Log Title: Sinister Snooping
Characters: Inquisitor , Kamakura , Lifeline , Low-Light , Barghest , Cobra Commander, Law, Wisp
Location: San Francisco, California - North America
Date: December 10, 2023
TP: Kintsukuroi TP
Summary: Inquisitor came to San Francisco in an attempt to lure Kamakura out and test the conditioning that had been performed on him. And got more than she bargained for.
As logged by InquisitorSinister Snooping
San Francisco, California - North America
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California and the only consolidated city-county in California. San Francisco encompasses a land area of about 46.9 square miles (121 km2) on the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, which makes it the smallest county in the state. It has a density of about 18,187 people per square mile (7,022 people per km2), making it the most densely settled large city (population greater than 200,000) in the state of California and the second-most densely populated major city in the United States after New York City. San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in California, after Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose, and the 13th-most populous city in the United States - with a Census-estimated 2014 population of 852,469. The city and its surrounding areas are known as the San Francisco Bay Area, and are a part of the larger OMB designated San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland combined statistical area, the fifth most populous in the nation with an estimated population of 8.6 million.
San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, the former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, and its Chinatown district. San Francisco is also the headquarters of five major banking institutions and various other companies such as Levi Strauss & Co., Gap Inc., Salesforce.com, Dropbox, Reddit, Square, Inc., Airbnb, Weebly, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Yelp, Pinterest, Twitter, Uber, Mozilla, Wikimedia Foundation, and Craigslist. It has several nicknames, including "The City by the Bay", "Fog City", "San Fran", and "Frisco", as well as older ones like "The City that Knows How", "Baghdad by the Bay", and "The Paris of the West". As of 2015, San Francisco was ranked high on world livability rankings.
Inquisitor has been, over the past few days, casing the dojo. Watching people go in and out, mingling with the various urban crowds that occasionally walk around the area. She's visited that corner boba shop a few times, a little cafe on another corner and has managed to snag a room in a boarding house type arrangement not to far off. Today she's just taking another walk, hands in jacket pockets, sunglasses on, watching the dojo to see who comes in our out now.
Dr. Edwin Steen arrives at the dojo, carrying a small bag with him and appearing very serious. He seems to be alone, which is rare. Typically if he's seen out, he's accompanied by his partner, Tommy.
Inquisitor sips her boba, eyes narrowing as she pulls her phone out and snaps a few photos. Of the graffiti on the wall, a stylized teapot and matcha set up, some of the sky through the bedraggled street trees, of Dr. Steen arriving at the dojo. Eyes narrow as she watches, knowing better than to attempt to enter that place. Who knows how many blasted -ninja- are lurking inside. Friggin' ninjas.
<Cobra> Inquisitor says, "Hmm. Making a quick check-in. Visualizing one Dr. Steen, also known as Lifeline, entering the Arashikage dojo here in San Francisco. Working to collect Throwdown back however he's stayed inside the damned building."
Edwin goes in the front entrance,and is inside for around 15-20 minutes before stepping out into the garden area and lighting some sort of incense stick in an ornate holder beside a seating area. He sits there in the garden beside the dojo quietly, in a meditative contemplation of his deceased mentor.
Inquisitor shifts to move with a passing group of people, using them to shift where she's at so she can track Lifeline better. Taking up residence in a covered doorway caddycorner to the little side garden, she leans back against the boarded up door, half hidden in the faint shadow. Still watching, wondering how she can lure the man closer.
Edwin is deep into whatever it is he's doing, so his sixth sense takes a little while to kick in. But when it finally does, it might startle Leksa because he suddenly looks up, and around, nearly turning to look directly at her but not quite doing so. He frowns, and remembers that the last time he felt like this, Alex was spying on him. He would be remiss to think that this place isn't still under some sort of surveillance.
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Bit of a pickle that, wot."
Inquisitor freezes as Edwin suddenly moves, looking around. Midway to sipping her tea again. That's one good thing she'll note for this little side mission, there's good beverages. She's prefer coffee though. Just watching Edwin still, taking another snapshot of the man and the little garden. Then tilting her head,listening to her earbud. There's a smirk and she considers. Wounded bird? Lost traveler? Better decide fast.
<Cobra> Inquisitor says, "Quite. I want my lost project back but I'm not going in there. Who knows how many are in there."
For a moment, Edwin stares at his cellphone. He's tempted to call Tommy or even Sean, but then he thinks to himself: why? A hunch? He pockets his phone, then decides that a walk around the building's perimeter might be in order before he actually contacts anyone. For a moment, his thoughts go toward the Night Creepers that Clan Arashikage whipped so very, very hard. They could be seeking a terrible revenge. Jamming his hands in his coat pockets, he begins walking in Inquisitor's general direction.
Inquisitor hmms, setting her now empty cup down in the stoop. She puts her hands into her pockets and walks out onto the sidewalk, looking up at the sky it seems before checking her phone as if perhaps lost. Blond woman, not too tall, wearing a blue leather jacket and blue jeans with chunk-heeled ankle boots. She starts walking slowly, checking phone, then looking around, then phone again, as if lost or looking for something.
<Cobra> Inquisitor says, "Hmm he's moving off the property."
Nothing about Leksa immediately gives Edwin any bad vibes, but there's an air of deja vu he feels as he approaches the woman that he doesn't immediately connect. She definitely looks like she's lost. "Do you happen to be looking for the 101? It changes names a few times through the city, which doesn't help."
Leksa blinks and looks up, taking a half step back and to the side. "Da? Ahh.. I'm.. a little lost.." Offering a smile, wary. "I'm not looking to buy drugs though or.. a good time." She seems wary as the area is.. not all that great really.
