May 22 03:26:12 107 PA - Brains for Dinner

From Chronicles

Late evening will find each of you wherever you are inclined to be this night. As will a trusted friend. The details of the individual are up to you. They find each of you with looks of mirht and wonderment, perhaps leading to curiousity about what has inspired them. Regardless of if they do or not they will explain in short order that the found something amazing south of the Arena among the warehouses. Its not in the dregs so the may make one less concerned about the neighbourhood. Being someone you trust it is assumed that have the clout to convince you to come assist them with their find. Each will be led in to a dark warehouse by their associate in turn. The door will close and lock behind them in the darkness. Inside the warehouse about two dozen people wait for the three new arrivals. Most are dressed casual, and hold no form of weaponry aside from a pair with a net and another pair with rope. Surprise.

Bridget was stuffing the last of a Happy Burger past her teeth and thinking of showers and naps when he showed up. Again. She thought their talk was done hours ago, but it seemed she was wrong. At least following him gives her the time to finish chewing, and even slurp soda on the way to wash it down. "Ok, ok, I get it... You're excited." She walks into the warehouse more curious then tired, since the excitement is a little contagious. "So, what's got you so... Oh." After hearing the locking door and seeing the net and rope, Bridget thinks she should maybe add onto that "Oh."

Erica was hanging out in Moe's tavern and having a beer while watching some juicer sports. She was a little bored so decided to go investigate this claim that her friend made. She walks into the warehouse trusting her friend, but when she sees the net her lips curl down into a frown as she shakes her head. "What is this all about then?"

Bartholemew was hanging out in the arcade killing some time when his buddy came and got him after a bit of a chat. Not needing to be too convincing he follows his friend down to the warehouse always willing to make a quick buck. As the door closes behind him suddenly and he sees the men with the net and rope to his surprise, he looks to his buddy with a glare, "What the F*** is this dude?!" his head turning to get a picture of the severity of the situation hand going to his pistol to draw.

"No need for anything uncivilized friends." A deep ragal voice claims. From shadows a tall man in a neat suite emerges. "The nets are merely a precaution. Not everyone manages to be civil in our audience. An unfortunate reality as we mean no one any harm. Just look to your friends. Have they been harmed in any fashion? No they brought you here of their own will, knowing you would rejoice in the community they felt you are worthy of. Come forward, I'll introduce you to our majesty." The man invites, leading further into the warehouse.

Bridget turns to shoot a look to her 'friend,' mouthing the word "Majesty?" with incredulity. Sure, he looks like he's in one piece, and he was really excited, but that doesn't mean she's ready to skip through the kingdom. She relaxes, a little, sort of, and looks to the suit. "Yeah, I can see how somebody might take all this the wrong way..." Which is probably the right way, really. Her eyes go from the suit, to Erica, to the other worthy guy, curious if they have any more clue than she does.

Erica looks around nervously while her hand rests on her laser pistol that is in her holster. She eyes the tall man for a moment before shaking her head. "Why don't you tell us what this is all about first." She says whil looking behind her to try to judge how sturdy the warehouse door is. She looks over to Bridget and Bart and purses her lips while shaking her head ever so slightly, trying to send a message of caution.

A bit confused at first, Bart's hand rests on his pistol a moment looking to his friend that gives him a reassuring nod and kind word to help relax the soldier. Looking around to the others in the room and seeing no immediate threat aside from a net and some rope, he finally relaxes to follow and hear the man out at least. After all, his friend did say it would be worth his time. "I'll hear ya out, but ifn I don't like what I hear, I'll be puttin a burn hole right between your eyes." looking to his friend that brought him when he says the burn hole comment and poking him in the chest appearing a bit irritated at the method taken.

"All we want is for you to meet her. Thats all. Once you do do whatever your heart desires. You've come all this way. Will you not see the one who has convinced your freind so thoroughly face to face? Knowing each of them, that you trust them and bringing you to any danger would break that trust. Would any of them bring you here for something sinister? Know you are hear because you know deep down it will be worht it. So come, and you will see." The man instructs, continuing his casual walk into the warehouse. Those who follow will find themselves led to a closed room at the far side of the warehouse. Those that dont find the unarmored crowd gathering a bit close for comfort. If shooting starts casualties will be unavoidable.

"Alright, sure..." Bridget gets the idea that the invitation is more of a suggestion. A -suggestion-, even. She walks after the suit and Bartholemew to the far room. "We wouldn't want to be rude or anything." She's not sure what the anything might be, but shooting or getting shot isn't high up on her list of heart's desires. There can always be a nice chat with her friend about this, later.

