Things That Go Boom In The Night

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, it's mid-afternoon (you've dealt with Terry, and have dealt with the dead Kobalite in the flats opposite, and are now back in Pat's house). Your phone rings."

Daimon wipes his hands off on a cloth, since he was making sauce, walks over to the coffee table, and picks up the phone. He walks back into the kitchen with it, and answers it. "Lightner Accordion Repair. You squeeze it, we tweak it. What can I do you for?"

Daimon then crades the phone between ear and shoulder, and goes back to making dinner.

Liz says "Hi Daimon, it's Liz."

Daimon says "Oh hey you. Wassup?"

Liz says "Just calling to see if you're okay."

Liz says "How'd it go with Terry?"

Daimon says "I'm making sauce. Terry? Terry was Terry. He had all the properties of Terriness. And other then that, it went pretty bland. Everyone was pissy. But he does have a video tape to show me tomorrow."

Liz says "Hmm. Want company?"

Daimon says "Sure. I'm making enough food to feed a small army, so come on over. I'm living with Pat, so naturally I'm at Pat's place, where there is also a Pat in residence."

Liz laughs softly. "Right, I know where it is. I'm going to go report in, find out what's been happening."

Daimon says "So should I expect you?"

Liz says "Yeah, around dinnertime."

Daimon sounds a little perkier. "Cool. Excellent."

Liz says "Okay. Bye, and take care."

Daimon says "See ya later."

Liz hangs up, heads for the car.

<> Demiurge will assume Liz reaches the SEC safely. ;)

<> Liz says "Lucky me."

<> Demiurge says "No Calabim with Big Guns. Really."

Liz walks into the SEC, wearing a nice, business-appropriate outfit (with gun and permit tucked into her bag, just in case of Calabim with Big Guns).

The security guards and secretaries let her pass, asking if she has an appointment with anyone.

Liz called ahead, to set up an appointment with Anselm.

Anselm is available, and his secretary - a neat young man - passes you in.

Anselm rises from his chair. He's a tall man, well-built, perhaps even a shade plump, with waves of greying hair and gold-rimmed glasses. Wood-framed prints of sailing ships hang on the walls of his neat office.

Liz walks in, smiling, looking rather like she's been on vacation (as opposed to working 23 hours a day moving cargo for the last week).

Anselm comes across, and offers his hand. "My dear Zebina. I hope that everything went well?"

Liz shakes, and nods. "The circumstances are, of course, unfortunate, but the actual relief effort went fairly well. The usual inefficiencies in local government and trade organizations, but my rates reflect that sort of thing."

Liz says "And yourself? A quiet week?"

Anselm nods in return. "Excellent. I'm sure that your records will be as well-compiled as ever. I have a few briefing notes to pass on to you. Would you like some coffee? Cappucino?"

Liz says "Do you have any tea? Caffeine makes me... twitchy."

Anselm chuckles. "Of course." He walks across to the door, pokes his head out, and says, "Peter? One tea and one coffee, please."

There is a murmur of assent.

Anselm closes the door again, and says, "Please do have a seat." He waves at the spare chairs.

Liz sits in the one which allows more comfortable fidgeting.

That would be the swivelling bowl-shape chair that can be driven all over the room.

Anselm settles back behind his desk. "Firstly, Prince Kobal has been released."

Liz says "Yes, I'd heard."

Liz says "My feelings on the matter are obviously mixed."

Anselm nods, understandingly. "Well, I understand the general Position >From Above is that the more confusion they have down there, the better our opportunities up here. Though I can see where you have a personal investment in the matter."

Liz says "Well, presumably he will have an axe to grind, which should lead to more confusion."

Liz says "I just hope he doesn't care to grind it on Daimon."

Anselm says, "One would hope he had more urgent matters to be seeing to. Of course, we'll be giving Daimonique the protection we'd give any servant of Heaven. Congratulations on his Redemption, by the way."

Liz smiles. "Thank you, although I wasn't even present for that."

Liz says "I'm sorry I missed it."

Liz says "Is there any other news?"

Anselm says, "Well, we've been checking up on Bellmans after your recent interesting reports on there. The proprietor is officially dead, and it's been blamed on that "terrorist attack" a week ago."

Liz says "Ah, yeah."

Liz says "The Demons of... the War, I think. Pretending to be Laurencians."

Anselm says, "Naturally, we've been doing our best to launch a thorough audit. We're hitting blocks, but it's definitely tying up their resources there."

Anselm nods. "Interesting, that. Any theories about why?"

Liz says "Better to ask Daimon about the Politics of Hell, but probably a power balancing act to keep Nightmares and the Game from getting too much power."

Liz shrugs eloquently. "I guess the War wants to make policy, not just carry it out."

Anselm clicks a finger, as the door opens and Peter brings in the requested tea and coffee. He deposits the tray, and vanishes.

Anselm says, "Milk or sugar?"

Liz says "Plain, thanks."

Anselm nods, and passes the cup of tea across.

Liz takes the cup, sips, and sighs happily. "Mmm. You have excellent tea."

Anselm chuckles. "I should hope so too! Only the best for our customers, and even better for our staff."

Liz laughs softly.

Anselm picks up his own cup of coffee. "A passing thought. If the War has already intervened against your enemies, they may do so again. Naturally, they're our enemies, but you might want to watch out for them going in the same direction as us."

Liz nods.

Liz says "For what it's worth, I think we may be interested in at least one Servitor of the War. A Habbalite known as Cecilia."

Anselm says, "Your help in identifying several other DC infernal Tethers has been invaluable. There's a note on your record." He pauses. "What about that one?"

Liz says "She survived a direct meeting with a Malakite of Fire, and has shown surprising amounts of abstract planning ability."

Liz says "She was at Bellmans, possibly leading the attack."

Anselm says, "Hm. I'll forward a request via War to see if they have anything useful about her."

Liz nods.

Liz swallows at the Tethers comment. "What's the current designation for the Lust Tether? Let it alone? Keep active tabs? Destroy it?"

Anselm says, "We're keeping an active watch on it, now we know where it is. If we need to make a move on it, we will, but for the moment we don't want the provocation."

Liz nods. "I'm not exactly eager to visit the place again."

Anselm says, "I'd formally advise you not to. There is such a thing as tempting fate."

Anselm says, "Which reminds me. Speaking of a certain trip down to Hell a week ago."

Liz says "Ah. Yes. That."

Liz says "I talked to Judgement about it. They were, as you can imagine, not exactly pleased."

Liz fidgets more, the bowl chair slowly oscillating back and forth in front of the middle half of the desk.

Anselm says, "Naturally, you're not being blamed for what you did under compulsion. It's just a little addendum to try and avoid such situations in future."

Liz nods.

Anselm nods, warmly. "In the meantime, what are your current objectives?"

Liz says "I'm sort of at loose ends at the moment. I'd like to keep an eye on the others, but there are better protectors than me about. Unless, of course, things get complex again and more negotiations are required."

Anselm nods. "Understandable. I believe that Dreams have some sort of project in train to track the brainwashing business. Other than that, our own Archangel's business is much as normal; and we want to take advantage of any current market space."

Anselm smiles. "Naturally."

Liz says "Mmm."

Liz says "Are there any, say, free agents running around as a result of the recent turmoil? Perhaps some loose information or items that have unusual availability?"

Anselm says, "We haven't as yet had any communications from them, but some are bound to be cropping up."

Anselm says, dryly, "And the Princess of Freedom is as elusive as ever."

Liz says "Naturally."

Liz says "Would you prefer I stay on the scene for the next couple of days, or shall I get back to normal operations?"

Anselm considers. "I'd prefer it if you stayed around DC for a few days, but you must take care, Zebina. By now several Princes will have your name as a known agent, and a powerful one at that."

Liz chuckles softly. "'Powerful'? But I just do cargo."

Anselm says, "You've been involved in the redemption of two - _two_ - demons, the destruction of a Tether to Hell and a few demonic plots, the evidence freeing Kobal - need I go on?"

Liz blushes, rather humanly, considering. "The others did just as much as I did, if not more."

Liz says "Daimon, yes, I think I helped there, but Azalea was actively searching for something else. Destiny was kind."

Anselm chuckles. "Yes, but you did what you did, and that was definitely something. And they know about you. Especially Fate."

Liz sighs softly. "I'd rather that Fate didn't. I'm unsure of how to handle that. By now there's probably a picture of me on that Impudite's wall, with a big 'X' over my face."

Anselm says, "I just want to make sure you're sensibly careful, Zebina."

Liz nods. "I intend to be. I'd prefer being proactive, but it's obvious that going after that Impudite alone is a bad idea."

Anselm's brows tighten. "Zebina, if I hear _one_ word about you haring off back down to Hell after that Impudite..."

Liz ponders for a moment. "I wonder if we could trade her to The War or Dark Humor for something."

Liz says "Oh, you needn't worry about that, Sir."

Liz says "Judgment was explicit on the matter, and I've no desire to go back."

Anselm nods, mollified. "Glad to hear it. Can't blame me for worrying, though."

Liz smiles softly. "I appreciate the concern, but even if I wanted to go back, my skills don't line up."

Anselm nods. "Quite understandable. Now, are there any names or addresses or phone numbers you need while you're here?"

Anselm says, "Or any requests you need putting in?"

Liz says "Hmm."

Liz says "I'd appreciate a quick check on the status of my role, just in case there are any outstanding warrants, investigations, or the like."

Anselm smiles. "All done. You're entirely free of suspicion or investigation."

Liz smiles brightly. "Excellent."

Liz says "And I don't suppose there's any way of telling whether or not there's a Djinn attuned to you?"

Anselm says, "Unfortunately not. There are certain relics that can break such an attunement, if you think it's likely?"

Liz says "I was captured at one point. On the other hand, I doubt they expected me to get free that quickly, so..."

Liz shrugs. "It's certainly possible.

Anselm says, "I'll put in a request - though, then again, that was over a week now? Any attunements should have been broken by now."

Liz says "True."

Liz looks a bit relieved by that.

Anselm says, "I think we can hold on that, then."

Liz says "Well, other than my identity being known to Fate, I suppose I'm in good shape. And I really can't complain about that."

Anselm says, "Very good."

Liz ponders, tapping her feet lightly against the legs of the chair.

Anselm waits, patiently.

Liz says "That should be everything. Would you like me to do anything for you as long as I'm out and about?"

Anselm says, "We don't seem to have any particular current objectives, but I'll pass anything onto you as soon as I can."

Anselm rises. "Go with the speed of God, Zebina."

Liz rises as well. "Thanks. Godspeed to you too, Sir."

Liz thinks, well, that was rather relaxing.

Anselm shows Liz to the door.

Liz sets the teacup down on the desk, and departs.

<> Liz says "And, of course, there will now be a Calabite waiting for me in my car."

<> Demiurge says "No, no. The car is safely in the parking area and untouched."

<> Demiurge says "If you all want to now shift focus to Pat's House, and have people (like Liz or Shannen) turn up, that's fine."

Daimon, who still has the phone, dials the number for Shannen's place.

Daimon stirs his sauce. Stir stir.

Shannen assumes that Daimon called at some point when she is at home (since no one is here to question it) and so lets it ring exactly -once- before picking it up and speaking happily into the phone "IIttttt''s Shannen and I bet you want to talk to me right now. Well, guess what? I'm -home-. Yup, this is no recording for you. You lucked out!"

Daimon blinks.

Daimon says "Hi Shannen. Er, this is Daimon."

Shannen ohhs and plops onto her couch *foomf* "Hey there, how are you, how's Pat, how's Sarah, how was your meeting?"

Daimon says "Hey. I'm fine, Pat is fine, Sarah is fine, and my meeting was pretty bland. Are you doing anything tonight?"

Shannen ponders with a long 'hmm' "I'm not sure, really. I'm going to help Aron find someone. Erm. Usha. That" she sighs "Beleth was terrorizing. The poor, poor dear - I mean Usha, not Beleth. We might not be leaving until tomorrow - I hope not, I wanted to get some stuff done today and everything. Sooo.. if tomorrow, then I'm perfectly free tonight."

Daimon says "Oh." Then he pauses, because he knows nothing about Beleth and Usha abd whatever, but if it's an Aronquest, he's very likely to get an earful about it. "Well, we've got a big group of people either over or coming over. I was wondering if, you know, you weren't busy, you wanted to join us."

Shannen giggles into the phone "Oh -wow-! Yes, I would love to. I never get invited out much by the non-humans, you know." She frowns "I wonder why. Oh well, sure.. umm.. where should we meet. Well, you know, if I can go."

Daimon says "Well, we're just all sort of congregating at Pat's place."

Shannen oohs. "Pat's place. Umm. I suppose I can look that up in the phone books and take a taxi down there."

Daimon gives Shannen directions.

Shannen writes it down, making notes "Okay. Got it." Smooch over the phone "I'll at least stop by to give you all hugs!"

Daimon says "Okay. Bye."

Daimon hangs up the phone and starts setting out dishes.

Liz meanwhile drives from the SEC over to Pat's place, stopping off to pick up a cake for dessert.

