Welcome To The World Of Darkness
Chapter 2 Caring Tec
Cinnabar went her own way once she was free of the hairy biker
lesbian. "Panther" and Nazo went back to Rosemarie's and crashed. Stray
Long went back to his shared apartment with Trent.
Rosemarie was the first to wake up. She started breakfast and
fed her three chickens. She stuck the two eggs in with the other dozen
she had gotten off of them during the past several days. She kept them
in case any of the company she kept got in the mood for something
wilder then bacon and eggs for breakfast. And it was convenient to have
a few eggs when they were needed. She wasn't big on shopping since her
eating habits consisted of nothing that needed chewing for the lack of
teeth, and the craving of over ripe, spoiled, or moldy things made
grocery shopping for herself pointless.
She ate alone, then as she began to whisk eggs the door bell
rang. She hurried to the door and pulled it open. Gander stood there
disheveled, half dressed, and covered in hickeys. "Oh it's you." She
didn't seem surprised. "Go take a shower."
There was a dreamy look on the cat-boy's face. He was on a very
obedient autopilot and went into the men's room to bathe as directed.
She shut the door and started back to the kitchen. Moments later Dana
stuck her head out of the women's bathroom. "Who was it?"
"Slut boy." She muttered as she passed her.
"Oh, are you starting breakfast?"
"Yes."
"I'll help. Let me get dressed." She walked across the room in
a towel and went into Sin'Dera's room. It took her a few minutes to
appear in the kitchen, looking like some super model fresh out of
glamour shots. "I'll cook the bacon."
Sin'Dera nodded as she made a very large and fluffy stack of
eggs on a plate. A distant bang alerted them that the Mages had come to
join them. "Something smells good." Stray Long leaned in the kitchen
bar window. Sin'Dera sat down some plates near him without comment. The
assembly line bar was ready by the time Gander was dressed and in the
room.
Everyone fixed them selves a plate including the werecat and
they sat down around the large table near the kitchen. "We need to get
you some clothes." Trent remarked, glancing at nudist boy. "And you
need to bond it to you."
"Alright! SHOPPING!" Gander hopped up, a dozen credit cards
appearing in his hands. "I think you would look so cute in a lime..."
"Gander, I don't think so. We don't want to alienate him."
Sin'Dera spoke from where she sat with out a plate.
"NO." Dana agreed with the older Changeling female.
From the bared teeth, the werecat didn't appreciate the idea
either. He tapped his temple looking at Trent. "Yah, just a minute." He
tossed down his fork and worked on his spell, which was getting plenty
of use lately. He received an intense look from "Panther". "All I keep
seeing is a flash of black. Solid black."
"Are you sure it wasn't dark? I think a nice..." Gander went
off again into La-La land.
"Just do black. Seeing him rip you a new one isn't on my agenda
for today." Trent interrupted, getting another image he could have
lived with out. He brushed back his blue tipped hair absently as he
went back to eating.
Gander scampered of after agreeing halfheartedly, leaving his
breakfast to get cold. Some where over to the left Salys rolled of the
couch and landed on the floor with a grunt... He woke up with a snort.
"You, what are you planning to do today?"
"When Gander gets back, we should go check out Caring Tec."
Trent nodded to the werecat who must have flashed that smiley in his
head.
"There's a map over there." The still incredibly drunk man
pointed at the table a few yards from him. Sin'Dera moved quickly to
get it and examine it. "You need to get some files."
"Five floors, one block, and only an office. Impressive." She
spread the map out between plates and cups of tea and coffee.
"Fifth floor has the filing room. That's most likely where we
want to go. Any big stuff would be locked away and secured." Stray Long
tapped the room before tracing his finger to the stairs and down.
"Looks like a strait shot once we hit the stair well."
"We don't know about the guard quantity." Nazo pointed out.
"We can do an early drive by so that we can plan out our
entry." Dana said.
"Agreed." Nazo nodded.
"If you gentlemen would be so kind as to do the dishes."
Sin'Dera rose from the table, rolling up the map and putting it aside
for the time.
Stray was stuck doing them alone, Botch watched some television
with Dana, Nazo got ready, and the werecat and Slaugh did what they do
best, disappearing for a while.
When Gander appeared he had a Structure bag in his hands. "Ever
heard of Wal-Mart?" Sin'Dera was not very approving considering the
man's track record with clothes but wasn't noticed by him.
Tall-dark-and-silent came into the room and took the clothing and put
it on as Gander finished off his now cold food.
He had stuck to his orders and gotten black. A form fit black
muscle shirt, black pants, and black boots. Dana pulled back out the
map and filled Gander in. "Good for you. I'm going to sleep." He went
to one of the guestrooms and shut the door.
"Sure, you aren't much use anyway." Nazo glowered after him.
"Well, then let's go." Sin'Dera walked over and turned off the
TV, ignoring the protests. "Time to roll."
Stray Long drove to the large steel and glass structure. A
large smiley face loomed over them as they drove around the perimeter.
"Care Tec, because we care." Was scrawled above every entrance.
"Well, isn't this amazing." Sin'Dera looked at the buildings
fourth side carbon copy. "Let's send in someone to get a job
application. They can check out the guards."
"I'll go!" Trent volunteered.
"Maybe more then one should go." Nazo suggested.
"I'm in." Sin'Dera was tired of waiting in the van. "I'll wait
for a minute or two then come in."
They parked the van and Trent got out, walking across the
street to the mini mega corp. The werecat left also, walking around the
parameter of the building.
Trent walked into the cold office building and approached a
guard who was sitting behind a desk in the middle of a round room. Four
hallways branched out behind him, beyond them were elevators and
stairs. The guard was a thirty-five-year-old beer belly with a
moustache and thinning hair.
"Excuse me, I'm here to pick up an application." He looked
over the guard's desk. A porn magazine, some porn on his computer...no
important names.
"You go right down this hall to the end. Ask Cynthia for one."
He tried connecting a mind link. He got pictures of Bob doing
some very disgusting things with some women and names like Candy Ass.
"Um, what's her last name?" He tried not to choke.
"Beard or Baur or something like that." He turned back to the
computer.
