"Guns are dangerous, boys," Bailey quips, as the shots ring against the fence and containers behind her. It was time to make sure none of those were so dangerous. She ruses forward, closing range. Hoping to get too close for them to use their pistols effectively. While she, meanwhile, wielded her's like a pair of kama.

Taking the easy target and shooting at the Thug, or trying to knock down the bigger treat and shooting at the Cyborg?

Ack, I completely forgot to specify. I think it's time to lay some more hurt on the cyborg.

@Bailey - I'll assume Gunfighter again since the cyborg's armor is so tough.

Guided by your essence, bullets fly...

Rock and Roll 12:43, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Bailey, rolled 12 using 2d6+2 ((4,6)). STRONG SUCCESS // Gunfighter -1 Essence

...scoring hits on centre of mass of the cyborg, sparks and shiny bits of metal flying from it's armored chest. Dmg 4 / Two guns +2 / Gunfighter +1 / Armor -3 / AP cancels 1 armor = 5 Under the onslaught the cyborg drops to one knee, green fluid from its chest mingling with bright red blood. Twitching and firing wildly the 'borg struggles to get back to its feet.

With his friend bleeding out and seeing their heavy hitter begin to falter, the second thug decides he doesn't like these odds and makes a break for the Hyundai.

Combat!
Bailey [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 2 / Edge 3 / Essence 3
Laurie [/] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Incorporeal / Edge 1 / Essence 0
Earth Protector [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 / Services 1

Thug - Driver [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] :: Armor 1 - prone, badly wounded
Thug - Passenger [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 - fleeing
Cyberzombie [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 3

With the cyborg faltering, Laurie calls out to the spirit, "Restrain him." using the second (last) service)

Then, seeing the thug making a break for it, Laurie pushes her magic toward the Hyundai trying to impede his escape.

Bailey plants a foot on the cyborg's shoulder. Kicking him back, to the ground. Her guns re-train, focusing in on stopping the car. Unleashing a swarm of bullets toward the nearest tire.

@Laurie Stay Frosty 12:38, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Laurie, rolled 12 using 2d6+1 ((6,5)). STRONG SUCCESS

@Bailey Rock and Roll 12:39, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Bailey, rolled 10 using 2d6+2 ((2,6)). STRONG SUCCESS

The asphalt golem wrestles the injured cyborg, subduing him while Bailey keeps her pistol trained on his head.

As the Hyundai's tire explodes and the magic swirls around him, the fleeing thug gets the hint and drops to his knees, hands above his head.

Combat!
Bailey [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 2 / Edge 3 / Essence 3
Laurie [/] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Incorporeal / Edge 1 / Essence 0
Earth Protector [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 / Services 1

Thug - Driver [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] :: Armor 1 - prone, badly wounded
Thug - Passenger [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 - surrendered
Cyberzombie [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 3 subdued

"So. Who wants to start talking about what's going on here first? Because-" Bailey drops a clip, reloading her pistol with a heavy click, "I have prizes for the one who doesn't?"

Dropping the spell, Laurie remains silent and invisible to the mundane attackers, preferring to be an ace in the hole and keep her identity secret from the assailants to help retain the element of surprise for when the time came to get into Cross.

While Bailey shakes down their assailants, Laurie breathes in deeply, centring herself and embracing the flow of mana. (OOC: Centring to regain some juice)

@Laurie Center - 23:06, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Laurie, rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)).

We got no beef with you," stammers the thug who tried to make his escape. Th- this is just biz, ya know? Mr J hired us to geek you. We didn't ask a lot of questions."

With Bailey firmly in control of the situation and the magical monster of concrete pinning the goon's biggest gun to the ground, the thug seems willing to do just about anything to save his skin.


Bailey [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 2 / Edge 3 / Essence 3
Laurie [/] [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Incorporeal / Edge 1 / Essence 1
Earth Protector [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 / Services 1

Thug - Driver [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] :: Armor 1 - prone, badly wounded
Thug - Passenger [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 1 - surrendered
Cyberzombie [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Armor 3 subdued

"Oh. So you're saying I've got to go up the chain? Well... Why don't you set up the meet? Get Mister J, tell him you're ready to collect. We're with the target- we'll get you whatever you need to prove it. Just tell us where the meet is," Bailey says, her smile quickly returning. A finger snaps, "You've never lost a fight so good in your life!"

"Set it up for tonight. And keep in mind- this is what happened when you ambushed us. Just imagine what would happen in a fair fight."

@Laurie
Invisible to the goons, you look on while Bailey plays the heavy. From your viewpoint on the etheric plane, you can see life's essence ebbing away from the grievously wounded goon. He desperately needs medical attention. The cyborg isn't getting any better either, he's got maybe a day before he is too far down the spiral to recover. Your healing formula may help the hip-shot goon, but the corruption of machine in the cyborg makes it impossible for you to weave mana to heal him.