Outside Pat's house, Liz's car rolls up.

<> Demiurge says "Liz, try a Per roll."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge says "Liz perceives nothing."

<> Liz says "This is not a surprise."

<> Hitherby perhaps has a swarm on low-intensity patrol, just lazily buzzing around the town checking Pat's house, the hangar, the Supreme Court, the Jordi-Tether ... it probably takes most of a day for a full patrol, but she can just be approaching Pat's place with it. Perhaps?

<> Demiurge says "That's fine."

Hitherby senses a convergence of mighty forces. And supper.

There is, indeed, a smell of cooking food emanating from the Pathouse.

Hitherby concludes that either there is something yummy inside or Eduardo caught a Balseraph.

Hitherby flutters in and lands in a neat circle on the door, trusting the pulling-up-in-car Liz to open it with typical Ofanite dispatch.

Pat watches CourtTV, making notes on the poor procedures of humankind.

Daimon sings in Italian as he sets the table.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, try a Perception roll."

Hitherby, more specifically, lands on the front door of the house.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "You perceive no lurking Calabim or other demons. Clearly they have all left the place."

Hitherby looks smug. Villains flee when Hitherby approaches!

Sarah does occasional, not /really/ nervous circuits, checking doors and windows.

<> Demiurge says "You aren't getting any current danger-spikes, Sarah."

<> Sarah is twitchy anyway. There's this big huge ominous Blank Spot where her Pat-attunement used to be. :)

<> Demiurge says "Eduardo, it is now mid-evening. There have been no reports of any big fires yet."

<> Demiurge says "You are, however, beginning to feel a kind of ... tugging."

<> Demiurge says "It's as if you can feel the heat of fires lapping at your body, smell smoke hanging in the air."

<> Demiurge says "Towards the north, north-east."

Eduardo signs out, and heads that direction. He mutters. "I'll know, alright."

The sensation of heat seems to lead you onwards, though it feels - in some way - as if it is still some distance away. It is definitely to the north-west, towards Baltimore.

Eduardo mutters, and digs out his cellphone, driving considerably more than the speed limit as he makes his way out of town. He fumbles Pat's number in on the second try.

The sensation of heat definitely grows, till all the car seems wrapped in a pleasantly lava-warm glow, though it does no damage to the car itself or to Eduardo. There is simply ... the sensation. Definitely towards Baltimore.

In Pat's house, Pat's phone rings.

Pat leans forward, picking up his cellphone and muting the television. "This is Patrick."

Sephar wakes up to listen.

Eduardo says "Mazpatiel."

Eduardo says "I think I've found the fire. Or am finding it."

Pat frowns, standing from his chair. "Where?"

Sarah looks over to Pat, distinctly concerned.

Pat looks at Sarah, and mouths the word 'fire'.

Sarah frowns.

Liz walks up to the door, with cake, and opens the door for herself and the small swarm.

Liz knocks first though.

Hitherby . o O ( Sugar. )

Hitherby is fortunate to have such strength of will!

Pat turns to the door, nodding very briefly to Liz as he listens to the telephone.

Hitherby forms a neat ring around and just above Liz's head and flies in circles.

<> Demiurge says "Eduardo, make a Perception roll."

Sephar waves its tail at Liz when she walks in.

<> Eduardo rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 5.

Eduardo says "It seems to be out of town. And, .." and then pauses, voice lifting a little. "... as my lady said. I know."

Sarah removes herself from the way of the door when she sees it's Liz, and gives a small, apologetic smile.

Daimon continues to do domestic things, oblivious.

Pat mutters something possibly unkind. "Alright. Where are you now?"

<> Demiurge says "Eduardo, you heard a disturbance in the Symphony from ahead of you. It sounded like Songs being used. (How good is your geography of Baltimore ICly?)"

<> Eduardo says "Um. Fair, likely. I've been around the DC area a longish time."

<> Demiurge says "Then you figure it's somewhere on the grounds of John Hopkins Medical Centre."

Eduardo glances out of the window, still speeding, and reads off a mile marker, giving Pat a possibly (likely?) overly detailed position. "I'm heading to John Hopkins."

Liz smiles at people when she walks in, gives Sarah a hug, waves to Sephar, and saunters into the kitchen to deliver her cake. "Hi, Daimon."

Hitherby gives the food her careful attention.

Daimon looks up from what he was doing. "Oh, hi Liz." He gives her a big hug, then inspects the cake. "Hey. This was just dinner. Now it's an official shindig."

Pat says "That''ll take some time to get there, Edward."

Sarah looks over to Pat. "Get -- never mind."

There is another Symphonic disturbance, perhaps another Song. Now Eduardo is closer, he can make a guess at the location - the John Hopkins Medical Centre.

Sarah reminds herself once again not to talk to people while they're on the phone.

Liz hugs Daimon back, and kisses him.

Eduardo shrugs, putting the pedal to the metal - the engine note from his unit deepneing notably. There's a click, and the sound of a siren. He says nothing.

Daimon kisses back. Mmmm Liz. Liz is moi excellent.

Pat says "Alright. I'm on my way."

Liz sticks her head back in the main room. "Something going on?"

Eduardo says, "Well." Nothing for a moment. After a second he adds, "I think I can get there quickly."

Pat says "Get there. We'll meet you."

Eduardo says "And there has just been a disturbance in the Symphony there."

Pat says "Shit."

Eduardo says "Language."

Sephar says "Should I join him, Pat?"

Sarah gives Pat an almost definitively disturbed look.

Hitherby hums, atonally, "Food. Mission. Food. Mission." Then, cleverly, Kyriotatishly, she says, "Both!"

And, as Eduardo comes turning onto the driveway leading towards the Medical Centre...

Sephar looks mildly disturbed over Pat's word.

<> Demiurge says "Perception roll, please, for _everyone_."

Sephar's ears are up.

Liz says "Right, I'll get the car..."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 1.

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

Hitherby breaks off a nice yellowjacket to enjoy the meal while the rest of her joins the group.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 4.

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

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

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "Everyone hears a *big* noise from the direction of Baltimore in the Symphony. Pat and Daimon perceive it as major property destruction."

As Eduardo watches, the Medical Centre begins to _explode_.

Daimon says "Oh boy."

Pat cringes. "Sephar. Go to him. Now."

Sephar touches the phone.

Liz says "Pat, anyone else who's coming, get in the car *now*."

Great gouts of flame blossom throughout the building, lighting up dark rooms and limming it in scarlet and gold.

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

Hitherby swarms onto Liz's shoulders.

Daimon grabs his shoes, his watergun, and his coat.

Liz dashes for her car.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, you have possessed Eduardo's phone, via Pat's phone link to him."

Sepharmouse says, "Got the phone."

Pat grabs a gun and his trenchcoat, forgetting about his suitcoat as he heads carwards.

Eduardo floors the car once again, towards the building. He says, quite calmly. "The building just exploded."

Daimon follows, right behind Pat.

Sarah glances to Pat and Daimon, takes no more time than that, and attempts the impossible of catching up with an Ofanite.

Sepharphone hops into Eduardo's radio after turning it on.

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 2.

Liz hops into the car, starts it, and waits only long enough for everyone to get in.

Pat comments into the phone. "Wonderful. We're on our way. Sephar will do communications."

The car radio in Eduardo's car flares into life.

Sepharradio says softly, "Eduardo, it's Sephar, I'll help back you up and communicate."

Pat hangs up the phone and pockets it as he piles into the car.

As Eduardo brings his car spinning in, he can see a pair of figures running towards a waiting car, from the side of the building.

Sepharmouse hops into Daimon's pocket.

<> Sephar keeps Eduardo's phone as well as the radio... so it can travel with him if he sprints off after someone...

Pat says "North, Liz. Baltimore. And quickly."

<> Liz says "Resonance, then driving."

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

<> Liz misses resonance. Now driving.

Sepharradio says, "I'm in your celphone, so you can carry with me if you need me."

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

Daimon says "Anyone have a chunk of Hitherby?"

Liz has bugs all over her shoulders.

The Ofanite Car goes screaming down the road.

Hitherby hums, "I'm never sure."

Sepharmouse giggles.

Pat, now safely in the AngelMobile, calms a bit and checks his gun. "The hospital just exploded."

<> Demiurge says "Now, everyone _except_ Eduardo try a Perception roll, at what is going to be a definite penalty."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 3.

Eduardo nods to the radio, and then rolls out of the side of his car, moving to investigate the flaming building.

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

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 2.

Sarah whispers, "Oh, no."

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

People are beginning to spill out of the burning building - or out of the lit sections - in what is clearly the remnants of fire drills. Most are staggering. All are shocked. Several are calling the fire brigade.

Sepharmouse says to the folks in the car, "Eduardo just got out to investigate two people running from the building."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 6.

Sepharphone possesses the car that the two figures are running towards...

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, Per roll."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 1.

Daimon says "Come join Dominic! Guaranteed flaming buildings your first day on the job."

Hitherby says, seriously, "I don't smoke."

As the Ofanite Car goes screaming down the street in DC, Sepharmouse (though nobody else) hears a tiny Symphonic *ping* as they go by the Smithsonian and the Museums there. From the Freer Gallery. Doubtless pure coincidence.

The two people at the Scene reach their car, then wrench at the door handles to get them open.

Sepharmouse goes, "There was a ping."

Liz says "What kind of ping?"

Daimon says "Ping?"

Sepharmouse says, "A ping in the Symphony by the Smithsonian."

Liz drives faster.

<> Demiurge says "Sephar isn't sure what sort of ping. Might have been minor Song use, or minor destruction, or essence spending."

Sephar says "From the Freer Gallery."

Sephar says "As we went by."

Sephar says "Something small."

The two people pile into the car. They both look like nondescript men... then again, one is familiar.

Daimon says "What do we know is there? Anything?"

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, try an Int roll."

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

Eduardo flashes a badge and starts herding people away from the building, playing the -albeit battered and antisocial looking -- hero cop as he attempts to enter the flaming building. Anyone who looks vaguely coherent he'll ask what they thought happened.

With a sudden shock, Sephar _recognises_ one of the two men. He's the Impudite of Vapula who possessed Zebina in the sewers.

<> Sephar says "Eek!"

Sepharphone rings on Eduardo.

The Impudite has, of course, no clue that Sephar is in the car. He thrusts his key into the ignition.

Sepharcar makes sure that the engine doesn't turn over by disconnecting the starter.

The people milling round Eduardo are mainly confused, though some are sensible and trying to organise things. One of them, a middle-aged woman, says, "It started over in the AIDS lab. No, I have no fucking clue what happened."

Sepharphone rings for Eduardo, with extra beeps.

The engine in the Impudite's car fails to turn over. He curses in Helltongue, and twists the key again.

Sepharmouse in the car eeks, "One of the Valpulan crew is trying to get away from the hospital site..."

Sephar says "He was the one that possessed Liz before."

Liz says "What?!"

Liz resolves to use essence on her next driving roll.

<> Demiurge says "Time for next Driving roll, Liz."

Sepharmouse nods at Liz.

<> Liz says "OK, 3 essence on the resonance."

Pat says "Pardon?"

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 6.

Sepharcar keeps things quiet.

<> Demiurge says "Wow."

<> Liz says "Driving."

Sepharmouse, "In the sewers when we went after the Box."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 3.

<> Liz just made her driving roll by... lots.

The Ofanite car _screams_ down the road, doing an impression of the Delorean from _Back to the Future_, the wind hissing by the windows, as it miraculously avoids traffic.

Hitherby hunkers down.

Daimon puts on his seat belt.

Liz calls, "Hang on back there!"

Eduardo answers the phone, while asking and attempting to determine where the AIDS lab is. (was?)

Sepharphone says, "Two Vapulan Demons are trying to escape in the parking lot, I'll flash the headlights for you."

Sephar says "When you get down there."

The middle-aged woman points over to one building - perhaps coincidentally, where the highest flames are rising from. "There. AIDS lab. They keep the samples and do research stuff there. Now excuse me, I need to do a headcount."

Eduardo blinks once, and then shoves his hand into his pocket, nods to the lady, and takes off at a full blown run for the parking lot. Unlike most cops he doesn't have his hand on his gun.

Sepharcar starts to flash the headlights when Eduardo reaches the lot.

The headlights flash from the car, as the two "men" in there give up on the ignition key, and come scrambling out, one on each side.

Eduardo charges them. "Stop. Police."

<> Eduardo uses his new funky attunement.

Sepharmouse says, "They seem to have blown up the AIDs lab." To the folks in the car.

The two men just run for it, both heading back to try and reach one of the other parked cars in the lot.

<> Eduardo says "Any other people in the lot?"

<> Eduardo says "If so, I'm *not* going to try shooting. We all know how good a shot Eddie is."

<> Demiurge says "No other people in the lot. And you sense they both enjoy inflicting psychological pain on others in the name of science."

Sephar uses remote control to open car doors in their way as they run.

<> Demiurge says "Remote control only has short range, but you can do it a bit."

<> Sephar nods and will while it can.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 4.

The Impudite who tried to possess Liz manages to avoid a car door. The other runs into it, gets it in the stomach, goes sprawling.

