4075/Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory Dickory Dock
Date of Scene:	05 May 2016
Location:	Southern Urbania
Synopsis:	The Union and Confederacy investigate mysterious political happenings.
Cast of Characters:	983, 756, 984, 134, 368, 395, 157

---

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Amethyst City is the capitol of Berylswithe, but despite the name it is not purple. In fact, it's not even gem-like at all! It has the look of Victorian London... on the surface. Top hats, pretty dresses, and even horse-drawn carriages now and then. Those are on the side streets, though... for cars do exist, though they have an old-fashioned look like vintage stuff. They do not have the noxious fumes of old cars, though... in fact, from the hum, they appear to be electric? Not to mention that the streets are very clean, and the monocles that some wear are connected to wearable computers. It's really just a retro trend for a place that's slightly ahead of standard 2016 tech.

    Of late, several important city officials have been going missing, which has made their replacements a bit worried... apparently nobody was making explicit threats, so they had no idea what triggered the disappearance. One such man, Lord Fenniworth, has gone through the trouble of putting out a call for bodyguards to the Syndicate to keep an eye on him while he attends a meeting with some business partners. It's pretty boring, thus far, droning on about purchases and developments.

    The Union also has business here, as the man that Fenniworth replaced was in talks with the Union dignitary there... who had also disappeared. Naturally, a replacement was sent, this time with two minor Elite bodyguards, but Fenniworth had communicated that he had never actually run into any of them, and had thus gotten a little skittish about... well, everything.

    Naturally, suspicion would fall upon the Confederacy when this happened, and it is doubtful they confirmed or denied it. Checking in with Human Resources, however, revealed that while they had an eye on the place they had yet to perform any official operations, and certainly had not deployed any of the more dangerous Elites yet.

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    *pap* *pap* *pap* *WHOOSH* "Aww...Three."

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *WHOOSH* "Aww... Five."

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

    Shin is in one corner of the meeting room during LORD FENNNIWORTH's meetings with his business partners. He looks utterly bored and, owing to this, his actions reflect it. Still wearing that same suit he always wears, he's sitting in his chair with a back agains the wall.

    The majority of his focus is less on the meeting itself and more on a wooden paddle with a strand of elastic and a red ball attached to it. He's fairly intent on smacking the ball repeatedly to pass the time.

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *WHOOSH* "Damnit. Twenty."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
When the call went out for Syndicate bodyguards, a locale like this with a VICTORIAN LONDON aesthetic probably wasn't expecting someone who looks like they've stepped out of ANCIENT ANIME JAPAN, but that's one of the ones they got.

    Karal Rei Lin's taken the job, seeing it as an easy way to see more of the Multiverse and probably end up doing very little. At best, an opportunity to train her patience as so many back home say she must work on. Or perhaps, at best, a clash with some of this man's rivals and enemies.

    Even though the talk at hand resounds in her mind as not too unlike the fare of Guildsman buying and selling lives and fortunes, she has little need to hide her distaste - she's far more confused at how DIFFERENT the world she's wandered into is.

    Karal Rei Lin's spoken very little, though many, MANY times she's looked on the verge of blurting out SOMETHING or other. Frequently glancing at something in the meeting room - or someone. Every elaborate outfit, any possible signs of hidden threats. Her senses are focused and alert far beyond the realm of human cognition, picking up on minor rustles and every odd fold in clothing.

    Eventually though, one particular person's behavior draws her attention the most.

    Shin Tokuyama.

    Lin focuses a ferociously agitated GRIN his way - far from a happy grin. Looks more like she might want to pop a blood vessel or something.

    Every time ball hits mallet her forehead twitches.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    Getting a mission to find a missing person was always a pain. Especially in places where Flowers particularly stands out. Such as somewhere with a retro sense of fashion and a distinct lack of people with pink hair.

    Of course, her hair color had been close to unique even growing up. She'll not be bothering Fenniworth yet, not directly, instead starting to look around the city to see if she can contact any of the union's people that have gone missing. This is not going particularly well for her, at least at first, but it's not going to stop her from giving a try, talking into a radio, wondering by herself, and generally looking like a slightly deranged person.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    AMETHYST City. BERYLswithe... And yet, not a single sign of purple or gemstones. Which is met by the tearing up of papers that one would expect is a few pages from whatever profile documentation those 'eyes' on the place had been putting together by an irrate sounding Lunessa. "Why must these places always LIE with their names?!" Objected the cybernetic wolf-woman as she crossed her arms in disgust. "I wanted some amethyst crystal to make a new lense for my assault cannon so it shoots purple beams instead of those boring generic 'evil red'."

    "File a butthurt form with the Multiverse Tourist Department later," Tesla Armadia retorted to her escort, not bothering to even look back in applying her sarcasm. Then again, it might be because she's too busy tweeking the settings on a device built into the back of one gauntlet. "Besides, gemstones are hardly what we are here for." A few strips of data flicker across the HUD built into the back of her glasses lenses, and Tesla merely folds her hands behind her back as she starts to walk. "This place wasn't even a blip on the bottom rung of intel's radar until a few days ago and they made a discovery that would be most prolific to Research & Developement's interests."

    Cue a growling low grown from Lunessa as she rolls her eyes and follows like an obedient dog/soldier. "I better get to blow something up to make amends for this disappointment. I really -really- feel a need to vent coming on."

    "All in due time, Lunessa. All in due time." Tesla was unflappable by her creation's outbursts as usual. Save the faint hint of a side smirk that shows a few sharper than human teeth. "We will find what I am looking for when we get there."

