WillGM: Last we met our intrepid band, they had picked up the Skull of Patmos (and the Arm of Patmos, apparently a non-relic, in its box as well) and someone that has introduced himself as Rhett Bookman. They are currently driving back to Golden Gate Park. WillGM: Everyone in channel awake? Nemesis: *snore* Nemesis: Er, I mean, yeah. UpLink: BOO_YAH! *** Nemesis is now known as Bruce WillGM: --------------------- Game Start ----------------------- WillGM: You're driving through the mission district. Fearless' car, with himself, Maurice, Ellis, and KJ, is behind you. WillGM: As you get up to speed in the middle of a block, shots ring out. It's obviously an automatic weapon. Behind you, Fearless' car swerves and goes on to the sidewalk. WillGM: A nondescript car behind them guns its engine. Someone is leaning out the window with an AK-47 in his hands, and the car is heading toward you. Bruce: "Oh, Hell." WillGM: "Almost certainly." Edward: Who's driving? WillGM: It's Bruce's car, IIRC. Bruce: I think I am. WillGM: "Shit! They've come back for me!" He pauses. "Or, okay, the Skull." Edward swears profusely WillGM: 2 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2 3d6) and gets 11 14. Bruce floors it. WillGM: Neither Bruce nor Edward hears any Disturbance clearly enough to make out any details, though apparently some echoed. WillGM: Bruce: Driving roll. WillGM: You're on a four-lane two-way street in a city in the evening. Traffic is light, but there's at least a car or two every block. Bruce: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Bruce (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce: Doh. Fail. Bruce will need to go back to offensive driving school. ;) Edward hangs on for the ride WillGM: The car guns, throwing everyone backward against their seat. Bruce is momentarily shaken... 1 sec. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: The car behind you swerves to avoid Fearless' car and carries on after you, gaining several yards a second. WillGM: Liriel closes his eyes and listens. "There was a small amount of Disturbance from damage to the car, so they must be celestials. I did not hear the characteristic notes of a human death, though." Edward: "For which favor, much thanks." WillGM: The gunman leaning out the chaser's window takes aim and squeezes off a short burst. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. WillGM: Your back window shatters and a taillight goes out. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. Edward ducks his head down and pushes rhett and liriel's heads down as well WillGM: No one, yet, is hit. Bruce swears as glass rains into his hair. "Hang on." WillGM: Bruce, what next? Bruce stomps the brake at the next intersection and attempts to power-slide theatrically around the corner. Bruce: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Bruce (3d6) and gets 10. Bruce: Yay. WillGM: Iiiiiiii'll allow it. WillGM: Your pursuer momentarily has a broadside at you... WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: He shoots for the driver's seat. Lemme think. Head exposed, cars in relative motion, several yards away, opportunity shot... no, that doesn't hit. WillGM: Bullets PANG off the car's frame, and one cracks the passenger side window. WillGM: The driver behind you swerves to avoid collision. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: And does so, though ending up in an awkward angle. Bruce: "I don't suppose any of you guys back there can, you know, shoot back?" WillGM: You're now heading East, at a right angle to the road leading toward Golden Gate Park. WillGM: You gain a few seconds while the car behind you makes a wider turn in the intersection. WillGM: It then follows you again. Bruce: Naturally. WillGM: "I... yes, I can try." He turns around and pops his face up over the broken windowsill. WillGM: "I got nothing. Didn't trust us with guns." Bruce guns it for the next intersection. WillGM: Driving roll. Bruce: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Bruce (3d6) and gets 14. Bruce: Blargh. Bruce: Fail. Bruce: Too much desk duty, I guess. ;) WillGM: A car attempts to move out of your way just as you turn in that direction as well to get around it. You clip each other. Bruce: Should I roll to recover? WillGM: Liriel is thrown back against the front seat and grunts, his concentration broken. Rhett is holding himself in place. WillGM: Well, first I'd like your honest opinion as to whether you two usually wear seatbelts. :^) Bruce: Yes. ;) WillGM: Ed? Edward: Yes. WillGM: Okay. Both of you are jerked, but are okay for now. And yes, Bruce, roll for recovery. Bruce: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Bruce (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce: Grrr. WillGM: The car behind you has caught up considerably as you lost momentum. