Play@YSDC

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:37 am**

Upon returning to their home bases in the Venice area, each of the adventurers finds a ticket for a flight from LAX to San Francisco International Airport, leaving in a few days. There is no indication from where they might have come, but enclosed with each is a typewritten note that simply reads SATISFACTORY OUTCOME WILL CONTACT.

By way of contrast, the very next day other anonymous messages arrive in the mail. These are handwritten, in peculiar, spidery letters, inscribed in green ink on pink paper, scented with jasmine. These say Do not interfere.

The day before the flights are scheduled to leave, the Los Angeles Times carries a report of what witnesses (a few fishermen at sea) called "a big blimp" flying over one of the small, uninhabited islands off the coast. The alleged vessel is said to have released a pale yellow fog, which rapidly sank to the ground, then soon dissipated.

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:35 pm**

"I think the second message is from the Doctor," says Liz. "That means that whatever's going on in San Francisco, he's most likely behind it."

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:45 pm**

"Quite so m'dear; which, if what we know about the chap is true, means we are duty bound to interfere. I wonder who sent the first note and sprang for these tickets? Let's hope it's not our friends fom behind the iron curtain."

Posted: **Sat Apr 18, 2020 10:14 pm**

"Quite," says Liz. "I'm all in favour of interfering. Of course, we don't yet know what it is we're interfering with, but the mystery only makes it all the more irresistible."

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 3:29 am**

Zara spends the days before departure alternately drinking and painting scenes of places she's been to, enhanced by her new memory.

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:37 am**

The morning that the flight is scheduled to leave, the transmitter disguised as a pack of Winstons (most popular brand in the USA this year, despite -- or maybe because of -- its ungrammatical slogan) crackles with static, followed by the unmistakable voice of Natasha Bolowski, albeit badly broken up, and strained with obvious emotion.

-- attacked -- dead -- poison -- kidnappers -- help --

Meanwhile, Zara's enhanced memory, which allows her to recall the exact location of the secret Soviet installation, combined with details from the newspaper article, allow her to draw as sketch of the point where the alleged airship was spotted, revealing that, if the accounts are true, the mysterious vehicle discharged its contents at that very spot, then headed in a northwest-by-north direction (not to be confused with the famous Alfred Hitchcock film North by Northwest, a direction which does not exist.)

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:36 pm**

"Looks like the Russians were no match for the Doctor's forces," says Liz. "My guess is they're heading for San Francisco in their airship." She consults a map to see if it confirms her hypothesis.

Posted: **Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:36 pm**

"I thought the cloud was the Russians covering their tracks before scarpering, but clearly I was wrong. Note the word 'kidnappers' - let us hope Natasha has been taken along for the ride."

Tony smiles apologetically.

"I'd hate to think someone has defeated her before I get the chance to. Now, I believe we have a plane to catch, what?"

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 2:31 am**

"Being rescued by you would drive her crazy," Zara says.

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:07 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Looks like the Russians were no match for the Doctor's forces," says Liz. "My guess is they're heading for San Francisco in their airship." She consults a map to see if it confirms her hypothesis.

It is evident that this is the most likely destination, assuming the airship maintains the same course.

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:23 am**

Welcome aboard Pacific Southwest Airlines, nonstop flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy 1968! The temperature in the City by the Bay is a chilly fifty degrees, with fog and light rain, so bundle up! We'll be taking off in just a few minutes, so fasten those seat belts and please observe the No Smoking signs. Thank you, and welcome again to the airline with the smiling planes!

After a routine takeoff, the No Smoking lights go off, allowing several of the passengers to light up, and seat belts come off. Although the flight will only last a few hours, the flight attendants, all pretty young women in the airline's signature hot pink and orange uniforms, pass out peanuts, tiny plastic cups of soft drinks (or harder drinks for the adults), and copies of Look and Life. With all that's been going on, it's easy to forget that it's already mid-December, nearing the holiday season.

The flight is an uneventful one, except when a girl about eight or nine years old points out the window.

"A flying saucer!"

Her parents shush her, her father remarking "I told you not to let Suzie watch those Twilight Zone reruns. Gremlins on the wing! Enough to make anybody see things."

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 2:38 pm**

Tony sets down his plastic cup of Ambassador scotch at the mention of flying saucers. Not wishing to alarm any passengers, he leaves his seat as if to stretch his legs.

Trying to catch the eye of his friends, he makes his way to a window near the child and looks out, as if enjoying the view.

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:30 pm**

Zara does the same.

Posted: **Mon Apr 20, 2020 10:35 pm**

Lew will settle in for the flight. Hopefully they booked him a window seat as he enjoys passing the time watching out the window. He's not too worried about either the Russians or the Chinese or anyone else that might be interested in their arrival in San Francisco, preferring to wait and see what new adventures this group of young hipsters has gotten him into.

At the exclamation of the child, he glances over at his companions and noticing that they are checking things out, he will go back to gazing out the window.

Posted: **Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:12 am**

Liz looks out the window too, eager to see a flying saucer.

Posted: **Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:10 am**

What is clearly visible to all who look outside is not really a flying saucer, although it is easy to understand why the little girl thought so. Instead, it's a spinning ring of some kind of metal, silver in color, hovering near one of the wings of the plane. After a few seconds, it draws near one of the engines. A grinding sound can be heard, despite the noise of the airplane itself and the body of the plane deadening all sounds from outside. Sparks fly out from the ring where it spins against the engine. Soon a thick trial of black smoke emerges from the engine, causing the plane to tilt to one side.

This is your Captain speaking. We're, uh, experiencing some turbulence, so please fasten your seat belts and remain calm.

The spinning ring draws away from the wing, only to appear once again on the other side of the plane, approaching another of the aircraft's four turboprop engines. (It's a Lockheed L-188 Electra, by the way.) Some of the passengers react nervously, and the flight attendants pass out more drinks, ignoring the "one per customer" rule.

Posted: **Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:49 pm**

“Maybe it’s gremlins after all,” Tony whispers to Liz. “Any chance you could transmit some kind of disruption signal to that thing using the transmitter?”

Whether the lovely Liz can or cannot do this, Tony will attempt to inform the captain of the damage done to the engines.

Posted: **Tue Apr 21, 2020 11:56 pm**

"Great minds think alike," says Liz, already going through the scientific equipment in her purse to find something suitable. "We can't use an electromagnetic pulse, as it would stop the engine too, but I may be able to jam the signal. It appears that you know who doesn't want us to reach San Francisco."

Posted: **Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:43 am**

jp1885 wrote: “Maybe it’s gremlins after all,” Tony whispers to Liz. “Any chance you could transmit some kind of disruption signal to that thing using the transmitter?”

Whether the lovely Liz can or cannot do this, Tony will attempt to inform the captain of the damage done to the engines.

Spoiler:

Despite all his charm, Tony is unable to convince the nearest flight attendant -- her name tag reveals that she's called Debbie -- to allow to enter the cockpit.

"I'm sorry, sir, you'll have to remain seated. Would you care for another cocktail?"

Posted: **Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:53 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Great minds think alike," says Liz, already going through the scientific equipment in her purse to find something suitable. "We can't use an electromagnetic pulse, as it would stop the engine too, but I may be able to jam the signal. It appears that you know who doesn't want us to reach San Francisco."

OOC,Intelligence roll (14 + 1[Scientific Knowledge] to create an improvised jamming device: [dice]234809:0[/dice]

The spinning disc sheers off, to be lost in the clouds.

Crippled but still partially airworthy, and not terribly far from its destination, the plane makes an emergency landing at San Jose. That's a distance of about fifty miles by road, so something more than an hour by car, about the same by the local commuter train (cheaper than renting a car, but you have to depend on its schedule), or somewhat longer by bus, which is the cheapest way. All these forms of transportation are available near the San Jose airport. The investigators may choose to travel together -- there's a VW van available for rent -- or separately.

Posted: **Wed Apr 22, 2020 9:35 pm**

"We do seem to live in interesting times. I say we rent the van. VW's are all the rage and we may fit in even better in San Francisco if we arrive in one." Lew says to the others.

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 1:40 am**

"Agreed," says Liz. "It's also good to have our own ride, so that we're able to travel freely in the city without having to rely on others for transport."

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 3:16 am**

"And they're a place to sleep as well," Zara adds.

Posted: **Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:42 pm**

Despite losing the chance to chat-up Debbie the stewardess, Tomy is rather pleased to be on terra firma once again. He claps his hands at the mention of hiring a minivan.

"Capital - road trip it is then! Well, a short jaunt at least, what?"

Posted: **Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:32 am**

Arrangements are made to hire the vehicle, which has seen better days, but hides it well under multiple layers of bright paint, slapped on the outside seemingly at random, creating a kaleidoscopic background for crudely drawn images of daisies and peace signs. The hulking van heads towards San Francisco at a leisurely pace, black smoke pouring out of the exhaust, bouncing with every bump in the road. The interior is lined with worn rugs, and beads hang from the ceiling, striking the heads of anyone not careful to duck while moving inside it. There's an AM radio, if anybody wants to listen.

