Log:Orpheus AQ for Cognition

GM: Slinger Players: Orpheus Synopsis: Rating 2 Astral Quest Orpheus gains a hint of a possible future where the home he shares with Slinger at Mountain Hills is hit by a missile, and then a heavy SWAT team is sent in to finish the job. Potential fallout from a plot that was recently run by Craig where Slinger's identity was discovered. Orpheus has to run into the burning building to save Slinger from certain death. Date: Jan 29 2070 Part 1: The Dweller Jasmine is here, having come at Slinger's request. The scent of her eponymous spice fills the small room. Temporarily, Slinger has moved us over to Page's place, having set up in one of the basement rooms. Not as nice as the room at Mountain Hills, but Slinger is carefully having that room observed, with Watcher Spirits inside it to report back if anyone tries to breach the ward he has in place there. "This one shouldn't be too horrible, though you will be gone for a full day," Jasmine murmurs reassuringly. "Lie back, little warrior. And I will send you safely to the metaplanes." Orpheus was practically making a habit of this stuff.. He lays back, relaxing as well as he can manage, knowing that the coming odeal well might prove another stressful escapade for him as have previous ones.. "I am ready, o' great free spirit," Orpheus murmers in a somewhat mirthful and joking manner. Not to sully the legitimacy of Jasmine's stature as a free spirit or anything though.. He adds as an aside.. "Thanks.." Thus, the youth does offer forth a part of his collected energy, his spirit, his karmic tides for Jasmine to partake of for herself.. and in doing so, prepares himself for the inevitable hell hes subjecting himself to. It's amazing what he'll do just for a few cool tricks. The projection to the metaplanes is like stepping through a gateway, lifting out of your body and being hurtled headlong into the tunnel of light and sound, confusing, conflicting images that hurtle by too fast for your senses to fixate upon them. Until finally, you are in a chamber. It is dark here, empty. Alone. A little cold. Suddenly, there is a beam of light, and within it, a hooded figure. "What makes you think he truly loves you?" Orpheus never liked this part.. all the lights.. the sound.. the nauseating movement.. That weird out-of-body experience… But, it was needed. Unavoidable.. Soon the boy finds himself in a cold, dark, lonely place. He wraps his arms around himself a moment, letting his senses readjust to this new place.. already, he was having a bad time.. "Maybe my dashing good looks and charming personality?" replies the youth in a somewhat comical and stand-offish way.. Who was this person asking such vague and generalistic questions!!?! Orpheus looks around himself.. trying to get a better idea of where he is at the moment.. Your surroundings are utterly dark, and yet the figure disappears. There is a new beam of light, and another hooded figure — or perhaps the same one, speaks. "You are not as good as he is. Not as strong. Not as powerful. What makes you think you can measure up to him?" Orpheus frows.. Who are they talking about? And yet, some deep dark part of him seems to instinctually think 'Slinger' when they ask the question.. Orpheus continues to resist this BS though. "Bet I'm strong enough to kick your sorry ass, if you show yourself," Orpheus say, then offer his spittle toward the direction of the voice.. As far as he can possibly manage to launch the pre-digestive saliva. Sif hes going to let some punk talk down to him like that.. Even still, the darkness and desolation of this place made him feel very uneasy.. He knew he was in an astral quest, and yet.. this all felt so claustrophobic.. So real. He hated that about it. Before your spittle can land, the figure has vanished. Reappears from the other side of the room, well out of reach. "You do not measure up. Perhaps he feels sorry for you. A lost little puppy. A pet." The voice is so damnably calm as it speaks things that you might well have thought, deep down inside. Then it vanishes, and reappears just behind you. "You are not the first he has had, you know." Orpheus wheels around on his heel when the voice is behind him.. yet, there is continued nothing. What was the point of this? That is what he wondered. "I could fuckin' leave and do whatever I want, when I want. It makes no difference.. And for your information…" Orpheus looks around a bit more, feeling a chill working up into his spine.. ".. I connect more with cats than dogs. Dogs fuckin' suck.." Especially guard dogs.. "You still do not measure up," the voice states calmly. "What makes you think he can truly love you as an equal? You do not think of yourself as equal, do you? Surely you are not so foolish." But as your eyes adjust to the darkness… is that a glimmer of light, that way? Hard to tell, but your eyes are picking it up. That direction, shifting, as if a billowing curtain… Finally, Orpheus decides to simply ignore the voice.. He looks around and tries to find a door or.. SOMEthing that might lead out.. or failing that, at least find a corner of the room where he could stand in the corner.. Hopefully that would put the.. whatever it is.. Only able to come at him from two directions instead of four.. His mind raced at this point, his emotions a little mixed and raw.. irritated.. not because the voice was wrong but more that it was right.. Pointing out questio that did indeed plague the young warrior. A fact that often caused him anger.. Anger at himself for questioning the intent and loyalties of someone who has given him so much and given up so much for him… As you get closer, the flickering takes on an orange-ish, yellow-ish cast. There is a passageway, and yet there is suddenly heat coming from it, making it harder to proceed. The heat is intense, taking an act of will to push forward… + Willpower Roll «Plot» Slinger says, "Willpower, if you would. AP counts. TN is 2." