Jan 13 09:58:11 109 PA - Ivory Hope and Total Letdown

From Chronicles

Jan 13 09:58:11 109 PA.

TRADEWINDS COFFEE SHOP

Winter in Missouri continues to be harsh, but at least Mother Nature has seen fit to keep the temperature below freezing but above zero. This, combined with the early hour - for most, at least - has chased many customers indoors, and the shop is making a brisk business. On the east side of the shop, at one of the small, individual tables sits Gabriel. He's obviously made it a point to tuck the table against the plate glass for some reason, and he has a briefcase tucked between his leg and the bottom end of the window. With two mugs of some type of beverage and a small brownie before him, he's reading one of the few Kingsdale newspapers that still comes printed on genuine paper rather than in a digital medium. Most of his cold weather gear has been set upon a nearby seat.

Bernard steps into the coffee shop, hands rubbing together a little as he looks across the room, working the chill out of his fingers. He makes his way across to the counter and places an order for a cup of coffee with a little cream and some sweetener. Taking up his cup, he takes a casual look across the room as he searches out a table.

Over on the side, Gabriel sets his mug down long enough to flip the page and ruffle the paper a bit so that all of the pages line up. The category headline at the top of the new page reads, "Community." As he's not in the habit of coming to coffee shops, getting into relaxation and reading only to check out every person who opens the door to let in the cold, he remains oblivious - apparently - to any significant changes in the shop's populace.

Bernard offers a faint nod to the familiar face that is Gabriel. He takes a little sip from his coffee before turning back to the counter and getting one of the little cakes sold as well before he turns back and starts for one of the empty tables.

Catching the nod, Gabriel looks up and raises his right hand, leaving his paper dangling in his left. He starts snapping his fingers. "Hey! Ah... ah.." *snap* *snap* ".. ah.. Bernard! Got a seat over here for you, if you're interested." He slouches down slightly and kicks out the chair across from him, the only other seat at his little table. He has to slump down, because he's not really tall enough to do it with any natural movement otherwise.

Bernard chuckles just a bit, "Sure, mate." He says, turning from his table of choice to move and settle in the newly offered seat as it's pushed out, settling himself down and putting down his coffee and pastry as he scoots the chair in comfortably.

A battle of accents ensues. Kentucky versus... whatever. "Sorry, it's been a while since I've seen you, Bernard. Other than in passing the other day," Gabriel corrects. "Been hiding somewhere? Not that I keep track of everyone in the city." He can't help but laugh at himself for that. His newspaper is folded such that the "Community" section is on top, despite the fact that it was originally buried deep in the middle. It can be seen that he isn't enjoying any kind of manly black coffee. No, he has thick mocha and some kind of vanilla latte with a hunt of cinnamon to compliment his espresso brownie. He's earned it.

Bernard laughs a bit, "I had some things going on." He explains, then shrugs a bit, "But I'm back now." He adds, "Has anything exciting been happening here in this city? It seems much how I left it, just colder." He observes.

"Oh yes. Here, read." Gabriel pushes the paper politely across the table. "Vampires setting up a capitalist merchant economy based out of the Ivory Lady. Stirring up all kinds of problems that I'm in the middle of trying to solve." He speaks that clearly, apparently either stupid, or knowing that everyone who would want to know, knows anyway. "Almost took them down a few weeks go, but ran into a last minute problem. Then things got worse, and I'm putting together a new plan, down one man. If the Ivory Lady was a favorite hang-out of yours, I wouldn't recommend it right now. And stay away from their psi-cola. It's more powerful than it usually is."

Bernard shrugs his shoulders, "Are the vampires actually hurting anyone there or are we just killing them for money and or some moral higher ground?" he asks curiously, eyeing the paper as it's pushed his way and lifting it up to glance over it curiously.

