THE IMPERIAL CITY, CRANE BAY

Twilight upon the Imperial City, as the sun would turn a reddish hue as it began to set. Above in the skies, the moon would slowly become more visible and rise into the night as it had for the last nine centuries since it appeared in the skies. The stars would shimmer, the planets faintly visible among them.

This is New Meru, the Imperial City, and capitol of the Meruvian Empire. A nation as advanced as any could reach, covering the massive island continent once known long ago as the Blessed Isle and sitting at the center of Creation. The elites reign, but the people thrive, and the cogs of the world turn.

The world does not often see the truth that hides behind the flickering lights and glimmer. The history the world knows is a lie built upon a grain of the truth, buried beneath an engineered record of what has happened, and what is happening.

Some know the truth. Some seek the truth.

And the truth would see itself free.



The night is darkest before the Sun rises...

Ah, the smell of chemicals, blood, and fresh pizza rolls. Another day of experimenting and patching up the occasional wound, the underground medical business was steady as ever, but it was simply a means to an end.

Flowing over to the entrance, Aeryn would tap the burly beastman twice on the shoulder before heading over to the clinic's living quarters.
"Alright, Doc's closing up, you tell your buddies to take their wounded and chromeheads elsewhere for now, life-death situations only."

It was time for the hacker to take a look at the state of things, and sniff about for potential pursuers.
Logging in... Welcome Viril
Search: Active Hostile Investigations...

[Private to GM: 19:44, Today: Aeryn rolled 3 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7.  int+lore, computer search check.]

Hundreds of stories above the streets, Dr. Cale gazed coldly down at the streets of Meru.

Her new office had just been renovated & the smell of fresh paint & new carpet hung in the air.

It was an unwelcome reprieve from the rest of the facility, much of which was still worse from wear. A sizable part of the skyscraper was still in the midst of repairs from the fires. Her office was now the only part of the building that did not smell of ash & stagnant water long left from the firehoses. She strangely missed those smells, now. They gave her a macabre comfort, a sense of urgency that drove her on.

She had a lot to repair in the company she helped create. Reputations needed to be upheld. Old scores settled. Old debts paid. A cooked smile spread on her face. Why wait?

She looked down at the streets, at the glowing lights of the many cars. They flowed through the streets of Meru. It reminded her of blood.

She gazed at a particular seedy piece of the city. It was time to make a visit.

The lights in the office flicked. The doctor was no longer there.

---

There is a firm ringing of the door bell of Aeryn’s clinic.

Glancing up from the screen with minor annoyance, Aeryn would look over to their bodyguard.
"Takashi, see who it is, let them know that business hours are over for the night."

With a nod, the large fellow would plod over and open the view-slit, looking out with yellow eyes.
"Shop's closed, who are you, how'd you learn of our business, are you a cop?"
Straight to the point as he always was, his voice was gravelly and the last word was almost barked out.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 4):

The woman on the other side is tall enough to have to stoop her posture down to look the guard in the face through the view-slit. She is wearing sunglasses, despite the late hour. She has a well worn, black leather duster on, with studded leather gloves & bicker boots.

She pulls the sunglasses down at the accusation of being the police & glares into the guard’s yellow eyes with her own icy blue ones. The are terrifying azure orbs & they can send a frightful chill down any normal person's back. She flashes a ferocious snarl & spates out:

“Do I look like a fucking cop?”

“I have old business with the Doctor. I have his fucking money.” She slaps the view-slit with what looks like a fat stack of cash.

“Now open up before I kick this fucking door down on top of you.” She tests the door with a firm kick, shaking it's hinges.

(OOC: She has a monstrous, supernatural Presence, & I can roll to see how badly she can intimidate the guard, if you like.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Sat 13 Feb 2021.

"Let the woman in, cops are legally obligated to say they are when asked last I checked."

Several locks would clatter open and the door would open to reveal a small waiting room that whilst poorly lit and sparsely furnished was sparkly clean and scented with cheap but pleasant incense. The raccoon-faced beastman would stay by the door, closing it after the visitor passed through, and a tuxedo-clad bonobo would approach arms outstretched.
"Your coat, madam?"

