Akh takes the news of Del's "escape" with his typical suspicion, finding it eerie how easily she managed to slip away while the rest of the crew is under such oppressive restrictions from all sides. He can't help but feel a little envious too. Maybe her special connection with her sister had let her slip away easily. He swirls about agitatedly at the news.
Near the address of the private office, Akh echoes "Onward minions? That's not particularly charitable toward people doing you a favor..." before looking at the front door. "While charging on in and breaking everything in sight is very tempting, maybe it's best to be a little sneaky. I can make a big flashy distraction while someone smaller heads inside?"
"Yep, we can go quiet. Scout around, find some building security weakness and try to break our way in nice and stealthy.
"Or we can go loud. Guns blazing straight into the lobby.
"Or as Melissa suggested, we impersonate being someone who belongs in the building and huckster our way in. Personally, I was thinking to impersonate Eline herself. So if I act all high and mighty, people will jump at my command. We'll just need to keep an eye on the building to see when she leaves.
"Whadday'all think?"
"I can also act like they're talking crazy and intimidate them into standing down. Should we go with that plan then? I'm Eline. Melissa is executive assistant. Akh and Jaraduk are bodyguards.
"But let's stake out the place to see if Eline goes in and out as well as whether she has staff with her. This will allow us to adjust our disguises accordingly.
"Also, maybe we reach out to our contacts to try and find out if Eline is even on station."
Guess? will ask Tarika if she can determine if Eline is on Absalom. Guess? will also check his network.
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"Perhaps getting the Last Chance back to Eline gave Del an option to get out from under this mess. They're still family, after all.
"If that's the case, then I'm glad Del got out. This life was getting too tough for her kind heart. Maybe when this is all over, we can track her down and surprise her with a friendly visit, bringing along some expensive, exotic foods we've found elsewhere!"
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You spend the day monitoring the office. There is little traffic in and out, with the exception of a small staff. One crew comes in the morning, then is swapped out in the evening with a separate three person crew. Weirdly enough... four times a day the secretary walks into the office, shakes hands with his body double at the front desk, then switches places before the original secretary walks out. You take a walk around the block and see that - like many other Station buildings - it does not have a back door or side entrance.
Digit poke's it's metallic head out of the bag of holding and stares down Akh with beady red eyes. It sprays out binary beeps in a torrent, which Melissa rapidly translates. "Clearly, you are the minions. And I am the head necromancer, and Dizzy is the Lich. He wants something, and sends me to oversee the work. Then you carry me to the final objective!" The drone withdraws back to the other realm. "Silly minion, so obvious."
Tarika hasn't heard much. "Eline hasn't appeared in any Station gossip rags or blogs in the last 24 hours. You know how they love to share snapshots of her outlandish clothing..."
"Hmm, her staff probably knows pretty well who we are. Our disguises will have to be good. Very good. I don't think Dr. Noodle will cut it. Maybe I'll have to even put on some glasses." He looks to Guess to help with any disguises. "Instead of coming in the front door, it might also be better for us more memorably-shaped people to find another way in. I suggest air vents. They're always quite big in the vid series."
Delivering a server? Yeah I can do that. I think there's a certain type of movie that starts that way...
He chuckles before moving on to the next suggestion.
Body guard, that's more like it.
Listening to Akh he thinks more on possible options.
Maybe there's a rooftop entrance? We could get one of those spy drones to check it out.
"I'll go with being Eline. I'll get to throw my weight around much more that way."
Akh looks over his new disguise skeptically "Didn't Reisora have that special holo-skin piercing tech? What if she gave it to her employees too?"
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that. It was probably a one-of-a-kind prototype. Besides, we're still disguised under the holoskin anyways." says Guess? holding up a disguise kit.
"What are the chances there are more of those holoskin defeating devices being around? Not high, I bet. Dontcha worry!"
"Hmmm, while I was shopping I saw it in an Abadarcorp catalogue..."
"Hmmm, while I was shopping I saw it in an Abadarcorp catalogue..."
"Oh really? Hmmm... guess we'll just have to live dangerously!"
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Akh does remember seeing an advertisement for a holo-piercing device, but that was more of a sketchy ad in the back of a holo-mag than a full abadar-approved catalogue.
As you discuss alternate routes, Guess?'s disguises are convincing enough that you are confident they'll convince some low-ranking assistant. "Eline Reisora" heads in the front door along with her two bodyguards and tech support assistant. The group piles in, quickly filling up the small room. The young human man at the front desk, whose name tag says Siro-2 perks up immediately. "Ma'am! You're back! You weren't scheduled to return to station this week. What about your executive retreat?" The picture of professionalism, Siro-2's hands whir across his keyboard and his smile never falters as his eyes flicker between absolute respect for Ms. Reisora and the screen that must be displaying information about wherever "Eline" was supposed to be today.
Akh hovers in place, adjusting his bowtie and smoothing the lapel of his suit. He hopes Guess? doesn't stumble now, since getting to the office from here while under gunfire seems doomed to failure.
