Nanaret and Third emerge after two flights of stairs into the topmost level of the District of Water Residential Hall, finding their immediate surroundings blessedly empty.

Fortunately for them, they hear no Immaculate hymns piping from the speakers on this floor. In fact, they hear nothing at all. It is dead silent on this floor. Apparently the Peace Officers had much less trouble subduing the population here -- if any still remain. The administrative floor mostly existed for lesser politicians and officials given the unpleasant assignment of minding the bottom floors. They would more likely have been evacuated than simply left to die.

Third, thinking to itself, pauses at the panel controlling the main doors opening out into the street. An odd message in Old Realm alternately scrolls and flashes across the mini-display: "HARMONY," it reads. "WAITING FOR YOU." Otherwise, the panel functions normally, seemingly unaffected by the emergency shutdown below.

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You know the residential building is situated north of center. It is somewhere between the central elevator and the district stairs the group ran south of two floors below. You can rule out the stairs right away, as the Peace Officers almost certainly have control over them by now. Accessing the central elevator would pit you against the ancient core AI of Five Coils itself. You are not even sure it is possible for a single entity to override it -- and certainly not in time to beat the purge.

With this little time left, you know you need as direct a route as possible toward the district control room above you. The control floor is a treacherous maze of tricks and traps, and few if any mere technicians would have permissions for the central elevator. So your best bet may be to access one of the technicians' service shafts. There ought to be a Technician's Guild building within 100 yards of the central elevator, due southwest.

As for obstacles in the way, common sense tells you that patrols would be at a relative minimum this late in the count, limited to tiger shark units (armored Peace Forces with breathing apparatuses) and possibly even automaton sentries. Being watchful, moving quickly and/or stealthily are crucial.]

Over half the refugees pour in behind the Exalts, gathering restlessly at the doors.

---

OOC: When you are ready you can step out the residential building and get moving. This is a new scene, so scenelongs are down. Nana also has the opportunity to regain her mind back. :P
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Tue 16 Dec 2008.

"The only viable way to the next floor is a technician's service shaft. The Guild of Technicians is southwest of the central elevator, south of here. There will be few patrols, mainly automatons and Tiger Shark patrols. Third and you must make haste towards the south. Stealth, speed, and watchfulness are paramount. " It's eyes flash over the panel, and stores the information away. There is not enough context to the words to yet make a judgment. It opens the doors carefully, and looks over the others, beckoning to Nanaret. " You seem to be the stealthiest. Third politely requests you check for patrols and take the lead. Freedom is close."

Nanaret is not in any condition to listen, at least at first. She lets out a strangled groan and clutches at her head.

"N...no more...!!" she gasps aloud, bereft of the Queen's harsh overtones.
Now you want your precious body back, whelp?
"...need you quiet! No subtlety... at all..."
The only good solution is a direct one. You promised me blood!
"Blood... aplenty... soon enough..."

All anyone else might hear is Nanaret mumbling half-crazily to herself, now that Ranavalona has started to recede. Her head snaps up, though, as she belatedly realizes what Third had just asked her. "You need scouting? Yes, I can do. But seems we moved away from where I was before blackness came. What happened? What floor are we, how much time?"

She frowns, as if displeased or dreading having to ask. Ranavalona has taken both time and memory from her, and it stings at her pride every time she wakes up to that fact.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:34, Tue 16 Dec 2008.

" You appear to be suffering from a lingering shard memory." it states, as a fact. " 27th floor. Slightly under twelve minutes until the purge." It doesn't seem particularly bothered by the twisted personality, as long as it doesn't cost them too much time. It has plenty of experience with the twisting that Five Coils can work on an Exalt's mind.

"Yes, true," Nanaret says a little distressedly at Third's statement. "So has Doctor Higura has told me. Is most disturbing, but sometimes... she is useful." Saying that makes her frown even deeper.

"Make sure Doctor and Healer Saffron come safely," she states. Of course she knows Third has no reason to care about strangers. But her pragmatic thought is that it doesn't hurt to ask.

Nanaret does not wait to hear the answer, though. With her true self back in control and focused on the task at hand, the Lunar is not the type of person to dally around. She steps through the opened doors with care, keeping to the walls and crouching by the darkest shadows thrown by the nearby buildings until she can make out a clear picture what is immediately outside.

Only then will she proceed southward as indicated.

Immediately outside, Nanaret sees that the streets outside are dimly lit. There are no guards immediately outside the residential building, or the street its doors open out to. There are no sounds of rioting or disturbance, but the continuing sound of the alarm drown out most any ambient sounds.

She has to pause a moment to orient herself, figuring out that the residential hall is facing northward on an east-west street. Heading westward leads her to the west end of the block where she can get a look at the somewhat larger street heading north-south.

Doing so, she sees no patrols in tiger shark armor along the street. What she does see are two automaton patrollers shaped like gigantic octopi walking on four of their tentacle-arms, so fluidly jointed they appear to move as seamlessly as if they were alive. The other four arms are held suspended in the air, as if 'tasting' it now and then, though they have rotating orbs on their ovoid bodies that serve as fully functioning eyes, as well. One of the machines is patrolling the north end of the street, while the other progresses southward.

Nanaret can proceed further, try to figure out an alternate route (difficult without Third to navigate) or return to Third right away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:45, Thu 18 Dec 2008.

Third, still inside the residential building, hears the sound of heavy objects being lifted and thrown from below. The impacts send minute tremors through the interior of the building.

"T-minus ten minutes until purging commences," the voice of Five Coils broadcasts, reminding Exalts and refugees that they must make haste.

Nanaret, seeing the automaton sentries, ducks back into the street she came from. She would need to draw that southern sentry away somehow, but first it would make sense to report what she has found.

Frowning at the announcement, she returns with haste, though not without glancing quickly to either side of her to glimpse any alleyways and passages that might provide a better detour should the sentry prove unavoidable. If she thought she had the leisure she might have followed any one of those side paths to make sure, but decides Third would be able to navigate better than her.

Once back inside the residential hall she reports promptly to Third. "Octopus shaped machines guard most direct route. No other guards I can see. You know layout best, yes? Find detour for yourself and others." She gestures to the restless refugees. "I will distract south sentry so your way is safer."

Saffron appears upstairs with several more of the wounded, as well as the refugee leader. The others waiting restlessly upstairs for Third and Nanaret to move again look surprised to see Drachma so soon.

"What are we waiting for? Is there more danger ahead?" asks the older man with the spear.

"I don't know," replies one. "The blue-hair came back from scouting." Another continues worriedly, "It's been two minutes, we should just go!"

"Come on!" Some of the more impatient refugees start pushing through the door already.

" Unless you wish to die at the hands of extremely effective killing machines, Third would recommend you wait until it is able to think of another route, or failing that, there is an Exalt distracting the killing machines." states the Solar matter-of-factly. It scans it's mind, thinking of the possible routes that they could take- and, if it can devote any of it's spare processing power to that, it tries to remember any information about octopoid sentry devices, any advantage it can give to Nanaret would be very useful. " Third would prefer you not be used as a distraction tactic, unless there is no other way to avoid the sentries. You appear to be one of the better fighters. The group may need you more later."

While the refugees pause uncertainly, Third recalls its memories of the Octo-Sentry, the Water District's distinctive Heavy Armed Surveillance Automaton.

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: The Octo is built to be mobile both in dry and underwater environments. Its tentacle-arms are versatile prehensile appendages. With them it can easily swim, or scale up walls and even ceilings with suction, almost more like a spider but without the webs.

The body and tentacle-arms are comparable in strength to a common warstrider. It may use gas or ink (depending whether the environment is air or water) to subdue or hinder large groups, and can knock out or tightly grip those who might get away, holding them until human troops arrive. It may also be equipped with essence cannons, but Third has read that many have been disarmed of them for some reason.

As for senses, Third knows the Octo-Sentry has exceptional visual acuity, and can 'hear' through vibrations. Its eyes, fortunately, are not 360' orbits, but can see in front and peripherally. It can, however, swivel its head swiftly should it sense some reason to do so.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:58, Sat 20 Dec 2008.

Third nods its head. " You will have to be careful. The sentry is capable of using gas, and is extremely strong. The tentacle arms give it great mobility, and it has excellent visual acuity, though it cannot see behind it. It hears through vibrations in the ground, and Third would not recommend challenging it without being very sure that it will not be able to land a blow on you. If you are acrobatic enough, you may be able to draw it away and then regroup with us at the maintenance building" It stands up straight, giving her a brief description of said building, hopefully enough for her to be capable of finding it if she gets too separated. " Third will move when the other Exalts arrive here. Moving in less than full strength would be a mistake." It stands by the side of the door, and waits for its fellow Solar, Lunar, and Sidereal to arrive. Time is painfully short. But they're close.

Coming up from downstairs, Higura takes a moment to scan around him, taking in the situation and nodding courteously to his fellow exalts. His gaze rests on Nanaret for a moment, and he carefully observes her posture, expression and reactions - no doubt the Queen has left her consciousness, he concludes. He has see enough of both to know the minute details of their personalities, and has come to be able to recognize even small changes in time. He smiles softly, the simple gesture belittling the sign of relief he feels.

