Space 14

[6/23/2013 7:14:25 PM] Josie: Switch yer nick.

[6/23/2013 7:18:19 PM | Edited 7:23:53 PM] Josie: When last we left Coil, he was sharing a honeymoon suite with his seductive crewmember Stella, a telepath doomed to lose her brain functioning over time (which she has told Coil, though he knew before that). This is after an assassination attempt while they had dinner down on Torric, a planet of mostly-androids that's known for its technology. The assassin sent them a note at the hotel, so he or she  knows where they are--as does Tiktok, Coil's child-android contact on the planet.

[6/23/2013 7:19:54 PM] Coil: Coil 's plan was to wait it out a day or so. A note to tell them that the assassin knows they're there is more than likely an attempt to flush them out.

[6/23/2013 7:20:47 PM] Josie: His crew--Lou, the felinoid hacker, Althea Irene Lark, the slug-infesting-a-military-woman, his water-breathing engineer Vir and a former sexbot, Dot Alice--are still all on the ship.

[6/23/2013 7:22:42 PM] Josie: Coil is also on the track of three substances, felwerine, diadragamine and staklinium--a narcotic, a heart attack medication and a lethal substance, respectively--that will help Althea give Irene a voice somehow.

[6/23/2013 7:23:02 PM] Coil: Right. He got one of them, right?

[6/23/2013 7:23:36 PM] Josie: Yep. Tiktok was able to get felwerine. It's probably best not to ask how.

[6/23/2013 7:24:02 PM] Coil: Coil wasn't planning on it!

[6/23/2013 7:24:18 PM] Josie: Indeed.

[6/23/2013 7:24:59 PM] Josie: Coil has already shared a cup of coffee with Stella, and not in the Grand Theft Auto kind of way. Just actual coffee.

[6/23/2013 7:25:26 PM] Josie: She's currently looking out the window, but with the shade drawn--she's being careful about possible shooters.

[6/23/2013 7:28:22 PM] Coil: Coil is studying the note, trying to figure out who the shooter could be! He knows of too many assassins who favor sniper rifles.

[6/23/2013 7:28:57 PM] Josie: Well, judging by the little heart, it's personal!

[6/23/2013 7:30:08 PM] Coil: Coil has also, of course, put up the 'no housekeeping' notice.

[6/23/2013 7:30:58 PM] Josie: *eyebrow waggle*

[6/23/2013 7:31:47 PM] Josie: Stella: I don't see anyone out there.

[6/23/2013 7:32:42 PM] Coil: Well, you wouldn't. That's kind of the point. How are you feeling?

[6/23/2013 7:34:05 PM] Josie: Stella: Quite well, thank you. And you?

[6/23/2013 7:34:38 PM] Coil: I didn't get shot.

[6/23/2013 7:35:03 PM] Coil: You did.

[6/23/2013 7:35:27 PM] Josie: Stella: Yes, but I took your blood, remember?

[6/23/2013 7:35:48 PM] Josie: She sets the shutter back on the window and turns to smile at him a little bit.

[6/23/2013 7:36:04 PM] Josie: ((Guess how many races' women have cleavage on their armor.))

[6/23/2013 7:36:29 PM] Coil: ((All of them?)

[6/23/2013 7:36:39 PM] Josie: ((Why yes. All of them. 100%.))

[6/23/2013 7:36:59 PM] Coil: ((It was either going to be all or none! Do men get cleavage armor?))

[6/23/2013 7:37:06 PM] Josie: ((Ahahaha. No.))

[6/23/2013 7:37:49 PM] Coil: Coil smiles back. "I'm fine, I have plenty of blood."

[6/23/2013 7:38:46 PM] Josie: Stella: It grows back, I hear.

[6/23/2013 7:39:46 PM] Coil: I should hope so. I lost a lot back in my... working days.

[6/23/2013 7:40:09 PM] Coil: If it doesn't, I really should have charged you for what I gave you.

[6/23/2013 7:40:27 PM] Josie: Stella: How much would you charge?

[6/23/2013 7:41:44 PM] Coil: I'd have to do some research into the going rates.

