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Post by Spinister on Jun 23, 2010 22:25:28 GMT -5
Spinister considers his options. His plan was something like: 1) Run down the second floor. They'll probably block off the first floor and expect him there, but they might not expect the second. 2) Hope that there are openable windows. If not, shoot a window. 3) Jump out said window, carrying K'ire, and land on top of a bus. 4) Leap off the bus as soon as he sees a suitable shady alley and then hoof K'ire over to the safehouse on Fifth and Avarice.
Singe makes a vaguely needling remark about genres, but Spinister isn't sure what he means. He muses between going for the helicopter pad and sticking with his plan. The helicopter pad is probably a trap, he decides, and there's probably snipers on the neighbouring roofs. Jumping out a window is much safer.
So he runs down for that second floor and go looking for a windows, ordering K'ire, "Don't scream."
Spinister doesn't expect her to listen to him, but at least he tried. Here, window, window...
Singe waves to Sawain as he goes, a bit more of a spring in his step, but he's scooped up, and he grunts, "<Shoulder.>"
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 24, 2010 10:49:36 GMT -5
Temple of Shards
The Rookery is a building made of deep black, heavy cut stone. The doors are thick, reinforced, and the few windows are small and high up. It's a very austere looking building.
Inside, however is another manner. The entry are is decorated in warm tones and soft fabrics, with comfortable furniture. There's a girl-shape in modest clothes who looks to be comprised of solidified air shelving binders in a bookcase at the far end, and she looks up when Kup and Singe enter.
"Oh hi, be with you in just a min. Let me get down-"
"Nevermind that Zephyr. The gentlemen are here at my request," interrupts a calm, authoritative, and obviously aged voice from a loudspeaker, " The door between the bookcases, down the hall, left turn, hallway ends at my office door."
Angels of Entropy
K'ire has ling since fainted and gone completely limp in Spinster's arms. She's not likely to wake back up for sometime, though checks of her vitals will show that she is still alive, her pulse rate a little too high, and her breathing a little too shallow. The area where the IV was inserted as turned a bit necrotic.
The first several windows Spinister might try are indeed sealed. There is one window that isn't, however, and that's because it's in the middle of being replaced. The workers are on break, and have taped some plastic sheeting over the empty hole. On the one hand, and easy out. On the other, the opaqueness of the material might interfere with Spinster's ability to judge his jump.
Oh look, here comes the cross-town 5:15, on the way Calamity and Brown.
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Post by Kup on Jun 24, 2010 18:01:56 GMT -5
Kup glances at the armored organic on his shoulder as the voice comes over the loudspeaker, and he nods. "Thanks anyway, lass," he says as he walks past the receptionist, following the directions given over the loudspeaker. As he walks, he mutters, "<How much you wanna bet she already figures we ain't what we're claimin'? Can't say I'd be too surprised if she knows why we're here.>"
As he finishes, he pushes the door of the office open, getting a feel for the room without making it obvious that he's looking that close.
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Post by Spinister on Jun 24, 2010 20:42:46 GMT -5
Spinister really has no idea about organic creatures, aside from the fact that they tend to be messy to kill. Hairsplitter tells him that heartbeats and breathing are generally good. Spinister will go with that.
Speaking of going with that, here is a window for him to jump out of! Oh, if only he had anti-gravs. Or X-Ray optics. That would require letting someone work on him, which makes Spinister shudder, though.
He takes a leap of faith.
Singe does not like this, which is an understatement. He doesn't like much of anything, he hasn't like any of this at all, but... he really doesn't like this.
He hates.
He burns.
"<That bet isn't worth the words to say it.>"
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 26, 2010 12:32:35 GMT -5
Temple of Shards
The office is less an office and more a sitting room, with gleaming hardwood floors, a plus rug under a grouping of a very comfortable looking couch and pair of chairs. There's a low glass coffee table in the center of the grouping. A tea service sits on the coffee table and holds one urn with tea and one with a fuel blend designed for high-mileage vehicles and two cups, though there is space for a third. There's a large window across from the seating area with light and airy curtains. Singe may notice that the bulletproof glass theme is also carried out here. The entire room is lined with bookshelves, and on the far wall is a built-in computer desk holding, wonder of wonders, a top-of-the-line computer system and video conferencing setup.
