Feb 21 03:27:42 107 PA - An Explosion

From Chronicles

This part of the Dregs is what people typically think of when they envision the area. Buildings, built without design or plan, have conspired to make this area into a maze. While there are no proper streets here, the gaps between buildings form alleys. Anyone but a native of this area would be quickly lost here. A native, on the other hand, would simply avoid any alley that didn't lead from their door to a street and back again. Anyone else would likely be a member of one of the gangs that travel this area in packs, looking for easy prey. The walls here are stained and vandalised. Bodily fluids, human and otherwise, cover up graffiti. The paint on the walls forms territorial murals, letting the knowledgeable viewer know what gang controls this part of town. A small mercy that you might know who it was that attacked you. Some of the graffiti, the most recent, is a red X in a circle, usually drawn over another recurring sign, the outline of a blue shield.

When spare parts need to be found, some say the right place is the junkyard. Perhaps they're kidding, but this newcomer seems to have taken them seriously, and, following a hand-written map, Jack heads towards the junkyard clad in a heavy jacket to protect him against the weather.

Just leaving the jumkyard, a small cloth bag in his hand, Mikjel is wearing a toque and a heavy coat, the latter whipped about his knees by the wind. He appears to be headed from the junkyard back toward the trailer park, clutching his prize.

From the west comes a battered looking NTI Diplodicus. Looks like it has rolled down a few hills and the engine sounds to be quite out of tune, the truck constantly grumbling about being forced to run. Zero, who is at the wheel, handles the truck carefully in the snow, even though the tires are still pretty good. Next to him is Sofi and the two seem to be talking lightly as the vehicle rolls towards the junkyard steadily.

Deeper in the dregs one must take precautions if they are not familiar with the place or unfamiliar with capable stealth. As such Xander is not in his normal suit and coat but in body armor. One aggressive looking mace hangs at his hip, another over his shoulder as he makes his way into the depths of despair. For the moment his helmet is off, giving him at lease partial capability to be personable with those he should encounter. Being non native he probably looks a bit lost as he starts walking the alleys, keeping to his right.

Sofiya is comfortably placed, feet on the dashboard and hands behind her head, in the passenger seat of Zero's truck. The comfortable affection between them is obvious enough as she directs him, pointing to a space near the junkyard to park. She grabs up a parcel, shrugging into her coat, preparing to leave the truck to deliver it.

When the unwritten rules for this part of town were laid down, someone obviously didn't clue certain newcomers in that some things just aren't done. For one, wandering the streets looking like an obvious out-of-towner. Even if one is riding on a steel horse with the easy rhythm of a person used to long days in the saddle. Jon's rake-thin figure, rather like a slightly more filled-out scarecrow, is a rather large incongruity as he eases his mount down the street, cold blue eyes taking in details of the area along the way.

Jack heads into the junk yard, passing the gates and turning his head for a moment to look at Mikjel, then back ahead of him to go look for things presumably. A few steps later he stops, looking about the 'yard and rolling his eyes. "Bleedin' numbskull" he mutters, shaking his head as he makes a face and heads for the nearest pile, looking it over.

Mikjel walks slowly toward the trailer park, keeping an eye out for trouble. Trouble can come quickly and without warning in these alleys, but he has not chosen to take the precaution of going out armoured, as he was only planning to spend a short time this deep in the Dregs. Hopefully, the fact that he was buying parts from one of the local gangs affords some little protection, but the knowledge that he's in a dangerous part of town quickens his step as he makes for the maze of alleys leading west, back to the safety of the trailer park.

"You want me to come with this time?" Asked within as Zero pulls up to the spot pointed to him. For the moment, identifying people is a bit difficult, though he's careful about the people walking around, not wanting to slide into anyone. And so the truck will come to an easy stop in the space, idling horsely. Windows up, of course, since the heat is on for the two. "We need some sort of signal when you get in trouble, wouldn't want to charge in when there's no charing needed, after all." He grins idly, looking out of the window, considering the street.