She, frankly, doesn't give a shit about whatever political games the Union may be here playing. That's not her department.

    Or her style.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    This sounds like complicated political bauldercrap.
    Let it be known Amalthea hates complicated political bauldercrap. But when a Union dignitary and two elite bodyguards go missing, this is something that sort of must be looked into, to ascertain the whereabouts and status of three missing personnel.
    This is why the unicorn is present. Though clad in her lighter armor of chain, plate, and surcoat, rather than her full heavy set. She's not here for dealing with negotiations, politicking, talking, or ANY FORM OF signing, marking, dotting lines, nor saying yes or no.
    The instant someone asks her to so anything so much as official in any capacity that isn't 'search for the missing', they will truly learn what the evil eye is. Because she has but one to give.
    That all said, the unicorn is present, pacing outside Lord Fenniworth's meeting rooms like a caged lion. Back and forth, forth and back, and back again.
    She looks like if anyone so much as approaches her with a sheet of paper, she'll maul them.

Bliss (157) has posed:
The inquiry into Human Resources is what got the attention of Bliss, the life-eating faerie. Unlike her companion, she's keeping an even lower cover... wearing a cloak and all! Sticking to the alleys and wearing that might seem to be something that draws attention, but Bliss's illusion magics make it fairly easy to keep herself discreet most of the time, allowing her to find a nice and safe place to settle in and observe... Lord Fenniworth.

It's not a hard choice to make. If someone was eliminating Union people, they'd come here, because Union sorts would come here eventually, she thinks.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The meeting is going... eh, decently. At least, there are still a few arguments, but they seem settled largely. One in particular has an opponent point out to Fenniworth that his predecessor also tried to close down that shop, wasn't he worried? But that just leads to laughter, because it's not exactly the part of town that would hire hit men who could kill a well-funded noble like that.

    In a few minutes the meeting is wrapping up, and people are filing out. The street is clearing now that the rush hour is winding down and dusk is nearing, leaving the only creature of note the small black cat that clambers up on a barrel of rainwater runoff, perching on the edge with a careful motion. It looks a little stiff, like it is old or pained, but it's staring with some real intentness at... Amalthea.

    Tesla has decided to wander off and do her own thing, which is thus far unopposed unless she's actually trying to go to the storehouse or mines. Those will have guards and everything, but the rest of the city is fairly open to explore and proves to have a pretty nice tech level, despite the prevalence of more 'primitive' gadgets. Unusual features aren't that strange, because it's been Unified for a while now.

    Sakura will find a lead, at last! One person has actually seen who she's looking for! They scratch their head, "Last I saw them, they were stopping by downtown to get some souveniers." This is not exactly where the meeting is, but close by enough to be plot relevant later.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    During the meeting, an odd smell has started. It's nothing horrible... in fact it's quite pleasant, a strong rosy perfume scent. Maybe one of those businessmen or women are wearing something.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    And in that one sees the method to Tesla's madness. Of course the city would have someplace to store their finds, particularly one of such great importance. But as the world, whild resisting dealing with the Confederates, has not yet officially sided with the Union or made themselves a military target, simply storming the storehouses with be callous, destructive, and potentially push things in the Union's favor. Thus the more roundabout 'touring' of the city, which made it no more obvious of where her final destination may or may not be.

    That and it let Tesla sate her own curiosity a bit. Anachronistic technology levels were always amusing to observe personally, to better understand what one may dealing with upon getting involved in the world at a large scale eventually.

    It was nice and unoffensive. Overall fairly calm, even with the big discovering of super magical ore.

    Hopefully Tesla won't have to break this world like she has others. Would be a shame.

    At least having a heavily armored and extremely grumpy looking anthro-wolf cyborg following her deters anyone from really getting in her way.

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

    Shin seems totally oblivious to the agitated grin he's getting from the other person playing bodyguard. Or if he isn;t oblivious, he doesn't make it look like he notices that she's slowly being driven insane. Perhaps, some day, he would use this strategy in his final battle with Chrysanthemum.

    "So hey, why do people wanna kill you? I mean, not that I mind, since it gets me a job and so I get to take time off from the part time gig at MgGronald's, but you know," Shin asks boredly, playing with his ball and paddle as he trails after Fenniworth, "Last time I got hired for one of these jobs, a Grandma broke my arm and I had to protect a Union General from a whole buncha crazy shit."

    Shin squints at him, not sure what to make of it all, "You gotta whole buncha crazy shit after you, guy?" He asks suspiciously. His credibility as a badass is probably undermined by the soft:

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
There's only so much that Lin can TAKE of staying in one place. But while she's quite visibly relieved to see that the meeting's about to end, she has little time to relax. Her nose twitches once. Twice.

    Lin's certainly smelled flowers, though not THAT particular fragrance. Turning her head this way and that she sniffs the air, hoping to deduce from what direction that scent's coming in the strongest with ever-increasingly intense focus.

    Because it wasn't there before and thus, probably SHOULDN'T be here!

    A draft of perfume might mean nothing at all to locals, but to a country bumpkin like Lin suddenly smelling flowery anything in the middle of a room's NOT a good sign.

    She suddenly breaks the silence she's been struggling to keep at the tail end of Shin's questioning with a few of her own.

    "Will you CUT THAT OUT already? ... Aaaand... does it suddenly smell like flowers? Should it smell like flowers in here?" Now that she DOES speak up she's sounding as nervous about the latter questions as she is irritated to hell 'n back about the former one.

