[CM]: The suddenly cool wind
blows the dust that was once Uriel from your arms, scattering her to the
winds...
Riker screams, "Son of a BITCH! There ain't no
damn justice, Francis! None at all!" His finger jabs out, angrily.
"That, my man, is gonna change right now."
Francis bows his head and prays...
[CM]: In the distance you can hear voices, emergency services workers
attracted by the light and sound of the angel's passing...
Riker curses quietly again, and kicks some conveniently available rocks,
scowling all the while. "Crunch time, Francis, Benny. This
where we turn ourselves in, or what?"
Francis stands, and nods.
[CM]: WPR rolls please.
[Francis]: "I presume so."
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 94 ]
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 35 ]
(CM whispered to Riker): The awful gnawing hunger has gone.
[Riker]: "Let's just make sure these half-assed golems we're in don't
get waxed, ok?"
Francis cocks his head at Riker.
[Francis]: "I'm afraid I don't understand.. golems are usually made
of clay, or dirt, whereas we are composed of ectoplasm."
[CM]: A small group of workers is moving up the rise towards you.
[Riker]: "Same damn thing, Francis. Let's get this show on the
road."
[Worker]: "Hey buddy! You see a real bright light up here?"
Riker turns, still scowling. "Whadda I look like, the Answer Man?"
Worker glances around, taking in the patch of burned and lifeless earth.
Francis nods, waiting to follow Riker
[Worker]: "Just asking man. There was some kind of bright light, and
a howling sound. Figgered it came from up here."
Riker stalks towards the guy. "Call the cops. You got some cops over
there, right?"
[Worker]: "Yeah. Is someone hurt?"
[Riker]: "You, if you don't call 'em."
Worker backs away, hands raised.
[Worker]: "Jesus man, whuts you're problem?"
Worker calls over his shoulder, "Denny, get Ray up here."
[Riker]: "Look, I've had a really shitty day, all right? First
I lose my job, then I see a nuclear apocalypse, crazy angels, the end of
the world...this cop tries to pull me over, and I haveta cut his head off...I
tell you, man...does that not suck?"
[CM]: One of the small knot of workers scurries off down the hill towards
the clubhouse...
[Riker]: "So get the fucking cops up here right
now, or I will go postal on your ass, dig?"
Francis watches Riker with a look of awe
[CM]: The workers mill around uneasily. Many of them grip the tools
they were using to retrieve fragments of fusilage from the undergrowth.
Riker runs forward a few steps, waving his arms. "BOOGA BOOGA! BOOGA
FUCKIN' BOOGA!"
[CM]: The workers scatter...
[CM]: A few minutes later, Denny comes back up the hill, dragging two
cops with him.From the way the cops are puffing, they should be poster
children for Dunkin'Donuts...
[Officer Lahey]: "What's the problem here fellas?"
Francis tries to look scary, a la Hannibal Lecter
Riker laughs, riding the razor-edge of hysteria. "Ah, Jesus...I
ask for cops, and I get a buncha harness bulls..."
[CM]: The two cops could be brothers, both bull-necked and red-faced...
Riker walks chummily towards the cops. "Let's see, officers...lost
my job, nuclear apocalypse, had to decapitate one of your pals...I'd say
we've got one HELL of a problem, wouldn't you?"
Officer Lahey draws his weapon.
[Officer Lahey]: "I'd be happier if you'd stay right where you are
sir. Did you say decapitate?
[Francis]: "I wouldn't make him angry, if I were you, officer. If you
do...."
Francis draws a finger across his throat
[Francis]: "That would be unfortunate, wouldn't it, officer?"
[Riker]: "Whoa, hey, ease off them hammers, Tex...I'm stoppin' right
here. Would you believe I'm actually an artifical construct of ectoplasm,
inhabited by the damned soul of a private detective 50 years in the future?"
[Officer Lahey]: To Francis "Is he on medication we should know about?"
Francis gives an unnerving little giggle.
[Francis]: "Oh, no, officer. He killed the last person who tried to
give him medication."
[Riker]: "I'm high on life, Tex. Y'know that cop that got his
razoo chopped off near the Theatre District? Some'a my best work. Set that
dickhead Riker up reeeeal good..."
Officer Lahey looks confused, then annoyed.
[Officer Lahey]: "Alright wise-ass, lets see some ID."
Riker says, expression darkening. "Come get it."
[Officer Lahey]: "Turn around, hands against the tree."
[Riker]: "Make me."
Riker grins, hugely.
