☆TRACK VIII: I'LL REACH YOU BELOW

[interdimanagers]

Who: All rescuers!
What: The trio is here to give you the deets.
When: The evening of February 18th.
Where: An abandoned subway.
Warnings: Nothing predictable, but you never know.

“Word has it on the wire That you don't who you are. Well, if you could jack into my brain, You'd know exactly what you mean here.” ☆I'LL REACH YOU BELOW The notification is sudden. A several hours in advance, all rescuers will receive a ping over the network from Shep that they are to gather at a specific location late that evening. The location will not be given out until one hour in advance of the meeting, but they are advised to be ready to receive it and move out immediately. When they arrive, the meeting is taking place in an abandoned subway. At first it doesn't seem like there is a way in, but after slipping through the rubble in some collapsed tunnels, you'll find it. Shep, Gold, and Silver are all present, and will spent the first while doing a careful headcount of those that show up, until approximately 15 minutes after the starting time. The results seem to be disappointing. People who were here the first time are missing, that much is obvious just from looking around – the leaders’ unease with it is clear. However, it doesn’t cause them to panic or change the point of the meeting, either. At 11:15 PM on the dot, then Shep will begin the meeting by explaining what they are all there for: information. There have been details that the team has been holding back on giving until now, and Shep will somewhat sheepishly explain that it’s because they didn’t want the risk the change of it being leaked in the event that new recruits were incapable or unwilling to blend and lay low for the time being. Thankfully, he’ll explain, everyone here has more than proven themselves capable of working within Vista’s system. So, they’ve been brought together so they can be fully brought up to speed. Information will be delivered in three parts, by each one of the leaders. Afterwards, questions can be asked, and the rescuers will be allowed to mingle and discuss for a few hours. All the information is concise, and in the end the actual explanation will end up taking a half hour or less. Afterwards, Gold has brought snacks to share, as has become customary. Hopefully you like pastries. “So, if you've got the time, Set up the tone to sync. Tap in the code, I'll reach you below.”

Comments

SPARKS DISCUSSES PLANS AND PUNCHING

[fromearth]

"All right, people."

Once the leaders have had their say, Sparks is already generating his own ideas. He's not wasting any more time on fumigation or petty bourgeois. It's time to get back in form.

"I need a group of three or four folks to help take out one of those manager fellas Shep was talking about. They got information, and a strong hold on your pals, so takin' one or more out's to all our best advantage.

"What we need is some way for us to get in backstage at a concert, and people who ain't afraid to tussle with somethin' super strong an' made of metal. You heard what they can do, so unless you got super strength or robot fists," he pats the metal gloves hanging at his belt, "you ain't gonna wanna get in the way. I can do a little hacking if need be, but if one of you brainy types can help out and keep from gettin' hurt, it'll be a mighty help."

[determinate]

Well, this doesn't sound like Frisk's kind of mission at all. Their style of fight generally ends in friendship. They do understand that wouldn't work this time; if they're robots like computers and not like Mettaton, there's not really anything inside to make friends with. So really, they'd probably just get killed by a robot if they went.

They still raise a hand to offer some commentary. You can get backstage passes if you win a contest. Like on the radio.

[fromearth]

Yeah, from what he's seen of this kid, and what they've heard of these robots, Sparks really doesn't think he wants them in the middle of this fight.

"That's an option. Got a pretty big element of chance in there, and generally got someone keepin' an eye on you if you get let in."

[intohell]

"Depending on where the concert is, it might not be that hard to get a few people unnoticed backstage." Working security at some of the clubs certainly helped get in with the right people, or wrong, depending on how someone looked at it.

Riza's all for letting those who want to try a hand, but there were other concerns. "The main issue is going to be taking them down and out before anyone else gets involved. And keeping the captives out of harm."

[fromearth]

He nods. Enough people have gotten jobs in enough spaces, getting an in shouldn't be too hard. "Doubt they're likely to go on stage during the performance. Get 'em while the music's playing, helps cover up any noise from a scuffle. Tricky part is going to be getting back out."

[intohell]

"Not really. It doesn't take much to make a distraction. A simple fire, or a fight in the crowd would do the trick." She might know a few ways to get that going. "But, if they have a way to track those we're here to rescue, doon't you think they'll have something similar for the robots?" It would only make sense. Wouldn't those things be expensive?

[fromearth]

"Likely, sure, but these ain't people with brains you gotta worry about scrambling. Loads easier to pick out and fry any sort of tracking signal if you ain't gotta worry about keeping a thing alive. If we go by what Shep's saying, robot rights don't even gotta come into it." Which is a relief, because that is some complicated terrain to navigate.

[oceantier]

"I can get backstage." Lapis' voice remains quiet. "I . . . can do that. I just . . . don't know if I can take anyone else. Unless they can't be seen."

"I can't lose that job. I can't get in trouble. It's important."

[fromearth]

"If you ain't up for a risk, this ain't your fight." Sorry, Lapis, he's not planning on sugar coating any of this. "Opening the right door from the inside can be a big help, but the tricky part ain't getting in, it's getting back out."

[oceantier]

Lapis isn't expecting sugarcoating from anyone; she never has -- least of all from him.

But as he often does, he does manage to poke her.

"I'm up for risk." Her voice is strangely, suddenly more firm. "But I can do more with the job I have than by giving that up. I can give you information about inside. I can leave the door open if you want. But you have to determine how to get out."

