Jungle Drums IC
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Jungle Drums IC
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[Caroline Chapelle – 19:51, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Cheveux Rouges, Marseilles] #24
Caroline glanced again at the dog as she grumbled “That must be some friends.” She shrugged “I could be ready to leave right now but…” She looked at her plate “It would be a shame to leave halfway through the meal though.”
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19:51, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Cheveux Rouges, Marseilles
Alyce laughs. “Yes, it would be a shame and there is no telling how well you will eat in the near future. I can wait. After all, the plane is not leaving without me.”
While you finish eating, Alyce turns to Jacques. “I like what you have done with the club since I was last here, Jacques. Is it bringing in more business…………………….”
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[Caroline Chapelle – 19:51, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Cheveux Rouges, Marseilles] #25
Caroline enjoyed the meal in silence, perfectly satisfied to just unwind after a short night and a long day. She paid attention to what was being said too though, especially if it was dealing with Jacques’ business. After all, if he really wanted her to inherit…the more she knew, the better it was, right?
When the discussion switched to other subjects like music, she was more involved in it. She didn’t appear to have a real in depth knowledge in the various types of music, but she seemed to have a real breadth of knowledge as far as arts were concerned. She was able to speak about the works of Hugo, Da Vinci, Monet or Hitchcock, but only as long as it wasn’t too precise. It gave the impression she had read a lot of books about art, but that she didn’t really focus on any field in particular, maybe out of a lack of time or desire.
As she finished her dessert, she waited for a lull in the discussion. She smiled tightly “That was pretty nice for a last meal. Or a last decent meal anyway, my compliment to the chef.” Looking at Alyce, she added “I’m ready when you are then.”
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2017, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Cheveux Rouges, Marseilles About an Hour Before Departure
Alyce smiles and includes you in the comments if you show an interest. You find that she has an encyclopedic knowledge of many things but lets you give your opinions without talking down to you or brushing them off. If she does not immediately agree with a point of view you espouse, she asks for specific examples that would illustrate your point. By the end of the meal, you suddenly realize that you have not had a conversation of this depth in several years of schooling, if ever, and that she actually worked the conversation around so that you would have to think about your answers. At some point Jacques will mention that it is Alyce playing the soft cello music that has accompanied the meal.
When you are done, Alyce nods and laughs as she stands and places her napkin on the table. “Actually, I rather expect that you will eat just fine for a bit. The hardships will come once we are in the jungle.” She motions for you to come around the table and holds an arm out for you to take as Jacques leads you from the dining room and back into the corridor. He takes a right at the door and heads down the corridor to a door. Opening it, you feel the cool evening air of Marseilles on your face and, stepping out, you find that you are at the side of the building and a long limousine sits at the curb with the driver standing at a passenger door. Alyce says something to the driver in what sounds like Russian and he opens the door and Jacques assists both of you into the car, with the Hell Hound sliding in to lie at Alyce’s feet, bidding both of you a farewell. Your sharp eyes note that the driver’s uniform coat gaps a bit as he bends over, exposing what appears to be a large pistol in a shoulder holster and the man has some odd-looking tattoos on the backs of his hands.
The large car smoothly pulls away from the sidewalk, whisking you through the streets of the port city to the airport. Alyce is quiet for most of the trip but she does respond to any questions you may have. At the airport, the driver stops at a gate while two heavily armed security men talk to him for a few moments, again in Russian. One asks for your ID and checks it out against a list on a tablet in his hand. His other hand is never far from the SMG on a shoulder strap and the second man stays where he has a very good line of fire if he has to cover his partner. Everything clear, the first security man smiles and nods and waves the car through.
You are on a small private section of the main airport, one that allows the use of private security guards instead of the airport police. You see several pairs of well armed men, each with a large dog of some kind on a leash. There is a large cargo aircraft near a hangar and the tail loading ramp is down as men and forklifts scurry about. As the car stops, you see a tall, exotic elven woman separate from a group of people and come over. The driver assists you out of the car and Alyce motions to the other woman as the driver goes to get your luggage from the trunk of the car. “Rhea, this is Caroline Chapelle. She will be acting as my executive assistant on the dig. Caroline, this is Rhea Kyn. She is my chief of security and now your life is as important to her as mine is. Rhea, is my guest here yet?” At Rhea’s quiet nod, Alyce turns to you. Caroline, I have to go see a man in the office over there. Rhea will get you settled and introduced around and I will join you in a few minutes. I expect to be wheels up in about ninety minutes. You are in good hands.”
