Difference between revisions of "Ahana Iacta Est"

Last time, in Hamtramck Tales:

Dripping blood, dragging her wounded leg, Ahana's grin is macabre. She is still able to keep up with the van right now as they load, so she walks right up to the bumper and tries to shove the bomb up the tailpipe. She fumbles, though, with fingers slicked by crimson and her nerves on fire with pain, but she just raises up and points her pistol at the back of the van.

It takes them a few seconds to get everyone in, the side door hanging open as Nixon falls in, and Reagan jumps in beside him. SLAM. Once they're in, Carter floors it, leaving a stream of sparks behind. Fortunately the molotov doesn't ignite just yet, it merely chipped when it landed after the failed stuffing attempt, but Ahana had better chuck it somewhere, or run.

CRASH! When Ahana takes her last shots at the now somewhat-speeding van, she manages to shatter a rear window, which isn't going to be pleasant for the passengers. But Carter is in front, and he keeps on driving for dear life, out of sight.

And now, the thrilling conclusion.

She knows they can get away at this point, this isn't her first firefight, so Ahana simply puts her pistol away and uses her good hand to flip her parka's hood up... hopefully before any mundane locals try to ID her. She doesn't throw the molotov, she knows what it's blast power and radius is... it goes up in a gout of fire that outlines her form as she drags her leg and licks her blood from her fingertips. "Fine, then," she says "It's been too long since I've been hunting."

The Presidents aren't getting away very quickly though. One tire of the truck has been shot out. A SHOWER of sparks is going behind. That and the gunshots have been heard int he area. Anyone nearby could have heard any of this, and probably should have.

And well, while Measure 2 to the north isn't well policed, Hamtramck has some police. Sirens are heard, and they're getting louder.

A familiar robin's egg blue Pinto rounds a corner to head for the shop--and then screeches to a halt near Ahana. Maya's eyes are wide as she leans out the window. "Hey! You need help?"

Wednesday comes jogging around a corner to the street, brim bouncing, an absurd grin on his face. His Moonsorrow t-shirt peeks out from his flaring greatcoat. He looks around with concern on his face. "Everyone...everyone okay? I heard wasp-throwers..."

Note is following Wednesday. She lands on his shoulder when he stops to survey the scene.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Alexandra sits at her drafting table. She likes to keep an eye on things. Tapping a few keys on her Macbook. Complex symbols drawn onto the case with sticky orange tape, cut with an Exact-O knife. Text scrolling over the screen, the contents of a police channel. An address catches her eye. She turns in her chair, settling her joint on the edge of her ashtray. Well. This merited some looking into. Her pen comes out. The wizard goes to work.

Raising one eyebrow at this, Ahana doesn't waste time on words. Instead she turns and opens the passenger side door of the pinto like it's the most natural thing in the world. "Wotan my man, you hop in too please and thankyou," she says to Wednesday like she expected him (no she didn't expect anyone) to be here too. Her voice sounds strained from her pain. Settling inside as she says to Maya, "Nnngh... see that three wheeled van sparking in the distance? Follow them and I will explain. Oh, and... sorry about your upholstry."

Orders are orders, and Ahana seems to know what she wants; as soon as Wednesday squeezes himself in (poor man, how could he possibly *fit*!) Maya stomps on the gas and the hamsters start dashing away. "You sure?" she asks Ahana, though her foot stays on the accelerator. "You don't look so good."

<<DICE>> Maya rolls dex+drive, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (2 5 8 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
[HEALTH] Maya heals 2 Lethal damage! She is Unhurt!
<<DICE>> Alexandra rolls arete, difficulty 4 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (2 6 7, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

"I've had worse," grunts Ahana with no hesitation, lending credence to her having in fact had worse. "If any of you can patch me up, well, I'm not stupid. But... the guys in that van just got away with thousands of dollars of ordinance. It's not my bottom line I'm worried about here. Even if they are just being opportunistic, they are the wrong hands to have those weapons in. More than likely? They've been planning this, and they need the hardware for something big that will involve hurting a lot of people; just a hunch. It's not like you can't get illegal weapons in town a lot easier than breaking into my legit store and its security. So, I'd rather not lose them. Any lives they take are blood on my hands."