[6/23/2013 7:42:22 PM] Josie: Stella: You'll just have to take it out of my pay.

[6/23/2013 7:43:17 PM] Coil: Well, the blood grows back, so we don't need to worry about it.

[6/23/2013 7:43:29 PM] Josie: Stella: No, probably not.

[6/23/2013 7:47:12 PM] Coil: Unless I'm a vampire or something, because that probably means you're a vampire now, too.

[6/23/2013 7:48:20 PM] Josie: Stella: I don't feel like a vampire.

[6/23/2013 7:49:03 PM] Josie: She doesn't look like one either. Even without makeup she has a damn good complexion--you can just see her facial scar a bit better.

[6/23/2013 7:49:14 PM] Coil: ((Facial scar?))

[6/23/2013 7:49:52 PM] Josie: ((She has a small scar down the side of her cheek that just touches her eyebrow.))

[6/23/2013 7:50:07 PM] Josie: ((Her makeup covers it up pretty well most of the time, though.))

[6/23/2013 7:50:59 PM] Coil: I never noticed your scar before.

[6/23/2013 7:51:38 PM] Josie: Stella: You weren't meant to. ...I've thought about having it removed. I should ask... Althea.

[6/23/2013 7:52:01 PM] Coil: What's it from?

[6/23/2013 7:52:46 PM] Josie: Stella: Combat training. At the time I thought it made me look dashing.

[6/23/2013 7:53:14 PM | Edited 7:54:36 PM] Coil: I think it still does.

[6/23/2013 7:55:18 PM] Josie: Stella: Mmm. Maybe I'll leave it, after all, then. Though the makeup does nearly as well as surgery would anyway.

[6/23/2013 7:56:30 PM] Coil: What was it, a knife?

[6/23/2013 7:57:15 PM] Josie: Stella: A knife. You should see the other guy?

[6/23/2013 7:58:26 PM] Coil: Swords leave deeper cuts. And what does the other guy look like?

[6/23/2013 7:59:07 PM] Josie: Stella: He's fine, actually. I'm not much at combat.

[6/23/2013 8:00:41 PM] Josie: Stella: I don't really need to be.

[6/23/2013 8:00:49 PM] Coil: No?

[6/23/2013 8:00:56 PM] Coil: Because of your brain rays?

[6/23/2013 8:02:12 PM] Josie: Stella: They're not brain rays, but they *do* allow me to incapacitate people rather quickly. Of course, there *are* always androids.

[6/23/2013 8:08:07 PM] Coil: I prefer to think of them as brain rays.

[6/23/2013 8:08:21 PM] Josie: Stella: That does add a certain element of the absurd, doesn't it?

[6/23/2013 8:08:38 PM] Coil: I find it tends to help.

[6/23/2013 8:08:58 PM] Josie: Stella: Would I be too intimidating otherwise?

[6/23/2013 8:11:06 PM] Coil: Not saying this to brag, but I'm hard to intimidate.

[6/23/2013 8:11:24 PM] Josie: (("Saddle pal"??))

[6/23/2013 8:11:57 PM] Josie: ((GAY. THEY ARE GAY.))

[6/23/2013 8:12:17 PM] Josie: Stella: And I'm not very intimidating in a bathrobe without my face on.

[6/23/2013 8:14:13 PM] Coil: Coil shrugs. "Being easy to intimidate is a liability in an assassin.  Maybe if the face you put on had five mouths and giant red bug eyes."

[6/23/2013 8:14:49 PM] Josie: Stella: I could make you *think* it did.

[6/23/2013 8:17:14 PM] Coil: Yes, well, my hellish childhood didn't really prepare me for telepaths.

[6/23/2013 8:17:33 PM] Josie: Stella: Was it that bad?

[6/23/2013 8:18:50 PM] Coil: Well, not when I was living it, but in retrospect and having heard accounts of much more normal childhoods, kind of.

[6/23/2013 8:20:06 PM] Josie: Stella: You should think of it as well as you can. No one has a good childhood. Even good ones are difficult.

