Jan 14 22:52:21 ** Taki Wars, Episode 5. The last thing fresh in Taka's memory was a phantom death that was much too real for her. It's been a long, dreamless sleep, and even unconcious, she has a feeling that she's subtly stronger... perhaps 'fuller' would be a better word. The clock that's visible on the far wall as her eyes open say it's January 14, 2005, 10:42 pm. She's in a hospital room, and there's two figures in there with her- one she recognizes, and one she doesn't. Start. * Taka 's eyes open and she looks around the room. "Aah... ugh." She seems to be a little out of it, as if trying to remember why, or how, she's here. * NPC2 , the other person in the room, is big, and wide- like a football player. He's got black hair, wild and greasy, covering his eyes like a forest of follicles. He's got a thick layer of plastic? on his shoulders, that looks like nothing more than some kind of futuristic body armor. * Eric eyes widen, and he jumps to his feet. "You're awake!" * Taka looks over at Eric, takes a second to recognize him, then sighs. "In some ways, I wish I weren't..." Taka, for the record, has nothing more than one of those hospital smocks on. * Eric frowns for a moment, eyebrows furrowed. You've been out of if for 2 weeks... * Taka gets back to reviewing the room, sees the clock, and stares. "Oh my..." * NPC2 waits, silently, arms crossed. * Eric nods, as it sinks in for Taka. "... yeah. We were all worried, except for him." He thumbs over at the other guy. * Taka closes her eyes. "Is everything alright? Were... Gerald and Sachiko hurt?" They're okay. ... Sachi's worried, and I don't know about Gerald. I mean, I know him through work and all, but I don't know him really well. He's keeping a good face up, though. Oh! I should call the nurse... * NPC2 pipes up, with a thick, southern accent, "She's just fine." * Taka snorts. saying in a slightly derisive tone, "That can wait." She opens her eyes and looks towards NPC2. * NPC2 nods to Taka. "Nice to meetcha in person. Nina's partner, Guy." * NPC2 is now known as Guy * Eric eyes Guy for a moment, then ignores him and looks back to Taka. "Well... are you? Okay?" (Am I okay?) ( Yes, you are! Never felt better. ) I feel well, yes. * Eric seems slightly miffed by that answer. "Well, that's good. I think." * Eric glances at Guy again. * Taka sits up more forward-like. "I would hope so." She blinks her eyes. "I remember being sliced open... I certainly do not feel sliced open." ... I wasn't there, but Gerald and Nina said that there was a lot of blood. But they couldn't find any damage. * Taka makes a small mming noise and sighs slightly. "That sounds... annoyingly familiar." * Guy shakes his head, ruefully. "A shiiide effect the good doctor didn't predict." * Eric closes his eyes, looking like he doesn't want to say what he's about to. "... well." You're awake, and your husband wanted to be called when you woke up. He got... uh. How do I put this... bad news, and I don't want to be the one to tell you. * Taka sighs. "When the sky darkens, it is always a hard rain. If you could call him, Eric?" She frowns. "I, no doubt, am not 'allowed' to leave." Yer allowed ta. The situation yer in, it'd be best if you didn't have to answer a lot of questions. * Eric pulls out a cellphone, and dials a number. After a moment, he starts talking into it. "Yeah, it's me." "Yeah, she's awake..." "Just a sec." * Eric holds the phone out to Taka. "Your husband would like to speak with you." * Cellphone (jexer@12-217-192-188.client.mchsi.com) has joined #TW (AAH! IT'S A SENTIENT CELLPHONE!) (It's going to EAT YOU!) * Taka seems taken aback by Guy's 'let's ditch!' philosophy, and takes the phone. "Gerald?" (Us cellphones are just getting smarter, and smarter, and smarter... it won't be too long before we get AIs and hack peoples new-age homes.) ( *cackles evilly ) Hey, hun.... I... Gerald sounds distraught. ... get home as soon as you can. I've got bad news, and I don't want you to hear it on a hopsital bed. * Taka frowns a little, yet nods along with the cell phone. "I feel fine so, ah, as soon as I can find some clothing, I will be straight home." I'd pick you up myself, but the cars down. Eric volunteered to keep watch, if you're wondering