GM: Hutch
Players: Hutch, Simone.
Synopsis: Hutch and Simone head out to help out one of Hutches contacts, but not everything is as straightforward as it's made out to be.
Date: Sun May 16 2070
Simone wanders about the miniature apartment, organizing here, sweeping there, moving a bit of furniture, /re-organizing/ the same thing she did moments ago… Her cleaning habits are haphazard, but she's making a substantial dent in the clutter anyhow.
Hutch is being his usual lazy, good for nothing self on a Thursday evening. Watching football piped in from England on the trideo, slumped in the tiny sofa of the cluttered apartment. Very glamourous. His phone rings however, and in his lazy way, he pulls the pocsec pda out of a pocket and with a bare glance at the screen answers, in a foreign language.
It sounds Chinese after a good minute or so of constant nattering comes from him, into the phone, the tinny voice on the other end replying in kind… another minute passes and finally the conversation ends and he hangs up. Flicking off the trid he sits up a bit and motions to Simone, "Hey, you busy?"
Simone watches on as Nate chatters on in … Chinese? She grimaces and puts hands to hips after mixing herself a powdered beverage. Watching Nate, she cocks her head to the side and sips occasionally. The man's tone and of course the foreign language have caught her attention. "Busy? Ah, obviously not if I'm cleaning." She laughs to herself before growing serious once more. "Vhat vas ze phone call?"
Hutch shrugs with a laugh, "Cleaning might be busy. Got some work maybe… a bit of a favour for a friend of mine." He waves the pocsec at her, "Which is what the call was about. He wants me to go down and have a word, he'll explain in more detail, not using the phone for that kinda stuff." He scratches at the top of his eyebrow and then raises them, "Want in?"
Simone takes a cautious route with her questions, unsure of how Hutch will react… "What kind of work do you do?" She makes her way over to the couch, blowing a strand of hair out of her face which escaped the loose ponytail at the back of her head. She puts her knees onto the cushions first and sits on top of her legs, facing him.
Hutch scratches the back of his head, "Fighting mostly, you know that. But this is a good friend, I'd do a favour for him, you know… It's gonna be in the Warrens some place so, if you don't want to go, that's ok."
She rubs her face with her hands, wiping the tired malaise of housework away. With a small peck on Hutch's cheek she rises and takes exaggerated little running steps to the bedroom. "I'll come," she calls out, "just to make sure you don't get into any trouble." The sounds of her changing are audible; drawers, rustling clothing, zippers, rough leather being folded and belted together.
Hutch rubs his eyes with both hands for a moment, getting up and pulling his smg out of the hidey place down the back of the sofa. Putting it into the holster at his back while Simone can't see. Then he's at the door waiting.
It takes Simone a little longer to get ready than Hutch, but she gets to the door, shouldering her bag and nodding. She wears her normal black ensemble now, with goggles on the top of her head, and her white scarf and white gloves. "Okay, let's go." She pulls a small makeup case from her coat pocket and checks herself, putting on a touch of lipstick as they exit the apartment.
Hutch comments idly as he leads out, "I don't think you'll be needing to look pretty for this. Just a guess." Heading down he has his pocsec out, tapping at it and routing a Johnnycab to pick them up. "We'll take a cab to the first place, just an apartment block near the Aurora border." And with that snippet of info, he steps outside, to wait in the balmy night time weather.
Simone shrugs off the comment with one of her own: "Habit." She finishes her perusal of herself and runs a hand through her hair as they wait. Externally, they must look like just another couple catching a cab to some form of nightlife or entertainment, but inside, Simone is growing nervous about both the potential dangers that tend to accompany the word 'work' in her experience, and the major curiosity she has about Hutch's connections to the shadows of Denver.
Hutch looks a little less dignified than Simone of course, preferring a black leather jacket for his primary coat, over jeans and running shoes. Definately not an upscale club this pair are heading to dressed like that. The Johnnycab turns up, strange plastic man in the front, a facsimile of the stereotypical New York cabbie. Pulling the door open Hutch throws himself in and across to sit on the far side, giving the directions before Simone is even in the cab, an apartment block on E Cornell avenue. Right on the Warrens border.
«Plot» Hutch says, "E Cornell Avenue is literally across the road from Heather Gardens, which is the Royals HQ."
Simone clambers in, her bag sliding forward to hang beneath her as she does so. Situating herself and her messenger bag she closes the door and lets the cab guide the pair to the Heather Gardens…
«Plot» Simone says, "I'll assense the area once we arrive…"
"Thanks fer ridin' in Johnnycab." The Noo Yawk cabbie intones when the ride finishes, and after Hutch has slotted a stick for the ten yen journey. Still outside the wall of the Warrens, this is definitely still the CAS sector, and the building he indicates is fairly well kept up looking apartment block of medium size. It just so happens that apartments go cheap on this side, thanks to the terrible views of Warrensland. No ocean front views here. "Just gonna say hi to a friend of mine," he notes out front, leading Simone to the front door, and hitting a button to ring an apartment.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence vs TN 5 for "assense":
1 3 4 4 5 7 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 5 for "comp":
3 4 4 8 16 = 2 Successes
«Plot» Simone says, "Looking for shady characters and magical auras."
«Plot» Hutch says, "The area is suffering from spillover from the Warrens mostly. There is something of human misery here, it being a poorer part of town, but most of the astral pollution is from the real misery in the barren gang lands. The people around here are just typical wageslaves, keeping their heads down, not making eye contact, no magical auras on show."
Simone keeps her head down upon leaving the cab, though she watches her surroundings carefully through her black locks. Nothing but the usual distraught and overworked wageslaves are brought to her attention so she refrains from taking any decisive action but she stays wary, leaving her astral perception active for the time being. She waits patiently with Hutch, watching the street for signs of immediate danger.
Hutch waits, glancing around a bit and flashing a quick grin to Simone, then a Chinese voice crackles ver the intercom. Replying in similar rapid fire speech, Hutch swiftly gets them past the main door, which locks behind them. "First floor, apartment 13." He notes, heading up the stairs towards the waiting Chinese gentleman.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence vs TN 5 for "astral percep still active, seeing Chinese gentleman":
1 3 3 4 5 11 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 5 for "comp":
1 1 4 5 5 = 2 Successes
[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "He's an old man, frail looking but healthy, no serious maladies. General toxins from living for 60 years or so in the city. Not magical, emotionally tense."
Simone ascends the stairs next to Hutch or as close to it as the stairwell allows. Upon seeing the Chinese man, she nods respectfully and allows Hutch to guide the situation.
Hutch raises a hand in a friendly western greeting to the old feller, stood in the hallway outside his door. Saying something in Mandarin that is probably a greeting and getting similar in return. Switching to English he indicates the shy female with him, "This is Gretchen, she'll be... helping out, maybe."
The old man turns his head and nods to her, inclining his head slowly, "Greetings, thank you for coming to see me. Please, come inside. Tea?" He steps back and ushers the pair inside, acting grandfatherly in preparing green tea for everyone.
Simone returns the old man's nod and follows her escort's lead into the apartment. The offer of green tea she accepts, and makes a careful note to observe whether Hutch removes his shoes upon entering. She remains silent past agreeing to the tea, being out of her element and in the company of a stranger.
Hutch doesn't do that, but when has he ever been particularly polite? No his shoes remain on, though he scratches them briefly on a welcome mat. Throwing himself down on a remarkably plush sofa, actually, the entire apartment is decorated and upkept to a much higher standard than would be expected in this part of town. He idly throws one foot onto his knee and waits for the green tea to be served, nodding encouragement to Simone. "Ok, Mr. Li, what can I do for you?" He opens the conversation, tea cup in hand.
Simone follows, seating herself next to the Brit before taking the tea from Mr. Li. She sips daintily as the men speak, her head turning slowly between the two.
