Kat applauds along with the rest, but when she sees the old guy going to the restroom, she ambles that way, looking for the ladies room. She lingers at the door of the men's room, if no one is watching and pretends to be checking something on her phone. She listens for evidence that the guy may be making a call in stead of answering the call of nature.
She'll step into the ladies room to keep up appearances, flush the toilet after a minute and return to the bar proper.
When Pearl finishes her performance, Salvo is caught up in the crowd's enthusiasm. Finding himself clapping, he even adds a whistle and a ”Woohoo.”
That’s when he notices the non-celebratory patron heading for the restroom, with Kat in pursuit. Getting up and heading toward the Men’s room.
Just before entering he draws his metal baton and slides it up the left sleeve of the fatigue jacket.
Once in the restroom he adopts a ‘drunk’ guy demeanor while looking about.
”One hell of a singer. Cute too.”
After her impromptu performance, Pearl guns the rest of her drink and shakes her glass at Carol, then re-engages with the security guard.
"Thanks." She's quiet for a minute while waiting for her next drink.
"You know, I sometimes jog past the chem plant. It stinks so bad but when the wind blows out of the south its not bad and actually a peaceful area of town - no problems for someone like me running alone, if you get me." She smiles at Carol and thanks her for the refill.
"It's kinda weird there now, with so many more guards and dogs and all. What's up with that?"
Mick barely heard the young woman sing. He was spending his mental focus on observing the crowd and watching for danger. When the patrons give her raucous applause, he finds himself regretting that his training did not allow him a moment to enjoy.
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Stringer nods in response to the bartender's question. He does have a little cash. Looking over at the guys at the next table, he grins. "Damn, if they get talent like that in here every night I'll have to start coming by more. You guys been here before?"
"Yeah we come all the time..." they eye Stringer. "What are you doing here?"
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After her impromptu performance, Pearl guns the rest of her drink and shakes her glass at Carol, then re-engages with the security guard.
"Thanks." She's quiet for a minute while waiting for her next drink.
"You know, I sometimes jog past the chem plant. It stinks so bad but when the wind blows out of the south its not bad and actually a peaceful area of town - no problems for someone like me running alone, if you get me." She smiles at Carol and thanks her for the refill.
"It's kinda weird there now, with so many more guards and dogs and all. What's up with that?"
"You jog there! You're brave! Ha! "It's tight security I'll tell yah. Yeah, we're tight all right. Never been like this before in the five years I've been there. Not even during those riots three years ago, for the food, remember? It seems that one of the execs had some bad
experience--something about demons. I don't know what happened, but he apparently got pretty spooked and ordered tightened security. Shortly after that, one of the VPs was found badly mutilated. No one knows what did it, but the next day we started on this super-tight securitybusiness. Hell, I'm not even supposed to be talking
to you we're so tight" He takes a sip of beer.
"I think I can trust ya and you're cute" He smiles "I heard this from a friend who knows one of the men who rode shotgun on the swamp route. He and his driver were in one of the tanker trucks. The
trucks were going through the swamp on this small road. Apparently, they had made some decision to go an alternative route. They were driving along at a pretty slow clip, because of the bad road and foliage. All of the sudden, they were ambushed-but not by humans. I hear they were set upon by some kind of demon or something. The shotgun starts spraying
out the window.just randomly into the brush. He notices the truck starting to go off the road, he looks over, and he sees the driver's head is gone! His hands are still on the wheel and everything.
Something just went right up to the truck and took his head right off! It must have been real quiet about it too ...
He takes another sip ""All hell breaks loose. The shotgun manages to
kick the driver's body out the door and takes the wheel He drives with one hand and keeps his gun pointed out the window. He and three others managed to bring their trucks in. I guess they lost something like seven people and a couple of trucks. No one's willing to talk about it Everyone on that trip went into some kind of heavy debriefing I hear.
I don't know any of 'em myself, so I don't know where they are now or anything. "One thing's for sure, though. "One thing's for sure, though. Everyone who goes on the swamp route is getting fantastic hazard
pay now. If your friend is missing, then he's more than likely slipping into the bog somewhere outside of New Orleans."
Pearl sits wide-eyed as the guard tells the story. "That's... horrible." she says, shaking her head in near-disbelief. If it wasn't for her own experience in the sewer she'd say this guy was full of it. But now...
"What about the chemicals getting dumped into the lake?" she ventures as if it were common knowledge. "What are they trying to kill? Who else knows about this - the cops? The Feds?"
"Yeah we come all the time..." they eye Stringer. "What are you doing here?"
