| From: | Sascha Pabst <Sascha.Pabst@**********.UNI-OLDENBURG.DE> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Safehouse 1 |
| Date: | Wed, 4 Dec 1996 14:45:13 +0000 |
>>>>>[ >>>>>[I've just completed survialance on the group
you wanted watched. They've moved now, as you will see
later. The interesting part will come in a second report,
here you'll just get to know them all.
+++++ Begin Download: Sfhouse1.mov
Someone is sitting over a data display unit, then
suddenly looks up and starts yelling... "BULL! GET
EVERYONE INTO THE ROOM! NOW!" The text "Inferno blinks
under him.
Several people gather in the room. A tall orc answers
"Alright, we're all here. What do you want... And don't
shout at me man, my ears are fine, I c'n here ya. Now
what's your problem?" He's identified as "Bull".
Inferno: "I've been studying this recording of yours.
Bugs were attacking you, right." He zips through the
relevant part of the recording and zooms in on one of the
fire elementals.
Inferno: "Look! Those things are NOT the summonings of a
stable mind. You said you thought they were sent by a
bunch of ghouls? I think they look a little bit too much
like praying mantises.
"I think the Mantids wanted you out.
"Why?
Bull: "I really don't know. That's possible, though. It
all happened a little too quickly to identify them
clearly, and with the arrival of the choppers shortly
after things got pretty confused in there. Yeah my first
thoughts were that they were Mantids, but hell, they're
bug hunters, maybe they couldn't refuse a free meal... I
mean what makes you think they _wanted_ us out.... That
implies that they are logical thinking beasts and know
what they're doing, I mean hey man they're bugs. We have
met the mantids before in the CZ, and though they've
never attacked us directly, we've not exactly encouraged
their attention. We've had some pretty wierd help in
there, but for this thing to turn up like that, at just
the right moment, I mean, you're crediting these things
with a lot more savvy than they've got. Unless.... We
did notice a couple of things that were strange... The
mantids seem to have some sort of magical backup, not
from themselves, but a few things didn't add up while we
were in there. Maybe some mages or Shamans have formed
with them or something, or are following them, I mean
look at the film again man, that's a fire elemental, not
a mantis, though it's shaped like one I grant you."
Inferno: "That's exactly my point! They don't just hunt
bugs, they EAT bugs. Sending fire elementals is totally
out of... character, from what I've heard of them
before...
"Spirits *ARE* more intelligent than they like people to
think. They just THINK differently...
"They wanted you out of the zone for a reason. There must
BE a reason. What? Any ideas? Anyone?"
Bull: "Why would a bunch of Bugs want _me_ out of the
zone, I mean I've got some information on some stuff that
was going on in there, and some data I haven't had a
chance to crack yet... The encryption is... strange. But
it's not like they're working for me or anything. I mean
for God's sake man what is it with you, _I_ wanted out of
there, I wanted my family out of that hell hole... I've
been trying to break a signal out of that place for
nearly two years. Finally I get out, and the Dark Avenger
is waiting, he's working for some company that want
information from inside the zone... seemingly at any
cost... I took that opportunity, the fact that Mantids
show up at the same time, could be no more than co-
incidence... You have to admit, there was a lot of bugs
on that lawn, prime hunting time for Mantids.
"If a Mage is working for them or with them, and saw the
fight, he may have chosen that opportunity to lend a
hand... I think you're reading more into this than there
is dude."
A human with a black beard and a jacked covered with
straggly black fur who is identified as "Canis" answers:
"No. That was no coincidence. There was a real battle
going down in astral, I can tell you. The Mantis did seem
to have waited for the others to show up. Bull - what did
you bring out besides the film we've seen?"
Bull: "Nothing man!... Just what you've seen and the file
I mentioned. That's it!.... What the frag do you think I
brought out?!!!.... A damn Queens egg or somethin'!!
We'd had the drek kicked out of us in there, if it hadn't
been for DA we'd be bug food right now. Two of my people
were down, the rest were hurt, my arm was busted up!!
"I mean for God's sake what the hell is it with you
people!! I'm as much in the dark as you are. I have _NO_
idea why these guys are after us other than the fact that
someone got out."
This time a good looking fellow answers: "We're what you
see, nothing more, nothing less. We just want to get away
from that hell hole amd get on with our lives. Too much
shit in there for us. I have no idea why these guys came
after us. Maybe you had better ask your friend... The
man who came to get us. The Dark Avenger. Maybe he knows
these people and their motives." He is identified as
"Johnny 99" by the text.
The woman next to bull adds, "Johnny's right, instead of
badgering Bull for answers he can't give you, why don't
you ask the man who got us. He shut down the area that
let his choppers through, he's the one who upset the
Guards of the CZ."