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. Bruce spins out of control? ;) WillGM: Actually, since it's a city street, there's not too much room to spin. You bounce off, and hit the sidewalk. One last roll -- there's a building coming at you. WillGM: *cough*NaturalSoldier*Cough* Bruce: Ulp. Edward goes "Oh, crap" and braces himself best as he can WillGM: Bruce: one last Driving roll. Bruce: Uh. Well, I don't think Bruce has been trained in essence control, can he do it unconsciously? ;) *** Arsenal (arsenal@216-164-27-11.c3-0.drf-ubr1.atw-drf.pa.cable.rcn.com) has joined channel #gurps Arsenal: mu WillGM: You've had Awareness for a while; let's be generous and assume you've figured it out. WillGM: Hey Ars. Bruce: Okay. WillGM: You're offscreen at the moment, but presuming your car's still in working order you can get back in with a few minutes' game time or less. Arsenal: *nod* Arsenal: what's going on? UpLink: Baa Ars WillGM: You haven't spent any recently, so assume you're at maximum of 6. Bruce: *nod* Bruce arghs at the oncoming building, white-knuckles the steering wheel, better make this good, 4 points of essence, swerve! Bruce: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Bruce (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce: Pass. Bruce lacks in juju tonight. Bah. WillGM: Somehow the car manages to thread itself into a narrow alley, and friction on both sides, sparks flying behind you, brings you to a stop. Good news: no one was hurt. Bad news: the doors are pressed in place by the brick walls. Edward: "... crud." Edward: How far is the other car behind us? WillGM: It flies past the alley, brakes squealing. Bruce thumps his forehead on the steering wheel. Bruce: Is the alley open in front of us? WillGM: Rhett start scrambling out the nonexistent back window and over the roof of the car. WillGM: Bruce: Yes. There's a street on the other side. Bruce: Cool. Edward does likewise Bruce grabs the box and uses it to smash the windshield and scramble out. Edward: "C'mon, Liriel, bailing time is now!" WillGM: Liriel climbs out the back window. WillGM: Bruce: the thick glass box is a clumsy weapon and only manages to make a crack in the front windshield. Bruce mutters, and turns to climb over the seat into the back. Edward clambers over the roof on to the hood and brings his foot down on the crack. WillGM: Car doors slam and footsteps begin running for the alley. Edward: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Edward (3d6) and gets 11. Edward: (that's a pass for Karate) Arsenal: (#wet_bar is open for OOC chatter) WillGM: However, car windshields are pretty thick. WillGM: Liriel looks down at Bruce and sings a strange disjointed little tune. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM: Bruce's image washes down the spectrum through reds and into nothingness. It washes up through the spectrum into blues and full color, and he is leaning on the front of the car. WillGM: "Run!" Bruce scrambles up onto the hood as he was scrambling over the back seat, blinks. Edward: "Nice. Can you do that for the whole group from here to the Park, or is that harder?" WillGM: Liriel suits actions to words and follows Rhett, who has a substantial lead over you all. Edward grabs Bruce and the box and follows Liriel WillGM: "Not enough Essence!" Bruce stumbles, dragged along behind Edward until he gets his bearings and his gait steadies. *** Arsenal is now known as Fearless Edward: "I've got plenty. How much do you need?" WillGM: The shooter rounds the corner and takes in the situation. He drops to one knee and begins firing through the car. After a moment, the windshield shatters. WillGM: "A mile or so away... four of us... I should be able to manage with 8. I only have 