Log:Pawns of the Ice Fox, Scene 6

From Champions MUSH

Advances Plot:
Pawns of the Ice Fox
Previous Scene:	Next Scene:
Scene 5	Scene 7
Contains Appearances by:
Dark Horse, Jennifer, Lightray, Narosia, Regent, Sable, Yolanda, Diamond
Log Date:
06/04/2008

Yolanda has borrowed a small meeting room in the police department. She's busy there sorting through a set of hardcopy print outs. Her cup of coffee sits nearby.

Jennifer decides to respond. It's a pragmatic decision. Her adoptive farther would fry her brains if she didn't help Yolanda. Call it professional courtesy.

Yolanda is in the East conference room. She's busy there sorting through a set of hardcopy print outs. Her cup of coffee sits nearby.

Well, if it's one thing about Akeno, he can get somewhere fast. His office is the other side of the police station. And he shows in a small breeze as he skids just a bit. "Drat... still need to work on controlling that. Dr. Simmons? I was assigned to help out since my case docket has been shifted around here and there."

Lightray comes into the conference room along with Narosia.

Lightray nods to Yolanda. "Dr Simmons? I saw your mesage on HeroNet. I hope we can be of help."

Dark Horse slips into the conference room after Lightray and Narosia, and looks around at those who had already arrived prior to him.

Yolanda reacts quickly to keep her papers from flying all over the room. She glances up at Akeno as he comes in. "Thanks, Akeno." She stands up and straightens out her stacks of papers.

Narosia slouches beside Lightray, gaze strikingly dark favoured. Naturally, her guardian does the verbal bit.

Yolanda says the thanks sincerely, as in 'thanks for coming'. She offers Akeno two stacks of papers - they look like a pair of photographs or mugshots. "Take one of each and pass them around."

Akeno shrugs as he wanders over, helping out with the paper pickup before hmming as he looks at the mugshots himself, then begins to pass them around.

Jennifer grins over at Yolanda but doesn't interrupt.

Yolanda waves hello to Lightray, Narosia, and Dark Horse.

Olivia comes in a little late and kind of hovers at the back of the room, trying to listen and see if she can figure out what she missed.

Dark Horse nods and waves to Yolanda, "Hello, Doctor." He takes a look at the mugshots.

Lightray takes the copy of the mugshots and, after glancing at them, hands them to Narosia.

The police themselves are represented in the room only by Akeno - though they're giving support on this, the initiative is largely Yolanda's.

The photographs are of two individuals from Kihzra's home dimension, one is Dancing Voice it's a mugshot with Starguard markings. The other is of a girl...

Yolanda says, "Thanks to everyone for coming. As you may know, Kihzra was attacked on Ming Street last week by a team of hitmen from her home dimensions. Three of them have been captured, but two of them are still lose on the streets. I'll need your help to track them down."

Narosia scans the mugshots, slanted cast of her eyes prounced to produce slightly evil slits. "...The girl." She mutters, rubbing at her vision.

Regent moves over near Jen, "I heard about that..were you there?"

Jennifer sees Matt enter and moves to meet him half way. "Hi, Matt. Yep, I was there."

Olivia cocks her head to the side and takes a look at the two pictures. What methods of attacks do they use?" she doesn't know much after all she has been out of town.

Regent nods..and whispers something to her.

says, "The first one is a man who's name translates to 'Dancing Voice'. He's either the number one or number two person on the team. He was captured before, but he managed to talk his way out of Starguard's custody. He may be mentallist of sorts."

Regent frowns.. "Mentalist...great..

Yolanda holds up the photo of Chjehzevor as she speaks.

Chjehzevor: A chubby middle-aged man with a humorous glint to his eye. He's dressed smartly but casually in current fashion.

Akeno considers as he looks around the room, making sure everyone has photos. After that, he stands up near the wall watching and listening. He frowns as he looks at the photos, listening and probably watching as well. His eyes have that distant look to them.

Yolanda says, "As you can tell from the photo, he's managed to learn a bit about our customs and manner of dress."

Mehnpjotti Borchidof: A slight, agile girl of maybe 11 or 12. Though she's dressed in rags and looks quite poor, she has a ready smile and laugh.

Jennifer whispers back. "Interesting name he has."

