Session Start: Mon Oct 08 16:32:12 2007 Session Ident: #VCB [19:03:16] * Vice City Blues, Day 2, continued. [19:04:58] * It's sunny out, now that the sun has had a chance to fully rise above the horizon, and it shines excessivly bright, glaring off the roads, the signs and metal... [19:06:14] * ... perfect weather for a race, which, apparently, starts out with dune buggies, if the start line is any indication. [19:07:02] * They're all empty, and the pile of paintball guns nearby is as yet unclaimed. Acquiring the gear while starting on foot is part of the race. ... when it starts, anyways. [19:07:20] * There's people milling around, and the race is due to start soon. [19:07:23] * Start. 03[19:07:52] * Syzix is now known as Navi 06[19:09:35] * Tetsuko surveys the area. 03[19:09:43] * NPC1 (HeWhoHunts@68-118-60-90.dhcp.csby.or.charter.com) has joined #VCB 06[19:10:31] * Noah rolls back and forth on his feet, heel-to-toe, toe-to-heel, and back again. He's a bit tenser than he had been yesterday, though he still seems excited. "Ready to win a race, Tetsuko?" 01[19:11:40] Certainly. [19:13:02] Gonna take your own, or ride with me? *gesturing to the buggies* 06[19:22:49] * Navi whispers to the group. "I found our mysterious lady friend." 06[19:23:50] * Navi points someone out in the audience. 01[19:24:01] ... ah! 01[19:24:04] Thank you. 01[19:24:18] I suppose I can ride with you, Noah. [19:24:38] Ride shottie. ^^ 01[19:25:10] So shall we approach her? [19:25:45] Sure! 06[19:26:47] * Tetsuko starts moving. 06[19:27:26] * Noah tags along. He's curious to see if Tetsuko will take the lead on this. 03[19:27:36] * NPC1 is now known as WomanInBlack 06[19:28:05] * Navi is tagging along as well. 01[19:28:21] Hello. 06[19:30:16] * WomanInBlack glances over. [19:30:34] They're watching me, watching you. [19:30:43] Huh? [19:30:53] Now is not good. [19:31:19] Okay, nice meeting you. Let's get to the race! 01[19:31:25] Understood. 06[19:31:46] * Tetsuko returns to the buggies. 06[19:32:10] * Noah shrugs appologetically at the woman, and points after Tetsuko, as if to indicate he's just with her. And then follows her off. [19:32:31] Alright! I like the number 7. Think buggy number 7's still open? [19:32:47] I think so. [19:32:50] * There's a whistle, signifying to gather up at the start line, 20 feet or so from the paintiful weapons, and another 30 from the buggies. 06[19:33:24] * Tetsuko gathers up [19:33:50] Alright. Strategy: you go for the weapons, and I'll go for the buggy, and hold it for you while you hop in. *taking position at the starting line* 01[19:35:15] Mission parameters acknowledged. 06[19:36:07] * Noah chuckles a bit at that, and gives Tetsuko's hand an encouraging squeeze. 06[19:36:17] * Navi scans and signals out the appropriate weapons. "Those, right there." 06[19:36:47] * Tetsuko looks them over, and picks one up. 01[19:41:06] ( Whoops. Cnacel that ) 06[19:41:10] * Tetsuko looks at the weapons and nods. [19:42:44] * And the start whistle blows! People immediately start running. 06[19:43:46] * Tetsuko dashes for the ewapons 06[19:45:37] * Noah dashes for buggy number seven, shoving aside anybody who gets in his way in the manner that only a football player can manage. [19:47:30] * ...and Tetsuko beats out the pack, grabbing her picks seconds fractions of a second before anyone else gets to the weapon stock. 06[19:47:47] * Tetsuko grabs them and rushes for the buggy [19:48:07] * ... which Noah has secured. 01[19:48:34] ( Yeah. I'm trying to get at it as early as possible tos we have a time advantage ) 06[19:49:04] * Noah has the buggy idling by the time Tetsuko leaps in, and guns it as soon as she's securred, heading down the track! [19:51:35] * And Noah and Tetsuko take front row! They're off already, as a minor firefight breaks out around the weapons rack, taking out those not quick enough to get clear. 