    "Right about now with people leaving's a great time for assassins to strike. No letting your guard down."

    Her left hand dips down to grip her weapon around the scabbard, just short of the cross-guard.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    "Thank you!" Flowers will call over to the person who had been helpful. She'll start to head away, and then pause, turn back towards the helper.. "Which part of town is downtown, exactly?" The ninja will ask, fidgeting a bit and not meeting their eyes. That was a rather embarrassing request to have to make, after all.

    A few minutes later, with the help, she's going to be in the general vicinity of the meeting, going around the downtown area, trying to figure out just where someone from the union might have bothered to shop around here. She's particularly decided that they were probably looking for a hat. Hats were good.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    Though she may be outside the meeting room, Amalthea keeps a weather ear on the events inside. Her hearing isn't particularly incredible beyond that of a wild forest dweller, and much of what's said is either lost through the walls, or she doesn't care much about, in the least.
    Her main intent is to make sure the arguments that brew stay arguments and not say. The sounds of violence, or something busting in and causing sounds of violence. As long as nothing seems to go wrong, she doesn't overly exert herself in any fasion. But...
    Her ear flits.
    "Nnh?"
    Ever get that odd feeling of being watched? Amalthea's getting that right now, but other than the mild creeped out natural paranoia she is... Largely unaware of the cat's presence, and like most guards in any video game, can be considered not alerted in any way shape or form, and vents some steam in a small hiss.

Bliss (157) has posed:
Interesting. No, not the cat, though Bliss does glance at the aged beast. No, Bliss is more interested in... Amalthea. Eyes narrow as she observes the unicorn, with a little flex of her mechanical fingers. It'd be nice to have a little play with the unicorn... but no, she has to restrain herself. She isn't here to kill anyone or raise a ruckus.

Just WATCH people get killed, that's right. Which means she's suddenly on the alert as well, and reinforces her invisibility spell.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Unfortunately, nobody can seem to decide on which shop the three Union members entered /last/ once Sakura is downtown. They're all happy to help, but even people who were together at the time are unsure and get into arguments. It's going to take some doing to track that down... and there will momentarily be a choice to make regarding whether or not to pursue this lead! Because in a moment there will be a distraction!

    Tesla will wander near one of the storehouses to see security is filtering in even more, surrounding the place while an investigator is arguing with what looks like an employee. From the loud voices throwing a few words out, it looks like there's /already/ been a theft, but they can't figure out /how/ yet. The investigator is suggesting an inside job.

    Meanwhile, back at the meeting...

    One of the women remarks, "You know... I think I've smelled that brand before. Someone is using too much of it." And one of the men notes, "Yes... one of our previous meetings." Using the honed senses, however, means that Karal can slowly trace the scent as coming from up above... in the high ceiling of the room. There, in the corner, hanging from a rafter... is a small bat? Bats wear perfume now?

    Out front, Amalthea and Bliss will get a different look at what's going on. The entire street is... unnaturally still, actually. At least until the cat mewls. It's a strangely tinny sound, and when it repeats it's /exacty/ the same. The feline leaps off the barrel with a thump of landing on the street... and the barrel splits open, rainwater pouring around it as a shining, soaked and coppery globe is revealed to be in the bottom. The opening that slides open upon it has the cat hopping right inside, and the globe splits at the sides to release four whirring legs, and two arms with sharp blades springing out.

    The now power-armored cat advances upon Amalthea threateningly.

    "Mew."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    The roundabout route pays off as Tesla and her escort do eventually come across a storage facility with little in the way of notice. She stops when conversation drifts their way, holding up a hand to Lunessa to do the same. Keeping their distance the technopath mentally adjusts her own hardware until she can sync in on the conversation. Like one of those 'super ears' you use to see advertized on late-night television. Except her technological powers make it actually work, because sci-fi is a wonderful medium like that. "Hmm. A theft already it would seem." She motions to her escort. "Lunessa, case the facility."

    "I'd rather blow something up," the cyber-wolf mutters, even as she flips her tactical goggles down over her eyes and starts scanning the storehouse, looking for any signs of this other thief or where they made off to.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    As for Shin's question, Fenniworth rubs his chin, "Not that I know of, but my predecessor on the Council did apparently! His disappearance has caused some worry... especially with so many doing similar. I have no idea what he did to attract such attention... and once I do, perhaps we will know who is to blame. I must say I am not thrilled to be thrust into this position under such mysterious circumstances."

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

    "I dunno," Shin says to the man absently, "People do a lot of stuff to other people that pisses em off without ever realizing they're doing it. Maybe you should think over who might want you out of the way the MOST and work your way down from there."

    Speaking of doing stuff without realizing he's pissing off other people, Shin looks to Karal, "Cut what out?"

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

    He continues playing with his paddle-and-ball toy as he looks up at the rafters, "Hey you guys should get an exterminator. That bat might have the rabies."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
A troubling bit of information's passed around as Karal Rei Lin's attention drifts upwards, nose constantly sniffing the air for a clearer and clearer picture. This is quite s train for her - she's never tried to track down anything by scent before - yet somehow, eventually, her eyes pick out the odd shape up above.

    Perhaps seeing a bat up in high places wouldn't normally be too odd. But it reeks of rose perfume?

    And it's been here twice now...?