"You didn't look like the type for either activity, to be honest," Edwin chuckles. "Let me know if I can be of assistance. I'm a Washingtonian transplant and the city's still kind of new to me, but I'll help as best I can. If it helps, while this isn't the greatest area of town, it's far from being the worst, so you should be safe on foot around here."
"No. I'm not a substances user." Leksa shakes her head, ponytail swinging. "Ahh. I was looking for a cafe that.. it was marked as gem in the rough? Opened earlier this year but I think I am all but turned around now." Still holding herself tense, lone woman on the streets n strange city, she seems to simply being cautious. "Visiting here too. Only for few d.. ahh. only for -a- few days." Slight slavic accent.
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Well, well, well... Lookee peeksie... think I jus found me a bit of research data t'harvest..."
<Cobra> Inquisitor says, "Oh?"
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Ayuh... That alien with the fancy pants I've been wantin' t'git unner the microscope..."
<Cobra> Inquisitor says, "Ninja Alien hooker?"
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Dunno if'a dancer count's such, but good t'know, wot."
Edwin's sense of something being very wrong goes off again, and he finds himself checking his blind spots to check if maybe the pretty young woman is a diversion for something worse to happen. He doesn't often ignore this feeling, so he tries to figure out why she looks so familiar. And then she speaks, and he's reminded a little bit of the Baroness...except not entirely spot on, just similar inflections. But then suddenly, Edwin remembers. It doesn't even seem possible that she's here, but he remembers why she looks so familiar. He saw her in the castle in Japan. Heard her calling for backup on the radio. Gave her helmet a good punt across the room. It was absolutely this woman. The doctor's heart skips a beat. Well...now he /can't/ let her go, that seals the deal. But hopefully, he can get her to let her guard down just enough to capture her and find out what her deal is.
Snapping his fingers, he says, "I'll bet you were looking for the boba tea place. You could blink and miss it, but actually, you are walking distance from it and I'll show you exactly how to get there," Edwin says cheerfully.
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Gonna see if I can put her in a nap... preppin' some party favors in case I need a li'l distraction here."
"Tea is.. ahh.. nice but I do prefer strong coffee." Leksa smiles at the nice man, who was masked up at the castle assault but his voice is itching her thoughts. Still. she knows this is Lifeline, there's dossier's on the Joes after all. And he's been on her radar. Unlike others, she doesn't hear that heart skipping a beat. "The article said cafe? Has scones." She smiles, something int he expression not as fri4endly as it should be.
Kamakura shoots straight up from the futon he's been sleeping on, and quickly throws his hoodie and shoes on. No time for the ninja suit. The voice is back, and she's threatening the dojo. He runs to the door, opening it and looking around for signs of the twosome and signs of trouble. Who knows what that terrorist is up to?
Edwin is practiced at turning on a certain charm that's appealing in the same way the late actor John Ritter once had: a very kind, harmless, everyday guy sort of demeanor. It's what he will sometimes use to put patients at ease...or in this case, throw them off to the fact that he thinks they're suspicious as hell. "Scones? Oh boy, now I really ought to know this one, and shame on me if I can't name it," he says cheerfully, giving her a sidelong glance and trying to figure out how to apprehend her without her making a massive public fuss.
Leksa blinks and continues to smile, the expression sliding warmer, practiced even. "Yes scones. Little slightly sweet pastries?" she offers as if by being american, Edwin's world cuisine clueless. "They are from England." she offers. A look at her phone and stepping closer, flicking through screens, "It said it was here close by?" she murmurs, wanting to get closer to Edwin. There's that covered doorway into the boarded up building that would make a good spot to slam him into if she can just get the right angle. Shake him down for information.
Edwin has a way of dealing with people who try to rough him up that usually doesn't end well at all for the person attempting to do him harm. But he lets them figure that out on their own, because as is his habit, he rarely if ever strikes first. As far as he's concerned, if Leksa tries anything on him, that will just give him the permission he needs to defend himself. He moves a step or two closer toward the covered doorway, dropping his attention to look at his phone. "Let me see if there's a place like that here, I'll bet there is..."
Kamakura sees Edwin and this strange woman. Now he has a face to the voice. He heads over, smiling brightly. "Edwin. Good to run into you here. Who's your friend?" friendly. Too friendly.
GAME: Inquisitor FAILS a LEADERSHIP roll of Very High difficulty.
GAME: Inquisitor PASSES a COURAGE roll of Very High difficulty.
Leksa's smile wavers as Kamakura comes up on her and Lifeline. It's a brief flick, a slight shift of the smile from friendly and warm to cold. She steps closer yet to Edwin, offering him a view of her phone's screen, where it's pulled up on an article in barovian, cyrillic alphabet and all, but there is a photo of a little cafe, one that Edwin may recognize from months ago visiting with Tomas. "This one, da?" she looks around then watches Kamakura for a beat of her heart. This isn't good. But they don't know who she is, or what she looks like so there's a false sense of security in play now.
Edwin is quite relieved to see Kamakura. He doesn't know that Leksa is the one who has given Sean and Tomas all of that torturous grief and pain, but her proximity to the Night Creepers makes her incredibly suspect to him. "Not sure, we're just looking for the place with the scones." He peers at Leksa's phone, and hmms. "Oh, I know exactly where that is. Right this way..." He begins setting off with renewed purpose down the street. Scone? Oh, she'll get a scone, alright...
Kamakura pauses. "Ah I think I know where that is." he pulls out his phone. "Going to see if they have Scones left over from brunch. You know they usually run out..."