2, though." WillGM: Rhett rounds the corner in front of you to your right. Bruce hazards a look over his shoulder and mutters something bitter about timing. WillGM: A second figure comes up by the shooter. It's Mr. Eat Me. "Drop the box!" he shouts. WillGM: Fearless, make a Driving roll to see how you can handle your car after the other two drive on. Fearless: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (3d6) and gets 14. Fearless: *crash* Bruce: "Eat me!" Bruce runs after Rhett. Edward catches up to Liriel and taps his shoulder, transferring all the Essence he has. WillGM: The guy with the AK-47 takes a moment to switch to semi. WillGM: The other guy also draws a pistol. Fearless slams on the brake. WillGM: Fearless: it's really looking unsafe to drive at the moment with your back tire like this. If you're going to move at all, no better than 5mph is recommended. Bruce: "Don't let that little bastard get too far ahead of us!" WillGM: Also, pedestrians are freaking out about the "drive-by" and telling you you should wait here and call the cops. WillGM: "Okay. Take the Skull to Hallaren!" He stops running and grabs you bodily, halting your run as well. WillGM: (you = Edward) WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 9. WillGM grumbles, looks up the Exoteleport rules. WillGM: Argh. Argh. Argh. Bruce: That sounds bad. :) Fearless gives the pedestrians a disarming grin, and says "don't worry, I'm with the cops," and "go back to what you were doing," to anyone standing nearby. He then calls Bruce's cell. WillGM: Celestial Motion references Exoteleport. Exoteleport references Telepathy. Fearless: (fast talk if necessary) Bruce answers with "Can't talk now, running." Fearless: "Where are you?" WillGM: Got it, finally. Bruce: "Two or three blocks east. Had to go on foot. You guys alright?" WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM: Fearless: Nicole's in bad shape mentally. She has issues with car crashes. Ellis is trying to comfort her. WillGM: Physically, though, everyone is fine. WillGM: Edward is vanished in the same manner as Fearless earlier. Fearless: "Physically, everyone's fine. Mentally... I'll get back to you on that." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 12. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 6. Bruce watches Edward vanish and runs right past Liriel. "The box is safe. Not so sure about us just yet." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: 2d6+2 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (2d6+2) and gets 7. Fearless: "Right. We'll find our way back to the park; wait for us." WillGM: As Edward vanishes, the shooters take aim at that general area. Fearless hears the gunfire. Fearless: "Shit. Need a hand?" WillGM: Liriel is shot in the arm, and cries out. He begins bleeding. Bruce: "No. I need a gun. We'll... crap. Call you back." *hangs up* WillGM: A second bullet causes a very peculiar tugging sensation as it passes through the vanishing Edward, but it carries on and buries itself in the wall beyond. Fearless: *click* "Coach, the others need help. Stay with Nicole; try to get her back to the Park." Fearless takes off at a run towards the gunshots. Bruce skids to a halt, and scrambles back to where Liriel is. WillGM: Fearless: it's several blocks forward and to your right. You'll be a bit. WillGM: Liriel is stumbling forward, clutching his arm. Edward tries to memorize the street they're in so he can warn Halloran WillGM: He mutters, "This is the last of it..." and sings one more Song. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. Bruce grabs Liriel and steadies him. "It'll grow back. Now let's go, before we get shot someplace that doesn't!" WillGM: A whirling wall of air springs up around you. It moves with you as the two of you run. WillGM: The shooters stop shooting and follow you, scrambling over the car behind you. WillGM: You round the corner behind Rhett before the shield falls. Bruce: Is he in line of sight when we get around the corner? WillGM: Yes. He's waiting up against the wall. Bruce: Groovy. WillGM: "Anybody got a plan?" Bruce: "Yeah. I'm kinda plannin' not to die." WillGM: Edward: you find yourself just outside the security building where you interviewed the Thief. Frizz is waiting there, in his Bob Hunter body. Edward: "... we