Nov 14 21:25:21 107 PA - Little Black Boxes

From Chronicles

Nov 14 21:25:21 107 PA

Kingsdale - Cali's Garage: Attic

More changes to the place are obvious. Leo still has the keys for the lock downstairs. Upstairs, Vixen is filling with a new desk that has replaced two of the old ones in the work area, set up in a corner, with settings to accommodate multiple electronic devices neatly. She's got her coat off and is sitting on the edge of the desk, one booted foot set along that same edge as she fiddles with some wiring and a small circuit board. Her lips softly pursed on concentration.

Leonard is not entirely subtle in his rise up the stairs, mostly due to the fact that he's carrying the torso portion of his armor. It would be simpler to wear it, or lighter (and more gruesome) to conjure one of his protection spells, but the armor serves a slightly different purpose, as it appears to encase a small object. "You like puzzles, don't you, Vix?" Edgar is also present, perched on Leo's shoulder and peering at the carried bundle.

Vixen has her pistol in hand by the time Leo mounts the top of the stairs and comes within sight. "Leo," she says softly, a light smile coming as she casually holsters the weapon and slips off the desk. Though after one step towards him, her eyes settle on the bundle he caries and she gives him a curious look. "What's that? And why you got your armor around it?" She lifts her arms to cross her chest, a hip cocked slightly. "If it's dangerous, you shouldn't bring it around here."

"I don't know that it's dangerous," Leonard admits, "but I don't know that it's not. It also seemed better here than the apartment. I found it outside the door."

Vixen frowns and eyes it, motioning towards the kitchen. "Take it in there.. away from the gear," she says. "Was there a note.. or anything?" She will follow, but not too closely. "Or you got any spells that are useful for something like this? Like.. telling who brought it or what's inside without opening it. Could be a bomb."

Leonard takes the bundle to the kitchen, shaking his head (lightly) as he finds a spot to deposit it. "There was no note, or markings on it. It does not even appear to open." Once it's down, he gently lifts a portion of the armor so that she can view it: a small rectangular solid made of some matte black material. "Edgar attempted to discern something of it, but the... item simply absorbed the power he focused. I've not attempt to use any magic upon or around it, yet, because of that."

Vixen pauses just in the doorway of the kitchen, lingering back a little as she eyes the thing. "Huh.. If it did that I guess it's magical. Cause it wouldn't effect magic if it wasn't, right?" She glances to Leo, then Edgar. "What do you think, feathers? Got some special knowledge on strange black boxes?" Her eyes go back to the box, studying it from afar quietly. Suspicion is high in her expression.

"It likely is, but I might be able to learn for certain." Leonard steps back from the bundle and makes a brief intonation. There is no visible effect despite his tense caution, and he is left to peer at the box for a few moments. "Odd. I can sense no magic from it, and it didn't prevent my own, as far as I can tell..."

Vixen slips back a step when Leo casts the spell, eyeing the box the whole time. When it doesn't twitch, she frowns softly and lingers a moment before she steps into the kitchen fully. "This is strange," she says, slowly approaching to crouch down near it. But yet touching it. "Wish I had an X-ray machine.. I guess I know what I'm getting myself next time I get a fat load of credits in." She tilts her head, studying the box closer.

Leonard has to chuckle, even if the logic is reasonable. "How would you ever expect to need one? It isn't every day that mysterious things like this arrive at our door..." He studies the item for a moment, with little result, and is then interrupted by a beeping from his pocket. An earpiece is pulled out and made use of. "Hello?"

Vixen glances back towards Leo as he gets a call, then looks back to the box. She pulls out her handgun, though doesn't point. She just nudges it with the barrel lightly. "You touch it with your skin?" Asked lightly of Leo, mindful of his call. She remains crouched near the thing, staring at it intently.

"Hello, Sage..." Leonard answers the call with his words and Vixen's question with a shake of his head. "A mysterious item? What sort of item?" He glances to the box again.

Vixen turns her head and looks back towards Leo, her brows rising. "God damn.." She gets up and comes over to stand close to him and lean in, listening to the call.

Leonard purses his lips and nods to Vixen and her suspicions. "Interesting. I think that I can make time to examine it, but I'm not certain what help I'll be. Where is that, precisely?" It is Sage's voice at the other side of ther conversation. 'I wasn't much help, so our expectations aren't very high right now. As for the apartment, it's apartment ### in Raleigh.' Leonard responds with a confirmation of "We can be there soon. I don't know what you've tried, but please be careful. It could be dangerous."