Well, that is interesting. It's impossible to say they weren't a well timed lot. Alex taps a few more keys, bringing up a map of the city. The electrical grid laid out across the screen. One of her many, many, maps of Detroit laid out over her table. Finding connections, linkages, using them to form the shapes and symbology that focus her Will. Guiding and switching electricity through the circuits by her command. The map quickly filled with angles and notation.

Rei is not in this speeding car chase, not yet. Having received a message from Ahana, Rei is waiting along the route though. She and her duffle bag of guns and gear are perched on top of an old two story building along the road at the edge of Measure 2, watching the oncoming road through the scope of a 7.62 TKIV 85 sniper rifle.

The Hamtramck PD is on the way. Witnesses heard high powered rifle shots, and know there's a gun store in the area, so they're taking this somewhat seriously. Unfortunately for the crew in the Mayastery Machine, the cops managed to get right BETWEEN her and the 'speeding' truck. The cops block the street, getting between the two. A few go after the truck, and two come toward Maya. Sirens on, bullhorn out. "Stop. This is the police. GEt out of the car, and put your hands on the hood."

But boy howdy the lights are favorable for those blocked off streets.

Wednesday is crammed into the car, breathing shallowly, and digging into his lower coat pockets for a moment before producing a couple of tiny, labelled amber-glass bottles. He squints at them, drops one back into his pocket, and hands the other to Ahana. "Pain relief" he says simply. The label has a ugly, scrawling handwritten note on it - 'Oak/Juniper/Walnut.' He puts his hand on her shoulder, and closes his eye in concentration.

Being one of the early adopters of technologies from her generation, Ahana has been using the thumb of her good hand to rapidly tap out something on her phone. "Thanks Wednesday," she takes one of the bottle's contents. "Allright. Rei knows our route, simple as giving her a Google nav to follow... fucking goddamned Jesus onna pogo stick in rushour traffic... " She frowns and then pulls her tactical looking 'ethergoggles' down over her eyes. She's not looking back or turning around, simply watching the police in the rear view mirror. "I'm willing to bet that model cruiser suffers from a bad distributor cap when the city has little funding to maintain them, yeah? Funny how a faulty connection inside the terminal can cause the engine to miss and even put a cam shaft through the engine block... "

When Wednesday dove in to Maya's car, Note flew off to get Alma's attention. She's walked out of Biernacki's now, and comes upon the scene to see cops standing off with Maya! She starts digging around in her pockets.

<<DICE>> Wednesday rolls Intelligence + Esoterica, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (2 5 9 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Wednesday rolls Arete, difficulty 3 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (3 7 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
[POOL] Wednesday spends 1 points of Quintessence. Reason: Healy stuff for Ahana's GSWs.

"Fuck," Maya whispers. "Fuck fuck *fuck*." She gives Ahana a desperate look, and hits the brakes. "I can't," she mutters, bitter self-recrimination behind the words. "I can't do anything with this many of them. *Fuck!*" One hand slams against the steering wheel.

Wednesday keeps his head down, eye closed in concentration for another moment as the 'potion' - tasting somehow both bright and bitter and earthy all at once does it's thing. Ahana's wounds all but close, and a wave of relief washes through her body. She's still bloody, but just.

Alexandra hears on the radio that they're in simultaneous pursuit of two vehicles of interest. One is stopping, one isn't.

[HEALTH] Ahana heals 3 Lethal damage! She is Bruised!
[POOL] Alma gains 2 points of Paradox. Reason: Sometimes uncertainty is certainty

Alma grows impatient and just RIPS one of her pockets open and scatters stuff in it all over the place. dirt, rocks, small screws, seed, a glass vial of water... all go everywhere. She stomps on everything! The vial breaks. She rips her pocket some more!

