[CM]: The three of you are in a warehouse by the docks. What are you doing?
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker, we have a limited amount of time to accomplish... whatever it is we are to accomplish... before we degrade. We're not actually real."
[Riker]: "All right, Francis. Gimme an estimate here - how long do we got?"
Francis pokes again at his "flesh".
(Francis whispered to CM): how long, any idea?
(CM whispered to Francis): Maybe two or three days at the very most.
[Francis]: Two, perhaps three days at the outside.
Benny has begun trembling, almost as if in shock. He keeps muttering "it's so cold" over and over.
[Riker]: "Goddammit, Benny, man...I toldja you shoulda let me hit the damn rewind button..."
[Francis]: "On the positive side, perhaps we might be able to, er, save ourselves.  Our current selves, awaiting trial, I presume. We must change the future."
[CM]: Of course, you're still not sure when you are...
[Francis]: "As soon as we find out when we are... a newspaper would do the trick."
[Riker]: "Right. Well, at least wearin' some clothes, I can get into the office. Guns may not be much, but I've also got some cash there.  liquid assets. A friggin' computer."
[Francis]: "A computer?" Francis looks hopeful. "We will probably want to take care to not, er, meet ourselves."
(CM whispered to Francis): WPR roll
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 99 ]
[Riker]: "Yeah. Or not. Shit if I know. C'mon, we'll find a newspaper machine to jigger open."
[CM]: Outside, the rain begins to fall.
[Francis]: "But Mr. Riker... that would be, well... stealing.  Perhaps we'll find some change. Or a discarded paper."
Riker looks up and yells, "Thanks, God!"  His expression is sour.  "C'mon, Francis.  You don't wanna see me steal a fifty cent paper to save the damn world, find a wall t'look at."
[Francis]: "Er, well, I wasn't... I mean... well, if we don't have to steal, that would simply be better."
[Riker]: "And call me Alan, for chrissakes. Mr. Riker was my dad."
[Francis]: "Yes sir."
[Riker]: "Ahhh. You're hopeless, Francis, y'know that? Hopeless."
[Francis]: "Thank you. I think."
[Riker]: "C'mon. Let's see what Lady Fortune's gonna deal out for us.  A paper, maybe."
[CM]: The rain settles in for the night, leaking through gaps in the corrugated iron ceiling to splash onto the warped floorboards.
Riker starts towards the exit.
Francis helps Benny to his feet, guiding him.
Benny stumbles along, shivering still, though he feels hot to the touch.
Riker mutters something about hoping Benny doesn't fall apart until the rest of you do.
[CM]: Outside, the glow from the burning warehouse still lights the sky.
[Riker]: Away from that, then. Keep to the shadows, try to find a newspaper in the trash. Or, barring that, jigger a vending machine open. "We've gotta get some food, Francis. Maybe that'll patch up these weird-ass bodies, huh?"
[CM]: Riker, PCN roll.
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 34 ]
[CM]: Looking in a westerly direction, away from the burning warehouse and the dock, you can see the lights of a small shopping mall, converted from old customs buildings.
[Riker]: Spiffy. The locks and security on those things are flimsy as hell. "Head thataway.
[Riker]: "C'mon, Francis.  We've gotta get outselves set up right."
[Francis]: You seem enamored of breaking and entering, Mr...Alan."
[Riker]: "Call it a donation for victims of war, Francis."
[CM]: The mini-mall is entered through a small arched gateway, with the shop fronts lined along the inner courtyard. A tall wrought iron gate bars the way.
Francis is looking around in hopes of finding a newspaper and not having to break into anywhere
[CM]: There are a number of trash bins around the mock cobbled front yard...
[Riker]: "Hell with it."
Francis edges over to a trash bin, poking gingerly into it
(CM whispered to Francis): LUCK roll
(To CM) DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 52 ]
(Francis whispered to CM): There's a paper in the bin... a rain dampened copy of the Boston Globe.
Riker scrambles up the rain-slicked walls, getting a look-see at what kind of shops are here...
[CM]: The mall sports a number of clothes shops, a sports shop, a fishing goods shop and a number of gift related outlets.
Francis pulls out the paper
[Francis]: "Mr. Riker! Er.. Alan... I found a newspaper." So, when is it in comparison to when this hideous mess started?
[Riker]: "What's the date?"
Riker is still looking at the shops. Sporting goods. That's a start.