why he's there. God, Taka... I'm so glad you're okay. * Taka mms slightly. "I wondered, but when I heard it had been a few weeks..." she pauses, then replies back softly, "I am too. We've suffered worse." She pauses again, then adds, "I will be home soon, Gerald. Love you." I love you to. Be safe. * Cellphone has quit (Quit: DOOM ON YOU) * Taka hands the cellphone back to Eric, then looks at Guy. "Well, do I have any clothing, or am I to go out in this?" They're in storage somewhere. We don't got tha time to find em, though. Yer safer back at yer house, and the other Taka's around here somewhere. Wonderful. * Eric frowns. * Guy shrugs. "Not really. Whenever yer ready, let's go." * Taka waves the two of them ahead of her before slowly standing up from her bed, just in case she feels better than she is. * Guy leads the way. (Okay, I'm looking for some scrubs, or something, as I walk. Just as a note. I'm too old to be walking around bareassed.) Taka finds some scrubs in one of the open, empty rooms they pass by. There's also a t-shirt several sizes too big that has a Route 42 logo on it with the scrubs. * Taka says, "Stop for a second," then ducks in the room, closing the door and changing into something a little more decent. If slightly less legal. They hold up long enough for her to get changed. * Guy leads the way again. ... to the elevators, and the ground floor. ( Taka, listen check, -2. ) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 3. (Hoo yes.) Taka hears the rumble of motorcycles from outside the front doors- probably closer than is allowed. (Motorcycle_s_?) ( Yes. ) * Taka frowns and says, "Those Motorcycles are too close. You wouldn't happen to know any evil motorcyclists, would you?" * Guy glances back at Taka and Eric, and holds up a hand. "Stay put a second." * Guy then strides closer to the front door, and quickly turns around and makes his way back to them. * Taka rolls her eyes at Guy's protection complex. A moment later, a megaphone shouts, "Taka! Come and face me!" (Voice recognition?) The voice is all too familiar- it's Taka's own voice. * Taka frowns and says with a hard tone, "... it seems you were correct. Who are our foes?" Bikes, six I think. They've got weapons, didn't catch what kind. ... you're on one of them. ... of course. * Taka looks back away. "No hospital has only one exit. I would rather face doctors than a motorcycle gang. Shall we?" * Eric blanches. The megaphone voice shouts again- "Taka Fontain, you fake, come and face me here. If you insist on being a coward, I will face your family first." Aw fuck. * Taka 's frown deepens. "She is certainly obsessed with this fake thing." * Taka stretches her arm. "Do you have one of your strange guns, Mister... Guy?" * Guy smirks. "Got better. Hopeful' I don't have ta use it, though." Taka, Eric, can you two get to the garage, and yer car? (Where is the garage?) My orders don't jsut apply to you, Taka. They apply ta all Takas, and I don't want you involved in the fight. The quickest way to the garage is through the front door, but there's a path/bridge to it from each floor. * Taka shakes her head. "I... take it you will not be actually trying to hurt her, then?" * Guy shakes his head. "Distract her long enough fer you two ta get outta here." * Guy knocks on his body armor. "I'll be fine, unless they pull out some'thin insane." * Taka glances over at Eric. "Or she hits you in the head. Let us go up, Eric." * Guy pulls out a device from his belt, and aims it at Taka for a second, then clips it back on his belt. He starts walking to the door. * Eric watches Guy go, then starts walking the other way. * Guy activates the device- and suddently there's a holograph of a Taka walking right next to Guy. Weapons fire as soon as him and the holograph make it outside. * Taka goes with Eric and gets a faint, amused smile. "We may hope that I had decided to teach you after all, before the night is out." * Eric musters up a bit of bravado. "Hey, I get into fights all the time. Nothing new to me." So I hear, but, and I do not mean to offend you, if she wished you harm, there would be harming. (How are we progressing?) * Eric leads her up to the second floor. "But I bet you didn't know that I'm one of the