Picking up where we left off...

You bring your car to a screeching halt in the parking spot nearest the boys.  Brad hears 'Anodyne' and takes off running...in the opposte direction.  He's more spooked than you thought.

One good thing.  The goon squad had pulled out on to the road and are getting ready to do a U turn to come back to the Sonic.  So you have a couple of minutes.

Brad shows off his athleticism by sprinting across the parking lot.  He appears to be trying to reach the dumpster and fence that surrounds the lot.  But he's panicking.  There's not a way out that way.

Aubrey heads in his direction and gets as close as possible. She throws open the door and yells


"Brad get in. That is a dead end"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 2):

Brad isn't so stupid as to not understand what you're saying.  He stops.  Unfortunately, he's scared enough that he doesn't jump in.

You hear the squeal of tires as the Anodyne car jumps the median and tears across incoming traffic.  Sadly, you have no doubt they'll make it.

Brad leaps nervously at the sound, says Shit! and jumps in the car.

You can peel around the Sonic in a U and head back on to the main road.  There is a side entrance on to a side street.  But you've never been down it.  You have no idea where it goes.

Aubrey heads to the Sonic and known way. It was tempting at first to try to take the side entrance, but not knowing if it was a dead end or not was to much of a risk. Aubrey moves swiftly into the main road and tries to get lost in any sort of traffic she could find. She tries to consider any safe houses that might be in the area and any parking garages that they may be able to get lost in. Aubrey hits the speed dial for Bullfrog and updates him on the situation.

"You doing okay Brad? I'm going to try and get you to Bullfrog where you can have some protection. We have kind of an idea of what is going on. What is your understanding of what is going on?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 4):

Brad stares at you as you take the exit on two wheels.  Bullfrong?  Whaddya talkin' about? Who are you?

He flinches as what is unmistakably the sound of a gun shot.  The Anodyne car has come out behind you and the guy in the passenger seat is leaning out the window and trying to shoot our your tires.

People really do that? Brad yells.

You're coming up to a traffic light that's turning yellow.  If you go straight, you can make the highway.  If you're fast enough, you'll beat the cars about to come down the cross street and put a wall of them between you and Anodyne.  But man.  That's gonna be tight.

You can make a sharp right on to Bixby.  You know Bixby pretty well.  There shouldn't be too much traffic this time of day and...isn't there a police station about five miles up Bixby that way?

Or you could try something else.

Aubrey takes a quick look at Brad, verifying that he has his seat belt on. If he does, she guns it straight trying to get to the highway and put that wall of cars between them and the goons. If Brad is still putting on the belt then she takes a sharp right and heads towards the police station. In the less it should discourage them from coming at them.

"So Brad, how 'in the know' are you to all of this? You understand what you are able to do? We might come to a situation where we might need to be creative, so it could be helpful if I understand"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 6):

You end up taking the hard right, and gunning it down Bixby towards the police station.  Maybe  you'll pass a patrol car on the way.

Brad gets thrown against his door by the sharp turn, but shrugs the belt on as you roar down the street.

I...Who are you anyway?

He flinches as the Anodyne car comes roaring around the corner after you.  Look.  I....I ...I just sometimes fall apart.  In to this...foam like stuff.  There's this voice I hear that tells me I can take over people's minds if I grab them.  But...I dunno.  I mean...Why would I wanna do that?

Please.  Do you know what all this is about?

Aubrey whips out her arm across the chest of Brad like some sort of female instinct to protect her passenger as the car makes a hard right and puts her hand back on the wheel. Speeding towards the police station Aubrey tries to think of other avenues of escape to help Brad. Some of the cops might be in the pocket of the lab so she needs to get them among numbers until Bullfrog can do his magic.


"I'm... Aubrey. My firm was hired or asked by a friend of a friend to protect Flo. In the steps in doing that we found out about both of you guys and I'm trying to make sure you have the best options possible."

Aubrey glances over at Brad and nods her head

"Yeah... I can understand not wanting to do something like that. In one case I could understand doing it to make things safe for you and love ones ,  but then there's the whole moral dilemma on freewill and where it stops. Gray areas in life..."

Aubrey sighs

"I will get into more details if we can find a safe place. Why do you think they are hunting you? And why did you feel it was best to run? Did the guy in downstairs office help or is he hunting you as well?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 8):

I thought...I thought he was helping me. But then he started tellin' me things about my dad. And Flo. He said he was her dad..

The Anodyne car is firing again. Your car jerks. They may have hit a tire...no. Nut it was close.

Aubrey tightened her grip on the wheel determined that if they blew out her tires she would try to keep control.

"Tell me about the things he told you about your dad...."

Aubrey sighed

"Brad if they take out the car and i'm not able to protect yourself, i'm going to give you a place address to hide out at"

Aubrey tells him an address of a safe house near by.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 10):

Brad gulps, flinching as another shot rings out. The shooter is good: he only missed the tire because you banked a hard right.

He...he said my Dad wasn't my dad. That he was. That me and Flo...we were breeding stock. And...and the reason she lost the baby is because we're...brother an' sister...

There's no time to make a Chinatown reference. Up ahead is a light. It didn't used to be there. They must have installed it recently.

You won't make it. And both lanes are blocked. You can flip a U-ey, try to cut through a parking lot, take a hard turn on a side street you see coming up, or try to cut through to the left hand lanes and run through the light that way. There doesn't seem to be any oncoming traffic.

"WhAt the hell is this light being here??"

"Brad...time to pray"

Aubrey tries to cut through on the left, hoping that there is no hidden car in oncoming traffic.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 12):

There isn't a car.  It's a truck.

Pick a number, 1 or 2

Ominous music......1

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 14):

You see the truck coming at you, almost literally from nowhere.  It's like everything goes very still.  Brad is looking at you, saying something.  But you can't hear him.

Then the truck broadsides you on the passenger side.  Brad looks surprised.  It's the only way to describe it.  His eyes open wide.  His mouth becomes a big O.  And then he comes apart.

It really happens like that.  You know you're getting thrown against the driver's side door as the truck smashes you across the intersection.  And Brad comes apart.  Not like bloody mist apart.  He turns into bubbles.

Iridescent, silvery bubbles.  The kind you used to make with some dish detergent and a pair of Mom's old glasses.  The lenses had fallen out of them, and you would dip the frames into a bowl of sudsy water and blow bubbles.  Just like these.  The inside of the car is filled with bubbles.

The bubbles seem to eat up all the empty space in the car.  They block out your sight of everything.  The street sliding by.  The truck which is crumpling up the passenger side of your car.  Everything.

You feel something tearing.  Than the bubbles are covering you.

Wow.  I never knew it was like this. This feels...I dunno.  It's like all the tension's gone.  I don't have to worry about any of it anymore.

You tried to help, didn't you?  I'm sorry it didn't work out too well.  But I really do appreciate it.  I think those Anodyne guys wouldn't have been nice to me.  If they had gotten their hands on me.

So what I was telling you in the car.  My Dad isn't my Dad.  Flo's Dad was.  At least that's what Flo's Dad told me.  He and my Dad were working on something.  I don't get the science behind it.  But me an' Flo were supposed to be breeding stock for it.  We couldn't grow up together so people wouldn't find out we were related.  Our parents were always pushing us towards each other.  Now I know why.

There's a folder.  My Dad would bring home a folder from work.  And when he did, he'd take my temperature and weigh me and stuff.  The folder had a name on it.  Project Clean.  If there's anything to be found out, maybe it's there.  I dunno.

What do me and a pimple have in common?  We're both gonna pop.

Yeah.  I didn't think that was funny either.  But I've never been good at jokes an' stuff.

Will you tell Flo I'm sorry.  And that I hope she ends up happy.  And that I really do think she's great.

I don't know what else to say.  I don't think there really is anything else to say.

You open your eyes.  Rob is standing over you.  Above him is a white ceiling.  He's working on a beard.  Doesn't look like he's shaved for five or so days.

Bree!  Calm down!  You're okay!  Calm down.  Can you hear me?

This must be a hospital.  You feel a little weak.  And the top and back of your head are itchy.

It happened so fast and almost like it was a dream. More like a nightmare. A nightmare where you review how you epically failed in helping someone. Aubrey took a second to respond to Rob because she was reliving what had happened some time period ago. She could almost see herself turn towards Brad, wanting with everything that was in her to help him. Help him to be taken to safety and ultimately giving the rights that non meta's took for granted.

Aubrey wanted to save the bubbles, to have him reattach and come out on the other side more experienced in what he was and able to do. She felt that he did something to help her in the accident and all she did was get him to die. Would it have been better to have been captured and rescued?

Aubrey gasped

"Brad...don't die...." As she jolted to the current and reached for Rob's hand. Aubrey tries to focus on Brad's face

"what?.... where am I? I thought you were with a client? How is Alex? How long have I been out? What..." 

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 16):

Okay.  Easy.  Calm down.  You've got some staples in the back of your head.  Go easy on 'em.  Rob lays a hand on your shoulder, gently pushing you back down.  He swallows in a dry throat.

It's been three days since your accident.  You remember anything from it?

He reaches over to the side table and pours you a glass of water.  Your throat feels really dry.

You got out of it pretty alright.  There's a nasty gash on the back of your head.  But they think your head is okay inside.  The scans all came back clear.  You got some bumps and bruises.  Your car is totaled.  Bree.  What happened?

Aubrey looked around the room looking for any marker that said she was at a hospital and not at the labs. Hearing Rob's question she nodded her head and regretted the action.

"Some"

Aubrey reaches up to touch her head to see how much they had to shave. Taking a sip of her water she answers the question with a question.

"What is being said? I'd rather debrief were we can't be heard"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 18):

Rob sighs and rubs his eyes.  You're fine if you're thinking like that, he mumbles.

He looks back at you with a weary smile.  The cops want to talk to you.  It was reported you were being chased by a car that was firing shots.  I got reports from your team.  So I can pretty much guess what happened.  I don't know where the client is though.  So we'll need to talk about that.  Later.  Once I've swept the room for other ears.

He leans back. We need to think of a cover story about the wreck.  You want me to do that?  Or you feel up to it?  Then you'll need to talk to the cops.

Also, your...boyfriend has been calling non-stop.  You have the right to date who you want.  But a meta?  Anyway.  It's not like I'm in a spot to judge.

I have Vic doing surveillance.  Though what to look for is kind of beyond us.  We'll let the Doctor decide if you're fit enough to return to the case.  And no.  You won't argue with me on that.

But before all that, who's Brad? You were saying his name in your sleep.

Aubrey leaned back against the pillow getting a mischievous grin when Rob talked about her boyfriend calling him non stop. She waits till Rob did his sweep for any listening devices in the room and only after does Aubrey start her conversation

"Play some music and sit close to me. I'll tell you what has happened so far"

Aubrey waits for every possible way to interfere with any listening devices has been deployed, hinting at her walking a fine line of diligent and paranoid. She starts at the beginning and catches Rob up with almost everything. She does not tell him about the folder. She'll give that detail in house.

"Where is my phone? and who got me to the hospital? I'm fine with you coming up with a cover story, unless this is going to cause you more stress. You look like hell... and that is me being kind. I think we can stall a little with the cops, if that is the direction... you know , Head wound. But we may need to call the lawyer and find out what is the best course for helping flo and keeping us legally safe. Did BullFrog call?

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 20):

Rob listens, sighing a lot, and hands you your phone.  I'll handle the cover story.  You best call the lawyer.  She may not answer me if she doesn't know my voice.

You aren't exactly giving Scarlett Johanson a run for her money right now either. Yuck.

Rob chuckles than looks puzzled. Wait.  I thought Bullfrog was your boyfriend...

Your phone shows Vic calling a few times the day the accident would have occurred. Then several from Rob and Vic.

And then Bullfrog.  Lots of Bullfrogs.

Not a single call or text from Charlie though.

"you're just jealous cause you'll never be as beautiful as me "

Aubrey sticks out her tongue and rolls her eyes. It felt good to kind of disappear into something else rather than the here and now. It didn't last long, looking at her phone she looks for the number for the lawyer

"Bullfrog is a friend.... um... over these last few days have you heard anything about Condor?"

Aubrey scrolls over to Charlie profile on her phone and checks to see that he had read her text.  Her first call should be to Condor/Charlie, but she was feeling a little hurt that he hadn't checked on her. Was she being childish? Would he have known....

 With a heavy sigh she calls Bullfrog, knowing that he had called a lot and showed her some friendly concern. Then she would call the lawyer and after that she would check on Condor.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 22):

Well, good to know you're alive, Bullfrog sounds fairly relieved.  Sorry for the barrage of calls.  But I wanted to get a hold of you, especially since all hell broke loose.  Also, I tend to butt dial alot because of all the hopping.

Anyway,  his tone becomes more business like.  First, Flo is fine.  We moved her to Invincible HQ.  Right after you went AWOL a couple of meta-mercs made a raid on Lillian's office.  She's okay.  But they busted up the place pretty bad.  I got there too late.  The past couple of days have been me trying to track those two down.  We've...uh...'met' a few times since.

But the really bad news is Anodyne has filed papers with the court demanding custody of Flo.  They're trying a roundabout angle though:  Flo's mother was found dead and a board director of Anodyne has produced a will from her giving him custody of Flo in case of her demise.

Lillian is fighting it.  But Anodyne has filed a motion with the Court to have Flo produced for physical and psychiatric evaluation.  It's a pretty typical maneuver.  But once Flo's out in the open, we expect the two metas will try to make a grab for her.

We really need some leverage against Anodyne.  Has your investigation turned up anything?

Lillian is out of pocket.  You leave a message.

Condor/Charlie read your last text four days ago.  But no response.  He doesn't respond to your text now.  It's still unread when you check again an hour later.

Aubrey sighed

"It might be the medication...but you know I didn't go AWOL, I was in a coma for three days after I got shot at, had an accident and just woke up. I just figured that you were calling me back from my numerous calls to you...That might sound crankier than I meant."

Aubrey paused

"I might have something to check out. Is there a date on the appearance?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 24):

Bullfrog chuckles on the other end.  Sorry.  Didn't mean 'AWOL' to sound like that.  Old Army habit.

Lillian got a hearing out as far as she could.  But because Flo's a minor, the Court can't sit on it too long.  So we got two weeks.

Aubrey continued

"I'll send a secured email to update on the latest and get back in touch if I am able to go forward on my lead. Be careful out there Bullfrog"

Aubrey hangs up and leaves a message with Lillian. After sending a text and not seeing Charlie respond or read it an hour later, puts the nervous butterflies in her tummy. Was Charlie in trouble? Was Charlie on the lab side....was he on her side, where was he. Aubrey uses her phone to look up any mention within the last few days on Condor. If she finds nothing she will try to call the lab he works at to see if she can either hear his voice (and hang up, cause maybe he is ghosting her) or get his voice mail that might say something about him being in the office or not.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 26):

There is a blurb.  Apparently the day of your accident Condor and his partner The Blur got in to some kind of meta-brawl downtown.  The page you access on your phone only has one video:  a brief four second clip of some man in a yellow leotard tackling Condor in mid-air.  The two of them hurtle in to the side of a billboard.  And that's it.  The clip just replays itself.

So you can watch Charlie getting smacked in to the billboard over and over and over again.

The article just says there were no casualties and the outcome of the brawl is uncertain.  Neither side in the fight have been seen since and the police aren't commenting on the matter.

Aubrey reaches over to her phone at the side of her bed and calls the main number for the hospital. When the receptionist answers she asks to be transferred to Charlie (Last Name) room and if pressed she claims to be his cousin. She starts with the hospital she is in and works around to the ones that were closest to the incident. When the nurse comes to walk Aubrey around the ward Aubrey looks at the nurse station to see if there is any male around the age range Charlie is in, in the ward. She knows that this is probably bordering on the whole stalker girlfriend like behavior. But it really is her being a caring and loving girlfriend. And he knew what profession she was in before they started dating, so if anyone is to blame for this is him.

With her mind made up on her complete innocence and "saintly" behavior, Aubrey starts to do her work trying to find her.... boyfriend. This will at least keep her busy until she can get going on something else.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 28):

Results of the Charlie search:  You get through to a guy named Charlie Kowalski.  He's in St. Bettis having his gall bladder removed.  He's also 54, on his second marriage, and pretty sure his youngest daughter is a lesbian, though she won't admit it.  That Charlie Kowalski.  He likes to talk, that one.

Something occurs to you as you hang up the phone.  Charlie never said his real name was 'Charlie'.

You could try Bullfrog.  It's possible that, since they run in the same circles, he may know what happened.

Otherwise, it may be time to consider what to do about Anodyne.  The doctor says you will have the staples out Friday.

It never dawned on Aubrey the thought that Charlie was never his given name. It was one of those "a ha" moments and caused her mind to work way harder than it should after her injuries. She had actually felt... special... that he had trusted her a little with something important and now she was coming to terms that it was never the case. It made sense, she couldn't blame him but....

Aubrey checks the feeds from Brad's house when she is able either in the hospital or when she is released. The red folder with the documents that Brad had talked about were either inside the house or back in the labs office. But first she was going to have to rule out the house.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 30):

Log in to your agency's monitoring feeds from your cell phone?  Of course there's an ap for that.  You spend the rest of your convalescence not thinking about Charlie...er...watching the feeds.  Sorry.  Had to throw that in

Brad's Mom mopes around the house.  Not a surprise given what she's lost.  But you are able to ascertain Brad's Father is in the hospital.  So the red folder is probably at the lab.  You can send someone in to check, but it makes sense that a document so important wouldn't be left lying about.  Anodyne would have retrieved it once they realized their head researcher was in the hospital on life support.

Vic confirms from his monitoring station:  there haven't been any raids on the house.  And it looks like security has beefed up in one wing of Anodyne labs.

Aubrey sets out to find what information she can on how to get into the wing of Anodyne labs. Do they use an out sourced maid service, or what company restocks their food bins in the lunch room. If she is able she looks at the security her group had put in and if there is any back door into the lab and areas where you can move without being totally out in the open. Aubrey also looks into the house and if there seems to be any pattern to the house being empty (wife visiting husband or getting her hair done etc). Mad scientist tend to leave copies of their stuff for their own records and if she can check Brad's dad office she might get lucky and not have to break into Anodyne.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 32):

The house is a no go.  Mad scientist he may be, but he's a cautious one Nice try though.

That wing of the building is apparently reserved for top security clearance labs.  Of course it is.  Anodyne remodels it every three years, but even if it's top secret, the schematics still have to be approved by the city.  You manage to hack your way in to the latest set.

The good news is, the scientists all appear to have offices on the west side of the wing.  It also seems there is a records room there.  According to Vince's observation log, while there is almost always someone in the labs, the offices are relatively deserted during the evening hours.

The bad news is, you have to cross through the lab space to get to the offices.  And there are four separate security checkpoints:  two guardposts and two top grade security doors.  There is a fire stairs out the back.  But it comes with it's own set of top grade security doors and the hallway leading to them looks like it's camera'd up pretty tight.

The security system is also a closed system.  You can't seem to hack into it.

The janitorial service is all employee run.  And the employees on that crew are all well known and given the stink eye several times.  A guard also accompanies them around the labs and offices.  So that seems a dead end.

The food service angle may have an opening though.  The cafeteria is run by an outside contractor.  And though the cafeteria staff are not allowed outside the cafeteria (they even have their own bathrooms in the back), there does appear to be ductwork that may connect to that wing...

But of course that would be too easy, right?  Remember all the remodeling done?  The schematics for the last two remodels aren't very detailed in regards to the duct work.  Best guess:  the duct work leads in to the halls somewhere in the lab portion of the wing.  From there, you would be winging it.

Aubrey danced around the room after she managed to hack into the schematics for the labs. After  printing it out she put it up on the wall and took her time to look through them. She looked at them from every angle and had to smile to herself when she was once again looking at the ducts. It was what got her in trouble with Tzal... or more correct gave her a friend and experience. Perhaps her way of looking at this was a Stockholm situation.