[Francis]: "I don't think they believe us... perhaps we will need to
demonstrate."
[Officer Lahey]: "Cover him Joe."
Officer Lahey pulls out his nightstick and a small can of pepper spray.
Riker waves his hands, grinning. "Ooh, toys..."
[Officer Lahey]: "C'mon fella, let's not make this harder than it has
to be."
[Riker]: "Come at me with that stick, i'll jam it so far up your ass,
you'll be tasting it, Tex."
[Francis]: "Don't say you weren't warned, officer..."
Riker cracks his knuckles.
[CM]: Tubby considers the warning for a moment. He glances back at
his brother officer, then at the look in Riker's eyes.
[Officer Lahey]: "Joe, call for backup."
Francis tries for an insane grin
[Riker]: While the officer's head is turned, Riker sprints forward,
fist lashing out for a jaw shot.
[CM]: PER roll, Francis
[Francis]: "Oh, good, more dancing partners!"
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 45 ]
[CM]: It's a sucker punch, he's not even looking
[CM]: make a roll for the punch
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 9 ]
Francis giggles again, hopping from one foot to the other.
[Riker]: WHAM! Sucker punch is right. Still, the blow
that might well have taken the guy's head off simply glances painfully
off his jaw. A real attention-getter, that one...
[Officer Lahey]: "Ooooch!"
Lahey spawls on the floor.
[CM]: Joe is still calling for backup, but reacts quickly.
Riker quickly puts his foot on the cop's holster. Gunfire is a bad
thing.
[CM]: <BLAM!BLAM!> Two shots echo out from Joe's gun as he
fires above his head.
[Riker]: "Damn, that's loud..."
[Joe]: "Everybody FREEZE! You, you and you," he says, pointing to Riker,
Francis and Benny. "Over there.. NOW!"
[Riker]: "Make me."
[CM]: Joe's hands are shaking, and he appears just scared enough to
ice you all..."
Francis moves in the direction the cop indicates.
Riker sighs melodramatically, and walks 'over there', as if he simply
does it for amusement, not because there's a gun in the act.
Officer Lahey groans and stumbles to his feet, spitting blood.
Joe jumps as his radio sqwauks suddenly. The dispatcher mutters something
about backup being on the way, but the point is moot. Already you can hear
sirens in the distance.
Riker laughs again. "Damn, you guys are so damn slow..."
[Francis]: "That's because they don't know the secret."
Francis giggles again.
[CM]: Officer Lahey and Joe keep you under guard until backup arrives.
When it does, it arrives mob-handed...
[Riker]: "Goody, they brought out the party favors. C'mon, boys,
let's go along...quietly."
Francis goes along quietly.
[CM]: You're unceremoniously cuffed by a very cautious officer, and
read your rights...
Francis giggles occasionally and mutters to himself.
[Riker]: "Yeah, yeah, yeah heard my Miranda 50 years ago, been to Hell,
don't care..."
[CM]: Then you're shoved into seperate cruisers and driven to the local
station. Of course, it's when they take your prints that things get interesting.
[Riker]: "Of course I'm Alan Riker! But not that Alan
Riker!"
[CM]: The three of you are shoved into a holding tank for a while,
while your paperwork is processed. Around you are the usual dregs of society.
Riker makes a pastime of scaring the hell out of the other cons.
Francis just giggles and mumbles to himself.
[CM]: It takes about half an hour before the shit really hits
the fan. Suddenly there's a tremendous uproar in the hallway outside the
lockup.
[Riker]: "Aw, shit. What now...?"
Francis peers between his fingers to see what's happening in the hallway.
[CM]: The doorway bursts open and a cluster of harried looking guys
in suits swarm in, each one of them shouting at the uniformed officer who
processed your prints. As one, the group stops when they see you.
Francis sidles over to the bars, leaning against them.
[Detective]: "What the fuck?"
[Riker]: "What? What what? Hey! Hey, you goddamned monkeys! Never seen
a doppelganger before?"
Francis waves "hi" to the crowd.
[CM]: Six sets of jaws drop.
[Detective]: "Lou, get on the horn to County now. Tell them they've
lost a few."
Francis picks a gullible looking officer and crooks a finger at him.
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 96 ]
The officer wanders over...
Francis beckons him closer.
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 76 ]
Riker rolls his eyes. "Look, stupid, lemme explain this to you.
We're a bunch of Damned souls come back into bodies made outta ghost-spoo
because we saw a nuclear apocalypse we were indirectly responsible for,
dig? That corpse you found on the roof was one of ours, too...he knew,
so we hadda off him..."