The proprietor would turn from the office computer and roll the chair over to the service window.
"I shall repeat a few of my subordinate's queries: Who are you, how did you find our business, what is your business? You mentioned money, but I have not seen your face and it doesn't seem like plastic surgery. Great care is taken to avoid certain difficulties, surely you must understand the merits of moderate paranoia, yes?"

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 6):

She looks at the assistant requesting her coat for a moment before removing the duster & handing it to him. There are two billy clubs hanging from her belt under the coat with a long sleeved white shirt. She approaches Aeryn and pauses while he speaks.

The woman raises an eyebrow before giving a small bow. ”Ah, yes. Where are my manners? I am Dr. Cale.” She takes a seat before Aeryn and folds her gloved hands neatly while crossing her legs..

”Recently I have inherited several assets, estates, and debts. Most of this comes from a former client of yours. The business women & entertainer known publicly as ‘K the Jester.’”

She removes her sunglasses & places them in a shirt pocket. She looks Aeryn in the eyes as she continues. ”I understand she owes you for... discreet medical treatment for injures she sustained at an undisclosed time. I wish to settle the debt before discussing other business matters.”

"Well, that certainly clears some things up; an individual of some capability you must be, to bear such a title and know such a being. Compensation may come in many forms, be it assets or favours, what be your offer?"

The doctor's gaze would meet Cale's, coldly calculating. They hadn't been told of such connections before, and this information could prove useful later.

"If I may be so intrusive, what was the nature of your connection to K? Comrade? Relative? Significant? Also, what, if you know it, is the current status of my former customer?"

The hope was that the former patient wasn't deceased, it was generally unpleasant for the doctor to learn of their patient's expiration.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 8):

“You flatter me.

“Do you have a preference of favor or currency? I am not opposed to either, or a mix of the two. I am not sure I fully recollect what K has promised. Knowing her, it might have been something grandiose. Perhaps something along the lines of ‘those who stand with me in at my darkest hours will receive first cut of my spoils at brightest.’ Or something of that matter.”

“As you asked, Perhaps I should backup & discuss the nature of my relationship with the woman in question. I am on paper as a partner in her corporation & it’s various subsidiaries.”

“She has been declared legally dead, & much to the chagrin of the vultures seeking to claim her remaining properties, I am listed as the last remaining benefactor.”

“The remaining corporation is not what it used to be, of course. I am sure you have heard of the fire that burned our headquarters not too far from here. The amusement park has grown dilapidated and some subsidiaries exists only on paper at this point.”

She leans in to look at Aeryn and adds in a firm, low tone: ”But this paper has much value.” She leans back in the chair.

”There are patents. Trademarks. Inventions. Royalties. Contracts with various options with other... larger companies.”

“In other words, there is nothing but room for growth in K Corp.”

“The only limitation is personnel. I seek people of talent & character to rebuild the K Corp family.”

"I am guessing that in saying this you would allow for the possibility of a a partnership between 'K corp' and my own unnamed endeavour? There is much opportunity for mutual benefit in such an arrangement, lots of resources for experimentation, and plenty of ways to apply what is learned. What do you seek, regarding market niches? A PMC with elite soldiers? Cybernetics?"

Aeryn's eyes would continue to stare, now with a spark of interest.

"My own assets are not insigificant, but they are mostly tied up in offshore accounts, cryptocurrency, and stocks. Too much in use at once creates an enticing paper-trail that may distract authorities from certain donations. Mind you this, I will not work for someone, I have enjoyed autonomy and wish to keep it."

Leaning back, they would take a drink from a nearby water-bottle and ask one more question.

"How much did you know before hand, how much of this did you plan, how much is being thought up on the spot?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

Dr. Cale raises an eyebrow & allows a small, wry smile to cross her face. ”If it amuses you, I would be quite interested in a partnership.”

Aeryn:

"What do you seek, regarding market niches? A PMC with elite soldiers? Cybernetics?"