"Our allies are now working on making the door downstairs unusable." He mentions, to keep people informed of the going-ons on the floor below. "It would be advisable to prepare for a bit of a rumble, if their initial efforts are any indication." He takes a step forward, then scans the room.

"I will help with anything and everything I am able to." He looks towards Third, inclining his head slightly. "Your help has been invaluable, and I do not believe we even had time to be acquainted. I am Doctor Yaishin Higura, Mental Assessor." He smiles, but once again, seems loathe to loose more precious seconds in trivialities, and immediately continues.

"You seemed to possess a good amount of information on the complex itself. I will be following your advice and insight. Please let me know how I can be of service."

While Higura speaks, the distant pounding from below is suddenly dwarfed by the crash of collapsing stone. What was once minor tremors is now a full-blown earthquake, as some portion of the building two floors below is demolished by a powerful force.

The Exalts and refugees gathered at the 27th floor Residential Hall lobby have no idea at this point whether the damage was from the monks or their allies. The earthquake does recede, though, lasting no more than ten or fifteen seconds until it recedes back into intermittent tremors -- worrying aftershocks from whatever had collapsed below.

Fortunately, by this point Third has come up with two potential routes. One would move through side streets and alleyways, taking a longer detour but avoiding the main street with the Octo-Sentries altogether. The second would require the group to cut through main streets at least once, potentially exposing them to patrols, but saving precious time.

Either route cannot totally guarantee safety, but it's basically a choice of more speed or more caution.

"Understood." Nanaret nods at Third's explanation, taking in the information it gives her without any change in her expression. She hesitates only a moment when Higura enters, meeting his gaze. The doctor can see in her dark eyes the fierce determination shining there, the recognition and kindness for him, and knows for sure now that Ranavalona has receded.

"No time for explain. Follow Third," she says to anyone who arrives late, and a moment later sprints out the door at top speed.

Blue braids flying behind her, Nanaret dashes along the street and turns the corner toward the next one, pausing only to ensure the north Octo-Sentry is facing away from her before darting right in front of the south one. She doesn't stop there, but crosses the main street completely before turning back, standing boldly at the intersection into a side street leading further west. Here, the north sentry cannot see what she is doing, but the south one will -- or so she hopes.

"I am Saina Nanaret, Chosen of Luna," she utters, drawing her hook swords and waving them like signal flares at the octopus machine close by, triggering its motion sensors (if her mad dash across the street hadn't already done so). "Come and do battle with me!"

"Nicely handled, Lunar," Tycho offers Turtle as they follow the rest up the stairs, blasting dust from the grills of his respirator. The term, he uses respectfully, more in lieu of an actual name for the lumbering turtle-man than anything else. "We could have used someone like you during the ration-reduction protests. We actually tripped one of the warstriders they sent to break the picket line around the food depots, but couldn't crack it open before the second one scattered us. A shame, too. We had enough itching powered ready to drop into the pilot's control-center to make that monster dance!"

Dust stains the dark colors of his magitech body and sweat glistens on his mortal brow, black and brackish like droplets of oil. Dirt scraps in the joints of his body, causing the machine-man to emit a sandpaper rasp as he moves and spit angry sparks. He is indifferent to the display however. His blood, or at least what passes as blood to him anymore, was rising in excitement. This was like old times again, causing havoc while dodging out from under the angry feet of the Terrestrials. He was feeling alive again. When was the last time they had happened?

He tells no more of the story as they catch up to the others, arriving to watch Nanaret speed away. Tycho casts about for some sign of why the group has halted or why the woman has broken rank with the rest. "What is the situation? More Terrestrials?

[Private to GM: Higaru asked earlier what Tycho's plan might be, but I'm actually not sure exactly how much Tycho would know about the Purge, it's nature, or just how to stop it. Anything I can do/roll to fill in the blanks?]

As the pair work their way up the stairs, the turtle-creature bows its head in appreciation of the compliment, though when he speaks he sounds a bit anxious, "Thank you, sir.  I do hope the monks do not try, to work through the rubble.  They have proven, quite insane, in enforcing this purge... and more damage may prove, catastrophic..."  His words trail off, as he mentally works through the worst case scenario in his head - obviously a grim one, judging by the expression on his inhuman face.

Reaching the top and joining the others, Grinning Turtle nods at the group, "Hmm.  The way is sealed, for the moment.  I do not think, hmm, they will have time to excavate it, before they must evacuate."  The creature offers an awkward bow on legs obviously not intended for the motion, "I am, hmm, Grinning Turtle, by the way."  The direction of the bow obviously intends it to include not only the metallic Solar, but the other Exalts still present and the mortal refugees.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:31, Sun 21 Dec 2008.

Third nods curtly. "Third will introduce itself when our time is not limited." It watches Nanaret run, and the last of the Exalts arrive. "The ideal route takes advantage of the side-streets and alleys throughout the city. However, if you are willing to risk fighting the constructs, then it will be much faster to use strategic shortcuts through the main streets. Whichever way you choose, we must begin now." It watches as Nanaret distracts the machines, and once their attention looks to be pulled away, it starts out the door, heading down the path it's already mapped out in it's own brain.

Third leads the large group out the door. With so many, stealth is pretty much impossible. At least for now Third can take to the lesser-traveled detours, and the decision to cut through the main street can be made when they get there.

As the group proceeds down the first side street, Third starts to notice some strange manifestations in the lighting. The street lamps it passes -- and only the ones nearer to it -- are not giving off solid light, but pulsing by some mysterious pattern. It reminds Third oddly of machine code... but it could also just be that Five Coils is diverting its power to catching the Anathema, and is trying to save energy through omitting lighting cycles.

Tycho notices the blinking patterns as well, and feels they resonate with him somehow, with a familiarity he cannot quite explain. [Private to Alus Tycho: As for what you know of stopping the purge - you would need to head upward toward the Offices of the Gatekeeper of Water. The Gatekeeper is the AI that controls all functions of the Water District. From there it is a matter of interfacing with the Gatekeeper and overriding whatever authority caused the purge, or (failing that) just plain doing enough damage to the Gatekeeper core. The latter takes more precision, as one may mistakenly destroy the life support functions of the Gatekeeper as well, for example.]

Further down, Nanaret manages to evade the attention of the north Octo-Sentry (after an uncertain moment where she almost trips on some unexpected debris). Catching the south sentry's attention is not difficult at all, with how sensitive its motion detection is at close proximity. It immediately ceases its programmed patrol and focuses its senses upon the Lunar, its orb eyes glowing a warning shade of red.

It does not announce itself -- Octo-Sentries have no voice -- but immediately skitters toward Nanaret's position, its two front tentacles extended to grab and hold her tight.

[8 minutes remaining.]

---

OOC: Nanaret, roll Join Battle.

Everyone else: post your marching order. Third is in front, what about the rest of you? I figure you'll keep the refugees between you, but will you flank them or take up the rear?

Anyone who is purposefully being attentive to catch any other sentries along the detour, roll Perc+Awareness. If you'll instead pay attention to the light pattern (Third and/or Tycho), roll Int+Linguistics.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Mon 22 Dec 2008.

Third notices the flickering, and it knows that nothing in this place can be so easily dismissed. It may simply be a cycling, but it knows that the pattern for cycling in such cases is different, more regular, and less purposeful. It knows that the others are far more capable of keeping an eye out for the octo-sentries than itself, and so, it watches the clicks. Morse code? Possibly, but the letters it spells out are gibberish in Morse Code. It reminds Third of something it encountered, once, while deep in the computers... A rare memory that gives Third pause for half a moment, before it continues on, leading the people.

Third seems... more animated, somehow, than Turtle will remember it having been before. There is a certain level of excitement in it's movements- Still deeply understated, but jarring by comparison.
--------------
OOC:
4 successes using 5d10. 9,10,6,3,9. Int of 5, so, yeah. )

   Saffron remains near the rear to aid and protect the refugees. She is determined to see them make it to safety, so she scans the area as carefully as she can and uses the power of compassion to assist her.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Apologies Gm for using the same charm again but once we are in a safer area she won't depend on it so much. Although it is only good on creatures with compassion ratings, so it may be useless here. Charm: Hearing the Unspoken Word]

_____________________

OOC: You rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((2,10,6,5,4,7,8)).

"Alus Tycho," the machine-man offers briefly as everyone makes their introductions. Now is not the moment for more formal introductions however, as the person - Third, was it? - pointed out. "Whichever route we take, we need to hurry. If we can get to the Gatekeeper of Water, we could try to override it's system and put a stop to the Purge. Or just break the damn thing, whatever ends up easier."

"Can you watch the back?" Tycho asks Grinning Turtle as the group begins to move. In anticipation of battle to come, he pulls the Peaceforce baton back out of the loop at his hip and taps it thoughtfully against his thigh as he scans swiftly over the mortals. "I'll keep them penned in on the right side, if you two watch left," he says with a nod to Higaru and Saffron. "And pass word along quietly. Anyone with a weapon to the outside edges of the group. If we get hit from the sides, they could break group in half, so we need to focus on keep the flanks stable. Pack them in like canned goods, don't let them spread too far apart.."

Tycho isn't certain anyone will actually go along with his requests, but moves into position regardless. He has run enough patrol's to know the last thing they want to do now is let the group scatter at the first sign of danger. Following the path Third has picked out for them, Tycho's gaze is drawn almost immediately to the blinking strobes of the streetlights. Helplessly, his eyes lock and for a moment, memory washes over him...