Spoiler:

Not long after heading out on the main road to San Francisco, the way is blocked by a wooden barrier and a sign reading DETOUR, directing traffic to a small road, US Highway 28. The only other vehicle on the road, during what seems to be unusually light traffic, is a burgundy Rolls Royce, obviously only a couple of years old. It follows the detour, travelling at a modest speed just ahead of the van. After a while on this winding country byway, the Rolls pulls into a drive-in movie theater. (The marquee says they're showing a double feature of Frankenstein Created Woman and The Mummy's Shroud.) This is odd, because it's the middle of the morning, long before the place is supposed to open. Meanwhile, just up ahead, a couple of souped-up hot rods block the otherwise deserted road, engines roaring, apparently about to have an illegal road race.

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 12:09 am**

"I'm curious about whoever's in the Rolls Royce," says Liz. She's willing to drive, but she'll yield the wheel to Tony if he prefers. "Not exactly where you'd expect a toff to be, but then again some of us are toffs too, and we don't even have a fancy car. Shall we go take a look?"

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 3:58 am**

"It'll give those dragsters time to get out of the way," Zara says.

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 8:16 am**

All for women’s lib, Tony is happy to sit back while Liz drives.

“Indeed. We need not concern ourselves with hot-rodders, but anyone driving a Roller is always worth chatting to.”

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 10:02 am**

The van slowly pulls into the otherwise deserted drive-in, with Liz at the wheel. The Rolls is parked near the kiddie playground near the screen, its motor running. From the dust-covered CLOSED sign on the snack bar, hanging at a precarious angle from a single nail, it seems likely the place is closed for the winter.

The windows of the Rolls are tinted dark enough to make it difficult to see anything inside it, without getting quite close. This would probably require approaching on foot, or pulling the van right next to the Rolls, window to window.

Meanwhile, the roar of hot rod engines fills the air from just outside the drive-in, followed by a very loud crashing sound.

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 4:53 pm**

Zara runs back to the road to see if anyone needs help.

Posted: **Fri May 01, 2020 6:56 pm**

While still rather curious about the Roller, Tony is noble enough not to shy away from someone in peril. Therefore, at the sound of the crash, he follows Zara to the scene of the accident.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 3:15 am**

Liz drives the van to the scene of the crash, giving a lift to her friends so that they can get there faster.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 8:17 am**

The two hot rods are now a twisted mass of metal blocking the road, steam blasting out of the radiators and gasoline pouring out of the gas tanks. One of the two young men driving the things sits on the side of the road, conscious but bleeding; the other is not immediately visible. Off to the side is a hysterical young woman, screaming "Johnny!"

Meanwhile, the Rolls heads out of the drive-in, its wheels squealing as it pulls out at great speed. At first it heads towards San Francisco, but stops suddenly, blocked by the wreck. The car jerks back and forth as the unseen driver tries to head the other way on the narrow road. This draws at least some of the attention of the investigators, despite the equal distraction of the wreck. While the Rolls awkwardly turns around, a high heel shoe bursts through one of the back windows, followed by a high-pitched scream, which is suddenly cut off.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 4:59 pm**

"She's being abducted!" calls Liz, bringing the van around to try to cut off the Rolls Royce before it can escape.

Posted: **Sat May 02, 2020 7:48 pm**

While Tony should really prioritise this Johnny, he cannot resist a damsel in distress.

"Lew, Zara, can you see to the crash?"

Without waiting for an answer, he races to the Roller. If Liz's excellent driving stops the Rolls, he will swing his stick into the driver's window.

"Let the lady go!"

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 12:41 am**

Zara shouts to the woman, "Which car is he in?" She'll run to the indicated car and see what state this "Johnny" is in.

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 8:15 am**

Lew looks to the left and then to the right.

"Lew, Zara, can you see to the crash?"

"My god! Is there no end to the suffering in this world?" Lew mutters as he raises his hand in acknowledgment to Tony and runs with Zara to the wrecked hot rods.

"Hello, does anyone need any help? Yell if you can, we need to get everyone away from these vehicles."

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 8:53 am**

Sobbing, the young woman points at the tangled wrecks, which might as well be one solid mass of metal, with a trembling hand.

"He's -- he's in there! Get him out!"

It can be seen that an unconscious fellow is inside this chaos of steel and glass, hanging from the driver's seat of one of the vehicles, upside down, blood dripping from his head.

The young man on the ground slowly forces himself to his feet, shakes his head, and mumbles "She's gonna blow."

________________________________________________________________________________

With extraordinary skill, Liz maneuvers the van directly in front of the Rolls, blocking its escape. The car comes to a sudden halt with squealing brakes. Tony rushes up to the driver's side and wields his weapon of choice.

Spoiler:

The expertly aimed cane shatters the window, sending shards of glass into the face of the driver, distracting him for the moment. The driver is a small, pale, red-haired man in his twenties, dressed in jeans and plain white T-shirt.

The back door opens and a somewhat older, taller, and heavier man, bald, wearing sunglasses and wearing a business suit emerges, dragging a young woman, incongruously dressed in a scarlet evening gown covered with sequins, her eyes covered with a blindfold. She hobbles after the man with one bare foot and one gold high heel shoe. The man holds an automatic pistol to her head.

"Everybody just take it easy and nobody gets hurt," he says, in a surprisingly soft and smooth voice. "Me and the lady are gonna take a walk out of here, so just stay where you are."

He begins pulling the woman away from the road, in the direction of the scrub land opposite the drive-in theater.

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 10:14 am**

Tony walks forward slowly, maintaining a non-threatening distance between him and the pair.

“Tell you what ol’ chum, I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself. What gives, hm?”

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 4:09 pm**

Liz slips her mace into her hand and gets out of the van on the opposite side from the man so that he cannot see her. She plans a course to intercept him and sneak up behind him.

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 4:15 pm**

Zara's pretty small, so she crawls into the car to undo the unconscious dude's seatbelt - "Lew, can you help pull him out?"

Posted: **Sun May 03, 2020 6:30 pm**

Lew follows Zara to the side of the car and attempts to pull the man out as Zara loosens the seat belt.

Posted: **Mon May 04, 2020 8:51 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony walks forward slowly, maintaining a non-threatening distance between him and the pair.

“Tell you what ol’ chum, I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself. What gives, hm?”

The man makes no reply, but keeps an eye on Tony, probably figuring he's more of a threat than Liz. That allows Liz to . . .

Posted: **Mon May 04, 2020 8:54 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Liz slips her mace into her hand and gets out of the van on the opposite side from the man so that he cannot see her. She plans a course to intercept him and sneak up behind him.

OOC,Dexterity roll (12) trying to sneak behind the kidnapper: [dice]235110:0[/dice]

Spoiler:

. . . sneak up behind the guy, Mace in hand. Just at the last moment, however, the stunned driver sees what's going on and shouts "Watch out, Tony! Behind you!"

Spoiler:

Just as Liz sprays the Mace into the man's face, he whips his pistol at the can, knocking it out of her hand.

Spoiler:

The man coughs and cries, but it seems that he was only exposed to a small amount of the nasty stuff.

"Any more funny stuff and she gets it!" He continues to drag the woman away.

Posted: **Mon May 04, 2020 9:03 am**

Meanwhile . . .

Spoiler:

While attempting to undo the seat belt -- which, by the way, is still an unusual feature to find in a hot rod, the law making it mandatory to have seat belts in all vehicles in the USA not taking effect until the New Year -- Zara manages to get herself stuck in the vehicle. No doubt inspired to heroic action by her predicament, Lew is able to pull the Johnny to safety. That still leaves Zara trapped, with the fumes of gasoline filling the air.

Posted: **Mon May 04, 2020 10:20 am**

With Lew occupied by the unconscious guy, Zara calls to the other boy and girl, "Help me, I'm stuck!" She tries to figure out a way to free herself, maybe trying to use where the belt's attached as leverage.

Posted: **Mon May 04, 2020 8:44 pm**

Oblivious to Zara’s predicament, Tony continues to square up to the guy with the pistol. While the mook is distracted by Liz, he readies his stick.

Then, using his new-found power, he teleports to a spot directly behind the guy and attempts to clobber him across the head.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 2:30 am**

Liz puts up her hands to show she's no longer a threat. "I'd like to propose an exchange," she says. "Take me with you instead of her. If it's ransom you want, my family is extremely wealthy. If it's something else you have in mind, let me point out that while she is lovely, I'm even more attractive than she is." Liz is confident that she can think of something, or failing that, Tony and the others can rescue her, especially since the intended captive could share information with them about what exactly is going on here.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 9:16 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
With Lew occupied by the unconscious guy, Zara calls to the other boy and girl, "Help me, I'm stuck!" She tries to figure out a way to free herself, maybe trying to use where the belt's attached as leverage.