fastest pizza delivery guys there is." ( Fast walking. ) Yes, well, be faster. * Taka goes from the fast walking into a jog/run. * Eric kicks up the pace, too. Soon enough they reach the second floor bridge to the garage. They can both hear the fight right underneath them- motorcycles and guns and a 'bwwzzzzt' sound. (So we're progressing along the bridge now?) * Taka tries to stay reasonably low, on the off chance of being noticed. * Eric digs out his keys as they enter the garage proper- they're on a chain, and he spins them like a mace, stopping next to a nice-looking cadillac without a roof. It was pink at some point, but it's badly in need of a paint job. There's a pizza sign in the back seat. * Eric hops in the drivers seat, and starts it up. * Taka opens the passenger door, gets in, and closes it. You can do that with one arm! Climb in, and don't forget to buckle up! * Eric squeals out, and blasts out of the garage at faster than he probably should. * Eric blasts out the garage proper, and as he does, you can see the scene. Guy has a big, glowy sword- it's wide and flat, and red. It's connected to his body armor via a thick power cord, and he's swinging it like a sword at the bikes. The bikes are driving around, shooting at him, and the other Taka is too. * Taka eyes it. "... that seems incredibly unsafe." Guy's fine, for the most part- he succeeds in impaling the motorcycle the other Taka's on just as Eric speeds by. The other Taka yells at the other bikes to follow the car, landing on her feet- and then Erics rounds a curb, and they're out of view. The sounds of motorcycles follow them. * Guy has quit (Quit: DOOM ON YOU) Oh come on! A lesson one should always learn. It is never that easy. Well, if I don't lose them, I've got a pistol in the glovebox. And don't look at me that way, I've never used it, I've just kept it after disarming it from someone who tried to carjack me. * Eric squeals around another corner, but not quite fast enough- 2 of the pursuing bikes make it into line of sight. * Taka frowns distastefully. "I am not a fan of... guns." A round of semiautomatic fire takes out the side mirrors next to Taka. Well, I was hoping you were more comfortable with them than m- hang on! * Eric jerks the wheel, and cuts diagnolly across the lanes, narrowly avoiding a corvette, and makes another turn. * Taka opens the glove box carefully, still frowning. "They are stupid weapons." * Eric grimaces. "It's a just-in-case. That one of the reasons I wanted training, so I'd actually know what I'm doing and not even have to have them as a just-in-case." * Taka grabs the gun and looks behind her, to see if anyone is chasing. "Well, this seems a case that is just, as it were." The roar of motorcycles resounds again- more catch up, 3 from behind, and one turns into the street ahead of them, and starts a game of chicken. * Taka looks at the one in front of them and says, "Sadly, I am on the wrong side of the car to fire forward..." More weapon fire sounds- there's a nasty sound that sounds like one of the rear tires blew up, the trunk gets a few holes in it. ( And gimme a ranged def roll, Taka. ) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 4. (Made by 2.) The windshield bursts open- more bullets fly between Taka and Erics heads, and they both get pelted with shards of glass. ( This is pesudo-combat, by the way. You can take shots when you so desire. ) (Well, now that there's no winshield...) (Can I hit the bike of the person in front of us if I take time to aim?) ( Dont even have to aim. If you wanna take an aim action, though, go for it. ) (Well, that's what I mean. But if it's clear that an aim action would mean him ramming us, then I wouldn't take it.) ( There's enough distance, you can aim ) * Taka holds the gun up as level as she can, aiming at the bike in front of them. * Eric swerves a bit, trying to compensate for the busted tire. There's another round of fire, and a few holes appear in the hood of the car. * Taka continues frowning even as she fires the gun. The lone bike playing chicken shifts his aim slightly, as he gets closer. ( Don't miss. =p ) (Let's see, Aim is... -2) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 6. (On the nose! Take that, aim