[6/23/2013 8:22:14 PM] Coil: I know. And it made me who I am, so it's not like I would change it. When I was nine, I got left in the slums of Garnet V with no money, no food, and a knife, and told that if I didn't get offworld within five days, I'd never see her again.

[6/23/2013 8:23:15 PM] Coil: Which wouldn't be that bad, but I'd still be stuck on that planet with nothing, so. She was all I had.

[6/23/2013 8:24:15 PM] Josie: Stella: ... a sort of game. Did she care for you?

[6/23/2013 8:24:57 PM] Coil: In her way, I suppose. She invested a lot into me.

[6/23/2013 8:25:25 PM] Josie: Stella: What was her name?

[6/23/2013 8:26:17 PM] Coil: Diana.

[6/23/2013 8:27:05 PM] Josie: Stella: What did you call her?

[6/23/2013 8:27:33 PM] Coil: Diana. Pretty sure it wasn't her real name, it's just what she wanted me to call her.

[6/23/2013 8:27:55 PM] Josie: Stella: Where is she now?

[6/23/2013 8:28:52 PM] Coil: Dead.

[6/23/2013 8:30:01 PM] Josie: Stella: I'm sorry.

[6/23/2013 8:30:41 PM] Coil: Thanks. I should be sorrier, I'm sure.

[6/23/2013 8:31:18 PM] Josie: Stella: How did you get off Garnet?

[6/23/2013 8:34:44 PM] Coil: I kidnapped a freelance pilot's son and threatened to kill him if his father didn't unlock his freighter. Took the freighter to the space station in orbit.

[6/23/2013 8:35:41 PM] Josie: Stella: ... how'd the son feel about it?

[6/23/2013 8:36:27 PM] Coil: Well, he was 18 and I was nine. I think he was feeling shame.

[6/23/2013 8:36:59 PM] Josie: Stella: ... enough to hire an assassin years later?

[6/23/2013 8:37:58 PM] Coil: He never knew my name. Never even saw me. And his father got his freighter back.

[6/23/2013 8:39:03 PM] Josie: Stella: Not him, then. Perhaps a relative of a previous engagement?

[6/23/2013 8:39:46 PM] Coil: There's always that possibility.

[6/23/2013 8:41:45 PM] Josie: Stella: Figuring out who it is could help us stop them.

[6/23/2013 8:42:33 PM] Coil: I know. I just don't know who it could be. The heart implies that it's pretty personal.

[6/23/2013 8:44:15 PM] Josie: Stella: Ex-girlfriends?

[6/23/2013 8:44:32 PM] Coil: I've never really had a girlfriend.

[6/23/2013 8:45:56 PM] Josie: Stella raises her eyebrows. "Ex-boyfriend, then?"

[6/23/2013 8:46:52 PM] Coil: No. I'ev never really had a relationship. Just brief.... arrangements.

[6/23/2013 8:47:12 PM] Josie: Stella: Temporary arrangements. How ideal; I am, in fact, temporary.

[6/23/2013 8:48:28 PM] Coil: You know what I mean. Polite way of saying One-Night-Stands. Anything more is pretty dangerous. Though apparently, even One Night Stands are turning out to be pretty dangerous.

[6/23/2013 8:49:53 PM] Josie: Stella: Even when they're only dreaming. ... I am a little more bitter about my situation than I would like.

[6/23/2013 8:51:14 PM] Coil: Maybe you can ask Althea about your situation. She's pretty smart.

[6/23/2013 8:53:03 PM] Josie: Stella: There's nothing anyone can do.

[6/23/2013 8:53:32 PM] Coil: How do you know?

[6/23/2013 8:54:24 PM] Josie: Stella: Believe me, if they could have kept using us the way they were, they'd have done it.

[6/23/2013 8:58:18 PM] Josie: Stella: We were a... significant investment. And trained extensively prior to being augmented.

[6/23/2013 8:59:20 PM] Coil: Hmm.

[6/23/2013 8:59:55 PM] Coil: ...or you were prototypes and they moved onto the production models.

[6/23/2013 9:01:53 PM] Josie: Stella: ... disposable assets? Do you think the Coalition would spend that much on something so... temporary?

[6/23/2013 9:02:01 PM] Josie: ((Going to grab the laundry.))