The officer wanders closer.
Francis presses his face up against the bars, beckoning the officer
even closer still.
[Detective]: "Which corpse would that be exactly Mr...?"
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 44 ]
The officer stays put, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.
Francis looks from side to side, as if making sure he won't be heard...
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 88 ]
[CM]: Officer steps closer.
[Francis]: <whispers> "I have something to tell you..."
(Francis whispered to CM): is he in arm's reach yet?
(CM whispered to Francis): yup
[Riker]: "The cop, ya fuckin' lackwit. Do I haveta draw you a picture?
I cut off his head, dangled his ass upside down so the private
dick would come looking, then set him up to blow the poor fucker off the
roof. Damn, man, you writing this down?"
Francis grabs the officer by the front of the shirt and drags him up
against the bars, so their faces are only centimeters apart.
[Francis]: "Tell me, officer, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your
personal savior?" he says in a perfectly reasonable, conversational tone
of voice.
[Officer]: "Waaaahh!" The officer jerks away, leaving some of his shirt
in your grasp.
[CM]: The group backs away in unison.
Francis lowers his head and giggles.
[CM]: There's much discussion between the suits. "What kind of shit
storm is this?" "Get psych down here, stat." "These guys look just like
those
guys." "Look at the prints, jerkoff. They are those guys."
[Riker]: "Dop-el-ganger. It's German. We're evil twins, see."
[Francis]: "No, no! It's a SECRET! You told them...Now we have to kill
them ALL!"
[CM]: The uniform officer returns. "Captain? County says they haven't
lost anyone. Riker and his friends are talking to their counsel right now."
[Riker]: "You've got a point there. Ok, guys, line up. He's right,
we're gonna have to kill you all."
[CM]: The lead suit sighs heavily. "Great. Just fucking great. We can't
even
trust prints now?"
[Riker]: "You got the right prints, genius...just the wrong guys."
[CM]: The rest of the day passes quickly. The three of you are questioned
repeatedly, your prints are taken again, along with hair samples (presumably
for quick DNA matching). The process repeats over and over, as the monolithic
police structure tries to come to terms with the impossible...
[CM]: What statements are you giving?
Francis cheerfully confesses to everything, including sex with Monica
Lewinsky
[Riker]: Just the truth. Edited to leave our real selves out of the
loop, of course. We're damned souls come back to save the world from never-ending
darkness...
Francis just grins goofily.
Benny runs off at the mouth about everything, including just enough
detail to put him firmly at the scene of the crime on the day in question.
Francis will corroborate that...and also being the shooter on the grassy
knoll.
[Riker]: "Hey, I was the one who killed Kennedy, dammit!" A
brief scuffle ensues.
Francis kicks, bites and scratches and is completely ineffectual.
Riker takes pains during the scuffle not to damage anyone a whit.
It just looks good for the cameras.
[CM]: Are you going to ask for a lawyer?
[Riker]: Sure, and we'll make the state pay for it, too.
[CM]: The state appointed lawyer is less than enthusiastic about being
appointed to your case, and it shows. He's also terrified of you...
[Riker]: Good. He'll make a lousy case, and we'll go to jail...with
any luck, freeing our counterparts to continue the fight...
Francis squeezes the lawyer's upper arm with an evaluative look. "Mmm...
still needs some fattening up."
[CM]: While he's talking to you, the door to the interview room, slams
open, and a woman storms in...
(CM whispered to Riker): It's your lawyer, or rather, the other
Riker's lawyer.
[Riker]: "All this and chicks too? Man, this is class treatment.
Hey there, cutie. What's shakin'? You're Riker's mouthpiece, right?"
[CM]: She stops and stares for a long moment...
[Erica]: "How the hell...Alan?"
[Riker]: "Pretty neat mask, huh? Too bad it doesn't come off. My name's
Eddie."
[Erica]: "They tried to stop me from seeing you, but... What's going
on here? I just left you at County."
[CM]: The state lawyer jerks his arm away from Francis.
[Riker]: "Well, let's see...we set up the real Alan, Francis and Bennie,
we're spirits from a possible timeline come back to save you all from an
insane angel and nuclear war...am I missing anything, Bill?"
[Francis]: "Nope."
[Riker]: "Oh, yeah. And we have to kill you two, too."
[Francis]: "Yup."
[Riker]: "I think that neatly sums it up...don't you, guys?"
Francis bobs his head sagely, looking like one of those little dogs
you put in the back window of your car.