06[19:52:14] * Tetsuko holds her weapon and watches the rest of the group... [19:52:46] * They're not alone in the front, however, as there's others who -were- quick enough, and are keeping up or breaking ahead. [19:55:06] Tetsuko! Can you take out anybody who has somebody riding shotgun that's up here with us? 01[19:56:13] Already planning on it. 06[19:56:33] * Tetsuko takes aim at the one that's in the best position to shoot, and fires. 06[19:57:12] * Noah concentrates on driving, dodging enemy fire, and looking for a sign of where he's supposed to meet the mysterious people. [19:58:34] * One of the passengers gets splattered; the driver keeps driving on. [20:03:39] * Noah keeps his position, not falling behind. One buggy, piloted by a lone old woman, -zooms- past him, however, even as both her and his buggies get splatted with paint that doesn't make it past the outer shell. [20:06:24] * Up ahead the straightaway ends, having a sharp turn that goes steeply uphill. 06[20:07:08] * Noah grins, turning into it gradually and moving to build up accelleration on the uphill to unleash on the down. [20:09:14] * Another buggy, this one manned by a duo both in helmets and flight goggles, veers up to Naohs. They don't appear to have weapons, which is probably why they're trying to run them off the road right at the corner. [20:10:30] Oh, no you don't! YOU get off! Tetsuko! The driver's eyes, if you please! [20:12:02] * A few more paint spots appear on the buggy, as Noah veers away from the impending ram. 06[20:14:19] * Tetsuko takes aim and fires. She's a natural at this. Doing things like this is the very reason she was created in the first place. 06[20:15:01] * Tetsuko misses, but only barely. The painball splatters inside the car next to the driver's head. He could probably hear it splat just behind him. [20:19:25] * Noah's counter-ram is just as effective as the first one, as the buggy swerves away - but it's in a bad spot to make the upcoming turn. [20:19:41] Ha! Take that! 06[20:20:12] * Noah guns it forward, trying to push them dangerously outside the turn as he makes hte turn intentionally wide. [20:21:01] Yeah, kick his ass! [20:22:06] * Things tighten up a bit, as most of the racers focus on the coming turn, instead of firing. 06[20:22:40] * Tetsuko looks for another target and launches a paintball [20:24:47] * The crazy old midget woman takes the lead; her laughter echoes back to those eating her dust. [20:26:45] * Noah drops back, cutting back to make the turn. A couple of people pass him as he swerves wide, barely keeping on the road, and the engine whines a little as the steep angle hits. 06[20:27:54] * WomanInBlack swerves wide, matching Noah's buggie. She tosses something at them, and shouts, "Book!", before dropping a place behind him. 06[20:28:38] * Noah 's growl at falling behind is interrupted by making sure that whatever it is lands in the buggy, and not on the road. "Can you get that, Tetsuko?" 06[20:29:04] * Tetsuko grabs it. [20:29:07] * ... and the old woman who takes the lead turns at just the wrong moment, getting plastered with paint right on her nose. She spins out, losing control of the turn. [20:29:38] * The item appears to be a leathery, weighty bookbag, about the same size as the book from this morning. 06[20:30:36] * Tetsuko pulls out the book from... somewhere, and puts it in. 06[20:30:51] * Tetsuko tosses it over. [20:31:35] Hope she gives some explanation for all this. *holds the buggy steady so Tetsuko can toss the book back if the woman moves into position to take it* [20:32:09] * ... and the buggy racers crest the hill, which, as they reach the apex, isn't so much a hill as a cliff 5 feet high. There's more bangs, stops, crashes, spins, and people losing their weapons they weren't holding on to. 06[20:34:39] * Noah is pelted in the chest by the butt of his own gun, but knocks it back down into his lap, as his response to the cliff was to gun the engine more for a proper