Scenario Entitled: Security MeasuresCharacters:
K9-GD-147, a large greyhound Dogboy, employed by gym-owner Gareth Vaughn.
Lena, provocatively-attired, scrappy associate of Gareth.
Lake, friend of Gareth's, and of Lena's too, strangely enough.
Location: Wallside West and Drake, outside G's Spot, a popular west-side gym
Date: Autumn, 108 P.A.
This social-turned-action scene happened in the beginning of the year in the context of the now-concluded Gangwar TP.
K9-GD-147 makes another of the small batch of sandwiches disappear.... looking over the traffic again before turning her attention back to Lena.
Lake plods along from the east, his eyes alternating between being fully open and half closed. The given impression is that this daylight thing takes some time to get used to. His head turns in short movements, briefly noting any nearby people before shifting back forward.
Just as Lena gets close to K9, her painted stomach gives an ominous growl under her hand. Lena clears her throat a bit unnecessarily to offset the tummy-grumble, and smiles faintly at the Dog-Girl. "Hullo, Kay-Nine. Doing all right, yeah.. just a big hungry." Her complexion colours as her belly makes a sound like a revving Harley. "...Ravenous, in fact. But Gareth's icebox needs filling.. usually I'd just hop over to the Factory, but that's not an option." She looks down at K9's feet for a half-second, then blinks away quickly with a 'what-am-I-thinking??' expression. "Uhhh, have you been here all night?"
K9-GD-147 ears perk at the sound for a moment, she picks up the paper sack with the remaining 4 sandwhichs in it and offers it to her "Want one?" she then nods "Yes.. all night... no gang comes by... no troubles.. but got message for Gareth."
Lake forces out a slow breath, letting his eyes shift ahead to focus towards G's Spot. He furrows his brow a little as he notes the current occupants in front of the door (even from a distance, they're hard not to notice). He picks up his pace slightly, though not so much as to look like he's sped up. So it's really not worth mentioning again.
Lena looks uncomfortably at K9's supply of food, perhaps considering that primitive cardinal rule.. the one about trying to take food from a big dog. While her stomach sends chemical impulses to her brain directing her to lunge into the offered bag, she stalls a bit, asking, "Oh... you must be tired.. why don't you call the boys out, so you can take a break? ...and who brought the message?"
K9-GD-147 shakes her head "I leave when Gareth say leave.... Kreed left message...." she lets go of the bag as Lena takes it, not seemingly agressive about it.
Lake resumes a normal pace, which resembles the 'fast' pace, as he nears the building, slowing down as he gets within reasonable earshot and offering a short nod to the two individuals present. His voice sounds out in a quiet, slightly deeper offset tone that sometimes accompanies you when you've just woken up, "Hi."
K9-GD-147 looks over towards lake as he approachs, eyes narrowing for a moment until she recognizes him and nods slowly "Hello."
Lena didn't take the bag... did she? Oh damn.. her hand did when she wasn't looking. Curiously peering into the bag, she inhales slowly, and sighs, "Ahhhh. Kreed, you say.. huh. He's the guy with the new Casino down south.. smack in the middle of Apokalypse territory, no less." She settles the briefcase between her feet and reaches into the bag, pulling up a paper-wrapped roll, surface lightly greased but totally delicious-looking, at least to her. "Wonder what he wanted.. gguhhh-hi, Lake," she glances over her shoulder at him, raking back the saliva in her voice.
K9-GD-147 says "Say he want meet with Gareth..... think he a Pokaylpse?"
Lake arcs his eyebrow lightly, partially suppressing a smirk as he notes what must be the current situation. He comes to a solid stop, shifting his weight onto one foot as he makes a light throat clearing noise. He hrms, "What's all this now? Probably more things I don't want to know..."
Lena hands the sack politely back to K9, along with a small appreciative 'thanks', and shifts back and to the side, keeping the case between her ankles, while including Lake in her scope of vision. "I'm not sure, Kay-Nine.. when I dropped in a week or so ago, I don't think he was.. but things might have changed." She hastily unwraps the chicken roll while glancing at Lake, adding, "What exactly don't you want to know about? Cause there's lots.. you met Kay-Nine One-Four-Seven yet?" forgetting the middle bit, "..she's one of Gareth's girls now. After the 'Poko's threw a dogboy they killed at *glom*" They actually didn't throw a dogboy at someone with the unfortunate name of Glom. Lena's just started eating midsentence.
K9-GD-147 takes the sack back and removes another roll. taking most of it in the first bite.. and the rest in the second. She keeps her eyes towards the traffic but leans a curious ear to the conversation between Lena and Lake "I guard till Gareth get here... then I rest....."
