Hoffmann Institute, Department Seven Chicago Office
February fifth, 9:32 AM
Team Libra
About three weeks have gone by since the confrontation with Cliff Kenzington. There had been no word of him, despite the Institute’s best efforts. It was as if he had vanished off the face of the earth, which could very well be accurate, given his means of escape.
Harland was of the opinion that the portal he’d opened had been an inter-dimensional one, specifically, to an infernal realm. He also noted that this meant Cliff had a powerful associate amongst the ranks of demon lords, if he was confident enough to actually go to the infernal realms without fear of being brutally tortured for an eternity.
Unfortunately, this also implied that he possessed a great deal of power, and, essentially, a hideout and transportation method that was impregnable to the Hoffmann Institute for the time being. It was a worrisome prospect, and much time and effort was being funneled into finding a method to apprehend Cliff.
Stanfield also reported that the collective vision the team had experienced was being taken very seriously by his superiors, and that it’s been brought to the highest levels. Reportedly, Dr Nakami III himself has taken an interest. Prophecy, as you’ve been told before, is an area of serious interest for the Hoffmann Institute. Particularly ones foretelling doom and gloom like yours.
In the meantime, you’ve been called into the office for a Class I-4a assignment. Institute terminology for a non-urgent investigation that may take a few days. You’ve put your affairs in order for the next week (thanks to Institute influence, those of you still working day jobs find leaves of absence approved without question).
You’re in the briefing room, making small talk with the administrative team while waiting for Stanfield to get off the phone in his office and start the briefing. Z’s flirting with Cade while showing him a new OSIRS application, Harland’s talking magic with Nick and Leo’s trying to chat up Meredith.
oO I still don' know what to make of this Oo thinks the young man to himself. While it looks like a pair of friends out on the town, appearances are never that simple. It's a celebration of survival, it's a clumsy dating ritual, it's a pair of co-workers figuring things out, it's a faerie princess and a mortal common sharing pints after a warlock was driven from the city after killing several women in a quest for unknown power. oO How is it that my work for Hoffmann is so much easier to get than where this is going with Z and I? Oo
However, it dawns on Cade and a smile flash on his face, one that is returned by his companion. oO It doesn't matter. Enjoying our time together and keeping Z safe, that matters. Enjoy today, for tomorrow we may die. Oo
"You know what, Z?" Cade says as he looks sincerely at her. "I'm really glad that you suggest this, good company, good drinks."
The three weeks in-between:
More and more Cade's contracting business becomes a cover, although he still does a lot of design work, he also contracts trusted survey teams to inspect the locations and install teams to put in the security systems.
More and more Cade focuses on his life at the Hoffmann Institute, between honing his skills, checking up on Team Libra, and spending time with Z. It is quite obvious that the young man is entrenched in what he does at Hoffmann and that his old life is more of a thing of the past, of a previous stage on his life, like how academic life was a different stage that he graduated from.
While he keeps in touch with his family, Cade only plans trips back home as needed, yet his family understands.
When Cade is at Hoffmann, he spends a lot of time at the range, specifically the walk-through range, sometimes known as Hogan's Alley or, more Hoffmann specific, Shadow Alley. His abilities start to become more smooth and natural, the tumbling and leaping of his free running mixing with his usage of firearms and his technical expertise.
Not one to push anything, Cade mostly contacts Team Libra casually, making sure that they're okay and, if needed, helping them out as needed. Not only are they part of the same Team, but they're some of the only folk who can understand what they've been through, thus some of the only folk that they can turn to and talk about these things.
And then there is Z, someone Cade just enjoys being with and he takes it as it is, not forcing anything or oversetting his expectations. Sure, he gets her things, things he finds out she likes, and it's obvious that he likes her...it's gossip for some of the office folk...however, Cade just appreciates their time together and takes things as they come.