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"Yes, well I'm here now aren't I?" says Guess? matter-of-factly. "There are very particular reasons my official calendar does NOT reflect my presence back on station. These that you do not need to know. Understand?"
Guess? continues in an even tone, not yet exhibiting anger or frustration. "And it is imperative that my calendar continues to officially reflect that I'm at the retreat, not here.
"And given the need for discretion, I'll need you to provide me access to my office without using my credentials, which would leave a record. You'll also arrange to have my image removed from camera recordings.
"I'm aware that this increases your standard workload. However, the project I'm working on is a high priority. Get this done smoothly and I'll ensure positive feedback on your next performance evaluation. Obviously, I cannot reference these specific tasks but I'll make sure there is actual, positive substance in the evaluation.
"Let's get to it. Time is money."
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"Oh, um, yes ma'am. Of course, I understand. What the company doesn't know, won't hurt them." He gives you an exaggerated wink. "And, uh, I'll contact the security office and ask." He types something into the computer and nods. "And of course, Ms. Reisora. I know you always take care of me." The door to his left slides open with a soft whirr.
You walk through the door and into a small office space. Three of the cubicles are currently occupied while two others are empty. A vending machine with snacks and beverages stands in the west, near a unisex restroom. Each of the cubicles has a computer on it. As you pass through the door, you see all three terminals flick to a lock screen. A series of groans echo through the room. One of the office employees turns around, already saying "Siro, we told you... KEEP OUT!" The three of them turn and stop, confused, before the idea of Eline being in office registers in their brains. The shirren, damaya lashunta, and human all freeze in place with the confusion playing across their faces.
You spot a locked secret door adjacent to the vending machine on the southern wall between the two manned desks.
Guess? speaks in the same, measured, even tone he used before with just a slight hint of potential anger if he is questioned or otherwise not complied with.
"You're not expecting me and you're confused. I've already explained it to Siro and will not repeat myself. Direct all your questions to him."
Guess? points at the secret door and says, "Open. Now."
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"Yes ma'am." The damaya takes her hand off the large red EMERGENCY key on her console and instead presses the unmarked grey icon on the screen. The secret wall slides open to reveal a stairwell that winds downwards through the wall. You walk past the employees, gathering from the notes on their desks that this is some sort of data center. It's obvious from the lingering looks that the employees don't recognize Eline's new entourage and are suspicious. But Eline's intimidating presence cuts off any questions.
Past the secret door, three flights of steep stairs descend 40 feet, cutting off noise to and from the surface. An unlocked door leads to Eline’s private and secure office. The room within is luxuriously furnished and includes mementos of Eline’s life, including an inubrix amulet on a leather cord and a family photo; a youthful Del appears in this photo alongside her estranged family. There’s no computer on Eline’s desk. A locked door on the north wall bars your passage. Digit creeps out from the bag of holding, beeping "Need help?' The drone extends an arm and Assists with the work of unlocking the door.
To those more treasure-minded, you see a hovering mimic imager rests on Eline’s desk, sitting in its charger with a full battery.
(the 39 is the engineering check to open the door. Digits assist would make a 41)
Akh eyes both the mimic imager and the inubrix amulet "Do you need to take these with you Ms. Reisora?" He looks to Guess?...
Jaradu eyes the coffee machine and the fridge in the break room. For now he chooses to not take a lunch that is probably somebody's.
Heading down the stairs he helps with the door, but he's constantly looking over his shoulder thinking that the employees might see them working on the lock without a key.
"Yep, let's take those items with us." Guess? responds to Akh.
Guess? then turns to assist with hacking the door.
Akh sweeps both items off the table (including the charger) and into his cavernous maw. "Yes sir."
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Eline's peons are hard at work "cleaning" the room and opening the door. The door opens into a warehouse-like subterranean chamber, its walls and 15-foot-high ceiling a sterile, off-white color. A massive computer storage unit in the room’s center buzzes with energy, flickering green lights peppering its otherwise-featureless gray surface. Four floor-to-ceiling columns of electrical circuitry flank the machine, with some of their transparent wires glowing faintly with white light. Imposing steel gray cylinders fill two corners of the room. Stairs on either side of the door descend into this massive data processing unit. Digit beeps from his place at your side. "Yes! Let's hack it!"
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Melissa sits on the chair, which does not explode, and types into the large central server. ACCESS DENIED. Digit floats up. "Well, that was embarrassing. 'The flesh is weak', and all that. Time to use the password Dizzy gave me." That's when you remember that Dizzy had written code that will alter the Company’s records and get his uncle Darzalfan the treatment he needs. Digit extends his probe once again and taps into the server structure. When Digit plugs into the data processor the room’s security system activates. WEE-AHH WEE-AHH WEE-AHH The two cylinders in the corners of the room rotate 90 degrees, revealing a pair of cybernetic golems plugged into charging stations. The golems animate and rush towards you!
Thankfully at this point you are always ready for something terrible to happen and you are not surprised by this trap.
