Kaze takes a few steps away from the group, surveying the site for advantages in the upcoming fight. She looks at Nick.
"Would it be possible to use a blast of ice to interfere with his incoming flight?"
Nick: "Yes, I could. I made an aeroplane tumble in the War, by icing his wings."
"But an airship is heavier than an aeroplane, as strange as that sounds. I could make him drop lower with ice buildup; if he comes low near the trees, I could probably make him hit them. But if he stays high, I can't affect him much. The weight of ice I could add doesn't come close to the lifting capacity of an airship."
Kaze: "Of course, he can fly by himself now.... once he gets closer."
Nick: "With bird wings? I can definitely make those harder to use, with a few hundred pounds of icing."
Richter shakes his head.
"The Spellbound lost her Power in January. Did this guy get started then? Or was it earlier, and he's not related to the Spellbound at all?"
Kaze: "January, you say? There has been... an alteration in my powers since January."
Belle, still looking out the window, says casually over her shoulder, "Where would you like this airship blown? North? South? Into a mountain? The Atlantic?"
Richter snaps his fingers excitedly.
"You could, couldn't you? You could bring him down right into that mountain over there," he says.
Richter considers. He lights another cigarette.
"I like it. We don't know if he's a Finder, but I think it's likely. When he was in a room with me, Belle and Sonny, he went for Sonny. Which could mean he already has Finder and Weatherman. But anyway, if he is a Finder, he can Travel right on top of us. So we'd better stay together. Nick, can you freeze the ground around us, so if he appears, he'll slip and fall?"
Nick smiles tightly.
"Been doing it since 1918," he says. "No problem. There's always some moisture within range of the surface."
"Then we have a plan, of sorts," says Richter. "I'll try to see if any spirits are fingering us, maybe give us a few minutes' warning. But our main chance is that Belle puts his gasbag into the ground."
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
It Was Last Winter
Kaze asks "What is a Spellbound?"
Richter looks up, startled. Then he relaxes and lights a cigarette.
"That's right, it was before your time. During the War, there was a fellow who could absorb peoples' Powers. Not just their Powers, but their magic as well, so he got stronger by killing people. He killed a whole lot of people, and nobody noticed because it was a war zone. Well, the Grimnoir finally got him."
"He was called the Spellbound. I think it's because some of the big brains thought he couldn't help killing for Power, like he was compelled to do it. Anyway, someone else became Spellbound the moment he died. This one wasn't evil, but she still absorbed the magic of everyone around her when they died."
"I'm not up on all the details, but apparently the Elders wanted to kill this Spellbound, but Mr. Browning in San Francisco talked them out of it. She got real powerful and killed a space monster that was going to eat the Power -- I mean THE Power, the source of all our magic. Apparently it's alive, and it's alive because of this Grimnoir."
"Well, she got burned out by the effort, and she isn't Spellbound any more. Is there another one? Maybe. Is this tattoo-collector the new Spellbound? I don't know. But we killed one, and if we have to, we'll do it again."
He stubs out his cigarette on his heel.
"This all happened back in January of '34. About the same time the new Powers started appearing, as a matter of fact. Hm. Christine, when'd you get your Power?"
"After Christmas," she says warily. "I guess near the end of January."
"Uh-huh. And Nick, you've had your magic a lot longer."
Nick nods.
Richter looks up, startled. Then he relaxes and lights a cigarette.
"That's right, it was before your time. During the War, there was a fellow who could absorb peoples' Powers. Not just their Powers, but their magic as well, so he got stronger by killing people. He killed a whole lot of people, and nobody noticed because it was a war zone. Well, the Grimnoir finally got him."
"He was called the Spellbound. I think it's because some of the big brains thought he couldn't help killing for Power, like he was compelled to do it. Anyway, someone else became Spellbound the moment he died. This one wasn't evil, but she still absorbed the magic of everyone around her when they died."
"I'm not up on all the details, but apparently the Elders wanted to kill this Spellbound, but Mr. Browning in San Francisco talked them out of it. She got real powerful and killed a space monster that was going to eat the Power -- I mean THE Power, the source of all our magic. Apparently it's alive, and it's alive because of this Grimnoir."
"Well, she got burned out by the effort, and she isn't Spellbound any more. Is there another one? Maybe. Is this tattoo-collector the new Spellbound? I don't know. But we killed one, and if we have to, we'll do it again."
He stubs out his cigarette on his heel.
"This all happened back in January of '34. About the same time the new Powers started appearing, as a matter of fact. Hm. Christine, when'd you get your Power?"