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Willpower + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 2: 2 3 4 9 9 = 5 Successes «Plot» Slinger says, "2 extra KP for the quest." Part 2: Place of Fear It is hard, but you push through — and find yourselves somewhere familiar, and yet not so. You are in the parking lot of Mountain Hills, and yet — there is smoke and fire belching from the place. Residents are streaming outside of it, fleeing from the building. The fire is hot and intense — and seems to be centered not far from where the apartment you shared with Slinger is. Was. What's clear, though, is that this wasn't mere fire. There was a blast of some kind, from the destruction of the building — part of it is literally blown away. And coming from there, you can see figures moving, shifting… locked in combat. And one of them looks a /lot/ like Slinger. The way he moves… Orphes spins around again, noticing the light of the passage ahead.. A glowing, soft burning.. intense, heat. Nothing was worse than heat.. burns. But anywhere was better than in here, locked with the judgemental, disembodied voice. "You'll have to forgive me, but I got better shit to do.." With that, he leaves the thing behind… … and into something even worse.. When he arrives, the disorientation is sufficient enough to actually make him wonder if, somehow, he accidently returned back to his body. That couldn't be, though, right..? Then he spots the sight of who he thinks is Slinger. Frag! What the fuck is this shit?!?! You are clad in your trenchcoat, and all your cyberware responds quickly with positive status messages in your mind. You are fully equipped, just as if you had just returned from your most recent Shadowrun. Unwounded. Something happened here, something major. There is no response from the comm, at all. Just the flames, which are growing, consuming the elderly building hungrily, sending up waves of thick smoke and intense orange flames. The fire department may have been called, but it will be some time before they can arrive. This happened /fast/. Orpheus curses under his breath.. He checks his gear again.. Ruth cloak, comm gear, weapons.. All his cyberware gave a green light. For a moment, he really thinks hes NOT in an astral quest.. all his previous AQ's he was never thusly armed as he is now. It was kind of disorienting, simply because, how could he even be SURE if this was or wasn't real? It felt completely real.. the environment and theme matched the real world as he knows it in his mind… Orpheus bolts for the building in full force now, flicking on his ruthenium(assuming he does indeed have it).. He has to see if Slinger is inside. Has to see if he's okay.. Nothing else really mattered to him. The front entrance is mostly undamaged, so far, but as you bolt past that, with people streaming down the stairs, trying to escale, the first thing that strikes you is the fire alarm — loud, intense buzzing. Your sound filters and dampener easily can screen it out, but it's very present. The lights flicker and go out as the electrical system shorts, and the main breakers blow. Suddenly, it's dark in here, very dark, and disorienting. Screams from frightened people, though the exit signs are still illuminated. Down the first-floor hallway, though, it is a different story. Smoke flows freely here, rolling along the ceiling, choking, enough to make you fiercely cough. Now, your body is fighting you, trying to get enough air the closer you get to the inferno toward that end of the hallway. + Willpower Roll «Plot» Slinger says, "Lemme have a Willpower roll, AP refreshed. Versus 2D Stun." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Willpower + Astral Pool: 1 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 2 for "Need 6 successes at least..": 1 2 4 4 4 7 = 5 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls 1 vs TN 2 for "Need 6 successes at least.. 2/12": 4 = 1 Success «Plot» Orpheus says, "Should be light stun, which my TD should eat. Assuming I have access to it here." «Plot» Slinger says, "You do." Orpheus has to practically swim through the onrush of evacuating people.. It's kind of ironic how even invisible as he was, with his cloak on, it did nothing to help him maneuver aorund the masses of fleeing people.. Worse yet was thew smoke, which no degree of cloaking or cyberware(that he had) was going to prevent.. He struggles through it though, choking as he goes, his eyes a little teary, though their synthetic nature helped him shrug it off a little.. Perhaps it was actually a good thing he was such a smoker.. else his pink, virgin lungs would be hurting and raped even moreso than they already are.. Part 3: Place of Destiny No answer on the comms. The fire is