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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/BountyHeadBebop/Venus_zpszx7td5zk.jpg)
The Dandy Desperado & Crew (On Venus)
It has been an eventful month for the Dandy Desperado, with some turnover in the crew, and the acquisition of a new Scout ship to replace the Plan B.
The new Scout ship is hardly new – but it was sturdy and only costs Gilbert 100 writ a month – as he worked some computer magic to create a loan plan that allows him to pay off the 75,000,000writ used spacecraft (at zero percent interest) in only 750,000 instalments over the next 62,500 years.
Gilbert also secured himself a hover-round, through his medical insurance plan, to help the hefty man get around better. The idea to apply for one occurred to him, as he and Captain Montoya set spy cameras and concision grenades on the RC cars and some drones the Captain had picked up.
The two of them turned to each other and said “Wait, human sized!”
Surprisingly, Gilbert was immediately approved for one, without the need for any hacking games on his part.
As for the crew (with Simon Mayhem having left to join Cold Rock Johnson), the movie star Natalia Alishire realized how little she had in common with any of the rest of the team. That, and the fact that bounty hunting was literally dangerous work, made her begin to rethink staying on.
It was the package that the Desperado received from Cold Rock Johnson one day, that finally pushed her to make a decision – and she left with Ezekiel volunteering to go with her to watch her back.
The package incidentally, was the Venus Vacation Prize from the System’s Most Wanted Show, which Cold Rock had won for the video of ‘his recruits’ capturing Genny Putkoff.
A note attached, explained that Cold Rock had his own private casino on Venus already, and that the team really deserved the prize, having done all the work.
Taking advantage of the prize, the Desperado headed to Venus for the vacation of a lifetime – and to meet the new Feng-Shui Master that responded to the ad Captain Montoya had put out (being that the crew had lost both their Feng-Shui and Discord Masters in one blow).
The team is currently on the Floating Venus Vegas, on the last day of their two week vacation.
During their stay, they have had plenty of time to unwind and enjoy the many diversions Venus has to offer – including Butch winning a Sweg Tournament and coming home with a shiny new Space fighter!
And of course Gilbert blowing everything.
Everyone is in one of the casino’s many bars, waiting to meet the new Feng-Shui Master…
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/BountyHeadBebop/Casino.png)
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"I... Uh, dont think I even know what Sweg is." Butch says, still confused about his easy win. "And I'm still confused how you convinced me to let moonkit come along as well." He then adds.
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"You know, that Cold Rock guy ain't so bad", Gilbert says, leaning back on his hover-round.
"I can see why Simon would jump ships... Uh, no offence, Inigo."
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"Oh, can't take offence to that! We are a crew who rids the universe of injustice and corruption whilst fighting the true secret evil who pulls the strings in the background." He poses for dramatic effect "Mr. Mayhem was unfortunately a good musical mascot but his heart was clearly not into the work. Things were also a bit dangerous for our lady star, her being sent off with a new bodyguard was the most appropriate course for us too." He nods sagely, as if this was all his plan from the start.
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"I'm behaving!" Moonkit replies to Butch's statement with a pout; her being allowed in the casino, as long as she stays with the team (of course).
Turning to Captain Montoya she asks excitedly, "Are you going to buy that space monkey we saw Capt'n? Maybe we can train it to fly Butch's new ship!"
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Why did the captain want to meet in a casino? There's nothing especially heroic about gambling, is there? Maybe it's a test of some sort?
Cillian moves along the edge of the gaming floor; hopefully with his hood pulled up they'll think he's a short college girl. Security at the door was relatively easy to avoid, he just ducked under the velvet rope while they were distracted by that falling chandelier. But the floor could have any number of undercover security- not to mention hidden cameras.
Is that the crew over there? The captain said they'd be in the bar.
Cillian feels a momentary pang of disappointment. Captain Montoya is apparently a distressingly obese man on a hover scooter, not exactly the dashing crusader for justice his ad made him out to be.
He sighs, and tries to be charitable. People of all shapes and sizes can be heroes. Of course h believes that. He's just. . . a little surprised. That's all.
After one last quick check for nearby guards, Cillian makes a break for the bar.
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"Oh, can't take offence to that! We are a crew who rids the universe of injustice and corruption whilst fighting the true secret evil who pulls the strings in the background." He poses for dramatic effect "Mr. Mayhem was unfortunately a good musical mascot but his heart was clearly not into the work. Things were also a bit dangerous for our lady star, her being sent off with a new bodyguard was the most appropriate course for us too." He nods sagely, as if this was all his plan from the start.
Gilbert nods and laughs nervously, not wanting to dampen Inigo's spirits by informing him that turning the Genny bounty in was probably the definition of going along with injustice and corruption.
"So, when's the new member going to get here? I'm starting to get hungry", he asks, leaning to the side of his hover-round and taking out a drink from his mini-fridge as it precariously tips sideways.
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"I'm behaving!" Moonkit replies to Butch's statement with a pout; her being allowed in the casino, as long as she stays with the team (of course).
Turning to Captain Montoya she asks excitedly, "Are you going to buy that space monkey we saw Capt'n? Maybe we can train it to fly Butch's new ship!"
Capt. Montoya is clearly thrilled by the idea of the piloting space monkey. He leaps to his feet, billowing his pirates coat flashily "We could name him after my old friend! His name shall be 'Fezek the Strong!' We can train him to be the worlds strongest evil fighting pilot monkey!" He pauses and leans down to Moonkit to stage whisper "And since we lost Simon, we need a new mascot!"
He slips Moonkit enough to buy the monkey as he turns to Gilbert "They should be here soon, from what I gathered they are probably human! I didn't actually inquire closely as I was busy at the time chasing down a lead but I felt their affinity for justice right away." He quickly fans his hands at Moonkit to go buy the monkey.
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"So we don't actually know what this new person looks like?", Crystal says, playing about with a coin, her feet up on the table, leaning back into her seat.
It's been nice to have all this time to relax, honestly - she'd practically had a psychotic breakdown a week or two ago. Her psychic powers had been developing at a ridiculous rate, but the toll was... horrifying, to say the least. It had gotten bad enough that she'd sought out help.
I wonder if that's what happened with the others? If the only reason I didn't go as crazy as they did was because it took me so much longer to get this strong?
She still doesn't quite feel herself, but she's definitely feeling a lot more stable than she has for years - the constant isolation and fear of capture being greatly mitigated ever since she found out her bounty had been cancelled. Nice to be more completely grounded in reality, and not being slapped in the face by how much it sucks.
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"Eh, don't need to." Ethel Clarke laughs, "Feng-Shui types are fairly noticeable. Not exactly the bashful types, y'know?"
Ethel takes a look around for especially gaudy types around the bar "Kinda makes me sad though. Didn't get to know Nat so well... Leaves just you and me, Crystal!.. Assuming the new guy's a guy. Not totally sure, actually. Kinda odd we got a Feng Shui master from the advert... you'd think it'd have better things to do..."
She begins to ramble unintelligibly for a small while before sobering up for a loud declarative. "Man, it's so cool we ended up going to Vegas! I gave up on that, which made it even better. What's the move from ehre on out, Cap'n?"
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He slips Moonkit enough to buy the monkey ... [and] ... quickly fans his hands at [her] to go buy the monkey.
"OOH! Butch! Can I, can, I can I?!?" Moonkit dances uncontrollably with excitement at the thought of being able to get the space monkey.
As this goes on, a quick movement at the front of the bar attracts everyone's attention - where a rather young-looking kid in a hoody, slips unseen by security into the establishment.
Sad to say, but no fake ID in all the world is going to be enough to convince anyone that he's old enough to be in here...
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"I'll take her," Tubbs volunteers to Butch.
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"I'll take her," Tubbs volunteers to Butch.
Butch eyes tubbs.
"Youre not gonna bolt if she gets in trouble?"
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"Nah!," Tubbs replies, "She's a good kid, what's to get in trouble?"
"Sides; that pet shop was within walking distance. We'll only be a couple of minutes."
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"Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaase?" Moonkit asks, giving Butch those puppy dog eyes.
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Butch sighs.
"Fine. You better be back quick though."
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"Yay!!! ;D ;D ;D"
Moonkit grabs Tubbs by the hand and practically drags him out of the bar.
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Is this . . . destiny?
As the most perfect, radiant girl in all the cosmos dashes past him, like an alicorn darting through a rainbow, Cillian almost says something to her. Almost.
Instead he continues lurking meekly in the chubby man's considerable shadow, waiting for someone to notice him.
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Montoya gestures dramatically at the child in the hoodie hiding near Gilbert "I do believe that our guest of honour has arrived! My name is Capt. Montoya." he bows with a flourish.
'I hope it's the right person this time' he thinks to himself
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Oh. There was a pirate hidden behind the fat guy.
Well, to be honest, that makes a lot more sense.
"Um. . . hi?" says Cillian, his voice barely rising above a whisper. "I'm . . . Cillian?"
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"Where?" Crystals asks, as if she can't see Cillian.
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Butch scootches his chair to see past Gilbert's massive girth, and looks at the little guy? Probably?
"...huh. You're the Feng Shui guy?"
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Gilbert swivels his chair around, then looks Cillian up and down. Finally, after nodding knowingly, he turns to Butch.
"She another one of yours?"
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Montoya smiles and nods as if his crew had universally been welcoming and lovely instead of themselves "As you can see my good boy, we are a welcoming crew and should you indeed posess the abilities you profess then we shall be happy to count you amount our number!" He adds a flourish with his hand to emphasize the point.
"good thing I read up on my Grandoise speaches book this morning" he thinks.
"Ah you just missed Moonkit and tubs, they should be back soon with our space monkey fighter pilot." He adds as an after thought, saying it as if it was the most normal thing to say in the world.
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"Wait, you're serious? He's a kid! We can't take a kid with us! It's bad enough that we lug Moonkit around but at least we keep her out of danger, you want this..."
Crystal looks very closely to make sure Cillian is actually male, then mentally shrugs and decides to trust Montoya's judgement on that matter.
"This guy to come with us too? The hell will he do if we get into a fight - which we always do?"
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"He uses space magic, he'll be fine!" He says with a smile to crystal, then turning to Cillian "so, want to tell us about yourself here or back on the ship? Having you in a bar is suspicious enough already though they don't seem to care as long as you are with so one who is buying things"
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"I don't. . . fight . . ." Cillian fiddles with the strap of his kitty backpack. "I don't want to . . . hurt people."
He looks shyly at Montoya. "But I'm really good at space magic."
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"Perfect!" He announces "because we are the good guys, we only defend our selfs against the bad guys occasionally when we need too, or unless we have to capture them, most days actually but don't worry you can just stand at the back and use space magic for us!"
Deciding that everyone else has agreed already he continues "Right, as soon as Moonkit gets back with the monkey we can head back to the Dandy and find some leads!"
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Crystal grumbles to herself about the irresponsibility of bringing a seemingly helpless child on board the ship and bringing him into bounty hunts.
But she won't be the one to make the mistake of telling Montoya how to run his ship. Really, it was probably irresponsible of him to take her onboard as well.
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Ethel cranes her neck over to see what everyone is talking about. "Well, uh, this is beyond me."
She laughs, giving the forced and overly affectionate smile adults might give, "Hey there, kiddo! Uh, you have a parent around or something?"
"Is this even legal you guys?"
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Ethel cranes her neck over to see what everyone is talking about. "Well, uh, this is beyond me."
She laughs, giving the forced and overly affectionate smile adults might give, "Hey there, kiddo! Uh, you have a parent around or something?"
"Is this even legal you guys?"
Crystal raises her right eyebrow in a look of incredulity.
"I dunno Ethel, are one tenth of the things we do even legal?"
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"I don't think we can be all too picky regarding age right about now." Butch says with a chuckle, and shrugs.
"So, uh, Cill, how old are you anyways?"
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Crystal raises her right eyebrow in a look of incredulity.
"I dunno Ethel, are one tenth of the things we do even legal?"
"You . . . do illegal things? I thought you were good guys?"
"I don't think we can be all too picky regarding age right about now." Butch says with a chuckle, and shrugs.
"So, uh, Cill, how old are you anyways?"
"Um. . . fourteen?"
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"Sometimes you gotta break laws to bring criminals to justice, kiddo. Fight fire with fire, sort of." Butch says with a shrug.
"Fourteen though? Why you interested in bountyhunting? Shouldnt you be with your parents?"
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Cillian gives Butch a blank, dead-eyed stare. ". . . Wouldn't you just end up with everything on fire?"
He puts his hands in his pockets, slouching so the hood comes down over his eyes, and waits for everyone to go back to ignoring him.
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Crystal waves her hands out towards the casino.
"Do you see the world burning kid?"
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"Of course!" The tiny space wizard seems startled Crystal might think differently. "The whole world's full of sad scared lonely people who think they have to hurt each other! . . ." He trails off, belatedly remembering his intention to remain unobtrusive.
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Cillian gives Butch a blank, dead-eyed stare. ". . . Wouldn't you just end up with everything on fire?"
He puts his hands in his pockets, slouching so the hood comes down over his eyes, and waits for everyone to go back to ignoring him.
Butch shrugs.
"Hasnt burnt anything yet." He replies. "It's like, uh, Robin Hood. You know, break laws to help the weak and stuff. Montoya's got the hang of it."
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"Exactly! We occasionally break laws in order to help the weak and downtrodden, defeating evil as we go!" He nods to himself while deciding if he would look dashing with a bow but decides that it really would be rather unless as a weapon compared to his guns.
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As the crew is talking to each other, a news story comes on the on the vid.
It shows a shootout at the airport between two rival syndicates, Les Messieurs (The Gentlemen) and Serpent Vert (the Green Snakes) captured on airport security earlier today.
The story goes on to say that six gunmen were killed (as well as an innocent bystander) before four of the men were captured at the scene by the SSPB.
It is not entirely clear how many were involved or how many got away.
Montoya Perception 9 1d20 : 19, total 19
Butch Perception 12 1d20 : 16, total 16
Jacob Perception 11 1d20 : 8, total 8
Gilbert Perception 8 1d20 : 11, total 11
Ethel Perception 8 1d20 : 1, total 1
Crystal Perception 13 1d20 : 12, total 12
Cillian Perception 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
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As this goes on, Jacob, Ethel, and Cillian notice a man acting suspiciously, as he crosses the casino with a slight limp (it looks as if he was spooked by the news story on the vid and is trying a little too hard to be inconspicuous).