The old man seats himself in his big comfy armchair gravely and nods, "Yes, Nathan, and Gretchen. I'm asking a favour, one of my friends runs a business in the Warrens, in the south central area and he's being harassed. There is some new upstart gang in the area, trying to work up more money for themselves, and they're screwing the people who live there for it. As you can imagine my friend already struggles to make enough money, this gang is making it impossible for him. I'd like to see this whole problem worked out. I can pay, some, but not a lot. Much easier for me to get things for you, you know what sort of thing I can manage Nathan."
Hutch processes this, remaining quiet for a while, thinking about things.
Simone listens carefully as she watches the men, and the first question she speaks up with is, "Mr. Li, are you aware which gang is causing trouble? I'd like to help as much as I can; I know you must be a close friend of Nathan, but it would help very much to know all de details." She gives Nate a wry look over the rim of her teacup. The question is practically audible, as is her laughter: 'Nathan?!'
Hutch almost visibly flinches when Simone says Nathan. Though he didn't seem to with Mr. Li. He frowns back at her, obviously not too chuffed about that.
Mr. Li on the other hand continues as if nothing were happening, "I don't know what they call themselves, but they are certainly a nuisance. I believe they tie a red cloth around their upper arms and spray red birds as their tag wherever they go. They're still only a small gang, but that doesn't mean much. I'm afraid I know little of use. Only where they operate, in the north west corner of south central."
Simone looks to Nate with a concerned expression on her face, (what is visible through the hair anyway). The pursed lips are a good sign. "I could try to help, Mr. Li," still looking at Nate, "but how vould you like us to assist, exactly? It may be difficult to reason with them if they believe they run the area." Simone watches Nate for any acceptance on his behalf. "Um... Do you know of any other gangs in the same area?"
Mr. Li waves a hand a bit wildly to gesture, "Oh, the whole area is a melting pot, there is no one large gang in control. I believe that is possibly part of the problem, but perhaps a little beyond what you or I can affect? Whatever the reason, I just need you to help take the pressure off my friend, and if you could do the same for the other people of the area, I'm sure they would be grateful. How you do that? I don't really know. Destroy the gang, or help the other gangs so they do it for us?"
Hutch on the other hand is just nodding a little bit, "Well, like Gretchen says, I don't know what I can manage, but I'll definitely have a look around Mr. Li."
With the greetings and general conversation, Simone has about come to the end of her tea and she swirls the last sip to watch the small shreds of leaf twirl in the faintly yellow-green liquid. Under normal circumstances she'd investigate this situation with little hesitation, but with Nate present... She knows he is capable of holding his own in a fight. That, she's seen. And he carries a weapon...
Simone's internal monologue carries on for some time to see how the British man reacts further.
Hutch seems deep in thought, taking a minute or so to snap out of it. With a quick glance to Simone he grimaces to Mr. Li. "Well, this isn't exactly what I expected. But I suppose we can come up with something. Tip the balance away from these red wearing louts." Glancing at his finished tea he leans over and places it down on the coffee table. "If that's everything, give us the address for your friends business and we'll get moving."
Simone nods at Hutch's comments and lightly touches his shoulder in a mere gesture of kindness as he leans forward to set his cup down. "May we also get ze name of your friend? I'd like to know ahead of time. He may have more information for us, and it vould be nice to be able to relate to him somehow."
Mr. Li sips at his tea before replying, "Ah yes, his name is Mr. Hernandez. You already have the address. Obviously the area is a little run down, but he's unfortunately SINless and with a family, getting out of that place can be difficult. I thank you for your time. I'm sure Nathan will look after you." He nods and smiles thinly to Simone.
Simone begins to stand at Mr. Li's smile, setting her own cup down after poring over the pattern left by the leaves. "We'll try to assist Mr. Hernandez. Sank you for your time, Mr. Li." She avoids bringing up compensation, as this is Hutch's deal, and Simone is simply trying to help.
Hutch hops up soon after Simone, no official talk of compensation dealt with, just the assumption that the old man would deal the pair fair. With a quick nod to him he ushers Simone out, apparently eager to go.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) has the Contact Blue Angel with the following information:
@@------------------------> Contact for Simone (#7451) <-------------------------
Contact Name: Blue Angel
Level: 1
Type: mrs. johnson
GM Note: [Taken from bbpost 22/5]
Race: Ork
Gender: Female
Bod 6 Cha 5
Qui 4 Int 4
Str 6 Wil 4
Ess 6 Bio 0
Rea 4 PR 2
Init 4+1d6
Pools:
Combat 6
Karma 2
Active Skills:
Edged Weapons.............3 Intimidation..............4
Etiquette ................3 Negotiation...............4
+- Gang..................4 +- Bargain...............5
+- Street................6 Shotguns..................3
Interrogation.............4 +- Defiance T-120........4
Knowledge Skills:
Cityspeak 2
English 4
Black Market..............4 Gear Value................4
Ecoterrorist Policlubs....4 Info Brokering............3
Fences....................4 Legendary Shadowrunners...3
Fringe Cults..............5 Shadowscene Players.......3
Gang Identification.......4 Street Rumors.............4
Gang Rumors...............3
Gear:
Second Skin
Defiance T-250
Pocket Secretary
Cougar Fineblade (Short)
Blue Angel is a mid-level Mr(s). Johnson who specializes in runs requested by extremist groups. Terra First!, the Sons of Sauron, the Atlantean Foundation, and dozens of other cults, organizations, and policlubs all come to Blue Angel for their trouble-causing needs. Blue Angel's runs are colored by their less-than-reliable backers, with information being weak, questionable, or outright wrong. The runs themselves are usually mid-range--medium difficulty, medium payout, medium rewards. Occasionally, however, one of Blue Angel's runs will blossom out of control when the scheme cooked up by some extremist organization succeeds a little too well. It's often the runners involved that find themselves being asked to put things back into order--if those wronged don't shoot first and ask questions later. Blue Angel will never betray her runners, but her backers might. People running for Blue Angel should be wary of what they are getting themselves into.
@@-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Roll your etiquette first. TN 4."
[[collapsible show="+Simone Investigates" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Etiquette for "Blue Angel info request. I'll pay an appropriate fee for any knowledge she has to offer about the 'red bird gang'":
5 5 5
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 for "Her gang ID":
2 3 4 5
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 3 for "Her gang rumors":
1 1 1
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "She ain't got shit about no red birdy gang. Sorry luv."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Etiquette vs TN 4 for "What does Hutch know??? ;)":
1 10 17 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Gang Identification:
1 1 4 8
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Gang Turf:
3 4 5 7
<<Plot>> Hutch only knows they must be pretty small, by elimination, since he's never heard of them either.
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
On the way out of the building Simone speaks with Hutch in low, hushed tones. "What do you know about dis?" Not only is she trying to gain some insight into the opposition, she's also trying to pry for some sort of information about Hutch's willingness to put himself in this kind of danger.
Hutch indicates with a pointed finger down the road, towards the park. "Let's go walk around the park." Then he sets off in that direction, "Not much really. I've never heard of a gang like that, but South Central is a big mix up anyway. Mr. Li is on the level though."
Simone walks close to Hutch, racking her memory for any imagery similar to the red bird tag that Mr. Li had mentioned. She excuses herself for a brief moment to make a phone call as they walk, but she hangs up with a delicate snort of disappointment. "Hm. I guess we need to talk to Mr. Hernandez before we really know anysing." She scrutinizes Nate now, as they walk. "Have you..? Do you do zis kind of sing-..?" She starts to ask the pressing questions but leaves them incomplete, just looking to Hutch for whatever response he chooses to provide.
Hutch scratches at the short hair on the back of his head in his customary sign of nerves. "Well uh, not really. Well.. maybe I guess. Once I think. I have no idea how we could do this without... you know. Getting rid of the leaders." They're now safely wandering a mostly deserted park, which contains the Wuxing building, bordering the wall with the Warrens.