<purple>”Yes & yes. And… a return to our original market of multimedia coverage. Especially news. The truth is a powerful thing, & I do not believe the people of Creation can advance without it being shepherd with a diligent passion. Why, the state of journalism has degraded to such an extent, I would much prefer to listen to a white hat hacker then any talking head on a network Chanel. And if we are to live in a world where excellence is to be rewarded then perhaps some of these unconventional individuals need to set the standards of a new convention.”

Dr. Cale glances at the two servants in the room. ”I would be very happy to discuss other details in private. Perhaps at our K Corp office headquarters?”



“I would like to claim an even spread, but let us be honest. Business is war. And war has two parts.”

“For individual battles,  few plans survive the beginning of the engagement. Anyone with any success must be quick of wit to draw order from that chaos.”

“But the broader war, that can be one with the right strategy. Even if one losses most of the battles, the strategy can win the war.”

“Which is why I seek to ally with people of integrity, talent, intelligence.”

“And to be clear, I want to dominate. I want K Corp family, & her allies & friends, to crush all competition & set the new standards. The new order. Nothing else will satisfy me.”

"The other individuals go where I do, they are loyal and I need to monitor Takashi's condition. There are two others as well, mostly normal, they assist with procedures."
"Regarding a 'white hat hacker', it is far from my specialty, more an insurance policy than a weapon. Now, Truth is fine and dandy, but it can often be inconvenient for certain objective oriented individuals, I will admit that having some influence over information would be useful."

The potential for future conflicts of interest was certainly there, but it would be best for them to be addressed when they became relevant, and a secret or two never hurt (at least until revealed). For now, the doctor was focused on creating a superior human, they would address the rest of the world after that, but a little multitasking wouldn't hurt.

"We could have a sort of partnership arranged, but I shall reserve every right to leave if I so choose, no small print, no offense but I've seen how most corpos operate."

Dr. Cale raises both eyebrows in quite interest in Aeryn's brief discussion of their staff/patients.



"I understand. Would you know others who might be interested for in such work?"



"Indeed. Within reason, of course. Individual privacy is sacrosanct, & one should never give too much information to potential enemies."



"I find these terms quite logical. And I would welcome measured, constructive criticism toward the corporate structure of K Corp. It is my desire to have the best business. Nothing else will appease me."

"The other hacker individual I do know no longer exists, I inherited their infrastructure, and I haven't yet tried to poke around and find others fiddling on the web."

"Now, I have experiments I'd like to conduct, what time frame do you have for laying operational foundations? My own facility can be packed up in a day, and what equipment that cannot be easily transported can be rapidly fabricated on-site. It isn't as well stocked as an above-board op, but it has been sufficient for most of my needs thus far."

They would begin to stack their papers and clear off the admittedly messy desk, still looking to Ms. Cale in the process.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 14):

"Ah. I see. I'm sure we can find someone with the required skills at some point."

"As for time frame, the sooner the better."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:22, Mon 22 Feb 2021.

 It is at about this time that a rather loud pounding can be heard on the door. And even through the door a rather male voice can be heard yelling "Open this bloody door before I do it for you! My buddy is injured and he ain't going to the building down the road."

A look of irritation would flash across Aeryn's face as they stood up and made for the operating room, barking an order to their bodyguard.
"Let them in, I'm charging double though, godsdamn ruffians getting critically injured outside business hours."

The entrance would wing open and the beastman would glance at the visitors.
"Head inside, fee doubled due to being outside business hours and Doc's irritation."

  The beastman opens the door and he drops the guy he was hauling when he is past the beastman. "Well that was fun. I hate being undercover so much extra work to make a simple appointment."

   "Listen we don't have much time. A friend of mine said to come here and be polite. Guess that means not shooting you. Making contact with underground elements that are related distantly to my kind is never easy so if you don't mind this will go faster if you see me as I was born the second time." with that the rather nondescript man of Asian extraction melts away and a man that is merely handsome stands before you. "My name is Lucian MacGregor. My bosses within the Silver Pact call me Lone Ocelot. You can call me Mac or Lone at least until I know you better. I assume you have questions and I would be quick about it."

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 16):

"I don't know how you put up with all the rude people threatening your poor door."

"It must grow quite vexing." Dr. Cale steps to the side to allow Aeryn easy movement through the clinic.