worse, here, though it has not fully broken into the corridor. Flames are licking up the walls, and there is thick smoke at the ceiling, but it is not yet impassible. Not quite. The door to room 153, though, is a solid sheet of flame, knocked off its hinges, burning brightly. And there are crashes from inside, from what /was/ your home, the room that you shared with Slinger. Smoke billows out of the room, and from inside is the sound of something more than just the crashing of the fire. The sounds of combat, fierce and intense… Once Orpheus reaches the door that leads into his home.. the portal that represented the thrashold of his life until now.. where he stepped in and became a new person.. There were a lot of people Orpheus would simply turn his back on right now and walk away. No matter who was through that door.. Slinger, though.. Was one of the few he couldn't walk away from.. and wouldn't.. He eyes the flaming pillar of a door, knowing full well he HAD to get inside here.. No matter what.. No matter the cost… He backs up and prepares to slam his way through the door, if he has to. Wheres a fire extinguisher when you need one? + Magic Roll «Plot» Slinger says, "Roll me magic versus S stun. AP refreshed." «Plot» Orpheus says, "Your killing me here. It'd be cool to roll like, my intelligence or quickness once in a while. :p" «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Magic + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 2 for "Need 4 successes to soak completely with TD..": 1 1 3 10 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Magic + Astral Pool: 1 - 2 vs TN 2 for "Need 4 successes to soak completely with TD.. 3/12": 4 5 = 2 Successes Orpheus summons forth the intense… magical? energies at his disposal and smashes his foot through the flaming door, barreling on through that portal as it opens, only barely managing to shrug off the intense heat and pain from the structure collasping all around him in a wreath of tormented wood and plaster. "Slinger!!" he shouts as he passes through, though also falls into a defensive posture, in case those sounds of combat were as close and urgent as it sounded like.. In fact, it must be magic, because normally the door would have burned your arm to a crisp. You can feel new magical energies coming to the fore, as your body wants to pull back from the heat. It's hard to keep your head in this maelstrom. The door falls away — and the apartment itself is an inferno of intense heat. The whole room is on fire, and you have to crouch down to avoid the worst of the heat. The couch is in flames, the trid is sputtering and sparking as it burns. Most of our personal belongings are already moved out, but the furniture is still there. The bottom of one of the cabinets dissolves, and a rain of cups and glasses falls from the cabinet, falling onto the surface of the burning countertop, shattering and raining shards of ceramic and glass everywhere. The carpet itself isn't burning yet, but it is smouldering. It stinks, the stench of burning plastic and wood combining together. But you see him in here. Slinger, locked in combat, trying desperately to save himself as he is attacked by a pair of armor-clad goons. Slinger himself is dressed in his normal armor, and already has several slashes across him. There are at least four more of the guys collapsed on the floor around him, all clad in that environmentally-sealed military armor. A corporate hit squad… Part 4: Place of Battle Burning plastic and carpet.. What a wonderful new smell Orpheus has discovered! The stench and flames are almost unbelievable.. It takes concerted effort just to stay conscious and alert in these kinds of conditions.. Perhaps it was only by the virtue of his training in centering and meditation that allowed him to collect his wits, calmed, in control of his faculties.. his abilities.. He quickly assessed the situation as best he can.. though from the looks, things were bad.. Military enviro-seal armored soldiers.. Very, very bad news. Slinger was struggling already, fighting for his life, and here was Orpheus, crouched in the shadows, a translucent spectre waiting to strike.. But what could he do against such a well-armored foe? He looks around for something, ANYTHING that might help.. and failing to do so, he would be left only with the option of charging into the fray. He would not let Slinger fall.. He would die preventing it, if thats what it took.. It took all his courage and strength to keep himself from flying into a blood frenzy to Slingers aid.. Slinger seems to be holding his own — but the soldiers are protected from the heat and flames, while Slinger himself is not. Already his hair is burned — burning, in bits, while he tries to stay low away from the intense heat gathering at the top of the room. All the soldiers have to do is delay him long enough that he will succumb eventually to the heat of the room, and they will have their victory. There is nothing you can really use, except what you came in with. They are heavily armored, yes, but it's also clear that at least one of them is fairly wounded, hanging back a little, letting his opponent do the work. You could come in behnd that one, perhaps do some damage… So.. No Vindicator minigun laying about? Maybe a heavy machinegun? .. Pack of gum? I'll stick the gum in the guards visor, yeah… Sigh, yep, Orpheus quickly positions himself behind the guard who is attacking Slinger. That was his first target.. if he could get Slinger free, he would be in a safer, better position, hopefully.. Maybe.. + Initiative «Plot» Slinger says, "Let's have initiative." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 1 (to no one): 3 «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 1 (to no one): 4 «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 1 (to no one): 4 «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Initiative with a result of 15. «Plot» Slinger says, "You go first. Guy is surprised, no FIMM, you're invisible thanks to Ruth. His TN is 8, yours is 4. He gets no CP." + Orpheus's Attack «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Cyber-Implant Combat + Combat Pool: 7 + Karma Pool: 2 vs TN 4 for " 6/12. This better work…": 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 7 10 10 11 = 11 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Cyber-Implant Combat + Combat Pool: 7 + Karma Pool: 2 - 11 vs TN 4 for " 6/12. This better work… 7/12": 2 2 2 3 3 3 10 = 1 Success «Plot» Orpheus says, "Going to have to stick with 12 then. That should be… 14D with 8 successes to spare for 18D. Plus poison, if I really have to." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 vs TN 8 for "Melee roll versus Orph": 2 3 3 4 8 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 8 for "Armor provides 10 impact… leaves 8D to resist.": 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 9 20 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 - 2 (succs) vs TN 8 for "Armor provides 10 impact… leaves 8D to resist. KP 2": 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 10 = 1 Success «Plot» Slinger says, "He takes S… and goes down. Pose it." Orpheus charges forward, putting everything he has into a single strike.. He aims the strike forward, conjuring all the skill and prescision he has earned over the years.. Years of cutting, hurting, and inflicting pain and death.. But not transformed into a chance to kill for the ultimate cause.. To save Slinger.. This man deserved everything he had coming to him, including the unwelcome presence of his hand blade as it cut neatly into his armor.. Orpheus manages to get the poison-tipped weapon in-between a fairly unprotected and thin section of the armor plating.. The armor was strong.. Amazingly so, but his determination proved stronger.. The man gives out a blood-curdling sound before Orpheus twists the blade inside his innards, fully rupturing the mans spleen and stomach. Quite simply, he falls to the ground, dead.. The assailant crumples to the ground, instantly dead, and Slinger acts next, moving around with you — and taking full advantage of his melee skills. The young mage is utterly exhausted magically, having attempted — and failed — to pierce the shielding that protects these men. Now, he strikes out with his Aikido, using all the strength in his arsenal… + Slinger's Attack «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Aikido + Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 4 for "+1 wound -1 FIMM.": 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 9 17 = 9 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 vs TN 5: 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 5 10 = 2 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 - 2 (succs) vs TN 5 for "KP 3": 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 = 1 Success Slinger strikes out at the guy, using everything in his strength, but still cannot penetrate the powerful armor of his foe, which protects him from the worst that Slinger can deliver. The guard strikes out… + Corporate Guard Attack «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 5 for "Against Slinger…": 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 + Combat Pool: 5 + Karma Pool: 1 - 1 (succs) vs TN 5 for "Against Slinger…": 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 9 9 = 4 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Aikido + Combat Pool: 5 vs TN 4: 1 1 3 3 4 4 5 5 8 9 = 6 Successes «Plot» Slinger says, "No effect." + Orpheus's Attack «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Cyber-Implant Combat vs TN 3 for " -1 FIMM No CP left": 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 5 21 = 6 Successes «OOC» Orpheus says, "I'll stick" «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (melee skill) vs TN 9 for "Guy trying to counterattack.": 1 2 4 5 11 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 5 (body) vs TN 4 for "10D from milspec…": 1 2 3 4 4 = 2 Successes «OOC» Slinger says, "He takes S." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Body vs TN 10 for "Poison doesn't pay attention to armor…": 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 8 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls Body vs TN 10 for "Poison doesn't pay attention to armor…": 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 8 11 = 1 Success «OOC» Slinger says, "And D stun. He goes down." Orpheus watches Slinger skillfully sparring with the superiorly-clad aggressor. His strikes fall almost uselessly against the thick armored plating of the heavy military armor.. But, the distraction is sufficient for Orpheus to again seftly step into the goons defenses and deliver a quick, accurate slice with his blade into his underarm, where the armored plating is thin and weak.. The slice is good enough to severely lacerate him, but more importantly, the deadly delivery of GammaScope quickly rushes through his bloodstream.. The poison works it's wonders immediately, sending the mans body into a paralysis.. He falls to the ground in a heap… Orpheus then quickly scans for any more threats.. and provided there are none, will throw his arms around Slinger. "Gods.. Are you okay?" he wonders, an intense aching and pain in his heart, despite being free of injury.. unlike Slinger.. Orph looks down at the paralyzed guard, then, back to Slinger. "Finish him. Fucking kill the twisted fucker for doing this to you. I want to see you kill him," Orpheus says.. Nay, BEGS. This was that strangely sadistic side of the youth showing.. Part 5: Place of Magic Slinger is gasping for breath, the smoke finally having gotten to him. Even though he's a smoker, there is a limit to what his lungs can take. He staggers, trips, and falls — right into the flames, and then screams, choking and coughing, as he tries to extinguish them on his body. And something else you suddenly notice. Your ruth-cloak suddenly ripples… the thing struggling to work, as suddenly, the bottom end of smoulders and then bursts into flames, sending up thick oily smoke as the plastic burns. + Centering test «Plot» Slinger says, "Lemme have a centering test versus S stun. AP refreshed." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Centering + Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 2 for "Need 4, again.": 4 5 7 9 10 = 5 Successes Unfortunately, Orpheus vindication can't be satiated just now.. Instead, he has to watch his love staggering around and immolating himself. The kid about shrieks.. Enough that he doesn't even pay attention to the burning of his most expensive and completely essential gear.. He just falls down by slinger and does everything he can to put the flames out.. FUCK didn't we have a fire extinguisher somewhere in this place?!? Orpheus had to get Slinger out of here.. somewhere else.. somewhere safe… You do manage to avoid choking on the thick smoke, yourself, though it is getting hard to breathe. The layer of smoke up near the ceiling is descending. Within perhaps ten seconds, this room is going to become an inferno. Slinger right now is barely able to walk, blinded by the smoke, his eyes squeezed shut against it. The ruth-cloak continues to burn around your body, threatening to burn you. You could put it out, perhaps salvage it… but that would be that much longer Slinger were at risk. «Plot» Slinger says, "The back wall of the apartment is basically a solid sheet of flame. It looks like whatever it was hit the bedroom first, and Slinger somehow survived, only to have to face a squad of ninjas." Orpheus HAD to deal with the immolating ruth cloak.. He could simply unclasp the thing and discard it.. but the thought of it.. was physically painful. He had certain memories attached to this thing.. It was given to him as a symbol of his worth, his skill.. IT was as much a part of him and his life as even Slinger.. but now he had to choose one or the other…. .. an' he certainly wasn't going to choose the Ruth cloak.. He unclasps the thing and tosses it aside to continue immolating in a pile of smoky ruin. A ruth cloak could do many things.. allow him to go anywhere unseen by people.. To hide himself, as he so often did, from the outside world.. Protective, shielding.. He would gladly trade away ten suits of hardened military armour just for the soliditary solace offered by the simple, thin, unassuming ruthenium materal that allowed him to exist in this world, as a fact… But, a ruth cloak could not hug you, could not kiss you, could not love you.. Slinger could do all these things. "C'mon, fuck.. Don't you lay over and die on me like this! Don't fuckin' wuss out on me now!" he pleads, trying to pull Slinger up and into a stand so they could go somewhere.. ANYWAY away from here.. Part 6: Place of Knowledge Slinger staggers toward you, hearing your voice, your accent. He's gasping for breath, while the smoke is descending from the ceiling. The room is on fire, and the smoke coming down from the ceiling has its own fierce, intense heat, radiating downward. The only way out is the way that you came. The smoke is starting to turn from black into an ominous dusky red… Then that is where Orpheus will go.. With Slinger on his shoulders if he HAD to.. With fire and death raining down on him, should it come to that. He asked himself, as he pulled Slinger along.. Calmly centering his conscience.. That if this was how he was to die, vainly pulling Slinger out of a fire. Could he be satisfied with such an end? Well.. He could die here, yes.. He would gladly die here. But, Orpheus was more determined than that.. He HAD to escape here. Had to get away.. with Slinger. "Come on! We aren't going to die here! If you can't carry yourself then I'll do it for you damnit!" + Mathematics Roll «Plot» Slinger says, "Lemme have a Mathematics roll, TN 2, resisting M physical." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Mathematics vs TN 2: 1 3 4 11 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Astral Pool: 1: 1 «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls 2 (AP and Math leftovers) vs TN 2 for "8/12": 5 5 = 2 Successes Slinger can walk, but he needs you to guide him, to drag him, to lead him to safety — the relatively safety of the corridor. You have to go off memory of the layout of the place, figuring out how many steps, how much distance, because it's almost impossible to see, crouched down like this, against the smoke. Just as you manage to get out into the corridor, there is a rush as the fire begins to burn intensely, and flames leap out of the doorway behind you as the room finally gains enough heat to fully engulf the room. The hallway is getting hotter, and the smoke in here is starting to descend, with flames leaping from what is left of the apartment. People in the other apartments appear to have gotten out, the last of them finally clearing out ahead of you, as you lead Slinger down the hallway, away from the fire, the elf coughing and choking. He's burned, though not in a life-threatening way. Magical healing will put him right, without any real problem — assuming that this is all that is left. But now, up ahead, there is something new… a figure steps out of the hallway, just a flicker on your ultrasound. One that you can barely pick up. It's moving /fast/… and brings to mind a levitating mage, clad in invisibility. There are two ways you can go. Toward the back, or toward the front, where the mage is coming. If you go toward the back, then the mage will catch you. And his target — is almost certainly Slinger. If you go forward, you go right into him. It is clear what is target is… Slinger cannot protect you. He cannot even /see/ you blinded by the smoke… Finally out of that miserable inferno that-is what used to be his home.. Orpheus spared only a brief and passing remorse for this fact as he now focused on the immediate threat now facing them.. Those movements.. He's seen them far too many times not to be accustomed to them. He knows this.. the movements of a levitating person. He's seen Slinger doing this too many times not to recognize it.. even only going by his ultrasound. He was afraid of something like this might happen. What now? He can't even be sure if the guy is also wearing military armour, and whether or not his pistol would even be of any use. All the same, he gently sets slinger down, and stands between him and the oncoming threat.. Nowhere to run but destiny now.. As you release Slinger, the young mage falls to the ground, staggers, but then tries to continue running, thinking that is the way you went. "Don't leave me, Estevan," the young mage calls, not realizing which way you went in the confusion. He staggers forward, toward the back exit, toward safety. The mage, though, is zooming forward toward you — and you can /feel/ him /looking/ at you, in the smoke and confusion… + Spell Resistance Roll «Plot» Slinger says, "Let me have… let's see. This is a spell defense roll. You need 8 successes to negate it. TN is 2. AP has refreshed… resisting D physical" «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Willpower + Astral Pool: 1 + Karma Pool: 1 vs TN 2 for "Hmhmmm.": 1 2 3 3 3 4 = 5 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Willpower + Astral Pool: 1 + Karma Pool: 1 - 5 vs TN 2 for "Hmhmmm. 10/12": 1 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Astral Pool: 1 vs TN 2: 7 = 1 Success «Plot» Orpheus says, "Well, let me ask, can I burn a point of karma from the two freebies I got. > If I could get one more success, it will at least bring the damage down to S and not D." «Plot» Slinger says, "Ah! Yeah, I'll allow it." «Plot» Slinger says, "If you burn both bonus points, then that'll be your 8 successes and you take NO damage." «Plot» Orpheus says, "Orpheus will burn his 2 freebie karma points to achieve 8 total successes on the test." Nothing Orpheus could do, apparently. He was half-blinded, tired.. His lungs ached and his muscles burned along with the acrid, crumbling building around him.. Who knows.. Maybe Slinger will get away somehow. He charges forward and soon finds the mage sending a powerful bolt of energy his way.. The force of it about shakes the very ground around him and he's certain he sees his death lingering there ahead.. Yet somewhow, he manages to steel himself, finding his center and feels the energies flow into.. then sudden back out of him harmlessly, dissipating. A little surprised, but not about to shirk his fortune, the youth quickly turns and prepares to engage the agressor before he can chase after Slinger any further.. + Attacking the Mage «Plot» Slinger says, "Okay. You can see the guy through Ultrasound only. That's a +4 vision penalty, so +2 to your attack. You can center against that, though." «Auto-Judge[kn]» Orpheus (#3849) rolls Cyber-Implant Combat + Combat Pool: 7 vs TN 6 for "Lets hope for some more of that karmic luck.": 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 8 9 17 = 3 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage strength) vs TN 8 for "Mage's counterattack! He has no melee skill!": 1 3 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage strength) vs TN 8 for "Mage's counterattack! He has no melee skill!": 2 2 10 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage body) + Combat Pool: 7 vs TN 12 for "Mage trying to resist 14S.": 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage body) + Combat Pool: 7 vs TN 12 for "Mage trying