Benny nods rapidly back and forth.
[CM]: Both of them move to the rear wall, well out of your range.
[Riker]: "Wanna see me make my head spin around?"
[CM]: The woman takes another long look at you all, before fleeing
the room.
[CM]:
[CM]:
[CM]:
[CM]: <Cut to> County Jail, later that afternoon.
[CM]: A young woman, smartly dressed, walks into an interview room,
where three men wait. She pauses, studying their faces as if she can barely
believe what she sees. Then she sighs, reaching over to touch the hand
of the tallest man.
[Erica]: "Alan, it's true," she says. "What they said, about the dopplegangers.
It's true. They look like you, sound like you. They even have the same
prints. But they're...nuts. They've confessed to the murder of Ishmael
Katroni, as well as a number of other crimes. The DNA evidence isn't in,
but I've made enough of a stink that they know they'll never get a safe
conviction on you."
[Riker]: "Great, doppelgangers from Dimension X. Look, can we get a
wrongful arrest suit going here?"
[Francis]: "I just want to go home and feed my cat... and get my laptop
back...
[Riker]: "An' I wanna talk to these hosers, Erica."
[Erica]: "Don't push your luck Alan. It took all the favours I have
with City Hall to get you guys out of here. Even with your evil tiwns in
custody they were less than keen to let you go."
[Riker]: "Ok, ok...but I still wanna talk to them at some point."
[Erica]: "As of right now, you guys are out of here. You can thank
me later, big man."
[Riker]: "Sure, sweets. Dinner at your place or mine?"
Francis doesn't seem to want to hear about "evil twins"... at all...
[Francis]: "Will it be possible to retreive my laptop?"
[Erica]: "Yeah, you'll get your toybox back on the way out. The local
PD are pretty keen to make sure you don't leave town though. They're still
pretty steamed about your doubles. I wouldn't expect much in the way of
co-operation in the near future."
[Riker]: "Hey, they're our evil twins, so I can dig it. At least
the crazy sonsabitches are off the street..."
Francis looks very troubled... he keeps gnawing on the tip of his thumb.
[Erica]: "You have NO idea how weird it was. I swear, the one that
looked like you recognised me."
(Riker whispered to CM): The future-Riker is, btw, trying to get ahold
of the present-Riker. You get one phone call a day in the stir.
[Riker]: "That is fucking creepy. Look, Erica, cut yourself a big-ass
bonus from this mess, okay? Take a vacation."
[Erica]: "I'm planning on it. Maybe I can write a book on it, huh."
[Riker]: "Hey, it worked for me..."
[CM]: OOC:Your future selves can still act BTW. Just let me know OOC
Riker runs his hands through his hair, irritably. "Lemme tell you though,
I hate the goddamned disposable razors they give you in the clink..."
[CM]: The release process takes longer than usual, probably because
the cops are dragging their feet. Nonetheless, an hour later, you're on
the street.
Riker grumbles and grouses the entire time. "So, you guys still want
Szechuan? Me, I could go for a really nice steak..."
[Francis]: OOC: Francis2 will continue acting crazy, hopefully crazy
enough that they won't put him in with the regular prison population.
So, when the "boost" they got from Uriel wears off, he can't "eat" anyone...
[CM]: You've been cautioned not to leave town, and the general vibe
was that if you get as much as a parking ticket, you'll be back inside.
[Riker]: That sets Riker to grumbling again.
[Francis]: "Whatever..."
Francis is clearly distracted, and clutches his precious laptop.
Erica gives you all a hug, then heads off to her next case, with the
promise of dinner at Riker's place in the air.
[Riker]: "C'mon, guys...let's get back to my office, huh? We've gotta
get things strightened out with all this weird shit. I mean, that did
look like a set-up to you guys, right?"
[Riker]: "Demons, psycho angels...man, this business is getting way
too weird for me..."
Benny is freaked. "THAT was a set-up? What about our evil twins? I'm
getting a major headache..."
[Riker]: "Man, Benny, why're you askin' me? I don't know what
to make of this voodoo bullshit."
Riker gets a cab for everyone back to the office, assuming the cops
don't give his 4x4 back.
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker, I really need to get to the archives now - not
only to research this Jophiel, but also to look up doppelgangers. These...things...
may not be done with us."
[CM]: You make it back to the office, intact and slightly disoriented
after the chaos of County Jail...
[Riker]: "No shit, Francis. Look, lemme just grab some hardware, and
we'll go, 'kay? I don't want any other nasty surprises."