"After Christmas," she says warily. "I guess near the end of January."
"Uh-huh. And Nick, you've had your magic a lot longer."
Nick nods.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
The Game's Afoot (He Only Has One Left)
Christine says, "I swear," and seems to mean it.
Richter portions out blankets. For safety, everyone will sleep in one big room, except the ladies, of course, who will be in another. Each room, men's and ladies', has one person awake at all times.
Most of the Grimnoir have not been in the field with the Society before, but this is old hat to the veterans, including Belle.
The night passes peacefully. Everyone awakens with his magic restored near to fully, and after eating the oatmeal and coffee in the house, the Grimnoir hit the trail.
Richter can sense the Tattooed Man's kanji at considerable distance. He appears to be moving fast, westward.
It's a tight fit, but everyone can fit into Richter's car. Shortly after nine o'clock, he has the driver (Sky, probably) pull in to Tulsa so he can buy another Model T van. In back, unseen, the wounded (Sonny and Nick) can stretch out comfortably.
Richter pulls over around lunchtime.
"He's changed course," Richter says. "Now he's heading northeast, back the way he came. Either he switched trains, or he's in an airship."
A sandwich shop in Enid provides lunch. Richter buys double in case they have to last a while.
The two-car convoy turns around and finds a dirt road headed north. Richter turns east after a while, then south, then stops.
"He's made a complete circle," Richter says. "But he's not heading towards us -- he's going back towards Tulsa. We've burned all this rubber for nothing!"
He makes a circle in the dust by the side of the road and concentrates. Everyone feels a spark of magic pass through them, and the dust kicks up into the solid shape of a face.
"I thought his Power was Finding?" Nick says.
"It is," says Christine. "I'm sure of it."
"It seems there are different ways to talk to the spirits," Nick replies.
The face in the dust tells Richter, "We're gathering the Knights of New York and San Francisco to come to your aid. Follow only close enough to stay current on the target's location -- we don't want him to double back and wipe out your company before help arrives."
"With respect, sir, we have new assets," Richer insists. "Not just the two new Actives -- we've got several portable kanji which can grant different Powers. I think we can take him."
"You might be right, Ronald, but we aren't going to ever know for sure, because you aren't coming near him," says the face in the dust. He doesn't smile when he says it. "This could be another Spellbound, or worse yet, something new. The Grimnoir have run up on new things frequently -- we often lose men doing it. Let's not add to that list unless we absolutely have to."
"Understood, sir," says Richter. "We'll play it careful this time."
"That's all I could ask," says the dust. "Keep me posted. Oh, New York's on the line. I'll geas you later."
The dust blows away, as dust will when it's free to do as it pleases.
The track continues east, gaining southing as the afternoon fades. By night, the cars have crossed into Arkansas, and Richter's having trouble maintaining his grip on the kanji.
"They're as strong as ever, but my magic's about tapped," he says, grinding his knuckles in frustration. "Christine, can you keep me going?"
"It's my specialty," she replies, and touches his shoulder.
Richter jerks upright from his slump and a sudden grin splits his face alarmingly.
"HEL-lo, Nurse!" he says. "That's the old pepper! I put him ... hmm ... two hundred miles away, and moving about a hundred an hour. He's definitely airborne. But we're a long way from the only way to overtake him, which would be an aeroplane ... but as long as I've got this charge of juice in me, we can track him all the way to the ocean!"
His face clears of its joviality as suddenly as it brightened.
"But we won't have to," he says. "He's getting closer, and fast. In fact, I'd say he's heading right for us!"
The cars are parked on a slight upgrade on a gravel road through the Ozarks. There's a big red mountain behind and a dark mountain ahead, rimmed with the setting sun. There are no buildings or even houses, but there are a few pine trees and a whole lot of brush.
"We've got about two hours," Richter concludes. "Then he's going to be smack on top of us. If only there were some way to adjust his speed and direction, we could arrange to meet him at a place of our choosing."
Richter portions out blankets. For safety, everyone will sleep in one big room, except the ladies, of course, who will be in another. Each room, men's and ladies', has one person awake at all times.
Most of the Grimnoir have not been in the field with the Society before, but this is old hat to the veterans, including Belle.
The night passes peacefully. Everyone awakens with his magic restored near to fully, and after eating the oatmeal and coffee in the house, the Grimnoir hit the trail.
Richter can sense the Tattooed Man's kanji at considerable distance. He appears to be moving fast, westward.
