House Call

[cosmicarus]

The man's smile quickly becomes an expression of concentration when an arrow leaps through the air towards him. He barely has time to react - not enough time, it would seem - he twists his body back, but his arm flies wide and it (rather unluckily) catches the arrow in the forearm. He screams in pain, and whimpers, holding the wound. He becomes focussed, and looks at Satori, still smiling, but now sweating and breathing quickly, "Not today, chum." He speaks again, but this time not really to anyone in particular, "Lucky dip." He leans backwards, too far to remain upright - he begins to fall. Instead of hitting the wooden wall, however, he disappears. The space left behind wobbles for a moment before returning to normal.

[cosmicarus]

The man's smile quickly becomes an expression of concentration when an arrow leaps through the air towards him. He barely has time to react - not enough time, it would seem - he twists his body back, but his arm flies wide and it (rather unluckily) catches the arrow in the forearm. He screams in pain, and whimpers, holding the wound. He becomes focussed, and looks at Satori, still smiling, but now sweating and breathing quickly, "Not today, chum." He speaks again, but this time not really to anyone in particular, "Lucky dip." He leans backwards, too far to remain upright - he begins to fall. Instead of hitting the wooden wall, however, he disappears. The space left behind wobbles for a moment before returning to normal.

[Heridfel]

Heavy arrives just in time to see the man pass through the wall. He looks over to Satori, who appears to be fine. He doesn't even notice the slight scalding that the pipe gave him. He shakes his head slightly, then holds up the pager that he had shut off.

He thinks to himself, "Maybe we're too late. Somebody could have got him while he was changing clothes before, and we arrive after. I mean, it took us a while to find the place, even if it wasn't too long to get here." He doesn't voice his concerns, hoping that Satori hadn't come to the same conclusion that he did.

[Heridfel]

Heavy arrives just in time to see the man pass through the wall. He looks over to Satori, who appears to be fine. He doesn't even notice the slight scalding that the pipe gave him. He shakes his head slightly, then holds up the pager that he had shut off.

He thinks to himself, "Maybe we're too late. Somebody could have got him while he was changing clothes before, and we arrive after. I mean, it took us a while to find the place, even if it wasn't too long to get here." He doesn't voice his concerns, hoping that Satori hadn't come to the same conclusion that he did.

[Heridfel]

Heavy arrives just in time to see the man pass through the wall. He looks over to Satori, who appears to be fine. He doesn't even notice the slight scalding that the pipe gave him. He shakes his head slightly, then holds up the pager that he had shut off.

He thinks to himself, "Maybe we're too late. Somebody could have got him while he was changing clothes before, and we arrive after. I mean, it took us a while to find the place, even if it wasn't too long to get here." He doesn't voice his concerns, hoping that Satori hadn't come to the same conclusion that he did.

[Chuckg]

"That man you saw had the power to manipulate probability. His good fortune was... appalling and ridiculous. If it took such a one this long to find the house, it is still possible that we were the first here.

Of course, whether we were or not, the point is moot. Whether we find our quarry or someone else does, in all instances the path leads back to the original site of the meeting, as that is where whoever has found Mr. Kirk was instructed to take him.

So, we can either continue our search from here, or go back to the abandoned shop in Southside and take up a new path as hijackers... assuming that suitably few of our competitors decide to adopt the same strategy.

And while you ponder the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative, I will have a short look around the mansion to hopefully answer the question of whether we were first or not at all."

And on that note, Satori departs.

[Chuckg]

"That man you saw had the power to manipulate probability. His good fortune was... appalling and ridiculous. If it took such a one this long to find the house, it is still possible that we were the first here.

Of course, whether we were or not, the point is moot. Whether we find our quarry or someone else does, in all instances the path leads back to the original site of the meeting, as that is where whoever has found Mr. Kirk was instructed to take him.

So, we can either continue our search from here, or go back to the abandoned shop in Southside and take up a new path as hijackers... assuming that suitably few of our competitors decide to adopt the same strategy.

And while you ponder the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative, I will have a short look around the mansion to hopefully answer the question of whether we were first or not at all."

And on that note, Satori departs.

[Chuckg]

"That man you saw had the power to manipulate probability. His good fortune was... appalling and ridiculous. If it took such a one this long to find the house, it is still possible that we were the first here.