"Are they good scones?" Leksa asks as she checks distance to that doorway, how close Throwdown is, and how much attention Edwin seems to be paying. Her non-phone hand is sliding under her jacket slowly, thumbing the strap off of a baton she's got hidden under there. Stun baton. Or knife. Moments choice and she decides on stun. Faintest of sounds of a snap being disengaged as she smiles at the two, shifting to follow Lifeline, smile a little frosty as he's moving -away- from that spot.
Kamakura nods "Best in town. My name is Sean. Sean /Collins/." he puts emphasis on the last name. "What's yours?" He asks, closing in, his own phone returning to his pocket. He may or may not be palming something that catches a faint glint of metal.
"Not sure, to be really honest, I've never been there before," Edwin admits. "But businesses have to be pretty cut-throat to make it in this city, or they don't last long, so I think the fact that it exists at all is probably a good sign." His sixth sense is going off like crazy, but he's still reluctant to take the first move. As is his habit, he is more in his element when he's on the defensive.
"Aleksandra.." replies Leksa as she slowly pulls that baton out, thumbing it on, attempting to hide it still from both Edwin and Sean now. "The world. It is full of this cutthroat sense, da." accent lilting, Decision made, Throwdown is too close, and a pacifistic medic might make for a good body shield long enough for her to get some distance. There's a snap of her wrist and she moves to grab this Dr. Steen, intent to get an arm around his neck and use the crackling stun baton as a deterrent from further action from the other man!
>> Inquisitor succeeds with her generic combat roll on Lifeline. <<
Dr. Steen does, in fact, get grabbed fairly easily. And what's more annoying, it's almost as if he's allowed for this. He didn't do much, if anything, to avoid her getting an arm around his neck. "Careful there, Ms. Aleksandra," Edwin says, "No need to get so familiar, I mean we're only on a first name basis," he says as he suddenly leverages the motion to attempt to push her out of striking range - and if he does it correctly, it will probably put some painful pressure on Leksa's arm in a place where it wasn't meant to bend, causing her to let go. That's at least what he's trying for.
>> Lifeline strikes Inquisitor with Push. <<
>> Inquisitor temporarily loses motor functions from the attack! <<
>> You are stunned! <<
Kamakura nods "Good to meet you, Aleksandra." He says. "Yeah the yelp reviews are good. we can go.." and then the stun baton comes on, and almost instantly, a shuriken appears in Sean's hand "Let him go and put your hands up. Now." he says, trying to cut off any escape routes.
Leksa had Lifeline for a moment. Arm around his neck, that stun baton coming up threateningly. Then he.. move-shifts and there's a wide-eyed Yelp! of pain as her entire arm hurts as he steps, turns and pivots the last of her momentum into a twist. She resists the apparent movement and there's the wet pop of a joint deciding nope, done here and a yelp from the woman who finds herself several steps away from Edwin, wide-eyed, arm limp. Baton comes up and she -smiles-, a cold, cold, expression, pained. "Well this isn't as nice as I had thought it would turn. Hand over your wallet." A look at the throwing star, feigning 'blond' as she does not know she's been 'made', "This isn't a party little boy. Wallets, if you would."
Edwin wasn't intending on harming Leksa in any way, and he actually feels bad that he's managed to cause an injury to her. Of course, this year he's been training very hard with Tommy, and sometimes things would get violently physical, even in their aikido practices. It couldn't always be helped. He ponders offering to fix the dislocation, but then she demands their wallets, and he laughs at the audacity. "What??" he asks as he chuckles. "You're *robbing* us, now? Or attempting to rob us? Come on, that isn't a motive of yours, and don't even pretend that it is. Collins and I know you. We've seen you before. Running with Cobra agents," he says. "I know where I saw you, Ms. Aleksandra. It was in Japan. At the Arashikage Castle."
Kamakura points with his free hand "Look. Only one girl can steal my wallet and I'm engaged to her. Now come with us, Aleksandra. We can have a little talk with you away from civilians." he says.
GAME: Inquisitor PASSES a LEADERSHIP roll of High difficulty.
"I do not know what you are speaking of." Leksa holds that baton up. Cold smile remaining. "Wallets. And this doesn't need to get nastier." Leksa is attempting to bluff her way through this. And maybe get their wallets. Then there's the mention of a castle and Cobra. She shakes her head, "castles int he sky? Nyet. This is a robbery. Wallets, I will not ask again."
Edwin glances over at Kamakura, then looks back toward Leksa. "I hope you don't ask again, because I don't intend to give you my wallet," he says, looking almost like he pities Leksa in some weird way. "Tell you what. I'll reset your shoulder - because I honestly didn't mean to get you that hard. But you need to stop lying to us. I mean, it just looks silly now."
Kamakura nods "What he said. Just put the baton down. He knows your face. I know your voice. We know who you are and why you are here."
"Ne Proizoydet..." Leksa shakes her head, cold smile oddly warming a moment. "You have -no idea- Little pieces." She does not drop that baton, instead lunching at Edwin again, aiming to slap him with the charged device.
>> Inquisitor strikes Lifeline with Baton. <<
WHAP!! Edwin gets slapped in the side of the forehead with the baton. "Ow!" he exclaims as he's hit. Then, he lunges forward and attempts to grab the baton when Leksa is at her closest. If successful, it would throw off her balance and she might trip or fall, but his main focus still isn't to actively harm her, it's just an attempt to get the baton out of her hands.
>> Lifeline strikes Inquisitor with Disarm. <<
Kamakura watches Edwin disarm the russian lady. He knew that Edwin was skilled, but this proves he's no easy target. "Think going for the one who isn't armed is a good idea around here?" he asks. "Really. Its a good idea to either surrender or run. Either way we've got you outmatched. And always will here."