Alyce walks away you and from the corner of your eye you notice a man carrying your suitcase to the plane. Rhea watches Alyce leave then turns to you. Her slight Russian accent is clear when she talks. “Welcome to the dig crew, Caroline. Is that the name you prefer to use or do you have another? You may call me Rhea. I try to stay as much out of the affairs of the crew as possible, but if something starts going south and bullets start flying, I become God. Is that clear? Any questions before I take you to introduce you around?”
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[Caroline Chapelle – 20:17, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles] #26
Caroline grimaced, eyes twinkling “Ah, but it won’t be French cuisine. And is there any decent cuisine apart from it?”
She didn’t seem particularly surprised by the weapons. She had already gone abroad, in South America even, just after the end of the war. She was perfectly aware oif the need of such things, even if she wasn’t particularly fond of those. While she didn’t expect to see them so early, she didn’t raise the point.
She simply nodded at Alyce’s instruction, and as a greeting to the other woman “Caroline is fine. It’s clear. I don’t have any question at this point, I’ll wait to see a bit more, most of the questions I would have will find their answers that way. But I suppose there are a few things I should mention. First, I was in South America last year, so I’m not completely ignorant of how things work.” She paused, then grimaced “But I suppose you’ll want to go over things anyway, just to make sure…” She shook her head. It wasn’t a lesson she was eager to go through, even if she understood the need “A more important point though which could be useful at some point, either for you to understand or to know it’s a resource available, is that I’m a Mage. I don’t know the first thing about combat so don’t expect too much, but it’s there.”
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20:17, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles
Rhea smiles at you and shakes her head. “First, let me clear up what I think is a misconception on your part. You have been brought on as Alyce’s executive assistant. In expedition speak that means that she is Expedition Lead and you are Expedition Second, meaning that you are the second in command here. To paraphrase someone famous, “With a great title and great pay comes great responsibility.” In effect, you are second only to Alyce in decision making for this expedition, unless it comes to security, and many of the people you are going to meet in a couple of minutes will come looking to you for answers and decisions rather than bother her.”
“Now, secondly, I think it is great that you have recent experience in the area. My last trip to Bogota was three years ago and one thing I learned there was that the drek will almost certainly have changed a lot in three years. So I and others will be looking to you for some good information that is more current than what we have now. If you don’t mind, I would like to schedule a short briefing to the crew while we are flying over and will get with you on the timing of that. I know that this may be sort of sudden and I do not want you to fall so take your time to work out what you want to say.” She motions to several groups of people standing near the loading ramp, some of whom are looking in your direction. “Those are your primary crew members and you will meet them in a few minutes. All are professionals, some with multiple expeditions under their belts and for the most part you would have to go a long ways to find better people to work with on this project. Do not let them scare you or try to put one over on you due to their experience. There are reasons why you were hired as Second and they were not, so don’t forget it. Lead with tact and show them dignity and respect and these people will follow you anywhere. Now, one of your major responsibilities will be coordinating with the on-site Crew Chief to hire locals for bearers, diggers, what have you. He is already in Bogota and his name is Carlos Moya and you and he will either become best friends or kill each other while we are over there. He is the local professional, so let him have his head, but you are Expedition Second so it is ultimately your responsibility. I advise you to make sure that he does not run ragged over you. He is your partner, not your superior.”
“You being a mage is very interesting. I would like very much to sit down with you and go over what you can and cannot do, especially if you are willing to allow me to take advantage of that in my security preparations. Are you primarily spells or spirits, or something in between?” She pauses for a moment. “OK, now that I have hit you in the head with a grenade, do you have any questions for me before I take you over to introduce you around?”
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[An hour before departure, Sunday March 21, 2077; Alyce’s Private Room, Airport, Marseilles]
Dream clutched the mirror to his chest like a lifeline…the velvet slips a little and Alyce could almost swear she hears whispered words from beneath it before he hurriedly covers it over once more…
“There is some I can tell you, particularly in light of what you saw on Lyonesse I think you are owed an explanation. Whether caused by the war or some other effect there are astral phenomenon in Aztlan, and possibly northern Amazonia, called fovea. These were thought to be mana voids but our rituals suggest they are something more than that…something that perhaps leads to the place where the being came from that you saw at the wedding. In theory, and it is just that at the moment, the mirror, placed inside one of these voids, will lesson some of their influence on the world…and that influence is potentially very very dangerous…
Needless to say we cannot allow the mirror to be discovered by the authorities where we are going. Both Aztlan and Amazonia would have their own uses for such an artefact”
#04
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An hour before departure, Sunday March 21, 2077; Alyce’s Private Room, Airport, Marseilles
Alyce’s blood had chilled a little just to be in the same room as the artifact again. Her sensors tell her when part of the covering slips aside and exposes the thing, causing an even deeper chill to spread through her body. And yet, there is a sort of fascination for the thing………….for the power it has and something else she cannot quite define. Without conscious thought, her hands reach out as if to touch the mirror and Dream quickly covers it back up, releasing her from her need. Alyce steps back a couple of steps and curses softly in her native Russian. “What the hell.”