Lightray smiles slightly. "Just a little. I assume his English is quite good as well?"

Yolanda says, "Yes, Lightray."

Olivia frowns a little and shakes her head a bit, she doesn't like going up against mentalists, given that her abilities are all physical in nature.

Dark Horse says, "With a name like 'Dancing Voice', I think you'd have to assume that his powers are of a vocal nature. He should be gagged if caught again."

Regent speaks up..."Ear plugs as a means to avoid his voice.."

Jennifer hugs Matt. "My thought exactly."

Narosia murmurs, "Employ Halcyon for the task, too."

Sable moves quietly into the Police station, her visored gaze sweeping left and right as the doors close smoothly behind her. She offers Jennifer a small nod of acknowledgement before assuming a position to one side near the rear of the room.

Yolanda holds up the photo of Mehn. "The girl is a pickpocket who managed to lift a sword from Sword Dancers hands while she was using it. She may be helping the Voice willingly or he may have something on her."

Regent see's Sable's nod and is impressed by her....costume. He says absently to Jen.."Maybe I should get a costume made?"

Regent blinks as he hears this..."She lifted a sword from Sword Dancer's hand while she was using it??" his tones are incredulous..."How..?" then he notices how loud he said it and quiets down..."Sorry..."

Olivia nods and cocks her head to the side a little, "Do we know of any other powers that she might have?" she asks curiously, always worried about using full strength if someone can't take it.

Dark Horse glances over at Sable as she enters, and raises a brow. He then looks back to the conversation, listening quietly.

Jennifer nods back to Sable. Then she whispers to Matt, "If you feel it would help go for it. I see you in red, white and blue. Candy striped."

Yolanda says, "I've got a lead on Voice's last known safehouse. I'm thinking that we should find it, stake it out, and try to nab the both of them. One twist is that they might have a means for escaping back to their home dimension. We've got to get them without letting them flee to their homeworld."

Regent turns to Jen and smirks...but shakes his head.

Akeno clears his throat, glancing at Yolanda to see if that's all of her information.

Regent nods, "I can see if they're using Extradimensional Magic..it will tell us if theres a portal in use or recently used.."

Jennifer raises a hand to attract attention... and waits for Yolanda to cue her to speak.

Yolanda says, "Yes, Jennifer."

Jennifer says, "I was on hand at the original attack. The child thief was non-violent. It seemed to be a game to her. She's very elusive, but if anyone does mahage to corner her lets be careful. Unless she reacts differently I see no reason to resort to violent means of apprehension."

Regent nods..."Ok..good to know."

Yolanda nods. "Akeno, did you have something to say?"

The printout is rather vague on Chjehvevor's abilties, but that he speaks fluent English and somehow managed to escape from Starguard custody while they were moving him, seemingly by influencing his guards. The archer didn't know much about him.

The thief is alleged to be a quick runner, superb at hiding in crowds and "the best pickpocket in four hundred lands". She is known to carry a dagger.

Akeno nods. "Yes. For those that don't know me, I'm Detective Akeno Matsuya, CBPD Meta Brigade. Standing orders as of yesterday were to call for back-up in case of spotting these two. So, normal police will not get involved. Meta Brigade may get involved depending on response time. Keep in mind, however, that none of us are equipped to handle mentalist powers. In a way, if you heroes don't get there first it could get messy in straightening things out. Starguard is also involved in this due to the extradimensional origins of the two."

Yolanda says, "I'll be accompanying you into the field, to help with the mentallist angle."

Jennifer coughs, "Detective Akeno. I'm afraid the situation has changed in one regard. Starguard is no longer officially associated with this case. It has been transferred to the Marshall's service."

Yolanda looks around. "Are there any questions? I'm think that it will be good to start off sneaky, to avoid alerting either of them as we get close to their hideout. The trail starts on Ming Street."

Olivia nods, "I am ready to offer any assistance I can, even it if is just to be a wall." she smiles a bit.

Lightray watches the interaction and then looks over at Narosia. "Do you feel up to this, my dear?"

Regent raises his hand..

Akeno nods. "My information appears to be outdated some, then. Any other changes, Jennifer? And to my knowledge, heroes are being given free reign and cooperation from the police end of things as usual."

Yolanda nods to Matt. "Yes. Regent."