Inquisitor snorts as she strikes Edwin, a little smile crossing her face that's far more true and far more 'wrong'. Pivoting on a heel, she half turns to strike again but Edwin's skillful grab of her good arm sends her stumbling past him and into the ground, landing on the already dislocated shoulder as he gets her to let go of that stun baton. Now he has the crackling nasty device. A yelp of pain from the blond woman, shoulder popping -back in- with a wet sound.
"Not going to run, Mr. Broca." Ahh that voice as she rolls to her feet. "Not leaving without you." Smile, wide and sinister as she makes to reach under her jacket again for another weapon. "All this is doing is delaying the inevitable. You will return to where you belong." Accent thickening before she rushes the ninja! A step, another and she pivots, kicking out with the skill of someone who may be trained in some martial art as well.
>> Inquisitor misses Kamakura with Kick. <<
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura shakes his head. "Collins..." He says, fighting back something building in his head. "And Im right...where I belong." He tries to use his leg to sweep her, that headache coming back full force.
>> Kamakura strikes Inquisitor with Kick. <<
Edwin flings away the stun baton out of reach. "You have a lot to answer for," he says as he searches his pockets for a particular item that would definitely come in handy right about now. "Might as well make it easy on yourself and begin talking, otherwise you're going to be in interrogation for a really, really long time, and that's not somewhere you want to be."
Aleksandra snorts as she misses that kick of hers at Kamakura then takes a return kick to the chest, getting knocked backwards, skidding. A hand comes up and wipes at her face, the other one pulling a fighting knife out. Soviet, World War II era. "Not going to go play doctor with you." Smirking as she circles Kamakura. "Now now, Mr. Broca. I told you, it would be best for all involved if you returned to where you -belong-. It keeps everything nice and safe. Everything and.." she lunges with the knife, slashing out, "everyone, da? You, me, a little tete a tete and you'll be a much happier man."
>> Inquisitor strikes Kamakura with Knife. <<
GAME: Kamakura PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
While Leksa grapples with Sean, Edwin finds the tranq dart he was seeking, and he waits for what he hopes is the right moment to fling it at the irksome woman's back, near her shoulder blade.
>> Lifeline misses Inquisitor with Tranq-Dart <Medium>. <<
Kamakura continues circling as well, wincing as he takes the knife. He doesn't attack this round, trying to distract her. "Collins. You failed to turn me. You and your friend Mindbender. Why don't you be a good sport and accept failure when you have it?" he nods to Edwin a bit, trusting he will do what needs to be done.
Inquisitor's knife makes a slide and she sidestep-twists, moving away from Kamakura moment, just enough movement that that flung dart sails through the empty space between the two. "Broca. I've seen the records. Collins wasn't your father." Keeping an ey eon Lifeline as well as Kamakura now. "I know where you were born." A snort at "The doctor and I are not -friends-. I'm simply a medi-viper following up on a missing persons call. Here you are. Let's not get nastier here, come with me, Throwdown. I'll make it much better, the headaches, the confusion." Tone rising and falling softly, not angry, no, cajoling, comforting, friendly even. "Remember the cherry blossoms you spoke to me about? How they herald change, how they all left you, died, how you felt as if you'd failed. When the Arashikage was killed by your own -master-."
Edwin's had enough. He's /seen/ enough. He's dealt with more than enough misery inflicted by this singular, strangely familiar-looking blonde woman to last several lifetimes. He's not going to allow her to play around with Sean anymore...or for Tomas, for that matter. Or with any of the Arashikage clan anymore. That family is basically HIS family, now.
The next thing Leksa will see is a very angry-looking Edwin Steen leaping at her with the purpose of pinning her completely down and subduing her entirely.
GAME: Kamakura PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
>> Lifeline strikes Inquisitor with Takedown. <<
Kamakura may be trying to keep Inquisitor busy. Or her words may be affecting him, who knows? "You...." He pauses. "Lie...well not like but... Collins is the man who raised me. Made me who I am today. I chose this life over that long ago. I am Sean Collins, Kamakura. Apprentice to Snake Eyes. Another life I chose long ago. Another family. The one where I belong." He moves his hand over his tattoo. "And a country I've chose to defend. Yo. Joe." He says, his nose bleeding, the words fighting out as if hes winning over some internal demon.
Inquisitor's eyes narrow as she tries to talk 'Broca' back out of Collins. The sudden movement she catches, halt turning her head as she realizes she stopped tracking the 'doctor'. And gets knocked down, hitting the sidewalk hard, yelping before struggling once, again, then pinned. She glares at Lifeline, "Get off me!"
"Nope," Edwin says tersely. "I've given you more than enough chances. Hell, I even let you hit me in the head with your pain stick. Now, I think your chances...much like your options...are dried up and gone," he says. "You've got a few war crimes to answer to. I mean...this is America, I suppose you could hire a lawyer, but violating the Geneva Convention is a pretty serious charge. So good luck with that."
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Barghest reportin', got a live one for the lock-up on lab levels... See if we can't get some steps up in the ol' arms race..."
"Good luck proving -anything-!" Leksa snaps, struggling against Lifeline's pinning. "Broca help!" Making a last ditch effort to get 'Throwdown' to her side. "He's going to do to me what they did to -you-!"
<Cobra> Head Snake Cobra Commander says, "Do you need backup, Barghesst?"
<Cobra> Barghest says, "Only if USAF can scramble their jets quick enough, we're en route otherwise."