[CM]: The office was taped up by police, but it's obvious that someone
else has been here.
[Riker]: "Oh, man..."
[CM]: Riker's spare clothing is gone, as is the spare cash in the desk.
Riker searches the office for anything else that might've been
stolen.
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker, Mr. Fitzpatrick, I have a very bad feeling
about this."
[Riker]: "Gee, you too, Francis? Man, I've been robbed here!
They took my second best shirt!"
[Francis]: "This is very odd...why would someone steal your clothes...but
not any of your electronics?"
[Riker]: "Goddammit! At least I didn't get any death threats...yeah,
stole my money, my damn clean clothes...hey...If I dust for prints, will
the only ones I get be mine?
[Francis]: "I'm very afraid that will be the case."
[Riker]: "So, you're saying our evil twins ripped me off?"
[Francis]: "Well, it's only speculation, but circumstantial evidence
would suggest so."
Benny shivers. "Is it me, or does this creep everyone out?"
[Francis]: "No, you are not alone Mr. Fitzpatrick."
[Riker]: "Lovely. It creeps the hell outta me, too, Benny. Jesus,
man, we've still gotta find your girlfriend, and stop Jophiel. And
that demon guy's probably pissed off too."
[Francis]: "Yes, I rather imagine he's annoyed."
[Riker]: "Super. Well, let's get our asses in gear then. Archives first?"
[CM]: The phone rings...
Riker rolls his eyes. "Man, what now..?" He snags the phone. "Yeah?"
Francis starts, then reaches for the phone.
[Voice]: "Alan Riker?"
[Riker]: "Yeah? Who wants to know?"
[Voice]: "Boston PD. Gotta call for ya."
[Riker]: "Aw, christ, what now...put it through, man."
[CM]: The next voice is eerily familiar...
(CM whispered to Riker): It's you...
Riker's eyes get real big. "Whaaat the fuck...?" He covers
the phone with one hand. "Francis...it's me, man..." He holds
the phone back up to his ear like it was a live snake. "Riight...you've
got five minutes...died, went to Hell, just like he said...nuclear war
after the city was destroyed..." Riker mutters all of this with an air
of rapidly-disintegrating disbelief.
[Francis]: "Ask him to tell you something you have never told anyone...something
only you would know..."
Benny mutters, "he could be a mind reader."
[Francis]: "That generally doesn't work without line of sight, Mr.
Fitzpatrick."
Riker mutters something into the phone, waits...then the jaw dropping
begins. "Ho-ly shit..."
[Francis]: "Would it be possible to... speak to... myself?"
Riker gapes. "Sure...he says...I said...aw, hell, you take the damn
phone. I need a drink."
Riker hands the phone to Francis.
Francis takes the phone
[Francis]: "Er... Hello? Oh, now I'm going to be very confused...I
see...you realize I can't take that on your word. Oh. Er. Yes."
Francis begins to visibly perspire, juggles the phone while he tries
to wipe his glasses on his tie. "No, no, that's quite sufficient. Yes,
I'm listening. Mmm hmmm...Well, what do YOU suggest? Yes... I could probably...
perhaps St. Michaels...
Benny shakes his head. "No way is this for real. No way."
[Riker]: "Man, I wish I hadda spare bottle of bourbon..."
Francis paws among Riker's desk detrius for a pen and some paper. "Not
so quickly - I need to write some of this down..." He scribbles madly.
"Yes... yes... oh...my. I will. No...she won't..."
Francis flushes bright pink and holds the phone away from his ear as
if it's turned into a rabid raccoon.
[Francis]: "Well, I..." He thrusts the phone at Benny. "Talk to yourself.
I need to... where's the restroom, Mr. Riker?"
[Riker]: "Right over there. Seat's up."
Benny backs off from the phone. "No way."
[Riker]: "Take th' plunge, Benny. They're legit. No kidding."
Francis rushes into the bathroom and slams the door behind him.
There's the sound of running water...
Benny takes the 'phone like it was a dead rat. "Yeah. Put him on."
Benny's face pales and he fumbles behind him for the chair.
Riker kicks the chair under Benny. Convenient for him to fall into.
Benny sits down heavily, as if the air had just been sucked out of
him. "Yeah....no...stabbed?" He slides a hand around to his lower back,
as if reassuring himself it's still there. "How long? Jesus..."
Benny starts laughing... "Yeah, yeah okay. We'll talk later." He puts
the 'phone down.