Lake gives K9 a mildly wary look for a few minutes before finally muttering casually, "Takes all kinds, I guess..." He shakes his head quickly, then offers a short, casual nod in the canine's direction before shifting subjects, "Yeah. I heard about the dogboy. I take it wasn't... someone you guys knew? Not that it matters really. Dead is dead." His features turn down as he continues, "And I realize there's probably a lot of stuff I still need clarification on. I just assume most of it can wait... or will have to, apparently." He stretches his neck to one side as he finishes his last sentence.
Lena chews up her mouthful diligently, smiling around it complacently as Lake rather sarcastically resigns himself to patience. "*munch munch munch* ssshhLake *chew chew*" she helpfully tells K9's ear, nodding towards the guy. Holding the bottom half of the roll in both hands, she ingests lesser portions than K9 at a time, and is clearly envious of the Dog-girl's masticular capabilities at the moment.
K9-GD-147 nods slowly at Lena's words still watching the traffic "He give me same look as all peoples do... fraid mabye?" She looks at the sidewalk for a moment, her shoulders slump a little but then she looks back up "No need be.... him not starts troubles....not get troubles returned.... Hope Gareth get here soon..."
Lake blinks once, "Huh?" He forces a mild smirk, then shakes his head, "No, it's not you. I was just wondering a few things. Like why I always seem to run into the giant canine types. I mean, there are supposed to be smaller ones, right?" His frame shifts to the other foot as he continues, "And as far as fear goes, I can't really say I'm that scared of you. Mostly for the reason you note, but also because I can think of at least five other things worth being afraid of off the top of my head."
Lena looks thoughtful as she gnaws away at her breakfast, as thoughtful as one can look while choking oneself with a chicken roll, anyway. Finally, she lifts her head and chides, "Okay okay.. you'll give her a complex, Lake. 'Course there are smaller ones... she's big. I know this other guy who's just about as big... I don't know, but they tend to be friendlier, from my experience." She doesn't go into the intellect part of the survey. "Anyway.. from what I can tell.. the poor guy the Pokos got wasn't the one who helped us back then. That was a Wolfen, I'm pretty sure *grom*"
K9-GD-147 growls softly "Pokalypse killers.... want to hunt Pokalypse... want to hurt pokalypse.... wait on word from Gareth..."
Ears, fur... what's the difference really? Of course, Lake isn't nuts enough to really argue the point in that fashion, especially since he tends to remember vaguely that there just happen to be a few. He resigns himself to conceding the point for the moment, looking a bit concerned as K9 expresses her opinion, "Well, don't get too riled up over it. They may just seem like a bunch of disorganized hoodlums at times, but they do have some semblance of organization. You can't just start picking them off and expect to get away with it. Not to mention there's still the fact that that's technically... well... illegal." The look on Lake's face tells just how convincing he expects the delivery of the statement to be. More like a kid telling his big brother that raiding the cookie jar is wrong right before he says, 'Pass the oatmeal raisins...'
K9-GD-147 nods and shrugs... as her shoulders drop again she speaks two simple words that show she might not be as dumb as she looks "Self Defense...."
Lena looks sated and fairly content as she crumples up the waxy paper and snags up an empty paper sack beside K9 to hold the trash. Almost absently, she wanders around K9 picking up litter. "Gareth has got some sort of strategy swimming around in that head-thing of his. He better sort it out soon." She doesn't add the obvious running joke about him needing a dictionary first. "Those guys are just playing with us right now.. they've got more people.. bigger guns.." She reaches up and pats at K9's neck reassuringly before she can think to be cautious about it.
Traffic in this area is relatively furtive despite the time of day. A number of pedestrians, mostly students, travel up and down the sidewalks in pursuit of a noon-hour snack before classes resume. While not all automobiles and hovercraft traveling along these streets are in tip top shape, there is a rather noticably obnoxious roar of an vehicle in need of some serious maintenance approaching. It sounds like it is coming from the south along Wallside West.
K9-GD-147 ears perk at the sound, she stands slowly turning her gaze up and down the street... "Something loud....."
Lake sighs, his hands moving in practiced fashion to dig into his pockets... which he realizes at the last minute aren't there. He stares down at the sides of his armor for a few moments before shaking his head, tapping a leg panel a few times before shrugging, "Just playing games, huh?" Don't suppose you guys could settle up over a friendly game of hopscotch...?" His head shifts in a southern direction at the mention of noise, an odd lack of concern fluxing over his face momentarily.
Lena withdraws her hand from K9's neck as it rises beyond reach, and chuckles dryly at Lake as she twists at opening of the bag to seal it somewhat. "Hardee-har.." She pauses, noting the alert expression of the dog mutant, then quirking her brow at Lake. She straightens up, looking around for her briefcase. "Sounds like someone needs a tune-up," she mutters, starting to move in that (her case's) direction.