leap! [20:36:03] * Noah's buggy, however, makes it, and things calm down a bit as the path ahead splits into a number of different tracks; the traffic spreads out. 06[20:36:41] * Noah drives after the madwoman in the lead, grinning like a man possessed. [20:38:51] * There's a burst of paintfire as people recover from the sudden drop, and before they disperse; Noah narrowly avoids getting a paintball in the face, and Tetsuko's return fire is fractions of a second too late to return the favor. [20:39:28] * ... and then, suddenly, walls, buildings, and relative peace, as the path splits into different routes through the city. [20:39:28] Bah! I'm -better- than this! 06[20:43:56] * Tetsuko stays on alert. "So far, so good." [20:46:24] * Where the paths rejoin is coming up; there's parked buggies, a line of skateboards (which has been picked through already), an ongoing firefight, and a hill going Down. 06[20:47:08] * WomanInBlack is using one of the parked buggies as cover, stuck in the middle of the firefight. 06[20:47:16] * Navi looks around carefully after peeking out of Noah's shirt. How'd she get there? "Been doing a few checks online, what's going on now?" [20:47:51] Alright. This's gonna be tricky. I think speed's our best bet; suppression fire only, please. *to Navi, eyes on the road* We're about to change vehicals. The book's in a bag handed to us by mysterylady. 06[20:48:42] * Noah brakes hard at the last second, timing his stop so he spends as little time in decelleration as possible before leaping out, bookbag in hand to use as a shield while he runs for a skateboard. [20:48:59] Oh why the book? [20:49:52] * There's a row of bars spaced to prevent the buggies from going onwards; the skateboards are just beyond them. 06[20:51:06] * Noah hops the bars and leaps onto a board, kicking off. "Wheeee!" [20:52:33] No clue. But she knows something! *over the noise of the wind as he races down* 06[20:52:50] * Tetsuko gets moving. 06[20:54:57] * Tetsuko goes to get a board 06[20:55:18] * Navi flies invisibly along with the group. 06[20:55:23] * WomanInBlack spares a glance at Tetsuko, thumbing down the hill, then barely ducking a paintball. 06[20:59:15] * Tetsuko goes down the hill 06[21:04:22] * Noah grins as he swerves in and out amongst the other skaters, picking up speed and cutting them off and looking utterly graceful while doing so. [21:04:50] * The skateboards pick up speed pretty quickly; the downhill is littered with people with less than sufficient manual dexterity, who are running down on foot. 06[21:05:03] * Tetsuko moves mechanically and efficiently, without grace or anything fancy like that [21:09:21] * Once again, there's a small group of people sniping at people on the skateboards. The ones still on wheels are having better luck getting past, and one person has grabbed a pair of skateboards and is using them as shields while he runs down. Noone else on foot is having better luck getting past, though. [21:11:03] * Noah and Tetsuko zip by them as their shots miss by a large amount, and are out of easy range before they can draw another bead. [21:14:02] * And, down the hill, it flattens out, and veers slightly uphill, where the next part of the race reveals itself. A rope bridge leading to a building, leading to a volley of ziplines leading off said building. [21:14:52] * The firefighting seems to be at a minimum, people are too concerned with speed at this point. 06[21:16:25] * Noah pushes forward with the skateboard for as long as it's faster than running, then simply abandons it and leans forwards into a runningback's well-trained stance. He grins at Tetsuko, who's undoubtedly easilly keeping up. Heck, he's probably holding -her- back. [21:17:20] * There's a dull roar from behind you, as the sound of a buggy rapidly approaching from behind is heard. [21:17:51] Wow, somebody got that over the bars!? 06[21:18:05] * Noah glances behind him. 01[21:18:06] Strange... 