    Lin's teeth clench and eyes narrow. "You'll be thrilled even LESS to hear this, Lord Fenniworth. Pardon me." States the bodyguard-for-hire. The merest flicker of light's visible in her hand as it closes about the air... and the very next moment?

    FWIIIIIIP!

    A knife's sent skyward without her even taking a stance, STRAIGHT for the out-of-place creature with SPECTACULAR speed for such.

    "There's a likely SPY up there!"

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    RE: Tesla

    Lunessa's scan shows that... the security system is intact, and it's actually much, much more impressive than the unassuming appearance would indicate. Weapon turrets of some kind, and an array of sensors, from heat to motion to so on and so forth, including one or two that are odd enough that simple tactical goggles can't identify them. It doesn't appear to have any damage or holes. No wonder the investigator thinks it's an inside job.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    The sillness... Is not right. Only now does it hit Amalthea how silent everything has become; how there's almost noe one around.
    Cats don't meow like that.
    The instant she hears the sound, Amalthea's ear flicks straight up like radar; the metallic timbre to the mewl instantly raising the old knight's proverbial hackles. Her sword is drawn before she turns, and when she does turn to face it, she watches in somewhat dumbfounded confusion as the cat... Climbs into a suit of mechanical, powerized, armor.
    "... What."
    Amalthea has seen many things in her life. This will always be one of the moments in all her centuries that gives her a moment of pause.
    She looks to her left.
    She looks to her right.
    She is pretty sure she isn't on Multiversal Candid Camera.
    There's still that sheer moment of blatant, wild, inability to comprehend, for just a beat, before her brain connects facts like lines running from dot to dot.
    Cat -> Power armor -> Weapons -> Approaching her.
    Amalthea's shield is brought to bear as she squares off to face the oncoming mechanical feline monstrosity, setting her boots. Should it take so much as a swipe at her, there's a parry and attempt at riposte waiting for it.
    Otherwise she's kind of just. ... Staring at the goddamn thing.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
Sakura will start to get frustrated - in spite of her job with a detective agency and all, she's kind of bad at the investigation and sorting out different accounts and that sort of thing. "So you aren't really sure where they went?" She'll ask one squabbling couple.

    She's going to be very distractable, soon, if the fight becomes loud enough to pull her away. But for the moment, she's going to just start going into the shops, asking the keepers if any of the union members had been there. She hasn't figured out about the cat, or Amalthea, just yet.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    INSIDE THE MEETING

    "Bat...?" Several people turn up to look... and just in time, see the knife fly into the bat, causing a screech! From one of the people in the meeting. The bat itself just gets hurled against the wall, the knife embedding, and an oozing dark streak starting to leak downward.

    But that isn't blood, as it turns out.

    It's glistening in the manner of a shiny oil. Lubricant, not the kind that burns. And with a small 'clink' noise, one wing pops off from the damaged bat, falling to the floor as a spring flings itself out of the tiny body and its ruined clockwork internals. There's stitching torn near the impact point, and a little dried blood from the skin of the bat that was used to create the clockwork spy.

Bliss (157) has posed:
Wow. This is getting pretty awesome. Bliss flicks her cloak back and finally steps out, the artificial arm gleaming as it pops open the side to reveal the moonfire projector. The faerie lets her wings flick out, fluttering lightly as she floats into view.

"Hi again, Amalthea!" Bright and cheerful! "I have no idea whose this is, but I think I'm going to give it a nice watch to make sure you don't get aaaany interference in your little fight."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    RE: Sakura

    Hmm, no call for help from Amalthea means a little more time looking! Finally, a few people have narrowed it down to which STREET it was. Unfortunately there are two shops on that street, and nobody knows which one they went into.

    The first is HATS GALORE, with all manner of hats in the bay-style window.

    The second has a large marionette hanging from the ceiling, and is titled PUPPET TREE

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    "I think we're dealing with something more advanced than expected, boss," The grumpy snarkiness in Lunessa's voice is gone entirely as she gets much more professional in attitude after seeing the scans. "High-end defenses. Priority scans. Proximity deternents." A pause as she taps the side of the tact-goggles with a clawtip. "Several anomolties that cannot be IDed redily."
    "Things just get more and more curious." Tesla rubbed her chin. "Yet none of it has been triggered or disturbed?"

    "Anomolties nonwithstanding, nothing appears to have actually activated."

    "Prehaps they are correct about the inside job then." With a thoughtful hmmm Tesla turned and started to walk away.
    "Whu?" Lunessa peered after Tesla, then to the storehouse, then back again as she yanked up the goggles. "Why are you walking away? We're right here!"

    "It would be excessively incrimidating to rob a place that was already stolen from. No reason to give the real thief the extra lack of attention." But the hints of that conniving tone were slipping back into Tesla's voice. "Besides, I would be much more interested in who or what posessed the means to bypass an elaborate anachronistic defense grid."

    Lunessa ground her teeth together for a moment, producing small sparks since they were metallic, twitched a few times, and then threw her hands up in frustration over her head as she turn and stalked after Tesla. "I don't understand you evil geniuses AT ALL."
    "To be far, I did not create you to 'understand'."
    "Well right now I'm not getting to kill anything either!"

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    "See!"

    Shin points, "It's case of robies was so bad that it had entirely turned into a machine. What an awful disease. A terrible disease."

    Shin shakes his head disdainfully as the bat is felled by the thrown knife. Shin looks over towards the man he's supposed to be protecting, "Don't go near the body. I heard it's still a vector for the disease, so you could get infected." He cautions.

