Silicon & Sorcery: FREEDOM RADIO

[BetaB17]

♡Teal♡

Teal raised an eyebrow, out of many reasons. Over the so called freelancer Atlas and his like-minded comment, or the Troll's supposed declareration of trust to him, or maybe it was just the secret camera popping out of the wall before revealing a secret entrance. Ya, probably the first two.

She tucked away her pink spray can and much of her stern composure seemed to melt away, replaced with a unmistakable grin beneath one of her bandanas. She came this far, nice to see it's a little bit more valid. She shifted her sniper on her shoulder to make sure it was settled in before she took another step, following close behind her supposed fan. She turned her music down to more a humm, descending as she went.

Further down, and with the others at her back, she looked up and down at this women, not that her back would tell her much. She was just trying to figure out, there was just something about her. "Fan of my work, eh?" She said in personal confidence between the two, her voice carrying an almost. Though her words may have hinted at her, her tone was anything close to arrogant, like she was asking a genuine question. In truth, she was prying, she was certainly at a disadvantage on who knew who more.

[Velvet LeChance]

Gramsci

There was no immediate response to the question, though she pursed her lips and extended a slow nod invisible to Teal. "You've done well to secure your little zone as long as you have--you have a good shot, and it has not gone unnoticed outside the place, of course." There was no bite at the word 'little', if there was disrespect intended, it wasn't clear from the tone. Allowing a moment more to pass between them she added, as if in correction. "It is obviously"--and she included this with the greatest matter-of-factess--"a futile effort, but I guess I'm still a romantic when it comes to this stuff."

That might have sounded somewhat harsher in her stoic, German accent--things tended to. Her word came one at a time, delicate, considered. But that it was passed off without hesitation, without inflection, suggested it was a genuine peer into her mind. It was, of course. Lies brought displeasure to her Lord. Though, she might be forgiving within the bounds of her awesome benevolence, Gramsci still avoided them when she could.

"I'm glad your rifle is on our side for this, at least."

[BetaB17]

Teal listened in keenly, trying to guage the stranger, but after 'futile' remark, her step seemed to hesitate, as if it took a chip off her, before resuming. Had she taken a glimpse at her eyes, she would have sawn something others would never associate with this rumored sniper, remorse. If not for a few seconds

Sure enough, and while she's had months to try and come to terms with it, without Master around, she's just as vulnerable as any of the other survivors. Week by week she's losing more safety. She tightened her grip on her sling. 'Ya.. my rifle.' She steadied herself those seconds

"Then I'd just take my changes with the Shogun himself.. or lay low.." but what about the scavanger's hiding out beneath her nest, under her protection. "I hear there's a tucked away safe haven.. aint nobody findin. Whatever it takes te survive, really." She said with a distant, almost factual tone

Hidden:

You were so worried about the 'little' comment, when ir was actual 'futile' that cut the deepest.

[Baloth-Kul]

Àlfvor

Following behind the party, a degree of severity returned to the troll's face. Both with her tongue and without it, Xu retained Àlfvor's suspicion. The younger and (older?) women were killers, seemingly casual about such a thing. Àlfvor had a relatively good feeling about Atlas and Anduroth. That just left...

"Haley. What do you do?"

[The-Shadow-One]

Haley looked over the troll, the slightest of smiles on his lips. Gotta look pleasant after all. He took all.. well this cloak and dagger stuff in stride outwardly at least. That people here were... not the type he'd typically meet with but that just means he has much more to learn about them.

"Hm? Me? Nothing really!" He stated. "I have no work or anything like the other people here I guess."

[Baloth-Kul]

Àlfvor

"So you are...a vagrant? You have my sympathies." Àlfvor replied gently. "Doesn't quite explain your presence, though."

[Velvet LeChance]

Gramsci

Taking on the Shogun. It was a sentiment which only betrayed Little Bird's youth and inexperience--she really was only a girl. But, having decided it was not her place to spoil such fantasies, silence hung between them for more than a few seconds. "Perhaps if you survive this, you won't have to worry about that anyways." It was added airly--as if an afterthought. But she hoped the girl did have a real plan. While she bounced between viewing Ven-Lo as a literal and metaphorical hell, one thing for certain was that forgiveness was lost in such a place.

[Dirty Spaceman]

Anduroth

Walking near the rear of the group as they descended beneath the theater, Anduroth listened to the soft conversations going on. He had heard rumours of the girl and her exploits, and felt sympathy for her plight mixed with uncertainty over her mental stability. Her deeds did not concern him; he was not one to judge others for violence in defence of one's own home and safety, not after his journey to the MAA all those years ago and especially not after his stint in the militia prior to the fracturing.