The older fellow at the table smiles. "For me? The moral high ground. For others? Money. Feasting on the living's bad, enslaving others is bad, building an army of fools in the city's backyard is bad. It's bad all around, basically." Gabriel pauses to sip his mocha. "But yes, the vampires are actually hurting people. They take in young women as slaves to be drained night after night for the pleasure of vampires, but to the suffering of themselves. Then when they're no longer healthy enough to be of use, they're tossed aside. Discarded like a leaky thermos. It has recently gotten worse, and it will continue to get worse." So far, Gabriel's only note about actually doing anything has been directed at himself, and none other. "I'm sure that you know how cancers grow."

"I know very little about cancer's actually." Bernard answers to that, then shrugs, "If there's money in it, I have no qualms in killing vampires, and I have some experience and tools to accomplish the job as well." He adds, "What do you know about the nest of them?" he asks curiously, "Do they live at the Ivory Lady or someplace else?"

Gabriel's head shakes ever so slightly. "It is widely believed that there could be vast sums of money, yes. As for their actual lair, this is a master vampire, and she has not yet been stupid enough to allow her hideout to be determined. No one has been able to follow any of them. However, while they do work at the Ivory Lady, they apparently don't actually live there." He stops again to sip from his mug.

Bernard nods faintly as he listens to you, hmmning a bit, "Yes, a Master Vampire likely does have plenty of money to spread about." He agrees, "And what's kept you from following them to their lair? A lack of ability to? Or some supernatural means of theirs to escape your notice?" Bernard asks curiously as he reaches for his cake, taking a bite of the crumbly thing, washing it down with a sip of coffee.

A shrug, followed by, "I don't have any skills or machines capable of tracking the mist of a master vampire, particularly when she doesn't want to be found. Perhaps that's my own failing? And that of everyone else?" Gabriel offers a light smile over top of his mug. "If you could do it, that would be a fantastic thing for the cause. But yes, she has her secondaries to guard her, and as I said, an army of junkies. Hell, on top of that, she has an army of regular folk who just like the blood trade, for whatever it is that they want. Something changed recently with her supplier, but the problem remains the same."

Bernard considers this, "Well, I would hardly call it impossible, difficult perhaps though. I do not know that I have any immediate solutions as far as magic goes for tracking it, but possibly with technology, yes." He adds, "And there is always the option of acquiring magical spells to do the job as well. It's something I could give some thought to anyway." he adds with a nod of his head. "I've already paid I high price to acquire a spell. A spell crucial to the unfortunately-aborted mission. I don't think that I can afford any more. My wallet is thinner than it's been since I've arrived," Gabriel admits. "May I ask, what is it that you do? Your profession, your talents? I'm a father, someone who does odd-jobs around the city, and sometimes, what others call a military type dependent on skill, experience and technology. Friends have their own specialties, from psionics and magic to brute force. You?" As he raises his mug back to his lips he smiles, and drawls out, "Feel free to tell me to fuck off and mind my own business." He politely lowers his tone to keep the cursing out of the ears of the rest of patrons at the coffee shop.

"What spell was it you acquired, if I might ask? And I would consider reimbursement from the take sufficient for any expenses I'd have to pay to find the vampires if you wish my services." Bernard asks, "And I'm a mercenary, and a magician as well." He says, "I suppose you could say I have paramilitary training and I've got skill and experience breaking into lairs of supernatural creatures, or other humans with the purpose of killing or robbing them." He says with a laugh.

Gabriel listens intently, and answers briefly and concisely. "A spell that conceals the thermal signature of the caster to all forms of sight."

Bernard hmns and nods at that, "Could be useful I suppose, yes." he says, "For a lot of things, but it doesn't help if you can't track or follow them." He says, "You'll need to consider special weapons and equipment to fight the vampires as well." He adds, "They're not going to be phased by most of your typical weapons either."

Gabriel laughs. "Yes, I'm well aware of that. My initial plan was precise, quick, and would have succeeded, save for an unfortunate - or fortunate - unexpected turn of events. I've put down a vampire myself - though admittedly not gone to the end of killing it. I know what is needed. I know some of their powers, but I'm not claiming in any way to be an expert. But I am good at operations. All I need are the right weapons and the right people to use them." He punctuates the last statement but gentle pointing a finger across the table. "I have no intention of going into their lair to fight on that ground. The best place to take them is at night, when they're working the club themselves. If your paramilitary experience magicianiary -" he invents a word on the spot "- could be explained in more detail, I'm all ears." He checks his watch, adding, "And nowhere to be until the one o'clock shift."