[Benny]: "REVERSE GEAR?!"
Francis comes out of the bathroom, his shirt soaked, wiping his face
on the towel
[Francis]: "Yes. That's what I..he...whomever...said."
[Benny]: Halfway through the laughter turns to tears, and he sobs uncontrollably
into his hands.
Riker simply sits back, shaking his head. "This is too damn weird,
man..."
Benny pulls himself together after a moment and sits up, wiping his
eyes on his sleeve.
[Francis]: "Gentlemen, I believe beyond any possibility of doubt that
was... me... I spoke to."
[Riker]: "Yeah. It's a kick, ain't it? Died, went to hell, came back..."
[Benny]: "So now what? What the hell do we do now?"
Riker says, voice dull, but steady, "We stop it. There ain't nobody
else that can."
[Francis]: "An angel gave up her...spirit... so that we could... stop
it."
[Riker]: "Yeah. Look at the upside...we got proof there's a Heaven
and Hell now...we're on top of every theologian on the planet, dead or
alive."
[Francis]: "It's an odd sort of comfort, in a way... despite everything
that they...we... went through, at the end of it we...they... were capable
of the nobility of self-sacrifice."
[Riker]: "They're just us, man. Kinda humblin', ain't it?"
[Francis]: Er...he didn't say anything about heaven... only
hell. And yes, it is. We need to live up to that. Did ...he... give you
the date? That Boston...goes away?"
[Riker]: "Yeah."
[Francis]: "Mine as well. We now know our deadline. All we need to
do is find Jophiel... and stop him."
[Riker]: "Right. How d'you stop an angel, or somethin' like one, though?"
[Francis]: "Research. Everything has a bane, a weakness."
[Riker]: "Let's get this show on the road, man."
[CM]: So, what's you're next step?
[Riker]: We're gonna hit the SAVE archives, see what we can dig up.
[Francis]: Research. Before we were arrested, we were going to
head out to SAVE HQ to see why the modem isn't picking up and what
we can find out.
[CM]: SAVE Boston is located in a vast old house in the well-to-do
district of Brookline, in the shadow of the Hancock Tower. Or rather, it
was.
[Francis]: "Oh...dear..."
[Riker]: "Oh, man..."
[CM]: When you pull up by the main gates, the scent of smoke and burned
plastic hangs in the air...
[Francis]: "Perhaps another resource."
[CM]: The Fire Services have taped off the whole site, though there
isn't enough building left to be dangerous...
[Riker]: "Can't we call New York or somethin'...?" He stares at the
crater.
(CM whispered to Francis): The archives were in the basement. they
may have survived...
Francis opens the car and gets out, carefully stepping under the tape
line.
[CM]: Judging by the way the wreckage is smouldering, the blaze must
have happened a few days ago...
Riker follows along. "When it rains it pours, huh Francis..."
Benny follows Francis, staring at the devastation...
[CM]: The facade of the building is still standing, but the roof has
completely gone...
[Riker]: "Francis, tell me there were fireproof vaults, man."
[Francis]: "The archives were in the basement. It's possible something
has survived."
[Riker]: "What about the water?"
[Francis]: "We'll see, will we not?"
[Riker]: "Yeah."
[CM]: Halfway down the drive lie the immense front doors, blasted and
blackened, driven into the ground by some tremendous force...
Riker grimaces, letting Francis lead the way. "This don't look good..."
[Francis]: "Oh...dear..." Francis takes his glasses off and wipes them
on his tie. Putting them back on, he picks his way through the rubble,
looking for some sign that something has survived.
[CM]: PCN rolls.
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 27 ]
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 87 ]
(CM whispered to Francis): There are handprints melted into the reinforced
steel of the doors.
(Francis whispered to CM): As if they were torn off? But the strength
required...
Francis crouches next to one of the doors, peering at it intently.
[Francis]: "It appears that these weren't blown off... they were torn
off."
[CM]: Nearer to the house the grass is damp with residual water. Great
tyre tracks have been gouged out of the lawn by fire trucks and other vehicles...
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 94 ]
[Riker]: "Oh, man..."
Riker pauses to look at the doors. "Toldja there were werewolves runnin'
around...unles you're sayin' they had Jophiel in the basement, and he busted
free somehow..."
[CM]: The early evening sun casts strange shadows across the lawn and
a cool breeze playfully ruffles your hair.
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker, if we are capable of going to Hell and back,
we can handle whatever we must."
[Riker]: "Yeah, but we had years to get usedta Hell. Me, I've had a
few hours. Look, let's give the place the once over before it gets dark."