---

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 18):

The Doctor straightens up at the sight of the man, & eyes him with increasing, intense suspicion after the interloper shape-shifts.

As this 'Mac' speaks to Aeryn, Dr. Cale marches over to the man he unceremoniously deposits at the door & checks their pulse & overall condition. She keeps giving a few side-glances to Mac as she does so.

[Private to Lucien MacGregor: Though this is their 1st meeting, the woman looks undeniably familiar to Lucien.

It is an unending déjà vu, like meeting a fraternal twin you've always known- for the 1st time.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

Eye beginning to twitch, Aeryn would snatch up their rifle and throw it to Bartholomew and begin waving for their two assistants to take cover.

"If you've brought the authorities or some other hostile force here so help me I will sue your ass for damages. As far as I knew I was in the green, not to mention there was an imminent relocation planned."

One unplanned post-closing visitor was annoying, but this was getting out of hand, now there were two of them plus a possible corpse lying on the floor.

"I'll cover the nerds."
With that, Takashi would thump over to the operating room, arming himself with a bone saw.

"This better not be a waste of time, Skinchanger. Is there an imminent threat that shall preclude the notion of simply packing up and leaving within a day?"

 "As of right now no plans in the works that would bring a raid right now. As for bringing the authorities down on you technically I am the authorities. Luck for you I don't like my bosses very much." he pauses for a moment and looks at them. "You have no idea do you? Typical she never tells anyone anything. Not very surprising now is it. Gonna have to explain to her what communication is again. Everything is always a joke with her. Quite funny."

"Out then! Out! I have things to pack, and I already paid the agreed upon bribes. If out you shan't go then help pack, and if out you shall go then first fill out a form for an appointment."

The thoroughly irate physician would then return to stacking papers and disassembling equipment, this time with additional vigour fueled by frustration.

The confused bodyguard would pipe up,
"So that's a no on combat then?"

[Private to Lucien MacGregor: What state is the man droped to the floor? Dead? Unconscious? ]

Dr. Cale raises an eyebrow toward Mac. "Well, you do know how to make an entrance, Mr. Lone-Mac-Lone. You have ruined my business introduction to the physician, here. A pity."

"Now, who is this woman you speak to, & what was she supposed to tell myself & the good doctor here?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:17, Wed 24 Feb 2021.

  "The Jester told me to meet her here. Since she isn't in fact here that poses a problem. One I am unsure how to fix off hand. She was supposed to be here. This is going to be interesting."

[Private to Doctor Cale: The face of the man is the Asian fellow Lucian just was. And the gaping chest wound should tell you that he is very much dead.]

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 24):

The mysterious woman of mystery knocks on the mysterious door of the mysterious Dr. Aeryn. She is cloaked in a dark cloak. Dark as the secrets in the air.

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 24):

"I see. Why did you kill this man?"

"LET THEM IN!" would be shouted from the storage room, the doctor had given up, what was the point of closing shop and winding down for the night when randos keep appearing.

"Doc ain't in a good mood, recommend stating yer business quicklike, if it's medical care, for yer sake I say to head elsewhere for now.", Takashi was rather confused by events, and he didn't know whether to keep the saw or not, so he simply stowed it on his belt for the time being.

The two assistants in the back were hurriedly packing things, and the Rifle-armed bonobo butler sat on the operating table staring at the visitors in the Thinker position.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 27):

Blue smoke rolls into the room from the open front door.

A deep voice echoes from all over the room.

”I am vengeance given form.”

“I am the blood stains on your party dress.”

“I am the traffic cop who spots the dead body in your back seat.

“I...! Am...!”

The (short) dark figure, with icy blue eyes, slowly emerges from the ominous smoke. She just stares for a long second at the chaotic scene behind the door, blinkes twice, then notices the bloody body at her feet as she takes two steeps in, almost tripping on it.

"Uh, what happened to this guy?" askes the voice of a woman legally dead.

[Private to GM:

OH! IDEA!

If a healthy heart (& other tissues/blood/etc.) were available for immediate transplant, could this fellow be revived with medical assistance from Aeryn???]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

  "He wasn't a good person. He won't be missed. At least his soul found peace. And he now serves a higher purpose." he says as if it wasn't important.