He eyed the turrets as they proceeded; an instinctive paranoia nagged in the back of his mind, but it was easily stifled. If the DJ had been taken down and some of his supporters were being neutralized, then by whom, and why Anduroth? Not to mention, that certainly had sounded like Fade-Out just now. He would extend his trust to this operation until he had reason to retract it.

[The-Shadow-One]

Haley
"Beats me. I'm just a guy who was visiting a friend.. and it turned into this." The cat 'kid', shrugging as he sighed. "Maybe he liked my show or something." Ears twitching as he glanced about now, playing with the hem of his hoodie. "At least I hope that's why."

[The SheoDovah]

Xu Dráo

Xu listened to the various discussions as the group descended down the stairs and heard Haley's reason for being here. He didn't know! Either he is lying or he doesn't know and this is a sick joke by the DJ. If that isn't the case, I will keep an eye out for him. Poor kid will be out of his depth. Same with the girl but she is a bold one. "Ever used a weapon before?" She inquired in a bid to find out more about the boy. "Or done any martial arts?" Magic perhaps?

[Kerr]

Anton Atlas

Atlas followed the others down the staircase. The turrets sure made him uncomfortable, if things went poorly, well, getting out wouldn't be easy. Probably a good thing I haven't visited a BAB since the lockdown.

"Show?" Atlas asked Haley when he finished talking. "Are you an actor? I used to work in theater." Atlas smiled and nodded. "But no, being able to slip into other identities, pretend to be something you're not and make people believe it? That can be useful, if you can apply it right."

[BetaB17]

Teal mildly bobbed her head at the music, no less worried about the turrets than if she was in a club. She seemed morr lazed, all things considered. "Perhaps. Or perhaps the world out there is no different than in here.." a grim reality, uncharacteristic for a girl her age

[Baloth-Kul]

Àlfvor

'Actor?' the troll silently mouthed in disbelief. Three more words were silently mouthed, before his thoughts turned elsewhere.

"If perhaps the world outside is no different, then why are you here, 'Little Bird'?" Àlfvor asked with a slight edge to his voice.

"Or you, Mizz Headgear?" His gaze affixed to the back of Gramsci's head. "Religious? Even with kevlar on, you could pass as an average civilian. Coming here, I might have believed you simply had technical skills that Fade-Out saw use for, but you're a fan of the girl's work, are you? She's a killer, which means...you are one too."

He sniffed casually. "I don't condemn you for it, not yet. I just want to know what you call yourself. I'd sooner trust lies than silence or deflection."

[BetaB17]

♡Teal♡

Teal stopped in her tracks, and turned her head. It didnt matter that there were turrets around that could shred her in a moment, or that he was literally three times her height. None of it mattered, as she gave him a dead eye look that alluded to more than just killer instinct, the eyes of a soldier. The same trained eyes as the Black Sun.

She then pulled away her glare and took a determined step forward. A harsh, rigid voice came "Keep talkin' like that, an ya wont last long"

"Eyes forward, and dont pry where you don't belong." she sounded far too much like her Master there for a second

[Velvet LeChance]

Gramsci

She hadn't responded to Teal's remarks before the Troll had interjected. She didn't stop walking as the girl did, though slowed as the sound of distance crept into her voice. Still looking forward, the skin surrounding her eyes crinkled in slight amusement as she overheard the girl's biting response.

"Such fine investigative skills, I can see why you were chosen." It was directed back with absolute coolness. As was: "You can call me Gramsci, anyways." Though, she didn't feel as cool issuing that, it was a necessary concession. Necessary to push the point that: "Speaking of trust, however, you ask an awful lot of questions." She wrinkled her nose at that, as if captured by a bad smell. "Makes me wonder if your real purpose is to spy for the Shogun. Certainly, you must have told him you were coming to conspire with his enemy."

She let the declarations hang. When in doubt, label them a counter-revolutionary. Rosa had thought her that.

[BetaB17]

♡Teal♡

She kept forward, clearly her shift in mood held, a soldier in the midst, almost like the samurai wanna-be's ego was [&@%!] her off, spoiling her good time to meet her celebrity.

Then the lady spoke. Her stern eyes at her back 'Gramsci? Da hell kind of a name is that?' It sounded familiar to her, but the solution kept escaping her grasp. It was a clear alias, and sure enough one for a freelancer or merc. But where did she last hear this name before...

[Baloth-Kul]

Àlfvor

Àlfvor met Little Bird's glare with a focused stare, as though he were peering into her soul. The moment passed, and he said nothing on the matter.

"Gramsci." The troll repeated, as though he were sampling the alias on his palate. His eyes narrowed briefly at her insinuations, but he kept a civil tone as his reply came. "He doesn't know I'm here. I came to hear the DJ out--if he has some plan to hurt Black Sun, the 72 would be more interested in that than taking his head. Or mine." He added the last two words as an afterthought.

