[sup][h1][center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/82fa3fb006e4a85a60530826f3e0fbe1/5ba732607eca068a-39/s400x600/d4a9d9d820de7c97233fbf8c007097f3049db381.gifv[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] S A R A H M A R I E K I N G[/color] [color=orange]S A R A H M A R I E K I N G[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [center][i]Lucky Noodle, Little Asia; with Ken Shimazu, Kenzo Yamamoto, Julia Kray, Detective Steven Donahue, & Officer Mike Donovan[/i][/center] [indent]Sarah stopped herself in her own tracks. The soles of her shoes squeaked against the tile floor as she dragged her feet to catch herself. [i][color=orange]Shit.[/color][/i] She didn’t need any extra senses to know that she had drawn attention to her exit. The call of the cop behind her confirmed what she knew. [color=orange]“Fuck,”[/color] she said under breath. She considered just bolting for the back door; unless the cop was some kind of speedster, a jolt of Chi would give her enough of a head start to lose him before he could even get to his car… and it wasn’t like he’d know where she was going. And if the new guy following her could back up his talk from earlier, he’d be able to keep up. But Sarah knew that would only complicate the situation for Shimazu and Julia; her Sensei especially would have a lot of explaining to do if she tried to run. Feeling like a weight had been tied to her ankles, Sarah turned around slowly. She faced back to the others in time to watch the ‘new guy’ force his arm out of the cop’s grip, and then pass the buck onto her. Her eyes widened, and the line of her mouth thinned. Was this guy for real? She wondered; he seemed strong, but not exactly the most subtle or tactful when it came to talking his way around. It took every bit of Sarah’s patience not to rail the guy herself. Shimazu then turned his head toward her, giving a sharp, dissecting look-over. Though he would nod his head, his expression was disapproving. [color=yellow][i]“I understand what you’re doing, but I don’t like it,"[/i][/color] was what he might have said if they were exchanging words out loud. But he remained silent. As he turned back to the opening door, Sarah’s head went low. [color=yellow]“Good afternoon Detective.”[/color] Shimazu spoke with authentic respect, if not for the man at first, but for the position he held. He hung on the greeting as he sensed him out. This was another new face to the police department; as with the officer before him, Shimazu needed to have some certainty that the man wasn’t likely to bring the case through the wrong people. It was almost as staggering a read as the man that had taken Maddie. The man was genuine, though masking an uneasiness. A further probe of the Detective’s energy hit Shimazu with a feeling of something powerful contained within… if not for the Detective’s will to control himself, the power would be bursting out through every pore and seam in his body. [color=yellow]“Ken Shimazu,”[/color] he continued, satisfied with what he had learned. [color=yellow]“I’m the owner and manager of the Lucky Noodle.”[/color] He extended a hand to shake Donahue’s; a formality of courtesy, and a show of his willingness to cooperate. [color=yellow]“I’m guessing you haven’t been around Paragon City for very long. Occult dealings aren’t as farfetched here as you might think. Nighthaven has no shortage of--”[/color] Sarah slowly raised her head back up as the conversation shifted into matters of the Occult; she almost felt stupid for not thinking that a magic-user like Maddie would be targeted by some syndicate in Nighthaven. [color=orange]“I was working down stairs when the Blue Dragons stirred shit up,”[/color] she said, directing her testimony to the detective, and cutting into the conversation. [color=orange]“I came up when I heard the fighting, and had to get some… firebreathing asshole off of my boss, and--”[/color] A proper lie wasn’t going to get her anywhere, but as Shimazu had once taught her, sometimes, the best way to lie is to tell the truth. [color=yellow]“Zhang Taiwu,”[/color] Shimazu added. [color=yellow]“A Blue Dragon enforcer; notoriously [b]ill-temptered.”[/b][/color] He darted his eyes hintingly towards Sarah as he spoke the last word [color=yellow]“But I do believe we’re past that part of things, Sarah.”[/color] [color=orange]“I… I know. I just… After fighting off some Blue Dragons, I had to watch as some monster portaled away one of my best friends. It’s feeling a bit heavy in here and I think I need to step out for some air, if that’s OK?”[/color] Sarah looked between both officers and Shimazu. Hoping that someone would cut her loose. Shimazu’s eyes gave a half roll. He heaved a breath in and then out again, and looked to Donahue and Donovan. [color=yellow]“It’s been a stressful morning here. For the youth most of all. I can corroborate her testimony. If I may, I would like to dismiss my employee before we continue; I believe that letting her go will be best for her well-being at this moment. And the young man here,”[/color] he indicated Kenzo, [color=yellow]“is a patron who got caught up in matters that shouldn’t have impacted his day.”