Session Start: Sat Mar 06 16:09:00 2004 Last time, on Hunters: Sakura brought back phone logs of Lady Handcuff's cell and home lines, revealing that the girl did indeed call Princess Pie during the Ningyo incident. This prompted yet another round of conspiracy theorizing, but they put together a plan for approaching Lady Handcuff as a first step in investigation. Maya would go in to meet the girl disguised as a new Lady, while the rest of the team would listen in from a nearby vehicle, just in case they are needed. [Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 1950 local time] [Jammed inside a minivan, on the road to Soka] [session start] * Taki looks rather uncomfortable being crammed this close to everyone else. * Sakura is a decent driver - maybe a little aggressive with the accelerator, but not dangerous. Mostly. * Maya looks about as uncomfortable as Taki, but for completely different reasons. * Taki doesn't say anything though, she just quietly wedges herself in a corner. * Minami is squinched into a little ball in a corner that isn't Taki's, dozing. * Kyouko stares at the seat in front of her. * Kenji pretends to be asleep. If we stay out too late, I'll make arrangements with the school. ... ohman, I'm so nervous... * Sakura winds around the maze-like offramps of the Tokyo freeway system. You'll do fine. Remember, you've got all of us backing you up. Relax, you'll do fine. Yeah...just be careful. * Minami mutters. "Just pr't'nd y'r onstage." If you need us, remember we can hear you. Just say so. * Maya nods, nods, and nods again. Maybe it's just the whole 'don't wanna risk dying' thing gnawing at her. "Are we there yet?" We'll try not to knock too many walls in, but trust us, we'll hurry. Um... another five minutes or so. The freeway has given way to a four-lane highway lined with fast food joints and strip malls. Good. Time enough for me to get the panic out. You're going to have to transform in the van. * Kyouko bobs her head and hums to herself. * Lord_Darkmoon sits on the floor between the front seats, so is probably rather comical as he says, "And if you feel threatened, just remember I'm ready to (to borrow an American phrase) 'go Feral on their asses'." He turns and winks at Maya, trying to cheer her up. * Kenji perks up at "Transform in the van." ... ah, okay, no problem. ^^; * Maya giggles a bit at Darkmoon's comment. "I'll keep that squarely in mind, sir!" ...if we do have to come in, remember to give Darkmoon his... uh, thing back as soon as you can. * Maya looks at the transformed bangle on her wrist. "Right, right." * Sakura turns onto a side street, angling westwards into a residential section. * Lord_Darkmoon mutters, sounding just a touch nervous, "Actually, if I have to transform to the Feral Beast, it'd be best if you hung onto it until I change back." The houses here are quite upscale single-family dwellings. One or two have actual lawns. * Maya glances about idly. "Niiiice. Very nice..." ...Wow. * Lord_Darkmoon doesn't comment, being in a bad position to have any view of the exterior of the van. Yeah, her mother is apparently a minor television personality or something. They do quite well. * Sakura swings the van up to the curb and kills the engine. Huh, no kidding. * Taki stares out the window, her arms wrapped around her knees. It's the red two-story about three houses in front of us. ...it's time. Are you ready? Is she just gonna go up to her house? * Taki looks over to Maya. * Maya takes a deep breath, then nods. "Yeah, I am. The transformation's a bit bright, people, you might want to avert your eyes." * Kyouko covers her eyes. * Taki shrugs and looks back out the window. * Sakura reaches into the glove compartment and pulls out her pistol. She chambers a round and then puts it on her lap. Go ahead. * Maya watches the gun-chambering and pauses, just a sec. Then... "... r-right. Showtime!" One burst of light and (harmless) glittery pyrotechnics later, she is Lady Mysteria. G'luck Mina-- * Sakura winces a little at the reflection from the windscreen. * Minami shifts around in her balled-up sleeping position. er.. Maya. *looks over uncomfortably.