Simone takes a cautious look around with her astrally awakened senses. When the coast is clear, she pulls Hutch to the side, taking cover either behind any available foliage or a building corner.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I'll summon a wind spirit. F3."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "BGcount still 1 before we reach the Warrens?"
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Yes."
[[collapsible show="+Conjuring" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Conjuring + 1 (totem bonus dice, 1 of 2) vs TN 4 for "F3 wind spirit, bgcount 1":
1 1 4 4 5 7 = 4 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Charisma + 1 (2 of 2) vs TN 4 for "3M drain":
2 2 3 3 4 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Charisma + 1 (2 of 2) - 1 vs TN 4 for "3M drain KP 1":
2 2 3 10 = 1 Success
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Stand on L stun. 4 services by f3 wind spirit"
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Hutch is pulled aside, behind a large shrubbery, "I don't think we have time..." The largish bushes and other such foliage provide decent cover, the kind a couple might take for a sunny bit of outdoor escapism. With the Warrens wall on one side, and high foliage all around, prying eyes are more or less barred from seeing.
Simone takes the opportunity to duck into the seclusion of the area along the Aurora Warrens wall. Hutch's comment receives a good-natured swat, then she grabs his shoulders and manually turns him about to watch for any trouble. "Keep an eye out, Nate. I need to do... Somesing. And don't watch!" She waits to see if he comments. He inevitably will, and she's ready with a quick, "Sssst!" to silence him.
Abruptly she begins to twirl in a somewhat restrained dance, definitely not as powerful as when she hid away in the man's exercise room and meditated while dancing in her sleep. Her head rolls on her shoulders and her arms are outstretched while she spins and moves her body in something of a serpentine motion. She draws into herself and whispers after 30 seconds or so before turning back to Hutch, her face flushed with the exertion of her movements. "Ah, I'm ready now to continue, Nathan."
Hutch is left with a confused look as he keeps watch, then turning back with a raises eyebrow for Simone he shakes his head, "Uh, ok. But don't call me Nathan, please." It sounds a little like begging, that last. But he leads out of the bushes and onwards, along the wall. "So, I guess we need to head in and speak to Mr. Hernandez?"
Simone nods to Hutch. "I assume you can lead ze way. I'm not terribly familiar vis ze area, of course." She likely wouldn't be alive right now if she spent enough time in the Warrens to know the area by heart. She then whispers to herself for a brief moment, sending the wind spirit she's summoned to search out Mr. Hernandez and report back with information on whether he is safe or not. She may look a little crazy doing so, but she finishes quickly and resumes normalcy. A small gust of wind blows past the pair as Simone turns to look at Hutch.
Hutch looks a little non-plussed at the whispering and such, but takes it in stride. "Uh, ok. Well we need to cut in here and go along past the Royals turf, then we're there. It's not too far." With that he heads along until the wall becomes chainlink fence, at which point climbing it is far easier.
[[collapsible show="+Hutch climbs" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Athletics vs TN 4 to climb."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Athletics vs TN 4:
1 1 5 10 11 = 3 Successes
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "And Athletics vs 6 to avoid the razor wire."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Athletics vs TN 6:
1 2 3 4 4 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Athletics vs TN 6 for "KP1":
2 2 2 3 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Athletics vs TN 6 for "KP3":
1 2 2 3 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Body + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 2 for "4M grab, barbed wire.":
2 2 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 = 10 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Simone watches Hutch climb from her perch just below the razorwire. "Wait! Ahhh..." She hisses as she watches the man tangle with the bladed coils.
Hutch climbs up the fence, misses spotting the barbed wire and grabs hold solidly, dragging himself up. Thankfully those densiplast lined gloves he wears, and his other assorted armour protects him from the scratches as he launches himself over the fence, Landing on the other side with just a tear in his t-shirt. "Bollocks."
[[collapsible show="+Simone levitates" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Sorcery Pool: 2 vs TN 4 for "self levitate over fence":
2 3 4 5 5 9 11 = 5 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Sorcery Pool: 4 vs TN 6 for "4M drain +1 wound mod +1 bgcount":
1 2 2 2 3 4 5 7 11 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Sorcery Pool: 4 - 2 vs TN 6 for "4M drain +1 wound mod +1 bgcount (Lost track of KP# for
now)":
1 3 3 3 4 5 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Sorcery Pool: 4 - 2 vs TN 6 for "4M drain +1 wound mod +1 bgcount (KP 3 for this test)":
3 3 4 5 5 7 10 = 2 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Simone watches Hutch's tangle at the top of the fence and decides to take another tactic. She peers around again to spot any observers, and feeling that the coast is clear she lets go of the fence yet remains a few feet above the ground. She slowly rises, contorting as she floats in a Superman type pose, just over the wound-inflicting razors, to set down in a crouch on the earth beside Hutch. She looks to him for his reaction, stating, "Sorry..."
Simone expands on her apology. "About your shirt..."
Hutch is watching with some wide-eyed consternation, "If you coulda... Nevermind." He sighs heavily, releasing his torn t-shirt as he turns to head into the Warrens proper. Picking up a main road that passes directly west from where they are, stepping aorund the accumulated trash of decades without public services.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Your spirit returns and notes that Mr. Hernandez is safe and well."
Simone realizes the vague nature of the command she offered her ethereal assistant once it arrives with the message that Mr. Hernandez seems to be doing well. Without giving the weaker spirit more information, there would be almost zero chance that it would have found the right hombre. The only sign of the wind spirit's presence to anyone without astral perception would be a faint yet persistent gust that disturbs loose paper trash. Not wanting to squander its ability to help them further, she keeps it close to the pair, following their path on the astral. As they make their way along the trash-strewn streets she keeps her astral sight active for the time being.
Hutch and Simone have a decent trek to go on foot down this one long, lonely road. The occasional burnt out wreck breaks up the otherwise bland and grey scene of destruction around them. The odd gunshot ringing out, breaks up the monotony of the sound of trash sweeping by in the wind. The air smells of smoke and human misery, a lovely evening in the Warrens. Hutch shifts the holster containing his SMG around, until it's obviously visible on his waist, the best way to ward off untoward attention in this place. "Let's stick to royals turf until we get closer, they're sort of a known quantity more than the random gangs in south central.
The rich, deep voice of the 'Narrator' comes on, smoothly re-introducing the audience to our plot: "When we last saw our adventurers, they were striking out into the Warrens, wandering into the turf of the Royals gang in their quest to ease the suffering of one Mr. Hernandez, struggling businessman." The camera then pans and zooms, until Simone and Hutch fill the screen...
"Yeah, Royals turf, safer than the torn up area of north central." Hutch is explaining as the sound fills in.
Simone fidgets with the placement of her goggles before switching out the white glove on her right hand for a black one with microcircuitry on the palm. She zips her bag and slips her black-gloved hand under her thick, weather-treated wool coat. "Do you know the Royals personally?" Simone looks to Hutch for some reassurance. Gang turf is not generally a safe place to wander. She knows this from very personal experience.
Hutch shakes his head in response, "Nope, but they ran that party and stuff not long ago, I think they're pretty open to like uh... nevermind." He cuts his re-assuring comment short, before mentioning his dread profession. "Anyway, this way," he points off to the east again, turning down a road and now heading towards North Central.
The black-haired woman hurries a step ahead of Hutch before turning around to face him. She looks over her shoulder, having come to a halt, before asking the man to repeat himself. "No. Nate. What did you mean? I don't want to have to deal with multiple street gangs if we don't have to. Anything that you know, you should tell to me?"
Hutch is prevented from travelling in a forwards direction without ploughing through Simone. So he stops. "Well, they hosted that party for uh... criminal elements? Other than gangs... other criminal elements..." He pauses, "I dunno, they just seem like a more money and big scheme oriented gang than the standard lowlifes!"
