enough to defer at this point now that pleasantries have been exchanged.
<El-Cideon> "I am not aware," he says blandly. "Mr. Albert was an employee of Delasque. Given their reputation, I can only presume they have compensated his widow appropriately. Now--" you can almost *see* him mentally switching gears, "--no doubt you are curious to know details of your potential employment?"
<Targo> "Curious and eager. Take a seat and we'll discuss it," replies Targo, gesturing to the office.
<El-Cideon> Mr. Endo obliges, sitting down and launching into the overview. "Arco has recently been the target of several acts of corporate sabotage. My superiors have decided that the services of a private security firm would be ideal in putting a stop to this inconvenience. We learned of you through our contacts with Delasque. Arco makes it a policy to support local business."(more)
<El-Cideon> "Several of our new mining machines have been rendered curiously inoperative not long after delivery. Although we have yet to observe anyone in the act, postmortem analysis of the damaged machinery shows them to be deliberately damaged. Vital circuits destroyed, programming wiped, etcetera. We suspect the presence of an informant within our organization. Four new excavators will be delivered to the Arco yard at Pike tomorrow night and it is possible they will be disabled like the others."(more)
<El-Cideon> night and it is possible they will be disabled like the others."(more)
<El-Cideon> "We would like you to lie in wait and apprehend any saboteurs that attempt to damage our property. We require a live agent for questioning. If more than one criminal is intercepted, then the more individuals we have to interrogate, the better, but we understand if it is necessary to kill in self-defense. At least one, however, must be captured alive."
<Targo> "What security measures are already in place?" asks Targo.
<Forrest> "Blasters have stun settings for that sort of thing, and it'll keep stray fire from damaging the equipment," Forrest notes, nodding. "Shouldn't be a problem."
* Wilhelmina doesn't understand this stun setting being discussed, but refrains from commenting.
<El-Cideon> He shrugs. "There are security cameras. Which have been rendered curiously inoperative during the last incidents. Hence why we suspect complicity with someone on our side."
<Targo> "How difficult is the machinery to repair? It doesn't sound like simple vandalism, so they must have some skills behind this."
<El-Cideon> "Whoever is responsible clearly has detailed knowledge of the technology involved. Although we can repair them, it is costly both monetarily and in regards to man-hours lost. Better to put a stop to such acts altogether, and send a message to whichever of our competitors is responsible that such acts will not be tolerated. Naturally, determining *which* of them is responsible is why we need an agent taken alive."
<Targo> "Did the saboteurs need to bypass any personel on the ground? Oh, and where is the machinery kept?"
<El-Cideon> "They are kept in a storage area to the north of Pike. A warehouse, with a perimeter fence which has done little to dissuade the saboteurs. Our own personnel patrol outside the building. On two occasions, they have been found unconscious the next morning. We would like you to lie in wait *inside* the building."
<Targo> "Easily done. But if a man on the inside has access to the security footage, it's possible he'll detect us entering and simple cancel the attempt at sabotage. Can you ensure that men you can trust will be operating while we make our entrance?"
<El-Cideon> "It will not be a problem. We can arrange a power outage for the security station while you get in position." He shrugs. "Such inconveniences are not unheard of in Pike, especially outside the city proper."
<Targo> "Very good. Where do you want any miscreants delivered upon capture?"
<El-Cideon> "Our corporate office in Pike should do. It's only a few minutes' drive away." He gives you an address, and smirks. "Needless to say, deliver them around the back of the building. We will have men waiting to take them into custody."
<Targo> "Suits us. I think this will be relatively straightforward, as long as your targets don't catch wind of this operation," replies Targo, nodding. "It may be a truism, but I don't believe there will be any complications. Fifteen thousand credits seems a suitable sum."
<El-Cideon> "We had thought ten thousand to be appropriate compensation. Shall we settle for something in between? Say, twelve thousand?"
<Targo> "Certainly. No need to split ends. If you'll forward us the location and map details, as well as the time of your artificial power outage? We'll need a place to park our vehicle inconspicuously, too."
<El-Cideon> He does so, giving you the address of the warehouse and a detail of its interior as well as the address of a public car park not far away. The time is specified as 6:30, not long before nightfall.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> The following evening, everything goes as planned in regards to getting the team in place. The warehouse is a mammoth structure, unsurprising given the monolithic scale of the machinery on display. Someone could probably tear through half the city with one if so motivated. There are four of them evenly spaced around the warehouse floor. (more)
<El-Cideon> One could climb up to the driver's seat and hide there if so inclined. Alternately, there's an enclosed office with a wide window looking out onto the yard. If someone's not averse to heights, they could even climb up into the warehouse's rafters, though a fall from up there would be painful indeed.
