Special Delivery: Science in a padlock box

[Ramulus]

M7W3D5 - open -Wayne State University. ^{(Not sure if we want real or fake names to be used IC?)}

The maroon Nissan Navara 4x4 drives onto the parking lot of the Wayne State University. The logo of the Michigan Department for Environmental Quality is emblazoned upon the car. The passenger seat next to the driver is occupied by a metal case with a handle and a big padlock on the side. A chain and handcuff connects it to the driver’s right wrist. On the box are several warning signs: 'Inflammatory', 'acidic', and 'explosive'. Along that are labels such as 'do not ingest' and 'do not inhale' and, well, just don't touch it unless you know what you're doing. These are material samples for higher classes of the earth sciences programme.

The car is parked and shut down. Rasul steps out of the vehicle, opens the backseat door, locks the car, and grabs another case without any warning sigils, but also with a padlock. With both hands filled he closes the one open door with a nudge from his knee. Since he already locked it he can now just walk away. A badge on the left side of his uniform reads R. Dinashra – Geological Field Research.

He walks in through the front entrance of the university. The receptionist is busy helping someone, and a few more appear to be in line. Rasul nods a greeting and walks towards the pinboard with notes and advertisements. The general dorm postings, class listings, activities and all the usual scientific news postings. Some of the activities, such as extracurricular classes and field trips, he actually finds rather interesting.

“What’s this?” Ramulus whispers, resting the chained case on a chair between him and the board and he grabs a little flyer from a stack resting by the pinboard. “The Disciples.... of the Balance?” Rasul takes in the colors of the flyer, and reads the information. It looks kind off familiar... it sounds familiar. He chuckles, shaking his head in disbelieve “Botanica?” This is not like her, he thinks. Or perhaps it is, come to think of it. Ramulus doesn't know Botanica -that- well.

Storing the flyer in a pocket, Rasul places the casings at his feet while he sits down, waiting his turn in line. This is his first delivery to the place, usually someone else does it. He's not sure where to go with the new geochemistry and mineralogy class samples. Either he can ask the receptionist in a bit, or someone might recognize him as the 'guy from DEQ' and the materials that were ordered.

---

_{Want to play the receptionist, or a professor/scientist (like Doctor Robert Paaswell?) A geology student? (Cindy Newell is but one of many) or just your TF character who could totally be here? Go right ahead!}

[Ramulus]

"Can I help you, sir?" The receptionist calls to Rasul, who in turn stands up and approaches the desk. He rests the cases on top of it. "In fact you can. I need to deliver these casings to the geoscience department. They are for the geochemistry and mineralogy classes. Practicum materials, I believe" Rasul hands over a clipboard with information that was attached to one of the casings.

The woman reads through it and nods, "Ah yes, let me look that up for you, sir." she checks her computer. After a minute she turns back to Ramulus and hands him back the clipboard with a smile. "Building 2. Floor 3, from the stairwell second office on the right."

Rasul smiles back, takes the clipboard and reattaches it. ""Thank you, have a good day, miss." He then walks off into the campus on his way to building 2.

[Hellbender]

Donal Costigan is also on campus, just crossing the avenue between the Science and Engineering Library, and Old Main, where the Geology Department is. The survey he's looking for isn't in the one library, it's actually in the Geology Department's own tiny library, so off he goes.

Costigan almost passes Dinashra all unknowing, but a certain sense of familiarity registers at the last minute. He turns slightly toward the other man. White man with dreadlocks, and braided beard? Definitely familiar.

"Rasul? Rasul Dinashra? Ah'll be damned. Haven't seen you in a dog's age! How's life treating you?" Donal Costigan is probably several years older than when last they met at college, but he still wears mirrored sunglasses everywhere.

[Ramulus]

Rasul looks up when his name is called. He recognizes the voice and those shades are a dead give-away too. "Well geez, Costigan! Nice to see ya, dude!"

Wow, the college years are some time ago. While his memory scrambles to dig up more information than just the name of Donal, Rasul smiles a cheery smile, "Life's been a blast for me; outdoor job at DEQ. What about you? What brings ya down here?" He grins, "Man, when did we last see each other? The graduation party? That's ages, dude."

[Hellbender]

"Sounds like we both managed to find honest employment. Sometimes Ah'm amazed we survived college, considerin' all the stupid things we did. Did Ah really shotgun a six-pack that one night?" Costigan says, extending his hand for a shake. He's always been a big man, and he's obviously put on more muscle since his youthful college days--but Rasul might remember that he was always gentle with his handshakes. Costigan apparently felt no need to play dominance games by crushing hands in his grip. Someone honks a horn down the street just after the light changes.

"Workin' as a mining consultant these days, and that's part of what brings me down here," he adds. Several motorcycles whiz by on the avenue, their riders covered from head to toe in black protective suits and helmets.

