"...Also do we want to dive everyone or do we want to leave someone up top to watch our backs?
John looks at Sariel and replies, "Not trying to step on toes, but I want to go down first and check for a trap. My "tallent" is my incredible luck. If any of us are going to survive a trap like this it's me. Once we've proven its safe, the rest of you can dive down and I'll stay topside to watch over you." John scans the deck to ensure the crew is not lingering in earshot. Even without seeing anything, he lowers his voice to a wiser. "Though, I wouldn't mind keeping some muscle with me. Just in case our new friends decide they want our pay and our silence."
as Tailor says We need to report this Sariel reaches into his bag and sets his satellite phone on the table.
you are probably right, Lloyds may want this information now. However I agree with Mr. Cooper here, we still need to follow through, just to show we "pass" their little test, also because it feels important. Who goes under and who stays top side we can discuss later
turning to Mr. Smith and winking, as he turns he looks out onto the horizon.
I can leave the beretta with whoever stays up top and they have two spearguns for whoever goes diving
"Okay, first: I've got the secure comms and I'll report it. Second: I've still got my shotgun if we need a weapon. Last: If you think I'm going in that water, you're crazy. We can drydock the boat, or levitate it, or something."
William, you see that too right?
Titus stands and move to the rear to get a closer look.
Seems someone is following us guys. We may get some answers sooner then expected.
Titus moves back to the group.
So, What now. Probably safe to assume they don't want to talk, but who knows. Best guess Mr. Abbate learned of another booking and these are the clean up crew comming.
He takes his seat and thinks a bit. Waiting the others reply.
what was it Father Raphiel used to say "hope for the best plan for the worst", levitate the boat? and he says were crazy
Sareil nods yes to Titus, and then looking at Nick shrugs and places his phone back into his bag, as Titus moves to the rail he quietly says to Nick nodding the direction that Titus is looking
we have company, you may want to do whatever it is you need to do to get your scattergun ready.
as Titus returns to the group, Sariel quietly says
I don't think their selling girl scout cookies, we need to plan for the worst, I'll go below and bring up the two spear guns, we may want to ask our crew if they recognize the boat. At least they don't seem to be in a hurry to close the distance.
Sariel goes below decks and recovers the two spear guns and he brings them to the table
We also have our air tanks. You guys watch that Mythbusters show. Couple years ago they did a episode on Jaws. They prove that the compressed air tanks could explode because of the pressure, but when shot they air usually escaped and made the tank a missile. The put one through a block wall by knocking the nozzel off. So they should tear through a boat nicely. I would need a hammer or a crowbar or something heavy to knock them off if we wanted to try such a thing. Something a little easier may be to make a pipe bomb. If we empty all the flair gun poweder out of the shells. I assume they have a flare gun being a charter boat and all, We would need a pipe to contain the powder and somthing to use as a fuse. We could duct tape it to one of the tanks and then duct tape two more tanks to that. If they start shooting or whatever I could light and then throw it on there ship. Or plan C. I hide in the water and we let them catch up. You guys keep their attention while I board from the rear and start knocking heads in. These are all kind of high risk. They may just want to talk, but Will is right we need to be prepared for anything.
Sariel listens to Titus' and answeres,
I was thinking something along the lines of "C", but yes there are flare guns. We should have a little time to make a plan, it doesn't look like they are in a hurry. with all this talk of magic I would like to know it that is the storm the crewmen were expecting or if it is something else."
We could play dumb as well. Stop the boat and look like we are prepring to dive. The crew could say the other group cancelled so they took us out. We our out here to avoid the nasty weather. If it works they may leave us. Though there is always the chance they are comming to destroy the boat and the two men and clean up loose ends. If thats the case our plan doesn't matter that much. We just need to survive. Well I guess I better start putting on a wetsuit if we are going with plan C. Everyone may wana suit up incase they end up in the water. Could be a bit chilly.
John's brow wrinkles perplexed. "...or we could do nothing. You said there's a boat behind us. So what? For all we know they're just avoiding the storm. Boats aren't like planes where one out of place is suspect. Hell they're so far back, I didn't even see the thing. Let's put the guns, bombs, and murder plots away and just watch. We're investigators not assassins. I get the feeling we get arrested, they'll forget we existed as quick as it'll take to burn our files. Let's watch, if they do something suspicious report it. Until then, we've got words that need identified and a location to get to."