Spoiler:

Zara manages to free herself from this seeming death trap just soon enough to get out of harm's way when the tangled mass of twisted metal explodes with an ear-shattering BOOM! Flames rise high into the sky. The young man and woman examine the unconscious Johnny, shaking and slapping her lightly in an attempt to bring him out of it, but he's out cold. From the look of it, he's lost a lot of blood and is otherwise in bad shape.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 9:22 am**

The abductor completely ignores Liz, simply intent on escaping with his prize. That doesn't prevent Tony from sneaking behind him in a very unusual manner.

Spoiler:

The fellow sustains a serious but not debilitating head wound, causing him to drop the gun and let go of the woman's hand. Stunned by what's happened, without really understanding it, he decides that discretion is the better part of valor, and takes off running as fast as he can into the scrub land. The woman falls to the ground in a dead faint.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 11:38 am**

Having knelt down to pocket the pistol, Tony is about to attend to the woman when the hotrod explodes behind him. He looks up at Liz in alarm.

“One of us had better go and help while the other sees to this young lady,” he says, willing to fulfil either role.

Posted: **Tue May 05, 2020 10:05 pm**

Zara crouches down, hugging herself and shaking, relieved to be alive.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 1:12 am**

"I'll look after her," says Liz, retrieving her mace. "You might want to try to stop the driver from escaping first, if he hasn't already." She bends down beside the woman to examine her for injuries and try to revive her.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 9:45 am**

The woman has only minor bruises, not counting the damage done to her expensive clothes. She wakes up after a few minutes, still groggy. She sits up and asks "What happened? The last thing I remember, I was at Daddy's party, then everything went black. Then I woke up with my eyes covered up in the back of a moving car. I tried to fight my way out . . . Who are you people? What do you want from me?"

The driver remains in the car, hands raised in the universal sign of surrender.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The flames from the wreck quickly set the brush next to the road aflame, producing thick, black smoke that rises high into the sky. Somebody at a distance must be able to see it, because it's not much later that the sound of sirens can be heard from faraway.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 3:15 pm**

Zara moves further away from the flames. She looks in the direction of the injured Johnny, but doesn't approach, not really wanting to talk to the other pair who ignored her own call for help.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 6:02 pm**

Lew goes to the driver who's still conscious and begins to berate him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? If we hadn't come by, Johnny would be dead right now and you'd be facing a long prison term. Not only yourselves, but my friend and I put ourselves in mortal danger just to ensure that no one died today. There's a reason that races are done at tracks in controlled situations where they have fire crews and paramedics to deal with crashes. Count yourself lucky that you only lost your vehicle."

After his anger subsides, he heads over to Zara to help her to her feet and make sure she's okay.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 8:43 pm**

Starspawn338 wrote:After his anger subsides, he heads over to Zara to help her to her feet and make sure she's okay.

"Thanks, I'm ok. Just a bit shaky. Good speech," she finishes with a wan smile.

Posted: **Wed May 06, 2020 9:44 pm**

Tony sighs with relief when he sees that everyone is uninjured in the explosion. Leaving Liz to look after the girl and Zara and Lew to berate the teens, he turns his attention to the driver of the Rolls.

"Okay Sonny Jim, out you get," he says, ordering him out of the car. "Would you care to explain yourself?"

Posted: **Thu May 07, 2020 12:47 am**

"We're here to rescue you," says Liz in a reassuring tone. "We were on our way to San Francisco when we saw you trying to escape, and we stopped to help you. My name is Liz. What's yours?"

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 9:22 am**

Starspawn338 wrote: Lew goes to the driver who's still conscious and begins to berate him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? If we hadn't come by, Johnny would be dead right now and you'd be facing a long prison term. Not only yourselves, but my friend and I put ourselves in mortal danger just to ensure that no one died today. There's a reason that races are done at tracks in controlled situations where they have fire crews and paramedics to deal with crashes. Count yourself lucky that you only lost your vehicle."

After his anger subsides, he heads over to Zara to help her to her feet and make sure she's okay.

"Cool it, Pops," the young man says weakly. "We're just out for kicks, dig? Can't get kicks without some danger, right?" He then passes out.

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 9:26 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony sighs with relief when he sees that everyone is uninjured in the explosion. Leaving Liz to look after the girl and Zara and Lew to berate the teens, he turns his attention to the driver of the Rolls.

"Okay Sonny Jim, out you get," he says, ordering him out of the car. "Would you care to explain yourself?"

The driver emerges slowly and carefully, hands kept in sight.

"I'm just the wheelman, OK? I didn't even know this was gonna be a snatch job. Thought we were just gonna run some hash up to 'Frisco. When Tony grabbed the dame . . . well, you don't argue with a gun, am I right?"

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 9:34 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"We're here to rescue you," says Liz in a reassuring tone. "We were on our way to San Francisco when we saw you trying to escape, and we stopped to help you. My name is Liz. What's yours?"

"Monique van der Maas, but most people just call me Mo."

By this time, an ambulance and a fire engine have managed to make their way to the site of the accident. In all the confusion, the fellow called Tony manages to escape from sight, somewhere in the rough brushland near the highway.

When they arrive, Mo grabs Liz's arm and says desperately "Don't tell them who I am! Say I was with you all the time. Please!"

Before there's a chance to ask any questions, the emergency personnel not actively fighting the fire and treating injuries show up and take statements from everyone. Mo is noticeably reticent.

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 11:48 am**

Tony accepts the driver’s story, and bids him stand aside while he searches the Rolls for anything of interest.

When the authorities arrive, he notices how Mo keeps schtum. Therefore he tells a limited version of the truth, to wit how they witnessed the hot-rod crash and rushed to attend. Presumably the occupants of the Roller did the same - in the heat of the moment it was all very confusing.

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 1:09 pm**

Zara has no idea what happened at the Rolls, but gives an accurate account of the crash, including the bit where the other two ignored her when she got stuck. Despite telling Lew she was cool, she gets visibly shakier as she goes on as she realises how close to death she came. (Unless anyone stops her, she tales some swigs from her gin flask).

Posted: **Thu May 14, 2020 9:35 pm**

Lew will answer any questions that he is asked. Only when they are again in their van in private will he ask about the girl.
"Do you need a ride anywhere? We were heading to San Francisco."

Posted: **Fri May 15, 2020 1:47 am**

Liz confirms her friends' accounts, keeping Mo's identity secret and pretending she had been with them as requested.

Posted: **Fri May 15, 2020 8:13 am**

jp1885 wrote: Tony accepts the driver’s story, and bids him stand aside while he searches the Rolls for anything of interest.

Spoiler:

On the floor of the back seat is a crumpled sheet of paper, which proves to be a torn portion of a road map of the city of Palo Alto, located between San Jose and San Francisco, and famed as an area for the wealthy. There are four red crosses marked at various places on the map.

Posted: **Fri May 15, 2020 8:18 am**

Starspawn338 wrote: Lew will answer any questions that he is asked. Only when they are again in their van in private will he ask about the girl.
"Do you need a ride anywhere? We were heading to San Francisco."

"Oh, that would be fine. I know some fab people there."

After her ordeal, Mo seems surprisingly chipper.

Posted: **Fri May 15, 2020 8:27 am**

Satisfied with their stories, the emergency personnel convey the injured young men to the nearest hospital and get the fire under control. There's still a big, tangled mess blocking the road to San Francisco, and it will take a fair amount of time for wreckers to show up to clear it out of the way. There's also the driver of the Rolls, looking like he'd rather be anyplace else.

Posted: **Fri May 15, 2020 2:47 pm**

Pocketing the scrap of paper, Tony lets the driver go, allowing him to drive the Roller away if he wishes to.

While the road is being cleared, he shows the map to Mo.

"I assume one of these crosses marks your address, or wherever you were kidnapped from miss?"

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 2:27 am**

Before they let the driver go, Liz asks him what he knows about this other Tony, particularly his full name and how he recruited him, using her charm to loosen his tongue.

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 8:38 am**

jp1885 wrote: Pocketing the scrap of paper, Tony lets the driver go, allowing him to drive the Roller away if he wishes to.

While the road is being cleared, he shows the map to Mo.

"I assume one of these crosses marks your address, or wherever you were kidnapped from miss?"

"That's Daddy's mansion, for sure. I was there at a party for his fourth wife --" she rolls her eyes -- "she's younger than I am. Anyway, the last thing I remember, I was having another champagne when everything went dark. The next thing I knew, I was in that car with those two creeps. What a blast!"

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 8:43 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Before they let the driver go, Liz asks him what he knows about this other Tony, particularly his full name and how he recruited him, using her charm to loosen his tongue.

"Hey, lady, you don't use full names in this business, you know what I mean? Word gets out on the street somebody needs a wheelman for a dope run, you don't ask questions, you just count the cash. Shoulda known this job would go wrong, once we showed up at that ritzy joint. Didn't smell right, dig? But I wasn't gonna put up a stink, not with the look that guy gave me. Hell, I don't even know if his name is really Tony."