Erica looks over to her friend for a moment before nodding her head slightly. She then starts to follow the man deeper into the warehouse while looking around and trying to spot and see if anything is fishy. Her hand still rests on her pistol as she walks into the room at the far side of the warehouse. Her stance looks like she is expecting a fight.

Bartholemew follows the tall man to meet her majesty, though now is suspicious of what is going on. "So why all the fancy invitations? This an exclusive club or somthin?"

"Well when I met here I just knew I had to show her to my good friends. They inturned showed their friends which lead to your friends, and now you." The man explains before coming to a stop at the room and turning to look to the three. "So who will be first? Perhaps you?" He asks, gesturing to Erica.

Bridget stops with the little procession and looks to Bartholemew. "It doesn't sound very exclusive from what he said." There's a little smirk and shrug, then a quirked barely-there brow to the suit. "Not a group meet? Is she... shy, or something?" Filing in one at a time is not really a comforting idea, no matter how happy and excited her majesty makes people.

Erica raises an eyebrow at the man's claims about having to show her off. "That sounds like your group is growing quite rapidly." She says with a note of apprehension in her voice. "Can we not all go in together? It seems to me that it would be better if he saw her all together that way if there was a problem one of us wouldn't be singled out." She says with a slight frown as she looks at the man, judging him with an expert eye.

Bartholemew chuckles to the comment from Bridget letting them have their say questioning the man. With a definate I'm tougher than thou sound in his voice, "I'll go see her majesty first. Why the hell not? You all can stay out with the freak show here."

A moments pause for consideration. "Oh excellent sir. Come with me. Let me check with her for you two. We might be able to do the two of you at the same time. Unfortunately this warehouse is truly unsuited for her stature. We'll be moving to a beter location as soon as we've gathered enough influence. Three may be too crowded in the office. I will consult with her and we will both be right back out." The man assures, opening the simple door to step into what looks like a reception followed by another door to the office itself. The outer door does close before the inner door opens.

"Good luck with your ...audience with the queen." Bridget smiles to Bartholemew, but it's not all happy cheery. Erica gets a curious look when the men continue on. "Are you not getting a big warm fuzzy from all this, or is it just me?"

Erica turns to Bridget as she nods her head. "Yes this is obviously some evil plot to brain wash people, and I for one don't want to be brainwashed." She says while looking around at the warehouse trying to spot some sort of exit. "Maybe we can just blast our way through a wall and escape that way." She mentions while looking to see what the walls are made of.

Bartholemew steps inside with the man with one last look back out to the two women outside giving a shake of his head to their comments before the door closes between them.

"What a silly notion. If you were brainwashing people would you do it in such a cliche setting? And would you have it fulled of unarmed people like us. Not a very well thought out brain wash plot if you ask me." One member of the surrounding crowd points out. And in fact looked at apart from the particulars the behave as any group of two dozen people with a common interest would, except there interest is residing in a dark warehouse..

Inside the office Bart immediately incountered her magesty. A massive 7 foot long slug with 10 inch long teeth! "Cliches are cliches for a reason. Usually because they work." Erica says as she paces restlessly while her hand stays on her holstered pistol. "And just because you are unarmed doesn't mean you are harmless." She looks over to Bridget to see what the other woman thinks and wants to do about the situation.

Barts eyes go wide as he sees the huge slug in front of him, his hand going instinctively for his gun. Drawing his weapon he points it at the tall man first, "You sneaky son of a B****!"

Bridget looks back to the speaker in the peanut gallery and has to smirk. More. "There is a point, there, I guess." She shrugs her shoulders to Erica. "Blasting holes in people might work, if you need to. Unless you run out of blasts before they run out of people. They'd probably be carrying a little more if they were looking for a fight." Or, they're confident that they don't need it, which is a whole lot worse.

The man will make no attempt to avoid Bart's aim. He faces Bart with a calm look in his eye and waits for his fate. Meanwhile the slug lunges at Bart in an attempt to bite. Outside about the two girls the people pay little head to their plotting for the moment.

Bart successfully dodged, but also sacrificed his chance to shoot the man. He lunges at Bart intent on holding you in place, and her majesty tries to bite Bart again.'

Erica bites down on her lower lip and gnaws on it nervously as she looks around with obvious frustration. "Well what do you want to do then? Or are you just going to hang around until you are brainwashed?" She asks Bridget as she keeps up her pacing.

The bite is little more than a nip, like a dog bit you. How rude.

"Well, what did you want me to do? Starting shooting people?" Bridget watches Erica pace. "Don't have my pistol, for one, and I think you're freaking out just a little much. If somebody just wanted to shoot us, I think they would've done that already. Might be something worth it to all this. Never know until you know." She waves a hand around and shrugs.