He went as directed, walking slowly, trying to recover from the
twisted mind at the counter.
Sin'Dera walked in and flashed the guard a smile, leaning on
his desk a bit. "Hello."
"Hi there Missy." He gave her a lecherous smile.
"I'm Rosemarie Covington and I'm here for an application."
"Really?" She nodded. "Say I know this really great place that
serves steak."
"Oh? Well, can you tell me any names that might be useful in
order for me to secure a position?" She tried to redirect the
conversation.
"I might, if you give me a kiss on the cheek." She thought for
a moment, what the hell. And she kissed him on the cheek, getting her
breast groped for her trouble. "Follow that guy."
"Thanks, you have a good day." Mental kick, guards don't know
anything. She hurried off after Trent. "Any info?"
"Not a thing, you?"
"Nope." She stopped at a water fountain and let him get ahead
of her again.
He stopped and looked at the office at the end of the hall.
"Cynthia Gouslowski. I guess he was dumber then he looked." He knocked
lightly on the door.
"Come in." A woman's voice called. He opened the door to find a
small mousy looking woman sitting behind a cluttered desk. "May I help
you?"
"Yes." He was already examining her desk casually. "I met a man
a while ago that said I might be right for a secretarial position."
"Oh, what was his name?"
"You know, for the life of me I can't remember. I met him at a
bar..."
"Oh you don't mean Mr. Sanders do you? He died of a drinking
problem last week. He was a very nice man." She looked very sad.
"I'm sure he was." He groaned, 'don't cry lady!' "That wasn't
him. He was a little shorter then me, dark hair..."
"You mean Emelio? He's the Janitor. He makes big promises to
strangers."
"Well, I don't think that was him. He was kind of biggish and
was real nice to me. Gee, he was this tall..." He demonstrated.
"Berry. He's a really nice guy. Maybe too nice. He's going to
be fired next week."
"Really? Why? Did he do something wrong?" Trent acted shocked.
"Well, he is testifying on behalf of the families of the
children hurt by Caring Tec's products."
"Wow, that's to bad..." He spotted Berry Coberg on the top of a
list. Alicia Manners, Dana Carton, and Stan Rivers were also on the list.
"Well, here is the application." She handed it to him, smiling.
She seemed to like him. "Would you like to get together after
you get off?"
"I'm sorry, your not my type."
He nodded. "Well, bye." He walked out and past Sin'Dera.
"Good after noon, I'm Rosemarie Covington." She walked
purposefully into the room and smiled warmly.
"Hello. I'm Cynthia Gouslowski, but you probably read it on my
door." The lady smiled.
"Yes. I am here about a job...But I don't have any references
through the company."
"You look familiar to me."
"I work at the Public Library in town. I'm always in the
children's section." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It
might be nice to get away from it though."
"Oh yes, I have seen you before." She nodded. "Well, the
library should be a wonderful reference. What position did you want to
apply for?"
"I was thinking a secretary, but I like quiet and I'm very
organized so maybe a job in records." She shifted position. "Do you
like working here? How long have you had this job?"
"Ten years, it's a wonderful job." She had a fake smile
plastered on her face and she glanced up at a security camera with it
before turning back to Rosemarie.
"Wow, ten years is a long time to be in one place." She felt
she had a good connection with the woman.
"But the pay is really good." She seemed a little more sincere.
"I hope to see you around." She smiled for real.
"Thank you." She took the application. Then gave a little wave
as she went back out in the hall. Trent had already gone. She walked
back up past the guard's desk. "Oh, say Bob, when are you getting off
tonight?"
"Seven, why?" Barely-Legal-Bob raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I might see you then." She smiled slyly and left.
"Panther" had been examining all possible entrances and the
only ones were the main doors. That or scaling the building to go in
through the roof, which was arguably the most hazardous and risky.
There were no trees and no bushes to hide them. He tailed Sin'Dera
back to the van looking annoyed, shock of all shocks.
On her way to the van Sin'Dera phoned Cinnabar and told her to
show up at her place. When they arrived Cinnabar was standing on the
front stoop.
They all went inside and sat around the table, map spread open.
Trent informed them of the werecat's lack of discovery and all he had
learned. Sin'Dera topped it off with what she had learned. "So I think
we should shoot for seven tonight. That's when there will be the most
guards, but they will be getting on and off, concerned with themselves
and each other, not with any would be prowlers. They may have quantity
but from the drunk this afternoon I am guessing not quality. We
probably will have a twenty-minute window. I'm checking the library for
back issues of the newspaper to find out more information, hopefully on
our list of possible allies and of coarse on the corporation." She
stood.
"I'll help you." Stray Long also rose from a chair.
"I'll make dinner." Dana volunteered.
"I'll watch the game." Trent got up and left; Gander and Nazo
trailed after him. He flopped down on the couch and turned on the
Tele. Nazo took a big chair. Gander took Trent's lap and began
kissing him. He pushed him off. "Foot ball."
"But I want to play..." He whined, running a finger down
Botch's chest.
"Fine, you can do that later." He didn't even attempt to look
away from the 36" screen.
"But I want to now!" His ears flattened and he stuck out his
lip. Unhappy kitty.
"Then go find someone else."
"You're no fun." He left.
Less then an hour later Sin'Dera and Stray were back from the
library with a little news. The library was closing early on Saturdays
since there was a funding shortage that month. "The company changed
hands in the past year. The old president stepped down and handed the
company over to his son." Stray announced though he was competing with
a touch down. "I'll tell you later."
Sin'Dera disappeared after breezing through the kitchen,
checking on Dana, and grabbing some baby food and a spoon. Some place
quiet and dark...
Cinnabar and the werecat also had gone off to their respective
corners to meditate werecat presumably in the closet he had claimed or
on the roof.
The game ended and Trent descended upon the kitchen, stealing
food from behind Dana's back. She smacked him with a wooden spoon and
shooed him out of the kitchen. A little while later they all gathered
at the table to eat except Sin'Dera still in meditation and Salys who
was passed out still, facing a newly opened but untouched bottle of
Vodka.