The Ofanite car, on the outskirts of DC, can see distant flames lighting up the sky, and hear the distant sound of fire engines.

Eduardo makes an attempt to light off his sword. Sod subtlety, it's time to put the Fear of God into them. And the fear of fire, and Gabriel, and a few other things.

Sepharmouse says, "The two demons ran out of the car and are headed 'such and so' across teh parking lot, can you get in their way, Liz?"

Liz says "Give me a sec, Sephar."

Sepharmouse says, "Sure."

Liz points the car in that general direction, and resolves to get a faster car at some point.

The sword lights up in Eduardo's hands, in a cascade of fire.

<> Liz says "What does 'Elohite of Gabe' do?"

<> Eduardo says "I know when you've been naughty, I know when you've been nice."

The sprawled man shrieks, "It's a fucking angel! Run! RUN!"

<> Eduardo says "Now I'm SANTA CLAUS."

The other one - who possessed Liz that time - takes his advice, and runs faster, as the sprawled one tries to get to his feet.

Eduardo smiles. There's no cruelty in the expression, but there is no friendship either. It simply is. He continues to run, sword held ready to cut the downed one first.

The downed man is trying to get to his feet, but is slower than Eduardo, and only halfway there when the Malakite reaches him.

Sepharphone squawks, "We need to ask them what they were up to, Eduardo. Just remember that."

Liz aims the car at the running angel in the parking lot, not the down one.

Liz is aiming, specifically, to skid to a stop right in front of 'him' so he runs straight into the car. *thud*

Liz warns, "If you have ethereal shields, put 'em up. This guy's got the Song of Posession."

<> Liz takes a moment to do that herself, by the way.

Daimon says "Fantastic."

The running Impudite shrieks, as he sees the blazing-headlighted car heading straight for him, and tries to dodge.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, roll for your Eth Shields, Liz, and then for Drive, to be able to stop in time."

Eduardo chops down, a brutal slash aimed at the legs.

Pat merely chambers a round in his pistol.

<> Demiurge says "Roll, Eduardo."

Hitherby struggles desperately with the desire to leap into the guy, just for fairness' sake. But demons have Will.

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

Daimon pulls out the Eli squirt gun and hopes it does something cool.

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

<> Liz says "OK, eth shields. 3 Cel forces, Shields/2, +1 for Corp Shields, +1 essence. 7 or less."

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

<> Liz says "Shields are up."

<> Liz says "Driving."

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

The sprawling man goes down with a *shriek* as the flaming sword bites into his legs. Blood runs, as he tries to roll to one side and bring his arm up to shield himself.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 5.

Hitherby scans the parking lot for someone useful.

<> Demiurge says "Whoops. That driving roll failed."

The running Impudite manages to dodge out of the way of the skidding car, eyes wide with terror, as he throws himself to one side. However, he is now trapped vaguely between the Ofanite Car and Eduardo.

Eduardo leaves the downed man, who presumably can't run. He closes on the other.

The downed man just lies there, clutching at his maimed legs and weeping, for the moment.

Liz steps out of the car, drawing her gun. "Down, on the ground, now, and we won't let the Malakite kill you."

The Impudite glances behind him, at the Malakite with the Sword, and then in front of him, at Liz. His eyes narrow.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 5.

Pat steps out of the car a little less excitably than Liz, and levels his pistol at the demon.

Liz grins fiercely, her red hair blowing in the wind.

Daimon gets out last.

The sound of some sort of Song can be heard by everyone. The Impudite's eyes go wide as he staggers back a step. He hisses, "Damn you."

Hitherby is on the Ofanite's shoulders, a very convenient thing.

<> Liz whuggles her Ethereal Shields.

Pat says "No, thank you. I suggest you cooperate, or else things will become exceedingly difficult."

<> Pat resonates da demon.

The Impudite says, "Yeah, yeah."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 1 5 CHECK: 6.

<> Pat says "MUAHAHAHA"

<> Daimon also resonates on da Demon.

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

<> Daimon says "BOTH of us."

<> Demiurge says "Okay."

<> Pat hi5s his partner.

<> Demiurge says "The Dice clearly love you tonight."

<> Daimon says "Fear us."

Eduardo doesn't need to resonate on the demon. He knows it's a bad demon that he wants to kill.

Liz judges the distance of the approaching Eduardo. "Five seconds to deal."

Liz counts down from there...

<> Demiurge says "Pat, you perceive that this is a frightened demon, because he's trapped by Angels with a grudge, and because this was supposed to be a secret mission. And, well, it's screwed up. Name two actions for response."

Hitherby grabs the best host she can, intending to edge in this general direction, hoping to be mostly behind him. She knows it may take a while to get a host to the area without being obvious about it, since most humans will be avoiding this confrontation.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, there is nobody else in the parking lot. Everyone is over at the blazing Medical Centre."

<> Pat says "I can only think of one. What would he do if I held flaming boy off?"

<> Demiurge says "Perhaps negotiate a little, Pat, but he'd try and escape."

<> Demiurge says "The Parking Lot is next to the Centre, but everyone is trying to get away from the big fire that the Centre is becoming."

<> Demiurge says "Daimon."

<> Demiurge says "You perceive he Needs to get _away_, escape, report back to base, conceal certain facts, continue his experiments with the samples he knows have been stolen, become a Word-bound, get major credit from Vapula."

<> Demiurge says "You also perceive that he Needs to continue his psychological experiments on this prisoner they have, whose will is nearly broken."

<> Daimon says "Do I know enough rudimentary handwavings to motion to pat "Don't kill vapboy?""

<> Demiurge says "Probably."

The Impudite looks at the advancing Malakite. Looks back at Liz. "Can you stop him killing me?"

Daimon hopes to God that it's correct when he makes the Dominican sign for "Don't kill - question. Important."

Liz says "If you get down on the ground, now, hands over the back of your head."

The Impudite sighs. He drops to the ground, and folds his hands on the back of his head.

Pat holds a hand, palm-out, to Eduardo. The gun stays trained on the demon. "There will be no escape. If you cooperate, you will keep your soul. Are we clear?"

Liz says "Any sign of going celestial and my colleagues from Justice will collar you and drag you into the nearest Celestial tether to fry like an egg."

Daimon says "Hi."

The Impudite says, into the dirt, "Yeah, sure, just make this quick. I'm a busy man."

Pat says "We can do quick. What's going on here?"

The other one, with sliced-up legs, just lies there and whimpers. And crawls a bit, slowly, in the direction of away. Very slowly.

The Impudite says, "I'm just following orders."

Liz says "I'll get the other one."

Daimon walks over and grabs Pat by the arm. "Instant conference."

Eduardo turns away from the first once, face a thundercloud. He stalks towards the second, voicing one word. "Stop."

Liz walks over to stand by Eduardo, looking at the other one.

The second one collapses into the dirt, with a further whimper. "Just please... be quick about it."

<> Eduardo says "You know. Ed hates this. He can't kill the cruel demons, so he's going to get dissonant."

Eduardo says "My Lady is Gabriel. When it comes, it will be fast."

<> Pat says "Kill the second one. :)"

Eduardo says "Unlike you, we are not cruel."

Pat nods to Daimon, though he keeps looking at the grounded demon. "Go ahead."

Liz says "Five seconds, Eduardo."

Liz says to the cripple, "Why are you here?"

The flames roar upwards round the Medical Centre. Fire engines have arrived, and hoses play water upon it.

Daimon hisses at Pat, into Pat's ear so it's not overheard, "He's got a prisoner, samples of something he stole, and he knows where his base is."

Eduardo continues to walk across the lot, sword like a tiny fragment of the inferno that was once a hospital.

The crippled man whimpers, "We were told to come and do cleanup by torching the place..."

Liz says "Why?"

The Impudite snaps, voice like a whipcrack, "Shut up!"

Liz says "We can still take you to a tether, you know."

Daimon releases Pat's arm, and goes over to the crippled demon to resonate on him. He hunkers down so he can get a good shot.

Liz says, more loudly, "BOTH of you."

Eduardo continues to cross the parking lot. It's notable how slow he's walking.

The crippled man looks up, face tearstained, to meet Daimon's eyes.

<> Demiurge says "Roll, Daimon."

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

<> Demiurge says "He wants to live. Or at least, not be soul-killed."

Pat says, to the unwounded demon, "Who is the prisoner?"

<> Eduardo tries for the Malakite resonance. On both of the two, if he can.

The Impudite says, "What prisoner?" It's a fraction too slow.

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

Daimon says, in a more compassionate voice, "What's your name?"

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Eduardo. Roll, and tell me in which order."

Pat says "Wrong answer."

Pat shoots the demon in the back of the knee.

<> Eduardo says "That would be the wounded one, since he's closer."

<> Eduardo rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. On the wounded guy, you get that he regularly vivisects guinea-pigs for "the sake of science", that he helped torch the hospital on orders, and that he split up a truly loving couple to watch their reactions."

<> Demiurge says "Nothing on the other."

The Impudite shrieks as his knee is shattered.

Pat remains perfectly calm. "Now. Who is the prisoner?"

The crippled man says, to Daimon, "I'm... Jehazi."

Eduardo kills the wounded one and then rounds on the others. "No."

The light goes out of the crippled man's eyes quickly as Eduardo's sword slices into him. He breathes once, and is still.

Daimon sighs heavily, and stands up.

Daimon is never ever going to like this death thing, in any form.

Eduardo stalks back, repeating "No!"

The Impudite snarls, "Damn you all. There is no prisoner!" But it's obvious he's lying.

<> Eduardo says "Ed. Kills without a blink. Torture he can't stand."

Daimon says "Eddie, you can't kill him. He's got a prisoner."

Pat squats, and puts the barrel of the pistol to the back of the Impudite's other knee. "You're lying." He doesn't pull the trigger, though.

Daimon walks over to where Pat is having a good time being an Elohite.

The Impudite sighs, and lies still in the dirt.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 5.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Symphonic disturbance, as of someone going Celestial."

There is a ripple, as the Impudite's body vanishes.

<> Demiurge says "Per + cel forces roll to try and spot him Celestially."

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

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 4.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 5.

The Impudite - perceived by you all - spreads great bat wings, unfurling them from his lab coat. He snarls, fiddling with his glasses.

Liz calls out, "Pat, do we get him, or not?"

Hitherby assumes celestial form.

Pat says "Go."

Sephar also materialises Celestially, in a cloud of silvery eyes and mouths and wings.

<> Liz does the celestial thing then.

<> Hitherby makes an Int roll to see if she's smart enough to grab the guy or if she just whales on him.

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

<> Hitherby will just whale on him :)

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "Liz goes Celestial. Pose, please."

Liz sheds her corporeal form, vanishing from the plane into the spinning wheel of fiery motion that is Zebina.

Hitherby pours out of her host, her golden hue neatly matching Sephar's silver.

Pat just admires.

Pat then sets about searching the dead vessel.

The Impudite looks around him, at the two Dominations and the spinning Wheel.

Hitherby strikes. Jordi-style celestial kung fu: rabbit hop!

Zebina sings out, "Surrender and reform corporeally, or die the final death."

Daimon watches, impassively.

Zebina says "Last chance."

<> Demiurge says "Roll for attack, Hitherby."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 1 CHECK: 5.

Sephar also strikes out, in a silvery blur.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 5 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 2.

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

Zebina lashes the Impudite with spinning disks of Holy Fire.

The Impudite attempts to avoid the blows, but fails, and the Kyriotates slash into him, leaving vicious wounds.

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

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

The Impudite shrieks again, as burns lash across him. He strikes out at Zebina, viciously.

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

<> Demiurge says "Dodge, Zeb?"

<> Zebina rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Zebina dodges fairly neatly.

The Impudite's blow goes wide, perhaps from the Ofanite's speed, perhaps from the pain of his oozing wounds.

The Impudite hisses, "The Doctor will see you on his *experimental tables*!"

Daimon just sighs.

Hitherby mutters, "Thousand-flea-bite style: go!" A thousand fingers, a thousand pinches. (Although that's just F/X for an attack :)

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 3.

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

The Impudite develops yet more gashes across his body. He falls to his knees, wings spreading in a vague attempt to ward off more blows, and curses foully in Helltongue.

Zebina sings again, "SURRENDER OR DIE. NOW."

<> Demiurge says "For those who understand Helltongue (ie, Pat and Daimon) it was a prediction about the Kyriotates being test subjects for the most virulent strains of plague possible, and watching their hosts die a thousand times."

Pat looks at Daimon with a raised eyebrow.

Daimon says "Such language."

The Impudite lifts his head, snarls at Zebina with a look of pure hatred, and begins to Descend.

Zebina attacks!

<> Zebina rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 6.

Daimon files that one away to be used against Shedim.

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

Pat calls out, "YOU ARE NOT TO FOLLOW HIM!"

<> Demiurge snickers.

<> Zebina says "Well, *DUH*."

<> Pat has to make sure of these things. :)

<> Zebina says "Just because you go to Hell once, everyone freaks out..."