She shakes her head. “That thing is dangerous. And these holes must be dangerous as well. I saw something in that place I went to on the marriage island, something sent to me by the demon. It was like a vision………….a vision of the end of the world that haunts my waking and sleeping hours now, and now you are asking me to take these people to another place where that demon or another like him might exist? We had an advanced strain of FAB last time, what is to protect us this time? Will this mirror do that? This is a big task, Dream.” She motions to the door and the waiting plane. “I have friends out there, friends and colleagues that I have known for years. You are asking me to first expose them to a vampire and now this? Tell me there is a plan.”
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[An hour before departure, Sunday March 21, 2077; Alyce’s Private Room, Airport, Marseilles]
Dream snorted
“An idea of a plan perhaps. Unless they are a mage I don’t think your people will be in particular danger from the fovea other than a general sense of unease. Think of them like a window rather than a door, at least that is what we hope. If they are indeed a portal I think that a swift death might be the best we could all hope for as the world is in no way prepared for what is coming… And I didn’t imagine that we would be taking the entire dig to look for one of these things anyway. The problems are far more likely to arrive from the corruption created by the war, and possibly my new nature but I have promised to pre-warn you about that…”
#05
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An hour before departure, Sunday March 21, 2077; Alyce’s Private Room, Airport, Marseilles
It is Alyce’s turn to snort. “Then you do not know those people out there by the plane. Some of them are among the best in their fields and I have personally worked with a number of them and know the rest by reputation. The community I represent is quite small and very much like a family. I rather imagine that some of them will demand to accompany me and would follow me if I tried to leave them behind.”
“Also, I have a mage with me as my Second. She is very new to this community and I only know her by reputation, but I am impressed enough with that to have wanted her to come along. I would like to know the risks to her so that I might warn her of what to expect. And I am not sure about your analogy to windows and doors. The only real difference is that one can usually see through a window before opening it and going through it, but it is still a link to what is on the other side. Look, I am not one of your immortal friends so do not know what the bloody hell is really going on. I have helped you and helped the Old One and helped others like you on more than one occasion and never asked for or received any sort of adequate explanation about what we were doing or why. But now I have three questions that I would really like as complete an answer to as possible.”
“First, that……….thing………..in your arms is calling to me. I can feel it drawing me to it, even through that covering. Maybe it is because I have history with it, but how certain are you that it will only cause unease to my companions and may I brief them on why they are having these feelings? Second, the man I love more than my own life, more than the air I breathe, is off with some of you. What are his chances of coming back? And third, you mentioned the Ordo. How close are they and do they know where we are going?”
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Dumped such on the floor of the cell, for many moments I couldn’t hold back the tears. Slamming my clenched fists on the ground didn’t accomplish much, but at least stone didn’t hit back…or breathe fetid air in my face. I managed to keep the sobs silent. I didn’t want to give Manuel the satisfaction.
Why the Ancients have brought me to this I have no idea. I had been at the height of my coming of age spirit quest, astrally at my most powerful but physically at my most vulnerable. On return to my body I was to be an adult; even more a fully realized god. My power was to safeguard the future of my people as the other gods are soon to become one with the Circle. Instead, I awoke to my hands zip tied close, my mouth gagged, and my mind drugged. How they knew where to find me and that I needed such special treatment, I can’t say. I have my suspicions, but…
Never mind that. Bitterness will just play into Senor Cruz’ and Miguel’s hands. I need to think clearly now or I may miss my opportunity. I was not sent to Earth by the Ancients to be Miguel’s mistress…or any other outlander’s for that matter. There is a reason for this. I just need to survive until that reason becomes apparent…until the vision in my quest manifests and I can bring my full powers to bloom. My people need me, despite the possible betrayal of a few who seek material gain rather than to follow the gods on the path set for them by the Ancients. I am a goddess of my people. Part of a Circle going back to Creation. I won’t disgrace my lineage.