Jennifer says, "I can only speak about the Starguard aspect of the case, which is it has been taken out of our jurisdiction."

Regent says, "I'm not..very.." and he hand motions to his aura, "Sneaky, but I can fly on high and do some recon, I'll also be able to tell if there is any kind of magical portal or activity even from a distance...I'll call Jennifer with my finding.s""

Narosia pauses, biting her lip. The currently uncommunative girl nods, offering Lightray a watery smile, "Yes. The body is tired, mind...alright. Thanks to the tea."

Dark Horse says, "I don't think being sneaky will be that much of a problem, given the group that is here."

Sable raises a hand.

Yolanda says, "Yes, Sable."

Regent says something quiet under his breath.

Sable lowers her hand to clasp its partner before she asks. "What will our operational structure be? Will there be a communication system we can all use, will we be moving as one large group, several smaller ones, or both, will there be someone in charge through whom we need to coordinate our actions?"

Yolanda says, "Excellent questions. Let's use police radios to coordinate out movements. I look around the room here, and see a number of people who are more qualified that I am, when it comes to leading an operation like this..."

Yolanda says, "Akeno, how would you feel about assuming control of the operation?"

Regent turns to Jen and whispers something else.

Akeno considers, "Yes and no. I can dispatch from here more than likely, but I do have other cases just as important as this one. Plus, I'm not a leader by any means. I also don't know some of the people here that well."

Sable murmurs something sotto voce, tilting her head slightly to prevent any further disruption to Yolanda's briefing.

Yolanda says, "Alright... Jen? I know it's not officially an SG matter. How would you feel about taking the reins.?"

Sable's lips curl into a bright smile which she quickly suppresses.

Regent nods to Jennifer...

Jennifer shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but that has too much potential to backfire and get Horatio and Starguard into trouble. If I wasn't SGG I'd say yes. But it would look too much like bypassing the change of jurisdiction."

Akeno considers it seems, glancing at Yolanda. "Regent. We all know him and most of us trust him if I remember right."

Yolanda says, "I was actually thinking of going in a different direction, Akeno... Sable. How would you feel about it?"

Dark Horse chuckles quietly, "I don't think it's going to matter who's in charge. There's only two of them we need to deal with, after all. And everyone here is more than likely to be able to handle themselves. As long as we maintain radio contact, that's probably all that matters."

Lightray listens quietly as the discussion ranges.

Olivia cocks her head to the side and just stands there listening.

Regent blinks.....then is quietly happy its been deflected from him. "I agree with Dark Horse, but I beleive we should split up 2 teams. Those best suited to deal with the quick girl, and those best to deal with the mentalist.

Sable's lips purse and she rocks slightly backward. "I would certainly be happy to help in whatever capacity is required. Though I can't help but feel like the most inexperienced person in the room."

Yolanda says, "They both may be at the same location. Dark Horse may be right -- we might be overthinking. Let's get out to Ming Street. We can figure out who handling the mentallist and who's handling the girl on the way. Any last questions?"

Regent raises his hand, "I'll do recon, you guys figure it out...Let me do a fly by to see what I can see...I've got some vision...I can see them in the dark or from afar, as well as to see their magic usage. I'll recon the area."

Lightray raises a hand. "Has anyone checked to make certain the equipment of the prisioners is still secure?"

Olivia shakes her head at all and smiles a bit. The woman looks to be in her teens, but most know how false that is. She looks back and forth, "Ready."

Regent begins to float "Ready..."

Dark Horse switches his radio over to the police band, "What's the address we're looking for?"

Jennifer would almost be pleased if the prisoners were out and at the safe house. It would be a glorious smack in the eye for the Marshall's Service.

Yolanda says, "I won't know it until I see it, unfortunately, Dark Horse."

Dark Horse chuckles. "I was afraid you'd say that. Alright...I'm going to do some scouting on Ming Street. Contact me as soon as you spot the building."

Narosia holds up her hand, looking to Dark Horse. "I shall come with you, if there is suitable shadows."

Regent nods, "I'm off too, I will contact you if I find anything."

Dark Horse nods. "There might be. I tend to stick to rooftops...but there's usually some shadows up there."

The man in the loincloth had 1 club.

Narosia says, "Then please, I request to shadow your route."