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    RE: Amalthea and Bliss

    Whrr. The machine advances slowly at first, and then Bliss reveals herself. The device turns, clattering and clicking a few times. It appears to observe Bliss for a few seconds, then turn back to Amalthea as if making a decision.

    The blades begin spinning, and with a surprisingly long LEAP, the thing bursts into action, making elaborate cutting and slicing motions. It isn't fighting /intelligently/ though, just with very intricate motions... the first few skitter off the shield a few times before it even tries to adapt, but it's moving /very/ fast.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    Sakura will scratch her head, looking at the two stores. She knows which she'd rather go into herself, but she's not certain if the trio would have gone to one or the other. With a sigh, she'll head into the Puppet Tree store, though hands will automatically edge towards weapons as she walks in and past the marionette.

    Sakura has been nearly killed by puppets two times too many to really trust being around them, even if she's just there to ask questions. And some people DID go missing.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
CLANG?! That's not a noise she expected to hear, but Lin's sharpened senses picked up a hint of it. But it makes a little more sense when a clockwork wing sheathed in bat skin hits the ground, along with some tiny gears and struts and... she gives the thing a VERY puzzled look. Then again focuses on what's left of the bat - now impaled to the wall.

    Lin's hand raises up towards the knife, fingers curling around the air expectantly. This, seemingly, is enough of a reason for her weapon to rattle itself free of the ro-bat's 'corpse' and fly back through the air into her grasp.

    This might very well free the rest of the thing to clatter to the floor. If it DOES drop, Karal leaps across the room to snag it with her free hand, rather than let it get smashed!

    Thing might hold clues, after all.

    Either way, yet again she casts a look of disgruntlement Shin's way. This guy's a bodyguard, seriously? He has a kind of air about him, sure. He looks fit enough, and coordinated, but... he's a warrior?

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    And Tesla leaves the storehouse! This is an unremarkable fact for the most part, leaving her free to explore more of the city... or investigate the cat-mech if she desires. Then again, maybe she could just enjoy all the curious(but not panicked) looks from the people watching a wolf and 'dillo wandering around.

    Actually, some of the police seem to be following them, but it's just a few who don't even have hands on their weapons. Likely just keeping an eye out for trouble, rather than actually expecting anything.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    Amalthea was just about ready to engage in feline mortal combat when of all people to appear... It's Bliss. Between bloodthirsty fey, and kill-machine cats. She's in somewhat of a bad position if she has to deal with BOTH at the same time. But no, it looks like Bliss is just there to take enjoyment in Amalthea's misery and watch her duke it with the cat as though it were some perverse bloodsport.
    "Gee. Thanks. Such a great help you are." She spits.
    But her bites will have to come later. As soon as those blade rev to life, her eye is back on the power armor and-- in that huge bound the war machine piloting cat is practically on top of her. The unicorn grunts, every blow that rings off her shielf kicks up sparks and the clash of metal on metal. Her sword flashes, batting aside a lesser stroke as she backpedals from the speed of its onslaught. She doesn't completely hunker behind her shielf, but uses it to make blows flow aside, or guide them away from causing her harm. For a moment its sheer sped has her on the backfoot. Until she can gauge how those strokes and swipes flow into one another.
    Amalthea stays on the defensive, until she sees opportunity. Waiting for just the right gap in those flurried strokes to smoothly slide aside, under, and beyond one blade, Faith lashing out to try and hack at a joint or limb connection.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    The long distance company doesn't go unnoticed. One could presume by the twitching tail that Lunessa would like to just turn around and do something about it. But manages to keep it down to a husky whisper. "We've got tailers."
    "Let them tail. Seeing us not being part of the problems could be of benefit later." The mysterious ore may have to wait. It was just another raw material, after all.

    Weaponized housecats in punk-tech power armors are much more interesting to Tesla, anyways. That could be something much more worthwhile to see.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Against Shin's SPOKEN ADVICE Karal leaps forward and snags the bat, easily enough. Then Karal turns into a were-clockwork!

    Or not. The whole group of people are murmuering in a panic now, clustering together with more than a few stares at the bat. One of them notes, "This... technology isn't native to our world. The sensors would have picked up a robotic spy, but this...?"

    It isn't quite a robot. It looks purely mechanical, with a tightly-wound mainspring. The dagger clipped said mainspring, and the released tension has torn apart much of the mechanisms inside. A closer inspection shows that it's exactly what it looks like: extremely precise, delicate mechanisms to make a bat, then skinned a real one to make it look normal. The perfumed scent is to mask the beginnings of decay.

    One of the others notes, "It's... certainly high quality workmanship though..." She looks at Shin, as does Fenniworth. "..."

    Where did he get this man?

Bliss (157) has posed:
Oh the fight is on! Bliss grins, floating up higher. "Of course I'm not going to do anything to the 'dignitaries' there... probably. Unless you fail to beat this thing, and then I guess I might just give it a helping hand. Or arm." She giggles, wings fluttering a few times.

Musing the noises inside, Bliss considers... "That group in there could keep me fed for a few months..."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    INSIDE THE SHOP!

    Sakura steps inside the puppet shop, and discovers it's actually pretty clean and smells nice. Mostly because the proprieter is having a small meal of rice and curry at the moment. The redheaded woman glances up when the door rings, then gives Sakura a smile. "Welcome to the Puppet Tree!"