01[21:18:40] They won't make it past the zip line. Not safely. 06[21:18:59] * WomanInBlack is the passenger, riding with someone from the firefight before. The buggie itself it drenched with paint. 06[21:19:03] * Tetsuko looks bheind. She continues moving, and picks up the skateboard. 06[21:20:27] * WomanInBlack gestures at Noah, to the pilot, and the buggie starts aiming for him. 06[21:20:47] * Noah angles his skateboard so he's in its path, ready to jump in. This is -fun-. [21:22:20] Hey! Are you SURE that's a good idea? [21:22:29] Of course not! [21:22:49] * The buggie doesn't slow down once it gets close to Noah, it instead turns sharply, spinning nintey degrees, and stopping with smoking wheels near him. And, incidentally, right next to the rope bridges. [21:23:41] * The pilot jumps off, and breaks for the bridges, running as fast as he's confortable with them swaying. 06[21:24:09] * Noah leaps the buggy, shifting the backpack to his back and catching the skateboard in midair, landing on the bridge just behind the pilot before turning to glance at what the woman's up to. [21:24:53] If you fall I'm so not saving your ass. 06[21:25:02] * Tetsuko goes down the same bridge 06[21:25:06] * WomanInBlack shouts something that gets lost in the noise at Noah jumps, then runs after him, hastily strapping the paintball rifle she has to her back. 06[21:25:29] * Noah slows just a bit, letting her catch up, unless she motions him on. 06[21:25:44] * Navi zips over to the Woman in Black. 06[21:26:04] * WomanInBlack isn't as graceful as Noah, but she's managing not to fall. "The book, after the bridge!" 06[21:26:22] * Noah nods, and breaks into a run again! [21:27:08] * The pilot, who was just previously the womans partner, takes his own paintball gun, and sends some cold, hard paint in the direction of Noah and the Woman in Black. [21:27:19] Yipes! 06[21:27:26] * Navi zipes back to Noah. [21:27:32] (zips) 06[21:27:55] * Noah grins at him, and mimes throwing something at him as he runs. Mainly because it'll probably confuse or distract him. 06[21:28:45] * Tetsuko returns fire. 06[21:29:39] * Noah blocks much of the splatter with his skateboard. 06[21:30:56] * WomanInBlack ducks low, hanging and swinging from the rope and returing in one fluid motion. [21:30:58] * The shooter gets hit square in the chest, and drops his gun, holding his hands up. [21:31:45] * The coast is clear for the moment, as the small group reaches the building's roof. The ziplines are ahead. [21:32:45] A moment, they're not watching right now. [21:32:48] The book. 06[21:33:17] * Noah swings the bag off his back. "Here. Why's it so important?" He is winded, but not severely. Obviously used to this kind of exercise. 06[21:34:14] * Navi looks around for any electronic survalence equipment nearby that might be peeking. 06[21:35:00] * Tetsuko pauses for a moment, and looks around. "I see the walls now too..." [21:36:12] TOLD you! 06[21:36:21] * WomanInBlack suddenly seems ... more real, popping out from the surroundings, plain as day to see if you can see it... 06[21:36:34] * Noah grins at Tetsuko. "So, how are you doing that, Lady?" [21:36:45] *holding out his hand* I'm Noah. 06[21:36:53] * Tetsuko blinks at the woman in black. "INteresting..." 06[21:36:58] * WomanInBlack shakes the hand, slowly. [21:37:09] The walls have eyes, you know. o/` [21:37:09] To hide. 01[21:37:48] This is strange... 01[21:37:57] What should we call you? [21:38:02] ...huh? To hide what? [21:38:05] Whatever you wish. [21:38:33] You've lost me. What's 'to hide'? 06[21:38:36] * WomanInBlack open the bag, glances inside, then nods to herself. [21:38:41] From the others. [21:38:44] Petronella then. [21:39:31] How are you hiding from what others? [21:39:33] Petronella will serve. 