[/color][/indent] [CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://c.tenor.com/_dREp7THfQIAAAAd/tenor.gif[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] Z H A N G, T A I W U[/color] [color=6ecff6]Z H A N G, T A I W U[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [color=lightgray][sup][i]The Void Hideout, Nighthaven; with Amara[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER] [indent]Taiwu followed closely behind Amara as the pair climbed up the steps and into the old church. Other than the damages and disrepair of the building, it was a formidable space for a band of cultists; several cloaked and hooded figures were busy clearing floor space and moving material to reconstruct the place in their group’s image. However they would each stop what they were doing as Taiwu and Amara passed through the nave, drifting through what was left of the rows of pews to get a better look at the newcomer. Some, Taiwu noticed, followed his tracks threateningly, but didn’t budge for the will of their Mistress. With a wordless gesture from Amara, those gathered in the nave dispersed to places out of sight and out of earshot. One hooded figure, face mostly obscured by a hood, bore a set of fangs towards him as they passed. The Dragon took the action in stride and continued up the pair of steps and seated himself in one of two chairs summoned where the altar had once stood. [color=6ecff6]“Thank you,”[/color] he said, bowing, and helping himself to a cup of tea; the hospitality was a stark contrast to the hostile dealings the Blue Dragons typically had with 70th Street and the Delgatos. [color=6ecff6]“As I explained outside, we encountered two people of interest; both young women. One, I need no information on, as I’m familiar enough with the arcane to understand, though I believe her to be a product of Sanctum here in Nighthaven. She is someone that may, at some point, be of interest to you, if she isn’t already. Her spell work took the form of a green energy, manifested as projectiles and shields, so far as I was aware, although this may be too common a feature to go off of.”[/color] Taiwu took another sip of tea before resuming. [color=6ecff6]“The one of more interest to me, and my boss, whether he recognizes it or not… her power was different. Being targeted by most forms of magic feels like being struck by nature, an elemental force controlled by the practitioner. But this one… she produced a force that felt as though she were exerting her own essence against us; as if the energy she was projecting was coming directly from her.”[/color][/indent] [CENTER][sup][h1][center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/fff51bc06d0de75c0c92afc560d30f56/5ee10285e4d49654-8d/s400x600/ceae43f33b978cd2a2c37e1e7846b4f74a7ad550.gif[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] T H E R E S A T O R R E S[/color] [color=white]T H E R E S A T O R R E S[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [color=lightgray][sup][i]Angel’s Bar, Mapleview[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER] [indent]Theresa was greeted by the warm glow of subtle orange, red, and pink lighting as she entered 70th Street’s favored bar. Since it was still early in the day, Angel’s was just opening up, and the crowd was small and thinly spread across the bar proper and a few booths of seating; a few randoms for the lunch hour, others as regulars and alcoholics getting their fix. Conversations were taking place in dull murmurs, as not to be overheard. As she made her way toward the bar a young man with dark hair and a thick but short and trimmed beard looked up, smiled, and waved at her. “Ey! El Toro!” A few barflies flinched and shifted, looking over their shoulders at Theresa as she came to a stop next to them; one drunkard a seat away clumsily shifted another seat away, spilling a splash of beer on the countertop. Theresa ignored the fluster, as she usually did, and directed her attention toward the bartender, who began wiping down the puddle of IPA in front of her. “You really like to rattle the cage, don’t you Joel,” She said, pushing an empty seat off to the side. Joel shrugged and chuckled. “It’s a little funny how jumpy they get. But that’s because they don’t know you like I do, yeah?” Theresa’s eyes narrowed on the bartender, and his grin faded quickly as he realized she wasn’t there for fun. “No Valentina today?” “She’s busy buttoning up some things; finished up some work this morning. She might come by later. But I’ve got my own agenda. Is Angelica around?” “She’s in the back, yeah. You want me to get her?” “No. I’ll let myself in--” Joel raised a hand to stop Thersa. “Not without getting a drink you won’t. Angel doesn’t like to be bothered by anyone that doesn’t put up.” “I’m not here to get shitfaced Joel,” Theresa said. “I’m here on business, not recreation.” “All the same chica. Either buy something or she won’t talk, even if you go back there. And trust me, she’ll know.” “Fine.” Theresa reached into her pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. She dropped it on the counter, shaking it and the glasses atop it as her hand hit the hardwood. “A shot of Clase Azul. And you better give me my money’s worth.” “That’s more like it esa!” Joel reached back to the shelf and poured a shot of tequila out from a curvy white bottle with blue