Dark Horse motions to Narosia and nods, "Come on. Let's go stake out the area until the right building's been spotted."

The archer had one longbow, 1 quiver, 36 arrow, some leather armour, and a knife.

Jennifer nods to MAtt, "Take care. In the unlikely event he's free again that archer was a mean shot."

Dark Horse holds the door for Narosia as the two of them head out.

Narosia thanks him in her quiet way, a quick nod and away she creeps.

Lightray looks over at Akeno. "Do you mind if I pick the items up, detective?"

Jennifer thinks for a moment. The stealth suit won't work in a crowded street. Too many people to bump into. So she uses the Holo-Belt to take the guise of a middle-aged chinese shopper.

Qromosk had articulated plate armour, a hammer, various small metalworking tools, several candles, some incense (?), some pieces of parchment covered with what looks loke lots of pictures of swords, and a locket containing some hair.

Narosia nods, vanishing and reappearing in a whirl of whispy dark energies.

Jennifer blends into the crowds in Ming Street.

Dark Horse reaches the rooftop, and finds a suitable place to watch from. He then stops in his relatively hidden location, and watches the passersby down below, looking for anyone how matches the pictures given to him.

Olivia enters from Upper East Side.

Regent flies on high..using his telescopic vision and night vision if needed as well as mage vision to look for suspect addresses.

Jennifer stays close to Yolanda in case a bodyguard should be needed.

Anastrophe says, "OK, tell me where you are and what doing if you haven't, and make PER rolls."

Lightray flys about 10" above the street, his gaze sweeping the crowds and rooftops.

Olivia stuck close to Yolanda as well, mostly for bodyguard, though whether she wants the protection of the mentalist or is protecting, who knows for sure.

Sable chooses a rooftop of her own on which totake station, concealing herself in an inky pool f shadow

Yolanda looks around and takes in the view of the crowded Ming Street surroudings. Secretly, she's Mind Linked to the Archer and relaying her sights to him. Hopefully he'll spot something familiar and tell Yolanda which way to go.

The crowds swarm in Ming Street as usual. Most of you see nothing amiss - or nothing more amiss than normal.

Yolanda raises her radio to speak into it. "His place is south from here." She turns and begins walking southward.

Dark Horse starts moving along the rooftops in the right direction, clearing the gaps between buildings with relative ease.

Jennifer ranges slightly ahead of Yolanda so anyone getting to her has to go through Jenn first.

Lightray says over the radio. "Regent? Do you sense any magic? I thought I felt something, but it is elusive."

Sable starts moving in westward, rapid, graceful strides onacross the rooftops punctuated by careful pauses at the edge of each building. Waiting for an opportunity to leap without being seen from below. In fits and starts she forges her way southward, flanking the target area in case anyone is flushed in that direction.

Olivia walks along with Yolanda at the moment, humming softly to herslef.

Yolanda head south.

Jennifer is staying close to Yolanda.

Somewhere round where Chinatown is fading into the Upper East Side, Yolanda becomes unsure of the way.

Yolanda stops and shakes her head. "I'm not sure which way..."

Jennifer looks around her, not for the two we are seeking but for one of Smiling Johhny's Triad members.

Jennifer goes over to a man standing in the street outside a tearoom. She speaks quietly to him. "Johnny owes us for taking down Radium. There's a house around here where an alien magic using assassin is hiding out. Call Johnny and ask if he'll agree to point it out. If he does we're square again."

Yolanda stops and closes her eyes tightly.

Yolanda sees things even the archer had forgotten - walking past this corner with the others, in Earth-1 clothes, going over the plan - from this she can work out the right way.

The man nods and goes aside to make a call.

Yolanda dabs some sweat from her brow with a handkerchief and opens here eyes. "This way," she says, and begins to walk again.

Olivia follows along with Yolanda, looking mostly like a teenage girl out for a walk.

The street Yolanda follows veers a bit eastward - it's more or less on the line between Bridgend and the Upper East Side.

Jennifer looks over at Yolanda, "Matt has spotted the girl. She's running which probably means she's spotted one or more of us. He's going for her."

Regent pulls darkness from the air and fires it at the young girl.

Yolanda says into her radio, "Regent has spotted the girl. She might be heading to warn the Voice. I'm going to continue on the trail -- Regent might need a hand, though."

