Ch 8. The gang's all here, almost

[Mierin]

Alice concentrates on keeping the car as steady as she can as she drives down the darkened side streets.
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[shiivster]

-= dont wanna risk running into anything that smells of death or bleach ..? .. yeah bleach. thats what that other smell reminds me of =- *then moves off along the tunnel back to the first pool they arrived in, so rudely*

-= its only rats .. thats all .. rats aren't coming after us, so we're fine .. just .. =- *turns and stares the way they just came, unsure about something* -= just shine your light back there .. i think i heard something move .. near the ladder .. quick =- *nearly backing into Michael as she steps away from the sound, the free hand moving to the pouch of marbles*

*heaves a sigh ofrelief when the beady red eyes of the typical sewerrat are reflected in the light .. -= ok, .. lets keep going .. i dont think they'll do anything .. there's two of us .. but they don't know we aren't normals =- *starts heading back to the first pool again .. part of her senses keeping an ear on the noise behind her .. andwhenshe hears the strange click again, closer this time .. she gives Michael's hand a small warning, as she drops a charged marble behind them and hears it roll towards the sound again* -= on the count of three .. run and get into the water and get to the far side .. .. don't ask .. one, ... two .. =- *lets his hand go and makes it appear that she's looking for something on the roof, as the tension of holding the charge starts to show a little .. -= ... three ... =-

*the splash of michael going into the water and the sudden darkness almost overwhelm her calmness .. as she plasters herself against the wall , hiding from the explosion and then runs for the pool and falls in half blinded by the minor shockwave and flash* -= oh man .. that was a weak one .. hope its not made =- *then moves towards the sounds of Michael's thrashing in the water*

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[dakota]

[Will]

Trevor rolled his eyes at william. " Obviously Ty never told you how I got to be ' barbeque boy ' as Jason likes to call me. I used to be a volunteer firefighter back home until my accident. We got a call for smoke coming out of a manhole one day, and being the rookie I got to be on the attack team. turns out that it was some crackpot had set up a meth lab down there and my partner tripped a booby trap. The whole place blew, along with the street above us. I crawled out the freak I am today and my partner never made it. Since then, I don't do underground. I can't." He stared at Will, waiting for a comment.

[Alice/Eric]

Jason let loose a blast of energy from his hand, that struck the lead patrol car in the grill, causing it to swerve as screech to a halt and block the alley. He slid back in the window with a smug grin. " that should get me on America's Most Wanted. so where else did you want to go?"

[Sparks]

The explosion of the marble sent the growing hoard of rats scurrying in all directions, their numbers now in the dozens. Cool trick Michael said in her mind as Sparks reached him. Ahead, another noise could be heard approaching He's coming back. What do we do?

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[Renekin Skywalker]

"Fear is a normal thing." William says calmly. "You wouldn't believe the number of people afraid of an infantry brigade bearing down at them, with shells exploding all around, on a dark, wet, grey day. The only thing keeping you warm the urine going down your pants because you're so terrified. Wanting to run, but fear and ankle-deep mud routing you in place. Perfectly normal." WIlliam heads to the kitchen as if he had just told Trevor the sky was up and ground was down. A moment later, he comes out with two glasses of juice, and hands one to Trevor. "If that explosion had been in a house, would you be afraid of going into houses?"

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[Mierin]

Alice glares at Jason through the rearview mirrow and says "Yes, I'll have to make sure to tape it and send it to my folks back home. They'll be so proud I've made friends with people who attack policemen."

Alice sighs and adds quietly, "We should head back before the police decide to start chasing us again."
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[Jon / Bo]

"That was cool!" Eric watches Jay as he blasts the cop car.

"Yeah your probably right. I got what I needed." Eric begins romaging through his bag making sure he got everything he needs.

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[shiivster]

-= neat trick? .. heck, thats how i got away from torment .. and at times, away from others .. i don't like doing that too often, but hey .. whatever works .. right? =- *treading water near Michael, then turns the head towards the glowing red eyes of the big shapeless thing 'uhhh .. hi? .. again .. don't know how to get out. can't see in the dark .. and i can't climb up to the pipe thingee up that way .. but i thought something big mean and scary was coming .. and the other pool woulda hurt to ... ' *giving a small yip of fear as she's hauled out of the water again*

'uhh .. sorry? .. ' *now dangling at the end of the arm of R once again .. 'uhh .. hi? .. i'm ... uhh ... sparks ... i .. well i guess you heard huh? .. sorry for bugging you again, but i didn't wanna go down the ladder to the stinky dead place ' *moving one toe about trying to find the ground somewhere below her*

'think you could help us get up the chute we fell down? .. or somewhere else? .. but i'ld rather go up the chute than someplace else, or you'll get more unwanted people .. coming .. ' *grows silent as the sense of movement is felt*

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[dakota]

[Will]

Trevor sputtered under his breath. " I knew I should have gone with the others to find Ashley." He took the glass and set it aside. " Look, you weren't listening to me, old man, so I'll repeat it in small words so your hearing aids pick it up.I am not going under ground." He seethed, his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched. " And no one is gonna make me, especially you or one of your kind." He shot to his feet and started out of the room.

[Alice/ Eric]

" Fine, head back to Ty's." Jason sighed flopping back in the seat. " You can let me out at the next corner then, the gps built into the dash can get you there."