<<DICE>> Alma rolls arete, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> FAIL (1 5, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Alma spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success

"I'm sorry," Maya whispers, lifting her hands carefully from the wheel. "Take the car if you need to. The Winchester's in back." She gets out, empty hands first--you know, the way you're supposed to, when you don't want to get shot by the cops. Point in favor of her: she's pale. As directed, she gets out and keeps her hands in clear silhouette.

<<DICE>> Alma rolls arete, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 success (1 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Alma spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
<<DICE>> Alma rolls arete, difficulty 7 
<<DICE>> 1 success (1 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Alma spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success
[POOL] Alma gains 4 points of Paradox. Reason: Frayed knot
<<DICE>> Alma rolls 6 dice, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 success (1 3 4 5 6 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Looking to Maya, Ahana's face is unreadable. She mutters "Gods damn it all. I hope those cops don't get killed in this pursuit. Oh Wednesday, oh thank you. Your pain pills work wonders, man." Looking towards the window, Ahana reaches under her coat and begins unbuckling her shoulder holster. She pushes her goggles out of her face and says "No affinity with the mental sciences... " Her still-holstered gun is in her hand as she pulls out her wallet. "You guys just tell them I held you at gunpoint for the ride. I think I know what I have to do now; it's been a pleasure knowing you both."

[POOL] Alma spends 1 points of Paradox. Reason: Here's the rub

Wednesday slides...no. He nearly pops out of the car, hands up and visible. He stumbles for a moment, then catches his balance and moves to the front of the car to put his hands on the hood. "You're call," he says to Ahana with a nod.

<<DICE>> Alexandra rolls arete, difficulty 4 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (1 5 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Alexandra spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success

This is why you should never leave the house. Alex adds a line to her map, trailing the path of the fleeing van. Quickly, around the place it occupied in the symbolic space, she adds a circle. Lines. Focusing herself on it. A protractor appearing in her fingers to perfect the ring. Bits of math and measurement done. Her fingers on the machinery of Creation that control the van's motions. Forcing them to a stand still.

A lot is happening at once. A good quarter mile away, the Presidents find their vehicle skidding to a sudden stop. Which sends the passengers rolling around, grunting in back, and Carter thumps against the steering wheel.

That would sound useful, but uh... yeah. The cops have a massive, simultaneous wardrobe malfunction. Their clothes fray, as though just aging and falling apart all at once. Buttons and fasteners popping off, the fabric just falls off of them. Which causes the van's pursuers to jam on the brakes themselves in panic, and that can be heard ont he radio. "Oh my god," yells and shrieks of surprise and alarm.

The cops who get out to approach the Mayastery Machine have the same problem. They watch the two right up until the lcothes fall, then they're covering themsleves. One though still has the wareness to shout toward Ahana. "You, out of the car."

The cars blocking the road each have a driver still inside by the way.

Also nude.

Stepping out of the car, Ahana has her hands above her head, her holstered gun in plain view as she sets it down on the ground at her feet. "I am First Lieutenant Shanaya Patel, U.S. Army and U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers special field operations designation R&E attache' to NSC unit VE308. I order you to let these people go; they are bystanders I coerced through force to give chase to the perps who robbed my gunshop as part of a three year investigation into one of the local gun running rings. In other words, boys, you have no jurisdiction here. Don't believe me? Just wait and see how angry your superiors are when you run my unit designation. I dare you."

Maya has her hands on the frame of her car, her head bowed... but at Ahana's declaration, she lifts it and stares at the woman.

Wednesday's grin is back, mad as hell. He mutters, "Tree-of-wasps," but doesn't move yet, listening for their response.

Alma smears away the blood that is dripping from her nose. She's ready for whatever they'll do next. She rests her hand on another pocket.

The cops are nude, and they try to fix that. They try to grab their fallen clothes, and tie them over themselves... but the clothing tears. Eventually they give up and just start approaching the group with everything hanging out. "Shanaya Patel... so you're... Ahana Varma?" They look at each other, and yell back to the car to have them run that. Meanwhile, they just makes ure everyone's in sight. "So you're the victim here. Understood. That means the... other was the attacker? We'll run your information. For now, just stay here. Don't move, all of you. Would you like an ambulance, ma'am?"