The girl darts aside with a giggle at Regent's attack.

Lightray flies over towards rEGENT

Jennifer is staying with Yolanda.

The girl isn't stupid - she can guess others are coming. She reverse direction and runs back toward Ming Street - at superhuman speed.

Sable races from rooftop to rooftop, fet barely seeming to touch the shingles as she leaps and races frantically after the girl. Her arms pump furiously as she tries to lift her speed, knowing it's critical to catch her soon before she loses her in the crowd.

Yolanda is finding the going easier now - the way seems simple.

After a while, Yolanda turns left...

Regent doesn't want to hurt the girl...so he calls upon gaia to help him.."Gaia's fist entrap her.." he flies at her and closes his hand into a fist and the earth churns..

Yolanda says to Jennifer. "It's on this street. We're close." She raises her radio. "We've found the street. Now to find the apartment."

Lightray tries to close with the child from above, to intercept her path as he loses altitude. If he gets close to her, he will remain 3" above her.

From the earth springs ..and hits nothing..

Jennifer says to Yolanda, "Interesting. This is close to the Gym, around the back of it, and close to where Kihzra first appeared."

The girl, hearing Sable on her heels, breaks into a flat-out run!

Yolanda says, "Hm. Maybe their magic can only open a portal in one place on our world."

Jennifer nods. "It could be like the coffee shop. That's the place where the portal to and from one particular dimension always gets opened."

Yolanda blinks. "There's a gateway to another dimension in the coffee shop...?"

Yolanda's not sure, but she picks a building. Which "happens" to overlook Kihzra's arrival point.

Jennifer says, "Not at this exact moment, Dr Simmons, but often enough."

Yolanda thinks. o O ( Maybe it's time to check out Coffeebucks... )

Sable keeps up the frantic pace, her arms and legs a blur of speed as she sways from side to side, tearing her way through the crowd on the street as she strains to keep on the girls tail but already she shows signs of not being able to maintain this sort of pace for long, the girl is just faster.

Regent's eyes bleed energy as he tries to catch the girls, his body burns bright white and he leaves a trail of energy behind him as he speeds up to velocities previously unknown to even him

Regent makes a daring attempt to catch the girl - and for his efforts ploughs right into a dumpster.

Lightray takes careful aim at the small figure in the distance as his speed drops. He then lets fly with a flash of brilliant sunlight.

The flash of sunlight falls far short of Mehnpjotti Borchidof. A young man admiring his own features in a window seems to catch the edge of it.

Sable quickly crosses the distance and aims a strike at the girl's neck. her brow glistens under a thick sheen of perspiration and the form of her strike falters, swinging well wide of the nimble dimensional traveller.

Yolanda tries to enter the apartment building.

The girl runs off, speeding up again!

Sable stoops to pick up the base of disused lamp, and dvances a few metres (half move) and then hurls it after the girl's retreating form.

Sable watches the lamp arc smoothly through the air in a sure and powerful arc the swerves wide of the mark to shatter harmlessly against the corner of a building

The door of the building is locked.

The girl darts round a corner and out of sight.

Jennifer moves up to Yolanda, "Quiet or noisy, Dr Simmons?" she asks.

Yolanda looks to Jennifer. "Maybe one of us should cover the rear until the others arrive?"

Sable slumps against the front of the store she's in front of, her shoulders heaving as she sucks in deep, hungry lungfuls of air, glancing ruefully in the direction the girl sped away in.

Jennifer nods, "I'll go is you like. I just wondered if you'd like that door opened. I can kick it open or pick the lock, if you wish."

Yolanda sighs. "Quiet, please," she says reluctantly.

Jennifer gets to work on the lock of the door.

Yolanda says, "It'll be on the third floor."

The outside lock open readily enough.

Jennifer checks the door for alarms before it's opened. "You want me around the back? Dr Simmons, please don't go in on your own. Wait for some of the others to get back."

Yolanda radios back to Sable, quietly. "We're closing in, Sable. When you can make it back, we could use some help."

THe inside of the apartment building is a bit dingy, but unremarkable. Stairs lead up.

Yolanda places a hand on Jennifer's shoulder. "Don't worry. I have no desire to go in there alone."