When Crystal looks at what the others are observing, she recognizes the man, as a recent bounty head in disguise! It's Cyril Davis, for whom there is an 800,000w bounty posted for some such offense or another (she doesn't recall the specifics, but she's sure he's a wanted man)...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/BountyHeadBebop/Casino1_zps05apoeug.png)
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Crystal looks over the rest of the group.
"Hey. Guy over there, big bounty, maybe a chance for us to make a little extra coin on the side. I'm going to follow him - Butch, you with me?".
Unwilling to start anything in the crowded area full of innocent bystanders, Crystal intends to shadow him outside to where he can be taken in with significantly less potential collateral damage.
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"Or, we could be smart", Gilbert replies, placing a tracking device on the table from a small compartment on his hover-round.
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Ethel adds a bug to Gilbert's tracker. "Okeydoke," she whispers, "that should do it. Stay safe."
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Crystal raises an eyebrow.
"And you think it'll magically place itself on his person without any prompting from a real, physical person who's following him to put it there?"
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Ethel adds a bug to Gilbert's tracker. "Okeydoke," she whispers, "that should do it. Stay safe."
Gilbert nods knowingly at Ethel, indicating that she needs to be the one to slip the bug onto the man.
"I agree, stay safe."
Crystal raises an eyebrow.
"And you think it'll magically place itself on his person without any prompting from a real, physical person who's following him to put it there?"
"You just have to bump into the guy. You could cause a distraction so he doesn't notice if you're so concerned. Who is he anyway? What's his bounty?"
Assuming Crystal answer him, Gilbert will then discretely search for information about the man on the internet.
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Computers 18+2X 1d20 : 15, total 15
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Cillian opens his backpack, takes out the lopan, and tries to read the suspicious man's aura.
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The girl shrugs, pocketing the tracker-bug, but mostly tries to keep an eye out for the man without being too obvious. She tries to surmise where he's going (outside of the casino?) and whether that limp is legit or not.
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Butch nods, not looking towards the bounty.
"We're gonna need to follow him anyways, in case someone else tries to grab 'im. Who's placing the tracker, and whos gonna make our distraction?"
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Not wanting to waste so much time talking about a plan when the guy is literally leaving right now at this moment, Crystal leaves to follow him.
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Stealth 13 1d20 : 19, total 19
vs.
Spot 6 1d20 : 8, total 8
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Butch shrugs and nods.
"Alright ladies, you be off now. Let me, Gil an' Montoya hang out for a bit." He says loudly, as he looks to the barman. He motions to Ethel and Cillian to follow crystal.
"Get a glass for the whole crowd! I got myself a space fighter!" Butch says, hoping to make a big enough distraction for the three.
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Montoya considers trying to stalk the man himself.
For a few steps, then announcing that he is the masked hero of justice Capt. Montoya and challenging him to a duel in which he would beat him soundly and bring him back to the crew to trade for the bounty. However the crew really seemed to want to be subtle about this.
He considers putting on some heroic music to add to the atmosphere for them as they try and plant the bug but then Butch begins the distraction.
"Drinks for all!" He announces to support Butch and loudly triggers his 'Pirate drinking Shanty' playlist, a steal from an online discount store. The music should be loud enough for everyone to hear it clearly.
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With everyone distracted at the table, Crystal begins following the man, who leaves the casino floor and is heading to the parking garage.
When Butch and Montoya make a scene over free drinks and winning a ship, the man looks back (and right past Crystal), but fails to realize that the Psychic is tailing him.
Gilbert meanwhile, runs a facial recognition program on the guy and brings up his bounty~
Bounty: 800,000w for Cyril Davis
Wanted For: Securities Fraud
Bounty Posted By: European State Authority, Pilot City, Europa
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Cillian opens his backpack, takes out the lopan, and tries to read the suspicious man's aura.
Cillian sees that the man has a greedy heart, is currently very nervous, and is wounded - looks like he has been shot in the leg.
His three highest skills are Political Sciences, Tech, and Larceny...
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Ethel, after laughing at the captain's candor, will look for an alternate route to the parking garage/wherever it seems the man is going, to cover for Crystal in case.
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Cillian sees that the man has a greedy heart, is currently very nervous, and is wounded - looks like he has been shot in the leg.
His three highest skills are Political Sciences, Tech, and Larceny...
Cillian attempts to follow the man. He's clearly in trouble and needs help.
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Jacob goes with Ethel and suggests heading out onto the street, where the parking garage would exit, in case Cyril gives Crystal the slip.
Crystal meanwhile, follows Cyril into the parking garage, where he gets on an elevator and goes up. Cillian catches up as the elevator doors close.
In the bar, the Captain's generous offer has brought in a crowd of thirsty revelers, eager to take advantage of free drinks!
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Gilbert decides to leave the bounty to the others, opting to instead take advantage of the free drinks.
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"Hey, wait up! Crystal calls out, running for the elevator .
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Crystal sprints forward, but trips on a snag in the carpeting - almost falling on her face!
Fortunately, Cyril, sticks a hand out to hold the elevator door for her -waiting silently for her to board.
Because of this, Cillian will be able to hop on the elevator too, if he chooses.
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"Thank you," she says with a smile, stepping in.
She'll take a second to look at the floor he's chosen and then press the button leading to the highest floor here.
She'll look down to his leg, as if intending to make small-talk.
"You okay?", referring to his limp.
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Cillian hurries to join them on the elevator.
He gazes up at Cyril earnestly. "You need help. I can tell. I'm a feng shui master."
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"What? No, that's OK," Cyril replies to both Crystal and Cillian, turning away from them as he waits uncomfortably for the elevator door to close.
Just before it does however, an elderly Chinese man in a Hawaiian shirt and a very young lady (who is clearly a prostitute), get on as well.
The lady titters in response to some dirty jokes the old geezer whispers in her ear.
Cyril huffs impatiently, the doors close, and the elevator goes up.
Crystal and Cillian notice a spot of blood on the man's pantleg, over where Cillian knows he has a bullet wound.
Soft elevator music plays melodious tunes from a bygone era.
Cyril has pressed the button for the fourth floor, while Crystal pressed one for the seventh. The Chinese man as his escort didn't press any buttons at all.
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Unwilling to start things now that the other two people (clearly other bounty hunters) were in the elevator with them, Crystal refrains from her original plan of pressing the emergency stop button and detaining him, waiting for the elevator to reach his floor.
She intends to get off whenever he does, miming disgust at the Chinese man and his hooker (if they turn out not to be bounty hunters).
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Cillian doesn't think the elevator ride is enough time to get out his lopan and read these people. He moves away from the Chinese man, brushing against Cyril as he does so. Then, he waits to see what happens next.
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The elevator door opens and Cyril exits, followed by the Chinaman his young hooker.
Cyril walks one way down the rows of cars, while the couple heads to an opposite row.
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"Whats the situation?" Butch asks on the comlink.
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"I'll cover the parking exit" Inigo says over the comms and quickly pays up his current tab before jogging out to try and get to where vehicles exit the parking structure before the bounty can leave.
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Butch follows montoya, leaving the hopeful drunkards stranded.
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"Think we've got competition. Cyril was shot, these guys might not be bounty hunters but killers. Get over here quick guys, don't want to take these guys by myself with the kid and none of my shit," she says, quietly.
Then, to Cillian, as she tried to discreetly follow Cyril; "hey kid, the guy's obviously wounded. I don't want him dying on us if things go sour, and I don't trust those two, so I'm going to heal him. Try to use those powers of yours to keep me from going crazy, if you can."
Crystal mentally reaches out to Cyril and picture the bullet in her mind's eye, closing the wound and pushing the bullet out of his flesh (Regeneration).
---
OOC: 1 Surge Due to Range Willpower 14 vs. Psychosis 9 2d20 : 19, 14, total 33
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"Lets move Montoya." Butch says, moving quickly down to the parking lot.
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Gilbert will finish his drink then head back to the safety of the ship.
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A thought suddenly occurs to Crystal - Gilbert must be doing his usual Gilbert thing - that is to say, hiding in the ship* and basically nothing else whatsoever.
To alleviate this, she takes a quick picture of the Chinese man and the hooker and sends it to Gilbert for him to look up information on the two.
*whichever one he hasn't blown up yet
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Montoya smoothly switches plans to getting to parking lot as fast as possible "Which floor and what section" he calls through to crystal "And Gilbert, get to the ship to see if you can access the cameras."
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"4th floor, parking", she answers the captain in a hushed tone.
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Gilbert will casually look them up from the comfort of his hover-round while on route to the ship.
"Don't you have to wait for your kid, Butch?" He'll ask over the com, noting that butch left before he did.
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"Shit... No, wait, Tubbs is with her. We catch the bounty, she gets her space monkey, and we're good." Butch rationalizes.
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Crystal and Cillian watch as the Chinese geezer and his escort get into a fancy luxury car and pull out.
Cyril meanwhile, goes up to a slick-looking black sports car and fidgets around the door a moment, before hopping in. A car alarm woots loudly only a second and shuts off.
At the moment, Cyril is ducked down under the steering wheel (likely hotwiring the car he just broke into).
Ethel and Jacob set up at the exit, while the rest of the team is leaving the crowded casino bar.
Gilbert finds nothing on the Chinese man, but the young lady is a registered 'escort' of Venus Vegas.
Arriving at the ship, moored at the pier, Gilbert notices something unusual.
The outside airlock leading into the ship is slightly ajar and jammed somehow. It won't close all the way and only opens five inches (way too narrow a gap for anyone to get through - let alone Gilbert) and won't budge any further beyond that...
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"Okay, now's our chance."
Crystal pulls out her gun and intends to move closer to Cyril, that she might threaten him to stop moving and come with her lest she shoot.
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Crystal gets right up to the car window as the engine starts. She taps on the glass with her pistol to get Cyril's attention, and his face goes white when he sees the gun pointing at him.
The car doors lock.
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Tasing gun at the ready, Ethel speaks into the comms, "What's the update? Need me to prepare anything?"
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Crystal tries to discreetly pulls out her combat knife and drop it to the floor.
"Slash the tires kid," she whispers into the comlink. She then takes steady aim through the window.
"Get out of there, there's no running here. I'm not going to hurt you unless you make me."
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Cillian decides having their tires slashed is probably less awful for the actual owner of the car than having it stolen.
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Cillian sticks Crystal's knife in a tire - causing a loud hiss of air to come rushing out.
With the engine still running, Cyril cracks the window of the sports car just enough to ask, "You got to take me in alive, right?"
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"I happen to be exceptionally adept at keeping people alive through terrible trauma, so if you give me no choice but to shoot you, I will. Don't think you'll get away like that."
Then a moment's pause.
"But yes, I do. I don't want to have to hurt you, get out of the car slowly."
He's afraid. Is someone really trying to kill him?
Crystal's eyes dart around to make sure they're alone.
---
Face 8 1d20 : 5, total 5
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If he's able to, Gilbert will attempt to access the ship's computer system to see if he can tell what's going on. After that, he'll attempt to use his Diagnostic Scanner in order to make sure nothing too sinister is afoot.
"Guys, I think someone broke into our ship", he'll whisper over the com while attempting to diagnose the ship.
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Cyril looks at Crystal, then at her gun. He growls in frustration and slams his hands on the steering wheel.
A moment later, he shrugs and opens the door to get out - as Butch and Montoya arrive on scene.
Nothing is happening on the street where Ethel and Jacob wait.
---
At the ship, Gilbert is able to use his diagnostic scanner on the door to find that the vacuum seal control servo has burned out. From the analysis, he'd guess it failed just as the ship entered atmosphere when they landed. Their going in and out of the ship recently, caused it to jam the last time someone came out of it.
He is able to reroute the electrical circuitry to isolate the servo and the door unjams. While the outer airlock door can now be opened and closed normally, it will not hold air against the vacuum of space, until an hour's worth of repairs are done. The inner airlock door is fine however.
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Crystal keeps the gun pressed tightly against his back and leads him towards Butch and Montoya.
"Who shot you?"
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"Bounty Hunters. Imagine that," Cyril replies a bit sarcastically.
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"They still after you?"
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"Guys, ship is gonna need some repairs", Gilbert says over the com, looking over the ship.
"... Someone should get back here and protect me while I do them. It'll take about an hour."
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"Wen are the bounty, we will be there shortly!" Montoya happily says back to Gilbert, then turning back to crystal and Cyril "Right, let's get this guy handed in before any blaggards try to steal him away!" He pauses for a second becoming less serious "If the people who shot you are still coming after you, then you better tell us now so we can protect you, otherwise we aren't responcible for what happens."
He waves the team onwards to indicate haste is required. He keeps an eye on staircases and elevator doors.
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"They still after you?"
"Seeing as you haven't cashed me in just yet, I would have to say 'you're joking, right?'."
Cyril then gets an odd look on his face and reaches down to feel where he had been shot. He looks confused (most likely wondering why he can't feel his wound anymore).
-
It occurs to Cillian that Danger Sense might be useful.
-
Butch nods.
"Alright, looks like we got him. We need to head to the ship."
Then, into the comlink;
"Gil, start working. We'll be there in 5 minutes. We'll stop by the pet store to grab tubbs and Moonkit."
-
Crystal isn't likely to say anything (as that would give her away as a psychic). Just let him be happy with his miraculous recovery. Or let him think he was insane. Either one works, really.
To everyone else - "Hey guys, I don't want to go out in public with Cyril yet. If there are still people on his tail then there are still people who might fight me over him. Going to try and find somewhere secluded to wait it out until we can leave this place."
-
Crystal isn't likely to say anything (as that would give her away as a psychic). Just let him be happy with his miraculous recovery. Or let him think he was insane. Either one works, really.
To everyone else - "Hey guys, I don't want to go out in public with Cyril yet. If there are still people on his tail then there are still people who might fight me over him. Going to try and find somewhere secluded to wait it out until we can leave this place."
"Ethel should stick with you. She's good at hiding and'll blast anyone who comes at you. Think you could find a place closer to the ship though? Don't want to have you guys attacked without everyone being able to rush back quick."
-
"Ok, first we disguise Cyril and Ensure the coast is clear while the ship is fixed, then we head straight to the ship!" He looks at the others "Butch, mind running to the nearest men's store and grabbing some things to disguise him? While you're there you can send Moonkit back to the ship and bring us the monkey!"
He smiles, clearly assuming his plan is both clear to everyone and foolproof.
-
Crystal shrugs.
"Sounds good to me. Except that we'll still have to wait an hour for Gilbert to fix the ship."