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 12:31 pm**

Zara offers Mo some of her gin if it will steady her (she keeps drinking herself).

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 6:38 pm**

Tony mulls over Mo's words, politely declining the gin if it is offered.

"We must assume then that the other crosses mark other kidnappings. Do you recognise any of the addresses Mo? Some of your pals perhaps? I wonder if they've already been snatched and are kept somewhere..."

He turns to look at the drive-in.

Posted: **Sat May 16, 2020 8:35 pm**

"Yes, we should go to the other three places indicated on the map and make sure the people there are safe," says Liz. "We can take them in order, starting with the nearest. They're on the way to San Francisco from here anyway."

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 1:48 am**

Zara's probably drunk too much to be safe driving, but a glance at the map will let her direct whoever is driving while everyone else can check it for any additional clues.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 7:59 am**

SunlessNick wrote: Zara offers Mo some of her gin if it will steady her (she keeps drinking herself).

With a grin, Mo says "You're my kind of girl, sister!" She quickly ingests sufficient gin to render her quite under the influence, completely unable to answer any inquiries in a coherent manner.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 8:05 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony mulls over Mo's words, politely declining the gin if it is offered.

"We must assume then that the other crosses mark other kidnappings. Do you recognise any of the addresses Mo? Some of your pals perhaps? I wonder if they've already been snatched and are kept somewhere..."

He turns to look at the drive-in.

"Kids napping? Where? Don't like kids. Noisy li'l brats. Let 'em sleep. Good idea, that. Sleepy . . ."

After this less then helpful response to Tony's inquiries, she throws her arms around him, falls like a dead weight in his embrace, and is soon snoring loudly.

While pondering how to deal with this burden, the subject of searching the drive-in comes to mind. It would take some time to explore the place completely. There's the ticket booth, the parking spots, the screen, the snack bar and restrooms, the kiddie play area, the projectionist booth, and so on. The investigators need to decide whether to take the time to look over these places, and who should do the looking.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 8:15 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Yes, we should go to the other three places indicated on the map and make sure the people there are safe," says Liz. "We can take them in order, starting with the nearest. They're on the way to San Francisco from here anyway."

A quick glance at a street map of Palo Alto -- one of many such badly creased and torn road maps, no doubt given away by gas stations, found in the VW van -- reveals that all four places on the map are located near the campus of Stanford University, an historic and noted center of higher education.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 7:46 pm**

Tony mulls over Liz's suggestion.

"Perhaps we should check this place over first, just in case they've already been kidnapped like Mo was. A quick scout around won't hurt before running off to Palo Alto."

Before decidng which building to check first, he strolls along, studying the dusty ground for any fresh tyre marks that might indicate recent vehicle activity.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2020 10:20 pm**

"All right, let's look around," says Liz, also looking for signs of anyone's recent presence.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 8:59 am**

There are, of course, the tracks left by the Rolls itself. Other than that, the windy conditions common in this part of the world have left no obvious signs of recent activity.

The sun has sunk low while all of this mess was being cleared up, which will add to the difficulty of searching the place.

Taking the opportunity of making an escape while the investigators are looking around, the driver runs to the back of the drive-in, near the screen, hops the low fence that serves as a border for the place, and takes off into the surrounding scrub land.

With her artistic talent and superhuman memory, Zara is able to produce a quick sketch of the drive-in on a scrap of paper, apparently an exact copy of a newspaper article she saw for a fraction of a second a decade ago. (Apparently this part of Highway 28 was known as Ingham Road back then, and the surrounding area, now a suburb of San Jose, as Townsville.)

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2020 11:44 am**

Working on the theory that even kidnap victims need to eat, Tony opts to investigate the kitchen first. He proceeds carefully, holding his stick ready for any action.

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 1:12 am**

Liz checks the projection booth, which is an isolated place where someone could be kept discreetly and also has a good vantage point. She has her mace tucked into the palm of her hand.

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 2:51 am**

Zara takes the manager's office, figuring that it's likely to have a lock.

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 8:24 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Working on the theory that even kidnap victims need to eat, Tony opts to investigate the kitchen first. He proceeds carefully, holding his stick ready for any action.

Spoiler:

The place is uninhabited, except for a few cockroaches and mice. This is evidence that scraps of food were left out a while ago, and indeed there are a few bits of hot dogs turning green with mold, old stains of what might have been root beer and cola, and a few scattered popcorn kernels. What might be of more interest is the fact that there is a large kitchen knife on the floor, almost completely covered with a dark reddish-brown stain. Why would a drive-in snack bar need such a thing, unless it were to slice pizza?

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 8:33 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Liz checks the projection booth, which is an isolated place where someone could be kept discreetly and also has a good vantage point. She has her mace tucked into the palm of her hand.

Spoiler:

Despite looking carefully among the many canisters of film stored in this room, there does not seem to be anything particularly interesting around (unless you're looking for a copy of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.)

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 8:39 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
Zara takes the manager's office, figuring that it's likely to have a lock.

Spoiler:

The place doesn't contain much except ledgers dealing with the drive-in's profits and such. There's an unopened bottle of Tennessee whiskey, which may be a lucky find, but doesn't seem relevant to the mystery.

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 8:44 am**

By this time the sun is well below the horizon, making investigating other areas difficult, since it's obvious that the electricity was cut off for the winter season, when the drive-in is closed. The investigators may which to continue down Highway 28 to Palo Alto, or to take their chances and do some more exploring in the dark. (Flashlights help a little bit, but not as much as good old-fashioned sunlight.)

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 9:51 am**

http://m.epcdn.net/member_ups/d37/k6z86z4zrm.jpg

Zara suggests the gang keep looking until they've checked the whole place - "This Tony's on foot a long way out of town - he's not kidnapping anyone for a bit."

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 3:41 pm**

“Capital idea,” Tony Concurs.

Carefully wrapping the knife up for future inspection, he cautiously heads into the dine-in.

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2020 5:50 pm**

Lew will wander up to the playground and screen area to see if there's anything interesting there.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 2:30 am**

Having already seen "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," Liz leaves the projection booth and checks the ticket booth, also a good place to lock up someone.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 6:10 am**

Muttering darkly to herself, Zara realises that this has left her with the toilets. She goes to check them.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 8:34 am**

jp1885 wrote:
“Capital idea,” Tony Concurs.

Carefully wrapping the knife up for future inspection, he cautiously heads into the dine-in.

Spoiler:

There does not appear to be anything of interest here. The place is quite tidy, in fact, compared to the kitchen.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 8:38 am**

Starspawn338 wrote: Lew will wander up to the playground and screen area to see if there's anything interesting there.

Spoiler:

Given his less than perfect eyesight and the darkness of a moonless, cloudy night, it's not terribly surprising that Lew finds nothing interesting in these areas.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 8:40 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Having already seen "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," Liz leaves the projection booth and checks the ticket booth, also a good place to lock up someone.

Spoiler:

In the cash register, hidden below the till, is a one hundred dollar bill, folded into the shape of an origami crane. Written in pencil, in tiny but very precise letters is a message, just above Benjamin Franklin's head.

bird paid and flown cash sweeter than food

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 8:50 am**

SunlessNick wrote: Muttering darkly to herself, Zara realises that this has left her with the toilets. She goes to check them.

Spoiler:

The only thing remarkable is that both rooms are very clean.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 8:57 am**

By this time it is quite late. The investigators need to decide whether to check in at the nearest motel, just a few miles ahead, or head into Palo Alto, or possibly all the way to the City by the Bay. (Mo, snoring loudly, does not offer any suggestions.) They also need to decide if they want somebody to drive the Rolls, or just leave it where it is.

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 11:42 am**

"Bring it along," Zara says of the car. "May as well make it slow going for evil Tony to get back to town."

Posted: **Wed May 20, 2020 1:32 pm**

"How do you know I'm not the evil Tony?" says the investigator with a wicked twinkle in his eye. "Very well, I'll take the Roller. There doesn't seem to be much of interest around here, so perhaps we have enough time to make it to Palo Alto?"

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2020 2:43 am**

"All right," says Liz. "I'll drive the bus." She shows them the folded C note she found. "This is origami. I wonder if our Japanese friends are involved."

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2020 7:47 am**

jp1885 wrote:"How do you know I'm not the evil Tony?" says the investigator with a wicked twinkle in his eye. "Very well, I'll take the Roller. There doesn't seem to be much of interest around here, so perhaps we have enough time to make it to Palo Alto?"

"An evil Tony wouldn't have saved me from that psycho killer."

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 9:14 am**

The oddly paired vehicles head into Palo Alto as the hour grows late. By the time the investigators reach the area indicated on the map, Mo is awake.