Vixen tilts her head and shakes it slightly, then steps back. "Another one? What the hell is going on? If it wasn't all. spooky and shit, I'd think maybe the Deadboys were getting proactive." She's not low with her voice and she notes, "We're taking that thing with us." Said as she goes back into the rest of the place to get her coat.

"For comparison?" Leonard closed the call, and tucks the earpiece back into his pocket. "I'm tempted to see if they are the same, as they sound very similar. Of course, bringing them together might have side effects." He has to shrug, as he's merely guessing, at this point. "I doubt this is the work of the Coalition."

"I don't know," Vixen calls back. "But that's not staying here. If it blows up, it's not taking this place with it." She gets her coat from where she tossed it and settles the heavy garment on. SHe's been getting stronger. Training at the gym. Boxing and sword fighting. It shows. "So just.. gather that thing back up and we can take it over."

Leonard concedes and retrieves the object, rather than the bundle as a whole. It has yet to explode or drain anyone's soul, and it is much lighter than carrying his armor. He does wrap it in a cloth, at least. "After you?" Leonard is not ignorant of the changes in clothing or the woman underneath, but now isn't the best time to oggle overmuch. He might learn the item is a bomb of some sort by accidentally dropping it.

Vixen smirks faintly at him with a knowing lean to her expression. "Just don't drop it," she says, faintly amused. She slips her handgun into her holster once more, then starts out to head towards the Retreat. She knows where it is at least. And she can make use of the new truck(which just need to be put on the sheet).

"I'll try not to. You can be very distracting..." Leonard follows after her, but does keep hold of the cube despite the view. A ride in the truck is probably safer than bringing the thing through a rift, and it's easier than walking back.

Raleigh's Retreat - Erica's Apartment

Erica goes to the front door of the apartment as she hears the door bell. She opens up the door with a smile on her face. Behind her the apartment is crowded with quite a few weapons in various states of assembly and a few sets of armor laying about.

Vixen leads the way in, though she does so eyeing Leo and the odd, black box he has. Clearly a bit uneasy with it. She'll scoot to the side a bit to let him in and say, "Did one of you get something like this too? Cause I dunno where this thing came from.. ain't been dealing with no one that'd just drop something like this off with me."

"Hello." Leonard steps inside after, then ahead of Vixen. "Have you learned anything new of it? It may not be so unique. " He unwraps the cloth around the suspiciously-shaped black cube, but he still holds it with the cloth. Just in case. He also looks about for the one here that Sage spoke of.

Erica walks over to the table with the black cube sitting on it. She taps it with a fingernail. "Well the only thing that is odd is that when I tried to tap it with a knife to see what sound would come off of it, the knife slowed way down. That was kind of odd. Other then that it might as well be a paperweight." She says with a shrug. "Can I get either of you something to drink?" She asks as she walks into the kitchen.

"Don't need to be drinking right now," Vixen murmurs as she moves a bit towards one side of the room, where she can keep watch on both the cubes. "No way to open it.. and it slowed you down when you tried to jab it? Sounds like magic to me, but Leo says he didn't see any in it when he used his spells. Only thing I can think to do is shoot it, but don't know if that's the best idea."

Leonard approaches the cube on the table. "That is strange. Some sort of defense, possibl..." He blinks and lurches in his steps, fumbling with the one in his arms. "They seem to like each other... There is a definite attraction." It's physical, judging by his tightening grip on the object.

Erica comes back out of the kitchen with a glass of water. "Yah likely magic. I don't know why someone sent it to me. I guess if you want to shoot yours that is cool. I was just hoping it would have a use of some sort." She says before taking a sip of her water and then setting the glass on the table. "It doesn't have any real thermo signature. Wouldn't even warm where I touched it." She looks over at Leonard as he struggles with the cube. "Maybe they have some sort of special magnetic property or something. Go ahead and let them touch. Let's see what happens." She says with interest.

Vixen furrows her brow at Leo, though when she realizes just what's going on, she leaps forward and grabs at his hands, helping him hold the cube back. Erica's suggestion get her a look. "And what if they blow up or something?" She glances at the other cube. "Maybe if we knew if there was some kind of connection between us and you, could figure out who sent 'em."

"Thanks," Leonard steadies himself with Vixen's help, "but I think it's fine. I was just surprised." The pull is firm, but not enough to drag him around. He takes a few steps back from the table. "I don't know that allowing them to meet is a good idea. Of course, I don't know any more about them than anyone else here."