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 29):

"Come now. It's story time. You've put some time into this & we're all interested." The cloaked figure jesters to everyone watching in the room. "Even the physician pretending to pack in the back. So, who's the dead guy?" The blue smoke fades to wisps at her feet.

Her tone is upbeat & encouraging. The gore does not seem to be noted or objected to. It is the tone of an interested audience participant hopping to hear a tale.

  "In my primary line of work it helps to infiltrate criminals by being one of them. So I ask Luna to show me which one is the best for my needs and I spend a portion of my time observing and learning as much as I can about my subject before I retire him. This formerly young man was known as Cut. He is able to pass between a few territories and since I took over his identity three weeks ago he is able to broker peace between these street gangs in Meru. It was almost time to dispose of his body so I used the chance to gain entry. His "death" will be the first in a string of "murders". This way it unsettles folks and makes my life less dangerous."

"NOT pretending! No, wrap that properly..." Could be heard from the back, trailing off as they return to directing assistants.

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 31):

"Oh. Wow. An impressive strategy. & I like how you've maximize your use of him to also instill terror among their ranks. Ha, ha!"

"Yes. Very good. Now, why did we come here again? Were we here to help Aeryn move? I got all turned around."

"Oh! Dramatic entrance!"

The cloaked figure pulls out several sparklers from her pockets that somehow auto-ignite. "Woah! Almost burned my pockets." She holds them up absently, apparently not sure what to do with them now, before deciding to place them in the corpse' hands until they fizzle out. "Would you kindly hold these, Sunny Jim? That's a good lad."

[Private to Lucien MacGregor: Wow. Three weeks dead.

Just curious, but does the body look that decomposed, or refrigerated?]

"Ah. So you still need for his body to be found?"

"I was going to ask to use his biomass for a demonstration to our physician, but I'm sure there will be plenty of corpses to utilize in a short order."

The tall woman straightens up & gives a small curtsy bow to Mr. MacGregor.

"I am Dr. Cale. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am CEO & owner of K Corp, & I, too, am impressed with your efficiency."

"Tee hee! Hi, Doctor Aeryn! My favorite family doctor. Look! I am dead, but walk! Thanks to you!" K waves her arms while doing a small hop. She seems to be keeping a mindful distance from the physician with his guard watching. "Can I come over & give you a huge before I disappear, like the..."

She pulls over her cloak dramatically over her lover face. "fade away like the ghost I ammmmmmmmmmmm..." She makes mock ghostly 'woes.'

"Given your lack of the most common symptoms, I believe the diagnosis of your death is erroneous, recommend getting your death certificate rescinded lest the authorities come down on your head for tax evasion. If there are 'hugs' to be given, give them to Bart, he is a good proxy."

Dead people weren't supposed to make dramatic entrances, talk, hug, or give thanks, they were supposed to decompose or serve as organ donors or scientific subjects. The "legally dead" K seemed to be playing with fire in more ways than one, and that combined with the two new individuals' sudden and near simultaneous appearance was making the Doctor worry that the packing may be interrupted by more hostile guests searching for any one of the four of them.

The Paranoia that had kept them going for a while was starting to pick up again.

"If the Fates are to continue disturbing my post-business musings and relaxation, I fear that they shall run out of benign ideas and begin dipping into the more malignant pool."

A pile of packed boxes was slowly beginning to build, each one numbered and sealed with some of that newfangled rubber-tape that had been all over the adverts.

Weapons were readied as helmets blinked on with information and targeting displays in the smoked black face visors. As the collective two dozen armed agents of Erembour prepared themselves inside the set of APCs, one of them in particular, her body armor marked with red stripes to denote her as in command, would tap her helmet to activate the unit battle-net communications line. "We make this fast, and if at all possible, leave no evidence of Council involvement. The story will be that a gang war broke out, so leave all signs to enforce that." A pause as she allowed herself a vicious smirk. "There is supposedly a beastmen lab on site. Make sure to trash it."

"UNDERSTOOD, MA'AM! FOR THE COUNCIL!"