Simone seems to accept Hutch's explanation after a moment's thought, turning around to continue the trek. "So, if ve do get accosted, what would you suggest?" She is not very familiar with gangs and their habits, aside from what comes up in the news which is mostly a viciously biased portrayal of non-citizens from police and security forces who take the opportunity to play the hero. She steps forward, scanning the area with the thermo-option in her goggles active, having released her astral senses for the time being.
Hutch uhms for a moment, tagging along behind Simone, "Uh, don't make eye contact and try to just walk by. If they insist on making trouble, then just find somewhere to hide, duck into an alley or something.
Hutch falls silent as they continue on, working through late night Royals turf, where few people are to be seen, as the nights get cold here in Colorado, and even a shell of a building provides respite from the wind. Soon they near North Central, and Mr. Hernandez's place of business.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Once we can see the business I'd like to make a perception test"
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Two, actually. First with thermo, then with astral percep."
The German follows Hutch's lead and scurries quickly, hand-in-hand with the man to get out of sight of the approaching voices. The third wheel, Simone's wind spirit, again makes its presence known in the form of a light gust of fresher-than-Warrens air upon the two shadowrunners.
Hutch struggles over the rubble some way and then dropping into a little dip, what may have once been a mostly empty room in the collapsed building, he crouches down. "Sssss," he notes, just completely hiding from the possible hostile gangers.
Simone tries to duck into the collapsed room along with Hutch without turning an ankle, stepping from one hunk of rubble to the next as quickly as she can manage without making a slab of stone or metal tumble underfoot. She huddles into a crouch right behind her companion.
[[collapsible show="+Stealth Hiding" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Stealth:
3 4 4 5
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Stealth:
1 1 3 4 9
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Stealth for "Open, KP 4/12":
1 2 3 5
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
The voices approach, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, and one sporty engine ticking at low revs, like that of a racing bike in first gear moving slow enough to walk beside. The hubbub makes it all but impossible to make out the individual speech, especially since the pair are around a corner, huddling behind rubble. Finally the engine stops, quieting down to just idling and the voices become audible.
"You sure you 'erd somethin' Mick? I dun' see no wun."
The reply comes in a gruff, ragged voice, like the sound of stone scraping against stone, "I'm tellin' yer, I 'erd somebody knockin' aroun' up 'ere."
"Well I dun' see no wun now."
This conversation continues for a little moment, as the voices move around, apparently searching as they grumble at each other. "Boss is gettin' crazy, makin' us check out every noise." The stone voice comes back, "I 'ear yer, but dun let him 'ear ya says it."
[[collapsible show="+Gangers Perception" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 vs TN 5:
1 3 4 4 5 = 1 Success
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Hutch slowly pulls his smg from his holster as the voices meander around, not wanting to take any chances, his eyes locked to the rim of the rubble heap where he expects them to appear from. He idly flicks the laser sight on and off, a nervous twitch, the dot dancing around the rubble in front of the pair.
Simone clenches her eyes shut for a moment and inwardly curses herself for not being careful enough while trying to hide. Her hand draws forth the monstrous pistol Hutch saw in the abandoned theme park, complete with silencer, and the woman ticks the safety off slowly and cautiously. Inaudible to Hutch, Simone's heart is racing erratically, three beats, one, a series of double-beats, and another triple. She tries to slow her breath and waits, putting a slow hand on the adept's arm to calm the flicking of the laser sight should the red dot give away their position.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Ok, calling this a surprise situation, us being the unintentional ambushers. Roll reaction vs TN 2."
[[collapsible show="+Surprise and Init" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Reaction vs TN 2:
1 2 2 3 4 4 5 9 9 15 = 9 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 vs TN 4 for "Mick":
1 2 3 3 4 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Reaction vs TN 2:
1 2 3 4 5 = 4 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 vs TN 4 for "Andy":
3 3 3 4 4 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Initiative with a result of 20.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Initiative with a result of 10.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 1 for "+5 Mick":
5
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 1 for "+5 Andy":
3
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
It's just as Simone steadies the SMG's laser sight when a head pops up over the rubble, catching sight of the shaman with the pistol. His eyes widen a little even as his mouth drops open, lungs working to cry out...
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "TN 4 -1 +1 = 4."
[[collapsible show="+Simone Shoots" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Pistols + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 4 for "Mick, I believe, should be taking a shot to the brainpan.":
1 5 5 17 = 3 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Pistols + Combat Pool: 2 - 3 vs TN 4 for "Mick, I believe, should be taking a shot to the brainpan. KP
5/12":
3 = 0 Successes
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Damage code and ammo?"
<<Plot>> Simone says, "9M, standard ammo."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 9 for "Ow.":
1 1 2 3 4 4 5 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 9 for "Ow. KP1":
1 2 2 2 4 4 5 11 = 1 Success
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "The bullet scores a critical hit, taking an eye as it passes just wide of his brain. Pose it."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Serious wound."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Pistols + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 5 for "second shot on S wound shmuck.":
1 3 5 5 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Pistols + Combat Pool: 2 - 2 vs TN 5 for "second shot on S wound shmuck. KP 6/12":
2 3 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 9 for "Second ow.":
1 1 1 4 = 0 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Simone's arms rise up in a quick reflex action, both hands on the pistol, as the ganger's head appears over the scattered building debris. She snaps a quick shot that leaves the man one eye poorer than before he decided to search out the mysterious sounds.
The poor guy only has time to yelp and pull a hand to his ruined face as yet another solid slug leaves Simone's pistol, hitting him square in the sternum. The crack of splintering bone can be heard as the bullet digs in, knocking the lifeless ganger over backwards as he leaks claret over the rubble. A little smoke and cordite drifts up from the silencer on the end of her pistol, a serene counterpoint to the violence.
What feels like forever passes, and then the pair hear a strained and emotional, "Mick?!" Then footsteps, sprinting away, from the sound of the echoes.
Hutch is next up, and he springs straight up as Simone shoots the first face apart, having nothing to react to himself he immediately begins to scramble up over the rubble, after the running feet. Pausing as he peers over the lip he gestures to Simone, "Get him!" Pointing out over the rubble towards the road.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Can I scramble up and then use a spirit power?"
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Sure."
Simone hurls herself up the debris pile with both hands, the gunmetal clacking against stone as she ascends to get a clear view of the fleeing ganger. Once she's risen and rounded the corner she begins to do a fast sidestepping gait toward the runner while she commands her spirit-in-waiting to confound the man's senses.
[[collapsible show="+Confusion" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 3 for "Confused?":
2 4 4 5 = 3 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
Even as Hutch begins to follow Simone through the rubble, the spirit vonfuses the fleeing ganger, which makes him stumble for a moment. Then with a shake of his head he continues on, hopping a leg over his bike and hitting the start, the engine coughing as it turns over.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "I'm going to say we're not very many meters from the road, allowing Hutch to charge the ganger on the bike now."
[[collapsible show="+Init and Fighting" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Initiative with a result of 19.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 1 for "+5":
4
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Initiative with a result of 11.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Athletics vs TN 6 for "Sprinting over rubble":
2 4 5 9 9 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) has the Attribute Quickness with the value '6'.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Aikido - 1 + Combat Pool: 6 vs TN 4 for "Getting him off the bike.":
2 2 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 7 9 = 9 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 3 for "Confused?":
1 2 3 5 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 vs TN 4 for "No!":
1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 = 3 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 4 - 3 vs TN 4 for "No! KP1":
3 4 4 5 5 = 4 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 + Combat Pool: 2 vs TN 3 for "Pain!":
2 2 2 2 4 5 = 2 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Hutch wins, and in the absence of going into subduing combat rules, sweeps the ganger off the bike onto the floor."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Giving him moderate stun damage."