When they finished they just tossed the dishes in some hot
soapy water. They'd get done later. It was time to go. "We better give
Salys the run down." Cinnabar suggested.
"Wake up." Sin'Dera poked him in the side and was kicked. She
fell onto the couch, holding her shin. "Damn, now I've got a bruise."
"From that?" Nazo rolled her eyes.
"Sorry, I'm fragile." She flipped up the hem of her skirt to
show her leg was already pink and swelling a little.
"That's sad." Stray shook his head.
"I'll wake him up." Dana knelt down on the floor and flashed
cleavage at eye level.
Salys's eyes snapped open. "Young woman, that is indecent,
cover yourself up, have respect for your body." Oh man, she woke up his
women's right's activist past life. His eyes traveled to Sin'Dera who
had dropped her skirt back down and was covered nearly from chin to
toe. "You could do to pay attention to this young lady's example."
Then Salys shook his head and looked at Dana, clearly back to
his old self. "That's what daddy likes to see."
"Good you're up. As much as I realize you need beauty sleep we
wanted to fill you in." Sin'Dera was still a little bitter about being
kicked. She allowed Stray and Trent to fill him in.
"Have fun." He went back to sleep.
"And what was I expecting?" Cinnabar shook her head.
Everyone piled into the van and they drove to Caring Tec. They
parked a block over and got out. "Let's split up and sneak in. Stray
has the map. Nazo is our key." Sin'Dera spoke before slipping into the
shadows. A light was on in the fifth floor she noted as she approached.
"I'll distract the guards, I have a plan." Trent walked up to
the guards outside the building. "Hey does anyone have a light?" He
used his powers to change the cigarette tobacco into pot. One of the
guards lit it for him and he took a drag. "This is the best cigarette,
you want a drag?" He passed it to the Bob on his left.
"Either this is really good tobacco or really bad weed." Bob R.
said handing it to the other Bob.
"Yah, it is." Bob L. got a slight smile as he handed it back to
Trent.
He took the cigarette and walked away. "Well, that was my plan,
anyone else?"
"You tried to get innocent rent-a-cops high?" Cinnabar looked at
him in amusement. "Watch a professional at work. A little animal
magnetism and a pretty face...Dana, will you back me up and distract the
Bob on the right?"
"Sure." Dana nodded.
Cinnabar strolled up to Bob R. and gave him a look that turned
him into a slobbering idiot. "Hey sexy, what are you doing tonight?"
"Anything you want." She waggled a finger, luring Bob R. away
into the darkness. "I want to tie you up and do bad things to you." She
whispered in his ear as she took his handcuffs and cuffed him to a
waterspout.
When he opened his mouth to protest she shoved a piece of trash
in it to shut him up. Then she walked back to where Dana and Bob L. were
engrossed in a riveting discussion of IHOP. Cinnabar began to talk to
him, luring him off also. Unfortunately she lured him into the path of
Bob and Mandy, who was discernable by her higher voice and slightly
longer hair. She also shaved more often.
"Hi Bob, hi Mandy." Bob L. greeted them.
"Hi Bob." Mandy said.
"Hi Bob, how's it going?" Clueless-Bob asked. "Well, who's your
friend there?"
"She's uh Dawn." Bob L. mumbled. "So, did you hear about the new
Bob?"
"Oh my gosh, look at the time. I have this appointment I have to
keep. I didn't realize it was so late." Cinnabar began edging away.
"Night!" Mandy and Clueless-Bob waved.
Bob L. kept talking. "He has blond hair. I couldn't believe it
but he does. Bob's Security is slipping. There was a time when BS stood
for something!"
By this time Dana had made it into the building Barely-Legal-Bob
looked up from his desk. "Hey baby, want some candy?"
"I don't know, what kind you got?" Elizabeth's schoolgirl outfit
was really setting off the little girl fetish he had. She leaned on his
desk, showing a little cleavage.
While his eyes were directed down her shirt Panther, Trent,
Nazo, Stray Long, and Cinnabar all made it into the stairwell and began
creeping up. A Bob was coming down the stairs and they all pressed
themselves into the shadows on about the fourth floor. Then they reached
the top of the stairwell.
Sin'Dera watched the pig guy flirt with Dana for a minute until
she was sure everyone was safely past, then she walked to the desk.
"There you are, oh hello Bob." She smiled at him, then turned back to
Dana. "This is the guard that helped me earlier today. Say Bob, is there
a ladies room we could use?"
He pointed. "I'm getting off in five and then we can go and have
a good time."
Sin'D just smiled over her shoulder as she pushed Dana into the
bathroom. "We've got to get past him and up stairs." She whispered...Ok,
she just spoke normally for her.
"Vailed eyes." She cast a spell to redirect vision from them to
other things. They went up the hall, past Barely-Legal-Bob, and into the
stairwell. They were passed by Stair-Descending-Bob on the second floor.
With magic it was decided there were two people on the fifth
floor. Up stairs the large group went to the file room. Nazo took about
thirty seconds to pick the swipe card lock. During that time a security
guard was approaching. They all hurried into the room and closed the
door quietly before Fifth-Floor-Bob passed them. They could see his
flashlight shining under the door as it swept past.
Once the footsteps receded; Nazo, Trent, and Stray Long used
their lighters to search for information. Stray was a total pro. He
jammed the button on the lighter down so he didn't have to push it to
keep the flame going and clenched the other end between his teeth.
Cinnabar stood next to the door, fondling one of her glocks. The
werecat was keeping a little distance between them, but was focused on
listening for the guard as well.
Dana and Sin'Dera reached the top floor. "I remember it being
over there some place." She pointed before casting Vailed eyes on them
again and leading Sin'D down the hall. A flicker of light under the door
that looked high security...
The Slaugh knelt and waved her fingers under the door. It opened
three inches and Cinnabar glanced around. Sin'Dera squeaked past her,
but nudged her so that she came back into focus. "Don't do that unless
you want lead in you." She growled as Dana slipped in also. The door
shut with a distinctive CLICK. Footsteps came back up the hall.