* * Kyouko of course, peeked, and now has a slight headache. Freaking strobe light - why can't we have stealth transforms? Sorry, never could fix that... now then. Okay, now are you going in in civvies or as Star? And could one of you put the wire on her? * LadyMysteria fiddles with the bangle for a bit, and then shifts once again, this time forming the outfit she was wearing before. "Civvies makes sense." * Sakura passes back some duct tape and a thin microphone attached to a box that looks like the standard coms you use. * Taki continues staring out the window, oblivious to the transformations. * Minami mutters again. "Where're y'gonna hide the wire after you go Star, if you do?" I can never get one of those attached right by myself. Somebody help her. That might shift around with the costume-shift. As long as she doesn't consume it in the shift, it should work. * Taki turns back to Sakura and reaches over and grabs the mike and stuff. Here, I'll do it. Well, huh. I never did think about that, Minami... Just don't go flashing your skin and you'll be fine. * Taki crawls over the seats toward Maya. * Minami lifts her head a little. "You *saw* her Lady Star uniform, didn't you?" That only really shows some thigh. It's no huge problem, I think... As long as it's not under too many layers of thick cloth, it will work. It had enough frills. Make sure it's hidden under those. Don't want it under any skin-tight portions, either. Anyway, lift your shirt up. * LadyMysteria lifts without much of a second thought. "Okay..." * Lord_Darkmoon is suddenly fascinated by the clock on the van's dashboard. Fortunately, the van has no side windows for the back seats, and there's not much traffic. * Kenji tries to sit up and pay attention w/o looking like he's sitting up and paying attention. * Taki blushes a bit and begins taping the mic onto Maya. * Sakura turns on her com unit. Someone say something. Maya, you too. Testing. * Minami puts her head back down. "Boo." I'm saying something. * Taki finishes up attaching it to her. "Does that look good Sakura?" That'll do. Great. A pro would... never mind. ... What? Not in mixed company. ... eh? Okay, Maya. Ready? Thanks, Taki. And I do believe I am. * Lord_Darkmoon snickers at Sakura's comment, realizing what she was thinking. * Sakura wiggles around and looks Maya in the eyes. Good luck, Lady Star. ^_~ Oh, you can put your shirt back down now. * Minami suddenly starts coughing violently in her little ball. If you can catch a glimpse of her face under her hair-shield, she looks like she's blushing. * LadyMysteria is putting her shirt back down, yes. Don't take any risks, understand? I don't intend to, Sakura. But if you can get her to take you to Pie, that's probably the way we'll get the most info. We can follow you in the van. * Taki crawls back over the seat to her spot in the back. Good luck. So I generally play the lost newcomer who needs direction... check and check. I can do that. and don't get pied..or handcuffed or something. * Sakura makes friendly shooing motions. * LadyMysteria flashes a smile, then makes with the van-exiting. * Minami shifts. "G'luck." * Minami doesn't sound like a chicken. * Sakura turns off the van cab light. Everyone get your com on. * Taki reaches down and flips it on. * LadyMysteria pauses a moment, then momentarily checks herself out before she skedaddles along towards the target house in question. * Kyouko grabs hers and puts it on. * Minami turns hers on. Shouldn't we transform just in case? ...you can now or you can later. * Lord_Darkmoon climbs into the shotgun seat that Maya has vacated, and buckles up. He was tired of sitting on the floor, sans seatbelt. If we get in trouble, we may want to be in actual uniform, though. So it doesn't really matter. * Taki looks around at everyone in the van with a look of "Oh hell no." * Kenji stretches his arms out in front of him and clicks on his own comm. unit. I would now...but it'd get really steamy in here. * Kenji looks back at Taki w/ an expression that says, "What?" ...I can't get back in uniform until Maya returns my tessen. ^^; * LadyMysteria pauses riiight at the door. Pauses, almost hesitantly, then knocks thrice. There's no response for a few seconds, then heavy footsteps approach the door. * Father pulls the door open. He's in an expensive-looking suit, and is fixing his necktie. Can I help you? * LadyMysteria perks up, slightly. "Ah, excuse me, sir. I hate to interrupt but... ah, is your daughter home? I'm something of a passing acquaintance and I really need to confide in her with something..." * Father blinks. ...that sounds really silly. She's studying... but sure. Why not? * Father turns around and calls back into the house. "Anzu? Anzu! There's a friend here to see you!" Come on in. She'll be out in a second. Sh. Got her in, didn't it? * Father said that. * LadyMysteria nods, stepping inside. Of course she glances about curiously, since odds are it's a very nice house... * Father leaves the door open, then goes back down a hallway and into a room. The house is quite traditional inside - the floor is raised just past the entryway and covered with high-quality tatami. The furnishings are all hardwood and hand-made. * Anzu pads out to the door in stocking feet and a silk houserobe. ...I'm sorry, do I know you? * LadyMysteria stays at the entranceway, not wanting to step