Hutch takes off after Simone, struggling with the rubble a little, but spurred by the danger of letting a ganger who knows about them get away. Barreling out of the rubble he catches with the ganger starting his bike, throwing himself bodily into him, carrying the pair of them off the bike. The ganger lands under Hutch, getting slightly winded in the deal too.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I'll try to close the distance pointing my pistol at the fallen ganger, but Simone is not much for sprinting. How much distance can I cover?"
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) has the Attribute Quickness with the value '4'.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "About 6 meters a turn."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "That's enough to get the pistol in his face, but you can't do anything else"
Simone follows after Hutch still walking angled to the side. Her right arm crosses her chest while the left is crooked, the hand providing support for the heavy pistol she wields. Her legs criss-cross as she prowls nearer during Hutch's grapple with the ganger, right foot stepping in front of left, then left making a wide step out, then crossing with the right again. "Don't move, and ve might let you live," she hisses as she closes in.
[[collapsible show="+Simone is Intimidating" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Negotiation for "open intimidation default":
2 4 5
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 3 for "Confused?!":
1 2 4 10 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 5 for "Intimidated?":
2 2 5 9 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 6 for "Fighting from the ground.":
2 3 4 7 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Aikido vs TN 3 for "Keeping him down":
2 3 3 5 8 8 = 5 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
The ganger on the ground writhes and fights, trying to get free, "No! No! You can't stop me! Ahhhhhhh!" He begins screaming as he fights back, though Hutch is almost unmovable, this being exactly his kind of a fight.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Hutch will attempt to knock him out this round."
[[collapsible show="+Fighting" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Aikido + Combat Pool: 3 vs TN 3:
1 2 2 3 4 5 5 7 22 = 6 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 6 for "Defending.":
1 2 3 3 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 4 vs TN 4 for "Ow!":
1 4 11 13 = 3 Successes
[[/code]]
[[/collapsible]]
<<Plot>> Hutch does another 6 boxes, taking him to 9 boxes.
Hutch rears back, pulling the ganger up by his upper body, lifting his shoulders well off the ground as he growls in his face, "Shut up!" Then he slams the mans head down against the tarmac under him, cracking his head against the solid ground, with a sick sounding smack. Blood begins to leak from the back of his head as his eyes unfocus.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Since he's still at least somewhat conscious, I'll call off the confusion and ask him about the gang. I'll leave out anything about Mr. Hernandez for the time being so as not to implicate him in this."
Simone takes a stance directly in the ganger's line of sight, unfocused as it may be after that brutal head trauma. With her pistol a meter and a half from the man's head she calls off the spirit's confusion with a mental command and orders the ganger again to stay still and answer her questions. "Don't. move. Tell me who you work for, what gang. Don't fuck around and you may be able to ride your bicycle home to your mother."
[[collapsible show="+Gang tries to Respond" hide="- hide this content"]]
[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5:
3 4 4 5 5
The gangers eyes roll around, not focusing on anything, scanning right past Simone as he reels from the damage dealt him. His lips move, but no sound comes out, finally sagging down to the ground, giving up all fight. "Muh, muuu, mmmmm," he groans piteously.
«Plot» Simone says, "I'll check his pockets for any identifying items, and take any good loot. ;) I could roll scrounging if you like."
«Plot» Hutch says, "Nah. He has some bits and bobs, an old pistol, some bullets, keys to the bike."
«Plot» Simone says, "I'll remove the ammo from his gun and toss it aside, keeping the bullets, aaaaaaand taking the keys just to be able to make a quick getaway then ditch the bike later."
Simone kneels down at the near-comatose ganger's shoulder. While Hutch restrains him she roots through the pockets of the downed man's jacket, taking an old pistol and ammo along with the keys to the bike nearby. She removes the clip from the ganger's weapon then unchambers the last round and hurls the gun into the ruins of a nearby structure. Pocketing the ammo, she looks to Hutch before turning to the wounded biker. "Is he gone? … Hey! Allo~..?" She tries to spark some alertness from the man by speaking and nudging his cheek with the silencer of her Predator. This has got to be the strangest outing with Hutch yet, and the slight embarrassment of displaying her rougher side starts to color her cheeks even more than the exertion and adrenaline already has.
The ganger turns his head, his eyes fluttering closed, moaning lowly. Even when Hutch slaps his cheeks in the age old waking up motions. He's mostly gone it seems, barely even responding. "What do you wanna do with him? He's not wearing the red colours." Hutch points out this guy isn't from the gang they wanted.
Simone stands, taking a brief look around, and puts a hand over her face. "…fuck…" In the heat of the moment she hadn't even thought about every possibility. For example, the possibility that these men could have worked for Mr. Hernandez… The fact that this one fled without alerting anyone in the building might be a good step in the opposite direction though; the direction of -no- affiliation with the man they've been sent to protect.
"Can… Can you just put him in the building here, hide him in the doorway?" She gestures to the nearest building, across the street from Mr. H's place. "I'll move the bike out of sight…" She puts the bike in neutral and starts walking it to a place that would be out of sight should anyone come down the street or if Mr. Hernandez should peek out of his door.
Hutch chuckles and nods as he gets up and hauls the guy across the road, hands under shoulders. Yanking him into the shadowy darkness of the doorway. While Simone is busy with the bike, he whips out his survival knife, the blade shinking out quietly before slicing a red ribbon across the ganger's neck. The gurgles are quiet, and don't last long as the man bleeds to death quickly, while Hutch hurriedly wipes his blade on the shirt and hides the knife away again.
Stepping back to Mr. Hernandez's door he waits for Simone, noting that nobody answered, despite the light still on upstairs.
Simone joins Hutch at the doorway shortly, having stashed the bike in a safe enough location, yet still close enough to reach for a quick getaway if need be. The German sighs wearily, clutching her free hand to her chest while the other still holds the Predator down at her side. She holsters the weapon with some slight embarrassment, hoping Hutch is a believer in 'out of sight, out of mind'. She closes her eyes and concentrates for a moment, placing both hands gently on the door and leaning forward to rest her head against the surface.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Sorcery Pool: 5 vs TN 9 for "Detect Enemies, F4. Base TN 6 for target out of sight, +2
bgcount, +1 L wound mod":
1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 7 14 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Sorcery Pool: 5 - 1 vs TN 9 for "KP +/- 1 more from 12":
1 1 2 3 3 4 7 9 10 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Sorcery Pool: 1 vs TN 3 for "F4 Tn divides to base TN 2, bgcount divides to +1. Resisting 3M
drain.":
1 2 4 4 5 11 = 4 Successes
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Range is force x magic so 24 meters. Anyone with hostile intent or who would be inclined to attack on sight rolls will/force (4) to negate my 3 successes."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Wait! My magic is 7, hehehe. 28 meters."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "You detect no enemies."
A moment passes while Simone seems to rest against the door, her senses extending into the building in an effort to detect any outward hostility should they enter unannounced. All seems well to her, and she turns back to Hutch. "Should ve just walk in?"
Hutch shrugs, "I dunno, it looks like there's someone inside, but nobody answered. Try the door?"
«Plot» Simone says, "Since I'll lose my spirit once I enter the hearth domain, I'll command it to use confusion on any people wearing red armbands who approach this building. maybe we'll get an early warning if they show up while we're inside."
«Plot» Hutch says, "Last 2 spirit services used up setting it to guard this area then."
Before trying the door handle, Simone mutters under her breath in German while looking over her shoulder to the right. She makes a vague hand gesture that has her right arm bent at the elbow to point toward the sky and she makes a circular motion. She then steels herself with a deep breath and a look to Hutch before putting her hand to the doorknob and trying to open it…
And the door is locked, working the doorknob is easy, but the door is solidly locked. "Huh, locked?" He glances up at the window again, noting the light but looking back down he doesn't seem to have any suggestions, just pursing his lips in thought.