As he does his scouting Xander is not oblivious to the traffic about the junkyard. It would appear that today is scavenging day. He diverts from his route to get a better look but doesnt cross the street for it just yet. Having heard of tales of unpleasant things residing there he puts on his helmet first and then takes up the mace from his shoulder.

That gang don't seem to be taking people wandering into their area lightly and two emerge from the piles to stare hard at Jack, arms folded, clear posteuring going on. "Oi you! Where do you think you are goin'?" The Dregs accents are strong, and the battered colours speak well enough of the Clash gang to those who know the city. "You think this is some sort of charity?"

Sofiya shakes her head, giving Zero a broad grin. "Yeah, because I never managed before you came along." The words are a cocky joke as she slides out of the truck, hefting the parcel onto her hip. "Back in a minute." The promise is made as she slams the door and jogs towards the pair hassling Jack. "Delivery!"

Jack looks up from the paper, looking from one person to the other with a slightly surprised look, and of course he has an accent of his own. "Straight in front of me mate - what's the matter? Is there a road toll or something?" he jokes, shrugging his shoulders, glancing towards the women who's coming over, then back to the other two.

Jon pulls his mount up on a dirty street corner masquerading as a sidewalk as Zero drives past, one hand idly brushing the mechanical steed's weathered steel neck. "Steady now, petite..." he murmurs absently as he watches from the sidelines. For the nonce, he's content to stay there and observe. Under his Stetson however, his eyes are keen and alert and he sits straight in the saddle as the horse sidesteps and huffs its nostrils at a skittering rat.

Mikjel doesn't notice the altercation, it being behind his back. He continues walking to the west, determined to make his way out of the maze of alleys before anything bad happens. The fact that something bad is happening to someone else goes unnoticed and he steps into an alley, heading westward.

"Always a first time," Zero muses lightly after Sofi has hopped out. But he seems content to let her do her thing for now, leaning forward a little to rest against the steering wheel. Watching her, then shifting his eyes towards Jack as he notes the minor noise there. His eyes then drift towards the armored person.. too far to make out more. And the mounted man. HIs brows lift slightly as he considers that one thoughtfully. "Too bad horses don't have heat," he murmurs, a little grin coming to him as he looks back to the junkyard itself.

As the two gang members accost the stranger and the reluctant sow from there other day approaches so does Xander, jogging across the street then slowing so as to not rush into the scene. He stops in eavesdropping range, considering the situation.

"Private property, innit." The man steps forward to Jack, standing in front of him with a steady, hard stare. "What's your business here?" Sofiya gets a nod and a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder, a regular visitor to the Junkyard. "You folks don't get to walk in here any old time you like, do they, Rich?" Rich, apparently the quieter of the pair, just nods. Sofiya vanishes into the junkyard, returning in short order at a jog, her hands empty. She heads directly towards the gates and Zero's truck, and her grin is firmly in place as she passes the three men. "Laters."

A few moments later and an explosion shakes the junkyard, debris flying as the buildings behind the yard burst into flames, the loud roar of the explosion loud enough to be heard well across the city. The force of the explosion is enough to throw that debris towards those closest - Jack, Sofiya, Xander, and the two gang members. In fact, a large slither of metal is part of the flying material and the silent Rich is unfortunate enough to be the landing pad as it impales him through the chest. Other pieces of metal, rock and other materials hammer down on Jack, Xander and Sofiya, hard enough to knock them to the ground.

After the explosion, the silence is profound, until people react.

As Xander comes to a halt is perception tells him something is not right at all. Automatically he charges some energy in his armor to initiate its additional protection before the blast goes off, forcing him to the ground.

"I'm sorry mate, I'll just be go-" and then there's a boom, and Jack is thrown to the ground. It takes a few moments for him to push himself up again, a bit dazed maybe. "ow ... " he looks around, and hey look, there's one person who's definitely dead, and ... really, what's going on here?

