IC - 24 - They Think It's All Over

[Silver Priest]

Thinking a fourth person would not be of much help investigating the same area, Simon snatches up the keys. "I'll take the car and see if I can spot him. If I do, I'll lay on the horn." "Good hunting," He adds.

[Philulhu]

Kris watched Jocelyn clear the next fence with an inward sigh. Another fence! He took a run up and tried to scramble over the top, but found his shoes scrabbling ineffectively on the timber. ”Give me a hand, will you?” he said to the AFO, already winded by his efforts at catching up.

(50) 1d100

[Mephistophilis]

The AFO walks along the wall and skillfully lowers himself into the muddy vegetable garden behind Kris. He trots up to the next fence and hauls himself over. There's some barely suppressed sniggering as he watches Kris hanging off the next one, with his shoes scraping ineffectually at the slippery wood. After what seems like an inappropriately long delay he runs up behind Kris, giving him a big shove that propels him over the fence and tumbling into the next garden a few metres from Jocelyn.

This next garden is fairly small with a large trampoline at one end. There's no side access past the terraced house and there's another fence into the next garden. Neither Kris nor Jocelyn can see any sign of Johnny in the bushes or hiding amongst the boxes, toys, and general debris of what looks like a young family's backyard.

Meanwhile, Simon gets a bit of a thrill driving the marked armed response vehicle a few metres up the road. He drives past an unusual quad-shaped set of bungalows, maybe a little retirement village, then finds himself staring at the frontage of a large semi-detached property. He can't see any obvious way through the semi but thinks he might see a way through, past the bungalows.

I suggest everyone gives a Spot Hidden to look for Johnny. Here's the situation:

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn sees something out of the corner of her eye.

Spot Hidden roll (60% skill) looking for signs of Johnny:
d%
Again?! Looks like I'm spending another 1 Luck.

[Silver Priest]

Simon slowly drives down the street, trying and failing to resist the urge to make a siren noise with his mouth. he scans his surroundings, doing his best to find Johnny Zero; he knows he may be their only chance to break up Balfour's little schemes for good. He'll try and continue past the bungalows at a slow speed.

1d100

[Philulhu]

(40%) 1d100

Kris took a deep breath, straightened his jacket and put the AFO’s sniggering out of his mind. He carefully scanned the area in front of him, spotting a clue as to where Johnny was hiding…

[Mr. Handy]

I guess I don't need to spend that point of Luck after all.

[Mephistophilis]

Simon can't see anyone that could be Johnny but there's definitely a few curtains twitching and faces appearing in windows as the armed response vehicle slowly rolls down the street.

Out of the corner of her eye Jocelyn thinks she sees some movement in the adjoining garden and heads over to the fence to peer over and take a look.

Meanwhile, Kris scans the garden they're in, trying to figure out if there's anywhere Johnny could be hiding. From the far side of the fence he hears, 'You gonna give me a hand getting over of what?' It's the AFO, and Kris gets a little thrill of schadenfreude that he seems to be struggling to get over. Leaving it just long enough for the AFO to know who is in control, he turns back to help him over. But as he does so he spots something. It's hard to put into words what he sees. There's a shadow, a shape, at the far side of the trampoline. Could it be a figure?

Luck (41%) - Did Johnny hide or run: 1d100 5

No need to spend the Luck since Kris succeded

[Philulhu]

Kris nudged the AFO and held a finger to his lips. Pointing to the shadow next to the trampoline, he silently extended his baton and waited for the AFO to indicate he was ready before he said, ”Armed Police! Get down on the floor!”

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn stealthily approaches the source of the movement, her pepper spray in her hand.

[Silver Priest]

Ignorant to everything else, Simon continues to slowly drive down the street, eyes scanning for any sign of Johnny.

[Mephistophilis]

After shouting at the trampoline Kris doesn't get any kind of reply or see any movement. The AFO looks at him questioningly, relaxing the grip on his weapon and letting it swing free from the sling, 'Jumping at shadows detective?'

POW 55% not to move: 1d100 26

Roll Stealth

Roll Listen

[Silver Priest]

1d100

[Mr. Handy]

A twig snaps under Jocelyn's foot.

Stealth roll (60% skill) to sneak closer:
d%

[Philulhu]

Kris glanced at the AFO. ”Stay alert until we find him!” he said, then resumed his scan of the area.

[Mephistophilis]

As Kris and the AFO continue to stare at the shadowy shape behind the trampoline, Jocelyn edges around the outside and tries to get a bit closer with her pepper spray at the ready. As she begins to make out the shape that is drawing their interest her foot presses down on a dry piece of branch which breaks with a loud crack.

Within a fraction of a second the shadow has unfurled itself to reveal the shape of a squat, muscled man with tattoos on his neck, Johnny Zero. Quick as a whippet he streaks out from behind the trampoline and moves to shove Jocelyn out of his way.

So Johnny is going to get a surprise attack on Jocelyn, she can Dodge or Fight Back. Pepper Spray is Fighting (Brawl). Johnny has succeeded so Jocelyn will need either a regular success on a Dodge or a hard success on a Fighting (Brawl). Then we'll move into initiative order - AFO, Jocelyn, Johnny, Kris, then Simon as he's going to have to run to join them.

From somewhere behind the bungalows Simon distinctly hears 'Armed Police! Get down on the floor!' It sounds an awful lot like Kris's voice.

Fighting Brawl (50%): 1d100 39

[Mr. Handy]

If I succeed at a Dodge roll, does that mean I'll keep him from getting past me?

[Mephistophilis]

No, but you'll not get knocked down, so you'll get to act unhindered before him next round

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn cries out as she gets bowled over.

Dodge roll (50% skill) to avoid getting knocked down:
d%

[Silver Priest]

Hearing Kris' voice-- and reasoning what the cause for the shout must have been-- Simon parks the vehicle as close to the bungalows as he can before he gets out, grabbing the keys before he starts to run towards the sound of the officer's voice.