"That's Daddy's house," she says, pointing at a mansion on a low rise, overlooking Stanford University. "Don't tell him what happened, OK? He won't be surprised that I ran out on the party for my--" she rolls her eyes and sighs "-- stepmother and looked for some fun on my own."

During the drive here it can be seen that the other addresses marked on the map are quite close together, and all within a moderate walk to the university.

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 4:15 pm**

"Shall we go check them out?" Zara asks.

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2020 9:42 pm**

"I think so, yes. One property each?"

He smiles at Mo.

"You can rely on our discretion my dear. Perhaps you'd best head home; no doubt your father will be extremely relieved to see you."

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 2:08 am**

"Agreed," says Liz, "but there are four of us, and three other locations. Maybe one of us should go with Mo to make sure that bounder doesn't try again. It's been great meeting you, Mo. Mum's the word. I'm glad we were able to help."

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 9:13 am**

Pleased by the willingness of her new acquaintances to keep quiet, Mo grins and grabs Zara's hand. Leading her to the mansion, she whispers "We've just been out drinking, OK?" No doubt the shared bottle of gin back at the drive-in led Mo to select Zara for this ploy.

Before they quite reach the front door, it is pulled open by a middle-aged man in a rumpled tuxedo.

"About time you got back, young lady," he says sternly. "Your mother and I --"

"She's not my mother," Mo replies as she leads Zara into the elegantly furnished home.

"We were worried about you," the man continues. He sighs, and relaxes slightly. "At least you didn't bring home some boy. And you smell like booze, not that Mary Jane stuff." He stares at Zara. "I suppose this is one of your hippie friends, looking for a place to sleep it off?"

___________________________________________________________________________________

The others head out to the three remaining houses. One is dark, and nobody answers to repeated ringing of the doorbell. At another, largest of the four, a butler opens the door and merely says "Yes?" At the third, smaller than the others, a man in casual clothing can be seen working with some power equipment in his garage.

Spoiler:

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 3:12 pm**

Tony opts for the first, seemingly deserted house. After waiting a polite amount of time, he stealthily looks for a way to the rear of the property, sneaking a glance through the windows as he goes.

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 3:22 pm**

"Hey dude," Zara says. "No MJ or acid, swear. Mo said it's her stepmom's birthday - I could do her a picture."

Posted: **Fri May 29, 2020 8:37 pm**

Lew takes the second house. As the butler opens the door, Lew responds politely to his inquiry.

"Good day Sir. I was involved in an motor vehicle hit and run accident just outside town. The man was driving a Rolls Royce and as he sped away, a map flew out of his window. On that map was marked an "X" at this location. Can you tell me who owns this house and whether they own a Rolls?"

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 3:59 am**

"Good evening, sir," says Liz, approaching. "I'm sorry to disturb you at this late hour, but my friends and I have thwarted an attempted kidnapping in the area, and we wanted to make sure that everyone was okay and ask if anyone has seen anything. The kidnapper got away and may still be around." She describes the man. "Have you seen anyone matching that description, or anything unusual?"

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 8:43 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony opts for the first, seemingly deserted house. After waiting a polite amount of time, he stealthily looks for a way to the rear of the property, sneaking a glance through the windows as he goes.

Spoiler:

Moving with feline grace despite the darkness, Tony is able to avoid falling into a swimming pool in the back yard, which has been drained of water. The sliding glass door leading from the house to the back yard has been broken. Shards of glass lie scattered across the carpet just beyond the door.

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 8:58 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"Hey dude," Zara says. "No MJ or acid, swear. Mo said it's her stepmom's birthday - I could do her a picture."

With a single raised eyebrow, Mister van der Maas replies "Artist, are you? Well, let's see if you can back up that claim." He moves into another room and says "Kitten? There's a girl here says she can paint your portrait."

Emerging from the room on the arm of the older man is a woman hardly out of her teens, ash-blonde hair flowing to her hips over a black sheath dress. She blinks her china-blue eyes at Zara and says "
Un artiste! Comme c'est merveilleux! Where is your studio, cherie? Shall I wear this, or be painted au naturale?"

Just behind the pair, Mo can be seen miming gagging.

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 9:03 am**

Starspawn338 wrote:
"Good day Sir. I was involved in an motor vehicle hit and run accident just outside town. The man was driving a Rolls Royce and as he sped away, a map flew out of his window. On that map was marked an "X" at this location. Can you tell me who owns this house and whether they own a Rolls?"

"I can assure you that Mister Sloane prefers Jaguars, sir. Are you injured? Shall I call the police?"

A tall, slender, older man, walking briskly despite the use of a cane, makes his way to the door.

"What's all this, then? Accident? Ruddy young hoodlums. Come in, come in, have a brandy to steady your nerves. Don't just stand there, Marston, let the fellow in. Now what's all this rot about a map? Hardly a place for buried treasure, what?"

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 9:14 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Good evening, sir," says Liz, approaching. "I'm sorry to disturb you at this late hour, but my friends and I have thwarted an attempted kidnapping in the area, and we wanted to make sure that everyone was okay and ask if anyone has seen anything. The kidnapper got away and may still be around." She describes the man. "Have you seen anyone matching that description, or anything unusual?"

The man, a fellow of middle-years, wearing safety goggles, dressed in a work shirt and blue jeans, shuts off the power tool he's been using and looks at Liz.

"Kidnapping? No, I don't know anything about it. You a cop? Say, come to think of it, I haven't seen the Baxter boy around for a while. Tommy usually hangs around here on weekends, helps me with my work. Has something happened to him?"

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 2:15 pm**

Tony moves slowly and carefully. If whoever has broken in is still around, they’ll have been alerted by his knocking.

He cautiously checks around the slide door; has it been opened for instance? If he feels it’s safe, he walks in, stick ready to confront any intruders.

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 3:52 pm**

"Thank you. I don't know if anything's happened to him, but I'll keep an eye out for him," says Liz, ignoring his question about whether she's a cop. She's secretly pleased that he'd even consider the notion that a woman could be a cop. "How old is he, what does he look like, and where does he live?"

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 9:15 pm**

"Oh I'm fine Sir. No injuries." Lew says as he shakes his head at the offer of a drink. "From what I could see, there may have been a person in distress in the Rolls. It may have been because of the accident but it's also possible that they were there against their will. Is anyone you know missing?" Lew continues. "I just can't figure out why this house was marked on the map."

Posted: **Sat May 30, 2020 11:11 pm**

"It's in Venice Beach," Zara says, trying to stifle any reaction to Mo. "And the way your hair goes with that dress is too cool, you should keep it on." She gets out her pad and begins to draw.

OOC: Dexterity 13 +1 Artist +1 Perception
Rolled 1D20: 9, success

"I could do one for all of you if you like," she adds when she shows off the result. (She's thinking if she makes a good impression, Mo's Dad might go easier on her).

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:19 am**

jp1885 wrote: Tony moves slowly and carefully. If whoever has broken in is still around, they’ll have been alerted by his knocking.

He cautiously checks around the slide door; has it been opened for instance? If he feels it’s safe, he walks in, stick ready to confront any intruders.

It seems that no one has bothered to open the glass door; enough glass has been smashed out of it to allow free entrance. The house is entirely deserted. The area into which the shattered door allows access is what Americans call a "rumpus room." There's a small wet bar, a television and stereo system, a couch, and such. Judging from the stains all over the shag carpet, that look black in the moonlight, there was a struggle here. The pervasive scent of alcohol, as well as several broken bottles, provides further evidence.

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:24 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Thank you. I don't know if anything's happened to him, but I'll keep an eye out for him," says Liz, ignoring his question about whether she's a cop. She's secretly pleased that he'd even consider the notion that a woman could be a cop. "How old is he, what does he look like, and where does he live?"

"Oh, he's about ten, I guess. Freckles all over his face, messy red hair; a real Norman Rockwell type, you know what I mean? Let me show you where he lives."

The fellow walks out of his garage and points down the street to the house that Tony is investigating.

"Guess they went on vacation or something. Maybe back East for the holidays."

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:35 am**

Starspawn338 wrote:
"Oh I'm fine Sir. No injuries." Lew says as he shakes his head at the offer of a drink. "From what I could see, there may have been a person in distress in the Rolls. It may have been because of the accident but it's also possible that they were there against their will. Is anyone you know missing?" Lew continues. "I just can't figure out why this house was marked on the map."

"Well, well. Might as well tell the truth and shame the Devil, what? Must be the blighters who held me for ransom a while back. Blasted nuisance it was. Paid the rascals what they wanted and tried to forget the whole thing. Didn't bother to inform the local peelers. Learned to take care of myself during the war, you know. But if they're after someone else, that's another kettle of fish indeed, my lad."

He turns to the butler.

"You know anything about anyone gone astray, Marston?"

"No, sir. I try to mind my business, sir."

"Quite right. Best keep a close watch on things from now on." Gazing at Lew, he adds, "I suppose you've got your work cut out for you, my young friend. Game's afoot, and all that rot."