A huff as she smiled, and the officer grabbed her own rifle and readied it as they pulled up to the reported zone. "Alpha and Bravo teams...execute."

Seconds later, all weapons were trained at the clinic.


[Okay, initiative, y'all! Get ready for your first run in with Erembour!]

In reply to K the Jester (msg # 35):

Dr. Cale folds her arms & gives a steely squint at the jester as she caries on with the physician.

After Aeryn has there say, and after any possible hug giving, she unfolds her arms and steps toward the fool. "You vanished. You abandoned your workers. You didn't even SEND. ME. A. MEMO. You... deplorable, legally dead deadbeat." The Dr.'s left eye twitches visibly. She then straightens up and glares down at her short, former business partner.

"You're behavior is strikingly..." the Doctor takes a big breath in...

"...unprofessional..."

Her eyes widen. "Where you even going to acknowledge me?"

---

[I'm going to use the 2nd Awareness Excellency, spending 6 for 3 Successes, then add the successes from the Initiative Roll.

18:21, Today: Doctor Cale rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((2,5,5,6,1,7)).]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Sun 14 Mar 2021.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 36):

"My dear physician, as always, I appreciate your advice & concerns. But, Hoe Boy! Tax evasion is the last of my worries."

"People in power wanted me dead. I am a people pleaser. So I am dead. Everyone is happy."

K salutes to Aeryn's redirection to hug proxy Bart. "Well, you heard the man. Doctor's orders!" She holds out her arms & heads toward Bart.

---

In reply to Doctor Cale (msg # 38):

After delivering her hugs, K steps back several places as her long suffering acquaintance verbally reams her a new one.

"Uh, listen. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I kept my real state of being a big old secret, but you need to trust me I'm doing it to protect our goals. I was a big, fat target, & I will be again, soon. I'm sorry I have to do all this cloak and dagger stuff, but I don't see another choice right now."

"I don't want to lie & disguise myself, and all this other... stuff. But I have no reason to not assume I am being spied on all the time. Not until I work out a way to talk & not get caught."

"Speaking of which, I should just leave before  the smell of my rote attracts a bad element." K makes toward the door to leave.

((OOC: Initiative: [Private to GM: Same as Dr. Cale. ;) ]))

  Lucien looks at K as she is trying make her escape. He chuckles at her. He feels a familiar itch so he draws his moonsilver shellcaster.

OOC: Spending one mote so they can't get the "drop" on me. No successes on Join Battle. And I swear I hate the internet right now. Keeps eating my posts.

OOC: sorry for delays, life = busy busy.

There was a series of cocking clicks as the combat squad readied just before their commanding member gave a nod of her head and the hand gesture to go. One of the larger Erembour troopers took a breath, braced, then kicked hard at the door, smashing it out of the frame and slamming to the ground. A dozen agents swarmed in, weapons aimed at whomever they could see, and only one vocal warning to "submit!" given.

 "The facility is now under the authority of Erembour, under code seven seven one of the municipal council! All occupants are to submit, or be regarded as insurgents against the Meruvian Nation!"


One turn warning given. What do you do?

  "Ha fat chance. I am a member of the Hunt. At least two of them are informants. If you want treason against Meru you can help me break a couple of doors down and round up a couple of dozen suspected terrorists. Your call." he says as he conceals his shellcaster behind his back.

OOC: Lucien would use the correct term for the Wyld Hunt I'm just not remembering it right now.

The officer bit her tongue at the response she received. She ran the feed on her helmet camera back through the central database. A few silent moments, and confirmation. "Apologies, sir. We were sent in to deal with an illegal chimerazation lab, and insurgents. No one told me an agent was already going to be onsite."

Yet her troops didn't exactly stand down. Confirmed Agent of the hunt or not, they were on location with their orders. "The aid would be appreciated, I will admit."

"I will need a moment with my informants." he walks over to the girls and says "I can't save everyone here. They flat out won't let me, but I will save as many as I can."