It's a tight fit, but everyone can fit into Richter's car. Shortly after nine o'clock, he has the driver (Sky, probably) pull in to Tulsa so he can buy another Model T van. In back, unseen, the wounded (Sonny and Nick) can stretch out comfortably.
Richter pulls over around lunchtime.
"He's changed course," Richter says. "Now he's heading northeast, back the way he came. Either he switched trains, or he's in an airship."
A sandwich shop in Enid provides lunch. Richter buys double in case they have to last a while.
The two-car convoy turns around and finds a dirt road headed north. Richter turns east after a while, then south, then stops.
"He's made a complete circle," Richter says. "But he's not heading towards us -- he's going back towards Tulsa. We've burned all this rubber for nothing!"
He makes a circle in the dust by the side of the road and concentrates. Everyone feels a spark of magic pass through them, and the dust kicks up into the solid shape of a face.
"I thought his Power was Finding?" Nick says.
"It is," says Christine. "I'm sure of it."
"It seems there are different ways to talk to the spirits," Nick replies.
The face in the dust tells Richter, "We're gathering the Knights of New York and San Francisco to come to your aid. Follow only close enough to stay current on the target's location -- we don't want him to double back and wipe out your company before help arrives."
"With respect, sir, we have new assets," Richer insists. "Not just the two new Actives -- we've got several portable kanji which can grant different Powers. I think we can take him."
"You might be right, Ronald, but we aren't going to ever know for sure, because you aren't coming near him," says the face in the dust. He doesn't smile when he says it. "This could be another Spellbound, or worse yet, something new. The Grimnoir have run up on new things frequently -- we often lose men doing it. Let's not add to that list unless we absolutely have to."
"Understood, sir," says Richter. "We'll play it careful this time."
"That's all I could ask," says the dust. "Keep me posted. Oh, New York's on the line. I'll geas you later."
The dust blows away, as dust will when it's free to do as it pleases.
The track continues east, gaining southing as the afternoon fades. By night, the cars have crossed into Arkansas, and Richter's having trouble maintaining his grip on the kanji.
"They're as strong as ever, but my magic's about tapped," he says, grinding his knuckles in frustration. "Christine, can you keep me going?"
"It's my specialty," she replies, and touches his shoulder.
Richter jerks upright from his slump and a sudden grin splits his face alarmingly.
"HEL-lo, Nurse!" he says. "That's the old pepper! I put him ... hmm ... two hundred miles away, and moving about a hundred an hour. He's definitely airborne. But we're a long way from the only way to overtake him, which would be an aeroplane ... but as long as I've got this charge of juice in me, we can track him all the way to the ocean!"
His face clears of its joviality as suddenly as it brightened.
"But we won't have to," he says. "He's getting closer, and fast. In fact, I'd say he's heading right for us!"
The cars are parked on a slight upgrade on a gravel road through the Ozarks. There's a big red mountain behind and a dark mountain ahead, rimmed with the setting sun. There are no buildings or even houses, but there are a few pine trees and a whole lot of brush.
"We've got about two hours," Richter concludes. "Then he's going to be smack on top of us. If only there were some way to adjust his speed and direction, we could arrange to meet him at a place of our choosing."
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Sworn To Secrecy
Richter: "Sky, you're in charge in case I don't make it. There's a communication pattern in the next room to allow you to contact San Francisco for additional orders. Clear?"
Sky Masterson, who had been leaning back on two legs of his chair, boots crossed on the windowsill, and sharpening one of his two switchblades with a whetstone, while staring out the window, is so startled at this pronouncement that he drops the cigarette butt from his mouth into his lap.
When Richter meets Janet's eyes, she gives him a small nod.
Kaze nods.
Belle is too freaked out by the concept of having one's power switched to nod, but she doesn't object either.
When Richter glances at Sky for confirmation, Sky draws his lucky gold double-eagle dollar out of his pocket, flips it, catches it, slaps it down onto the back wrist of his right hand. It is heads; he nods.
Michael, a bit unsettled by what just happened, says "...I think I will go set up that monitoring system you wanted Richter." and wanders off to see what he can find to work with.
If he can find a radio, or other electronics, in the house he can pretty easily make some contact microphones to put on the windows. Otherwise he can probably rig something from what equipment they have with them, and household items, that will let him know if there's a noise outside a window, but may not be clear enough to understand what's being said/going on.
Sonny-boy says "Ah jist wanna go ta bed. Ah'm tard."
