<@Brett> ["... came to South Africa," Alysha finishes. "The company's done some business down here, but that's more Julia's territory than anyone's."] <@Brett> [You reach the bottom of the pier, where the tiny car awaits. It looks like there should be just enough room for the three of you to get in.] * Sonia nods idly. "Yeah, right." She opens the car door to get in and check all the levers and knobs real quick. <@Brett> [The man bows politely as you approach. "Ms. Johnson, I assume? I'm from Suprafastneedarentals...." And rather than assume Sonia just breezed past to open the car, we'll assume plesantries were exchanged and he handed over the key before leaving to get a ride with his partner.] <@Brett> ( You are logging, yes? :o ) (Yeah. <@Brett> ( Huzzah ) * Sonia is super pleasant. Mostly. * Sonia then gets in the car and gets it ready to go, and gets herself ready to drive it. "Pile in. We shoving him on a plane to somewhere, right?" <@Brett> [Alysha nods as she shoves the kid in the car and gets on after. "Yep!"] <@Brett> ( in, not on. ) <@Brett> ( She's not vehicle surfing today. ) * Sonia takes off down the street, waiting a few moments before asking, "Why?" <@Brett> [Alysha blinks. "Why what?"] Why we takin' the kid anywhere in particular? <@Brett> [Alysha shrugs. "Maybe I'm just a charitable person and hate to see a child with such potential not have a chance at life."] <@Brett> [She grins. "But actually, it's because he owes me."] * Sonia is silent a moment, then says, "Yeah, if you've got the money to run charity. Why's he owe you?" <@Brett> [The boy doesn't respond when Alysha turns her gaze to him, a coldness in her eyes that Sonia hasn't seen since that day in Paris, long ago. "It doesn't matter what horrible circumstances forced him into soldierhood. He tried to kill me. That's a heavy debt. One that can only be repaid with their own life." She looks at Sonia. "Servitude's better than death, don't you think?"] * Sonia is silent a moment, then offers, "Maybe. Depends on the service." <@Brett> [Alysha's grin softens. "Yeah, guess I'd better go over that." And she starts speaking to the kid in a language Sonia doesn't recognize, but... probably Portugese.] * Sonia no longer has to talk to Alysha! So she focuses on driving them to the airport instead. <@Brett> [She keeps talking as Sonia heads through traffic! Possibly full of nostalgic memories. South Africa, the richest, most advanced nation on the continent, yet still considered third world by the U.S. and Europe.] <@Brett> [The kid never verbally responds to Alysha. In fact, it's hard to tell he can hear her at all, until one point where she says something that makes his head snap towards her, eyes wide. She holds his gaze and grins, and he turns his stare back to the windshield. After a minute she starts talking again.] <@Brett> [After some time, you reach the airport. How this will jive with time problems with the other channel, I don't know!] * Sonia comments, idly, before they get there, "You reach n'understandin'?" <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Yep. he hasn't actually agreed to it, but really, what choice does he have? For better or worse, he's a soldier. He's made to serve. Yet he has no loyalty to the men that turned him into one, and whether he'll admit it or not, this is his best chance at having a better life."] * Sonia 'hnh's, then replies, "Funny, didn't think this'd be as much of a mess as it is. Done a pretty good job of racking up a body count myself workin' for you." <@Brett> [Alysha blinks. "Do you regret it?"] * Sonia half-shrugs. "No more than anything else. S'different. Challenging in a different way. Sometimes even in driving." <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "Good, I'm glad to hear that. I did mention this job was dangerous, but I had no idea things were going to get this out of control."] * Sonia nods slightly, then adds, "When you're at the top of the game, it's hard to find real challenges." And if you ain't doin' that... then what the hell are you doin' anyway. <@Brett> [Alysha grins. And then you arrive at a hanger! "Here we are."] * Sonia nods and puts it in park, although sure as hell doesn't turn it off, and pops the door open slightly. "You see your