Dec 09 01:58:58 108 PA - Not Nearly as Effective as Hoped For

From Chronicles

Dec 09 01:58:58 108 PA.

WOODED CLEARING

Jaxain is sitting on a log in the area he described, off to the side of any trail and fairly secluded from any prying eyes. His gear, weapons, armor et cetera, are piled next to the log and he is wearing only a pair of warm pants and an insulated shirt, plus his combat boots. He looks up as each of his guests arrive, a somewhat subdued look on his face. It is mid morning, currently, and the sun is shining through the filtered green of the evergreen trees.

Bartholemew rolls up in his huge hover truck being the meeting place is outside of town, the loud jets warning of his approach. Climbing down from the vehicle, he shoots a wave as he slams the door shut after slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "What's up?" flipping his visor up so he can talk normally and not through a speaker.

A slight sound in the air announces Gabriel's arrival via his only reasonable mode of transportation - jet pack. Clad in his armor by necessity, if not by desire, he lands gracefully off to the side. Having not been given any specifics on what he's doing out here, he's arrived armed, with two large rifles and a handful of pistols strapped to his body. He says nothing, taking a moment to crack open the seal at the base of his helmet and secure it at his hip.

Jaxain stands to greet his visitors, and does a quick look around to make sure nobody else is near. Though, he is fairly confidant he would hear if anyone was close enough to listen in. "Hey." He offers in way of greeting to the two men, walking closer to the both of them, unarmored and unarmed. "We need to come up with a way to test if somebody is under the influence of a vampire's mind control." he lets this sentence hang for a moment, "And then I need to run that test on both of you, unless you are scared." He grins at the two men, but then his expression turns a bit more somber. "We are in far more danger than we think, and our foe is a mind-fucking bitch who can turn us against ourselves as easy as we can order up a coffee at Tradewinds."

Bartholemew listens to the man, losing his subtle smile with the are ya scared part. "So who's the mind-fukin bitch? Let's just kill her and be done with it." Pulling a cigar from a pouch on his belt, along with a lighter, he starts to fire up the end as he waits for a reply to his eloquently put question.

Gabriel neither smiles or frowns. He gives Bartholemew a nod, but only asks, "Good idea, Jax, but with a flaw. How do we know that you aren't already being puppeted? There will be a certain amount of plain human trust involved that we can't get past." Then to Bartholemew, "The one we were talking about at your place, vampire woman who apparently likes to see naked women."

Bartholemew works the end of his cigar with the flame of his lighter, puffing smoke from the corners of his mouth with increasing density. Once happy with way it is burning, he takes one long puff and looks the the other men. "Ever thought a just blowin the whole damn thing up? Blast it to the ground, erase it from the Dregs."

Jaxain nods to Bart with a grin, then turns to Gabriel. "This is something that must be kept secret, for my own safety. I am immune to their powers, all of them. The bite, the mind control. The reason for this is my grandfather kept three vampires caged in our basement when I was young, and constantly exposed me and the rest of his students to their terrors until it DID NOT WORK ANY MORE." Spittle flies on the last few words, as some of his obviously pent up emotion boils to the surface, and he shakes his head to help clear it. "Plus you can have Val or Leo run the same test on me later. I am teaching the spell to them." He points at Gabriel, "I know what I know, and I trust you on other things. But your mind is an open book to them."

Bartholemew works the end of his cigar with the flame of his lighter, puffing smoke from the corners of his mouth with increasing density. Once happy with way it is burning, he takes one long puff and looks the the other men. " Well, guess you better get to the testin then. Either of you ever just think a just blowin the whole damn thing up? Blast it to the ground, erase it from the Dregs. Can't be all that hard to launch 20 or so missiles into the place and skedaddle."

Gabriel smirks a little at Jaxain's excitement. "Sure, says you. But let's not get too full of ourselves, shall we? All three of us were trained differently, trained specially, and trained well. Keep the emotions packed up, or you'll lose it on the battlefield. For now, let's say that you're immune and possibly we can check with others later. What's the plan?" However, he does crack a wide grin and nods to Bart. "I already suggested bringing the damn thing down on them. It was pointed out that it would kill innocents - apparently not everyone is willing to do what it takes to solve problems, so I've had to put it together a different way. Jaxain is our... compass? Against infiltration."