Dragging her thoughts back to the problem at hand she wrote down some possible plans. She tosses the paper with the idea of janitorial crew in the shredder and continues with her plans. She looks at the bathroom in the back to see if there was any duct work that might be something she could follow deeper into the lab. Aubrey does her research on the company doing the cafeteria portion and more importantly the uniforms. After getting her plan she calls Vic to come in and go over the plan.

Her plan needs to be mobile, best case would be at night in a duct crawl. First to the office of Brad's dad and if nothing there then to the records. She just has to move through the ducts and past the four guard checkpoints. If she was lucky it would be done all through the ducts (If only LOL) and in the middle of the night. If she wasn't so lucky

"I need to get eyes on where the ducts can take me so I can plan accordingly. That being the reason it might be more than one night. But that makes it harder to go in and out and not be detected.  Or we can hack into their security system for the fire stairs and go up that way. The problem would be the security doors. Seems like a better option to leave then go in. They are not, normally locked to keep you in but out. Fires and all.... How about the roof? "

Audrey looks at the plans to see what security they have on the roof. Smokers need to smoke and that might be a way to do it.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 34):

Well, looks like my work on Jonas' game will pay off here

Vic thinks a moment than his eyes light up.  Ya know...I saw this thing.  On the internet.  Hold on...

Eight minutes later he calls you over to his lap top.  On the screen is what looks like a small roller skate.  But it's apparently a ground based drone on wheels with a camera.

And then there's this one...  He goes to another page and this is a small camera with weird mechanical legs.  Like if a Nikon and a spider had a baby.

Since we don't have a paying client any more, we could probably only finagle one of these.  But this one, he points at the roller skate.  Has more range but can't climb up or down.  It can only go backwards and forwards.  This one, he points at the spider baby.  Can go up and down, but the range isn't as far and...doesn't look like the battery life is as good.

So if you wanna do recon, you could sneak in on the day shift, plop the drone in the shafts.  We turn it on that night and run it through.  Bing bang bong.  We got our recon.  Oh.  The spider is probably the one we want but this says the remote range is shit.  You'd have to be in the building or at least the parking lot to get it to work.  And it would probably need to be after hours too.

So maybe go in as a cafeteria worker, and either drop the skate in, leave at the end of the shift, and we operate it from our survey point in the building across the street?

Or.  You go in as a cafeteria worker.  Drop the spider in the duct work.  Hide in the building.  Or the parking lot somehow.  Probably the parking lot since it looks like they keep a count on people going in and out.  And then operate the spider that way.

Or you could just say to hell with it, go in as a cafeteria worker, and at the end of the shift hit the duct work.

Whaddya think?

Of course that's just Vic noodling on it.  Go with whatever method you think of.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:19, Fri 22 Nov 2019.

Aubrey jumped off her bed and moved in front of Vic's laptop


"Are you serious?! I have never sceen this before."

Aubrey looked at the items Vic was pointing out and read what they did and what to expect.

"hmmmmm. I think a mixture of both of those plans would be good. I'd rather go in at the end of the day to restock their vending machines and clean up the kitchen. You know, put the sodas and water in the execs fridges sort of thing. You know I ran into one when I got the paper and then the others were shooting at me, so I'm thinking they may have some picture of me somewhere. I mean a wig would be fine but scooping out Tuesday Delight might be too much of a risk. But I can plant the spider and we can do recon before I sneak back in and go through the ducts. How long would it take to get spidy?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 36):

Vic checks and whistles.  Well, this says we can have it tomorrow...

Okay.  We're gonna do this in four stages.  Stage one.

You, Vic, and your team prepare...

The initial approach is you and your team approaching the current vendor who handles machine restock.  You need to infiltrate that company to pass as a new trainee.

You can approach the driver who currently has the route, one Tommy Alliston.  Tommy is in his mid forties.  Divorced with three kids, one of whom is in college and the other two are coming up to it quickly.  From what little info you can gather, his moral character is so-so. He's not a bad man.  But he's divorced because he was cheating on his wife.  But apparently he has been feeling pretty sorry about the whole thing and been trying to be a stand up guy for his kids sake since then.

Instead of Tommy, you can bribe the company's dispatcher and try to get another driver.  One who might be more amenable.  The dispatcher is Fay Olgood.  She's a woman in her mid thirties.  She's had a number of boyfriends but never one for long.  A little bitter about things, she does drink some but not to the point of showing up to work drunk.  Your research shows she would like to go back to finish her accounting degree.  She's about a year and a half short of credits.

Pick one of the two options, and tell me how you approach the person involved.  You can have one of your agents or Vic make the approach.  You will just be telling them what to say.  Or you can make the approach.  Get as detailed or general as you want.  After that, roll me 1d6 and post the result at the end of the write up.

Let me know if there are questions.  Thanks

Aubrey looked at both the marks and try to dig into their histories. She didn't want any blowback on any of the marks. But there was a little wiggle room on each. Everyone has some sort of weakness that can be used against you. It was a little sad that she was going to have to exploit something to get something. Was she doing the right thing....


Aubrey talked with Vic about her ideas.

"Okay.... First i'm going to check and see if they have any job openings. Kind of like not checking to see if the door is unlocked"

Aubrey checks out the web site (good try ;) )

"I'm thinking that I go at the guy. Do you think we could pull off a community work thingy? You know like i'm having to do a few hours and this was a suggestion. I could be the same age as his daughter and maybe it would be something like he is helping out a troubled young adult.  What do you think?:



16:46, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 5 using 1d6.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:47, Wed 27 Nov 2019.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 38):

The website only lists office staff positions at the contractor.

Not that it matters.  Things work out swimmingly with Tommy.

Vic approaches him as your social worker.  Tommy laps it up and the company brass gives it a green light.  They need some good will with the city at the moment.

Stage Two

Luckily you're still a little puffy from the accident.  Ow.  Don't hit me.  Vic laughs as he boops you on the nose with the end of his finger.  But you still look like the same ol' brat.  I think they will have your pic.  So we need to change  as much as we can.  And you'll need to wear platform shoes or somethin'.  Would be good if we can vary the height.

Or...you want me to send in one a' the temps?  That Shirley girl seems to have a good head on her shoulders.  We can send her in to plant the bug.

Decision time:  you going in or sending a stunt double?  If you go in, I need you to tell me what you work on changing about yourself.  If you send in the stunt double, give me the briefing you give them.

And roll a dice.  1d6.  Thanks.

Aubrey looked at herself in the mirror as she placed a black hair wig on her head. Having already put on the work outfit she added both butt pad underwear and increased bra size. She next inserted hazel colored contacts in and worked on her beauty make up. Lastly she put on some platform sneakers and put in one of the shoes some sort of wade of tape the would remind her and cause her to alter her walking stride. Turning around and walking across the room she looked back to Vic when she was done and shrugged her shoulders


"What do you think? Is it enough? I just don't know if having others know what we are about do do is a good idea. Less chance of it leaking out"


ooc
16:55, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 6 using 1d6.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Thu 28 Nov 2019.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 40):

Vic blinks.  That is, without a doubt, the best disguise I've ever seen.  Holy crap Bree.  You don't look like you.

---

Tommy turns out to be a really nice guy.  He bought your line completely.  He keeps trying to 'advise' you all during your run.

He pulls up to the Anodyne gate.  The guard comes out, checking Tommy's pass.  Then, the guard studies you long and carefully.  Tommy explains you're a trainee.  Since he believes that, so does the guard apparently.  The gate lifts and Tommy pulls you on to the lot.

You both unload the large tubs of Cheetos and Whatchamacallit candy bars.  Tommy is loading stacks of soda cans on to the dolly he uses.  Soon, the two of you are headed for the vendor entrance.

There's another guard check point.  Two uniformed guards and a guy who looks like he might have been in the car.  They study you closely...

There's not much you can say here.  It's just a matter of how you act.  Let me know if you try anything to alleviate any suspicion.  And roll a 1d6 please.

"how much Cheetos can people eat" Aubrey snorts as they load up the dolly. Walking up to the entrance felt like it took forever and then they had to stand in front of two guards as they were studied. Aubrey is almost certain that the one guard is the one that shot at her. She tries to get a glimpse of his name tag, if any is worn, as she looks like a bored young adult wishing she was home doing whatever they do and not here to work.


10:31, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 5 using 1d6.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 42):

You're really knocking it out with those rolls.  Last one...

The guards scowl at you.  They have a little confab, but they can't seem to come up with a reason to hassle you, so in you and Tommy go.

You make quick work of the vending machines.

Tommy busies himself fixing a jammed Dr. Pepper machine.  Now is your chance.  The security in this place is crazy tight.  The guards are keeping a tight eye on you and there isn't much in the way of hallway space not covered by a camera.  But you can reach a grill behind one of the machines if you act like you're fixing something.

You'll need to work fast.  And have some luck...

If you can can think of anyway to make planing the drone less conspicuous, add it in your post.  Otherwise, one last 1d6.  And then we'll play Whack A Mole...

Aubrey tries to keep her eyes from roaming too much as she restocks and helps Tommy out. Looking for an opportunity Aubrey either drops some chips near the grill in order to open and set her spider drone up or gives an excuse to go to the restroom and setting up her spider.


ooc
15:09, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 5 using 1d6.  I've been so LUCKY in these rolls. Which means i'm in for some hurt coming up LOL>  Was the spot in the bathroom in the ducts or does it need to be grill in the vending area?

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 44):

Vending. They're not going to let you use the restroom.

Tommy comes by and smiles.  All done?  Let's get on to the next stop then...

---

Vending machine stocking is a good workout.  You stretch as Vic fiddles with the ap that will drive the spider.

It's online.

Following the schematics, you have the closest access to three office looking rooms that are located at the near end of the labs.  Past that is what you and Vic call 'Lab A'.

On the other side of the hall are labs 'B' and 'C'.  Getting the spider over the hallway poses a little bit of a risk.  It's pretty stable but not the quietest thing.  There's a chance a guard could hear the soft tap tap tapping as the spider passes through the vent over the hallway.

At the other end of the building are more offices and the records room.  It looks like you'll have to go down the vents over Lab A to reach the offices.  And then past those to reach the records room.  The same concern about noise is relevant in passing over any of these areas as well.  It probably isn't a concern.  But still worth bearing in mind.

The question is where do you want to go?

So you start in Lab A.  What I need to know is:

In what order do you examine the rooms after A?

Below is a schematic of sorts.  If the name is close to another name, you can get there directly.  Also, you can cross the hall between A and B using the ---- vents over the hallway.  So for example, you can start in Lab A, go to the Near Offices, back to Lab A, then over to Lab B.

You can't hop from Lab A directly to Lab C.  You'd have to go through Lab B first.  You can't hop directly over to Records without going through the Far Offices first.

Clear as mud?  Let me know what questions you have.  Otherwise, I need to know in what order you go through the wing.  Again, start in Lab A.  Thanks.

Records
Far Offices
Lab A------------------Lab B
Near Offices           Lab C

ooc:

Are the guards stationary or do the roam? Does the air conditioning or heater seem to be turning on.

If the guards roam or if there is some sort of sound she can mask the spider's sound she will try to do that :).

 Go from Lab A to Near Offices then back to Lab A to cross to the other side and then do Lab C to Lab B and back out.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 46):

Guards:  Both.  There are stations outside the Near Office, Lab B, and Far Office.  But each station is manned only by one guard.  It appears a two man team makes round between each section.  The patrol doesn't appear to use a set routine either.  They vary the order of the rooms visited with each pass.

This is late fall.  So heater would be on, yes.

You can try to match the movement across 'noiser' areas in time with the heater going on yes.

Okay.  First two stops.  Lab A and Near Offices

Lab A seems to be one large room divided by cubicle walls in to five smaller areas.  Two of the areas are dark and bare.  If any experiments go on in them, the work is packed up at the end of the night.

The other three areas in Lab A are:

-What appears to be an area set up like a green house.  A set of potted plants are being kept under various kinds of lights.  A woman in a lab coat and wearing a surgical mask is walking among them with a clipboard and a watering can.

-The smallest area has two men seated across each other with a nightstand set between them.  On the nightstand is an aquarium.  One of the men is staring intently into the tank while the other is scratching his ear with a pen.  Suddenly the observer says, Blue

What kind of blue? asks the other man.

The observer frowns.  Periwinkle maybe?

From what you can tell, there is nothing in the aquarium.

-The largest area has five tables laid end to end.  Around them are set a large group of chairs, with a person in each chair.  Each of the people are shaved bald, regardless of gender.  Each one of them is wearing a white paper hospital gown.

At the head of the table is seated an older woman in a bright pink bathrobe.  There is an old metal box with a crank handle jutting out of one side.  Smiling, she reaches over and begins to turn the handle.  From within the box, a music box plays "Pop Goes The Weasel".

We don't have to do this, says the woman in the bathrobe, still turning the handle.  We can all go to the Bright Farm together ya know.

About seventeen seats away from her, one of the bald men seated at the table begins to cry.

Watching all this are two men in lab coats.  One turns to the other and says, That's Subject 1054, isn't it?  Odd.  I would have thought Subject 2022 would be the one to exhibit the symptoms first.


The spider moves to the Near Offices.  Thankfully, this set of rooms seems to be deserted.  There are five offices.  None of the names on the doors mean much to you, although one is for a Dr. Halforth.  He's listed as the research director on Anodyne's website.

Let me know if you want to examine any of these areas in more detail.  Otherwise, we'll move on the Lab C tomorrow.  Thanks.

Aubrey makes notes of the different things she found in the rooms. She is shocked when she sees the bald experiments and hopes that whomever these people are they are volunteers and not like the homeless pulled off the street. Aubrey does try to get a better look at Dr. Halforth's office, wanting to rule it out of having the binder before moving off to the other lab

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 48):

Let's deal with Halforth before moving on.  Roll me 1d6 please.

The spider looks over the office from the grate set in the top of the wall.

Right underneath the spider is a file cabinet.

About two steps away from the cabinet is a large oak desk.  Real oak too.  This is a power desk.  There's a monitor and a docking station, but no computer.

On the other side of the room are two more sets of filing cabinets and a bookcase.

The spider will have to come out of the grate.  Let me know what you want to look at and in what order please.

The nearby file cabinet.
The desk.
Far Cabinet 1 and 2 (Count them as a set)
The bookcase

Aubrey takes a deep breath before moving the spider around to get a better look. She checks for any safety equipment or alarms that would make sense to her to set up. If not seeing anything she moves the spider to the desk, bookcase then the far cabinets.


ooc
16:32, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 3 using 1d6.  UT OH... my luck is going.....

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 50):

The desk is secured.  The spider isn't able to pick the locks.  There is a notepad by the phone.  Although the top sheet has been removed and probably disposed of, you can make out the imprint on the sheet that was underneath.

Hastings has contact w/Scrubber

The bookshelf is filled with books whose titles read along the lines of

The Genetics of Heroes
Case Studies in Gene Splicing
A History of Government Defunded Genetics Projects

The far cabinets are locked, except for one.  It looks like it wasn't closed properly so the latch didn't catch.  It looks like it's personnel files.  Unfortunately not the obvious ones, but you do see one for Emma Hastings.

Emma Hastings appears to have taken over for Aubrey.  Her office is in the office 214 in the far offices and Lab 15 which would be in Lab C

As the spider shuts the cabinet, you detect a rattling sound.  It sounds like a key in the lock of the office.  Security must be doing a room check...

Too late to get back to the vent.  Tell me where the spider is going to hide.  It is about the size of a jar of peanut butter.

Aubrey felt her heart drop when she heard the jingle of keys

ooc: Bad roll!!! :)

She will try to hide upside down under the desk in the far left corner

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 52):

You can not see anything of course.  But the microphone isn't bad on the spider.

The sound of the door opening.

Footsteps coming closer.

A clicking sound.

Hey Andy.  What're ya doin'?

What's it look like I'm doin'?

Aw man.  Is that something you should be doin' at work?

What's wrong with it.  It's healthy.

Click click clickclickclickclick click

Fine.  But don't ask me to clean up if ya have an accident.

'Andy' laughs.  Son.  I wouldn't ask you for the time if you were the only man left who owned a wristwatch.

Sound of the door shutting

Aubrey waits a few moments listening before moving her spider out from it's hiding spot and into the vent. She does pause at the foot of the desk to look around slowly so not to make a lot of noise. If she does make it out and into the vent she moves her spider towards Lab C.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 54):

Please roll me a d6.  Add 1.  Thanks.

In reply to Editor-in-Chief (msg # 55):

Ooc.  The tide has turned.....rolled a 2

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 56):

The spider scuttles out from behind the desk and hurries towards the filing cabinet so it can shimmy back up to the grate.

And you hear the knob being turned and the door start to open...

Making a dash for the cabinet?  Trying to duck back towards the desk?  Freezing still?  Or some other option.  Let me know

Aubrey doesn't have time to berate herself for waiting to long  or not enough. She tries to tuck the spider behind the cabinet

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 58):

You lose sight of the door as the spider shimmy's behind the cabinet.

You can still hear though.

I know I heard somethin'

I thought I did too.  But I think it was you farting.

Cut the shit Andy.  If it is somethin' and we don't look in to it...

Yeah yeah.  Check under the desk. I'm gonna look around over here.

It sounds like Andy is headed towards the far cabinets and bookcase.  The desk is pretty close.  But there's enough room here for the spider to fit through.  You could try to slip behind the cabinet and make a dash for the door.  Or sit tight.  Going for  the grate now is pretty much guaranteed to get you caught.

If either of the men, from what Aubrey can deduct (deduce?), are looking in the spider's direction she will just keep still.  If it seems that the men are facing or heading towards a different portion she will try to silently move the spider behind the cabinet.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 60):

Because you're listening in over a microphone, it's hard to tell much in terms of which direction the voices are coming from.  But one of them did say he was going to check the desk, which would put him in view.

You wiggle behind the cabinet...

Well?

Nothin'.

There's a pause.  Then a loud Plbbbbbbbb sound.

You are one sorry bastard.  You know that?

Hey.  I had a burrito for dinner.  Sue me.

The door shuts and you hear foot steps walking away in the hall.

Just to speed things along, give me two die rolls, each a 1d6 please.  Thanks

Aubrey wrinkled up her nose in disgust as she heard the sound and kept her focus and listening. After a few moments of being still and listening for any noise Aubrey will move slightly to try and get a look at the room and anybody just sitting in there and waiting to catch her. If things seem clear she moves slowly to the grid




ooc:


11:29, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 5 using 1d6.

11:29, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 3 using 1d6.

You make your way in to the grate and head towards Lab C...

But first you have to pass Lab B.

As you peer through the grating above Lab B, the place is...thankfully...dark.  There is only one light on, and it appears to just be a woman in a lab coat typing in to a computer.

Heading for Lab C?  Or checking her out?

Give me two more 1d please.  Thanks

Aubrey figures she will come check out the lady after she checks out Lab C. Taking a moment once she crossed the grate, Aubrey takes some cleansing and relaxing breaths to calm her nerves and stop her hands from shaking. From the grate she will try to zoom in on the computer but will get no closer. She'll move on to the next lab slowly and quietly

ooc

09:52, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 2 using 1d6.

09:52, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 2 using 1d6.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 64):

Mrs. Lab Coat is crouched too close to the screen to make out much.  You see this little blurb...

...ect has not been responsive.  Will up dos...

and that's all.

Lab C differs from Lab B in one aspect:  it's completely dark.  And you can hear some humming noises as well as what sounds like the sloshing of water.

The spider has a night scope.  It shows this lab is one large open room sealed off from Lab B by a thick hatch.  There are three large tanks set around the perimeter of the room, with a long table covered in equipment along the south wall.

You can't tell much about the tanks from here other than they are filled with liquid.

Aubrey zooms in and tries to get a better shot of what was going on in the room. After a little while she moves on, knowing that if things work out she will head back in and take a look at this Lab. Looking at Lab C feels completely different. It feels dark and the humming noises makes her a little nervous. Aubrey looks for a spot to go to to start looking at the lab and if there is any files or filing cabinets to look at.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 66):

There are two grates you can access to get in this room.