Stringer shook his head. "Had an electrical job. Referral- I usually work on the other side of the river but I got a call from a friend of a guy I do a lot of work for." He shrugged. "You gotta make your money where you can get it, right?"
"What do you guys do?"
Upon seeing the window.
”Damn it.”
Turning and quickly exiting the restroom. He looks at Kat and nods his head toward the exit. Heading over to Mick.
”The guy packing heat rabbeted out the can window. Come on. I want to chat with him.”
Tossing money on the bar he heads for the door.
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Mick nods and whispers to Stringer, I think Pearl impressed them enough that she's safe in here, but Salvo, Kat, and I are going to make sure our exit route is clear of ambushers." He glances back at the young woman and tries to give her a half-smile, but it ends up more of a grimace. I hope she is okay. She grew up in a spot just as bad. Worse, probably.
On his way out the door he placed his hand inside his pocket and gently gripped his collapsible baton. Maybe I'm not worried about her physical safety right now. She's young and emotionally compromised. The last few days have been a real roller-coaster ride. She's up and down like two fat kids on a seesaw.
He knew she hadn't really had time to grieve properly.It wasn't until he started hunting monsters that he felt grief. He never made a misstep. Never lost a protectee. He kept his expense reports brief and well-documented. He never hit "reply all" to a corporate email. And he never felt anything. He knew the moment he finally did feel something for the first time since he had been separated from his brother.
He was working with a real team of pros. He pretended not to notice, but he couldn't help but tell they funded their work by engaging in some criminal activities. He saw Floorplan in Beth's hole in the wall loft, and he didn't think that bank was Haunted. Then again, in this line of work, who could tell. I have to hit these guys and gals up for gas money when we leave. I guess I've got some pretty good skills for armed robbery.
They were hard-core. They called their leader Cap and he called the job 'missions'. Bet Salvo knows him. Bet neither one can legally admit they know each other. Cap did not make a bad call. Mick knew because he had seen something similar and knew he made no errors that night despite what the company said.
This ghost had come out of nowhere. They weren't even hunting ghosts, but some cult that was snatching kids. Beth had just gone to scout their creepy headquarters or temple or whatever, a ghost had materialized. It went right after that pasty kid, Riley. Looked like he was wrestling him to the ground.
Mick barely knew the kid, but he sobbed that night thinking of the protectee who died. His brother. Riley. Cap said the kid would be alright. He was, eventually, but that night he felt like he screwed up all over again. But he realized he didn't. Cap didn't. Sometimes, shit just happens.
That's why he came to New Orelans the first time. Mama had taken care of Riley. Something tried to "ride" him because he was sensitive to the spirit world. Sounded like demonic possession to Mick.
"Anything?" Mick asks Salvo once he's outside.
Kat takes a different route from Salvo but ends up at the door nonetheless. She walks gracefully, assured in her own abilities, even if those abilities had not been fully tested in a field such as this, with monsters and corporate muscle. She has no weapons to prepare. Eyes wide open, she exits and waits for the oldsters to decide what to do next.
Stringer looks up as Mick approaches him. He shoots him an unsure half-smile, the kind you'd give to a stranger who talked to you out of the blue in public. "Uh, okay, bro. You have a good night."
He chuckles as Mick walks out of the diner, shaking his head. "Weird." The electrician looks back over at the other two guys at the other table, well aware that his attempt to sell himself as just another working guy was probably just blown. "Does that guy come in here much?"
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Pearl sits wide-eyed as the guard tells the story. "That's... horrible." she says, shaking her head in near-disbelief. If it wasn't for her own experience in the sewer she'd say this guy was full of it. But now...
"What about the chemicals getting dumped into the lake?" she ventures as if it were common knowledge. "What are they trying to kill? Who else knows about this - the cops? The Feds?"
The man swallows. "No one else...the bosses said to keep it quiet! You know next time people will lock us in the nut house!" He takes another sip of beer. "It's all strange to me!" He grows quiet and drinks again. "Enough about me...you should sing here again!"
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Stringer looks up as Mick approaches him. He shoots him an unsure half-smile, the kind you'd give to a stranger who talked to you out of the blue in public. "Uh, okay, bro. You have a good night."
He chuckles as Mick walks out of the diner, shaking his head. "Weird." The electrician looks back over at the other two guys at the other table, well aware that his attempt to sell himself as just another working guy was probably just blown. "Does that guy come in here much?"
[dice=Bluff]1d20+8
"Yeah sometimes...I've seen him here a few times. My name is Bud. What's yours?" He holds out this hand and looks at Stringer in the eyes and as if he tries to gauge what's going on.