to resist 14S.": 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 9 10 = 0 Successes «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage body) vs TN 10 for "Resisting poison": 3 4 11 = 1 Success «Auto-Judge[kn]» Slinger (#69) rolls 3 (mage body) - 1 (succs) vs TN 10 for "Resisting poison": 1 7 = 0 Successes You think you slice into the mage, but it's uncertain. One thing is certain, though — he has stopped moving, and he is there in front of you. And you don't feel any further attacks. Your ultrasound tells you that he has gone limp… hovering in midair, as the fire starts to creep along the ceiling… Orpheus is tense, watching the mage curiously hovering there in midair.. He isn't sure that the man is dead, but it didn't matter either way.. Orpheus gently steps up, reaching his hand up to pull the mage down so that they are face to face.. He guesses where the mans eyes are and.. Quickly plucks one of the things out of the mans skull. "I hope you felt that," he says, guessing the man was paralyzed. That was the funny thing about Gammascope.. Even though it paralyzed, the person could still feel everything going on around them. "And this too," he adds, and plucks the mages other eye outh. He tosses both of the bloodied orbs to the ground and crushes them under his boot. "See how hard it is to see? Now you know how hard it was for me to do what I just did. Sucks for you, asshole." Then Orpheus shoves the man up, letting the levitate uncontrollably drift him up into the flames along the ceiling where he can enjoy immolating sightlessly without being able to move. That was the fate of those who threatened Slinger.. Satisfied, Orpheus makes a run for Slinger, in the direction the other youth stumbled off to.. The mage may not be able to move — or even scream — but he can definitely feel pain, as the hot smoke wraps around him — and behind you, he bursts into flames near the ceiling, his sightless eyes crushed on the ground beneath you. It makes your boots a little slippery. Slinger staggers out the back exit from the place just as you arrive, the young mage unable to actually see anything — but suddenly, you are with him. He whirls around — but something about you makes him collapse against you, sobbing from the stress, wrapping his arms tightly around you. The apartment is destroyed — but the two of you still have each other. And even as you stagger away from the place, the fire department is showing up. Soon enough to save most of the building, but not enough to save our first home together. Still, Slinger is warm against you… and that is when you feel yourself being pulled free. Back to that dark, black room. The figure is there, hooded, featureless… Orpheus wants to cling.. Hold Slinger to him so feircely.. He fights, resists that pulling and tugging. "No," he whimpers.. He rued it so, as it threatened to take Slinger away from him, indeed his victory away from him. His frantic, adrenaline-powered matebolism was almost instinctual now.. Even as the danger seems to have completely passed, he simply can't shake off the feeling of protectiveness and desolation from the prior experiences. "Kaivan," he murmers intensely.. "I won't let them hurt you.. I will eat their eyes and mutilate them before they touch you again.."… But his mere desire alone could not be enough to prevent him from being yanked away… .. Then once again.. Desolation.. Darkness, cold, damp isolation. Orpheus still felt the heat and his lungs stilled burned even now.. He coughs.. "I know," he wheezes.. "You got some bullshit allegorical shit to tell me now, don't you? Well save it! If the word hero leaves your mouth I will skullfuck your eyeless corpse," he threatens, teary-eyed and haggard. The hooded figure reaches up and pushes the cowl back, and reveals the smoke-stained face of your young lover. Slinger looks haggard, tired, exhausted, but the look he gives you is one of your love. "You are a hero," says Kaivan, with that lopsided grin of his despite his exhaustion. "That's why I love you. Because I know you would fight for me until your last breath, and beyond if you could find a way to." "No matter what you might think… even if I'm ten times as powerful a fighter as you, I am stronger with you than without you. And that extra little bit can make the difference between life and death. You always have something to contribute, love." He makes a shooing motion with his hand. "That is the greatest truth you need. The technique is yours, the principle of Cognition. Unless you'd rather skullfuck me?" Orpheus just can't find words now. Seeing Slinger there before him, like that.. He can't take it, and simply collapses to his knees, silent tears streaming down his face. It was too much. He can't even look up at Slinger like this. He merely looked down at the dank, cold ground and offered no words. This is why he hated this astral quests.. He always felt so.. exposed.. So raped mentally and physically by the end of them. Sure, he always left feeling a little wiser and a little more skilled than when he entered, but he seriously wondered if it was worth the cost of his sanity, at times.. Blinking his raw, wet eyes, Orpheus looks back up at the now unhooded figure and just, for the moment, admires the visage of his lover.. Even if in here he represented the harbinger of his pain, asking him to accept