Hitherby attempts to peel off the Impudite's eyes. And will take a penalty if it means she can actually hurt them :)

The Impudite comes apart amid Zebina's flames, with a final tainted scream, and falls to empty celestial ash on the wind.

The parking lot is silent, save for the roar of flames, the sound of police sirens and fire engines, the hiss of hoses, and the noise of a worried crowd. But otherwise silent.

Zebina flares briefly, a tiny celestial star, coalescing back into a human woman.

Daimon says "Congratulations, there is a dead ex-prisoner somewhere and a whole shipment of some sort of samples going someplace we don't know where."

Daimon says "BUT, we all feel better."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "But, Daimon, they're Vapulans... which means their Tether is at the Hubble."

Daimon peers at the flames of the hospital. He doesn't particularly like terrorism, no, so he's not really that annoyed by it.

Hitherby says, curiously, "Doesn't some Archangel give their Servitors the ability to look into the past of something?"

Daimon says "They weren't necessarily going to their tether."

Hitherby picks up a handful of the ashes and sifts them through her fingers, the innocence of her expression making it simultaneously more and less than morbid.

Zebina steps over to Daimon, and says, "I'm sorry. He wouldn't surrender."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "There wasn't any way of keeping him here, if he was Celestial..."

Daimon says "You did what you had to do. I'm not going to give out prizes for killing people off, though."

Daimon starts walking over to the hospital to see if people need help.

Hitherby says, "'Cause maybe they could do something with these."

Zebina nods.

Zebina goes to the back of her car, and gets out all those medical supplies she was carrying around with her.

Zebina says "Here. These might help."

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "Never mind?"

Zebina passes them out to Daimon and the others, and any medical staff in the crowd.

Sephar says, to Hitherby, "I don't know about that... isn't that a Fate thing? I'm not sure."

Daimon takes the medical supplies for the express point of helping survivors and the EMS crew. Who knows how much of the emergency room has been destroyed.

Those people trying to organise the crowd, or give medical assistance, appreciate help from Daimon and Zebina, and the medical supplies. Eduardo is visible in the distance, doing some sort of investigation.

Zebina asks the people in charge if they need anyone to run people to other hospitals.

The EMS crew are grateful for the medical supplies. Daimon gets corralled to help comfort a load of people who had to be hauled out in a hurry.

The people in charge do, indeed, need spare ambulance drivers.

Liz grabs some coveralls, changes into them, and starts ambulance drivin'.

Daimon certainly helps out any way he can.

Pat goes back to investigating the Vapulan corpse.

Hitherby reflects. "I was *sure*," she says, grumpily, and then floats thoughtfully over to the hospital walls, and, well, through them. It oughtn't be too hard to find where the fire started, have a looksee. The swarm, she leaves with Pat.

<> Liz looks on her 'Demons to Get Revenge Upon' list and crosses off the Impudite who possessed her. With a big, black pen.

On the Vapulan corpse, there is a wallet, and nothing more of interest. In the wallet is money, keys, and a month-pass to the Hubble Visitor Centre.

Fortunately, parts of the hospital have been saved from the damage. However, the section around the AIDS pathology clinic is very very trashed.

Pat collects the wallet for evidence's sake, and gives Stephan a call.

Hitherby has no idea what a pathology lab is; her investigation, which is not likely to produce any interesting results, is just vaguely applying experience with forest fires and such to try and trace the fire's path backwards. Which, mind, may lead her in circles or to the pediatrics department.

<> Demiurge says "Try an Int roll, Hitherby."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 4.

<> Hitherby says "Pfoo. :)"

<> Pat says "Pat is calling Stephan."

It is astonishing how much this place burns. One would not expect human buildings to burn like this without a lot of help.

Stephan answers the phone within one ring. "Yes?"

Across, among the patients, Daimon's help is being much appreciated in organising emergency triage and treatment.

Hitherby takes careful note, concluding that the demons must have taken down the red canisters that humans use to start fires and applied them liberally before setting off the initial burn.

Pat says "Stephan. It's Patrick. We have a situation in Baltimore. The ARC has been bombed."

Liz ferries the injured around with all available speed.

Stephan's voice is calm. "We've had notification. Some of the city police are scrambling that way, and clearing the roads for emergency services. And half the city heard the Symphonic noise. Any reports?"

Pat says "Two Vapulans. One destroyed, the other sent to its Heart. There was mention of a prisoner, further information was unfortunately lost."

Stephan says, calmly, "We'll have their Tether watched. Thank you for the report. Any information or assistance needed?"

Pat says "I have the identity of the Traumatized demon." He reads off the name from the wallet. "If anything further comes up, I'll be in touch."

Stephan says, "Thank you. I'll get back as soon as I have anything to report."

Pat says "Thank you."

The disturbance begins to die down as triaged patients are shipped to other hospitals, the fire engines get the fire under control, and slowly, slowly, the situation becomes more stable.

Pat pockets the phone and goes back to watching the conflagration.

Eventually, there are no more patients for Daimon to attend to - they've all been moved to safety - and no more for Liz to drive round.

Liz parks the ambulance carefully, gets out, and goes to find Pat, Daimon, and the others.

Daimon talks to the last of the nurses, wishes them luck dealing with this disaster, and will wander his way back to Pat.

Sepharmouse emerges from Daimon's pocket slightly. It squeaks, faintly, "I don't understand. Why be this..." It looks around. "I don't understand."

Pat is smoking a cigarette, watching the aftermath with flat eyes.

Daimon says "Who knows, Sephar. They did it to cover their tracks. They had no interest in the humans that would die, from the explosion or from the lost, destroyed work."

Liz walks up briskly. She looks slightly stricken from all the human injuries, but her eyes have the glimmer of frantic, necessary activity that marks an Ofanite responding to necessity.

Liz catches up, then says, "Do you think it's linked to what we found in the Sewer?"

Liz says "And what, if anything, was going on at the Smithsonian?"

Daimon peers at the carnage, and all the fun activities going on after a disaster. "I don't know. All I know is that I'm completely digusted with Hell right now."

Liz nods.

Hitherbyswarm hums softly, "Disease and Vapulans would seem to imply a connection."

Liz says "I think we should go back to the sewers and search that area again."

Liz says "We should also find out what, if anything, happened at the Smithsonian."

Hitherby bobs. "I am amenable."

Daimon says "We should likely stop at the Freer Museum. Pat? Yes?"

Pat nods. "Yes. We should."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "Yes." It still sounds in shock.

Hitherby flutters down a bee to massage Sepharmouse's neck.

Liz says "All right. Everyone back into the car, please."

Daimon climbs into the car, muttering something under his breath.

Sepharmouse says, "Let me ask Ithuriel while you drive if he knows anything."

Liz says "Sure."

Hitherby lands the rest of her on Liz's shoulders again.

Pat climbs into the car.

Liz says "Freer first, while you inquire at the Smithsonian. And then the Hangar so I can pick up some stuff to go sewer investigating."

Sephar is silent for a short while as the angels drive away, presumably doing stuff elsewhere.

Liz drives quickly, but within reasonable limits.

Sephar says, after a couple of minutes, "Ithuriel says he thought he heard something earlier, about the same time as I did, but he didn't investigate. He's been busy since channelling resources to some of the local hospitals."

Daimon says "I would think that the area for forty miles around us has been tied up with routing to hospitals."

Liz says, "Sephar, if you wanted to release a virus into a bunch of humans and angelic vessels, and you wanted it to -hurt-, you'd do it into a musem with a lot of angelic vessels in it, right?"

Pat says "Hopkins has a number of satellites."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "Ithuriel says it has, Daimon. And I don't know, Liz, I've never thought about that sort of thing."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "What did you say about samples?"

Hitherby hums atonally, "Is the museum a Tether?"

Pat says "Not that I know of."

Daimon rolls down the window so he can smoke a cigarette.

Daimon says "Oh hell."

Daimon says "Pat, can I borrow your phone?"

Hitherby hums, "I would use it directly against a Tether, if I wished to devastate the enemy, and at a hos--" She reflects. "Those of you with celestial perceptions, there was no indication that the patients funneled to all these other hospitals are contaminated with something that they previously were not?"

Pat nods, handing Daimon his phone.

Liz says "Ah. Hmm. No, but that's a really awful idea."

<> Demiurge says "Certainly none of the doctors at the scene were talking about the patients seeming contaminated."

Liz says "I think we need to talk to some experts at healing. Yesterday."

Daimon flips the phone open and leaves an apology on Shannen's answering machine.

<> Daimon bans Demi from reading The Stand.

Hitherby says, "A hospital comes to mind for obvious reasons; however, there may be other buildings that serve as nexii, that I have not recently visited." She reflects. "I do not think a museum would be my best idea, and my mind is optimized for sturdiness rather than insight."

<> Demiurge grins at Daimon.

Daimon says to Shannen's machine, "Hi Shannen, this is Daimon. Look, I'm really sorry we weren't there if you dropped by, but we had a real nightmare emergency. Um, can we talk about dinner tomorrow? I'll call you back later."

Shannen's answering machine gives its usual reply.

Daimon hangs up and hands the phone back to Pat.

<> Daimon says "You better not have read that."

<> Demiurge looks innocent. Hm. No, I know nothing about Mr Flagg.

<> Daimon calls Demiurge several very nasty things that won't be reproduced here. :)

<> Demiurge smiles. "I also don't borrow verbatim. I change. So be reassured."

<> Pat says "It's now Sergeant Trips."

<> Daimon says "I'm feeling sooooo reassured. Everyone be on the look out for Captain Trips."

The car eventually arrives at the long square of the Smithsonian, in one far corner of which lies the Freer Gallery.

Liz gets out.

Liz says "All right, let's go have a look."

Pat does as well.

Daimon gets out of the car.

Liz says "Those of you with ethereal shields might want to reactivate them."

Hitherby grabs a human host. There are almost certainly passersby.

Liz says "On the offhand chance that there's a song involved."

<> Demiurge says "It is now past midnight."

Daimon says "I hear that Dali's THE LAST SUPPER is hanging in a stairwell in this building. Or is that a different art building?"

<> Demiurge says "You can grab one of the street bums, Hitherby."

<> Daimon says "My dinner is ruined."

<> Demiurge says "There are a few around."

Pat says "That's Modern Art, Daimon."

Daimon says "Oh, okay. Thanks."

Daimon marks some stuff in his notebook.

<> Hitherby says "Eep! I had no idea it was even nighttime :) Okay, yes, a street bum."

Hitherby infuses a street bum with beauty and style, also known as possession.

Liz looks around, and says, "Suggestions for getting into the building, Pat?"

<> Demiurge says "Roll, Hitherby."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge notes that the Freer is _not_ open at this time of night.

<> Demiurge says "Hm. Hitherby fails to get that bum. There are, however, other bums."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 6 5 CHECK: 4.

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

Pat says "Good question. It's closed."

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

<> Demiurge says "You have control of the third try, Hitherby."

Hitherby gets the third-best street bum. How humiliating.

Said bum is in a scruffy brown trenchcoat, tattered beret, and has a bottle in his pocket.

Sepharmouse squeaks, "I can handle the locks... and the alarms."

Hitherby . o O ( Cool. A weapon. )

Hitherbum scruffs his way over, as the swarm comments, "Host incoming."

Pat says "The bum, Hitherby?"

Hitherby clicks, "Yes."

Pat nods.

Pat says "Sephar, get us in please."

Hitherby attempts to perceive the vast celestial powers in this street bum's bottle.

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

Hitherby determines that they are mighty, albeit erroneously.

Sepharmouse squeaks, "Which door do you want us to go through? Front, or a side entrance?"

Pat says "Side entrance."

Sepharmouse squeaks assent, and waits to be carried round to a side entrance.

Hitherby hums atonally, "I planned to trail you inconspicuously through the crowds; however, I have just now noticed that it is night."

Daimon carries Sephar, dutifully.

Hitherbum looks up at the pitch-black midnight sky.

Hitherbee continues massaging Sephar's neck, because, well, rodents tend to be tense.

Sepharmouse rubs against Daimon's hand, comfortingly, and squeaks slightly at Hitherbee.

Hitherbee is an expert at bug shiatsu.

Pat waits near the side door for Sephar to do its thing.

Liz follows along with Pat.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 3 CHECK: 5.

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

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CHECK: 1.

There is a quiet click. Sepharmouse squeaks, worriedly, "I've done it... but someone already turned the alarm off and there's a guard asleep inside."

Pat says "Lovely."

Liz leaves her gun in her purse, as it will no doubt make Pat happier.

Daimon definitely has his Eli Squirt Gun.

Sarah has her aura of determination.

Pat draws his own gun, and listens skillful-like.

The door clicks open, and Sepharmouse squeaks, "There."

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

Hitherbum fingers his magic bottle, every sense as alert as Hithersenses get.

<> Liz says "Ah, yet another failed per roll."

<> Pat does perception things as well.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 4 1 CHECK: 6.

Inside, all is silent except for a slow stertorous breathing. Pale light filters in through high windows, breaking the thick darkness. A man in guard's uniform is sprawled near the door.

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

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

Liz says, very very quietly, "Should he be on the floor like that?"