Stringer takes Bud's hand and shakes. "Bernie. Nicetameetcha." He looks around, out into the dark on the other side of the windows. "You guys work around here?"
"Sure," Pearl replies. "Maybe I'll do that sometime. Se ya 'round--what'd you say your name was?"
She finishes her drink, letting the alcohol sooth her frayed nerves. After she gets the guy's name she steps out and goes back to Creighton's truck to wait for the boys.
Once outside. The blast of heat and humidity of the New Orleans evening is much like being breathed on by a really big dog.
Glancing about for any obvious threats.
”Mick, go right.” He then heads to the left around the building.
Looking back at Kat. ” Can you keep watch here? And cover Peal and Stringer?”
Kat nods and stands in a shadow near the door.
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"Sure," Pearl replies. "Maybe I'll do that sometime. Se ya 'round--what'd you say your name was?"
She finishes her drink, letting the alcohol sooth her frayed nerves. After she gets the guy's name she steps out and goes back to Creighton's truck to wait for the boys.
"Clark Andrews," as Pearl goes to leave he interjects "Hey can I get your digits!" He seems earnest in wanting to hang out more with Pearl.
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Once outside. The blast of heat and humidity of the New Orleans evening is much like being breathed on by a really big dog.
Glancing about for any obvious threats.
[dice=Perception]1d20+3
”Mick, go right.” He then heads to the left around the building.
Looking back at Kat. ” Can you keep watch here? And cover Peal and Stringer?”
Salvo looks around but doesn't see the guy in the back. It's dark now and the moon hangs in the sky. It's still humid even given the lateness of the hour.
"Yeah I work at a cement plant down the road? How bout you?"
"Electrician. Gig work, mostly, but it pays the bills." Stringer shrugs, trying to look embarrassed, knowing people who work for corps typically look down on those who don't. He gestures outside at the power lines strung up on poles. "I'm rated for working up on poles and high tension lines, got called in to fix a line the city wouldn't get around to for a month. You know how that goes, trying to get the city to fix anything."
"How's the plant? Good place to work?"
"You're sweet but I can't. See you next time," Pearl replies on her way out the door. Nothing against Clark; she's had thousands of guys ask for her number and her bar is set pretty high.
She finds Mick and Salvo talking outside. "Guy at the bar is a security guard for the chem plant. Says a convoy got ambushed by something sounds like monsters in the swamp. That's why security is so high there right now. I guess whatever's in the sewers doesn't 'ppreciate being poisoned. His name is Clark Andrews. Nice enough guy for these parts. Probably too nice."
Finding no one behind the bar. Salvo looks at Mick.
”Well, I didn't really expect him to just be standing here.”
Pulling a small flashlight from his jacket he begins to look for any clues.
”You got tracking skills?”
To Pearl’s information
”This keeps getting weirder all the time. So do we have a ‘good’ guy Corp. attacking Swamp monsters bad guys? Doesn't add up. But it looks like we may be heading for the Bayou.”
Mick nods to Salvo and circles around tobthe right of the building.
"Whaddaya y'all looking for?"
Pearl helps the boys snoop around for tracks and clues.
Slightly startled by Pearl’s question and sudden appearance.
”Oh, hey. There was a guy packing heat in there who left in the middle of your song. He climbed out the bathroom window. And I for one would like to ask him why.”
“But I’m pretty sure his leaving had nothing to do with your performance.” He adds with a smile.
Once Pearl and the others exit the bar, Kat trails behind them, checking to see if anyone is following them or watching them move.
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Finding no one behind the bar. Salvo looks at Mick.
”Well, I didn't really expect him to just be standing here.”
Pulling a small flashlight from his jacket he begins to look for any clues.
Salvo notices there's a set of footprints leading from the bathroom window to a small area of woods behind the bar. They look fresh. He can see a group of lights through the woods in the distance. He guesses that it's some sort of plant or factory. He doesn't notice anything else.
Pearl follows Salvo's keen eye toward the woods behind the bar. She notices the weight of the satchel across her shoulder, and how the strap digs at the bare skin at her neckline. The sawed-off shotgun within feels unbearably heavy.
A shiver electrifiers her body as she peers into the darkness and the unknown horrors within. Beside her, Salvo and Mick cut imposing figures in the shadowy glow from the distant lights. They look the part, she thinks.
Can I be a hero?
She breathes deep and steels herself. Then she takes the gun out of the bag and loads a shell in each barrel. "Tracks are gettin' any fresher. We should get the others."
