<Brett> [Meanwhile, over here, same deal, except it's near a university.  Since
one of the university dorms has been deemed unfit for habitation, the university
was forced to put its students in the Pretzel for a while.  Them kids will be up
all night anyhow.]
<Brett> [You're in the plaza! What to do from here is up to you.]
<Brett> [Session Start]
* Togo is, for the moment, looking around, trying to get the lay of the land, so
to speak. (No need for more description, don't worry, Brett. =P)
* Luana has been switching between stern and worried muttering as she looks
around to get her bearings. "I'll never forgive myself if something happens to
you, sir. You need to be extremely careful. I don't know -why- you decided I
should get it in the first place."
<Brett> [I'll do it anyway!  The plaza, which is really more of a lobby, is a
wide open area dotted with nice chairs and plants.  There's a counter to one
side, with two clerks in attendance.  Not far from them are a set of stairs, but
of course most people are apt to take one of the two elevators at the far end of
the room.]
<Togo> Two reasons. First, I fight at range, you tend to get in close. More
chance of you getting close enough to get infected.
<Togo> Second... I'm a 52 year-old with several hundred thousand miles on me.
You're a kid with your whole life ahead of you.
<Luana> I can fight at range, and that's ridiculous.
* Luana activates her comm briefly. "~Luana. We're in the lobby.~"
* Togo chuckles. "Kid, I'm slowing down. I can still aim, but I don't move like
I used to. I heal slower. React a bit slower. In this line of work, that's gonna
catch up with me eventually. You've got years to do good."
<Luana> I have an extremely hazardous lifestyle. The chances that I'll live
particularly long are slim to none, and the only way I can get properly trained
and increase my life expectancy is if my -guardian- stays -alive-.
<Togo> Prerequisite to that is you staying alive to be trained.
<Togo> Plus, remember when I said my first job was keeping you not dead? I
wasn't kiddin'. *grins*
* Luana shakes her head briefly. "I've already excepted that I might die in the
line of duty, but you have plenty of knowledge to pass on to others if I should
fall! Although I... I really appreciate your concern, it's... the mission,
Blitzkrieg's goals, they're much more important than my life."
<Luana> I -really- wish you'd taken the vaccine, sir.
* Luana is still looking around discreetly.
* Togo nods. "I know. And the fact that you want to take the responsibility on
yourself is good. But I made the call."
<Luana> I know, sir.
<Togo> ... by the way, on the off chance this backfires on me, you better not
blame yourself or I'll come back and haunt you with ghost sheep.
* Luana giggles, just a bit. "If it means you'll still be training me, then I'll
take that risk, sir."
<Togo> And absolutely no bad poetry.
<Luana> I wouldn't dare shame your memory with it, sir.
<Brett> [Just then, a young guy enters the lobby.  He's wearing jeans and a blue
shirt and jacket, and carrying a backpack.  He heads towards the elevators.]
<Togo> Good. *pauses* Okay, what I can see is limited, so you gotta tell me if
anyone looks outta place here.
<Luana> Nothing yet, sir. It mostly just looks like a bunch of university
students.
<Brett> [He gets in the elevator!]
* Togo nods. "Okay, quiz. What's our next step in finding people who might be
out of place?"
<Luana> (He doesn't look suspicious! That's pretty much what I wore all the time
at school!)
<Luana> Er... I'm not sure, sir. Other than stealing Keiko and asking her to
check.
<Togo> No Keiko. Who else would be in a position to observe who's coming and
going?
<Luana> ...Hotel clerk.
<Brett> [Another guy enters! He looks much like the last one, except palete
swapped, andm aybe has a beard too.]
<Togo> Good. Follow my lead. *heads to the desk*
* Luana follows dutifully.
<Brett> [There's a clerk at the desk! "Can I help you?"]
* Togo flashes his Official Credentials Badge of Power (TM). "Hi, yes, we've
gotten a tip that an art thief we've been after might be staying here to
arrainge a sale. Have you or your staff noticed anyone acting suspiciusly?
Looking out of place, keeping a bit too close an eye on their bags, anything
like that?"
* Luana stands there and looks authoritative!
<Brett> [He blinks. "An art thief?  Uh.... well, we reserve the right to check
bags, but we ususally, well... don't."]
* Togo nods. "I understand. Okay... the piece in question needs to be kept cool.
Ancient vase or something. Where do you have your central air unit?"
<Brett> ["It's in the basement."  He jerks a thumb at a door next to the
counter.  One that says "Authorized personelle only".]
<Togo> Would you mind if we took a look? I'm sorry to bother you, I can see it's
a bit crazy.
<Brett> ["Alright..." He gets up, grabs a pair of keys, and unlocks it for you.]
<Togo> Thanks. We'll try to be out of there as fast as we can.
* Togo heads down, and motions for Luana to follow.
* Luana follows.
* Togo waits until the door closes behind them. "When in doubt, bullshit
convincingly and somewhat close to the truth. People respect the badge and will
go along with most reasonable requests."