Richter: "Right, of course. You have to be careful, with what you've been through. There's a bed through that door, and a couple of cots in the room on the right. Belle, can you see that Sonny gets to bed all right?"
He turns to Nick Voinovich and Christine Tane.
"We're with the Grimnoir Society," he says to them. "It's an old fraternity of Actives, worldwide. There's more, but you have to swear that none of this leaves this room, except to another Grimnoir knight."
"Anybody could say he's a Grimnoir knight," says Nick.
"But they won't have one of these," says Richter, displaying his black and gold ring.
"Nick, just swear. Why would we want to spill their secrets? They saved us!" says Christine.
"Miss Tane, hush. It has to be his decision," Richter cautions.
Michael returns, having rigged all the windows for sound. He trails a wire leading to an earphone covering one ear, so he can listen to the conversation while still monitoring the outside.
Nick Voinovich rubs the back of his head, stopping when he touches Kaze's firmly pressing fingers.
"Excuse me," he says to Kaze. To the room, he says,
"I didn't look for this fight, but I'm in it now. Can't beat an army with a single soldier, or even," he says, smiling at Christine tightly, "two of 'em. I'm in. I'll keep your secrets. And before you ask, I'll obey your orders. Just tell me the command structure and I'll do my part."
He winces.
"Hm. My magic's still strong. If you need something frozen, I've got it covered. And in the War, I found out I can draw on more magic than I thought. When you feel tapped out, empty, like you can't go on -- turns out you can. You have to MAKE the Power obey you. So I think I will pull my weight in your outfit."
"It's true," Christine puts in. "When Nick's Power is gleaming low, he can just fire it back up again, like throwing gas on a fire! I can see it."
"You ever run out?" Richter wants to know. "Could be another first-time Power."
"I ran out," says Nick. "In the War. Every day of Second Somme. Too many targets and not enough doughboys. But I gave 'em frozen hell before my Power finally quit. You know how thick ice has to be before it stops a Mauser bullet? Well, I do."
Richter waits till Nick is done.
"Raise your left hands, both of you," he says. "The left is closer to the heart, they tell me. Now, it doesn't matter what you did before this moment. Do you swear upon your honor and your life, from this day forward, to use your magic for the good of humanity, and against those who would use it for evil, to your last breath and with all the magic at your command?"
Nick: "I do so swear."
Christine: "Wait, what? Are we joining the army?"
Richter: "Miss Tane, that is exactly what you are doing. We don't share our secrets with those who don't share our goals."
Christine looks helplessly around at Sky, Janet and Michael, the only ones she's really met.
Sky Masterson, who had been leaning back on two legs of his chair, boots crossed on the windowsill, and sharpening one of his two switchblades with a whetstone, while staring out the window, is so startled at this pronouncement that he drops the cigarette butt from his mouth into his lap.
When Richter meets Janet's eyes, she gives him a small nod.
Kaze nods.
Belle is too freaked out by the concept of having one's power switched to nod, but she doesn't object either.
When Richter glances at Sky for confirmation, Sky draws his lucky gold double-eagle dollar out of his pocket, flips it, catches it, slaps it down onto the back wrist of his right hand. It is heads; he nods.
Michael, a bit unsettled by what just happened, says "...I think I will go set up that monitoring system you wanted Richter." and wanders off to see what he can find to work with.
If he can find a radio, or other electronics, in the house he can pretty easily make some contact microphones to put on the windows. Otherwise he can probably rig something from what equipment they have with them, and household items, that will let him know if there's a noise outside a window, but may not be clear enough to understand what's being said/going on.
Sonny-boy says "Ah jist wanna go ta bed. Ah'm tard."
Richter: "Right, of course. You have to be careful, with what you've been through. There's a bed through that door, and a couple of cots in the room on the right. Belle, can you see that Sonny gets to bed all right?"
He turns to Nick Voinovich and Christine Tane.
"We're with the Grimnoir Society," he says to them. "It's an old fraternity of Actives, worldwide. There's more, but you have to swear that none of this leaves this room, except to another Grimnoir knight."
"Anybody could say he's a Grimnoir knight," says Nick.
"But they won't have one of these," says Richter, displaying his black and gold ring.
"Nick, just swear. Why would we want to spill their secrets? They saved us!" says Christine.
"Miss Tane, hush. It has to be his decision," Richter cautions.
Michael returns, having rigged all the windows for sound. He trails a wire leading to an earphone covering one ear, so he can listen to the conversation while still monitoring the outside.