[Francis]: "Indeed. Let us do so."
Riker rummages carefully through the rubble, looking for...oddities.
Weird runes, signs, anything that fits the pattern of events he's seen.
Francis is looking for a way down to the basement.
[CM]: Through the arch of the empty doorway, you can see into the shell
of the house. It's just brick now, blasted by unimaginable heat. Everything
else has been reduced to ash and blobs of metal...
[Francis]: "The antiques..."
[Riker]: "Looks like our boy made one hell of an exit..."
[Benny]: "Or an entrance."
(CM whispered to Francis): PCN roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 73 ]
(CM whispered to Francis): You cast about for the entrance to the archives,
but all the point of reference are gone.
(Francis whispered to CM): Well, I'll keep wandering around... perhaps
a better perspective...
[CM]: PCN rolls please (both)
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 15 ]
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 74 ]
(CM whispered to Riker): While checking the rubble you notice a concavity
in the ground, and a shadow that might be a doorway...
[Riker]: "Hey...hey Francis. Check this out..."
Riker is poking arround what might be a doorway.
Francis heads over to Riker.
Benny hurries over.
[CM]: Partially buried under a pile of brick that might have been a
chimney at one time, is a metal door, warped but intact.
[Francis]: "Ah! Now, if we can only open it."
[Riker]: "I got a prybar in the truck. Can you guys, I dunno, make
sure it's not the door to Hell or somethin'?"
[Francis]: "Certainly."
Francis examines the door closely
[CM]: WPR roll Francis
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 70 ]
[CM]: Who knows where it leads?
[Francis]: Does it look openable?
[CM]: With effort, yes.
Riker returns with the prybar a few minutes later. "Ok...tell
me we're not springing Satan or something..."
Francis crosses his fingers. "We're not springing Satan or something."
[Riker]: "Ok...d'you mean that...?"
[Francis]: "Er... yes."
Riker catches the crossed fingers. "Super. Ok, lemme at it..." He carefully
wedges the prybar into a crack, and pulls...
[CM]: STR roll please.
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 80 ]
Riker grits his teeth. "Sonofabitch..." He sets his feet for another
go at it.
[Francis]: "Perhaps if we all work on it..?"
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 57 ]
DICE for Benny: (1d100) = [ 69 ]
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 95 ]
Riker dances back, shaking his hand. "Ow, dammit!" A shallow cut lays
across the palm.
Francis pulls a hankerchief out of his pocket and offers it to Riker.
[Francis]: "Hrm. It is rather...stuck."
[Riker]: "One more time, boys...heave ho an' all'a that crap."
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 29 ]
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 90 ]
DICE for Benny: (1d100) = [ 37 ]
[CM]: Despite Francis's puny muscles, Riker and Benny open the door
a crack...
[Riker]: Wedge the bar in a little deeper, and get that mother open
enough to get in and out...
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 90 ]
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 9 ]
DICE for Benny: (1d100) = [ 73 ]
[CM]: There's a hiss of air, and the smell of something rotten seeps
out..
Riker staggers back. "Auuugh!"
Francis falls onto the crowbar.
[Riker]: "What the hell's that smell..? Naw, don't tell me...dead body,
right...?"
[Francis]: "Perhaps more than one..."
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 11 ]
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 81 ]
DICE for Benny: (1d100) = [ 96 ]
[CM]: Due mainly to Francis' renewed vigour, the door shudders open
a few more inches, just enough to squeeze through (but not in a hurry)...
[Riker]: "Awright, Francis, Benny, check it out...lemme see if I can
get it open some more..."
[Francis]: "I don't suppose you have a flashlight, Mr. Riker?"
Riker dangles his maglite from two fingers. "Th' gift that keeps
on givin'."
Francis takes the maglite with a prissy little smile and squeezes through
the opening.
[CM]: Inside, there are steps leading down, gleaming with moisture.
Benny slides in after Francis.
[CM]: The stairway seems to lead down a short way to a small landing.
Francis heads down the stairs, carefully choosing his footing.
Riker works at the door, once Benny and Francis are inside...
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 20 ]
[CM]: The door creaks open a little more, then jams with finality.
[CM]: The stone steps are slick with water, and the maglite reveals
a puddle at the bottom of the stairway.
Riker makes sure the door's damn well jammed, then heads down to back
Francis and company up, pistol at the ready.
[CM]: The rotten smell down here is stronger...