But to survive, to realize my destiny, I need to survive. I finger the collar around my neck and curse my powerlessness against it. It is tight; not tight enough to prevent my breath, but it may as well be. As long as it remains there, my link to the spirit world is severed. No help from my guides can come. And no magic remains to me except healing. Cruz, or whoever set Cruz up for this, have planned well. I may be weak; more so because I am still a child. I am helpless except for my wits. But the Ancients gave me a generous intellect. I can only hope it was part of Their plan.
In the meantime I eat and I wait…
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The water is tepid and the gruel barely edible, but it does sustain life and you need to live to carry out the Plan of the Ancients. Somewhere there is an answer; somewhere and somewhen. You have to survive for your people. There is a slight sound from the adjoining cage. Looking over, you see a young girl looking at you. Her clothing and the state of her hair would suggest that she has been here a while. You have not been sent back to the cages for a while, which would explain why you have not seen her before. Her eyes appear to be concerned. When she speaks, her dialect is odd and she has to stay in generalities to make herself understood. “You are new. Do you need help?”
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[Caroline Chapelle – 20:17, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles] #27
Caroline listened quietly as Rhea talked. There were parts of the speech where she wasn’t exactly happy, but she didn’t seem particularly alarmed. A bit overwhelmed maybe, but that was probably normal. It took her a second or two to realise Rhea had finished her speech, and she seemed at a loss about how to answer to any of that, much less all. Finally, she decided to focus on the points that seemed to require an immediate answer “As far as the Mage thing goes, I’m… Well, I know how to cast a handful of spells…” she frowned “Well, two handfuls actually… and how to summon some spirits, but…” She shrugged “I’m not an awesome Mage. The spells I know make my life much easier in the forests, on a dig or in explorations in general, but outside of that particular field…” She shook her head “Though of course, spirits can be useful in many things, so there’s always that.”
She looked at the people nearby, and nodded “We can start introductions I suppose.” As she walked besides Rhea, she asked “I assume your people are outside of my responsibilities. Directly anyway. But are there others who are… I don’t know, outside of the chain of command or something?” she grimaced when she used the chain of command thing, not really liking the idea.
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20:18, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles
Rhea laughs. “Do not underestimate your magic talents. They are certain to be very useful when used the proper way. Even things that you might not normally consider a combat asset can be one if used creatively. Come, though, let me introduce you.”
As you walk towards the first group of people you hear some very loud laughter and look over to where two huge trolls are walking towards you. One lifts a massive arm and waves it. “Rhea Kyn. It is a pleasure to be working with you again.”
Rhea steps forward and is engulfed in an embrace that almost has her disappearing. She steps back and motions to you. “Caroline, these are the Gaxin brothers. This ugly one is Milo and this even uglier one is Xander. Guys, this is Caroline Chapelle. She is the Team Second for the dig. Caroline, don’t get your hopes up too high where these guys are concerned. Milo is the poster child for love-’em-and-leave-’em incorporated and Xander is very happily married. How is Jualai, anyway?”
Milo looks crestfallen but smiles as but takes your hand in his. [“Rhea is right. I am still looking for Ms Right. Doesn’t stop me from sampling what I find on the way, though.”
Xander happily produces a cube with the pictures of a very pretty human woman and two young trolls. Rhea looks at the cube and nods. “Fine boys, Xander. You two must be very proud parents.”
The trolls turn to walk off and you note that they both have a very strange looking sort of rifle slung across their backs. Rhea nods at them as they walk off. “Part of my security team. Platinum grade. They came out of retirement when Alyce called them. They are very good at their job. Now you asked a question earlier, so let me see if I can answer it for you. Yes, the security detail is nominally under my control, but I answer to you and Alyce up until when the drek hits the fan. I am always available to discuss security issues, but the team is pretty much not your responsibility. However, if you see someone obviously not following my established protocols you should feel free to step in and say something to them then report it to me. All of the local dig crew will answer to Carlos, who is supposed to work closely with you. Leave him in charge of them, but you are also expected to step in if you see anything wrong. The rest of the crew answers to you. There is one special guest, the man Alyce is talking to now. If he comes along, he will probably not be under your control, but you may ask Alyce to be sure just what his status is.”
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[Caroline Chapelle – 20:18, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles] #28
Caroline shook the two trolls hands without reservation, looking at ease. She hadn’t met many trolls – those were among the rarest meta-humans after all, especially in academia – but it didn’t seem to be a problem to her. She didn’t show any reaction when Milo spoke of “sampling what he finds on the way“, almost like she didn’t find anything strange in that. Which… was indeed the case. Single until marriage seemed pretty moronic to her. Then again, she wasn’t French for nothing. One thing she found strange though was the fact that Xander’s wife was human. Or more precisely, that the mother of his sons was human. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what delivery must have been like.