The one you're looking through now is set in to the ceiling.  It lets down over a table top.  The table is bare but it does look like there are drawer handles sticking out of the side.

You can shimmy to the other side of the room as well.  There's a vent opening large enough to squeeze out of that seems to come out behind one of the tanks.

Aubrey decides to shimmy over to the other side and take a good look. She takes her time and pauses to take inventory of everything she can. She listens for any tapping of morse code before making any sort of move into the room more.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 68):

There are random taps and baps, but nothing in any concerted, intentional rhythm.

As you shimmy out the far grate, you can see the tank ahead of you quite a bit better.

It is a large aquarium, probably the size of a pick up truck. There are small schools of fish floating around what appears to be a body in the water.  As you lower the spider to the ground, you can see the body is twitching, though not making any great or sudden movements.  Whoever is in the water appears to be sleeping.  At least, they don't seem aware of you.

Aubrey Hope's to keep whomever asleep as she looks around the room. She tries to keep to the shadows and not anywhere out in the open. Files or papers she looks for before heading out and to any office

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 70):

You notice some stacks of files near the base of one of the aquariums. The script is pretty cramped:  too difficult to read by just night vision.

Turning on your regular lights?

Before she leaves the area, but on her way to leaving this room she will go back and turn on the regular lights of her spider to see if there is anything there. She tries to make it quick and then immediately gets into the ducts (if she is able :) )

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 72):

You flash the lights on.

The page you have immediately open seems to be a log of some type.  It's concerning 'reactions to stimuli' and 'feedings' for two subjects across a period of a month.  The other pages seem to be a continuation of that log.

The subjects are named B and F.  You feel pretty confident that means Brad and Flo.  But you would need to study the log in more detail to be sure.

Of course, that assumes you have the time...

Make me a roll please.  1d6.  Thanks

Aubrey makes what ever taping of what she sees and continues to try to find out more on the log. If she is able to look through more of the log she will try to, otherwise she will try to get a hold of the log if/when she goes in



ooc:

17:01, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 4 using 1d6.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 74):

You make a quick flicker of the lights.  After you shut it off, you see movement from the big tank.  The body in the water begins to move.  It rolls around the inside of the tank, stopping here and there.  It's like whatever it is woke up and is looking around, trying to see what woke it up.

Aubrey stays completely still as she listens for any communication. Is this poor "person" being held captive, is shehe there for treatment. The list of questions that race through her mind are hard to keep back. But she listens for any morse code and tries to be patient to find her escape from that area of the room.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 76):

There's no Morse code.  Instead whatever it is starts beating against the sides of the aquarium.

'It' has a little more definition now.  It looks like a man, but with oddly shaped skin.  It's like it's a fluid slightly thicker than the water containing it.  You can see bits of the skin float off like bubbles off a soapy sponge.

It's thumping against the glass, though it doesn't seem to know where you are.  It's kicking back and forth along the aquarium, swimming back and forth.  Like it's trying to figure out where you are.

At the same time, you see a red light wink into existence.  It's near the base of the aquarium on the outside.  It's starting the blink.  Rapidly.

Aubrey will try to use "ITs" disturbance as a cover to move her spider into hiding. She tries for the ducts but as she is moving she looks for any hidey hole she can find.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 78):

You do have time to make it to the vent.  Though that would mean leaving the log book behind.  You can drag the book under the desk if you want to peruse it a little longer...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:04, Fri 03 Jan 2020.

IC:

Common sense would tell you that you could look at the book again after the threat. But in the heat of the moment Aubrey wasn't alway thinking with common sense. Aubrey used the spider to pull the book under the desk, hoping to find somewhere to hide until things calmed down and she could look through the book.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 80):


The desk is cramped, but the spider seems to be doing fine.  You pull the folder under.

From where you are, you can't see anything.  But the spider's mic is still working fine.

You can hear the boom boom on the glass.  And then you hear a woman's voice.  Maybe that woman who was working late in the other lab. Her footsteps are hurried.

"Dr. Roberson!  Dr. Roberson! Calm down!  Calm.  Down.  It's okay.  It's okay."

Flo's last name is Roberson.  Her Dad was a doctor.

Seems like Flo isn't really an orphan anymore.  At least that's your guess.

Aubrey sat behind her spider in amazement. Was this a punishment for Dr. Roberson or was this something he wanted. Someone had hired her company to try and keep Flo safe. Was it Dr. Roberson or someone in this lab. Aubrey sat still and tried to listen for anything said.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 82):

Shh...shh...hush now.  It's gonna be okay.

The thumps on the glass dim and then stop.

That's good.  You remember who I am?  It's Nyla.  You remember me today? Mmmm?  No.  Maybe.  You hear a bitter laugh.  Well.  Teach me to start screwing a guy who wants to become a superman.

You hear what you think is Nyla tapping away on some keyboard.

's okay.  I'll be in the next room.  I'll come visit after I finish writing up the results of this round of antidote reactions.  You wanna be a man again, right?  There's a short pause.  I damn sure want you to be one again, she adds in a whisper.

The room lights go on.  Don't worry, Nyla says to someone. It's just me.  He got freaked out again and started pounding on the tank walls.

You hear a voice.  It's one of those guards from earlier.  The alarms are off in here.  Did you do that?  There's a pause.  Sorry Dr. Clemmons.  But rules are rules.

Fine.  But I'm gonna be going back and forth all night.

Just call us before you come back in here. There's a pause.  Dr. Clemmons.  We need to get the alarms back on.

Okay.  Okay.

You hear Dr. Clemmons leaving.  And then what sounds like a switch being thrown.  And then the lights go out and a thrumming sound starts up.

Aubrey waits a few moments after everything. If she had had enough time she would have ran the spider up the wall and into the the vent. But it didn't seem to work that way for her. She had to plan and it would seem that this lady, who seemed to have a thing for the Dr. would be back another time to check on him. So Aubrey looked, from her location , around for any changes that would speak about their security in this room. Was there a grid on the floor or other activators. After going through that she will look through the lab notebook and take as many notes as possible from it. She will then try to figure out her best way of escaping up the wall and to the vent. What would be the most obscure way to plan her escape.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 84):

You peruse the notebook.  Luckily you can screen shot the hell outta the monitor, because there's not a lot here you understand.  There's a lot of chemical formulas and what appear to be notes about both Flo and Brad.  The lab was trying to get them to 'replicate'.  It seems there's enough here to show Anodyne was manipulating the two of them into having a child.  Something was wrong with the embryo though.  It was 'non viable'.  Anodyne then took steps to 'purge results'.

There's enough here to show Anodyne is not a good candidate for guardianship of Flo.

Now how to get out of here?

You study the security set up.  At least what you can see from under the desk.  There's lasers for one.  The spider has a scope that will allow you to see the beams.  So that should be doable.  You're good at video games, right?  Same principal.

The problem for you is that the walls appear to have pressure sensitive paneling installed.  It seems the floor has some spots for that as well.

You could try to guide the spider, carefully, through the maze of traps.

Or...maybe wait for Nyla to come back.  The guards may assume any disturbance is due to her.  You would just need to sneak past her and in to the other lab, shimmy up the walls there, and get out through a vent.

Easy peasy.  Right?

Aubrey frowns as she tries to figure out her best option. Stupid guards! She'll wait till Nyla comes in to check the Dr. again and try to sneak out the door and into the other lab. She hopes she can make it to the vent system that way. In the meantime she sends the encrypted file to the lawyer and to Bull.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 86):

Roll me a d6 please

It seems to take forever.  Of course it does.  But soon you hear the clack of her heels.

The door opens and Nyla comes in, tapping on her cell phone.  She flips on a light.

You can go left:  there's a long table on that side. You'll have to cross a space of open ground.  But you're pretty sure you'll do it before Nyla comes from around a set of file cabinets.

You can go right:  this is the longer way.  You'll duck behind the table supporting the tank and follow it clockwise around the outside, keeping the tank between you and Nyla.  Of course Flo's Dad might be able to see you.  But he'll probably be focused on Nyla.  Right?

You need to move now.

Aubrey had waited for this moment. She had what she needed and now she needed to get her spider out. Do they have a self destruct button....

Aubrey decides to go left and take the side of the long table, there was a little part where she would be out in the open...

ooc
11:33, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 4 using 1d6.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 88):

I hate it when you make the right call...

The spider scurries from under the desk and makes it's way quickly behind the table.  You can see Nyla's ankle just as you whip around the corner.

After a tense second, you don't hear her make any kind of startled sound.  From the sounds, she's tapping on some kind of keyboard.

You move quickly and make it through the open door.

You are in the next lab.  As before, it's dark except for the space she was working.

Heading out?  Or you want to poke around some more?

Aubrey doesn't really want to tempt fate any more then she has at this point. But she does swing by the desk and, if the spider has a camera she takes a bunch of random pictures of everything. She pauses at the wall to verify she doesn't have to walk a maze up to the vents and out of the lab

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 90):

Let's finish the Flo storyline up.  We have bigger fish to fry.  He he he

You make it out of the vents suprisingly easily.  You pick up the spider at the prearranged spot.

The next morning, you meet with Lillian and Bull.  They look over the documentation you found.

Oh my.  Does this mean what I think it means?

Yep, Bull replies to Lillian's question.  This is proof positive that Flo and Brad were engineered and used as test subjects.  I'll need a couple of days to break it out, but there's everything you'll need here.

Lillian grins.  Finally!  It feels good to win one!  Especially after those ass holes tore down my office!  I'm going to schedule a meeting with the Judge and Anodyne's shyster.  And then we are gonna have beer and jalapeno poppers all night long!

She gives you a hug and walks to the next room to make the calls.

Bull looks up from the file.  You do good work. Were there any problems?

Aubrey looked over at Bull and smiled a sad smile

"Some, but field work ones that got worked out. Still not comfortable with Brad dieing, I wanted him to get protected and have a life. And there is this small part of me that is terrified that I made this whole Flo thing worst, because if they deem her to dangerous then there is no life. It all feels so very unfair and I am facing some things I have to really think on. I mean... serious... I know how much fun, excitement, not quite sure of the word i'm looking for, in being a meta. It would be like being a cup of coffee but with some real good caramel in it. But to go to these lengths and the laws you have to live up to. Not to mention that my boyfriend is ghosting me and was that man in the fishtank Flo's dad...LiFE"

Aubrey sighs

"So I guess the answer is, everything is fine. Should I be expecting some retaliation from Anodyne? Is there any way of keeping my involvement after the whole bodyguard situation a secret ? "
This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 14 Jan 2020.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 92):

Bull nods sympathetically.  Meta life has it's perks.  And it has it's cons.  Flo will be fine.  And what happened to Brad wasn't your fault.  If Anodyne had gotten a hold of him, they probably would have scrubbed him.  No pun meant.  As far as Anodyne...don't worry about them.  Even if Lillian doesn't take 'em to court on Flo's behalf...and I'm guessing she will...I have a feeling a local Cape team named the Invincibles will be taking a good long look at them.  I just have that feeling.  He grins at you for a moment.

Then he sits up.  So...if you're boyfriend is dumb enough to dump you...well. I happen to be a very smart guy.  Remember that.  Subtlety doesn't seem to be Bull's strong point.  But...since you look so depressed and all...you are a detective, right?  Go find him.  Maybe something's happened to him.  And if it hasn't...well.  You deserve being told straight up how it is.  Does that make sense?

Aubrey smiled and got up and hugged her friend

"Thank you Bull. It makes sense. And thank you for being there and dealing with all of this"

Bull's words were a confirmation on what she had been thinking about before everything went crazy. She needed to research and find out where and what happen to her nameless boyfriend. She goes back over the things she did before and decided to go walk the floors on a the ones within the area of her house and the area of the attack .

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 94):

I can't recall.  Does Bull know you're dating Condor?  I'll leave that decision up to you. Thanks.

I thought he did

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 96):

I couldn't remember but I couldn't find it in either game.  Thanks.

And so...

Wait.

Bull sighs and looks at the ceiling.  He sighs again then looks at you.

I shouldn't tell you this.  Cause you'll just end up in trouble.  So promise me.  If you get in over your head, you call.  Got it?

Anyway. Your Boo's partner.  The Whir?  He called Invincible HQ about a week ago asking for info on The Scale Society.  You've heard of them, right?

You have.  They're some kind of underground army that seem to have some kind of reptile fetish.  They periodically pull some shenanigans that are supposed to let them take control of the world.  Or something like that.  There's a few of these private armies around.  This one is just the snake themed one.

The Scales have a couple of bases here in the city.  We know that.  But we don't know the location.  Cos...ya know.  If we did, we'd go bust all up in there.

I'm guessing your guy and his pardner have been investigating the Scales.  But that's just a guess.

Remember:  if you get in trouble, you call.

Aubrey grinned and listened to what Bull had to say.

"I do tend to find trouble, but in my defense, I do call when I realize that it is over my ability"

Aubrey leaned against the chair

"The Scales.... what sort of info where they looking for? It might lead me in the right direction in finding him? "

"Sorry for giving you all this grey hair and worry. I will call if there is trouble, and if you need anything you know that phone can reach me as well"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 98):

Bull grins at you when you say it's a two way line.  Promises, promises...

He sits back, moving the file on Flo to one side.  Well.  Whir was lookin' for anything about a recruiter for the Scales.  Woman named Veronica Blassingale.  The Scales are always tryin' to recruit up and coming thugs.  Supposedly they have some kinda school they send 'em to.  I've tangled with them a few times.  Their foot soldiers are decently trained.

I can tell you we don't know anything about this Veronica.  Or this school.  But.  He sighs and makes an Why-Am-I-Telling-You-This face.  But.  There is one guy who might know somethin'.  He's a reporter over at the Daily Feed.  Roger Couper.  He chases a lot of the Hood stories.  We've had to protect him a time or three from a meta who didn't like one of his stories.  Go see him and tell him I sent ya.  But Bree?  Don't trust him too much.  He's a user.

Aubrey wrinkled up her nose

"A user is always tricky"

----

Aubrey spends some time trying to find out any information about Veronica Blassingale. She is hopeful to get something but doesn't allowing any pessisimon in her thinking. She then moves on to calling the reporter from Daily Feed to see if she can get a meet up time from him.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 100):

Did you mean 'pessimism'?

'Veronica Blassingale' may be an alias.  If not, she's done an excellent job of erasing herself off the grid.  There are a couple of Veronica Blassingale's out there.  One lives in Montpelier and is on vacation with her boo in Aruba, at least according to Facebook.  There's another who's more local.  But she looks like a grandma.  Her Facebook page even has posts of her distributing cookies to Mexican kids who are standing outside an INS office.

Other than those two hits, you get nothing.

There's a little more about the Scales and this 'school' though.  A couple of news articles mention rumors of it.  You find a subreddit about it.  The OP claims to have gone to the school.  He kind of vibes 'BS Artist', but there is an interesting exchange in the comments between him and a poster named Forked Tongue

Forked Tongue:  U R an A Hole.  Your story is bogus.

OP:  How would you know?

Forked Tongue:  OK. How old were U when you got inducted?

OP:  27.  Just out of Army

Forked Tongue:  Right there.  Says U R a liar.  That's not how it works.  Douche

And then that's it.

---

You end up trading e-mails with Couper.  He agrees to meet you for lunch as a taco shop a couple of buildings down from his office.

He's already seated at the bar and munching on an al pastor taco plate when you arrive.  He glances at you when you say his name, double takes, and gives you his undivided attention, wiping his hands on his napkin.

Have a seat.  Sorry I started without you.  But I have a full schedule today.

Roger Couper.  Sorry.  Was it Bree Davis?

What did you want to talk about today?

Aubrey gives Tate a call to see if he can trace Forked Tongue IP address to any location. She then dresses to make an impression and heads out to meet the the questionable investigator reporter.

Aubrey smiles and sits down

"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Couper yes it is Bree Davis. No sorries needed, I understand that lunch time is a limited time and I wouldn't want you to go through it hungry"

Aubrey pauses for a moment and continues changing the volume of her voice to just include the both of them.

"An associate we have in common, Bullfrog, sent me in response to a question I was looking into. I'm from a bodyguard company and came across a name and needed information about a group by the name of Scale Society and a ghost name of Veronica"

ooc: LOL yes... pessimism not the fruit

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 102):

Tate texts you back The IT guy says it traces back to a public library.  The one over on South Hampton.  Anything I need to check?

Couper raises his eyebrows, both at your dress and the mention of Bullfrog.  His brow then furrows when you bring up the Scales and Veronica.

Blassangale, huh?  She's kinda of a legend.  Or maybe a myth.  I dunno.  But her name comes up a lot.  People say she's the A1 recruiter for the Scales.

Thing about the Scales is...once they get caught...they don't live long.  Their people get brainwashed.  Really they're more of a cult than an underground army.  Even the few that don't slit their own throats once they get caught, get found dead pretty soon after.  I heard that the Justice Commandos had an informant in the Scales for a while.  That lady was shipped to them in pieces.  Postage due.  Forty seven boxes.  The Scales don't play.

He spoons some black beans and adds some salsa verde to them before shoveling them in to his mouth.

That being said...I may know a lil' somethin' somethin'.  But quid pro quo.  Why is a pretty lady like you interested in the Scales?

Aubrey texts back to Tate

`can you check to see if there is a time stamp and any security camera from the library that we might be able to get a few possible faces for this posting~


Aubrey smiles

"What is their end game if they are a cult? Who are Justice Commandos and what can you tell me about them? "

Aubrey makes a face when she heard about the lady shipped in pieces

"Wow... that is really gross"

Aubrey grinned at the reporter and didn't roll her eyes at him

"Well, my client's girlfriend last communication was something about them and i'm doing an assessment of their risk. Not a lot is known about them. When I asked for the best of the best in this whole confusing thug hood world, that truly knew fact from fiction and had the balls to tackle down the story and help. You know it is so difficult to find talent and integrity....."

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 104):

Oh yeah. You probably don't know about the Commandos.  They're a Fed run Cape team.  They were formed to basically deal with the underground armies like the Scales.  Last I heard about them, they were fighting La Revelacion Iluminada in Mexico.

No one really knows what the Scales are after.  Most of these groups have some whack job philosophy.  But usually it's a good ol' fashioned power grab by those in charge.

He grins back at your compliment.

You do like to lay it on thick, don'tcha?  But that's fine.  I operate the same way myself.

He takes out some bills and lays them next to his plate.  He nods at the waitress.  See ya later Rosie.

He nods towards you.  Come on.  I'll show you mine.  He laughs at whatever face you make when he says that.

'His' is a large shed at a UR Alright  Storage facility.  He fishes out the key for his padlock as he explains. I can't keep this stuff at the office.  Cos every so often one of the various armies I report on raids this place.  Our company's insurer told my Editor after the last one that either I move this stuff off site or they were cancelling our policy.  The paper at least pays the rental fees.

The inside of the shed is stuffed with boxes, though they seem to be well organized.  At the far end of the large space are a row of chalkboard stands with rollers.  After turning on the light, Roger points at a chair.  Make yourself comfortable. Lemme get...let's see...where did I put the Scales?..

He heads towards one of the chalk boards, pulls it away from the wall, and then pushes it back.  He picks another one.  Paydirt.

He wheels the stand over to you.  The front of it is covered with newspaper clippings, a map of the city, lots of notes and pictures, and lots of strings hanging between items.  Lots and lots of strings.

Roger stops in front of you and says, And this is The Scales...as I know them.  I keep track of every incident that is definitely tied to them...  He points at some of the strings which are green in color.  Everything that people think may be associated with them...  He points at some strings which are orange.  And the ones everyone thinks I'm crazy for thinking are them.  He points to some strings that are red.

With me so far?  Now this... He points at the city map, ...is location mapping.  Notice anything?