Jon's eyes follow Sofiya idly as she jogs towards the junkyard, and the ensuing little altercation between the gang members and Jack. Abruptly however, he backs his mount up with a sudden frown and dismounts. And then comes the shattering noise of the blast, and the horse rears, whinnying in protest and panic. The only thing that stops it from bolting completely is Jon's grip on the reins as he ducks instinctively.

Zero is a little bored after a few moments, once Sofi goes into the place. Lightly drumming on the steering wheel as he lingers and watches the people casually. Then he perks, a strange feeling coming. He frowns, glancing out either window to the side, then out the front towards the junkyard itself. Then he sees Sofi coming out and he relaxes a little. Though still.. He's not entirely surprised when the explosion comes. Even so, he's lightly stunned, mouth falling open. "Shit, Sofi!" Then he's wrestling to get out of the truck with more haste than good sense.

Rising from his feet Xander is the first to recover. He looks to Sofiya, assuming her delivery to be the cause. "What did you do little lamb?" He asks.

"Huh?" Jack looks towards Xander for a moment, then to Sofiya, then back around as he sighs. He turns about and starts on his way back towards the gate then, mumbling something about bolts and holding a hand to the opposite shoulder.

Jon is occupied with calming his mount for a short while and warily looking out for pieces of flying debris. "Stay p'tite," he commands with a click of his tongue, and starts forward towards the blast site, frowning. The horse, despite shifting and whickering somewhat skittishly, stays put as ordered, its tail swishing to and fro uneasily.

Zero falls out of the truck, leaned too much against the door when he finally does open it. But he's on his feet in a moment, lightly dusted as he sprints towards where he saw her go down. He's fast when he wants to be. He dips past whoever might be in his way to skid to his knee and pull the girl up into a sit by the shoulders. "Sofi.. you alright?" Concerned, his eyes dip and dart across her to see if anything spurting or leaking out in a bad way. Grazes won't matter so much.

Sofiya is thrown forward, landing heavily as the force of the explosion knocks her flying. Zero's arrival is greeted with a scared face and rapid cursing. "I'm alright, I'm alright..." Grazes and cuts, but not much more damage, and Xander's accusation is met with a rapid, repeated shake of her head. "No way, I didn't do a thing, not anything."

At the explosion, Mikjel stumbles, catching himself against the wall of the building. Climbing to his feet, he turns around, not running back to the junkyard, but rather, looking to see what's going on. On seeing Sofiya lying on the ground, he breaks into a run, heading toward her.

The gang's response is unclear, the buildings on top of them a burning mess of rocks. The second gang member is stunned, but Xander's accusation catches his attention, his gaze flickering between Sofiya and Xander, before he scrambles to his feet and runs towards the flaming building. Slowly, people appear, and react to the bomb. People, injured people, are bought out of the building, scattered across the yard, and a few bodies are set aside, stretched out along a wall.

"Well if you did, you are a poor demolitionist. Yet another example of exceeding your niche." Is Xander's chiding comment as he turns to the gang member that wasn't skewered. "Are you alright?" He calls after him as he head to the building. His gaze revolves to the familiar death of the other gang member.

Jack continues on his way out, probably not terribly pleased with the situation - likely a normal thing after being showered with shrapnel and other fun things. Exiting the gate, he glances back momentarily at the people running in, then he continues forth and turns towards the main street.

Jon , seeing that Sofiya appears to be in good hands, picks his way quickly but carefully through debris and burning chunks of brick and mortar as the second gang member takes off towards the flaming building in question. He follows, catching up and asking tersely, "Need a hand wit' those folk up there?" A jerk of his head towards the injured who are being brought out. His voice is a low, soft, laconic drawl - obviously, someone from way out in the nether parts of the New West.

Zero looks up when it seems Sofi is unharmed, glancing around. He catches the gang member's look at his lips tighten and a hint of fear comes to his eye for a moment. "We've gotta get outta here, Chipmunk. Like now." Random comments are either ignored or just roll off him, his mind tightly focused. He starts to get up, his hands firm in hauling her to her feet with him. "Quick, get to the truck," he adds, only letting go once she's on her feet.