"Well, I can use plasma cannons and missile launchers, as well as rifles, pistols, swords and the like." Bernard starts, "I can put most techno-wizardy weapons to use which could be useful for fighting vampires." He adds, "I can walk through walls, and conceal heavy weapons in my pants pocket. Among other things." He says.

The older man nods along, taking it all in. "Fascinating! Here I am, all boring and squishy." Gabriel's been here for more than a year now, so he doesn't bother to stop and ask how all of that's accomplished. "Could you conceal a large water cannon in your pocket? Such that you could get close to the master vampire and hose her down fast enough to kill her while others of us kept security, et cetera, occupied? Both walking through walls and complete concealment would be a benefit. Of course, invisibility would help too." Then he smirks. "I will admit that my initial, initial plan was voted down by having too much collateral damage. But if you can get close and 'concealed' so to speak, that might revive the aborted plan right away. Then you could strip the walls of the club for as much loot as you could carry until the authorities arrived. Or this being the 'Dregs, 'someone' arrived."

"Quite possibly yes. A Globe of Daylight could keep them back as well, if we could pin the master in a corner with it." Bernard adds, "I'm not certain that the vampire wouldn't have other tricks to take me down, however." He says at that, "Most simple magicians and psychics can't even detect the form of concealment I use as well which makes it more likely to work as well."

"I have a way to keep them trapped within the club, unless they have some kind of underground escape - but I'm fairly certain that they don't." He shakes his head. "I've heard about this 'Globe of Daylight' from a friend. Sounds like it would also do the trick. Back her into a corner, keep the others at bay. Of course, these bastards are smart, like I said. They have regular weapons to be used on people. Then of course, there's the issue of the master trying to take over your mind. Hopefully she'd be too distracted." Gabriel pauses once more to sip. A long pause, perhaps considering. "I have assets placed very well, I simply lost by point-man. Perhaps if I could get the band together again, you might at least be willing to listen to a role I'd have for you?" He sounds hopeful. Or perhaps that's his twang. With people these days and a dead accent, it can be hard to tell.

Bernard nods his head at that, "Well, the mental protection is something you'd need to address for attacking vampires." He agrees, "And you wouldn't want to go in unarmored or unprepared for normal foes. And getting weapons into town would have some issues, but I have methods to bypass that if need be." Another bite from his cake, more coffee sipped. "Of course, if we can't find their hideout we won't make any good payouts unless we're planning to rob the club as well."

"Eh," Gabriel says, waving off many of the notes. "Everyone walks around armored these days, that wouldn't be suspicious. Getting weapons into the 'Dregs? That's simple, even for me! As for payout, I believe that the plan is to strip the strip club. Putting energy into finding their lair would be fruitless without something special. Plus, you have the domino effect." He pats the newspaper. "Somewhere, there's a supplier of psi-cola. Somewhere, there's a place where the psi-cola is being distributed. So it follows that somewhere... there is a second, and perhaps very large treasure trove. I have to admit... even to my morals, I have no problem tearing out everything of value from a strip club, even when it was on the up-and-up." He smirks at that, knowing that he's a strange person in a strange land, and that something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Assuming that Denmark still exists.

"I've never heard of it." Bernard says with a shrug of his shoulders, "But perhaps so?" he says, "Would you be interested in being able to take a look in the club during the day as well? That should be arrangeable if you'd like to get the intel on the place." He says.

Gabriel nods. "Yes, definitely! That would be great, if you could do it... and do it out of the goodness of your heart, because I really can't afford to pay for much more than charging a single eclip." After a moment's pause, he asks, "Would it be possible to bring in a second man? Perhaps a third?"

Bernard nods his head, "We might need an air source for a time, but I could bring a few people along with me, and do it very subtlety as well I suspect." He adds, "It would require entering the club during business hours, though it's very simple." He explains, "And I would do it in the interests of a future payout, yes."