Jennifer does as asked and goes around to the rear of the building. She changes Holo-Belt to stealth suit ans looks for a way to the third floor, fire exit or climbing.

Yolanda radios Sable with the address of the building. "We'll wait until you get here, before going into the apartment."

There's a fire exit at the back, but Yolanda's sure it's the front apartment you want.

Someone on the first floor is listening to '30s retro-country music.

Sable eventually makes it to where TYolanda and Jennifer wait.

Yolanda appears and waves to Sable. She quietly beckons for Sable to take the lead and she points to the stairs going up.

Jennifer goes up to the roof and gets out her whip. Setting the suit to blend into the exterior of the building she lowers herself down to the side of the outside of a window on the third floor and listens.

Sable moves quietly and unobtrusively into the indicated building, carefully placing each foot to the side of the stair and moving slowly while checking for security, observation, and generally nasty surprises.

Yolanda approaches quietly, using her Telepathy to cover her approach.

Sable manages to creep up the stairs past the twangy guitar music and twangier voice.

Jennifer lowers herself down with skill and precision. Shame the section of roofing she has hold of with the whip is poorly maintained. It breaks free as she is positioning herself at the window and drops her without warning onto the ledge, one foot smashing through the glass.

Jennifer says, "Oops!"

Yolanda appears again and says to Sable. "Let's go... it's on the third floor!"

Sable charges up the remaining stairs to the room.

The door comes off its hinges in two pieces.

Jennifer decides the only thing left to do is go in. "Window cleaner!" she calls out rolling through the window into the room beyond.

Sable charges through looking for any targets of opportunity

Yolanda follows into the apartment, behind Sable.

The only obvious targets are... each other. The room looks like it's been abandoned. Rather hastily, perhaps, because not all the furnishings have been removed.

Jennifer grins and holds out a chunk of roofing support. "They don't make building the way they used to. It broke off."

Sable looks round the room for a few moment before her head lolls back. "I am so sorry guys, I can't believe I let her get away."

There's still a bit of furniture about, especially the larger stuff. THere's a wardrobe, but with only some of the clothes there. THere's a TV, and an old-fashioned telephone.

Sable's shoulders lift. "That's what you get for doing all those weights."

The telephone rings.

Sable takes a deep breath. "We should leave the flat for Akeno, he's probably got significantly more training in this sort of thing."

Yolanda shakes her head and turns around. "Darn it. I guess it was silly to think that he'd stay here. We could start interviewing the neighbors... I'd like to stay here and... and..." She turns and looks at the phone and then to the others.

Sable's shoulders lift slightly. "I can't see we have anything to lose at this point." She moves to the phone and extends a gloved hand to lift the receiver from it's cradle. "Hello."

Jennifer shrugs, "We know one of them was close by. The girl. Slippery little thing isn't she. I knew I had no chance of keeping up with her."

Sable smiles. "I'm sorry about the door, if you want to come to the station we can arrange to have you reimbursed for the damage."

Yolanda's eyes narrow. "Does he know about the door? If so, he must be close.."

Sable nods to Yolanda and points to the window as well. "Well, exigent circumstances and so on. I was worried my friend had injured herself falling, your landlord has been very irresponsible, we could sue you know."

Jennifer heads out of the apartment and checks the rear apartment door for a spy-eye. Then she puts her ear to the door and listens for a voice speaking, say over a telephone.

Yolanda checks the window and checks to see if there's a line of sight in from the outside that would offer a view of how Jennifer smashed the window and also how the door was smashed in.

Jennifer hurries back to the front apartment and leans in to listen to the phone in Sable's hand.

Sable shrugs. "To tell the truth I'm more the brawn of this operation than the brains but people in the know don't seem too surprised you chose to stay hereabouts."

Yolanda waves out to the buildings facing the rear window of the apartment.

Sable laughs . "I suppose you're looking for something more profound than 'I was told to' As I understand it you and your friends have broken several laws during your stay. Are you about to tell me it's all a misunderstanding?"

Yolanda tries to make out if any of the people she can see are on the telephone.

Sable's shoulder lift slightly. "Well, if you can convince us of the justness of your cause we'd be more than willing to overlook legal technicalities."

Jennifer sees Yolanda peering out the window, and hands her a pair of mini-binocs.