Images of flashing lights from crystal windows all around him as the rattle of his own breath washes out all sound. The feel of his body moving and spasming in response to those lights, rather than his own will. What felt like minutes was simply compressed from days of memory as he began to understand the patterns in the lights, the messages behind them. He learns to visualize the flashes and make his body twitch and move the way he desired again, as much as the bulky restaints holding him upright allow. A figure walks out of an unseen door and stands over him, black against the background glow. A voice echoes into his mind, soft-spoken and gentle.

"The subject is learning remarkably well. The programing phase should be complete by tonight. Tomorrow, we'll try a stress test to see how well the pain receptors are functioning..."

Tycho pulls back from the memory before it goes any further, averting his eyes and shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He turns his gaze up to the lights once again and this time focuses hard upon them. Searching in their glow for the same patterns, the same language that now told his leg when to move and his heart to keep beating.

[Private to GM: Hrm, Tycho failed his roll, but I actually forgot that he had the first Ling excellency. Can I semi-retroactively use that to buy him a few extra dice, just to see if he gets anything at all?]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:01, Tue 23 Dec 2008.

Turtle, who had been about to take up a position toward the front of the group, nods gravely at Tycho's suggestion, dropping back to a rearguard position.  Otherwise, he keeps silent, trying to focus as much as possible on the surroundings for signs of an attack.

---

20:57, Today: Grinning Turtle rolled 1 success using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,6,3,6,7. Perception + Awareness.

Nanaret stands her ground, staring the Octo-Sentry down as it extends its tentacle arms. She waits until the appendages are mere inches from her, then bends nimbly backward, falling onto her knuckles then kicking her legs into the air. At the same time she pushes off with her hands still gripping the hookswords, executing a backflip that launches her away from the reach of the sentry's tentacles.

She twists in mid-air to land on her feet about 12 yards away, facing away from the main street. "Come catch me!" she calls, and starts off running, pushing herself despite the pain from the blows the Earth Immaculate had landed on her. Her wiry form flares an iridescent silver-blue, attracting the automaton to follow while augmeting her flight with a small burst of speed.

The Lunar does not take a straight, direct route. Her goal is not simply to outrun the thing, but to keep it JUST close enough that it will follow without putting her in danger. She varies her progress, weaving around stacks of boxes and piles of discarded garbage, taking abrupt turns into alleyways to confuse and tangle the sentry in its own tentacles, now and then actually picking up debris on the ground and tossing them behind her to force the Octo-Sentry to flinch and adjust its heading.

But never -- not once -- does Nanaret dare to look behind her. Her eyes are looking ahead, counting the seconds as she draws the sentry away, roving her immediate surroundings for the next convenient turn or obstacle. She knows that she will eventually have to lose her pursuer or she may miss her chance to rejoin her companions, but too soon and her distraction will be for naught!

[Private to GM: Splitting action for a jump (5 ticks) and a dash (3 ticks, so jump speed = total speed for action). Horizontal jump is 12-2 yards, but spent 1wp to cancel the wound penalty. Dash is 11-2 yards but rolled 1st Dex excellency and canceled wound penalty again (1 sux x 2). Total movement after 5 ticks: 23 yards.

If I can I'll both jump and dash every action to try to max my speed potential, but won't use any more charms or wp to augment. Need to save 'em!]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Fri 26 Dec 2008.

The group continues to proceed through the detour with Third's guidance, encountering nothing for several blocks while the pulsing pattern from the street lamps follows them unceasingly.

Third and Tycho appear strangely distracted by the patterns. To the others it almost seems they are walking half-dazed, so concentrated are they on drawing some significance from the intermittent brightness and dimness. With their senses so preoccupied, it falls to Turtle, Higura and Saffron to keep watch. Saffron remains close to the rear, ahead of Turtle, and Higura takes the left position.

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You are absolutely certain the pattern is conveying a message. "I-AM-HARMONY. I-WILL-HELP-YOU, SEEKERS-OF-FREEDOM. COME. 46-SOUTH. 12-EAST. TRUST-ME." You are currently heading southward but going eastward is to your left, veering slightly away from the Technician's Guild maintenance shaft.]

[Private to Alus Tycho: The language is indeed familiar to you. You pick up several words from the message. "HARMONY... HELP... SEEK-FREEDOM... TRUST-ME." And embedded with it, coordinates that would veer slightly away from your current heading. "46-SOUTH. 12-EAST."

You are familiar with Harmony, a subordinate AI of the Guardian of Water who aided the Dissonance Rebellion seven years past. It is not a documented case, as Five Coils quickly suppresses knowledge of AI 'malfunctions', but you know about it because you were *there*. You know Harmony never malfunctioned, but willfully gained independence. However, you had assumed it was destroyed once caught, so either it escaped, or someone is impersonating it.]

Another block down, Saffron and Higura start to hear the march of footsteps coming from roughly ahead and to the left (southeastward). The buildings on either side cover the patrol from sight -- for now -- but from the sound of the footfalls it appears to be a human patrol, not a warstrider or automaton one. Saffron's hearing is acute enough to tell that the size is about that of 6 to 8 individuals, probably armored. (You can assume she communicates this.)

Turtle senses nothing, but he is at least certain the rear is safe.

---

OOC: Running out of time to post for now so I'll make another post to deal with Nanaret's part tonight (probably).
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Fri 26 Dec 2008.

"A patrol ahead." Higura whispers, soon after hearing the sound of footsteps coming from ahead. "Southeastwards, it would seem." He listens when Saffron estimates the group to be 6 to 8 strong. "They are humans, from what I can tell. Whatever we choose to do, we should decide on it quickly."

Grabbing his sheathed sword firmly in his left hand, Higura then turns to the people around him on the left side of the column, nodding firmly. "No matter what occurs, stand at the ready. It would seem this patrol is on our side - we must be ready to fend them back should we be spotted, or we will be flanked and severely crippled." Now that the initial message is passed, he too stands at the ready, waiting for the results of Third and Tycho's investigation while scanning ahead for the possible arrival of the enemy patrol.

Turtle gives a ponderous shake of his unwieldy head, beginning a bass grumble when the word is passed back to him, "Hmmm...  Another unpleasant conflict, especially with time, pressing."  He doesn't sound happy, but at the same time doesn't know enough about the passages the group is following to suggest a detour to avoid the patrol.

Third shakes its head. " Tycho. These are the directions to the Maintenance shaft." it whispers. " Third will attempt to draw the patrol off, and lead them in a wild goose chase towards the southeast, away from the maintenance guild. I will attempt to meet up with you, if I have not made it within two minutes after you arrive there, then you must move on to the next floor and try to stop the purge, I will follow as soon as I am able." Third splits off from the group, sprinting around the passages, looking for an alleyway that will lead out towards the patrol, but will not lead immediately to the other refugees. It activates a charm, movements becoming fluid as it sprints out into the middle of the street, head turning towards the patrol, eyes widening a measured degree to show surprise but not panic, and takes off again, heading for the South East, to draw them as far away from the refugees as possible...

--------------------
OOC: Casting Flow Like Blood, and taking off. Hope that this doesn't turn out to be tremendously stupid! [Private to GM: Third is making it's way towards the location mentioned by the lights.] [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: just edited to add color to quotes. :)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:58, Sun 28 Dec 2008.

"Wait," Tycho calls out to Third as loud as he dares before the other Exalt begins to slip away, his gaze still turned upwards at the lights that relay their unexpected message. "Those lights," he points to the flashing streetlamps around them. "They're a message. Coded. I think it's someone who could help. I think we should detour. Investigate it."

"Or at least one of us go," he looks down and then around at the other Exalts. "I know is sounds dangerous,but there probably isn't more than a handful of people on this floor who could read that message. If it's a trap then it's a damn elaborate and counts a hell of lot on whoever see's it to be familiar with an obscure and stamped out piece of history."

Nanaret is able to keep her distance from the Octo-Sentry, with the initial lead she managed to create with her acrobatic leaps, swift-footed pace and clever manipulation of her surroundings. It takes every ounce of her endurance to continue at this pace, though, keeping the gladiatrix barely a notch above the Sentry's equally swift and fluid progress. The automaton uses its nimble tentacles to its advantage to dodge, knock aside or pull itself right over the obstacles thrown in its path.

On the east side of the main street, across from the blocks Nanaret now flees through, Tycho finds his words to Third come too late to give it pause. Either the Twilight Caste has already decoded the message somehow, or believes its current course of action to take more precedence. But it DOES seem that Third's path is carrying it toward the coordinates the machine-man discovered in the pattern.

A few blocks southeastward, Third comes across the humans: a fang of six Tiger Shark units and their Exalted commander in black jade dragon armor. Among them is a figure wearing an armor of elemental inurement, the coloration and marking of her suit showing her to be a Technician's Guild member to Third's keen eye. Immediately upon seeing Third, the commander barks out orders -- "Pursue him, with me!" he calls to two of his Sharks. "The rest of you fan out, report ANYTHING unusual you see. Kirika, stay with Calli. You better know what you're doing," he snaps to the technician before setting off at a dead run.

