Bomb Squad

Hitherby's job is to monitor the comings and goings at Focals, right now, and, ideally, trail the Focals folk when they leave the building.

Demiurge says "Okay. It has passed lunchtime, and none have left it so far."

Demiurge says "Which folk in particular are you watching for?"

Hitherby takes a swarm and politely inquires from the nearby bugs where she might find a small spider. She hints truthfully that this will result in the removal of the spider from the area. Then she hooks it and a bird and transports it to Focals -- because she has a sinister plan. Well, part of her plan, the non-sinister part, is just to use a lookout, birds and stuff from the roof. The other part is to get that spider onto a protected cool place on the Lilim's car. She is watching for the Lilim and the Djinn, although depending on timing she will take note of the secretary leaving or even non-intensively, non-determinedly trail the young man who brought news earlier. But she's okay with losing the non-known-demons instead of being suspicious.

Hitherby has to find out which car is the Lilim's, of course.

Demiurge says "Okay. There is no sign of the Lilim, or the Djinn, or the elderly secretary leaving as yet, as time creeps on to early afternoon. I'm not sure how you plan to identify any cars."

Hitherby's sinister plan, then, once she has a small, eency-beency, almost-invisible little spider, starts with catching a security guard in the building. I think that I can keep one bird, the extant swarms, the spider, and the human host.

Demiurge thinks so. Okay. A security guard passes near the entrance and catches the bird's eye through the doors. Roll.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 5.

Demiurge says "You possess the guard, Hitherby."

Hitherby, in mild dereliction of her duties, heads towards the area where the "cars" are kenneled. The Trade Tether had a guy whose job it was to watch the car area, and she is looking for this person's equivalent. (In about the same relative location.)

Demiurge says "You can assume that it's below ground, Hitherby, and follow the stairs down. You do, indeed, come across a space with many "cars" kennelled in it, and with a man sitting back in a small cubicle and reading a newspaper."

Hitherby smiles brilliantly. "Hi," he says, radiating packmate manners. "Got a moment?"

He looks up from his paper, which appears to have a portrait of a female displaying her mammary glands on it. "Sure. What's the problem?"

Hitherby asks, "You are familiar with that lady who works in Focals? The appealing one, not the somewhat wrinkled one?"

He frowns. "The looker? Yeah, sure I seen her go by. Nice legs, right?"

Hitherby says, "Indeed." Then, with a 'what-can-you-do?' kind of smile, "I have been speaking to a somewhat besodden -- besotted? -- a romantically-driven and somewhat foolish young man. Apparently, he has placed some sort of gift in her car, a token of his enamoration, and he -- well. He has begged me to remove it before she sees it. Rather desperately. Humans, you know. Panicking at anything to do with their love life."

Demiurge ponders the intelligence of this guard.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 1.

The man comes sharply upright. "And he told you to get it out? Hey, man, don't you realise that Focal's got _bombed_ the other day? You know this young man? You remember what he looked like?"

Hitherby says, "We spoke on the pho--" His eyes widen. "My God. You think it's -- get me to it, man. Now."

He shakes his head. "No fucking way any of us are touching it. I'm calling the bomb squad." He turns in his chair, grabbing for the telephone.

Hitherby says, hesitantly, "But the bomb in Focals went off *days* ago."

The man shakes his head as he punches in a phone number. "I don't care, I'm not taking any chances." He speaks into the phone. "Police? Yeah, we've got a suspected bomb threat..."

Hitherby frantically attempts to parse this reaction in time to figure out how to counter-react.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 5 CHECK: 5.

Demiurge says "Alas, Hitherby, your high intelligence fails you in this case."

<> Hitherby does not figure it out immediately. Fortunately, standing around uselessly is almost the right reaction. :)

The man rattles details into the phone, giving location and the fact that someone has left an unidentified package in the boot of one of the Focal's staff. He is apparently told to stay where he is, people will be round.

The man puts down the phone, and turns back to Hitherby's host. "Okay, man, I sure hope you can remember this guy's details."

Hitherby says, "So do I."

He shrugs. "Might as well not hold your breath. They'll be here in a few minutes."

Hitherby says "The -- bomb squad."

Hitherby nods, like a Seraph who has just heard Truth.

He nods. "Yup. They'll want to check the car, and probably ask that cutie a few questions."

Hitherby nods. "Probably -- all their cars. Yes?"

He nods. "Yeah, I guess so."

Hitherby looks relieved. "I'll hang out here until they come, and then go back on duty."

Hitherby tries to shake the feeling that she's an ant who has mysteriously found herself in a beehive.

He frowns. "Hey, they're going to want to ask you some questions, about that phone call. Could be you'll be able to give them a clue to who did the bombing."

Hitherby says "Er, yes. Very good point."