Everyone extinguished their lighters and held their breath. The
guard stopped before the door. Trent sent him the total sensation of the
highest he had ever been. The guard was trying to slide the card, but
couldn't! Everyone was looking around for hiding places. Sin'Dera caught
"Panther's" eye and directed his vision to the vent high in the wall.
He gave her a boost and she slid into the small space like
peanut butter. With in the wall she had the view of the office next to
the file room. The light was on and a man was arguing with a woman. He
blood ran cold when she caught sight of the woman's teeth. Fangs...Oh
boy.
She thought it over, deciding she better let someone know she
shimmied back out of the vent and landed lightly on her feet in a low
crouch. Panther eyed her in surprise. "There is a fanged woman in the
other room talking to a man, I'm guessing Vampire."
He frowned, squinting at the wall.
But the immediate problem at hand was still trying to get
through the door though Trent had tried very hard to make him think he
had to pee, needed to go some place- ANY PLACE- else.... Then he spotted
the coach roaches. "Bingo" He whispered, turning the small things into
silver dollar sized monsters.
Coercing one to crawl out under the door he made the guard
believe that was what he had heard. The man finally left them alone,
hurrying off to the bathroom.
Unfortunately Botch the Stampede was now surrounded by little
coach roaches. They covered every surface aside from the floor. All of
them were swaying in unison. "That was amazing." Everyone told him. He
was hurt, but they were all alive including Bob.
"There's a vampire in the next room talking to a CEO. I have to
find out what they are arguing about. Give me another boost?" She asked
Panther before pulling out her dagger and holding it in her mouth. He
lifted her up like she were a blade of grass.
Back in her element of secrets and intrigue she listened to them
talk. It was apparent that the CEO was being manipulated. He was a
living thing in adoration and fear of the undead creature before him.
"Too many kids died at once this time. Back off on the
chemicals. Milliners isn't happy at all. People are getting Curious. I
don't know why I shouldn't suck you dry." Her poisonous voice made the
man cringe. She finished speaking and melted into the shadows.
"Yes Mistress." The man prepared to leave.
Everyone else took out weapons and stealthed out of the building
figuring Sin'Dera would catch them up. "I better un-cuff Bob." Cinnabar
remarked, walking towards where she had left him. He was gone, all that
was left was a little blood smeared on the drain pipe.
"Something got him." Nazo whispered, eyeing the lack of anything
else.
"Panther" sniffed the air. A faint whiff of perfume... He
followed it down a nearby alley and paused before a trash can. He
reached in and pulled a Bob out of the bucket. He dropped the corpse on
the cement and sniffed at the body. He was void of blood and there was
red lipstick on him. He tried to follow the perfume trail, but it ended
in a shadow.
"Bob's dead..." Cinnabar walked back out of the alley to where
Dana and Nazo had been kept company by Trent who wasn't fairing
especially well and Stray Long.
"Let's go." Nazo looked around. Mega chills. She had her
crossbow loaded. They continued walking towards the van. The werecat had
taken the lead and was quite a way ahead since Cinnabar was helping
Trent and Stray was walking with the young girls.
Dark shadows sprang up all around them, tentacles appearing. "Oh
crap!" Nazo took aim as at one of the five tentacles surrounding the
group as the three around the werecat all wrapped around him.
He managed to brake free, but one lashed out and hit him,
injuring his side. He tried to move but he was paralyzed. With great
effort he was able to snap out of it and change into his Crinos form.
The Black Saber Tooth's eyes narrowed as he spotted two shadowy
figures in the darkness. He threw a knife at one, the throwing
blade slashed through it's torso and it dropped to the ground
incapacitated. The five tentacles disappeared as Nazo fired and her
wooden bolt bounced off of a brick wall with a clang.
"A werecat, fascinating. Capture it."
The werecat was grappled by the three tentacles once more.
The group saw two vampires in the shadows and an unnatural
shadowy body with them. The Sidhe invoked the wyrd, bringing her fae
self into the real world. Her boobs jiggled and her purple hair flayed
out in all directions as her silvery crescent staff appeared in her
hands.
Stray ran forward, slashing the vampire from shoulder to navel,
though it wasn't as deep as he hoped it would be.
Cinnabar rushed forward to help the werecat, but morphed to his
Scepter form and he broke free. Turning on the other vampire he returned
to Crinos form and used his claws from all four armed limbs in
combination with some werewolf martial arts to rip apart the annoyance.
It turned to dust before he landed in a crouch.
The Lasambra formed a shadow around the streetlight they were
fighting under, trapping "Panther", Cinnabar, and Stray Long in the
void. All of their senses were distorted in the sphere.
The wounded vampire crawled out of it and shook off some of his
wounds. Dana lashed out, replacing his newly healed flesh with a fresh
gash. Nazo had reloaded and fired. The bolt hit it's mark, but it hit
and bounced off as if it where rubber. As it clattered to the ground
Stray stumbled out of the bubble and looked around in confusion,
gripping his sword tightly. The vampire turned to blood and oozed into
the sewer.
The Saber Tooth thought he located his enemy and attempted to
deliver a tornado kick with claws extended but missed. The illusion
crumbled as five more tentacles sprang up around the group as the
eight-foot vampire drew to his full height.
The sadistic smile was apparent as the werecat crouched. Trent
managed to get an attack in, doing a fair bit of damage before Dana used
her staff as a scythe, laying him open. Nazo loaded a bolt, tightening
up the tension and sank a bolt deeply into the monstrous undead. Stray
Long brought his sword sharply down, adding another deep wound.
As the vampire crumbled to nothing, the group heard clapping
and laughing. "Bravo, good show!" Gander called to them. They had left
him sleeping in the car!
Sin'Dera watched him leave and waited for five minutes before
slinking out of the vent and letting herself down into the room. The
place was sparse but she was a little obsessive when it came to looking
for secrets.
She phoned Cinnabar. "Hey, it's almost eight now and I will be a
while, go ahead and leave. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Tell whoever is
using my place to not wait up." She said before handing up.
Then she looked through the desk pulling out every drawer and
looking under it and behind it. She looked in and under potted plants.
There wasn't much to find, but she hoped they would be happy with what
she did learn. She checked the time. Almost three hours...Damn. She had
better get a wiggle on or she'd be late for her date.