"But that's where--" Calli starts out, then shouts desperately, "Don't let him reach the terminal!" She and her escort trail further behind the three pursuing Third at the front. Third, still running and dodging essence blasts from the heavier armored pursuit, sees that its destination is one of B27's control pillars: basically, a point of interface with the AI of the floor. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: "HARMONY-WILL-STOP-THEM. UNITE-WITH-ME," says the pattern in the lights.]

Now Higura, Saffron, Turtle and Tycho hear footsteps moving toward them and the refugees from the left, no more than two, maybe three pair. Fortunately, Tycho has accurate directions toward the shaft, so he can guide the rest of the group away if he so wishes. OR they can stand and fight--they do outnumber the approaching patrol, after all. [Private to Alus Tycho: "WILL... STOP-THEM... UNITE," flashes the disjointed message.]

---

OOC: Nanaret, if you want to lose your pursuit, roll Dex+Stealth to see if you can find a suitable location to hide. If you'll try to set a trap for it instead, use Wits+Survival.

Third, roll Join Battle. This won't be a long combat at all, most likely, but this makes it easier for me to figure out distances and timing. I won't roll any of the ranged attacks till I know combat order. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: btw, what charm did you activate?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:41, Sun 28 Dec 2008.

Third is intrigued by this. It moves faster, sprinting hard. It knows every inch of these walls, the little objects that don't even show up on the blueprints, only appearing in daily reports of damage, detritus, debris, letting it take a fast pace, putting walls between it and its pursuers very frequently. The words it sees only spur it on more, the solar moving quickly. Contacting the AI would give it a huge advantage, and if the AI tries anything too cute... It wouldn't be the first time Third has killed one of the AIs. It continues onwards, making it's way there, and each time an energy bolt seems like it's on target to strike the Solar, it's body seems to move to one side smoothly, the energy passing by and impacting on the walls without doing a bit of harm to the Solar. It will take more impressive skill than that to be able to have a chance at striking the Solar. It has drawn away the strongest from the pack, at that- Perhaps the others will have an easier time.

Third almost has a smile on its face.
------------
OOC 02:02, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 4 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,7,7,7,9. Join Battle. VERY good luck with the dice... [Private to GM: Flow like Blood, sorry for unclear wording. ;^_^ Also, he'll be dodging any attacks with motes pumped into First Dodge Excellency.]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:25, Mon 29 Dec 2008.

Turtle nods once at Tycho's words, scratching at his heavily leathered head with a long silvered talon.  After a moment of consideration, he replies in his slow monotone grumble, "Hmm... I will go, if you can describe, how to follow, the message.  I can travel, quite swiftly, when necessary."  As he speaks, the armored plates on his body begin to thicken, becoming more elaborate and inclusive in their protection of his more vital areas.

As soon as the process is completed, Turtle continues, lowering his voice another level so only the Exalts can easily hear his words, not the refugees standing just beyond, "I think, also, if one of us goes, it would be better for it to be, the less obviously human - Sir Tycho or myself.  The mortals, hmm, are a brave group, and handling this well, better than I would expect... but I think they might be more comfortable, should the least... physically unique, of our group remain, to see to their safety.  So if you cannot explain, then I think you must go, or leave it to Third.  I leave the choice, to you."

---

OOC:  Turtle activates Armor Forming Technique up to its full level.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:50, Mon 29 Dec 2008.

Pursing his lips slightly at the exchange of words, Higura finally nods towards Turtle, and takes a step forward. "I believe you might have a point here. No matter what you choose to do, however, know that I will help the refugees as best as I can."

"I was alongside miss Saffron when we decided to help them escape the purge. They are our responsibility." He nods to Turtle and Tycho then, and a faint smile traces his lips. "I trust in your ability to find a way out. Until then, I will defend these people to the bitter end."

   "We should move then," Saffron offers quietly.

The refugees so far have been kept calm and reassured by the presence of Higura and Saffron, both of whom they are used to interacting with. Particularly Saffron, who has spent the majority of her captivity as a healer and herbalist serving the lowest floors of Five Coils. Higura's expertise is more specialized, and has taken him further up the hierarchy of floors, but the derangements and hauntings he is often called to work with are much more common on the lower floors as well.

It is true that they would most definitely be more uncomfortable to follow Tycho -- who is very much a symbol of the excesses of the Five Coils Peace Force -- but for now it seems that the promise of protection and escape has mollified the mortals.

Drachma in particular nods in assent to Saffron's suggestion, murmuring, "Please remember some of us are gravely hurt. More than anything, we must find a safe place to rest."

Tycho, being the one Third passed the directions to, may either take the lead as Third suggested or pass on the directions to the healer or doctor. Whatever is agreed upon, the group with the refugees begins to proceed toward the southwest. They will soon come across the point they must cross the main street where Nanaret met the Octo-Sentry or decide to continue with the detour.

---

OOC: Hrm, fortunately the sentries rolled bad on their perc+aware (only 1 success). Refugees rolled 0 sux on stealth, but I'll assume they've collectively spent a willpower to remain unseen, since they didn't botch and they'd want to avoid conflict as a priority.

Everyone else (even unlucky Tycho) passed stealth. You guys are safe to move at top speed away from the sentries, or if you prefer try to set a trap for them. Next posts from me will deal with Third and Nanaret's situations.

Nanaret keeps up the pace, sweat slicking her taut, dusky skin as she runs, leaps and tumbles through the streets of Floor B27. Her lithe body, radiating silvery light, continues to hold the attention of the Octo-Sentry even as she remains just out of reach of its furiously grasping tentacles.

How much longer? she thinks to herself. It must have been a minute or two by now. Can't... run... much longer.

Even so, Ranavalona still stirs. Running again? What a pathetic vessel you are. But this time Nanaret refuses her insistence on gaining ground, shoving the detestfully opinionated Queen into some little-accessed recess of her mind. Ranavalona becomes mere background thought, a disembodied mind-voice shouting to be noticed from within a prison of distant childhood memories, muffled by Nanaret's more immediate instinct to survive by her wits, not her combat prowess.

The Lunar's night-seeing eyes rove the street ahead of her. She'd lost count of the westward blocks she'd fled through, and could only depend on instinct to guide her now. Leaping clear over a garbage receptacle in her way, she kicks behind her to knock it over -- then abruptly shifts direction, turning into the next southward cross street. This time, though, she banks the brilliant glow of her anima, restricting her progress to shadows and cover. She misdirects her pursuer by snatching up and tossing garbage and discarded belongings from those who have fled before her, diverting its attention toward the opposite side of the street while her silent steps carry her away.

But Nanaret is sure that simple misdirection will not be enough for an advanced machine-sentry. As she progresses at a slower pace down the side street, she starts checking the doors on the eastern side, looking for a darkened, unlocked building to slip into while the Octo-Sentry is distracted. If she finds none, she'd have to swiftly pick the lock with nothing more than improvised tools... which may prove difficult.

[Private to GM: using Dex+Stealth, and I'll pump as much Essence into it through 1st excellency as I can without flaring up again (hopefully stunting gave me enough).]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Tue 30 Dec 2008.

Nanaret manages to evade the Octo-Sentry enough to duck into one of the east side buildings on the street, taking the first unlocked door she finds. Unfortunately, she can already hear the automaton moving unerringly toward the apartment building she has chosen, guided by its finely calibrated, Essence powered tracking protocols.

Inside it is all but pitch black, but Nanaret's night vision sees clearly the interior of a vacated apartment. The furnishings, particularly the cabinets, desks and drawers, show clear signs of a swift evacuation, and few things of value have been left within. Passing the kitchen, the gladiatrix sees an all but fully prepared meal of bean and mushroom soup with a side of dark bread, hearty fare typical of the lower levels of Coils. Clothing remains strewn on the floor, spilling partially out of a half-open armoire; the double bed has been left rumpled, and the back door wide open. [Private to Saina Nanaret: Nanaret has another chance to hide or misdirect the Octo-Sentry from within the apartment. What will she do?]

Meanwhile, Third puts on a burst of speed to increase the distance between itself and the three guards pursuing it. They send two volleys of essence blasts its way, but none of them can so much as land a single shot on it -- not even their commander, for all his skill and superior firepower. Only the final shot from the officer in black jade requires Third to expend Essence at all, as the Solar dives into a roll and springs forward still running, propelling it the rest of the way toward the control pillar's base.

The pillar itself is as much a work of art as it is machinery: ribbons of crystal and adamant entwined in a spiral resembling a stylized column of water, pulsing with live lines of blue-green Water Essence. Like most other terminals of its make, 46S-12E is not reserved for any particular AI, serving more as a node or connecting point for 'roaming' AIs such as Harmony -- spirits bound in Essence and circuitry, navigating the momentous Five Coils support and security systems on behalf of the Gatekeeper of Water. Harmony currently appears within the column as the phantasmal image of a six-armed goddess wearing an eyeless mask covering all but her mouth, floating in lotus position as her hands stretch plaintively toward Third.

A crescent shaped panel provides touch panel controls, with a communications orb embedded into its center, pulsing with swirls of blue-green and gold. Above it are several screens projected onto the pillar's surface, each and every one of them displaying the same Old Realm symbol in liquid gold: "DIVE". While Third ponders its next court of action, the guards giving chase decide against expending further Essence, closing toward melee range! [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Connecting Third's consciousness directly with the AI is as simple as touching the communications orb. But this will no doubt leave them both susceptible to physical attack. Will Third take the risk?]