During this time, Cade also deals with the armory, a lot, as he sets up various field kits for Team Libra. Kits that the team can request, so as to not be scrambling as much and coming out under prepared. He's not pushy, though, and accepts advise from the armory on what would work and what wouldn't, but he's firm, too. Team Libra won't suffer for lack of preparation, ever.
Today:
Reaching over Z's shoulder, to point at something on the screen, Cade grins as he says, "Oh, I see, so this right here..." The minutia of the details of the conversation is lost, be it in techno babble or the lowering of tones. Cade's sidearm is visible, as he is carrying it in a concealed holster on his strong side, at the belt, and it leans slightly forward or a quick, tactical draw.
Sure, the mission is classified as non-urgent and low-priority, however that doesn't mean being unprepared.
Diego spent much of the past three weeks getting serious about training, both in combat and in tapping his psionic abilities. With the help of Hoffman's facilities and trainers, he did make significant progress in both areas.
However, he remains unsatisfied with his progress. Sure, his mindblade is cool, and he is able to wield it better than ever, but in a world awash in guns, it rarely would be his weapon of choice when a job turns violent. It might be more useful if he could use the energy to form a shield, as he now knew some people could. But the trick still eluded him.
As for his social life, he still went out on the weekends, but his mind was on other things right now. He would let it take a back seat for a while.
When he shows up at the briefing, he notes with some satisfaction that he is not late this time.
Larry had spent the three weeks working on his abilities. He'd tried been casual before, and it had almost gotten him killed. He'd discovered that his ability to ingratiate himself with others had always been a latent skill of his, and he now could control it a lot better. His teachers were pleased that he had finally started focusing on his studies. He didn't know why he had had a change of heart, all he knew was that he would do the best for his friends. He hadn't ahd that many of them over the years, but these had already proved how far they would go to cover him.
He avoided smirking at Cade. Joker could be so self confident at most things, but he still was very nervous around Z. Larry shrugged. He always had it easy when it came to the ladies, but he never had felt about someone the way those two apparently did about each other. Hopefully he would realize he didn't need to keep dancing around her, and do something about it.
__________________ Muchachos, la contienda es desigual, pero, ánimo y valor. Nunca se ha arriado nuestra bandera ante el enemigo y espero que no sea ésta la ocasión de hacerlo. Por mi parte, os aseguro que mientras yo viva, esa bandera flameará en su lugar y si yo muero, mis oficiales sabrán cumplir con su deber. - Arturo Prat
After several moments, Stanfield walked into the room, setting a folder down on the table as he sat.
"Good to see all of you," he said, nodding at Team Libra. "I've got something nice and easy for you today, a simple fact finding mission, nothing grand. Nice change of pace, eh? A quiet, little investigation."
He tapped a few keys, and brought up the hologram, displaying the front page of the national inquirer. Secretary Abducted by Aliens! was the headline.
"Megan Brandowich, aged twenty-seven, secretary for the manager of the Crystolleum Chemical plant in the town of Greenway Crossing. About a four hour drive south-west from here," he said, switching to a driver's license photo of a pretty, caucasian blonde with brown eyes. "She claims to have been abducted by aliens while biking home four nights ago. The details in the story are vague, but she claimed that a UFO appeared above her, and sucked her in through a beam of light, whereupon she was held captive for several hours before waking up at home."
"There are certain factors that are making us consider this story to be truthful, rather than the work an attention seeker," he continued, switching the holographic display to show the location of Greenway Crossing on the state map. "For starters, she did not approach the media on her own. Rather, she accidentally let it slip online, where a reporter from the Inquirer picked up on it and interviewed her. As well, there are no contradictions in her claim. She provides a fairly detailed timeline of events leading up to and after the abduction, with witnesses capable of verifying her presence. Most fakes, we find, tend to fall apart very quickly under simple scrutiny. When we come across a case like this, that we can't disprove so easily, that's when we start to get interested."
"What we want you to do is standard investigation and cover up. You'll be posing as Hoffmann Institute agents in our official, public role. Investigate the claim, and try to find a perfectly natural explanation for it, for the people involved and the press, while finding out the truth for the Institute."