Coming into view is a real jalopy of an automobile. At one point it must have been a pickup truck, but now looks lucky not to be up on cinder blocks. Its wheels and shocks have been augmented to something near a monster truck and its cab looks like part chicken-coop, part armored truck. There are approximately four hooting and hollering young men in the back compartment waving things about in their hands. They certainly don't look to be students and that painted representation of a flaming skull on the front grill probably means they aren't interested in scholarly pursuits. They take a hard right turn, cut off a battered taxi cab, and barrel straight for G's Spot.
K9-GD-147 snarls "Pokalypse!!!" she quickly dives to the side seeing the fools are on an apparent ramming course... but trys to recover quickly hopeing for a counter-attack.
The lack of relative concern on Lake's face shifts into one of light concern as he realizes the potential threat. He starts to follow Lena's path directionwise, trying to clear the apparent target area while keeping an eye on the truck. He shouts in a half raised voice, "Look out!" No clear target, really. Shouldn't everyone really always look out?
Lena flinches into a mid-crouch as the frankenstein vehicle spins into the intersection. "Look out!!" she yells in full earnest, also to no one in particular, on the heels of K9's bellow and almost in chorus with Lake. She slides one foot to the side, striking her standing briefcase sharply to send it skittering along the sidewalk back towards the alleyway. Then she follows it in a backwards leap that seems to cover about four sidewalk slabs in length.
Of the foursome in the back of the truck, three appear to be trying to light some objects with the aid of what seems to be a Burster or mutant capable of pyrokinesis. The bumpy ride is making things difficult for them to get things done properly. As the truck gets closer, the driver reefs on the wheel and sends the side of the vehicle screeching parallel to the front of the Gym. It is no longer on a ramming course, has slowed and is quite close (20 feet), but those four punks now have a good unobstructed view of the Gym.
K9-GD-147 turns and snarls, the vacant stare is gone, replaced by an animal fury as she hurls herself towards the broadside of the truck in hopes of impacting the passenger's door of the cab and flipping the truck onto it's side.
K9's impact buffets the the entire truck solidly and causes it to rock back and forth violently. The vehicle however stays upright and through the wonders of physics, causes her to rebound off it with an equal and opposite reaction. A rather large sized dent now decorates the side of the truck. Two of the passengers in the back lose their footing and scream out a crazed warning.
Lake stops moving as it becomes apparent that the truck isn't trying to run him over (a small miracle in his mind), flipping the holster lock on his sidearm open. The wild charge by K9 garners a momentary look of surprise from him, which fades as it seems to have some sort of positive effect. His eyes half close in an act of focus as he tries to gather himself together for whatever action he'll need to take next.
Lena reaches down to the sheath strapped to her calf, and draws up a long-bladed fighting knife while she fills up her lungs again, and yells in the direction of the gym's front doors, "Don't come out front they've got grenades!!" Hopefully that penetrated.. stealing a quick glance at Lake, she leans into a lower crouch with the knife tucked along her forearm and held defensively over her chest.
The back of the truck now shows only two upright dissidents, as they frantically act to light what now is clearly a pair of Molotov cocktails. The burster moves forward with a burning aura to ignite the rag peeking out of the bottles. As the wicks are lit, there is a curious sound of breaking glass from within the bottom of the truck's cargo area. Two startled screams erupt from the truck as flames erupt from the back section.
K9-GD-147 tumbles head over tail backwards at the collision till she lands in a sitting position almost where she started the charge.... she starts trying to get to her feet again. Breath heaving an wheezing in sheer dedication to complete the job she's been given. Guard the Building.
Lake develops a vaguely curious look as he draws his pistol clear of its holster. If anything, something along the lines of bemusement flashes across his face as he comments quietly, "Now that's a shame..." He adjusts his stance, placing one foot slightly ahead of the other as he levels his gun somewhere just below chest high.
Lena launches into a run out of her forward lean, keeping her head under Lake's sights as she hits the road and starts a slightly wide circle around the front of the monster jalopy, intending to cover it from the other side... or at least provide an additional distraction.
Traffic jams rapidly form on either end of the street. What civilian vehicles there are, fight frantically to get the heck out of the area. Likewise, the other pedestrians in the area beat a hasty retreat towards any open alleyways, shops or just plain run for their lives.
The burster, not very concerned with the growing inferno beneath his feet, points his hand towards the doors of the gym and lets loose a fireball. His buddy leaps over the armored panelling (towards K9 and the Gym) to save his skin from catching fire. The two unlucky souls struggling to get up from inside the truck sound like they are in a bit of pain. Both smoke and flames are lashing up from the interior of the back cabin.