06[21:40:07] * WomanInBlack frowns. She suddenly shifts back to the 'just as real as everything else.' [21:40:19] ...oh. I asked 'how', not 'why'. ^^; [21:40:24] Can you show me how to do that? 06[21:40:45] * WomanInBlack holds up one arm, and gestures to the armlet on it. [21:40:52] All Enforcers have one. 01[21:41:07] Enforcers... ? [21:41:17] They are as I. [21:41:26] Neat! [21:41:38] So, why'd you contact us? [21:41:49] My time is limited. [21:42:10] I am broke, defunct, and alive again, after a fashion. [21:42:15] Huh. [21:42:21] But at the cost of invoking their wrath. [21:42:29] You must flee this place. 06[21:42:32] * Navi takes a closer longer look at that device. 01[21:43:07] How? [21:43:13] I know not. [21:43:23] We could try walking. 01[21:43:25] What happens if we don't? [21:43:28] What, Vice City? Or just this part of it? [21:43:43] And...can we help you? 06[21:44:07] * WomanInBlack blinks. "Remember me. If you leave." 01[21:44:35] Okay... [21:44:48] Then tell us the name by which to remember you. *pulls out a digital camera* And pose with Tetsuko? 06[21:45:11] * Tetsuko steps next to her, as the human has nonverbally commanded [21:45:22] I have no name, but Petronella will serve for you. [21:45:24] Heck, and with Navi. Please. ^_^ [21:45:28] ...okay. [21:45:28] Hey, uh... do you want me to fix that thing for you? 06[21:45:44] * Navi flies over between the Woman in Black and Tetsuko and grins. [21:45:55] Say, "cheese!" *takes careful aim with the camera, waiting for Navi to be in frame, and snaps the picture!* 06[21:46:15] * WomanInBlack blinks. The flash manages to surprise her, still. [21:46:46] Heh. Sorry about that. *puts away the camera* 06[21:46:52] * WomanInBlack frowns. "They're coming again." [21:47:13] If you face them, I will help. If you find a way, I will help. But call for me. [21:47:22] And... [21:47:32] Okay. See ya later, then? Maybe you'll tell me about the book then. ...and that guy in the mask, screaming. 06[21:47:39] * Noah shivers for a moment. 06[21:47:51] * Tetsuko nods... [21:47:58] And? 06[21:47:59] * WomanInBlack frowns, and slips the armlet off. She holds it out, to Noah. As she does so, she snaps back into super-reality. 01[21:48:16] We will have to talk again [21:48:39] Do not use it until you are ready. 06[21:48:43] * Noah accepts it. "...thanks. Don't get hurt because of this, okay?" 06[21:48:59] * Noah eyes it with awe. "Will being 'ready' be obvious?" 06[21:49:17] * WomanInBlack nods curtly, and breaks into a run. She jumps, and zips down the zipline, out of sight. 01[21:49:45] Let's finish this. 06[21:49:47] * Noah pockets the armlet for now, and looks to the girls. "Well, then. Ready for a come-from-behind win to this race?" [21:49:51] Be careful. 06[21:49:58] * Navi nods. "Let's go." 06[21:50:06] * Noah nods to Tetsuko and Navi, and leaps out into the air, grabbing a zipline in passing. 06[21:50:12] * Tetsuko goes. 06[21:50:27] * Navi zips along with the rest. "Also, I'll want to look at that device, I believe I can repair it." [21:50:45] * There's nobody else from the race about to catch up, that's probably becuase the bridges were cut, and are dangling uselessely from the opposing side of the hill. ... though they weren't a moment before. 01[21:51:08] Strange. 01[21:51:29] Can you keep the device hidden? [21:51:35] * The zipline deposits you on the ground, away from the building. [21:52:26] * Up ahead is an obstacle course, consisting of a classic paintball field, getting more and more defensible the closer to the finish line, which is at the far end of it, is. [21:53:00] It's in my pocket; that hidden enough? 06[21:53:23] * Noah eyes the field ahead. [21:53:33] Navi? Can you run overwatch for us? [21:53:38] * A lone -bang- echoes, as a paintball rockets past the defensive meanderings of positions, and splatters the ground next to Tetsuko's feet. 06[21:54:38] * Tetsuko scans for where the shot came form [21:55:18] Tetsuko, you handle covering fire and assault, and I'll try to find something to use as a shield for you. We'll break through this as fast as possible. 