Jaxain smirks, "Sorry... my training was... difficult and I don't have a lot of good childhood memories." He chuckles, "Or maybe my version of good is different." He looks off into the distance for a moment, then looks at both Bart and Gabriel, "That’s another reason why I asked the both of you here. To compose some questions, a test, that will help us get to the heart of the matter." He looks at Bart, "Blowing up the place wouldn't do any good. The vampires would be just fine, and the humans would be dead. No point in doing that, we have to find and kill Donna, the master vampire. That's our only chance."

Bartholemew gives a slight shrug to the innocents part, taking a few more puffs on his cigar. "I bet knockin out that club will sure as shit knock out many of the bodyguards and security, along with any income and resources. And far as I'm concerned, anyone frequenting that place is in cahoots, whether they know it or not. Do it in the day time so there is no place to run, I'd put money that they sleep underneath the place somewhere. Either of you found out anything useful yet to confirm anything like that?"

"No. These vampires are bright, they're not going to be so stupid as to sleep under the club. Hell, they can just mist into a hole a mile away and sleep a hundred feet down in a sewage drain. As far as guards, yeah, it'd kill 'em. But not their main source of income, which is the blood trade." Gabriel shrugs, adding, "Even if the blood trade was taken out, it would be built again, and fast. Stupid people are enjoying the ability to donate blood for goods. Guess it's like cash that you can make by drinking orange juice." He looks back to Jaxain, then. "Questions, huh? Like, 'does your mother know that you masturbate?'"

Jaxain shakes his head at Bart, "It wouldn't do any good, they don't care about money, and it would just alert them to us as a threat. We need a targeted strike on this one, cut off the head of the beast and make SURE she's dead. Then we can go about dismantling their organization, selling off what we can for profit." He looks to Gabriel, frowning slightly as he is taking this a bit more serious than the other man. "The spell forces you to speak the truth, but the question must be relatively simple and straightforward. My first thoughts are. One, 'Are you working alongside vampires.' Two, 'Has a vampire ever drunk your blood." Three, "Will you betray us to those who run the Ivory Lady." , Four, "Are the interests of Vampires more important to you than the interests of your fellow humans." He looks at Gabe and Bart, shrugging. "Something like that."

Bartholemew thinks about it a bit before saying anything at first. "That last question is too vague. Cause for example, human regard might not be a concern, vampires or not. Which brings me to the third one, a mind can always change, the answer being truthful at the time, too much future involved. The first two seem pretty straightforward, if you know that those things have happened."

It's not that Gabriel wasn't being serious. It's that he had no reference parameters. "Okay. Back up, then, Jax. Those are all pretty good questions. But who are we asking? Each person's going to react differently when they hear a question. Plus, what are we trying to get at? I think that the best that you can reasonably hope to do in preparation is identify if someone knows *anything*. Beyond that, you need to make it up as you go along, preferably with a second person there to listen and offer advice." He holds out a hand, the hand of someone who knows well, "Interrogations are fluid, not something to be done by the numbers. Though the initial entry is often fairly similar." He clenches his fist. "If there is only *one* question that you want to know, what would it be? Learn that one... then keep going."

Jaxain nods, "The nature of the beast is, 'are you controlled by a vampire' but, I don't know if that by itself will work."

Bartholemew gives a shake of his head with a smirk, "Doubt it. It's gonna have to be a series of questions to get the one answer. But if the vampire is smart, would the victim even know he or she is mind controlled?"

Gabriel shakes his head. "No, hunt for that one good question, that one question that you know you can get - and then you have an 'in.' It should be easier if the person can be forced to talk. Can I assume that if we're asking these questions, then the subject knows that he's being asked under 'duress' if you will? Because that changes things, too. If he *doesn't* know it, then there will be a need to be crafty. If he *does* know it?" The old soldier shrugs inside of his armor. "Then there's no point in trying to be cute about things. Just tie him to a chair and ask him questions until his mouth goes numb. Perhaps I'm not seeing how this interrogation is any different from any other - except that the subject is forced to tell the truth?" He raises an eyebrow. Seems as if it would make it easy.