too much further in. "Ah.... well, this is going to be... um, a bit hard to talk about." She glances behind Anzu. "It's a... private matter, too, but I really need someone to talk to about it and I didn't have anywhere else I could go and..." Uh. I was a little busy, but I might be able to spare a few minutes... * Anzu looks somewhat puzzled by this, but not quite suspicious. We can go back to my room, I guess. * LadyMysteria looked ready to ask about going somewhere a bit more private, then nods, doing away with her shoes. "Thank you..." * Anzu turns and leads her visitor to the back of the house. She has a small room, all to herself, with a futon and a desk and a number of books. A large gym bag is on the futon, with neatly-folded clothes piled inside. I'm sorry - what's your name? Anzu! I have to leave now - see you tomorrow! * LadyMysteria glances about a bit, genuinely impressed. "Chisa. Nice to meet you..." Nice save, "Chisa". * Anzu turns to her door and calls back, "Have a good time, father! I love you!" Sorry about that. The front door slams. * LadyMysteria chuckles at the exchange. "Good relationship, I see. Um... well. As I was saying..." ...Chisa. ...so what did you want to talk to me about? * Taki goes back to idly staring out the window. Well, you see. I... I'm pretty lost right now. A lot's happened, and I quite can't get a grip on it all, but... well, this is where you come in. I hope you don't get mad or anything. * Anzu smiles kindly. If you need help... I... I really do. It's all just so sudden and scary. Er... sorry, I'm getting off track. Am I even making any sense? * Minami grins and nods. "Good, good." No. But slow down and take it one step at a time. are you in some kind of trouble? * LadyMysteria smiles a little, turning legitimate, albeit slight, nervousness into (she hopes) a look of confusion. Okay... um. It all started a while ago. I can't even really remember the date, but it was sometime in October. I remember that I'd gone home and stuffed myself silly with ice cream to calm down, so I at least remember the month. * Anzu kneels on a cushion and gestures for "Chisa" to take another one. * LadyMysteria thanks Anzu and takes a seat. "Well, it had been a strange day for me. I can't really explain it, but... one day I felt something. Like a... a... I can't say what, but I know I felt it. And then I... well, maybe I should show you." That might be easiest. ^^ Why do I get the feeling that Anzu's already figured out where "Chisa" is going with this? Oh, you too? Hopefully she'll be caught up enough in "knowing" what's going on that she won't catch on to the ruse. * Lord_Darkmoon nods to Minami. * LadyMysteria nods, then clasps her hands together, almost as if in prayer. "... star light... star bright. First star I see tonight..." And that leads into the 'stealth' transformation of one 'Chisa' into Lady Star. "... well." Oh! Oh my. I see... And you are Lady... Lady Star... as for the rest is... well, I followed the feeling and I saw a fight. I wish I could remember how it went, but I was too overwhelmed by the moment. * Anzu transforms in place. Her transformation isn't bright, or shiny, but rather involves a psychic impression of claustrophobia and harsh restraint. And you saw me, correct? * LadyMysteria blinks for a moment, shivering involuntarily at the psychic wash- over. "Y-yes..." I am Lady Handcuff. I welcome you to our sisterhood. * Anzu extends a hand, well, a hand and the other one, shackled, close behind, to shake. * LadyMysteria manages a smile after a moment. "Thank you... you don't know how relieved I am." She reaches out to return the handshake. * Anzu becomes more solemn. "It must be fate that brought you here tonight - another day and I would not have been here to help you. ..Huh? * Anzu stands and detransforms. ookay.... Is... something the matter? * LadyMysteria looks up, blinking a few times. * Minami sits up and frowns, racking her feet up on the seat back in front of her. It's Leena's, so she doesn't seem to be worried about hitting someone's head. There is. Dark forces are converging on our city, and we lack the power to combat them directly. * Lord_Darkmoon sits up straighter, paying close attention. * LadyMysteria can't help but blink again, honestly confused. "Everything seems like it's alright in the papers, though. What's going wrong? I don't understand..." It is not simply Ningyo. There are men hunting our kind, men who will not scruple to shoot a Lady down in the street. Our leader has decided we must leave for a time, and grow stronger to face this threat. ...Someone noticed. Now...who is this "leader"? Her Royal Highness has our little club for that. * Anzu sniffs, sadly. "I don't want to leave my family, but what if they were to come