Erica rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Well they don't want to shoot us becuase they want new converts." She mentions as she continues her pacing while her eyes dart to the office door occasionally while she waits for Bart to emerge. Bart's shots barely seem to scratch the slug thing. It lunges at him to bite again.'

Bridget looks to the door and nods. "Maybe. Maybe 'her majesty' has the best new pill in town and wants you hooked. Maybe she's looking for more happy people to go plant flowers somewhere. Maybe she's the tooth fairy and everyone here has replacements. That's a whole lot of maybes." The bite is little more than a nip but more than enough. Instantly your body is no longer yours but her majesties. You understand her desires to increase her hold in the city, and the complexities of her current situation. Your first task will be to dissuade the doubts of the two girls outside. After they join the following You will be tasked with bringing in the person you think best suited to imporve things for her majesty.'

Erica watches and waits to see what happens, not saying much more. Her eyes keep looking at the door as she gnaws on her lower lip. All the while her hands rest on her laser pistol and on her water gun.

Bartholemew eventually comes out of the office with a big smile on his face. He turns back to the tall man escorting him out giving a hearty handshake as the door closes behind them. "Thanks man, you won't be disappointed in my performance." as he turns he gives a warm smile to the other two that showed up with him, "So who's next? It's definately worth the time to at least talk to her." then kinda falling in place watching the other two and thier desicion, "All I can say is..Pay Day! Hoorah!" then glances back up to tall dude with an apologetic look, "Oops..should I not say anything?"

The man grins, chuckling at the slip from Bart. "We're among friends, I'm sure they understand your enthusiasm and will be eager to share in it." Bridget is relieved when the men return, and more than just a little surprised at all the smiles. "Pay day? See, maybe you should back off the trigger a little." She looks to Erica with a quirked, and pointed brow. "Sounds like someone just wants to talk business." Her eyes go to Bart again, then the suit, and she even grows a little smile. "I'm good for a little chat, unless she wants in, first." There's a tip of her head to Erica.

Erica looks up as the door opens to the office and she offers Bart a nervous little smile. "So Bart who or what is she?" She asks in a forced friendly tone before turning to look at Bridget. "Uh well if you want to go in before me that is fine. I'll stay out here and chat with Bart I guess." She says with a quick shrug of her shoulders as she looks again at the office door.

Bartholemew smiles to Bridget as she sounds like shes coming around to a more positive light then looks to Erica with a grin and light chuckle, "She's the one whos gonna hook you up with a fat bankroll if you agree to the job. Sorta a religious refugee I'd say, but with plenty o credits to bankroll my participation for her cause. If I remember correctly, credits ain't your prime motivation...is it?"

The man smiles to Bridget and gestures for her to join him in going through the door to meet her majesty.

Bridget takes him up on that invitation and walks in for her little job interview. Suspicion is a good thing, it keeps you breathing. Even then, there's some thought of good times in there, too. All doubt and no hope makes Bridget a dull girl.

The door closes behind the man and Bridget, leaving Bart with Erica for the time being.

Inside the office Bridget is probably alarmed to discover 'her majesty' is a massive seven foor long monster slug with ten inch teeth!

Erica looks up at Bart as she watches Bridget enter the office. "Well is she human or what? And as for credits, no they are nice and all but not my primary motivation. So what does she want you to do for all these credits?" Erica asks with obvious curiosity.

Bridget steps in with more positive attitude and curiosity, now. "So... your majesty, what did you..." She looks up to the queen, then up some more. Her jaw drops open in surprise, and then a hearbeat later, she crumples to her knees. As if she didn't have enough to despair about, already.

The man frowns as the bite does nothing to the beaten Bridget, the slug and him seem to exchange something mentally then he nods. Another probe of the slugs will enters Bridgets mind to atleast make her play along long enough to get Erica.

Bartholemew gives Erica a shrug, "Human I guess. Pretty hot too. From the gist I got, looks like she's some religious refugee not from around these parts. I told her to save her sob story, cause I ain't workin for nothin. Thats when she offered me the creds for my talents....fightin, what else. You'll prolly fall for the sob story she was spewin." giving a chuckle.

Erica eyes Bart for a moment before turning back to look at the office. "I don't fall for every story. I guess I will just have to wait and see what she has to say." She keeps gnawing on her lower lip. "So how much are you getting paid?"

Once the probe breaks through the dispairs dissolves to be filled with trust to the strange slug creature. The man smiles evilly. "That will do, you will help Bart convince Erica, then be on your way.'