Sofiya catches the look too, and she nods at Zero silently, scrambling up. "I'm so dead." She mutters, brushing herself down, hesitating at the sight of Mikjel running towards them. "Mik!" She glances over at the building and then steps towards the truck.

Arriving next to Sofiya, Mikjel gives her a once-over. Seeing that she is unhurt enough to be able to walk, he gives her a nod. "Glad to see you're all right." That said, he begins to walk toward an alley that leads around the junkyard, closer to the flaming building.

"Stop." Xander commands as he glances back at Sofiya. Perhaps unnecessary considering the wall of force of will (tk forcefield) he has decided to create about her, Zero and now Mikjel. Though in the unlikely event that she listens to him she wont run into it face first at least.

Jon's occupying himself with helping to get any injured parties out, and at least made a little bit more comfortable. Once in a while he glances up, the interaction between Sofiya's group and Xander catching his attention. Hunkering down for a moment, he watches even as he helps a distraught woman set down her wailing little girl.

Zero just ignores Xander, turning to follow after Sofia once she gets going. "Mik! Maybe you want to come with us too.." Pulling a bit ahead of Sofi, he knocks the wall a bit ahead of her, his shift to talk towards Mik having him take it in the shoulder. "What the hell?" He frowns, kicking at it once to test before he glances back towards Xander, recalling his earlier command. "If you're doing this, fucking drop it man. This ain't no game."

Sofiya stops in her tracks, turning towards Xander, her arms folded. "What the fuck?" The question is angry, her voice lifting as she switches from fear to anger, a safer emotion. "Are you trying to get us killed? Are you some kind of nutter?" A glance towards the burning buildings at least proves that the gang have their hands full for the moment.

Mikjel takes a few steps toward the flaming building and bumps directly into the telekinetic wall. Stepping back, his hand rises to his face and he spins, glaring at the armoured man. "What's the matter with you?" His voice is sharp, carrying hints of both annoyance and fear. "Ain't like any of us did nothing. Fucking let us go." As he talks, he takes a few steps toward the man, placing himself between him and Sofiya.

Turning fully away from the corpse Xander returns to the three now caged companions. His head tilts in a studying manner, taking in the reactions of the three with clear fascination. "Its always interesting to me how the behavior of an animal changes when trapped. When both fight and flight are denied what does one do?" He asks, watching to find out the answer.

Jon rises, pushing his Stetson off so it slides onto his back, hanging around his neck by its leather cord. The contrast between his black hair and pale skin makes him look almost colourless, but for those keen blue eyes. "Now you'll excuse me m'aam," he murmurs to the woman he was helping, as he makes his way to where Xander is facing off with the three trapped people. "...I reckon ain't no need for risin' tempers right now," he drawls calmly. "Everyone's a mite upset, an' havin' a loud boom an' noise ain't helpin' none, sir. I don't reckon th'lady's stupid, which she would be iff'n she be bringin' that bomb-thing here an' fixin' t'use it proper."

"Look, in about a minute a lot of guys with guns are going to come pouring out of there." Zero points at the junkyard. "They won't care who is who and what did what. So maybe you ought to be thinking more about getting your pompous ass out of here before it gets shot off and let us mind our own." He glances towards Jon and adds, "You too, man. Best you clear out quick like."

"Animal? What the fuck?" Sofiya shakes her head, giving Jon a quick look before she turns back to Xander, reaching out to touch Mikjel's back as she does so. "There is no way I knew what was in that thing. You think I'm that stupid? You think I've got some type of death wish?" She lifts a hand, slapping it against the shield. "Let us out."

Mikjel walking forward, one hand outstretched, Mikjel finds the edge of the barrier. He raps on it with his knuckles, glancing over at Sofiya. Looking back at Xander, he says, "Least if the gang that runs this block comes out and finds us, we're all in a nice protective shield where you're out in the open. Buys us a bit of time, leastwise."