contact?" <@Brett> [Alysha grins as a familiar black man walks out of the open hanger doors. "Yep." Sonia remembers where she's seen him before: It's Ambal T'chara, wizard mercenary who once tried to kill Alysha and, by extension, Sonia. The one she recruited after.] * Sonia nods slightly and watches him, hand lightly fingering her gun. Just in case. "Good deal. Make it quick, legs, yah?" <@Brett> ["Don't worry. His family's under my protection, remember?" She grins as she gets out, dragging the kid with her. And almost immediately there's two high pitched shrieks. One from the kid. The other from a giant grey rat in a lab-coat, who comes streaking past Ambal, paws wide. "ALYSHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" <@Brett> ] * Sonia watches the Rat and groans slightly, before saying, loudly, "Ey, Rat-man, we're on a schedule!" <@Brett> [The kid actually runs behind Sonia, grabbing her waist as if expecting her to protect him as the rat colliders with Alysha, practically knocking her over in a tackle-hug. "Oof! Hi Snitch. I missed you too."] <@Brett> [Snitch waves his paws at Sonia. "Metal lady! Snitch remember!" He hops up and down.] <@Brett> ["But what are you doing here, Snitch?" Alysha asks.] * Sonia smiles just a touch. "He's like a kid himself." <@Brett> [Ambal steps forward. "He really wanted to see you again. I think it's adorable." He smiles. "Ms. Johnson. I trust my family is safe?"] <@Brett> [Alysha nods. "Of course. You haven't let me down yet."] <@Brett> [Ambal makes a polite bow to Sonia. "Doesn't much matter, it's not like I have a unit to go back to anyhow." He glances at the boy. "This is him? What's his name?"] <@Brett> ["William," says Alysha. "Until he decides to tell me different."] <@Brett> ["And you want me to train him? You know I'm from Zakanar, he's from Mozambique. We won't necessarily get along just because we're from the same continent."] <@Brett> ["Doesn't matter," Alysha says. "You both work for me now. Take care of him, teach him how to be a real soldier. Magic, too, if he's got the talent for it."] <@Brett> [And Ambal nods. "Done."] <@Brett> ( Man.... Holding a conversation between NPCs sucks ) (Yeah, I can't help too much. :( ) <@Brett> ( Sorry. I honestly hate it every time it comes up. ) * Sonia leans on the car idly waiting. (It's fine.) <@Brett> ( Having an NPC as central as Alysha is more of a burden than anything. How do GMs do Mary Sue npcs and not get annoyed? ._. ) <@Brett> [Alysha stretches. "Great! Well, we should be getting back before Shiho demands Mr. Vollenstein send the entire company to comb this country looking for me."] <@Brett> [Ambal nods, taking the kid's hand. The kid, 'William', hides sort of behind Ambal, eyes glued to Snitch.] (Lots and lots of self love.) <@Brett> [Snitch waves enthusiastically. "Bye bye Alysha! Bye bye metal lady! Snitch miss you much!"] * Sonia chuckkles slightly and says, "I'm sure the boys can keep her distracted for at least a few moments." * Sonia gives Snitch a slight wave. <@Brett> [They head towards the plane in the hangar as Alysha heads back to the car, smiling. "I love that rat."] * Sonia replies, "He sure seems to love you. Just your kind'a crazy." * Sonia gets back in the driver's seat just before Alysha gets back in the car. <@Brett> [Alysha grins as she gets in. "And brilliant. They're keeping him busy in R&D."] Right, he had a brain before he ate all that junk food. <@Brett> [Alysha snickers at that. "We'll have to get him some granola bars."] * Sonia takes off fairly quickly once Alysha's in to head back to the boat. "Sure you can buy 'em. No other side trips, yah?" <@Brett> [Alysha shakes her head. "Nope. Captain Burns is taking the other prisoners to the authorities. Since we were technically in international waters, they're going to be tried in South Africa. And since South Africa isn't fond of Mozambique right now..." She grins.] Yeah, piracy's kinda a 'feast and dead' thing, from what I remember. <@Brett> [Alysha grins. "Yep! Profitable, though. If you win."] Right. And then you die. You pick the wrong target 'cause you're stupid and ain't got any backup or research and that's that. <@Brett> ( Oh, Sonia.... ) <@Brett> ( Gimme a sight or hearing check ) (heightened senses apply?) <@Brett> ( Yes ) 2d6+7 Sonia rolls 2D6+7: 6 5 +7 = 18 <@Brett> [Shortly after they get on the highway from the airport, back to town, Sonia hears a rushing noise, loud but also distant; she wouldn't have heard it if not for her super duper metal bits. Looking out her window, she sees a trail of white smoke. One that seems to be approaching her quickly.] (On the ground?) <@Brett> ( Gimme a vehicle defense roll :D ) <@Brett> ( Nope, air ) 2d6+7 Sonia rolls 2D6+7: 2 1 +7 = 10 <@Brett> ( Well then... ) (It's good I have a backup car.) <@Brett> [Too late, Sonia realizes that at the head of the smoke is an RPG. She swerves the tiny car trying to get out of the way, but it's no good. The rocket explodes underneath their vehicle, sending the little care spinning through the air. It bounces a few times before skidding to a halt on its roof.] <@Brett> ( Let me figure out damage ._. ) <@Brett> [Well, suffice to say, it hurt a lot. Sonia's even bleeding, something not often accomplished. Glass shards from the window and windshield are sticking out of her. Alysha seems to have gotten lucky, probably from being on the other side of the car. She's got a head wound and is unconscious, but at least she's breathing. Sonia's body seems to have gotten in the way of most of the glass.] <@Brett> [She hears some vehicles skid to a halt not far away.] * Sonia is a glass-cushion! But not dead. "Fucking pieces of scrap." She pulls her suitcase around as she listens over Alysha and hears her breathing, and then listens around to see what kind of approach people are making, if anyone, and the best way to roll out of the car and try to run off. <@Brett> [Sonia's head is reeling! But she does see combat boots. They surround the car, and then a man kneels down on the passenger side, a black man with his face wrapped in a mask. "Who the fuck....? She's got a kid with her."] * Sonia takes that in: for once, someone's after her, not Alysha, and then makes a roll for it, trying to grab Alysha and roll out the driver side, complete with smacking her suitcase open against the ground so her car can deploy. That's the plan, anyway! <@Brett> ["Bring her, says a disturbingly familiar voice. As Sonia tries to get out, she gets caught on something, and is only halfway out the car when she sees him: a white man wearing a suit and dress shoes. A familiar man. The shady man she met so long ago, the man from GilaCorp, who gave her her first job. "Hello, Sonia," he says, jugling a small metal disk in one hand. Then he thrusts it at her <@Brett> chest, and suddenly her body is wracked with pain and non-responsive!] <@Brett> ( And... This seems like a good end point to me ) (Well, does the car manage to deploy? Because it might be able to run.) (If she's actually completely non-functional.) <@Brett> ( Sure, if only because having a way to warn the others would help a bajillion percent ._. ) (I agree!) * Sonia is paralyzed, electrically, her glasses falling off and green eyes looking out a little blankly. But the suitcase falls open, a swirl of metal forming up into a car. It makes a high-pitched shreiking noise and then tries to take off, by itself, as Sonia remains paralyzed. <@Brett> ["Shit!" One of the men yells, and he and some of the others open fire on Dreamer's retreating form.] <@Brett> ( Gimme.... ) <@Brett> d3 <@Brett> 1d3 Brett rolls 1D3: 2 <@Brett> ( 2 def rolls ) 2d6+4 Sonia rolls 2D6+4: 1 3 +4 = 8 2d6+3 Sonia rolls 2D6+3: 6 5 +3 = 14 <@Brett> [A few bullets graze Dreamer's side before it (assumedly) gets on the highway. Sonia discovers she can still hear. And see, though she can't move her head. But she hears the thud as the man in the suit hits someone. "You IDIOTS! God damn it, get them to the vechicles, quickly." Sonia glimpses a man walk back, carrying Alysha bridal-style, before someone (or someones) start dragging her.] <@Brett> ["Fuck, she's heavy," says one. And the suit man responds, "Of course she is. She has all our tech." His face appears over hers as he gives a nasty smile. "Tech that we want back."] (Can she still speak?) <@Brett> ( Nope! ) (Hooay!) <@Brett> ( Pretty much done here anyhow, got to wrap this up ) (Yep.) <@Brett> ( I assume Dreamer's heading to the other channel? ) (Boy, is she, as soon as she gets a line on where to go.)