Sight comes slowly to Cosgrove, as he awakes. His side and shoulder still ache from his earlier wounds, but the intense, slicing pain isn't there anymore. He feels sore all over, really.
White fills up his vision, and he feels a hard bed on his back. He can't see clearly yet, but it looks as though he's in a white-walled cell..
Cosgrove groans, looking over himself first and reflexively reaching with a hand towards where his swords should be.
Dracos
They're not there. In fact, none of your normal stuff is. You're dressed up all in white, and you've got no equipment, no anything.
"Right..." Cosgrove, stunningly, doesn't swear, standing up and looking around, listening closely as he stretches carefully getting an idea of how well patched up he's been.
Dracos
Your shoulder has been bandaged up, but the wound in your side is stiched and bandaged. It creates a shooting pain if you try to turn sharply or put lots of pressure on it, but looks to be essentially ok. There's no seepege through the bandages.
All in all, you really just feel tired and sore.
Cosgrove looks around the room, checking to see briefly if he's locked in before deciding to go with his gut and rest, letting his body recover and the goon squad make the next move.
Dracos
Of course the door is locked, with a fairly solid, metallic lock, too. It's pretty shiny, from what you can see.
Rest calls, however, and soon, Cosgrove is back to sleep...
<->
...and later woken up by the abrupt sound of the door opening.
Cosgrove sits up, examining whoevers coming through the door.
Dracos
There's a couple of guys; on the right, a military officer of some high rank, standing about 6' tall with an imposing presence, and a handgun at his side. He's wearing a beret, but it doesn't look like he has any hair.
The other guy is more of a scientist; decked out in white pants, shirt, coat. He's carrying a small clipboard, and is wearing a pair of steel-rimmed glasses.
"Mr. Cromdale. Good to you awake," says the scientist, nodding at you.
"I'd like to say the same but I'm a touch sore from the troop who, guessing from these environments, was sent to bring me in. Any chance you feel like filling a confused Cromdale in on what exactly is going on and why a half dozen gun men were sent to interrupt my country hiking in a violent manner?"
Dracos
"No, not really," says the scientist. "We're more interested in where you got your sword."
"Which one?" Cosgrove responded.
Dracos
"The smaller one," replies the scientist, nodding.
"Was a birthday present from my father on my twentieth. Don't know exactly where he picked it up, but it serves me quite well." Cosgrove answered with a slightly raised eyebrow at the whole deal.
Dracos
"Interesting. So you know nothing about where it really came from? We'll be keeping it, then. In fact, we'll keep your other sword, too, and we'll be keeping you here indefinately. Turn around and put your hands behind your back."
The military man produces a pair of handcuffs and waits expectantly.
"Right. I believe the phrase goes...when you pry them from my cold dead hands." Cosgrove quickly struck out, grabbing the scientist and flinging him hard into the military agent.
Dracos
[23:20] <C-Rat> Whee, phase 12. Since you successfully grabbed the guy and threw him into the military man, they'll be spending their turn extricating themselves.
[23:21] <Dracos> Status, is the door open?
[23:21] <C-Rat> So!
[23:21] <C-Rat> Join #travelouge, you fools! O_O
[23:21] <Bjorn> "Travelogue."
[23:21] <Baka-ken> ^_^
[23:21] * Baka-ken was about to suggest that.
[23:21] <C-Rat> Er.
[23:21] <C-Rat> Yeah.
[23:22] <C-Rat> That's the one.
[23:22] <C-Rat> Ok.
[23:22] <C-Rat> Cosgroves mighty throw has the scientist on the military man (who doesn't, despite the action, look particularly surprsied).
[23:22] <C-Rat> While they're disentangling themselves, the path to the door is clear!
[23:25] * Baka-ken is now known as Baka[HL2DM]
[23:26] <Dracos> Cosgrove moves to lash with two swift blows to the military guy's head while he's entangled to knock him out.
[23:26] <Dracos> roll 3d6 for blow one
[23:26] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 for blow one and gets 11."
[23:26] * Bjorn --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 for blow one and gets 9."
[23:26] <Dracos> roll 3d6 for blow two
[23:26] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 for blow two and gets 15."
[23:26] * Bjorn --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 for blow two and gets 9."
[23:28] <Bjorn> Hm.
[23:28] <Bjorn> I will kill my dicebot.
[23:29] <Dracos> roll 2d6 for blow one damage
[23:29] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 2d6 for blow one damage and gets 5."
[23:29] * Bjorn --> "Dracos rolls 2d6 for blow one damage and gets 12."
[23:29] <Dracos> roll 2d6 for blow 2 damage
[23:29] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 2d6 for blow 2 damage and gets 5."
[23:31] <Dracos> roll 2#1d6
[23:31] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 2#1d6 and gets 6, 1."
[23:32] <C-Rat> The punch misses the military guys head, but scores a glancing blow on the scientists, who gives a small yelp.
[23:35] <C-Rat> The military guy manages to pull himself up, while the professor-type stays down. He throws out a kick to your midsection- it's short, snappy, and he clearly knows what he's about.
[23:35] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 5, 1, 6 , Total: 12
[23:37] <C-Rat> You manage to deftly block it aside, though, and the solider yells, "Get some help, here, now!"
