The Station
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The Station
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Children! Alex and Wolf shared a look.
“this place smells of evils”
“What do you think?”
“that monster they created? He needs to be culled. If he gets out and into the heard; it will be a slaughter.” Wolf growled -
As they finish their coffee and do some Smalltalk, Ben stands up and signals Alex to do the same. “Thanks, Oded – that was enough for tonight.”
On the way out he says “We can’t use the spirit army this time, and these children might delay your drop off. I did not imagine we’ll be carrying anyone out during a mana storm. “
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“I’m confused, you say we, we have a spirit army at our disposal?” she shrugged “don’t work about my drop of, I don’t have a cerfew” as she reached the vehicle “where we headed now then, and we looking out for anything in particular”
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“We had a spirit army protecting us when we delivered produce to Punishment town. We provide vital service, they protect us. Now, that we will be hiding two escapees from this prison things change. If we call the spirit army they may save our lives, but breaking someone out of prison is a capital offense. I save whom I can because it is right, but I’ll understand if you’d rather stay here for the night. “
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“you keep giving me these get outs, what’s the problem?” Alex was starting to wonder about Ben’s stability “I thought you wanted me to run body guard or something?”
“look,” she said after a moments consideration “how often do you get attacked out here? And can they be damaged magically?” -
Ben replies “I had Jerk verify your recommendations, but I barely know you or your abilities. These storms are dangerous, the truck is astral proof so it is a reasonable risk, and there is the backup of the spirit army that can reach us in a matter of seconds upon asking for help. Going back with escapees is a different opera, we will be braving a mana storm only based on our might, our job would not be to hold on until rescue – it will be to not be possessed and keep to the destination.
We cannot neutralize ourselves with such a cargo, we cannot be delayed we need to unload it as quickly as possible. I take this job because it is personal for me. The rational thing to do is to tell Oded to buzz off, and that many people get drained every day. Many children are traumatized, adults too and it does not worth the risk. If we get killed then they’ll be fewer smugglers tomorrow. The big picture and everything.
I accepted this job without asking you, and against my own rational judgment, my decision is personal in nature. I adopted two children that were rescued from punishment towns, but no relatives came to fetch them. After walking them through the horrors they lived through, I cannot stand idly, and I will keep extracting people as long as I can. I don’t do it for the money, I do it because it is the only real way I know to make my home a better place.
His eyes are wet, and his voice breaks
“now that Spin is gone… I… Just have to do it. In short, I know that it is probably a bad idea and that I am not objective. I have the decency not to drag you along with me and to leave you an out. We were attacked on the way in, without the spirit army we had to leave the car and fight, and that would open us for attack, possession and who knows what. I wanted you to understand what it is I got us into, and if you can’t do it. I’ll understand, not everyone is a warrior.Oh, and magic strikes are the most efficient, big guns, or small electricity based weapons are also efficient. “
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“if I may be so bold, shouldn’t you be helping your surviving child? Let’s get these two pups across the border” Wolf whined and nuzzled her hand.
“there’s going to be a fight, I can smell it” he stated “you’re going to have to be alpha on this”
“OK” she sighed “you tell your pushy friend in there he gets me out if we get sent here, seriously, I mean it” she fixed him with her blue eyes “he wants a favour :he ponies up on the consequences”
Ben frowned “your serious aren’t you”
“Well how do you think those vampires guards are going to take to someone who they can’t feed off?”
“What do you mean”
“my phobia. It Er.. It centres around a specific person. Makes me useless as food for a vampire. That why EB and I are so close she doesn’t have to worry about getting erm how doe you put it erm involved? She can’t create the link because I’m flashing back to the attack long before she tries. ” Alex smiled” does mean I have a friend who really does understand, you see she has seen it felt it all. Besties you see. Just wish she could drink coffee, ha ha” -
Ben nodded impressed by BB’s resolve. “Nobody is going to feed on you. We will figure it out, and we’ll bail David out, I am moving some pieces on the board – I don’t expect Gindi to just release him when we are done, but I’ll find the leverage to keep the boy alive, and Gindi will pay for his crimes.”
Ben takes an Alpha out of his smuggling compartment under the driver’s seats. It is a military grade assault rifle equipped with an under-barrel grenade launcher. Ben strokes the gun in fondness, and then reaches for his pocket and offers BB the key, “Can you drive wolf girl?” he asks.
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“yeah I got me license. Might want to take your xanax.” she said with an eager grin “What’s the speed limit here? Fast or fast as frack?”
She checked the function on her wrist blades and then her victinox blade. Ben watched as weapons emerged from hiding places.
“wow, got any firearms.”
“yeah but that one of those secrets a girl keeps”
Wolf grunted “love it when you bare your claws” -
Ben laughs “You are worried about the speed limit? It is 90 kilometers per hour, but with that storm, it is not going to be very fast. If you drive through- I have my hands free to use the big gun.”
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“OK then old boy; let’s get this done” Alex settled Into the drivers seat. One she was all set up she checked she could get to her weapons.
“ready?”
Ben nodded so she put it into first and hit the accelerator, nice and easy, nothing flash. -
The drive is difficult, visibility is scarce and a feeling of strangeness encapsulates the van. Ben becomes quieter and looks astonished as purple lightings light the sky in unnatural lights. The cries of the wind are audible, and the rain is very thick. Matrix reception drops to absurd levels that render most equipment useless, possibly the storm damaged some repeaters, background count is bad as well.
Seeing the terrible conditions, Ben instructs BB to stick to low gear and follow the right lane where neon bright yellow paint signals the continuation of the road. Visibility is very limited.
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Please make a driving test (threshold 2). (-5 modifiers for conditions, mitigated to -3 by low light vision.)
You may receive help from Ben if Alex would respond well to him trying to help her out. Leadership: 12d6t5 6 (
The noise is 5, and the BGC is 3. -
Drive: 8d6t5 3
Alex slowed down keeping the truck in first and feeling for the rumble strip. The noise would make it tiring but she could concentrate on searching for obstacles on the road rather than the itself. She stole a look at Ben and flashed confident wink.
“we’ll be fine” she said “first star on the right and straight on till morning” -
It is a difficult ride, and very taxing but Alex is capable of keeping the car on the road. On the side of the road, they see a man, a wounded man waving his hands around desperately trying to get them to pull over. Ben mutters “Don’t”…
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“honestly, wasn’t going to, weather looks crappie out there. It’ll mess up me hair do”
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Ben grins and says “Asshole” , there is no blame there. “I said not to stop because it is probably an evil spirit or a trap – but you know… your reason is as good as any.”
The rest of the drive is uneventful, and you successfully arrive at Arugot where Ben unloads the soaking wet and drugged children at a small orphanage. At least she thinks it is an orphanage, it is a large two story house with occupied solely by children. One of the children, Rafi – welcome them, and present the new arrivals with a warmed room, and fresh clothes.
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“who looks after all these pups?” asked Alex “as she finished in the bath room, the coffee was playing merry hope with her butt. Several analogies ran through her head but she bit her tongue to bide her peace.
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Raffi replies with a nod, he clearly is in charge – being awake at the late hour. “I haven’t seen you around here, I am Raffi – do you need some accommodation as well?” He says genuinely intrigued by the tall blonde elf.
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“oh no sweetheart. I’m all set for a bed. I’m just along for the ride” she looked at Ben “are they here on their own?”
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Ben replies “More or less on their own, they have to be strong. It is an orphanage. Most people here are illegal but the community keeps them hidden when the police arrive. Some relatives usually come to claim the rescued children, but this is not always the case. “
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