Yolanda accepts the binoculars and uses them to contain her sweep.

Sable says, "Well, that depends entirely on whether you're willing to return everything that you've acquired during your stay."

Lightray comes to the door of the aprtment. He listens quietly for a moment, then says softly. "I lost the urchin in the crowds on Ming Street."

Yolanda looks to Jennifer meaningfully. Jennifer will hear Yolanda's voice in her mind. << I think I see him. In the building facing the rear window.

• Description of which building, which floor, which window* >>

Sable lifts a hand. "this is all staring to sound like a technical decision I'm simply not qualified to make. But it sounds like a promising way to start. I'm going to put you onto someone with some executive authority. Just a moment." She holds out the phone. "Hes willing to return everything in return for being allowed to leave. someone should talk to him. He's not keen on being found he thinks something untoward would happen.

Jennifer thinks, "Are you hearing me, Dr Simmons?

Yolanda nods to Jennifer. She holds out her hand for the phone. "I'll talk to him."

Sable says, "He's willing to give back everything in return for being allowed to leave, or so he says."

Yolanda speaks into the receiver. "Hello, this is Dr. Yolanda Simmons. Dancing Voice I presume? It's good to finally get a chance to talk to you. What do you want?"

Lightray walks over to Jennifer. He asks softly. "Do we have any idea where he is?"

Yolanda says into the telephone. "That will be a hard argument for me to sell. From what I know, this is the fourth time that people have come across to our world from yours. One time, a deadly plague was introduced. There has to be a stop to these incursions."

Jennifer nods and guides Lightray further from the phone so they cannot be overheard. "Dr Simmon's spotted him. If she tells us to go, he's across the street, 4th floor, 2nd window on the right. But he's only a step on the way. What we need is a way to get over to that dimension. Then we can close down thew whole operation. I have confidence that Dr Simmons is working to that aim."

Yolanda nods. "I'm listening. How do we stop this?"

Lightray murmurs softly. "I would imagine the incense, candles, and hair that Smith hasd in his possession may potoentially be a key to that objective." He glances over at Yolanda. "No reason for a smith to have such things."

Jennifer nods. "Yes. But it's magic. I wouldn't have any idea how to use them."

Lightray smiles slightly. "Neither would I. I ahve ben exposed enough to recognize the trappings, but unless its a book, I cannot help."

Yolanda nods stiffly to Lightray, understanding.

Yolanda says, "I don't think that option is even on the table. I'm sure that if an accident occured, you'd be obliged to bring back some sort of proof. I don't think that would be possible."

Yolanda thinks to Jennifer, << He says the way to end this to kill Kihzra. >>

Jennifer thinks.. Ain't gonna happen. If you want him taken down just say the word. But talking might get us mire.

Lightray reaches up and absently runs his fingertips over the surface of the gemstone on his chest as he listens to Dr Simmons' side of the conversation.

Yolanda says to the phone, "Your friends are mostly in jail already, and I think that you will be joining them eventually. Most people wouldn't care if you end up in your own dimension or in jail."

Yolanda says, "Except if you're in jail, you won't return to try and attack us again. That's just how people view the situation right now."

Yolanda thinks to Jennifer. << I'm doubtful that he can offer us anything of worth right now, outside of -- Hm. He may have some sort of ace up his sleeve... I've got a bad feeling. >>

Jennifer thinks... This place may be wired to go boom. Time to take him down?

Yolanda hmms. "I don't want to force anyone into a situation that we would both regret. I just want to understand what is it that you want. You want to return home? If you come in peacefully, you may be allowed to return home after a stay in jail -- your cooperation would be taken into consideration."

Jennifer thinks... Dr Simmons, see if he'll take a free trip home if we can watch to verify it happens. I'll bet money Alex cound monitor the trip and get a fix on their dimension.

Lightray walks around the apartment as Yolanda continues to talk on the phone. He listens as he idly pokes at various items.

Yolanda thinks, << He's charmed a meta into being his bodyguard... 'with a rather explosive temper' are his words. >>

Yolanda nods to the person on the other of the phone. "Go on."

Jennifer emulates Lightray with a focused intent. She's checking for explosives or other booby-traps. She doubts it. The guy is a magic type. But checking doesn't cost anything.