Hitherby smiles brightly.

About ten minutes later, the sound of police cars comes wafting upon the air, and two police cars come at high speed down into the car park.

Hitherby consults her watch. Why, it's number-number:number-number o' clock!

<> Daimon imagines Hitherby vs. Hell in a steel cage, no holds barred match.

Police officers scramble out, some in heavily padded clothing. The one in the lead barks, "Which car?" and the man in the booth by you runs across to direct them to a particular car in an anonymous position. Grey, sleek, neat.

<> Hitherby would not fare so well as Betharan. But there's still a chance of snatching victory from the claws of Mariel. :)

<> Hitherby says "Is he leading them to it or giving directions?"

<> Demiurge says "He's leading them to it."

Hitherby tags along like a good Hitherby.

Hitherby keeps an eye out for which of the padded men is the leader. Let her know when she's got enough information to come to a close-to-positive conclusion, whether it's wrong or right :)

Hitherby's bird circles the building, trying to make sure that the Lilim and the Djinn don't get spooked and flee without her following them.

Demiurge says "One of them is clearly in charge, Hitherby, as he's organising the others to carefully inspect and open up the car."

Hitherby doubts they'll be spooked, but you never know.

Demiurge says "There is no sign of anyone trying to flee."

The leader of the padded men turns towards Hitherby. "You the person who gave the warning?"

Hitherby smiles hopefully. "I got the call. He," and he nods his head towards the attendant, "called you.:

<> Hitherby says "No bomb-sniffing dogs or anything, I assume?"

Hitherby says "I -- wasn't thinking in terms of bombs."

Hitherby hangs his head, knowing this was a grave oversight.

<> Demiurge says "No, no dogs."

<> Hitherby nods.

The leader nods. "Okay, so what was the call? Any names? What did they sound like, and what did they say?"

Hitherby says, thinking, "He said his name was Math. He said that he had sort of fallen for that lady in Focals --" He waves towards the Lilim's car. "And that he'd left something special for her, a romantic gift, but then he was *really* nervous and thought she wouldn't like it so he asked me to get it back."

Hitherby says "He didn't say what it was. I thought that it would just be -- obvious. You know. A rose, or a ring, or something."

The leader nods. "So how come you took the phone call?"

Hitherby looks vaguely confused. "I'm sorry? It was ringing." He rolls one of his hands in a 'you know.' gesture. "Brrrrip! Brrrrip!"

<> Hitherby is doomed. :)

<> Daimon thinks Hitherby is funny, tho.

The leader shakes his head. "No, what I mean is, how come one of the secretaries didn't get it? Or did it come through to a private number?"

<> Demiurge pats Hitherby. :) They should know by now not to send the Kyrios out on private scouting missions. ;)

<> Hitherby doesn't suppose there were phones in the lobby area? :)

<> Daimon has nothing to do with this, mind.

<> Demiurge says "There were phones in the lobby area, but they were minded by receptionists."

Hitherby says "Oh. You know how it is -- someone wants to eat a bite, or whatnot, I'll mind the phone for a minute."

The leader frowns, and the other guard is frowning, while the spare men in padded suits examine the car. "This is standard procedure?"

Hitherby says "No, it's a fairly atypical procedure. But it's not all that difficult, once you get the hang of it."

Hitherby looks completely sincere, because she is.

Hitherby learned how to pick up phones when they ring from Pat the other day!

The leader seems to come to a decision. "All right, buddy, you're going to have to come down to the station with us to answer a few more questions."

One of the other men calls across from the car, "Nothing here, sir."

<> Daimon's spidey senses are tingling here.

<> Hitherby's too. They're singing, "Potential danger to the host." Not very well-identified danger, however. *weighs two alternatives*.

Hitherby makes a leap to the leader.

Demiurge says "Roll, Hitherby."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 3.

Demiurge says "Hitherby, you control the leader. Your previous host staggers, looking disorientated."

Hitherby reaches out a hand to steady the guard, and leans close to whisper, "Don't say anything. I'm trying to save your job."

Hitherby laughs suddenly. "Nevermind," he says. "You look like an honest sort; you can go."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 4.

The guard blinks. He says, "Huh? Where am I? What happened?" The other people turn to look.

Hitherby turns quickly to the other guard, trying to keep a continuous flow of speech. "There are other cars belonging to Focals' people?"

Hitherby says, annoyedly, "Get back to work, sir. We're trying to do our jobs, too, you know."

<> Hitherby juggle juggle juggle.

Hitherby reflects, using a swarm somewhere else for thoughtpower, that her plan was not as clever as it first appeared.

The guards both look very confused. Your ex-host says, "Screw this, what's going on?"

The other guard tries to tell him, but he doesn't look convinced.