[Velvet LeChance]

Gramsci

She didn't respond to that, preferring rather let the implications stand by themselves.

He was, for all intents and purposes, a spy, she decided.

[The-Shadow-One]

Haley cocked his head. "Um... No?" He said in response to Xu's question.I don't need to know martial arts do I, oh wait "Oh, but I can do this!" He added, showing his pawpadded palm to the Faustian before clenching, flexing to show his retractable claws. "Cool right?" Now that was done the cat mage turned to Anton. "Yeah. I'm.. kind of on a break right now but I'm part of 'I'm Feline Fine' ever watch that?"

[Kerr]

Anton Atlas
Atlas smiled and shook his head. "Afraid not. Only been in the country a couple of years and there's a lot to catch up on. And I haven't had a television since the lockdown." said Atlas. He looked the boy up and down. "But that name does explain your cybernetics. They're unique, that's for sure."

[The SheoDovah]

Xu Dráo

As the kiddy cat revealed his answer, Xu felt obliged to look out for him. No real weapon, doubtful he has anything else aside from the interesting choice of cybernetics but if he knows magic, that may be why. Being an actor could work in our favour but depends on his talent. "Ki.. Haley, those claws won't do anything in a fight." Bit blunt but he needs to know this. "I shall keep an eye out for you and i can teach you the basics of CQC." She smiled at him. "Do you know any magic?"

[Unionhack]

Fade-Out's Hide-Out

The group proceeded down an unusually long, turret-lined hallway. As they averted their gaze during whatever conversations they may have been having, the turrets turned and zoomed in almost threateningly, but never fired. As they continued down the way, they could hear muffled music playing in the distance.

Eventually they reached the end of the hallway; a large, magnetically sealed door about twelve feet in height and about half as wide across. As they approached, the door creaked and shuttered as it slowly opened down the middle. The screeching of metal filled the hallway as the door behind the first began to open in a spiral, revealing a third and final door that rose upwards to shine a light on the otherwise dim hallway.

Behind the door was a room akin to a command center, a perfect circle centered around a single central console that housed a grizzled, dreadlock-bearing older man. He spun about in a swivel chair, moving archaic forms of musical storage media known as 'records' into different slots onto a panel in front of him. The group noted more turrets swerving about to watch their movements as they entered. The music they were hearing earlier was now clearly audible.

"Welcome to Ground Zero. How y'all doin' tonight?" asked the man in the center. As his voice resounded, the strangest sight revealed itself; an albino raven perched onto a bar above his seat and softly croaked. The elusive man chuckled and shook his head. "Nah, nah, y'all ain't hear for pleasant talks. Y'all want details, y'all wanna know why the one and only DJ Fade-Out called y'all to his bunker under the city. Well, I'd be glad to answer. How bout y'all ask your questions first, and we can go from there?"

[Velvet LeChance]

Gramsci

She looked first at DJ Fade-out, and then extended her glance across the rest of the group. Her eyebrow arched as he asked for their questions. She didn't like the smalltalk. Though, there was also something about him, too, she didn't like: "the one and only DJ Fade-Out" sounded fine called out over the radio, but in person it left a bad taste in her mouth--narcissism, she realised a moment later, was even worse in those professing to be able to save their souls.

[The SheoDovah]

Xu-Dráo

So, this is his hideout. One way in. Smart. Even if the turrets are overwhelmed, teh door itself will buy him some time to escape unless he has a failsafe. The Faustian continued to rub the sheath of her machete with her thumb as they entered the room. Several doors. Smart. "I'm fine." She smiled at the DJ. "I assume you have several objectives for us in order to break down the Black Suns. Sabotage, Assassaination, destruction of key facilities to weaken their overall strength." She paused as she rubbed her smooth hairless head with the palm of her left hand. "and recruitment of the gangs for one final push. If that is your overal strategy, that explains your recruitment choices but how does a mere DJ get his hands on our information?" She kept her eyes out for any signs of trouble. Could have worked for one of the intel agencies.

[Baloth-Kul]

Àlfvor

Àlfvor charges forward, bringing his fists down on-- Dead. Àlfvor turns around and sprints down the-- Dead. Àlfvor grabs a gun from-- Dead. Àlfvor picks up one of the humans, throws them at the DJ, and-- Still dead. This is the killiest of killzones, and we just walked right in, bold as brass.

"Let's slow it down. Whatever your plan is, say we don't like it--anyone who turns around, are you going to just mulch them with your little turrets? Not sure I'd expect any less from the neighborhood's loosest lips, having not shown your face 'til now." The troll crossed his arms. He might be outgunned, but he wasn't going to mince words.