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura murmurs "I don't have time for..." and then almost as if a switch is thrown, he grabs his head. His nose starts to bleed. "No...not now..." He tries to fight but his other self is starting to take control. "Edwin. Release her." he says in a flat, emotionless tone, turning to face the medic.
Edwin smirks. He's pretty sure that if he can't reach Sean now, he is very, very screwed. Kamakura can absolutely wipe the floor with him and he knows it. "Come on, Sean, fight it, please? I really need you here right now. Sel needs you right now."
"Yes Edwin. Release me.. Sean doesn't want what you and yours did to him to happen to anyone else." Leksa's smile-smirking faintly, eying Lifeline, waiting to try to get out from that damndable steely grip he's got her pinned with.
Kamakura murmurs "Let her go...Sel..." he says, his hands grabbing his own head in a death grip. "Edwin run..." He seems somewhere between his two personas right now, shaking badly, his nose bleeding. He thought he beat this. But its coming back in full strength.
<Cobra> Head Snake Cobra Commander says, "Exxxcellent. Carry on. I look forward to the report on your successs."
Kamakura remembers something. His com. That's what he needs. He tries to say something into a frequency he almost forgot existed but the encryption's long changed since he was last on it.
After some discussion over the radio frequency, Edwin is remaining calm and he still has Leksa pinned. "I'm definitely not letting you go now that I've got you," he says resolutely. "Hell, I don't even know why I'm telling you that; you should already know."
Inquisitor's eyes slit and as Edwin's looking back at her, she flashes teeth in a grin and twists, moving to attempt to headbutt the man in the face. "Oh you will, you WILL!"
>> Inquisitor misses Lifeline with Punch. <<
"No, I really /won't/," Edwin says, hoping and praying to whatever god exists that Collins doesn't turn bad and begin pounding him into the ground like a nail. He's actually beginning to get nervous that Sean has gone so quiet. "Quit doing that or I'll put you out."
Kamakura has in fact gone oddly quiet "Leksa...family. Cherry blossoms." he pauses "The medic."
Edwin has Leksa pinned in an area a few doors down from the dojo. He's very stubbornly holding onto her, even as Kamakura quietly muses nearby. He's remaining very calm right now, but he is expecting this to not end well.
"Sean, Sel needs you, don't give in to the lies, okay? I can't stress this enough...Sel is in danger, and she needs you," Edwin says, trying to get through to Sean.
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura looks over at Edwin "You're right. There's enough of the lies. Let her go or we'll take you back to base." oh hello, Broca.
Inquisitor hnnngs and starts thrashing about, trying to get some, any leverage to get Edwin -off- of her. "Get.. off. of me.. Throwdown! Help! He's -hurting- me!"
Liar liar..
Here it comes, Edwin thinks, bracing himself for a world of hurt. "You're not Throwdown, she's lying to you, and Sel is in lot of trouble," he says calmly. One thing this first responder knows what to do in really bad situation is stay calm, because it's even worse if you panic.
GAME: Kamakura PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura winces. He's halfways between himself and another. He starts to back away from the situation "Sel...have them release her or..." have who ? The Joes? Cobras? Someone captured Sel and his mind isn't sure which. "Cobra?"
Low-Light is inside the dojo, having been woken up by radio chatter. He'd taken some time to try and figure out what in the (content warning: too many swears!) is going on. Now, dressed and with a decent idea of the situation, he's leaving the dojo to try and find Edwin and Sean. And smack somebody. Probably Edwin and Sean.
"Wait...One for one, maybe? Ms. Aleksandra for Selena, perhaps?" Edwin doesn't like the idea of giving up this particular agent, but he's willing to do that to get Sel back to safety.
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
You challenge Lifeline to a contest of STRENGTH.
Lifeline wins the challenge.
Kamakura murmurs. "They have Selena? Cobra?" He pauses. "She's finally coming home...."
Inquisitor gives another attempt to shove, leverage, squirm, wiggle out from under Lifeline but apparently the man weighs a literal ton. She's spitting mad now, eyes slit, "Get.. off. Of me! Get.. AHH!! Help! RAPE!! Fire!!"
Edwin takes another syringe out of his coat pocket, and tries again to jab the wriggly captive in the shoulder blade with it.
>> Lifeline strikes Inquisitor with Tranq-Dart <Medium>. <<
>> Inquisitor temporarily loses motor functions from the attack! <<
Kamakura sees Edwin with the syringe "Get off her...now. I'll take her home."
"Nope," Edwin says. "Because right now, you're confused. You keep getting the lies confabulated with the truth." He maintains a firm hold on Leksa as he jabs her with the needle, then waits for it to take effect. "For all I know, you'll take her straight back to Cobra Island."
Kamakura scowls to himself "We will return for her." h e says. He tries to do his best ninja jump for the nearest wall, trying to make an escape!
Low-Light steps out onto the sidewalk. He's dressed in civilian drag but he moves like someone who knows how to do violence and means to do a bit, if he must. He looks left and right, then spots Lifeline and Kamakura. With a grunt, he begins moving toward them purposefully but not quite running. "Hey,
Low-Light says, "Hey, what's up? You guys okay? Need me to call somebody?"
Edwin is currently pinning an unconscious Leksa to the ground, holding onto her as if his life depends on it. "Cooper! Kama's back on that 'Throwdown' mind control thing, and I don't know how she managed to do it, honestly, but...she...here. This woman. She's behind it. She did this to him!"
Kamakura would answer but is currently on the run. Hes wall scaling trying to get to the nearest roof to make his escape. Revenge and rescue Leksa. That's what's on his mind right now. Though something in the back is making him hesitate, move slower then normal. This isn't right. Sel's in trouble!