"Nada," says Mick as he returns from checking the building. "Looks like you found something though. Hmm. Well-lit over there." He relaxes his grip on the baton and instead checks his firearm as surreptitiously as possible to make sure he is ready for trouble. "Your lead, Salvo, you might as well take point. But let's wait for Stringer obviously."
"It's okay. Beats working in some places on the other side of town. I heard there's a bunch of missing kids. Something snatched them at night. I'm glad my kids are all grown up."
Stringer frowns. "Kids? I musta missed that one. Over in my neighborhood we got people goin' missing. Just disappear, never to be seen again. Not just kids, though." He snorts and shakes his head as he goes on. "My crazy neighbor says it's sewer monsters. Swears he saw somethin' come outta the sewer in the street by my house just the other night."
Nodding to Mick. Then looking into the dark woods and around at the group.
Okay, this is going to be strictly a recon. I didn’t bring my heavy stuff.”
Watching with a little smile as Pearl readies the shotgun.
”That’s one hell of a cannon you got there.”
Noting her current outfit. ”You're gonna get scratched to pieces in that brush. Here put this on.”Taking off his fatigue jacket and handing it to her. Then placing his baseball cap on her head.”There, now you’re an official badass.”
Glancing at Kat. ”You good? I got a backup piece if you want it?”
Kat shakes her head at the offer of a weapon. She raises her hands as if to say, "I'm armed and dangerous." She fishes in her backpack, however, and brings out a flashlight. She does not turn it on just yet, waiting until it is necessary.
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"It's okay. Beats working in some places on the other side of town. I heard there's a bunch of missing kids. Something snatched them at night. I'm glad my kids are all grown up."Stringer frowns. "Kids? I musta missed that one. Over in my neighborhood we got people goin' missing. Just disappear, never to be seen again. Not just kids, though." He snorts and shakes his head as he goes on. "My crazy neighbor says it's sewer monsters. Swears he saw somethin' come outta the sewer in the street by my house just the other night."
The man smiles laughs..."Ha ha! I bet it's a big alligator! My cousin saw one 14 feet long in a canal behind his house! I bet it's an alligator but I doubt they can move a sewer grate!"
With the shotgun on her shoulder, Pearl runs back into the bar and whistles for Creighton.
"Time to go!"
Stringer looks up in surprise as Pearl ducks in with a shotgun. "What the hell? Well I'm gettin' outta here!" Stringer jumps up, drops a few bucks on the table and nods to the guys "I'm not stickin' around after that!"
He quickly heads for the door, going straight to his truck. "What's there to shoot?" The young man pulls out Snoop and slaves it to Pearl with orders to hover 30' over her head and send him an alert if anybody approaches. He also pulls out a larger, wheeled drone and tasks it to follow him, then pulls out his own shotgun.
"What's there to shoot?"
”Nothing, I hope.”
Once the party is assembled and he has geared up.
”Okay, I’ve got Point. The rest of you hang back 5 meters. Mick on the left. Kat on the right. No lights. Minimal noise.”
He then moves into the woods. Stopping after 3 Meters to kneel activate his small flashlight, shielded by his hand to check the ground for any clues.
Once Creighton gets outside, Pearl busts out laughing. "I just realized how that probably looked! Sorry for that!"
Once they reconnect to the group she tugs at Salvo's sleeve. "Thanks for the coat. I totally wouldn't have thought about getting cut up by the brush and shit. And thanks for the confidence boost. Let's go be badasses!"
"Hey, Salvo, why don't you let Snoop take point?" Stringer gestures at the extremely hard to see palm-sized drone hovering 30' over Pearl's head. "He's replaceable and can see in the dark."
"After that, though, be my guest."
Hey, Salvo, why don't you let Snoop take point?" Stringer gestures at the extremely hard to see palm-sized drone hovering 30' over Pearl's head. "He's replaceable and can see in the dark."
”Not just yet. I’ve got another job for him. Position Snoop a little over the trees above us, to watch for anyone sneaking up.”
While the others get supplies from the truck, Kat gets her katana and attaches the sheath to her backpack. The hilt rests just above her left shoulder where she can draw it quickly.
She follows orders, walking behind the lead tracker, Salvo.
Pearl jumps when the horn sounds. This is not gonna help them be stealthy and shit.
She marches back to the parking lot with the shotgun cradled in her arms.
"WHAT IN THE LIVING F*#*! KNOCK THAT SHIT OFF, F#@+ERS!"
Stringer shrugs and just commands Snoop to alert if anything approaches, since the little drone is already hovering 30' over Pearl's head. He jumps at the sudden truck horn. "What the frag?" he mutters.