<Brett> [The door leads to a short staircase that goes, surprise, down! The
basement area isn't very pretty.  The floor is concrete, the walls are plaster,
and there's pipes and valves and things all over the place.  Plus it's very
hot.]
<Luana> Right.
<Togo> And if I wanted to spread a biological agent all through a building, I'd
go for the central air unit. Only way to get it everywhere.
<Luana> Oh! I was wondering.
* Luana nods and smiles brightly, then goes to look for virus canisters.
<Togo> Well, if he let it loose in the lobby, they'd get some people, but mostly
just the people in the lobby. Same as if they released it on any particular
floor.
<Brett> ( Awareness checks! )
<Togo> 2d8-6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-6) and gets a natural 5 for a result
of -1.
<Togo> ( I are aware )
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 3.
<Luana> (Me too!)
<Brett> [You're both aware of a total of 0 canisters of gas.]
<Togo> ... well, either they're going for the inefficient way of doing things,
or they're not here.
<Togo> Time to sweep floor-to-floor.
* Togo heads back up!
<Brett> ( Or they could just not be there yet. )
<Brett> [Conveniently, on the way up Togo runs into a technician on his way
down!]
* Luana keeps following. It's a living.
* Togo lets the tech pass, and glances. Is he carrying a large bag or anything?
<Brett> [He's got a large toolbox!]
<Togo> ( Large enough for the canisters? )
<Brett> ( It is! )
* Togo pulls out his badge. "Would you mind opening that toolbox for a moment?"
<Brett> [He blinks. "Huh?  What for?"]
<Togo> Sorry for the hassle, but we got reports that a disgruntled former
employee of the company that owns this hotel was planning some sort of sabotage,
possibly releasing an irritant into the air system. Just gotta check.
* Luana moves to stand between Togo and the techie, just in case.
<Brett> ["Huh? I haven't heard anything like that." Awareness checks!]
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 12 for a result
of 8.
<Luana> (Made, barely)
<Togo> 2d8-6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-6) and gets a natural 4 for a result
of -2.
<Togo> ( I'm quite aware! )
<Togo> You wouldn't have, unfortunately. Company higher-ups wanted to keep it
quiet, didn't want to scare away guests and all.
<Brett> [Although it's barely audible, Togo hears the door open behind him.]
* Togo pivots, reaching into his jacket, and looks to the door.
<Brett> [Meanwhile, the guy grumbles. "Hey, they ought to tell me if it's one of
the technicians.]
<Brett> [Togo notices just in time as a woman rushes at him with a knife! Gimme
a def roll, then roll init!]
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 5 for a result
of 2.
<Togo> ( Made )
<Togo> 2d8+14
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8+14) and gets a natural 11 for a result
of 25.
<Luana> 2d8+12
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8+12) and gets a natural 8 for a result
of 20.
<Brett> [Order is Togo, Luana, Woman, Engineer.]
<Brett> [Togo avoids the knife thrust, and now it's his turn to act!]
<Brett> [The woman, by the way, is dressed in a red mini-skirt and red corsette. 
Her hair's also red, and extremely wild.
<Brett> ]
* Togo pulls out his shotgun and fires at the woman. "Keep an eye on him!"
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 6 for a result
of 3.
<Togo> ( made )
<Brett> [Togo blasts the woman with a shotgun. Ouch!  Although the brunt of it
missed her, but still.]
<Brett> [Luana!]
* Luana says to the techie as she tries to guide him away from both the stairs
and the air system, "Please stay back sir, we don't want you to get hurt."
<Brett> ( That's pretty much impossible, he's right between both :P )
<Togo> ( First lesson: Never bring a knife to a gun fight. Second lesson: Never
bring a miniskirt and a corset to a trenchcoat-fight. )
<Brett> [The woman takes another stab at Togo. Literally!]
<Luana> (Well, she keeps him away from the fight, then.)
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 8 for a result
of 5.
<Togo> ( Made )
<Brett> [Togo doesn't get stabbed again! Woo!]
<Brett> [And the engineer moves back, as directed. "Uh... okay."]
<Brett> [Togo!]
* Togo ejects a shell with a loud *KA-CHAK*, and fires again at the woman,
moving a bit to lead her (and his line of fire) away from Luana and the guy.
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 7.
<Togo> ( Made )
<Brett> [She ducks out of the way this time. D'oh!]
<Togo> ( Shucks. )
<Brett> [Luana!]
<Luana> In the meantime, could you please open your toolbox for me? Just in
case. As you can see, she's -very- disgruntled.
<Togo> ( Don't mind the knife/shotgun fight going on not five yards away, good
sir! Allow me to peek into your toolbox! )
<Luana> (It's Serious Business!)
<Luana> (That's it, hold action.)
<Brett> [This time the woman draws something from a pouch and flings it at the
ground.  Smoke begins to fill the area! D'oh d'oh!]