Erica laughs softly. "And what if they turn into a fairy? This is the property that they have shown the ability to push and now pull. Why not see what they do if they touch. "If you want to go somewhere in case they explode I can understand that. Or you can put on some armor. I have a few suits." She says with a shrug as she watches Leonard hold his cube. "If we can't find out anything else, might as well let them meet. Either that or we try taking one to a shop."

Leonard considers those suggestions. "If we are to do something potentially dangerous, somewhere more remote is a very good idea. So far as I can tell, this one is not enchanted in any form..." He shifts some of the guardianship of "his" cube to Vixen so that he can attempt the same brief incantation upon the other.

"Well I'm not that worried. You are the one that is worried Vixen. I don't know why you would assume it would explode." Erica says with a quick shrug of her shoulders as she picks up the other cube and holds on to it tightly. "Such assumptions are so odd. You want to waste all that time?" She shakes her head slightly as she chuckles to herself.

Vixen almost drops the cube when Leo hands it off to her, her lack of desire to touch it obvious. But since it doesn't seem to do anything to her, she holds it with an air of uncertainty. "Caution is what kept me alive more times than I like to remember. People don't leave strange magic but not magic boxes that don't open on doorsteps for no reason. And there ain't a thing saying the reason is good. A ten minute drive out? Ain't a waste to me."

"The other seems no different." Leonard will take the object back from Vixen since she's not keen on holding it. "That leaves it likely in the technological realm, and I'm no expert at that. I'm also in agreement with Vix. It's not a waste, even if nothing happens. Better to be safe than sorry."

"Alright well thanks for the help I guess. I'm going to take it around to a few shops. Maybe they can tell me what it is made of." Erica says with a shrug. "We can do your little silly adventure into the middle of nowhere some other time, since you are not keen on letting them touch now. I'll go see what the operators can tell me."

"So let me get this straight," Vixen says, eyeing Erica after she's given the item back over to Leo. "You'd rather spend days carting that thing around, rather than just take it ten minutes outside the city just because I won't let them touch right here and now? My new truck is right outside. We can be out and back fast, I'm not talking about driving hours away. If this was a house I would let you play with them if you want, but more people than you live here. This thing blows, it could take a lot of people with them. But fine, if you want to be difficult, be difficult."

Leonard takes a few more steps away from the table, the other cube, and the difference of opinion. "I can attempt to study this one, Vix," he turns to Erica, "but this link between them should be investigated. They might not be the only two, also."

"If you want to be scared of a cube then that is your deal. I am not going to enable your cube phobia for you." Erica says with a giggle. "But you want to be super scared I guess I'll meet you out a ways to the east." She says as she walks over to her workbench and starts putting on her T-11 Triax armor, after hauling a jetpack up on the workbench.

Vixen rolls her eyes at Erica. "There is a difference between caution and concern for others and fear, you ditz," she states. "When it's your ass, you can be as reckless as you want to be. Me? A little casual caution will work fine. If I'm wrong, fine. I'm prepared for that. We'll be out there." She shakes her head and turns. "Come on, Leo. Lets see how the beast handles some light off road action. I've been wanting to get it out there for a bit."

Leonard isn't about to antagonize either side of the ...discussion, especially now that there is a reluctant agreement. Or so he believes. With his mysterious geometric solid in hand, he moves to follow Vixen. "I hope that you won't be too aggressive on the trip..." The cube may not kill them, but her driving might, possibly. "Don't forget to bring the other, Erica." Leonard is not carrying both, for obvious reasons.

Erica laughs again. "Hey Vixen you weren't even invited over here, so I'm not sure why the hell you are here. But thankfully you decide to butt in anyways." She shakes her head while she works on pulling on her armor. Quickly enough she is ready and then straps on her jetpack to travel to the agreed spot.

"It's a tough truck, Leo. And it has six wheels. What can go wrong?" Vixen glances back at Erica and notes, "It appeared on our doorstep, so it involves me. Lets just go."

"Yes, please." Leonard steps out, aiding Vixen in departing, if needed. He can then ride again in the new truck to the suitable location of her choosing. "There's obviously a connection between the cubes, but I'm having more difficulty finding one between where they were found."

Erica quickly gets over to the agreed upon spot with the speed of her jetpack. In her arms is the black cube. She waits for the arrival of the truck and the other black cube.