here, to my house? I could not bear that. * Anzu folds another skirt and stows it in her bag. Sakura...does Pie know that our group exists? I'd think not, considering the way Anzu's acting, and if Anzu's had contact with Pie... * LadyMysteria frowns slightly, nodding. "I can understand that feeling... innocent people shouldn't be hurt." She rubs her temples. "So much to take in... sorry if I seem a bit slow." ...she knows that I look into stuff. But she doesn't know about our group, per se. Or she isn't supposed to, anyway. I'm sorry, this must come as a shock. Finding your sister, and then being confronted with such bad news. She's supposed to think that I'm just an inspector running Squeegee's errands. It's a lot, yes. So you're leaving tomorrow? What do I do? I don't want to impose, but... right now you're all I really know. So she may think this is a problem that the Queen is not addressing. * Anzu finishes packing, then goes to the closet, shedding her robe as she goes. I am leaving right now. * Anzu slips into the skirt from her school uniform and a thin cashmere sweater. ... oh. Oh, wow. I'm sorry... ...come with me. You won't be able to leave town with us tonight, I am sure, but at least you can meet our Princess. ...what? * Anzu smiles at her guest. We are not just Ladies fighting for ourselves - we have a Princess who we fight for. ...Pie is the leader? ...oh, shit. * LadyMysteria pauses for a moment, weighing the decision heavily in her mind, before finally smiling back. "I... alright. I'll meet her. I need to know more of what's going on... do I need to get anything together, or should I just follow you?" Trying to set herself up as a miniQueen? The arrogant little backstabbing self-aggrandizing brat! * Lord_Darkmoon mutters something about one being bad enough. You came this far as you are - you can come a little farther, I am sure. ... Maybe they're just scared Darkmoon. * Sakura is cussing like a sailor who just dropped an anchor on her foot. How the hell are they supposed to feel safe if they're not even allowed to know we're out there protecting them? Why wouldn't she have gone to Her Royal Highness? She coddles her Princesses well. * LadyMysteria nods, then stands and reverts to her 'normal' attire. She's obviously spent *a lot* of time getting the timing down, and being a magician helps in that regard. "Okay... just lead the way." Maybe she's following the chain of command! Who knows what the Queen told Pie after it all went down. Come sister, we go home. Maybe it didn't fill her with much confidence. ...home? * Minami looks suspicious. ...we shall see. Home... * LadyMysteria mouths that once or twice. Sakura, should I follow them on foot? Pie is avoiding Her Majesty. ...and the Queen will not tolerate mutiny. Who knows if they'll stick to roads. ...that would be an excellent idea, Taki. Go for it. * Taki nods. On it. * Anzu leads Chisa out the front door, carefully locking it behind her. * Taki moves toward the vans door and squeezes out past everyone. * LadyMysteria tags along closely. * Taki is a casual bystander walking down the street, doopy doopy doo... * Anzu sniffs and eyes her house for a second, then turns resolutely and walks east down the street. She passes by the van just seconds before Taki comes out. We'll stay close, Taki. Just keep us informed. Will do. * Taki doesn't come out until the girls pass... * LadyMysteria is a few paces behind Anzu. It's a wonder she doesn't look at the van; perhaps it's because she looks patently confused at this point to even be thinking about the others. * Taki trails behind the girls. Just a person out for a walk... yup. * Anzu isn't trying to be subtle. There's a bus stop out on the main road, and that's where she's headed, yup. * Sakura waits a minute before starting the engine. Looks like they're taking the bus. Okay. This far of a trip? No, just into downtown, but it's easiest this way. * Taki finds a newspaper machine and buys a paper which she hides behind while waiting around near the bus stop. Okay... (newspaper) * Taki flips through the pages not really reading anything. * Sakura turns off her mic for a second, then looks back at her passengers. * Kenji sits up at attention. ...are you all ready? If this is a rebellion, we may end up fighting other Ladies. -- we can't leave 'em now.. * Minami rubs the bridge of her nose. "Looks like it." *nod* Okay. ...Yeah... ... ... * Sakura turns the mic back on. "Taki, we'll circle around to downtown Soka. If they're going somewhere else, give me a call." Alright. * Sakura pulls away from the curb, still cursing under her breath. * LadyMysteria pats her foot nervously, staring at the ground. * Anzu gets on the inbound bus line. She pays for Chisa's fare as well. * Taki boards