(CM whispered to Francis): You're a day late. The paper tells of the arrest of three unidentified men suspected of murdering former police officer Ishmael Katroni.
[Francis]: "Oh, dear... I'm afraid we've already been apprehended.  I wonder if this was Benny's friend Ishy..."
[Riker]: "Then we need t'clear ourselves, huh?"
[Francis]: "It's the day after according to the paper. Of course, I don't know how old the paper is..."
Riker looks at his hand. Hmmmm.
(Riker whispered to CM): Fingerprints?
(CM whispered to Riker): Yep, all there.
[Francis]: "We need to stop Jophiel. Hopefully we can clear ourselves in the process."
[Riker]: "Yeah. But first we take care of ourselves...otherwise, we ain't gonna be able to. Hey, Francis...y'wanna know somethin'?
Benny suddenly slumps to the cobblestones, convulsing...
Francis crouches over Benny, trying to figure out what's wrong, or at least keep him from hurting himself.
Riker hops down. "Goddammit! Francis! Roll that paper up an' stick it between his teeth! Roll 'im over on his stomach, man! He's gonna choke! Benny. Benny. C'mon, man, don't do this, not right now..."
Francis rolls Benny onto his side.
[CM]: As Francis rolls Benny over, he catches sight of Benny's face....
[CM]: FEAR roll
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 83 ]
DICE for CM: (1d10) = [ 3 ]
[CM]: Francis loses 3 WPR
[Riker]: "Dammit, what's wrong with him, man?"
[CM]: Benny appears to be aging, drying up... withering slowly.
Francis makes a gurgling sound, staring at Benny.
[Riker]: "Shiiiit!! Francis, talk to me...what the hell is this...?"
[Security Guard]: "Hey, what are you doing there?"
The security guard shines his flashlight at you.
Riker sits down, hard, on the cobbles.
Francis looks up, like a deer caught in headlights.
[Francis]: "Our friend is... unwell."
Riker mutters, "Aw, shit. When it rains, it pours...heya there, boss.  How's it goin'?"
The security guard is obviously armed, a thin kid in his early twenties...
[Security Guard]: "Whut's up with him?"
[Francis]: "Convulsions."
The security guard gestures nervously with the gun...
Francis raises his hands, trying to look as harmless as he is.
[Security Guard]: "Stay there."
The security guard raises his radio...
[Riker]: "Jesus, man, put down th' heater."
[Francis]: "We aren't doing anything illegal, officer. Let us just take our friend and be on our way."
(Riker whispered to CM): How close is he? I damn well don't want him calling in on that radio...
(Security Guard whispered to Riker): About 20 feet away.
[Security Guard]: "Control, this is Steve. I've got a medical emergency at the Customs House Mall."
Riker stands up. "Look, pal...we don't want any trouble..."
[Security Guard]: "Won't get none from me"
Riker walks towards the guard. "Jesus, kid, put the gun down, okay?"
[Security Guard]: "Move away from him, let me take a look."
Francis backs up slowly, letting the guard step in front of him.
Security Guard points the gun at Riker. "You step over there sir."
Riker steps sideways. "Christ! Kid, are you old enough t'use that thing...?"
Security Guard moves over to Benny, who is still shuddering on the cobbles.
[Security Guard]: "I'm old enough sir."
Benny mutters something through clenched teeth.
(Riker whispered to CM): Awright. Hate doing this, but I'm gonna clock the kid when he's busy looking at Benny. It's a risk, but we can't afford the exposure.
Francis strains to hear what Benny is saying, moving unconsciously closer
[Security Guard]: "Jeezus Mary and Joseph. Whut's he got?"
Security Guard kneels next to Benny
[CM]: Riker, roll initiative.
[Francis]: "I'm afraid I don't know... I hope it isn't contagious..."
Riker doesn't say anything, just steps quietly closer.  "I'm real sorry about this, kid..."
DICE for Riker: (1d10) = [ 9 ]
DICE for CM: (1d10) = [ 8 ]
[CM]: Before Riker can move, Benny grabs the kid. There's a crackle of power, and a blue flash...
[Francis]: "Oh...dear..."
[CM]: The guard and Benny scream simultaneously....
Riker jumps back. "JESUS!"
[CM]: Blue light arcs from the Guards eyes, pouring like a neon river into Benny. Indistinct shapes flicker across the stream of energy like projections on vapor. There's a confused babbling of voices and sounds, ending with the agonised wailing of a newborn child...