"Like I said, nice and simple. There shouldn't be any fighting or threats. Just find out the truth, and then get a reasonable explanation so that the victim here can sleep more easily at night."
Stanfield tapped the podium, and switched off the holograms. "Any questions?"
Last edited by Falkus; 30th September 2009 at 03:55 AM..
"You sure you want all of us on this one? Seems like a milk run, and probably me and Meredith could handle it ourselves." This is what Larry did best, after all, and Meredith was a reporter. She should know what to ask.
__________________ Muchachos, la contienda es desigual, pero, ánimo y valor. Nunca se ha arriado nuestra bandera ante el enemigo y espero que no sea ésta la ocasión de hacerlo. Por mi parte, os aseguro que mientras yo viva, esa bandera flameará en su lugar y si yo muero, mis oficiales sabrán cumplir con su deber. - Arturo Prat
"Better to have more bodies than you need, then to need more bodies and not have them," says Cade. "It'd be easy under the Hoffmann Institute guise, we've got a pair of interviewers supported by research and technical crew."
"Plus, when has something simple ever actually gone simple?" Cade says the last bit with a grin as he recalls how Team Libra first met. "I mean, seriously, what's more simple than a visit to the library?"
Nick sits in a chair barely listening, his calloused fingers roughly massaging his temples. It seems that the farther he digs into his arcane research, the more distant he becomes. And his research is all he's had since Cliff Kenzington's escape; he's had no contact with his partners from team Libra... hadn't even called his daughter during the downtime or in the weeks prior.
And now Stanfield's talking about a quiet little mission with aliens.
"Wonderful."
OOC
Nick is leveled up, btw. I think he's good, but I wouldn't mind if someone double checked. It has been a while.
"well there is that. But I have a feeling that this one will be easy. Trust me." Larry smiled easily, and got ready to leave. "Anything else, boss? Anything special that might have slipped your mind?"
__________________ Muchachos, la contienda es desigual, pero, ánimo y valor. Nunca se ha arriado nuestra bandera ante el enemigo y espero que no sea ésta la ocasión de hacerlo. Por mi parte, os aseguro que mientras yo viva, esa bandera flameará en su lugar y si yo muero, mis oficiales sabrán cumplir con su deber. - Arturo Prat
Stanfield shook his head. "Nothing that we know of yet. We'll keep you updated as to how our investigation goes back here."
"I'll be doing some digging while you're enroute, see if I can come up with anything in her background that's not in the public record," Z added.
Stanfield glanced toward Nick, a sympathetic look on his face. "Nick," he said softly. "I know what you're going through. The betrayal of a friend... it's not an easy thing."
Stanfield shook his head. "Nothing that we know of yet. We'll keep you updated as to how our investigation goes back here."
"I'll be doing some digging while you're enroute, see if I can come up with anything in her background that's not in the public record," Z added.
Stanfield glanced toward Nick, a sympathetic look on his face. "Nick," he said softly. "I know what you're going through. The betrayal of a friend... it's not an easy thing."
Nick only nods at Stanfield. "So, where to?" he says finally, and stands as if he's been ready to go this whole time.
Stanfield returned to his seat. "Very well. Ryker’s in the garage with your vehicle and garage, there’ll be a roadmap in the glove compartment with your route outlined."
Z touched Cade’s hand. "Good luck out there… be safe," she grinned. "And if you find aliens, see if you can get me one of their computers."
*****
In the garage, Ryker was waiting near a green minivan. "Agents, good to see you," he said, pushing a pair of welding goggles up onto his forehead. "I’ve just finished with your vehicle. I know this one’s going to be a quiet mission, but nonetheless, I’ve installed the new armor kit. A self-repairing memory lattice. Highly classified, This baby’s fireproof, bulletproof and bombproof. You could empty a mag of fifty caliber into the tires, and they’d still be intact. You are going to bring this one back intact."
