The Alien Wars 6: Da Capo

Geyze: Record of Spirit War Session 30

Session Start: Wed Jun 14 00:00:00 2023
Session Ident: #TAW-Geyze
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 4
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 2
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-654.7.26
<DeathStar> Location: Geyze
<DeathStar> *After the attack on the Peacekeeper facilities, which have been damaged and are currently mostly unusable, the Peacekeepers have been forced to move operations over to the Academy since it's summertime and many of their buildings are open due to summer classes. With Aquarius still here with the Universal Team post Serpent having no clear mission structure, it's allowed Erica and her squad to remain on stand by (cont)
<DeathStar> *Selena has gathered everyone in the Alliance conference room in order to hold meeting, Gwen tapping a finger while Yuki drinks some coffee*
<Seraphna> **Talia scurries under the tapping finger as a cat for pets**
<Seraphna> **Alita sits quietly reading, while Amber sits hooded, though her red hair peeks out of the hood**
<DeathStar> <Selena> Well, I got good news and bad news.
<Seraphna> **Jaime warps in with Terra, taking a seat**
<DeathStar> *Cloé fidgets in her seat, worried about those on Kumen*
<Seraphna> **Nell is moody since her mother and that team went back to Kumen**
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhhh?"
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "Is it complicated?"
<DeathStar> <Gwen> It's always complicated. <Shin> Just kill your enemies and make it uncomplicated
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Does anyone else feel cheat on their post 'end of the universe' vacation?"
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "...ummm..."
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Really? Yes... but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
<DeathStar> <Selena> The bad news is that we're not going to get much help with the Kumen barrier thing. It looks like there were 5 other sins that popped up at the same time as our 2. And they all are causing the others trouble at the same time.
<DeathStar> <Selena> They are forcing everyone to divide up into groups to handle them at this very moment.
<Seraphna> Cookie> See you know the stuff starting to happen has to be that lady cuz only the most evil people would screw up vacation plans.
<Jackieness> <Bella> *pat pats Cloe on the shoulder* "We'll figure out a way to help everyone on Kumen."
<DeathStar> *Sylph rolls a fruit along the table*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Yeah, Stinky is absolutely behind this."
<DeathStar> <Selena> So our only hope is to try to get Luci's connection in the bar to work
<Seraphna> Nell> You're welcome to it. Dad's even moody with being cut off at the moment.
<DeathStar> *Lumi walks through the door* <Selena> Here is the good news. I've brought Lumi back to take over Peacekeeper operations.
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "Can't we just use the spirit realm to get in?"
<DeathStar> *Lumi takes a seat, eyeing her notes, then Sparkling* It could be doable. Theortically
<Seraphna> **Threna joins her, setting down tea**
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "Avoiding the barrier by going a different route isn't a bad idea."
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Ahhh... we never did tets the effect of the Spirit Barrier on the Spirit Realm itself."
<DeathStar> <Lumi> The Spirit Realm connects the two worlds; but on the Kumen side it's more through the Net, I've always been led to believe.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I can't imagine what it's like to have the spirit realm connected to your holonet."
<Seraphna> Terra> I could look up every fruit ever...
<DeathStar> <Celes> *Blinks8
<Seraphna> **Jaime pats her daughter**
<Jackieness> <Lana> "Well... they more hijacked a piece of the Spirit Realm to build the Net."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "That... seems superfluous?"
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I think at the time there was no life on Kumen
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Obviously that changed."
<DeathStar> <Lumi> Okay, but can any of us do the Net?
<DeathStar> <Lumi> I don't think any of us are NetRunners
<Seraphna> Nell> Depends, Bella?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...I'm not as good as my mother, but I know how to connect."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I can back up Bella
<Seraphna> Cookie> Thankfully like half the new crew are Kumen kids.
<DeathStar> <Lumi> I'll work on getting the Peacekeepers back up and running then. A group of you should head into the Realm and see if you can go there and check on the sit-rep. A few of you remain here with me. We'll see if we can find data on this Croza for when everyone is back together.
<DeathStar> *Selena stands up* Alright, who wants to go with me?
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "...never had access, growing up on Kumen."
<Seraphna> Alita> Amber and I can remain here, as part of those who can speak Croza.
<Seraphna> Nell> I'm for it. I wanna make sure Mom and her girl are okay.
<Seraphna> Nox> I guess I'll balance out Selena.
<Jackieness> <Lana> "I'll stay here. I'm one of the top experts on the croza." *nod nods*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I'll go."
<DeathStar> *Cloé scampers over to Selena immediately*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "And I'm going by default." *stands too*
<DeathStar> *Seniga packs her stuff while Yuki muses* <Yuki> Hm. I guess I should stay. Aquarius can't really go
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I should stay too. Ecne should stay where it's easy to recharge, but... I don't think it's that tough over there?"