-
Montoya quickly check up on the rules for landing scout ships in front of parking lots "Unless the ship comes to us..." Montoya mumbles.
-
Butch nods.
"That could work. Ill head back to protect Gil, you guys hide up in here. Try and find a bulky Truck to hide behind."
-
"That's pretty weird.." Ethel scratches at her head. "Alright, I'll go help you out-- I mean, you, Crystal, out... everybody. On my way and stuff."
She nods at Jacob, "So, uh, you coming with me or no?"
-
Jacob heads to the ship and sets up a lookout atop it, while Ethel heads into the parking garage to join the others.
Butch makes his way to the shopping concourse, where he finds a very happy Moonkit with her new space monkey. Tubbs holds a little pirate outfit for the monkey and some other props and just shrugs when Butch see them.
The team in the parking garage meanwhile, makes its way up to the top, where they wait in the shadows (with Cyril), for Butch to bring in the Scout Ship.
Butch, Moonkit, and Tubbs are just returning to the pier, when Jacob comes over the comlink; "Get your ass in here fast butch! Incoming! And I don’t think they’re friendly!"
Looking, Butch sees a limousine and three black luxury cars screech to a stop at the end of the pier.
A large bulky Frenchman in a trench coat and a willowy Chinese woman holding a ‘Happy Happy Digi-Poke-Tron-O-Mon’ toy climb out of the limo – as twelve corporate-looking goons poor out of the three cars, each armed with police assault rifles.
The willowy Chinese woman points towards Butch and then climbs back into the limo, which causes the large bulky Frenchman to pull a 40mm Pump Action Grenade Launcher out from under his trench and then motion his men forward!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/BountyHeadBebop/Pier%20Tac%201_zpszrq7ubbs.png)
---
Butch Spot 13 1d20 : 4, total 4
Jacob Spot 11 1d20 : 7, total 7
Initiative_
Butch 13 1d20 : 16, total 16
Jacob 14 1d20 : 17, total 17
Gilbert 10 1d20 : 10, total 10
Tubbs 11 1d20 : 16, total 16
Big Mike 9 1d20 : 18, total 18
Lady Jade 11 1d20 : 3, total 3
Goons 11 1d20 : 7, total 7
-
Round 1
Wave One_
Gilbert 10 (Crit + 1 Action)
Butch 16 (with Luck)
Goons 7
Lady Jade 3
Wave Two_
Big Mike 18
Jacob 17
Tubbs 16
---
Butch and Jacob both recognize the bulky Frenchman as one of the people shown in the news report they saw in the casino bar. He was one of the guys involved in the shootout at the spaceport earlier today.
-
"Shit! Gil, fire the ships canons at the farkers!" Butch shouts, acting fast as he uses his luck to lower his initiative roll, and grabs moonkit and pulling Tubbs, running into the ship asap.
-
"It's one of those Syndicate guys from the spaceport fight!" Jacob call into the comlink, while lining up a headshot on the large Frenchman...
-
Crystal asks for a quick description of the bounty hunters - then asks Cyril, after reciting it back to him - "are those the people after you?"
-
"What? No!" Cyril replies to Crystal - "Bounty hunters were after me, not a syndicate. I don't know those guys."
-
"Crap, that's bad--" Ethel exclaims, her eyes widening. "You guys need help? What do they want?"
"What? No!" Cyril replies to Crystal - "Bounty hunters were after me, not a syndicate. I don't know those guys."
"Darnit... They're after our metal-man, right? We gotta go back!"
-
Crystal frowns...
"Yeah, we should probably get back... damn. Caught without any weapons or protection too. This is bad.
I'll stay behind with Cyril so I can get any of you if you're hit. Come on, let's go, be careful."
-
"Shit! Gil, fire the ships canons at the farkers!" Butch shouts, acting fast as he uses his luck to lower his initiative roll, and grabs moonkit and pulling Tubbs, running into the ship asap.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah okay, hold on a minute", Gilbert replies in a panic, hurriedly turning on the ships systems.
If he has time, he'll attempt to fire at the car where the Frenchman is, to prevent him from using his grenade launcher.
If he still has time, he'll also shoot at the car by the fish stand closet to the water (RIP noble fishermen).
Finally, if Butch and the others make it on the ship, he'll surge to close the doors.
-
Montoya Tut's outloud before speaking "They attack while we are split up! Let's teach them a lesson, We've proved the ships guns are effective in the docks so use them! Let Moonkit get on a gun too, Gilbert, once you all get inside the ship activate the R/C guns and butch can cover everyone then try out his new fighter!" (born leader surge Gilbert for an extra attack if he wants and surging Butch)
He nods to himself, clear orders given to his crew. "I'm on my way!" He announces and begins sprinting to the dock, not even thinking to take the hotwired car.
-
"What about. . . the people who shot him?" Cillian quietly mentions. "We should . . . be careful."
-
Gilbert hits the engine start up routine and then swivels the top turret to open up on the limo with the 20mm ship guns!
Computers 18+2X 1d20 : 19, total 19
As the big Frenchman and his goons duck for cover, Butch is able to pick up Moonkit, grab Tubbs by the collar, and book it into the ship with them – where Gilbert closes and secures the airlock after they enter.
A rain of bullets then patters the side of the ship, as the goons return fire.
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 20, total 20
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 16, total 16
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 14, total 14
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 12, total 12
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 12, total 12
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 8, total 8
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 6, total 6
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 5, total 5
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 4, total 4
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 2, total 2
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
Assault Rifle Burst Fire 14 1d20 : 18, total 18
Atop the ship meanwhile, Jacob pulls the trigger of his sniper rifle – aiming squarely at the large Frenchman’s melon – as the Frenchman spots him and raises his grenade launcher to pump a round of grape shot at both Jacob and the ship’s gun turret.
Sniper Rifle Headshot 18+2X MTN 10 1d20 : 6, total 6
Pump Action GL 12 2d20 : 7, 20, total 27
-
With luck on his side, Gilbert’s 20mm ship guns chew into the limo for 27 AP Damage! The side of the sleek black car is pummeled harshly, the tires blow, and the radiator bursts, but the windows and doors ultimately hold up against the onslaught – the damn thing must be armored!
Meanwhile, the side of the Desperado takes a total of 103 Damage, the engines eating 3 after armor is said and done.
One of the goons jams his assault rifle.
Jacob’s luck-fueled shot slams into the ridge of the Frenchman’s head – doing 31 Damage straight to wounds. Blood splatters as the bullet opens his skull on the left side of his head – an ear flying off in the mix with it!
Big Mike – for that is his name – Surges to act while Disabled and jabs himself in the arm with a syringe of the illegal combat drug, Black Hole!
He then fires the grape shot canister at Jacob – the 40mm shotgun-like blast tearing into the sniper for 23 Damage!
Jacob spends luck for half damage and comes out of it better than most.
Lady Jade Lee meanwhile, grabs Big Mike from behind and yanks him into the limo with surprising strength for such a willowy woman, while three of the goons form a human shield in front of the door.
The rest of the goons advance, or get behind their vehicles, to continue strafing the ship. They know that they’ll whittle it down, if they pump enough lead into the engines!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/BountyHeadBebop/Pier%20Tac%202_zpsocuhbjmy.png)
Round 2
Wave One_
Gilbert 20
Butch 16
Goons 7
Lady Jade 3
Wave Two_
Jacob 17
Big Mike 16
Tubbs 16
---
Gilbert Spot 8 1d20 : 18, total 18
-
Montoya pauses his run, realizing that he will never get there in time to help. "I'm too far away, Gilbert, take them down which the ship guns! And make it dramatic!" He calls through the comms (1 more surge for Gil)
He tries to take up a position where he can see in the direction of the dandy and see where the others are hidden at the same time.
---
Spot 9 1d20 : 6, total 6
-
"Smash her limo Gil!" Butch shouts, as he rushes over to the bridge.
"Tubbs, stay with moonkit!" He shouts back.
Once he gets there, he'll quickly surge to pull up the ship.
"Jacob, the ship is flying with you in it or not!" He shouts.
---
Pilot 14 MTN 10 1d20 : 10, total 10
-
As Montoya goes to get a vantage point of the spaceport, he sees six more black cars racing down the highway towards the pier.
Then two Space Fighters zoom overhead on a beeline toward the Desperado. They appear to be armed with air-to-surface missiles and military ship guns!
Butch better get the Desperado out of there fast!
-
As Butch forces the Desperado up out of the water, Jacob scrambles back into the ship hatch.
There, he begins putting on a skinsuit and mask, so he can tether to the hatch and continue shooting at shit (even if the ship leaves atmosphere).
-
A warning indicator on the bridge alerts both Butch and Gilbert of a fire control radar lock on the Desperado!
Two fighters (the ones Montoya saw) are circling in to make a run on the ship!
-
Butch flies the ship up away, activating chaff defense as he flies out of the atmosphere.
"Hang tight all, I'll be back once these syndics get off our tail!"
---
Current Range Medium (+/-1 Alter Chance)
Butch Pilot to Separate 14 1d20 : 5, total 5
vs.Pilot 1 to Close 14 1d20 : 5, total 5
Pilot 2 to Close 14 1d20 : 11, total 11
-
Cillian joins Montoya at his vantage point. Once there, he'll attempt to drain luck from the bad guys and alter chance to protect Montoya's ship and crew from harm.
-
"Shoot them down Moonkit! The Dandy isn't going to loose to just two fighters!"
Montoya does an aggravated kind of wierd dance, clearly wanting to be where the action was.
-
Ignoring those on the ground (as they should be safe from them), gilbert attempts to hack into one of the fighters. If successful, he'll try to ram it into the other one. If not, he'll cry knowing that the end is near for him (while trying to shoot one down with an a to a missle).
---
Computers 20+2X MTN 15 1d20 : 17, total 17
-
Seeing Gilbert furiously typing away at his keyboard, Butch piloting, and Jacob riding shotgun like a maniac, Tubbs gets on the guns and fires some burst at one of the ships.
Moonkit looks at him with hands on her hips and a frown on her face. The little space monkey mimics her, doing the same, as Moonkit protests - "Hey?!? That's my job!"
---
Tubbs Target 9 1d20 : 1, total 1
-
Jacob lines up a shot at the engine intakes on one of the approaching fighters and waits for it to get into short range...
---
Sniper Rifle 18+2X MTN 10 1d20 : 12, total 12
-
The Desperado’s engines groan under the stress Butch demands from them – but the Desperado leaps skyward out of the water nonetheless – covering the pier in hot jet-wash and salty spray!
The two enemy fighters close in, ready to sink the Desperado with their air-to-surface missiles; but now with their quarry in the air, they’ll need to get into dogfighting range to use their guns.
Gilbert meanwhile, hacks into one of the fighters, using his universal remote umbilicalled in through the ship's super computer, forcing it to slam into the other!
Pilot Resistance vs. Gilbert's 19 1d20 : 3, total 3
vs.
Pilot Dodge 14 1d20 : 7, total 7
-
Gilbert’s tactic succeeds and one fighter clips the wing of the other, both taking 15 Damage!
The Desperado and fighters streak into the upper atmosphere, all maintaining the Medium range from each other for now.
Here, Butch has to make a decision: Stay in atmosphere or bust out into space.
It’s generally easier to lose a pursuer in atmosphere; but the fighters could gain reinforcements, if the Desperado stays too long near this side of the planet.
Jacob meanwhile, holds his fire, knowing that the ships need to be closer, for him to hit any. Tubbs is not so experienced; and fires an ineffectual burst of the ship’s guns, which makes a nice arc through the sky, but falls way short of the pursuing spacecraft.
“Let me try! It’s my turn!” Moonkit shouts at him, while the space monkey leaps onto the gun controls and hops up and down excitedly.
“Bad Monkey! Bad!” Tubbs scolds the miniature pirate mascot.
“Not the guns!” Jacob calls over the comlink, “use a missile!”
“Oh, right!” Moonkit replies with a huge smile - and mashes the launch button…
---
Moonkit Target 6 1d20 : 9, total 9
vs.Pilot Dodge 14 1d20 : 7, total 7
---
Current Range Medium
Butch Pilot to Separate 14 1d20 : 8, total 8
vs.
Pilot 1 to Close 14 1d20 : 14, total 14
Pilot 2 to Close 14 (presuming Gilbert lets him) 1d20 : 6, total 6
-
"Gilbert did you have them or shoot them? Someone tell us how it's going!" Montoya half shouts through the comms, desperate to be part of the action. He is sure abutch has taken the controls so Gilbert is either on the guns or hacking, either way he needs a boost.
"Keep it up Gilbert. Whatever you are trying do it heroics and show these cowards who they are messing with!" (1 more surge for Gilbert)
-
"Yeah. Yeah we're getting them, Inigo."
Gilbert then attempts to eject the pilot from the ship he is currently controlling. Assuming that works, he will then attempt to take control of the other ship (luck point for focused effort).
---
Focused Effort Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 5, total 5
Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 6, total 6
vs.
Pilot 14 1d20 : 12, total 12
---
Born Leader Surge
Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 12, total 12
vs.
Pilot 14 1d20 : 2, total 2
---
Computers 20+2X MTN 15 1d20 : 16, total 16
-
Butch stays in atmosphere
"Can't seem to shake them off! Jacob, blast the farker apart!" He shouts, attention soley divided on piloting the ship.
-
The missile Moonkit fired rockets off into the sunset, missing the fighters by a mile.
"Awe drat!" she says innocently, not realizing there are living people in those ships.
"Get away, let me do it!" Tubbs says, and a slap fight over the missile launch button ensues. The space monkey looks at Moonkit and Tubbs and mimics their slaps, inadvertently hitting the missile launch button again!
---
Space Monkey 4 1d20 : 12, total 12
-
That missile shoots upward into outer space.
Butch meanwhile, tries to separate from the two ships, but one stays at Medium, while the other fires afterburners and crosses the gap in a flash - now at Point Blank range, it manuvers into a dogfight with the Desperado.
Little does the pilot expect someone to take pot shots at it from a hatch!
Pilot 1 Dodge 14 vs. Jacob's shot of 12 1d20 : 14, total 14
-
"Damn, he saw me!" Jacob curses, as the pilot jukes the ship out of Jacob's Line of fire at the last moment.
Gilbert meanwhile, barely overrides the other ship's controls, but finally manages to set off the control pod's eject function - thanks to Montoya's cheering. The pilot gasps in surprise, as his cockpit abruptly separates from his ship!