"Damn. Well, it is understandable that he would keep his door locked, or course. Clearly. What do you think? I don't just want to start yelling." Simone starts edging away from the door as though to head around the side of the building to explore the rubble for another entrance. Her eyes drift up to the illuminated window however.
Hutch looks around a bit and shrugs, "Could try to see if there's another door, or a window or something. Maybe a back door?" He glances up and down the street again, to be sure of no more gangers coming.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Conjuring - 2 vs TN 3 for "Summoning F1 watcher, +2 bgcount added to tn. Saving 2 conj dice for the
drain roll":
1 1 5 = 1 Success
<<Plot>> Simone says, "That TN should have been 4, oops. But it still worked. Watcher is available for 1 hour."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Charisma + 2 (saved conj dice) vs TN 3 for "F1 + half bgcount + # of hours, not counting previous drain mod... Need to double check rules on that. L drain.":
4 4 5 9 9 10 = 6 Successes
«Plot» Simone says, "I want the watcher to seek out a worried hispanic man inside this building and emit a spoken message to him to announce visitors sent by Mr. Li. If the spirit doesn't find any men in the building, return to me. That's the gist of it."
«Plot» Hutch says, "Ok, the spirit wisps away and returns noting there are no worried hispanic men within."
«Plot» Simone says, "I'll have the watcher enter once more to count how many living metahumans are inside, and how many deceased metahumans are inside, then report back to me."
«Plot» Hutch says, "It returns noting one living occupant."
Simone turns away from the corner of the building to stare exclusively up toward the single light in the structure. She clutches the bird skull charm around her neck and sways her shoulders and hips lightly, muttering to herself again. She stops her near-dance and waits… A disappointed mutter followed by a more firm, commanding whisper. Another moment of waiting occurs, and she trudges to the front door to strike it with the butt of her pistol three times before holstering it. She's given up on subtlety for the time being. "Mr. Hernandez! We are friends!" She calls out to the front of the building in the hopes that she will be heard.
Hutch scratches his head as he watches Simone's odd behaviour, though he's becoming more used to it. "I thought you didn't want to be so loud?" He hisses at her, at the banging pistol.
The watcher spirit waits dumbly near Simone in the astral, stuck for another 55 minutes or so.
«Plot» Hutch says, "No reactions from inside the building."
Simone angrily looks around at the street, now becoming slightly concerned about the noise she's causing. "Let's try the back. You sure this is the right address, Hutch?"
Hutch shrugs at that, "It looks right to me, this is where Mr. Li said anyway. But yeah, try the back…" Anything to get Simone away from banging on the door. And the pool of blood from the second dead ganger was just starting to emerge into the light washing out from the window too.
The woman does her best to suppress her frustration so as not to make any more mistakes and clambers her way over the rubble to seek out any entrance that may serve to get the duo into the building.
Simone tries windows that are within reach as she passes by them as well.
Hutch follows her around after a final anxious glance at where the gangers had come from. Then he scrabbles over the rubble behind Simone.
All the windows within reach are as tightly shut and locked as the front door, but around the back is another door. This one however, is open, rather eerily stood open as if it had been like that for a while.
«OOC» Hutch says, "Perception check."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls Intelligence:
1 1 2 2 5 7
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence:
2 3 3 4 4 5
Simone gestures to Hutch with one hand while holding her pistol under her coat with the other. "After you, amigo." The Spanish sounds definitely odd coming from her, but she seems to be pretty firm about not being the first to enter, regardless of how strange her Spanish via German may sound.
Hutch nods as he notices the ajar door at the same time, stepping ahead with his MP-5 held in front of his body, pointing forward but not raised. Passing inside he steps into a kitchen, his training shoes kicking loose bits of synthwood along the floor. "Uh, that's not good," he notes of the chunks as he steps further inside.
Simone follows Hutch far enough to stand in the doorway with her gun pointed to the floor. At the loose bits of synthwood. "Is this bullet damage?" She sounds worried and depresses a small button on the edge of her goggles to activate the thermal imaging.
Hutch shrugs his answer, not knowing, his focus is now on making sure nobody surprises him inside the small house. "Dunno… the light was upstairs right." He steps forward again, heading for the door out of the kitchen, which passes to a hallway containing stairs, facing from the front door upwards. Stalking down the hallway slowly he peers into each room one by one as he goes.
«Plot» Hutch says, "Make a perception, since you're interested in the wood chips."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence:
1 2 3 3 9 11
<<OOC>> Simone says, "Door bits?"
<<OOC>> Hutch says, "Yep, from around the lock on the door."
<<OOC>> Hutch says, "Like it got kicked in while locked."
Simone realizes that the door was evidently broken through as she follows Hutch's search. She watches behind, pointing the barrel of her pistol where ever she looks. "Let's get upstairs, quick."
Hutch pauses at the bottom of the stairs to look back, "Quick? Uh…" Glancing up there, where a sliver of light illuminates from under a door he looks uncertain, "Ok…" With that he heads up, taking the stairs two at a time and then bursting into the lit room.
From the iffy information her watcher spirit provided, Simone is putting money on the fact that the only person in the house should be Mr. Hernandez, and if the door was busted in, he most likely is either dead or dying. She follows Hutch's pace upward, sacrificing any element of surprise in order to be able to get to the man before he potentially perishes.
When Simone enters the room behind Nate, it would take a second to process all available information. But slowly it dawns, Hutch stands, SMG half ready, looking into the face of a young oriental man. A hispanic man lies on the floor, unmoving and as Simone enters the oriental man speaks. "Ah, welcome to Mr. Hernandez's little drug factory. It appears you have been sent to help him, well I'm afraid that won't be happening. If you would be so kind to take a message back to Mr. Li for me?" His tone is polite, and he smiles as he finishes, though it has a feral cast to it, and as he turns slightly a machete type sword is revealed, held in his hands behind him.
«Plot» Simone says, "Hm. Distance between us and feral Asian?"
«Plot» Hutch says, "Small room, furniture, 2 meters at the outside."
«Plot» Simone says, "So I don't want to fire yet…"
«Plot» Simone says, "Basically I guess I want to hear him out."
Simone stands just outside of the doorway suffering from slight shock. It's not so much that she's appalled at the killing, more that she's just consistently surprised at the ease with which lives can be and are taken. She's no saint, herself, but she tries to do the best she can. Under the current circumstances, doing her best seems to include hearing this mysterious man out. She holds her pistol at the ready, pointed slightly down but easily angled to fire if necessary. "Drop the blade. And what do you mean 'drug factory'?"
Hutch himself is inside the room with the man, not speaking, just watching him very carefully. The oriental slowly pacing, one pace to each side, displaying the heavy looking sword with each step. "That would be a place where drugs are manufactured. In this case Bliss, I believe. Also, no." He pauses for a moment, drawing in a deep breath after refusing to drop his sword. "I wish you to inform Mr. Li that his consorting with the drug cartels has been noted, his days of dishonoring us are numbered. We will find him, it is guaranteed."
«Plot» Simone says, "I'd like to assense the man if I have time."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence vs TN 7 for "Base 4 for assensing, +1 L wound mod, +2 BGcount":
2 4 4 5 5 5 = 0 Successes
Simone listens to the man speak while standing ready for combat from her stance a little outside the door. She tries to assense the man briefly, but her distraction combined with the pervading background count 'blurs' her ability to read him effectively. "And who might you be, if we are to 'deliver' your message?" She states the word snidely, unwilling to take orders from the man who has just obliterated any chance of performing her job as stated.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence:
1 1 2 4 5 16
The man smiles, a thinly masked sneer on his face at the women outside the door, "She speaks loudly for a woman stood so far away. Mr. Li will know who I am speaking of. You do not need to!" He raises his voice slowly, for the first time shouting at the end, and then pointing, just past Hutch with the sword at Simone.
The body on the floor displays a severe lack of bleeding, and the sword is perfectly clean too.