[6/23/2013 9:08:27 PM] Coil: Not saying that was the plan from the start. They spend all this money, they make telepaths, they find out that things didn't go to plan, but they learn how to fix it, improve on the process.

[6/23/2013 9:11:53 PM] Josie: ((Back! Sorry, I'm not a hardcore enough gamer to feel that game>clean undies.))

[6/23/2013 9:12:37 PM] Josie: Stella bites her lip. "... do you... do you really think so? They could be making more?"

[6/23/2013 9:13:45 PM] Coil: Coil frowns. "Just... a theory.  I wouldn't put it past them.  But then I'm a horrible cynic."

[6/23/2013 9:15:51 PM] Josie: Stella: ... I don't know how to stop them.

[6/23/2013 9:20:19 PM] Coil: Coil shrugs. "Well, that's not really my point.  I just mean... you shouldn't give up hope."

[6/23/2013 9:22:22 PM] Josie: Stella: I have to find a way, somehow. No one should ever have to... well. They shouldn't.

[6/23/2013 9:27:00 PM] Coil: Coil nods.

[6/23/2013 9:27:51 PM] Josie: Stella: ... I can't ask you to help me. It's my fight. Our fight, if there's any of us left.

[6/23/2013 9:28:48 PM] Coil: Well, you're part of my crew now. But... I understand.

[6/23/2013 9:31:05 PM] Josie: Stella: You're retired.

[6/23/2013 9:31:36 PM] Coil: Only from killing folks.

[6/23/2013 9:37:35 PM] Josie: Stella: Some folks need killing. ... and I can't do it.

[6/23/2013 9:38:25 PM] Coil: So this isn't about saving your life, then?

[6/23/2013 9:39:30 PM] Josie: Stella: I don't believe anyone can do that.

[6/23/2013 9:44:43 PM] Coil: Well. I don't kill people for money anymore.

[6/23/2013 9:47:24 PM] Josie: Stella nods.

[6/23/2013 9:48:24 PM] Coil: But if you want help to save your life, and that path *happens* to involve danger and killing, well, that would be different.

[6/23/2013 9:49:11 PM] Josie: Stella: Semantics.

[6/23/2013 9:50:58 PM] Coil: I'm not opposed to killing for something I care about, Stella. Or for a good cause. But not for money.

[6/23/2013 9:52:08 PM] Josie: Stella: I haven't offered you money again. ... I've offered you me, but that's... aside from all this.

[6/23/2013 9:55:35 PM] Josie: She goes back to the window and peers out again.

[6/23/2013 9:56:49 PM] Coil: I know. Just... explaining. It's not just semantics to me.

[6/23/2013 9:57:39 PM] Josie: Stella: ... I know. I'm sorry.

[6/23/2013 9:59:19 PM] Josie: ((OOH. Tareth got a purple tactical officer!))

[6/23/2013 9:59:36 PM] Coil: ((Fancy!__

[6/23/2013 10:00:28 PM] Josie: ((Can't use him yet, but I will eventually.))

[6/23/2013 10:01:47 PM] Josie: Stella: ... it  might be easier...

[6/23/2013 10:02:43 PM] Coil: What might be easier?

[6/23/2013 10:03:07 PM] Josie: Stella: Just... opening the curtain.

[6/23/2013 10:03:41 PM] Coil: Getting shot?

[6/23/2013 10:03:54 PM] Josie: Stella: It'd be simpler.

[6/23/2013 10:07:06 PM] Coil: You should at least wait until your sister can talk to you.

[6/23/2013 10:10:51 PM] Josie: Her hand inches over to the panel that controls the blinds.

[6/23/2013 10:11:37 PM] Coil: Coil goes over and puts his hand on hers. "Don't.  Not yet."

[6/23/2013 10:12:34 PM] Josie: Stella looks down, and then looks back up at him. "You're right. You're right."

[6/23/2013 10:14:33 PM] Coil: Coil nods.

[6/23/2013 10:15:40 PM] Josie: She smiles up at him. "... at least I've gotten you to hold my hand."

