Vat:01 Orientation

Starring: Joseph, Joe, Pauline, Amiri, Sophia, Steve
Guest Starring: Constance, Biker-Terrorist, Eunice, Jorgin, Patty
Challenge: Biker-Terrorist; Werebear and Werewolf
Location: VAT Building, Blawnox Bus Garage
Date Played: 25 May 2012

Snipe, Chase, Explode—Welcome the VAT

Joseph: So I reckon that it is odd that I'm being paid a hells of a lot more than I was at the university to join the VAT as a researcher, but then there is a whole lot that I just don't git about this century. I like to think that I'm adaptin' well enough but then right outta tha blue that girl Eunice's head flies apart like a melon hit with a hammer.

That is the life I remember, 'fore the binding. Rough days.

Ever'body reacts rather calmly to the situation but quickly. My grandson, of sorts, bolts out the door straight into danger. I draw out my scope, no gun, and will my essence through the lens catchin' sight of the fella that done this. With a glance I commit his face and body language to memory. I stop looking through the lens just in time to catch the train going outta the station and after this guy. I hang on for dear life as we strike a ditch, which inspires me. I send out my will ahead of the bike and collapse a portion of the road, PennDot style. As I reckon'd, he upended. This allowed us to catch the black hat.

Amiri: This is quite an interesting group of people. I assume that I got this position with VAT on my helping with the community and my connections with the police department. I'm not quite sure what vulnerabilities this group deals with, but after my dealings in Africa, I can't imagine the situations being much worse.

Well, I guess I have been wrong more than once. Just as our meeting was wrapping up a shot took off Eunice's head (what ever happened to no called shots Daryl) from the building across the street. I sprung into action, blocking the others from getting shot while Joe ran to the window to get a bead on the culprit.

Once the room was cleared and Constance and Jorgin got to the safe room we went after the shooter. The chase was very short lives as a pot hole came out of nowhere and took the bike out from under the shooter. This didn't stop him for long, though, as he decided to spray my vehicle and winged me with a shot. It wasn't too serious and I swung around to the side of the vehicle.

While moving into position, I noticed that the rest of the group exhibited some abnormal abilities. This was somewhat a relief as the terrorist would not go down to traditional fire. I was able to draw down on the nearby anguish of the local workers to greatly strengthen myself and I was able to take out the terrorist with one blow. This was especially lucky since it looked like he was going for a grenade.

Boom Goes the Dynamite

Amiri: Once we got the terrorist going by the false name of Rahl Dhamm under wraps, we hurried back to the VAT building. I had a huge lead on the rest of the group and made it to the door first. This was a good thing as I took the brunt of the explosion that took down the building and in my enraged state it could have been the only one to survive it.

We were able to dig out the safe room and we found that Constance and Jorgin were safe. This was a great relief among the oddity that was Eunice's body missing from the scene of the explosion. But not only was her body missing, but there wasn't a drop of blood to be found. Well except on our clothes. Wait... where are my clothes!

New Assignment—Find Missing Children

Joseph: We meet at this greek place ov'r at the south side, where we are given the assignment of finding some lost children. Some of us new folk are a bit up in arms about it, with, well the assassination we just saw. I fir one am glad to have the assignment. Them younguns need more help than some CEOs and business owners. I would note that I have nothing against them, I just think that the wee folk are less capable, and more needin' of the help.

Amiri: When we met at the gyro place in the South Side we were given a meal and reconfirmed that our primary objective is to find some missing kids. This came as conflictual news as we now have an assassin gunning for those that work for VAT. I'd be considering quitting if it weren't for the fact that we are doing a lot of good looking for these missing kids and bringing happiness back to their families.

After being told to stick together because it is dangerous for us out there, we decided to split up and look for clues. After pooling our resources, we found that the children were kidnapped from among the same bus company, Monarch. We set out to look for clues.

Bus Depot of Doom

Joseph: We do a mighty fine job of researchin' where the missin' children might be and we turn up the fact that they all rode on buses from the same provider. We head out to the depot and on the way I hatch a plan to get us into Dodge. We'll get on like there is a big community problem with the buses and they need inspectin', with a couple of our gang to be worried parents. There was a whole lotta hollabaloo about who was doin' what and in the end it turned out to be too much plan, as the place was empty.

Now that Pauline, she's a spitfire and nearly broke into the place the rough way with a pipe. Fortunately we talked her outta it and I got us in as slippery as a snake. I used my ability to commune with the land, which turned out to be tarnished. This both disturbed me and confirmed that we were on the right track. Especially when that girl found the dead boy's spirit.

Rummaging around the depot we turn up the rugrats but we also kick up a hornet's nest. Once again, that grandson o' mine goes charging forward without a lick of sense. When I see him later, I see that he's got some bruises and maybe a cracked rib for his trouble, so here's to hopin' that he learns a thing or two.

During the fight I make the best use of defensive magics as I reckon I can. I do it to save the lives of the gang, especially when I realize that our opponents ain't human. At least, not fully. They are what the Sioux called Sugmanitu Tonka, or big wolves. I think we've all seen the movies call 'em werewolves. The one inside the depot was all wolf, but the one outside with my kin was a werebear.

Amiri: They decided to make a ruse to get into the bus depot. This took a long time on their end and really was a lot more difficult than telling the truth. Sometimes I just don't get people.

The old man was able to sneak us inside after having Pauline calm down. We were very cautious since there was a car outside of the building and no one answered the door when we knocked. Chances were pretty high that it was the culprit.

While at the bus station, I sense a great deal of suffering. It was either a very deranged person, or the suffering of the children. This was also coupled with the fact that Sophia drawing a spirit of one of the dead kids into her. We found that it was Cory and he was killed by a big, hairy, ugly guy with bad, yellow teeth.

Around this time we heard a motorcycle come up the drive. I went and hid on top of a bus while Joe went to investigate. By investigate, I mean go and beat the guy that just pulled up with a bat. In the end, it turned out that the guy could turn into a bear and was none too happy, so I guess it was a lucky preemptive strike.

While this was going on, Steve, Sophia, and I were trying to get two of the kids that we found out of the bus depot and to safety. I noticed that Joe was soon losing the battle with the man-bear and I tried to scare the thing off by altering myself to be as big as possible. Though it didn't scare him, it did entice the creature to come after me. It didn't matter in the end, though, as Sophia shot it, knocking it to near unconsciousness.

With the path cleared, I turned my attention to the wolf-man that I heard Pauline and Joseph yell about. I guess I scared that one off since we couldn't find him and there were sirens blaring in the distance. We decided to stay and talk to the police about the missing kids we found. The idea of the mission was not only to save lives, but let the police know that they can reach out to us for their tougher cases.

Post Session/free time/shopping/downtime

Amiri: Some hospital time would be nice, or at least some in home nursing to take care of these wounds. Despite the showers, I still feel like I've got pieces of brick stuck to me. Also, it looks like I'm going to need to buy lots of extra clothes. Oh, and get my jeep repaired. I'm sure there are some forms I can fill out to get compensated for this. While I'm at it, I should look for someone in charge of supplies. By looking at Joe's wounds, we could really use Kevlar vest for the less hardy of the group if things stay this dangerous.