Chapter 2 Caring Tec
Cinnabar went her own way once she was free of the hairy biker
lesbian. "Panther" and Nazo went back to Rosemarie's and crashed. Stray
Long went back to his shared apartment with Trent.
Rosemarie was the first to wake up. She started breakfast and
fed her three chickens. She stuck the two eggs in with the other dozen
she had gotten off of them during the past several days. She kept them
in case any of the company she kept got in the mood for something
wilder then bacon and eggs for breakfast. And it was convenient to have
a few eggs when they were needed. She wasn't big on shopping since her
eating habits consisted of nothing that needed chewing for the lack of
teeth, and the craving of over ripe, spoiled, or moldy things made
grocery shopping for herself pointless.
She ate alone, then as she began to whisk eggs the door bell
rang. She hurried to the door and pulled it open. Gander stood there
disheveled, half dressed, and covered in hickeys. "Oh it's you." She
didn't seem surprised. "Go take a shower."
There was a dreamy look on the cat-boy's face. He was on a very
obedient autopilot and went into the men's room to bathe as directed.
She shut the door and started back to the kitchen. Moments later Dana
stuck her head out of the women's bathroom. "Who was it?"
"Slut boy." She muttered as she passed her.
"Oh, are you starting breakfast?"
"Yes."
"I'll help. Let me get dressed." She walked across the room in
a towel and went into Sin'Dera's room. It took her a few minutes to
appear in the kitchen, looking like some super model fresh out of
glamour shots. "I'll cook the bacon."
Sin'Dera nodded as she made a very large and fluffy stack of
eggs on a plate. A distant bang alerted them that the Mages had come to
join them. "Something smells good." Stray Long leaned in the kitchen
bar window. Sin'Dera sat down some plates near him without comment. The
assembly line bar was ready by the time Gander was dressed and in the
room.
Everyone fixed them selves a plate including the werecat and
they sat down around the large table near the kitchen. "We need to get
you some clothes." Trent remarked, glancing at nudist boy. "And you
need to bond it to you."
"Alright! SHOPPING!" Gander hopped up, a dozen credit cards
appearing in his hands. "I think you would look so cute in a lime..."
"Gander, I don't think so. We don't want to alienate him."
Sin'Dera spoke from where she sat with out a plate.
"NO." Dana agreed with the older Changeling female.
From the bared teeth, the werecat didn't appreciate the idea
either. He tapped his temple looking at Trent. "Yah, just a minute." He
tossed down his fork and worked on his spell, which was getting plenty
of use lately. He received an intense look from "Panther". "All I keep
seeing is a flash of black. Solid black."
"Are you sure it wasn't dark? I think a nice..." Gander went
off again into La-La land.
"Just do black. Seeing him rip you a new one isn't on my agenda
for today." Trent interrupted, getting another image he could have
lived with out. He brushed back his blue tipped hair absently as he
went back to eating.
Gander scampered of after agreeing halfheartedly, leaving his
breakfast to get cold. Some where over to the left Salys rolled of the
couch and landed on the floor with a grunt... He woke up with a snort.
"You, what are you planning to do today?"
"When Gander gets back, we should go check out Caring Tec."
Trent nodded to the werecat who must have flashed that smiley in his
head.
"There's a map over there." The still incredibly drunk man
pointed at the table a few yards from him. Sin'Dera moved quickly to
get it and examine it. "You need to get some files."
"Five floors, one block, and only an office. Impressive." She
spread the map out between plates and cups of tea and coffee.
"Fifth floor has the filing room. That's most likely where we
want to go. Any big stuff would be locked away and secured." Stray Long
tapped the room before tracing his finger to the stairs and down.
"Looks like a strait shot once we hit the stair well."
"We don't know about the guard quantity." Nazo pointed out.
"We can do an early drive by so that we can plan out our
entry." Dana said.
"Agreed." Nazo nodded.
"If you gentlemen would be so kind as to do the dishes."
Sin'Dera rose from the table, rolling up the map and putting it aside
for the time.
Stray was stuck doing them alone, Botch watched some television
with Dana, Nazo got ready, and the werecat and Slaugh did what they do
best, disappearing for a while.
When Gander appeared he had a Structure bag in his hands. "Ever
heard of Wal-Mart?" Sin'Dera was not very approving considering the
man's track record with clothes but wasn't noticed by him.
Tall-dark-and-silent came into the room and took the clothing and put
it on as Gander finished off his now cold food.
He had stuck to his orders and gotten black. A form fit black
muscle shirt, black pants, and black boots. Dana pulled back out the
map and filled Gander in. "Good for you. I'm going to sleep." He went
to one of the guestrooms and shut the door.
"Sure, you aren't much use anyway." Nazo glowered after him.
"Well, then let's go." Sin'Dera walked over and turned off the
TV, ignoring the protests. "Time to roll."
Stray Long drove to the large steel and glass structure. A
large smiley face loomed over them as they drove around the perimeter.
"Care Tec, because we care." Was scrawled above every entrance.
"Well, isn't this amazing." Sin'Dera looked at the buildings
fourth side carbon copy. "Let's send in someone to get a job
application. They can check out the guards."
"I'll go!" Trent volunteered.
"Maybe more then one should go." Nazo suggested.
"I'm in." Sin'Dera was tired of waiting in the van. "I'll wait
for a minute or two then come in."
They parked the van and Trent got out, walking across the
street to the mini mega corp. The werecat left also, walking around the
parameter of the building.
Trent walked into the cold office building and approached a
guard who was sitting behind a desk in the middle of a round room. Four
hallways branched out behind him, beyond them were elevators and
stairs. The guard was a thirty-five-year-old beer belly with a
moustache and thinning hair.
"Excuse me, I'm here to pick up an application." He looked
over the guard's desk. A porn magazine, some porn on his computer...no
important names.
"You go right down this hall to the end. Ask Cynthia for one."
He tried connecting a mind link. He got pictures of Bob doing
some very disgusting things with some women and names like Candy Ass.
"Um, what's her last name?" He tried not to choke.
"Beard or Baur or something like that." He turned back to the
computer.