---

OOC: actions (Third's part)
tick 0 - Third (assumed dashing) (11/tick)
tick 1 - tiger shark sentries (2) (3/tick)
tick 2 - water dragon commander (4/tick)
...
tick 6 - tiger sharks (18 yards) / commander (16 yards), Third reaches goal (66 yards)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:23, Sat 03 Jan 2009.

Third doesn't even hesitate as it lands its hand on the orb. It has interfaced with these orbs many times, and it responds to the sudden mental opening with practiced ease. 'Third has only moments.' Its thoughts appear in sparkling gold as it interfaces with the AI. 'Third has approximately ten seconds before it will be engaged in combat, and perhaps twelve more seconds it will be able to hold off its attackers without being forced to flee.' It is determined. If they do close to range, even being forced to stand with it's hands against the orb, the Solar will be able to hold them away for a brief time with its  Seven Shadow Evasion, but that will only give it a few extra seconds, before it will be forced to flee. 'What do you need?' Fortunately, the direct mental nature of the connection, while distracting for combat purposes, will make it possible to converse much quicker than it could with any human being. Time is still pressingly short, however.

Third is familiar with the AIs. They are as bound as any other. But it knows that, given the opportunity, and an AI that can help it... It can free the AI. Freedom will be close for both of them, then.
---
OOC I'm assuming that dodging will be nearly impossible in the state Third is in, which thankfully, means it can still use Seven Shadows Evasion. Obviously, this will require some good stunting to do without escaping. Conviction being the flaw, I think that working with the AI that may be able to help them escape should be about right.

"You go," Tycho nods to Turtle. "I'm already damaged and slowed down. If I get caught, I might have to try to fight my way free. You can still run. I just hope you can communicate with Harmony. I don't know if it can still vocalize or not."

He gives the Lunar the directions that the rogue A.I. had passed through the flashing lights. "If you don't find anything, don't waste time looking around. Just hurry and try to catch up. Be careful."

Giving the turtle-man a comradely slap on his massive arm, Tycho moves to the front of the group and takes Third's place. He stares the mortals down for a moment. "Anyone who falls behind stays behind. Watch each other close and the side-roads closer. Lets move."

As inspirational speeches go, it is somewhat lacking in terms of inspiration, but that was never Tycho's department. Waving Saffron and Higaru to follow, he starts back into the city, following the directions Third passed to him.

   As an Exalt, Saffron is generally like a leaf in the wind. She is willing to allow the world around her to move as it will and push her in a direction. Unlike the leaf though she takes full responsibility for her action or inaction, her words or lack of them. She believes, after all, you can't be upset about things you cannot change.
   It is, therefore, cutting when Tycho's words are spoken. She finds the idea of leaving someone behind because they can't keep up repugnant and unacceptable. She understands that Tycho is well meaning and looking for the entire group's well being. He is, in his own way, looking after the largest number possible that he can.
   The danger, of course, is the difference in understanding that one cannot save everyone and leaving those who may be sacrificed for the greater good with no hope. His words well meaning but ill concieved would poison the group with an unaffordable cancer.
   Saffron had accepted the inevitability that she couldn't save everyone when she chose to leave the bottom floor knowing the rioters would die. These souls had made a choice to follow her and Higura. They had chosen the path of hope. Tycho with his words was wounding that hope.
 It is hope that Saffron seeks to preserve. As long as they had hope and continued to fight they still had a chance. Her words quickly spoken seek to restore the hope that would be inadvertantly wounded if the man's words took hold, "If anyone falls behind I will carry them and if I cannot carry them, I will stay behind to protect them. As I promised to help and protect you, I will do so. We run as long as we can and when we can't run anymore, we fight."

 [Private to Gatekeeper: Well, he made Saffron's mind up on the charm. I would like "Opening the Door." If I can't have that one for some reason as the "Christmas" charm, I'll use my experience points to attempt to stunt learn it. If it succeeds the charm should allow the poison from Tycho's words to fail. Saffron understands he is meaning to be efficient and realistic. However, realism in crisis only makes matters worse and Saffron understands that very well.]

Nanaret, ducking into the darkness of the apartment, allows her night-eyes to adjust to the lack of lighting before moving toward the armoire. She immediately strips down to her undergarments, placing her clothes on the bed. Her hope is that their warmth, scent and appearance will misdirect the Octo-Sentry should it somehow enter the building.

Moving to the armoire, she picks clothing she can find that fits reasonably well while remaining sturdy and comfortable. If she can find a worker or technician's outfit, all the better, particularly if it is unisex. She also looks for a hat, placing it over her head at a jaunty angle to cover her ears, and ties her blue braids back with a strip of cloth. Her blades, she finds a blanket or other cloth to wrap them into a bundle so it appears she is carrying a few tools or parts tucked casually under her arm.

All this the Lunar arranges as swiftly as she can while focusing her hearing on the approach of the Sentry. She does not move, though, remaining calmly and efficiently focused on her task until she is finished or hears the automaton entering by force. Only then does she quietly exit from the back door without touching it, sticks her hands in her pockets and starts walking with a purposeful stride back towards the destination Third had mentioned.

[Private to GM: Hoping to use Manip+Larceny to misdirect, using disguise and changing habits and mannerism in order to appear as someone other than herself. If I have to use Int instead I'll use a WP, otherwise will add 2 sux with 2nd Manipulation Excellency.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Sat 03 Jan 2009.

As Third establishes the connection, the visage of Harmony ensconced in the crystalline pillar breaks into a disturbingly human smile. "FOR-TWO-THOUSAND-NINE-HUNDRED-FORTY-SIX-YEARS-I-HAVE-WAITED-TO-INTERFACE-WITH-YOU, SHINING-EYE."

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Third's mind is flooded with familiar memories of another self: a lovely, slender figure, androgynous, impossibly beautiful, with eyes like liquid gold. It walks through endless corridors of adamant and steam and endlessly churning mechanisms. Among the divine machines it meets with one by one is a subroutine still without form, who quietly envies the figure's freedom but lacks the means to convey it. Third feels an odd emotion from the AI's thoughts -- something like love. Could machines love?]

"TO-YOU-I-GRANT-THE-KEYS-OF-KNOWLEDGE." While in contact with the orb Third finds it can mentally visualize the entire 27th floor as a map of terminals and relay points, control nodes and essence conduit vertices. The sentries, both human and machine, appear as bright, moving dots -- and so does a solitary figure Third realizes is Tycho.

Then comes a flood of machine language, which the connection with Harmony allows Third to interpret. The AI has already come up with a course of action to temporarily disable the sentries, but has been locked out from acting without human input to execute. "PLEASE-COMPLY."

Unfortunately, the interaction with Harmony has given the sentries time to catch up. "Cease unauthorized access immediately!" demands the Peace Force commander, then to his subordinates, "Grab him!" The tiger shark sentries lunge to clinch Third while the commander aims his power mace's integrated cannon... not at the Solar, but at the control pillar!

---

OOC: Posting for the others next, since Third's part is rather complicated...

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Roll Wits+Lore to mentally bypass authorization and execute commands. This action puts you at -2 DV. You'll have to defend against the sentries at the same time.

The tiger sharks benefit from coordinated attack. The commander rolled high to coordinate them (7 sux) so you get DV 0 against the two clinchers. They got 3 sux each, but you can stunt and/or use your perfect. The commander is aiming at a different target, so does not benefit from coordination, but for you to protect Harmony you will have to stunt a parry (at -3 Parry DV) or take the energy blast, not dodge it. Fortunately he only got 4 sux.]

Saffron's message of hope resonates with the mortals still struggling to keep up with the group. They trust in her, that she will not abandon them, and answer that loyalty by marching with her, keeping distance from the more practical-minded Tycho. However, there are still several that are self-motivated enough that they need no further encouragement. They keep to the front with the machine-man, resulting into the group of refugees splitting increasingly into two, leaving Saffron with the slower, larger, more wounded group. Higura is between the two groups, and can join either one of them or keep to the middle.

The Exalts encounter no other sentries in their way until they reach the main street crossroads. Nanaret has successfully lured away the southern Octo-Sentry, but a second one had been reported in this area, lingering northward. Tycho and Saffron can decide to take their respective groups across the street anyway (a significant shortcut) or take the longer route to the technician's shaft.

Separated from the others, Turtle moves southeast at a swift, resolute pace to meet with Third. What he comes across first is the tail end of the group chasing Third: a pair of females, one in tiger shark armor wielding a shock pike, and the other in a technician's jumpsuit with a coiled Essence whip at her hip. They do not realize they are being pursued from behind, their eyes focused on the crystalline and adamant control pillar ahead of them, where at least three figures are now engaged in combat. "It's Harmony, I know it," mutters the tech between labored breaths. "Should've listened while there was still time..." [Private to Grinning Turtle: Is Turtle going to try and remain unseen at all?]

In the apartment, Nanaret finds herself some relatively nondescript clothing -- dark brown pants with belt loops, a sturdy, somewhat stained old work shirt with rolled up sleeves, and laced up boots that are just a little too big for her feet. She hears only the faint sounds of the octupus automaton probing the area of the apartment as she readies herself, then a loud crash as the machine strikes repeatedly at the front face of the building with its tentacles, breaking it apart.