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Always running off..."
<DeathStar> <Celes> *sips her tea* Yes
<DeathStar> *Sylph and Shin rise up*
<DeathStar> <Both> We'll escort you into the Realm
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "Where should I go? I'm not that good at information gathering..."
<DeathStar> <Selena> Do you like to punch bad guys?
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "It's really more of a blast..."
<DeathStar> <Selena> well blast enemies?
<DeathStar> *Origin comes out of a tree nearby with a fruit 4x times it's size, struggling to carry it*
<Alicia> <Sparkling> "Yeah, I'll do that."
<Seraphna> **Terra cheers at Origin** You can do it! Fruit power!
<DeathStar> *Origin sits with it's prize and eats*
<DeathStar> <Selena> Anything we should bring along? If Kumen is as locked down as it seems.
<DeathStar> <Selena> It might be hard to get back out
<Seraphna> **Terra creates a pile of fruit for them** Take this!
<DeathStar> *Selena opens and closes her mouth* I don't think food will be a problem
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "That's good." * Jikuu smiles, amused
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "That'd be a high sugar diet..."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We need to link up with our family down there. Knowing my mons, they've got a base set up."
<DeathStar> *Cloé fiddles with her hands. Sylph and Shin nod to each other, then work on opening the spirit portal near the base*
<Seraphna> **Terra looks flabberghasted** But it's fruit.
<DeathStar> *Sylph forms a cloak and hood on herself made of leaves, carefully putting them over her wings, especially the damaged one*
<DeathStar> <Sylph> Alright, this is a personal portal into the realm, I cannot maintain it for long
<DeathStar> *Selena slips through quietly, with Cloé and Seniga following*
<Seraphna> **Nell takes the fruit into her subspace and follow**
<Jackieness> <Bella> *heads through&
<Ariel> * Nicolette tips her hat to Sylph, and hurries through
<Seraphna> **Nox slips through**
<Seraphna> **Alita seems somewhat amused by the group going**
<Alicia> * Jikuu and Akatsuki hop through
<Seraphna> Jaime> Selena and her gang ride again.
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "They're good kids."
<DeathStar> <Selena> You make me feel like I'm a gang leader
<DeathStar> *as they step through, something odd is there, something that had gone away for a while - fog*
<DeathStar> *Origin blinks, then wavers a bit on Nicolette's head like she's dizzy*
<Seraphna> Nox> The Fog is back...? But wasn't that Shin?
<DeathStar> *then flops like she's about to fall off*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Maybe that Croza guy is in the spirit realm doing... something."
<Ariel> * Nicolette scoops up Origin so she doesn't fall, "We had problems with the fog before Shin came on the scene. A Croza weapon."
<DeathStar> <Selena> I'll rely the information before the portal closes then
<DeathStar> *Selena shouts*
<Seraphna> **Jaime shouts back** Got it! Thanks! Be good!
<Alicia> <Ceilidh> "I wonder if there's any connection between the fog and the barrier..."
<DeathStar> <Sylph> *looks displeased, despite having grown up in it* I will try to take you to the exit point
<DeathStar> *Sylph leads them across the foggy plains*
<DeathStar> <Selena> So if the Croza is back, is it's plan to do something to the Spirits again?
<Jackieness> <Bella> *shrugs* "Most of your Croza experts stayed back at the Academy."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> Well hopefully they'll come check it out
<DeathStar> *after a long travel, the group arrives at a spot* <Shin> Here
<DeathStar> *Origin has hidden itself in Nicolette's pocket*
<Seraphna> Nell> Okay so how do we do this?
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I have no idea. I think we attempt to access the Net, but I see no access terminals
<DeathStar> *Cloé looks around, spinning so much she makes herself dizzy*
<DeathStar> *landing on her rear*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "If we're in the spirit realm... aren't we already there?"
<Seraphna> Nox> Can you use like... a datapad?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "And I don't have any Net diving gear."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I mean. *she considers both of their words* I guess we try Akatsuki's idea?
<Seraphna> Nox> Seems so, since we seem to have forgotten to pack gear.
<DeathStar> <Selena> I Asked if we had everything!
<Seraphna> Nell> Most of us have no idea what we'd need.
<DeathStar> <Seniga> *she holds out her hand on the ground and seems to focus*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "I... always used mom's gear."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "... what kind of gear?"
<Ariel> * Nicolette sighs, and tilts her hat down
<DeathStar> *suddenly, the area goes blue, the fog diluted*
<DeathStar> <Seniga> *lifts her hand, the hand smoking and her body jerking a bit*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Whoa!"
<Seraphna> Nell> **gently grabs her and helps her stand**
<DeathStar> <Shin> We're in the Kumen Net now. We should be able to proceed forward
<DeathStar> *Seniga looks shakey, probably due to not using equipment, and leans on Nell*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Ok..." *looks around to get ehr bearings then starts walking*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Well, we've managed it."