He went as directed, walking slowly, trying to recover from the
twisted mind at the counter.
Sin'Dera walked in and flashed the guard a smile, leaning on
his desk a bit. "Hello."
"Hi there Missy." He gave her a lecherous smile.
"I'm Rosemarie Covington and I'm here for an application."
"Really?" She nodded. "Say I know this really great place that
serves steak."
"Oh? Well, can you tell me any names that might be useful in
order for me to secure a position?" She tried to redirect the
conversation.
"I might, if you give me a kiss on the cheek." She thought for
a moment, what the hell. And she kissed him on the cheek, getting her
breast groped for her trouble. "Follow that guy."
"Thanks, you have a good day." Mental kick, guards don't know
anything. She hurried off after Trent. "Any info?"
"Not a thing, you?"
"Nope." She stopped at a water fountain and let him get ahead
of her again.
He stopped and looked at the office at the end of the hall.
"Cynthia Gouslowski. I guess he was dumber then he looked." He knocked
lightly on the door.
"Come in." A woman's voice called. He opened the door to find a
small mousy looking woman sitting behind a cluttered desk. "May I help
you?"
"Yes." He was already examining her desk casually. "I met a man
a while ago that said I might be right for a secretarial position."
"Oh, what was his name?"
"You know, for the life of me I can't remember. I met him at a
bar..."
"Oh you don't mean Mr. Sanders do you? He died of a drinking
problem last week. He was a very nice man." She looked very sad.
"I'm sure he was." He groaned, 'don't cry lady!' "That wasn't
him. He was a little shorter then me, dark hair..."
"You mean Emelio? He's the Janitor. He makes big promises to
strangers."
"Well, I don't think that was him. He was kind of biggish and
was real nice to me. Gee, he was this tall..." He demonstrated.
"Berry. He's a really nice guy. Maybe too nice. He's going to
be fired next week."
"Really? Why? Did he do something wrong?" Trent acted shocked.
"Well, he is testifying on behalf of the families of the
children hurt by Caring Tec's products."
"Wow, that's to bad..." He spotted Berry Coberg on the top of a
list. Alicia Manners, Dana Carton, and Stan Rivers were also on the list.
"Well, here is the application." She handed it to him, smiling.
She seemed to like him. "Would you like to get together after
you get off?"
"I'm sorry, your not my type."
He nodded. "Well, bye." He walked out and past Sin'Dera.
"Good after noon, I'm Rosemarie Covington." She walked
purposefully into the room and smiled warmly.
"Hello. I'm Cynthia Gouslowski, but you probably read it on my
door." The lady smiled.
"Yes. I am here about a job...But I don't have any references
through the company."
"You look familiar to me."
"I work at the Public Library in town. I'm always in the
children's section." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It
might be nice to get away from it though."
"Oh yes, I have seen you before." She nodded. "Well, the
library should be a wonderful reference. What position did you want to
apply for?"
"I was thinking a secretary, but I like quiet and I'm very
organized so maybe a job in records." She shifted position. "Do you
like working here? How long have you had this job?"
"Ten years, it's a wonderful job." She had a fake smile
plastered on her face and she glanced up at a security camera with it
before turning back to Rosemarie.
"Wow, ten years is a long time to be in one place." She felt
she had a good connection with the woman.
"But the pay is really good." She seemed a little more sincere.
"I hope to see you around." She smiled for real.
"Thank you." She took the application. Then gave a little wave
as she went back out in the hall. Trent had already gone. She walked
back up past the guard's desk. "Oh, say Bob, when are you getting off
tonight?"
"Seven, why?" Barely-Legal-Bob raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I might see you then." She smiled slyly and left.
"Panther" had been examining all possible entrances and the
only ones were the main doors. That or scaling the building to go in
through the roof, which was arguably the most hazardous and risky.
There were no trees and no bushes to hide them. He tailed Sin'Dera
back to the van looking annoyed, shock of all shocks.
On her way to the van Sin'Dera phoned Cinnabar and told her to
show up at her place. When they arrived Cinnabar was standing on the
front stoop.
They all went inside and sat around the table, map spread open.
Trent informed them of the werecat's lack of discovery and all he had
learned. Sin'Dera topped it off with what she had learned. "So I think
we should shoot for seven tonight. That's when there will be the most
guards, but they will be getting on and off, concerned with themselves
and each other, not with any would be prowlers. They may have quantity
but from the drunk this afternoon I am guessing not quality. We
probably will have a twenty-minute window. I'm checking the library for
back issues of the newspaper to find out more information, hopefully on
our list of possible allies and of coarse on the corporation." She
stood.
"I'll help you." Stray Long also rose from a chair.
"I'll make dinner." Dana volunteered.
"I'll watch the game." Trent got up and left; Gander and Nazo
trailed after him. He flopped down on the couch and turned on the
Tele. Nazo took a big chair. Gander took Trent's lap and began
kissing him. He pushed him off. "Foot ball."
"But I want to play..." He whined, running a finger down
Botch's chest.
"Fine, you can do that later." He didn't even attempt to look
away from the 36" screen.
"But I want to now!" His ears flattened and he stuck out his
lip. Unhappy kitty.
"Then go find someone else."
"You're no fun." He left.
Less then an hour later Sin'Dera and Stray were back from the
library with a little news. The library was closing early on Saturdays
since there was a funding shortage that month. "The company changed
hands in the past year. The old president stepped down and handed the
company over to his son." Stray announced though he was competing with
a touch down. "I'll tell you later."
Sin'Dera disappeared after breezing through the kitchen,
checking on Dana, and grabbing some baby food and a spoon. Some place
quiet and dark...
Cinnabar and the werecat also had gone off to their respective
corners to meditate werecat presumably in the closet he had claimed or
on the roof.
The game ended and Trent descended upon the kitchen, stealing
food from behind Dana's back. She smacked him with a wooden spoon and
shooed him out of the kitchen. A little while later they all gathered
at the table to eat except Sin'Dera still in meditation and Salys who
was passed out still, facing a newly opened but untouched bottle of
Vodka.