    Rising up, she gestures to the store's various marionettes, along with a few hand puppets. "Actual puppets are over there, or were you more interested in the arts and crafts?" She's quite literal about that... the next section is, in fact, more of an art supply store than something for just making puppets. Not actually as narrow a store as expected.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Lin sets the messy construction down on the table and immediately starts wiping her hands on a handkerchief. Or whatever that cloth she pulled from a coat pocket is. Yuck, oil. Do not need.

    "Worked with metal my whole life here, never seen it molded so DELICATELY! No work of hammer and anvil, that. This... THING's been spying on you your meetings. Willing to bet it's connected to these disappearances. Not much more I can say about the thing..."

    But ignoring Shin's warnings more, she does bend over to peer even more closely at the workmanship, studying each little gear and spring with an exacting craftswoman's eye.

    "For all I know, someone was looking through this thing's eyes the whole time, hearing with its ears. Could be sorcery involved!"

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    And the fight is on! Blades slash and jab, and the clockwork catmecha displays agility in stepping to the side and back, making decent footwork despite its routine. It is, however, just a routine. Faith shears down one of the arms, snapping a strut. It doesn't appear to be a fatal strike though, even if it clipped the joint. This is a machine built for combat, and though it appears to be outmatched by the unicorn knight, it is not delicate like the bat inside.

    This will likely be about the time Tesla is nearing the scene. The sounds of battle are nearby when a large truck parked on the street opens its rear door, with a strange ratcheting noise. Scanning it would reveal a lack of electronics, but that might have to wait, as the numerous squat figures within are firing wired harpoons into the police officers, impaling them instantly and starting to drag them back. One each fire at Tesla and Lunessa, but these are fairly simple mechanical beings. The shots might hurt if they aren't prepared, but most certainly won't be lethal or get a second chance. These things are much weaker than what's fighting Amalthea.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    Sakura will sigh and relax a little bit as the shopkeeper turns out to not be some kind of obviously evil monster. Other than the curry, at least.

    "Aah, I'm sorry. I'm not really here to shop. I'm looking for some people who were in this area the other day, who have gone missing. They were shopping in this area, and I'm trying to find out where their last location was. Did you happen to see any of these?"

    The medic will pull grainy pictures out of her pouch, their union file photos. "Did you happen to see any of them? I can buy something if you need me to to give an answer." Flowers adds, subtle about any necessary bribes in the same way that a brick through the window would be.

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    Came in fourth at the World Martial Arts tournament last year. Secretly, some suspect, threw the fight so a guy could send his daughter to college. Shin is definitely a warrior.

    "It's pretty ridonk lookin, yeah," Shin says in regards to the crazy looking bat as he doesn't heed his own advice and leans over to inspect it, "Hmm..."

    *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap* *pap*

    "To leap to a conclusion based on a single event is to jump into a river where only one stone is visible. One often finds themself stranded or in over their head."

    He replies vaguely, unwilling to commit to much of anything.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Oh, what luck. The Union investigator is asking reasonable questions! The woman toys with her hair while she looks over the pictures... then ahs lightly. "Yes, I remember. They came in saying they needed to sketch something," she says. "That one - with the blonde hair - came in to look for some art sticks to help with that. They bought them while talking about some kind of hunt, and then left."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    Because of how sophisticated her own science and technology is most people don't realize that Tesla's powers are not limited to modern electronics and machinery. The ratcheting of gears, the thrum of tension through a spring, the rattling of a joint and bolt with movement: these all resonate just as much with the technopath. Maybe even moreso, since they're not as, ah, subtle as devices made out of space-age materials.

    But it is enough so that by the time the harpoons have emerged and fire Tesla has already taken two steps to the side of the path of the one aimed at her. "I do believe I am starting to see a pattern here." she muses rather casually, like this was some surprise sideshow attraction.

    The other impales Lunessa straight through the abdominal gut... but being a biomechanical cyborg this is little more than an inconvenience. There's not even really guts, though the revealed cybernetic bits do still have a semi-organic athesis to them. "Hostile intent!" Lunessa sounds a little -too- gleeful about this, even as her right arm splits open in several places, mechanics folding around and hand retracting to reconfigure the limb into her energy assault cannon. "HAVE A TASTE OF THE CUTTING EDGE BITCHS!" And several bursts of energy spew from the weapon.

    Though Lunessa only fires on the two automatrons that tried to harpoon her and Tesla like seals. She doesn't give a shit about the cops being dragged into the truck like a bad Stranger Danger PSA.

    Tesla just straightens out her glasses while Lunessa gets her frustration out of her system with some gratuitous gunfire. "Using alternately advanced clockwork technology to circumnavigate the world's own technological level. Facinating."

    "Don't ruin my vibe with your nerd speak," Lunessa snaps back as she lowers her now smoking weapon.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    Sakura will tsk at that. "Sketch something? I don't suppose they said what?" She'll ask, before drumming fingers on her side. Something doesn't seem right about this, of course, and she'll have at least one follow up. "..How did they pay, anyway?"