<Targo> "Forrest, you head into the office," says Targo. "Take the sensor kit and snipe anyone who shouldn't be here from the window. Will, you and I can hide in the machines- we shouldn't need to keep a lookout with Forrest up there, so we can stay concealed until they show up."
<Forrest> "Got it," Forrest nods amiably, heading on up to the office and setting up the sensor dish behind a desk so the light from its screen won't be visible through the window.
* Wilhelmina shrugs, picking the farthest one from the entrance.
<Targo> On that note, Targo checks what entrances to the warehouse there actually are in general, as well as how easily they can be opened and closed- perhaps remotely? It may be interesting to trap all their saboteurs inside.
<Forrest> While in the office, Forrest checks if the window can be opened enough to shoot out of.
<El-Cideon> The main door used for the machines to enter and exit is a massive sliding affair that couldn't be opened or closed without making a significant amount of noise. As for actual human-scale doors, there's one next to the large main door and another in the back corner (which the group entered through). There doesn't seem any way to remotely open or close these. The office window can be slid open if desired, though.
<Forrest> Forrest slides it open a foot so he has enough space to shoot through then goes to hunker down and watch the sensor dish.
<Targo> "And remember the taking alive part. Very important," notes Targo, handing a couple of stun grenades to Wilhelmina and looking to hide in one of the other machines.
<El-Cideon> It's at least a couple hours before anything happens. Not exactly the team's most thrilling evening, to be sure. Probably someone (note: Wil) is despairing of boredom before anything happens. Monitoring the scanner, Forrest sees--
<Wilhelmina> "I make no promises," Wilhelmina responds, although she seems happy enough to test out stun grenades this time around.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Perception check go.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+13 and gets 15."12 [1d20=2]
<Forrest> roll 1d20+18 reroll forgot the +5
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+18 reroll forgot the +5 and gets 37."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 and gets 21."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 and gets 32."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> --three blips entering through the small door next to the vehicle entrance. They stay in a bunch by the door for a moment, as if conferring silently, then one of them moves swiftly to the center of the room, between the mining machines, and pauses as if looking them over.
<Forrest> Forrest radios Wil and Targo at this development. "Contact, three of them coming in through side door," he relays, readying his rifle and crawling towards the window so he can prepare to snipe them.
<Wilhelmina> This is what autofire mode was invented for. Probably.
<Targo> OOC: How far is the door from our machines?
<El-Cideon> Forrest can see the one in the center of the warehouse wave to his friends by the door. One, bearing a tool kit of some kind, heads over to him and then glances around at the machines, seeming to pick one at random. The third man, wielding a gun and some kind of armor, starts to walk the perimeter of the room.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Within point blank, if that's what you're wondering.
<Forrest> OOC: what range are they at for me?
<Targo> OOC: Tell us where to throw bombs, Forrest >_>
<Forrest> OOC: and is toolkit boy approaching Wil/Targo's hiding spot?
<El-Cideon> OOC: we're about to find out!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4 (2 = Targo, 4 = Wil)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4 (2 = Targo, 4 = Wil) and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
<Forrest> "One's patrolling the perimeter and armed, one's in the middle, and the last is approaching one of the machine's with a toolkit," Forrest whispers into the comlink, lining up his shot...
<Forrest> OOC: I need to know ranges since stun shots only work up to 6 squares away
<Targo> "Careful now. Let's take down as many as we can before they know we're here," whispers Targo. OOC: Inspire confidence and all that jazz
<El-Cideon> The saboteur opts for the first machine in the line, the one closest to Forrest's hiding place in the office (and farthest from Wil's hiding place). The armored man circles around Wil's machine, practically right below her. The initial scout stays in the center of the room. (OOC: The saboteur's not quite in stun range, Forrest. ~10 squares. One turn's movement would get you there).
<Forrest> OOC: it would? From the office? Anyway, ranges on the other guys?
<Wilhelmina> Since they all spread out, autofire is not the answer anymore. Wilhelmina switches Roberta back, and prepares to shoot the intruder she can hear pass next to her hiding place.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Scout's in the center of the room, ~20 squares. Armored guy is about 40 but on the other side of Wil's machine and thus blocked.
<Targo> OOC: Can I chuck a grenade at the saboteur from my machine?
<El-Cideon> OOC: You're just about in the right range for it, yes.