"No one questions anyone entering the club. They're doing a brisk business, and they've got two cyborgs guarding the door. Everyone's weapons are stripped - save, apparently, for yours. You could get in and see what you needed to see. As for an air source, do you mean like SCUBA gear? Because just popping on some EBA would take care of that problem, with no problems. But if you could bring a second? Would you mind if I tried to get him on the comm now, see if he might not want to sit and chat as well?" It's one of Gabriel's longer-winded statements, but everyone's entitled to that once in a while.

"We would need several hours of air per person." Bernard explains, "EBA would work, or something similar anyway." he nods, "We would be going into a pocket dimension, it has some air, but it would be quickly exhausted, especially with three people."

"Call it two, then," Gabriel says. He then holds up a polite finger and retrieves a small communicator from his pocket. After punching a few buttons, he holds it up to his head like an old, early twentieth century telephone. "Hello? Tek? Are you there, pal?"

<< Pause. >>

After a moment's pause, he says happily, "Hey! Think you can run down to Tradewinds for a few minutes?"

<< Pause. >>

Gabriel shakes his head, concentrating on his communicator. "No, no. Just bring yourself. It's only for a chat."

<< Pause. >>

The communicator is put away. "He'll be here soon, Bernard." Gabriel then goes back to enjoying his mocha for a while.

Bernard finishes off his cake, nodding his head a little, "No worries, mate." He says to Gabriel as he eats his own food and sips on his coffee.

It's sometime between breakfast and lunch, with a good crowd having been driven into the shop because of the horrible weather outside. Up against one of the large plate glass windows on the east side sit Gabriel and another man. Gabriel in common clothes with his snow gear and a briefcase put aside, the other man.. in his own fashion. The older man is sipping from two big mugs and enjoying a brownie of some sort. They seem to be in a decent conversation.

Tek wanders in and finds his way to the counter. Tiffany seeing him does not even need to ask but brings him a large coffee. Turning then he sees Gabriel even though he knew he would be there, grabbing a sugar canister he makes his way over to the table, "Hey Gabriel, mind if I join you?"

Bernard looks at the fellow who makes his way over to the table, looking Tek over a bit and offering a polite enough nod of his head, and taking a sip from his own coffee as he sits at the table across from Gabriel.

Gabriel offers introductions as Tek squeezes into the small table. "Tek, the is Bernard, a mage of sorts. Bernard, this is Tek, a.. tech of sorts. I'm Gabriel," he confirms with a smirk. His eyes turn to the younger man. "Tek, Bernard has offered a unique opportunity that I think we can exploit to end this fucking Ivory Lady vampire problem once and for all. Or at least get the ball rolling to end it."

Tek sits down and starts pouring sugar into his coffee... a steady stream while he talks, "Ohh?" looking over to Bernard, "It is nice to meet you. What proposition is it you have regarding this... umm... problem?" After lots and lots of sugar goes into the coffee he begins to stir it.

"Well, the chance to take a look at the place during the daytime." Bernard says, "Bypassing any sort of front door security, and such." He say, "Though I don't know what sort of personnel they have on the site during the daylight hours though." He adds.

"Perhaps you could get it and get a good grasp on their security? Whatever other technical systems they're using?" Gabriel looks to Tek hopefully. "Even sabotage some of them in ways that would be impossible to find but not obvious to anyone that actual sabotage had occurred? If nothing else, a second set of eyes on their technical gear. If you're up for it."

Tek looks down at the coffee he is stirring before taking a small sip and shaking his head... he lifts the sugar back up and starts pouring more in, "Are you suggesting an outing this evening?" looking between the two of them but settling his gaze on Bernard with a smile, "So if we go over there for some surveillance only... What are you bringing to the table?" after adding about as much as he had the first time Tek starts stirring his coffee one more time.

"Well, I can get us in easily." Bernard says to that, "And I can bypass most any mundane lock or door, as well as many mystically sealed ones. I can see invisible, or magically concealed things amongst other skills." He says in response to Tek's query.