<DeathStar> *Bella zooms forward a bit, due to how the Net works. Selena follows, the group able to cover great ground. As they walk, they begin to move faster and faster, soon ariving in the Kumen plains*
<DeathStar> *Where the outer villages look rather untouched and unbothered*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We could drop into realspace here and hoof it to the city or try to slip into the city itself through the Net. Hard to say which will be more challenging."
<DeathStar> <Selena> We seem to be moving super fast though. Why would we drop out?
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "We'd need to know how defended the city is."
<DeathStar> *Cloé looks around* I don't like the Net
<Seraphna> Nell> Probably no netrunners out here, but Maxwell will have the city guarded.
<DeathStar> *As they keep moving, the outer villages begin to show signs of troops defending them*
<DeathStar> *As they get closer to Kumen City*
<Seraphna> Nell> Yep, it's getting more dangerous the closer we get.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Exaxctly, Nell. The Net can be more dangerous than the real world."
<DeathStar> *suddenly, the gorup begins to feel light headed as they near Kumen City, their bodies beginning to reject the Net*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Is this the defences?"
<Seraphna> Nell> Something like it, let's drop out.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Probably... or a side eeffect of the Spirit Towers."
<Seraphna> Nox> I do nooot like this.
<DeathStar> <Seniga> We have no tools to drop out
<DeathStar> *Seniga panicks*
<Seraphna> Nox> It's like the spirit realm, right?
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "So, how do we leave the spirit realm?"
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...ok...we are on Kumen, so we just need to find a village with a terminal."
<DeathStar> <Shin deadpans; at that moment, figures approach them; it looks like other NetRunners, and they do not look friendly*
<Seraphna> Nox> I can try to make a portal.
<DeathStar> <Sylph> What about them?
<Seraphna> Nell> Well we couild kick their ass and take their equipment.
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "A-ah, Shin... can you get us out of here?"
<DeathStar> <Shin> ... *peers at Nicolette, then kneels, working with Nox*
<DeathStar> <NetRunner> Your ID - show me your hands
<Alicia> * Jikuu attempts to make a portal with Nox
<DeathStar> *The second NetRunner keeps their weapons ready*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We were just leaving."
<DeathStar> <NetRunner> The check first, then you can leave
<Seraphna> **Nell holds up her hands, and starts to magnetically jam their weapons**
<DeathStar> *the second NetRunner checks his weapon* Take them down
<DeathStar> *They launch forward, in blink of the eye*
<Seraphna> **Nell then starts to bash the second on with his weapon**
<Seraphna> **One
<DeathStar> *they appear behind Nell, and behin to throw her into the sky*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...really, Nell? I was stalling!" *then flash steps to intercept the one behind Nell*
<DeathStar> *they strain against Bella*
<Seraphna> Nell> So was I! **she grumbles and pulls a disc out of her subspace and flips onto it above** I hate the Net.
<DeathStar> *Cloé leaps on the second, but they dodge*
<DeathStar> *Selena snatches at their equipment while Bella strains* Got it
<DeathStar> <Selena> How do I work this?
<Jackieness> <Bella> *flurry punches to try to disrupt the runner's avatar*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Too busy right now!"
<DeathStar> *Seniga grabs it and begins to tap buttons while Bella punches the first NetRunner. The second charges at them*
<DeathStar> <Seniga> We're---- *They poof back into the real world*
<DeathStar> <Seniga> Back
<Seraphna> **Nell huffs and leaps at the second one from above as he charges in** Eeep!
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Oh. I guess I was not needed."
<DeathStar> *they find themselves outside massive line, going upward the Kumen City, due to them having closed the walls*
<DeathStar> *ID checks being made*
<DeathStar> <Sylph> ... Do we have to go back?
<Seraphna> Nox> Can we just... warp in or soemthing?
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Hopefully we'll find another way."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "There is always a way in." *looks around* "Come on. Probbaly a vent or drainage somewhere."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "If all else fails, I can try foxholes."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "If they don't have sensors for that..."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Shadowport?" <Akatsuki> "Sensors, probably."
<Seraphna> Nox> Should we just assume everything has censors then?
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "There's probably somewhere that doesn't."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Failing that... fake IDs?"
<DeathStar> *As they walk around the massive city, towering high up in the sky, being 3 levels high, it looks like each main entrance is gated off. However, there is the old lake that the lower level gets it water from - the water that was corrupted years back. If one dares to try to swim down through it and see if there's an entrance down in the lake into the city proper. And up in the upper level is a tram system going to Pleasure City, a dome off in the distance for the rich and mighty*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "all the counterfeiters I know are IN the city."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "What, people try to get out, not in?"