Francis stumbles forward, trying to break Benny and the guard apart.
Riker moves forward to pull the kid away from...whatever's happening to him.
[Riker]: "Benny! Let 'im go, man! " Let the guy go!"
[CM]: Francis's fingers push into the Guards shoulder, as the once young man crumbles into dust. His clothes, suddenly empty, collapse...
[Francis]: "NOOOOO!!!"
Riker screams too, but, being the soul of practicality he is, scoops the belt and gun up. "Oh, fuck. Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck..."
Francis looks like he's going to be sick.
Benny opens his eyes, his skin smooth and young once more.
[Benny]: "What's going on? I feel great!....Guys?"
[CM]: FEAR rolls both.
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 11 ]
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 29 ]
DICE for CM: (1d10) = [ 9 ]
[CM]: Francis loses 9 WPR
DICE for CM: (1d10) = [ 9 ]
[CM]: Riker loses 9 WPR
[Riker]: "You just fucking ate a security guard, Benny. Jesus..."
Riker covers his mouth with one hand.
Francis collapses to his knees, shuddering uncontrollably.
[CM]: Benny looks at the dusty clothing next to him, baffled....
[Benny]: "What do you mean? What's going on?"
[Francis]: "Yuh..yuh...uh..."
[Riker]: "You just fucking sucked that guy dry, man. He was just a kid...fuck. Fuck."
Benny finally realises what you mean...
[Benny]: "I did....that?"
Francis nods.
[Benny]: "No, I can't. I...God....NOOO!" Benny lurches over and retches, failing to bring anything up. He sobs uncontrollably.
(Riker whispered to CM): Keys on the belt, like to the stores?
(CM whispered to Riker): Yup
[Riker]: "We've gotta move, man. Clock's tickin'..."
Riker can't keep the shudder off himself, despite his best efforts to do so. Just can't not look at what used to be a human being, laying there. Riker moves towards the gate, and starts trying keys.  "We've gotta get inside," he says. "Before anyone shows up. Francis? Francis! Goddammit, get the kid's clothes."
[Benny]: "What are we?"
Francis sits shuddering, for several long seconds before he begins to move, jerkily, to obey Riker.
Riker carefully keeps his face hidden. "We're the only goddamned thing standin' between the world and the end of everything, man.  Goddamn us."
[Francis]: "We..we..we're demons..."
(CM whispered to Riker): Both Francis and Benny are obviously in deep shock. You shiver, then realise with a crawling sensation that you're beginning to feel cold...
(Riker whispered to CM): Choke it down. Choke it down.
[CM]: A key turns in the lock and the gate clicks open...
Riker says, tightly, "Keep it together. Just keep it together, guys.  I can't hack this on my own." He waves the others inside, and closes the gate after them, once he's in.
Francis stumbles in the direction Riker indicates.
Benny stumbles in, weeping softly.
[Riker]: "Keep it together, man."
(Riker whispered to CM): Keys for the security system, too?
(CM whispered to Riker): Yep... marked by the stamp of the systems maker.
[CM]: Inside the courtyard, shop windows stand in mute witness to your group. Mannequins watch you without judgement, caring little for what you've become.
[Francis]: "Mr...Mr... Ri..Alan... he called someone..."
Francis is barely speaking above a whisper.
[Riker]: "That's why we're in here, Francis. To hide."
Francis nods numbly.
Riker looks for the security box inside the sporting goods store, and disables it, then unlocks the door.
[CM]: The door swings open easily.
[Riker]: "Inside."
Francis shambles in fearfully.
Benny pauses for a moment, then follows Francis.
Riker locks the door as soon as everyone's in.
[CM]: No sooner than Riker locks the door, when a powerful flash beam plays around the courtyard from the gate.
Francis clutches the guard's clothes to his chest, looking lost.
[CM]: The beam leaps from storefront to storefront...
[Riker]: "Down, behind the racks."
[CM]: You hear the rattle of the gate being tried....did you remember to lock it?
[CM]: LUCK roll, Riker.
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 87 ]
Francis looks blindly in Riker's direction
[CM]: The gate scrapes open, and a pair of uniformed guards step into the courtyard.
(CM whispered to Riker): WPR Roll...
[CM]: They start to search the courtyard with their flash beams...
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 50 ]
(CM whispered to Riker): Watching them, you find yourself suddenly hungry. And now you know what for... Another shudder runs through your body.