"More than two decades of military experience that no one else around here seems to have, with details that you don't need to know, and covering you with a heavy weapon while you do your thing, Tek," Gabriel answers too, just to be sure that everyone knows what everyone else is bringing to the table. "Not that I expect there to be security during the day. However, depending on when we go in, there very well might be a cleaning crew. But I can take care of them," he says confidently. "We're not going in tonight. A few days, perhaps, when timing works with the three of us, and with the goings-on in the city. Oh, and Bernard says you need a short-term air supply. Apparently EBA covers that, if you don't have anything else."

Tek looks over to Gabriel, "Wait, I thought you said we were just doing some recon. You are talking about an assault? Well I am not sure that just the three of us are up to something like that. From what I hear there are borgs and other nasty super's in that place. I am thinking I need to hear more of the plan I think."

"It would just be a recon. You would go in during the business hours, be concealed away until the morning, or perhaps afternoon, and a similar extraction method." Bernard explains to Tek, then to Gabriel, "Finding out who might be there during the day would be useful, perhaps you can do some surveillance on the place to find out the daytime schedule of employees and such."

Gabriel nods to Bernard, then turns to Tek. "No, no, Tek. Not an assault, that's for later. This is purely intelligence gathering... and perhaps looking to see if there are a few critical points that you might be able to fuck with an hour before the *real* assault happens." Bernard gets another look and a solid nod. "I know that it's only a small cleaning crew. Sweet Sweep, something like that. I have it written down somewhere, talked to the woman who runs the job. They won't be a problem." A slow nod to both men may indicated... that one way or another they won't be a problem.

Tek shrugs as he takes a slow drag from his coffee before saying, "Well I only need a little while to do my thing while I am in there, was thinking of using the bathroom while I did that. Hoping it will be close enough to where I need it to be close enough to. I am thinking staying in after the place closes might be a bit risky, and I am not understanding the whole breathing apparatus you brought up?"

"You won't actually be staying in there. I'll create a dimensional portal to a pocket realm, in the bathroom most likely. You'll be staying in there and come out in the morning, then can retreat back in if need be until the next night." He explains, "That's why you'll need to breath. Enough oxygen to last through the night."

"I thought that you had to be ten feet from it. That's why there was a problem with taking down the security system at the front door," Gabriel says as both question and statement. "In either case, it can't hurt to go inside and give the place a thorough once-over, can it? A little preparation up front can save a lot of pain in the end." He angles a finger in Tek's direction. "I don't care what your powers are, knowing what you're walking into always gives you an advantage, if for no other reason than knowing exactly where and what to hit first and exactly what you want to do with it without needing even a split second to remember. So unless you just don't want to come - I'd appreciate your coming along. Plus, you can tell *me* what and where the systems are, so if things get fucked, at least some explosives might take them out in an emergency." Gabriel's eyes turn to Bernard. "I think that we should just go in during the day, all of us. Have a look around. No reason to hide in the john. Just a quick, in-and-out recon."

Tek points to Gabriel, "That is what I was saying. Just an in and out. I am down with that. Just let me know when." with a smile of satisfaction Tek takes another long slaw drink from his still smoking coffee.

Bernard shrugs his shoulders, "Then you'll need to find your way in and out of the place on your own then. I can get into the building easy enough during the day without risking setting off an alarm on the door or such, though."

Gabriel is now clearly confused. "Okay. I thought you were putting us in a pouch, walking through the wall without setting off alarms, then we all popped out on the other side for a few minutes. Do a little poking around, hop back in your pocket, and you walk back out through the wall. Did I misunderstand?"

Tek looks to Gabriel now he is apparently confused, "Walk through a wall. When did that come up?" looking back over to Bernard now, "Ok so let's start fresh like we have not spoken about anything yet..." looking back over to Gabriel, "Will one of you tell me the plan from get to go?" "Ah you misunderstood a bit. The one I can fit you in is something akin to say a closet, I can't move that in through the walls with me. That's why you'd need to go in and wait through the night." Bernard explains, "I can't bring you through the walls with me. The one I can carry is more like a large backpack. You'd need to be quite small to fit in there." He says with a laugh.