<DeathStar> *Cloé muses* IDs are in hand. *She wiggles hand*
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Makes it harder to fake.
<Seraphna> Nell> Yeah, I've got my ID. But mine's probably gonna ping harder than most if my Mom's been giving Maxwell problems.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I wish mom was here. She could fake the ID."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "You need IDs just to cross from one city sector to another."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Mom got around it by using the 'backdoors'."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Ymir brought the system back in a limited form to try to stop Hun-ters. I think is going to be worse now
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Why didn't you tell us about them before then?"
<Ariel> * Nicolette ponders, trying to figure out if any of the passages she might know from childhood, would extend outside the wall.
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "People were alway more concerned with getting up the city, than out..."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> True. Old days, outside was death
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Ease off. If we had not gotten scoped by the Runners, we could have gone anywhere in the city undetected."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I know that..."
<Seraphna> Nox> Hmm. **she frowns and gently feels out for Shade**
<Alicia> * Jikuu looks for these 'backdoors'
<DeathStar> *due Bella, Nicolette's, and other's knowledge, etc of the city, they do know black market and smuggler type groups - the problem is they are inside*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Anyone want to go swimming?"
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "No."
<DeathStar> <Selena> And here I was hoping you had numbers of like gangs. *She eyes the water* Hoo boy
<DeathStar> *Origin peers at the water, looking better*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Is that even safe... last I heard, it was a death sentence."
<Ariel> <Nicolette> *smirks* "None of us could afford comms back then."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Other option would be the tramway."
<Seraphna> Nox> If I could pinpoint grandmother then that would be something we could work with.
<DeathStar> <Origin> <Could Protect from water>
<DeathStar> <Sylph> I could get us up to the tram, but we'd stand out
<Seraphna> Nell> Same, dragon and all.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "The tra-" *pauses* "if you are certain."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Is there a way to .. not stand out?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Wait... what do you have, Origin?"
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Air magic to travel via bubble?"
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "...for me, yes. For the rest of you... I don't know."
<DeathStar> <Origin> <I can use bubbles to protect in water and purifying abilities if water is bad; if want to fly, can help Sylph too>
<DeathStar> <Sylph> Flying is mine!>
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "I do not want to even touch that water."
<DeathStar> *She stomps her foot*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "We do not have time for jealousy."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Look, if Origin cna protect us from anythign in the water, it would be stealthier. The tramway would put us out in the open."
<Seraphna> Nell> I don't mind getting wet.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "It is not about getting wet."
<DeathStar> <Selena> Well we seem split. Let us vote. Lake or tram
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I think some of us just want to see the Pleasure City
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I trust Origin to keep us completely dry."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Lake. Also we need Ids in get into the Pleasure Dome too."
<Seraphna> Nox> I'm able to sneak in either way. But the lake seems sneakier.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "If Origins bubbles can protect us, lake. Otherwise, absolutely tram."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "You'd rather fight the guards than touch that water, right?"
<Seraphna> Nell> It's the possible corruption we worry about. Water stank is fine.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Exactly."
<DeathStar> *Origin hops over to the water area, then suddenly pulls a Sylph and becomes human sized; looking as tall as a child almost, with rainbow colored hair, they hold out their hand and focus on the lake, making a portion of the lake look nice and pure for Jikuu*
<DeathStar> *Then work on making a nice large bubble, in which they step through, motioning* <Origin> In - in! *speaking actual words*
<Seraphna> **Nox and Nell get in**
<Ariel> * Nicolette steps in carefully, not wanting to disrupt the bubble
<Alicia> * Jikuu floats in the centre of the bubble
<DeathStar> *Selena blinks, then steps into the bubble, along with Cloé and Seniga*
<Alicia> * Akatsuki sits in Jikuu's arms, in fox form
<Jackieness> <Bella> *steps into the bubble*
<DeathStar> *Origin taps the bubble, showing that it moves that way* <Origin> Push push
<Seraphna> **Nell flexes, then starts pushing them forward bubble walking**
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Ok..." *starts tryling to push the bubble*
<DeathStar> *The bubble flies forward and even sinks if tapped downward; they slowly work their way through the lake. It looks like the lake clean up has done a fairly good job. They only pass a few strange abominations here and there.*
<Ariel> * Nicolette focuses on spell to create a strong undertow in the water, in case anything looks like it might take interest in their little airship
<DeathStar> *as they move along toward the gate to keep people out, at first it looks like there is no way into the city, when there is a small hole, allowing a tight fit, if one is willing to squeeze the bubbl through*
<Seraphna> **Nell begins the bubble squeeze** Hold onto your butts.
<DeathStar> <Selena> A-Are we going to fit?!
<Alicia> * Jikuu uses TK to keep the bubble safe while it's being squeezed
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We'll fit."
<DeathStar> *Cloé merowls, hanging onto Bella's rear*
<Seraphna> Nell> Believe in the me that believes in the you that can fit.