There are push pins placed into it at various locations.  Some green.  Some orange.  And some red.  There are also some white ones.  The white ones and most of the red are grouped around one area of the city.  Hampton.  Like where the South Hampton library is located.

Aubrey gets up from the table after he paid for his food and arched her eyebrow at him when he said he was going to show her his and left that blank.

"You are like me, in that you lay it down thick"

Aubrey laughs with him, though she is very cautious and staying focused in case he isn't helpful and more like a villain.

Aubrey looks at his storage and information and shakes her head

"This is pretty impressive fact gathering in light of people with lots of power and a strong motivation in being autonomous. I'm glad the paper pays for the fees, seeing as you are the one taking the risk and they are the ones profiting from that. "

Aubrey listens to what he shows her and really turns her focus on the pins and lines on the map

"Is there a pattern in the actual incidents types as well as locations? What are the red and white color for? It looks like they lead to the library.... Do we have blueprints for the library? "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 106):

Library?  Oh.  There is one in that area.  But no.  It's not about the library.

The red ones are incidents that no one but me thinks are Scales connected.  The white ones are items I haven't decided on yet.

Here's the thing.  It's not all centered around the library.  I think it's the two buildings close by though.

He taps the map in two places.  One is South Hampton Elementary.  The other is Jackson Prescott Junior High.

Roger grins, though there's more of a grimace to it than any joy.  Welcome to what I think is recruiting ground grade A for the Scales.

"HOly Crap... you think it is the elementary or Jr. High school?! I mean that is diabolical to the extreme"

Aubrey looks deeper at the lines and the map trying to make sense out of everything.

"What differentiates the Scale members? Do they get tattoos or anything? What are these incidents? Have you gotten blue prints of the schools to see where you think they might be meeting? Are they masking it to look like PTA"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Tue 28 Jan 2020.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 108):

He holds up a hand.  "One question at a time now.  But yeah.  I think they're recruiting from the schools.

Specifically, I think they go after kids from unhappy homes.  They sort of..." he hunts for the word.  "...mentor them.  They indoctrinate them slowly.  Of the seventeen Scales soldiers who have been captured, half of them went through this school system at some point in time."

He shrugs.  "I've tried numerous times to get a handle on how it's going down.  But I never can.  I'm too famous." He laughs.  "No one will talk to me.  I'm pretty sure the Scales run that neighborhood.  But they keep a very low profile.  So it's not direct.   And they're smart.  Very smart.  They don't make overt moves.  But if I can get someone to talk to me, they're gone pretty soon thereafter."

He taps the map.  "Somehow.  Someway.  They've got someone in there, hustling troubled kids and turning them in to fanatics. But I can't prove a thing."

Aubrey shock her head as she looked through the information on the wall.

"Young impressionable minds would be a field day for the despicable. I'm thinking a teacher or counselor in order to get to the kids they want. Any super teams going after them? "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 110):

He laughs.  With the political climate these days?  Well.  To be fair.  It's not like there's a lot of overt activity going on.  And what's someone like the Invincibles gonna do?  Go busting into an elementary school and start shooting laser beams around?

He shrugs.  Of course, they aren't exactly jumping over themselves to look into it either.

His eyes narrow.  So.  What do you mean to do about it?

"What i'm going to do about it... not sure yet.  There are at least two conflicting feelings about this.  The feeling like these kids are not getting a fair shake and getting put into a situation where they are brainwashed into something that to leave is only in a body bag seems so gang like and wrong. So does one go in and try to find out what they can so they can possibly find the domino that causes the start of a good reaction.... or do I only use this as an assessment of risk for my client. And as far as that goes, it is simply informational in that they are in risk of unknown quantities and qualities of hide in plain sight potential threats."

Aubrey sighs

"So do something, do nothing... What would you wish for?

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 112):

He shrugs.  I want the world to change. I want it to be a better place.  I can't do that myself.  So I try to get information to those who can.  That's about it.

Other questions for Roger?  If not, what would you like to do next?

"I guess we all have a little bit of the hero complex. Thank you Roger for your information. Someday I hope I can repay you for your kindness"

Aubrey heads home to do some recon on the schools and to see if she can start getting a list of the workers at the schools and any blue prints of the building. She also sends a check up text to Charlie.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 114):

Well...if you want to repay my kindness...  He wriggles his eyebrows and grins, like he's about to say something really, really gross.  Tell me what's really going on here.  Your 'client'?

---

No response from Charlie.

You end up doing more research than you thought:  a school has a lot of people associated with it.  And you're dealing with two.

But the most disturbing connection is, perhaps, the most obvious one.  You first come across her when you find an article detailing a fair two years ago held to raise money for sporting equipment for the junior high.  There's a photo showing several of the volunteers, and she's standing at one, smiling kindly.  That grandmother you found when you did your original search:  Veronica Blassingale.

She shows up in a couple of other instances.  Always as a volunteer.  In every instance, her photo shows a big smile with kind eyes.  She looks too much like a grandmother to be a recruiter for the Scales.

Aubrey smiles and giggles at Roger

"I think your eyebrows look great. Don't let them do any threading"

Aubrey wished that she knew Roger better so to know what to trust him with and what to not trust him with. But she did trust Bull and her lips were sealed with what she needed to know.

"I hope to talk to you again Roger. Perhaps I might be able to add something to your investigation. Watch your 6"

Aubrey heads home disappointed in her not getting intel on Charlie, but not really knowing what to ask to get it and not be used as information to someone else.

Still no response from Charlie had Aubrey conflicted on what to think or feel. She was worried, but maybe he was undercover. So she threw herself into her work because if Charlie or whatever the hell his name was, was in trouble then she might be able to help.

Aubrey would have yelled out a whoop whoop when she found Veronica in the photos if she wasn't a little shocked. Aubrey starts to then really dig into Veronica's background and anything she can find. She calls Tate to find out if he could help her look up very carefully in the dark net explaining that either Veronica is a recruiter or they are using her somehow as a figurehead.  Aubrey next tries to see if there is anything near the house that she can put a camera up. Aubrey also looks for any kids that might be related to her. If they were in junior high two years ago then maybe they are in the high school.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 116):

Ya know Tate drawls in to the phone.  You might wanna check in with Rob.  He and Vic have been fightin' again.  But yeah.  I'll look into your lady for you.  Give me a few.

Between his searches and yours, you come up with the following information.

Veronica's public persona is a retired social worker who has lived in the Hampton Hills area for thirty plus years.  Her late husband was the head mechanic for the city's public transport system before his death eighteen years ago.  Veronica fills her time working for various charities that either support public schools or support at-risk children.  While she doesn't foster children herself, she works as a liason between foster families and the Child Protective Services to insure quality care for foster kids.

There are holes in this though.  For one thing, there was a Harold Blassingale.  And he was the chief mechanic for the city.  But the accounts of his wife are conflicting.  Most point to Veronica, including the marriage license.  But you find an old, old wedding announcement stating Harold was marrying Andrea Willoughby.  You can't find anything outside of official documents that details their marriage.  No anouncements in the newspaper.  His obituary doesn't list Veronica.

Veronica lives in an apartment complex.  You might be able to plant a camera in the hallway outside her door.
The other odd thing is her appearance.  You can find photos of her dating back fifteen years.  And in all of them, she looks the same.  She hasn't aged.  Gotten fatter or thinner.  She even wears the exact same bun in all the photos.

There are a couple of cryptic references on some deep web message boards.  The boards seem to be local.  They make reference to some city landmarks like Pascale's Ice Cream and the annual Cabbage Festival.  But these boards seem to be by some rather odd and disturbing individuals.

Ms V came by today.  She syz if I finish the bomb I can go 2 to 6 flags

One poster is going on about the 'people I'm with now'.  I swear if it wasn't for V I'd fuck them all up!  I'd fuck every last one of them up. But she says wait

Another writes Ms V says I did good!  I can get bit!  I'm so happy I could squee!

Aubrey sighed when she heard about Vic and Rob fighting again. Perhaps they should rent a boxing rink and allow the boys to burn off their frustrations. Aubrey dials Rob and then perhaps Vic to find out what was going on.

"Hey butthead! What's going on"


Researching proved to be worrisome. Seeing the two handles Aubrey called to talk to Tate to find out how hard was it going to be to find out the names of the two posters. Aubrey looks up anything she can find on 6 flags and the area of the schools. Could it be the amusement park....  She looks for any history of other conversations by the same handles and tries to find any sort of pattern.

She checks her phone again to see if she got any thing from Charlie. Could she get into the phone records and try to find out where Charlie's phone was last pinging off a tower to try to get a general location. She calls Tate again to see if he could help her pinpoint a general location.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 118):

Rob does not to answer your call.

Vic is sighing as he picks up.  He started it...

He sighs again.  It's just the usual.  He wants me to drop the Mom an' Dad thing.  I don't.  Same story.  Different day.  What do you have goin' on?

---

Tate tracks back as far as he can on the posters.  Nada I'm afraid.  The e-mail addresses they're hooked to look like dummies.  Can't find where they were ever used off Reddit.  The other stuff on Reddit...meh.  Sounds like kids talkin' kid stuff.

Six Flags being the amusement park would seem the logical first guess.  Problem is your city doesn't have one.

A cruise through internet land shows a few other references to Six Flags.

GOIN' TO SIX FLAGS!!! YA BABY!!!

I don't care if i did screw up i deserve to go to 6 flags this is unfair

if i nail the next test my ass is six flag bound

All the posters seem to be the same type as what you found before.  Sound like young kids.  Handles lead nowhere off Reddit.

Aubrey sighed

"Vic did he state why he wanted you to drop it? Like I think we all need to be more open. Maybe this is the shit is hitting the fan and I need you to drop this for three months. Or something is really wrong with Alex and we all need to deal with this in the present. Someone or thing or whatever is messing with our family. There are too many mysteries and we need to debrief and get on the same page. We may need to drop this for a little bit with the understanding that we are going to picking this all up as a team and hitting it as a team. Or Rob is being a dick and he needs to be talked too. But Vic... I need you both being on the same side. Tell me how to get that done?"

Aubrey frowns and doodles on a piece of paper

"I'm trying to research some crazy group and I came across some stuff. If you got time I'd love to show you what i've found and get another set of eyes on it"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 120):

If I knew the answer to that Bree, do you think we'd be having this conversation?

He sighs.  Look.  Someone killed our Mom and Dad.  Maybe they weren't perfect people.  But they were our Mom and Dad.  Yeah.  I get that we need to rally and Alex has issues and everything else.  But we are always going to have problems.  If we deal only with the here and now, we lose sight of the then and...the...will be.  Or something like that.  It sounded cooler in my head.

Anyway.  You get what I'm saying.  And have you thought that maybe all our problems might be connected?  That maybe whoever killed Mom and Dad is back for an encore?  I mean...what are the odds that one family has problems like this over and over again?  Right?<Green>

He is silent a moment.  <Green>I'll...try talking to Rob again.  Okay?  Yeah sure.  I'll be happy to take a lookie lou.  You want to swing by?

"Vic...I agree with you. I think there is something shady about how and what happened to Mom and Dad. Even knowing what they were in to. And I also think that what happened probably has something to do with all the weird stuff going on. And it would be smart for us to be ready for whatever is coming our way. But I think Rob is trying to protect us and probably knows a bit more of what is going on. And if we push him to much, he will do something stupid and I can't lose any of you."

"Yeah.. i'm on my way. I'll be there shortly"



Aubrey heads over to Vic's house to go over what she had been working on and some of her concerns about Charlie.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 122):

Interesting.

Vic looks kind of tired.  He's drinking black coffee although by now it's eight in the PM.

He listens to everything, looks over what you found, and frowns.  Somethin' doesn't make sense about this to me Bree.  I mean...you found this pretty easy all things considering.  And I'm not sayin' it's not good work.  But...how come this Roger guy didn't find any of this out?  I mean...if he's a hotshot reporter, don't you think he should have stumbled across all this too?

Aubrey flops down on the couch.

"Yeah... you know that voice in the back of your mind that makes you relook at a shadow or triple check to see if you turned the oven off has kind of thought the same thing. It didn't come 'easy', but it does seem to be to much in the open. And I was warned that this Roger is a user. So I have no doubts he would use me to fish out something"

Aubrey continues

"And I was really just invested to find out if Charlie needs help. I mean, sure, it could be that he is ghosting me. And that would suck and I would be pissed. But I would almost rather that then him being in some sort of trouble and I just didn't do anything. So I have to find out. He came to my help when I needed it. I should at least be a friend and do the same"

Aubrey drops her pen on the table

"Finding all of this just made me worried that he is caught up in this. "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 124):

Vic sighs.  "Don't ever tell me I'm being a pain in the ass, 'kay?  You've got that down quite handily yourself."

He picks up some of your work.  "Okay.  So let's assume this Roger guy is using you.  Maybe like a stalking horse.  He wants you to go plowing in and see what shakes out.

"Or maybe he's really not as good as people say he is.

"Either way, what changes?  If you've made up your mind, you've made up your mind."  Vic adds, muttering under his breath, "Not like any a' us have ever been able to change your mind..."

He sets the paper work down.  "I'll tell Rob you're finishin' some clean up work on that Flo case.  That you need a couple of days.  Also, call Albert Finney."  Al is a contractor Vic and Rob sometimes use as a fill in.  He's good with surveillance work, but even Tate has made the comment Al is someone trusty to have your backside.  "Tell him to give you back up.  If you use one of our guys, Rob'll find out.  Let me handle the research stuff.  Text me when you need somethin' looked up.  I'll fit it in during the stuff I'm doin' for Rob.

"And keep me in the loop.  I can be down there quick as shit if you need it.

"So?  How are you gonna start?"

Aubrey gave Vic a mischievous smile

"I'm SO going to name my first child's middle name after you! Right this moment you are my favorite.. Don't f it up"

Aubrey takes down Finney's number

"Do you think this should be a passive surveillance or should I try to go in there as a student or staff?"

Aubrey puts the schools in her computer to see what the surrounding area looked like. Can she hide out and watch from an office building, try to be invisible by being part of the homeless, what outside sources were used by the school or is there a staff position available.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 126):

"Well, at least you know your kid'll be handsome that way..."  Vic shrugs.  "Hard to tell you how to play it without more info."

Speaking of which, you review what you know about the area.

There's not a ton of homeless in the area.  But there are some.  The neighbors seem to try to keep them away from the school though.

There are a couple of potential surveillance posts.  There's an apartment complex right across the street that usually has some vacancies.  Not the nicest of places.

You don't see any openings in the school.  But a vendor list shows that the security company that staffs the after hours guards are looking for someone.

There's also a couple of volunteer programs.  Tutors after school.  Shifts in the school library.

There is also a volunteer op for the program Veronica works in related to the foster kids.  They're looking for someone to do office work two nights a week.

Aubrey goes over all the options she had with Vic

"I'm thinking of getting a room in the apartment complex for a short term rental to have a base for the surveillance and maybe helping out for two nights a week at the volunteer op. Do you think helping as a tutor would be to much saturation at first? Just trying to find some space to look but a reason to be around. Something that will give me some access to bug a few things. "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 128):

"I think you're gonna be relying more on B&E for bugging rather than a cover story on this one.  But yeah. Goin' in as a good Samaritan might let you get the lay of the land.

"Just watch your six.  These guys are probably used ta people trying to infiltrate.  The fact they've been undiscovered this long means they know what they're doing."

---

There are three possible apartments:

Two in the complex directly across the street.  One ground level.  One on the top/fourth floor.

There is also a vacancy in Veronica's apartment complex.  The apartment under hers and to the south.  The neighbor of her downstairs neighbor.

The tutoring program needs someone dedicated to math and someone dedicated to history and geography.

"we should check out what happened to others in those positions. Maybe they 'turn' those people to their cause so don't need to worry about infiltration. Wouldn't it be crazy if Mr. Report was actually one of their recruiters"

Aubrey look through what was available and checked out what she could on the blueprints of the apartment in Veronica's complex. She wanted to see if there was any vents Aubrey could use to get some sort of listening device in. She wanted to make sure that 'saturating' targets world was worth the risk of gathering information. Otherwise she would rely on some sort of B and E into the apartment and getting a room across the street. The top floor would be the best to get a view and to set up cameras.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 130):

You would have to go through the walls to get in to Veronica's apartment with a crawling listening robot.

So B&E and room next door then?

In reply to Editor-in-Chief (msg # 131):

Yes sir :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 132):

Okie dokie.  We need to take a little break as I need to work something out.  I will post again tomorrow or Saturday.  Thanks.

still here :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 134):

I'm so sorry Bree.  I thought I posted Friday.

1202 North Heights Boulevard is one of those large old homes someone divided up in to apartments.  The land lady shows you unit 4.  It's on the third floor and has the best view of the school.  There's an old balcony that's shared with unit 5 that looks out over the blacktop  behind the school and offers a view through one of the large, plate glass windows that show the main hallway inside the school.  It's probably the most coverage you've seen in all the places you've looked at.

The room itself is pretty sorry.  But the rent is cheap.  Very cheap.  Very, very cheap.  So it's what you would expect.

The landlady watches you look over the claw tub in the bathroom.  So you know:  there's a lotta single guys livin' here.  So if you're lookin' for a fella, you'll have your pick.

Aubrey walked around the room taking a mental inventory in where she could place some video bugs to spy on the school across the street. She was pretty happy with the location.

Aubrey smiled over at the landlady and laughed

"Well... my boyfriend is enlisted so not sure if he would like that."

Aubrey shrugged her shoulders

"The people next door are they loud?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 136):

She shakes her head.  "Nah.  A couple a' fellas who...well.  I think they're like cops or somethin'.  Military kinda bearing.

"But they're like all the fellas here.  They do they're drinkin' at the Whiskey Sour down the street.  I tell 'em to keep the antics there.  Mostly, they're good guys.  Well behaved.

"If you have any problems, lemme know.  So...takin' the room?"

You may need to figure out how to hide the bugs.  But yes.  The balcony should give you good coverage.

ooc: No worries :) I've done that before...and more than once :)


IC
Aubrey smiled and laughed

"Yes... this room feels perfect. Don't think I'll have any problems. Just feels good to take that forward step in life"

Aubrey looks over whatever contract she has and when she gets a chance she looks over the balcony to figure out if she can hang the video bug somewhere on the wall to hide it in the material of the building or perhaps get some balcony seats or table to hide it within the furniture. She also looks for any window in her own apartment that she might be able to use for her surveillance.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 138):

Let's talk about the surveillance.  I'm assuming Bree wants to get as much area covered from her balcony as she can.  Getting audio will be trickier.  Also, do you want to break into the school and plant any bugs?

Let me know which you think please.  Thanks.

I don't think I can get audio from the apartment so she will need to go go in after hours and place some around the school. So audio bug in the area she can see from her balcony coverage would be a plus. Video/audio duo bugs i'm thinking the volunteer area where Veronica is, and any sketchy "basement" locations where secret meetings might happen. I'm not sure if she knows enough sketchy places, but if she does then there :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 140):

We'll get to the sketchy areas later.  For now, I'm assuming you'll put audio on the:

-School Office
-Nurse's Office
-The Front Hall (though that's like to be a noisy spot during the day)
-Entrance

Let me know if there's anywhere else you want to rig for audio.

Video is set up.

As you fiddle the last camera into place on the balcony, you see a group of men walking down the road.  They're all in their late teens or early twenties.  They look street punk, but they carry themselves with a military bearing.  There are five of them.  You notice at least two of them have an odd tat:  an upside down V under their left ear.

They come up to the apartment door.  Seem to be talking about the basketball game last night.  One of them holds the door open, but the last one happens to look up and see you.  He thumps the shoulder of the guy ahead of him.  They both look at you.

It's the guy look.  You don't think they notice the cameras.

"Well well!  We finally got some beautiful scenery around here!"

"Smooth Jeff.  Real smooth."

The guy who was holding open the door...you think he's probably the oldest...looks in the direction they're all looking at and sees you.  "Hey!"  he calls at the others.

They all glance at him.  But they settle down and move inside.

