Chapter One: The Hunt Begins...

[dakota]

[You started it with the heart shaped targeting spot, kid] Khris text messaged back, lowering his weapon from view in case anyone spotted him. He added [You have to fix it at the hotel by the way]

[tag]

[shiivster]

*responds via the phone just need to take the paper cutout off. Then sighs as she finally gets the panic out of her body and system. think they'll mind if i go shopping? wonderful toy store nearby. didn't think so.

*then the impish trickster escapes, as reason turns to revenge. using her toe bade as a mirror, she tries to get a some what clear view of Shroud's location. then decides against it. this is work after all, and the toe blade slips away as she waits. a final text of bank shot off the second window on the left corner to your position. watch for them, if i can do it, others can.

[tag]

[thagema]

Roga folds his hands in front of his mouth and thinks for a minute.

"Are considering making a run on the Labyrinth? That's suicide. If you're lucky, very lucky, you'll make it past the snipers along the main drag. Do I know anyone that can get in? Nope. I deal with some crazy people, but not suicidal ones. As bad as some districts are, none are like the Labyrinth. There is no law, no order. You go in there, you have a death wish."

Taking a deep breath, Roga looks at his old friend, Dante.

"But, if that is where you have to go, then I can tell you a couple rumors I've heard. There are two ways into the Labyrinth. One is to be personally invited by the Minotaur. There's enough speculation if the Minotaur even exists. I think the Minotaur is real, but it isn't a man. It's a group. But, that's just my opinion. Regardless, it could take years to prove to the Minotaur that you are worthy of entrance to his inner circle. Even then, you wouldn't meet with the man himself. No one has seen him, which leads me to believe the Minotaur isn't one man.

"The other is slightly more plausible. You would have to get in good with the Mutant Underground. It's much easier to gain their trust, but even then they may not actually have a way into the Labyrinth," Roga says. "Those are the rumors."

Looking up, Roga sees the waitress approaching and leans back. She lays the food out on the table and with a nod, walks away from the table. Roga grabs the ketchup bottle and proceeds to drown his fries.

[shiivster]

*backs up her last message with the use of a toe blade acting as a mirror .. and her penlight with a red beam hitting the window so that it reflects back towards the area he's in .. then its off, as she moves once again

[tag - shroud]

[albatross]

[Tiger]

"So only Araidne can do it hmm?" Tiger muses distractedly, referencing greek mythology. She thinks of another question, but she decides to save it for Tribe. She looks to Patriot and Cerebrum to see if they have any followup questions for Roga...

If they have asked all they can, she decides the restaurant bathroom would be a good place to change out of her armor before going to meet Tribe.

[tag: Patriot, Cerebrum, Roga]

[Dome]

"So how has business been man? Anyone spending a little too much on your merchandise? I mean of course, anything more than usual," Dante asks his old friend with a smirk on his face.

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

Taking the cue from Tiger, Patriot leans in towards Roga. "Look, we're here to help. If you know of any way to get in good with the underground, we could use that information. I'm not just here to help your friend here. The government, that being the US government, has sent me here to help settle this situation with Citadel Station's crime before the deadline is up. You know what's going to happen if Citadel Station can't make its deadline. You think SHOCK is bad? Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet. The government is going to send it their best, and worst, to get the job done. Could make Bloody Monday look like a summer picnic. They don't want to do it. God knows the current administration is getting enough bad press as it is so you can imagine what it would look like if they send their meta storm troopers in and layed waiste to half of the city." He pauses for a moment to let the thought settle in. "They would rather Citadel Station be able to handle it themselves. It'll be a lot less messy for everybody if they do. I've been sent here to help facilitate that because I don't want to see another Bloody Monday, and I'm thinking that you don't either." Patriot sat back and watched Roga for his reaction and waited for his response.

[shiivster]

*now seems to take a more 'active' perusal of hte area, looking into darkened areas that MIGHT house an extra body .. the parabolic sweeping the area, for sounds that shouldn't be there

[tag]

[thagema]

Smiling at his old friend, Roga says, "Oh yeah. The Underground has been buying up a lot more merchandise recently. The funny thing is, where do they get their funds? The Mutant Underground isn't know for it's wealth. Hell, most of the time they just skimp by, but they've been throwing around some cash. Have no idea where they got it from, but I know where it's going. Rumor has it that they stumbled on some alien tech that didn't get confiscated by Alpha Prime and they sold it to a major tech firm for some big time cash. Which company has it is speculation because the rumor never says what the item is. To me, that means it's probably true. A lie would have more information. Once again, though, their money is good with me. Besides a few satellite comm hardware, they've been buying all the weapons and ammo they can."