Pat says "Not if he wants to keep his job."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 1 CHECK: 6.

Daimon says, equally quietly, "Drugs or the Song we heard."

Hitherby sees all, knows all.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 4 CHECK: 5.

Somewhere in the distance, there is a faint *tink* noise as of something being moved, heard by all except Sarah and Liz. The noise sounds, to Pat and Hitherby, as if it came from somewhere to the left inside.

Daimon makes a "I heard something" gesture to Pat.

Hitherby flips the bee up into the air and off in that direction, near the ceiling.

Pat nods to Daimon, and gestures off to the left.

Daimon nods, once, gun out.

Pat tiptoes along, hopefully Moving Silently.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Time for Move Silently rolls, all those who are attempting sneaking."

Liz sticks where she is. Move Silently isn't her thing.

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

Hitherbum slips the bottle out of his pocket and follows, also silent, and keeping a little distance from the others.

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

<> Demiurge says "Oops."

Hitherby drops the bottle, making a huge crash, steps on the shards, hops around going "ow ow ow!" before falling down with a thump-squish.

<> Daimon LAUGHS.

There is a total and complete silence from the rest of the Freer.

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

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 4.

Pat looks back at Hitherbum, eyes wide.

Sarah winces, and looks back at Hitherbum, distressed.

Daimon just covers his face with his free hand.

Pat sighs, and listens for footsteps and cocking guns.

Meanwhile, Hitherbee is exploring off to the left.

Hitherby whispers, "I'm also excellent at shadowing people."

<> Demiurge says "Make an Int roll, Hitherbee."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 6 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "This is clearly karma for all the good rolls earlier while interrogating Vapulans."

<> Sarah laughs!

Though exploring keenly and intelligently through all the Big Stone Things there - large stone and wood hollow things, and big plates of stone on the walls - Hitherbee fails to spot anyone.

Hitherbum sighs quietly and begins plucking glass bits out of his foot.

Hitherby mutters, "Artifacts are so fragile."

Sarah steps quietly to cover Daimon.

There are no noises of footsteps or cocking guns.

Hitherby whispers, "Okay, here's the plan. I go after them making a huge amount of noise, while the rest of you sneak."

Pat says "Sounds like a plan."

Pat sneaks in a direction away from Hitherbum.

<> Demiurge says "Now, a very _very_ basic layout of the Freer is this big hollow square."

Daimon moves about as silently as a being with a 2 agility and no move silently ever does, after Pat.

<> Demiurge says "With multiple rooms at each of the "corners"."

<> Demiurge says "So Hitherbum is going one way, and the stalkers are going round the other?"

Sarah continues to cover Daimon and Pat. In that order.

Hitherbum scoots along the floor away from the bottle, and then rises to his feet and walks unsteadily along, a ways from Pat. He allows himself to mutter a brief imprecation every few steps, because it hurts. One or two of them are even loud and quite genuine.

Sepharmouse wriggles a little in Daimon's pocket.

Hitherby walks around the other way, yah.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 3.

Liz sticks right where she was, thanks.

Liz will nail anyone fleeing this way. Nobody expects the Ofanite to stay in one place.

Hitherswarm leaves Liz's shoulders and moves to the bum's back.

Strict silence - apart from the noises of Hitherbum - enshrouds the museum. Hitherbum gets to wander through unrecognised Oriental art. Daimon and Pat and Sarah get other variants, shading towards Egyptian.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Time for Per rolls from everyone."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 4.

Pat tiptoes. tip tip tip tip.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 1.

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

Hitherby sings, quietly, from her vast selection of human folksongs. "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb."

<> Daimon isn't even going to bother rolling it.

As the three Silent Stalkers enter the Egyptian rooms, Pat begins to get the sensation that someone is watching him.

<> Daimon identifies the period and dynasty of all the Egyptian art in the room!

They can hear the sounds of Hitherbum approaching from the other direction. Nice and clearly.

Hitherby sings, "Um, how does this go? Mary has a fiddle, ma'am, its strings are bright like so."

<> Demiurge says "Okay, all of Daimon/Sarah/Pat try a Per roll. At a penalty."

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 2 5 CHECK: 6.

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

Hitherby mutters, "Ow."

The weird singing of Hitherbum echoes strangely through the sleeping museum.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 4.

Something is odd. Daimon notices - though the other two do not - that the light glints too newly off one of the steles in the corner of the room. And there's a difference in surfaces between two areas.

Daimon walks over to investigate.

And, looking more closely, there's a small pile of dust and chippings brushed quickly into the corner there.

Sarah flicks glances around, and covers Daimon as he moves. Or tries to.

Daimon attempts to motion Pat over.

Pat paces after Daimon, sneakily.

On examining the surface of the stele, it becomes clear that part of it has been chipped away to expose a deeper level. There is some carving on the lower-level stone.

<> Demiurge says "Int roll, please. From all those examining."

Daimon points to where the light glints, the surfaces, and the small pile of chips.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 3.

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

Hitherby stops in sight of that room, and mutters, "Now where the Hell did I leave my shoes?"

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

<> Demiurge says "Sarah - and only Sarah - identifies the carving as ancient Babylonian, appropriate to around the 8th century BC."

<> Demiurge says "Though you're not quite sure you can translate it _offhand_, Sarah."

Hitherbum shuffles into view.

Sarah's eyebrows twitch upward, and she glances to the other two.

Pat looks at Sarah, and shrugs.

Daimon shakes his head. He doesn't understand.

Hitherbum looks faintly perplexed.

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

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

There is a very faint, very faint indeed, rustle from behind one of the large displayed sarcophagi.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Per check, everyone."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 3.

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

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "That was a check for Symphonic Perception. You can all have physically heard the rustle."

Hitherbum says, smugly, "Hey, this stuff looks good. Bet they won't think *I'm* nobody who matters after a few of them are on the floor."

<> Demiurge says "Now, Daimon, Hitherby, and Pat all heard some Songs going off."

<> Demiurge says "Real close."

<> Demiurge says "Sarah didn't."

Pat squint, making a quick motion to Daimon. *Where?*

Sarah, in that case, turns to investigate behind said large displayed sarcophagus.

Daimon makes a motion toward where he thinks the songs went off.

Hitherby shuffles the rest of the way into the room.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 4.

Pat goes quiet-like in that direction, gun ready.

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, make (a) a Per roll, (b) a Dodge roll. At a penalty."

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

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "I note this sarcophagus is at a horizontal."

As Sarah is investigating behind the sarcophagus - well, the details aren't _quite_ definite, and she can't quite seem to see who or what it is, but she feels herself being neatly picked up, and dropped into the sarcophagus.

There is a scuffling noise, and possibly a squawk, and a tumble of body going into the sarcophagus.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Liz is no way making her per checks today.

Hitherby, if she sees this, launches herself in that direction to keep the lid from going on.

<> Demiurge says "Sorry, Liz, you fail to perceive Symphonically."

<> Demiurge says "However, you do hear the noise of Sarah being dropped into sarcophagus. A distant, hollow boom."

Liz says "Oh, no."

Daimon spins in that direction, gun at ready.

Sarah does not squawk. She lashes out in ... whatever direction seems to be appropriate. And really does try to keep her gun from going off.

Liz looks at the Guard, then dashes towards the noise.

Pat decides to drop silence, and runs in that direction.

Daimon follows Pat, but cautiously.

<> Demiurge says "Pat, Daimon, Hitherby, make Per rolls, please. At a penalty."

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

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

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Sarah. You're thrashing round in a deep sarcophagus. It'll be a moment before you realise nobody's holding you there. And you can refrain from firing."

<> Sarah says "Good, good. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, you fail to see _anyone_ except your friends. Daimon, you don't see anyone. Pat, you can make out two _presences_ backing for the door."

<> Demiurge says "Pat, you can't quite make out any details of them. The intelligent mind might suspect Ethereal Form. They're making for the door while you handle Sarah."

<> Demiurge says "They're also going to pass the Interesting Stele en route."

Pat brings his gun up and tries to shoot a presence in the back.

<> Pat spends an Essence.

Hitherby expects she will probably skid to a halt when she realizes that the lid is not being put on by anyone. She may bang her shin against the sarcophagus.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 4.

Pat's pistol goes off. There is the solid sound of a bullet striking flesh. Pat can see one of the two presences stagger.

The other presence - still only perceptible to Pat - moves directly to the stele, tugging something from a shadow that might be a coat, and bringing it against the stone.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 6.

Sarah flails in a fashion that might be somewhat productive /if/ there were something for her to be hitting at. There doesn't seem to be. This results in a pause, a squinting upward, and a sudden attempt to scramble up to her knees.

There is a brittle, sharp *crash* as the interestingly carved section of stele suddenly dissolves into a mess of fragments, as though struck by a hammer.

Liz draws her gun from her purse as she runs.

<> Demiurge says "Liz, you're just bursting in now."

<> Pat says "Can I tell anything about the condition of the one I already shot?"

<> Demiurge says "Looks like a shoulder wound, Pat, though not too serious. But it's hard to tell. You can't quite focus."

<> Demiurge says "Liz, make a Per roll."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CHECK: 2.

<> Liz misses, again, darn it.

<> Pat says "Bah. Shoot the one that just smacked the stele."

<> Demiurge says "You just see the others, Liz. Not the Mysterious Presences."

Sarah stifles a shriek as if in pain, and tries to bring her gun to bear on the vicinity of the shattered stele, struggling to see.

Pat swivels to aim at the vandal, and fires again.

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

The shot pangs into the wall, missing.

The wounded Presence turns, heading directly for Pat.

A faint hissing noise is coming from the spout of the Eli Gun that Daimon carries.

Sepharmouse squeaks, desperately, "I can't _see_ anyone!"

Daimon doesn't question the power of the Eli Gun. He just points it and pulls the trigger and hopes.

Hitherby, as she figures out what's going on, sends the swarm off his back along the ceiling in a race to the end of the hall; hopefully to form a kind of net of bees that will show her and anyone who's looking where the guy is if he goes through it.

Pat turns back, facing the Mysterious Presence with the barrel of his gun presented. He fires, dead center into the rushing form.

<> Demiurge says "Roll."

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

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge says "Now roll for a Dodge, please."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 6 5 CHECK: 1.

The bullet from Pat's gun goes wide, again - and then Pat has a sudden sensation of spinning and flight, as two barely-seen hands grab him by his shoulders, hoist him in the air, and dump him _hard_ in the sarcophagus. On top of Sarah.

Pat goes ooof.

Daimon is looking around wildly, gun pointed.

At that same moment, bright green liquid comes hissing out of the Eli Gun, and spatters across the figure. As it runs down him, it reveals a large, bulky man, in trenchcoat and Doc Martens.

Liz says "Aha!"

<> Pat says "Whoa! Mt.Dew of Revelation"

Liz levels her gun and fires.

Daimon says "Shoot him!"

<> Demiurge says "Pat, you're stunned for a moment."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 2.

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

<> Daimon says "At least he's cool enough to wear Doc Martins."

Sarah goes likewise oof, and does her best to catch rather than get knocked back.

Sarah also tries /hard/ not to shoot Pat.

<> Sarah says "As Sarah was hoping to shoot the one who shattered the stele... :)"

Liz's bullet hammers into the man as he turns aside from tossing Pat, sending him to one knee. He grunts, blood leaving red tracks through the green dye that still runs across him.

Hitherby whips off his trenchcoat and tries to throw it to land over the guy's head.

<> Demiurge will let Sarah manage not to pull the trigger. ;)

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

The trenchcoat lands atop the green-dyed guy. There's a groan from under it. Possibly at the smell.

Daimon ergs. Can no longer get the guy's needs. No eyeballs.

Hitherby dashes for the guy, attempting to get a two-armed grip around him, although she'll pull up short if she hears another gunshot.

Liz looks at the blood, then looks around suddenly for more blood. Pat fired before, and the guy wasn't bleeding. And there wasn't a ricochet that first time...

Daimon says "There's gotta be another one, Liz."

Now that this guy has actually moved, there are spatters of blood on the floor where he had passed, as though they'd dripped down as he passed.

<> Demiurge says "Liz, Str roll."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 4.

<> Liz fires off two essence.

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

<> Liz misses anyways. Feh.

Sarah does not actually try to push Pat off of her. Just to steady him enough so that he /can/ get off when he recovers.

Liz's gun is wrenched from her hand. It flashes in the air as it demonstrates levitation - or someone's good throwing arm - through the door and down the corridor.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Hitherby, try a Str roll to grapple with this guy."

Liz says "Daimon, spray gun this way."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 1.

Hitherbees retain their mesh.

The man under coat, dye, and blood, struggles under Hitherby's grip, but does not yet manage to dislodge the bum.

Daimon sprays the gun in that general direction.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Hm. Liz, make a Dodge roll while you're at it."

Pat levers his way out of the sarcophagus with an apologetic look to Sarah.

Hitherby mutters, "One soul-dead demon went celestial on us today. Got the idea?"

Hitherby squeezes hard, as if to crack ribs.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 4 2 CHECK: 5.