Inquisitor gaahs and tries to headbutt once more before she squeals, seeing that dart. Lifeline sticks her with the tranq and she hiss-snarls, words slurring, "Throwdown.. h..hel..Help.." vision blurring as she grows limp, dazed but not entirely unconscious, mostly though.
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura hears the call for help. He pauses. This is why he's hesitating. He should rescue her. He reaches for a concealed sword under his hoodie. "Last chance." he stalks towards Edwin, eyes hard and definitely not his own. "Give her to me. You will not take her."
Low-Light is gonna have to do something dumb. Really dumb. Painfully dumb. He sighs. "Hey, Collins!" he yells, trying to get Sean to turn and focus on him. "One, two, three, eyes on me! Heyyy, batter-batter-batter!"
Kamakura swivels to look at Low-Light. "Name's Throwdown." He says. "And you and yours aren't taking her. Your kind already killed Master Storm Shadow." he starts to stalk towards him "I'm not letting you have her too. Her or Sel."
Edwin carefully lets up his hold on Leksa, then picks her up in a fireman's carry, trying really hard to concentrate on something more positive than getting sliced up. He winces a bit as Cooper decides to try and become the sacrificial lamb, which he likes even less. "If you're going to slice me up, at least remember what Tomas told you to focus on, because you're not doing a very good job of doing that focusing right now."
Low-Light snorts, holding his arms out. "C'mon, kid," he says. "You wanna fight me, let's do it. Maybe I can slap some sense into that thick ass hat-stand you call a head!"
Kamakura murmurs "No. I want him." He motions to Edwin "To let her go. Tomas is a clone. A lying clone. Not even human." oh he went there.
Edwin's eyes narrow. This is turning into a zero-sum game. He doesn't see how this will end any other way other than really, really badly. "Well, now you're REALLY not getting her back," he scoffs. "If I could hit you with a damn dart, I would."
Kamakura murmurs "I could have hit you. I could have killed you. But I haven't. I'm trying to do this without bloodshed..." and without his brain exploding but he's trying to keep that out of his voice.
GAME: Low-Light FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Average difficulty.
Low-Light takes advantage of Kamakura turning away to look back at Edwin to break into a run. For someone who usually moves slowly or not at all, he can put on a burst of speed when he needs to. His intention is to try and blindside Kamakura and in the process tackle him to the ground.
>> Low-Light strikes Kamakura with Throw. <<
Kamakura is hit with 6 ft 185 pounds of North Dakota raised sniper! He falls onto his back, trying to throw Low-Light off him "Maybe I'll take this one back. Break his bones..." Oh that voice is not sane at all.
>> Kamakura strikes Low-Light with Throw. <<
"Jesus wept, Cooper, that's not good, man," Edwin exclaims. Now, he's beginning to wonder the worth of even attempting to haul Leksa in without getting murdered. Even if he manages to somehow return to the base with her, Kama is likely going to follow him back, and break into the Pit to get her out. None of this is any good at all.
Low-Light is an older brother first and foremost. He's used to fighting people younger, stronger and meaner than he is. Still, that freakin' *hurt*. "Ed, get outta here!" he snarls at Lifeline, kicking back at Kamakura, hoping to hit the kid in the gut and knock his wind out. Ninjas gotta breathe, right?
>> Low-Light misses Kamakura with Kick. <<
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura moves pretty quick. He's far gone in the Throwdown mindset right now. He comes back, open handed towards Low-Light's hand, trying to knock him back with a punch "I'm not safe right now, Cooper." he whispers as he tries to knock him back. "Run. Make me run."
>> Kamakura strikes Low-Light with Punch. <<
Lifeline takes his only chance to flee...as to where he's headed with an drugged Leksa is difficult to say. He heads down a maze of alleyways, thinking what he can possibly do. The dojo and 99 Hill House come to mind, but he'll need to take care with his route, circling and misdirecting to keep Kama off his trail. As for Cooper? He plans on coming back and picking him up.
Inquisitor is a drugged, dopey, dead weight right now.
"Lemme.. g.oo. uhhnk.. "
Low-Light's bell is rung. "You need help, kid," he says, once he's able to form words that don't rhyme with 'duck' and 'fun of a glitch'. "We can help you, she got into your head, you're not thinkin' straight." Keep Kamakura distracted, is his plan. Give Edwin a chance to get away with the woman and...ohhh, he's gonna have to write a report on this, isn't he? "C'mon, we can stop this now; go back in the dojo, have some tea.."
GAME: Kamakura FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura murmurs. "Threat to you. To him. To her." He says. He tries to break and make a run for it. He knows he can't get Leksa, not now. He can always stop by and get her back later.
Edwin trudges through a back alley, still carrying Leksa over his shoulder. "This sucks," he grumbles to himself, waiting at a junction of one alley to the main street to make sure the coast is clear before ducking through the alley on the opposite side of the road. He's circling back around to the dojo, but he's taking a very roundabout way of getting there in case Kamakura decides to come after him.
Low-Light takes a step after Kamakura, planning to follow for as long as he can. "Kid, all the more reason to come with me," he says. "Come back to base, we can help you. You go off on your own, what're you gonna do? Hide in some flop somewhere and hope this goes away? Problems like this don't just disappear 'cause you want them to." He pauses. "...trust me, kid, you ignore the bad stuff, it gets *worse* not better."
Inquisitor remains floppy, the good drugs, kids, the good drugs.
GAME: Kamakura PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Above Average difficulty.