After Patriot's comments, Roga shakes his head. "The best way to get in with the Underground is to help a mutant. Not just help, but risk your life for one. That'll get your foot in the door. As with all secret organizations in the city, they have a couple possible front companies. For the Underground, any mutant friendly place is a possible front for them. I have met a representative in the night club Beneath Hades a few times. You can try there. I won't give you the name, though. It's bad for business. Then again, so is a bunch of feds runnin' around disrupting my business dealings."

Checking his watch, Roga sighs. "I've got an appointment with a client in less than an hour. I have to go."

Turning to Dante, he says, "Call me when you have more time to catch up... or if you need something. I'll give you a special rate."

On his way out the door, Roga dropped a fifty dollar bill on the counter for the meal and drinks.

[logan]

Patriot

Turning to Tiger, Patriot frowned. "I don't like the news that the underground is arming up. If word gets out to the authorities, it could be bad for them. We need to get in contact with them fast before they do something that will cost lives or make the situation worse." He looks at the door for a minute and then looks back to her. "I don't like this situation with Alpha Prime missing either. With your permission, I think it's time that I used my celebrity super hero status and get some answers fromt he Centurions. Maybe make myself seen patrolling around in some mutant neighborhoods to or at the least get seen by the press. I know it will alert pretty much the entire city to my presence, but it may help us in the long run. Let the people, and more importantly the mutants, know that I'm here to help the city. It could get us some ins that we wouldn't get normally."

[albatross]

[Tiger]

"If Alpha Prime is in a bad situation, then it is extremely likely she is exactly where we are trying to get to. Snipers can control a huge area with a small amount of forces, and I'm sure much worse things lurk in the labyrinth. Short of a major direct military assault, the best way to get in will be to find an insider and try to enter before the enemy decides we are a threat." She smiles, "Of course, if we can't find anyone to guide us or get us in, we'll need your celebrity power. We need to herar Tribe's information before we decide that we can't get in on our own. "

She continues, "Coordinated efforts are for those with strength in numbers. We will operate on the "independent cell" model instead. The Centurians will do everything they can think of to get Alpha Prime back I'm sure, and we will work towards our mission. Combining our forces still won't give us enough power to take on the Labyrinth head on, but seperately we will effectively divide the enemy's attention and create more dimensions to the conflict - which will strain their defenses." She stands up to head to the bathroom to change. "Let's head out shortly, we can swing by a hardware store if Jeckle needs to, and I'd like to talk to Shroud about sniper tactics."

[tag: any]

[dakota]

[Yes, but can others do this?] Khris replied in a text message to Jeckle, and he used his power to blend in, with his surroundings. Once he was 'shrouded', he climbed over the edge of the building and beneath the overhang before bracing himself enough to take a reasonable position that gave him just as good a vantage point as the roof did.

He texted again [ 1 AP round and your toast. You'd never even know where it came from ]

As he put his phone away, he scolded himsedlf for letting himself be distracted like an amateur despite his boredom while the others were in their meeting.

[tag]

[logan]

Patriot

Nodding, he gave her a smile. "Fair enough. I wasn't speaking of enlisting the Centurions' aid so much as I was looking to just get information from them. Alpha Prime's current whereabouts being one of them."

[thagema]

Seeing the meeting had concluded, Magician's sensory orb slipped out of the sports bar and back across the street. Once within range, his senses returned to his body. A few seconds later, he sat up slowly.

Seeing Jeckle nearby, he whispered, "The meeting is over. I hope you guys weren't too bored sitting out here."

[shiivster]

*looks at Magician as he whispers and moves. the eyes scanning the text on the phone, lets her actual feelings be known. Jeckle nods once and slips the phone away and then starts to gather up some of her other things.

'its been rather quiet. you can't help what happens inside. learn anything of interest? i need to go shopping for some things. don't think i'm gonna be much use for a while, need to make some things first'

[tag]