[23:39] * Dracos quickly follows with an offensive kick at the military guy's side as he moves to block the door, staying between the two of them and the door.
[23:39] <Dracos> roll 3d6 for offensive strike
[23:39] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 for offensive strike and gets 15."
[23:40] <C-Rat> The kick doesn't even get close, the canny solider quickly sidestepping it. He realiates with a left hook to your gut!
[23:40] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 6, 2, 4 , Total: 12
[23:40] <C-Rat> It misses by just an inch, however.
[23:41] <Dracos> Cosgrove lashes out in a series of punches trying to take the guy down quickly.
[23:42] <Dracos> roll 4#3d6
[23:42] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 4#3d6 and gets 13, 8, 12, 9."
[23:44] * Disconnected
[23:45] * Rejoined channel #tellurian
[23:45] * Topic is '[02:00] * Olorin sniffles. | [02:00] <C-Rat> o-o | [02:00] <C-Rat> Holy crap, he's never done anything like that before. | <Dracos> Yeah Rat, I can IRC game now whenever you catch me.'
[23:45] * Set by Brian on Fri Nov 26 21:52:14
[23:45] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Drac-work
[23:46] * BakaUbuntu (rob@cpc3-ware2-6-0-cust144.lutn.cable.ntl.com) has joined #tellurian
[23:47] <C-Rat> Your first strike is deftly parried by the soldier, but the second two managed to punch throw his defenses!
[23:47] <Drac-work> roll 2#1d6
[23:47] * Hatbot --> "Drac-work rolls 2#1d6 and gets 6, 1."
[23:47] <Drac-work> roll 2#1d6
[23:47] * Hatbot --> "Drac-work rolls 2#1d6 and gets 6, 5."
[23:48] <C-Rat> The military guy takes the punches to the stomach, but he doesn't seem overly effected by them; there's just not enough power behind them.
[23:49] * Disconnected
[23:49] *** Your nickname is already Dracos
[23:49] * Rejoined channel #tellurian
[23:49] * Topic is '[02:00] * Olorin sniffles. | [02:00] <C-Rat> o-o | [02:00] <C-Rat> Holy crap, he's never done anything like that before. | <Dracos> Yeah Rat, I can IRC game now whenever you catch me.'
[23:49] * Set by Brian on Fri Nov 26 21:52:14
[23:49] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Dracos
[23:50] * Dracos spins around lashing out in a diagonal downwards kick at the man.
[23:50] <Dracos> roll 3d6
[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 and gets 6."
[23:51] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 6, 3, 3 , Total: 12
[23:52] <C-Rat> The man has his guard up, and your powerful kick stops just short of him on his arm.
[23:52] <C-Rat> He grunts with the exertion, though.
[23:53] <C-Rat> You hear some rushed footsteps coming from the corridor outside the room.
[23:54] * Dracos kicks the guy hard in the chest and makes a run for it. Offensive strike, again.
[23:54] <Dracos> roll 3d6
[23:54] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 and gets 6."
[23:54] * Baka[HL2DM] (bakaken@cpc3-ware2-6-0-cust144.lutn.cable.ntl.com) has joined #tellurian
[23:54] * Baka[HL2DM] is now known as Baka-ken
[23:57] <Dracos> roll 5#1d6
[23:57] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 5#1d6 and gets 5, 2, 6, 5, 3."
[23:58] <C-Rat> The kick smacks the man in the gut, and he exhales sharply, clearly in pain. Fighting through it, he tries to tag you before you run off.
[23:58] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 3, 2, 6 , Total: 11
[23:58] <C-Rat> : 5d6, 2, 1, 6, 5, 5 , Total: 19
Session Time: Mon Dec 06 00:00:00 2004
[00:00] <C-Rat> The point is moot at this point, however, because now that you get a chance to look around the corridor, you see military men approaching quickly from both sides- in numbers.
[00:02] <Dracos> All points to dcv. Rushing to run by them.
[00:02] <C-Rat> Righto.
[00:02] <Dracos> Blocks, obviously made as appropriate.
[00:03] <C-Rat> Rushing past the guards, they all try to dogpile you at once.
[00:03] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 3, 1, 3 , Total: 7
[00:03] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 1, 4, 1 , Total: 6
[00:03] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 1, 5, 5 , Total: 11
[00:03] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 5, 3, 2 , Total: 10
[00:03] <C-Rat> (Block away!)
[00:03] <Dracos> (Oh joy. I love battling your dice rolls)
[00:03] <Dracos> (Martial block +2 OCV, +2 DCV)
[00:03] <Dracos> roll 4#3d6
[00:03] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 4#3d6 and gets 8, 11, 12, 7."
[00:03] <C-Rat> (Blocking has nothing to do with my roll and everything to do with OCV.)
[00:05] <C-Rat> With a leap, twist, a shoving arm, and a spring, Cosgrove manages to plow through the ranks of soldiers- somehow.
[00:06] * Dracos continues running, looking out for a weapon's cabinent of some kind, storage area, or somewhere he can hide.
[00:07] * BakaUbuntu (rob@cpc3-ware2-6-0-cust144.lutn.cable.ntl.com) has joined #tellurian
[00:08] <C-Rat> There's a few doors here and there, all equipped with complex-looking keypad systems and locks. A maintenance cupboard is at the end of the hall... but the tromping feet behind you remind you of the soldiers who were coming from the other direction.