His parachutes open, and the control pod begins the slow descent back to the surface, while the ship itself plummets into a flat spin and explodes on impact!
Fingers flying over the keyboard, Gilbert breaks into the other ship's computer next - but not before the pilot fires his 20mm Military Ship Guns at the Desperado- full auto fire!
---
Pilot 1 Ship Guns 15 1d20 : 20, total 20
vs.
Butch Pilot Dodge 14 1d20 : 13, total 13
-
And the guns jam! ;D
-
Current Range Point Blank
Butch Pilot to Separate 14 1d20 : 20, total 20
vs.
Pilot 1 to Maintain 14 1d20 : 10, total 10
-
Butch is not losing this fighter anytime soon...
-
Butch sighs.
"Fark. Not losing it." He says, annoyed. He'll just have to mKe sure to dodge any incoming fire.
-
Butch sighs.
"Fark. Not losing it." He says, annoyed. He'll just have to mKe sure to dodge any incoming fire.
Gilbert takes a moment to catch his breath, now that the danger is mostly over. Even if he was safe by the ship's controls, it wasn't easy for him to deal with being shot at.
"Not losing what?" He asks, motioning to the computer, which shows he is in control of the remaining fighter.
"Let's find a place to land the ships, so you and Jacob can relieve the pilot of his duties. Maybe we can even find out why they attacked us."
-
Gilbert tries to force the ship down, but the pilot overrides Gilbert's control and strafes the Desperado again with his 20mm Military Ship Guns.
Pilot Ship Guns 14 1d20 : 4, total 4
vs.
Butch Ship Dodge 14 1d20 : 1, total 1
As this goes on, Jacob takes another shot at the fighter's engine intake.
Jacob Sniper Rifle 16+2X MTN 10 1d20 : 13, total 13
vs.
Pilot Ship Dodge 14 1d20 : 5, total 5
-
Butch burns luck to spin the ship away from the burst just in time, while Jacob's shot hits the enemy fighter's engines for 24 Damage!
Tubbs gets on the ship guns and gives the enemy some return fire, while Moonkit tries unsuccessfully to catch space monkey, as jumps from the launch controls and scampers toward the galley for some odd reason.
Tubbs Ship Guns 9 1d20 : 5, total 5
-
Tubbs' shot slams into the ship for 21 Damage, but the armor effectively soaks all but 1 point of it!
Gilbert tries again to wrestle control from the pilot, but the pilot is too determined to give up and fires his 20mm Military Ship Guns at the Desperado once more!
Pilot Ship Guns 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
vs.
Butch Ship Dodge 14 1d20 : 7, total 7
As this goes on, Jacob takes another shot at the fighter's engine intake.
Jacob Sniper Rifle 16+2X MTN 10 1d20 : 17, total 17
vs.
Pilot Ship Dodge 14 1d20 : 18, total 18
While Tubbs leans in some more with the ship guns.
Tubbs Ship Guns 9 1d20 : 6, total 6
-
The enemy pilot tears into the hull of the Desperado - 7 Damage chewing through the armor!
Jacob curses the bumpy ride throwing off his aim and burns his last luck to tag to fighter's engine again - this time for 23 AP Damage!
The enemy Pilot has a hard time keeping the ship going now, as smoke and sparks spew out from behind the fighter.
Amazingly, Tubbs also hits once again, doing 20 damage, which basically just scuffs the side of the guy's ship.
At this point, (with some luck of his own) Gilbert wrests R/C control of the fighter back from the feisty pilot. He has mere moments to decide what to do with that control - before the Desperado takes more gunfire...
-
With the enemy ship having engine trouble, Butch manages to separate from Point Blank out to Short Range - now safe from the guy's ship guns...
-
Before Gilbert can do anything, his connection is abruptly lost.
The Pilot has shut down his computer to blow the engine fire out. He lets the ship drop down through the clouds and out of sight, before fireing everything back up.
By the time he pops back up on Gilbert's sensors, he's at Long Range and headed away from the desperado.
It looks like the team has made him see the error of his ways!
---
Combat is Over 8)
-
"Farking finally." Butch mutters, letting go of the controls.
"Hey, Montoya, the syndic still waiting for us back at Venus?"
-
Montoya scans the area of the docks to assess the situation there "Looks clear, come pick us up!"
Then turning to Cilian "There you have it, attacked by a small army and two fighter jets and we fend them off and escape without killing a single person!" He poses dramatically "That is how heroes operate!"
-
Gilbert stares blankly at his monitor and is brought nearly to tears.
"That ship... That ship could have bought so much sushi... and hamburgers... and pizza..." He laments with a soft sob.
-
Cillian nods. ". . . now we need to help that other guy."
-
From their vantage point, the team on the ground does indeed see the black cars and Limo leaving the scene. On the other side of the space port, lights and sirens blare, as the SSPD responds to the gunfire at the pier...
-
"Alright, time to get the layabouts." Butch says, standing up and heading over to Gil's scout ship.
-
"Hmm keep the Dandy out of visual range, maybe go for a coast a few miles away while the scout ship gets us. We can take our new friend to the bounty office before heading back!"
Having dealt with logistics Inigo turns back to Cillian "We will indeed be helping him after a fashion. He is a criminal and at high risk of being shot and badly hurt once more if we let him go free so we will be handing him into the proper authorities where he can answer for his crimes while being protected from those who are after him!"
-
"Hey Cy-ril," Ethel mentions, relieved that the action by the others is over, "What were you doing in Venus Vegas anyway? In the pub of all places? Seems pretty silly on your part to go to such a rich area to get away."
-
Gilbert finds a nice secluded desert to bring the ship down over. While he cant land the ship, no one will think to look for it out here - well out of sensor range of the cities.
Butch takes the Snack Runner VII and flies to the Floating Venus Vegas and lands it atop the parking garage so everyone can board.
There's now no sign of the syndicate that attacked them anywhere.
-
With the coast clear for now, Gilbert begins to make repairs to the ship.
-
"Alright guys, time to load up." Butch says, opening the scout ship
-
"Everyone abourd!" Montoya announces, making sure the bounty is secured comfortably but properly on the scout ship.
-
Normally Crystal would complain about them leaving the awesome Venus casinos - but given Butch's "situation" - well...
"Yeah, let's go."
-
Cillian boards the ship.
-
With a nod, Ethel leaves to the ship.
-
"Hey Cy-ril," Ethel mentions, relieved that the action by the others is over, "What were you doing in Venus Vegas anyway? In the pub of all places? Seems pretty silly on your part to go to such a rich area to get away."
"Meh," Cyril shrugs, "Might as well have fun with all the money I stole, before getting caught."
"Besides, my disguises usually work. If those other bounty hunters hadn't seen through this one and shot me, I'd still be boozing it up on all my ill gotten gains haha!"
"Maybe next time, I'll try the showgirl disguise - but damn, those thongs really ride up my ass!"
-
Once the crew gets back together on the Desperado, Montoya takes the ship and heads off Venus, toward the orbiting Hypergate to Jupiter.
Space traffic around the gates seem higher than usual; and it feels as if the Desperado is being watched, as it passes into the massive energy rings - though no ships try to follow the Desperado (at least overtly) . . .
At any rate, the thirty hour trip will give them plenty of time to make repairs on the ship.
Moonkit meanwhile, brings the space monkey, in his pirate outfit, for Butch and Captain Montoya to see.
She introduces it as her monkey, but asks everybody what they think they should name it.
-
"Who's the kid?" Tubbs asks regarding Cillian.
"Hi," Moonkit says to the newcomer, "I'm Moonkit. I got a space monkey! What's your name?"
-
Cillian freezes like a rabbit. She's talking to him. The perfect amazing girl is talking to him and oh crap what did she even say she's staring at us quick say something say something,
". . . Cillian. . . ?"
-
"We're trying to figure out a name for my space monkey," Moonkit explains; "You can help if you want."
-
"Cool name," Tubbs says with a nod, "I'm Tubbs; nice to meet you."
-
Cillian makes some sort of squeaky noise that might have been "pleased to meet you?"
He looks at the space monkey. "Maybe. . . we could ask him?" He takes out his Lopan and tries to read the monkey's aura.
-
The monkey is in good health, mostly domesticated, and friendly.
It seems particularly skilled in Athletics (no surprise there), Entertain, and Larceny.
-
"It. . . it says you made a good choice?" He shifts his weight back and forth nervously, still holding the Lopan. "Um. . . this is a good monkey. . . Might even know how to do tricks and . . . things?"
-
"Ooh, tricks?" Moonkit replies, then tries to coax the monkey into doing something.
"If you do a trick, I'll give you a banana!"
The monkey seems to perk up at the mention of a banana, and starts looking around for it, going so far as to look behind Moonkit and then in her hands for it.
-
"Um . . . do you have a banana?" Cillian looks around. "He, uh, might not be happy if he. . . thinks you're holding out. . . ?"
-
"Yeah, we got lots" Moonkit answers; and hurries off to the ship's galley to fetch a banana.
The monkey scampers after.
-
Cillian scampers after.
-
Montoya almost scampers after them too because it is amusing but the ship does need repair so he just sends Vicini the dog to keep them out of trouble.
-
Montoya thinks that with everyone's help, ten hours will be enough to repair the ship. As they will be in Hyperspace for the next thirty hours, they should be good to go when they arrive in the Jovian system.
In the ship's galley, a very confused Moonkit and a very sad monkey, find that there are no bananas there.
"But, we had a bunch of them," Moonkit tells Cillian. "I had one for a snack. We had a whole bunch of them. I bet Gilbert ate them all! He likes to eat, but he should have known our monkey would need them!"
The monkey folds it little arms over its chest and pouts.
-
Cillian half-heartedly attempts Forensic Analysis of the galley, to try and determine what might have happened to the bananas.
"Is there. . . maybe something else. . . ?"
-
Butch sighs.
"I guess it's good she has a friend now." Butcj says, shaking his head.
-
"Rather dashing too in his little outfit!" Montoya adds before calling Gil "Time we all get started on the repairs, we have more than enough time so let's do it in 3 hour batches with breaks between for meals, we can rest when the Dandy is back to her old self" he pauses "and I have some ideas about our armor, I'll tell you as we go!"
-
Giving the scene a thorough looking over, Cillian finds a banana peel in the trash, verifying Moonkit's claim that there was indeed bananas.
Evidence further suggests that someone used drawers (pulled out) to climb up to the counter top, where Moonkit says the bananas were kept.
-
Cillian wonders whether he should point this out. It seems wrong for Gilbert to end up being blamed for a crime he couldn't have committed.
"Someone. . . climbed up on the counter? Gilbert. . . Can he even get out of the hover chair?"
-
"Rather dashing too in his little outfit!" Montoya adds before calling Gil "Time we all get started on the repairs, we have more than enough time so let's do it in 3 hour batches with breaks between for meals, we can rest when the Dandy is back to her old self" he pauses "and I have some ideas about our armor, I'll tell you as we go!"
Gilbert nods with approval, although he's not eager to spend so much time on the repairs.
-
Cillian wonders whether he should point this out. It seems wrong for Gilbert to end up being blamed for a crime he couldn't have committed.
"Someone. . . climbed up on the counter? Gilbert. . . Can he even get out of the hover chair?"
Cillian notes that Moonkit has to stand on her tiptoes to point out the spot on the counter that she says the bananas were kept. Someone would have to be even smaller of stature to need the extra step-up.
The monkey is small enough, but it should be able to leap right up there...
-
With Cyril Davis tucked into the Brig, and repairs on the ship well underway, the crew settles down for their first evening in Hyperspace.
It is late in the night, when a toilet flushes in Butch and Moonkit’s quarters. Normally, this wouldn’t be that unusual, as Moonkit occasionally gets up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
But this time, Moonkit didn’t emerge from the bathroom to come back to her bunk.
Concerned, Butch is just about to go check on her, when he hears Moonkit stir in her bunk and abruptly realizes that she wasn’t the one that flushed a toilet a few minutes ago …
Meanwhile, from the comms down in the Brig, Cyril Davis calls in a panic to the Bridge (or Montoya’s room if the Bridge is currently unmanned) – “Hey! What the hell?!? You guys didn’t tell me this ship was haunted! You can’t leave me down here with it! Get me out of here!”
-
Montoya leaps from his chair and immediatly gets on the comms "Haunted! That will be wonderful for our reputation! Although who died, I don't remember anyone dying on the Dandy... Well maybe one of the previous crew..." he slings on his pirate coat and draws his sword so he can activate some Heroic music before running to Cyril's position "On my way!"
-
Cillian couldn't sleep. He's in the galley, continuing his investigation. Next step: using the Lopan to summon whoever stole the bananas.
-
Crystal was sound asleep when Cyril called out the rest of the crew - soldiers didn't often have much opportunity to sleep and would have to fight for days on end, so they got sleep when they could. While she hasn't been a soldier for a while, old habits die hard, and a life mostly spent on the run is not one where a good night's sleep is easy to achieve.
Being a quick sleeper doesn't mean you're a heavy one though. It's with great reluctance that Crystal stirs, but she stirs nonetheless - "What the Fark guys?" she grumbles into the comms in complaint. She was about to dismiss the idea of a ghost being on the ship before acutely remember her own powers. She then sighs, and starts to put on her vac-suit (with the zero-g harness) before heading off to the bridge.
-
Cillian couldn't sleep. He's in the galley, continuing his investigation. Next step: using the Lopan to summon whoever stole the bananas.
Cillian suddenly feels like a walk about the ship might do him some good.
-
"Whuh?"
Ethel groggily yawns, stretching her arms out. "Ghost? Cap'n, you know those ain't real... Do we all have to get up now?" She stares blankly at the cieling, to lazy to get up at the moment.
-
Cillian suddenly feels like a walk about the ship might do him some good.
Armed with only his lopan and kitty backpack, Cillian plans to wander not-exactly aimlessly around the ship until something interesting happens.
-
Cillian walks out of the living quarters into the corridor near the water control room. He immediately hears something moving in the air ducts that run along the ceiling over the corridor...
-
Cillian looks for a way into the air ducts. Failing that, he tries to figure out where the thing is going so he can follow after it.
-
Meanwhile, from the comms down in the Brig, Cyril Davis calls in a panic to the Bridge (or Montoya’s room if the Bridge is currently unmanned) – “Hey! What the hell?!? You guys didn’t tell me this ship was haunted! You can’t leave me down here with it! Get me out of here!”
Gilbert quietly, but quite angrily, closes the door to the fridge. He isn't pleased that someone disturbed his late night snack.