leaf accents. He filled the shot glass to the brim and slid it gently towards Theresa. Theresa lifted the shot. “To the Boss Women,” she said, and downed the shot. She placed the glass back on the counter, wiped her lips with a napkin, and proceeded to the back of the bar where Angelica Lopez had her office. She swung the door open, disregarding knocking. “Who the fu- oh. It’s you. And how may I help the Bull of 70th Street today?” Angelica leaned back from some ledgers she had been going over and waved Theresa into the office, closing the door behind her. “I take it this isn’t anything concerning Valentina.” “Yeah,” Theresa said. “I’m here to ask about last night… downstairs…” “You know I’m not at liberty to say anything about what happens downstairs. As a regular in the ring you should know that no one in the network [b]knows[/b] anything about it.” “You know if you say anything, I won’t go flapping my gums about it.” Theresa slammed her hands down on Angel’s desk; it nearly buckled under her strength. “I’m looking for someone that was here last night. In the ring, she goes by the name ‘Stryke.’” Angel hesitated a moment, and then shook her head. “I don’t keep the listings of who participates in those events.” “That’s fine,” Theresa said. “Put out some eyes and ears for someone who does, and get back to me… I want that punk’s real name, and where I can find her ass.” “You really think the organizers are gonna spill anything? To me? They wouldn’t risk the secrecy just for you to what? Get some payback on someone for a cheap shot?” “This bitch has been dissing 70th for years now, Angel. Even Val’s starting to notice. Why do you think she sent me in last night?” “And what do you want me to tell anyone about outing one of their… attractions… so you can get revenge?” “Tell them that if they don’t go through you with it, that Toro will find them eventually, and the questioning will be a lot more painful for them if it comes to that.” “You’re starting to mess with things you can’t even begin to see the depth of, Theresa.” Angelica scowled. She paused for a moment, then sighed, and said, “But I’ll see what I can get out of someone next time they come around. Better for you that I do it with some tact than you bulldozing it out of them. Now, if that’s all there is…” “That’s all there is,” Theresa said, her voice cold. “Then get on with your day. And remember, this conversation didn’t happen.” Angelica got to her feet, and opened the door. Theresa saw herself out of the office. The sound of the door closing hard behind her and locking shut rang in her ears. She made her way back to the bar, and dropped another twenty onto the counter. “Another shot, Joel,” she said. The bartender served her another shot of tequila, which she downed even more quickly than the first before exiting the bar to make her way back to the 70th Street safehouse.[/indent] [center][h2][b][u]Horace J. Wolfe & Katherine Tran[/u][/b][/h2] [i]Veridian Technologies, Artemis Hideout, Nighthaven[/i][/center] [indent]Wolfe and KT shifted their eyes over to another screen. This one was a view outside of Veridian Tech. A line of SWAT vehicles and DSHA SUVs had been staged outside of the main entrance. The main task force was preparing to enter through the Atrium; smaller detachments were beginning to station themselves outside of the many emergency exits. “That’s affirmative,” Wolfe responded. “DSHA and PCPD have a perimeter established outside of the building and are preparing for entry. Backup should be in the building within minutes.” “That might not be quick enough,” KT said. She removed her headset and walked toward the door out of the room. “And where are you going?” Wolfe asked. “Up,” KT said. “Di- I mean, Artemis could use some help until reinforcements get here. Plus… I have a plan.” Wolfe maintained a long, pensive look at KT. Seeing the determination in the young woman’s eyes, he resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn’t be able to stop her easily. “If you think you can make a difference, then go. But [b]be careful.[/b]” “I will. I should be able to do what I need to from a distance.” KT rushed out of the safe room and made her way back up the stairs. Wolfe, meanwhile, returned to the monitors. “Don’t panic, but Miss Tran believes she can help the situation somehow. She’s on her way up. Whatever you do, make sure you keep the hostile’s attention on yourself.” [hr] KT arrived back in the Atrium. Electricity was flying about as the woman continued attacking Artemis. For the moment, it seemed that her friend was keeping the woman’s focus such that she [KT] would be able to do what she needed to without being seen right away. Peering out from around a corner, she concentrated on the woman… It was a hard process, cracking into someone’s thoughts from a long distance; but the lack of interference from other minds evened the difficulty slightly. Vague visions and a train of thought from the woman came into KT’s mind. [i]Got it![/i] She switched gears and focused her mind onto communicating with Artemis. [i]Not sure if this helps to know, but she's working for the Delgatos. Maybe we can leverage that to get her to stop?[/i][/indent] [center][@Nallore], [@McNephelim], [@Skelm], [@Silver Carrot][/center]