[00:12] <C-Rat> The cupboard isn't that far from a T-junction in the corridor. You can't be sure, but you think that in the ceiling, those little round things are cameras of some sort, given that they have glass lenses and little red flashing lights. Hey, it's like that in all the movies.
[00:12] * Dracos runs, turning down the T-junction.
[00:13] <C-Rat> Either way from the T-junction are.. big windows that lead out to the skyline of some city. Huge skyscrapers tower up around, and you realise that you're very, very high up.
[00:13] <C-Rat> On the other hand, there are things that look like elevators around you.
[00:13] <C-Rat> The boots behind you don't sound like they're gaining, but they'
[00:13] <C-Rat> But they're not slowing down, either.
[00:14] <Dracos> How high is the roof?
[00:15] <C-Rat> OOC: The roof of what? You can't tell the roof of the building you're in. >_>
[00:15] <C-Rat> OOC: You'd guess it can't be that much higher; you're very near the tops of the other buildings.
[00:15] <Dracos> OOC: The roof of the corridor. Okay, the ceiling.
[00:15] <C-Rat> OOC: Ah.
[00:16] <C-Rat> OOC: 5-6 metres or so.
[00:16] * Brian (photoneart@netblock-66-245-248-138.dslextreme.com) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[00:16] <C-Rat> OOC: Actually, more like 4-5.
[00:17] <Dracos> OOC: Width? Anything to grab on? Shadowy by any chance?
[00:17] <C-Rat> OOC: Corridor isn't hugely thing- it's a couple metres across. Fairly typical office-block fair. You could try grabing onto overhanging lights.
[00:18] <C-Rat> OOC: I wouldn't put chances on hiding on the roof.
[00:18] <C-Rat> OOC: The whole place is out in white, remember.
[00:25] <Dracos> Cosgrove quickly hits the elevator button and then dashes to the window, glancing to see if there's support for slipping out there.
[00:26] <C-Rat> It seems as if there's enough little ledges and supports for you to climb along the building.. that is, if you could get through the window.
[00:26] <C-Rat> It doesn't have an apparently means of opening, (but conversly, doesn't look that thick).
[00:29] <C-Rat> The overhead lights jut out from the ceiling. They use that conical shade- looks to be made of metal, and extends out from the roof. If you could get your hands around it, you'd be fine... but it's the getting that's the problem. They look fairly strong, though- not apparently likely to break.
[00:30] * Dracos decides to go with the original plan if the soldiers haven't caught up yet, dashing up the wall, kicking off of it a little past midway up and leaping to the shade, trying to grab on and hide from the soldiers until they pass.
[00:30] <Dracos> roll 3d6 acrobatics
[00:30] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 acrobatics and gets 8."
[00:32] <Dracos> roll 3d6 stealth
[00:32] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 stealth and gets 11."
[00:33] <C-Rat> In a mighty feat, Cosgrove manages to rush up the wall and grab onto some lights. Almost immediately afterwards, a bunch of soldiers (there must be at least 6) appear, rush around the corner, and stop, confused for a moment.
[00:33] <C-Rat> A sudden 'Ping!' echoes through the air, and one of the elevators opens, not too far from Cosgrove. Almost simultaneously, a soldier sees you, and shouts, "There!", pointing.
[00:34] <Dracos> Cosgrove swings from the light, leaping into the elevator door.
[00:34] <Dracos> roll 3d6 acrobatics
[00:34] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 acrobatics and gets 17."
[00:36] <C-Rat> Cosgrove manages to get inside the elevator door, as the soldiers rapidly close distance towards it.
[00:36] <Dracos> Cosgrove hits the close button on the elevator and the roof button.
[00:36] <C-Rat> : 3d6, 6, 2, 1 , Total: 9
[00:37] <C-Rat> A single soldier, faster than the rest, manages to plow inside the elevator before the doors close.
[00:37] * Dracos quickly kicks him in the face to knock him out of the elevator, hard. Offensive strike.
[00:37] <Dracos> roll 3d6
[00:37] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 3d6 and gets 10."
[00:38] <C-Rat> OOC: Damage, j0.
[00:39] <Dracos> roll 7#d6
[00:39] <Dracos> roll 7#1d6
[00:39] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 7#1d6 and gets 2, 2, 1, 3, 5, 1, 4."
[00:40] <C-Rat> The potent roll sends the guy staggering back, the doors closing in his face.
The elevator lurches upwards towards the roof, and in almost no time at all, it's there. The doors open, revealing a short access-corridor to the upperist of levels to the building. It's very workmanlike; no gloss here, just some dust, some bricks that havn't been painted over, and the elevators. Oh, and a flight of stairs.
Cosgrove heads outside onto the roof, figuring he'd look for any landmarks to try and recognize where he was.
Dracos
There's no doubt about it- Cosgrove is in London.
The red double-decker buses; the huge ferris wheel by the Thames; it's hard to see, but he can make out Buckingham palace from his building- which is a short distance from the Thames, he can guess. There's a sprawling metropolis before him, and now that he has a clear look, he can guess that the sun has just risen.
"Oh... absolute joy." Cosgrove shook his head and stretched a bit.