"Haunted?" He asks over the comms with a hint of derision.
"If there's ghosts why don't you try to get that wonder-kid to sniff them out. I'm going back to... uh... man the bridge in case something unrelated to the ghost occurs..." Gilbert says, no willing to admit he's actually someone concerned there may really be a ghosts.
He'll then head to the bridge, snacks in hand, to wait out this whole "ghost" issue. Maybe checking the systems to make sure everything is okay while he's there.
---
Perception 8 1d20 : 19, total 19
-
With Cyril Davis tucked into the Brig, and repairs on the ship well underway, the crew settles down for their first evening in Hyperspace.
It is late in the night, when a toilet flushes in Butch and Moonkit’s quarters. Normally, this wouldn’t be that unusual, as Moonkit occasionally gets up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
But this time, Moonkit didn’t emerge from the bathroom to come back to her bunk.
Concerned, Butch is just about to go check on her, when he hears Moonkit stir in her bunk and abruptly realizes that she wasn’t the one that flushed a toilet a few minutes ago …
Meanwhile, from the comms down in the Brig, Cyril Davis calls in a panic to the Bridge (or Montoya’s room if the Bridge is currently unmanned) – “Hey! What the hell?!? You guys didn’t tell me this ship was haunted! You can’t leave me down here with it! Get me out of here!”
Butch gets out of bed, and mutters angrily before talking on the comms.
"I didnt know ghosts needed to go to the bathroom." He says, as he quickly gets dressed.
"Anyone know anything else about the ghost? What's going on?" He then asks
-
Cillian looks for a way into the air ducts. Failing that, he tries to figure out where the thing is going so he can follow after it.
Cillian notes that the duct-works run over the corridors throughout the entire ship. It looks however, that this particular duct originates in the engine room somewhere, before branching out in many directions.
Listening to the sounds of movement within the duct, Cillian surmises that whatever is in there, just went into a short vertical shaft that would lead up into the hanger deck...
-
Perception 8 1d20 : 19, total 19
On the bridge, Gilbert runs into Montoya, who is exiting his quarters most dramatically, to the thrilling sounds of 'Swashbuckling Concerto #6.'
-
Cillian notes that the duct-works run over the corridors throughout the entire ship. It looks however, that this particular duct originates in the engine room somewhere, before branching out in many directions.
Listening to the sounds of movement within the duct, Cillian surmises that whatever is in there, just went into a short vertical shaft that would lead up into the hanger deck...
This is exciting, intriguing, and in no way potentially perilous!
Cillian hurries off to the hangar deck.
-
"Gilbert! Good timing, our ship is haunted! Get on the scanners and try to track down the source while I head out and confront the ghost myself!"
He heroically and rather dashingly then heads out from the bridge, calling over the comms "Where is the ghost now!"
-
Gilbert has no idea what the captain means by "scanners", but the ship has been outfitted with a couple security cameras...
-
Gilbert has no idea what the captain means by "scanners", but the ship has been outfitted with a couple security cameras...
Deciding to humour Montoya, Gilbert looks through the cameras to see if anything is currently going on. He'll then look through the footage of whatever camera was keeping an eye on Cyril to see if he finds anything unusual.
-
Gilbert see's Cyril Davis at the cell door of the ship's brig. He looks very nervous and peers out into the cargo hull.
Rewinding the footage a bit, shows a point where Cyril wakes up and comes to look out the cell, and is surprised/shocked by something he sees out of frame.
What looks like a stack of blankets or sheets does fall into frame briefly though, as if knocked off a nearby storage shelf or something...
-
Cillian arrives on in the Repair Bay.
Gilbert sees him exit the elevator over the cameras, before disappearing behind the scout ship.
No one else seems to be around, but Cillian does see that the man-door, in the partition that separates the Repair Bay from the Hanger Deck, is open...
-
"Cyril, you alright?" Crystal calls through the coms.
-
Cillian continues investigating!
-
Montoya tries to head where the action is but doesn't know where hat is so keeps heading for Cyril's cell
-
Darnit... Is everyone really up? Aggh.
Ethel groans, throwing off her blanket to quickly get her casual clothes on, then heaving her backpack over her shoulder in case there really is some one on the ship. "C'mon guys, you're starting to scare me. Whuz' goin' on?" Rubbing at her eyes, she lumbers out of her room and dozily makes her way in the direction of wherever they keep Cyril.
"Guys, like, if we have some animal in the vents just raise the heat. That'll flush 'em out. This ship can do that, right?"
-
Butch sighs, and makes sure Moonkit is safe, before heading out to the bridge to make sure Gil doesnt freak out and stop working.
-
"Cyril, you alright?" Crystal calls through the coms.
"Yeah... I guess," Cyril calls back, sounding a little more calm now.
"Whatever it was is gone..."
-
Montoya tries to head where the action is but doesn't know where hat is so keeps heading for Cyril's cell
Montoya makes it down to the cargo hold outside the Brig. He sees a stack of blankets and sheets has been knocked off a shelf in the area just outside the camera's field of view.
"It was a ghost I tell ya!" Cyril calls out to Montoya through the cell - "Had a white sheet and everything! Floating off the ground!"
-
Cillian continues investigating!
In the cargo bay, Cillian finds a vent cover laying on the floor near an open duct.
The duck is pretty small, but Cillian could squeeze in there if he had to (Escape rolls to avoid getting stuck). No way a bigger person would fit though.
Of note, is what looks like spilled milk on the floor near the vent, and a dribbled trail of it, apparently leading from the vent to Butch's fighter ship...
-
Butch sighs, and makes sure Moonkit is safe, before heading out to the bridge to make sure Gil doesnt freak out and stop working.
Butch makes it to the Bridge without incident.
-
If it looks like the milk is going from the duct to the ship, (forensics) Cillian goes to investigate the ship. Otherwise yeah, into the duct.
-
The milk trail definitely goes up to the ship.
Cillian sees through the canopy that there is even some spilled inside the currently closed cockpit...
-
Operating under the principle that anything which drinks milk must be friendly, Cillian tries to get into Butch's ship to say hello.
-
Climbing up onto the ship, Cillian sees someone lying asleep inside on the pilot's seat.
It looks like a small boy is curled up in the cockpit, wrapped in ships blankets, with a half eaten bunch of bananas, and a 'Happy Happy Digy-Poke-Tron-O-Mon' backpack.
An empty milk glass sits on the console.
Cillian sees that the canopy is locked from the inside...
-
Cillian knocks on the canopy. Maybe he's non-threatening enough that the kid will let him in?
---
Socialize 13 1d20 : 18, total 18
-
The boy wakes up with a start, but quickly calms when he see's Cillian looking in at him.
"Go away, I'm hiding!" the boy (who must be five or six years old) says to Cillian through the canopy.
-
"Let me in? . . . we can hide together?"
-
Montoya tries to follows clues around to find out what happened to the sheets.
-
"Can someone get the kid? I think he's messing around with my ship."
Gilbert then pauses, and then blocks Cillian from hearing his next comment.
"Y-you guys don't think he's actually joined us to sabotage us, do you? Maybe the kid is actually an assassin sent from one of our many enemies... that you guys gave us", Gilbert says in a panic.
-
Montoya tries to follows clues around to find out what happened to the sheets.
Montoya is pretty sure someone simply pulled the pile of blankets down when getting one.
-
"Let me in? . . . we can hide together?"
The kid pops open the canopy.
"Are they after you too?" he asks Cillian.
"Uncle Mike says we need to hide till he comes to get us - when it's safe."
-
Cillian joins the kid in the ship. "My name's Cillian. I like your backpack."
-
Normally, two people in the single seat cockpit would be crowded, but both Cillian and the boy take up less than half the seat each, so there's plenty of room.
"Oh, you have a neat backpack too," the kid replies.
-
"Thanks." Cillian closes the canopy. "What's your name?"
-
Montoya looks at the fallen sheets and comes to the most obvious conclusion possible. They had been infiltrated by assassins from the secret society who were planning on sabotaging the shift as one of their assault fleets ambushed them!
He calls out on open comms.
"Gilbert, this may indeed be an infiltration plot! Warm up the guns and load all missiles and mines ready for use! Everyone e,we search for the saboteur or prepare for combat!" He swings his sword a few times while thinking "And Gil, load up the security system entitled 'in case of infiltration'. The situation warrants direct and desperate action on our parts now."
-
"Thanks." Cillian closes the canopy. "What's your name?"
"My name is Brownie Dupree," the boy answers, "What's your name?"
"Do you want to see my pet Snooky?"
-
"My name is Cillian." Cillian understands that sometimes with kids, you have to repeat yourself.
"Yeah, I'd love to see your pet."
---
Outdoors 8 1d20 : 10, total 10
-
"Aww man, so there is someone on the ship?" Ethel suddenly sobers, her movement less shaky. "We gotta rat 'em out, guys, but like, in groups, maybe. Wouldn't want them to get the drop on us or something, right?"
So if I was breaking into an inhabited ship, where would I hide... She scratches her head, then heads to the living space, and from there to the laundry room.
-
"Yeah, I'd love to see your pet."
"Oh yeah," Brownie replies, regarding Cillian's name. "I forgot."
The kid must have really bad short term memory, or perhaps he just wasn't listening the first time.
He then reaches into the front pocket of the overalls he is wearing and gently pulls out a small green snake. The snake flicks its tongue in and out.
"This is Snooky. He likes to eat bugs."
-
"Wow, that's so cool." (Cillian is sincerely enthusiastic, but does not attempt to touch the snake.)
-
Montoya looks at the fallen sheets and comes to the most obvious conclusion possible. They had been infiltrated by assassins from the secret society who were planning on sabotaging the shift as one of their assault fleets ambushed them!
He calls out on open comms.
"Gilbert, this may indeed be an infiltration plot! Warm up the guns and load all missiles and mines ready for use! Everyone e,we search for the saboteur or prepare for combat!" He swings his sword a few times while thinking "And Gil, load up the security system entitled 'in case of infiltration'. The situation warrants direct and desperate action on our parts now."
Gilbert groans at the effort that will require, but dutifully obeys his captain.
-
Jacob, kinda used with the captains antics about 'Unknown society assasins/infiltrators' doesn't place much stock in his words. Nonetheless, one doesn't survive unless being carefull, so he takes his 12mm sidearm and a smoke grenade and goes to the security room to check the cameras. Per usual, he boobytraps his room with C-4. Not enough to do any real damage to the ship but enough to make sure any possible intruder will be a dead intruder. He will ofcoure ofcourse forget to get the rest of the C-4 out of the room.
"Yeah, don't enter my chambers. The door is boobytrapped. I'm going to check the cameras." He says over the coms, knowing that any possible intruder couldent know what room was his, but the crew would.
---
Security Systems 12 1d20 : 3, total 3
-
Gilbert groans at the effort that will require, but dutifully obeys his captain.
Montoya's secret 'In case of infiltration' security system is actually just a program that links his playlist to all speakers on the ship and plays two hours of non-stop high octane battle music - at ear shattering decibels...
-
At the Cameras, Jacob and Gilbert spot movement in Butch's ship. Zooming in, they see Cillian in there with another small child?
It is difficult to hear each other with all this blaring pirate music blasting through the ship speakers...
-
The pirate Music wakes Moonkit and Tubbs.
Moonkit runs out into the living area crying in alarm, where she meets Tubbs, who gives her his stereo headphones to cover her ears.
"What the heck is going on around here?"
-
Montoya nods to himself, the security system was working perfectly. Now there was a soundtrack of swashbuckling awesomeness throughout the ship so he wouldn't have to worry about activating it himself. Any enemies would obviously be taken by surprise and disoriented.
He shouts through the comms assuming someone could hear him "Anyone found the intruder?"
-
Deciding that the ship should be able to communicate, Gilbert disables the music everywhere except for where the captain currently is (changing where the music is playing as he moves).
He'll then keep an eye on the two kids to see what they're up to.
-
"I will talk to the kid Gilbert, see what he's doing on the ship." Jacob sighs and shakes his head while heading off for the kid(s)
-
Jacob arrives on the hanger deck.
Everyone else also arrives to wherever it was that they were headed...
-
Brownie puts the snake back in his front pocket.
"Oh no! Someone is coming!" he gasps, as Jacob draws near the fighter.
-
"Hide!" says Cillian. He makes sure the fighter is locked, and prepares to deal with Jacob.
-
OOC: Assuming Jacob knows Cillians name.
BIC: "Alright kid, get out of the ship." He says in a soft and calm voice.
-
". . . Why?"
Cillian takes out his Lopan and tries to read Jacob.
After which, it occurs to him he really ought to read brownie too.
-
I dont know how much a lopan reveals, but Jacob is generally curious as to why they are there, in the cockpit. He have friendly intentions. That good?
"Both of you." He adds. "Now come out, i'd rather see who i'm talking to."
-
Butch, being in the bridge with Gilbert, sits down on one of the chairs.
"Gil, you think you can check to see if there are any ships near us in Hyperspace? Dont want to be caught unaware."
-
Cillian takes out his Lopan and tries to read Jacob.
Jacob's got a somewhat greedy heart. He also suffers from rare form of Dissociative Identity Disorder (Called NPC) - where it's unclear the natures of each persona; or even how many there might be.
Jacob's three highest skills are Ranged, Stealth, and Tech.
-
"It's not safe out there," Cillian tells Jacob.
-
"Jacob, what he hell's going on?" Crystal asks over the coms.
-
"It's not safe out there," Cillian tells Jacob.
"why isn't it safe out here? He asks gently.
"Jacob, what he hell's going on?" Crystal asks over the coms.
"Nothing big, just that Cillian have appearently made a friend.
-
"Psst, brownie! How do you know when someone's one of them?"
-
"Psst, brownie! How do you know when someone's one of them?"
"Who? Les Messieurs?" Brownie replies, "Um... let's see... they wear black suits with coattails, have white things over their shoes, funny round hats, and that little eyeglass on a stick thingie..."
-
Montoya overhears and so head to the hanger Bay, music following in his wake...
-
Butch, being in the bridge with Gilbert, sits down on one of the chairs.
"Gil, you think you can check to see if there are any ships near us in Hyperspace? Dont want to be caught unaware."
Keeping an eye on the kids messing around in his ship, Gilbert also checks to see if there are any ships nearby.
-
Hyperspace looks clear out to the limits of sensor range.
-
Jacob waits for the kid to reply or come out.
-
The kid is waiting for captain Montoya. He doesnt quite trust Jacob.