Meanwhile, to the south, Carter is frustrated, but one of his co-conspirators calls out "Just try to start it back up?" He growls. "You think I didn't think of that?" And then tries it. It... works, and the van is slowly off and running once again. The panicked cops radio that in and begin to pursue... until they hit the municipal line, and stop in their tracks, and radio THAT in.

<<DICE>> Rei rolls perception+alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> FAIL (1 2 2 5 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Alma rolls perception + alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 4 successes (3 8 9 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Ahana rolls Perception+Alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> FAIL (1 5 6, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Alexandra rolls perception + alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (2 7 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Maya rolls perception + alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (3 4 9 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Wednesday rolls perception + alertness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (3 5 5 8 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Wednesday, Alexandra, and Alma notice, in the distance, several black helicopters in the sky. Together. Coming this way.

<<DICE>> Maya rolls 1 dice, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> FAIL (2, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Alma calls out, "Does Detroit PD have black helicopters?":w

"Don't bother with an ambulance," says Ahana as she sighs, "These civilians were just caught in the crossfire. They aren't even material witnesses to the robbery. I'm ordering you to let them go. Heads are going to roll on this Op as it is." In fact, she knows her own will. She looks to her firearm where she lay it upon the ground and considers the likelihood of retrieving it before being tackled by four naked cops.

"Black is..." Wednesday thinks about that, "...world government, I think. Not as good as blue or with murals of birds of prey diving." As he babbles, he straightens, taking his hands off the car but keeping them up. "I'm fine, glad to help..." He gestures off to the side and tilts his head in a question at the police.

The cops notice Alma now, thanks to Wednesday. "Ma'am, no Detroit police are coming here. We're in Hamtramck, and in fact your suspects just crossed into disincorporated territory. We're not permitted to follow. As for helicopters, Detroit's are white, state police is silver and sky blue."

Their computer returns results remarkably quickly. "Ma'am," they say to Ahana, "Please have a seat. Your story checks out and we need to file our report. WE're radioing state police to get assistance, and Detroit PD in case they cross back into municipal territory. But the State Police, pardon my french, doesn't give a damn about the disincorporated area.

The helicopers are approaching quickly. Getting larger in the sky, visible to all now. The three of them flying in formation.

Rei meanwhile can hear the van approaching, with that spray of sparks as it loudly scrapes the road.

<<DICE>> Alexandra rolls perception + awareness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> BOTCH (1 2 2 3 3, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Wednesday rolls perception + awareness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 success (1 2 4 5 8 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Ahana rolls perception+awareness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 1 success (4 4 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Maya rolls perception+awareness+1, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 2 successes (1 2 3 3 9 10 10, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)
<<DICE>> Alma rolls perception + awareness, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 4 successes (3 4 7 8 10, Specialty: Yes, Willpower: No)

Those who succeeded get a whiff that STRONG correspondence effects are driving those helicopters.

Maya's eyes widen and she looks over toward the officers. "Are the two of us free to go?" she asks quickly, ready to jump right back into her car. She gives Ahana a *very* alarmed look.

Alma walks up to the group with Wednesday and Maya, "Those helicopters are not normal. We need to get out of here."

"Roger that," says Ahana as she nods "What a clusterfuck. Yeah, you guys are free to go. Sorry for the scare." She takes a step towards the police car, foot paused by her discarded gun "Not your faults though. We should have done a better job communicating. With any luck it will only be your superiors who get an earfull. But those perps... that's a lot of ordinance out there now." She waves to Maya and Wednesday "Sir, ma'am. It was nice knowing you for that brief time. Go on. Make yourselves scarce."

Wednesday slowly moves back around the Pinto and opens the passenger side door, gesturing to Alma to get in first.

Maya gives Ahana a truly horrified look, and then looks to Alma and Wednesday. "Can one of you drive?" she asks, leaning in to push the front seat forward so someone, preferably herself, can get in the back.