He then headed downstairs carefully, keeping an eye out for guards and the like. Particularly of the lone variety.
Dracos
As Drac reaches the elevator room, he hears a 'Ping!'
Cosgrove hides behind the doorway to the stairs, staying out of view of the elevator.
Dracos
There's the sound of boots, and another 'Ping!' Of course, they're heading towards the roof, not the stairwell.
Cosgrove heads downstairs, trying to recall how many flights there was to the floor he was on, and looking out for cameras, stray guards, and random accountants.
Dracos
Cosgrove thinks it was around the 40th floor that he took off from; or thereabouts. It's hard to peg an exact number, though.
Nobody in an office building uses the stairs if they can help it, so he doesn't encounter anyone as he goes down.
Cosgrove takes a careful glance out on the fourty-first floor.
Dracos
The door opens into.. something that looks remarkably similar to where Cosgrove came from. There's a series of elevators along the walls, and he can guess that the corridors follow the same T-Junction pattern he saw earlier. To the right is one of the big windows in the wall, that shows much the same view as he saw earlier.
More worryingly, however, there's a pair of soldiers standing about. They can't see the stair door; they're just ahead of it, checking out the elevators. Their backs are turned to Cosgrove at the moment, however. They're holding rifles of some kind, but perhaps more importantly, they both have combat knives at their belts, in a kind of clasp.
Cosgrove hides for the moment, heading back up and checking fourty-two.
Dracos
It's essentially identicle to fourty-one. Two guards, same T-Junction layout, and these ones still aren't guarding the stairs at all.
Cosgrove heads down to floor fourty, maybe he can catch the scientist.
Dracos
Oops- this time, the guards are a little further back, and they could spot Cosgrove plain as day if he opened the door too far. Thankfully, they don't seem to notice the slight crack in the door as he peers through it.
Cosgrove waits a moment, not moving the door to see if they'll move.
Dracos
"So I said, 'Hey, bitch, them roses are red.'" The other soldier bursts out laughing, typical of the Military Grunt. They're standing fairly relaxed, and not paying much attention. However, they don't seem to be going anywhere, least of all with their inane chatter.
Cosgrove finally heads down to thirty-nine to check that out.
Dracos
Another two guards, back to the whole not-guarding-the-stairwell thing. This time, though, one of them is jabbering into a radio.
"..nope, no sign here. Sure he's not on the roof?"
It's very faint, but you can just make out the voice on the opposite end-
"Hold all positions. We're..*scratch*.. ing teams through all stairwells."
"Roger that. Orders on sight?"
"*scartch*ure or kill. If your life is *splortch*.. esitate."
"Right. Over."
Cosgrove waits for the tell-tale click of the radio going off and then quickly rushes out, spin kicking the two into each other and working quickly to knock them both out.
Dracos
In a very short amount of time, both guards are lying heaped on the ground. There doesn't seem to be anyone nearby to notice, either.
Cosgrove checks for bathrooms!
Dracos
None are in immeidate sight, though it's hard to tell, with all the doors looking the same and the like.
Cosgrove taps the elevator button up to try and get it open.
Dracos
Handily, the elevator opens a few seconds later, revealing an empty box- er, lift.
There are some footsteps approaching from around a corner to Cosgrove's right.
Cosgrove quickly pulls the two guards in, and shuts the door, going and keeping the door closed button pressed, listening for the moment.
Dracos
The footsteps are heading to the elevator section, and now they've stopped, roughly where the elevator control buttons would be. There's a short sigh, and Cosgrove can hear some buttons being pushed on a mobile of some kind. At least, it's beeping like a mobile.
Cosgrove stays quiet, listening, holding the close button shut and, if possible, setting the elevator to out of service.
Dracos
The functions on the elevator are fairly basic; if there was a switch to set it to 'Out of Service', it'd either be in the (locked) control box, or in a security room.
"..yeah, is this security?" Cosgrove hears, and it's a light, womans voice. "Look, I heard the update. Aren't there supposed to be guards on every floor? There ain't any here.
Yes, that's right, Bill. Your force isn't flawless, and I don't need to go on a date with you. Suck. It. Down."
Cosgrove waits to see if the voices or footsteps head away.
Dracos
"..no, I will *not* substitute! I'm going home, and you can send you're own guards to do your dirty work."
There's a beep, followed by the pushing of one of the elevator door buttons. A shortwhile later, there's a 'Ping!', the sound of sliding doors, followed by another 'Ping!' and the sound of them sliding again.
Cosgrove, sensing the coast is clear for the moment, goes to check the guards, seeing what they have on them and if any of their uniforms are such that he could get them off and mimic being one of the guards.
Dracos
The guards are decked out in heaps of paramilitary stuff. They've both got handguns and some kind of automatic rifle, not to mention combat knives, a truncheon, a radio, a helmet- hell, even field rations. They don't look like they're kitted out for defence, they look like they're supposed to go out and invade somebodies country.
One of them looks roughly Cosgroves size, though.
Cosgrove quickly looks for something in them, even a quarter, to jam the door closed button with.
Dracos
One of them has some duct tape. Why, you can't imagine. Maybe he's a maintenance guy on the side.
Cosgrove...jams the door closed button down with duct tape?
If that works, he goes ahead and quickly gets the fitting uniform off the guy and onto himself, checking the guy's IDs, keys, and whatnot.