the bus after the girls, hopefully there're more people boarding the bus she can get behind. * Taki pays her fare and takes a seat in the back. * Anzu grabs her new friend's hand, and smiles sympathetically. "You'll like the Princess. I know you will." * LadyMysteria steps on, meeping faintly as her hand's grabbed. "Okay... I'll just have to meet her, then..." Should I try to follow the bus from the air? It's a shortish bus ride into the center of Soka. These were the same streets you were on yesterday and the day before. Dimly lit water towers loom over the low buildings, their airplane warning beacons blinking balefully into the cold night. ... it's a nice night, sort-of. * Anzu gets off at the town-center stop. * Taki thinks to herself, man I wish I were transformed... * Taki follows the girls off the bus, keeping her distance. * Sakura has parked across the street from the bus station. Taki, you here? Yes, they got off at the town-center. * LadyMysteria is tagging along with Anzu, obviously having missed Taki in her confusion. Heading . We're not too far away. You should be able to see us. * Taki glances around casually for the van. * Anzu pulls Chisa north along main street just a few blocks before stopping in front of a storefront. This is it. ... hidden, right? * Taki stops half a block away, to see where they go in. * Anzu pulls out a key and unlocks a side door, revealing a staircase. Not hidden, really - it's just a loft apartment. * LadyMysteria looks down at Anzu's hand for a moment, then her own. "... oh." Come on up. * Anzu climbs stairs. I don't think I can follow them up there. I'll see if I can find a roof entrance. * Sakura had already moved the van a couple blocks to follow - there's enough traffic that it didn't look suspicious. I saw where they went in. * Taki enters the alley by the place and bounces up onto the rooftop. * LadyMysteria climbs as well, looking behind her for a moment before she continues up. Let's hope no one recognizes her... * Anzu unlocks another door at the top of the stairs. She opens it wide, takes two steps in, then curtseys. Your Highness, I brought a new sister with me. * PrincessPie is transformed already, as are the other two Ladies in the room. "Highness"? *face darkens* Looks around the roof for a skylight or something. ...technically, that's proper address. * LadyMysteria steps in a moment later. Looks around. Seeing Anzu curtsey, she looks half-ready to curtsey on her own. "Ah... hello." Yeah... Oh. Several conflicting emotions run across the Princess's face as Maya walks in. * Lord_Darkmoon 's face is still dark. ...I see. ..she recognized her? I suppose it goes without saying that I- uh.. have a bad feeling about this... Mostly they don't want us to use it, because it is regarded as diminishing the Queen's honorifics. * Minami holds her breath. Taki sees no skylights, but there is a fire escape on one side of the building with windows nearby. * LadyMysteria pauses at Pie's look, then at the terse reply. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding, ma'am.... er... Highness. Sorry..." * Taki climbs onto the fire escape as quietly as she can. * Taki looks into the windows to see what she can see. * PrincessPie finally smiles, though it's sort of strained. Thank you for bringing her here, Lady Handcuff. It was the right thing to do at what had to be an awkward moment. Oh! Sorry. * LadyMysteria chuckles a bit, looking floorward. "I seem to have terrible timing today." * Anzu deliberately brings her hands closer together, then transforms. The same psychic impression washes over the room and the other two ladies flinch. Princess Pie does not. Please, transform for us. * LadyMysteria flinches again, but nods, hand-clasps and repeats the little poem, stealth-shifting yet again. "Of course..." Ah. And you are? Lady Star, Highness. Lady Star... and your given name? Chisa Kusanagi. Thank you. * LadyMysteria nods. "You're welcome..." * PrincessPie turns and gestures the other two ladies forward. These are Lady Amplifier and Lady Hardhat. * LadyMysteria nods to each in turn. * Taki watches from the window, reporting what she sees. Wow...Earth magic DOES get creative.... Lady Amplifier has green punk-rock hair, and a is in a shiny, tight red- leather bodysuit from neck to toe - a pure-black comma of hair obscures her eyes and nose. * Minami snerks quietly. Lady Hardhat is in glittery construction-worker's overalls that tail off into a slightly longer than usual skirt, and has a classic yellow hardhat with little red cross symbol on the front. * LadyMysteria gives Amplifier a curious look for a moment. ...I think we will let their names go for a second. Lady Star, I am... (dramatic pause) The Princess. * Minami 's expression goes wide in