When they finished they just tossed the dishes in some hot
soapy water. They'd get done later. It was time to go. "We better give
Salys the run down." Cinnabar suggested.
"Wake up." Sin'Dera poked him in the side and was kicked. She
fell onto the couch, holding her shin. "Damn, now I've got a bruise."
"From that?" Nazo rolled her eyes.
"Sorry, I'm fragile." She flipped up the hem of her skirt to
show her leg was already pink and swelling a little.
"That's sad." Stray shook his head.
"I'll wake him up." Dana knelt down on the floor and flashed
cleavage at eye level.
Salys's eyes snapped open. "Young woman, that is indecent,
cover yourself up, have respect for your body." Oh man, she woke up his
women's right's activist past life. His eyes traveled to Sin'Dera who
had dropped her skirt back down and was covered nearly from chin to
toe. "You could do to pay attention to this young lady's example."
Then Salys shook his head and looked at Dana, clearly back to
his old self. "That's what daddy likes to see."
"Good you're up. As much as I realize you need beauty sleep we
wanted to fill you in." Sin'Dera was still a little bitter about being
kicked. She allowed Stray and Trent to fill him in.
"Have fun." He went back to sleep.
"And what was I expecting?" Cinnabar shook her head.
Everyone piled into the van and they drove to Caring Tec. They
parked a block over and got out. "Let's split up and sneak in. Stray
has the map. Nazo is our key." Sin'Dera spoke before slipping into the
shadows. A light was on in the fifth floor she noted as she approached.
"I'll distract the guards, I have a plan." Trent walked up to
the guards outside the building. "Hey does anyone have a light?" He
used his powers to change the cigarette tobacco into pot. One of the
guards lit it for him and he took a drag. "This is the best cigarette,
you want a drag?" He passed it to the Bob on his left.
"Either this is really good tobacco or really bad weed." Bob R.
said handing it to the other Bob.
"Yah, it is." Bob L. got a slight smile as he handed it back to
Trent.
He took the cigarette and walked away. "Well, that was my plan,
anyone else?"
"You tried to get innocent rent-a-cops high?" Cinnabar looked at
him in amusement. "Watch a professional at work. A little animal
magnetism and a pretty face...Dana, will you back me up and distract the
Bob on the right?"
"Sure." Dana nodded.
Cinnabar strolled up to Bob R. and gave him a look that turned
him into a slobbering idiot. "Hey sexy, what are you doing tonight?"
"Anything you want." She waggled a finger, luring Bob R. away
into the darkness. "I want to tie you up and do bad things to you." She
whispered in his ear as she took his handcuffs and cuffed him to a
waterspout.
When he opened his mouth to protest she shoved a piece of trash
in it to shut him up. Then she walked back to where Dana and Bob L. were
engrossed in a riveting discussion of IHOP. Cinnabar began to talk to
him, luring him off also. Unfortunately she lured him into the path of
Bob and Mandy, who was discernable by her higher voice and slightly
longer hair. She also shaved more often.
"Hi Bob, hi Mandy." Bob L. greeted them.
"Hi Bob." Mandy said.
"Hi Bob, how's it going?" Clueless-Bob asked. "Well, who's your
friend there?"
"She's uh Dawn." Bob L. mumbled. "So, did you hear about the new
Bob?"
"Oh my gosh, look at the time. I have this appointment I have to
keep. I didn't realize it was so late." Cinnabar began edging away.
"Night!" Mandy and Clueless-Bob waved.
Bob L. kept talking. "He has blond hair. I couldn't believe it
but he does. Bob's Security is slipping. There was a time when BS stood
for something!"
By this time Dana had made it into the building Barely-Legal-Bob
looked up from his desk. "Hey baby, want some candy?"
"I don't know, what kind you got?" Elizabeth's schoolgirl outfit
was really setting off the little girl fetish he had. She leaned on his
desk, showing a little cleavage.
While his eyes were directed down her shirt Panther, Trent,
Nazo, Stray Long, and Cinnabar all made it into the stairwell and began
creeping up. A Bob was coming down the stairs and they all pressed
themselves into the shadows on about the fourth floor. Then they reached
the top of the stairwell.
Sin'Dera watched the pig guy flirt with Dana for a minute until
she was sure everyone was safely past, then she walked to the desk.
"There you are, oh hello Bob." She smiled at him, then turned back to
Dana. "This is the guard that helped me earlier today. Say Bob, is there
a ladies room we could use?"
He pointed. "I'm getting off in five and then we can go and have
a good time."
Sin'D just smiled over her shoulder as she pushed Dana into the
bathroom. "We've got to get past him and up stairs." She whispered...Ok,
she just spoke normally for her.
"Vailed eyes." She cast a spell to redirect vision from them to
other things. They went up the hall, past Barely-Legal-Bob, and into the
stairwell. They were passed by Stair-Descending-Bob on the second floor.
With magic it was decided there were two people on the fifth
floor. Up stairs the large group went to the file room. Nazo took about
thirty seconds to pick the swipe card lock. During that time a security
guard was approaching. They all hurried into the room and closed the
door quietly before Fifth-Floor-Bob passed them. They could see his
flashlight shining under the door as it swept past.
Once the footsteps receded; Nazo, Trent, and Stray Long used
their lighters to search for information. Stray was a total pro. He
jammed the button on the lighter down so he didn't have to push it to
keep the flame going and clenched the other end between his teeth.
Cinnabar stood next to the door, fondling one of her glocks. The
werecat was keeping a little distance between them, but was focused on
listening for the guard as well.
Dana and Sin'Dera reached the top floor. "I remember it being
over there some place." She pointed before casting Vailed eyes on them
again and leading Sin'D down the hall. A flicker of light under the door
that looked high security...
The Slaugh knelt and waved her fingers under the door. It opened
three inches and Cinnabar glanced around. Sin'Dera squeaked past her,
but nudged her so that she came back into focus. "Don't do that unless
you want lead in you." She growled as Dana slipped in also. The door
shut with a distinctive CLICK. Footsteps came back up the hall.
Everyone extinguished their lighters and held their breath. The
guard stopped before the door. Trent sent him the total sensation of the
highest he had ever been. The guard was trying to slide the card, but
couldn't! Everyone was looking around for hiding places. Sin'Dera caught
"Panther's" eye and directed his vision to the vent high in the wall.