Simone raises her pistol toward the man's chest, her right index finger pulling ever so lightly on the trigger to feel its tension. "You won't attack us if you want us to deliver your message, asshole. Now who do you work for?"
Hutch turns a slow eye to Simone, some sort of message hidden in the glance, his nose not far from the gleaming blade of the chinese scimitar.
Meanwhile the oriental man throws his head back and laughs heartily, the way orientals do, then brings his eyes back down to stare levelly at Simone. "Slitch! I will do what I fucking want! If you won't deliver the message I can get someone else to! Or should I cut on your little boyfriend here to prove it?" His eyes widen as he quickly sidesteps, placing Hutch between Simone and himself, pressing the blade up to his chest. To his credit Hutch only brings his MP-5 up, ready to deflect the blade should the man make a move negative for his health.
Since Hutch has made no move to affect the outcome of this situation yet, Simone is compelled to do so herself. The most important outcome now is for her to ensure that she and Hutch both come out of this alive and unharmed, so she lowers her weapon, still clutching the grip with both hands. She stands and waits, glaring at the raving swordsman.
Hutch mumbles back, keeping his eyes on the sword at his chest, "I think maybe we should just, take the message back, no? I mean, that might be a good idea, right?"
Simone takes a small step back to see if the asian allows Hutch to come toward her. If he does, though, her pistol will be useless with the British man blocking the doorway so she angles to get at least a small view of the man's head in case any magical measures need to be taken.
Hutch begins to take a step backwards, the entire audiences hearts are in their mouths… or they would be if this was a soap opera. Unfortunately it isn't, this is real. The oriental mans eyes go wider as Hutch begins to back off and he grins, shouting, "Yes! Yes, you tell him, you tell him I'll be coming for him, nowhere for him to hide!" The sound of madness is in his voice slightly as he shouts. But other than that he makes no overt moves against them, choosing to remain behind in the room, with the body.
«Plot» Simone says, "Well, I'm stumped. I guess I'll try to assense him once more? Then maybe fire at the guy. He's a rabid wolf and needs to be put down."
«Plot» Hutch says, "Go ahead."
«Plot» Simone says, "Back to 7 for assensing, or 9 for making a second attempt?"
«Plot» Hutch says, "7"
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence vs TN 7:
2 2 2 4 4 8 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Aura Reading vs TN 7:
2 3 3 5 9 = 1 Success
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Ok, he's healthy, emotional state is... ecstatic and he's mundane."
«Plot» Simone says, "Well, if you've moved far enough back for me to see part of him, I'll try a stunbolt to force him into some TN penalties so we can try to rescue Mr. H."
«Plot» Hutch says, "I believe your TN is 5+1+2=8"
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Combat Pool: 5 vs TN 8 for "F6 D stunbolt on the guy":
1 1 2 4 4 4 4 5 10 16 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Combat Pool: 5 - 2 vs TN 8 for "KP 8/12":
1 2 3 3 4 4 8 10 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery + Combat Pool: 5 - 4 vs TN 8 for "KP 10/12":
1 2 2 3 5 11 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Combat Pool: 1 vs TN 3 for "F6 / 2 = 3, drain code is -1(DL), +1 for 2 bgcount.":
2 2 3 3 3 4 = 4 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower + Combat Pool: 1 - 4 vs TN 3 for "KP 11":
2 8 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 vs TN 6 for "Ok.":
3 3 4 5 7 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 vs TN 6 for "Ok. KP":
1 4 4 4 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 - 1 vs TN 6 for "Ok. KP":
2 2 5 8 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 - 2 vs TN 6 for "Ok. KP":
3 4 7 = 1 Success
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Hutch (#1434) rolls 5 - 3 vs TN 6 for "Ok. KP":
3 4 = 0 Successes
Simone continues to back away from the doorway in order to allow Hutch to do the same. She makes sure to stay slightly to the side in order to see the raving asian man and once there seems to be a good opportunity, she strikes. With a loud "Uaaagh!" borne of anger and frustration, she hurls mana into his body with as much strength of will as she can muster. Some of her own energy is transferred in the process, causing her to shudder with the effort, but it works, and the killer's eyes roll back into his head and he crumples, his scimitar clattering to the floor. She clutches her chest with her left hand and bends at the waist. Her face is clenched with the pain of casting but she wheezes, "Is he out?"
Hutch jumps when Simone screams out behind him, pulling his SMG up, as if to shoot the oriental, like that had been the action he was keeping on hold. But as the poor fellow falls to the floor and Simone starts wheezing he bends to take a closer look, "He looks flat out. What did you do?" Turning and asking at the same time, to see Simone bent over from the drain.
"I made him fall asleep." She stomps a step toward the doorway, still clutching her heart. "Tie him. I need to see Mr. Hernandez." She forces her leaden feet to move, entering the room to fall to her knees before the downed hispanic man. She takes care not to move him, but gingerly tries to examine his body for a wound location.
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Perception to examine him. Or Biotech. Open either way."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I'll go biotech to see if he's still alive."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Biotech:
1 4 4 4
Hutch takes a step towards the fallen Chinese man and then pauses. "I don't have anything to tie him with." Glancing quickly around the room reveals nothing spectacularly suited to it either, it being quite barely furnished. After the hesitation he simply aims his SMG at the man and waits.
«Plot» Hutch says, "He's dead. The foam around his mouth, and his eyes being rolled up into his head probably indicate some kind of chemical death."
Simone does her best to examine the man while using only one hand since the other is busy trying to pacify her heart palpitations. She sees the foam around Mr. Hernandez' mouth which to her is an official pronouncement of death and she pounds a fist onto the corpse's chest, staying knelt down in a miserable black heap. She doesn't seem particularly concerned about the Asian waking up any time soon, and keeps her back to him while catching her breath and coming up with a plan. "Well, do we… Let him wake up to return to his people or…" She mutters from her huddle.
Hutch glances down at the Chinese youth and then over at Simone, I dunno, what do you think? He looked like he was off his rocker to me. A can short of a six pack and all that." He swallows hard for a moment, apparently finding it hard to just condemn someone to death, even after being threatened, and slitting a throat not five minutes ago.
Simone off-handedly asks a question without giving Hutch's words much consideration. "Vhy are you talking about beer?" She doesn't seem to catch the English phrase, but she doesn't seem particularly concerned with an answer either. She groans as she forces herself into a standing position and tucks her weapon under her coat before rummaging through her bag. "We've got to do something…" She pulls out a plastic bottle that clicks, full of pills. She pops two of them and swallows them dry before stumping over to the asian man. "Do you sink Mr. Li will be in any added danger if we let this one live?"
Hutch spends some time pondering that, and then points out, "He did say 'I will come for him' at the end there. So maybe if we get rid of this guy, there won't be any more?" His tone is hopeful, though it sounds vain hope.
Simone stares down at the unconscious form of Mr. Hernandez' killer for a long, sober moment before making her way to the fallen sword. "Chemicals on the blade I'm assuming. I'm glad he didn't get a chance to swing at you." She painfully kneels down to take a closer look.
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence:
2 2 3 4 4 11
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "The blade is clean, not even blood."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Can I also assense the blade?"
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence:
2 3 3 4 5 14
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "Mundane blade."
Simone looks from the sword to the unconscious man, then up to Hutch. "Do you have a knife?"
Hutch glances down and raises his eyebrows, "Uh, yeah…?" He seems hesitant, but eventually pulls the switchblade from his belt sheath and spins it round, holding it out to Simone, still folded away.
Simone handles the knife unfamiliarly for a second before bending slightly strangely and pulling up the hem of her form-fitting mid-length skirt. She slides the blade out and stabs it into the held fabric, beginning to cut strips. The action is quite unladylike, as she is forced to squat and cut between her legs to get to the backside of the skirt but she ultimately ends up with two strips of black fabric and a frayed hemline that is now two inches higher than before. She hands one to Hutch and takes the other to the man's ankles. "You tie his hands."