Of course, whether we were or not, the point is moot. Whether we find our quarry or someone else does, in all instances the path leads back to the original site of the meeting, as that is where whoever has found Mr. Kirk was instructed to take him.

So, we can either continue our search from here, or go back to the abandoned shop in Southside and take up a new path as hijackers... assuming that suitably few of our competitors decide to adopt the same strategy.

And while you ponder the benefits and drawbacks of each alternative, I will have a short look around the mansion to hopefully answer the question of whether we were first or not at all."

And on that note, Satori departs.

[cosmicarus]

The master sneaker begins to make his way through the house once again, but doesn't have to go far. The room where the gas pipe exploded is now populated with at least three people and the lights have been turned on. Two woman and one man survey the damage. The man rubs his face, "This is gonna be a pain." His voice is slow and considered, with a slightly 'homely' accent. He turns to the women, "You ladies are lucky I was here, this could have been real bad. I gotta shut the gas off at the main. Try not to breathe much and for god sakes, don't light a match or anything." He begins to walk back toward the kitchen's open door. One of the women calls after him, "Well, what casued it? Those noises?" The man only half turns back to her, "Nah, s'probably just the pipes buckin'. They'll do that when there's a back-up. Don't worry, these things happen." The woman shoots him a doubtful look, but doesn't say anything. The man continues, "Just unlucky, is all. I'll get this gas turned off and then we'll get back to our game - get this fixed in the morning, you'll just be without gas 'till then." The women watch him for a moment and then begin to make their way back toward the kichen themselves, talking to each other.

[cosmicarus]

The master sneaker begins to make his way through the house once again, but doesn't have to go far. The room where the gas pipe exploded is now populated with at least three people and the lights have been turned on. Two woman and one man survey the damage. The man rubs his face, "This is gonna be a pain." His voice is slow and considered, with a slightly 'homely' accent. He turns to the women, "You ladies are lucky I was here, this could have been real bad. I gotta shut the gas off at the main. Try not to breathe much and for god sakes, don't light a match or anything." He begins to walk back toward the kitchen's open door. One of the women calls after him, "Well, what casued it? Those noises?" The man only half turns back to her, "Nah, s'probably just the pipes buckin'. They'll do that when there's a back-up. Don't worry, these things happen." The woman shoots him a doubtful look, but doesn't say anything. The man continues, "Just unlucky, is all. I'll get this gas turned off and then we'll get back to our game - get this fixed in the morning, you'll just be without gas 'till then." The women watch him for a moment and then begin to make their way back toward the kichen themselves, talking to each other.

[cosmicarus]

The master sneaker begins to make his way through the house once again, but doesn't have to go far. The room where the gas pipe exploded is now populated with at least three people and the lights have been turned on. Two woman and one man survey the damage. The man rubs his face, "This is gonna be a pain." His voice is slow and considered, with a slightly 'homely' accent. He turns to the women, "You ladies are lucky I was here, this could have been real bad. I gotta shut the gas off at the main. Try not to breathe much and for god sakes, don't light a match or anything." He begins to walk back toward the kitchen's open door. One of the women calls after him, "Well, what casued it? Those noises?" The man only half turns back to her, "Nah, s'probably just the pipes buckin'. They'll do that when there's a back-up. Don't worry, these things happen." The woman shoots him a doubtful look, but doesn't say anything. The man continues, "Just unlucky, is all. I'll get this gas turned off and then we'll get back to our game - get this fixed in the morning, you'll just be without gas 'till then." The women watch him for a moment and then begin to make their way back toward the kichen themselves, talking to each other.

[Heridfel]

Heavy nods and moves to allow Satori to pass without squeezing around him. There's not too much he can do to hide himself, beyond pretending to be a new ornate set of armor. While that might work in the dark... and he can see in the dark. It's worth a shot. After Satori has gone, Heavy floats slowly around the hallway, looking for a light switch to turn off.

[Heridfel]

Heavy nods and moves to allow Satori to pass without squeezing around him. There's not too much he can do to hide himself, beyond pretending to be a new ornate set of armor. While that might work in the dark... and he can see in the dark. It's worth a shot. After Satori has gone, Heavy floats slowly around the hallway, looking for a light switch to turn off.