[Sparks]

Ragnarok growled lowly as he held the pair up out of the water. He said nothing as he turned and headed the way he came. Stepping from the pool, he stopped and dropped them abruptly, the faint light filtering from the tunnel above, a flickering flourescent light somewhere's in the distance, lit up enough to show a ladder leading up. " Now," Ragnarok spoke commandingly, " Go back to the surface where you belong. and do not return." Again, the he departed.

Lets do what he says. Come on Michael voice popped in as he started up the ladder.

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[Renekin Skywalker]

This was turning out to be of greater interest than looking for Tally. William knew that she would eventually find her way to safety. Street kids often do. But Trevor's reactions seem almost personal. It would certainly explain the burns.

William quite literally flies to cut Trevor off. Landing in front of him, with a bemused smile, he asks in a soft but solid tone "My kind? Or me." Not to be deterred by Trevor's bravado - goodness knows William's seen enough bravado in his days - he simply waits for a response. His demeanour says that Trevor won't be walking out unless William gets one. "And please be forthright about it."

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[Mierin]

Alice spits out the word "Fine." at Jason. Once she reaches the corner, she slams on the brakes and, after putting the car in park, she stares straight ahead refusing to look at Jason while she waits for him to get out of the car.

After a second, a thought occurs to her and she glances at Eric adding, "If you'd rather go with Jason, that's fine." She smiles cynically, as she says "I'm probably not the best company anyway." She stares straight ahead, planning to go over to Janey's, feeling the need to be with a friend right now.
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[shiivster]

'right ... up and outta here .. didn't wanna stay here anyways .. ... not cause of you .. cause of those rats ' *called to the departing movement of R, then moves her way .. wet and shivering after Michael to the ladder and then takes her turn climbing up

'sorry to have bugged you .. oh jeez .. i lost the extension cord in the pool .. ' *pausing on the ladder to look at the pool they were just hauled out of .. 'guess it can stay there .. i'm outta here .. '

*proceeds to climb .. getting water dropped on her by Mike's movements and then can't help but grin at a thought she has -= hey mike? .. whats the big deal about following someone up a ladder anyhow? .. i just don't see why i should be acting strange when i'm getting water and who knows what dripping on me. not to mention .. the ladder's really slippery now ... =-

-= sorry ... =- *as she hears him sputter on a remark .. then go silent .. and then start to snicker .. * .. *fianally after what seems hours, get into the tunnel system known to her as the bootlegger's tunnel and looks about, trying to judge where they are now .. and how to get back to the 'safehouse' and whispers 'worst case .. we hide out and try to stay warm until its dark up top, then go back to the house .. or just wander about down here until i can figure out where we are and find the way back to the house from here .. '

*turns the back and removes the coat and looks over the shoulder -= dont peek .. k? .. i gotta wring the shirt out =-

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[dakota]

[Eric/ Alice]

" Eric, you should stay with Alice." Jason strongly suggested as he stepped out of the vehicle. He squatted down next to the driver's door, leaning on the window frame. " Are you gonna be alright? I know this is all weird to you, but things will turn out just fine. Trust me, I don't like what's happenning anymore than you do, it's just I've been down this road a few times. It'll work out, it always does." She could tell he wanted to kiss her but refrained. After a moment, he grinned. " Are you sure you can handle babysitting?" He thumbed towards Eric in the backseat.

[Will]

[OOC- thats good, because they'd have to look a long time to find Tally ]

" Get out of my way old man. You don't want to play games with me. " Trevor's posturing seemed to slip away, being replaced by a matter-of-fact tone. " I know what you are, Ty told me you're a pyro and I've got no use for you're kind. So step aside please , I'm not in the mood for a scrap, I've got more important things to do." Behind Will, the phone rang.

[Sparks]

Michael's voice projection became defensive. I didn't do anything on the steps As they stand in the upper tunnels, they seem newer than the one's below. As she put her shirt back on, Michael's normal tone returned with a chuckle. You know white definitely isn't you're color, and was that really a trainer? Haard to tell from behind

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[Renekin Skywalker]

"More evasive than forthright." William says, looking Trevor over. His eyes dash to pressure points, looking for them, and finding them. Letting the phone ring. "Prefers violence to solve problems. Boney girly arms. And no means to properly asses his opponent." He eventually gives a slight shrug and hovers aside. "I believe you have a phone to answer?"

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[Mierin]

Alice glances over at Eric. "Nah, I like hanging out with him. He's cool." she says with a small grin.

Looking ahead, she looks over at Jason, and he can see it is taking a lot of effort for Alice to not start crying. "I can't go back, can I?" she asks in a tiny voice. "To my flat, I mean." She noticed that she has started leaning towards Jason a little, as if she was going to kiss him. She thinks 'Now's not the best time.' and leans back again. Glancing over at him, she asks "Where should I tell the others you went? They probably won't be happy if I went back and you had vanished."
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[dakota]

[Alice/ Eric]

Don't worry, things will get back to normal soon as we figure out what's going on." Jason replied with a smirk. " Worst case, we'll find you a new flat. And tell the others I just went to pick up some supplies. I'll be back in an hour or so. I promise." He glanced back at Eric. " Take care of her twerp." He turned and walked away.

[Will]

" you just don't give up do you?" Trevor shook his head in disbeleif, ignoring the phone. In the other room, the answering machine kicked in.