CHAPTER 8: DAWN OF GOLD

[Mierin]

"Yes, I did, Mr. Costner!" Charlotte calls back to her boss. "I'm working on it right now! Should be ready in time for broadcast!"

When the time comes to go to the meet up location, Charlotte dresses in dark colours and attempts to be as silent as possible.

Prowl 963fmcGO1d100 (30%)
research 1d100 (75%)
writing 1d100 (50%)1d100·1d100·1d100

[dakota]

Something was wrong. Alex could read it in his uncle's eyes. He had not seen him like this except when Father had been wrongly targeted as german. It was a distraction as he worked at restoring Mr. Ryder's keepsakes, and he had to stop and confront his mentor, "Uncle Oleksandr, what has you so troubled? I haven't seen you like this in a long time, and it's a bit distracting."

Regardless ofhis Uncle's answer, his reply was the same as he flashed a comforting smile, "Don't worry uncle. Hunter and I will take care of this, and keep Charlotte out of harm's way.

***

As they arrived at the club, Alex looked the building over, but it was the fact it was built dockside that grabbed his attention the most. "Doesn't it seem like an odd place for a bar like this? I would think it would do better downtown where the bigger crowds are. Not like there are many boats tied up to come for a drink, unless that is the whole point? Heard stories the Germans have Uboats cruising up and down the coast. If this Voice really is a Nazi.... I wanna take a closer look at the docks before we head in. Back in a few minutes." He said as he wandered towards the docks, looking for anything out of place, on the land, dock or in the water, while doing his best not to draw attention.


Research Ct7G7pLj1d100 /65
Prowl 1d100 /25
Intelligence 1d100 /47
Detect Ambush 1d100 /451d100·1d100·1d100·1d100

[yendorj]

MPoAl3x77d100

Detect Ambush 50%
Tracking 45%
Find Contraband 46%
Intelligence 52%
Streetwise 42%
Prowl 35%
Strategy & Tactics 30%

7d100

[doc]

(Hunter)

BEFORE THE MEETING

Hunter's senses alerted him as he stepped through the door; someone was waiting for him.

"Ah, the great Hunter has returned." The man sitting in the hotel room armchair seemed to practically melt out of the shadows as the lights turned on; mid-40s, with blonde hair that had thinned to a widow's peak. His figure in the plain suit he wore was gaunt, but there was strength enough in the wiry frame that would surprise other, lesser men. But it was the eyes that caught your attention; large and a haunted shade of faded blue. For a moment, the Hunter could see everything about the man; Pain, rage, fear, and madness. But most of all, they confirmed what his sharpened instincts already told him.

This man was a wizard.

"Senior Agent Caleb L'angelle - Federal Bureau of Investigation." The gaunt man introduced himself, displaying his badge. His eyes locked in on Hunter's wounds. "Quite a mess you've got there, let me tend to that." He rose out of the chair to his full 6'2" height, and motioned with his fingers. You could catch some strange mutterings under his breath for a few seconds, before your wound closed up as if the injury had never been.

The magic healing cinched it - he had heard of rumors of the man called "AGENT SCARECROW". Some claimed he was a vigilante from the 20s who went to work for the government in their clandestine program to eliminate monsters. Others claimed he was a demonic trickster or a charlatan. The magic healing didn't feel like a trick to him.

"Take that as a token that I mean you no harm - quite the opposite, I'm here to help." He began to look around the room. "I know your type - you see yourself as a man beyond borders or countries. You only have one concern - your next target. Well, I'm here to help you with that, if you'll let me. Uncle Sam would like to put your unique talents to work. Take your current prey - this Voice? His capture would be a great service, and we would be happy to reward you and any...associates that might help. Unofficially, of course." he smiled. "There's a great many dangers in the world, and you are the type of man who can find them and remove them. It's in everyone's benefit if we can work together."

"In fact, as a down payment, I've brought you something." He gestured to the bed.

On it was a costume; black and green, with a full-cowl that would cover the face, and a full combat harness that could holster a great deal of weaponry. There was also a cape lined with pouches and pockets.


JILL O'DIAMONDS

The Hunter knew that Jill's was a den of inequity - a place where the corrupt could mingle with the outright criminal. Whether the owner was part of it, or simply turned a blind eye was a contested matter, but at any rate he knew a frontal assault would be most foolish.

(Alex)

BEFORE THE MEETING

"Today just reminded me that my time is past. The world you are in? It is not the one I lived and fought in. Those fights were in the dark and smoke by "crime-fighters" with names that became legend - Dark Rider, Steelfist." He chuckled. "The world you are in fights in the full light of day by people like the Sentry ...like you. And it is time, nephew, I think, for you to take a step properly into that world and make your legend" He put a large case on the table. "Your Uncle Rex put the finishing touches on this and I got it today."

The tunic was bright red, the same as the leggings - a large white "T" over the heart. There were no sleeves, but heavy white boots and metal gauntlets. The mask was red and would cover everything above the nose, The most striking feature were the goggles - the same heavy goggles that the Steelfist armor had.

"Red and white - both for Austria, and for America. There is also a cape, but....I am still not sold on it." Uncle Lex chuckled. "The tunic has a light layer of protection - yes you are impervious to everything I've seen so far, but when you find something that can hurt you? You will be thankful for it then."

JILL O'DIAMONDS

Alex didn't know much, but he knew that if this place had criminal connections, there might be guards at every exit, and possibly even one on the rooftop - the spotlights would help keep people from sneaking in.

(Charlotte)

BEFORE THE MEETING

Costner looked over Charlotte's work. "Alright - this will work. Not bad, kid." He held out the paper. " Get this to broadcast - NOW!"