Sorry there Coop, guess I should have mention I have been watching. When we turn they turn. They are following us for sure. We can play it cool but Will is right prepare for the worst. Not all of us have your fancy luck after all.
We're investigators not assassins...huh... never though I was either...
Sariel interjects
yeah, Mr. Cooper, Bobby Lee their is definitely right, were being followed. Lets ask the crew how soon till we stop, because unless they try and board us we should have time to prepare of all of the options. Now that you know their back there, I'm sure we can come up with a plan
"How far away are they, and how big a boat?" Nick sits down on the deck and pulls out a small notebook computer "Also, is there anything else I should put in the report before I send it?"
So the boat that has been following you now starts to close, it looks like it's going to pass you on the right some 200m, you can't see any one driving it or any one on deck, just another Boat heading your way but faster and by the rules of the sea passing you.
Action: Kingman asks Ramona Avala to move to the front left of the boat with him, so she will be safe and away from what your doing at the side facing the other boat and back.
The other boat is just level with yours when a head pops up and there billowing puff of smoke, the next thing you know something is coming at the boat very very fast, a rocket? NO A MISSILE, some form of missile that can move. it arks up and down heading at the front of your Boat. You have next to know time it's going to hit!!!,
It comes down just where Kingman and Avala where, but then for an instant you see kingman run and seem to leap very high at the missile, some 20m up, impossible but there he is, placing himself in its way!!
Then there is a defining blast, smoke and flame, a shock wave hits you all, then blood, flesh, some clothing rain down. Your boat rocks with the impact of the shock wave but keeps going, as you stand or hide there on your boat, what's left of kingsman spates down all around you, a mist of blood and body parts onto the deck by your feet, the left side of his face, eye ball looking up at you, parts of his arm, a foot. What ever he did it saved you from a direct hit, but now you have to act, Avala is no where to be seen Kindman is no more, what the hell are you going to DO!
Goon 1
Goon 2
reload time rounds
Missiles left 1
John is stunned in silence for a moment at what he just witnessed. It sinks into his heart that this man is dead because John ordered them to play it cool. Maybe another is dead. He has to know if she made it. His mind is calculating all the possibilities at once as he yells over the waves. "Wise one, let lose! Show me what you can do. I want those men off that boat and in the water. Let God decide their fate from there. Hunter, I don't want another shot fired at this boat. Stop that missile at any cost. Keep them alive if you can but it's not your priority. Lee, get to the cabin, get these boats touching and get over there. secure that boat and anyone left on it. I'm going to find Jasmine if I can." John honestly doesn't care if they follow his orders. It isn't his priority and he doesn't know this team well enough to give great orders yet. His words have barely left his mouth before he b-lines it for Ramona.
John when you get there the railing must have taken a blast from the shock waved as its gone, she is no where to be seen. She may have jumped or been thrown by Kingsman, who knows she just is not anywhere to be seen. You do find Esmand, he is out cold and blood is coming from his ears.
Sariel rushes the railing drawing the beretta as he moves, he flips the pistol on full auto and fires toward where the head popped out. As the pistol makes it's tat-tat-tat-tat-tat sound spraying near-uselessly toward the other boat, Sariel calls out.
Round 1 shots are fired but the other boat keeps coming now closing to 150' then staying there. You can just see someone in the front piloting while who ever was firing missiles was out of site. If you want to get your boat closer some ones going to have to head up to the wheel and take it off GPS auto.
Titus sees the boat stop. So he heads to the wheel. Flips off the GPS and slows the throttle a bit as he pulls a U turn. He throws the throttle back to full shouting to everyone to hold on as he heads for the other boat.
Yelling back.
SURE WISH WE WOULD HAVE PREPARED THE TANKS AS BOMBS ABOUT NOW.
"I don't see her on deck. I want to jump in, but as fast as were moving, I'm not a strong enough swimmer to swim through this boats wake. I should go grab the wheel. The sooner we can deal with this boat the sooner we can search for her."