    There's a little bit of a trap in that question, but it's kind of obvious to see coming, even if Sakura's shooting a glance down at her feet when a person with more normal social skills would be looking the shopkeeper in the eyes.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    Whether or not Amalthea outmatches it, this does not mean she does not take the power armored cat seriously. Its speed makes her cautious, but once she has the hang of its attack routine, it's easier for her to work with. When she shears that first limb, she's back on the defense, matching the mechanical armor's footwork, turning the fight into an intricate dance of fatal tension.
    Once again she parries blows with her shield, stepping in, out, back, and sidewards as necessary to evade being vleaved. A blow in her lighter armor could be disastrous- as evidenced by the grunt that says Amalthea is ignoring the pain of a slash that makes liquid silver begin to bloom on her surcoat. But then Faith strokes again. This time she goes for a leg, but she follows the momentum of her own swing, using it to turn.
    Amalthea may be a knight. But she is not above cheating occasionally.
    That is a gun in her hand. An ornately engraved p226. It probably leaves her open for attack from the mecha, but she pointedly yakes aim for Bliss and starts yanking the trigger until the clip runs dry. No words. No biting witticisms. Just full on fey hate.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    "What does that even MEAN?" Asks Lord Fenniworth, irritated by the ice cream koan. He's adjusting his glasses, though... and someone else with a more advanced 'monocle-computer' steps in to take a look as well.

    "Yes... very advanced, but I don't see how it would work. Of course I'm no engineer..." He straightens. "But I do have hobbies. I think this is outer world technology. Whomever is doing this must have some interest... likely the new ore. Though why us is the real question."

Bliss (157) has posed:
Flitting back and forth, Bliss just giggles as Amalthea fights. Sure, it looks like the unicorn is winning, but she just wants to see her bleed! And that, she gets, as the knight gets a slice across the side and...

"HEY!" Bliss squeals as the bullets aim for her. She pops out of sight, a panicked glimmer teleporting her away and to safety. She isn't really in the mood to fight Amalthea directly tonight... especially as a few spatters of blue blood now mark the pavement, showing that at least one of the bullets clipped the sadistic fae.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
"An employer's safety is priority one to any real bodyguard. Fine philosophy's gotta make way for down and dirty facts - someone assigned that THING to spy on the meeting. And I kinda doubt it's because they're seeing who's wearing the fanciest clothes!" Lin scowls at Shin, her face full of fuming and boiling emotions... but she bites her tongue instead of letting loose with more outbursts.

    "It means he thinks making conclusions too quickly blinds you to other important things... I think. Something like that." She mumbles, sounding less and less confident by the moment. The girl makes a puzzled face at Shin, as if checking him out for the first time... AGAIN.

    "Well then. You got any insight, philosopher?"

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    "Pay with? Card, of course," Anne(that's who it is) replies. She gestures to the card reader by the counter. That's a weird question. When anne turns around though... she sees Sakura looking at her feet. Hm. Could be a problem. Anne threads fingers together and tsks, "Something interesting there?"

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    *pap* *pap* *Whoosh* "Damnit. Fourty-two."

    Shin looks up, putting the paddleball away in his jacket, "Me? Yeah. My inside is this: I read a lot of Manga and generally know how these things play out. Now we've been here this whole time and it's only now that this guy," He jerks a thumb towards Monocle Man.

    "Mentioned the new ore in a really obvious context. That means that it's the reason they're being spied on for sure," the Martial Artist concludes, nodding his head as his internal logic finds everything to be in order, "So in about fifteen seconds when he suggests we all go where the ore is, we're gonna go there and find we were beaten to it by an agent of the person responsible."

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
If Shin reads a lot of manga, he might be very familiar with the face that Karal Rei Lin quickly makes. Her shoulders sag, she goes kind of slack-jawed, eyes wide open with something that probably ain't shock and awe.

    "... you're not... you're not allowed to poke at me for jumping to conclusions anymore."

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    "I'm just wondering what's underground. You don't seem to have an obvious way to get there." Sakura will reply, before looking back up. "...And, of course, why if they were paying with a card the charge didn't show up. I pulled their expenses before starting to look for them. If they'd bought something here on a card, I'd have known to come right here."

    It's hard to argue with that, if she's being honest. She seems to be rather suspicious, certainly.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Amalthea's strike manages to be more true this time. She does outmatch the automaton, by a fair amount. The blade catches, and this time the limb gives way, snapping off and causing the device to tumble to the ground. It scrambles, trying to rise up again and fight, but it's not doing a good job of that. In a moment it gives up and starts instead to meow. Repeatedly. In the exact same, slightly off, tinny tone.

    "Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow."

    Meanwhile Tesla and Lunessa will... easily trash the two that shot them. The policemen are dragged into the back of the truck... and then someone leans out the side door. They look human, and wear a hat pulled low enough to hide the face somewhat... because it's the face of one of the missing Union agents.

    In a slightly hollow voice, he apologizes. "Sorry about that. The simpler models aren't very smart, and we're supposed to keep the street clear. The Miss must be busy or she'd have stopped that. You're Confederate, aren't you? My employer would like to offer a gift. Need a lift?"

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    Well isn't this an interesting turn of events.

But the more interesting oppritunity Tesla may of been looking for seems to have presented itself. There is barely a split-second to consider it before that sly smug grin of hers returns even as Tesla and her escort hoof it to the truck. "Why yes, yes we are. I would suggest making haste before the knight in sour armor there catchs up to what's going on." Then Tesla turns to smack Lunessa's shoulder. "You had your fun, put that thing away." The cyborg huffs softly, but does revert her weapon back into an arm.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Oh. That's a good point. Anne just looks vaguely amused, leaning over and resting her chin in her hands. "Ah, you caught me. They didn't pay at all. But I didn't lie... one of them at least walked out of here. Just not through the front door." She tsks. "He's busy right now, though."