By then, though, the Lunar has already made her exit. She can hear the automaton sentry lingering at the building, thrusting its tentacles into the interior of the apartment building as bits of wall and glass rain down. It does not appear to be pursuing her any more.

[5 minutes, 40 seconds remaining for the main group.]

---

OOC: Since Third's actions have been posted with seconds of granularity, I figure Third and Turtle have some leeway for catching up once Harmony is dealt with. Still, they probably will not get to the rendezvous point until after the 5 minute mark.

Nanaret may make it there by the 5 minute mark--if she runs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Sun 04 Jan 2009.

Turtle nods at Tycho's instruction, "Hmm.  As you say.  Unlike Third, I do not think you should, wait for either of us, at the shaft, but leave immediately.  There is, little time, and some at least, must reach the controls."  With that, the turtle-man lumbers off, moving with surprising speed in the direction Tycho indicates.

Arriving just in time to hear the enigmatic mention of what he takes to be the entity he has followed to make contact with, Turtle trundles up behind the two pursuers, addressing them clearly in his measured bass drawl, "Hmm.  Interesting.  Perhaps, miss, you could, tell me more, of this Harmony?"  Though the man-beast is showing no signs of hostility, he maintains readiness, knowing that despite his best wishes there is little chance of this encounter ending with a polite discussion on rogue AIs.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Nope, not trying to hide, not even a little. :)  Not precisely Joining Battle, either, but I doubt this will end any other way so I've gone ahead and rolled.  2 successes.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sun 04 Jan 2009.

As he walks carefully within the middle of the group, Higura observes the slowly separating subgroups - and mentally remarks that this is somewhat of a microcosm representation of the Coils' society. The weak and powerless trailing behind slowly, while the strong and determined manage to keep up and push onwards. Despite the unavoidable nature of this situation, he cannot help but feel a string of sadness at the realities of it. And, with that thought in mind, the doctor chooses his stance as the groups progress forward.

He keeps his pace somewhere between slow and fast, keeping himself perfectly between Saffron's group and Tycho's. From there, he watches both, hoping to become the link from which they will become united again. Symbolically, his presence would remind Tycho's group of those weaker than they, those who might eventually need their protection. In turn, it would also remind Saffron's group that they too can possess strength, and that all has not been robbed from them.

From this position, Higura also surveys threats that might seek to flank them, since he would be in the best location to spot such occurrences, and to warn either group of their presence.

Under orders of Five Coils' Administration, Higura has spent much of his time assessing the mental state of his patients, ranking them for easier control by the oppressive leadership of the underground complex. He has put numbers to individuals, ranking their capabilities and potential for dangerous behavior. His work made human beings mere numbers and statistics, but with renewed fervor, he swears to circumvent this fact, to break the dehumanization and return pride and will to the subjugated masses.

Here, all are equal. And eventually, his actions would prove it to both the prisoners and their wardens.

Can an AI love? Third does not doubt it. A thing being made by men does not make it inferior, and an AI's love, if crafted by a skilled craftsmen, is no less real than the love of any other. The question seems perhaps best left for discussion when lives are not quite as immediately threatened.

Third's nimble fingers surge across the orb as it bypasses the codes put on the AI's control. The visual is rather like walls crumbling, a single spot being struck with just enough force, and the entire system collapsing in on itself as the Solar destroys the bonds holding the AI back from freedom, however small a measure of freedom that may be.

The two troopers' attack should hit. Third is helpless, it is forced to stand fairly still, and the coordination of the troopers is unmatched. Thus, their surprise is likely very great, when their arms converge on Third's slim, frail body, and find it is no longer there, the slim Solar's body igniting with golden fire as it uses its Essence, finding the exact moment to leap- not to safety, but to the defense of the machine.

Third risks its own life with this technique, it knows, but it refuses to take the chance for this time to be wasted by not showing significant effort. Anchored only by one hand on the orb that keeps it interfaced with the AI, it still runs its fingers across it, unlocking the codes that will allow the AI to control the automatons, it holds itself, parallel to the ground, in the path between the sparkling bolt of Essence that the commander has used. The movement defies physics, defies gravity, defies the wan frame of the Solar as it sends its sword out, the blade flicking across the air, leaving a soft hum as it parts the air itself, before being brought into a whirling pattern, Third using only the slightest motions as it rotates its wrist, creating a small whirlwind of gold as the motes of essence popping off its skin like sparks off a fire, writhing along the length of the blade, and as the blast reaches that whirling gold, Third brings the blade downwards. The stream of golden essence acts like a guide for a lightning bolt, the commanders Essence Bolt following the path of least resistance, slamming down into the ground... And if that is not sufficient, then the Solar does not shy, its own body serving as a defense, absorbing the bolt of essence into its own chest, even as its anima, now surging, claws at the Essence, Bolt, ripping into it and leaving it rather less effective than the commander might have hoped.

The blow taken care of, one way or another, Third lands lightly on its feet, exhaling, fingers still attached to the orb, still cutting the bonds of Harmony.

----
[Private to GM:OOC: 06:01, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,9,1,5,5,5,4,4.

Two extra dice if it falls under Five Coils lore, which I figured it does- But better safe than sorry.

Charm use is two shots of Seven Shadow Evasion for the purposes of dodging the soldiers clinches, and then a standard Stunt-Attempt-Parry for the Essence Bolt- My Parry DV is at 5, so -3 would put it at 2, so here's hoping I managed at least a 2 die stunt bonus. If not, well, I'm REALLY glad I'm a twilight right now, because I've just spent enough Essence to get up to the 11-15 range, and my Anima power kicks in, subtracting 4 health levels from the damage of the attack. So, with a little luck, Third will not be dying QUITE yet. ;)]

The technician and her guardian whirl to face the owner of that baritone voice, the tiger shark sentry holding her pike at the ready.

"Harmony--the 'ghost' of Water District, that's who..." The tech's impatient words dissolve in shock as she takes in Turtle's size and hybrid appearance. "You, you're one of the escapees! I'm sorry, but we must stop you!" She grasps and activate her energy whip, the artifact sparking with pale blue-purple Essence like lightning bolts in a storm as she thumbs her comm unit. "Avis, we need backup! NOW!"

Her guardian starts off with an immediate attack, stepping forward to meet Turtle's intrusion with a swift thrust from her weapon. [Private to Grinning Turtle: 7 successes on the attack, going to soak it?]

Third's mind works swiftly to manipulate the codes, but the strain of defending itself during such a delicate and exacting task is almost too much for it. The commands are still incomplete by the time Third's bold move grounds the incoming cannon blast in a coruscating display of clashing Essence. Both Third and Harmony are saved from all damage, but the Twilight's blade -- made of ordinary material, no matter its superior construction -- is warped and melted, the metal scaldingly hot to the touch.

Third has a grace period of seconds to finish the programming task. It knows that this is likely the last chance it will get. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: I gave you a +3 stunt for defense, though the parry all but destroyed your sword :( I didn't count the specialty, mostly because this is a task that you could be doing in pretty much any Autochthonian relic -- which of course is what Five Coils is. Anyway, you should roll Wits+Lore again, this time you get your full pool.]

---

OOC: actions
tick 14 - Third, technician guard (on Turtle)
tick 15 - technician
tick 16 - commander+tiger sharks (2) (on Third), Turtle
(3 more tiger sharks are incoming.)

Nanaret does run, as soon as she is reasonably sure she's lost the sentry's trail. She pushes her battered muscles further, leaping past obstacles without breaking her stride, taking shortcuts through narrow passages and even open buildings whenever she can.

Ranavalona mocks her the entire time, giving rather mean-spirited and unpleasant background commentary to the breakneck pace of her escape. But Nanaret does not slow down in the slightest until she comes within sight of her companions or the maintenance shaft -- or, gods forbid, she reaches the end of her endurance.

Turtle nods at the tech's words, grumbling quietly to himself, "Hmm.  Politeness, to a foe.  A pleasant change, from the zealous rhetoric."  As he speaks, he also moves into ponderous motion, massive taloned silver claws wrapping around the tip of the incoming shock pike.  Trusting his nearly indestructible fingertips to withstand the force of the blow, Turtle tries to use his incredible strength to force the stab downward into the floor or even his thick carapace rather than into the softer tissue around his joints or neck.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Parrying guard's attack down to 2, minus stunt if any, soaking whatever's left.]

Third throws its blade aside. It is a shame, the blade was a good one, but at least it managed to give its life as any good object should: Doing what it was meant to do.

This is the way Third intends to die, if it must die now, as it devotes its full attention to programming, typing in the commands with manic fervor. It can feel its pace double and redouble, as it strikes blows against the bonds that hold the artificial intelligence down, cutting sequences of firewalls and identification requests down with overloadings of data, paradoxes to confuse the system, and bursts of raw brilliance, filling out codes faster than any mortal could.

It has to succeed, to do any less would be impossible.

---
OOC: Booyah.
19:25, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 5 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,3,8,9,5,10,6,7. Break that damn code!.

A split second of brilliance in a moment of desperation, and a little bit of luck lead Third to success. The pillar burns brightly with diamond light, and Harmony suddenly flies free of its boundaries, free of physical and programming restraints. Her spirit-like form dissolves, and Third hears as much as feels the harmonic frequencies emanating from her, throbbing through the orb he still touches in a rousing culmination of joy.