came in?" Bruce looks around for someplace public and busy. A storefront, a coffee house, anything. Edward: "Frizz! The gang's in trouble." Edward: "Where's Halloran?" Bruce: The gang. Where's Scooby? ;P WillGM: Bruce: there's an open taqueria across the street. Bruce: "I feel like Mexican. C'mon." WillGM: "Quite an entrance. What do you mean?" Bruce runs across the street for the taqueria. Edward: "Getting shot at in an alley, last I left them. Entry's courtesy of Liriel." WillGM: Let's put Edward on hold for a moment. Edward: 'k WillGM: Fearless, as you pass the block just before the one where you saw Bruce's rental car turn, you see three of your guys running across the previous street a few blocks down. Fearless: *change direction* WillGM: Fortunately, the street is fairly empty of cars. Rhett keeps looking behind you, and as you pass, he too sings a Song, the same one you just heard from Liriel. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 11. WillGM: Unlike Liriel's performance, however, the Essence sputters into the Symphony and vanishes. WillGM: Precious seconds pass as you cross the street. A single shot rings out... WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 13. WillGM: ...and Liriel coughs as a bullet passes through his chest. WillGM: 5d6+1 Fearless: okay, wait... the corner Bruce's car turned is ahead of me. I spot Bruce and Co. to my left or right, and how many blocks down? Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (5d6+1) and gets 19. Bruce: I get the sense that we're heading south. WillGM: Fearless: about two blocks down. A shot has just come out of the alley Bruce and the others left. WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 4, "That's a critical success, don't think this means I like you." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. WillGM: And Liriel critically saves vs. death! Fearless: to my left or right? WillGM: But moans softly and falls unconscious. Also bleeding heavily. Bruce: Yay! WillGM: Fearless: right. Bruce: Boo! Fearless: *nod* WillGM: Oh, wait. The alley? To your left. Bruce: "Shit. Shit shit shit." WillGM: A woman in the taqueria screams and the patrons set up a bedlam. Fearless: the alley's to the left, Bruce and Co are to the right? WillGM: Fearless: as you run now, the alley is to your left and Bruce & Co. are just getting to the outside serving area of a busy taqueria on your right. Fearless: and I just saw Liriel go down. WillGM: Well, Bruce is dragging him along. Bruce picks Liriel up and puts him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, and makes for inside the restaurant. WillGM: The shooters apparently decide against making this any more public, and retreat. WillGM: Multiple people are calling 911 on cellphones. Fearless heads for where Bruce is. WillGM: Bruce: a couple of guys throw a tablecoth over a family's food on a long table and pull it off to clear a space. Fearless keeps an eye on the alleyway as he crosses. Bruce lays Liriel gently on the table and grabs another tablecloth with he balls up and used to apply pressure to the wound. "Hang in there, buddy." Bruce oocly mulches his typoist. WillGM: Fearless: You can see two guys clearly. They're making tracks over Bruce's rental car and to the street beyond. WillGM: Bruce rolls First Aid at default... WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 10. Fearless: .oO(Hmmm....) WillGM: Well, you're keeping him a little cleaner. But he's still bleeding badly. Fearless enters the restaurant Bruce and Larry entered. Bruce just does what he can until the EMTs arrive, which apparently isn't much. ;) WillGM: Fearless; you're there. WillGM: The patrons are freaking out and giving you a lot of space. Several of the older ones are leaving hastily, while several of the younger ones are watching excitedly. Fearless: "What happened, Bruce?" Fearless tries to remember his first aid, goes about helping Bruce with Liriel. Fearless: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for Fearless (3d6) and gets 4, "That's a critical success, don't think this means I like you." Fearless: (and yet, not one divine intervention) Fearless: (defaulting on the first aid) WillGM: Nice. You not only give directions to Bruce to keep the arm better off, you also remember what you know (as a hemophiliac, you've gotta) for the the exit wound in the chest, and treat for shock. WillGM: 1d6+3 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (1d6+3) and gets 9. Bruce: "Larry took a couple hits. Edward managed to take a shortcut back to the park." WillGM: It takes about 9 minutes for the paramedics to arrive. Do what you will in the meantime. Fearless: "Let's hope Ed can send the cavalry." Bruce nods. "It was the guys from the church. I guess they gave up on being discreet." WillGM: On that note, let's segue back to Ed. WillGM: "Crap! Do you know where they were? Can you direct us?" WillGM: "Hey, is that thing you're carrying what I think it is?" Edward nods. "Last I saw 'em they were in an alley off of <$street>. And yes, it is. Liriel asked me to get it to Halloran." WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 8. WillGM: Okay, you remembered it correctly. WillGM: "I'll grab a response squad. Hallaren's on the other side of the Park, though. Close to the Bridge." He runs off. Edward nods and heads in that direction WillGM: As you walk down a path toward the bridge, a little girl turns to her mother on the park bench nearby. "Mommy, he's got a man's hand in a box." WillGM: *reading a book* "That's nice, dear." Edward does recall that that box was closed last time he looked at it, but decides to ignore it for now. WillGM: Ed: Closed? It's sealed tight -- the box is glass. :^) WillGM: A passing security guard takes off his jacket and drapes it over the box without exchanging a word, and moves on. Edward nods and also moves on WillGM: It takes you a few minutes to get to the Bridge, so back to the taqueria. WillGM: What have y'all been doing while waiting for the paramedics? Fearless: keeping Larry as stable as possible, cleaning and patching up wounds as best as possible... WillGM: *eagerly* "Was it a gang fight?" WillGM: "You guys don't look like gang people." Fearless looks at Bruce, to see if he wants to field this one. WillGM: "Is he gonna die?" WillGM: "Did you get any of them?" Bruce fishes out his badge and lays it on the table next to Larry. "You ask a lotta questions, kid." WillGM: *eyes wide* "OOH, they shot a cop! They're fuckin' going' down, man." Fearless: "He's not going to die." Bruce: "Yeah. He's a tough cookie." WillGM: "They'll kick your ass if you shoot a cop." Bruce looks over his shoulder to see if Rhett is still close at hand. WillGM: A member of the waitstaff comes by and sweeps the kid out of the way. "Allright, this isn't for little kids to see. Come on." He goes off, whining about wanting to see. Fearless: "Thank you." WillGM: Rhett is to your right at the head of the table, watching Liriel. WillGM: *voice quiet* "Not a lot I can do. I don't know Healing. I could try summoning some Ethereal help... but the paramedics will probably do just as well." Bruce says to him, "I'm surprised you didn't try to ditch us while we were being shot at." WillGM: "Ditch you? You're the best friends I got right now. I tried to tell that other guy, I'm not involved in this because I want to be. He apparently thinks all Sorcerors are assholes like the Black Order, though." Bruce: "Fair enough." WillGM: To the wailing of sirens, the paramedics and several police cars arrive. WillGM: "Have you considered our story?" WillGM: The paramedics jump in and take over Bruce and Fearless' first aid. Bruce: Hm, how much would I know about Fearless' thing with the Jersey mafia? Fearless: If you read the Philly Inquirer, you'd know enough ;) WillGM: Yeah. Fearless has a Reputation, so assume it's pretty well-known if you actually connect the name with the story. WillGM: At least, as he says, among readers of the Philly papers. Bruce: Mm. Good enough. Bruce: *quietly* "I dunno. Maybe an organized crime hit. My buddy Fearless here has his share of enemies." WillGM: A lady cop eyes the badge on the table. "That his?" she asks Bruce. WillGM: Her heavyset partner leans over and looks at it. "Philly. Long way from home." Bruce: "Mine. Yeah. We're in town with a mutual friend who has family here." WillGM: "So was this --" she nods at Liriel -- "business?" WillGM: Her partner waves Fearless over to another corner of the restaurant. Bruce: "Business? Nah. I'm supposed to be on vacation. Damned if I know what it was." Fearless