-
'Other kid'
-
Dramatic Pirate Music (appropriately) announces Captain Montoya's arrival on the hanger deck.
-
Capt. Montoya dramatically leap/clambers onto the fighter so he can clearly see inside the cockpit and the two boys.
He pauses for a few moments before getting on his comm to the whole crew "Just a stowaway, stand down but keep the weapons ready and checks for other shops regularly just incase." He obviously winks in at them.
He leaps down to beside Jacob, giving him a nod to be ready, then calls up "Ok you two, let's have you out on deck!"
-
"Is that a space pirate?" Brownie asks Cillian, not sure what to make of the captain and obviously unwilling to make any sort of first move to get out of the cockpit.
-
"Yes, but. . . No, he's sort of. . . Well. . .
That's Captain Montoya."
-
"Oh, I wasn't supposed to let anyone see me!" Brownie frets, looking out at Captain Montoya and Jacob.
"Uncle Mike is going to be mad."
-
"It will be okay," Cillian tries to be reassuring. "He'll understand. But- how is Uncle Mike going to know where to find us?"
-
While Montoya waits he chats to Jacob "Gonna give them a minute or two more, most likely a stowaway but best be safe so grab him if he runs!"
-
"Thats the plan." Jacob replies
-
"It will be okay," Cillian tries to be reassuring. "He'll understand. But- how is Uncle Mike going to know where to find us?"
"He has Lady Jade Lee," the boy answers, "She finds things. She's mean."
-
"Okay. . . I'm going to let Captain Montoya in. He's a good guy. . . He won't let them get us."
-
As there is no room for the Captain to actually come in (and I'm sure he tries - nearly squishing everyone in the process), the boy is eventually coaxed out with Cillian's assurances.
-
"Excelent!" Montoya poses dramatically "So why are you on the Dandy young man?"
-
Jacob feels like he's forgetting something important.
---
General Know 6 1d20 : 18, total 18
-
Crystal has made her way to the action, and has mostly stood in the background for now. Comforting kids wasn't her thing.
She does, however, take note of the poke-bag.
In there, the tracker - must be if they're actually following us.
"Hey ki - Brownie, what's in the bag?"
-
"The bad guys were shooting at us," Brownie begins to explain to Montoya, "Uncle Mike told me to get out of there and hide!"
"I ran over, and hid in here."
When Crystal asks about his pack, he shows her - it's a travel daypack and looks like something one would give a kid to take on a short trip.
It contains a coloring book, some spare clothes, empty snack wrappers, etc.
-
Cillian steps protectively between Crystal and Brownie. "Why do you want his stuff?" For once, his tone is clear and direct.
-
Butch begins the trek to his fighter, to see what the commotion is all about
-
Butch arrives to see everyone gathered around his fighter.
-
"So who's the hijacker?" Butch asks, as he heads closer in. Once he sees the kid, he'll internally groan.
"Cill, is this your brother or something? If you wanted someone else to join in, you coulda asked."
-
Upon Butch's arrival, Cillian seems to regain much of his shy uncertainty.
Still shielding Brownie from Crystal, he replies, "he's not. . . my brother? He ran away. . . From people shooting. . . And hid in here. . .?"
-
Montoya thinks for a moment "Lets take him and all his things up to the kitchen which is more comfortable!" Montoya suddenly and loudly interjects "He can have a snack while we have a nice talk and sort this all out!"
He turns dramatically to point the way, but really he is just turning his face away from the little kid to speak quietly into his comm "Gill get a bug sweeper and meet us, Jacob check the fighter over then clear the other areas he has been too"
-
Brownie doesn't say anything, looking nervously at all the faces now surrounding him.
He seems content to stay behind Cillian though.
-
"Come on come on!" we can raid Gilbert's private sweet stash too!"
He begins trying to usher them towards the kitchen, letting Brownie stay beside Cillian.
-
At Montoya's insistence, the group (or most of it) heads to the kitchen.
Butch doesn't find anything unusual in his fighter, and a sweep of the ship by Montoya and Gilbert reveals no bugs.
Checking back through the camera logs however, shows Brownie wiggling into the Desperado through the broken airlock, explored the ship a bit, taking some food from the kitchen, then going into the air ducts through the engine room.
He is seen on camera hiding in Butch's fighter, and then coming out at night to go to the bathroom, get some blankets from the cargo hold, and then returning to the cargo hold through the air ducts to go back into Butch's ship again - before being found by Cillian.
-
Tubbs and Moonkit are already in the living area.
When they see Brownie enter, Tubbs nods and Moonkit says 'Hi."
-
"Um... hi," Brownie replies to Moonkit.
Such depth of dialog between those two!
-
Crystal barely refrains from rolling her eyes at Cillian'd protectiveness.
"Kid, calm down, we're your crew, we're not going to pull any mean crap. One of the bounty hunters also had a pack like that, might be the same one. If they're tracking is it's probably through something in there or sewn into the pack."
-
Upon Butch's arrival, Cillian seems to regain much of his shy uncertainty.
Still shielding Brownie from Crystal, he replies, "he's not. . . my brother? He ran away. . . From people shooting. . . And hid in here. . .?"
"Ugh, he left some crumbs in the damn fighter." Butch mutters as he searches the fighter.
"So he's the little ghost? Guess Ciril freaked out for nothing."
-
"It does look like he overreacted somewhat" Montoya replies, with no hint that he had too "We will keep an eye out though incase there is more trouble."
-
Crystal barely refrains from rolling her eyes at Cillian'd protectiveness.
"Kid, calm down, we're your crew, we're not going to pull any mean crap. One of the bounty hunters also had a pack like that, might be the same one. If they're tracking is it's probably through something in there or sewn into the pack."
(OOC: not a pack like that, just one of the toys)
"No. . ." Cillian warily informs her. "they don't need machines."
"It does look like he overreacted somewhat" Montoya replies, with no hint that he had too "We will keep an eye out though incase there is more trouble."
cillian unobtrusively tries to get Montoya's attention. "Brownie says there's people? After him? Les messeuirs?"
-
"Yes," Brownie nods with a worried look on his face, "Les Messeuirs!"
-
Montoya First scours his memory, then the internet for reference or Mention of them!
---
General Know 11 1d20 : 18, total 18
Computers 17+2x 1d20 : 12, total 12
-
"Anyone know any french?" Butch asks.
-
"So what? They've got someone like you?" Crystal says, in reply.
"How'll they be tracking us without any tech?"
-
"So what? They've got someone like you?" Crystal says, in reply.
"How'll they be tracking us without any tech?"
Cillian looks at brownie, then back to Crystal. "Yeah. . . Someone like me. I can find anyone."
-
Looking up Les Messieurs and Serpent Vert, Captain Montoya confirms that both are very powerful syndicates on Venus.
Their rivalry is well documented (up to and including their gunfight at the Spaceport yesterday), as is their involvement in a myriad of underworld activities - as would be expected.
-
Montoya waits for the opportune moment to drop the bombshell.
"Well, using some of my knowledge of the current situation and evil organizations at large I can sum up the situation!" He poses for dramatic effect and makes sure his comms are turned on to transmit to everyone on the ship
"What has happened is that during one of the many recent fire fights between the syndicates of Les Messieurs and Serpent Vert, our young stowaway here" he indicates brownie with a small flourish "Was sent by his protector 'Mike' to hide out as the battle was not going well. He hid on our ship which might be one of the reasons we were attacked." He looks at them all as if baiting them to jump in with what this means. "The fact that he had his own protector and that they came after us so strongly indicates he is a very important person to the Serpent Vert syndicate. This means that both syndicates will be after us in order to get to him! Prepare for battle!" he pauses "Unless you all prefer to have the syndicates fight it out and we hand him over for a small finders fee to his rightful guardians."
He nods to himself, saving the kid and having the evil syndicates battle it out would be preferable to the Dandy getting damaged again, however battles are what Space Pirates do...
-
"So, maybe we should just let the kid off somewhere when we get out of hyperspace", Gilbert suggests over the comms.
"They should find him quick enough, and I don't think we want to piss them off any more than we already have. Because, you know, they're probably still pissed off about the captain and Butch ordering us to shoot them."
-
Cillian can't have heard Gilbert correctly. The captain and Butch, the only two unambiguously good guys on the ship, ordered everyone to shoot Brownie's uncle?
-
"So, maybe we should just let the kid off somewhere when we get out of hyperspace", Gilbert suggests over the comms.
"They should find him quick enough, and I don't think we want to piss them off any more than we already have. Because, you know, they're probably still pissed off about the captain and Butch ordering us to shoot them."
"They want my parts, Gil. We aint getting rid of them that quickly." Butch says, shaking his head.
-
"They want my parts, Gil. We aint getting rid of them that quickly." Butch says, shaking his head.
"We can't get rid of them that easily but they can to eachother! As I said, hand Brownie over to this Mike fellow, since he looks after him and cares for him, collect a reward and let the syndicates take care of eachother!"
-
"You're gonna . . . let brownies uncle . . . die?" Cillian is trying not to let brownie hear this. "They don't want your parts, Butch. They just want brownie. If . . . You were trying to save M-Moonkit. . . And the people who had her. . . Made you fight? Then asked for money?"
-
"I'd kill them. Even if they did return her. But if they didnt actually kidnap her, I wouldn't fire a grenade launcher at them and a little girl. I'd only do that if I wanted them dead."
"This isnt a parent getting their kids back. This is a syndic trying to get a payday."
-
Jacob doesnt even consider doing that. "Noone is shooting anyone." He says. "He's a kid. A child. That any of you is even thinking it disgusts me."
-
"Who wants to kill him?" Butch asks, looking mighty confused.
-
"Oh, sorry. I wasnt listenikg and guessed what you were talking about." He shrugs.
-
At this point there is a loud shriek from Moonkit, who scurries over to hide behind Butch.
"A snake! He's got a snake! Is it poisonous?!?" Moonkit asks in alarm.
Meanwhile, Brownie laughs at Moonkit.
"It's not poisonous. Snooky is a nice snake. He only eats bugs."
Looking, everyone sees the boy tuck a small green snake back into his front overalls pocket.
-
Montoya sighs "No, no, the Orher syndicate is clearly trying to kill him to damage the syndicate he is from, which is why we send him back to. His own family and leave the syndicates to fight it out. And I'm sure his uncle will be just fine too."
-
"This isnt a parent getting their kids back. This is a syndic trying to get a payday."
"So where are the kid's parents? Let's drop him off with them and let them deal with the syndicates", Gilbert says, anxious to shake the syndicate.
-
Ethel returns to the group, a bit flustered. "So the ghost was just a stow-away kid... That's cute. But why are they looking for you, Brownie? Am I missing something?"
She yawns, stretching her arms out again. "I mean, they're also looking for the uncle. So what'd you two do?"
-
"So where are the kid's parents? Let's drop him off with them and let them deal with the syndicates", Gilbert says, anxious to shake the syndicate.
"We're not getting him back to Venus without the syndic knowing. And we can't take on a whole syndicate by ourselves." Butch aays, shaking his head.
-
With no real resolution decided on, and another twenty hours left in Hyperspace, the crew of the Desperado simply elects to figure it out later; and all go to bed for the night.
Of course, Brownie is invited for a sleepover at 'Moonkit's place' - meaning Butch somehow ends up with (at least for the time being) another dependent.
---
The next morning, as everyone is leaving their quarters, Cillian collides with Ethel coming around opposite corners of a corridor - as Cillian was stalking (?) Gilbert at the time, and wasn't looking where he was going...
-
In Butch's room, Moonkit and Brownie wake Butch. The first thing he sees, is the face of a green snake staring him in the eyes. For a second he thinks it's a practical joke to startle him, but then realizes something is wrong.
"Something is wrong with Brownie's snake," Moonkit says with concern from the foot of the bed - keeping her distance, as Brownie holds the snake out over Butch for him to see.
The snake looks very lethargic - if not half dead - maybe the kid rolled over on it in his sleep?
"Snooky is sick," the boy whimpers pathetically, eyes filling with tears. "Can you help him?"
-
The next morning, as everyone is leaving their quarters, Cillian collides with Ethel coming around opposite corners of a corridor - as Cillian was stalking (?) Gilbert at the time, and wasn't looking where he was going...
Fragile as he is, the unexpected impact knocks Cillian to the ground. From the corridor floor, he looks up at her. "Ethel, are you okay?"
-
"Oof, sorry about that!" Seeming a bit distracted, Ethel herself is nearly thrown off balance, but manages to stay up. "I'm alright," she laughs, "but you look like you need a hand," and holds her own out as she says so.
Seeming a bit on edge herself, she asks, "You in a rush or something?"
-
Cillian takes a deep breath. It said she still had a good heart.. He grasps her outstretched hand and pulls himself up.
"I know you're in trouble. I saw the white knight." He can always say it was a joke, a kid's game. "Did you already get the sample?"
-
"Uh... No?"
Her eyes shift nervously before focusing in, "No, I'm not sure what you're talking about, but, uh, that's nice, Cillian. I'm doing fine, just a bit tired is all... " Should prolly pay more attention when I'm walking, right?" She releases his hand, knowing full-well she's not good at masking the truth.
Releasing a yawn, Ethel turns around, not facing Cillian anymore, noting absentmindedly, "We should get going to breakfast, right..."
-
In Butch's room, Moonkit and Brownie wake Butch. The first thing he sees, is the face of a green snake staring him in the eyes. For a second he thinks it's a practical joke to startle him, but then realizes something is wrong.
"Something is wrong with Brownie's snake," Moonkit says with concern from the foot of the bed - keeping her distance, as Brownie holds the snake out over Butch for him to see.
The snake looks very lethargic - if not half dead - maybe the kid rolled over on it in his sleep?
"Snooky is sick," the boy whimpers pathetically, eyes filling with tears. "Can you help him?"
Butch groans.
"Yeah yeah, sure. Lets take it to someone who knows medicine." Butch mutters, as he gets out of bed, muttering all along.
"Hey, anyone know anything about snakes and meda for snakes?" Butch asks on the comms. "Otherwise Ill have to latch onto the Computer for a bit, and I'm prettt aure that freaks out Moonkit."
-
"To the medbay!" Montoya announces "We can look it up as we go, unless Crystal can scan it or somthing with the equiptment in there."
-
"Something wrong with the kid's creepy pet? Just send it over, I can fix the scaly shit back up no problem," Crystal says over coms.
-
"Okay," Cillian sighs dejectedly. "but if you want help, just ask, okay?"