[6/23/2013 10:17:35 PM] Coil: Coil smiles a bit back. "I suppose you have.

[6/23/2013 10:18:30 PM] Josie: Stella: I could try a little harder, but it seems like you never want to meet me halfway.

[6/23/2013 10:20:01 PM] Coil: I am not a master of interpersonal relationships.

[6/23/2013 10:21:03 PM] Josie: Stella: Hm. Maybe you should approach it some other way.

[6/23/2013 10:21:53 PM] Coil: Like how?

[6/23/2013 10:22:59 PM] Josie: Stella: Well. You *are* a master of assassination. How would you approach assassinating me?

[6/23/2013 10:35:33 PM] Coil: Coil considers this. "You'd be tricky."

[6/23/2013 10:37:26 PM] Josie: Stella: How would you do it?

[6/23/2013 10:37:48 PM] Coil: I'd arrange a distraction, something to occupy you and your brain rays so I could get in close.

[6/23/2013 10:39:08 PM] Josie: Stella: What kind of distraction?

[6/23/2013 10:40:19 PM] Coil: Well, it would depend on the circumstances you were in.

[6/23/2013 10:40:42 PM] Josie: Stella: I'm in a hotel. In the honeymoon suite.

[6/23/2013 10:44:44 PM] Coil: I would arrange something to get you out of the room. Maybe hire someone to short out the fire control system. I'd catch up with you during the press of people trying to get out, get close...

[6/23/2013 10:47:08 PM] Josie: Stella: ... you're already close...

[6/23/2013 10:48:16 PM] Coil: Then I'd do it.

[6/23/2013 10:49:22 PM] Josie: Stella: And what's stopping you?

[6/23/2013 10:52:48 PM] Coil: I don't kill people for money anymore. And I"m not actually trying to assassinate you.

[6/23/2013 10:53:44 PM] Josie: Stella: ... then you're not interested.

[6/23/2013 10:54:46 PM] Coil: In killing you? Of course not.

[6/23/2013 10:54:53 PM] Coil: ((Coil does not get it.))

[6/23/2013 10:55:45 PM] Josie: She stands on her tiptoes and whispers in his ear: "I'm not talking about killing anyone."

[6/23/2013 10:59:27 PM] Coil: ...oh. Well, you asked how I would assassinate you and...

[6/23/2013 10:59:48 PM] Josie: Stella: It's an analogy.

[6/23/2013 11:04:28 PM] Josie: Stella: We're not *actually* talking about killing.

[6/23/2013 11:05:18 PM] Coil: ...I'm not terribly good at those. Sorry.

[6/23/2013 11:06:31 PM] Josie: Stella: I told you once before, you're very difficult to seduce.

[6/23/2013 11:09:54 PM] Josie: She sighs, and rests her head on his chest.

[6/23/2013 11:10:53 PM] Coil: Sorry about that.

[6/23/2013 11:11:01 PM] Coil: Coil puts his arms around her.

[6/23/2013 11:11:59 PM] Josie: Stella: It's all right. At least you hold me. Perhaps it's just as well.

[6/23/2013 11:12:28 PM] Coil: Coil kisses her.

[6/23/2013 11:15:51 PM] Josie: She kisses him back, and then pauses. "... I don't know what will happen. I might not be able to control my... mind rays."

[6/23/2013 11:16:08 PM] Coil: Brain rays.

[6/23/2013 11:16:49 PM] Josie: Stella: Brain rays.

[6/23/2013 11:16:51 PM] Coil: ((I feel like Coil is cheating on Zubi!))

[6/23/2013 11:16:54 PM] Josie: She smiles a little bit.

[6/23/2013 11:17:03 PM] Josie: ((Wrong Coil! Zubi doesn't exist in this world!))

[6/23/2013 11:17:12 PM] Coil: ((I know!))

[6/23/2013 11:19:06 PM] Josie: Stella: I understand if you... decide it's not worth it.

[6/23/2013 11:23:14 PM] Coil: That's okay. I trust you.

[6/23/2013 11:24:22 PM] Josie: Stella: I trust you too.

[6/23/2013 11:26:43 PM] Coil: Coil nods. "Well then.