<Brett> [The guy stares at Luana, then at the woman, then at the smoke. "Uh...
Like right now?"]
<Brett> [Togo!]
* Togo pauses for a moment, considering whether to shout 'Fool! Mere smoke
cannot hide your evil from my sight!'. He decides against it, and just shoots at
her again.
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 4.
<Togo> ( made )
<Brett> [Togo shoots her again! Ow! But she's still standing!]
<Brett> [Luana!]
* Luana sighs. "No, not right now. Stay down, please." She puts a hand on his
shoulder and kneels, pulling gently. Or not gently, if she has to. She's not
letting go of him if she can help it.
<Brett> [The woman takes another stab at Togo!]
<Brett> ( And Luana, gimme an awareness check, +2! )
<Luana> 2d8-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-2) and gets a natural 9 for a result
of 7.
<Luana> (Made)
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 11 for a result
of 8.
<Togo> ( nope. )
<Brett> [Togo gets stabbed.  Ow.]
<Brett> [And Luana is not so distracted that she misses the engineer swinging
the tool box at her.]
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 11 for a result
of 7.
<Luana> (Huzzah! I don't get brained!)
<Brett> [Luana doesn't get brained! The guy turns and runs deeper into the
room!]
<Brett> [Togo!]
<Togo> I'll finish her off! Stop him! *shoots her*
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 7.
<Togo> ( made )
<Brett> [She dives to one side, avoiding!]
<Brett> ( Good grief. )
<Brett> [Luana!]
* Luana heads in the direction of the guy and throws a punch at him.
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 6.
<Luana> (Made)
<Togo> ( And the shotgun is +1 to dodge, too. Such go the rolls. )
<Brett> ( Yeah, but she does have high evasion. )
<Brett> [Luana clonks him on the back of the head.  But he keeps going!]
<Luana> Agh!
<Togo> ( I know. Wasn't complaining. When I complain about rolls, you'll know
it. =P )
<Brett> [The woman stabs at Togo again!  How lame.]
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 4.
<Togo> ( made )
<Brett> [Togo does not get stabbed!]
<Brett> [The guy knocks over an oil barrel as he runs from Luana.  She needs a
body roll - acrobatics (jumping) to avoid tripping.]
<Brett> [Togo! Again.]
<Luana> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 7.
<Luana> (Made. Goddamn fake techie.)
<Brett> [Luana jumps over the barrel!]
<Togo> ( All she needs is a hammer and she's mario in Donkey Kong! )
<Brett> ( It's your turn Togo :P )
<Togo> ( Well then say so. =P )
<Brett> ( I did :P )
* Togo fires another shot. "You can fall down and die anytime now, you know. Go
towards the light'n all."
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 7.
<Togo> ( made )
<Brett> [Togo blasts her again. She's still up!]
<Brett> [Luana!]
* Luana lashes out quickly with an open-palmed strike.
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 3.
<Brett> [Luana hits him in the back! He staggers, but keeps going!]
<Brett> [And the woman runs back out the door.  Meanwhile, the guy opens the
toolbox and withdraws a funny looking cannister from it.  He throws the open
toolbox at Luana. (ranged def for this one)
<Brett> ]
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 7 for a result
of 3.
<Brett> [Luana avoids the toolbox!]
<Brett> [Togo!]
* Togo lets her go, and runs after where Luana and the guy went. (I assume I
have no clear shot yet?)
<Brett> ( Nope! )
<Brett> [Luana!]
* Luana tries a kick this time, putting all her balance on one leg and sweeping
the other out at the man.
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 6 for a result
of 2.
<Brett> [And down he goes!]
<Brett> [He quickly hits a bunch of buttons!]
<Brett> [Togo!]
<Togo> ( shot yet? )
<Brett> d2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Brett (d2) and gets a natural 1 for a result of
1.
<Brett> ( Yes! )
* Togo blasts the prone guy with his shotgun, trying to put him out for the
count before he arms the whatever the hell it is.
<Togo> 2d8-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d8-3) and gets a natural 14 for a result
of 11.
<Togo> ( HA )
<Togo> ( Dramatic timing ftl )
<Brett> [Togo doesn't manage to do it.  Luana!]
* Luana practically falls to the ground as she kneels to deliver another
open-palm strike.
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 13 for a result
of 9.
<Luana> (Fuck!)
<Brett> ( Oh man. )
<Luana> (It would be SO LAME to fail now.)
<Luana> (Oh, oh! DR!)
<Luana> 2d8-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Luana (2d8-4) and gets a natural 10 for a result
of 6.
<Luana> (Made!)
<Brett> [Luana hits him in the chest, and his eyes buldge out, then he goes
unconscious.]
* Luana grabs the cannister quickly and glares at the still body.
<Brett> [The canister doesn't look armed.  Yay!]
* Togo pulls out his shackles and handcuffs the guy while he has a chance. "Good
job, Luana."
<Luana> Thank you, sir. He was a bit stubborn.
<Brett> [End in here!]