[CM]: The guards start trying the doors to the stores...
Riker crouches down, eyes squeezed shut. "Oh, fuck me...fuck me..." he whispers, softly.
Francis finally sits down, awkwardly - more like collapsing in place
[CM]: The flashlight beam plays around the inside of the sports shop.  The door rattles...
Riker digs his fingers into his putty-flesh.  Feeling something, anything but that gnawing...
[CM]: And the men move away, the muffled blatting of a walkie talkie calling them to other business. The gate scrapes shut, and locks with a clang.
Riker shudders, violently, then whispers, "Let's move.  Clothes, first. Then food."
[CM]: And away they drive, blissfuly ignorant of what they have left behind...
[CM]: Like many sports shops, this one is really a clothes shop.
Riker tries to keep the shudders down as he and his cohorts loot the store's wares.
(Riker whispered to CM): Anything here besides clothes and shoes?
(CM whispered to Riker): Baseball bats, catchers mitts, footballs and football kit. No firearms.
(Riker whispered to CM): Baseball bat, then. But clothes, primarily.  Camping supplies, especially dried foods if possible. We'll see if that helps.
(CM whispered to Riker): Yep, got them.
Francis resists taking anything from the store, protesting feebly that stealing is wrong.
Benny mutters "so is cannibalism. Apparently we hve little choice." His voice is heavy with bitterness.
Riker remains silent, during this foray.
[CM]: After a few minutes you've assembled an impressive hoard. One corner of the store has yeilded up a variety of camping goods, including some dried foods and concentrate bars. You're fully clothed, and certainly wouldn't draw a second glance on the T. There are rucksacks and backpacks for anything you can't fit in the pockets of your stolen anoraks.
Riker rips open a concentrate bar, chewing. Maybe this'll help.
(CM whispered to Riker): STA roll
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 77 ]
[CM]: The concentrate bar comes right back up, undigested. There isn't even a taste of bile.
Riker coughs, spitting it out. The bar is flung away with a cry -- "Goddammit!"
[Riker]: Pet store in here, maybe?
[CM]: Luck roll Riker.
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 62 ]
[CM]: No pet store...
Riker gathers his things, cursing. Not weeping, just barely this side of it. "Getcher shit, guys. We've gotta move." A revolver, a few bullets, and a baseball bat. Scant protection against the not-so-Unknown.
Benny musters himself as best he can and bundles up what he can carry.
Francis seems barely conscious, just a shell shocked wreck moving under momentum, nothing more.
Riker leads everyone out of the Mall, heading for his office. Won't bother looking for money - stores would have taken it out at night.
[CM]: The streets are slick with rain and are deserted. The last T train ran an hour ago. What are you doing?
[Riker]: "Francis, man, you better be able to get us a likely location on that damn angel..."
Francis grunts wearily.
[Riker]: "Shit. Ok, can't stay on the street, SAVE would exterminate us...start walking until I get a better idea."
Francis twitches in aknowledgement.
[CM]: You all badly need sleep.
[Riker]: No time for sleep. Riker's office, or his apartment. There's stuff at both of them. Grab some rats along the way, maybe.
[CM]: Luck roll
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 90 ]
[CM]: The streets are deserted on the way home...you're at the entrance to Riker's building and thinking you've gotten away with it when a shapeless mound of rags on the steps stirs, and extends a grubby hand....
[Homeless man]: "Spare change?"
(CM whispered to Riker): WPR roll.
Riker digs some of the concentrates out, handing them over. "It's a cold night, man. Here. Ain't much, but it's all I got."
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 53 ]
[CM]: There's a blue flash, and a drawn out shriek....
Francis whimpers, "Oh, God. No!"
(CM whispered to Riker): All your wounds are gone.
[CM]: and then there's nothing left, but dust.
[CM]: FEAR rolls...
Riker looks at his hands, the dust soaking into the pavement, the foil-wrapped bars spilling out and away. His silent tears mingle with the rain...
DICE for Riker: (1d100) = [ 63 ]
DICE for Francis: (1d100) = [ 42 ]
DICE for CM: (1d10) = [ 8 ]
[CM]: Riker loses 8 WPR
DICE for CM: (3d10) : 3d10=2,2,9  = [ 13 ]
[CM]: Francis collapses...
Riker pulls Francis up, weeping or not, and gets him inside the building. There's a spare key that, with luck, the cops have missed.