[6/23/2013 11:28:57 PM] Josie: Stella: ... kiss me again?

[6/23/2013 11:29:07 PM] Coil: I think I can manage that.

[6/23/2013 11:29:11 PM] Coil: Coil kisses her again!

[6/23/2013 11:30:59 PM] Josie: She kisses him back!

[6/23/2013 11:31:32 PM] Josie: ... and right then, the sprinklers come on, and an alarm starts to sound. "A fire has been detected. Please exit the building by following the glowing arrows."

[6/23/2013 11:33:38 PM] Coil: See, this is how I would assasinate someone.

[6/23/2013 11:34:05 PM] Josie: Stella: ... damn it. ... what do we do?

[6/23/2013 11:35:14 PM] Coil: We stay here and get wet.

[6/23/2013 11:35:29 PM] Josie: Stella: What if there's a real fire?

[6/23/2013 11:36:17 PM] Coil: Coil sniffs!

[6/23/2013 11:36:54 PM] Josie: No smoke smell!

[6/23/2013 11:37:05 PM] Josie: Of course, it is a big building, so there might not be.

[6/23/2013 11:37:55 PM] Coil: We'll stay here. Even if there is a fire, it's safer. Grab the cat, would you?

[6/23/2013 11:38:31 PM] Coil: Coil checks his cellphone-comm unit thingy to see if there's any reports of a fire.

[6/23/2013 11:38:51 PM] Josie: Stella picks up the kitten, and shelters her from the sprinklers, which are raining water down pretty hard by now.

[6/23/2013 11:39:11 PM] Josie: The comm has no reports of a fire. It *does* have a report of a dangerous fugitive on the loose, with lots of pictures of said fugitive!

[6/23/2013 11:39:17 PM] Josie: Guess who!

[6/23/2013 11:39:36 PM] Coil: Oh, good.

[6/23/2013 11:40:15 PM] Josie: ... it's Stella.

[6/23/2013 11:40:18 PM] Josie: Stella: Good what?

[6/23/2013 11:40:32 PM] Coil: ...apparetly you're a dangerous fugitive.

[6/23/2013 11:42:43 PM] Josie: Stella: ... what?

[6/23/2013 11:42:58 PM] Josie: She sounds pretty shocked.

[6/23/2013 11:43:26 PM] Josie: According to the alert, Stella's wanted for everything from murder to harboring a proscribed species, and everything in between.

[6/23/2013 11:43:39 PM] Coil: Coil shows her.

[6/23/2013 11:45:33 PM] Josie: Stella: I didn't do *any* of that.

[6/23/2013 11:45:59 PM] Coil: No. But someone's definitely trying to flush us out.

[6/23/2013 11:46:14 PM] Josie: She sputters a bit once she hits the bottom line of the charges. "Prostitution? PROSTITUTION?"

[6/23/2013 11:46:44 PM] Coil: Coil uses his comm to the ship. "Anyone there?"

[6/23/2013 11:46:48 PM] Josie: Snowflake: Mew!

[6/23/2013 11:46:53 PM] Josie: Vir: Yes.

[6/23/2013 11:47:07 PM] Coil: Everything okay up there, Vir?

[6/23/2013 11:48:36 PM] Josie: Vir: Yes. However, I have just received a bulletin regarding an escaped fugitive. Stella Lark.

[6/23/2013 11:49:31 PM] Coil: Someone's trying to flush us out. See if Lou can get a source on that bulletin.

[6/23/2013 11:49:36 PM] Coil: How are the repairs?

[6/23/2013 11:50:35 PM] Josie: Vir: Proceeding well enough. What should I have her do once she has the source?

[6/23/2013 11:50:57 PM] Josie: Vir: Dot has had some... interesting suggestions.

[6/23/2013 11:51:08 PM] Coil: Contact me. And make sure the connection is secure. What are Dot's suggestions?

[6/23/2013 11:52:03 PM] Josie: Vir: Augmented lasercutters as close-ranged weapons, ballistic shells as ranged weapons.

[6/23/2013 11:52:18 PM] Josie: Vir: As well as some... surprises. Which may not work out. I am attempting to determine feasibility.