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 10:20 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"It's in Venice Beach," Zara says, trying to stifle any reaction to Mo. "And the way your hair goes with that dress is too cool, you should keep it on." She gets out her pad and begins to draw.

"I could do one for all of you if you like," she adds when she shows off the result. (She's thinking if she makes a good impression, Mo's Dad might go easier on her).

Kitten (or whatever her name really might be) squeals with delight at her portrait. Mollified by this reaction, Mister van der Maas invites Zara to stay for the night.

"There are plenty of guest rooms," he explains.

Mo eagerly takes Zara to her room. Instead of letting her get some sleep, however, it seems that she wants to stay up all night talking, as if this were a slumber party.

"So what brings you and your friends to this fine, upstanding community?"

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 4:43 pm**

Convinced that something is definitely amiss, Tony creeps into the middle of the room. Standing still, he listens for any movement.

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 8:08 pm**

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote:Mo eagerly takes Zara to her room. Instead of letting her get some sleep, however, it seems that she wants to stay up all night talking, as if this were a slumber party.

"So what brings you and your friends to this fine, upstanding community?"

"We're looking for Russian spies and evil Chinese masterminds," Zara says with a smile, fairly confident Mo will think she's kidding. "And if we can't find any, I'm pretty sure I'll find something groovy to paint."

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:15 pm**

"I quite understand not going to the police. Never did fully trust them to act in a person's interests." Lew states. "I'm a bit of an independent actor. Used to an attorney but gave it up awhile back. Working within a broken system no longer appeals to me. Can you tell me how long ago you were taken and anything you can about where you were held or the men who took you?"

Posted: **Sun May 31, 2020 9:41 pm**

"A fellow ginger," says Liz with a smile, though her own red hair is elegantly styled and anything but a mess, in spite of her earlier exertions. "Hopefully you're right, but I'll check just to make sure. Thank you again." She heads over to the indicated house.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:12 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Convinced that something is definitely amiss, Tony creeps into the middle of the room. Standing still, he listens for any movement.

All is quiet, except for the soft footsteps of Liz approaching the house. There is no indication that anyone is inside. From here, a very short set of stairs leads up to the main part of the house.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:20 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"We're looking for Russian spies and evil Chinese masterminds," Zara says with a smile, fairly confident Mo will think she's kidding. "And if we can't find any, I'm pretty sure I'll find something groovy to paint."

Mo snorts at this, and chatters away for quite some time. Gazing out the window of the guest room, Zara happens to see Liz approach the deserted house. She also notices the man to whom Liz was talking go into his house for a moment, returning with an armful of equipment, most of it electrical, to his garage workshop. He then shuts the garage door, but the light inside can still be seen shining through the gap between the door and the driveway. Buzzing and hissing sounds emerge.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:26 am**

Starspawn338 wrote:
"I quite understand not going to the police. Never did fully trust them to act in a person's interests." Lew states. "I'm a bit of an independent actor. Used to an attorney but gave it up awhile back. Working within a broken system no longer appeals to me. Can you tell me how long ago you were taken and anything you can about where you were held or the men who took you?"

"Week or so ago, as I recollect. Drove me somewhere blindfolded, not very far. Asked for money or they'd kill me. Well, I always carry a decent amount of filthy lucre on my person, so they took that and drove me back. Haven't heard a word since. Said something about not being the one they were looking for, so they'd take what they could and leave me be. Dashed if I know what the scoundrels meant. If I were twenty years younger -- well, water under the bridge and all that."

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:27 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"A fellow ginger," says Liz with a smile, though her own red hair is elegantly styled and anything but a mess, in spite of her earlier exertions. "Hopefully you're right, but I'll check just to make sure. Thank you again." She heads over to the indicated house.

Spoiler:

On the way to join Tony, Liz notices that there are a large number of dark stains on the bottom of the empty swimming pool, particularly in the deepest part.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:14 am**

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote:He then shuts the garage door, but the light inside can still be seen shining through the gap between the door and the driveway. Buzzing and hissing sounds emerge.

"Do you know who lives there?" Zara asks Mo, indicating the house. If Mo asks why Zara will admit it was marked on that dude's map.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:38 am**

Liz continues into the house to catch up with Tony. "Don't be alarmed, Tony, it's just me," she says. She fills him in on what she found out at the other house and about the stains she noticed on the bottom of the pool. "I have the awful feeling they may be blood."

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:20 am**

“Well, spotted my dear - I missed that. There’s clearly been a struggle here, perhaps we’d better check the rest of the house.”

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:37 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"Do you know who lives there?" Zara asks Mo, indicating the house. If Mo asks why Zara will admit it was marked on that dude's map.

"Oh, the mad scientist? Always working on some nutty gizmo or other. Wreaks havoc with the radio reception around here. Works at the University, I think. Let's see, what's his name? Pedro something? No, that's not it. Some big, long name. Oh, yeah, Pedravermelha. Portuguese, I think. Can't forget a name like that for too long. A real egghead. He'll blow up this neighborhood some time, I'll bet."

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:39 am**

As Liz and Tony head up the short flight of stairs, they meet with an unpleasant sight in the living room. Lying in a pool of blood is what is left of a large dog, killed in some violent fashion. Although the remains are fairly fresh, not yet stinking of corruption, not all of its body is present.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 2:51 pm**

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote:"No, that's not it. Some big, long name. Oh, yeah, Pedravermelha. Portuguese, I think. Can't forget a name like that for too long. A real egghead. He'll blow up this neighborhood some time, I'll bet."

"Sounds weird. But why would someone be after you and him at the same time? He doesn't sound like someone you'd pay a ransom for." [Zara's wondering now whether ransom was the actual goal in kidnapping Mo]

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:31 pm**

"Eurgh... Perhaps this is more than a simple kidnapping, hm?"

Tony grimaces at the gruesome sight, but squats down to examine the creature nonetheless. He may not be a sciencw whizz like Liz, but maybe he can find some clue or other.

Posted: **Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:38 pm**

"Quite," says Liz, examining the dog's body with a more scientific eye. "Perhaps the dog tried to attack the kidnapper to protect the boy."

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:48 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"Sounds weird. But why would someone be after you and him at the same time? He doesn't sound like someone you'd pay a ransom for." [Zara's wondering now whether ransom was the actual goal in kidnapping Mo]

"Beats me. As long as I didn't really get hurt, it's all just a big game, right? Kicks, sweetie, that's what it's all about."

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:49 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:

"Quite," says Liz, examining the dog's body with a more scientific eye. "Perhaps the dog tried to attack the kidnapper to protect the boy."

It becomes clear that certain of the dog's internal organs have been removed, in a manner which suggests surgical skill.

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:25 am**

Liz explains her findings. "Curiouser and curiouser," she says. "Let's look around and see if we can find the footprints of whoever did this."

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 2:28 am**

"Well I'm just glad that you made it through that little ordeal in once piece." Lew bows slightly. "I do believe I should take my leave now good Sir. The game's afoot and all. It appears that you were only a tangential part."

With that, Lew will leave and join up with the others at the van.

Posted: **Thu Jun 04, 2020 4:00 pm**

Mr. Handy wrote:Liz explains her findings. "Curiouser and curiouser," she says. "Let's look around and see if we can find the footprints of whoever did this."

"Agreed. We must ascertain the identity of the people who live here: IDs, licenses and wotnot. Stay close old thing, there's no guarantee we're alone..."

Posted: **Fri Jun 05, 2020 2:32 am**

"Watch who you're calling old," whispers Liz with a sparkle in her eye. "The chap at the house I visited said the Baxter family lives here. The boy's name is Tommy."

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2020 2:30 am**

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote: "Beats me. As long as I didn't really get hurt, it's all just a big game, right? Kicks, sweetie, that's what it's all about."

Zara laughs a little, and says "I got kidnapped once too." (She gives Mo an abridged version of the Canal Killer, leaving out the supernatural stuff and playing up the rescue).

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:03 am**

Starspawn338 wrote:
"Well I'm just glad that you made it through that little ordeal in once piece." Lew bows slightly. "I do believe I should take my leave now good Sir. The game's afoot and all. It appears that you were only a tangential part."

With that, Lew will leave and join up with the others at the van.

Lew returns to the van, to find that the others have gone their own ways, in search of answers. All is quiet for some time, until a loud buzzing sound fills the air, something like a gigantic chainsaw, followed by a high-pitched scream.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:07 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Watch who you're calling old," whispers Liz with a sparkle in her eye. "The chap at the house I visited said the Baxter family lives here. The boy's name is Tommy."

Further investigation fails to uncover anyone else inside the house, dead or alive. It is easy to find some photographs and papers to reveal that Tommy's parents are Thomas and Eleanor Baxter, that they have no other children, and that both are adjunct faculty at the university. There are no further signs of violence elsewhere in the place.