Hitherby dons the mental attitude she uses when possessing wolves, rare as that may be, and gives the ex-host her best darn-all gimlet glare of pure intimidation and human beast-made nightmares.

<> Hitherby says "Unfortunately, Emote is Perception-based :)"

<> Demiurge grins. Roll.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 1.

<> Hitherby only fails a little!

The guards seem unimpressed. One of the padded men comes across, and says, to Hitherby's host, "What next, sir?"

Hitherby considers. "You found nothing?" she asks. "Zero?"

The padded man says, "Zilch, sir." He is giving Hitherby's host a curious look.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 1.

Hitherby nods. "Someone escort the guard *back to his duties* in case someone was trying to get him out of the way for some reason." He turns on his heel and regards the two guards. "You," he says, to the parking attendant, "identify the other cars belonging to Focals personnel, and -- you saw no one carrying suspicious items inside?"

<> Hitherby sinks deeper and deeper, but by darn she's going to get the information she came for :)

The previous host just stands there, looking more and more annoyed. The parking guard points at the three cars beside the grey one, and shrugs. "I didn't see nothing."

Hitherby says, "It's probably some sort of Prank--" Having hung out with Daimon for a while, he unconsciously capitalizes the word. "--but give the other cars a once-over anyway?" That was to her subordinate.

He shrugs, and goes to check, with several of the other men.

<> Hitherby thinks. Demi, can a Kyriotate (with some sort of roll) try the trick of falling asleep in a host, then abandoning the host leaving it asleep, to wake up naturally? If we can't, that's okay.

<> Demiurge says "You can, Hitherby, yes."

Hitherby waits for the bomb survey to be complete, meanwhile frantically gathering bugs outside because it's suddenly likely that I need to hang out on four cars at once (although three bugs can be a swarm, and I can just drop the other two when the appropriate car leaves.) The spider -- hm. I sort of neglected it, but Hitherby is a Kyriotate; it probably came in with the guard and dropped from him when it began to look like she might need to switch hosts. It'll skulk in the shadows against the wall which the Lilim's car is pointing facing towards.

Hitherby had only needed one because, if the Lilim had been clueless, it was likely that that would be the car taken. :)

The bomb survey is quickly completed, and nothing is found. The second-in-command comes across, looking a shade worried. "Nothing at all, sir. You want to take the caller in for questioning?"

Hitherby shakes his head. "It's not his fault. There are all kinds of freaks out there who think that they're comedians and bombs are funny."

Hitherby knows this to be true.

The second-in-command squints. "This isn't like you, sir. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"

<> Daimon tries not to look offended. :)

<> Daimon says "Bombs ARE Funny, in the right place."

<> Demiurge says "Like under Asmodeus' private toilet?"

<> Daimon says "Damn STRAIGHT, poobah."

Hitherby says "A little light-headed. Maybe I'll ride passenger on the way back. But don't worry about it."

The second-in-command nods and turns away, with the worried air of one who will definitely be reporting to higher authority about this.

<> Hitherby says "If bugs can't get into the garage (maybe the gate is very tight mesh or solid) then I'll be timing things to get the three aforementioned, as small as I can manage but as big as bad luck or modest luck requires, through the gate when the cop cars go out."

<> Liz says "Asmodeus has a private toilet?"

<> Liz surely does not want to know.

<> Liz says "Maybe he gets the occasional fixation on food."

<> Demiurge says "Bugs can get in here, Hitherby, sure."

<> Daimon says "Oh sure. The Bombing of the Toilet is a great Kobalite tradition. Although the guy who wins the bet doesn't get to live long, though."

<> Liz says "Or washing. Once he washed his hands every five minutes for a month."

Hitherby heads for the car that the leader got out of, passenger-side.

The cops in padded clothing head back towards their cars, piling in. There's someone already in the driver's seat of the car that Hitherby's host enters.

Hitherby leans back in the seat with a sigh.

The driver stamps on the accelerator, and the cop cars head out into the streets.

<> Liz says "Bomp-chika-bomp..."

<> Liz says "Hithercop on the move."

Hitherby will wait until we've gone for a decent number of minutes, then fall asleep (if she makes the requisite Will roll) and then drop the host into his own nap. And sneak in the bugs and spider. As for where on the cars to place them -- *reflects* I will ask Sephar where the safest place is. Sephar is a tech geek. Then gather a few more birds on the Focals roof in case surveillance by other means is necessary. And that concludes that section of the Hitherby Disaster Hour, unless something goes wrong :)

Demiurge nods to Hitherby. Sephar suggests they hide on the undercarriage for the moment, and crawl in when the door opens.

Demiurge closes the scene on Hitherby, then, as the Kyriotate vanishes from the poor cop and heads into the insects.

---

Fiat Justitia