As "Marie" appears under the female, she continues "You
ask my husband these questions... Yet I see none of you
questioning the Avenger. Where is he when all this is
happening. You want your problem. You go talk to him. But
leave my husband alone!!! He has done nothing to you
people."
An indian adds "Marie and Johnny speak the truth. We have
done you no harm, we merely seek help to regain the
freedom that is every man's right. There are many that
would seek to refuse a man that right. And many of these
people are here, surrounding the CZ. Ask them why they
don't want anybody out. You ask the wrong questions of
the wrong people." He is identified as "Tailspin"
Canis has been sitting very silently since his last
comment, rubbing his right elbow with the left hand and
staring into nowhere. Now he mutters: "They don't do
anything without a reason. there must be something, some
evil plot. They don't help us, they feed on us."
Suddenly a wolf appears out of nowhere in front of Canis.
It growls menacingly, but doesn't do anything else. The
text reads "Probably Ally Spirit (Okami?)".
The next one to speak is identified as Celt. "Is duilich
cur an aghaidh dain. It would seem that someone wants
you to accomplish something for them. And the only way
to do that, is to continue with what you feel is right.
Arguing over who to ask the questions will help you none,
looking for the right place to find the answers, would be
better upon you." The text adds "Unknown language."
Bull shrugs as he looks around the room. "I really don't
know, guys. The only thing I got out is this chip, which
is scrambled beyond belief, and my family." He looks
over at Johnny, then into the next room where he can see
the kids playing, and sighs, looking very tired.
Inferno: "Hmmmmm. A chip, and... how many people Bull?
Have any of them been out of your sight for more than a
day or two at any time you were in there?
"You know why the containment zone was set up better than
any of us.
"It was set up to stop true-forms from escaping. Bugs
that are indistinguishable from the human host they took
over.
"Is there ANY chance, no matter how slim, that one of the
people you rescued wasn't a person anymore?
"Has ANYONE been acting even the least bit strangely
since you got out? THINK VERY CAREFULLY!!!"
Bull: "Well, other than the first few days, no. We had
been dealing with a botched run the day the bugs hit
hard. Something about an artifact that tried to possess
Johnny. Well, anyways, we came back home, and everyone
was gone. It took us a few days to track them all down
and find them. They were being held in a camp as, we
supposed, food.
"We then went to Little Earth. It's this camp that was
set up in one of the local universities, and it was
comprised of mostly mages and shamans. Everyone was
checked out very thouroughly, including myself and
Johnny, and we all came back clean. Since then,
Daytripper and Johnny have been keeping an eye on
everyone."
A human form materializes in the middle of the room
suddenly. He wearing some very brightly colored tie-dyes
clothes, and the text states "? Spirit (Daytripper)"
Daytripper: "It is possible, however, that someone could
have slipped past us. However, the chances of that
happening are very slim. Johnny 99 us a powerful initiate
himself, and I am far from a weak spirit. We would have
seen something."
Johnny 99: "Look, are you trying to say something here?
[His voice is low and hard. He glares around the room.]
Our people are clean. I'd trust every one of them with my
life, and I have. None of us are a bug!"
Celt: "How can you say that with such certainty? Nobody
knows enough about their forms to say for certain. If it
is a possiblity, we can't rule it out."
Johnny 99: "Then they've played their part very well for
over two years, because none of my family has been
outside Little Earth since we moved there, and me and
Bull are the only ones that went out among the bugs."
Bull shrugs a little. "If Johnny here's a bug, then he's
a bug I'd trust with my life. Besides, unless I miss my
guess here, you're talking about a Mantis infiltrating
one of my family, right Inferno?"
Inferno nods.
Bull: "Well, then it would have to be one of the women
then, and they've hidden among mages, shamans, and
several free spirits for 2 years then. That's a powerful
bug. And the Males are only created for one purpose, to
be devoured making more females, so we wouldn't be bugs."
Canis wakes from what realms his mind was wandering into.
"Wha..?" He looks as if he's mourning for something. "But
they CAN hide really well. Some of them at last. It's
some kind of special power or what that diese verfluchten
Biester haben, err, the bugs have."
Both Bull and Inferno begin speaking. Bull's
surprisingly quiet,
concerned voice gets drowned out by Inferno. Celt
doesn't miss this and watches both Canis and Bull.
Bull Looks over at Canis: "You ok, man? You don't look
so good... and what's that last part you said? I don't
speak... German, is it?"
Inferno: "Exactly. From what I've read and heard, Mantid
true form females are incredibly difficult to unmask...."