<DeathStar> *Selena grunts as the bubble somehow magically squeezes through, including squeezing them all, then pops through the other side and keeps floating*
<Alicia> * Jikuu relaxes a bit once the bubble's through
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...and we're through."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "See, we can trust Origin."
<Ariel> * Nicolette... doesn't question what just happened.
<DeathStar> *Selena seems to panic attack*
<DeathStar> *not doing well with these situations*
<DeathStar> <Selena> S-Surface ... now
<Jackieness> <Bella> "H... hey! Get a hold of yourself!"
<Seraphna> **Nell moves them up slowly, but also forward.**
<Seraphna> **Nox shifts in front of Selena and looks in her eyes** Take a deep breath.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Calm down... we will surface soon."
<DeathStar> *thankfully this part of the water is super clean, thanks to clean up efforts and they arrive in the bay with Quadrants 5 and 4. It doesn't look like a lot of patrols are going on down here in the slums it seems, and they are near where the HQ is down in quad 5*
<DeathStar> *Selena tries the deep breaths, eyeing Nox*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Come on, Nell. Let's get to shore."
<Seraphna> **Nell nods and moves them to shore**
<DeathStar> *they pop up on the docks of slum people fishing*
<Seraphna> **Nox breathes with her** There, slow breaths.
<DeathStar> *who eye them*
<DeathStar> *Selena hops out of the bubble*
<Seraphna> **Nox helps her out**
<Seraphna> **Nell hops out too**
<DeathStar> *Selena walks along the make shift docks. Origin walks along, waving at the fisherman*
<Seraphna> Nell> We should try and get a feel for the others. HQ is bound to be compromised.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Nooo
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Man, my stuff is there..."
<DeathStar> *fish flop in his bucket*
<Alicia> * Jikuu floats out, before walking normally once on dry land
<DeathStar> *Seniga gathers what she brought as Sylph and Shin look around the dark covered slums*
<DeathStar> <Shin> Depressing
<DeathStar> *The man finally grabs his booze, and drinks more*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "No clue where moms would be..." *starts walking*
<Ariel> * Nicolette rests a hand on Selena's shoulder, "You okay?"
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "The ordeal is over..."
<Seraphna> **Nell considers** Well... we could look for signs of machine spirits. Considering they came in on that kitty ship.
<Alicia> * Akatsuki turns back to normal, watching Selena with concern
<DeathStar> <Selena> I hate tight spaces sometimes
<DeathStar> <Selena> That weird bubble thing got me
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "For me, it was being surrounded by that water..."
<Ariel> * Nicolette nods understandingly, and gives Selena a comforting hug
<Alicia> * Jikuu hugs too, understandingly
<DeathStar> *Selena seems to slowly be returning to normal, and hugs Nicolette and gives Jikuu one too* We all have something
<Seraphna> Nell> I'm not a fan of Moosetards.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> I hope it's okay. *As they walk the streets, they spot a patrol person now and again, but otherwise it is not too awful*
<DeathStar> *it is almost like the slums isn't high on their list - yet*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We'll scope the club and see what it looks like. We may get lucky."
<DeathStar> *As they near the club, though, they spot a massive plattoon of troops and the club in the process of being turned into an outpost for the slums*
<DeathStar> <Cloé> N-Noo
<DeathStar> <Selena> It appears someone knows about the club
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "...this is not a good sign."
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "It... could be coincidence."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> ... It IS a tall building
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Maybe, but they are in my house, touching my stuff..."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Either way, they are turning clubs into military outposts... this is not something that happens in healthy cities."
<DeathStar> <Selena> Did this Maxwell know about the club previously before his death, or did he get the info from Ymir?
<DeathStar> <Selena> If it is not a coincidence
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We have a guy that should be dead on a power trip. what about this situation says 'normal'?"
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Oh, no. This is very much not a good thing. That wasn't in question."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "It happens more often than you think."
<DeathStar> *Origin seems to be clueless on what is going on*
<Seraphna> Nell> Either way is possible I think. **she frowns** Did we have a backup safehouse?
<DeathStar> <Cloé> S-Sure. I think.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...several."
<Seraphna> Nell> We should check there.
<DeathStar> <Selena> Lead the way.
<DeathStar> <Selena> We need to try to meet up with Asarar
<DeathStar> <Cloé> But the club.... <Selena> I think the club is too well fortified.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "OK, this way to the closest one that I cna remember..." *starts walking*
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "We can't do anything about the club. Even if we fought them all and kicked them out, they'd just send more men."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "We have to deal with the cause, not the symptom."
<Seraphna> Nell> Yep, and knowing my Mom she plans to go as straight as she can to Maxwell to bring him down.