[6/23/2013 11:53:21 PM] Coil: ... what are these suggestions in reference to?

[6/23/2013 11:54:11 PM] Josie: Vir: ... arming the ship, captain. She said you had seemed agreeable to the idea. She does not seem capable of lying; however, she may have misunderstood.

[6/23/2013 11:54:52 PM] Coil: Probalby. I'm more interested in getting the ship ready to fly again. Just... have Lou call me on a secure channel when she gets some info.

[6/23/2013 11:55:42 PM] Josie: Vir: Yes. ... she wants to reprogram the engines, sir.

[6/23/2013 11:55:45 PM] Josie: He sounds almost pained.

[6/23/2013 11:56:18 PM] Coil: Dot or Lou?

[6/23/2013 11:56:49 PM] Josie: Vir: Lou. Dot is aware of her expertise and her... limits.

[6/23/2013 11:57:22 PM] Coil: No reprograming the engines until someone isn't trying to kill me.

[6/23/2013 11:58:01 PM] Coil: Then we'll consider it.

[6/23/2013 11:59:44 PM] Josie: Vir: Thank you.

[6/23/2013 11:59:54 PM] Josie: Vir: ... do you require assistance?

[6/24/2013 12:01:01 AM] Coil: No, we're not putting anyone else in the line of fire.

[6/24/2013 12:01:44 AM] Josie: You can hear Lou's voice from the background. "Tell him I've got this channel secuuuuure."

[6/24/2013 12:01:49 AM] Josie: Vir: ... I wish you would not eavesdrop.

[6/24/2013 12:01:58 AM] Coil: Thanks, Lou.

[6/24/2013 12:02:54 AM] Josie: Lou: You say "eavesdrop," I say "communications gathering." The bulletin's a real bitch to source, whoever did it went through five or six layers of bureaucracy to do it.

[6/24/2013 12:05:52 AM] Coil: Huh.

[6/24/2013 12:06:03 AM] Josie: Vir: Then you failed.

[6/24/2013 12:06:17 AM] Josie: Lou: Shows what you know, fishface!

[6/24/2013 12:06:42 AM] Josie: Vir: Do *not* call me that.

[6/24/2013 12:07:22 AM] Coil: ...don't make me come up there.

[6/24/2013 12:08:55 AM] Josie: Lou: Dr. Helen Manchineal!

[6/24/2013 12:09:06 AM] Josie: Stella almost drops the kitten.

[6/24/2013 12:09:52 AM] Coil: So that's who posted it? Or did someone post it using her creds?

[6/24/2013 12:10:12 AM] Josie: Lou: That's who posted it. Obviously.

[6/24/2013 12:10:21 AM] Josie: Stella: ... she's not stupid enough to use her own credentials.

[6/24/2013 12:10:53 AM] Coil: Well, Lou cut through six layers of bureacracy.

[6/24/2013 12:11:48 AM] Josie: Lou: Darn right. What have *you* done for us lately, Miss Coalition Spy?

[6/24/2013 12:11:53 AM] Josie: Stella: I am *not* a spy.

[6/24/2013 12:12:28 AM] Coil: Who is this Dr. Helen?

[6/24/2013 12:13:27 AM] Josie: Stella: ... can't I tell you after we hang up?

[6/24/2013 12:14:03 AM] Josie: Lou: Or I can tell you. She's a Coalition Scientist. Her work's mostly behind more safeguards than I wanna try to take down without a real good reason. Or, y'know. A really boring day.

[6/24/2013 12:15:56 AM] Coil: ... Lou, the hotel we're staying at had its fire system hacked. See what you can find out about that.

[6/24/2013 12:16:40 AM] Josie: Lou: Sure thing, cap, though that might be hard. That place is mob-backed.

[6/24/2013 12:17:25 AM] Coil: Do what you can without setting off too many flags.

[6/24/2013 12:17:54 AM] Josie: Lou: Unlike the Coalition, they actually *have* security.

[6/24/2013 12:18:02 AM] Josie: Vir: Do *not* touch that.

[6/24/2013 12:18:08 AM] Josie: Lou: Why, what're you gonna do?