John turns to the wheel hustling up there. As he's running to it, he hears the engine throttling and someone setting is on a collision course. John enters the cabin yelling, not even looking to see who's piloting the boat. "What the hell are you thinking! Pull up beside it, they're stopped. You hit them now we're both gonna be swimming for days back to shore. Assuming this storm doesn't drown us first!
John won't steal the wheel, but if we're about to crash or it is given to him, he'll pull the throttle down and skirt in next to the other ship. John's aiming at getting as close as he can without damage to his own ship.
Sariel, hearing Titus yelling about the oxygen bombs, rolls his eyes
does he really believe he could make a bomb after watching a T.V. show...where is everyone
Sariel, switches the beretta to semi-auto, staying by the rail looking for the rocket launcher to pop up, calls out
What the hell am I don't, um I don't know I though I would go get the guys shooting rockets at us. Or do you still think they wana talk.
Titus smiles a bit as he is being snarky to show no hard feelings.
Don't worry Coop, I get shot at all the times from the Hatian gangs. A few bullets won't take me down, but a missle or a lot of bullets will.
He smiles again laughing a bit trying to lighten the situation. Well as much as one can lighten a situation when missles are being shot at you.
One thin I know for sure is I'm getting a missle launcher when I knock that guy out.
He laughs again.
You should grab a gun or something and get ready.
Rounds 2, 3 and 4.
You move throws them off as you move around, Cornelius you see a guy scrabbling across the other boats deck as Titus brings your boat around in front and to the right of theirs. He is taking aim, you can hear a voice behind him screaming something in Italian as your shots zip past them Cornelius, now another man comes on deck with an AK47.
its to muffled so Not telling and no pecking
gap now 50'
Round 5. They go after you as they delayed.
As the boat gets close Titus will throttle back and let it drift in beside them maybe bumping a bit. When he sees the man come up with the gun he takes cover untill the boat is close enough.
EVERYONE GET DOWN!!!
Sariel, ignoring the lesser of two evils, fires two shots at the man with the rocket launcher
"Get me closer!"
The guy with the missile tube has it pointing at your boat, just as the guy with the AK47 opens up spraying shots over you and bringing them down, soon he will have the range right. When Cornelius take a moment to aim right, the boat is still for a fraction of a second, and that gives him the shot, there is the crack of two rounds one after the other and you can see the head of Rocket man blow out would in red mist, he drops like a sack of wet sand, the missile going off and
The Shock waves knocks you back as the top half of the other boat explodes some 60' away junks of wood and fiberclass gout out as a fire ball rises up from what is left of its hull. How ever just before the blast hits a large orb of water comes into being between your boat and there, most of the blast hits that, slowing down the shrapnel from the other boat coming your way
Sariel flies backward from the blast, rolling with the explosion, he slowly comes to his feet, quickly holstering the beretta in its magic bag in his pocket. looking at the burning boat.
what a waste...no answers there...well better them than us...wondering what information is salvageable
Sariel approaches the team and says, half seriously
If you still want the rocket launcher Bobby Lee, I guess we could dive for it
As Cornelius comes back on Deck after the 1st blast he sees Nick standing there arms out, power radiating off him, crackling to the deck at his feet. She seems to be held in concentration on a large wall of water in front of the exploding boat just 60' away. What your seeing is impossible, you should all be dead this close to that kind of Blast. But there is Nick, sweat as purring down his face and he puts all of him mind in to the task of using water as a shield to keep you all live.
This is what he meant by the term The Wise this is for real, there is a man holding back an exploding boat in front of your eyes.
You see parts of the other boat slam into the water disk and slow, then the oil tanks go up and what is left of the burning boat into the air,
But again the wall of water stops the blast coming your way but you feel the shock wave and can see it rippling the water in front of your boat.
Nick sinks to his knees
""
and then starts to go into shock
"Okay... whose still alive? I'm still alive. Yes, I'm still alive. We need to go now. We need to go Now! They're using Rocket Launchers! I'm one of the Wise! I'm supposed to be !"
Holy f**king s**t dude. That was awesome. Titus all stops the boat and walks over to Nick and attempts to high five him.