Kamakura seems to be breaking out of it. He looks to Inquisitor and then to Low-Light. He starts to back away. "Cooper. Get her back to base. I wont stop you..." He looks like he's ready to run, to keep the others safe.
GAME: Low-Light PASSES a LEADERSHIP roll of Above Average difficulty.
Low-Light nods. "Don't worry about that," he says. "That's managed. I'm more worried about you right now, kid. Come with me. Back into the dojo. We can make some tea, we can talk. You're hurting and I wanna help."
Kamakura murmurs. "So are you and its my fault.." he moves closet to Low-Light. "Lets..get her packed up before...this happens again okay?" he seems confused and a little afraid, but back in control.
Low-Light snorts, trying to hide a wince. "Kid, I've been hit harder by Lifeline in sparring," he says. "Besides, I tackled you first. We're even. You and me, let's go make some tea. Let Lifeline handle getting the prisoner taken in. We'll get some tea, okay? Or, you don't feel like tea, I got some Folgers with me, I can make us some coffee."
Lifeline is beginning to feel fatigued, so he checks his watch, then lays Leksa out carefully on the ground and gives her another shot of sedative -- buying a bit more time before Wisp arrives in the Osprey. Feeling winded, he kneels there for a bit, quickly radioing Cooper. << Hey, what's the situation? You need help? I got Wisp coming. Is Sean still having a spell? >>
Inquisitor flop.
Kamakura nods "Alright." he says quietly and distantly. "Can you drop me off at Sel's work?" he asks, "I need to check on her. Wish I could have earlier."
V-22 Osprey #1567 has arrived.
Low-Light grunts, taking a moment to radio Lifeline back. <<We're talking. I'm trying to get him to go back in the dojo for tea. Tomas in town? We might need a grown up.>> "You come inside with me, we'll get something to drink, make sure nothing's gonna fall off and then I'll drive you to Sel's job. We can give her a lift back, okay?"
V-22 Osprey #1567> Law and Order are strapped into the cargo area. Order is in work mode, so shows no reaction to the catgirl pilot, although he remains on high alert. "We've been on rough flights before," Law responds. "Don't worry -- I won't report you to the DTMO,"he deadpans.
Kamakura nods "Alright." he's being very cooperative. "Still have to check on Sel? Im worried. Real worried." well at least he's focused on that and not attacking his teammates.
"<< He might be there...uh...I think he had some things to do today, but there's always a chance he's there. Worth checking out. When you get back to base I'll patch you up. First priority is to get this 'Aleksandra' back to base. So hang in there if you can. Longer you can keep Sean's mind off of 'Broca' and 'Throwdown', the better. >> Lifeline stands back up, but he's hurting now. It takes him a little while to pick Leksa back up in a fireman's carry. Now, he seeks out a place where he can rendezvous with the Osprey.
V-22 Osprey #1567> Wisp pulls up a city map to look for a parking lot or quiet street close to where the dojo is, where she could do a pickup.
Low-Light nods back to Kamakura. "Ok, we'll give her a call once the water's boiling, ok?" He reaches out to take Kamakura's hand. "C'mon, let's go. I got some of those little steamed cakes...whatcha call 'em? Manju? Those'll go good with some tea, right?" If he's able to take Kamakura by the hand, he'll start walking toward the dojo, moving slowly and steadily -- and not *just* because he's really freakin' sore right now...
Low-Light to Lifeline: <<Understood. Good luck.>>
Kamakura nods "Alright. Cooper how are you doing? I know I hit you hard." He says walking back with him "You need help? A medic?" he seems distant. "Operation a success?"
V-22 Osprey #1567> Wisp glances back. "Thanks, I'm trying to keep it steady, I just am trying to push and get us there faster." She pushes for the city, looking at her map and talking to air traffic control politely as she maneuvers for the city proper.
Inquisitor remains a well-tranq'd noodle of a woman. She would be glaring but right now she's pretty well out of things.
V-22 Osprey #1567> Law unstraps himself, then Order, as the Osprey slows to hover over the city. He draws his sidearm and places a steadying hand on Order in the moving air vehicle. "Ready to deploy as soon as you touch down," he reports evenly.
Logically, there's only one really good place in the area for the Osprey to land, so Lifeline begins making his way to the open parking lot near the boba tea place...through back alleys, of course, so no one can see him carrying around an unconscious blonde woman, because even in San Francisco that sort of thing wouldn't go over well.
V-22 Osprey #1567> Wisp maneuvers for the parking lot, and adjusts to full vertical, floating down and trying to touch down very light, and cut engines enough to not disturb any cars.
Law steps out of the Osprey, wearing his white MP helmet and blue jacket. With him is a military police dog, wearing a black armored jacket. He crosses immediately towards Lifeline, asking as soon as he's in speaking range, "What have you got for us, Doctor?"
Low-Light shrugs, and again regrets the decision. "I'm good, I'm good," he says, walking slowly and carefully to the dojo's entrance. "Probably should be looked over but I'm not bleeding so I can wait. Maybe take a couple Motrin, hot shower. So far, yeah, it looks like we're doing good. How about you? I didn't bruise your fists with my face, right?"
Kamakura murmurs something into his radio "Not bleeding either. I'm sorry for the punch I didn't know what I was doing." he seems ashamed. "We can see if Sel is okay and then..." He staggers softly. "See what we gained from the brainwash lady."
Lifeline carries the unconscious Leksa. "I've given her enough tranq to keep her out for 90 minutes to 2 hours," he tells Law, "Because she's full of fight. Her name's Aleksandra, and from what Kamakura's confirmed, she *is* the operative responsible for brainwashing him. I think she came back to either observe him some more, or possibly to take control of him again. Which she almost succeeded in doing. But we scuffled, and I got her with the tranq."