Yolanda thinks, << Violence is straight out of the question. He's charmed people at the water company, the power plant, and Lord knows who else. >>

Jennifer thinks.. That's what he says. No proof of that. Don't let him get to you, Dr.

Yolanda thinks, << I don't think we'll have a chance to verify it. I don't think we can afford to call his bluff. >>

Lightray murmurs gently, "You could offer to meet him under a flag of truce somewhere to speak face-to-face. After all, it appears he has no way to leave on his own or he would have already. Unless he has angered Arctic Fox by his failures."

Jennifer thinks... You can ask for proof. If he has that many under his influence he can burn one of them as a demonstration.

Yolanda says, "Give me the name of one of your friends in the city so that we verify your claim. So that we know we can trust you."

Yolanda asks, "Can I ask you a question? Why are you so eager to return home? Won't Arctic Fox be upset about the failure to kill Kihzra?"

Yolanda thinks, << The zookeeper who has access to Mung the Gorilla >>

Lightray looks around to try to determine how many people have been staying in this apartment recently.

Jennifer thinks... If true, yes, that could be awkward. He's been busy hasn't he.

Yolanda nods. "We'll need some time to verify this information. Can we meet again in a few days to talk again? Face-to-face. I prefer it to speaking over the phone."

Jennifer sighs and settles in a chair. "Wake me up if you want to beat his head in." she says and closes her eyes.

Yolanda thinks << Jennifer, do you know anyone who might be the bodyguard? HE describes her as 'explosive'. >>

Jennifer thinks.. Her? Explosive. Oh, yeah. That has to be BadaBoom. Nice girl except when she gets angry. Shame she's ALWAYS angry.

Yolanda nods. "I wouldn't want your explosive friend to get edgy either. And I view Deidre Schultz as being an innocent unduly caught up in this situation. There's no reason to prolong what she's been put through."

Yolanda says, "Alright, then. Buckingham Garden Park at *specific time*?"

Yolanda says, "How would you feel if we just sent you back. And not the others. That should be fine, yes?"

Lightray gives up his inspection of the debris in the apartment after a time. He leans against one of the walls which has the disconcerting effect of making his wings move through the walls.

Yolanda nods to the phone. She covers he receiver. "Do we have anything else that we want to ask him?"

Lightray murmurs, "Arctic Fox's True Name?" He then ads in a more serious tone. "AS he expressed any demands?"

Jennifer shakes her head. "If there's a face to face meeting it's better to ask questions then. We can see his face."

says, "He wants to return what he's taken and return to his home dimension with all of his teammates."

Lightray nods. "What has he taken?"

Yolanda says, "I'm not sure. I think we'll find out at the next meeting"

Jennifer grins. "I'd say let him. If Alex has a chance to set up monitoring gear we'll be over there soon after and Artic Fox will find out what being on the recieving side is like."

Lightray murmurs, "But what about the Archer? He does not wish to return, correct?"

Yolanda shakes her head, mouthing 'he wants to return'.

Jennifer nods, "Exclude the archer if need be. But the archer has to know what will happen. He'll be targeted like Kihzra. Better for him if he helps us take down Artic Fox.

Lightray nods to Yolanda in understanding. He says, "No further questions from me, no."

Yolanda uncovers the receiver. "Well meet again, Voice, at the park."

Yolanda hangs up.

Yolanda says, "This is worse than I thought. If he's telling the truth about his friends."

Jennifer says, "If it's BadaBoom we might be able to handle that. Lorelei knows her reasonably well. Plus she owes me one. I helped pull her butt out of a death-trap once."

Lightray murmurs, "Um, what are you all talking about?"

Jennifer says, "BadaBoom is a female villain with explosive powers. And a real fiery temper."

Yolanda draws the shade on the window. "Dancing Voice has been running loose in the city for a year. During that time he's used his abilities to charm some people..."

Lightray nods slightly. "Wonderful."

Yolanda says, "He's also mentioned having people at the water plant, the power plant. If we try to put him in jail, he'll wreck the city."

Lightray murmurs, "Manchurian Candidates, huh?"

Yolanda says, "He gave us one name, Deidre Schultz, the zookeeper with access to Mung, a fifty foot tall gorilla."

Jennifer smiles wryly, "You could almost admire him. That's the exact same tactics I was trained to use."