Bartholemew smiles. Now she's talking about somethin he likes to talk about, Pay day. "My cycles getting re-armed and then 50k to show up and another 50k if we succeed in getting the temple back. These F***ers sound like the CS dogs I like to take pot shots at in my free time."

Bridget doesn't trust very many, and it feels good when she can. Some of the despair that was there before diminishes, too. She rises and nods. "Sure thing. She's twitchy, though, and was about to start shooting people." After that heads up, she turns and heads back out.

Bridget is broke, and looking for work, so good credits are an easy sell for her. Maybe she's more of a softie than Bart, too, and the sob story works better. She comes back out with a grin. "Guess it's your turn to see about signing up, Erica."

Erica nods her head as she listens to what Bart is getting. "Well that is pretty good credit wise. You seem to be making out pretty well then." She looks up as Bridget exits and lets out a little sigh as she makes her way into the office. "Well time to see for myself."

In the office Erica will probably not be so disappointed she was right. But You know, its a living. Before her lies a massive 7 foot monster slug with ten inch teeth!

Bartholemew grins, "Hell yeah. I plan to get my first bionics after all this." he says before turning towards the door as Bridget comes out. "Was it the story or the creds that got you? I ain't one for a story."

The horrific creature hits Erica with a powerful wave of despair before lunching to nip her with her toothy maw. She didnt even get to say she told us so..

Bridget shrugs to Bart after Erica goes in. "Seems like a good idea all around, but, yeah, credits are worth alot more than warm fuzzies, you know?"

The first bite resisted the creature will try again to subsume Erica's will.

Erica uses her armored arm to entangle the giant slug so that it can't attack her. She uses her free arm to aim her laser pistol at the giant slug so she can get a shot off. She swears loudly as she tangles with it.

Bartholemew all of a sudden ignores Bridget pulling out his stun stick and heading into the office quickly.

Her majestie squeels with Erica's determined resistance and outside the people shift. Bart is allowed through just before they all line up to wall off the office and block off escape.

Erica grabs the giant slug in a head lock after shooting it in the body. She tries to use the creature as shield as best she can as she squeezes off another shot into the slug's body.

Bridget blinks as Bart turns to head back in. "What's wrong?" Well, maybe he wanted to renegotiate? "I don't think the deal will get much better, but..." She shrugs as the people line up after he disappears inside. "Anyway, I've got other things to do." Her deal is done, and there's not much point in her hanging around, so she turns for the other door.

Bartholemew charges into the room, as if by instinct he heads straight for Erica swinging a Neural stick, charged and humming, at her to subdue the threat to her majesty.

The large slug is in no possition to escape from Erica despite its greater strength. The office simply lacks the room. It calms as Bart enters the scene though.

Erica dodges back as best she can from the neural stick that Bart is swinging at her. She resists the urge to shoot at her new attacked and instead keeps shooting into the body of the slug. "Fucking bastard. Don't come into my town and try to brain wash people."

Bartholemew growls with anger as the shots rip into the royal slug feircly swinging his weapon to stop erica's attack.

Erica winces as Bart's mace comes into contact with her but the expected shock doesn't come. She takes the opportunity to keep shooting laser shots into the giant slug, hoping beyond hope that she can somehow take it down.

The shots are starting to add up to a very ugly and painful looking scorch. The Slug wails in its agony.

Erica growls as Bart tears her laser pistol out of her hand. She looks at him with anger as she uses her free hand to try to draw her vibro knife, so she continue trying to kill the slug. "Bart you are not in control of yourself. Snap out of it you misogynistic prick."

With Erica now grappling with Bart instead of the slug her majesty can try to bite the girl who wont give up her free will lightly.

With the pistol out of her hand Bart continues to grapple with her so that her majesty may find another willing subject to serve her slimyness.

Erica dodges to the side as the slug tries to bite her. She growls in frustration as she uses her knife to stab out at Bart to try to get him to leave her alone. She doesn't turn on the vibro knife yet as she doesn't want to kill Bart.

Erica dodges to the side as the slug tries to bite her. She growls in frustration as Bart keeps her from stabing out at the giant slug and she uses her fist to punch Bart right in the face.

The slug continues to try and bite Erica, resilience just isnt paying off yet.

Bartholemew takes a nasty fist to the eye after missing the block letting out a grunt of pain. Though being a soldier he punches out with an attack of his own directed to break her nose followed up by a quick spin to leg sweep her off the deck.

And the slug connects! Instantly the slugs will overwhelms the struggling Erica to bring her into its full control. All resistance ends, and she learns she must now find and bring who she thinks can serve the Mindolar best.