this terrible aspect of himself.. an aspect he seemingly tried so hard to go against, as he displayed back there in the gruesome manner he dispatched the mage.. There was a feral, almost malign part of him that always seemed to come out on these quests.. he feared more than anything, that someday he would delve too deep, only to return as an inhuman creature. ".. Wouldn't mind.. Just fucking you the regular way," he manages to say finally, with only a fraction of his usual mirth and mischief. Slinger crouches down before you, reaches out to cup your cheek with his hand. "When you get home, find me. And we shall," Slinger murmurs, though one wonders what that might actually mean, in this place. In this dream, of sorts. "I know you will be there for tenderness or kindness. That you would give your life for mine. I've known that all along. And I would do the same, my love." He leans in, gently bringing his lips to yours — and that is when you find yourself back in your body, suddenly, abruptly… And the world is calm around you. Not even the taste of acrid smoke lingering in your nose and mouth. Jasmine has vanished. But Slinger is there, the young mage gazing at you. Instead of the acrid scent of the fire, there is the rich scent of tobacco smoke, from your lover's brand of cigarettes. Slinger crushes one of the things out, then smiles as you awaken. "Hey, love. You okay?" he asks, his voice full of gentle, genuine concern. It felt almost unfair, he thought.. Not only to be robbed of his kiss which he felt he wholly earned.. but also to suddenly lose even the acrid feeling of the burning.. The heat of the flames. It was like it all meant nothing.. Yet meant a great deal. The sight of Slinger standing there, though.. So beautiful and unaware of what he just experienced during the hours he was probably gone… Orpheus just sits up in his seat, with a quiet, blank stare… then, just begins to sob, hanging his head a bit shamefully, not wanting Slinger to see him crying, but he just couldn't stop himself. The astral quest had cut in deep, where he defenses were unprepared and weak. Not to mention, there was overwhelming joy to have Slinger here, unharmed and healthy, whole.. "I love you," he manages to say between his pitiful sobs. Probably Slinger couldn't even imagine what would bring the tough and rugged Aztlan boy into such a state.. Suddenly, your lover's arms are around you, winding tightly around your young body, embracing you. A soft kiss to your cheek, then another, without hesitation, as Slinger cradles you. He doesn't even ask what is wrong. He doesn't demand an explanation, or anything. Just cradles this dark, Hispanic boy in his arms, caressing him with his nose. "Love you, too, Orpheus. Forever and always." He gently rubs his cheek against yours, drying your tears with the skin of his face, while his arms embrace the other boy tightly, fiercely, protectively. "I'm here. Not lettin' go." Orpheus melts into the other boys arms, fully submitting himself to him. "The house burns," Orpheus murmers, a little incoherantly. "Just burns.. 'An I have to cut out their eyes.. Won't let them take you," he adds. He was spouting jibberish, basically. This sort of behaviour goes on for a little while before finally Orpheus stops sobbing and seems more in control of himself again. Obviously the astral quest took a great toll on him mentally. Perhaps, though.. Perhaps only through adversity of his mind could he learn to see past pain and anguish to focus on the things around him. To push aside everything that didn't matter and know, without doubt, what he must do. Cognition.. "Our home.. is it okay?" he wonders, looking up into Slingers eyes with his own red, watery ones. At least they looked real enough to emulate real looking tears.. "For now," Slinger murmurs. "Until I figure out a way to deal with it, that's why we're stayin' at the High Arcana. Moved everything important over here. I want to have it to go back to once things… settle down." He leans in to gently kiss his lover on the nose. "Everything's fine, love. I'm here." He gently rocks the other boy, murmuring gently into his delicate pointed ear. "Astral Quests are… intense. And you got a lot of emotions to work through, my love." Orpheus finally gains back enough of himself to bring his lips up to Slinger, stealing the kiss he was robbed of earlier.. The kiss lasts a good, long moment before he allows it to break. "You owed me that," he explains.. Well, Orph would definitely say Slinger was right about that. They WERE intense, and apparently he did have a lot of mental baggage to work around. As much as he might like to think otherwise, he simply had.. issues. Lots of them.. "Do they gatta fuck up your head so much, tho? I mean.. at what price do I pay for this," he wonders.. Though, the truth was, even now he could feel the effect of his newfound ability.. It was hard to describe, but everything just seemed so.. clear.. Sounds were so crisp, sight so vibrant.. Details, easier to work out. On a thought.. "Well.. I guess the upside is.. You are more wonderful and beautiful than ever." "As are you, my love," Slinger murmurs. He climbs onto the bed with the other boy, and gently wraps his arms around him. "Go to sleep, rest, and know I'm here. You'll feel better in the morning," he promises his lover, gently, affectionately.