Dude I don't know what you are but you got skills. Nice shooting Will, and yes you owe me a rocketlauncher now. He smiles.
Well I already have a wet suit on. I will hop out and search the floating debris before it all goes down.
Titus will dive in and swim around for a bit looking for anything unusual. He will call back to the boat for them to circle and help spot points he may want to swim to and investigate.
Sariel smiles at Nicks outburst and Titus' expectation for a rocket launcher, nodding to Titus as he compliments the shooting, he interjects,
yes there's not much that makes a machine pistol look subtle but rocket launchers and, of all things, an invisible globe that protects the entire ship certainly does! I've heard of ships in a bottle but that was wicked Mr. Clarkson, I will give you that.
Sariel looks on deck and below deck to see who is alive
he then goes to the railing and watches Titus swim around in the itty bitty teeny tiny remains of the other boat. As Nick comes too, Sariel nods out to Titus splashing about in the water and asks
are you going to go put your wet suit on and help him?
There is little left, the main part sank, now there is just a little fire and bits. Some seating, what seems to be a bed, all bits of the boat, you find a leg, shoe still on, taken off below the nee.
Other than that not much.
After circling a bit Titus will motion for the boat to come pick him up.
I know nothing of diving. Are we too deep to dive and look for stuff. I don't know if it will turn up anything or not.
He climbs back aboard the boat.
Will next time you should just shoot the guy in the hands like in the movies so he drops the rocket launcher He laughs as he takes a seat grabbing a bottle of water.
So now what guys?
John watches in amazement as the barrier Nick created saves all their lives and the ship itself. As soon as the dangers done, John watches Titus run off towards the others. As soon as Titus is out of sight, John wordlessly walks away from the wheelhouse making his way back to his cabin.
"Two more deaths on my hands. What am I even doing here? Gods and magic, and all this death. Our first mission and we've had more casualties than any job I've ever run. I don't know if I can get used get used to this. I'm used too scouting a job and planning it. Making sure we can run it clean, but this, I don't see another way. I don't want to say killing those people was ok, but I don't see how we could have avoided it either. Maybe I'm not cut out for this crew."
John is going to wait in his cabin for a while to reflect. The door is unlocked if anyone comes looking.
John as you sit there you hear crying, seems you have found Carlo hes in a cabin with Esmand whos out cold, he must have dragged him down here. He seems be to trying to fix him up with a 1st aid kit. There is a lot of blood. You can see Esmand has a wound on his leg.
Carlo keeps stopping and crossing himself then crying then trying to do more. Hes in a real mess.
"Of course, I can't even have a moment to myself." John turns heading back to the deck quickly yelling, "Lee, I need you now! We've got a man down!"
Nick will high five Titus. He seems to be in shock, doing what he's told... up until Sariel suggests he goes diving.
"Hell no!" While Titus goes diving, he talks to Sariel
"That was great shooting! My dad would have loved you. He always said I should spend more time on the Range instead of studying."
He takes a deep breath and decides to admit it
"There was a Wizard who used to kill people by drowning them. He'd go up to their room, then encase them in a big ball of conjured water, watch them drown. One time, he got my mum. She managed to shoot him first though, and he died. I found her in there, drowning. I called 911 and they saved her. That's where I got that spell. I hoped if I learned it, maybe it wouldn't be so scary."
"When dad tried to kill me, I hit him with it. I've avoided water ever since."
"Look, I owe you an apology. I was pretty short with you this morning... I'm... not used to working with people."
At John's words Nick starts running over
"Gods. Who now?"
Sariel listened to Nick talk about his family
don't think I want to meet my "father"
no need to apologies, I've worked with some hard cases, trust me "shorts" a good day most of the time. I never knew my family, a catholic priest taught me to shoot, but thanks. I'll tell ya what. The shot may have been good; but that magic water ball thing, what ever it was, well it was like nothing I've ever seen, and trust me, I've seen some weird s%!t.
to quote the man "smoke em if ya got em"
Turning to Titus he says,
now my good man, now its time for a cigarette
Sariel pulls the pack of expensive European cigarettes out of his pocket, taking one himself and offering them to his two partners. carefully putting the pack away, while removing a box of matches from his other pocket. He strikes a wooden match, covering it with his hand and lighting his own cigarette then any others.
as they hear John call, Sariel will follow to the top of the stairs but stay on deck to keep a watch and finish his cigarette.