heads over there. "Yes, officer?" Bruce: Hrm. Probably shouldn't use the term "damned if I know" so lightly. ;) WillGM: "Mm." She pulls out a pad and begins taking notes. "Why don't you take it from the top?" WillGM: Fearless: he also asks you to give your version of events. WillGM: Both of you /msg your versions to me. :^) WillGM: No fair chatting it up in #wet_bar, either. That's the point of asking you separately. ;^) Bruce: Yay. ;) Fearless: bah... I can listen in on his, remember? ;) WillGM: Fearless: Ah, you position yourself where you can read Bruce's lips? Fearless: yep. ;) WillGM: 3d6 Fearless: and remember acute hearing as well. Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 15. Bruce oocly waits until this is resolved... :) WillGM: It's pretty much impossible to hear over the din in the restaurant, but you get a position where you can see Bruce's face. Fearless: (read lips: skill 17, +3 from acute vision, dunno what other modifiers apply) WillGM: 3d6 Dicesuke throws the bones for WillGM (3d6) and gets 14. WillGM: Okay. Bruce, you go first. WillGM: In-channel. Bruce: Okay. Give my player a minute to fabricate something. ;) WillGM: Fearless, you can come in in-channel after him. WillGM: A couple of other cops begin asking other people in the restaurant what they saw. They apparently think Rhett is just another customer. Bruce: Yay. WillGM: At least, at first -- then he is pointed out to them as someone who came in with the bleeding guy. Bruce explains how we're in town with Nicole, and how we were just out doing the touristy dirving thing when this sedan-- and he gives a description of the car as best he can remember from his rear-view mirrow-- pulls up and starts shooting and runs Fearless over there off the road. He then describes the chase, leaving out the, uh, less mundane details. Bruce: "My buddy over there has made some enemies in the mafia. I dunno it it's related but I wouldn't be surprised. He's got a nasty habit of prying a bit too much." WillGM: "Mafia? Whoa." Fearless refrains from eye-rolling... WillGM: "How'd you get from the cars to here?" Bruce gives Fearless a measured look of police distain for the press. ;) Bruce: "I lost control of my car. It's wedged in an alley a couple blocks from here. We had to make a run for it, and I was hoping they'd give up their pursuit with a bunch of eyes to identify their faces. They did break off, but not before Larry there took a shot in the back. I carried him inside and did what I could to stabilize him until the ambulance got here. Fearless caught up with us not long after that." Bruce has conveniently left out any mention of Edward. WillGM: She asks for details about the identities of everyone involved. While she's going through the mundane details, Fearless, what do you tell your guy? Fearless explains how we're in town with Nicole doing the tourist thing when a sedan pulls up, fires at us with an AK, blows holes in the tires, running me off the road before taking off after Bruce's car. Fearless: "After I got out, I buzzed Bruce's cell to find out where he was, heard the gunshots, and hotfooted it over in time to see our friend Larry get shot. I arrived here a few minutes after Bruce pulled Larry in here, and helped get him stabilized." WillGM: The guy finishes up by taking the same names and mundane information, and tells you not to leave. Fearless: "I had to leave Nicole and another friend of ours, Greg Ellis, with my rental." WillGM: The paramedics finish dealing with Liriel as best they can on the table, and take him to the ambulance. WillGM: The lady cop goes over to Rhett. They speak for a minute or so and Bruce hears the sound of a few Essence being spent. The air goes hazy around Rhett for a moment. WillGM: When this stops, the lady cop nods, jots something down in her notebook, and heads off to discuss things with her partner. Bruce finds something to occupy himself with so he's -not- looking expectantly at Rhett. WillGM: Bruce: the paramedics notice you and give you the name of the hospital where Liriel is being taken. "Lucky S.O.B. Looks like he'll live." WillGM: Fearless: you notice that Frizz is outside looking at the scene. He notices you and gives you a nod. A couple of big guys are hanging back behind him a short ways off. Fearless: is my