He gave her a boost and she slid into the small space like
peanut butter. With in the wall she had the view of the office next to
the file room. The light was on and a man was arguing with a woman. He
blood ran cold when she caught sight of the woman's teeth. Fangs...Oh
boy.
She thought it over, deciding she better let someone know she
shimmied back out of the vent and landed lightly on her feet in a low
crouch. Panther eyed her in surprise. "There is a fanged woman in the
other room talking to a man, I'm guessing Vampire."
He frowned, squinting at the wall.
But the immediate problem at hand was still trying to get
through the door though Trent had tried very hard to make him think he
had to pee, needed to go some place- ANY PLACE- else.... Then he spotted
the coach roaches. "Bingo" He whispered, turning the small things into
silver dollar sized monsters.
Coercing one to crawl out under the door he made the guard
believe that was what he had heard. The man finally left them alone,
hurrying off to the bathroom.
Unfortunately Botch the Stampede was now surrounded by little
coach roaches. They covered every surface aside from the floor. All of
them were swaying in unison. "That was amazing." Everyone told him. He
was hurt, but they were all alive including Bob.
"There's a vampire in the next room talking to a CEO. I have to
find out what they are arguing about. Give me another boost?" She asked
Panther before pulling out her dagger and holding it in her mouth. He
lifted her up like she were a blade of grass.
Back in her element of secrets and intrigue she listened to them
talk. It was apparent that the CEO was being manipulated. He was a
living thing in adoration and fear of the undead creature before him.
"Too many kids died at once this time. Back off on the
chemicals. Milliners isn't happy at all. People are getting Curious. I
don't know why I shouldn't suck you dry." Her poisonous voice made the
man cringe. She finished speaking and melted into the shadows.
"Yes Mistress." The man prepared to leave.
Everyone else took out weapons and stealthed out of the building
figuring Sin'Dera would catch them up. "I better un-cuff Bob." Cinnabar
remarked, walking towards where she had left him. He was gone, all that
was left was a little blood smeared on the drain pipe.
"Something got him." Nazo whispered, eyeing the lack of anything
else.
"Panther" sniffed the air. A faint whiff of perfume... He
followed it down a nearby alley and paused before a trash can. He
reached in and pulled a Bob out of the bucket. He dropped the corpse on
the cement and sniffed at the body. He was void of blood and there was
red lipstick on him. He tried to follow the perfume trail, but it ended
in a shadow.
"Bob's dead..." Cinnabar walked back out of the alley to where
Dana and Nazo had been kept company by Trent who wasn't fairing
especially well and Stray Long.
"Let's go." Nazo looked around. Mega chills. She had her
crossbow loaded. They continued walking towards the van. The werecat had
taken the lead and was quite a way ahead since Cinnabar was helping
Trent and Stray was walking with the young girls.
Dark shadows sprang up all around them, tentacles appearing. "Oh
crap!" Nazo took aim as at one of the five tentacles surrounding the
group as the three around the werecat all wrapped around him.
He managed to brake free, but one lashed out and hit him,
injuring his side. He tried to move but he was paralyzed. With great
effort he was able to snap out of it and change into his Crinos form.
The Black Saber Tooth's eyes narrowed as he spotted two shadowy
figures in the darkness. He threw a knife at one, the throwing
blade slashed through it's torso and it dropped to the ground
incapacitated. The five tentacles disappeared as Nazo fired and her
wooden bolt bounced off of a brick wall with a clang.
"A werecat, fascinating. Capture it."
The werecat was grappled by the three tentacles once more.
The group saw two vampires in the shadows and an unnatural
shadowy body with them. The Sidhe invoked the wyrd, bringing her fae
self into the real world. Her boobs jiggled and her purple hair flayed
out in all directions as her silvery crescent staff appeared in her
hands.
Stray ran forward, slashing the vampire from shoulder to navel,
though it wasn't as deep as he hoped it would be.
Cinnabar rushed forward to help the werecat, but morphed to his
Scepter form and he broke free. Turning on the other vampire he returned
to Crinos form and used his claws from all four armed limbs in
combination with some werewolf martial arts to rip apart the annoyance.
It turned to dust before he landed in a crouch.
The Lasambra formed a shadow around the streetlight they were
fighting under, trapping "Panther", Cinnabar, and Stray Long in the
void. All of their senses were distorted in the sphere.
The wounded vampire crawled out of it and shook off some of his
wounds. Dana lashed out, replacing his newly healed flesh with a fresh
gash. Nazo had reloaded and fired. The bolt hit it's mark, but it hit
and bounced off as if it where rubber. As it clattered to the ground
Stray stumbled out of the bubble and looked around in confusion,
gripping his sword tightly. The vampire turned to blood and oozed into
the sewer.
The Saber Tooth thought he located his enemy and attempted to
deliver a tornado kick with claws extended but missed. The illusion
crumbled as five more tentacles sprang up around the group as the
eight-foot vampire drew to his full height.
The sadistic smile was apparent as the werecat crouched. Trent
managed to get an attack in, doing a fair bit of damage before Dana used
her staff as a scythe, laying him open. Nazo loaded a bolt, tightening
up the tension and sank a bolt deeply into the monstrous undead. Stray
Long brought his sword sharply down, adding another deep wound.
As the vampire crumbled to nothing, the group heard clapping
and laughing. "Bravo, good show!" Gander called to them. They had left
him sleeping in the car!
Sin'Dera watched him leave and waited for five minutes before
slinking out of the vent and letting herself down into the room. The
place was sparse but she was a little obsessive when it came to looking
for secrets.
She phoned Cinnabar. "Hey, it's almost eight now and I will be a
while, go ahead and leave. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Tell whoever is
using my place to not wait up." She said before handing up.
Then she looked through the desk pulling out every drawer and
looking under it and behind it. She looked in and under potted plants.
There wasn't much to find, but she hoped they would be happy with what
she did learn. She checked the time. Almost three hours...Damn. She had
better get a wiggle on or she'd be late for her date.