 "I know you have your orders. I also know they would prefer if we brought in actual terrorists. I have been infiltrating a gang for the last several weeks. The idea was to start a turf war and bring them all in for suspicion of terrorism and treason against Meru. At least one of the gangs is connected to a Threshold power I just haven't had time to find out which one. The doctor has patched me up several times. She and her assiociates are not running an illegal chimera shop. An underground hospital sure to help the poor in the area as well as to keep the violence to a minimum. Her business associates were wondering if they could help her charitable works in any way. We were actually in the process of seeing what they could do for my investigation when you all busted in the door. Congrats on screwing up a five month operation."

"IS THERE ANYONE IN THIS GODSFORSAKEN WORLD WHO RESPECTS BUSINESS HOURS, PRIVATE PROPERTY, OR THE LOCAL CHAIN OF COMMAND? I paid the damn fees, if there's any issues they need to be taken up with local enforcement first."

Bellowing out from the back, voice cracking a little bit at the end of the first sentence, Aeryn would begin approaching the waiting room, hand on holster and eyes carrying the glint of cold steel, the doctor was very irate.

[ooc: 05:43, Today: Aeryn failed (no successes) using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7.  the join battle initiative thingy. – failed (no successes); kinda fitting, considering that they ain't in the room yet.]

K gives a deep sigh upon spotting the paramilitary assemble outside the clinic.

"Oh dear. I knew I should not have come here. Wait. I feel they would be more... direct if they knew I was here. It must be for another reason."

She walks causally over to the soldiers & holds up a hand in welcome before addressing them. "Hello, boys. You look pretty damn tough. I was wondering, did any of you hear about who might have killed a young man in the streets a few months ago? He was very tall. Athletic build. Local celebrity named Grendel. He was the son of another local celeb named K. I hear he was trapped in a building & burned to death."

Her hair stood on the back of her neck. Her head swam with rage & giddiness.

In reply to Aeryn (msg # 45):

The Doctor steps to the corner, out of sight to all but Aeryn. She pulls out a makeup compact. Dr. Cale waves her hand over the lovely blue jewel on it's cover, & whispers "Sun. Prism. Power!"

Golden light brightly flashes, then solidifies into translucent bands that wrap around her form. They flow & expand as they en-wrap her entire body. Suddenly they solidify, relieving a tall female form, covered head to toe in a dark suite of leather & metal.

A long, flowing blue scarf around her neck. Her head has a dark helmet with a blank mask plate over her face. Two large, iron horns grow from the helmet. The gauntlets on her arms are cover in black, iron blades. Similar spikes adorn her knee high boots & knee pads.

She approaches the Physician while facing the entryway, never taking her focus off the threat outside.

"I hate to bear bad news, but I think those paramilitary soldiers are here to kill everyone in this building, no matter if they've been playing by the rules or not."

"What do you say to a preemptive strike? We need not show mercy to such unprofessional scum."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:20, Thu 06 May 2021.

The Erembour officer tilted her head as one of her troops would shift and whisper in their intercoms. A snarl as she readied her rifle, and gave the Hunt agent before her a glare. "Sir, I need you to stand aside and let us follow our orders. Council directive overrides the Hunt, and our Intel is without question." A pause was her only sign of giving him warning.  "You of all people know how this needs to go down."

A pair of her subordinates moved over in clear sign to escort Lucien out, with it being heavily implied by their actions that this was his only chance to step down and let them do their jobs.

In reply to The Golden Sea of Chaos (msg # 48):

K gives Lucien a knowing, cocky smile.

“Better listen to the butchers, police man. They are the real face of the world’s authority.”

Lucien just shakes his head at her. "Yeah yeah juris-my-diction is always what gets called." he says as he allows the half dozen officers holding weapons on him lead him out the door. He still has his shellcaster at his side waiting.

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 50):

The Doctor gives a brief glance to Aeryn.

"Get ready, physician. An opening is about the present itself..."

In reply to Lucien MacGregor (msg # 50):

Once Lucien is out of range, K quietly presses the trigger perfectly disguised in her glove.
The explosive blast unleashes a hellish conflagration & engulfs most of the street.

"Son of a...!"

Dr. Cale rushes out to strike any remaining soldiers, hopping the physician, Aeryn, covers her back.

[Private to GM: Do I do a roll for this?]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Mon 16 Aug 2021.