He tossed the keys over. "Map’s in the glove compartment. I threw some sample kits in the back. If there’s an abduction scene, check out the ground around the sight for trace amounts of radiation beyond background levels. Also a few extra magazines for you guns, I’m sure you won’t need them, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful."
Larry climbed into the van as Ryker kept talking. The mumbo jumbo was for Cade. The con man had already called shotgun like he always did.As the others got in he added. "I don't know about this guys. It's almost like he's daring us to blow it up."
__________________ Muchachos, la contienda es desigual, pero, ánimo y valor. Nunca se ha arriado nuestra bandera ante el enemigo y espero que no sea ésta la ocasión de hacerlo. Por mi parte, os aseguro que mientras yo viva, esa bandera flameará en su lugar y si yo muero, mis oficiales sabrán cumplir con su deber. - Arturo Prat
Cade turns at Z's touch and returns her grin, "I'll try and get two, for parts." The young man leaves the 'I'll be safe' unsaid, as he'd hate to lie to Z.
Upon seeing the gearheaded up minivan, Cade can't help but chuckle, "I'll do my best, Ryker." With a mischevious smile, as he catches the keys, Cade adds, "No improvisation with this one, Scout's Honor."
It goes without saying that Cade actually uses the Scout Salute when he says that.
"Thanks for the kits," says Cade as he opens the driver's door and climbs in. "Be Prepared."
Silent and brooding throughout the briefing, Meredith takes a seat in the back and leans against the wall with her face pressed against the window there.
"This is a waste of our time," she says at last. "It's stupid. People are going to be dying because we were out here chasing anal probes instead of on a real assignment."
She scowled and closed her eyes.
"That's what I should have told him. God, why didn't I say that to him?"
"They can always call us if an emergency pops up. Besides, it's nice for once to have an assignment that I can actually admit to doing. My mom will be happy."
The trip out to Greenway Crossing was quiet and uneventful. Traffic was light, and the weather mild. The worst it got was mild and occasional flurries as the team drove through the snow-covered countryside.
At about two in the afternoon, they pulled into Greenway crossings. The town was small, and mostly residential, with the occasional shop or store. There weren't many people visible on the streets, just the occasional shopper or elderly person out for a walk, and a local sheriff's patrol car cruising the streets. The most distinctive feature of the town was the Crystolleum Chemical Plant, a large, three story facility that loomed over the western edge of town near a forest, and looked rather like a refurbished autoplant. Most of the activity happening in town could be seen there, trucks pulling in and out, people moving stuff around or watching people move stuff around while studying clipboards.
Megan Brandowich's place of residence was towards the center of the town, a small, one story green house. A blue hybrid car was parked in the driveway, though it was covered in enough snow to suggest that it hadn't been driven in some time.
Last edited by Falkus; 4th November 2009 at 12:06 AM..
Larry got out of the car, and waited while the others got settled. It was up to him to do the talking after, all. Or at least get the girl to open up before they started their questions. He was about to ring the buzzer when he stopped and looked at the Doc. "Doc, want to check for any mumbo jumbo? I'll do the freaky brainy thing I do so well. Might as well get used to been paranoid, eh?"
OOC: detect psionics
__________________ Muchachos, la contienda es desigual, pero, ánimo y valor. Nunca se ha arriado nuestra bandera ante el enemigo y espero que no sea ésta la ocasión de hacerlo. Por mi parte, os aseguro que mientras yo viva, esa bandera flameará en su lugar y si yo muero, mis oficiales sabrán cumplir con su deber. - Arturo Prat
Meredith went over to the snow-clad Prius, her hands stuffed deep in the pockets of her winter coat. Even with the coat, she felt weirdly naked without sword and shield. Her back itched as if it missed the weight of it. Was this what she'd become?
As the others did their things, she drifted off into her own thoughts, staring absently at the environmentally conscious car.
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