interrogation over? Bruce: "Good to hear. Thanks." WillGM: Yah Fearless heads over to Frizz. "What's up?" WillGM: The lady cop comes back and waves the three of you over, and watches Frizz join you. "Who's this guy?" WillGM: "Bob Hunter. I'm a friend of Bruce's here." He shows his badge. Bruce: "Yeah, he was lucky enough to miss the whole thing. We were supposed to meet him at the Park. Got ahold of him while waiting for the EMTs to show." WillGM: "Right. Well, your stories match what we heard from witnesses all along the car chase. A caller from a couple streets over gave us the number of the shooter's car. It was stolen earlier this week, so no help there. We've got a couple bullets in the alleyway and we're working on some other evidence. Mr. Ferrifous, did you recognize any of your pursuers?" Fearless shakes his head. "No, sorry. I do have some enemies who like to use local muscle when possible, though." Fearless: "I guess they figured they could get at me easier when I was on vacation." WillGM: "Who?" Fearless: "Let's just say that I pissed off the Jersey mob." WillGM: "Yeah, we heard. You might want to think about Witness Protection. People don't generally survive too many of these things." Fearless: "Price I pay for being successful, I guess." WillGM: "Allright. For the moment, it looks like you can go. If we find the car or the shooters, we'll get in touch with you. We're treating it as attempted homicide for now." She looks back at the alley. "And I hope you bought insurance on those rentals." Fearless: did we? WillGM: She heads over to her comrades. You have obviously been dismissed. Bruce winces. WillGM: Yes. Bruce: Hooray for us. WillGM: It was in all those forms you signed at the rental place. WillGM: It really was mentioned. :^) Bruce gets on the phone with the rental company and shares the fun with them. -_- Fearless: better you than me, pal... ;) WillGM: Bruce: the agent you reach "..."s at your description of the event and sends out a couple of personnel to see. "You're not seriously expecting replacements, are you?" Bruce: "I'm going to assume I wouldn't get them, anyway." WillGM: "Right." *click* WillGM: "Hallaren's guys have got enough vehicles for everyone. At least while you're in town. This way." Fearless follows, shrugging. "How are Coach and Nicole?" WillGM: "I sent one of the guys to check up on them. If they're okay, they'll be brought back to the Park." Fearless nods. "When I left them, they were okay physically. Cole seemed to be in rough shape, mentally. I ... think she had a flashback." Bruce: "Mm. Some scars never heal." WillGM: You pile in to cars driven by similar-looking men. One contains Nicole, Maurice, and Ellis. Nicole seems a little steadier now, but Ellis is still holding her hand. WillGM: The cars drive you back, much less eventfully, to the Park. Fearless: Once at the Park, I take a seat near Nicole. "You doing okay?" I'll ask softly. WillGM: She hesitates, then nods quietly. WillGM: Let's pause and return to Edward. Fearless: *nod* WillGM: As Frizz was making his way to the scene of the chase, Edward was taking the Skull to Hallaren. Ed, you find Hallaren sitting quietly on a hill sloping down toward the Bridge, watching the sky and ocean. Edward slows from a brisk walk to a stroll. "Hey." WillGM: Hallaren looks up, says "Hey," and does a double-take. "You got it!" Edward nods. "Ran into some trouble on the way back, though. Guess they didn't appreciate the change of ownership." Edward fills him in on the details. WillGM: "Ow. Don't worry, my guys will make sure your friends are allright." Edward nods. "Glad to hear it." Edward: "Where do you want this put?" *gestures at coat-covered box* WillGM: He stands up, eyes the Skull, and sighs. "Istanbul." Bruce: Great. ;) Edward blinks. "Right. Want me to call UPS, or are there better methods?" WillGM: "It's supposed to be property of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since I haven't heard anything about a theft, I presume the Magpies replaced it with a fake. That won't last forever, though." Edward: "... okay, scratch UPS then." WillGM: "There's almost surely a Cherub or two frantic about losing their ward. I'll put the word up the hierarchy. Shouldn't be more than a day or two before we hear. Meantime, I can speed up the