an "I cannot believe she just said that" look,. THE? * Sakura facepalms. As if there's only one. * LadyMysteria nods slowly, staying quiet and listening with an amazingly straight face. * Anzu watches serenely. If Maya was new, she wouldn't know that there wouldn't...oh, shit. The Queen's gonna have her ass on a *hot plate*. And she's earned that seat. * Taki ignores the extraneous conversation and just keeps watching. It is so good that you found your way here - it is so hard to find Ladies as they emerge. I have been trying for half a decade, and the four of us - now five, I guess - form one of two groups I've been able to get in contact with. * PrincessPie chokes up slightly. She's been doing this for five years? * Minami blinks, her jaw dropping. "Five...oh, man." * LadyMysteria notes Pie's choke-up. "What's wrong?" ... two? guh. ...one from that other group - a Lady Spoon - was shot yesterday. And there was nothing I could do to save her. What Kenji said. Oh, what a tangled web we weave... * Lord_Darkmoon sits quietly, though it's rather clear he's getting more and more annoyed as more is revealed. How terrible. * LadyMysteria purses her lips, memories coming back. * PrincessPie appears to actually be sad about this. She fights back tears for a moment, then Lady Hardhat (who on the young side of 14) hands the Princess a handkerchief and she dries her eyes. I'm sorry. I couldn't begin to imagine how you feel. It's alright. * Anzu and the other Ladies look grim. Anyway, that forced me to make an unpleasant decision. We are moving away from the city to a farm three hours drive north of here. Now where'd she get the funds for her own private farm... ...we will grow up there. We will gain strength there. And when we return, we will destroy the Queen of the Earth and her lawless agents of terror. * Minami blinks. "O-kay..." * Lord_Darkmoon sits up straight, wide-eyed, at that. ... what the fuck? ............ * Sakura rests her head on the steering wheel. * LadyMysteria somehow masks her sudden shock with, yet again, confusion. "Queen of the Earth?" We're not fond of the Queen but...uh. ... Can I kill her now? I hate to judge her before I meet her and say she's crazy, but...she's crazy. ...yes, if you can take her in one shot. How can she believe she can stand against the Royal Order? ...is that a name familiar to you? * PrincessPie stares directly into Maya's eyes. Oh shit... * LadyMysteria shakes her head. "I was wondering who that was." * Minami sighs in relief. "So thankful for that superceding order." If it's someone as terrible as you say... Indeed. She is our enemy - she subverts the agents of good, and turns them to her evil plans of conquest. * LadyMysteria takes that in, nodding once as soon as Pie's done talking. ...conquest? Lady Star, how long have you been a magical girl? * LadyHandcuff starts to answer, but the Princess waves her silent, wanting to hear it from Star's mouth. Since October. October. Hmmm. Do you know any other Ladies? I cannot believe that the Queen would devote that much effort to conquest. It would take too much sacrifice. * Sakura stays silent on this issue. * LadyMysteria shakes her head. "I was trying to find her, since she was the first I saw. I... guess I didn't feel like I could trust anyone else. I guess I was scared..." She nods in Anzu's direction. Scared. Interesting. * PrincessPie steeples her hands in front of her and is silent for a minute. * LadyMysteria looks down at her feet again, shuffling a bit. The other Ladies stand silently as well, waiting for their leader to decide what to do. Lady Star, understand my dilemma. When I said I'd met very few Ladies, I misspoke. I have met dozens, and virtually all of them have been under the spell of the Queen. That's one way to put it. That you show up on this day is suspicious. uh oh. That you show up, supposedly a new magical girl, but far older than most are when they become, really rings alarm bells. .....Dammit. * LadyHandcuff gasps, and suddenly looks sick. It's not your fault, Anzu. You're new at this too, and it is an appealing tale. * Sakura opens the van door and gets out. Play innocent, Maya. Play innocent...she's testing you. I think we need to step in. * Lord_Darkmoon climbs out of the van. * Minami swings open the rear compartment door and walks out. "Or at least be in position to." Right. * Kenji bails out after Sakura wincing since his legs aren't accustomed to walking from so much time in the van. * Kyouko climbs out carefully. I really... don't know what to say to all of that... Should we transform? Taki, are you transformed? It's time. I um... * Taki looks around for a place to transform... * Minami looks around for a place to transform. * Sakura half-twirls as she strides to the building, puffing into a soft-pink fuku on the go. Aw, hell. * Kyouko follows Minami and transforms in a hideaway The street is basically deserted. * Kenji follows Sakura's example and transforms on the go. * Minami does like Kyouko. Well. Here we go. ... >.