While engaged in the search, Liz and Tony hear a loud buzzing sound outside, followed by a woman's scream.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:20 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
Zara laughs a little, and says "I got kidnapped once too." (She gives Mo an abridged version of the Canal Killer, leaving out the supernatural stuff and playing up the rescue).

"Oh, cool. I mean, it's scary and all, but wasn't it sort of neat to be the center of attention like that? It makes me tingly all over."

At this point, a loud buzzing sound from somewhere outside interrupts the conversation, followed by a piercing scream from inside the house.

"Well isn't that just peachy," Mo says. "The Princess is having one of her hissy fits again. Daddy'll sleep right through it, so I predict that she'll walk in that door in three, two, one . . ."

At the moment Kitten bursts into the room, wearing a cream-colored silk nightgown.

"I saw it again!"

"Do tell, dear stepmom," Mo says with a yawn. "Who was it this time, the Green Phantom with a bottle of Scope?"

"Very funny. I don't care what you say, I saw a ghost!"

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:12 pm**

It is the scream, rather than the buzzing sound, that rouses Tony to action.

"I fear this mystery must wait for now m'dear; someone's in trouble!"

If his lovely companion is in agreement, he will leave the house and head outside, trying to pinpoint the direction of the noise.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2020 8:03 pm**

"What ghost?" Zara asks, clearly taking the declaration seriously.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:57 am**

"Right, let's check it out," says Liz, running outside with Tony toward the sound, the mace already in her hand. "I hope that buzzing isn't a chainsaw..."

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:03 am**

Both sounds end quickly. Liz and Tony, running out after the noise, and Lew, waiting in the van, can tell that the scream came from the van der Maas mansion, a fact of which Zara is already well aware. The buzzing sound, on the other hand, seems to have originated from somewhere between that house and the home of the fellow named Pedravermelha.

Meanwhile, inside the van der Maas house, Kitten relates her experience.

"It was just like before. I heard a funny noise, woke up, and saw a glowing green light outside the window. I looked, and there he was. A tall, pale, nearly transparent figure of a man, wearing a white robe, just floating in the air. Then he just disappeared. Don't try to tell me that wasn't a ghost!"

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:08 pm**

"Ghost or not, I think it's to do with that Pedravermelha guy," Zara says - "That's where the noise was coming from."

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2020 6:14 pm**

“Hmm, curiouser and curiouser. Shall we take a look?”

Tony heads towards the area between houses.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 3:15 am**

"Quite," says Liz, going with Tony.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 7:50 am**

Lew will cautiously approach the area where he heard the buzzing.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:23 am**

All those investigating the area are soon able to determine that the area between the houses is warmer than elsewhere, and has a curious smell, something like the sulfurous scent of a rotten egg, although not so intense.

Glancing out the window of the guest room, Kitten observes the investigators.

"I'll bet those people had something to do with it," she says. "They look like suspicious characters to me."

She runs downstairs and out the front door, apparently ready to confront the investigators barefoot and clad only in the nightgown.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 4:12 pm**

"Nuts," Zara mutters. With an apologetic look at Mo, she follows. If she catches up with Kitten, she says, "It wasn't them, I know them - they're checking it out same as us."

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 4:41 pm**

"I definitely smell sulfur," says Liz. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. There's almost certainly something supernatural involved, perhaps even demonic. Best to take precautions." She takes out her chalk and draws a circle of protection around herself as she completes the ritual, knowing that malevolent supernatural entities will target her first.

Posted: **Sat Jun 13, 2020 7:27 pm**

"Infernal demons or no, we shall get to the bottom of this ol- I mean, m'dear!"

While Liz works her magic, Tony finishes his examination of the area, before strolling up to the Pedravermelha house. Assuming nothing is amiss, he raps smartly on the door with the handle of his stick.

"Hello? I say, is there anyone in?"

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:41 am**

SunlessNick wrote: "Nuts," Zara mutters. With an apologetic look at Mo, she follows. If she catches up with Kitten, she says, "It wasn't them, I know them - they're checking it out same as us."

"You must run around with some real kooks, then." Kitten, shivering slightly in the cold night air, walks up to where Liz is drawing the protective circle, making little squeaky noises of pain as she walks on the icy street without shoes. "What's that all about?" She points a perfectly manicured fingernail at the circle.

By this time, Mo catches up with them. She opens her eyes wide when she spots Liz at work.

"Oh, cool. A real witch. Can I join your coven? There are some spells I'd like to cast on some folks I won't name."

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:43 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"I definitely smell sulfur," says Liz. "By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. There's almost certainly something supernatural involved, perhaps even demonic. Best to take precautions." She takes out her chalk and draws a circle of protection around herself as she completes the ritual, knowing that malevolent supernatural entities will target her first.

Despite the distracting attention of the two young women, Liz is able to draw the circle perfectly. For whatever reason, this does not noticeably decrease the scent of sulfur, which only slowly dissipates when it is blown away by a chilly wind.

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:48 am**

jp1885 wrote:
"Infernal demons or no, we shall get to the bottom of this ol- I mean, m'dear!"

While Liz works her magic, Tony finishes his examination of the area, before strolling up to the Pedravermelha house. Assuming nothing is amiss, he raps smartly on the door with the handle of his stick.

"Hello? I say, is there anyone in?"

Despite the lateness of the hour, the door is opened just a moment later by the same fellow seen in the workshop. He is dressed in workman's coveralls that are less than pristine.

"Evening," he says pleasantly. "Pardon my appearance. I was just finishing up with repairing my Christmas lights. What can I do you for?"

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 3:52 pm**

Tony flashes the fellow a friendly smile.

"Ah, how jolly festive. Apologies for distrubing you sir, but I'm investigating a number of unusual occurances in the area; kidnappings, break-ins, possible chemical leaks and such - it's been quite a night. May I ask if you've seen or heard anything odd?"

While he talks, he surrepticiously peers over the man's shoulder in an attempt to look into his house.

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:55 pm**

"Oh, I'm not actually a witch," says Liz. "I'm a parapsychologist, which is even cooler. I investigate supernatural phenomena. I suspect there are evil spirits in the area, so I've drawn this circle of protection. If you join me within the circle, you'll be protected too. Have you noticed any unusual or unexplained activity recently?"

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 7:47 pm**

"Hey," Zara says to Liz. "This is Mo's Stepmom. Kitten?" she adds, not really sure if she should be calling the woman that, "this is Dr Liz North. I bet she'll want to hear about the ghost."

Posted: **Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:08 pm**

"Pleased to meet you," says Liz. "I would like to hear about the ghost. Have you seen it?"

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:44 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony flashes the fellow a friendly smile.

"Ah, how jolly festive. Apologies for disturbing you sir, but I'm investigating a number of unusual occurances in the area; kidnappings, break-ins, possible chemical leaks and such - it's been quite a night. May I ask if you've seen or heard anything odd?"

While he talks, he surrepticiously peers over the man's shoulder in an attempt to look into his house.

"I'm not sure. I've been busy here, and in my workshop. Kind of noisy in there, you understand." Taking a look outside, he sees the others gathered outside. "Now that looks kind of weird, if you ask me. That isn't one of those Women's Lib meetings, is it? You know, like in that book, The Feminine Mistake or whatever it was called. I do see one guy over there, though."

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:55 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Oh, I'm not actually a witch," says Liz. "I'm a parapsychologist, which is even cooler. I investigate supernatural phenomena. I suspect there are evil spirits in the area, so I've drawn this circle of protection. If you join me within the circle, you'll be protected too. Have you noticed any unusual or unexplained activity recently?"

Mo gladly jumps into the circle.

"Funny. I thought it would feel like an electric shock or something. I don't feel anything. If you want to know about spooky stuff, you better ask Daddy's playmate," she says, nodding in Kitten's direction.

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:06 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"Hey," Zara says to Liz. "This is Mo's Stepmom. Kitten?" she adds, not really sure if she should be calling the woman that, "this is Dr Liz North. I bet she'll want to hear about the ghost."

"Doctor, huh? Say, I've got this funny pain right here." Kitten lifts the hem of her nightgown to the level of her upper thigh.

"Oh, God," says Mo. "Save it for your next centerfold, OK? She isn't that kind of doctor."

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:16 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
"Pleased to meet you," says Liz. "I would like to hear about the ghost. Have you seen it?"

Restoring her nightgown to its proper place, Kitten eagerly describes her experience.

"Oh, I've seen it plenty of times. The night Monique ran away, for one. Always the same thing. This funny-looking guy, with long, drooping mustaches, wearing a white robe covered with some kind of weird symbols. He's always sort of clear, and kind of fuzzy, like bad TV reception, you know?"

She moves near the protective circle, stopping just short of it.

"That's funny. I can't get inside. Like there's a wall or something. If you're really a pair of whatever, maybe you can tell me what's going on around here."

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 5:38 pm**

"Does he ever say anything?" Zara asks.

Posted: **Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:16 pm**

Tony isn’t so easily distracted.