<> Liz naturally dodges cleanly.

Green dye spatters across the space near Liz, but nobody gets caught by it.

Sarah plays partial fulcrum, and pushes herself back up. Tears streak her face as she looks around.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 2.

Liz drops to the floor and spin kicks at knee height, relying on natural Ofanite ability (and the fighting default).

In a sudden burst of movement, the trenchcoated figure - and the grasping Hitherby - go blasting along the ground, with what is clearly the Corporeal Song of Motion. They're heading for one of the room doors. More or less.

<> Demiurge says "Roll for attack, Liz."

Hitherby Sings Motion herself.

Pat sweeps around to locate the hidden one and draw a bead on it.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "The other presence is just replying to Liz's attack."

Daimon stands there, trying to figure out what the heck to do.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Hitherby. You have achieved Corp Motion."

<> Pat spends another point of Essence, then, to assist with not hitting Liz when he shoots.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 5 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge says "Roll for your shot, Pat."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 5 2 CHECK: 4.

Hitherby applies a little bit of spin so that we hit the wall by the door this-guy's-head first, rather than the door with one of our bodies. She's not aiming to kill, so this is not as vicious as it could be -- hopefully Fighting gives her some idea how to weigh this 'blow'.

The presence is definitely _there_, for Liz feels her sweep connect with his knees, and feels him go tumbling - however, that same movement, combined with the difficulty of aiming at these people, means that Pat's shot _just_ misses.

Daimon tries again with the Eli Gun and the guy Liz is fighting. *SQUIRT*

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, hm."

Liz shouts, "He's down on the floor!"

<> Demiurge says "I think I'm going to call for a Str roll from you. I also note that the room doors are both _open_."

Liz snaps her leg up, then down in an axe kick about where he should have fallen.

<> Demiurge says "Roll, Daimon."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 4.

<> Hitherby's Strength roll.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 3.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 2 CHECK: 4.

The First Presence and Hitherby come to a whirling halt at around the doorway, tumbling in midair as both try to affect their course.

Green dye spatters across where Liz and the Second Presence are fighting, and some drops stick, giving a faint idea of the Second Presence's dimensions; human, male, medium size, trenchcoat.

<> Demiurge says "If you're attacking, Liz, roll again."

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

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

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

<> Demiurge says "Now roll for a dodge, please, Liz."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 2.

<> Hitherby says "Can I Sing Corporeal Charm and hold him in place at the same time? It's best if I can Corp. Charm *and* wall-ram him, but that's probably impossible."

Liz says "Little help here, Pat..."

Daimon aims NOW for where the Second Presence is, now that some of him is visible.

<> Liz probably then goes *oof*. (Drat, someone hit the Ofanite.)

Sarah also aims for that Second Presence - once Liz isn't on him. Hopefully.

There is a swirl of green-splattered motion, as Zebina gets grabbed by her kicking leg and sent spinning across the polished floor to thud into a wall.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, you cannot both Sing and make attacks at the same time."

Liz gives an abrupt cry of surprise and pain.

<> Demiurge says "And you sent your bugs off elsewhere."

<> Demiurge says "Okay, so Daimon, Pat, and Sarah are all shooting at the Second Presence."

Hitherby rams the guy at a wall.

<> Demiurge calls for a Str roll from Hitherby.

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

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 5.

Unfortunately, Hitherby is the one who gets rammed up against the wall. Hard. By now, the trenchcoat has come loose off the head of the First Presence.

<> Demiurge says "Meanwhile, Pat, Daimon, and Sarah all get to make rolls to shoot."

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Sarah drops an Essence.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 4.

<> Sarah rolls the d666 and gets 1 6 CHECK: 2.

Green dye spatters across the body, giving convenient target to Pat and Sarah's bullet. The Second Presence takes two shots in the chest, and goes down on hands and knees.

Meanwhile, the First Presence attempts to disengage from Hitherby, and throw itself towards one of the windows, with the evident intention of crashing through.

Liz gets up, and starts running down the hall at top speed after Hitherby and the other guy.

Pat flags Sarah and Daimon in the direction of Liz&co. He goes for the guy on the floor.

Liz will, if she spots it, grab her gun on the way.

Daimon checks out the Second Presence. Is he still conscious?

Sarah scrambles from sarcophagus, not getting between Pat and Number Two, and follows Liz at Pat's direction.

<> Demiurge says "Liz, try a reduced Per roll to spot your gun on a dark corridor full of antiquities while chasing a pair of midair maniacs. ;)"

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 5.

<> Liz says "Um, no."

The Second Presence looks still conscious, though he's on hands and knees, and bleeding badly.

Liz fails to spot her gun, and so instead just goes for a flying kick on the bad guy.

Daimon tries to check him for Needs.

Hitherby attempts to redirect him into the floor.

<> Demiurge says "Daimon, this guy is spattered with green dye, but you can't _see_ him. You can just now tell where he is."

Sarah just chases, and waits for a good shot at one midair maniac without endangering the other one. Well, other two.

<> Demiurge thinks. I'm not sure if you can try and resonate someone who's in Eth Form.

<> Daimon says "I don't know if the rules say or not. I think if I can get a bead on his eyes, then I get to read for Needs."

<> Demiurge says "Unfortunately, you can't get a bead on his eyes, so no."

<> Demiurge says "You can figure where they should be, you just can't see them."

Pat steps up as well, driving a knee into the presence's side, to drive him to the floor.

<> Daimon says "Okay, then, I just leave him there."

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, Str roll. Liz, fighting roll. Sarah, you have no clear shot yet."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 3.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 1.

The entangled Hitherby and First Presence go spinning upwards, narrowly avoiding Liz's flying kick - and go crashing through a window in a shower of glass.

Sepharmouse squeaks, from Daimon's pocket, "I'm still suppressing the burglar alarm..."

Liz says "C'mon, Sarah."

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, you may shoot after the Flying Pair, if you wish."

<> Sarah is not interested in shooting if she might harm Hitherby's host, alas. :)

The Second Presence goes sprawling as Pat's boot thuds into his side, and blood pools on the floor.

Hitherby attempts to duck her head behind this guy's as the glass spatters.

Daimon just walks to stand next to Pat. This is, you know, educational.

Liz jumps out the window after the two.

Sarah answers Liz by, well, coming to them. "Fastest way?"

<> Demiurge says "Liz."

Sarah says "Silly of me."

Hitherby's eyes close for a moment.

Pat attempts to land knees-first on the Presence's chest.

<> Demiurge says "You can jump three metres straight up?"

<> Sarah says "Ah, /high/ window. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Yes. As I said, these are high windows."

<> Liz says "I dunno. What's an agility/8 get you? "

<> Demiurge says "A hefty fall. ;)"

There is an unpleasant noise, as the Presence's chest shatters. Pat can feel the ribs come apart under his knees. There's blood everywhere.

Liz says "Give me a boost and the gun, Sarah. I'll get 'em."

<> Pat says "Ew. I didn't want to kill him quite yet."

The Second Presence stops breathing, slowly fading back into visibility.

Hitherby gives up on her mesh, deciding there are no more of them. It'll probably take a fair number of rounds, but the bees dart down the hall and up to the window and out and towards wherever she will be then.

<> Demiurge says "You jumped on an already-shot-twice chest with full weight and knees, Pat."

Pat frowns. "Well, shit."

<> Liz figures she can get a Cherub Launch out the window, instead.

<> Pat sighs, and collects the Essence a bit early, then. Unless of course he was an Angel.

Hitherbum tries to stall him until allies get here, both herself and others.

Meanwhile, the First Presence - taking the brunt of the broken glass - and Hitherby go sailing out of the window. They spiral lazily in mid-air.

Daimon says "Oops."

<> Demiurge says "Just a moment."

<> Pat blinks. He wasn't an Angel, was he?

Sarah offers Liz a boost but not the gun. /If/ a boost will be of assistance.

<> Demiurge says "You got no Essence, Pat."

<> Pat says "But there was no noise?"

<> Demiurge says "None."

<> Pat says "Oh shit."

<> Demiurge says "Indeed, a boost will get Liz through the window."

<> Liz will take the boost then.

Pat blinks a few times. Looks up. "DON'T KILL HIM!!!!!!!"

Daimon says "Huh?"

<> Demiurge says "Could have been an Outcast, of course..."

Pat stands up, bloody-kneed. "That wasn't a demon's Vessel."

Daimon says "Oh. Oh bad."

Daimon says "This has been just a spanky first day of work for me."

Sarah is abruptly glad she retained the gun.

Liz shouts out the window, "Hitherby, don't kill him. He's not a demon!"

Pat, since Daimon has a bit of experience in this, looks the tiniest bit shaken.

With majestic Ofanite agility, Liz attains the window.

Daimon reaches out a hand and puts it on Pat's shoulder.

Hitherby shouts, "Neither am I, and he's trying to kill *me!*"

Liz pauses for just a sec in the windowsill to survey what's going on.

Pat puts his gun away, and looks for a wallet.

The First Presence - now fading into visibility, as a not-very-handsome man - abruptly changes tactics. He dives directly for the ground. Head-first.

Liz dives after him, trying to beat him to the ground. "Whoa there, big guy."

Liz is just trying to knock him to the side, to give Hitherby a chance to haul him airwards.

Hitherby attempts to slow him down and get him turned around, in that order.

Meanwhile, Hitherby's swarm arrives.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Liz, an agility/fighting roll. Hitherby, a Str roll."

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

Hitherswarm Sings Corp Charm around now on this guy. Unless he's too far away.

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

<> Hitherby says "That was str."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 1 3 CHECK: 4.

<> Hitherby says "That was Charm, whenever it goes off :)"

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 4.

Pat continues to search the corpse, looking a little distraught but still in control.

While Liz's attack just misses, Hitherby's Song succeeds, and Hitherby manages to prevent the man from hitting the ground full-force. The two of them roll along the road.

On the corpse that Pat is searching, there is _no_ wallet. There is a small hypodermic case. There is a folded piece of paper.

Liz rolls to her feet, standing up and watching what the effect of the song is (if she, too, isn't affected.)

Pat pockets the case, and unfolds the paper.

<> Demiurge says "No, Liz, you aren't affected."

Sarah moves back to join Pat and Daimon - more or less. She goes to the shattered stele.

Hitherby's Charm hits the guy's Strength, naturally, docking it 4 points. She then attempts to wrestle him to the car we used, flying, rolling, walking, whatever she can at each moment. The bees follow.

Hitherby knows this may involve going around corners, whatnot.

Hitherby just goes in the right direction as best she can.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CHECK: 2.

The stranger tussling with Hitherby seems to give up somewhat on changing the course of direction, instead trying to reach inside his coat - perhaps to find a weapon.

<> Liz says "Whoa, I figure out what Hitherby's doing!"

<> Demiurge admires Liz.

Pat rocks back up onto his feet, squatting. "I'm not dissonant," he announces, calming visibly.

Liz beelines for the car, shouting back into the building, "Someone find my gun!"

The stele has been thoroughly shattered at the point with the hidden inscription on it. However, Sarah does _remember_ it. Most of it. She thinks.

Daimon says "Er, well, cool."

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 4.

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

Pat says "He, um, deserved it."

<> Liz says "OK, I get to the car -really- fast."

Daimon says "Ah, okay."

Daimon makes a note of this.

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

Sarah studies the pieces for a moment, trying to see if the shattered fragments could be reconstructed. If not, she goes to hunt Liz's gun, quick.

Hitherby's bugs charge the guy's hand and attempt to drive it away from the pocket from sheer pain and (shortly) swelling. She doesn't think she can break the bones in the hand without Corp Form up.

The shattered pieces _might_ be reconstructable. It's not really Sarah's field.

<> Demiurge says "Hitherby, try a Str roll."

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

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 6.

Pat blinks a few more times. "I just realized something, Daimon."

The stranger manages to get his hand in his pocket. He doesn't then force anything on Hitherby, though - the brief glint of steel goes directly into his _own_ chest.

In Hitherby's arms, the stranger takes a rattling breath, and goes limp.

<> Hitherby says "Wow. Even with -4 Strength?"

<> Demiurge says "Yes."

Hitherby sings Corp Healing, determinedly.

Daimon says "Yeah?"

Pat says "I have no idea who this was."

Pat says "At all."

Hitherby probably yanks the blade out first; if it won't fall out. She knows about such things IC.

Daimon says "Me neither. Don't feel bad."

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Hitherby. Go ahead and Sing."

Pat says "I don't. As I said, he deserved it. But it's a new circumstance."

<> Hitherby spends an extra Essence, hateful as this is.

<> Demiurge says "But this guy stabbed himself to the heart. This is not easy to Heal."

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

Daimon says "I don't think I understand."

Pat says "Normally, I'm familiar with those I kill. At least to some extent."

Daimon says "So I've gathered."

Pat says "This is, therefore, a new experience. It'll take me a few moments to assimilate it."

Daimon says "Okay," and then let's Pat assimilate to his heart's content.

The wound begins to heal over. The stranger blinks, bleary-eyed, but with a new fury in his face.

Hitherby throws the knife to the ground and resumes her two-armed grip.