Low-Light fhhts. "No worries, kid," he says, moving to open the dojo's door. "C'mon, let's go inside. We'll take a couple minutes an' have a rest before we go check on Sel, ok?"
Kamakura nods "Alright." he says. "I can get the tea and some snacks okay? Any preferences?" he asks. His eyes are very distant and numb, as if he's not really all that there.
V-22 Osprey #1567> Wisp just waits in the cockpit, not getting out. She does loosen her restraints in case she needs to try and help someone aboard, though.
Law nods to Lifeline. "Place her in the back of the Osprey and I'll get her secured in case she wakes up early. Then you should check on Kamakura and Low-Light -- sounds like they could use both your medical and spiritual support. Let me know if you need any further backup -- I can call in Psyche-Out or Spirit if necessary." While Law focuses on Lifeline and his captive, Order scans the area for unseen threats.
"Understood, thanks for the assist," Lifeline looks very relieved as he walks Leksa over to the Osprey and places her inside. "You should have a quiet ride back, but you might want to cuff her in case she wakes up early, each patient is a little different with sedatives," he tells Law.
Inquisitor remains a well tranq'd woman. Armed with a handgun under that jacket of hers still. The soviet-era combat knife and not your usual garden variety stun baton are at the scene of the rukus.
Outside, Lifeline grins. "Thanks, Chris," he says warmly. Law's been very helpful to him this year in a lot of ways. During the times he was having personal issues, he let Edwin walk and play with Order, which gave him a routine and helped him from falling into deeper depression. He appreciated that a great deal. "Thank you again for getting here so quickly." He gives Wisp and Law a salute, then begins heading back in the direction of the dojo.
Wisp checks comm systems and whatnot aboard the Osprey, simply waiting for things outside to get done. She glances out to see what's happening, sliding the cockpit window open slightly so she can hear discussions, if needed.
Outside, Law nods again to Lifeline. "Don't worry," he says cooly. "She'll be fully confined. I'm taking no chances." At Lifeline's thanks, Law's cool demeanor cracks momentarily into a warm smile. "No problem, Lifeline," he says. "Glad I was available." Redonning his mask of cool professionalism, Law moves Inquisitor further into the Osprey's cargo area, and then uses both cuffs and zip ties to make sure she's doubly restrained. He then climbs back in himself, motioning for Order to follow. He then attaches Order's vest to the webbing, belts himself in, and then calmly aims his sidearm at Inquisitor, ready for her to make any sudden movements.
Wisp glances back. "So, we waiting on the others, now? Or..."
Outside, Low-Light nods. "We will, but we're going to move slow an' we're going to move smart," he says. "We're both hurt; Lifeline's on his way back here." And speak of the devil... "Yeah, we're in here. Kitchen!"
Law looks back towards the cockpit. "I think it's just us. Let's get the prisoner back to base and into confinement before she wakes up. I sent Lifeline back to check on the others. Their radio chatter has me a little worried." He focuses his attention back on the captive. "THIS one worries me as well. Every Cobra perp seems to have something nasty of their sleeve. I'll feel safer for all of us once she's in a cell."
Inquisitor remains doped up.
Wisp nods and pulls on the stick, powering back up and bringing the Osprey back into the air, to fly back to the Joe base, waving to the others outside as she lifts it off.
Law doesn't wave or look outside -- he leaves the flying to Wisp and keeps his focus (and his weapon) trained on Inquisitor. Order is watching as well -- he is trained to alert Law if a suspect starts to awaken, and Law doesn't notice. Between the two of them, it SHOULD be a quiet ride back, but with nano-engineered Vipers and Dire Wraiths, Law is taking no chances. His sidearm is cocked and the safety is off.
Inquisitor should be solidly down.
GAME: Inquisitor FAILS an ENDURANCE roll of Extreme difficulty.
Inquisitor is still not able to put thoughts together past 'taste the rainbow'
Wisp flies up out of san fran, to head back for the base. "Hope she stays asleep for this." She frowns slightly and watches their course.
Inquisitor seems to be under the lurid spell of Lifelines double-tranq. The blond woman looking nothing at all like an evil person. A little roughed up from eating concrete a few times and learning the hard way that the medic is not an easy mark at all. Seems.. that is.
Wisp sets the autopilot for the moment, and watches quietly outside as the plane heads eastwards towards the Pit. She glances back once in a while though, to see how things are.
Law is not lulled from caution by Inq's innocent, injured appearance. He's seen junkies in Houston's Fifth Ward that appeared days dead, who then suddenly attacked, crazed, with hidden weapons.
Law was stabbed once as a rookie while trying to help a girl get away from her trafficker. Stabbed, that is, by the girl, who saw no more safety in the company of a young cop then an abusive pimp. Depending on the cop, she might not have been wrong. When Wisp glances back, however, things seem calm and under control.
GAME: Inquisitor FAILS an ENDURANCE roll of High difficulty.
Wisp just keeps the plane headed for the pit, leaning her head back slightly, and responding if the radio comes on from the air traffic controllers or whomever.
Sublevel 6 - Security / Stores - Pit III
From this level one can monitor almost everything that goes on in the Pit, from the upper command level all the way down to the failsafe bunker below (although the bunker access can be cut off from there if the base should fall). Computer monitor screens show every entrance and exit, and record activity at all levels of the base. There is also a vault-like brig for especially dangerous captured terrorists. Finally, extra food and weaponry is stored down here, under guarded lock and key.
(OOC Note: Continued in Settling Sean)