Xander's speculative glance shifts to the other man momentarily, considering him as well. "You have evidence of such or merely speculation? They seem to know an awful lot about what will unfold here to simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And its not even just her.." Xander points out before returning his attention to Sofiya. "I'll release you once I'm done studying you. He gestures to the corpse a little ways off. "You killed that man? Possibly others? How does that make you feel?"

Jon's gaze drifts to the junkyard. "I think," he observes with an almost indecent casualness, "If any questions need t'be asked, they best be done where there ain't restless minds wantin' t'find scapegoats. T'ain't gang policy t'ask questions first, least that I've seen. Blame first, strike second, ask later." This is to Xander, even as his eyes find the man again with as speculative a gaze as he's being given. "An' if it's concrete evidence? Why, I ain't been in town long 'nuff t'offer y'such. But t'ain't th'nature of intelligent killers t'do it like this, an' that I know from personal experience. In fact...if tempers ain't been stoked yet, they'll be soon. I suggest we best hustle an' continue this safer-like, elsewhere."

Zero shakes his head and moves up to Sofiya, a hand on her shoulder for a moment. "Don't waste your breath on him," he advises her before he looks to Mik. "It buys us a little time. Once its down, we'll have to move fast.. no armor. But the truck will do. She's still got some skin to her. So once its down, you get Sofi to the passenger side. Still unlocked. I'll get to drivers, just squeeze in both of you and try and keep down. The glass is high impact, but better to not test it too much."

Sofiya holds her hand pressed against the barrier, her face pale. "I didn't do this. I'm just a runner. I deliver things, letters, shit!" Jon's comments help bring home the situation and she turns, lifting her hands to rest on her head, facing Zero. "How long does this thing hold? We've got to go, Zee." Panic is showing clearly in her face, and calm is not currently an option. "I didn't do this, Zee. Hell, I don't know anything..."

Mikjel shakes his head, tapping on the barrier and continuing to talk to the armoured man.. "She's a runner. Does deliveries. And the explosion were way over," he points to the burning building behind the junkyard, "there. She were here when the bomb went off." Shaking his head slowly, he says, "So all you've got is allegation and suspicion. Why not blame him," his finger points at the skewered body. "He were right next to her when the blast hit." He does appear to be listening to Zero, though, as his path, tapping on the wall, is leading him in the general direction of the truck.

And pour out of the back of the junkyard the gang members do. Those that weren't badly injured are heading out here, armed and angry. The aim to shut the junkyard down tightly, to protect themselves is foremost in their minds and groups of armed men begin that process. The injured are loaded slowly into a variety of vehicles, and driven towards the hospital. The fire is going to take a while to get under control but they make a start. For the next couple of minutes, distraction is provided by the need to deal with wounded and fire.

"Being extremely unsafe here is exactly why I am doing this. Only under these circumstances does true humanity show its face to be seen for others. Go if you wish. I have one more question to ask." Xander says to the man with the western drawl. Turning back to Sofiya one last time he nods slightly. "And now, do you wish you did? Knowing that that admittance would have you free and out of harms way now?"

Jon lifts his head and clucks his tongue twice, sharply. His horse, which has been moving uneasily where it's been standing ever since commanded to stay, pricks its ears and nickers as it gathers itself and comes to him at a swift canter. "Bon, Salteux mon p'tite," he murmurs, reaching to stroke the glossy black neck and the distinct white star in the middle of its forehead. "T'ain't in my nature t'leave others in danger's way," he informs Xander, mouth twisting up in a sharp grin. "An' judgin' from th'look of them over there, ain't in your best interests t'stay much longer either, once th'fire's gone from their ken." A leg up in the saddle and he's up on his mount as easily as he might walk, one hand negligently on the reins.