(Assuming they did give him a com eventually) he heads in search of Crystal & brownie.
-
"Something wrong with the kid's creepy pet? Just send it over, I can fix the scaly shit back up no problem," Crystal says over coms.
"Sounds good." Butch says.
"Come on kids, we gotta go over to Crystal. She'll make your snake feel much better." Butch says, chuckling as he begins to head to Crystal's room.
-
Cillian, Butch, and the kids arrive at Cyrstal's room and Brownie shows her the small green snake.
It's very lethargic and barely responds to being handled. It also looks off-color (somehow) and has swelling in its belly.
-
Crystal rubs gently at the snake's belly, to see if she can feel something hard in there.
"What have you been feeding this thing?"
-
Crystal can feel something 'unusual' in there...
"My dad feeds him at home and Uncle Mike feeds him when I visit," Brownie replies; "He eats bugs."
-
Ethel joins the rest of the crew in Crystal's room, a bit confused as to what's going on. "That snake is seriously messed up... Lemme check something..."
Taking out a Diagnostic Scanner, she lazily waves it directing at the people in the room before focusing on the snake.
-
Ethel's scan picks up some rather unusual chemistry inside the snake - in fact, Ethel doesn't immediately recognize it...
---
Chemistry 14+2X 1d20 : 14, total 14
-
Searching her mind for the chemical equivalent to what she is seeing on the scanner, Ether suddenly remembers a medical journal she had read last year.
It was about promising new medical technology being developed from the uber-rare Angel Lotus plants that grow exclusively on Venus. The plants were found to hold amazing regenerative properties and are currently the focus of intense medical study. It is hoped that a multitude of miracle drugs can be created from the Angel Lotus plant and enough preliminary success has occurred to make the Angel Lotus (or its seeds), an incredibly lucrative Black Market item.
The current value of Angel Lotus seeds on the Black Market is estimated to be about 8,000,000w each.
Sure enough, this is the Angel Lotus signature emanating from inside the snake...
-
"Woah, hey guys, this is pretty wack."
Ethel goes into detail about what she remembers about it, but the main gist of it is what she says at the very end; "... So it seems like the snake ate a really expensive plant from Venus. We could make a lotta money if we get it to poop it out or something."
-
"Hmm, give me a second, i'll get to the medical bay and get the proper equipment to have him regurgitate whatever it is out," Crystal says - in part because she needs to get away from the kids do enact the extremely violent procedure, and in part because her now very overly-crowded room is making her have an uncomfortably difficult time breathing properly.
-
Crystal takes the snake into the medical bay and (not being a surgeon), slices it open rather brutally, to pull a small plastic capsule from inside its stomach.
The trauma to the snake is rather severe; and requires Crystal to use Heal (which she is able to do, after mentally pushing a wave of psychosis away that threatens to overcome her, when she initially activates the power). The snake immediately regains vitality and hisses angrily at Crystal, threatening to bite.
Inside the capsule, Crystal (and anyone else that followed - barring the children) see four Angel Lotus seeds...
-
Crystal whispers as if she'd just found a room filled with gold, eyes wide, not a single care in the world given to the snake.
"Oh we hit the motherlode crew."
-
"So, we taking this to a research lab or planting it and learning to farm?" Butch asks, following Crystal in.
-
"We're going to give it back, right? When we take Brownie home?"
-
"We're going to give it back, right? When we take Brownie home?"
"To a syndicate?" Butch asks, incredulous
-
"Give what back to who? I just saved this snake, and a capsule containing extremely valuable seeds happened to be inside of it. It's ours now."
-
"But it's not yours. It's Brownie's," Cillian says with the implacable logic of a small child.
He looks at Butch with surprise. "You don't want to help Brownie get home?" the Lopan said he was a hero? Am I reading it wrong?
-
"Ahh, now I get it. Cill, do you know what a syndic is?" Butch asks
-
"Are you going to tell me it's okay to steal from someone as long as you think they're a bad person?" says Cillian. "So what if Brownies dad & uncle are part of a syndicate? Does that mean you're going to keep him here forever? Even if he wants to go home?"
-
Montoyarelieves Crystal of the now energetic and Angry snake and heads for the door (Brownie not having been present from what has been said before about not letting him see this.) "I'll return the snake to Brownie and make sure he is happy, what happens to the seeds needs discussed but I am going to see what Brownie wants too."
He heads back to Brownie and hands over the snake "There, all better and full of energy! He had just eaten somthing he shouldn't." If it looks like Brownie is willing to talk now he adds "So Brownie, where does all your family live?"
-
"If they are criminals, then if we return Brownie, he'll be a criminal too. Do you think thats best for him? Or for us to find him an actually good home for him?" Butch asks.
"Bad people shouldnt raise kids, Cill. And we got a duty to help them."
"And yeah, if a Syndic wants a ton of money, I'm not gonna give it to them. A good guy doesnt fund organized crime, Cill. Think Robin Hood, except stealing from the evil and rich."
-
... "So Brownie, where does all your family live?"
"My dad and me live in Cinema City," Brownie answers the Captain, "Uncle Mike lives in Venus Vegas."
-
Gilbert silently watches everyone else in the room, unsure of what to do. Obviously he wants to keep the seeds, but so does everyone else, so he probably doesn't need to voice his opinion on that.
"I um... I think we should just give the kid back. It's better than making an enemy out of an entire syndicate, and who knows, maybe they treat him alright too."
-
"Yeah, kid has no place with us." Ethel agrees, her eyes fixated on the seeds. "Might as well give him back to wherever he's from, but as for these things... If we sell them to a good research team we can pay back a lot of debt, not to mention help humanity while we're at it. So why not?"
-
Cillian is surprised but grateful for Gilbert's apparent support.
"You can't just take people away from their parents!" he says to Butch.
-
"Yeah, kid has no place with us." Ethel agrees, her eyes fixated on the seeds. "Might as well give him back to wherever he's from, but as for these things... If we sell them to a good research team we can pay back a lot of debt, not to mention help humanity while we're at it. So why not?"
"Not suggesting we keep him. I got my hands full with keeping Moonkit, even if Tubbs is a great babysitter. Just cant let him back into the syndic. Itll ruin him, trust me." Butch says, shaking his head.
"I like your second suggestion though. Gets us the best of both worlds." Butch then adds, nodding in agreement.
Cillian is surprised but grateful for Gilbert's apparent support.
"You can't just take people away from their parents!" he says to Butch.
"I hate the idea, kid, but if it's for their best, then it's for their best. Think Moonkit woulda been better off with her bitch of a mom?!" Butch asks, practically shouting angrily.
-
"Captain... We need your, um, fearless leadership to decide on something", Gilbert calls over the comms, hoping that Inigo will choose their side so they can dump the kid.
-
"On my way!" he calls sounding happy for.Brownies benefit. "Sorry Brownie I have to go again but you can play with Moonkit, Vicini and the monkey! Oh just before I go, what's your daddy like?"
-
Brownie replies to the Captain's question about his father, "He's my dad. He's very important. He doesn't stand for no disrespect."
-
"Do you really like living with him? And what does he do, does he work with your Unkle?"
-
"I don't know, I don't know her-- just like you don't know brownie's dad!" yells Cillian. "You can't tell someone they're better off without their parents! Maybe he loves his dad and his dad loves him! And that's more important than if anyone thinks they can do better!"
-
"Do you really like living with him? And what does he do, does he work with your Unkle?"
"My dad is in 'business'," Brownie replies (clearly not knowing what that means), "that's what he does with Uncle Mike."
-
"Thankyou Brownie, have fun now!"
He heads back to the others.
"I heard the chat but we are Heros of justice, not it's arbiters over others lives. The boy is happy with his family and I am not sure if his father is syndicate or just his Uncle, we shall research carefully even if it is ultimately his choice. As for the seeds, more research, find where they came from and possibilities for their use, I'm sure there are proper and honest research labs that could do good work with them."
-
"This is crazy!" Butch exclaims, "you cant be serious Montoya. Who cares if the boy wants back in, you wouldn't let a drug addict have drugs if he wanted them! This kid, if we bring him back, will end up a criminal who someone, possibly us, will end up killing or bringinh to Pluto."
"Is that the fate you guys want for this kid?"
-
"Ah you know for certain who his father is and that his family was allowing the syndicate to use him him then? Clearly not. You are simply acting out Moonkit's situation in his place. If it turns out his direct family was not complicit in the full scam and simply thought he was visiting his uncle you'd simply be another kidnapper stealing their child while the syndicate will have already started using a new carrier by now." Montoya shakes his head "Anyway, back to the research, please try too Gil."
Montoya tries to look up everything he can on Brownies family using the clues they have. Then good places to sell the seeds too.
---
Computers 19+2X 1d20 : 15, total 15
-
Gilbert debates supporting Montoya with some words, but quickly decides against pissing off the super powered cyborg further.
"Uh, sure. I'll try and find some places that could use them", he replies, first consulting the internet, then getting in touch with Fixer if he finds no leads.
---
Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 16, total 16
-
"Ah you know for certain who his father is and that his family was allowing the syndicate to use him him then? Clearly not. You are simply acting out Moonkit's situation in his place. If it turns out his direct family was not complicit in the full scam and simply thought he was visiting his uncle you'd simply be another kidnapper stealing their child while the syndicate will have already started using a new carrier by now." Montoya shakes his head "Anyway, back to the research, please try too Gil."
Montoya tries to look up everything he can on Brownies family using the clues they have. Then good places to sell the seeds too.
"That doesnt matter at all. If his parents are so bad at being parents that they let their uncle, who literally everyone knows is a syndicate enforcer, take the kid, then that's even worse, since that means they cant even keep him safe!"
-
Between the Captain and Gilbert, the team finds out that Brownie's father is named George Dupree. Not surprisingly, he's connected to the Serpent Vert, but has somehow managed to keep his record clean, in spite of multiple court appearances - all of which appear to have ended in acquittal, mistrial, or hung jury.
As for Brownie himself, he has no records online. As far as the Web is concerned, Brownie is a non-person.
Regarding the Angel Lotus Seeds, they appear to have been stolen from the Medical Research Community in Cinema City Venus. The MRC is offering a 100,000w reward for their return.
Of course the Black Market will pay full price for them (on Venus).
It occurs to Ethel, that her father's biochemical corporation might be interested in making an offer as well...
-
"Well now we know, I'll try and dig into Brownie a little more to see if I can find out exactly why he doesn't seem to exist, if they used a homeless child or they erased him. It is looking less likely that they have his best intentions at heart. For now Butch he's in your care!"
Montoya moves to the door "I think I have something that might be useful regarding the stolen seeds, mind if I borrow our lady expert to see if I am right?" He signals Ethel to join him walking up to the bridge.
-
Cillian storms off to sulk in his room. For now.
-
"As if a syndic would ever care about anyone." Butch mutters, though he's obviously cooled down.
-
"Yes sir?" Ethel follows the captain to the bridge, readying herself to be confused as to what he'll say.
-
As they walk Montoya chats in a light tone "So you know my systems on this ship we top of the line even before the new supercomputer addition, we'll it is also set up to intercept messages from certain entities I have flagged as evil or part of the secret society. Want to tell me about the recent one you received?"
-
Agh, not the 'secret society' drivel again... Wait, what?
"Uh..." Ethel stutters for a moment before answering, "Uh, I'd love to, but I didn't get anyhing from the secret society... Thing."
"Wanna elaborate cap'n?"
-
"Without saying too much incase we are over heard by the others, The message you received at (Insert the time here that it was intercepted), Tech company who's name begins with the word Dark, white Knight chess piece and talk about the sample." Montoya keeps up the calm but slightly jovial tone, as if they were just chatting about lunch. "Very heavily encrypted of course but I did say my systems were exceptional didn't I"
-
"Well, yeah. Dad sends me some weird stuff. The old man thinks he some sort of badarse, so his company sounds pretty weird."
Ethel shrugs, "Nothing to do with the secret society though. I think. My dad is pretty weird... Huh." The girl forces a chuckle. "I suppose I shoulda warned you about it first, sorry captain."
-
"In future it might be best to" Montoya agrees "Though just what sort sample is being discussed?" Montoya keeps up the same tone, he likes Ethel, it would be sad to have to assume she was a spy...
-
"I'd assume you already know, with your supercomputer and all..." Ethel grins, "but the basic shtick makes sense, y'know? We're on a ship with two... Abnormal characters. One is particularly interesting, and research regarding the phenomena is pretty weak. Decided to help out with that, hurting no one in the process. So, uh, everyone wins, right captain?"
-
So she is after a sample of crystal or Cilian
"If my crew are not harmed or put at risk in any way then everyone wins, however if members of my crew suddenly face new dangers because of their information being leaked to the wrong people, I shall be extremely unimpressed." He pauses for a moment "Everyone makes money their own way and I respect that and leave you all to it, however there also used to be a punishment for pirates that crossed the line and endangered the ship, it was called 'Keel Hauling'. Simply don't cross that line."
He leaps through the next door dramatically "Right! As our resident expert we need to find what to do about those seeds! I'd suggest returning some to the original owners as is appropriate however taking one or two might be considered an appropriate free for having the syndicate shoot at us!" back to his normal swashbuckling self he poses with his sword, you work on the seeds, I'll work on the boy with Butch!"
-
While keel-hauling in outer space is perhaps one of the scarier things Ethel has considered, she lets out a sigh of relief in response to his apparent easy-goingness.
"Of course not, sir! Yes sir!" Saluting in an exuberant, silly fashion, bidding adieu to the captain. She will then consult her phone, checking her scientific sources as to deals regarding Lotus Angel seeds.
-
Montoya heads into the bridge to begins searching up about Ethel's dad's company in as much detail as possible.
---
Computers 19+2X 1d20 : 14, total 14
-
Checking her Scientific Ties, Ethel generates immediate interest in the Angel Lotus seeds. It seems that the average bid on them is half of what she could get on the black market for them, but at least they would be going to legitimate scientific facilities.
Ethel then sends the samples she obtained using the diagnostic scanner to her father. He's pleased with the inclusion of a Feng-Shui sample as well as the Psychic.
He then surprises Ethel, by making an unsolicited offer on the Angel Lotus Seeds.
"DarkTech has authorized me to offer full value for one or more of these Angel Lotus seeds you have acquired."
-
Captain Montoya's search meanwhile, yields a little information.
It seems that DarkTech is a scientific research and development identity, funded largely by the Jovian People's Confederacy and a handful of private donors. It has hundreds of facilities throughout the solar system and is involved in both military and humanitarian research.