Nick Voinovich rubs the back of his head, stopping when he touches Kaze's firmly pressing fingers.
"Excuse me," he says to Kaze. To the room, he says,
"I didn't look for this fight, but I'm in it now. Can't beat an army with a single soldier, or even," he says, smiling at Christine tightly, "two of 'em. I'm in. I'll keep your secrets. And before you ask, I'll obey your orders. Just tell me the command structure and I'll do my part."
He winces.
"Hm. My magic's still strong. If you need something frozen, I've got it covered. And in the War, I found out I can draw on more magic than I thought. When you feel tapped out, empty, like you can't go on -- turns out you can. You have to MAKE the Power obey you. So I think I will pull my weight in your outfit."
"It's true," Christine puts in. "When Nick's Power is gleaming low, he can just fire it back up again, like throwing gas on a fire! I can see it."
"You ever run out?" Richter wants to know. "Could be another first-time Power."
"I ran out," says Nick. "In the War. Every day of Second Somme. Too many targets and not enough doughboys. But I gave 'em frozen hell before my Power finally quit. You know how thick ice has to be before it stops a Mauser bullet? Well, I do."
Richter waits till Nick is done.
"Raise your left hands, both of you," he says. "The left is closer to the heart, they tell me. Now, it doesn't matter what you did before this moment. Do you swear upon your honor and your life, from this day forward, to use your magic for the good of humanity, and against those who would use it for evil, to your last breath and with all the magic at your command?"
Nick: "I do so swear."
Christine: "Wait, what? Are we joining the army?"
Richter: "Miss Tane, that is exactly what you are doing. We don't share our secrets with those who don't share our goals."
Christine looks helplessly around at Sky, Janet and Michael, the only ones she's really met.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Finder or Crackler?
Belle reaches up and shuts her own mouth with her hand. (Come on...that's not something you see every day...even if you're us.)
Then, she goes back to keeping an eye out...after hearing "they" might be closing in is not the time to slack off.
Janet: "Are you sure we should be pulling kanji of that leg and stickin' it on us?"
Kaze: "There are limits--normally--to the number of Kanji a person can contain."
"Overestimating that number can be lethal."
Kaze appears outwardly calm, but her heart is racing. The extremely observant might pick up on it.
Voinovich mutters: "No sudden moves. Watch him, but don't draw his eyes."
Christine: "Mr. Rickter, your Power just SWITCHED. It was one way, and now it's all another way. You were a color between pink and green, and wispy, and now you're bright blue and sparkly, like clean glass. I don't think you picked up a new Power --- I think you also lost the one you had before."
Richter: "It's Rikh-ter, not Rickter ... you're right! I can't hear the spirits any more. Which means I can't compel the kanji to leave the leg and graft onto me. While I'll probably like being a Crackler, we're going to have a lot harder time finding the Inked Man without a Finder."
Christine: "Maybe I can help ... would you mind?"
Richter: "Stop right there. What are you suggesting?"
Christine: "I think I see where your old Power was. I could pull on it and see if you could have both at once."
Richter: "Huh. Well, that would be plenty useful. Sky, you're in charge in case I don't make it. There's a communication pattern in the next room to allow you to contact San Francisco for additional orders. Clear?"
"All right, Miss Tane. Proceed."
Christine Tane stretches out one arm, curls the fingers but not the thumb, and pulls, like ringing a bell rope.
Richter spasms once and sparks snap on the carpet. He smooths his standing-on-end hair back down, looking around at empty space.
"I have the spirits back ..." he says, "... but I don't have the Crackler Power any more. Did you do anything to my other Power?"
Christine: "I didn't touch it. When I pulled your Finder Power down, your Crackler power went right back up again, out of sight."
Richter: "Looks like it's one or the other, then. You'd be handy to have around, Miss Tane, if you decide to stick with us."
Christine: "I already said we're on the same side, didn't I? I'm in. If you want to switch back to Crackler, just say the word."
Richter: "Then we have some things to tell you about the Grimnoir. If you'd like to step into another room ..."
Voinovich: "Hey, I'm in too. I owe these Imperial goons a split scalp and a hell of a headache at the very least!"
Richter looks around at each Grimnoir knight's eyes, gauging what they think of letting Voinovich in on some of the Order's secrets. He also meets two sets of eyes that no one else can see.
Then, she goes back to keeping an eye out...after hearing "they" might be closing in is not the time to slack off.
Janet: "Are you sure we should be pulling kanji of that leg and stickin' it on us?"