<Targo> "Ok, go!" Targo pulls the pin from his grenade and sends it flying towards the would-be 'technician', where it promptly detonates in a spasm of brief, blinding fire!
<Targo> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24."12 [1d20=18]
<Targo> roll 4d6+3 stunnage
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 4d6+3 stunnage and gets 15."12 [4d6=4, 3, 2, 3]
<Forrest> "Okay, patrolling guy is behind your hiding spot, Wil. Suggest you take him out. Targo, you and me go for the saboteur?" Forrest suggests before he's rudely interrupted. "Yeah, like that," he sighs, opening fire.
<Forrest> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
<Wilhelmina> Leaving the cover of her machine, Wilhelmina does just that!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+11 and gets 16."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> Wil's bolt ricochets off her target's armor with a *spang*, but Forrest's blast strikes his target dead-on as he's dazed in the wake of Targo's grenade!
<Forrest> roll 3d8+2
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 3d8+2 and gets 10."12 [3d8=2, 5, 1]
<El-Cideon> "Crap, they hired mercs!" the armored man shouts. "Look alive, boys, we've got bugs to crush!" OOC: Now is the time for the rolling of init.
<Targo> roll 1d20+5 you guys have +1 to this, remember!
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+5 you guys have +1 to this, remember! and gets 22."12 [1d20=17]
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+12 who's a bug?
<Forrest> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+12 who's a bug? and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+10 and gets 15."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Heavy's init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 Heavy's init and gets 11."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Sctou's init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Sctou's init and gets 17."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 flailing saboteur's init
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 flailing saboteur's init and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
* Retrieving #dunes modes...
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil > Targo > Scout > Forrest > Heavy = Saboteur (C-2)'
<El-Cideon> OOC: You're up, Wil.
* Wilhelmina snorts, looking down at the thief through Roberta's scope before squeezing the trigger. So he has armor. That just means he signed his death warrant, nothing else.
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit.
<Wilhelmina> roll 3d8+3
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 3d8+3 and gets 19."12 [3d8=8, 6, 2]
<El-Cideon> The bolt staggers the armored thug, but doesn't knock him down. He responds with a sneer! OOC: Targo
<Wilhelmina> But as standing there and smirking at the man would be quite stupid, Wilhelmina then retreats around the machine.
<Targo> Targo pulls his blaster and puts another stun blast into the saboteur's back- as he's clearly the brains of this operation, capturing him may do the most good.
<Targo> roll 1d20+8
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+8 and gets 19."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit.
<Targo> roll 3d6+3
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 3d6+3 and gets 16."12 [3d6=2, 5, 6]
<El-Cideon> The saboteur collapses into a heap on the floor, clearly unconscious! The scout shouts in dismay, pulling a grenade of his own and hurling it at Targo. "Rico! We shall avenge you!"
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+2 to be doubled (except not really because it's a stun grenade).
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+2 to be doubled (except not really because it's a stun grenade). and gets 12."12 [4d6=1, 5, 1, 3]
<El-Cideon> With a flash, the grenade strikes Targo dead on and detonates on impact, sending a wave of debilitating shocks through his body! OOC: Forrest, you're up.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil > Targo (C-2) > Scout > Forrest > Heavy'
* Forrest turns his attention to the grenade-happy guy, a bolt of superheated plasma lancing across the warehouse to burn through him!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Another miss! This just isn't Forrest's day.
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, the armored man trucks around the mining machine in pursuit of Wil, lining up a shot with a carbine as soon as he gets past the corner.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 21."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 3d8+2 for damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 3d8+2 for damage and gets 15."12 [3d8=1, 5, 7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Your turn, Wil.
<Wilhelmina> Given that the idiot came after her and shot back, he is clearly not afraid of facing her, Wilhelima realizes. That stings more than the wound, and so she picks up Frederica's nozzle, letting loose at point blank range!
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+12 and gets 24."12 [1d20=12]
<Wilhelmina> roll 3d6+5 fire
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 3d6+5 fire and gets 18."12 [3d6=2, 6, 5]
<El-Cideon> "Argh--fucking bitch!" the thug roars, flailing as he burns but not going down! OOC: Targo.
* Wilhelmina laughs, quite happy with her achievement.
<Targo> "They're multiplying, there's four of them!" complains Targo, seeing double from his vantage point and lining up a shot at the guy who's on fire, pressing his free hand against the railings to steady himself.
<Targo> roll 1d20+5 this shot is for real
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+5 this shot is for real and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
<Targo> OOC: Also I'm taking two swift actions to recover. One more and I move back up the condition track!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Duly noted. And this shot is a miss.