Jaxain nods, "Perhaps a demonstration would be best, if one of you would volunteer? You are forced to answer the truth, and you cannot lie even if your will is like iron. The best you can hope for is to stay silent. Subtlety is not required, or advised." He smiles, "Though breaking the spell is easy. All you must do is step backwards five times, as the range of the spell is five feet from the caster. Multiple questions are allowed, as long as the duration, which is a about 4 minutes."

Bartholemew chuckles, "Yeah, well, if your thinkin your gonna get a chance to take a few swings on me to make this test work, think again. I'll just go back on about my business. Hell. No promise of gain, might just HAVE to trust me blindly. Can call it an entertainment payout, gettin ta watchin ya all sweat it out. Will he screw us or will he have my back in the pinch? Who knows, what's the past say? Your call." He laughs a bit before going back to his cigar for a few puffs to consider Jaxain's idea. "How bout it Gabriel? You wanna be first?"

Jaxain smiles at Bart, and points to his laser rifle. "Ok, how about this. You hold the rifle, and write down a list of questions I'm allowed to ask to test the spell. If I don't follow the list? Shoot me in the head."

The older man has no compunctions against it, giving Bartholemew a glance. Not an entirely approving one, but they both know where they stand with each other anyway. "I'll do it, Jax. They did what they could to keep me from breaking - an impossibility, but you try - so it's a good enough test."

Bartholemew gives a sharp nod and grin as Gabriel volunteers. "I don't think the rifle is needed." he chuckles. "Start with him, and then I will go."

Jaxain nods to Gabriel, and mutters a few words, standing about 4 feet from the other man. "Alright, first try to lie. "Is the sky blue?" He waits for an answer. "Are you in league with those running the Ivory Lady." Wait, "Are you under Donna's control." Wait, "Are you under the influence of any Vampire."

Gabriel looks at Jaxain blandly, but says nothing until a moment has passed. "Nope." Then a pause as his face screws up, "I don't know how to answer." Finally, "No."

Jaxain nods to Gabriel and steps back a few paces, breaking the hold of the spell, "Alright, so what is your feedback. Why did you answer what you did, and do you think the spell is effective?"

Bartholemew comments, "What do you mean you don't know how to answer? I'm not too sure that’s all that conclusive. Out of four questions, only two were answered with a definitive answer."

The older fellow shakes his head and shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe it was training, maybe it was the spell not being all that great. I didn't need to answer the question about the sky. I was truthful about the Ivory Lady - though easier phrasing would be better. The next though, I couldn't answer. I am not directly under Donna's control. However, because of her actions and actions over others, I am under her influence. So there was no true or false answer. Then last, no, under the influence, but again I was only barely able to say it. It seems like a clear question, but it's not. 'Influence' can be an interpretive word." A gaze goes back to Bartholemew. "That's why. It's... not a perfect spell, unfortunately. I might have only been able to give you the one question answered." Gabriel scratches at his nose, waiting for Jaxain to reply.

Jaxain nods, and looks to Bart. "Alright, I'll try similar questions, try to lie to the first one. Give me your feedback. We need to refine these questions." He mutters a few mystic words and steps about 4 feet from Bart, "Is the sky blue?" He waits for an answer. "Are you in league with those running the Ivory Lady." Wait, "Do you know the Vampire we call Donna." Wait, "Are you under the mental control of any Vampire."

Bartholemew nods as the older soldier explains. "Fair enough. Still doesn't seem like this is going to be foolproof in any way, shape or form." Then turns to Jax for the spell. While puffing on his cigar looking all smug, he remains quiet on answering the first question. The second question gets the response, "No." the Third, "No." and on the last question, "No." All confidently spoken.

Gabriel points out, "Asking someone if they know Donna might give the same problem that you found with me. I know who Donna is, what she looks like, what she does. So the magic might get confused again. I can't say, really. But I think that it might be wise to have a... professional along to ask questions, too. You can find out a lot through old methods, then some new things through the new ones."

Jaxain nods to Gabriel, and smiles. "Which is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I asked you two to meet me here. So, lets come up with some plans to make this spell actually USEFUL." he grins