Hitherby says, "Stop that. The *worst* we'll do is kill you."

Pat meditates.

Hitherby almost growls.

<> Demiurge says "You have the car, Liz."

Liz starts the car, and quickly drives towards hitherby, popping the truck lid. (Fortunately she now has room in her trunk, unlike earlier this evening when it was full of Medical Supplies. ;)

Hitherby is going to attempt to shove the guy into the trunk, of course. Liz's intention is pretty obvious. And Hitherbum won't be all that gentle.

The stranger frowns, and stiffens with effort.

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

<> Demiurge says "Okay. Hitherby, Liz, Will rolls, please."

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

<> Demiurge says "Everyone else will hear a Song of Thunder going off."

<> Hitherby says "Augh!"

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CHECK: 2.

<> Liz misses her will. (By one.)

<> Demiurge says "You weren't driving the car fast, were you, Liz?"

<> Liz says "No. I wanted Hitherby to be able to get into the trunk."

<> Demiurge says "In that case, when you are stunned, there isn't a big crash. ;)"

<> Liz says "Lucky me."

<> Demiurge says "All Hitherbugs are stunned too. They fall like gentle rain from the sky."

<> Pat says "Only less wet."

<> Hitherby giggles.

<> Liz says "More chitinous."

Everyone inside - that is, Pat, Daimon, Sarah, and Sephar - hear the boom of a Song of Thunder from outside. Followed by the sound of a car fender scraping the kerb as an Ofanite driver falls unconscious. Followed by the slam of a car boot.

Daimon looks at Pat.

Pat says "Oh no."

Pat says "Help me with this."

<> Liz watches Pat & Daimon do a Blues Brothers Spit Take at one another, then rush the exit.

Daimon nods.

Pat starts to pick up the body.

Daimon goes to get the other side of the body.

Sarah says quietly, "I'll get the fragments, and Liz's gun. Be careful."

Pat, on a three-count, lifts the body. "The sarcophagus."

Daimon says "Okay, I'm ready."

Daimon helps Pat move the body into the sarcophagus.

Pat nods. And the Judgment Duo swing the body into the sarcophagus.

<> Sarah ew ew ew :)

Pat says "Where's the lid?"

<> Demiurge says "It's an open-display one."

Pat says "Hm. No lid."

<> Demiurge says "Oh, wait. _There's_ the lid, in its own dispay to the side."

Pat says "Ah. Sephar, is that case alarmed?"

Sarah takes off her jacket, ties the sleeves shut, and places any fragments she can recover into the makeshift bag.

Outside, Liz wakes to find herself sitting in her car seat, the car at a stop against the kerb. And Hitherby's insects wake. And Hitherby's bum wakes to find himself locked in metallic darkness.

Liz says "Oh, not again."

Sepharmouse squeaks, "No. I mean, who'd steal a huge great thing like that?"

Pat says "Good."

Liz goes round and taps on the trunk. "Hitherby, are you in there?"

A trail of blood and green dye leads down to an alley between the Freer and the next museum.

Pat shatters the glass with the butt of his pistol, and motions Daimon over for a hand.

Daimon says "All I can say is, they can't stop us, we're on a mission from God."

Liz says "Hmm."

Liz pops the trunk after seeing the trail.

<> Demiurge says "Yes. Hitherby _is_ in the boot."

Liz says "C'mon, let's see where he went."

Hitherby's bees lift up in a swarm to follow the trail from above, save one.

Hitherbum says, "Yes." He sounds embarrassed.

Daimon lends Pat a hand on some not so covert larceny and destruction.

Liz helps Hitherbum out, her nose wrinkling.

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

<> Pat says "Any trouble getting the lid into place? :)"

Liz says "Afterwards we'll get your host a shower."

>From a distance - perhaps a couple of streets away - comes the sound of someone going Celestial.

<> Demiurge says "Everyone hears that."

<> Demiurge says "The lid goes easily into place, Pat."

Hitherbum allows himself to be helped.

Liz sighs. "Or perhaps not."

<> Sarah wistfully wishes for the Malakite of Destiny attunement. :)

Liz says "There goes the other guy."

Hitherby mutters. "*Four*," he says aggrievedly.

Liz says "Four?"

Liz says "You didn't lose another host, did you?"

Pat sighs. "Let's go check on Liz."

Hitherby shakes his head. "Measures."

Pat pockets the paper from before.

Daimon says "Yep."

Liz says "Ah. Yes."

Liz says "Two for me."

Liz sighs.

Daimon slides the gun away. "What's with the paper?"

Sarah says, concentrating on the fragments, "I'll catch up."

Hitherby says, "*This* close."

Liz nods.

<> Demiurge says "Okay. The paper. The paper contains directions to that particular room in the Freer Gallery, and to that particular stele which has been the centre of interest."

Liz says "C'mon. I need to get my gun and we'll make sure the others are okay."

<> Demiurge says "It's in English, in a neat bland handwriting."

Hitherby waves his bees to Liz's shoulders.

Hitherbum slouches off after the trail. Perhaps he *met with* a demon?

Liz goes inside to find her gun.

Liz says "Call if you need me, okay?"

Sarah may or may not also be hunting Liz's gun by that time, depending on how long it takes her to gather fragments.

Hitherby's bees pace around like miniature Ofanim. A brief buzz conveys, "Yup."

<> Demiurge says "You can pick up the fragments fairly fast, Sarah."

Sarah is most likely also hunting Liz's gun by then, then, her jacket a carefully, carefully held bundle in her arm, and tearstreaks drying on her face.

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, you can find Liz's gun before too long."

Pat says "They knew exactly what they were doing, Daimon."

Daimon says "Heh."

Daimon says "I dunno what to say to that, actually."

Pat says "Just something to be noted. They targeted the stele specifically."

Daimon says "Maybe Sarah can tell us what it said, and we can figure out why they were here in the first place."

Sarah lifts it, carefully if not so careful as she is of the fragments, and goes in search of first Pat and Daimon, then Liz.

Hitherby's bees, possessed by a sudden thought, leave Liz's shoulders and fly back to the guard. (If Liz is inside the museum again. Otherwise they wait until she's inside to do so.) Is he breathing?

The guard is breathing, slow and steady.

Liz looks around for her gun and listens for anything else going on.

Hitherby's bees spiral up in a happy DNA shape and then dart back towards Liz's shoulders.

The museum is silent, save for the noises of Pat, Daimon, and Sarah.

Hitherby looks sadly at the wreckage of the magic bottle as she passes it.

Sarah returns, with gun, and with bundled jacket, to Pat and Daimon.

Liz takes her gun from Sarah. "Thanks. He got away, I'm afraid. Wounded and bloody. Hitherby's checking to see where the trail went, but he probably went celestial."

Liz says "Are you okay?"

Daimon grins. "Now that we committed murder and ripped off a museum of priceless artifacts, what should we do for an encore? Steal from babies? Hah. But they can't stop us, they can only hope to contain us. We're on a mission from God."

Pat purses his lips. "Outcasts."

Pat says "We should leave. Now."

The blood trail ends a street or two away, as Hitherbum discover.

Daimon says "With instructions, no less."

Sarah closes her eyes, flinching.

Liz says "Outcasts? Heck."

Liz says "Pat, Daimon, think you can draw the guy's face?"

Hitherbum slouches back from the trail.

<> Liz says "For that matter, can I draw the face of the other one?"

Sarah cradles her jacket-bundle in both arms now, dear and gentle as a human woman might her own beloved child.

Daimon says "I could do an ethereal light of the whole guy if I had to."

<> Demiurge says "You think so, Liz."

Liz says "Right, let's get out of here. Then we get pictures of them."

Liz says "Judgement or Trade might be able to come up with vessel IDs."

Hitherbugs say, quietly, "Five. I have to heal the host." An angry hum. "I was beginning to like having Essence."

Liz says "If we can contact Aron or Azalea, they might be able to find the one in the Marches. Unlikely, but possible."

Sarah says quietly, "I can spare you a few, Hitherby."

Daimon says "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm all excitemented out."

Hitherby hums a flat note. "They would only be spent in some manner." Somewhat brighter, she adds, "I could use with some hot chocolate."

Daimon says "Pat's place?"

Liz nods.

Pat says "Yes."

Sarah says "Oh, yes. Please."

Daimon says "I'm done. I'm just so done."

Liz says "Perhaps Marath's thereafter, for the drawing."

Liz hugs Daimon.

Daimon hugs back. "I need a vacation from my life. I wanna be a Mercurian for a while."

Hitherbum hops back to the car.

Pat wanders back to the car. "Someone's hiring Outcasts, now."

Hitherbugs hum a happy note.

Liz says "That or someone's running a black bag job that they don't want us to find out."

Hitherbugs hum, "Hey, that means I saved a still mostly-angel from Limbo!"

Daimon says "Somone is hiring anyone who is completely neutral."

Pat says "Liz."

Daimon says "Frees, Outcasts, Renegades."

Sarah glances between Liz and Pat, then Daimon, and shivers.

Liz shrugs at Pat.

Pat says "The one I killed was not a demon. But he deserved death."

Liz says "Really?"

Liz says "Hmm."

Liz says "Weird."

Hitherby hums, "Was there a disturbance? I was busy."

Liz says "Okay, Outcasts. Or real Ethereals, perhaps."

Pat says "And, well, the Undead cannot take a celestial form. There was no disturbance."

Liz nods.

Liz herds everyone into the car.

Hitherby does a happy little dance on Liz's shoulders. "No one should have to go to Limbo. There are no Hitherbys there."

Daimon is enherded. Happily.

Liz smiles at Hitherby.

Hitherbum slides into the back seat.

Sarah curls into the car, squishing in with Daimon and Hitherbum.

Pat says "Hitherby, are you planning to keep this host for a while?"

Hitherby chrisks, "Mind, that was only two of them."

Sarah keeps her jacket safely on her lap.

Pat takes shotgun.

Hitherbum considers this thoughtfully.

Daimon says "Can I have a few hours of no Terry, no Kobal telling me to come home, no exploding hospitals, no crystals, and no weird outcasts in museums? Please? Thanks in advance."

Pat says "If you are, I'd recommend you make use of my shower when we get there."

Liz says "Have to agree with that one, Hitherby."

Pat tries not to get blood on Liz's car.

Daimon says "Don't take this the wrong way Hitherby because I love you dearly, but you're stinky."

Liz drives quickly (but legally) to Pat's house.

Hitherbum says, "I should like to find some way to repay him for the bruises and cuts and coat and bottle that does not involve healing. Beyond that, I will remain in him until he is well."

Liz says "I'll have to call my agent, too. *sigh*"

Daimon closes his eyes.

Pat says "Then I think a hot shower, some clean clothes, and a good meal would be an excellent way to start that repayment."

Sarah says quietly, "I'll work in another room from the lot of you, then. Or at the least another corner."

Pat says "You're welcome to the office space, Sarah."

Hitherbum says, "It would be enlightening to know why he was disadvantaged." He peers down at himself. "This is a functional body; it is harder to assess the mind."

Sarah says "Thank you, Pat."

Daimon says "My dinner has been sitting on the kitchen table for 5 hours. It can't possibly be good anymore."

Hitherby says, helpfully, "I had a little of it."

Liz says "If you want, I'll shop for some dinner for you, Daimon."

Sarah says "If I organize it, I'll disorganize it again afterward."

Daimon says "I don't need to eat. I'm just a creature of habit."

Daimon says "I need to feel somewhat, I dunno, human."

Hitherby attempts to learn more about her host by that clever Kyriotate trick.

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

Hitherby fails. Snif.

Sarah glances down at the bundle in her lap, leans her head against the window, and closes her eyes. Another tear or two slips down her cheek.

Hitherby says, "A hot shower, certainly."

Hitherby says, "I will indulge in this decadent human pleasure, but only in the name of my host's well-being!"

Daimon sighs. He so much wants to go back to his role sometimes.

Daimon says "But hot showers are soothing and relaxing. They're hardly decadent."

Liz looks in the rear view mirror. "Sarah?"

Hitherby says "You are simply accustomed to such human sybaritic pleasures."

Daimon says "That's amazingly likely, Hitherby. But it doesn't change the fact that you're really stinky."

Hitherbum giggles softly.

Daimon says "Your host will be happier for it. Trust me."

Pat says "How long can you hold him, Hitherby?"

Sarah says quietly, "I'm all right, Liz. I might be able to save it. It's just that... it never had a chance."

Hitherbum says, "I am resolved to make this valorous sacrifice, Daimonique; no suasion is necessary!" He grins. "I would make it for the sake of your nose, even without the benefit to my host. Yet --" He shrugs. "It is distinctly a bias, a learned habit. How can one live in the Symphony without accepting that each part has a wonder to it?"

Hitherby taps his nose thoughtfully. "Three days, give or take a few hours."

Pat says "Hm."

Liz nods in sympathy to Sarah, and drives more carefully.

Pat says "We can likely do something within that time, then."

Pat says "If nothing else, deposit him at a job centre with a new suit and a haircut."

Daimon just says, "Wow", and then reaches a hand over to soothe Sarah a little.