[6/24/2013 12:19:02 AM] Coil: Do NOT make me come up there, kids.

[6/24/2013 12:20:39 AM] Josie: Vir: We will not. I have been working on robotic spiders.

[6/24/2013 12:20:43 AM] Josie: Lou: You wouldn't *dare*.

[6/24/2013 12:21:00 AM] Josie: Vir: Are you certain no one should come down for assistance, captain?

[6/24/2013 12:21:23 AM] Coil: No. I don't want the rest of you in the line of fire. Just see that the ship is ready to go in a hurry if we need it.

[6/24/2013 12:22:22 AM] Josie: Vir: Hurry. Yes.

[6/24/2013 12:22:38 AM] Josie: He severs the connection, as Coil hears: "You wouldn't *dare* you..."

[6/24/2013 12:22:51 AM] Josie: The fire alarm stops.

[6/24/2013 12:23:00 AM] Josie: Stella is shivering.

[6/24/2013 12:23:42 AM] Coil: Coil looks at her.

[6/24/2013 12:24:34 AM] Josie: It *is* cold; you're both soaking wet.

[6/24/2013 12:24:35 AM] Josie: Stella: It's cold.

[6/24/2013 12:24:51 AM] Josie: The kitten seems oblivious, though, and is purring under Stella's hands.

[6/24/2013 12:29:18 AM] Coil: Coil nods. "Now to see what the assassin's next move is.

[6/24/2013 12:29:50 AM] Josie: Stella: We're staying here?

[6/24/2013 12:30:35 AM] Coil: ... no. We're moving to a different room, and we're going to get some clothes.

[6/24/2013 12:31:58 AM] Josie: Stella: All right. Let me fetch Ir... Althea's things.

[6/24/2013 12:32:10 AM] Coil: Coil nods. "Take what you need."

[6/24/2013 12:34:11 AM] Josie: Stella grabs her shopping bags, her sodden dress (it was in the sink with some water) and slips on her shoes, which are also soaking wet.

[6/24/2013 12:37:18 AM] Josie: Stella: Let's go.

[6/24/2013 12:37:34 AM] Coil: Coil nods, and cracks the door first, looking down the hall both ways.

[6/24/2013 12:37:43 AM] Josie: No one's there.

[6/24/2013 12:39:25 AM] Coil: Coil ushers her out, and into a nother nearby room!

[6/24/2013 12:42:01 AM] Josie: He'll have to break into the other room, as they're all locked, but it doesn't take much trouble to do so.

[6/24/2013 12:42:17 AM] Josie: It's obviously an unoccupied room. It's also not, for some reason, wet.

[6/24/2013 12:42:31 AM] Coil: Was the hallway wet?

[6/24/2013 12:42:53 AM] Josie: Dry as bone.

[6/24/2013 12:45:45 AM] Coil: .... all right, get in.

[6/24/2013 12:46:12 AM] Josie: Stella hurries in, clutching the kitten in one hand and her bags in the other.

[6/24/2013 12:48:07 AM] Coil: Looks like only our room got its sprinklers turned on.

[6/24/2013 12:48:47 AM] Josie: Stella: ... what about the alert?

[6/24/2013 12:49:42 AM] Coil: Probably only us.

[6/24/2013 12:50:52 AM] Josie: Stella: ... when I find whoever is doing this, I'm going to make her think she's a... a *naked mole rat.*

[6/24/2013 12:51:24 AM] Coil: Sounds fair.

[6/24/2013 12:52:27 AM] Josie: Stella puts the kitten down. "Now, where were we..."

[6/24/2013 12:58:09 AM] Josie: Stella: ... or am I too late now?

[6/24/2013 1:01:54 AM] Coil: (sorry, getting ready for bed.))  No.  No, its not that, I'm just concerned about the assassin.  The hotel will likely send someone up to the honeymoon suite when they detect the detect the fire system went off.

[6/24/2013 1:03:13 AM] Josie: Stella nods. "Sensible. ... irritatingly sensible."

[6/24/2013 1:05:52 AM] Coil: Not the first time I've been called that.