Of course, its systems are also state of the art, so Montoya is kicked out of the system well before he is able to narrow his search down to any particular facility or project.
-
Ethel turns to the comms, telling them what she found.
"So most research-crews are willing to pay half for the seeds, but DARKTECH matches it with full price, so better that than the Black Market, right?"
A bit uncertain, she adds, "Uh, guys, we should probably give one of the seeds to the original researchers, I think. Thoughts?"
-
"You should give them to the people they belong to!" says Cillian. "They're not ours! You don't have any right to sell them!"
-
"We should sell them all to Darktech. The quicker the better", Gilbert suggests.
-
"By current law, they are in fact ours since we obtained them as legal bounty hunters from criminals, however at least 1 will be returning to where they were stolen from." Montoya adds.
-
With no real decision made on what to do with the seeds, everyone pretty much lets the conversation drop and the rest of the trip through Hyperspace is largely uneventful.
The next day, the Desperado is exiting the gate in the Jovian System when three ships come up on the sensor – rocketing toward the Desperado from medium range.
There are three fighters and a scout ship and the all have radar lock on the ship!
---
Initiative
Enemy Pilots 8 1d20 : 1, total 1
Cillian 17 1d20 : 4, total 4
Jacob 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
Butch 13 1d20 : 17, total 17
Ethel 12 1d20 : 3, total 3
Crystal 11 1d20 : 5, total 5
Tubs 11 1d20 : 17, total 17
Montoya 10 1d20 : 17, total 17
Gilbert 10 1d20 : 19, total 19
-
Wave 1
Jacob 9
Crystal 5
Cillian 4
Ethel 3
Enemy Pilots 1
Wave 2
Gilbert 19
Montoya 17
Butch 17
Tubs 17
-
As with all problems in his life, Gilbert attempts to solve this by hacking into one of the fighter ships. If successful, he'll immediately try to eject them from their ship.
---
Computers 20+2X MTN 15 1d20 : 16, total 16
Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 15, total 15
vs.
Pilot 14 1d20 : 3, total 3
-
Jacob tries to do the same with the scout ship - but them remembers that he doesn't have a Universal Remote, like Gilbert...
-
Montoya springs into action with pure indignation, taking command like a swashbuckling Pilot should
"Gil, you have the hacking, show them who the best hacker in the system really is!" (Surge Gil) "Butch, get on these guns now and show them the error of their ways before they can shoot!" (Surge butch)
Montoya himself surges to go before the enemy pilots and takes evasive actions to throw off their aim "Someone send out the chaff to throw off their Locks" he calls as he activates his 'battle mix number 6'.
-
Being fairly useless while in the ship, Ethel will hide near the ship's entrance in case they try to board.
-
Butch runs out to the Plan C?
"I'll take them on in space. You two fire them from here!" He shouts
-
Cillian runs to find Brownie.
-
Jacob takes his C4 and his sniper rifle and boobytraps yhe hangar bay. After Butch is out in the clear ofcourse.
He will look for the best ambush position in there aswell
-
Using his universal remote – boosted by the ship’s super computer – Gilbert taps into one of the enemy fighter ships and causes it to eject the control pod!
As this goes on, Montoya tries to separate from the other ships, as they try to close the gap.
---
Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 10, total 10
vs.
Enemy Pilots 14 3d20 : 2, 14, 17, total 33
-
The Desperado pulls away from the scout ship, but the two remaining fighters close – one rocking past the other and right into dogfighting range.
Desperado | Fighter 1 (Point Blank)
Fighter 2 (Short)
Scout Ship (Long)
As this goes on, both fighters launch air-to-air missiles at the Desperado, while Butch gets to his ship and fires it up.
Tubbs fires an Air-to-Air Missile at the closer of the two enemy fighters, while the rest of the crew sets up for possible boarding!
---
Fighter 1 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 1, total 1
Fighter 2 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 16, total 16
Tubbs A-2-A Missiles 9 1d20 : 20, total 20
-
Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 10, total 10
-
Montoya jukes the Desperado wildly to avoid the missiles (the artificial gravity generator barely able to compensate enough to keep everyone from flying into a wall.
Cillian finds Brownie and Moon kit on the Bridge, watching the unfolding battle through the thick plate windows.
The enemy fighter dodges the missile Tubbs had fired.
-
Round 2
Wave 1
Jacob 9
Crystal 5
Cillian 4
Ethel 3
Enemy Pilots 1
Wave 2
Gilbert 19
Montoya 17
Butch 17
Tubs 17
-
"I'm taking to the skies, you guys get Moonkit in a skinsuit, prepare for boarding in case I dont blow 'em up!" Butch shouts on the coms, as he flights out to blow the shit outta the fighter thats closing in.
-
"Moonkit, suit up! And make sure the monkey gets in a suit too! Vicini, Find Ethel and help her!" Montoya commands, vaguely hoping Vicini will do as he says "And Butch, careful of the surprises! Once they are all ejected in their life pods, we can salvage and head on our way!"
Montoya keeps dodging as much as he can while keeping a relatively straight course before launching his space mines in the enemies path (of course programmed not to trigger for the Dandy or Plan C)
-
Gilbert smirks to himself and his amazing computer skills as he attempts to eject another one of the fight pilots (the closer one) out of their ship.
-
Cil tries to help brownie find a suit if possible.
If he can, he'd also aid Montoya's dodge attempts.
-
Following the others, Ethro searches to don a skinsuit before getting back into position.
-
Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 12, total 12
vs.
Enemy Pilots 14 3d20 : 15, 19, 16, total 50
Rolled 1d20 : 6, total 6
Computers 20+2X 1d20 : 20, total 20
vs.
Pilot 14 1d20 : 16, total 16
Fighter 1 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 7, total 7
Fighter 2 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 11, total 11
Tubbs A-2-A Missiles 9 1d20 : 1, total 1
Enemy Pilots 14 3d20 : 19, 9, 20, total 48
Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 11, total 11
Butch A-2-A Missiles 14 1d20 : 11, total 11
-
Captain Montoya pushes the engines hard and the Desperado separates another increment from all the enemy spacecraft!
Desperado | Plan C? (Point Blank)
Fighter 1 (Short)
Fighter 2 (Medium)
Scout Ship (Sensor)
As this goes on, both fighters launch another two air-to-air missiles at the Desperado, while Butch pulls the Plan C? out of the bay and a trigger happy Tubbs makes space-fighting noises as he fires off another of the Desperado’s air-to-air missiles – ”take that! Pew pew pew pew!”
Meanwhile, Gilbert tries to lock onto another fighter-ship with his universal remote, but finds that the pilots have initiated a modulating control spectrum array. It isn’t really going to make things any harder than they already are to hack into the ships, just that it requires a slightly different approach.
The two missiles streak in at the Desperado, and Montoya deftly ship-dodges one, but the other slams into the hull – detonating for 17 Damage!
Tubs gets lucky and clips an enemy fighter’s wing with his missile for 17 Damage as well.
Butch gets a lock on the same fighter and puts a missile of his own into its fuselage for the ever popular 17 Damage – rocking the ship, but not yet dissuading its pilot from pressing the attack!
Inside the Desperado, the rest of the crew dons skinsuits and helmets – incase a boarding party breaches the airtight integrity of the ship.
In the hanger, Jacob busily sets a few nasty surprises for any unwelcomed guests…
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Round 3
Wave 1
Jacob 9
Crystal 5
Cillian 4
Ethel 3
Enemy Pilots 1
Wave 2
Gilbert 19
Montoya 17
Butch 17
Tubs 17
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"A job well done." He smiles. Then he talks into his comlink "butch, our entire hangar is set up with explosive surprises in case we get boarded, report in to me when you plan on heading back." He says. Then he will hide.. and wait.
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"You better know how to unfuse them Jacob." Butch says, as he countinues firing at the fighter, and moves foward, clpser to the enemy fighters
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"Ofcourse i know, i used to be special forces you know."
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Montoya calls out "That fighter should bug out soon, keep it up everyone! Butch, show them how it's supposed to be done!" (Surge Butch, think that is Montoya's last surge that can be given)
Montoya keeps up his evasive manouvers and trusting in the Space Mines he just released he opens fire with a missile against the second fighter, hoping the pressure on it will reduce it's dodging options.
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Now that brownie won't be killed by space, Cillian can help anyone, as long as they aren't hurting people.
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Gilbert tries to eject the pilot of the closer fighter again.
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Considering that the rest of the crew are dealing with the 'real' space-pirates quite well, Ethel leaves the shooting to Tubbs knowing she'd do a better job, staying in the Hangar at-ready with Jacob.
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Montoya Pilot 14+2X w/ Feng-Shui Bump? 1d20 : 14, total 14
Fighter 1 Pilot 14 1d20 : 15, total 15
Fighter 2 Pilot 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
Scout Ship Pilot 14 1d20 : 19, total 19
Gilbert Computers 20+2X MTN 15 w/ Feng-Shui Bump? 1d20 : 5, total 5
Gilbert Computers 20+2X w/ Feng-Shui Bump? 1d20 : 7, total 7
Fighter 1 Pilot 1d20 : 2, total 2
Space Mine 1 Target 11 1d20 : 17, total 17
Fighter 1 Pilot 14 1d20 : 11, total 11
Fighter 1 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 10, total 10
Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 6, total 6
Fighter 2 A-2-A Missiles 12 1d20 : 10, total 10
w/ Surge Montoya Pilot 14+2X 1d20 : 2, total 2
Space Mine 2 Target 11 1d20 : 14, total 14
Fighter 2 Pilot 14 1d20 : 12, total 12
Montoya A-2-A Missiles 13+2X 1d20 : 15, total 15
Butch A-2-A Missiles 14 1d20 : 4, total 4
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The Desperado continues to accelerate away from its pursuers (Crit) – completely losing the scout ship and putting a huge lead on the two fighters.
Desperado | Plan C? (Point Blank)
Fighter 1 (Long)
Fighter 2 (Sensor)
Gilbert tries to hack into another enemy ship and has a hard time with it, until Cillian (realizing that it will save the pilot from all the missiles flying out there) starts fiddling with his lopan… (alter chance + 2 luck).
Gilbert breaks in and pops the control pod out of the nearest fighter, in spite of the pilot’s best efforts to override Gilbert’s control!
As this goes on, the original space mine Montoya deployed, streaks in and explodes near the rear fighter – but the pilot had been keeping an eye on it and easily avoids impact.
The pilot is currently out of range for air-to-air missiles, so simply continues to try to close with the Desperado.
A second deployed space mine then locks onto him, but he avoids that one too.
Montoya and Butch forgo any futher attacks – as their target is currently out of range.
With a little more luck, the Desperado will be able to lose him too.
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Montoya Pilot 14+2X w/ Feng-Shui Bump? 1d20 : 6, total 6
Fighter 2 Pilot 14 1d20 : 9, total 9
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With a little help from Cillian (1 luck) - the Desperado is able to pull out of the pursuing fighter's sensor range!
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OOC: Combat is over 8)
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"Ladies and gentlemen, we have once more broken away from an evil enemy ambush without a single casualty, apart from the enemy's wallets of course! They will soon learn that chasing us is a fruitless and expensive endeavour!"
He takes the moment to ensure all guns, missiles and mines are reloaded just incase.
"Everyone can stand down for now, I'll check the Dandy for damage myself."
Montoya begins his diagnostics to check for necessary repairs etc. he of course quietly plays a drinking shanty on the bridge speakers while he does so.
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Montoya is able to reload the air-to-air missiles. He's got no spare space mines and realizes that even with his personal vacc suit, he is still two crewmen short of having enough skin suits to go around (9 people / 6 skinsuits, 1 vacc suit)...
Although Crystal might have her own vacc suit.
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Montoya makes note to repurchase supplies including spare vac suits and comms. Then more mines and spare missiles.
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"Alright Jacob, remove all those explosives, I'm heaing back in." Butch says.
"Montoya, think you could capture one of those escape pods? We can let them go after, we just need to know who they work for."
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"Turning back is just asking for the other two ships to engage us. Possibly along with re-inforcements, for now I think it is best we vanish and make proper repairs."
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Jacob recovers all of his traps and disarms them.
Butch brings the Plan C? into the hanger and is surprised upon setting down, when a landing strut is blown off by one of Jacob's booby-traps that the sniper forgot to account for (Absent Minded Flaw) ...
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"Uch, this was a farking new fighter." Butch groans, as he tries to land without the strut.
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The fighter lands tilted, but is otherwise fine. The hangar doors are shut and the area repressurized.
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Butch exits the fighter, and looks around cautiously before heading out of the hanger. Who knows what else Jacob left there.
Hell then head to the bridge
"Montoya, Gil, any chance you guys can ID anything about the guys who attacked us?"
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"Are you okay, Brownie?" Cillian says, trying not to think about the fate of the pilots Gilbert ejected into space.
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Montoya tries to accommodate Butch's request and searches up anything he can from ship markings etc. to try and find out their affiliation. "Will do, and why was there an explosion in my cargo bay?"
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"Jacob felt we needed some kind of mark from this firefight." Butch says with an annoyed shake of his head. "Dented up my fighter."
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Crystal remains content that she didn't have to use her powers on anybody.
"Think Jacob forgot an explosive or two? I'll go check to see what else he forgot."
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"Ops." Jakob says over the coms. "I'm.. eh.. sorry Butch."
-
After losing the perusing fighters, the Desperado heads to Pilot City, Europa, to turn Cyril Davis over to the European State Authority. After collecting the 800,000w bounty, they meet with a representative of DarkTech, who gives the crew full price (8,000,000w each) for two of the Angel lotus seeds – no questions asked.
Following that, Brownie Dupree is dropped off at Child Protective Services – The crew electing to leave that little mess for someone a little more qualified in the matter than themselves. It was bad enough that Moonkit was with the crew, but her parents were killed by the Syndicate (and she would have ended up a slave in the brothels had Butch not rescued her). At least Brownie’s parents were high up in the food-chain. He wouldn’t be raised with the best of ethics, but he would have everything he needed.
The remaining two Angel Lotus Seeds were then shipped anonymously back to the Medical Community on Venus. Upon receiving them, the Medical Community released a news statement, thanking their ‘mystery benefactors’ for the return of the stolen seeds.
Once Serpent Vert hears that the seeds have been returned to the Medical Community, they give up chasing the Desperado for them. Though Big Mike vows to make somebody pay for the reconstructive surgery to the side of his head…
END