<DeathStar> *Origin trots along; as they near Quadrant 6, once again ID checks between quadrants has been re-instated under Maxwell*
<DeathStar> *forcing the team to take alternate pathways*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *heads for the maintenance hatches*
<DeathStar> *Cloé leans in* Wow. *Blink* These still are in use?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "If the maintenance tunnels shut down, the water and power to the topside goes away."
<DeathStar> *the group bypasses and finds themselves in the areas for the workers travel. However, now a few guards patrol. IT looks like Maxwell has learned over the years*
<DeathStar> <Sylph> They have spirit trackers.
<DeathStar> *The points at a thing on one's hip*
<DeathStar> *She
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Well, that complicates things..."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Why would they shut down the maintenance tunnels?"
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "They would not."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...shhhhh...we need a plan."
<DeathStar> *the guards pause, eyeing their device, then move off when it pings*
<DeathStar> *But away from the group*
<Seraphna> Nell> Wha...
<DeathStar> <Selena> Strange...
<DeathStar> *Origin poofs into tiny form, sitting on Nico's head*
<Seraphna> Nox> Mmm, stands to reason they aren't looking for us, Maxwell couldn't have planned on us bringing spirits into Kumen, he's looking for ones already here.
<DeathStar> <Seniga> We should still becareful. He might have left some guards in these tunnels
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Must be the spirits that were staying in the club..."
<Seraphna> Nell> Our Mommas came in with two ship spirits as well.
<Seraphna> Nell> And there's Mom's friend...
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... We're left with a dilemia. The way is clear right now, but they're after spirits
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Worrying... but we cannot turn back."
<DeathStar> <Selena> What do you all want to do? Forward or try to find out
<Seraphna> Nell> We could follow the guards and get the jump on them.
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "If they have a bead on someone, then they're likely in trouble."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We need to set up a basecamp."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "We need to find the others... who probably have a basecamp."
<DeathStar> <Selena> Hm. *motions at Bella*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We could shadow these guys, and whoever they are after knows where our moms are. If we have to run, though, we won't have anywhere to run to."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Then let us not run."
<Seraphna> Nox> **Nox nods and starts making the group hard to see in the dim area**
<Seraphna> Nox> Let's go.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Do the spirits sense any other spirits nearby... assuming they can sense spirits?"
<Seraphna> **Nox senses**
<Alicia> * Jikuu senses
<DeathStar> *There's definitely a spirit furthe in the tunnels, in the other direction of the path Bella was going to take to get out*
<Seraphna> Nox> Yeh there's one down there.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...close?"
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Bella, you were going in the right direction."
<Seraphna> Nox> Close enough.
<Alicia> * Akatsuki turns fox and heads that way, hidden by darkness
<Seraphna> **Nell starts to move, towards where the guards went**
<DeathStar> *Cloé has snuck ahead it seems*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...ok, we'll investigate. Hopefully we don't get in over our heads. Remember, keep them from radioing it in if we see the patrol." *starts moving*
<Seraphna> **Nox sneaks ahead**
<DeathStar> <Selena> Well it seems we are on a rescue mission
<DeathStar> *she creeps along through the maintaince tunnels, which almost seem maze like at times, opening up at various points*
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Couldn't not do a rescue."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Of course."
<DeathStar> *the heat down here is quite high, making it uncomfortable as they move along, and they spot the guards talking on their communicators, radioing in two figures*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *tries to get a count*
<DeathStar> *up ahead is what appears to be a purple haired spirit holding up a catgirl*
<DeathStar> *there appears to be 4, maybe 5, the way the spirit is eyeig the tunnels. She looks to be trying to hack their comms to block signals*
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Grrr. *something in her shoulder sparks*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *holds up five fingers*
<Seraphna> **Nox slowly shifts through the shadows, getting in place, while Nell peers around at all the piping, happy as can be**
<Jackieness> <Bella> *whisper* "Position to take them down at the same time."
<DeathStar> *Aimee a comm to blow in one's face*
<DeathStar> *but the thign in her shoulder makes her scream*
<Alicia> * Akatsuki sneaks towards Aimee and the catgirl
<DeathStar> *overrides
<Jackieness> <Bella> *tries sneaking down toward one of the guards*
<DeathStar> *the guards begin to rush toward her to tackle the two*
<Seraphna> **Nox grabs one's shadow twists it's next, like a puppet**
<Seraphna> **Nell sends a pipe sailing at one's head as it passes**
<Jackieness> <Bella> *then makes her move to try to take down another*
<Seraphna> *next = neck
<Ariel> * Nicolette calls upon the power of water to burst one of the pipes, and direct the fire hose at the guards
<DeathStar> *Cloé leaps and attacks at the same time, aiming to power smash*
<DeathStar> *Selena uses her sword to smack one down*
<DeathStar> *the guards are quickly dispatched, leaving Aimee and what looks to be Chelsea looking startled*
<DeathStar> *Aimee poking Chelsea's side*
<Seraphna> Nell> Oh hey guys, you just down here taking a walk too?