Kaze: "There are limits--normally--to the number of Kanji a person can contain."
"Overestimating that number can be lethal."
Kaze appears outwardly calm, but her heart is racing. The extremely observant might pick up on it.
Voinovich mutters: "No sudden moves. Watch him, but don't draw his eyes."
Christine: "Mr. Rickter, your Power just SWITCHED. It was one way, and now it's all another way. You were a color between pink and green, and wispy, and now you're bright blue and sparkly, like clean glass. I don't think you picked up a new Power --- I think you also lost the one you had before."
Richter: "It's Rikh-ter, not Rickter ... you're right! I can't hear the spirits any more. Which means I can't compel the kanji to leave the leg and graft onto me. While I'll probably like being a Crackler, we're going to have a lot harder time finding the Inked Man without a Finder."
Christine: "Maybe I can help ... would you mind?"
Richter: "Stop right there. What are you suggesting?"
Christine: "I think I see where your old Power was. I could pull on it and see if you could have both at once."
Richter: "Huh. Well, that would be plenty useful. Sky, you're in charge in case I don't make it. There's a communication pattern in the next room to allow you to contact San Francisco for additional orders. Clear?"
"All right, Miss Tane. Proceed."
Christine Tane stretches out one arm, curls the fingers but not the thumb, and pulls, like ringing a bell rope.
Richter spasms once and sparks snap on the carpet. He smooths his standing-on-end hair back down, looking around at empty space.
"I have the spirits back ..." he says, "... but I don't have the Crackler Power any more. Did you do anything to my other Power?"
Christine: "I didn't touch it. When I pulled your Finder Power down, your Crackler power went right back up again, out of sight."
Richter: "Looks like it's one or the other, then. You'd be handy to have around, Miss Tane, if you decide to stick with us."
Christine: "I already said we're on the same side, didn't I? I'm in. If you want to switch back to Crackler, just say the word."
Richter: "Then we have some things to tell you about the Grimnoir. If you'd like to step into another room ..."
Voinovich: "Hey, I'm in too. I owe these Imperial goons a split scalp and a hell of a headache at the very least!"
Richter looks around at each Grimnoir knight's eyes, gauging what they think of letting Voinovich in on some of the Order's secrets. He also meets two sets of eyes that no one else can see.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Now We've Got a Horse Race
Kaze, sotto voice to
Richter, "The kanji spirits on the leg may still be active."
Richter recoils as
though from a rattling snake.
“Holy hell!” he
explodes. “Any Finder can track this thing. They could be closing in right now!"
He glances up, sees
Belle peering out the window, and nods. At least part of his responsibility is
met.
“Sonny’s wiped out,
Kaze’s watching Voinovich, Sky’s tapped. Michael, can you monitor sounds all
around this house? We don’t have enough people to watch every window.”
Without waiting for an
answer, Richter unwraps the leg and touches one of the broad-brush tattoos with
his finger.
The tattoo glows red
and smolders. Then it peels up from one end, floating free from the leg like a
ghostly sign in the air. It grows larger. The walls are lit with an eerie red
light.
“Oh, no, you don’t!”
shouts Richter, and grabs the floating kanji with both hands.
The kanji struggles,
then shrinks, flowing down Richter’s arms. You can see the glow through his
shirtsleeves, then down onto his chest, behind his tie. It settles in place and
makes a sizzling sound.
Richter yanks open his
shirt. He’s got a brand-new, flaming red tattoo right below the peak of his rib
cage. Its glow fades and flickers out.
Richter touches the
tattoo wonderingly, then holds the hand in front of his face. Electrical arcs
crawl up his fingers and arc between them. With a sharp SNAP!, a blue-white writhing arch of electricity leaps from his hand to the gaslight fixture (fortunately not in use at present.)
Richter chuckles.
“Crackler Power,” he
says. “NOW we’ve got a horse race! You steal our Powers, we steal 'em right back. Where’s that leg?”
He looks around,
noticing for the first time that everyone is looking at him in some alarm.
"What?" he says, shirt open to the new raw kanji scar, uncontrolled lightning wandering along his arms.
Christine's Secret
Janet: "That
sounds good. Now Miss Tane, what were you saying before Nick interrupted
you?"
“Nick,” Christine
says, “this bunch is on our side. No one’s said a word about calling copper,
and they have the same enemy we do. It’s all right.”
Nick, relaxed with
Kaze kneading his back, grunts assent.
“When someone has
Power but doesn’t know it, I can pull on their Power and activate it. It’s like
I pull on a windowshade and it snaps open.”
