Ty drives deliberately, definitely slower than the breakneck pace the machine took to get to the gate when Billy was driving. He answers Jacob while Billy tries desperately to make eye contact with Laurie, "you know, I didn't get it when I first got here. I thought it was a retreat where everybody relaxed and recharged. But the first thing they did, for me, was take me to a classroom. See, Father Kinkaid leads the church, but he can't do all the administration himself. When any church member decides to give themselves fully to serving they come here to work through the decision and learn the skills they'll need."
"Isn't that right, Billy?"

Billy reacts as if jolted awake, "huh?, Oh. Yeah! That's right, Ty."
"These are the people that handle the church's business affairs. Father Kinkaid refuses to register the church as a religious organization, or even as a non-profit. The member churches are required to be self-sufficient and the church organization maintains a swiss bank account. From the start, the father wanted everything transparent and NO ties with any public institution or political organization."
"He's really the greatest guy! When I'd lost my music, I thought I'd lost everything. I'm not sure where I was going when Father Kinkaid caught up with me. With his help, everything turned around. Without it, I don't know that I would have made it."

"It's good to meet you. Currently, Chimp Man Z and Divine are on an informal visit to the commune, which we believe to be involved with the victim's demise. Bellisima and Nimbus are outside, possibly circling the perimeter, listening in to the wire Z's wearing. I've got an earpiece for you, here, so you'll be able to pick up on that as soon as you're in range of the transmitter."
"If you can find Bellisima or Nimbus, tell them I sent you. I'll text ahead to say you're coming. Probably need to get going, this still feels like we're on the edge of disaster."
After handing the surveillance equipment to the newcomer, the detective texts Bellisima and Nimbus to indicate he's sending backup.

Bellissima doesn't respond to the text message as she is currently distracted for some reason.

[Private to GM: 50 points to Bellissima for RP]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:03, Sat 16 Oct 2021.

Sydnie arrived in her 2014 Mustang GT Boss 302. The car was black and looked brand new. She had been driving for hours, fueled by gasoline, caffeine, energy drinks, and her own immense will. She had given herself three hours to sleep in a truck stop before carrying on. She had arrived late, though, bringing the file folder containing information from the autopsy she had performed. It was important to the case they were working. Then he gave her a run down of what was happening. She knew what the detective wanted - the Crusader. He knew who she was, it had been her intention to make an ally of him and that had been why she told him. He had used that information in the past, letting her in on things she shouldn't know as a coroner. By the time she had come to Kansas she had a very good working relationship with Broyko, so when he handed her the gear she just nodded. He would know she would do what was needed.

She drove off and parked in a cornfield, and quickly changed into her armor. She kept it and her weapons in the trunk, always. She left the car and ran the half mile back to the compound in under three minutes. When she arrived she used the coms link and talked to the others, "Crusader on scene. Beginning infiltration." She made her way back around to the side opposite CMZ and Bellissima's infiltration. She got a running start and jumped the fence, making sure no one was obviously watching her. Her plan was to move in shadows and below window lines until she would find what she believed to be an administrative building.

Jacob listens to Ty and Billy speak about the church and the commune.  So, while it is a church, it is run more like a business.  Even paying taxes?  He seems surprised by this.  Most churches seem to avoid paying taxes as much as the rich.  And the commune is what?  Like a business school with agriculture classes thrown in?
The place is starting to sound too good to be true.  And that usually means that it is.  The Wharton School of Business meets 4-h?

Ty speaks up, "well, sorta. There's a great emphasis on appropriate administration, and no profit motive. If the church generates excess funds, these are banked to underwrite future shortages. Without the cash reserves, the entire organization would be subservient to the rise and fall of the economy."
He pulls the vehicle over next to Retreat Living Quarters (5 in game map for Group 1), almost a quarter of a mile from the edge of the commune.
There is a crowd of people awaiting the vehicle.

Speaking into hers coms link, "They have a precog. We are made."

Jacob looks at the group awaiting them and smiles.  Well, I did say I would sign a few autographs.  Or,are not all these here to see me?  Iean, I know I have some small amount of fame, but I'm not that famous.

"Yeah, well, truth is this group was recently admitted. For the past six weeks they've done nothing but work the fields, take classes, eat, and sleep. They'll turn out for just about anyone."
"That's why I jumped at the chance to get you here. These are good people who never did anything to anybody. This place is, let's face it, BORING! I do everything I can to keep these folks from rushing home, and they still leave in droves."
"Help me out, man. I'm just trying to make their stay here a little brighter."

He shrugs.  Sure.  Got some place I can put on a bit of a show? I can do tumbling and gymnastics, and I can aerial work.  He gives a broad grin showing his bottom teeth.  Hell, I can even juggle bowling balls.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:30, Fri 24 Sept 2021.

"We really don't have facilities for a show, just talk to them a little and sign an autograph or two. After this we'll cross the compound to where the permanent residents stay, then visit Father Kinkaid's house. He wasn't here last time I checked, but he's been known to show up unexpectedly."