@Bailey
"I only have an LTG to call once the job is done." the unwounded goon stammers. "The meet was set up through a fixer. Guy named Marco. Runs a bail bonds biz out of a strip mall off Persia Ave."

District 10, residential and commercial neighbourhoods that have long since been swallowed by the sprawl. These densely packed C-zone streets are where occupied San Fran begins under the shadow of CTTR 280. It's tough to get north of the freeway without the right ID and the right connections, but down in D-10, you only have the Knights to worry about if you decide to pay Marco a visit.

"Well... That'll do. Congratulations. You guys win the big prize- you don't get yourself murdered tonight," Bailey rolls her eyes. She steps away, back toward the car. Urging Laurie toward her. "Alright. We go hunt down this Marco guy and try to figure out whose after our girl? Or do we let these guys get paid and throw some bad information into their mix?"

"They need the payday. Only one of these guys will live to see another day." the witch says matter-of-factly as she materializes by Bailey's side. "I say we go after this Marco guy. With this little ambush they got to make the first move, let's see how we do when we have the element of surprise."

Scene ends. Take +1XP.

Laurie gains +1 Rep... meet in XP and Nuyen to level up.

Bailey leaves the trio of would be assassins broken and bleeding. The thug won't make it through the night if his chummer doesn't get him some medical or magical help. The 'borg won't make it to the weekend.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

After a quick stop at the coffins, Laurie is back in her meat and back in the car.

Onward to meet Marco at his place in District 10?

”I could use a soykaf if we spot a Buy More or a Round The Clock on the way” Laurie said, blinking through the fatigue of her recent summonings.

I’m wounded (stun) but good for a trip as long as we don’t need to get past any I-marine checkpoints… Laurie’s ID is not going to stand up to an inspection.

"Ew, no," Bailey rejects the choice of kafees out of hand. "For that? You're getting at least a... I dunno, a Green Cup or a Sumiyaki, God." As the two women load into their agent's car, and ready to hunt down their target.

Its a short drive up the 101 and a quick stop for high end kafs to recharge a bit before you get into South San Fran.

Bailey [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Edge 3 / Essence 4
Laurie [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Edge 1 / Essence 2

Imperial checkpoints are limited to the inner city and patrols rarely venture south of the 280 into the C-zones. Why bother?

You find a few more tuskers in this part of the 'plex, though most stick to the other side of the Bay just in case a few Imp hardasses get drunk enough and decide to get their kicks by collecting ears. The buildings on Persia Ave are a mixed bag. Most of the street is dominated by a couple of massive corpo big box outfits peddling all manner of plastic garbage and refined sugar masquerading as food. All at low, low prices.

Between the glittering retail giants and their private islands of corporate security, there are little wastelands of abandoned eateries, strip malls, apartment complexes and boarded up petrochem stations. Relics of the past that simply couldn't keep up.

Neon lights twinkle amidst these cast-offs. A gun shop here, a street doc there. Finally, in flickering red you spot 'Bail Bonds, Skip Recovery' below that in blue 'Marco Salvador, registered bondsman'.

Warmed by good kaffee, Laurie spends a long stretch salient, eyes closed, focussed on her breathing.

Taking a shot at Centring to recover some Essence

Center:
09:14, Today: Mr. Johnson, on behalf of Laurie, rolled 6 using 1d6 ((6)).

Must be something good in that coffee!

<orange>Bailey [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Edge 3 / Essence 4
Laurie [/] [/] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] :: Edge 1 / Essence 6

Nearing the office of the fixer, Laurie shifts her perception to take in the scene on the astral plane, keeping an eye out for wards or magical threats.

From outside the fixer’s business, the astral matches the physical. The strip mall prefab plastic, smeared glass and spray concrete are grey and lifeless, only the strong glowing aura of a stray cat brings any light.  There is no sign of malevolent paranormal creatures, bound spirits or wards against magic.

”Pretty much all clear on the other side” Laurie says opening her eyes. ”I say we kick the door in, we tried to play nice last time and they came out shooting. Where I grew up, you do that once and that’s it, no more mister nice chump.”

"Right," Bailey answers, as she pulls the car into an out-of-the-way spot. No reason to be spotted in that. Not that she really had much plans for stealth. "Any chance we can scout stuff out? I mean, I can take out a few grunts and a borg but eventually... Quantity, quality, bullets? Y'know?"

”Like, peek in a few windows before we kick the door in?” Laurie replied checking the safety in her big Colt revolver. ”Sure thing.”