Sarah leans into Daimon's hand, and strokes her bundle mutely.

Hitherby says, "To be honest, when one has spent several decades as potato bugs alone, human standards begin to lose their meaning."

Pat says "Yes, but it would matter to him."

Hitherbum smiles. "I was addressing the more abstract discussion. Yes; a new suit, haircut, job center would be good."

Liz parks the car in front of Pat's house.

Liz says "Okay, everyone off the bus."

Daimon sighs. "The banks open at 8. I have to go in and arrange for my money to be moved around so I can come up with about fifteen grand. Then I have to pretend I have enough credit to get a quick mortgage, so I can get that condo, or at least start the paperwork. And then, Terry."

Liz says "Daimon, need me to run get some supplies?"

Hitherbum slips out of the car.

Daimon says "I'm just going to throw stuff out, unless people want food. Then I'll make food."

Hitherbum says, "What do you need the money for?"

Daimon says "We're trying to move out of here to somewhere that isn't next to the Demon Motel."

Hitherbum says, "Ah so."

Daimon says "And, I'm not going to sleep out the couch forever."

Daimon says "Even if I don't sleep. It's a principle thing."

Pat treks out of the car, unlocking the house and leading the way in.

Hitherbum nods.

Daimon gets out of the car and follows Pat into the house.

Hitherbum says, thoughtfully, "I wonder if I could help."

Sarah ferries her bundle inside, all but rocking it. But only after Daimon's safely in.

Hitherbum walks inside, considering.

Pat points Hitherbum firmly at the bathroom. "I'll find some clothes."

Daimon takes off his coat and shoes and faces the mess in the kitchen, bravely. "There's still cake."

Hitherbum nods, walks into the bathroom, closes the door. There is the click of the lights being turned on and off, and then a puzzled silence.

<> Sarah dies laughing.

In the bathroom, a blowdryer turns on.

Pat opens the bathroom door. "Would you like a hand?"

There is a startled yelp and a thump of something small hitting the floor.

Hitherbum turns to Pat and points aggrievedly at the blowdryer humming away on the floor. "It roared!"

Pat reaches down and turns off the blowdryer. "It does that. Don't worry; it's not carnivorous."

Hitherbum says, "Oh."

Hitherbum flushes faintly. "Er, um, which button is the shower?"

Liz goes to help Daimon in the kitchen.

Liz says "Tell me what you need, and I'll go get it from the grocery store."

Pat says "Take your clothes off, Hitherby."

Hitherby blinks.

Daimon rattles off a list of ingredients.

Hitherby looks blankly at Pat. "I'm flattered, but ..."

Hitherby says "Wouldn't you rather I showered first?"

Sarah tells Liz, "Chocolate ice cream," and retires to the office space, where she cowers with her bundle.

Daimon says "And chocolate ice cream."

Pat says "You don't shower clothed. Besides, I want to get these out to the trash before they pollute my apartment."

Hitherby says "Oh!"

Hitherby carefully undresses.

Hitherby is soon displayed in his naked glory, like David, only with more stubble and fewer muscles.

Pat steps out to find a garbage bag, and comes back to collect the clothes after emptying the pockets. "Alright. Step on in."

Liz makes notes.

Liz says "Okay. Off to the store."

Daimon deals with putting things down the disposal and washing dishes.

Daimon says "Great. Excellent. And don't forget the ice cream - it's for Sarah."

Hitherby surveys the room, and his eyes light with understanding. He steps into the shower and closes the curtain or door.

Liz offers to grab some jeans, socks, and underwear for Hitherbum, at that.

Daimon nods. "Do you need any money?"

Liz says "I've got plenty, thanks."

Liz skips out the door.

Daimon is amazed at Ofanim sometimes.

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "I could get the money for a house from a Senator; I understand that they are extremely wealthy from all their illicit dealings. The difficulty is to acquire something of equal value to them." He mulls. "Without endangering the host that provides it."

Pat leans against the sink. "The right knob is the hot water, the left is the cold. Find a good mix before turning the centre knob."

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 6.

Hitherby intuitively masters this feat, turning the other knobs and producing water of the right temperature!

<> Pat applauds!

Hitherby turns the centre knob.

Hitherby gives another choked startled cry as his shower begins. Fortunately, once the shock passes, his command of the English language confirms that this is supposed to happen.

Sarah unties her bundle, and looks at the stone fragments; then rises, going to the kitchen to wash her hands, tie her hair back freshly, and wash her hands again.

Pat, satisfied that cleansing is happening, wanders to his closet to find clothing.

Daimon is washing dishes in the kitchen. "Hi."

Hitherby's bugs, which had been at loose ends, alight on Sarah's shoulders. "Perhaps I could help?" they offer.

Hitherby cleanses vigorously.

Daimon says "Actually, just doing mindless domestic things sort of lets me put my brain back together."

Hitherswarm chirps. "No, I meant Sarah. Swarms are afraid of sink waterfalls, huge banging pans, and wing-clogging soap."

Daimon says "Oh. My bad."

Hitherswarm says, "However adroitly these tools are wielded in the pursuit of godliness' neighbor."

Sarah nods, careful not to squash bugs. "It's good to have one's brain together, yes. I'm not sure, Hitherby. Are you at all familiar with cuneiform?"

Hitherswarm says, "Only the Corporeal version."

Sarah lifts one finger almost to touch her mouth. "I'll take that as a no."

Pat finds a nice pastel blue polo shirt and a pair of beige slacks. They've kept well, for being from 1987.

Hitherswarm circles momentarily, and then clicks. "Oh! Ancient wedge-shaped letters. No. Although I may be of some help if they derive from an insect or avian tongue."

Sarah says "I suspect they're more Babylonian, really."

Hitherby bobs. "That is before my time, although I have been in the region."

Pat steps back into the bathroom, finding his razor and scissors and the like.

Hitherbum wonders, "What do politicians want? That they don't have already?"

Pat says "Their offices for perpetuity."

Hitherbum reflects. "I cannot provide that, I think. And I would get in trouble if I did."

Hitherbum scrubs, having encountered soap before and learned that eating it was in fact not the proper approach.

Sarah retreats to office space. "Thank you anyhow, Hitherby." She settles at the desk, searches out paper, and starts to reconstruct her memory of the carvings on that.

Daimon finishes washing dishes. He puts things away, and then comes to the living room to thoroughly flop on the couch. There's not a banana in sight.

Sarah glances across to Daimon, and smiles a little.

Hitherby swarms out to the living room, since Sarah's body language did not indicate that she wanted Hitherby following her. "There must be some way I can obtain vast quantities of money for you folks." She swirls around. "Without dissonance."

Daimon turns the TV on low to CNN, and curls up into a ball on the couch.

Hitherbum soaps his hair vigorously.

Pat tests his scissors.

Pat wanders back to his closet, and finds a nice braided leather belt to go with the slacks.

Sarah scribbles in ancient, mostly-forgotten languages.

Hitherbum, rolling his head around with the shower pouring hot water at his neck, says, "This host had better appreciate this."

Pat says "He'll wake up from a blackout cleaned up and ready to go to work. I believe he will."

Hitherbum says, disquietedly, "Unless he was, say, a lunatic."

Hitherbum says, "I mean, then he *won't* wake up ready to work."

Pat says "Hm. There is that, but it won't be worse, yes?"

Daimon gets up, gets rid of most of his clothing into a lump on the floor, finds a pillow and a warm blanket, and goes back to being curled up on the couch.

Hitherbum turns around again. "No." He sighs. "You know, Kyriotates have the *best* advantages, but there are some sucky things about it. Never knowing until it's too late whether you've helped or hurt your host -- feeling this *obligation* to people whose problems you *don't know*. You have nothing that you don't have to take from someone." He reflects. "I don't mean to whine, particularly not to, well, Elohim can have an awfully hard time too. But it's a lot easier when you don't have to *think* about your host too much."

Hitherbum looks down at his feet, where dirt has stopped running into the drain. He spins wheels and lo! the shower ceases.

Pat says "It was my understanding that under normal circumstances, some research was done on a potential host."

Hitherbum says, "Probably. Under normal circumstances, there's nothing for *me* to research, but probably."

Hitherbum says, "But I'd be fairly useless to y'all if I did background checks first. Or stayed with just bugs."

Pat nods. "Maybe that's the advantage of taking the nameless ones. It's hard to leave them worse off. If, for example, you took a mother as a host, with a loving family, the smallest thing could upset her life."

Hitherbum says, quietly, "There are no nameless ones."

Pat purses his lips. "Mm."

Hitherby opens the shower door.

Sarah lays the paper down; pauses, then gets up and, however needlessly, tucks Daimon in on the couch.

Hitherby starts to step out, and then frowns. "I'm all drippy."

Pat hands Hitherbum the towel.

Hitherbum takes the towel and whirls it in a circle through the air.

Hitherbum says, "Keen."

Daimon snuggles in. "Thanks."

Hitherby smacks the sink with the towel, all the way from the shower.

Pat says "Now. Let's take care of that hair. Do you want to keep the beard?"

Sarah kisses Daimon on the cheek. "Call if you want anything."

Hitherbum says, "The best-paid professional people don't seem to have them."

Daimon becomes just a lump on the couch. "Okay. I will."

Hitherbum adds, "Except at those places Sephar likes."

Liz drives back up outside the house, parks.

Sarah retreats to office space, and begins sorting stone fragments.

Liz gets out of the car, gets out the groceries and shopping.

Liz walks up to the house with two big bags, one in either hand, and knocks.

Daimon sighs, and starts getting off the cough. He gropes for some pants, puts them mostly on, and heads toward the door.

Hitherswarm swarms over to the door and tries mightily to turn the handle.

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 2.

Liz says "Anyone home?"

Hitherby is not all that mighty.

Daimon opens the door for Hitherswarm, avoiding any bugs.

Daimon has that 'someone just got me out of couch' look. "Yeah, I just had to get up. Let me help you with that."

Hitherswarm says, sheepishly, "I would have gotten it, but I'm naked, wet, and I have a beard."

Liz says "Oh. Sorry. Hope I didn't interrupt you."

Liz hands Daimon the bag. "Your ingredients, plus double chocolate fudge ice cream."

Liz says "And I have some spare clothing for Hitherby's host."

Daimon takes a bag. "Thanks."

Daimon takes the bag of groceries into the kitchen. "Sarah-"

Liz takes the other bag to Pat.

Sarah takes several seconds even to register that her name was called. "Mm?"

Daimon unpacks the groceries. The rare breed of domestic, mostly nekkid Bright Lilim at home in its natural enviroment.

Daimon says "I've got ice cream here for you. I'll bring you a bowl."

Liz smiles at Daimon. "Been cuddlin, huh?"

Pat sets about shaving Hitherbum.

Daimon says "Been just laying down."

Liz says "Okay."

Daimon finishes putting the groceries away and looks for a bowl. "And that's about it."

Sarah says absently, "Oh. All right." And, shortly, as more registers, "Thank you," but still distracted.

Liz walks back into the kitchen. "I'll take it to her."

Daimon nods, as he finishes scooping, and puts a blob of Redi-Whip on top. He hands the bowl to Liz, and puts things away.

Liz kisses Daimon's cheek and strokes her hand over his back. "Thanks."

Liz picks up a spoon and a napkin, takes everything out to Pat's office.

Daimon says, "No problem," and grins a little at Liz. Then he goes back to his pillow and blanket nest on the couch, after throwing his pants back on the floor.

Liz peeks into the office. "Sarah?"

Sarah sits on the floor, before her spread-out jacket, sorting little pieces of stone. A piece of paper covered with either squiggles or Hithertracks sits prominently on Pat's desk. "Mm?"

Hitherswarm mutters, grumpily, "Useless."

Liz walks over to Sarah, and sets the bowl next to her. "Ice cream. Double chocolate fudge."

Sarah says, without taking her eyes even for an instant from the steady, precise movements of her hands. "Oh. thank you, Zebi..." /Then/ something registers. She lifts her head, setting down an almost-triangular shard. "Chocolate?"

Liz smiles. "Yes. Double Chocolate Fudge ice cream."

Sarah lifts the bowl as she stands. And kisses Liz on the cheek. "Thank you."

Pat finishes with Hitherman's shaving and hair trimming. "There. Very respectable."

Hitherswarm settles smugly on something. "I know!" she says.

Hitherbum smiles. "Thank you."

Liz smiles and snugs Sarah. "You're welcome."

Hitherswarm says, "I will exert my great artistic talents to create a level of fine work that giant human fingers simply cannot approximate! The results will be unique and immensely valuable."

Sarah hugs Liz with her free arm.

Pat says "You're welcome. There are clothes here."

Liz smiles at Sarah. "Fond of chocolate, mmm?"

Hitherbum inclines his head and dresses himself.

Sarah says "I seem to remember something about chocolate mousse cake."

Liz laughs. "Yes, well."

Liz says "Enjoy it."

Sarah nods, solemn, and fetches it out to a chair safely away from the fragments.

Liz grins and just enjoys watching Sarah eat.

---

Fiat Justitia