[Ramulus]

Rasul contains a laugh and turns it into a chuckle, "That wasn't the worst thing you, nor I for that matter, did during college and you know it." He clenches one casing between his feet to accept the handshake heartily. "Mining consultant? That sure sounds like a good job, great to hear about that!" With a smile and a head-nod towards Old Main, he adds, "If your work brings you here, then we're going the same way I reckon. Geology department?"

When the motorcycles pass, Rasul watches them for a moment. When an entire group is dressed almost the same, they catch attention. With a shake of his head and mutter of "darn fast motorbikes" he focuses on Donal, "Let´s go. Besides, up for a drink later?"

[Hellbender]

"Ah think the alcohol blotted out mah memories of whatever else we did. Fortunately. What you don't remember, you can't be forced to testify about," Costigan replies with a chuckle. He nods in response to Rasul's question. "Yeah, trying to chase down some old survey reports that Professor Chin cited. His paper touched on my area of interest, but not close enough--need to see his source data for myself."

He glances down the street at the motorbikes just as they disappear down a sidestreet. "Huh. Real quiet engines; that's why they seem so fast." They remind him of someone or something, but Costigan can't quite place it. He shrugs and turns back to Rasul.

"Don't drink quite that heavily anymore, but Ah do appreciate a good beer and burger. That little place off campus still there, or did you have something else in mind?"

The main doors of Old Main loom in front of them; beside the doors, an outdoor bulletin board hangs, notices protected from the elements by a glass case. A small poster announces a lecture on "Special Issues in Field Archaeology: Security in the Field" by Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

[Ramulus]

Rasul nods and walks along, quirking an eyebrow "Still too young to be losing your wild hairs, man". It's a friendly prod, and inwardly Rasul snickers. Losing wild hairs, really?

"Ah, yeah! That place on Campbel Street right? Sounds good, we'll do that." When they step up to the entrance his eyes observe the bulletin board and he blinks, the name sounds familiar. Bam, instant attention, "Hey!" Rasul nods towards the poster, "This is that guy!" He pauzes for a moment for dramatic effect, then shows a grin, "I'd like to see this" The grin implies that he's already decided, eyes scanning for the time, "It's today! Starts in about two hours."

Turning to Costigan, he mentions, "You could do your research stuff on before hand, I drop off my deliveries. We'll meet back here, it'll be interesting." He's not even asking whether Costigan wants to see the lecture. It's the Dr. Jones.

[Hellbender]

"Nah," Costigan drawls. "Just got to keep up a perfessional image, y'know?"

He pulls open the front door of Old Main and heads inside. Costigan hesitates a moment and says, "Archaeology isn't really mah thing, but... might be interesting. See you there, then! We can grab that burger and beer afterwards."

Donal turns to head down the hall to the stairs and the Geology department...

-----
OOC: A time skip post each about what our heroes are doing in the meantime (if you want), then meet at the lecture?

[Ramulus]

Professional Image? Ah yeah, that's right up there with social conventions. At least being human makes him less rough and able to uphold them. Rasul nods, "I see."

"Yes, I'll meet you there in two hours. Good luck on your research"

<Timeskip approved and in effect: This is what Rasul does in the mean time>
Rasul then walks off to Geoscience. Once there, he drops off the practicum materials, helps secure them into storage and has a chitchat with one of the professors. He spends the rest of his time probably doing another errand somewhere, but he's right on time at the entrance of the lecture hall.

He flops into a seat one off the lane and puts his coat on the one he skipped for reservation. He keeps an eye out for Costigan and is ready to scoot over. He has a feeling that there's quite a bit of a crowd to come.

[Hellbender]

Meanwhile, Costigan quietly goes through the mineral surveys cited by Dr. Chin in his paper on "Unusual Mineral By-Products of Hydraulic Mining in Maastrichtian Alluvial Deposits of Northwestern Utah". At last he finds the one referred to by bibliographic footnote 18, which mentioned oh-so-briefly an unusually volatile crystalline mineral and begins to skim the report.

Yes! This is certainly Victoria's mineral. Donal slips the report into his portfolio and puts the rest of the papers away in the file cabinet he found them in. On his way out, he waves to the assistant who showed him around the tiny library.

"Did you find the paper you needed?" asks the assistant, a tall young man with a dusky complexion and an Indian name.

"Yes, but it wasn't quite what Ah was looking for after all," Costigan lies. "Thanks for your help."

"No problem," the graduate assistant replies, sitting back down after glancing around the little library and noting that the visitor had put everything back. Nice of the guy, the assistant thought; some people would just leave everything out and he'd have to clean it up.

Donal Costigan ruthlessly squashes the minor twinge of guilt he feels at stealing the survey paper. Victoria required the utmost discretion, and that survey revealed too much. Crystal Energon is far too dangerous a substance to be left for random geologists to find.
-------

Costigan manages to turn up for the lecture a few minutes before it starts. He notices the seat Rasul saved for him and slips into the row. "Thanks. Looks like there's going to be a crowd."