Drinking from the missing third cup is an older avian lady who resembles a grackle. Her feathers have a silver sheen versus the normal green or blue, and she seems quite frail. She has a light blanket spread over her knees. Her nun's habit is still very visible, though she's slid the hood back from her head. The faintest hint of a tremor seems be constantly running through her body, but she controls it well, not sloshing her tea at all.
Apparent frailty aside, her eyes are sharp, and the look she gives Kup and Singe is one of quick and professional appraisal.
"Do sit down, gentleman," she says, "and help yourselves to the service, if you like."
Her head cants sharply to one side, "And let's skip the double talk and pretend stories. I'm too old to have much patience for such games anymore."
Angels of Entropy
Spinster's leap of faith is mostly successful. The plastic sheeting gives easily enough, but it also causes a drag on his momentum. He'll land on the edge of the bus's roof, but only just, and it's possible that between the sheeting and the shots that just whip past his frame, he could lose his balance.
Wait, shouldn't those shots be actually hitting him? Really, if there were snipers in position that could pinpoint his jump that well, they ought to be able to hit him. Instead, the worse the shots might be doing is burning along his side.
The bus turns the corner almost immediately after Spinister lands, and takes him out of the line of fire.
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Post by Kup on Jun 26, 2010 20:55:16 GMT -5
Boy, Kup called that one, didn't he?
As Mother Theron talks about being 'too old,' Kup snorts. "You and me both, sister," he answers, throwing himself down on her couch. Okay, technically her title is 'Mother,' not 'Sister,' but Kup doesn't particularly care.
He fixes the nun with a steady gaze, sizing her up, watching her carefully for reaction.
"So just what the blazes do you got on Jilly's disappearance, anyway?"
Might as well cut to the chase. Kup is too old to have much patience for games, and he's more than had his fill of them on this day.
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Post by Spinister on Jun 27, 2010 0:07:17 GMT -5
Spinister lands just a bit wonkily on the bus, between poor judgement of the leap due to the plastic sheet and being shot. He gets K'ire just set down before he half falls off the side of the bus. He manages to grab on to the side and hauls himself up, but doubtless, a spawnling sees him and protests to its mother that there was a funny naked man just out the window.
He's injured. Nothing bad, and... what is the point of all this? Trying to send a message, perhaps?
Whatever. He'll kill some people later. Right now, he needs to figure out when to get off the bus so that he can get K'ire to that safehouse.
Hairspitter, however, takes a look at the injuries. Tracking devices? Drugs?
Singe, if he's watched very closely, grimaces in something very much like pain. He grits out, "<Snipers. Spinister's hit. Not badly. What are they playing at!?>"
He climbs up into a chair but doesn't touch the tea. Singe just glowers sullenly and ponders exit strategies.
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 27, 2010 15:41:43 GMT -5
Temple of Shards
Mother Theron cradles her cup in both hands and looks over its rim at Kup. "You're the one that's been paid to find her," she says casually.
"I want my chicks brought back safely to the roost. If I knew who was behind my starlings being harmed, I assure you that your services would never have been needed." She smiles grimly, and continues, "I'm old and feeble of body, but I can still defend my nest."
She cocks an eye at Singe, "You tell that man of yours to get off at Hamilton, take the second alley on the right. Back door to one of our old clinics is there. It's closed to public and boarded up on the front, but I keep it stocked for emergencies and a couple of chicks staff it. They will take care of my girl."
The old mother mumbles, "Couldn't get her out of that place myself without bringing down the wrath on the Temple."
The Cross-town 5:15
Spinister's injuries seem to be nothing more that regular bullet burns, but they do seem abnormally black, and the edges aren't smooth like a burn would be. The worst burn, the edges even seem a bit crumbly. Similar to the area where K'ire's IV was inserted, actually.
The bus doesn't stop, though the driver inside does sigh. Not again. Firkin' tropes. Everyone wants to be the antihero, making daring escapes and the like. No one thinks about the average joe who has to explain why his bus has dents and bullet holes in the roof again.
Fifth and Avarice is going to be about three bus stops down. If Spinister decides to follow Mother Theron's direction, he needs to hang tight 'til right before Calamity and Brown. Hamilton is a side street off Brown.
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Post by Kup on Jun 27, 2010 21:28:05 GMT -5
Kup smiles grimly.
"The hidden backer," he states.
"And as I recall," Kup leans back in his seat, "I was hired to find the one who took her, not Jilly herself." Of course, given who Kup asked about right off the bat, it might be obvious where his real priorities are, despite his pointing out that technicality.