The older guy looks up at you.  "Sorry," he says and then follows the others inside.

ooc : Sounds like good areas :)

IC

Aubrey fiddled with the last camera and saw a group of men walking down the street. It was not unusual to see men walking down the street, but what was unusual is they carried themselves as military and didn't seem to be of the age for military. Aubrey glances at their necks to see if they had dog tags but noticed a particular tattoo. Determined to draw it and research it later Aubrey pretended to not hear them until they spoke up. She looked over and gave a soft smile, not particular flirty but nice and neighborly.

Aubrey smiled at the older guy and when she heard him say sorry she shook her head

"No worries, I have thicker skin then that. Have a good day"

Aubrey doesn't expect a response but after a few moments goes back in to the room to see if she picked up any of their faces.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 142):

You got good shots of all of them.  Running them through the facial recognition software and some detective work gets you a couple of leads.

Jeff a/k/a 'Mr. Scenery' has a mugshot online.  It's four years old, when he was sixteen. But it's easy to tell it's the same guy.  He was charged with manslaughter, tried, and convicted as an adult.  Nothing more about him.  No APBs or notices he's wanted for escape.

Jeffrey Pultza.  Other than his conviction (he was robbing a drug store with two other guys.  He threatened a clerk with a baseball bat.  She had a stroke), you can only find a little bit about him.  His mother died when he was young.  He bounced from foster to foster.  Guess where he went to school?  At least while he was in school.

The other tidbit you find is on the tat.  It's called a downfang.  And that's all you can find on it.  Downfang.

Aubrey sends off the information she gathered so far and sends it off to Vic.  She looks to see if she can find out or have Vic find out if any of these people she finds had similar counselors, foster parents, social service reps, teachers and any other noteworthy person in common.  Aubrey looks for a way to 'hide'( ie. in a big box of maxi pads etc) any of her gadgets that she doesn't have on her person and heads out to check out around the building using the laundry situation as an excuse.  She is hoping to find out where those boys went and to get some eyes on who might be her neighbor.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 144):

The neighbors are quiet and, if home, not obliging.  They don't come out or go in all day.

The building is set up with basically three to four units on a floor.  Your level has singles, as is the one above where Veronica lives.

Your floor has four units.  You are in 2C.  The room you share the balcony with, 1C, is the door to your right as you come out of your apartment.

The door to your left, and the apartment under Veronica's, is 3C.  4C is across the hall from 3C.  It's the only one on your floor that has signs of life.  You can hear a TV playing from inside.

Fourth floor has three apartments, all singles.  Veronica's is 3D.  1D seems to be above both you and 1C.

You head downstairs with your basket of 'laundry'.  Second floor is three units, but all are doubles.  More lively down here.  You can hear people in two of the apartments.  This floors seems to be a mirror of the fourth.  1B is below you and 1C.

The first is a bit larger.  There are four units, each being a double.  The landlady has 1A.  The post boxes are by her door, which is right in front of the entry.

You see the older guy who held the door open for the others.  He's checking his mailbox.  He doesn't seem to see you...but.  You're kind of reminded of Rob.  Even if Rob isn't looking at you, you know he's always aware of everything going on around him.  This guy seems to have that vibe too.

You still have no idea where the laundry room is.

Aubrey sighs and heads over to the one guy out and about. She's a little nervous that it is too soon for her to ask him, but the nervousness should sell her story as well. So perhaps it is a win. She watches his reaction to verify if he is like her brother's, always aware....

"Um.... excuse me sir. Sorry to bother you, but could you direct me to where the laundry room is?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 146):

He looks up, almost doing a double take, and smiles.  Oddly.  Like he's not good at smiling but someone told him in situations like this he should give it his best shot.

"Oh.  Ah...yeah."  He points at a door that looks like an apartment door.  "Downstairs in the basement.  Turn left at the bottom of the stairs.  Nothing on the right 'cept some old storage."

Aubrey smiles back like it was a normal exchange.

"Thanks! ohhh I wasn't very neighborly! Hi i'm Eden"

Aubrey puts out her hand to see how he responds to other social norms

"Old storage sounds spooky and bugs living there" Aubrey shivers

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 148):

"Eden.  Right.  Nice ta meetcha.  I'm Alan."  He scratches at his belly with his free hand.  "No.  This place is pretty clean.  You must have just moved in.  Settling in alright?"

He's got the downfang as well.

As he's speaking, one of the apartment doors open and an older woman comes out.  She stops for a moment when she sees you and Alan, nods, shuts the door behind her, and shuffles past the two of you to head outside.

Alan nods at her.  The smile he gives her seems a bit more genuine.  "Mrs. Hernandez.  She's lived here longer than the Super.  She makes great pupusas."

Aubrey smiled at Alan and shook his hand

"Yeah. Seems like a pretty good place to live so far. Good to know about it all being pretty clean. How's the neighborhood at night? Okay to jog on the streets?"

Aubrey smiles at the older women and watches as she shuts the door again

"Sounds like a great neighbor to know. Pupusas sound wonderful. I think I must have scared her or something. Maybe I can make it up to her later. Thanks Alan for being a friendly neighbor"

Aubrey continues with her ruse in finding the laundry room but also tries to get a feel for where everything is as she moves around the hallway.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 150):

"You'll be fine in the neighborhood.  We know most everyone.  And we keep an eye out for the Landlady's sake.  Just don't go past White Cross Street.  That's outside the neighborhood. Anyway.  Take it easy."

He nods and walks to the stairs.

Going down to snoop?  Or some other activity?

Thanks

Aubrey smiled

"What is past White Cross Street? Thanks Alan!"

Aubrey goes down to snoop in the basement. She puts her cloths in to wash and looks for what might be down there or if there is any spot good to bug

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 152):

"Like I said:  not our neighborhood.  It's kind of a rough section of town." Alan smiles wanely back at you and heads up the stairs.

---

The stairs end at a cross hallway.  The laundry room is to the left.  A door with a thick padlock is to the right.

As you head into the laundry room you strike pay dirt.  Or maybe it hits you.

Right across from the door is a stack of dryers.  The big kind with the wide circular clear plastic dooor that swings out towards you.  The top one has a sign on it that reads OUT OF ORDER

On the other side of that paper you think...think...you see the outline of a security cam.  A camera in that dryer would be perfect to monitor ingress and egress to the laundry room.  As well as provide a clear shot down the hallway towards the padlocked door.

You're pretty certain there's a mic set up in the ceiling overhead too.  A stray wire that makes no sense is draped across one of the acoustical tiles that make up the ceiling.  It snakes up under the next one and disappears.

There might be other cameras in here.  You'd have to look to make sure.  Of course, someone might see you looking...

Aubrey does a happy dance as she looks at the laundry room.  Seeing the signs of things being under watch puts a bit of a sense of dread in her. Maybe she would be able to hack into the stream of the other equipment. She makes a mental note to ask Tate about it. Tossing her stuff into the machine she sets her phone to music and tries to make her dancing time as a way to look around for other cameras. At the end she does "selfies" of herself trying to get some good pictures of some of the area's she might be questioning.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 154):

You think the one in the dryer may have been put there to intentionally tip off a curious observer.  Like they want to see who will respond.

This is based on the excellent placement of the other cameras.  You see two:  one under a washing machine and one in a corner of the room, very well disguised as part of the ceiling tile itself.

You don't know how many others there might be.

Really.  The tech looks pretty state of the art.  You aren't even sure they are cameras.  They might be something else.  But it's outside your range of knowledge.

Aubrey hopes that in all her "selfies" she managed to get some good pictures of the tech she was dealing with to send off to Tate to see if he knew what was going on with the items. She checks for anything similar through the hallways as she makes her way to her room.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 156):

The first floor seems clear.  You think there are some watching the front door and mailboxes.  But they are well hidden.  It could be your imagination. You'd have to examine things more closely.  And if there are cameras, doing so would just tip off the operators you know.

The stairwell definitely has some.  Each landing and a pair crisscrossing each rising.  You're getting to know what to look for.

The halls seem clear.  But again.  They just may be that well hidden.

You send the photos off to Tate.  Vic's sent you a message.

Did some checking on school faculty.  Mostly stable.  Long termers who have been with the school for years.  But there's one class that changes pretty often.  It's a special skills class.  Couldn't get any real info on what's taught.  Current instructor is a Mrs. Bolack.  No info on her either.  The classroom is in back of the school in one of those trailers.