After the delivery, Charlotte was able to review some of the files - this "Voice" was a well-established saboteur who liked to taunt the authorities via radio or other voice recordings. In a case in Pittsburg six months ago, the criminal had even had a record pressed and delivered to the police hours before a metalworks was firebombed. The Voice had a clear pattern of going after projects that hadn't yet been funded by the War Department, but were just on the cusp of getting funding. The Voice also hired a variety of different types of muscle - both Nazi Bund types and more ordinary gangsters like today's attack.

As she got ready, she looked over her costume. Once again she pored over the strange fabric; they had been the blankets she had been placed in when her uncles and aunts found her and gave her to her parents. It was like no cloth she had heard of; Each blanket could stretch to the size of a tent, or compress if need be; when folded and pressed together, the cloth could take any shape without need of stitching and leaving no seams (a trick attribute that her mother took advantage of growing up during the Depression; it was reconfigured into many outfits). It was a miracle with as much explanation as her abilities; none.

The shape she had formed them into for her costume was straightforward enough: The cape, gloves, and boots were a deep blue, while her outfit was a striking red; a sturdy leather belt made by her uncle Matt completed the ensemble.

But the strangest feature was located at the center of the costume; A white circle with a triangle on each side. Some had suggested it looked like the halo and wings of an angel, but something about the symbol pulled at Charlotte, and terrified her. It was something other, and she worried what that might mean about her.

JILL O'DIAMONDS

Charlotte manages to find a safe hiding spot as the other two arrive. She looks over to the nightclub. She can see the glitz for what it is - the thin veneer over something dark, something wrong, and something secret. The familiar feeling of a story begins to well up in her stomach.

[yendorj]

“Harrak would’ve taken care of it with poultices but the healing is welcomed just the same. Yes, I do see myself as a man beyond borders or countries with two exceptions. The U.S. and Morocco. I don’t need rewards but only an idiot would turn them down. Whoever this Voice is, if I can, taken alive. If not, the head will have to do.”

Looks over the costume nodding slowly.

JILL O'DIAMONDS

<Figures but I’ve seen and been in worse places.>

[dakota]

Alex opened the case hesitantly, then beamed as he looked inside. His eyes grew wondrous as he took it out and looked at the uniform in awe. “I promise I will always wear this with pride. Thank you Uncle , and I must thank Rex when I see him!” He said excitedly. « With this, no one will ask Who is he ever again. They’ll know they are dealing with.” He said, laying the costume back and embracing Lex. “And you are right about the cape.”


*****

Looking the place over, Alex was glad he had enough sense not to wear his new costume out and try to kick the door in. With no sign of Charlotte, he assumed she either was talked out of joining them, or was off in the shadows to watch. Hunter, on the other hand, was right where they agreed to meet. “ I don’t have your expertise, but I’m guessing we don’t have too many friends around here.”

[Mierin]

Safe in her hiding spot, Charlotte grins when the familiar feeling that there was story here appears. I can't want to find out what it is! Charlotte thinks to herself. Charlotte continues to watch to see if the Voice actually shows up, curious as to who they are, given everything she had learned before coming to the club.

[doc]

From your vantage point, you could see the people walking into the club. The city's well-to-do - the names and the faces that wanted to be names - were all present. A fancy black car pulled up, and out walked Jill herself in a stunning red dress that contrasted her long raven hair and eyes the color of smoke (PB:22). There were a lot of rumors about how she had bought the club and paid for the upgrades. Some said she was a failed Hollywood starlet who managed to catch the eye of a rich producer and was left all his money in the will. Others said she had blackmail material on half of Hollywood's leading men, and had used that to finance her purchase. There were a great many mysteries about the woman, which were amplified by the tall, dashing gentleman on her arm (PB:24).

Hunter could pick out something else: There was a nervous man in a suit entering - a business suit, not the kind of formal attire one wore to this place normally.

Alex was still thinking of a way in - the skylight? Finding a rear entrance? A disguise?

Charlotte could see the other two looking over the venue and trying to figure out their next step.

[yendorj]

<Weird.> From his vantage point tries to get a better look at the suit.

[Mierin]

Charlotte watches the scene before her and uses her telepathy to scan their thoughts to figure out what they are planning to do.

[dakota]

"This is not my thing." Alex said lowly as he looked around at the place. "What if I jump us up onto the roof to sneak in that skylight... wait, it may not take my weight. Maybe slip in the back and pass ourselves off as workers... wait, no good. Probably no one my age in there. I know, what if I cause a distraction so you can slip in? There are lots of cars coming and going. I could let one hit me to draw the doorman's attention. Won't hurt me but will cause a big scene. If Charlotte had showed, she could have passed off as your date to give you a but of cover inside too. Once things start inside, then I'll crash the back door and join the party. That work?"

[doc]

Hunter thinks he recognizes the man in the suit from the Powell Industries incident this morning.

Charlotte can't read Jill's thoughts, but the thoughts of others are either banal or obscene...except for the man in the business suit.

Mr. Powell asks for some strange favors...I wonder what this Mr. V. guy is about, and why he's hanging out here?


Alex could see that Hunter was focusing in on one man entering the club. But he also saw a strangely plump fellow staggering in, as though already drunk. You almost thought you could see him wave at you...

[yendorj]

<I'd give a small fortune for a flag man right now.>

[dakota]

Alex had to refrain from waving back out of habit. Something about the friendly drunk grabbed his attention, but Alex was still looking. "The heck with this , I'M gonna try something else," he sputtered before his impatience led him away from Hunter. He walked down the street away from the club, then crossed the street, headed for the back to look for a way in.

Perc hUpNU7uc1d201d20

[Mierin]

Charlotte raises an eyebrow at the man's thoughts and thinks to herself. That's a very good question. I'm curious about that myself.