    Anne flicks her eyes to the merchandise. "I don't sell many puppets lately. Lucky for me, I suppose. We can do this the easy way or the hard way..." As she says that, a half dozen of the puppets straighten upright, stepping off the stands and taking up a threatening stance, moving toward Sakura. "The easy way would be for you to surrender right now. Fortunately, I was getting ready to move the shop again anyway. I'm finished in this city."

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    Huff. Huff. Hiss. Puff.
    Amalthea is left for a moment, breathless, hissing steam and coolant, bloody, and holding a weapon in each hand. Smoke still floats whispily from the barrel of her gun, slide locked back as her shoulders rise and fall. There's no sign of satisfaction at the sight of blue blood, but she doesn't make to chase Bliss either.
    Instead the unicorn trudges to the felled power armor, stuffing her weapons aside. Fumbling with means of ingress if need be she's going to reach in...
    And scruff the cat.
    "Bad kitty. Really. Bad. Kitty." The unicorn growls as she holds it up and gives it a shake or two for good measure.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    The truck starts... and getting close, it's easy to tell that the truck uses a conventional engine. It isn't the only thing in the city to run on non-electric, but the steam engine inside is kind of a weird choice. It seems to work just as well as a gasoline piston engine would though, which is fine! Also, it's easy to tell that the 'man' is another automaton, his movements just /slightly/ off even if he's much more animated than the ones in the back. "My boss figured she wanted to join up with you. She tends to have a problem with the Union types. A 'generous donation' was her idea of getting in good. Something like a load of that mineral."

    Looks like Tesla and Lunessa kinda found what they were looking for?

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    "What, one of them betrayed the other two?" Sakura will ask, though she hadn't been expecting to wind up fighting against the person responsible right away. Or their sudden army of puppets to be assault her. "...Mm. Do you really think you can fight me?" Sakura will ask, surging chakra to her feet. Because she's not certain she could fight the woman and the puppets in a one on one fight, but she's quite certain that if she drew attention it would make things harder on the shopkeeper.

    Also, she'd like to see what's below, so she's going to try to crash downwards, making an enormous mess of the store and possibly also nearby stores.

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Rather than wait to rush to the scene, one of the men with the group pulls out a small... horn? It's like one of those unfolding hearing horns. It appears to be a cell phone in actuality though. "Yes, hello...?"

    After a moment, he makes a face. "Yes, there was a robbery this morning. He's right. A large, pure sample was stolen and they're still looking for it."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    "Mew mew." The cat is... damaged now. Yanking it out like that shows that the joints are mechanical, because the pelt is torn. One eye has also fallen out and is rolling disconcertingly, mechanical as well. It's probably no threat, because the cat itself is pretty delicate.

Amalthea (395) has posed:
    Amalthea pauses... Inspects the cat.
    And proceeds to shake it for all she's worth.
    "Bad robot kitty."

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
    The automatron replica of an agent doesn't unnerve her at all. Tesla steeples her fingers together. "I already rather like the way your boss thinks." Then turns just enough to grin smugly at Lunessa.

    "What?" Then after a moment for it to sink in Lunessa hmphs. "Okay, -fine-, you're meandering around did pay off in the end." Then shakes a finger accusingly. "But don't think you're fooling me on trying to act like this is what you intended all along."

    Tesla waves her huffing off. "Results are results, regardless of which means brought them to be."

Shin Tokuyama (756) has posed:
    Shin's response to Karal mostly consists of making a palms out gesture to the man at the phone as if that proves his point entirely. He's used to being doubted about this stuff, but he'll shake it off eventually.

    "You still owe me money for this," He says to the guy who hired him, "Since you paid me to protect you, not your stuff."

Anne Blakely (983) has posed:
    Anne gets an alarmed look as the floor collapses, dropping Sakura straight into the underground lab. Lots of equipment here, and pipes, and a humming steam engine that's far quieter than it should be. Also a large, bulky thing dominating the center, with tools laid out around the tables about it.

    Anne calls down, "That's a neat trick! I might as well introduce you to the other one then. He stayed down there... after a fashion. Try not to kill her, Rupert. I'll see if I can use her to make you a companion!"

    'Rupert' rumbles suddenly. The massive form in the middle of the room... lifts up its head. Gears turn, pistons shift, and mechanical shafts turn and adjust to lift the clockwork dragon upward. Glowing blue eyes turn to peer at Sakura now... and it opens its mouth, flames leaking from the edges.

    "Have fun, dear! I'm going to go pack up the shop~"

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
    Sakura hadn't quite expected this, and getting back up would be more of a problem then getting down was for this. She'll look up, hearing Anne's more or less confession, then looking over at 'Rupert'. Well, it's enough to make a decision; she'll have to come back to try and deal with this, preferably with a bit more muscle, but there was no point in her trying to fight againt the massive clockwork dragon.

    "I'm going to punch you in the face later!" She'll yell upwards at the hole she left in the ceiling, before concentrating chakra to her feet again. This one would probably annoy Anne even more; as the dragon starts to breath fire at the ninja again, she'll leave another hole through the floor in the lab, sinking down into the bedrock. The good news for Anne is that it will take Sakura a while to resurface elsewhere.

Karal Rei Lin (984) has posed:
Lin promptly FACEPALMS. Just slaps a hand to her forehead. "What kind of sorcery..." She then shakes her head rapidly, gives Shin a puzzled look, yet one more careful examination like before. Once again she just ain't sure what to make of the guy.

    "But not to investigate." She quips. "You did that for free." Well, so did she, kinda...