Aubrey updates Vic on the cameras and surveillance devices she's been seeing and about the people she has encountered. She lets him know general spots she has set up at the school. Aubrey checks her room completely for any of the devices and sits out on her balcony for a little bit watching what goes on. She eventually sets up some noise traps around the door from the balcony and the front door. She also checks the vents to see if any might have devices or be a means to get in her room. She listens at the wall to listen for sound in the apartment next door to her and then after every paranoid thought races through her mind she sends a text to Charlie before heading to bed.

~~~thinking of you. I hope you are doing well and ...~~

She leaves it open and not finished.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 158):

You get woken up about 2 AM.  There's some noise coming from the hallway.  Footsteps obviously.  A couple of men.  They pass your door.

You hear your neighbor's door open and shut.  No voices.

Someone walks around next door.  Then, after five minutes, a door opens.  Footsteps on the balcony.  They stop short of your apartment.

Then after a moment longer, they go back inside your neighbor's.

Silence.

Lots of silence.

Silent silent silence.

Hear that?  It's the sounds of silence.

Then the foot steps-two sets- start up again.  It's been a half hour.

They leave your neighbor's apartment and...sounds like they head upstairs.

Aubrey moans into her pillow as she pushes herself out of bed as quietly as she could. Hearing the footsteps was a little unnerving.  Aubrey peeks out the hallway hoping to get a glimpse of them and sneaks over to hear wall to try and listen. Hearing them out on the balcony Aubrey sneaks over to her computer to see if her camera picked up anything. She keeps an ear out to listen for any sounds and she hears silence. What is it about silence that made it so loud???

Aubrey glances at her watch an notices that it had been about half an hour. Aubrey hearing the door opening at her neighbors room tries to move to see if she can peek.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 160):

The angle of your peephole isn't good enough to catch them at your neighbor's door.  But your cameras work just fine.

It's two of the guys from before.  It's Jeff 'Mr. Scenery' and one of the others who didn't talk.

They come out to the balcony and walk up to the railing of the deck.  Each one takes and end and lifts part of the rail up.  It's fake obviously but really good.  You didn't notice anything when you inspected earlier.

Underneath is some kind of equipment.  Jeff's blocking the camera that has the only good shot.  You can't make out what it is.

They replace the rail and head back inside.

That's all the visibility you have as to their movements.

Aubrey was a little shocked to see whom was on the camera. She hated to admit to herself but she was really hoping it was Charlie and his partner set up here to do some investigations of their own. It would have been heartbreaking to her but at least it would mean he was just a jerk and not in danger. Having sceen the surveillance in the hallway Aubrey knows she can't follow as of yet. She is going to have to map out the hallways and figure out if there is any blind spots she can use later.  She looks for any spot outside on the balcony that she can get a better angle for the railing bar for when they put something back or check on it again. She also looks for any vents the two apartments might share that she can set up a listening device for the room next door.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 162):

The vents turn out to be a no go.  It seems someone made an effort at some point to seal off each apartment, except for the shared balcony.

You could try to hang a camera right above the railing.  Or put one in the upper corners of the overhang.  But that would require you getting up there without any passerby seeing you.

Roll me a 1d6 please

17:20, Today: Audrey Eden Davis rolled 4 using 1d6.  Story.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 164):

Thanks.  I sometimes use the die rolls to decide split decisions.  Like this one

The next day, under the guise of moving empty boxes from your car to your new apartment, you begin the process of trying to connect the camera/dots.

You get a good feeling for your floor.  Now that you know what to look for, it helps.  The problem is getting out into the hallway itself.  There's a camera trained right on your door.  And another down the hall at an angle.  No wiggle room there.

The good news is...there doesn't seem to be one in front of your neighbor's door.  And the balcony is clear.  Well, except for your cameras.

The stairwell is another problem area.  They went nuts on it.  You think it's possible to move from blind spot to blind spot.  But it will require moving through some hot spots quickly.  And if anyone is coming up or down the stairs, you'll look hella suspicious.

The first floor is a bit better.  Basically the front door, mailboxes, and landlady's apartment door are all watched.  The stairs down to the basement are almost a land mine.  You think there's motion dectors on the door frame leading down.  And not cheap ones either.  But you can circumvent those areas.  Except the front door.  The way that's rigged up, going out or in, you'll be seen.

Checking out the other floors is going to be a little suspicious.  It's probably safe to assume they're rigged like yours or worse.

The upshot is:  you have movement on your floor.  Some on the first floor.  But getting between them, down into the basement, or out of the building without getting noticed will not be a matter of stealth.  You would have to figure out some trickery to accomplish it.

Aubrey felt pretty proud of herself for getting her intel. She checks out her balcony door and if she gets a chance, the neighbors balcony door to see how she might be able to pick the lock. Perhaps she can get something in that room when they left in the middle of the morning again. She checks for blueprints of the building to see how large the "storage space" might be and to see if there is any sewer tunnel systems nearby or window access from the outside. Maybe an old tunnel leading from the school to the building. She checks to see if there is a vent map with the blueprint to see if her spider can take a trip to look around.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 166):

The lock on the neighbor's door is high end.  Very high end.  Even if the lock can be picked, it has an electronic sensor that has to receive a matching radio signal from a compenent in the key or it signals an alarm.

The vent schematic may not be a big help  According to it, all the vents on this floor should be somewhere besides where they actually are.  Someone redid the vents and never updated the plans at City Hall.

Bingo on the sewer lines though.  There's a main tunnel for the system that runs under the school, under the street, and then passes under the house.

You could try to access the line.  Probably in that storage room.  But there should be an entry point in the school.  And one down the street at the corner of White Cross and Middlebrook.  And another one about a block going the other way from the front door of the house.

Aubrey takes the time in her room to look through her vents to see how they are different then the ones in the plans. Later she uses the cover of going for a run to check on the sewer entrance on the street and tries to get a look at them after school is out after she gets some sort of idea of looking at the school blueprints. She heads to a coffee shop to call Vic and give him an update on what she has found figuring that if she disappears she should be keeping her brother informed.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 168):

The vent work has been completely redone.  Now that you look at it, it appears some of the walls have been moved too.  Someone redid this house and didn't bother telling the city about it.  There's no real rhyme or reason.  But it does appear the apartments on your side of the building all have a seperate system than the ones on the other side.  Your neighbor being the exception.  That apartment doesn't seem to match up to anyone.  So you can spy on the lady who makes pupusas.  But not on Alan.  Or so you're assuming.

The vents all lead down to...you guessed it...the storage room.  You'd have to go through there with a spider and find the opening to the neighboring vents.

The sewer entrance is pretty obvious.  Really obvious.  It's in full view of the street.  And there are a couple of homeless guys that seem to be keeping an eye on it.  These are very well built homeless people too.  Read:  guards in disguise.

The school entrance is in the boiler room.  You can map out a path from the blueprints.  But you have no visibility into it from outside.  You would have to get into the school to see for sure.

"Shit Bree. I'm likin' this less and less.  This sounds like you've wandered into a fortress.  Yeah, I know I'm soundin' like Alex.  But..."  Vic pauses a while and then just asks.  "Is this guy worth it?"

Aubrey leans back in her chair and agrees with Vic

"Yeah... I mean some people with their luck win the lotto or some sort of drawling. Me... I find a hornets nest of cray cray people."

Running a hand through her hair she considers the question

"I guess it depends on the cost on whether he is worth it. If this put any of you guys in jeopardy then I would back off. But what kind of person am I if I don't try to find out if he needs help. I mean... granted I don't even know his first name, but in the very least I have these feelings for him and the very smallest amount of action I will treat him as I would a friend. Does that make sense?"

"So i'm thinking the homeless watcher is not the way to go. But maybe I can find some sort of entrance in the school. I mean no horror film has bad things in the boiler room....right

Aubrey next calls Bullfrog, just to let him know what things she has found in her investigation and if she isn't heard from again where to start to look.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 170):

"Wow.  That gives me a good feeling," Vic drawls. Then he sighs.  "And you're you.  So just don't go rushing in.  Check the school for an entrance but don't go down any rabbit holes."

He pauses.  "Give me or Tate a call.  That's something you want back up on.  Capice?"

---

"Wow.  All that gives me a warm tingly feeling," Bullfrog drawls.  He sighs.  "You don't strike me as the type to let a little thing like fear stop ya.

"I'm sure I'm tellin' you something you already know.  But go slow.  These guys are crazy nuts.  And they're the worst kind of crazy nuts.  The armed and trained kind."

He's quiet a moment and then says, "Look.  I'd come down there and back you up.  But I've got a thing on Mars.  Long story.  I'm sure you know how to fire a gun and karate chop.  But these guys have better equipment than that.  Most of 'em are trained like Special Ops.  The scary kind.  You got a pen handy?  Take down this number."  He dictates a phone number.

"Call 'em tomorrow.  When they answer, no matter how they answer, ask if this is Samuel Hoff's house.  If they wanna know how you got this number, give 'em my name.  Tell 'em I put a word out for you on the Blackboard.  They'll understand.  I can't go into details.  But you can trust 'em.  Well. Mostly.

"They'll arrange a place to meet you.  Go.  These guys have access to some tech.  You could probably use it.  Especially since you seem to keep bumping into metas.  Just don't ask a lot of questions."

There's another pause.  "And be careful."

Aubrey promises Vic to not go in without backup with her fingers crossed.  She meant to try her best to live up to the promise, but had the fingers crossed for that non guilt back out.

Aubrey wrote down the information Bullfrog gave in a coded message. Turning all vowels to numbers and moving the last letter first and the first letter last. A paranoid habit from paranoid brothers.

"Mars? Be careful up there. And thank you Bull for all this help. I hope it's reassuring the length I will go for a friend and I appreciate you doing that for me as well. I hope some day I can return the favor to you. Feeling like i'm doing a lot of taking.  It kinda sounds like these aholes are going after stupid teenagers and that kind of sucks. What are they gearing up for? "

Aubrey plans on doing exactly what Bull told her and get whatever tech that might help her out.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 172):

Bully wasn't kidding about shady.

You make the call.   The guy who answers says in a slightly fruity lisp,

"Steinmetz Fine Pianos.  How can we tickle your ivories today?"

Once you ask for Sammuel though, the tone of voice goes to Thug Basso.

"Yeah.  You are...Aubrey Eden Davis, right?  How'd you get this number?"

Doesn't matter if it's a dummy phone.  Doesn't matter if it's an unlisted number.  He knows your name without you telling him.

He listens and says, "I need to check some things out.  Tomorrow.  9 PM.  1124 West Lamont Street.  There's a pizzeria.  Al's Italian.  Go in and order a slice with no cheese extra sauce.  Then ask if you can use the bathroom.  If things check out, do what the guy tells you.  If not...enjoy your pizza."

He hangs up on you.

I'm assuming you're going.  Any special precautions you're taking?

Aubrey makes the call in the morning a little excited to see what happens. The whole conversation went over like a blur. It started off funny with the comment about tickle your ivories and ended with a possible pick up of.... something. She kind of wondered if she didn't check out what was the thing that didn't check out. With a shrug she got to work looking up the meet up spot for maps and exit strategies. Since he didn't say come unarmed Aubrey would have some hidden guns (back and leg) and a knife on her side hidden in the other leg. Until the meet she watch her feeds and did basic recon with a little sunbathing on the balcony

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 174):

It's a school day.  There's a lot of activity but nothing you see while sunbathing looks out of the ordinary.

---

You find Al's no problem.  The guy behind the counter smiles at your order and rings it up.  "Sorry we're so crowded.  Got no tables open in the front."

You're the only customer in here.

"You can have a seat in the Buffet room.  Go down the hall past the bathrooms.  You'll see it on your right.  I'll bring your slice in."

Down the hall, past the bathrooms.  There's the door.

When it opens, you see a surprisingly large room. It's set up just like a buffet, except there's no food out and the steam table is covered with a sheet.  Tables and chairs are stacked against one wall.  Except for one table and two chairs.  Those are set out in the middle of the room

A man in his early 50s is sitting there, reading a Pynchon novel.  He looks up at you.

"Ms. Davis, right?  The ladies behind you are going to pat you down."

There are two women behind you suddenly.  They just sort of appeared there.  These people are freaking ninjas.

"Don't make a fuss.  If you're wearing a wire...well..."  He shrugs.

They frisk you.  Rather thoroughly.  One then nods at the man and they leave.  They don't bother taking your guns or knife.

The man puts his novel down and gestures at the empty chair.  "You want something to drink?"

He stands and pulls the chair out for you, sliding it under gently as you sit down.  Then he sits as well.  "You can refer to me as Mr. Salesman.

"In order to properly serve you, I will need to ask some questions. You may answer vaguely or not at all.  However, keep in mind the more I know, the better equipment I can offer.

"First question:  Do you need weapons?

"Second question:  Do you need armor?

"Third question:  Do you need a vehicle?

"Fourth question:  Who is the target?

"Fifth question:  Are they a meta?  If so, what are their powers?

"Last question:  Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Paypal?  We don't take Discover."

Aubrey smiled at the guy behind the counter as she headed to the back. The thought of pizza making her tummy rumble as she pushes through the door. It made her pause for moment when she saw the table with the cloth as her mind tried to make sense of a bathroom and buffet tables being the same thing.

Aubrey smiled and nodded to the man as she lifted her arms for the pat down.

"Left hip side, double side left leg, knife inside right pants, and I may have a small knife in my bra.... i really can't remember if I added it or not.... sorry about that"

Aubrey looked up at the man and nodded

"No fuss at all. I'm in the sort of work that it makes sense for these things. Weapons checking ect.  I just didn't want your ladies to get cut on my weapons."

Aubrey sits in the chair the man indicated and asks for some water.

"Thank you so much Mr. Salesman"

Aubrey nodded her head and listened to his questions before answering.

"Honestly i'm not sure what I was expecting but these questions, for whatever reason , I wasn't thinking about. I'm someone who believes in being honest and i'm here to get help...er service... um... forgive my lack of a good word, it escapes me"

Aubrey ponders for a moment

My first answers are going to be all truth. Yes please on the weapons, my brothers have taught me to never go anywhere without weapons, a huge yes to armor as I'm not sure exactly what i'm going to face but having something like armor is something that can be the difference in success and failure. Vehicle, honestly I don't think I could afford but if you had the ability of creating a royal pegasus I could call forward and ride.... I would find the funds."

Aubrey paused as she picture herself as a Valkyrie and then continued

"I seem to be getting mixed into meta affairs more and more lately and my current situation is a possible rescue from the Scale Society. So the answer is I believe the meta powers are... varies. I tend to need things that keep me hidden, quiet like your ninja body friskers. So as much as I wish I could say these meta powers are what i'm facing, it seems to be changing. And I'm a Visa kind of girl. "

Aubrey takes a deep breath

"So, depending upon funds I would say armor is probably the most important than weapons. What would you suggest?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 176):

"Let's focus on the armor and weapons then."

He stands and walks to a wall.  He pushes on a section and a section of the floor slides open.

"Forgive the theatrics.  This way please."

There's a short flight of stairs down leading to a small room.  One wall is a large plasma screen TV.  Mr. Salesman waves at it.

"022XT," he says without preamble.  The screen lights up and you see a picture of a female model wearing a suit of thin blue plastic.

"Just Kevlar won't help much in your situation.  This is a sheath suit made of mitocarbonite bound polymers.  Heard of that material?  The reason why is that development of it was abandoned.  It's lightweight like silk.  It is incredibly flexible." The model does the splits and then somersaults backwards. "It's tough.  It can take shots from a Barrett M107A1 without tearing.  It's flame resistant up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit.  It can insulate against electrical shock.

"The drawbacks are breath-ability.  Wearing it is like wearing a sauna.  It has no pores.  Your body heat will remain trap.  Depending on your fitness level and how hydrated you are before you put it on, you could last a half hour to two hours wearing a suit like this.  If your activity level is high, then even less time.  The model here collapsed after a twenty minute demo."

He waves a hand and the screen freezes. "Of course, that's assuming you wear a full suit like this.  We can create a vest and leggings outfit which would give you flexibility, protect your vitals, but still give your body enough surface area to handle it's own heat.

"This option is within your price range.  We've already checked your credit and personal resources."

He has no hint of shame as he says this.  He points at the screen.

A new model shows up.  This one wears something that looks like kevlar body suit with small panels sewn on the forearms, shoulders, knees, and abs.

"Option 2.  A Project UltraMan Operator's Suit.  The UMan O Suit.  Project UltraMan was a program the Pentagon ran in the 80s.  They were designing combat exoskeletons.  If you like Anime, think 'mechas'."  He shrugs. "My daughter loves that shit.

"This is a suit developed to be worn by pilots of such crafts.  It's an armored suit, capable of handling hits from most standard firearms.  It's insulated against electrical attacks and has a decent resistance to fire.  The plating you see is armored computer hardware.  You can link it a transmitter and the transmitter to your lap top.  You'll have internet access through the goggles on the helmet and a holographic keyboard that will be projected on the air in front of you.

"The downsides are it's bulk.  It's chunky and so it's clunky.  The connection to the transmitter can also be jammed or hacked.  So it's up to the user to monitor it's internal security during use."

He looks at you and smiles.  "Questions thus far?"

"Um....is it possible to do the legs and vest of option 1 and the goggle/helmet from option 2 for access and recon?"

Aubrey listens to what else Mr. Salesman had to offer.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 178):

"I'll work up an estimate."

He waves a hand and the screen goes dark.

"Exhibit O-Charlie-24."

A section of wall slides open and a man in camo and army fatigues steps through.  The man nods at you and turns towards Mr. Salesman.

Mr. Salesman digs in a pocket and pulls out a small sphere, grayish black and the size of his palm.

"You ever seen Phantasm?"  Salesman chuckles and, after pressing the side of the sphere, throws it up into the air.  The sphere starts to fall, stops, and then hovers there.  "Defend."

Salesman nods at Army Guy.

Army Guy pulls a wicked looking knife out a sheath strapped to his back.  He hefts it and lunges at Saleman.

The sphere dips and smashes into Army Guy's head.

Army Guy takes a couple of steps back and shakes his head.  Blood is flowing from a cut in his forehead.  Army Guy wipes his forhead and tries to lunge again.

The sphere zips around and passes in front of him, forcing him to stop and take a step sideways.  The sphere quickly comes around and smashes into Army Guy's back.

"Enough." Army Guy takes a staggering step or two, puts the knife away and nods to you again.  He then steps through the opening in the wall, which closes behind him.

Salesman holds out a hand, palm facing up.  The sphere settles into his palm.

"The XO Personal Protection System.  A solid ball of carbonite steel.  On a full battery, it will last for four hours and can obtain speeds up to 55 mph.  It bonds to a single user.  Unless it's reset, it can't be bonded to another user.

"It's commands are limited.  'Protect'.  'Scout'.  'Illuminate'.  It has a camera and flash feature.  It can't record on it's camera, but it can be linked to a lap top for recording.  The flash does drain it's battery.  At full power, it will knock out about ten percent of it's battery.  But that flash will light up a football stadium.  It's potent enough to blind a large number of opponents.

"This tech was developed by a personal security firm back in the 90s.  Products that came out at the same time made it obsolete.  But it obviously has uses.  For someone trained in hand-to-hand combat...like yourself...it's an extra fist.  The camera is suitable for spying, though it's not a state of the art camera.  Fair warning.  Still, it will see through peepholes.  And the flash can come in useful.

"Interested?"

Aubrey smiled at Mr. Salesman and looked up at the section of wall that slide open. She see's the man in camo and smiles at him. Looking at the small sphere she nodded her head no to Mr. Salesman's question.

"No I've never sceen it."

Aubrey frowns when she sees the Army man get hit in the head twice her nursing background screaming to check the man out. But she is also amazed at the device.

"Yes, very interested. How close must it be to its bonded partner? Is he able to be repowered up by those traveling battery packs?

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 180):

"In Defense mode, it will stick within a ten meter radius.  In Scout mode...farther.  But it will depend on the radio signal it receives.  The user can lock it on to a certain frequency.  As long as it's within range of receiving that signal, it will operate.  And yes...someone else broadcasting on that same frequency can try to hijack it.  But that's only in Scout mode.  In Defense mode, it bonds to your heat signature.  So it's pretty steady that way."

He pockets the XO and from the other pocket comes up with what looks like a pair of plastic brass knuckles.  "The Lonely Gal.  It was actually in development by a company that produced boxing equipment.  They wanted to branch out in to personal protection gear.  Their developer was inspired.  Unfortunately the company went under before they could get it into production."

He fits the knuckles over his own and holds it up.  "One for the ladies.  Designed to add some oomph to a weak punch.  But the strength of punch isn't really the issue.  I imagine yours packs sufficient wallop.  But this device will still give you some oomph.  Three settings.

"Low grade electroshock.  South of a Taser hit, but capable of shorting out electrical equipment it comes into contact with.

"High grade electroshock.  North of a Taser.  Very north.  If the target isn't in good shape, there's a good chance they'll either have a cardiac event or a seizure.  Drains the battery something fierce as well.

"Last setting...and the trickiest.  Sonic.  Your punch comes with a thunderclap so to speak.  Anyone not wearing protective gear...and that does include you...will be deafened.  Good chance of being disoriented as well.  It also sends a vibration through the target, doing a bit extra.  The boom and the vibration can't be seperated.  They're a package deal.

"The battery life is good as long as you don't lean on Option 2 too much.  There are some other drawbacks.  A flash or a sonic boom can give away your position.  But sometimes you need to make sure your punch gets through.

"Wanna take a swing with it?"

Aubrey nodded her head

"Is there a protective gear for the user on the sonic boom? And does the electroshock mode have a radius so if I was wearing let's say metal spiked gloves for some reason would the shock also travel backwards?

Aubrey smiled

"I'd love to try them. Maybe a dummy and not a person would be best"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 182):

Salesman claps his hands.  The wall slides open.  After a moment, another man wheels out a punching bag on a stand.

"Our guys are pretty tough.  But if you'd rather use a dummy, up to you.

"No standard issue protection on the sonic boom, no.  But we can install some in the helmet you were asking about.

"The shock will only work on contact.  So if you keep your metal spikes out of the target while you're shocking them, it shouldn't travel.  Of course, you have to be aware of your environment.  Doing it in bare feet on a wet floor probably isn't the best idea."

The knuckles adjust.  They feel comfortable though a little heavier than you thought they would be.

The punch feels solid.  The shock is triggered by putting pressure on the bit between your middle and ring finger.

There's the smell of ozone and a small char mark on the punching bag.

"How's it feel?"

Aubrey only smiled to answer at first. How did she feel? Pretty amazing....

" feels really solid.  the trigger doesn't seem that off putting and really flows with the punch. These girls would be really handy"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 184):

Mr. Salesman nods.  "So.  With the budget we have to work with, I think the armor, the XO, and the glove is what we can do.  That includes the credit Bullfrog has with us that he instructed to be applied to your purchase.  Remember to send him a thank you card.

"Unless you wanted to give up one of those to look at something else?"

Aubrey shook her head no and felt her stomach drop when she considered all that Bullfrog had done for her

"No... these are perfect. Is there a way where I can work back or pay back sometime in the future to get Bullfrog's credit back ? Not only will I send him a card but i'll have to figure out something to truly express my appreciation. Thank you Mr. Salesman, this has been so... exciting"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 186):

"We're an underground arms dealer.  Not the neighbor whose window your baseball broke.  You wanna pay Bullfrog back, go to him directly.

"We'll need to take some measurements.  Pretty sure we've got the numbers, but I like to cross check.  After that, it will take us a day to get the materials prepped.  You'll receive an e-mail from a company called The Toffee Outlet.  It will have instructions on how to pick up your goods.  I'll intiate a draft from your checking account to cover the $1,724 not covered by the credit.

"We know you have many choices in your underground, illegal arms dealing and we appreciate the opportunity of allowing us to arm you in your efforts at fostering brutality.  If you need our services again, please send an e-mail with the subject 'Loved to Hear From You' to customer.service@kinkybirds.com."

He smiles and gestures to the stairs you came down.  There's a woman with a tape measure waiting for you up top.