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Fix her.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Search the guards." *starts doing so*
<Seraphna> **Nel muses and checks Chelsea over**
<Alicia> * Akatsuki looks over the shoulder thing
<DeathStar> *Bella would find a strange gun with "bullets" like what is in Aimee's shoulder, there's some keys for the lower levels, and ID scanners*
<DeathStar> *the "bullet" sparks and remains embedded in it. Aimee eyes it* <Aimee> It hurts when I use powers
<Ariel> * Nicolette steps to the pipes and uses fire magic to fuse it shut again. "Are we going to have to worry about patrols like that the whole time we're here?"
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Some sort of anti-spirit gun."
<DeathStar> <Aimee> They fired it at the others too. They seem to hurt them too
<Alicia> * Jikuu attempts to use TK and spirit tendrils to remove the device
<Seraphna> **Nell muses and slowly works to extract the bullet**
<Seraphna> **Nell helps Jikuu**
<DeathStar> *Aimee makes a howling sound; both actions causing her pain as it detects them and attributing her doing them, but slowly it comes out*
<DeathStar> *Aimee flopping*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Sorry for that... I had no idea it would be that painful."
<Seraphna> **Nell pats her** Better out than in.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We need to get moving before their HQ started wondering why they haven't checked in."
<DeathStar> <Selena> Right, rule #1 - don't get shot. *she takes a few of the guns* Shoot others
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Definitely... if only we could have disabled it beforehand."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We've got enough of these bullets to study and figure out."
<Jackieness> <Bella> *then starts walkign down the tunnel*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I... don't like those guns."
<DeathStar> *Aimee drags Chelsea*
<Seraphna> **Nell tosses Chel over her shoulder with ease**
<Seraphna> Nell> Let someone big and strong handle that. **Says the tiny pink haired tiger eared girl**
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Mocking
<Seraphna> Nell> Huh?
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Had under control. *hmph*
<Seraphna> Nell> You're still injured. Take it easy.
<DeathStar> *Aimee pulls out her Sparkling doll to pick on*
<DeathStar> *The group arrives at a hatch that drops them down at Quad 6*
<DeathStar> *finding the slum life here much more active and blade runnerish*
<DeathStar> *Sylph looks around, her hood up*
<DeathStar> <Shin> I feel like this area is more corrupt
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Come on... we need tog et out of the public." *starts moving*
<DeathStar> *Thankfully, most people ignore them, doing their own thing here as they walk along the streets, passing the busy markets and the smell of food coming from them, as well as obvious black market deals done within them as well*
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "I'm not sure if I've been away for too long, or things have changed too fast."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Probably the latter."
<DeathStar> *Sylph and Origin both pause, looking distracted as they pass the food, looking like they want some*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *presses on*
<DeathStar> <Sylph> Aw.
<Ariel> * Nicolette buys a few servings of street food, and hurries to catch up
<DeathStar> *Sylph beams* Nicolette~
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I'm hungry too, but we're..." *pauses mid sentence, then gets some herself*
<DeathStar> *Selena seems amused*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *stops and looks back* "...you actually ate that stuff?"
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Well, if we have time, we should."
<DeathStar> *Sylph has already scarfed down her share*
<DeathStar> <Sylph> Yush?
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "Hey, this stuff was lavish when I was young."
<Alicia> * Akatsuki offers Origin some, eating the rest.
<DeathStar> *Origin looks curious, eating it*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Yeah, with polymer fillers and overflow from the biomass processing plants."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "It's not that bad."
<DeathStar> *Cloé noms on a sushi type fish, innocently*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *shakes her head and resuems walking* "...its your stomach."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "What, you think I can't handle it?"
<Seraphna> *Nell swallows some noodles that look sketchy**
<Seraphna> Nell> You need to get used to Kumen food.
<DeathStar> *They arrive at a back alley, where a hidden doorway can be found among all the other stuff, leading to a Secret Base #1*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "There is a reason I have not been buying any."
<Ariel> * Nicolette ponders what sort of person would make a sign that literally says that, but then shrugs and noms on her food.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "I'm from Kumen, remember? I know not what not to eat if I don't want the runs." *feelsa round and then tries to open the concealed door*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "If Aka gets the runs, I will know not to eat it on pain of death."