The people are just as Billy described them, average. They appear to get a kick out of meeting Chimp Man Z. Some of them get a double kick, as Ty Miaksen hadn't met all of them, yet.
Once everyone that wanted to has said hello to the celebrities, the people drift back towards the houses while Billy and Ty lead the way back to the SUV. Ty takes the wheel, again, and the compound is crossed to a smaller group of larger buildings.

Strangely, it never really gets old for Jacob.  Curious people asking curious questions.  Usually ones he has already heard.  People often want to see his prehensile feet, which usually ends with him taking his shoes off and doing a handstand to shake peoples hands.
They ask about his tail.  "Yep.  It's very real."  "Nine feet long.  About twice my height."  "Sometimes I'm not sure what to do with it."  "Um... Thanks for the suggestion, ma'am.  I'll... I'll keep that idea in mind the next time my girlfriend stays the night.  Um, no, ma'am.  She's very private and prefers not to be in the lime-light."
As they get back in the car, he gives Divine an awkward look in regards to how quickly the questions turned towards the private so quickly. There is always one, or two, who want to ask the personal and "dirty" questions, hence the girlfriend lie; someone inevitably offers help him with "ideas".
So, you said permanent residences next?  How many permanent residents are there?   He seems cheery, as if the last couple of questions had not happened.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:19, Sat 25 Sept 2021.

Divine doesn't meet Chimp Man Z's eyes. During the more personal questions, her face had expressed disapproval though she said nothing. Eventually, she addresses a question to Ty Miaksen, "Mr. Miaksen, I noticed your... uh... people appear quite healthy, and I remember how your training while you were fighting was legendary. Did you set up any sort of physical training regimen, here?"

Driving with exaggerated care, it's a moment before his reply. Ty demurs, "I'm sure any legends attached to my career are urban in nature. Maintaining a healthy mind in a healthy body is actually part of church doctrine. It's part of what attracted me in the first place."

Do you guys mind if I leave my shoes off?  He holds up the glove-like sneakers, then sets them on the floorboard.  No matter how comfortable they try to make them, they get annoying after awhile.  Really, I only wear them because so many places require them.  "No shirt?  No shoes?  No service."
 My feet aren't particularly sensitive.
He listens as Divine asks the questions about health and fitness.  It is a fair question.  I guess you guys have a fairly decent gym on the property, right? 

"No, we actually don't. The logical thing to do would be to place it in the area we just left, which would be inconvenient to the permanent residents. Placing it here," he says as they arrive at the permanent residences, "would be inconvenient to the transients. As soon as Father Kinkaid decides on the location, we'll begin construction."

The SUV stops and as everyone debarks, they are greeted by a small knot of people. There are three men wearing coveralls with nametags indicating they are Moe, Larry, and Joe. To make matters worse, they resemble a trio of comedians whose heyday was almost a century ago (although Joe looks more like Samuel Horwitz than Joe Besser or Joseph Wardell). The only woman in the group is Rachelle Yu, an action movie star often called "female Jackie Chan" (though not to her face).

As Jacob steps out of the car, he looks at the Stooges clones and gives a big smile.  While not sure if the Larry Fein, Moses and Samuel Horwitz look-alikes intended it, or appreciated the comparison, Jacob had always been a fan of the originals (including Jerome Horwitz, or Shemp, who did not working on film and left to go back to Vaudeville, but not a big fan of Curly Joe DeRita, Joe Besser, or Wardell).  They had been one of the greatest teams of Jewish comedians, right up there with The Marx Brothers.
He walks up to the three as yet unnamed,  men, and Rachelle Yu, his hand extended.  Jacob Davidovitch, also called Chimp Man Z.  Nice to meet you.

Hopping out, his manic ways continuing, Billy calls to the group, "yo! Where is everybody? Is it just you four?"
He starts forward, then skips sideways so Chimp Man Z can get there first. As he continues forward, Rachelle walks around the back of the group to meet him. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Billy. There's a few minor complications up at the house. Everyone else went up to check on them. What do you want to do?"

Jacob greets the other three, while nonchalantly eavesdropping on Billy Klang and Rachelle Yu.

"Ok, Rachelle. If you and Ty wouldn't mind showing our visitors around I'll go up to the house and clear things up. I'll be back in two shakes."
Turning to Chimp Man Z and Divine, Billy says, "I'm going to run off and do some actual work, but you're in good hands with Ty and Rachelle. Run on up to the house when you're done, Father Kinkaid said he would visit today, maybe you could meet him."
Billy climbs into the SUV and drives off towards the big house on the hill.

Jacob turns to Rachelle Yu and gives a small smile, knowing one of his full smiles can be frightening because of his mandrill-like teeth.  He asks her, Since Gunther the Lion-Tamer, and the Flying Wallendas, we circus performers don't achieve near the fame you did.  So, what brought you here?