<Targo> OOC: I thought it might be.
<El-Cideon> The scout pulls another grenade and once again hurls it at Targo!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6."12 [1d20=1]
<Targo> OOC: Does that mean I take no damage?
<Targo> OOC: I can hope.
<El-Cideon> OOC: rolling a 1 generally means failure no matter what.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Not sure if it means area attacks *completely* whiff, though. That's not clear. Hm. Gonna say it's a normal "miss" for A0E weapons, thus, half damage.
<El-Cideon> roll 4d6+2 to be halved (...twice, because it's stun damage).
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 4d6+2 to be halved (...twice, because it's stun damage). and gets 15."12 [4d6=5, 2, 4, 2]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Go, Forrest.
* Forrest takes a deep breath to centre himself before resolving his aim again on the target, squeezing the trigger and causing another lance of super-accelerated particles to blaze downward at the grenade-chucker!
<Forrest> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Forrest rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Missed by 1. >.<
<El-Cideon> Meanwhile, the literally flaming thug lines up another shot and fires at Wil!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 and gets 6."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> ...Which completely misses.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+5 for fire damage roll
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+5 for fire damage roll and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d3 for fire damage
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d3 for fire damage and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Wil.
* Wilhelmina considers the burning man, before switching Roberta to autofire mode once more and shooting in his general direction happily.
<Wilhelmina> roll 1d20+6
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> OOC: Hit.
<Wilhelmina> roll 3d8+3
* Hatbot --> "Wilhelmina rolls 3d8+3 and gets 21."12 [3d8=2, 8, 8]
<El-Cideon> The barrage of blaster bolts batters the thug and he finally goes down, his burning corpse filling the room with acrid smoke! OOC: Targo.
* El-Cideon changes topic to 'Wil > Targo (C-2) > Scout > Forrest'
<Targo> Targo points his blaster at the last guy with a scowl on his face. "Surrender, you sneaky little prick. Your skin tougher than that armour? No, I thought not. On your knees." OOC: I'll take a full-round-action to intimidate him!
<Targo> roll 1d20+12 and I think I'm very persuasive too
* Hatbot --> "Targo rolls 1d20+12 and I think I'm very persuasive too and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
<Wilhelmina> "Just one kill isn't enough," Wilhelmina complains, eyeing the remaining saboteur.
<El-Cideon> The scout pauses a moment and then, with one hand raised, removes the a rifle slung over his back and tosses it to the ground. "We're cool, alright? Just don't set me on fire."
<El-Cideon> OOC: Free action now.
<Targo> "I appreciate the nonlethal sentiment and shall reciprocate," snorts Targo, slipping out of the machine and walking up to the goon to slip some manacles on him.
<Targo> OOC: Sorry, Binder Cuffs.
* Forrest packs up the sensor dish and heads on down to rejoin the others, rather enjoying the sensation of not having been shot.
<El-Cideon> Outnumbered three to one as he is, he doesn't resist.
<Targo> "Go grab the other guy, Forrest," mutters Targo, shaking off his disorientation. "We'll leave the human torch to their cleanup people."
<Forrest> "Not much of a full service if'n we do that," Forrest remarks as he nonetheless goes to grab the stunned technician, making sure to disarm him first before hefting him up.
<El-Cideon> The saboteur is still unconscious. He's carrying a standard blaster pistol and, like his comrade, two stun grenades.
<Targo> "Well, I'm not touching him."
<Forrest> Now Forrest has a spare gun and some grenades. Glee.
<El-Cideon> The scout's rifle can also be retrieved. He has nothing else but a pair of gloves for close combat.
* Targo grabs the guy by the binders and starts marching him off back to the van, giving the armoured former-person a brief glance for anything interesting before departing.
<El-Cideon> Any equipment the armored thug had is probably ruined by the flames by now. Except the for the tough battle armor, but good luck getting it off of him.
<El-Cideon> The team experiences no interruptions in taking their quarry back to Arco's office. They *do* find a downed guard outside the perimeter fence, but he's merely stunned. Endo is waiting by the back door with a couple flunkies when Lagoon Company arrives.
* Targo changes topic to 'Wil > Targo > Scout > Forrest'
<Targo> "
<Targo> "One's awake, the other's unconscious," says Targo, shoving the former fellow towards one of Endo's goons. "Warehouse is a bit blasted up, and we killed the other guy."
<Wilhelmina> "The machinery is safe," Wilhelmina speaks briefly. "The walls, not so much."
<El-Cideon> Endo nods. "As long as you got to them before they carried out their work, any repairs inflicted by friendly fire are probably minor." His associates take the two men into custody. "No indication of who they were working for, I suppose?"