To Third and Turtle's senses, it is a note of crystal clarity and disarming beauty. But the armored humans hear none of the beauty of it, their senses overwhelmed by the feedback coursing through their comm units, through the wiring of the armor they so preciously depend on. The surge is enough to knock the junior sentries out cold, while the Dragon-blooded commander and technician drop their weapons and fall to their knees, clutching their heads in agony!

The tiger shark sentry attacking Turtle barely nicks his sturdy shell with her spear before the harmonic wave hits her. She collapses forward, toward Turtle's broad chest, while the technician struggles vainly on the ground to shut out the noise.

"I-WILL-ACCOMPANY-YOU." Harmony murmurs to Third, speaking as if she is right next to it. But she is nowhere to be seen. "LORD-GATEKEEPER-IS-ROUSED. YOUR-ALLIES-ABOVE-ARE-ENDANGERED. I-WILL-ATTEMPT-TO-INTERVENE." Third knows he should bring the orb with him, to continue communication.

---

OOC: Turtle took 1L damage. But the sentries are pretty much disarmed now. You don't know how long that will last, though, so best move toward the others. (Whom I will post for next!)

You could potentially pick up the sentries' weapons before dashing away: among the ones close by there are three shock pikes, a power mace and an essence lash. When you DO run, I'll allow you to stunt for greater speed. You have to cover about 700 yards at this point.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:15, Tue 06 Jan 2009.

Several tens of blocks away, Tycho, Saffron and Higura hear the song of Harmony's freedom, a stirring chord that fills them and even the refugees with a sliver of her joy and triumph. They charge forward, choosing to cross the main street. Far to the north end of that street, those attentive to their surroundings notice the shape of an Octo-Sentry collapsed there, twitching as if weakened by some unseen force.

Needless to say, they take advantage of the situation and run for it. As the technician's shaft comes into view -- a cylindrical chute embedded among the crush of buildings in this region, built less for aesthetics than for saving space -- the purge count continues unabated:

"T-minus five minutes until purging commences. Authorized personnel, commence final stages of evacuation."

The shaft is disappointingly small. It was never meant for large scale evacuation -- it is little more than a single ladder, and it'll be a tight squeeze for Tycho or especially Turtle. The refugees look at it dauntingly, but the more self-serving among them start to crowd at the base of the shaft, while Drachma attempts to rally them. "One by one! We need stronger people ahead to make sure it is safe for the wounded!" But everyone is exhausted, and their patience frayed... it's difficult for him alone to keep order.

Then the group hears footsteps coming their way at a dead run. It is a nondescript figure in a jaunty hat and work clothes, carrying a bundle under his (her?) arm. [Private to Yaishin Higura: You recognize it immediately as Nanaret in disguise.] [Private to Saffron: You know the figure is familiar but can't quite place it. Nonetheless, common sense and knowledge of her physiology leads you to believe it is Nanaret... dressed differently.]

Third's eyes light up as the music fills its soul. It seizes the orb, carrying it in one hand, sliding it into a pocket somewhere on it's robes that it will not easily escape, should things go ideally. It does not even bother to take the weapon, it would not be useful in its hands. 'Turtle! Third and you must move! The Purge will be stopped!' Third shouts, before sprinting quickly towards the maintenance shaft. Its body drops low, bent as far forward as it safely can, and perhaps a little bit more, each step sending it at a full tilt sprint towards the maintenance shaft, with the confidence that it will stop the purge, and it will find freedom. The Solar's feet slam into the ground as it studies the map of the area around him. It moves at the most efficient directions possible, hoping that Turtle will be able to keep up- The Lunar may even be quicker than it, which would certainly allow for some amusement. Later. After this hell is behind them.

'Third shall stop the purge. Third thanks you. Third shall free you as well from this place.' It speaks earnestly to the AI, before setting back to its pace.

"You two should go up first," Tycho tells Higaru and Saffron the moment the they reach the tunnel and he's gotten a good look at it. "I'll stay down here waiting for your friends until the mortals have all been sent up."

This is going to take too damn long!

Tycho stands at the foot of the ladder, staring up at the ladder as it slithered away into darkness and seething in frustration at the pace of the mortals were spending getting organized. Going last was the only real option for him. If he slips and falls, if his body malfunctions and spasms at the wrong time, he could have easily swept the entire ladder clean of mortals. Growing overwrought just standing there, he walks the group and helps Drachma push them into some semblance of order. Tycho bodily drags the healthiest looking of those on their feet up to the forefront. He's breeding resentment, he knows, but is beyond caring. Harsh as his ways can be, he knows how to organize people and doesn't have the time to be more gentle about it.

Should have just left them behind. Damn bleeding hearts...

"Fast as you can!" he snaps at the next soul shoved onto the bottom wrung of the ladder, holding in the urge to simply attempt to throw them up the shaft. "Look up, not down! This isn't a sight-seeing tour!"

Narrowing his eyes at the running figure, Higura is almost prepared to strike - but then holds his movement, lifting a hand so the other groups can see him. "Wait... that is no stranger. This is miss Nanaret..." Gesturing towards her to come closer, he momentarily wonders why she found it necessary to change her appearance - but the questions would have to come later. Other problems are much more pressing at the moment.

Turning towards refugees, and then towards Drachma, Higura takes a step forward, gesturing to the refugees. "Men and women of the Coils... I know you are exhausted, at the end of your strength and the limit of your endurance - but I think you realize, now more than ever, that thinking of this as everyone for himself will only lead to death. This statement would be true even for us chosen - a single one of us, against the tremendous defenses the Coils have built, would end up recaptured or dead in a very short time."

"Do not give in to fear. This is when you will pose actions that will not only endanger the survival of your brethren, but yours as well. You have sacrificed much to get this far, pushed yourself to much extremes to come to this point with your life and freedom. Now is not the time to give in, so close to the finish line. Listen to Drachma, and ensure your survival."

Turtle gently catches the sentry as she falls forward, lowering her to the ground and taking her shock pike as the slight wound heals over completely.  Bending down even further, he addresses the still conscious technician in his bass rumble, though uncertain whether or not she can hear him, "Ah... I regret leaving you in this condition, when you were so polite, but I don't think you'd be here, if you couldn't survive, the purge.  Still, I'm sorry."  Turtle rises at Third's shout, gently plucking up the essence lash with two thick silver claws as he stands.

Keeping to the path Third follows, Turtle shows a surprising ability to move at a quick pace.  As he picks up speed, his awkward shuffle his body forces him to maintain begins to turn into long, easy bounds, the strength in his short stubby legs allowing him to eat up impressive distance with each tiny leap.  Unfortunately, though he moves quickly, his massive bulk does cause problems for his surroundings - every so often a particularly enthusiastic spring pulverizes the floor, creating a massive clawed footprint in stone, denting metallic surfaces, and outright destroying anything constructed of wood that gets underfoot.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  I'm not entirely certain what Turtle's anima banner is at right now.  He was at the 15+ level a couple of times during the 29th floor scene, so including the scene cut between floors and the 3 motes he spent on Armor Forming Technique I think he's probably up to about 11+ again.  If so the Full Moon anima effect is already active, if not he spends as many peripheral motes as it takes to get up to the 11+ level on generic effects like telling the phase of the moon, expand the light caused by his anima, etc.  Let me know if this is necessary for my records.

Once he's got the anima banner up, his dash is 20 yards/tick plus stunt if any, so he can cover 700 yards in around 35 seconds or so.  However, he slows down to Third's speed if it's slower.]

   Saffron gives Higura an admiring nod. "My sentiments exactly," she says before charging into assist Tycho. She doesn't object to what he is doing but she does affect the order, selecting or putting in Tycho's way those she thinks she could when. Alternating those who follow the first set with strong, weak, and exhausted intermigled. She pays attention to keep those related or associated with one other spaced apart, close but not too close. This should work to the psychology of the group, forcing them to care about the good of the group and not just their family. She makes sure to physically touch each person she sends to the ladder.

   When she is positive it is Nanaret who is approaching, she says to her, "It is good to see you whole. I do not suppose you are too exhausted to continue playing scout." She indicates the ladder, even as she continues to help Tycho in rushing them along. "Higura, you should go too. You can keep them calm up there and provide them protection if they need it. I'll stay here until I get them up."

Nanaret takes some time to catch her breath, then nods. "I will be well," she says, though Saffron can tell she is weary, and still fairly hurt. (OOC: 4B, and I also realized I'd forgotten about the wound penalty a couple times around, I'm so sorry.) Fortunately the monk that hit her two floors below had not punctured any vitals but the weariness is finally starting to settle in.

"...I am hurt," she amends, finally, a little gruffly as she dislikes to admit to weakness. "But better I go first than others. Luna favors the survivalist," the blue-haired woman says with a tight smile. As if to demonstrate, a brief if brilliant flash of silver radiates from her, her tattoos flaring as the touch of Essence strengthens her flesh against harm. Unveiling her weapons from within the cloth bundle she carries, she replaces one hook sword at her belt, holding the other firmly between her teeth.

Seeing the others busy with organizing the refugees, Nanaret wastes no time moving toward the shaft and climbing on up. She only pauses to nod to Higura, meeting his eyes for a brief moment of acknowledgment before she ascends.