[Heridfel]

Heavy nods and moves to allow Satori to pass without squeezing around him. There's not too much he can do to hide himself, beyond pretending to be a new ornate set of armor. While that might work in the dark... and he can see in the dark. It's worth a shot. After Satori has gone, Heavy floats slowly around the hallway, looking for a light switch to turn off.

[Chuckg]

And as the two women step through the doorway into the kitchen, they walk straight into a merciless precision assault by the highly-trained fist and foot of Satori, master assassin.

[Chuckg]

And as the two women step through the doorway into the kitchen, they walk straight into a merciless precision assault by the highly-trained fist and foot of Satori, master assassin.

[Chuckg]

And as the two women step through the doorway into the kitchen, they walk straight into a merciless precision assault by the highly-trained fist and foot of Satori, master assassin.

[cosmicarus]

The two women topple like sacks of meat, the sound of the blows slightly sickening. They hit the ground hard and cease moving. The man turns from inside the kitchen and gasps, seeing his companions downed and their attacker standing proud. He presses himself back against the kitchen bench, trying vainly to get around it. His hand finds a sharp kitchen knife and he holds it weakly outwards. He struggles to find words, but none come.

[cosmicarus]

The two women topple like sacks of meat, the sound of the blows slightly sickening. They hit the ground hard and cease moving. The man turns from inside the kitchen and gasps, seeing his companions downed and their attacker standing proud. He presses himself back against the kitchen bench, trying vainly to get around it. His hand finds a sharp kitchen knife and he holds it weakly outwards. He struggles to find words, but none come.

[cosmicarus]

The two women topple like sacks of meat, the sound of the blows slightly sickening. They hit the ground hard and cease moving. The man turns from inside the kitchen and gasps, seeing his companions downed and their attacker standing proud. He presses himself back against the kitchen bench, trying vainly to get around it. His hand finds a sharp kitchen knife and he holds it weakly outwards. He struggles to find words, but none come.

[Chuckg]

Satori looks at the knife in the man's hand with contemptuous dismissal. With a single smooth motion, he nudges one of the unconscious women with his foot, rolling her over on to her back, and then places the heel of his shoe directly on her Adam's apple.

And then he smiles.

"Where is Adam Kirk?" he speaks, softly, almost whispering. "Tell me /now/," he says, accompanying his words with the slightest motion of his foot, "or this woman dies."

[Chuckg]

Satori looks at the knife in the man's hand with contemptuous dismissal. With a single smooth motion, he nudges one of the unconscious women with his foot, rolling her over on to her back, and then places the heel of his shoe directly on her Adam's apple.

And then he smiles.

"Where is Adam Kirk?" he speaks, softly, almost whispering. "Tell me /now/," he says, accompanying his words with the slightest motion of his foot, "or this woman dies."

[Chuckg]

Satori looks at the knife in the man's hand with contemptuous dismissal. With a single smooth motion, he nudges one of the unconscious women with his foot, rolling her over on to her back, and then places the heel of his shoe directly on her Adam's apple.

And then he smiles.

"Where is Adam Kirk?" he speaks, softly, almost whispering. "Tell me /now/," he says, accompanying his words with the slightest motion of his foot, "or this woman dies."

[cosmicarus]

The man's eyes shift to Satori's foot and anchor there - his whole body slouches with despair. The weapon wielding hand becomes limp. When he hears the name 'Adam Kirk', he looks back at Satori's face with a face. "Mr. Kirk isn't here. He's away tonight - studio ball thing - for Christmas." The last word is said almost contemptuously. His eyes fall once again to the downed ladies, and his breakdown is almost complete, "Please get off her..." he trails off, the silence broken only but his sobs.

[cosmicarus]

The man's eyes shift to Satori's foot and anchor there - his whole body slouches with despair. The weapon wielding hand becomes limp. When he hears the name 'Adam Kirk', he looks back at Satori's face with a face. "Mr. Kirk isn't here. He's away tonight - studio ball thing - for Christmas." The last word is said almost contemptuously. His eyes fall once again to the downed ladies, and his breakdown is almost complete, "Please get off her..." he trails off, the silence broken only but his sobs.