<DeathStar> *Aimee watches her fiddle around the hidden door until she opens it.*
<DeathStar> <Selena> I'll eat Terra's fruit
<DeathStar> *Origin seems to be nomming what was given, enjoying the new experience*
<Seraphna> Nell> **hands Selena one** I think you'll owe her by the end of this.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Come on...." *goes inside*
<Seraphna> **Nell and Nox go in**
<DeathStar> *As they enter the secret base, it has a few areas to sleep in, stacked on the wall, equipment to spy on Kumen, networks to the other bases, medical stations, Net stations, and more, but due to the small size it's alll very compact*
<DeathStar> *Selena looks around as Aimee has Chelsea put in the best bed*
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I'll get to studying these weapons
<DeathStar> *She moves off*
<DeathStar> <Selena> So, Aimee, what happened.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Rest up and prep up."
<DeathStar> *Cloé sits down, rubbing her face* Well, we managed to get in
<DeathStar> *She studies her mom*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *checks on the networking gear*
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Was attacked
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Where is everyone else?"
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Safely landed Nyao Nyao
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Even managed to hide the Nyao, but then things got bad
<Seraphna> Nell> SOmething tells me I owe Maxwell a knuckle sandwich and a side of shard fries.
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Luci wanted to get to Ymir... but think was betrayed! Area where Nyao was attacked boom.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Absolutely Maxwell's fault."
<DeathStar> <Aimee> Nyao was buried, Luci MIA, team scattered, HQ sieged, under attack, Melodie gone, dragged mom to safety
<DeathStar> <Selena> Did you all follow that timeline of events?
<Jackieness> <Bella> *checks to see if any of the other safehouses have been accessed*
<DeathStar> *Bella sees one has been - nearly 12 hours ago*
<DeathStar> *Cloé fidgets, pacing about*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "I have a ping."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> *From the other room* See if you can access the camera
<Seraphna> *Nell frowns** One of the other safehouses is open?
<Alicia> * Akatsuki tries to access the camera
<DeathStar> *After trial and error, passwords and using Bella's fingerprint, AKatsuki gets access*
<DeathStar> *where they see a bloodied room*
<DeathStar> <Selena> ... that is not what you want
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "... well, we know that one isn't safe..."
<DeathStar> *it seems to be the safe house in Quad 1, the one in Macross*
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "... ..."
<Jackieness> <Bella> *tries to see if she cna get to recorded security video from 12 hours ago, not the live feed."
<Jackieness> *
<DeathStar> *after a moment, ninja like forces break in attacking what looks to be Asarar and Kira, both of them having those bullets all over them, shocking them if they use any special abilities. Also, Asarar has a ton of swords stuck in them as they battle the ninja forces, but eventually, the two overcome them, with the two battling the ninja and coming out in top, even if they both take a lot of wounds. Grabbing the medical kits, they are seem stumbling out of frame after grabbing what looks to be some weapons and other items*
<DeathStar> *likely in a hurry*
<DeathStar> <Selena> Pardon me, what did I just see?
<Seraphna> Nell> Bella's moms are pretty badass.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...moms won. Shit, the bullets might have trackers in them."
<Seraphna> Nell> Good thing we pulled them outta those two.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I expect s... oh no."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Either check the bullets for trackers or ditch them. Just not here."
<Seraphna> Nell> Oh right. She brought them to study. Well let's make sure.
<Seraphna> Nell> The safe house could just have been outted.
<DeathStar> <Selena> UGh
<DeathStar> *she faceplants into Nicolette*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *tries to get a feed of outside their current safehouse*
<DeathStar> <Selena> You did this thing all your childhood?
<DeathStar> *right now it looks clear*
<Ariel> <Nicolette> "I mean, there were less ninjas..."
<DeathStar> *Seniga calls out to them* Well, it appears these bullets neuturalize their target's ability to fight back by shocking them when they use powers. As for tracking, you can turn on a tracker it seems. *She calls out, having listened*
<Seraphna> Nell> Well, that sucks.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> She said "Can". Is it on?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "The power dampeners only useful against targets that rely almost entirely on special powers." *nods to the screen of the other safehouse*
<DeathStar> <Seniga> I ..... believe it is not
<DeathStar> *Seniga rejoins the others, handing them the bullets*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "We can't carry those bullets with us, unless we're certain there's no remote activation."
<DeathStar> <Selena> True. They might be useful but Akatsuki is right
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "It would be bad if someone just... switched on the tracker."
<DeathStar> <Selena> One of us should ditch them
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Seniga, figure out how to jam the trackers and disable the shocker. We need every advatnage we cna get if they shoot at us with them."
<DeathStar> <Seniga> Alright. I'll do what I can. *She puts on her work goggles and gets to work*
<DeathStar> -TBC-
* Retrieving #TAW-Geyze modes...
* DeathStar changes topic to 'Geyze: Record of Spirit War | Wednesdays | 7:15 - 7:30 PM to 10:15 pm to 10:30 PM | Part II - Act 1 | Session 31: Lockdown 1.2 - June 21st | 2 of 6 (or 7) | '
<DeathStar> *Origin. Sylph, and Shin are trying to play cards*
* Jackieness has quit IRC
Session Close: Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 2023