The old soldier's face falls. "Oh. Well that blows that plan, unless we want to crack open the door in broad daylight. Alternatively, at night neither one of us can walk through the door in full environmental armor and hit the head, drop into an invisible pocket and not have people ask questions." Gabriel shakes his head sadly, but asks, "Exactly how had you envisioned it going down, Bernard? Play-by-play."

Tek says, "If I may..." looking back and forth for a moment, "I say we go in during business hours in normal clothes. I will go into a stall in the bathroom and one of you can come in and make sure I am not disturbed while I do my thing. I will know before then if what I need will be in range or not. The other person can be in the main room getting a feel for their visible security. But that is just a thought." looking to Bernard to see what he has for a plan.

"I could bring in breathing devices easily enough, possibly even your armor." Bernard says, "Go in, create the doorway, which like I said, is virtually undetectable. You could each come into the bathroom and stow away for the night, then come out during the daytime. Stow away again in the envelope, and slip out safely that night like any regular customer." he explains to the two. "That's the best I can offer for the time anyway."

Gabriel shakes his head. "If you want to do the tech recon, that's fine. But the visual recon is done. Thoroughly. I could draw you a set of blueprints and a couple of beautiful sketches of the interior, complete with tables, where they keep individual drinks behind the bar and their 'secret' doors." The word 'secret' gets the benefit of air quotes. "That part's done. Plus, the master knows my face, which could be dangerous for me, as well as tipping her off that there is another mission being planned. Still.. if the two of you want to go with that plan for the tech systems, I'm all for it. You should be safe enough, I doubt they know your faces."

Tek shrugs, "I don't mind doing the recon. But if they catch on I am no match for what is in there. It is possible that I set off an alarm when I attempt what I am going to attempt. Though not a good chance, but a chance all the same. I am thinking I should try that right before we go in for whatever we decide to go in with. So if I do set something off I can just keep going instead of trying to escape. Again I am just thinking out loud here."

"Well, if you're not fond of being stuck in a dimensional pocket overnight, I could do a recon myself if I know what sort of security equipment they might have there." Bernard says, "Walk through the walls and such. Though a blueprint would be handy so I can know where to go and where not to go."

Gabriel sits back and starts to enjoy his mocha once more. "I could draw you some simple plans, but it's a very simple structure. The only places that I would be interested to have you go are beyond the 'secret' doors." Beyond that, he leaves Tek and Bernard to do their planning, as it's their bodies involved. He already stated that he couldn't take part when the vampires were around.

Tek nods to Bernard and picks up his coffee again, "If you want to go alone you can. You know the risk. I am not sure that I should go in and try to hack the security before we need to though. I can go in and just get a quick feel without doing anything intrusive though, that might be insightful, it might not."

"Well, getting beyond the secret doors is useful, but it would be nice to know if they have things like motion sensors, thermal sensors, cameras, that sort of thing before going in to avoid tipping them off." Bernard says with a nod towards the two, "If you can tell me it's the simplest solution, and I can get myself out of trouble easier then I can get someone else."

The old soldier points to Tek. "Detecting security systems and such is what I recruited him for." 'Him' receives a happy wink, acknowledging that he's more than just a 'him.' Gabriel swaps his mocha for the vanilla latte.

Tek finishes up his coffee, "Well like I said. Let me know when we are going to go check things out and I will do what I can do. The rest will have to wait for the night we are really planning to 'go'." he uses his fingers to put quotes in the air when he says go.

Gabriel looks to Tek and shrugs, "Well, maybe we'll get something out of this after all. If I thought I could find a firetruck for your to man, I'd steal it and have you drive in in through the front door!"

Tek gives a chuckle, "Well I gotta get back to the shop. Unless there is something else?"

Shaking his head and retrieving his folded newspaper, Gabriel smiles. "No, that was it. Sorry to trouble you... Bernard misspoke when he told me of his abilities. Take care, Tek. Looks like it's shaping up to be a gorgeous day. For a Missouri winter, at least." He nods, then begins to read.