round!) The biker doesn't make it- his front tire explodes, and he careens off wildly. (Nah, it's cause you arn't in MC2 ...Dicy's doing things to them a Redneck tree would blush about.) * Eric cringes at the shot. (I noticed.) * Taka lets out a nervous breath. "Well, there is that." The car nearly bucks as more semiautomatic fire shreds the rear of the car- it starts jerking wildly as the back bump starts dragging, and the other tire gives out. * Eric has a look of white-faced panic as he struggles to keep control- and fails. The drivers side of the car hits a brick building, and scrapes against it loudly. "Oh, dammmmmiiiiiiiittttttttt!!!!!!" * Taka winces and shakes with the car, not having any ability to handhold. ( Did Taka buckle up? =p ) (Yes!) ( Take a -3 to a bod roll, then! ) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-3) and gets 4. (I got body! By 3!) Taka and Eric both manage to stay intact until the Cadillac stops. The three bikes from behind zoom by, showering lead in the general direction of the Cadillac, Taka, and Eric. (Now gimme a ranged def. :3) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 7. (Ach, missed by 1.) Taka, Eric, and the car all get hit. The first two leak blood, and the last one leaks gas. * Taka unstraps herself, muttering curses in japanese before saying in english, "Dammned guns." * Taka reaches across her body to shove the door open. "Eric?" * Eric doesn't duck -quite- in time, and slumps- he's leaking a lot of blood, and grabs his side. "Yeah?" (Can I smell the gas?) ( Yup! ) * Taka gets out of the car, looking around as she says, "We cannot stay here. The gas is leaking." * Eric winces. "GodDAMMIT!" * Eric starts crawling out, staying low. The bikes come back for another pass, three strong. And another one is heard coming up from behind. (Possible cover?) ( Gimme an init. ) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6+6) and gets 12. (... Oh, you suck, dice.) ( There's the car, can try and make it around the corner, other cars, and there's a resteraunt across the street. ) * Taka runs for car cover, deciding to shoot towards the multiple targets. Who knows, maybe she'll get lucky. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 8. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 4. (Miss by 2, make by 2) One bike goes down before it gets back into firing range, flipping over forwards at high speeds and impacting the front of an oncoming pickup truck. * Eric looks up, and crouches down, tensing himself in his car and waiting. The bikes open fire again, the fire focused on Taka's cover. The car Taka's behind takes the brunt of it, but some still heads her way. ( Another def roll! ) * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 6. (Made. Barely.) ( Go ahead an write it. ) The two paired bikes keep coming, and pass, that strafe completed. The lone bike from the other end does the same thing- except for Eric suddenly leaning forward, and shoving himself away from his car, doing a handflip to get his feet in front for a leaping kick. "Hiiiiiiyah!" Eric, and the lone biker, both go down. The bike goes on. * Taka stays ducking behind the car as the fire comes and Eric pulls his stunt, then runs out across the street. "What kind of fool trick was that?" (Are the other bikers still well off?) ( Yeah. ) * Eric doesn't answer, still tumbling. The kick was good, the landing was not. There is, however, a downed biker with Eric. His submachine gun got scattered under a car when he landed, though. * Taka rolls her eyes and kicks the biker, hard, as she approaches. Get up, Eric, or you will be mowed down! The biker groans, curls up, and clutches his stomach. * Eric rolls to his feet, panting for a moment, then runs behind the cover Taka just was at. * Taka is in the process of crossing the street! She eyes the bike/where the bike went as she passes. Off behind them, the 2 bikes left turn around. (Where is the poor bike?) ( ~15 feet away. ) * Taka gets behind a car on the other side of the street and takes aim at the oncoming bikes. * Taka still seems unpleased. Perhaps it's at the gun, perhaps it's the bleeding. * Eric stays behind cover. The bikes zoom closer, the riders taking aim again. * Taka fires calmly at the one she was aiming at, then tries to shift aim and hit the other. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6-2) and gets 7. * Dicesuke throws the bones for Taka (2d6) and gets 3. (... Dammit, I take aim rounds and still miss. Mutter.) (Got the second.) The bikers are down to one as Taka takes out another bike. The spray of lead goes badly, and hits the already beaten up Cadillac- it sparks, and after a moment, EXPLODES. * Taka stays behind the cars, hopefully it can take the shock wave. * Eric curses LOUDLY. There's much shattering of glass from the explosion, and a sudden deafening orchestra of car alarms. Taka, for the most part, is fine though. * Taka mutters, "The police will arrive soon... come back, stupid biker..." she looks out to see if he's going to turn. The remaining bike turns, and stops. For a moment, it justs sets there. Then it zooms off. * Taka sees it zoom off and heads for one of the downed bikes. "Eric!" * Eric calls back, "Yeah?" It is time we move on. At least for the moment, we are still in danger. * Eric comes out of hiding. He's holding his side, which is pretty bloody. "Ugh." * Eric looks to the ground, solemn for a moment. "My car..." * Taka rips off the sleeve that would cover her right arm. "Come here and we'll try to take care of that. You will need to visit a hospital. Perhaps a different one." * Eric looks back up. "... I'm a sucker, aren't I? ... never lost a car by helping someone..." * Eric walks over. I got hit in the shoulderblade, one on the side, and one just above the hip. *he grimaces* It hurts like hell. Not the smartest situation to become involved in, sadly. * Taka puts the sleeve against his side. "Hold that down." * Eric holds! "Smarts don't really have much to do with it... otherwise I'd just avoid fights altogether." * Taka frowns and continues, "Smarts have almost everything to do with it." She brings the makeshift bandaage around and tries to tie it. "Hopefully you had 'explosion' insurance." * Eric grimaces at the tying. "Well there's the rainbow to the-" *he hisses as she ties it.* ... storm. *he glances up* ... Well, will be once it stops raining. Something we will worry about when the storm lets up. * Taka , with her gun in her pocket, finishes her tripped to the downed motorcycle and rights it. My insurance company will love this. 'My car got blown up because I was helping some girl I had only met a month ago escape from her clone and a bunch of guys on bikes with automatic weapons.' The bike is still running, go figger. (Is there a throttle on the left hand?) (And a brake?) (and clutch?) ( Uh... ) (Clutch if it's not automatic, yeah.) (As a note, throttle/brake can be on the same handle.) ( Actually, dunno which is standard. I beleive the throttle is on the right side, brakes on the left. ) ( So I think I'll go with that for the moment. ) (Think it's break/signals/clutch on left, gearshift and throttle on right) (Ha. Fucked.) * Taka frowns. "Of course they do not have controls for a one-handed woman." (How was OtherTaka driving, then? ^_~) ( Custom bike since I overlooked that. =p ) (Hee.) What I would not give for a good Japanese motorcycle right now. * Eric eyes the bike, then his side. "... I"m not driving with bullets in me. It was bad enough to do that kick." * Eric grins, despite himself. "Still can't beleive I pulled that off!" * Taka smiles as she says with a chiding tone, not looking at him, "It was impressive, and foolish. I am surprised you did not break your foot." Sirens sound! Not as loud as the motorcycles were, but just give it some time... * Taka shakes her head, sighing. "It seems luck is not on our side." * Eric looks around. "Unless you want to stick around... I probably know the guys, but ... uh. I don't think they'll let this" *he gestures around at the damage* "slide." * Taka shakes her head. "I do not, but I cannot drive this." She drops the bike. ... I don't like this. Running from the cops. But... they'll take forever for something like this, and ... well, Nina and Guy don't much give the impression that you'll be safe with them, and ... I guess they were right. You do have a twin sister. * Taka chuckles, then says, "You should stay. You will be safe." ... but she'll be