[fromearth]

"If'n you say so." There's a lot of people ready to open doors, but fewer are ready to walk through them. Oh that's deep, he should write that down. Point is, help is help. "The more info we can get before we head in, the better. You're in a good place to get us notes on those robots."

[avidita]

"I can get everyone behind the scenes and make sure we take care of the target without being seen."

Mammon sounds a bit tired as they give the suggestion. Their little display to Silver hasn't exhausted them, but they're a bit wary. If they go along with this, they'll have to practice in the coming days just to see their limits.

"I'm an illusionist. This is what I'm made for. However... Someone will have to protect me while I'm doing that. If the target focuses on me and does enough damage, that's it. The illusion will come undone, and our whole mess will be out in the open for anyone to see."

[fromearth]

Sparks considers them for a moment. "All right. That makes things a lot easier." Reluctant or not, a volunteer's a volunteer, and this is too helpful a skill to pass up.

"How's your thing work, you got a range, someone gotta be touchin' you, or what?" Protecting someone while in the middle of a fight can be tough, so however their illusions work will play a big part in figuring that bit out.

[avidita]

There's a small ugly snort. "No touching is required, although I'll accept tackling me out of the way of a thrown heavy object." It's combat, and they've gone through worse than being carted around a bit for that.

"My range is smaller since our little travel across time and space, but it should fit you, myself, our target, and your remaining three people if that's what you're still going with. I need everyone in my range of vision when I cast the illusion, just so there's no mistakes. I don't want to take any undue risks considering the situation."

[fromearth]

"What's that for... I don't..." It's not like he wants to touch you, jeez.

"All right. Easy. You can just... keep in the corner of the room, or whatever, while we take 'em out. Keep yourself hidden, ain't like they'll be able to pick you out to mess with you." Either he's missing something or this ability is like... way too useful.

[lightthedarkness]

"Won't... attacking these robots alert Blanche and Santiago that there's someone coming after them? But... I can... help. I know how you can hide whatever you may take in to fight them if it's things like weapons. And I have access to all back stage... everything, honestly."

Working in a flower shop meant that as a florist sent on deliveries, whenever the concerts wanted to send flowers as thanks and asked for it that night...

It wasn't that Usagi didn't want to fight these people, just, as she was, she wasn't sure hoe much use she could be.

[fromearth]

"Odds are, they already have some idea. More'n a few of us have gone missing, you might've noticed." That's his best guess to where they might be, anyway. "Point is, we can't wait around a lot longer. We need to start moving forward, before they figure out more about us'n we know about them."

He rubs at his mouth, thinking over her offer. "'S a good card to have in our hands. I think we've got an in for whatever we want to sneak in, but if you can tell us what things look like in there before we get in it'd be a big help."

[lightthedarkness]

"No, we probably can't wait much longer..." Nor could they hope for peaceful negotiations. The more Silver, Gold, and Shep talked about everything, the more Usagi realized Blanche and Santiago were not to be given second chances, a hand held out to them. And knowing that...

It felt wrong. She had held out a hand to Galaxia, after all...

"I can do that, if you tell me the concert you want to do, I can go in before each one. I work for a flower shop, and they always call our shop to send something to the musicians. Though it isn't always us and I'm not always the one who goes on the deliveries. Sometimes the deliveries are early in the day, which may be even better. But how will we know concert schedules? Does someone have that information readily available?"

[fromearth]

In truth, Sparks' hopes for arresting those two are looking increasingly futile, as well. He can think of a lot of universes who would rather they got a chance to answer for their crimes before dying. They'll just have to burn that bridge when they cross it.

"You mean besides, like. The 'net?" He really hasn't been keeping up on how the whole musician stuff works, honestly. "Dunno... unless there's someone workin' the venue, doubt there's more'n we can know than's out to the public."

[candothismuch]

"I can help fight if it comes to that."

Combat was something Eiji knew well enough and he'd fought his fair share of tough enemies. They may not be the same as the Yummies and the Greeed but he wasn't going to let that keep him from helping however he could.

[fromearth]

"All right. What you got?"

Unlike SOME people, Sparks isn't agreeing to any person who says yes without an idea of what skills they've got for the job.

[candothismuch]

"I know some self-defense techniques and I have a belt that lets me transform into a Kamen Rider."

[eversohungry]

"Are you so certain that it's prudent to start making plans to go after these 'managers' before we are able to secure a single victim?" Vastra can appreciate the fervor, but what she's hearing is that they're not ready to free anyone just yet. Showing their hand before the ante seems premature.

"Sounds like we would be opening up a hive before purchasing a bee keeper's hood."

[fromearth]

"Yeah, well, you catch more bees by breakin' a few eggs." That's.... Sparks no, that's not how sayings work.

"All I'm hearin' is that we got people with more resources, supplies, and leverage than we do. My experience, that means we gotta start making some ground, or else we ain't never gettin' anywhere with it." It's not a situation Sparks likes, but it's hardly one he's unused to.

[eversohungry]

...bees by breaking eggs. Certainly a curious turn of phrase, sir, and Vastra frowns and tilts her head to indicate she has no idea what he's getting at.

"I would agree that ground needs to be made, however I put forward that mounting an attack is not the sort of ground we wish to gain. If these are in fact robots-- metal-based humanoids-- it stands to reason they will simply manufacture or assimilate more. I've seen it happen before in my own timeline. We will lose more ground than we gain as they replace these 'managers' aggressively."