Hutch watches with a little surprise and then holds his piece of cloth, without moving to use it. "What are we gonna do with him after we've tied him up? Wouldn't it be easier to just… you know?"
Simone yells her response at Hutch. "I don't know! I need to think!" The burst of fear, anger and frustration causes her to clutch her heart once more and she grows somber. She clenches her eyes shut before removing her hand from its place at her chest to begin tying the Asian man's ankles together.
«Plot» Hutch says, "He's flat on his back."
Hutch shifts to holster his SMG, finding it now unwieldy to carry. Moving aside from Simone as she ties the unconscious Chink's feet together. "Alright, alright, calm down. It's only the Warrens, there's no issues out here…" He still has the strip of dress dangling from his hand.
After tying the ankles tight, she searches them for hidden blades, patting up the man's legs to the pockets if he has any, then around his belt in a quick frisk. She checks his sides then, and down his arms to see if anything is hidden in his sleeves. She proceeds to feebly roll the man over, pulling his arms back before reaching up for the strip of fabric to tie the wrists. She doesn't respond to Hutch while she does this, just remaining silent.
«Plot» Hutch says, "Checking his pockets and all that?"
«Plot» Hutch says, "You find a wallet containing a registered credstick and a certified with a few thousand nuyen on it. The registered is obviously an ID, though no reader on hand. Also a Colt Manhunter with a silencer and internal sl-2 on it and a couple extra mags for it."
Hutch lets her take the strip of cloth off him and watches her tie the fellow up after frisking him. "So…" he continues, trailing off swiftly when he finds nothing to add to this moment.
Simone sets all of the man's belongings aside as she finds them, two credsticks, a pistol and ammunition. She sighs as she completes the restraints before piling the items into her bag with little interest. "Best not to leave this with him…" She speaks this quietly as the pistol goes in and the bag is zipped shut once again. She stands with a faint groan and simply eyes Hutch knowingly before turning away from him in a manner one might assume to be shame. She reaches down to take the sword from the floor and walks from the room carrying the blade well away from herself.
«Plot» Simone says, "Okay, I'm doing a quick scan of the house, leaving Hutch in the room unless he decides to follow."
Hutch steps to the door of the room to call after Simone, "What? Are we just leaving him here then, or what? Gretchen?" He waits in the doorway for the time being, for want of something better to do.
«Plot» Hutch says, "Ok, upstairs, the other room is empty. Downstairs, the second room is full of soil, about half a meter deep, bright lights in the room and a horrible damp smell."
«Plot» Hutch says, "Also, perception check to search the rest."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence for "What's going on in this room full of soil?":
2 5 5 5 8 13
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "He's growing Zen in that room."
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Intelligence for "For the rest of the building's rooms.":
1 2 3 4 10 11
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "You also find the door down into the basement, which is full of apparatus."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Presumably for making the bliss. Okay."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "To one side stands stacks of small packages, one is opened and mostly empty. Some powder is lay about, like maybe it was disturbed, around the stack of packages, on them, on the floor, etc."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I wonder if our chinaman took a sample of the goods before confronting Mr. H..."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "If he took it all that, by most accounts he'd be dead. These packages are more than for single consumption. Think like a kilo a pack."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "Or, oh... Maybe Mr. H doped himself up, knowing he'd soon be killed..."
<<Plot>> Hutch shrugs. "Conjecturing!"
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I'll take a couple of the packages, stashing them in my bag, please. :)"
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "They weigh about 2 pounds each, at a guess, as you stuff them in your bag."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I won't take them all. And I'll try not to disturb the already disturbed powder. I don't want to make it look like anything was stolen."
<<Plot>> Hutch says, "There's plenty there to make it look normal."
<<Plot>> Simone says, "To be precise, I'll just take two of the bricks. I'm assuming they're bricks, anyway. Wrapped. Like any proper manufacturer would do."
<<Plot>> Hutch nods. "2.2 pounds each in weight, though you can only guess at the moment."
[[/code]][[/collapsible]]
Simone stalks a slow course through the rest of the building, leaving Hutch to entertain himself or follow, either way. She checks the rest of the upstairs rooms before heading downstairs, having found nothing of interest. Eventually a basement door is located, after stumbling upon nothing but a dank, foul-smelling grow room for zen, and she makes her way inside. Packages -- drug packages, to be precise -- are arranged, and seem ready for distribution, one of them having been opened and its contents strewn about recklessly. Further examination of the room doesn't turn up much, so she leans the curved sword against the wall and hefts one of the wrapped bricks to test its weight. It doesn't seem terrible so she places two of them into her satchel. Perhaps they'll come in handy... She then begins to make her way back upstairs, sword in hand once again.
Hutch himself has decided he best stay and look after the unconscious man, just in case he wakes up and manages to free himself. Never sure on how well Simone can tie knots and the like.
As the German makes her way back up, she calls out to Hutch in a cautious tone, "It's me. I'm coming back up." She trudges into the room with a much fuller bag, but with no real changes in her mood or mannerisms. "There were drugs in the basement. I think he was right." She gestures to the Asian. "Poor Mr. Hernandez was dealing in quite a lot of bliss it looks like."
Hutch grimaces, "I think Mr. Li is gonna wanna know about all this, yaknow?" His accent and English growing even more thick and impenetrable, possibly because of the stress of the situation. "But I feel like going home and getting some sleep first... What we gonna do about this guy?" He finally asks, kicking the downed Asian heedlessly.
Simone nods to the comment about Mr. Li closes her eyes and sways, her hands held somewhat limply to her sides. With Hutch facing her, he may be able to notice her appearance change slightly, her face seeming to grow darker, more shadowed, and her sleeves appear to have more fabric in some way, taking on the slight image of wings. This display lasts only a moment before she responds with a decision.
<<Plot>> Simone says, "I'm gonna try to clear my signature now."
<<Plot>> Hutch nods.
[[collapsible show="+Cleansing" hide="- hide this content"]]
[[code]]
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery vs TN 8 for "Cleansing sig, F6 +2 bgcount":
1 3 3 11 15 = 2 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Sorcery - 2 vs TN 8 for "Cleansing sig, KP 12/12":
4 5 5 = 0 Successes
<<Auto-Judge[]>> Simone (#7451) rolls Willpower vs TN 7 for "6L drain +1 for 2 bg":
3 4 5 16 17 = 2 Successes
Simone's little performance draws to a close, and she takes two steps to stand by Hutch and hand him his knife back. She tosses the sword onto the bed and pulls her pistol from its concealed holster.
«Plot» Simone says, "Oh, I'll give Mr. H's body a quick scan, too. Scavenger totem!"
«Plot» Simone says, "After you pose though."
Hutch reaches out and takes the knife back, then watches her carefully, "Are you really going to? Eh…" He pauses, looking down, "Just meet me outside 'eh? Get that bike ready so we can get out of here." Then he steps over and gives her a little nudge, away from the unconcsious chinky.
Simone withdraws the bike keys from a pocket with her free hand while staring down at the tied and unconscious asian man. She doesn't say anything to Hutch, simply holds the keys in her hand. A moment of silence and she takes a quick look at Hutch before darting out of the house as quick as she can without running.
Hutch turns back to the tied man, now Simone is more or less safely out of the way. And taking out the switchblade again he swiftly flicks it out with a shink, and ends the Chinese youths miserable existence. Leaving him to leak blood all over the bare floor, alongside the foamy mouthed body of Mr. H he heads out, eager to get away from here on the back of the stolen bike.
Simone has the bike idling across the street from Mr. H's house, hidden in the shadows with the headlight off. As Hutch approaches and saddles up behind her she throttles and sets off into the night, using her thermographic imaging to navigate. She's glad to leave the Warrens once again. It's just a shame that it probably won't be the last time.
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