< * Lord_Darkmoon strides purposefully along with a swordsman's gait, looking somewhat incongruous since he's in a white-button-down shirt as civvies. But... it could be true. * LadyHeat readies a waterbottle as she heads after Sakura You could be what you say you are. The problem is how we find out. * LadyMysteria finally looks up. "I guess my fate's in your hands, then..." * LadyRoyal pauses, and looks back at the hideaway, satchel over her shoulder. * LadyRoyal ducks back in and quickchanges to civvies, then dashes out after everyone else. Luckily she picked a jogging-type suit today. * LadyHandcuff pales. "You do that to ev-" Amplifier makes a gesture and Handcuff's words are swallowed in silence. Sakura, what are the odds that she's given precautionary orders to her cult? Guys cool it. I think this is just a test... We should still be on the lookout. If I were leading a rebellion, I would have. Just in case. Taki's right. We should be cautious. Don't give the game away yet. I would have wrapped them up in such a web of orders they couldn't even think sideways without having to call me. The team is at the building now. Sakura stops at the front entrance, unsure how to play this. ...they'll hear us if we go in the front. * LadyRoyal nods. * LordChimera eyes the door. 'uh....' But I hate putting us all at the window Taki is at. * LadyMysteria seems to be waiting for whatever test Pie has planned. It would be a bit of a lie to say she didn't look concerned about her position. * PrincessPie purses her lips. There is something we can do, though. Y-yes? * PrincessPie gets up from her chair, which on closer inspection is awfully throne-like, and goes to a locked cabinet on the far wall. She unlocks it, opens it, and pulls out a pistol. It's a smaller gun than Sakura's 9mm Glock, but not some dainty ladies' pistol either. She has a gun... * PrincessPie sits back down, unsafing it and chambering a round. * Lord_Darkmoon 's eyes narrow. What the hell kind of test is this? Oh, fuck. * LadyMysteria keeps her eyes on the gun for a good long while. Okay. Minami, Kenji, Go to the back. Join Taki. Right. * LadyRoyal does so. Taki, the second you give the word, we're going through the front door. * LadyHeat shudders and takes a sip of her waterbottle. * LadyRoyal jogs out back. Hurray for civvies! * LordChimera hesitates momentarily but then begins to run to the rear of the building. Okay... * PrincessPie points the gun at the floor in front of Maya and pulls the trigger. It fires, and Maya can feel splinters from the bullet impacting the floor pelting her ankles. What... kind of test will this be--HN! * Taki winces at the sound. * LadyHandcuff flinches and turns away, tearing up. * LadyMysteria jumps, having not expected the sudden shot. TAKI?? She only shot the ground.... Maya's okay. * Lord_Darkmoon is holding perfectly still... * LadyRoyal lets out a breath. NNn.... * PrincessPie leans forward, and slides the gun across the floor to Maya. It stops as it hits the wall beside her. Don't touch it... yet... * LadyRoyal joins Taki, slightly out of breath, and nods to her. * LordChimera makes his way up as well. * Taki doesn't acknowledge Royal as she's busy looking through the window, looking incredibly worried. * PrincessPie stands up and pulls the chair out of the center of the room, then backs up a couple of meters. * LadyMysteria follows the gun yet again, then glances back at Pie. ...Handcuff, turn around. If this goes wrong, you have to help as well. * LadyHandcuff does so with obvious reluctance. "...yes, your Highness. * LadyRoyal tries to peek through the window as well without crowding Taki. * LadySakura tenses even more, and points the pistol at the door lock. ...okay. Now, listen very carefully, Lady Star. Shouldn't we tell the queen about this... I don't want to fight Ladies. No time, no time! We're supposed to be on the same side... * PrincessPie stares at Maya once more, exerting as much willpower as she can muster. "If you are what you say you are, you will survive this. Believe me." We can't leave her in there, Taki... Tell them *later*. Take care of business *now*. Taki, calm down. We will do what we have to, now. Damn them when it's over. ...at least, when it's the right time. * Taki eyes water a bit, but she keeps watching diligently. * LadyMysteria stares back at Pie, wide-eyed, fingers flexing and unflexing slowly as she takes slow, deep breaths. Now! Pick up that gun, put it to your heart, and pull the trigger! Now! [end session]