heading to your house, she said. * Taka adds, perhaps crazily, since she's bleeding, "You need treatment for those wounds." * Eric weakly waves the comment off. "I've walked to the hospital through worse. ... I'm also lying through my teeth." Stay here, Eric. You should be fine.. * Eric takes the cue to take a nice, comfy position on the side of the road, and lie down. * Taka 's face looks determined. "I must get to my family. May I borrow your cellphone?" Sorry I wasn't more help. * Eric grins, and digs it out, then holds it out. "So you gonna reconsider that training thing now?" Perhaps. When you get out of the hospital, look me up. I'll do that. * Taka dials her home number and starts to jog off as fast as her wounds will let her. "Good luck, Eric." * Eric waves after her. "Good luck!" * Cellphone rings! It's picked up after a moment by Gerald. Eric? * Taka says, probably sounding like she's running, "No, honey. I'm afraid Eric is waiting for the police. We had a one car five motorcycle accident." ... what happened? Are you okay? I could be much better. I think, Gerald, that if you have bad news, you should most likely tell me now, as it is a long run home. ... are you sure? * Taka smiles a little, altough it is a grim smile. "No, but as I am bleeding, you may not get another chance. The motorcyclists were not kind enough to leave a one-handed motorcycle." ... your mother. She was killed. ... by 'you'. Your sensei was also attacked by her, but he's fine. * Taka pales and slows, although does not stumble. There's a long huff from the other end. * Taka says quietly, "Haha," and no, that's not a laugh. "Chic... my father and Sensei Kubota are fine?" From what I hear. Your sister managed to get the number here, and yelled at me incoherently before I calmed her down enough to understand her, and even then I didn't get many details. * Taka sighs as she picks up run speed again. She also looks like she wants to cry, a little bit. "That's not very comforting..." ... I'm sorry, love. I'm sorry all this is happening to you. It's so frustrating to not be there by you... And I swear, I'm going to kill Guy if he lets anything happen to you. * Taka nods a little. "Thank you, Gerald..." she pauses, then says, "Gerald, the woman is in town, and will no doubt chase me down, but she also threatened you. Are you certain you cannot get someone to pick me up?" Give me an adress, and stay put, and I'll have someone there asap. (Okay, where am I?) ( In town, more of a old-style brick building area. Can just varaiablize it, if you want. ) (Well, she's going to guess where she's gonna be in a little time.) (So it's the address plus a bit more distance.) ( Sure. ) I am at $address plus a bit more distance$, Gerald. I hope they will not mind my gunshot wounds too much. God... I hope you make it safe. * Taka says, the worry and sadness and everything finally creeping into her voice, "Me too. I will see you soon." She hangs up and wipes her eyes, continuing to run at least a little farther. I need to hang up to call them. Call if anything happens, and be safe. * Cellphone has quit (Quit: DOOM ON YOU) * Taka keeps running for a bit longer. A lone police car pulls up alongside her, half-a-block before the given address. * Taka slows and looks over to the police car, seeing who's in it. The window rolls down- it's Detective Bob! * Taka smiles a little at seeing good ol' Bob. * Bob isn't smiling. The doors audbily click as he unlocks the doors. "... you're a mess." * Taka opens the front passenger door, if she can. "I'm glad to see you are doing better." Y... yes. * Taka gets in and wipes her eyes again, before holding down one of her bullet wounds. "Just take me home, detective, please." This is in serious violation of I don't know how many procedures.... Gerald's got some explaining to do. * Bob looks over Taka more thoroughly, then rolls up the windows and starts driving. "Until we get there... just relax, and hang in there." * Taka leans against the car door and sighs, muttering to hersself, "There is a mass murderer out there, Detective Bob. That may disturb... procedure." She pauses, then lowers her head to her sleeve again. "Oh, mother..." ... and the police car drives off ... Jan 15 02:32:57 End.