Dracos
The soldier has an ID card, with 'Harry Dyck' written on it. He's got a pair of keys and some kind of keycard; one key looks like a house key, but the other looks very technical and difficult. He's got a couple spare clips of ammunition, but no personal items on him.
Cosgrove takes the ids, the combat knife, the club, the keys, and the keycard.
Once done and reasonably in tact, he unjams the door close key, presses it and listens at the door first.
Dracos
"..yes, sir. That's right, they're just gone," Cosgrove hears. "No, they're not responding on their radios or anything. They're switched off or something."
Cosgrove holds door closed down, waiting and trying to guess how many are outside by noises made.
Dracos
There's an indeterminate number, but Cosgrove best guess is around five or six, from the noises their boots make as they walk around the outer part.
Cosgrove waits for the moment to see if they'll leave.
Dracos
"What do you mean, 'He can't have got far?' says a voice, angrily. "He could be anywhere!"
There's some inaudible radio chatter behind the door, and then;
"Didn't he wound two and kill one, out doors, alone, and with a pair of swords? No! I'm not splitting up my men to search for him. Have you got all the exits guarded? No? Then get them guarded!"
Cosgrove looks up, examining the ceiling of the elevator for an emergency exit.
Dracos
There's a hatch there, which is presently closed. You could probably climb up with little difficulty, and the thing is designed to be easy to open, so that won't be a problem.
Cosgrove decides not to go against the twitchy frightened six outside the elevator and instead jams the close button again, heading up and climbing out, looking for the best way to climb to the next floor, where hopefully there will be two guards instead of six.
Dracos
Once inside the elevator shaft, Cosgrove can easily locate a service ladder that goes up and down it. However, upon reaching the next floor, he discovers that the elevator door is closed, and there's only apparently one way to open it; a button on the side, marked, "Emergency Open."
Cosgrove first listens at the elevator to see what he hears outside.
Dracos
"...so what're they doing with that kid they brought in last night?"
It's a faint voice behind the door of the elevator, but it's there, and not too difficult to hear.
"Eh, they've chucked him in a cell. They'll probably let him out sometime next week. Only wanted that box he had, anyway."
Cosgrove hits the emergency exit button swinging out to quickly knock out one guard and grab the other in a hold, "Hello there, don't scream, don't cause a commotion, and I won't chuck you and your friend down the elevator shaft. Understand? Now, I just want my swords back? So, why don't you tell me where you folks are keeping this stuff?"
Dracos
As the doors open, the guards glances to the side, and one of them was a bit quicker than the other.
It didn't help him much; his buddy was still on the ground, and he was still trapped in a grapple, but his gun *did* fire, even if it didn't have a chance of hitting Cosgrove. A loud *boom* echoes through the corridor.
"You know, this could've gone easily, you have five seconds to tell me what I want to know, or I'm chucking you down the shaft."
Dracos
The guard coughs slightly. "Floor.. 35. In the lab," he stutters out.
"Good. Sorry about this." Cosgrove hits him hard across the head, aiming to knock him out without doing any real damage.
Cosgrove quickly slipped back into the shaft, hitting the elevator button and climbing up to floor thirty-five and listening at the door.
Dracos
"Man, he's just one guy. Why hasn't anyone caught him yet?" hears Cosgrove, from the other side, followed by a rustling of fabric.
"I mean, sure, he's supposed to be some drugged-up swordsman, but man, there's only one of him, and lots of us."
Cosgrove...repeated his stunt, trying to move faster this time to make sure they didn't get off a stunt as he smashed one and restrained the other.
Dracos
Again, again, the first guard goes down in a heap, whereas the other guard is locked in the vicelike grip of a small Irishman, who is either much stronger than he looks, or just very good at what he does.
"Okay, we can do this the easy way, in which you keep your voice down and lead me to the lab with my swords and I let you go or we can do this the hard way, in which I throw you down the elevator shaft. Which do you prefer?"
Dracos
The guard looks panicked, but he regains himself slightly. "It's, uh, that way," he says. "Down the T-Junction. Third door."
Cosgrove paused a moment. "Remember, if you're telling the truth and don't pull any stunts, you'll get out of this safely. If you're not...I'll break your neck myself."
Cosgrove trailed off as he shifted his grip, grabbing the guys gun, knife, and truncheon and tossing them down the shaft. "Walk. You are coming with me." Cosgrove released the guard, walking close enough to easily smack the guy down and regain his hold if they guy tried to flee, heading towards the route the guard had said.
Dracos
The guard slowly walks towards the junction, turning to the right and heading to a door. Nobody else is in sight. It's a very desolate building; the only sound is a low hum of electronic noise.
"Any security measures you guys have up? I don't like being surprised. And who are you guys anyway?" Cosgrove chatted softly as he walked.
Dracos
"Cameras," states the guard. "You won't get far, but if you give up now, you might get out alive."
"I asked who you guys are. Personally, I'd be one to believe you, save for the whole flying all the way to Ireland and taking pot shots at me with rifles while I was having a nice walk in the country. Your parents never taught you guys not to kick a hornets nest or something? And you better hope there's an off switch for them. Because really, I don't like dying alone, you know?"