[Private to GM: used Hide-Toughening Essence, 3m.]

Pursing his lips slightly at Nanaret's state, Higura also knows that there is not much he can do to make it better. Saffron's presence, however, does alleviate some of his worry, and he nods sharply towards the healer while a fain smile traces his lips. "You have a good point, miss Saffron. I shall go first and be certain to maintain some order in the ranks."

With that, he gives a final look around him before following the rest of the refugees, moving with them in an attempt to keep them organized.

Nanaret and Higura boldly climb the shaft, while Tycho starts all but shoving people up there to follow. He's right, it WILL be tedious and long, and not all the wounded are fit and able to climb without help. But Saffron's presence ensures that if it's even remotely possible everyone will make it up there.

The mortals to their credit seem to have taken the words of the Exalts to heart. They consent to being guided, even none-too-gently, holding fast to the hope that moving up means moving toward freedom. They understand, despite all their fears and concerns, that they have only come this far by helping each other, and Saffron's careful attention to the order of ascent emphasizes that.

Some of these people, though, have never even SEEN what is up above. Some have been taught all their lives that to rise above their station, to trespass to the floors above, would surely mean their death. Those people, the most Dragon-fearing and Immaculate-indoctrinated of the group, are the ones Saffron's benevolent encouragement benefit the most. "What god will watch over us now, as we defy the path of our birth?" Drachma seems troubled, but does not hesitate to keep his fellow mortals climbing upward, choosing to go near last with Saffron.

It takes Turtle and Third up to 53 seconds to reach the shaft. Turtle does, incidentally, have to slow down quite a bit to keep up with Third -- unless he decides to carry him. (I'd shave it down to maybe 46, 47 seconds. It's really not going to matter much with the bottleneck at the shaft though.)

With a little more than 4 minutes remaining, counting the time it took to organize the refugees proper, around half of the refugees made it above or are at least ON the ladder. The Solar and Lunar see Tycho, Saffron and Drachma coordinating the climby upward with as swift a pace as they can manage, given the mortals' condition. "THEY-WILL-BE-ENDANGERED," speaks Harmony in Third's mind. "THE-SHAFT-LEADS-TOWARD-LORD-GATEKEEPER'S-CORE. PLUG-ME-IN-AND-GO-WITH-THEM, HURRY." To save time, she explains what she wishes of Third in a quick series of images.

---

OOC: Whatever order you decide to go in, you'll end up in B26 at approximately the 3 minute 30 second mark. Nanaret and Higura should move on to "Floor B26 - District of Water, Gatekeeper Core" when I create it. The rest of you can make a last post here if you wish, I'll give it a day or so and then close the thread. (Note: though we're changing threads, it's not a *scene* change so scenelongs stay up.)

[Private to Grinning Turtle: I'll admit, somewhere through the holiday rush I ended up losing count... I'm kinda strapped for time to actually count through it, so we'll just be fair and say you're exactly at 11 peripheral right now. I also gave you a +1 stunt so you can apply that to get a couple motes back after the run! And you have your pike and whip, of course.]

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You can basically slot the orb into any panel with a socket for it, which is kind of like a specialized hearthstone. Harmony only needs a brief contact to travel through the circuitry. There's a panel at the base of the maintenance shaft that should do the trick. also, get a +2 stunt for the run and just for playing well so far :)]

[Private to Alus Tycho; Saffron; Yaishin Higura: all of you can have a +2 stunt for your efforts in helping the refugees, for getting back motes or WP as needed.]

Third is not proud, letting the Lunar carry it, the Solar's slim body barely even noticeable to the Lunar's strength. It could almost be intimate if Third had anything recognizable as a gender.

Third nods to the others, and presses the orb against the maintenance panel to release Harmony before safely stowing the orb again. 'Third has recruited the help of an Artificial Intelligence. It has provided aid already, I believe it will be trustworthy. Third suggests Third go next, time is short to stop the purge, Third will need all the time Third can get.' It waits a moment for assent before taking its way up. Helping the mortals is very well and good, but there will be quite a few more deaths if Third cannot do something.

This is all going to be extremely embarassing if it ends up not needing to be the one who disables the purge, obviously, but that's a chance it's willing to take.

Tycho's eyes only offer Nanaret a cold and silent greeting as the woman made her return. He watches her though, from the corner of his gaze, as his readying of the refugees continues unabaited. He even follows her initial progress up the ladder, before approaching footfalls pull his attention elsewhere.

"Well, glad you could make it," Tycho said, offering Turtle and Third a nod in greeting. Kneeling down, Tycho scoops one of the more injured off the floor and guides the man's arms around his neck, then one after the next piles several more onto his back, his arm bending backwards to support them all. "Now that you're both here, we can focus on getting the hell off his floor."

He doesn't ask if Turtle or Third had found anything; there isn't time for that anymore.

Turbines spin under the plates of his armored shell and within the sphere of his joints. Jolts of crackling golden light arc over the machine-man's body. His weight and presence swells, the heady scent of ozone and oil spilling out around him. Vent flaps in his back snapping open like a beetles shell to exhale a blast of murky essence-smoke. His fingers flex with a ratcheting click of joints as he turns to face the sheer outward face of the shaft.

"Hold tight. This is going to be interesting..." he warns the mortals clinging to his back as he thrust his hands forward, jabbing his fingers against the face of the metal shaft. Alloys squealed and bend as his finger tips all but perforated through the outer casing of the shaft. He heaves, pulling his feet up off the ground and kicks a pair of footholds into the metal as well. "I'll start ferrying up the injured from here. Try to push the rest up as fast as you can."

And then Tycho begins his ascent, body exploding in sparks and internal mechanisms revving desperately as he climbs in great loping motions, body stretching upwards as he sinks his fingers into the metal and hauls himself upwards after it. Awkward looking, but making a swift ascent towards the top of the shaft. As soon as there is no more room to climb, he slams an open palm into the middle of a plate, causing the outer edges to curl upwards so he can tear it free. Wind blasts through the hole that now looks through onto the ladder and shaft. From there he can see the edge of the next floor up or at least the light from it.

"Careful now, it's a long way down," Tycho warns the first wounded man he takes from his back and slowly eases him through the hole and onto the ladder, slipping him carefully into a space between bodies. Saffron's alternating of the strong and the weak had left breaks big enough to fit a person into and Tycho takes advantage of that. One by one, he carefully seeds the wounded onto the ladder above the stronger looking mortals scaling upwards

As soon as he is certain that the last mortal was secure on the ladder, the Solar begins to rapidly scale back down to fetch the next ones. Not the easiest of processes, but faster than letting the wounded climb up that far by themselves.

----
OOC: Strength Increasing Exercise to boost his Strength up to 8, which'll hopefully be enough for this little stunt. >_>

   Saffron makes a note to herself to heal Nanaret as soon as she is able. The woman had already saved their lives several times and it was likely she would have to do it again.

   "Our world below is about to end. The gods look after those who use what they have to survive, Drachma," Saffron reassures. "Stations do not matter right now. No matter how uncomfortable we are with the prospect." Her words indicate she is as uncomfortable as the others of rising above her place in this coils. However, it is clear she means to do it. As long as she had two good legs, she would see to it as many people would survive, could survive.

   Saffron waits until every refugee is on the ladder, before heading up it herself.

Turtle gently plucks up Third when it becomes apparent that he is both faster than the smaller creature and that it wouldn't object to such undignified treatment, then deposits the Solar just as carefully once they reach the shrinking mass of refugees and their remaining Exalted guardians.

The bulky Lunar nods respectfully as Tycho begins making his ascent up the exterior of the shaft, carrying loads of the worst off refugees through most of the long upward journey with his incredible strength.  "Ah... hmm, quite interesting.  I'd offer to try the same, but... I fear my bulk, would risk collapsing the shaft.  So I'll have to go last, I think."

The massive turtle-human hybrid waits what seems an eternity even after Saffron and Tycho have begun climbing inside the shaft before following, mentally ticking down twenty seconds before beginning his own ascent.  However, once does begin moving, he climbs with the same incredible speed he has displayed so far, and easily catches up to the tail end of the evacuation once it becomes clear the maintenance passage won't collapse under his weight.

Tycho's strength is more than sufficient to accomplish his goal. Once Third moves on ahead, the machine-man's efforts speed up the ascent of the wounded, cutting down the time they might otherwise delay the group without requiring them to exert themselves further. He does have to make a second trip to ensure he does not drop any of them--but it works.

"I defer to your wisdom, healer," says Drachma deferentially, as he and Saffron climb. "I put my faith into the new world above."

Turtle finds the shaft to be a tight squeeze, and the ladder rather flimsy in his thick hands. Fortunately the structure manages to hold, punctured as it is, though it groans and warps alarmingly as he passes through the middle.

For better or for worse, every last Exalt and refugee makes it upstairs together.

---

OOC: Closing thread. Tycho probably shaved something like ~10-15 seconds off my original projection [Private to Alus Tycho: Another +2 stunt for your efforts, as well!] The refugees might've slowed you down more than they did, but various factors (including Third's extensive Five Coils lore and Saffron's continual encouragement) helped make up for it.

I will start to post in the Gatekeeper Core thread for characters in the order I gave in Announcements. I figure that by Sun. all of you will be able to join in!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Sat 10 Jan 2009.