The horrifying amalgamations of techno-magic have torsos and heads of reappropriated flesh and mechanical limbs. Their skin is perfectly smooth, as if it was grown in a lab. Their arms and legs are so large that a steroid-fuled spaceball player would blush. But the worst thing is their eyes. Those dead eyes show not a thought behind them.
These are cybernetic golems. These hybrid automatons, created by powerful spellcasters, differ from most robots in that each has an elemental spirit bound within. Properly binding this spirit, which is usually from an earth elemental, is the most important part of creating a golem. As the spirit is only semiconscious, the golem exists in a mindless state and acts only to defend itself or to follow orders from its creator. In some golems, injury causes the elemental spirit to stir in its artificial shell. As it gains awareness, it rages at its imprisonment. Upon reaching half of it's life force, the golem must exert it's own will in order to continue following it's orders. If it fails, the golem then attacks the closest living creature within movement. If there isn't a valid target (within movement or firing range), the golem begins attacking the closest object to express it's rage.
Cybernetic golems are immune to magic! They are immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance, unless the spell specifically lists constructs in its Targets entry. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the golem: Cold damage slows the golem while electricity damage heals it.
Digit beeps from it's place at the server. "AHHHHHH! PROTECT ME, MINIONS! I'LL KEEP HACKING IT!"
Melissa SP 55/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 99/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 72/72, HP 69/69, RP 10/10
Digit, 0 Damage, 0 Rounds Hacked
Red Golem 0 Damage
Pink Golem 0 Damage
"Oh golems. That's a classic. I wonder why they don't recognize Eline?" He flexes his claws "Don't use magic on these, or try to shock them, but if we've got some ice, that'll slow them right down." Akh reflects on his poor choice of breath weapon some more before he sweeps forward to try to trip the red golem.
Guess? draws his rifle and fires at red!
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Akh knocks the closest golem onto it's back. Despite his obscured view and the golem's horizontal positioning, Guess? has no trouble knocking off a metallic chunk of thigh. The beast stands up slowly and takes a heavy step towards Akh. Akh's arms and body may be longer than the golem, but the guard easily has a hundred kilo's on your android friend. It stares right into Akh's eyes without emotion, twitch, or breath.
Melissa fires her rifle, but ends up pinging her shot off the electrical column between her and the other golem. That golem off-gasses some mysterious substance and moves with lightning speed. It approaches Jaraduk and swings two haymaker punches into the nuar.
Digit continues to float in place by the server, light running up and down the 'digit' between his body and the computing core. "Those golems are getting closer, minions! If I sound pleased about this, it's only because Dizzy made this my default tone of voice! I'm actually quite afraid!" As he finishes speaking, just before you act, the southern electrical column erupts in a fountain of electrical energy!
Melissa SP 55/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 99/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk x2 SP 42/72, HP 69/69, RP 10/10
Digit, 0 Damage, 1 Rounds Hacked
Red Golem 28 Damage, Flatfooted
Pink Golem 0 Damage
Guess? takes another shot at red!!
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With the red golem exposed and with Melissa's encouragement, Akh unleashes his full entropically infused strength. His claws come in to bite at the golem.
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As Guess? and Jaraduk throw a series of blows right at the thickest parts of the golems' armor, Jaraduk does knock off a chunk of torso. On the other side of the room, Akh lops off one of the golem's arms. The golem swings with it's other arm, glancing a blow off Akh's shoulder.
The second golem does better, clapping both hands on either side of Jaraduk's head as it takes the final doshko blow.
Next to Akh and the golem the electrical column erupts in a wave of electricity that crashes into the pair and Melissa.
Melissa SP 55/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 84/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 41/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 0/72, HP 52/69, RP 10/10
Digit, 0 Damage, 2 Rounds Hacked
Red Golem 70 Damage
Pink Golem 24 Damage
Akh mitigates the first hit, then gets clobbered by the second. He twirls out of the way of a cascading wall of lightning and unleashes another flurry of claw slashes against the golem in response, trying to disintegrate the golem's other arm and maybe a leg or two.
"Akh! Jaraduk's needs a hand!"
Guess? fires again at red, hoping to take the golem down quick so that the party can refocus on pink and back Jaraduk up.
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Akh shrugs off the worst of the blows, lopping off the golem's other arm in response. Guess? sends a rifle shot through the thing's chest, sending a vibration of energy through the whole creation. Within seconds, the construct falls apart into a pile of titanium and gooey flesh.
The remaining golem knocks a second fist into the side of Jaraduk's head.
The electrical column explodes out electricity that moves through Guess? and Jaraduk before washing over the golem, practically healing it's wounds.
The electricity is more than Jaraduk can handle, and he falls over unconscious. Your HUD flashes violently with his failing vitals.
Melissa SP 40/55 HP 57/57 RP 10/10
Akh SP 72/99 HP 67/67 RP 8/8
Guess? SP 54/54 HP 47/47 RP 10/10
Jaraduk SP 0/72, HP 0/69, RP 10/10, DYING, UNCONSCIOUS
Digit, 0 Damage, 3 Rounds Hacked
Red Golem 145 Damage
Pink Golem 0 Damage