"So someone's been preying on your church members, erm, the rookery ones, for awhile now, and you want to put a stop to it. Fair enough. But why all the secrecy? You hadda known when we found out they all got their last meals here, we'd be here lookin' for the connection. If you'd been level with us from the get-go, we'd have saved some time, and I'm thinkin' time's pretty important right now."
He glances at Singe as she gives him directions... apparently to one of their safehouses? He doesn't bother to point out to Singe that it could be a trap. The flamethrower seems to at least have enough sense to figure that one out on his own.
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Post by Spinister on Jun 28, 2010 10:23:26 GMT -5
The bus driver should just be happy that Spinister is not Bonecrusher.
Hairsplitter examines Spinister's injuries, how they're... crumbly and like where K'ire's IV was inserted. Angels of Entropy... Speaking of K'ire, he checks on her again, as Spinister tries to stay balanced on top of a moving bus. K'ire is so not doing well.
Going to the safehouse that Kup suggested could be a trap. It would be unlikely for Kup to have set up so elabourate a trap, but all the same, it could be. Going to where Mother Theron is suggesting is likely worse.
However, if Kup's people had answers, they wouldn't have sent Kup, would they? Or maybe they would, or maybe...
Spinister is a Decepticon and a Hunt Leader of the Mayhem Attack Squad. The fear of his victims is his friend; his own fear is a distant stranger. The forces behind this nonsense want him to take K'ire to Hamilton? Fine. He'll take her to Hamilton, and if this is a trap, Spinister will see that someone dies screaming out the answers he wants.
Spinister gathers K'ire up with his right arm and grabs Hairsplitter, as a rifle, in his left, and he crouches, ready to spring off and land lightly at his 'stop', watching the roofs warily.
Singe snarls, "Like frak you couldn't! What was stopping you? You obviously knew where she was - just send one of your chicks to walk in and get her." His hands clench into fists, and he glares at the old woman. Really, getting K'ire out hadn't been all that hard at all, and Spinister could have done it the normal way - doubtless, Needlenose could have pretended to be a relative (somehow), gotten access, and walked off with K'ire on a cart. What was so hard about that all? Singe is fuming over his partner being unwittingly sent to do dirty work that this woman wasn't willing to risk any of her girls doing.
He's not going to mention the cop sleeping outside her door or the weirdness of the medical logs and lack thereof and how she seemed to be in pain and, oh yeah, the snipers. See if she ventures any of that on her own.
Is it just that no one means a thing to her unless they profess to her religion? Or maybe rookie cops are expendable, again.
"What wrath?"
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Post by SceneMod on Jun 29, 2010 23:17:48 GMT -5
Temple of Shards
"Actually, no," Mother Theron corrects Kup as she sips her tea, "I'm not. That's Weveil, one of the medium fish who thinks he's a big fish. He has no idea what he's set in motion with his petty need for revenge. That's neither here nor there, however. People die on Pz-Zazz all the time, and if whoever is stringing you boys along hadn't touched Jill and K'ire, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."
She narrows her eyes at Singe, "I am old boy, and I can remember when this planet wasn't half-dead from the inside out. I know how easily power shifts in this place; one wrong word, a step down the wrong street, and entire alliances can break like so much glass. Anyone even loosely tied to this Temple who tried to enter Entropy would be dead before they even got to the receptionist's desk. That's why they took her there."
The crone snorts, "So don't get all righteous on me for taking advantage of your friend's compassion, or whatever other tools drop them selves into my lap."
That comment might just show that she doesn't know nearly as much about Kup and Spinister as it seemed at first.
She leans forward and refreshes her tea, her eyes bright as she watches the pair carefully.
"You want to find who's killing people, you need to look at who all died, not where they were found or where they'd been."
"They weren't all homeless derelicts like they seemed," she adds, sipping once more at her tea, and nodding at a folder on the side table next to Singe, "That's what my girl found out." Mother Theron sighs, "She never could leave well enough along."
Rookery Safehouse
There doesn't appear to be anyone on the roofs.
The back door to the clinic is about halfway down the alley, and appears at first (and even second) glance to be rusted shut. Closer inspection will show the faintest traces of oil on the hinge and handle, oil that's mixed with grease and dirt and looks ancient, caked on, but smells fresh. The door handle itself if tried moves easily, silently.
The room the door opens into is an unlit storeroom with no windows, no working ventilation. There's several rows of empty shelving, and some collapsed cinder block on one side. It looks as if something took out a partition wall. Judging by the dust and the sharpness of the rubble edges, it happened recently.