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 65 ]
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 34 ]
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 49 ]
Francis covers his face with a hand, trying to block out some of the
stench
[CM]: The light from the flash reveals three doors. The archives, the
armory and the stairs to the sub-cellar.
Riker wrinkles his nose, but forges on. Maybe fresh air'll clean it
up a bit...
[Francis]: "Oh, Mr. Riker? That door leads to the armory."
[Riker]: "You've got an armory here? Gimme a second."
[Francis]: "I have no idea what might be in there. Not really my area
of interest."
Francis heads toward the door to the archives, closely followed by
Benny.
Riker heads for the armory.
[CM]: Not surprisingly, the power is out, so the keypad to the archive
isn't working. No matter, there should be a manual crank handle somewhere.
Francis looks around for the manual override...
[CM]: PCN roll Francis...
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 77 ]
DICE for CM: (1d100) = [ 54 ]
[Francis]: "Damn!"
[Riker]: "Problem, Francis?"
Benny points to a small valve wheel near the door. "Is that what you're
lookng for?"
[Francis]: "Yes, that would be it. Thank you, Mr. Fitzpatrick. We've
got it covered Mr Riker."
Riker shrugs and turns back to the armory door. Lessee, how to get
in...
[CM]: The armory has a big steel door, with a big steel keypad set
into it.
[Riker]: "Oh, crap. Hey, Francis, you know if this thing's got a manual
release or somethin'?"
[Francis]: "Undoubtedly - it'll be a small crank like this one."
[Riker]: "Fun."
Riker looks for the crank.
[CM]: It's not easy to spot, but it's there nonetheless. The mansion
was supposed to have emergency backup power, so that even in an emergency
the secure doors would function. Obviously the power has now run out.
Riker cranks away. Maybe there's some holy water or something inside.
Francis is trying to open the door to the archives.
[CM]: The cranks turn slowly, and both doors grate open in unison.
Riker tenses. Of course, closed rooms could mean more bodies, booby
traps.
Francis is only thinking of the irreplaceable reference materials.
[CM]: Which room gets checked out with the mag-lite?
[Francis]: Archives!
[Riker]: He's got the maglite. Gonna haveta wait on whatever's
in the armory...
[CM]: The archives are a mess. Water has seeped through the damaged
ceiling and is pooling all over the floor. Thankfully most of the valuable
texts are kept in sealed lockers, but the computer system is shot, and
lots of paper files are just smears of goop.
Francis whimpers at the destruction.
PCN roll.
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 2 ]
(CM whispered to Francis): There's a leather filofax on the floor near
the main terminal. It looks like one that the director used to carry.
Francis bends down to pick up a small black leather notebook.
[Riker]: "How bad is it, Francis?"
[Francis]: "It's... bad."
[Riker]: "Aw, man...anything salvageable?"
[Francis]: "The most valuable texts are probably safe... but the computer...
I doubt that anything is recoverable."
[Benny]: "What's that?" he asks, pointing at the filofax.
[Francis]: "It looks like the director's organiser."
Francis flips it open to the marker.
[CM]: The paper is wet and most of the ink has run. However some of
the last entries in the diary section are legible.
Francis reads the most recent entries.
(CM whispered to Riker): Where are you?
(Riker whispered to CM): Riker's in the doorway to the archives, talking
to Francis, casting wary glances about. Wouldn't do to have something nasty
sneak up on us in the dark.
Riker looks at the mess in the archive. "Damn. Hey, since it shorted
when the power was on...can you pull the hard drive, maybe?"
[Francis]: "I'm primarily an analyst, with some programming skills...
I don't know..."
[Riker]: "Hmmmm...Is the unit vaguely portable, man?"
[Voice]: "Franccccissss? Issss that you?"
[CM]: The voice echoes within the confines of the archive room.
[Riker]: "Jesus!"
[CM]: The temperature drops suddenly, and the mag-lite beam dims...
[Riker]: "Awwww, shit! Francis, Benny, get outta there...!"
Francis looks up at the sound of his name... toward the direction of
the voice.
[CM]: It's coming from above you...
[Riker]: "Francis, Benny! OUT!"
Francis looks up, squinting, to see who it is.
[CM]: The flash beam reveals the figure, clinging to the beams of the
ceiling...
Francis tucks the filofax inside his coat.
[CM]: You recognise him immediately, Francis. Gustav Reyner, fellow
archivist, comrade, scholar...and now it seems, vampire.
[Francis]: "I believe, Mr. Riker, that we may need a bigger gun."
Session ends
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