Anything else for him?  If not, let me know what you want to do during the day you have before you get your stuff.  Thanks

Aubrey makes an encrypted notation for her own records on how to contact the service again.

"Thank you Mr. Salesman"

Aubrey heads down the stairs and pays all that she owes. It would not be good to piss off an illegal arms dealer.

Waiting for her gear Aubrey first sends a text to Bullfrog

~~words can't do justice to the amount i'm thankful. Thank you ~~

Aubrey didn't want to put anything that could be used later in any situation badly. She also reviewed all her feeds and set up three run cycles that went in different directions but lead back towards the school to set a pattern and gave her some observations on what was around.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 188):

Pick a number between 1 and 10.  Then do that once more.  Let me know both numbers.  Thanks

You work out your routes easily enough.

Day 1- It's a Thursday.  Staff begins showing up for work as early as 5.  That's mostly the cafeteria staff who have to start prep work, but some teachers and janitorial staff arrive as well.   First bell is 8:30 AM.  The school is junior high.  The kids have five periods a day, with an hour lunch.  School lets out at 3:45 PM.  After school activity seems to run as late as 6 PM.

The wrestling team, the school's premier sporting club, and the drama club run later.  The drama club is getting ready to put on a run of Fiddler on the Roof.  Wrestling club has a tournament coming up.  Both groups are gone by 7:30 PM.

Staff is usually gone by 6 PM.  You count three, maybe four on sight security guards.  They look legit.  Older guys with bellies.

There is a perimeter check though.  Younger guys like those in your building.  You see Alan in one such group.  Seems there are two groups, of either two or four guys, who circle the block.  One always has a visual on the school, but they do so from different sides.  The groups rotate frequently, so unless you watched the school for a three hour block of time like you are, you wouldn't necessarily notice.

There's an extra loading bay in the back of the building.  It's set off a ways from the other two and isn't opened at all during the day.

More to come, maybe, once I get those numbers.  Thanks

5 and 7

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 190):

Someone's Joanie on the Spot.  Good picks by the way.

There also seems to be some kind of underground tram line.  You're almost sure of it.

You noticed the windows of a couple of buildings rattling even though there was no heavy traffic passing by.  You also notice a very organized dimming to the street lights occurring about every twenty minutes.  It's systematic.  You can watch the lights at one end of the street dim and then the next in the series follow suit.  Almost as if something is running on their line.

You time one of your runs to coincide.  There's a faint thrumming sound.  Nothing that's noticeable.  Unless you're looking for it.  Even then, it's slight.  It could be a hundred things.

But you get the feeling it's a tram line or subway tunnel.  And your city doesn't have a subway.

The pattern of dimming lights also indicates whatever it is, it's passing under the school as part of that twenty minute pattern.

:) good timing and my favorite numbers !!! :)

Aubrey goes back to do her research on what she may have found. She checks to see if there is some sort of code or pattern to distances on entrances for subway stops and if she can find any record of any being were she thinks she may have come across them. She is looking for some sort of entrance to their tram line that she can get into without having to go through her own building. She checks for any abandoned buildings near the school path that she might be able to go through the basement.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 192):

The three areas you already identified seem likely stops on the line:  Somewhere in the school, down in the Storage Room, and that sewer line point at White Cross.

If you had to guess, the tram line probably runs under the sewer line, at least for some distance.  The 'dimming' you've seen seems to follow a main sewer line on the map.  But the line is too small to accommodate a tram line.

You could try to enter the sewers elsewhere and work your way over.  But no guarantees that would work, you have no idea how well watched those routes are and...ewwww...sewers.

The White Cross point has watchers, but you don't recall seeing cameras, so much as there were groups of 'homeless' guys who looked too fit to be homeless.

Vic suggests that you fabricate a sewer incident, one that would require a 'work crew'.  But now that I've said that, he texts, I can't imagine they don't have something in place to monitor that kind of activity.  But it might be an option.

Up to you how you want to try to get in there.  Just know:  you're on their turf.  So don't expect it to be easy.

I'll wait to see if you have any questions and then we can pick up your stuff.

Aubrey looks for any venting shafts that her spider can explore otherwise she will try other options leaving the sewer option for last. She needs to consider entrance and exit



Ooc can't think of anything else ;)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 194):

Sorry.  You mean venting shafts in the building?  Or shafts leading to the Tram line?  Did not want to assume.  Thanks.

In reply to Editor-in-Chief (msg # 195):

Sorry should of been clearer, I was thinking Tram line

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 196):

No worries.  I figured, but didn't want to assume since you asked about the spider in the house earlier

There's a number of sewer openings.  You set the spider into one...

It takes four hours of watching it crawl through goo and rat nests.  Twice you see a camera...

Pick a number between 1 and 10 please

But you think you manage to maneuver the spider away before the cameras scan it.

You manage to send it down what looks like an old unused plumbing line.  Judging by your map and the spider coordinates, you're under the school.

You come across a shaft that heads down.  It's rather large and square.

Sending the spider up or down it please?

Aubrey took a deep calming breath as she tries to bypass the cameras she saw. Making it a little worrisome that she only found two because they are like cockroaches, if you see one there are a lot more you aren't seeing.  ( Number 7) But she makes a notation on her map as to where she saw them. If able she moves the spider to walk the ceilings and slightly off center.
Aubrey sends her spider down the shaft she finds and tries to be extra precautious as she heads into the lair of the enemy.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 198):

That number keeps working for you.

The shaft has four rails that run vertically down each wall.  The spider has an easy time hugging onto one and moving down.

It descends a dozen feet before the mics pick up the noise.  The roaring rushing sound of a tram passing.  It's down below somewhere.

As the spider descends, the tram fades, as if it's headed off into the distance.  Then there is a whirring, rumbling sound.

It's getting louder.

Aubrey felt a complex emotion of both exhilaration and alarm as she moved her spider down the shaft. She got confirmation on the tram and that was just crazy. There were so many questions on that one could almost get lost on exploring that. But Aubrey kept her focus as she heard the whirring sound . She quickly looks for a spot to hide her spider, either in a crevice or around something. Things might move up this shaft or they may have something sort of security that flys around.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 200):

There's not a crevice large enough. Maybe over there...

Two more numbers. 1 to 10.  I'm leaving this to your luck.  Thanks

Uggggghhh :)  mummy 7 and 4

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 202):

So close

The camera spies a space under one of the rails.  You squeeze the spider under it.

The sound grows louder. You can soon see why.  This is the shaft for a lift.  A circular platform is rising along the rails.  Currently on it are three men, two in plain clothes and one in a uniform of blue and green and wearing a visored helmet that obscures his face.  Between them on the floor are three large crates.

Hey! Stop! one of the plain clothed men yells.  The uniformed one hits a switch on a control panel and the platform comes to a stop about ten feet below the spider.

The plain clothes guy  is staring straight up into the camera.  He points and one of them quickly pulls a gun.  There's a brief flash and the feed goes dead.

Aubrey almost felt like she just lost a beloved pet. She couldn't believe she lost her spider. If the device has a self destruct then she sets it off and then goes though whatever process of wrapping up her information and sending it to not only her work computer but also to Bullfrog. She makes a notation of the coordinates and goes though wiping info off of stuff that can be linked to her. She's not sure if her cover is broken but she just made this rescue a whole of a lot harder. And it was next to impossible. But it felt like finding the lost city of gold or something

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 204):

Vic messages you. Hey.  Got your pics.  Looks like you lost some weight.  Good job!

Come over for dinner.  We can talk about what to get Bree for her next birthday.

Later that evening, you sit on Vic's sofa while he checks out his window.

I think we're okay.  Or these guys are really good.  Tate's circled the neighborhood three times and given the thumbs up.

He turns back and picks up the Pad Thai he had ordered from Bangkok Gardens.  So like I was saying, maybe we can work this to our advantage.  The Scales are gonna be on high alert now, right?  So that means any disturbance is gonna draw a high level response, right?

So what if we give them a high level alert somewhere other than where you try to break in?

Aubrey leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. She had worried that she had made it so much harder to get success from this situation. But they could use this to their own advantage.

"The question is what kind of disturbance are we going to create because honestly I don't want blowback. So it needs to be something that won't be traced back to us. So my original plan was to sneak in, find the captives, if they are captives and sneak back out. Now the sneak part is probably not going to fly. If they are captive then that would be great but what if they are doing their own investigation and are deep undercover. Me and my spider are not going to be looking like heros but rather crazy girlfriend stalker. "

Aubrey paced the room and picked up some of the food from Bangkok to eat.

"Who are the enemies of the scales? And let's find a different code name for them. Flowerpots. So who are the enemies of the Flowerpots?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 206):

Vic cocks an eyebrow.  "Flowerpots? Wait just a mo..."

He shuffles through the various sheets of notes you've provided.  "When you were talking to that journalist guy.  The scuzzy one.  You wrote down that he mentioned...

"Here we go.  The Commandos.  A govie backed Cape team that specifically deals with groups like the...Flowerpots."  He pushes your notes towards you.

"If they were suddenly to get a tip off...

"We'd need two Scales costumes.  And yeah.  I'm going with you.  No backtalk.  Rob's already gonna blow a blood vessel over this.  Might as well make sure it's worth every pop.

"But now that I think about it..."  He looks back at some of your more recent notes.  "You haven't come across any female Scale agents, have you?  It's just been guys.  At least the obvious ones.  Wonder why?  We may need to disguise you as a guy agent."

He looks back at you.  "But I think we need agent uniforms first.  If we slip in during a raid disguised as rank and file Sc-er.  'Flowerpots'. We'll probably get farther."

Aubrey checks to see if there was any uniform being worn by the three on the spider killing lift.

"There are two guys next to my room that might have a uniform. High end security and breaking into their room will put them on to us. If we see what they wear maybe we can duplicate it. Hiding the female thing we can do with props. So what do we know about these Commandos?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 208):

Two of the men on the lift were in uniform.  A dark green and black number.  There's an odd, shiny kind of sheen on the vests they wear.  Some kind of armor.  That might be a problem to duplicate.  The rest looks pretty straight forward.

"The Commandos...they are pretty low profile.  But they do have some press coverage.  There are four to seven members. Accounts vary.  The only two members mentioned in all the accounts are an...Iron Eagle and a Yellow Rose.  Where do they get these names?  Country songs?

"Anyway, it seems like they operate out of Norfolk, Virginia.  But they seem to show up all over the place.  You think we should try to pass along a 'tip' and see if they show up?  If not, we'll have to figure out a way to make the Scales think they've shown up.

"Any ideas?"

"Well we could set up some sort of RAVE or "down with the establishment" demonstration in the sewage tunnels near the opening of this secret hideout or in a location we want to pull them too. "

Aubrey thinks as she paces

"We could flood a basement so then they would have to get outside help, or maybe at the school"

Aubrey sighed

"I think the names are cute. You would be Boot Crude "

Aubrey laughed

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 210):

"Yeah?  You'd be Big Booty Brat.  BBB."  Vic sticks his tongue out at you.

"The Rave idea is interesting.  But it does pull civies into all this.  We wanna go that route?

"If we're gonna bring in outsiders, it should probably be these Commandos.  They at least will be equipped for what will come.

"The flood idea is interesting too. But would it draw enough attention?  Maybe see if we can collapse the road on top of their tram line?  Though that brings us into the realm of damaging city property either way."

He taps his chin.  "Maybe simulate some kind of attack.  Like gas grenades down the sewer holes?"

Vic sits back and looks at you.  "This is gonna be a pretty serious op.  I get your motivation, but we may have to accept the fact that we're gonna cross some lines.  Especially with Rob.  I'm in.  But it's your op.  Your call.  How far over the line do we wanna go?"

Aubrey closed her eyes as she considered everything. Could she push this forward? What about the next day or the day after that, what would the cost be?

"Another thought would be that we get the super groups going on this and stand back and see if there is an opening to go in and help. I mean, I don't have to be the 'hero' here and I don't want to drop this, I just don't want to get the three of you hurt. And don't give me those looks like you can't be hurt'

Aubrey takes a bite of her food.

"I mean seriously they have some underground super villain hideout. Those are what dreams are made of"

"So plan c... keeps us out of trouble but gets the rescue going. The problem is if those commandos and whomever else just sits on this and does nothing"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 212):

Is Plan C the Commandos?  Or flood/gas attack idea?  Thanks.

ooc
Plan 1 is the Commandos

Plan 2 is Flood/gas

Plan 3 Let the invincibles/Commandos and other supers deal and look for an opening to sneak in the back door in the chaos

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 214):

Okie dokie.  Just wanted to be sure.  So Commandos it is.  Invincibles are on Mars.

Let's move into prep work then.

You got the equipment from Mr. Salesman.  Let me know if there are any questions on using it.  You should be able to fit it under the Scales uniform, so you can take it with you.

Let me know if you want to contact the Commandos or leave that up to Vic.

Let me know if there are any other preparations you want to make.

Fair warning:  this one is going to be a little tougher than usual.  So stay sharp.

Let me know if there are any questions.  Thanks

ooc Can't think of any questions... which is not good if i'm suppose to stay sharp :)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 216):

Okie dokie.  I'm assuming you're leaving it up to Vic to 'prank call' the Commandos then.  And I'll assume you're wearing your spiffy new super suit under your uniform.

That leaves us with...

The Scale uniforms.  We need to get our hands on a couple of them.  He studies the pictures from your dearly departed spider.  We could probably fake the rest.  But that material in the vest...I can't tell what it is.  Relying on no one noticing seems a bit of a risk. These guys seem on the sharp side.

He looks at you and smiles.  If only we had a cute girl who lived in an apartment building full of guys who probably work for Scales.

Aubrey looked sadly at the pictures.

"I miss Cuddles, the spider " with a slight laugh she continues "never thought I'd say I miss anything having to do with a spider"

Aubrey listens to Vic continue and nods her head

" I can do the distraction, invite a girl friend over for sun time if we need more of a distraction.  The problem is 1. the security on my neighbors room 2. We don't want it leading back to us so can't go through the wall.  Maybe another room"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 218):

Vic considers.  "That room beside you...I bet it's some kind of data collection point. And a team has to go in every so often to download the feed.  Or something like that.

"You know what though...Did we ever test the ceilings in your place?"

The two of you rummage through your notes.

The ceiling of your bathroom is clear.  It seems the Scalies aren't oogling you in the shower.  How gentlemanly of them.

But you notice that in all the security layouts, the Scales don't cover the floor.

Maybe it's possible to go up instead of through?  Your handy dandy new ball/droid thing can operate in a short range independently.  And if can fit through a smaller hole than the spider could.

You can see what's above you with this new piece of tech now.  The downside is running the risk you'll be cutting into the floor right below where someone is standing.

Aubrey looked through the plans

"You know ... let's look at whom is below them. Maybe we can come in through the floor. Let's look through my floor plan and it is probably similar. There is hopefully some place we can get Bond through and it can work independently."

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 220):

By your calcs, there is an apartment full of 'young men' below.  You're pretty sure you know which ones are in that apartment.  And if you keep an eye on the street, looking for when they leave...

"I bet they don't have a live eye on each and every camera," Vic opines.  "And they really wouldn't during the emergency we'll stage.  What if...we nab the vests at the time of the emergency?  There will be so much chaos, we'd have a perfect chance then.  We can have the rest of the costumes fabricated already, go through the floor once the alarm sounds and snag the vests, and then hightail it across the street to the school...or down to the basement..."

He looks at you with a grin.  "Whaddya think?"

Note that Vic's ideas may or may not be the best ones.  Just throwing it out there.

Aubrey nodded her head

"Yeah...that might work. But we should come up with a plan b in case that all doesn't work. If they don't react to the threat and don't move. We should go in down the school or through once of the basements of another building in the pathway. But I think a more direct and quick in and out is important. How do we make sure the "good guys" don't take us in if they move quicker then we thought. It might be better having you on the outside running tech and me going in"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 222):

Vic doesn't look happy with the idea of you going solo.  But he can't argue your point about The Commandos considering you collateral damage.

He sighs.  "Fine.  But the moment I yank the cord on the parachute, you jump out of the plane.  If I give you word the op has gone south, you bail.  No if, ands, or buts.  Agreed?"

Aubrey studies her brother for a moment. She trusted him completely and he understood rescuing people or blowing things up.

"Okay deal. But you take no risk either... understood?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 224):

He sighs.  "Deal..."

Just to make sure I'm on the same wavelength...

You will try stealing a uniform from the apartment below yours.

Vic will handle contacting the Commandos and running the distraction, signaling you when to start.

You will try to enter through the apartment basement or the school basement.

You will be carrying your new goodies under the Scales uniform.

Did I get that right?  Thanks

Ooc. Perfect....:)

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 226):

Did not want to assume.  Let's go.

Let's start with your favorite:  pick a number between 1 and 10

Vic texts you on Wednesday morning.  Hey! Hugh is going to be in town tonight.  Drinks?

'Hugh' is the Commandos.

'Drinks' means proceed with caution.  You were hoping he'd say 'dinner' which meant things were optimal.  Well.  You can't essentially crank call a secret government sponsored black ops super team and expect 'dinner', can you?

Around 3, Vic messages you.  Hugh missed his connecting flight.  Won't be in until about 7.  Still okay to meet us?

Missing the connecting flight means roll the time ahead an hour.  He's telling you to be ready to move by 8 PM.

You've spent the daying listening through the floor to your downstairs neighbors.  Seems like they head out for dinner at 5:40.

You listen for five minutes.  Not a sound.  Using a small drill you make a peephole in the floor.  No movement below.

Time to move.

Using your new spyball friend, you can see the room has pretty obvious cameras.  There's one in the corner to the left of your peephole and one above the front door.  You will need to ghost both to get down.

The ball rolls along the ceiling, staying above the range of each camera.  You study what you see.

These cameras are pretty standard.  You just need to cut the appropriate wire and the camera will go down.

Alternately, you can drill through the ceiling above each camera, reach down, and hack the feed.  That will take more time, but you estimate it will run you about thirty minutes.

It just depends on how long those guys will take to eat dinner.

Ooc number 4 and 7

Ic

Aubrey listens to the message and responds back with the affirmation code. It was especially hard to wait for just the right time to move. Slipping her cute ball in Aubrey moved it around until the option to hack into the feed presented it self. Aubrey decides to do that and take down the cameras later. Perhaps she can set up something to redirect them later in a different direction

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 228):

The ball turns out to be much more dexterous than the spider (rest his soul).  You're able to record a minute from the camera feed and then set it up on a loop in the camera's computer.  Both cameras are essentially showing the same prerecorded footage.

You can cut through the floor now and descend.  Or you can head out to the hall, down the stairs, and try picking the lock on the door.  Going through the floor would be easier, but means you're on the clock:  once these guys come back and see a hole in their ceiling, you're committed.

Aubrey makes her way out of her apartment and tries to move through the halls avoiding the cameras. She takes a good look in the hall of the apartment she was going to "borrow" some clothing and if it seemed clear and she could move to it avoiding most of the camera's she would then pick the lock an try to go in that way. Otherwise she goes back to her apartment and goes through the floor, but at a last resort.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 230):

Taking the tough route huh?  Let's see...you're pretty skilled and you have a decent idea of the layout...

Pick a number 1 to 6.  Only one bad choice in the bunch

You slide down the stairs, watching for the subtle signs of the hidden cameras movements before ducking around the corner.  The hallway below is clear.  You slide along the wall in the pattern you think will best deter detection and reach for the door knob...

Ooc. So nervous I'll pick the wrong number..... 5


Ie
Aubrey listens and does her breathing exercises to stay calm as she looks at the door. Lockpicks in hand she goes to work.

There's a clicking sound...

You're so keyed up, it takes you a second to realize it's not a creak on the stair, but the door latch coming open.  You slip inside.

The layout of the apartment is similar to yours, though these guys have a bigger bathroom. But that's where any similarity ends.  Where your's, even though it's a false sense of hominess, is made to look lived in, this apartment is meant for sleeping during shift changes, and that seems to be all.

There is a set of bunk beds pushed against one wall.  A couple of small computer desks with utilitarian looking swivel stools are set against the other.  There are a few changes of clothes in the bedroom closet, half pushed to one side and half to the other, with the desired Scales Uniforms hung in between them.

Other than the flat screen TV, that's it.

It's that flat screen though...

The TV isn't set to receive cable, dish, or even local.  It's plugged in to a local feed.  Even with no one here, messages are scrolling across it.

<b>LEADER LOVES YOU AS YOU SHOULD LOVE LEADER

Remember:  You Were Nothing To Them.  You Are Everything To Us.

After the Day that We Arise, there shall be no more lonliness.  No one shall weep.  No one shall mourn.  We fight not against the World, but for it.

You have your uniform.

Aubrey held her breath as she moved into the room. She frowned and rolled her eyes when she saw the bigger bathroom,  but kept moving. Inside her mind she knew there was a time limit.  She collected her uniform and took a photo of the crazy message.  As tempting as it was to leave some sort of surveillance or to take a hard drive, she resisted.  She peeks to make sure her way is clear after shoving the uniform inside her oversized outfit. If clear she moves to her room. Otherwise she looks for another exit

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 234):

You shut the door softly behind you.  Getting back up the stairs is easier than going down.  You can always act like you were just coming back home or coming up from the laundry room.
But you're pretty sure you were able to avoid the cameras a second time.

Once you're behind closed doors, you get to work on the costume.  Vic should be contacting the Commandos soon.  You'll be on their time table after that.  Once they move, you'll need to be ready to move.

Speaking of, pick a number 1 to 10.  Than do it again.

You're in the middle of seamstress duty when there's a knock on your door.  Out the peephole you can see Alan from the other day standing there.

Aubrey took a moment to quiet her heart as she leaned against her own door. There was no time to daddle as she quickly moved the item into her room to start the seamstressing that would be needed.  Hearing the knock on the door Aubrey set something over her costume and peeked out the peep hole. Seeing Alan was not what she was expecting. So she grabed a rope to give herself a 'getting ready to go out' look and open the door with a smile

"Hey neighbor! You need some sugar or salt?"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 236):

Alan has a slight smile on his face.  "Nah.  Doin' fine with my seasonings, thanks.  Hey.  Lissen.  There was a break in here.  Just askin' everyone if they heard anything this afternoon.  Maybe about two hours ago.  Were you home about then?"

ooc: forgot about the numbers 7 and 5.. unless those are unlucky.... :)


IC

Aubrey frowned

"Wow... that is kinda crazy. Can't think of hearing anything that stood out this afternoon. Was anything taken? We all seem to be living paycheck to paycheck"

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 238):

"Just some clothes.  But it's still the principal of the thing.  We're very Neighborhood Watch here.

"Did you go downstairs today?  Like to run errands or do laundry?  You remember what time that was?  If you didn't see anybody strange during that time, it might help narrow down the exact time of the break in."

He smiles, though you can see the crocodile in it.

Aubrey nodded her head

"Clothes... yeah clothes can be expensive but they are replaceable. Totally get the principal thing but the person was probably desperate or something. Kinda sad, not taking away how bummed out I'd be if someone took some of my clothes"

Aubrey continues

"I almost went all the way downstairs. Was going to go wash some clothes and decided to do my load tomorrow"

Aubrey shrugged

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 240):

Alan takes a moment, the smile not leaving his face.  He nods.  Slowly.  But he nods.

"Okay.  Sorry to bother you.  Keep your door locked and let me know if you see anything suspicous."

He gives you a little wave and walks away.

Your cell buzzes.  Vic.

We should be go within the hour.  Be ready to move.

You've only got a little bit left on the alterations.  You hurry through and start to suit up.

Any last minute changes to the plan, etc?  If not, we will commence operations tomorrow.

Thanks