She didn’t show much reaction at the rifles: she didn’t know anything about those, so thought it was some kind of aesthetic preference or something “Alright.” She nodded “Seems simple enough.”, then chuckled dryly “But like many things, I suppose the devil is in the details as they say.” She smiled, a bit amused “Though I suppose I could always sic a spirit on the asses of any big mouth.” She frowned. She wouldn’t, after all, it was the best way to have things go to hell. But if she could manage to make it seen that she had pretty powerful spirits at her beck and call… That would ensure that any troublemaker would think twice before starting anything. Something to keep in mind.
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I’ve done my best not to get involved with the other slaves and various minions the master keeps around him. It’s not that I’m arrogant or anything, but I’m an empath. I mean the real thing, to the point where I have a hard time being sure where another’s emotions end and mine begin. Perhaps the only blessing of the collar is that it’s dulled even that power. Still, old protective habits die hard and allowing any real connection with the others could cripple me that much more if somehow I manage to overcome the collar. That time is not likely to be soon, though. What could it hurt to be a little friendly? It’s not like I’ll ever see her again after a few days…
“I’m okay,” I answer with the lie every other slaves would give. I know my ration is actually pretty good compared to the others, and Manuel didn’t leave me with much appetite. Despite my best efforts to sustain myself, maybe half was still left. “I can’t eat all this,” I gesture to the slop. “Do you want some of mine?”
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Caroline Chapelle – 20:18, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles
Rhea leads you over to one of the smaller groups of people standing about. All seem to be drinking something from large mugs and look expectantly at you as you walk up. One, a very handsome man probably somewhere in his twenties, gives you a wink and says in French very heavily accented with Russian, “Rhea, tell us that this is our Second. If she is, we need her to settle an argument.”
Rhea holds up a hand. “Hold your horses. Caroline let me introduce you to some of your people. The man assuming so much is Victor, your drone specialist. This beauty next to him is Tasha, your communications wizard. Antoine here is one of the PAs for the medical section and Yuri is your lead mechanic. People, this is Caroline, the Second.”
Victor smiles as he holds out his hand. “I knew it. Welcome to the jungle, as they say. Now, the questio………….”
Rhea holds up a hand and stops him. “Questions later. Right now she is still raw and I need to finish taking her around.”
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[Caroline Chapelle – 20:18, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles] #29
Caroline shook the hands of all the men “Hi.” Half turned to Rhea, but looking at Tasha, she added “You shouldn’t let them know they’re pleasing to the eye, they’ll get ideas otherwise… Well, unless they’re yours of course.”
Looking at Victor, she nodded “I suppose I could settle that argument. But this argument of yours is only a pretext to see what I’m made of, right?”
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The young woman looks through the bars at you and nods her head. “Yes, thank you.” She reaches a slightly trembling hand through the bars for the small pot of gruel that you did not finish. When you give it to her, she takes it back into her cage and quickly eats what is left in it. Handing it back, she says nothing but her eyes are very full of expression. She nods to you again then slips back to the rear of her cage and lays down on the dirty straw there, closing her eyes.
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Caroline Chapelle – 20:21, Sunday March 21st, 2077 – Aéroport Marseilles-Provence, Marseilles
Tasha grins and nods. “Yes, I will remember that. Welcome to the crew, Second.”
Victor also grins as the other three chuckle. “Got me in one. I will remember that. I second the welcome.”
Rhea, guides you away from the group. [“That was quite good, Caroline. You are setting the mark.” She points ahead to the next group of people. “Now, be wary of the good doctor up ahead. She is a real sourpuss. A good doctor, but a bit of a complainer.” She waves to the small group and motions for them to join the two of you. One of the women is older than the rest and it is she that Rhea introduces you to first. “Caroline, please meet Doctor Sevetlana, she is the number two for the clinic. Next to her is Mario, your other PA, then Rory, one of our mechanics. Marco is our logistician and a very good one at that. He is the man to see if you need anything. People, this is Caroline Chapelle, our Second.”
Marco bows low and smiles at you, his Italian accent quite evident. “It is a pleasure, signorine, just let me prove myself to you.”
The doctor tries to smile but it does not really work. “We have been left out here for far too long. When can we get back on board? I need to check the medicine inventory again.”
Mario, who is standing slightly behind her, shakes his head and grimaces a bit. The others just roll their eyes.
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