[Ramulus]

"There's already a crowd, not many seats are left" Rasul nods, overlooking the room. "Did you find what you were looking for?" He inquires casually as he takes in the room:

Large American auditorium, typical half-bowl shape with rows of folding seats and tables. Two exits down, two exits up top. From one of the exits downstairs, two professors walk in, talking. One of them is wearing a leather fedora, a beige blouse and a dark leather jacket. Some people follow them in and take the front seat. "Nice hat" Rasul comments.

The professor of the faculty, an older man who is edging on absent-minded with a calm voice, takes the stage and taps the mike to test it. "Does this thing wo- ah yes, yes, very, very good. Ahem, can I have your attention please, everyone." It takes him a few more attempts and then the crowd quiets down, although some excited and toned-down whispers can be heard around.

"Yes, yes. Ladies and gentlemen, it is our great pleasure to welcome Dr. Henry Jones today to our faculty. He shall be speaking to us about his experiences related to, ah, Security issues and preparation during his many archaeological expeditions. _{Did I say that correctly?} (a few who know the professor chuckle in amusement. It's probably a thing of his) Now everyone, I would like to kindly remind you that there will be enough room for questions after the lecture, so please the let the good doctor speak" He nods, smiles proudly, and with a flourish he announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, please, a warm welcome for Dr. Henry Jones!"

The audience claps and Rasul obliges to join in. The man with the fedora walks up the stage....

---

_{And this player realizes she didn't watch enough Indy to RP that personage... so change of turn!}

[Hellbender]

Costigan shakes his head slightly. "Yeah, but it didn't have the data I was looking for after all," he lies. Before he can say more, Dr. Jones is introduced, and Donal's attention is riveted on him. Behind his mirrored sunglasses, his eyes narrow.

"Now why is he wearing a field outfit?" Costigan mutters. "Expecting trouble?"

Dr. Jones reaches the podium and adjusts the mike, with the usual rumbles and screeching. "Can everyone hear me okay?" A chorus of "Yes!" answers him. "Volume!" someone shouts.

BAM! Both sets of upper doors swing violently open, bouncing against their stops and several black-helmeted figures wearing head-to-toe suits of black leather and kevlar armor stride in, carrying short katana-like blades. They look very much like the bikers seen earlier.

"Surrender the Reliquary now, Dr. Jones, and none of these bystanders will be hurt!" One of the figures demands loudly, his voice carrying across the auditorium. His accent sounds distinctly foreign, but not at all Japanese, in spite of his blade--more like something out of the British Isles.¹.

"I'll destroy it before I let you have it!" Indiana shouts as he sprints for the nearest stage door exit.

"CHARGE!" The dark bikers raise their swords and charge down the aisles, four down the aisle adjacent to Costigan and Rasul, and five down the other aisle.

"Ah don't think Ah like these fellows," Costigan observes, and sticks his leg out into the aisle just in time to trip the leader, who falls forward into a tumble and roll, so graceful he might have planned it that way. The two immediately behind him aren't quite so skilled--the biker immediately behind the leader catches a heel in the face and stumbles backwards, while his companion charges past, only to get tripped by another student on the other side of the aisle.

The fourth pivots and swings his sword at Costigan's head...

---
¹ To be precise, an archaic Welsh Gaelic accent.

[Ramulus]

"Ah, that's a bummer." Rasul replies. He sits up a bit straighter when Donal comments about the doctor's outfit. When the doors slam open, he turns his head just a bit to glimpse at the intruders. "They have a demo?" he mumbles.

When the first rider is tripped and boots the second, Rasul jumps up and over his seat just in time to notice the fourth rider mid-attack to his friend. Well, the human mind says he's a friend. Ramulus' reflexes poise a fist between Costigan and attacker #4 to protect him from the sword, but then in a flash he remembers that having wristblades is very crucial to blocking weapons with them. "Donal! Duck!" He barks and attempts to grab the assailant's lower arm to break or divert his attack.

Should he go for breaking this guy's arm? Ramulus would have no problem with such a thing. Rasul however, has a human morality score, and a human deterrence for hurting other humans. "Stop this!" He shouts instead.

[Hellbender]

The black rider doesn't check his swing, but Rasul's grab deflects his arm and the sword chops deeply into the back of Costigan's seat.

"Whoa!" Costigan lunges forward to his feet and spins around as the rider pulls his sword loose.

"No," the rider says in a cold, harsh voice, like carrion crows calling. "Come not between the Hunter and his prey, lest he slay you in his turn and bear your soul to the Houses of--"

CRUNCH! Costigan put his fist through the helmet's faceplate and then yanked it back, cursing through gritted teeth. The black rider fell backward and rolled on the ground, clutching his head and screaming. Wisps of steam rose from the shattered faceplate.

"SONUVABITCH!" Costigan shook his hand violently, wisps of steam rising from it. "Feels like Ah punched a bag of dry ice!"

While the leader and the five from the other aisle sprinted across the stage, the two in this aisle turned back toward their stricken comrade--and toward Costigan and Rasul.