Canis nods and looks at Inferno expectantly.
Inferno: "Maybe it's possible to find a spell to detect
or even unmask a bug?
"Canis? What d'y'think? Could we go astral questing do
you think?"
Canis: "An astral quest... yes, that might even be
better. I tried to do it with ritual magic once, but that
nearly failed. Who'll protect our bodies while we are
away?"
Johnny 99: "I will go with you, if I can. Tailspin will
aid us as well. Bull here can handle the physical
Security, as can Stands with a Fist, Marie, and Xuxa. We
also have Avenger's six soldiers."
Celt takes her gaze from Canis, her eyes slightly
unfocused. She speaks softly and carefully. "You are
talking about Questing while there could be a flesh form
present. ...But it is the best way of getting the info
we need."
Inferno: "I don't want to appear too paranoid Johnny, but
I think I'd prefer not to have any women involved in
this....
"It is the females who are the prime suspects... No
offence Stands, but I don't like being vulnerable... "
A small women who is introduced as "Stephanie" interrupts
Inferno with an angry voice: "Well, just excuse the hell
out of ME!" She bounces up from where she was sitting. "I
suppose I'd better guard all your bodies while you're off
talking to Tentacle Face, and answering his rude
questions, instead. Or am I not allowed to do that
either?"
After a defiant glare around the room, she unzips her
heavy black bag
and brings out a FN MAG-5. The receiver bears the neatly-
lettered word
'GEORGE' in white paint, visible as she flips up the top
cover and loads a belt of ammunition. Somehow the large
weapon doesn't look at all incongruous in the hands of
the five-foot-tall woman.
Inferno: "Stephanie! I was referring to all women who
came out of the Zone with Bull! They are the current
suspects of being some form of True Form Spirit, and I
don't relish the idea of being on a quest with one of
those near my body!"
At this point a man in a scotish kilt who is named
"Hamish" smiles winningly at Stephanie. "Now how could
anyone mistrust such a wonderful lady?" he asks in a
Scottish brogue. He approaches her, smiling broadly, and
looks covetously at George. A butiful woman ("Minx") trys
to hide a smile.
Canis: "Ja... But with a quest of this dimension I
suggest we scan the astral area before we begin the quest
itself. Don't you agree? "He looks around at the others,
stops shortly when he sees Bull watching him, but then
seeks eye contact with the other magicians. After having
had contact with 'em all, he adds: "I think we need all
help we can get, Inferno. Even the women."
Stephanie: "Well, perhaps I don't like astral questing.
And perhaps I think any suddenly-unmasked spirits might
decide to start ripping peoples' arms and legs off. So if
shooting it doesn't make it stop you'll need someone to
make it stop before everyone runs out of arms and legs
and it gets bored and goes somewhere else to rip someone
else's arms and legs off instead."
Minx is now quietly killing herself laughing in the
corner, grinning at Stephanie in a mixture of what may be
admiration, respect or friendship. Canis smiles and nods
toward Stephanie.
Bull seems lost in thought, and is staring out a window
as the others talk. He looks up at Johnny and nods once,
then looks over at the others. "Do it. Me, Daytripper,
Caber, and DA's boys will keep an eye on things here..."
He sighs.
"Even Marie, Reba, and Stands... Unless Daytripper can
help you with your ritual? I'm not sure how those things
work."
Celt: "Daytripper's assistance would be a great asset.
However, the animus would be more useful here, if we are
expecting insect visitors, and perhaps Stephanie is
right. The four of us will be far more than is
neccessary."
Bull nods to Celt: "Ok, then do it. We need to move, and
soon."
Canis starts filling an old indian camulet with something
that's only partly tabacco. When people start looking at
him, he offers an excusing smile: "Helps me to relax, and
the kids are not 'ere..."
He lights the camulet, and a sweat scent starts
spreading. Canis sings to himself, while smoking and
making some gestures, in a language that is not indian,
then offers the camulet to anyone interested.
Johnny looks over at Tailspin, and both Amerinds grin.
They then pull
out a handful of Mushrooms and munch a couple, then offer
them around the room. They both also partake of Canis's
camulet, as he accepts a mushroom.
Celt speaks to Bull: "As soon as the preparations are
complete." She turns to look at Caber. "They remind me of
Orez." Caber's answering grin soon sobers into a tight
smile, and Celt closes her eyes and begins a low song.
Inferno begins drawing arcane symbols on the floor. When
they are complete, he sits at their centre and begins a
low chant...
+++++ EOF
+++++ End Download: Sfhouse1.mov
Now for the action... ]<<<<<
-- Pegasus <14:39:53/12-04-57>