"I know, Sofi," Zero tells her. "Stick close to Mik and stop answering those stupid questions. Need you focused. When Mik goes, you go. And no matter what, you two get out of here." Simple, grim logic. He puts his hand to the barrier as well, moving back towards a spot nearer the truck. Keeping his hand in contact with the field. He leans over slightly towards Mik and murmurs real low, "I swear.. going to drop a low yield down his pants and ask him how he feels about that. Smarmy prick."

"Chyort voz'mi!" Sofiya's language slips, Russian words that are clearly curses escaping her. "No! I don't wish I did this! You are mad!" She shakes her head, over and over, turning away as her eyes follow the gang members, before she turns back to Xander. "You don't know how this place works. They are going to kill me, some example, a message, shit. Let us out!" Zero's words finally sink in and she does that, moving towards Mikjel, her face white beneath the dirt of the explosion. "Three." A glance towards Jon and a jerk of her head, "Four. The four of us get out of here." Bravado instead of courage but it does the job.

Mikjel sighs loudly, saying to Zero, "Just what we need in the middle of a god-damned gang war. A fucking preacher." He is still facing the armoured man, though he is not addressing him any more. One hand is touching the telekinetic wall, and he nods in understanding at Zero's comment. He remains, tense and frozen with onbe hand against the invisible barrier so that he can tell when it drops.

The armed men are not happy campers, and they work grimly to try and control the fire. The majority of the wounded are gone now, and slowly, their attention begins to stray. The first few noted at those closer to the buildings, and they are collected with harsh words, shoves and weapons pushed into their faces. They are searched, pressed against the remaining stacks of junk here, threatened. Women and children are not excluded, as the men work slowly outward from the buildings, the fire slowly becoming quenched.

Xander shrugs and the field drops. "It is an honor then to meet a truly civilized individual. Good luck to you madam." He bids, sounding sincere, though at this point who knows. Regardless he makes his own way out, his walk to quick to be casual but not running for his life.

Jon glances at the hullabaloo going on in the background. "Best go now, m'aam, sirs," he drawls to Sofiya, Mikjel and Zero. "Them there, they won't wait afore askin' if they see you." Clicking his tongue, he pats his steed's neck. "An' t'think I thought this would be jus' another visit. Lordy, lordy." The horse lays its ears back, whinnying restlessly as it sidesteps and snorts, eager to be off.

"He's got his ride, he can handle himself," Zero says to Sofi, tilting his head towards Jon. And he leaves it at that. The casual, jesting aspects that linger often with him faded back behind a quiet steel that. When he feels the field drop, he doesn't even look back towards Xander. "Go!" Hissed before he darts towards the truck. The drivers door is still open, the engine idling since he didn't take the time to stop or close it up before. And he'll pull himself into the vehicle the moment he gets to it, slamming the door closed.

The field dropping distracts from Xander's comment and Sofiya goes, her running fast, determined to reach the track, barely pausing to check for Mikjel and Zero at her side. "Fuck fuck fuck..." She slides into the seat, squirming up to make space for another in the passenger seat, her eyes wide. "He fucking knew, Zee."

Mikjel is close on Sofiya's heels, piling into the truck and slamming the door behind hit. As he catches his breath, he asks, "He knew what? That weren't you." He has ducked down in the seat, his head not high enough to be hit by projectiles flying through the windows or windshield, in the event of shooting or another blast.

Jon lingers only long enough to see that the three in the truck have taken off, before he sends his steed in a swift canter towards the way he first came in. Unlikely cowboy riding into an equally unlikely sunset, but he's off and vanishing around the corner in short order.

And Xander is away, no lingering at all, hopping into his vehicle meters away from where he started today.

"The guy that messed up her cheek," Zero guesses, a frown lingering that just isn't like him. But the brief mention doesn't slow him from getting hte truck in gear. He glances to the side once to make sure the door is closed before he puts the truck in reverse and pulls back the way he came. Not too fast, though he so wants to, but a smooth turn, then the gass gets applied as he completes the 180 rolling forward. Giving as much speed as he's comfortable with, given the snow.Catgeory:Xander