“All that bra burning business is beyond me I’m afraid. But, do forgive me: Tony Patchpole, at your service.”

He holds out his hand.

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:26 am**

Liz realizes that "Kitten" must be a supernatural creature herself to be unable to enter the circle. Merely evil humans aren't stopped by the protection ritual, just hampered. She may be a succubus, she thinks. Just as well Tony's nowhere near her, even if she's not one. "This chap with the drooping mustaches," she asks, "did he look Chinese, by any chance?"

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 8:56 am**

SunlessNick wrote:
"Does he ever say anything?" Zara asks.

"Nope. He just kind of stares, like he's looking for something, you know?"

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:03 am**

jp1885 wrote:
Tony isn’t so easily distracted.

“All that bra burning business is beyond me I’m afraid. But, do forgive me: Tony Patchpole, at your service.”

He holds out his hand.

"Santiago Pedravermelha. That's a mouthful, so folks call me Sam. Care for a drink? I've got a bottle of Aguardente de Medronhos, from the old country, if you want to step inside."

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:07 am**

Mr. Handy wrote:
Liz realizes that "Kitten" must be a supernatural creature herself to be unable to enter the circle. Merely evil humans aren't stopped by the protection ritual, just hampered. She may be a succubus, she thinks. Just as well Tony's nowhere near her, even if she's not one. "This chap with the drooping mustaches," she asks, "did he look Chinese, by any chance?"

Battering with her fists at the region just above the circle, as if there were an invisible wall, Kitten pauses long enough to reply "Chinese? I don't think so. More like that Dracula guy, what's his name. Real tall and dark-eyed, you know? Kind of handsome."

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:46 pm**

"Ah, Portugal's finest - capital! I've had many a pleasant holiday in the Algarve. I'll just let my chums know what gives."

He strolls out of earshot to inform his friends that he's off for a little snifter with the neighbours, before returning to Sam's house.

"There; they know where I am if they need me. Shall we go in?"

While feinging a friendly politeness, the playboy detective is in fact keeping his senses alert for anything suspicious.

Posted: **Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:14 pm**

jp1885 wrote:He strolls out of earshot to inform his friends that he's off for a little snifter with the neighbours, before returning to Sam's house.

"Be careful in there," Zara says to Tony when he comes over. "Mo says the guy is some kind of mad scenctist. And he was doing some weird shit in that garage before everything kicked off."

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:25 am**

"He could be a vampire, perhaps," says Liz. "I've never met one - that I know of - but I have it on good authority that vampires are real. Perhaps I should go with you to the garage if you decide to go, Tony. I can talk to him as one scientist to another, and I'll understand what's going on in there."

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:46 am**

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be okay." Lew says quietly to the women. "They will both be prying the other for information."

Then to Kitten, 'Can you show us where this ghost of yours appeared?"

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:01 am**

jp1885 wrote:
"Ah, Portugal's finest - capital! I've had many a pleasant holiday in the Algarve. I'll just let my chums know what gives."

He strolls out of earshot to inform his friends that he's off for a little snifter with the neighbours, before returning to Sam's house.

"There; they know where I am if they need me. Shall we go in?"

While feinging a friendly politeness, the playboy detective is in fact keeping his senses alert for anything suspicious.

Posted: **Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:06 am**

Starspawn338 wrote: "Oh, I'm sure he'll be okay." Lew says quietly to the women. "They will both be prying the other for information."

Then to Kitten, 'Can you show us where this ghost of yours appeared?"

She points above her head, angling her arm slightly so it indicates the area of the sky directly above the charmed circle. Meanwhile, she keeps trying to push her way inside the charmed area.

"Maybe you're not a witch," Mo remarks, "but as far as I'm concerned, you're a regular Samantha Stephens. Putting the whammy on Kitten is a good trick. How do you do it?"

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:41 am**

Liz grins and twitches her nose. "Cheers, Mo," she says. "It's a rather complex ritual that requires rare components and must be performed exactly right, or it won't work. I suppose you'd consider it magic, though I prefer to look it as a kind of science that is little understood. Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke said that sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. To be honest, I don't truly understand how it works. It's enough that it does. One does not need to know how a television works inside in order to use it. What I've done is similar to adjusting the antennae just so in order for the picture to come in clearly."

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2020 8:19 pm**

"Interesting." Lew says as he looks up into the sky.

Posted: **Fri Jun 19, 2020 6:54 am**

"Do you need a coat or something?" Zara asks Kitten.

Posted: **Sun Jun 21, 2020 5:51 pm**

"A computer in every home? Fancy that," says Tony, examining the machines. "I can imagine extensions being built onto houses as we speak, to store all this new gagetry I keep reading about."

He grins ruefully.

"I'm afraid I'm something of a duffer when it comes to technology, though maybe I can help with these lights; I'm rather good at untangling things."

He picks up the string of lights to see what he can do to assist.

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 9:30 am**

All are startled a bit as a sudden loud buzz, lasting only a fraction of a second, fills the night air. Following this, the world seems to be plunged into total darkness, except for what is provided by the moon and stars. It appears that there's been a blackout, judging from the lack of any electrical lights visible in any direction.
Before there's much time to react, Kitten just having a moment to reject the offer of a coat, claiming that she's quite warm despite the chilly December Northern Californian night, everyone's attention is drawn to a glowing yellow-green blob of light high overhead. The phenomenon shimmers and throbs, reforming itself into the blurred image of a man, larger than life, much as described by Kitten. Although arrayed in a vaguely Asian robe of what appears to be pure white silk, decorated with multiple arcane symbols in many bright colors, and wearing a long, thin, drooping mustache, his features appear more Mid-European than Eastern. As if to enhance his alarming appearance, he speaks, in a deep, booming, echoing voice, that seems to come from everywhere at once.

"You will no longer interfere with my plans. Surrender the Chosen One, or face the consequences."

With that, the man raises one of his hands, which happens to have very long fingernails, much like a Mandarin of olden times, and gestures at the folks gathered below. What looks and sounds like a bolt of lightning descends from his fingers. Fortunately, it dissipates harmlessly above the heads of those within the charmed circle. Kitten, just outside the circle and still unable to enter, is not so lucky. Some of the electrical force of the lightning comes close enough to render her unconscious.

Posted: **Thu Jun 25, 2020 1:55 pm**

Ever the suspicious detective, Tony wonders if it's a coincidence that his host goes off just as the floating green fellow appears.
Cnfident that his friends can handle the situation (he doubts that hitting the chap with his stick would do any good), he follows Sam, ostensibly to warn him of the danger outside.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 4:48 am**

"Dr. Fu Manchu, I presume," says Liz, already fishing in her kit for what she needs to put together another improvised EMP device. "Everyone in the circle!" she calls as she fiddles with the components. While the circle does keep the lightning out, it may not stop indirect attacks, nor is it safe to leave the circle, so she'd rather neutralize this weapon. She doesn't need to worry about the pulse shorting out nearby electronics, as the apparition's arrival has already done that.

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:24 am**

Posted: **Fri Jun 26, 2020 3:25 pm**

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote:Fortunately, it dissipates harmlessly above the heads of those within the charmed circle. Kitten, just outside the circle and still unable to enter, is not so lucky. Some of the electrical force of the lightning comes close enough to render her unconscious.

I think Zara was outside the circle too - is she unconscious? If not she says, "Chosen one? Does he mean Mo?" - if he is, she'll ask the same question when awakened.

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2020 10:17 pm**

Lew (who was also outside the circle looking up) is knocked to the ground from the force of the electrical discharge. He groans at the impact and mutters, "What the hell was that? It almost looked like the ghost that kitten was talking about but I dare say that it was a communication over some distance of space or time generated by some kind of electrical power."

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 3:34 am**

"That's what I think," says Liz in response to Zara. "Kitten is also a supernatural creature, which is why the circle kept her out. At first I thought maybe she was a succubus, but now it looks more likely that she's some kind of werecreature, probably a werewolf judging from that howl." She nods to Lew. "Spot on! I believe what we just saw was a hologram, a three-dimensional image generated by lasers. The real Dr. Fu Manchu is elsewhere, but he was still able to project power. Nice to know that my circle can protect against that too. Wireless transmission of electricity, I'd say. It's similar to something that Nikola Tesla was working on."

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 8:27 am**

"He didn't look very Chinese," Zara says.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:10 am**

SunlessNick wrote:Chosen one? Does he mean Mo?"

Shaking off only minor effects of the lightning strike, Zara asks the above question. Although her companions might offer their opinions, it is Mo herself who provides some real information.

"It'd be nice to think so, but the creeps who grabbed me acted like I was just small potatoes. Something about waiting for the big job."

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:36 am**

SunlessNick wrote: "He didn't look very Chinese," Zara says.

Mo shrugs. "You'll have to ask dear old stepmom about that. I didn't get a good look. Say, where'd she get to, anyway? Now that the fun's over, we better her back home, or Daddy'll pitch a fit."

Play@YSDC

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