“But when you already
HAVE Power, I can still pull on it. While I’m pulling, you can use more magic.
I used to hold Scorchy’s Power open while he blew huge fireballs in the air.
Just now, at – at the hotel, I pulled on Janet’s Power to let her Fade some
more.”
“So I know most people’s
Powers are six-shooters, and then you’re out of magic. But I can give you an
extra shot or two – that is, until I run out of magic myself. Then I have to
wait and recover. I can’t activate myself, I guess. I’ve tried.”
Richter: "Can you make Powers weaker instead of stronger?"
Christine: "I don't know ... I never tried."
Richter nods and makes a note on a pocket notebook.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
No Way, No How
Christine Tane sits upright, shocked.
"You're going AFTER these bums?" she says. "They wiped out my whole bunch in a minute flat! How come we're not going as fast as we can in any direction AWAY from here!"
"Sky, tell me you're not on board with this!" she pleads.
"You're going AFTER these bums?" she says. "They wiped out my whole bunch in a minute flat! How come we're not going as fast as we can in any direction AWAY from here!"
"Sky, tell me you're not on board with this!" she pleads.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Word From Afar
- Belle makes sure to stand between Christine and the bundle, as there is no need to see more horror than a person must.
She says, "These powers are both a blessing and a curse. They are both a blessing and a curse for those who have them, and they are both a blessing and a curse for the rest of society.
"Our job is to make sure that the blessing part outweighs the curse part...in both cases." - Unnoticed by most, Kaze is silently pressing down on the space between the Russian's nose and upper lip.
“I’ve been in touch with our Elder,” he says, naming no
names. “They’ve heard of someone tracking down new and unusual Powers in Asia –
looks like he’s jumped the pond to America. Same general description, Japanese
man covered with tattoos, graying temples, five feet seven or eight, 140
pounds. Our last Knight in Japan ran afoul of him, and may be lost, but he did
tell us this isn’t an Imperial Army or Navy operation. Our enemy won’t have the
full resources of the Imperium behind him. If we’re lucky, he’ll be in heap big
trouble for losing a squad of Shadow Guards.”
“We’re to try and re-acquire him, but locate and observe
only. If this guy’s anything like the Spellbound – and if you haven’t heard of
that mess, consider yourselves lucky! – six Actives won’t be able to take him. More like sixteen, or sixty."
“As for the prisoners,” he says, and bows slightly as
Christine winces, “they don’t know anything vital about us, so they can’t spill
it if they’re taken alive. As far as the Elder’s concerned, they’re free to go.
But personally, I think they’d be stupid to go it alone, with that inked-up
monster looking for them.”
“What about you guys? And gals, of course. Find out
anything?”
Richter sags into a chair, batting at his cigarette smoke as
though it were whispering terrible things in his ear.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The Lowdown, Straight Up
Belle drawls,
"Don't worry, Miss Tane, these are the good guys."
Janet sits down with a
sigh and places her knife and gun on the table to check them, and says
"Perhaps since Sky was the first one in he'd like to go first? I think the
most the rest of use came in after we heard a gun shot. Personally, I came in
through the kitchen wall."
Kaze Fades into the
building. She has the Russian in her arms. Sets him down near her gently, Very
gently for someone who has just stuck a fork in someone else's brain.
She pulls out a package wrapped in plum-coloured silk, the edges stained with crimson.
"The man covered in kanji--tattoos. He Travelled to the upper room where I had put the winged girl--for safety, I had thought. Away from the bullet streams."
"As we came in, he was finishing... draining her life... and power unto him. He said, 'Silly Power! What have you made now?'"
"Later, black wings sprung from his shoulders."
"He called out 'Armor' before he was shot. 'Lightning' before using it and 'Travel' before doing so."
"When... Su-nai attacked him, he remarked that it was excellent to fight a Boomer. Perhaps he wishes that power as well."
She pauses, delicately. A bit reminiscent of a cat considering its kill. She glances at the silk package and its spreading stain.
"Before he could travel, I... impeded his ability to do so."
"He left this in the chimney."
She unwraps the silk, displaying a crudely butchered leg festooned with kanji. Her is expressionless.
She pulls out a package wrapped in plum-coloured silk, the edges stained with crimson.
"The man covered in kanji--tattoos. He Travelled to the upper room where I had put the winged girl--for safety, I had thought. Away from the bullet streams."
"As we came in, he was finishing... draining her life... and power unto him. He said, 'Silly Power! What have you made now?'"