<Forrest> "Haven't really asked," Forrest admits. "No obvious badges or IDs on 'em."
<Targo> "We didn't interrogate them. Figured that's your department," replies Targo, shrugging. "They were well armed and equipped, and likely well paid."
<El-Cideon> Another nod. "Very well. We'll find out on our own, one way or another. Feel free to keep any hardware you confiscated. I'll arrange for your payment to be transferred immediately. Pleasure doing business with you."
<Wilhelmina> "But not too bright."
<Targo> "You as well. Call again anytime," replies Targo, tipping his head, and turning to Wil as he walks away. "What do you mean, not too bright? He surrendered! How much brighter can you get?"
<Wilhelmina> "The other one. He ran after me. Into flamethrower range."
<Targo> "Well, yes, he was very bright as well, I suppose."
* Forrest chuckles slightly at that line.
<Forrest> "He means bright because he was set on fire," he then explains for the benefit of anyone who didn't laugh.
* Wilhelmina shakes her head in disgust.
<El-Cideon> ~
<El-Cideon> It's late by the time the team gets back home, but the bar is busy as usual. Murray nods in recognition. "You guys just get off work?" he asks, noting some wear-and-tear on Wil and Targo.
<Targo> "What makes you say that? We were just at the zoo, you know, checking out the native wildlife exhibit. Forrest was going to go capture one of them xenorhinos, weren't you, Forrest?"
<Forrest> "Yep. 'Bout time a decent job came our way - boy, I tell you what, this one was smooth sailin' all the way," Forrest grins as he leans on the bar. "Gimme a whiskey, buddy."
<El-Cideon> Murray does as arequest, sliding Forrest's drink down the bar but not spilling a drop somehow. It's one of the many mysterious talents of the bartender. "Got a call while you were gone," he says. "Someone was lookin' for you guys. Delilah says she heard something that might interest you."
<El-Cideon> *as requested (my typing sucks today).
<Targo> "Hold up. Are these seperate events, the same event, or connected events?"
<El-Cideon> "Oh, same event. Sorry about that."
<Targo> "Convergence, I like it. I'll give her a call now, then. She'll be awake, ri- yeah, Misplites," replies Targo, fishing out his mobile and attempting to connect to his second-favourite computer geek in the whole universe.
<El-Cideon> Delilah picks up after a couple rings. "Talk," she says flatly. There's the sound of fingers hitting a keyboard the whole time. She's probably got her mind on three different things, as usual.
<Targo> "Iiiiiiiit's Silver! Heard you heard something that I hear might be interesting hearing."
<El-Cideon> "Oh yeah," she says, brightening a little (a little) in recognition, still typing the whole time. "I was plugged into one of the rural law enforcement nets up north. Just for shits and giggles, listening in on domestic disputes and stuff and ran across something I think you guys could use. Cops west of Pike brought in some mad bugger who'd help up a bank, claiming he was one of the 'Orangemen.'"(more)
<El-Cideon> *held
<El-Cideon> "They try to talk to him, he rambles some bullshit about oppressing and a New Order, blah blah blah, typical survivalist stuff, but he mentions someone named Magnus Cyrano, and the cops get interested. Apparently they've been looking for this guy. Mr. Orange here kills himself in his cell before being specific on the whereabouts of Mr. Cyrano, so the cops don't really know *where* he is, but they want him."(more)
<El-Cideon> "Here's the deal: they're going to put a bounty on this goober by the weekend. Twenty thousand. You want it? You can get a head start on everyone if you head up there within the next twenty-fouyr hours."
<El-Cideon> *oppression (my typing really does suck today)
<Targo> "That's pretty sweet of you! This is gonna be all over the net tomorrow, right? How big a crowd do you think this'll turn out?"
<El-Cideon> "For twenty thousand? Anyone with a gun and a lack of common sense."
<Targo> "So we're talking all of Pendleton?"
<El-Cideon> "Most like."
<Targo> "It's not exactly the security business, but what the hell. Civic duty, right? I'll tip you for this, thanks for the heads up."
<El-Cideon> "Sure thing," she says. "When I figure out what you owe me, I'll let you know." She cuts off the call after that.
<Targo> "Interesting times, Murray my man. Forrest, Wil, it's bedtime. Up bright and early tomorrow~"
* Forrest knocks back his whiskey in one gulp, breathing out sharply afterwards. "Well, g'night Murray," he nods to the bartender, pushing off the bar to leave.
<El-Cideon> ---