Dracos
The guard flinches, but seems to be regaining his composure. "I can't turn the cameras off. The controls are in the security office. And all the soldiers here, we're just mercenaries. I don't know why they want you. Just that they do, and they'll pay us."
"Damn, that sucks for you. Should've picked a better job. Who is your employer? Cameras are on only in the lab? Anything else? Locks, Scientists? Who do you guys have there?"
Dracos
"The door isn't locked," replies the guard, shaking his head. "I don't know how many scientists there are. Cameras are everywhere. I don't know what forces are inside the lab."
"Then you're coming inside with me. Casual like. We're both guards, just switching shifts. Keep your mouth quiet. No stunts."
Cosgrove got to the door and gestured for the other guard to open it.
Dracos
Trepidiously, the guard pushes a couple of buttons on a keypad and the door slides open, revealing a large, expansive laboratory.
Tables and equipment are everywhere, as are computers. There are several scientists bustling about, and Cosgrove can see his short-sword in a strange, dome-like device, sort of like an incubator. Jars, vials, and boxes are on tables across the room, which looks extremely cluttered and slightly disorganised. There's a hubbub in the room, of scientists quietly discussing whatever principals they choose too. No apparent guards, however.
One of the scientists, dressed in a typical lab coat and completely bald turns to the sound of the door, and says, "Guards? You're supposed to stay out, dammit! What do you want?"
Cosgrove started talking as he approached the scientists. "Sorry, there has been an emergency. You are all in terrible danger. Some of the prisoners have escaped. The commander has requested that you all be escourted immediately off the premises." Continuing to talk until he got close enough...he quickly lashed out knocking the guard beside him out and grabbing the mouthy bald-scientist, slipping him into a hold. "Everyone be quiet, You there, near the table, bring me my swords. And you," referring to the bald mouthy scientist. "You're my insurence getting out of here for mouthing off. Now move."
Dracos
The scientists scatter, a couple running for the exit, heedless of their companions plight.
One of them manages to pull out Cosgrove's short-sword from the dome, but his broadsword isn't being brought by anyone, and nobody seems to be looking for it, either.
"Everyone FREEZE NOW." Cosgrove commanded, moving back to block off the exit quickly. "Back against the wall. Save you with my sword bring it here. Now. Now where did you fuckers put my family sword?"
Dracos
"We sold it on E-Bay," starts one of the scientists, but a friend of his smacks him over the head.
"It's in a storage depot. Fifth floor." he says, in a strong, clear voice. He doesn't seem scared at all.
The guy with the shortsword drops it near Cosgrove's feet, backing off very quickly.
"Damn. You guys sure like making things difficult. Who the hell are you guys and why'd you come after me shooting anyways?"
Cosgrove asked as he grabbed his sword, sheathing it, bending the scientist, probably painfully, with him as he grabbed it so as not to lose the hold.
Dracos
"Because you saw her," replies the scientist, flatly, evading the first question.
"Ah, yes. Stupid government. Because it would've just killed you guys to ask me to come in instead of shooting like crazy and pissing me off. You, quiet guy." Cosgrove referred to the guy he was holding. "You know the way to the storage room?"
Dracos
"N-N-no," stutters out the scientists, shaking his head. "I never go there!"
"Ah pity. Good thing your friend knows, isn't it? You, the calm one. Get over here, now." Cosgrove took a second to look over the scientist as he gestured for him to come near, checking for any signs that would indicate someone who's had some combat training.
Dracos
The scientist moves calmly, but it's kinda hard to tell if he's an experienced fighter, a supple-graced swordsman, or an awesome gunslinger just by looking at him.
He's not trying to attack you, which is clear. In a short while, he's standing a metre or so apart from Cosgrove.
Cosgrove let the other scientist go and gestured for the new one to come along. "You're my guide and for now I'm your escourt. Lets go. Try anything funny and I'll break one of your arms. Now move. We're heading towards the elevator" Cosgrove gestured to the door, moving to follow the scientist.
Dracos
"That's a bad idea," replies the scientist, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Unless the cameras are all broken, which I doubt, I expect there is an army of guards waiting outside the front door for you."
Cosgrove briefly surveyed the room with his eyes.
Dracos
There are windows in the wall, and unlike the windows in the corridor, they look to have hatches and opening-things on the side.
Now that you've actually taken time to look around the room properly, you also see that there's more than one door. There's an emergency exit door from the lab, to one side. It's paralell to the corridor, and looks like it might head back to the stairwell.
Cosgrove pulled the scientist over towards the window, checking it. "Then you get the fun route." He unlatched a window and opened it. "You first. Move."
Dracos
The scientist doesn't miss a beat, getting to the window and opening it smoothly, then slipping out. Now you note that he's more physically adept than most companies demand from their research personelle.
Cosgrove slips out after him, gesturing to head around the building until they got near the elevators.
Dracos
The scientist moves with grace around the building, deftly picking a path across the narrow ledges that are about the building. It's a difficult task at best; especially in your sore condition. However, slowly, you manage to get around to the elevator-room window. Looking through it, you can see a couple of guards, as always, on the case.
Cosgrove eyed the scientist and suddenly changed his mind, lowering himself down and swinging through the window below with a kick, swiftly attacking the expected two guards there seeking to disable them quickly and then hitting the elevator button.