K9-GD-147 is on her feet again, senses flaring as the Burster fully manifests... she draws her neural mace and charges the truck again.. training guiding her to take out the supernatural first.
Lake grumbles something about the present state of things, based more on current events than the current civilian tax brackets. He raises his pistol again, inclined to focus on the burster less because of training and more because he's the only one that wasn't sent into a panic. And Lake simply can't live with that. No sir.
The Burster, slightly distracted by the oncoming form of K9, has no warning of Lake's impending attack. Lake's thin laser strikes the Burster squarely in the chest but his flaming aura seems to absorb the damage quite well.
Lena dodges around the truck, watching the side of the carriage for signs of the other punks, hopefully on their way to becoming flambe'ed. After seeing that no charred Apok is on his way over the side, she flickers her gaze along the road's surface ending on the side of the truck's engine carriage. Road debris, a chunk of brick, pieces of a broken bottle, and a discarded cred-chip, all shiver to life and seem to bounce off the surface of the street, streaking towards Lena's target.
Lena's energized items streak unerringly towards the Truck's engine and impact with great force. A series of pops and hisses are followed with a large explosion below the hood of the armored vehicle. A few stray bits of metal explode through the opposite side of the front of the truck. What is left of the engine begins to burn furiously and a loud squawk of anguish erupts from the driver compartment of the truck.
By now, the doors of G's Spot are in flames due to the Burster's fireball impacting upon them moments ago. The Punk that managed to exit the vehicle winds up with his Molotov cocktail and sends it hurtling towards the nearest wall. The Burster, not the sharpest tool in the shed, decides it's time to go, and moves to bang on the hood of the truck as a signal to go. His progress is a bit slowed however as his boots seem to have melted into the floor of the back cabin.
K9-GD-147 leaps as she closes the gap to the burster, bellowing in animalistic rage as she slams the Neural mace down towards it with all her strength. Determined to stop any further damage from the flaming freak.
The Burster is quite aware of the oncoming fury of the mutant animal and tries to avoid the blow by bending to the left. His feet aren't making his efforts very effective however. The Burster tries hard to avoid the blow, and comes close to dodging the strike. Close however does not cut it in hand to hand combat. The Neural mace connects solidly with his side. And while the physical attack doesn't seem to do much damage, the electrical shock from the mace sends him into a series of spasmotic jitters.
Lake emits a quiet 'hmm' as the mace strike hits, his attention mildly diverted between the current series of explosions and chaos. He finally focuses back onto one solid thing, in this case being the one lone ganger who's chosen to throw his molotov. He growls a little, not anywhere near an animalistic type action, as his gun proceeds to follow his line of vision. The barrel end of Lake's pistol wavers in the air, then takes a decided tilt downward before he finally squeezes the trigger.
The lone punk, whom is in Lake's sights, is aware of Lake's presence and nearly soils his pants when he sees the pistol leveled at him. He tries to amble oout of the way. Lucky for him, Lake's aim is a bit off and a small crater is formed under his feet. He tumbles to the ground, but is luckily in one piece.
Lena raises her forearm to partially shield her face as the explosion flashes under the vehicle's hood. Fairly assured of success in that goal, she eyeballs the extent of the flames in the back cab while taking a series of side-steps closer to the truck, specifically the driver's side door. Grabbing hold of the door's handle, she gives it a yank in hopes that it's not locked. Her question is answered as it swings wide open. "Don't move," she snaps with a raised blade at whoever's inside there, regardless of whether he's moving, fainting, or in the process of putting a bazooka to her forehead.
The driver is quite alarmed by the appearance of Lena nearby and reaches for a shotgun that rest on the passenger's seat in a panic. The Burster has since crumpled into a heap in the back of the truck and now rests unconscious alongside his very dead and crispy buddies. His Flame aura winks out with a small flash. The lone punk, scrambles to his feet and starts beating a hasty retreat towards the south.
K9-GD-147 growls holding the smoking mace in her hand and looks around for any other threats... not seeing Lena or the driver with the truck in the way. With what almost looks like a grin she starts after the fleeing ganger.
Just like he planned it. He was just trying to trip the guy up, he was. Yeah, that's it... Lake watches as the firebug starts to beat a hasty retreat which it appears the poor ganger may not be too successful in. Lake turns his attention back to the truck, noting he can't quite see what's going on up front from his current position. He frowns slightly, letting out a sigh as he starts to sidestep towards the front passenger side. It's not like there's a burning gym behind him or anything to be worried about...Excerpt ends... suspenseful, no? For further interest, the spontaneous event made the Town Crier, the IC report for the rest of the populace not in attendance. The results of the skirmish can be found there.
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