John approaches Sariel and whispers, "I need to ask you something in private, do you mind?" John motions for Sariel to follow him away from the door so they can speak privately.
"I know what I'm asking is offensive to a true believer, but I do believe it is necessary."
I will speak to them, there will be no need to lie, the truth, or at least part of the truth, will be enough
Sairiel answers ashe finishes the cigarette
what will I tell them...what will I hide
Taking John's behaviour as dismissal, Nick quickly grabs a container and starts loading some of poor Kinsman's body parts. As he does so he talks out loud.
"So. Trying to puzzle this out. If they were going to sink the boat anyway, there'd be easier ways. Do you reckon they were following us from the station? Somehow figured out the wire transfers? Have the boat bugged and heard what was going on?"
"Either way, they were using some pretty heavy stuff to stop us. If I were them... when this failed, there's not much further up to go, but I'd pull out the stops. Wouldn't be long till the next hit."
"If I were us... and I am... I'd park this #$@%$# boat somewhere and go undercover quick."
Wiping his blood covered hands on his clothing, Nick then pulls out the laptop to update HQ (and see if they've said anything).
Those things will kill you man. Ah s**t what did Coop find now.
Titus rushes to Coop as he cries out that a man is down.
Is he alive, I mean does he have a pulse? I assume he does.
Don't worry Carlo, I can help. Titus looks at the wound and focuses for a moment before letting out a wave of energy.
All within 30' heal the amount.
If he is unconcious still or needs another I will
I will assume one unless you say I needed both.
See he should be fine now. I don't know Nick. I think they were trying to clean up loose ends. The hit may not have been for us, but was just meant for the boat and these two. I mean if I was the bad guy and the boat and men I paid off had another charter that seems like the perfect time to get rid of them. Though thats just a hunch. Either way we have some time now where the bad guys think we may be dead. I'm just not sure what we do with it.
John approaches Nick, squatting down next to him as he types away at his computer. "Thank you. That was...incredible. I don't even have words. You saved us all there."
"Any word from HQ?"
you get this back over encryption
Information got, over.
Angel one [AO], In discussion now.
AO will get back to you...
AO, Requests you head to dive location ASAP and investigate, then make for cost, Pick up will be arranged once you have land fall over.
End.
Nick you get your 3HP back as if by divine magic
Esmand wounds close up in front of your eyes, Carlos is now in shock looking at Titus.
"Is power of devil? you devil, mother of god save us!"
Sariel approaches Johm and Nick and asks
what do you think the odds are that the police might be in cahoots with our local Mob? Being from Chicago, I just thought I might inquire. Oh are Carlos and Esmund going to be alright?
After Sariel leaves John and Nick at the computer he heads to where Titus is at with Esmund and Carlos. When he hears Calros screaming he runs in the room
no, no, no, calm down, I can explain. Would it be better if I speak in English or Latin. Taceo sed Italico Latine loqui. Vis et Anglorum Latine loquar?
Sariel pulls out his necklace with the crucifix and shows it to them, holding it in a fashion that the teeth on it are not visible, yet.
You may believe me I am catholic, I was orphaned as an infant at St Patrick’s Church, in Chicago, The nuns thought I would die, but I lived, they called it a miracle. My real name is Cornelius, I was named after a saint, actually I was named after three saints. I was raised in a catholic orphanage and trained to do what we are doing by a catholic priest named Raphael. You believe in all the saints and all the angels, right. What you just experience is a gift from god, a miracle, right. We are a team that has been put together to fight evil. Each of us have performed supernatural “miracles,” that is why we are together. That is what my catholic priest trained me for. Believe me I swear on the holy church none of what you have seen is from the devil!
Esmund is still out cold, but as you start with the Latin Carlos Drops to his knees on seeing you cross he starts to cry a little.
"We knew what we did was wrong, please bless us, take away the evil, mouth church can do that yes? absolve our sins Farther."
He bows his head.