Benny stumbles after...
[CM]: The office has crime scene tape all over it, but as usual, the cops haven't been as thorough as they should. The key is in it's usual place.
[Riker]: "Stupid assholes."
Riker unlocks the door and gets people inside.
[CM]: The office is dark, lit only by the glare from the street, crimsoned by the blood smeared on the window. The pull out couchbed looks inviting.
Riker locks the door after everyone and takes an inventory.
[Riker]: "Francis, Benny, bunk out. I gotta think."
Benny pulls the couch out and helps dump Francis onto it.
Riker deposits Francis as gently as he can on the couch.  "Rest easy, man."  No rancor, just tired.
Benny then lays out next to Francis and closes his eyes. Within moments the pair are sleeping, the deep sleep of the utterly exhausted.
Riker drops into his office chair, staring at the bloodstain. Some things never wash away.
[CM]: Francis twitches in his sleep, occasionally uttering what might be a cry from the depths of REM...
(Riker whispered to CM): All right, here's what Riker's percolating -- planting evidence, then clumsily trying to remove it.  Enough to cast doubt on our other selves.
(Riker whispered to CM): An anonymous tip, and we might be off...
(CM whispered to Riker): Sounds like fun...Francis mightave something to offer in the morning...
(Riker whispered to CM): And since we can't, obviously, have done the crime...
Riker  at length, dozes.  Don't even want to think about nightmares...
[MC]: "Mr Riker? They're waiting for you sir"
[CM]: The master of ceremonies looks pointedly at his watch.
[Riker]: "Ahhh, christ what is this...naw, don't tell me."
[CM]: Sunlight pours in from the balcony. Outside, the crowd mutters exitedly.
[MC]: "Come now sir, you can't keep them waiting."
[CM]: The master of ceremonies (so young for such an important job), helps you get dressed and walks with you to the balcony.
Riker walks outside, and, whatthehell, throws his arms up, dictator-like.  Might get a laugh, at least...
[CM]: The crowd roars it's approval as you appear.
[Riker]: "Now this ain't bad...
[CM]: Mayor Menino steps forward.
[Riker]: "Hiya, mayor! Jesus, this's weird! Where's the talking cabbages?"
[Mayor]: "And for bravery in the face of great personal danger, and for saving the City of Boston, I award Alan Riker the freedom of the City."
[CM]: He hands you a large golden Key...
Riker takes it. "Hey, this isn't so bad after all..."
[CM]: As your fingers  touch it, lightning arcs from you to him, jumping from his screaming mouth to the TV cameras, and from the cameras to the crowd. Their screaming echoes far to long, until you realise it's repeating from every house and building around you, the lightening leaping from TV to TV, sweeping across the world in a ravenous blue wave of electric hunger.
[CM]: The master of ceremonies (so young) taps you on the shoulder.
Riker turns, lips locked in a horrid, rictus grin.
[MC]: "You saved them all sir. Shame you had to kill them." And he smiles...
[Riker]: "It ain't my fault, kid. I swear t'God..."
[CM]: You're awake. Sunlight streams in through the bloody window...
Riker yelps, softly, batting at his own hands, like they were covered with bugs. "Jesus..."
[CM]: The wall clock says it's ten AM. Though it doesn't feel like it, you've all had over six hours sleep...
[CM]: You've recovered 10 points of WPR per hour of sleep.
[Francis]: ooc: Dear god... you are an evil, evil bastard.  We can extend our stay... by killing people.
[Riker]: When the others are awake, Riker finally speaks again -- "I got a plan. We need to plant some evidence. I know how. We can get ourselves off, then we...the now we, will get offa the hook, and the we that's talking here will...go away."
(CM whispered to Francis): Riker and Benny both died about 30 odd years before you, and have consequently been in Hell quite a bit longer. Whatever transformation has affected them will probably affect you, but it's reasonable to assume it won't happen as quickly.
[Francis]: "I think your reasoning is sound as far as it goes... but I wonder if what we have returned for is to exonerate ourselves... or to stop Jophiel."
[Benny]: "It'd have to be pretty compelling evidence..."
[Riker]: "Maybe it'll fix...other things, too. Look, it's all we got, Francis. I want this me to go the fuck away, all right? I've killed people before, but it was always self-defense. This...what we are...no way. We need the we of now to finish this. Mortal hands need ta finish it. If we can get them off, ruin the court case..."

Session ends

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