Very recently. The dust is still lingering in the air.
There's only one door out of the stockroom, and it's hanging partly off it's hinges, just barely cracked. The faintest bit of soft blue light shines through the crack.
It's enough of a light to make the faint wetness on the door jam glimmer, almost as if it were black light reactive.
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Post by Kup on Jun 30, 2010 20:23:14 GMT -5
As Mother Theron so casually talks of using compassion as a tool (and specifically, using Kup's compassion, though she doesn't realize it), his lips pull back into a noiseless snarl and he grips the edge of the chair hard enough to damage it. He then opens his hand and returns to the casual not-quite-indifference he'd been displaying earlier. It may be too late to play it off, but it definitely will be if Kup doesn't attempt it.
The frown he turns on Mother Theron isn't hidden, though he does downplay it considerably. What he wants to use is a glare that borders on weaponized, what he does use is a faint frown.
"What, exactly, did she find out? Being as the only thing in the news reports was where they was found. Tell me what you know what ain't in that article. If they weren't who they seemed, who were they, huh?"
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Post by Spinister on Jun 30, 2010 21:51:37 GMT -5
Spinister tries to nudge the door open with a foot and then flattens himself against the wall on the opposite side of the door from the hinges, trying to peek around the door with Hairsplitter as a rifle.
Spinister is expecting a grizzly scene of murders and perhaps an ambush, if the killer is still there. He runs a mental check of his map of the city, trying to figure out where the nearest non-decay hospital is. If he hauled K'ire all around and got shot and jumped on a bus only for her to die...
Single breaks down laughing, the cackle of flickering flames, when Mother Theron says 'compassion'. He keeps laughing for at least a minute straight. Finally, he concludes, "Hooo, that was a good one. Erk. My sides hurt now. Ow. Uhm, I still say you could have just hired someone to go get her sooner. What if I never went after her? They hacked her up a bit there, y'know, and if you'd left it longer..."
Singe shrugs and lets that hang.
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Post by SceneMod on Jul 1, 2010 11:19:34 GMT -5
Temple of Shards
The old crone's eyes narrow at Kup's lapse of composure and Singe's rollicking laughter. The close observer might catch that it isn't annoyance in her gaze, but approval. The old bird might run a house of compassion, but she's much harder than she seems.
"They weren't going to kill her as long as she could be used, else they'd have killed her in the street. She's a strong girl. If you hadn't gone for her, I had a contingency plan in place."
She sips her tea, "All of her research I was able to acquire is in that folder on the table next to the boy. Roughly every third victim was a police informant, though who or what they informed on varied." Another sip. "There were traces of Blight in all of them, but the coroner's assistant who told Jill that was the last victim, so that avenue is closed."
Rookery Safehouse
The door swings open unevenly on its broken hinges, emitting a brief, but loud screech from metal sliding on metal.
A body does lie face down upon the floor, head pointed toward the door. It's the body of a male humanoid in a plain T-shirt and jeans, faintly glowing blood still oozing from beneath his chest. There's a cut on his hand. Maybe he tried to run for it.
A muffled clatter and cursing can be heard from a bit farther in as a pale lady with luminescent skin attempts to use a table for leverage to pull herself up. Her chest is a bloody mess, and by normal humanoid biology she shouldn't even be alive, let along muttering about exactly what she will do to the person who shot her. She uses the table to prop herself on as she stumbles toward a refrigeration unit.
Once there, she yanks open the door, snatches out a blood bag and begins to drink. Her body heals as she does so, though that might be hard to tell given the lighting and the blood covering her.
After the bag is half empty, she calls out without turning, "Get her in here damnit. She smells like death."
So does Spinister, but the cop isn't the medic's priority.
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Post by Kup on Jul 1, 2010 12:24:23 GMT -5
Kup snorts as Singe bursts out laughing, but otherwise doesn't comment, but then his scowl returns. He's getting tired with how casually this bird plays chess with lives, but in the end, it just heaps on how tired he is with this whole sick world.
Though perhaps the worst part is realizing how far he might be willing to go if forced to work in circumstances like this for long enough. How far he has gone in his most desperate times. But having an inkling of why someone might go this route doesn't mean he needs to be pleased with it.
Kup reaches over Singe to lift up the folder, pulling it onto his lap to thumb through the contents, an intent frown coloring his expression. As Mother Theron finishes up, though, he turns that frown on her.
"Blight?"
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