process by getting you on a plane there." WillGM: "Normally, I'd put Liriel in charge of something like this and let him travel via Tether. Lot safer. But with you guys tagging along, it's probably better to go in a group." Edward nods. "Ahh. Join Heaven's Armies. Travel the world. See interesting places. Get shot at. Gotta love it." WillGM: He smiles and claps you on the shoulder. "We try to avoid that last part in Flowers. Come on, by the time we get back to the Security building Frizz should have returned with your friends." Edward: "Sounds like a plan. I don't suppose you'd happen by any chance to have some good coffee there?" WillGM: "I think we could arrange it." He nods to a Reliever floating nearby, who acknowledges and whooshes off in the direction of the building. WillGM: A few minutes later, everyone is together (except for Liriel) and coffee is available. Bruce helps himself to a cup. Fearless sips his. "Not strong enough yet. Can't taste it." WillGM: "Eh? Where's Liriel?" WillGM: (Ed left before Liriel was shot, remember.) Fearless gives the hospital the paramedics took him to. WillGM: "What? What for? Did he get hurt?" Fearless: "Seems Xav and his boys wanted the box back so badly, they shot him to get it." Edward blinks. "What?" Bruce: "He was wounded pretty badly. But he was stable when they transported him." WillGM: "Ah. Unconscious, I suppose, or he would have refused treatment." Fearless: "Yes. He's lucky, Bruce and I were able to stabilize him before they got there. Otherwise, he'd be de.. er, whatever you guys call it when you lose your physical body." Edward: "Ref.. Oh yeah. He's going to have a problem when he wakes up, though." WillGM: "This makes things more difficult." He shoves his hands in his pockets and thinks. "Liriel never was particularly tough. Tougher than most humans, of course, but weaker than your typical angel. He trained his mind and spirit. If he's been hurt that badly, he could be out of it for some time." Bruce 's cup hovers in mid-sip. "Why do I get the feeling things are going to get even more difficult?" WillGM: "This leaves the cargo in abeyance. You know your greater mission better than I... what are your options?" WillGM: "Greater mission?" WillGM: "Yeah, and who's this guy?" WillGM: *pointing to Rhett* Bruce: "Oh. Him. A pawn in Xavier's plan." WillGM: Rhett looks a little miffed but says nothing. Fearless shrugs, not yet knowing the actual hierarchy of angels yet. WillGM: Maurice starts to say something several times, stops before saying anything several times, and finally shakes his head and wanders over to lean on one of the cars. Fearless: *to the others* "Without Larry, can still we get the package to Turkey? Bruce scratches his stubble. "Don't see why not." Edward: *to Hallaren* "Can you contact Fire, tell 'em we have the skull and are enroute, ask 'em to have someone rendezvous at the airport?" WillGM: "I can arrange any required transportation. And any angel knows a half dozen ways to slip a relic past customs." Edward: "... for that matter, do y-- Ah, good." WillGM: Hallaren nods at Ed. "Yes. Soldekai should know who was guarding this thing. That Cherub will have been searching for it himself, of course." Bruce: "Sounds like it's a date, then." Edward: "And preferably some way to identify each other when we get there. Wouldn't do to arrive there only to blithely hand the Skull over to a balseraph..." WillGM: "I'll make the arrangements. Once he's conscious, Liriel should be able to join you. We should be able to spare the Essence for some healing whenever that happens." WillGM: "Stay here. I'll let you know in a bit." He wanders off. Fearless nods. WillGM: "So." Bruce: "Yep. What about you, eh?" WillGM: "Yep." Fearless sits back. "And what about him?" *thumbs towards Maurice* Bruce: I forget, how much have we questioned him about? %P WillGM: Maurice, or Rhett? Bruce: Rhett. WillGM: Virtually nothing. He was in your car when the chase started. Bruce: Mm. Bruce looks at Maurice. "Him? Beats me." He looks back at Rhett. "But you, I'm inclined to cut you lose, but we should chat first." Bruce 's player yawns, needs to hit the sack. WillGM: Let's do that next game, then. Fearless: yes WillGM: ----------------- Session End --------------------- Edward: good idea Bruce: Roger that.