Alma jumps in the passenger side. "I don't drive very well."

Rei is nothing if not patient as she waits on the rooftop for the vehicle to come into view, she and Ahana may have had their differences but trying to kill her is strictly out of bounds. Once the vehicle appears she takes her aim and begins to open fire.

<<DICE>> Rei rolls dexterity+firearms, difficulty 6 
<<DICE>> 4 successes (5 7 8 9, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Rei spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success

In the back of the car, Maya closes her eyes and tips her head back, focusing her attention skyward. One hand digs into a pocket, closing around two stones there; the other goes to the quartz crystal at her throat, creating a circuit. She starts whispering softly, her eyes flashing open, focused somewhere beyond the roof of the Pinto.

Once again, everything happens at once. In Measure 2 land - the place whence Hamtramck PD asked for help, and the State Police smiled, nodded, and ignored - shots are fired again. The first shot hits the side, hitting REagan in the leg. The second shot hits the gas tank, which starts a chain reaction, and the whole thing explodes in a fireball that can be heard by the rest.

The cop smiles easily, well as easily as he can while still nude. "The rest of you are free to go. We just need a few que..."

The cop abruptly stops as apparently the entire world comes to a stop. The helicopters zoom over head, and begin to circle in a perfect pattern over head. Each bringing out four bright spotlights, making the whole area so bright, it seems like it's midnight outside of this circle. A circle that Maya's car is just about 30 yards OUTSIDE of.

The whole area REEKS of... magic. "Research and Execution Unit 312alpha4," a voice booms out mechanically... before adding at the end with human exasperation. "Finally." The cops are stunned, motionless. From the helicopters drop 5 men from each. Well, they're in full black body armor and it's impossible to tell if they're men, women, or... whatever else. The fifteen move at lightning speed to Ahana. She may curse, she may kick, she may resist, but she is apprehended, lifted back on a line onto one of the helicopers, and as quickly as they arrived, they're gone.

<<DICE>> Maya rolls arete, difficulty 3 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (5 7 8, Specialty: No, Willpower: No)

Maya picks up, well, an overwhelming number of effects. This is An Operation. Of the Technocratic Union.

"Ohhh, heeeey guys. Sorry, I didn't bring any snacks... " says Ahana as she smiles the entire time. She doesn't curse, or struggle. She is composed. The only thing she TRIES to do is reach down for her holstered firearm at her feet but... it's too late. "Ah well. Live by the gun, die by the gun. Hey, you guys hear the one about the suit of armor who painted himself black? He wanted to go out at knight? Ahhh? Ahhhhh? No? Right. The humor you are used to is more... 'What did the field mouse say to the tree? Nothing... field mice can't talk and trees are inanimate.'"

The cops are rather surprised that Ahana is gone. But, she did say she was an agent right? They shrug, radio it in, and gladly get into their cars to get out of there and get some clothing on.

Maya twists, looking back through the hatchback. "No," she chokes out. "No, *fuck*-- we can't-- Wednesday--"

"Back there is Fimbulwinter, Maya. She bought us an escape, and I'm not going to disappoint her like that." Wednesday drives, grim expression, concentrating on the road.

"Maya," Alma sniffs and some more blood seeps out of her nose, "We can't take on all those helicopters." She goes to pull out a tissue and her hand gets snagged in her pocket.

"Yeah," Maya whispers, closing her eyes. "Yeah. Right." Moving abruptly, she digs out her phone and starts texting.

After the choppers zoom off Maya picks up nothing else.

<<DICE>> Rei rolls arete, difficulty 3 
<<DICE>> 3 successes (3 7, Specialty: No, Willpower: Yes)
[POOL] Rei spends 1 points of Willpower. Reason: Automatic Success

Rei stands up on the rooftop, focusing her sensor array on the helicopters at long range, seeing Ahana get taken. While she is unable to grasp the structure of the vehicles, perhaps their shield harmonics will be enough. This isn't over.