Ooc. Can't think of anything,  which makes me worried that I didn't think of anything.

Ic
Aubrey gets ready and goes to her own feed to look for any issues

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 242):

Your phone goes off at almost the same time the building shakes and there's a loud boom.

Vic has texted you.  Go Time

From outside, you hear a number of doors opening and the sounds of feet hitting the stairwell.

Tell me where you're going and how you're going (sneaking, boldly, etc)

Also give me three numbers, each between 1 and 10.

Thanks
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Tue 16 June 2020.

Aubrey hides her femaleness as she looks once again at the text message.  She, having backed her phone up before the go time, cleans out the rest of names and numbers leaving only Vic's number labeled bus driver. Aubrey peeks to see who is leaving.  If they are in uniform she will go out with them, boldly hiding in plain sight and taking the stairs down in the apartment.  Otherwise she sneaks out and heads to a typical less buzy entrance into the school. Being sneaky up until she needs to go in front of any cameras.





IOC 7,5,4

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 244):

The guys heading down the stairs are in various states of dress.  Uniform dress that is.  One guy is in full gear.  Others are pulling on shirts and vests.  One guy is even sliding into the trousers.

They all seem to be headed for the basement.

Alan is at the foot of the first floor stairs, directing traffic.

"If you're in Adder Squad, head for crossroads 7.  Mamba and Bushmaster squads cover grids 8 to 12 of the monorail.  We have a Zeta Code people.  Don't fuck this up. Leader is counting on us."

He glances your way as you come down, but someone asks him something and he looks away.

Most of the traffic seems to be heading down to the basement.  A couple of guys are heading for the front door.  You will have to go that way if you want to infiltrate via the school.  But you will have to break from the crowd to do that.

Stay with the crowd and head for the basement or break from the crowd and head for the front doors.  Let me know.  Thanks

If there is anything on the uniform that is similar to the others she will stay with the herd of that indication. Some sort of coloration or badge that indicates some sort of sorting. If there is nothing, then if Alan keeps a swivel on his neck she will head to the basement with the others. If he seems to be more alert and watching she will head out the door with the others and either head to the school or follow a group to see where they get in.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 246):

Just to clarify:

The group is moving to the basement.  Going out the front doors would be the odd man out move.

Your uniform doesn't seem to have anything marking it any differently than the others.  In fact, all of the suits are Stepford Wives similar.

It occurs to you that you aren't sure how they recognize each other.  Unless they take off their masks.

The group heads for the basement and into the storage room door.

The room beyond seems to be the standard boiler room.  But there is a large slab of the floor that is popped open.  A stairwell leading down is underneath.

The group handles the stairs in perfect precision.  Two by two, moving in what is clearly a practiced order.  They even left, right, left in perfect unison.

You manage to catch the procedure in the duos that head out before you.  Then you and your partner head down the stairs.  You have to concentrate to keep in sync.  These guys must have trained for hours just to go up and down these stairs in the most efficient fashion.  It's almost exhausting.

The stairs end in a hall that runs straight ahead and to the left.

Most of the guys are heading straight, but quite a few are moving to the left.  About a third of the group by your estimate.

So...straight or left?

Aubrey tried to keep with the steps of the others, knowing that it was something that identified themselves to each other. To not step on pace would be something that stood out. There didn't seem to be anything else that really made an identifying mark from one another. It felt like a Stepford wives sort of thing. Aubrey felt the fatigue in the strain in being in step and tried to listen to what was being said around her. Aubrey makes the choice to move left and moved off in that direction. She had to keep some sort of rhythm to her decisions if she wanted to get out of there. But until the need to leave she would look for Charlie.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 248):

The left hall starts to curve and descend.  After a moment, you can hear it:  that monorail.  It's very close.

The station almost magically appears.  You round a bend in the curved hallway and next, you're stepping out onto a platform.  You check the mental map in your head.  This must be in the street between the school and the apartment building.

The guys who were here before you are setting up a defensive perimeter.  Three machine gun like nests with a fourth one quickly going up.  Two facing each direction down the track.

The guns aren't actually machine guns.  Whatever they shoot-death beams, lasers, nuclear missles-it's not tech you've ever seen before.

One of the Scales has a slightly different uniform. His shoulder pads and helmet have streaks of blood red and black.  He must be a CO.  He's barking out orders.

"The fighting started over on 5th Street. We don't think it'll take them long to get this far.  One last rail is coming.  It needs to get through for transport.  I need a squad to act for bodyguard and a squad for prisoner transport.  Let's get the mines set up. After the rail car comes through, we're blowing the line.  If you see Boogies, blow 'em."

Groups are starting to form.  Two groups are forming on the end of the platform, where you think there would be a loading and unloading area.  One to the left and one to the right.

There's another group opening crates and taking out what looks like mines.

You can hear the scree of the train car coming.  You need to move.

Another choice.  You need to merge into a squad.  The mine layers.  The departing squad on the left.  The departing squad on the right.  Or you can help with the gunnery positions.

Decisions, decisions

Aubrey stood at attention like the others as the CO barked out his commands. Hearing the options Aubrey thought she needed to get on the prisoner detail. It would make sense that Charlie was on that detail. This was all madness. Aubrey tries to discern if there was any nod of the CO's head to indicate which was prisoner and which was bodyguard. But if she has not idea then she will pick the left side.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 250):

There are sounds of explosions coming down the tunnel.  Then a light begins to shine.  It grows brighter and looms larger.

It's the monorail train arriving of course.  The sound of it's engine and braking smothers out the far off sounds of fighting.  Almost in your ear, a guy who seems to be an acting CO starts barking out information.

"Enemy confirmed baring this direction!  One Brick.  Two Cannons.  One Psionicist!  Repeat!  One Psi Incoming!  Enact Mind Screen Protocols!  Enact Mind Screen Protocols!"

No one seem to be doing anything.  So you aren't sure what 'Mind Screen Protocols' means.

If you are failing to do something, no one notices.  The train comes to a stop and the doors open.  Your group and the other one rush forward, each taking different cars.  There are seven cars total. You are in car 4.  The group on the right got on car 2.  You don't think anyone was on car 3.

The CO guy follows your group in.

"Alright.  This group will act as guard to Professor Havor, Marshall Taipan, and the Duchess.  Anyone here on file for guard duty in the Biochem Labs?"

One guy is raising his hand.  Doesn't look like anyone else is.

Should you raise yours?

Aubrey braces herself for the Psi attack and was happy that she was still breathing. Stepping into her train car she tries to not stand out. Hearing the question about Biochem Labs seemed like a better option then Professor, Marshall and Duchess so Aubrey raised her hand. Hopefully she doesn't get shot

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 252):

Tricked ya

CO nods and waves you to stand with the other guy.  He then says, "Okay.  Who's got clearance on the Brig?"

The other guy taps your shoulder. "I dunno know you, so let's handle the basics.  I'm E12.  What's your call?"

He seems to be asking you what your codename is.  You think.

ooc NOOOOO i've been tricked!!! It seemed like such a good idea. Lab is where you find the secrets!!! I need to find a time machine or time superpowers lol :)

IC:
Aubrey felt her stomach drop. It was a gamble and it didn't really seem to pay off. There was too many variables to worry about. Was E the indication of clearance and the number the recruit number or some other number.

Aubrey turned and looked at E12 and let her body language read that she was disappointed in him. In a gruff manly voice she whispers

"you don't need to know me to work with me E12. Remember your training. Leader loves you as you should love leader. You Were Nothing To Them.  You Are Everything To Us. "

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 254):

E12 kind of stiffens.  He nods, slowly, and then turns.  He says nothing else until the train stops.

He starts moving once the doors open.  You've come out onto another platform.  It looks like a large hub of some kind.  There are two halls leading out of it, one to the west and one to the south.  There is also a set of stairs headed downwards.

E12 heads towards the west hallway.  The group that is going to escort duty at the Brig are headed for the stairs.

Go ahead and give me three more numbers, 1 to 10, please.

There are a lot of people in motion on the platform at the moment.  Most are headed for the southern hallway.

A couple of soldiers are standing on a platform, overlooking the mass movements.  One of them is on a loudspeaker.

"Train service is being suspended.  Use alternate corridors to move to duty stations.  I repeat.  Train service is being suspended.  Use alternate corridors to move to duty stations."

There is a map on the wall.  But you can only glance at it.  E12 is moving fast and there are a lot of people in the way.

You can follow E12, make a move for the stairs, look at the map, or whatever suits your fancy.  Thanks

Ooc 8,7,4

Ic
Someone upstairs was watching over Aubrey,  because she managed to bully her way out of a problem.  Seeing E12 not alerting the guards was a good sign. Aubrey tries to get a look at the map but still keep track of E12. Lab was a place to check but also the brige.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 256):

You get a decent though quick look at the map.

It appears this platform is two levels below the city street.  It leads on to an area devoted to secure facilities.  The Brig.  The Labs.

You don't get a chance to see how to get to the surface from here.  But you do see that there is an elevator at the back of the Labs that leads to the Brig.

Why would they need that?

E12 motions for you to hurry and the two of you rush down the hall to a check point.

There are a number of Scales streaming out, so the two of you are fighting the tide.  E12 is trying to get the checkpoint guards attention, but they are just too busy.  He gives up and rushes on.

There seem to be a number of labs off this hall, but E12 seems intent on heading towards one near the back.  He steps inside.

The lab smells.  It smells of sulfur and acid.  It smells like urine and moss.  It smells of orchids and decaying flesh.  It is almost impossible to believe one room can smell in so many different ways.

A tall, bald man is directing a number of subordinates.

"Yes!  All of it!  Hurry!  If we are captured, we'll get the death penalty for sure!  I'm too brilliant to be executed!"

E12 walks up and gives the bald man a salute.

"The Serpent hisses.  Professor Havok?  We're here to escort you to the escape tunnels.  You have been recalled to the Brood."

Professor Havok turns on him, brandishing a finger.  "Of course I've been recalled!  But my research must come with me!  Those boxes there! Hurry up!"

There is a huge mountain of boxes where Havok is pointing.  More then can be taken in five trips.

E12 starts to object, but Havok is hearing none of it.

"It all has to go! It is my genius!"

From what you could tell on the map, the elevator is south of here.  You aren't sure where these escape tunnels are.

But E12 isn't able to get Havok moving because of these boxes.

Aubrey wrinkled up her nose as the different smells assaulted her and she tried to not show anything through her body stance. What ever was here was not good. She made a quick assessment of how the room was. Was it a sealed room where she could find some way to catch the stuff in there on fire to destroy or would an electric shock cause some damage. Or collect some samples to get to Bullfrog.

"E12 will guard you to the escape. I'll stay back and help with the box clearing. Your genius is in your head Professor. Go"

Aubrey stance is that she expects no argument.



(Does she have access to any of her equipment underneath the uniform? for clarification the gloves have the brass knuckles? For some reason my brain was just not getting it. )

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 258):

Yes.  You have your equipment on under the Scales outfit.  You may make use of any of it at will

Dr. Havok stares at you.  Then nods.  "That's true.  Just make sure nothing of mine gets left behind.  Come!"

E12 gives you a thumbs up as he escorts Havok out.

What now mon capitan?

Aubrey waits for the professor and E12 to leave the room and then she starts to quickly react.
Aubrey moves through the men and taps them on the shoulder indicating to put the boxes down.
In her manly voice she asked them

"What is your call? You are needed elsewhere what you are on file for. If there is time we will come back for these boxes. Hurry GO!"

She hopefully gets a few call numbers to try to understand their system and when it is clearer she will head over to the elevator leading to the Brig. Nothing good was going to be coming from a Brig having an elevator to the lab. If she has time she will try to destroy the lab. But her goal was to find Charlie and maybe the hero's will find this lab and know what to do

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 260):

Most of the people here are P's or A's.  P662.  A78.  P444.

Your best guess is the letter indicates some kind of classification like guard or assistant.

A78 seems a little smarter than the rest.  He shakes his head. "Who are you?  How would you know tha-"

The sounds of explosions cuts him off.  Seems the heroes are closer now.  Everyone runs out of the labs.

You could jury rig an explosive with some of the chemicals around.  Or start a fire with the tons of paper.  But that will take a little time.  I'll need to know which you do so I can keep my clock updated.

You hurry down the hall, following the trail of Scales who seem to be fleeing towards the escape tunnels.

You hang a left at one point down a hall and come to the elevator.

No one is around.  It seems whoever was on guard has fled.

The scanner to call the elevator doesn't react to anything you're trying.  You can try to hack the system with your equipment.  Or you can force open the door and see if you can shimmy down the shaft.

Aubrey paused for a moment. She had first thought to do something to destroy the lab. But if the hero's were on there way in and this was something that would caused the others problems then it would be best for Aubrey to not mess with it. She reasoned as she moved swiftly to her next location that if she was not able to find Charlie in the next area that she would try to circle back and destroy the lab. At least she was giving the hero's a chance to find out what the Scales were up to.

She finally makes it to the elevator and can't seem to get it to react to her for anything. She elects to try and hack the system. She'll try this for only a few moments before trying to force the door open to shimmy down the shaft. It would be better to have some sort of control to the elevator itself..

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 262):

It takes a couple of minutes, but you hear the whirr of the engines humming.

You unsnap your cables and glance behind you back down the corridor.  There is still a mass exodus of people.  The explosions are still distant, but louder than they were.

There's a soft ding as the elevator arrives.

You turn as the doors silently slide open.  Two Scalers are in the elevator, stepping out.  One of them has a uniform in a dark red as opposed to all the green and black you've seen.

Red glances your way and motions.  "Follow."

The two of them start to head down the hallway.

The elevator doors are starting to slide shut.

You chose the wrong number this time.  Speaking of:  need three more numbers between 1 and 10 please.  Thanks

Aubrey stood at attention and waited to the last possible second to slip into the elevator. She was here on a mission, and being caught by the Scalers or the hero's was not part of that plan. She looks around the elevator to find some way to control it. If none is found she looks for a way to get on the top of the elevator to scale the shaft.




ooc:

9,3,7

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 264):

Neither of them pay you much attention as they pass.  The guard glances back, but by then the door is shutting between the two of you.

There are only two buttons.  A 'Move' button and a 'Secure' button.  There is no hatch at the top of the elevator.

It seems to be automated, because as soon as the doors close, it starts to move.

It descends for just seconds before opening.

You are looking into what seems to be some kind of checkpoint room.  Behind a barricade, a single Scaler seems to be working on a computer system.

Past him is a security door that is currently standing open.  Beyond that is a hallway lined with thick looking security doors.

The Scaler behind the desk looks up at you.  He reaches for a gun sitting beside him.

"Identify yourself!" he snarls.

Aubrey grabbed onto the rail as the elevator moved. Maybe she was having some good luck. She was considering to move into the shadows more and less out in the open. But for now she was going forward until she found something to hide in. Maybe some vents if she was lucky.


Aubrey had only two number sequence to really follow. She decided to not put blame on a number she knew, but hopefully it would fall within the system

"E13"

Aubrey waits. If he seems to react she will try to vault over there and juice him up.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 266):

He's got a mask on, so you can't tell what his reaction is.  He's holding the gun, but he's not pointing it at you.

"Well?  What are you doing here?  I've got to implement discovery insurance procedures."

Aubrey clicked her heels

"Sir...yes sir. I was dispatched by Marshall Taipan for prisoner transport. Troops were taking heavy fire from breach of Professor Havor Chemlab"

Aubrey tries to be patient before she goes on the offence

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 268):

The guard stops moving.  <Yellow"Prisoner transport huh?"</Yellow>  He nods towards the hallway.  "Okay. Help yourself."

Aubrey was almost stunned that it worked. Or this was a clever plan to get her close to a prison cell to knock her in it. But whatever it was, she was going to take it and fight if it was the latter. Aubrey headed towards the hallway looking for any sign to lead her to Charlie and to take stock how many prisoners they had. She had a fear that she wasn't going to find Charlie in the prison but rather he was leading this whole thing. Irrational as it may be that would be the ultimate bad luck and she had to chase that thought away.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 270):

It's a clever ploy.

The guy behind the desk waits until you are just about to the door and then raises his gun.

You had that twitchy feeling.  So it doesn't take you completely by surprise.  But he already had his weapon out.  He fires before you can completely react.

The impact catches you on the left side.  If you weren't wearing your gear underneath, you might be talking a different story.  But as is, you're thrown against the partially open door, causing it to swing all the way open.

Your body isn't stunned.  You can move.  The jail hallway is right there.  You can jump into it, making him come around to get at you.  Or you can return fire.

Or anything else you want.  Your call.

Sneaky Snake... Aubrey thought as the bullet hit her on the left side. She had a feeling it was going to happen, but it actually happening sent a flood of outrage through her feelings. Not a very logical feeling but one she was willing to ride in order to fuel her own fight for survival. Aubrey returns fire trying to figure out how to get close to him and jolt him to knock him out. She needed to make sure he got no backup and if she was lucky there was a button in the desk that released the prisoner doors.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 272):

He ducks as you spray the desk.  Your shots cause the files and paper clips that were littered along the top of it to leap upwards and away.  The air is filled with bits of confetti and prisoner transport requests wafting through the air like snow.

He doesn't stand up.  Nor return fire.  You can't see him.

The desk is built all the way to the floor.  There's no gap visible from where you are.  You can either go up to the side of the desk and look over the top.  Or move around to the far wall, where the desk opens out, and look.

Or anything else you can think of.  You do have options.

Also need five more numbers.  Between 1 and 10.  You are just burning through 'em

Aubrey knew that speed was needed and she moved swiftly to get to the opening. If there is anything she can toss in the opening to draw fire she will do that. Otherwise she tries to do a run slide through the opening with her gun firing for the guard.



ooc:
8 3 5 7 9

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 274):

Ohhh.  A slide 'n shoot.  I'll try to arrange for a slow motion fireball to chase her down a corridor.

You make like James Brown and slide on your knees while filing the guard station full of hot lead...er...plasma.

It turns out to be a good call.  The guard is on his belly, gun aimed upwards.

Both of you hit...

The blast knocks you backwards.  But you manage to do a get your feet under you.  You slam into the wall, but you're able to stay upright.  You're back feels like you just tried to block the New Orleans Saints Offensive Line all by yourself.

The guard seems to be down now.  Really down.

From the elevator shaft you hear some explosions and sounds of shots fired.  The heroes are really making good time.

Aubrey flew through the air and managed to get her feet under her. The only cost was her body as she felt like she took hit like in football or hit by a car. She breathed out trying to focus her mind. Hearing the sound of combat got Aubrey moving. She checked the guard and she looks for keys and if he has shoelaces she ties him to the desk. She then moves with caution looking into the cells for Charlie

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 276):

No reason to tie his shoelaces. He won't be getting up again.

The hall past the door runs straight back until it dead ends.  There are five doors on each side, spaced far enough apart to be individual rooms.

Six of the doors are open.  Through the spy hole, Bree can see:

A woman in one cell wearing jeans and a t-shirt,

A man in Scales uniform except for the mask in another,

A middle aged man in what looks like a grayish form fitting body suit with a lightning symbol on the chest,

and a young man who is just standing in the middle of his cell, looking up at the light.

Lightning Bolt looks familiar.  It takes you a second to realize.  It's Whirl.  Charlie's partner.

Aubrey feels her side as she moves through the hallway. She is a little perplexed that even though she hurts like hell, that she isn't bleeding all over the place.  The armor is amazing and makes her feel like.... she isn't even sure what that feeling is. She checks the peep holes rapidly trying to figure out if she is going to let all of them go or a few. Her mind finally clicks and she tries to open the door for Whirl

"Whirl i'm here to rescue you and Condor... Where is he?"

She speaks in her normal voice not hiding her female side.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 278):

Whirl tries sitting up, but a look of pain flashes across his face.  You notice now:  one of his legs isn't laying like it should be.  It's been broken and juts out to one side.

Whirl is obviously in a lot of pain. But he seems to be trying to stay in the here and now.

"Who...what? Condy?

"They took him...said somethin' about wantin' to know about the...potato sack...guy..."

You can hear more explosions.  They're getting louder.

Aubrey whipped her head around towards the noise and back to Whirl. If there is anything she can use to set his leg, wood desk leg, shoelaces etc She will prop the door open and try to get his leg at least set.

"When did they take him? Who took him? Did you see which way they went? What can you tell me about what is happening? Why is this sack head guy so important? The other people should we open their jail cells and try to work together or will it be better to open their doors and letting him get helped by the hero's attacking this base? If I can set this leg, you can put on the guard's uniform and help me get Condor back"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Tue 14 July 2020.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 280):

"Was maybe 'bout...two hours ago?  They broke my leg an'...been hazy with the pain.

"Sack Guy is...I dunno.  He's been turnin' up lately.  We've been tryin' to find him.  Condy said...it was personal.  Somethin' about the lady he's seeing.  All I know is there's a lotta people wanna find him.

"I dunno who all is here.  We shouldn't...heroes may not find this place.  Or there may be a bomb set to go off.  You should...make your own call on whether to let them out or not..."

You manage to break off the legs from a stool in one of the other cells and use the dead guard's belt to set Whirl's leg.  But as you do it, you notice the track marks.  They didn't just break his leg.  They doped him.  He's not going to get out of here by himself.

The woman in jeans and the Scales uniform guy both realize you're out there.  They're staring at you through the windows in their doors and pounding their fists on the door.  But you can't hear what they're saying.

Lightning Bolt comes to the window and looks at you once.  He smirks then walks back to the cot in his room, laying down.

The kid staring at the light hasn't stopped staring at it.

Aubrey was trying to not get caught in this location for too long. But she never considered that the hero's would blow the place up. She had to let the others go. Maybe they would know a way out of the maze and if luck was on her side perhaps they would have a clue where they might have taken Charlie. She decides to let them all go but not let her guard down. Any of them could turn on her. She opens the woman's door first then goes to the Scale uniform then the kid. She ties to find out if they know a way out, if they can help get Whirl out with them and if they have any clue which direction they may have taken Condor.

In reply to Audrey Eden Davis (msg # 282):

The woman gives you an odd smile.  She blows you a kiss.

"The guy with the wings?  Only know they dragged his sorry ass outta here a couple of hours ago.  Later toots."  She rushes out the door.

The Scalers comes out shaking his head.  "Are you with Ops?  What are you doing here?  Who sent you?"  He looks like he's been beaten up pretty bad.  But he's tough.  He's not letting it get to him.  "The winged guy?  I don't know much.  He's a Cape in town, right?  If they wanted something outta him, they would've taken him to the main nest.  They have a private airport somewhere outside town.  The tram line goes there.  If you can get a car to run.  Otherwise..."  He shrugs. "You tell me what your priority is, maybe we can work together to get out."

The kid doesn't even look at you.  He just keeps staring at the light.

Lightning Guy is still in his cell.  I didn't see where you opened his door.  Opening it?

Aubrey does the little wave and calls back to the girl as she rushes out the door.

"Remember you owe me tootsie"

Turning back to the Scaler she listened and tried to understand. He was part of a cult that made you feel like others didn't care and they cared so much. So what would get you put in the jail and how would that affect everything you did. Would you try to do something to prove to them of your value or would you see the faults in their lines.

"The objective is to rescue the winged guy. Do you know the paths to get to the nest that would lead up to rescuing him?  Where is the location of the airport? (She could get her brother to check out that angle. If there was too many maybe he could get a tracker on the plane) What are you called and how did you end up in this room?"

Aubrey opens the door for the Lightning guy and goes through the same thing she did with the others though him being all in lightening stuff she is half expecting him to dash off. Gathering what info she could and trying to find someone to help get the kid and Whirl to safety