Dracos
The scientist neatly swings in after you, glancing around worriedly. "Someone must have heard that," he says- just as the elevator 'Pings!' open.
Cosgrove swiftly moved out of immediate view of the opening elevator, against the wall, waiting for the people inside to come out, if any, eying the scientist now with a serious level of distrust.
Dracos
A couple of office-worker type people come out, chatting amiably between themselves. Amazingly, they turn away from the glass and walk down the corridor, not noticing anything else in the slightest.
Cosgrove got in the elevator and hit the button for the fifth floor.
Assuming the scientist enters too, he turns the scientist curiously. "Who are you really? You don't move or act like a scientist. At least none I've ever met."
Dracos
As the elevator door closes, Cosgrove can faintly hear, "Huh? Why're all you soldiers here.." coming from the corridor he just left.
The scientist shrugs. "Sure I'm a scientist. How many scientists have you met, anyway? Some keep fit.
But I work for a competing agency. You know. One who has hands in all sorts of extraterrestrial, magical, whatever stuff we can lay our hands on. Unlike this one, we don't make a habit of going out and kidnapping people who've seen stuff."
Cosgrove brushed his chin. "Ah, a spy. Heh. Sheesh, this is starting to feel like one of those cheesy novels. Aliens, Secret Organizations, and Spies. What's your name? I'm Cosgrove, but you probably know that."
Dracos
"Life *is* a cheesy novel," replies the man, ominously. "I'm Greg Bryant."
"Nice to meet you Greg. Let's hope we can both get out of here with our skin intact."
Cosgrove waited for the elevator to near five, hitting the close button when it did to keep it from opening and listening outside first.
Dracos
The elevator slowly hits down to floor number five... which sounds a good deal busier than the upper floor. There's footsteps galore, and enough chattering voices that none stand out in particular.
Cosgrove held the door close button a moment. "Hey, Greg, what else is on this floor?"
Dracos
Greg pauses. "The more common sorts of offices," he replies. "This is where most of the, ah, legitimate bookwork is done. It and the other floors closer to ground level. They tend to be the busiest. Most people out there would have no idea what sort of things the company has it's hands in."
Cosgrove nodded. "Okay, I'm going to play at being your guard. We'll head over to the storage room and pick up my stuff hopefully without notice."
Cosgrove waited a moment for ascedence and then let go, getting into place and playing a calm guard.
Dracos
Greg nods. "The storage bay isn't far from the elevator," he says. "Just follow my lead and we should be fine."
Cosgrove nodded and followed along calmly.
Dracos
The door to the elevator opens, and Greg heads out, Cosgrove on his heels. Revealed is a fairly busy office corridor; a bunch of people pile into the elevator, and it quickly closes up. Unlike higher floors, there's signficant hubbub about the area, with people going left and right. The corridors are wider, too, and plenty of rooms this time around have glass windows, allowing Cosgrove to see that it is pretty much standard office-fair.
Quickly, the scientists starts whispering into Cosgroves ear. "I'm not actually authorized to enter the storage room," he says. "And they'll probably be waiting for us there. Get ready."
Cosgrove nodded, stretching slightly as he walked, his hand slipping back, ready to grab his sword and cut loose.
Dracos
The storage room doesn't look much different from the other rooms. A simple wooden door is all that stands between Cosgrove, Greg, and the room which contains his sword. Oddly, there's significantly less personelle wandering around this area.
"This is a trap." Cosgrove idly observes before heading to open the door, breaking it if not easily openable, and heading in looking for his sword.
Dracos
Nonetheless, opening the door doesn't reveal any huge trap, instead showing a fairly sized storage room. Stuff is packed into crates everywhere, making it difficult to tell what is what. There's some cardboard boxes, too, which look hastily put-together. A couple of them are long and thin, while some others are far bigger. There's also a large black briefcase in the corner of the room.
"Any ideas where they'd fling my stuff?" Cosgrove asked idly, digging into the crates as fast as he could and looking.
Dracos
"Nope," replies Greg, who is staying near the door. "They're going to trap us in here and we won't be able to get out. I hope you have a plan, because I don't."
Perhaps a more immediate worry to Cosgrove is the softly glowing briefcase that's visibly shaking and making rattling noises. At the same time, he can feel a soft warmth coming from his short-blade.
"Nope. Playin' it by ear. Have been since I woke up here. Not like I had much of a choice in the matter, after all." Cosgrove pulls out his short sword, looking at it briefly as he continues yanking boxes open, moving towards the briefcase.
Dracos
The short-sword is bathed in a light purple glow, and it's sort of jittering in your hand.
But, wait, there's your old family blade, poking through the top of a cardboard box you threw about. It looks to be in fine condition.
Cosgrove pauses a moment and gets his precious family sword back, checking said box for his other stuff, hopefully a minimum of his bag, sheaths, and belt.
Dracos
The sheaths are all there, but most of Cosgrove's other stuff isn't to be found.
Greg glances around. "Still no guards," he says, looking wildly. He's starting to sweat. "They *must* know we were going to come here."
Cosgrove collects and attaches the sheaths to his belt, sheathing his long sword.
"Yeah..." Cosgrove looked distrustingly at the briefcase...before deciding, what the hell. He headed over, opening it.