Vixen has little to say on the link between the where. And the drive out is fine. The Diplodocus has plenty of room for two and while the ride is bumpy due to terrain, Vixen's control of the vehicle is good. And she quite enjoys the trip, evidenced by the big grin she has going once she arrives at the spot and hops out. She glances around the clear spot of wild land and says, "Take it out there a couple dozen yards." A suggestion sent to Leo as she look back over at him." Then the other can be set near and just let them.." She brings her hands together slowly. "And see what happens." She glances at Erica. "You can do the honors if you want."

Leonard suffers the bumps and even does so with a grin of his own. "I'm glad you didn't feel the need to buy anything larger..." Once they arrive, he takes the cube out away from the truck and sets it upon the ground. "You're welcome to conduct the little experiment, Erica." She is the one in body armor, afterall. Leonard backs his way towards the truck, stopping somewhere close enough to have a good view, but hopefully far enough to avoid any unpleasantness.

Erica's expression and features are hidden by her helmet as she walks out a ways from the truck. The cube is cradled in her arms as she waits for Leonard to place the cube down. As soon as Leonard is out of range she moves close and places the other cube down quite near its twin. She then takes a few steps back as she waits and watches to see what will happen. She activates her recording optics in case it is something interesting.

The cubes snap together with the force of their attraction and release a loud smack in doing so. But then they just sit there, no longer attracted.

Vixen peers at them from afar as they link together. SHe doesn't flinch, but she does frown faintly. "Like a couple big magnets," she murmurs. She steps forward then and moves towards them. "Well, at least they don't seem dangerous. That's good, but that don't explain much of anything."

"That was ...anticlimactic. Not that that is not good, in many ways." Leonard gives his own assessment of the results. "They are not just magnets, however... Do you have any idea why someone would leave you anything like these, Erica?" They have a new morsel of knowledge, but it doesn't exactly explain much.

Erica walks over to the cubes and then tries to pull them apart to see if they will come apart. "Well operators it is then." She says as she attempts to pull the cubes away from each other. "Could be from someone that I have worked for. Or it could be cause I have a few connections. Or maybe just something to mess with me. Who knows?"

"I haven't had no deals with tricky people recently.. at least, no one with this kinda funky tech," Vixen muses. She glances at Leo. "What about you Leo. You run into any strange customers recently? I know you're all over the place sometimes. Probably a lot of weird ones out there."

Leonard rolls his shoulders. "I have made some strange acquaintances, and possibly unusual enemies, but I'd never expect something like this." He motions to the "magnets" that aren't. "I can search the library for any possibly hints, but they do have some power beyond only the mechanical. My attempts to learn of their history was drained, somehow, and the same happened to Sage, from what little she explained."

Erica pulls the cubes apart then touches them back together. She does this a few times before she tosses Leonard's cube back to him. "If you know any Operators or other tech guys might want to let them take a looks at them. It is a curious little puzzle."

"Drained?" Vixen frowns at Leo. "Sounds bad.. I guess I can shop it around to some people. But I'm going to lock it up in the equipment room, just in case. Might poke at it a bit myself.. ain't no operator, but I picked up a bit." Shes' content to let Leo handle it for now, turning to head back to the truck. "Yeah, you figure what this is about, let us know. Don't much like it. Things are better when they make sense."

Leonard catches the cube easily... or not? It seems like it will bounce off his hands, to him, at least. Only after he holds it does he feel certain that he is actually holding anything. "Strange... and definitely worth locking up."

"Huh that is odd." Erica says after tossing her own cube up and down in her hands. "It is harder to toss then you would think. I guess that is something else that we know about it. I wonder what other properties it has." She says as she rotates the cube around in her hands. "It is like catching air and it seems to be always cold. I'll see what else can be found out. Share with me if you find out anything."

Vixen watches Erica as she tosses hers and considers the descriptions. "Funky.. sounds like some sort of physics thing. Maybe Maya knows a good egghead." She glances at Leo. "Let's get back. We'll lock it up for tonight and we can go snag some chow. Been working all day and I'm hungry as hell." She moves back towards the truck, her brow furrowed.

"That's enough strangeness for one evening, I'd say. If we learn anything, we'll share. Try not to break it?" Leonard joins Vixen in the truck after that farewell to Erica. He is still very much curious about the cube, but he'll put it off for later. "Any preference on dinner?"

"I'll share anything I find out as well, and I won't break it." Erica says as you beers at the cube for a moment longer before hugging it in her arms while she activates the jetpack to fly back to the city.