"Later, black wings sprung from his shoulders."
"He called out 'Armor' before he was shot. 'Lightning' before using it and 'Travel' before doing so."
"When... Su-nai attacked him, he remarked that it was excellent to fight a Boomer. Perhaps he wishes that power as well."
She pauses, delicately. A bit reminiscent of a cat considering its kill. She glances at the silk package and its spreading stain.
"Before he could travel, I... impeded his ability to do so."
"He left this in the chimney."
She unwraps the silk, displaying a crudely butchered leg festooned with kanji. Her is expressionless.
Sonny-boy looks at the
leg, "Great, now Ah'm even more likely to have nightmares tonight."
He mumbles while blinking sleepily.
Sky says, "Miss
Tane, I have never before heard of a talent that lets someone see some other
joker's talent, nor one where growing wings outta your back is copacetic.
Seeing as these Imperials are hunting your head, and we all saved your bacon,
what say you give us the low down straight up?"
Christine gathers her
wits, blinking.
“Well, I never had
this talent before, either. But since around Christmastime, I saw people’s
Powers plain as day. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first, but I knew Nick
was an Icebox in the war, and he had it. They look like snowflakes of light,
all different colors, glowing out of your heart, or near enough.”
“Each Power looks
different. Nick and O.K. and I hooked up to make some money, first by robbing
some guys who gave Nick a hard time at the rail yards. They didn’t have much,
but one of them had a Power. He didn’t use it, though, even when O.K. was
kicking his tail. I thought maybe he didn’t know he had Power at all!”
“We had to scat out of
town then, because we made too much fuss. I saw Scorchy at the train station,
and he had the same Power that hobo did back in Sparta. Well, I asked him, and
he didn’t know he had any Power. So I tried to show it to him, but he couldn’t
see it.”
“I touched him, and
the Power lit up like an electric sign! He burst into flames right on the spot,
and was he scared until he saw he wasn’t hurt! Nick put the fire out with his
Power, and that’s when we got the idea of robbing banks. Scorchy thought they
wouldn’t be ready for a whole gang of Actives, and with me spotting people with
Power, we’d have a whole gang in no time!”
She pauses, pulling
her lower lip.
“And we did. I Activated
K.D. McCabe in Lubbock, Texas. He turned out to be a Brute, like O.K. Didn’t
want no part of crime, but he didn’t turn us in. And Shirley Lewis in Dallas,
she was a Mouth. She told us we had to make her boss of the gang, and of course
we all went along, but when she went to sleep Nick froze her solid and we got
out of there. The rest of us thought he’d gone crazy – we believed her when she
said she was just naturally in charge.”
“Next time I Activated
someone, the boys were all around her, and Nick had wax in his ears. That was
okay, though, because Shara was happy as could be when her wings came out! She
shot right up in the air and didn’t come down for ‘bout half an hour.”
“Truth is, we didn’t
see how a flyer was going to be useful in our racket, but she was so grateful
we all liked having her around anyway …”
Her face falls.
“But then, I suppose
those Chinee got her, too, or she’d be here with us. Is that what happened?”
Because of where
everyone is sitting or standing, Christine Tane has not yet seen the bundle
which Kaze has shown everyone else.
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'Son,' my daddy says to me, 'I am sorry I am not able to bankroll you to a large start, but not having the necessary lettuce to get you rolling, instead I'm going to stake you to two very valuable parcels of advice.
'One of these days in your travels, a guy is going to show you a brand-new deck of cards on which the seal is not yet broken.
'Then this guy is going to offer to bet you that he can make the jack of spades jump out of this brand-new deck of cards and squirt cider in your ear.
'But, son, do not accept this bet, because as sure as you stand there, you're going to wind up with an ear full of cider.'
And then he says to me:
'And there is a second fellow you will meet in your travels. For whatever reason he will find the idea in his head that you are a chump for a beating, and he will proceed to poke you in the snoot, counting on the fact that you will go down and stay down.
'But staying down is not the Masterson family trait. You are to rise up and clock the slugger until he goes down, either because he can get up but wisely chooses not to, or because he cannot get up, due to trauma of terminal conditions.
'Don't start nothing with no jaspers, but if they start it, you surely and truly finish it.'
"That was what he said, Miss Tane. And I figure this Impy gang is moved in on the turf of our beloved US of A, and must be put down like mad dogs, on account of there ain't no good odds to turning your back on a mad dog, lest he will surely bite you in an embarrassing situation."