Dracos
Getting closer to the briefcase reveals that it's locked tight. Moreover, there are dents and such on the locks themselves- a combination style thing, using letters instead of numbers. However, the briefcase holds firm. It looks very battered.
Cosgrove briefly checks if the lock can be just plain sliced off the briefcase with the short sword.
Dracos
The sword doesn't really budge on the locks. That briefcase is unaturally strong; heck, you're hardly even scratching them.
However, as you bring the sword closer to the briefcase, the purple glow intensifies, and becomes much more solid, and less transparent.
Cosgrove attempts to open the briefcase the irish barbarian way. He cuts around the lock.
Dracos
Is it leather? It feels like that's what the case is made of, but whatever it is, you could probably use it as armour. It's simply not budging against your blade.
Cosgrove blinks and tries smashing the lock once with his hilt.
If it doesn't break he picks it up hand hands it to Greg. "I don't know what this is, but I don't think it should be left here."
Dracos
Greg looks shifty. "It's too quiet," he blurts out, glancing around, even as he takes the case. Indeed, there's not a noise to be heard, apart from some background electrical hum.
"Far too quiet. Either they're going to shoot me the second I walk out or something even more noisy has their attention. Either way, no use staying here."
Cosgrove lead the way out.
Dracos
As Cosgrove works out, he hears some electrical fuzzing; the sort of white noise you get when you're fiddling with a television arial or some such. Moreover, it seems to be coming from down the corridor, and it's much louder than would usually be expected.
"Hum...Let's go that way." Cosgrove went the way other, looking for elevators, figuring it'd be a good deal harder to stop them once they were out on the streets.
Dracos
An almost acrid smell comes from the other direction, but not the way Cosgrove is going. There's not a man in sight, and he reaches the elevators with no trouble.
Cosgrove hit the button and, assuming nothing untoward occurs, plans on heading down and leaving right through the front... unless, Gregg suggests a back way out.
Dracos
Crazy plans!
When Cosgroves finger meets the elevator button, he feels a short electric jolt- and he sees a slightly crackle of electricity across the console, almost like miniature lightning.
Moreover, the entire corridor seems to dim, somewhat. The lights don't change, but the whole place just feels darker.
"Alright...Stairs it is."
Cosgrove headed for the stairs, desiring muchly to be gone from this place.
Dracos
There's no responde from Greg. In fact, he's gone completely still- his face seems to be frozen in his current expression, which is one of slight fear. Apart from the muted crackling of electricity from the buttons, the area is silent.
"Greg?" Cosgrove pokes him just a bit gently.
"Dammit." Cosgrove considered. "Bleh... Curiousity, cats. Who fuckin' needs 'em."
Cosgrove decides to go see what the fuck is going on, heading now towards the noise.
Dracos
Now that you can see in the corridor, you can see more of the purple glow that's rapidly becoming the new fashion statement. It's very big, and a very thick glow, and there's a humanoid figure in it. It's difficult to make out what, exactly. However, at the head (at least it looks like a head), you see a pair of protrusions that look suspiciously like horns. The purple glow is thickest around this area, and from what you can tell, the being is walking- slowly- towards you.
As it walks along, you can hear snaps and fizzles, sounding like electrical equipment going haywire.
Cosgrove considers.
And raises a hand. "Greetings weird purple glowing thing. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Dracos
The purple thing continues to approach you, and as it gets closer, you can see that it is indeed the same girl you pulled out of the pod-thing earlier. Admittedly, she wasn't nearly as impressive then as she is now. You can practically feel the energy radiating out from here.
It is you! Joyous day, friend, for I feared I would not find you again, and thus be unable to repay you for rescuing me from that accursed coffin! Without you, I would surely have died!
"Ah. Greetings. No problem. Couldn't exactly leave you trapped in the rain. Wouldn't be right. Anyhow...we should be getting out of here. I don't think these guys are too friendly. What's your name? I'm Cosgrove Cromdale." Cosgrove did the whole, don't fear people offering help deal. Especially girls, whether or not they are surrounded in energy waves.
Dracos
The ethereal voice echoes through the air again, sounding like a chime against the wind.
I am the Avatar, young warrior. Fear not for our safety, for the minds of these fools are weak and unguarded. The way out for you is clear, and the safety of my tools, in your hands, is strong.
There's a crumpling sound behind you, and it looks like Greg has just fallen over, unconcious. The suitcase skitters from his hands.
I must go now, however. There is one outside the building who would seek to destroy me, if he knew of me. I must deal with him first, young warrior, but I will not forget you, and you will be repaid in full.
"Sure. Be safe, Avatar, and thanks." Cosgrove went and picked up the suitcase. Thinking a moment, he also checked for Greg's wallet, glancing inside seeing if there was any indication of what 'group' he was with and pickpocketing the cash for his own, then returning it.
"Sorry. I'll pay ya back sometime." Cosgrove shrugged and headed down the stairs and out of the building.
Dracos
As Cosgrove heads down the stairs, he notes the electrical disturbance has all but stopped.
Naturally, he hasn't made it one flight down before he hears confused shouts and angry yells coming back from the floor above him- along with the all-too-familiar tromping of boots.
Cosgrove runs for it, hoping to get a few floors down unnoticed before they realize he's not on the fifth floor.
Dracos