06[21:55:25] * Tetsuko nods 06[21:55:42] * Noah looks around for just such a thing, since his skateboard is left behind at the top of the zipline and he gave the book to the woman. [21:57:02] * There's one person near the middle of the field. He's moving slowly, from piece of cover to piece of cover, as he makes his way slowly to the finish line. [21:57:30] * The defensive debris is starting to get pretty hefty; he'll be hard to get. 06[21:58:14] * Tetsuko returns fire. [21:59:02] * He ducks behind something, and the paint splatters harmlessly. 06[22:00:23] * Tetsuko leaps and rushes. She can jump pretty high. She keeps an eye out for him and fires when she sees him 06[22:01:18] * Noah runs in, providing covering fire as he tries to protect her with whatever he can get ahold of. [22:02:19] Oh screw this. 06[22:02:50] * Tetsuko unleashes paint rounds from above! 06[22:03:08] * Navi zips over invisibly, shocking him with an exceptionally large static shock before zipping out of the way of the paintdeath from above. [22:04:47] Now just stay there for a moment. *grin* [22:05:00] * The contender for first place falls over, swirly eyed, twitching, and covered in paint. 06[22:05:55] * Navi shows up next to Noah again. "Let's get this over with." 06[22:06:03] * Noah relieves him of his weapon. "Thanks for the contribution to our efforts." [22:06:43] YEah, let's go. *runs on* Keep an eye out for ambushes from the air, please, Navi? Tetsuko, if you can break for the win, feel free, but I'll try to cover you right to the end if you need the help. 06[22:06:44] * Tetsuko moves. [22:08:36] * It's almost anticlimactic, as Tetsuko crosses the finish line with no last attacks, arrivals, traps, or surprises. The resulting cheers, and fanfares, though, more than make up for it. 06[22:10:08] * Noah is second! Yay! Which means he's the first to get to her to congratulate her. ...and just barely stop himself from stealing a hug and a kiss in his enthusiasm. "Great job, Tetsuko!" he says heartilly, hands behind his head as he tries to cover what he did. 06[22:10:41] * Tetsuko is hugged. And kissed. 01[22:11:10] That went well... 01[22:11:15] What's next on our agenda? [22:12:02] * Even through the enthusiasm and greetings, there's a chill feeling, as someone in the crowd is easily noticable, giving the overly real apperance that sets him apart from -everything else-. It's a man in a green business suit, green, pupil-less eyes, a green face, and white gloves. [22:12:10] * He just stands there, watching. [22:12:32] Creepydude is creeeeeeeeeeepy. [22:13:16] * There's a few instances where people walk through him, like he isn't there. [22:14:13] He is. ...really creepy. Wonder if he's one of those Enforcers. So hey, did you get a prize, Tetsuko? [22:15:03] * There's a trophy! It has a big 1 on it. 01[22:15:25] ... strange. 06[22:15:31] * Tetsuko goes to look at the trophy [22:16:40] * It's a trophy. 06[22:16:41] * Noah speaks softly to Navi. "Do you think it'd be abysmally stupid to go confront Greeny?" [22:17:12] Yeah. [22:17:15] I do. 06[22:18:30] * Tetsuko accepts the trophy from whoever hands it out. [22:19:07] Wonder what's up with them. Well, if we're not confronting him, we'd best ignore him for now. Unless you want to follow him invisibly to see where he goes and who he talks to? 06[22:19:46] * Noah goes to congratulate Tetsuko again. "Alright! So... what now?" 01[22:20:23] You had more robots to see today... right? There was more you wanted to do, too 06[22:21:14] * Noah nods. "Well, to the robots, then!" [22:21:38] * It's a little bit, with the wrap-ups and (short) closing ceremony for the race, there's a small vicotry speech extracted from Tetsuko, and some photos; all of which Noah and Tetsuko get a copy. Then they're off! ... the green, -real-, man, keeps watching them the whole time. [22:21:43] * End. Session Close: Tue Oct 09 00:00:00 2007