>>28922242
Seems like it might be a good chance to read something to distract us from this shitty feeling. Study one thing till completion and think of Tracy until we get tired again.

You decide to get to studying, pouring through the works you hadn't yet finished on biology, in particular evolution.

>Biology, evolution: complete

There are bits and pieces that don't quite make sense. Why do Cambions hate each other? They're too few for it to plausibly be competition between siblings, which would necessitate them coming from different parents. But, what, there's a whole species of Cambion-producing monsters lying, rarely laying their young inside of humans?

How do they reproduce, for that matter? If a Cambion is physically manifested for long enough, does it become a... Cambion-maker? Are they workers of alien hives, non-reproductive? What is up with these damn things?

From what Richard said, and from what you've observed, Cambions all hate each other. They hate humans too, but each other more... it just doesn't make sense. What's their goal, what's their purpose? The behavior seems maladaptive if they want to reproduce.

The subject has, at least, distracted you from your earlier shitty feeling. You think about Tracy for a while, what you're going to say to her and when. If you do give her the whole story, rather than lying, you probably shouldn't do it with Ned around, unless you want to drag him into this too.

After about an hour, you start to feel tired again, yawning and curling up in bed. Something to decide on in the morning.

You wake up hours later, at 6:32 AM, stretch, shower, brush your teeth, and get on new clothes. What you wore last night is not in good condition anyway - lots of tiny little tears. If you don't get it repaired, you may have to throw it out.

You sit down, wide awake and ready for anything.

>Tracy needs some kind of explanation. Prepare one.
>Study. It seems like it's all you do these days anyways.
>Prepare some more questions to ask Richard about Cambions and Incubators.
>Look online to see if you can find any evidence of Incubators.
>Write-in.

>>28922641
Well we already looked online for answers...might be a good time to prepare an explanation for Tracy. Tell her you're in the same boat as her, I say, and don't remember much. Maybe explain it away with a spiked drink or whatever. But tell her Richard helped you out. He took you both home, and he can vouche for that. (We'll just need to be sure to tell him the story first).

Seems pretty plausible yeah?

>>28922641
>Tracy needs some kind of explanation. Prepare one.
Might as well try it.

>>28922792
>Well we already looked online for answers
To be clear, that was before you had any idea what kind of superpowers to look for besides "intelligence" (which is pretty much invisible). Now that you know what the different Incubators are, it's a lot easier.

>>28922846
...

Okay. You can do this. What information does she have already? She remembers what happened right up until around when the Cambion manifested, which means she remembers you leaving the bar together after your "bad feeling." She also has access to Ned, who might be able to confirm elements of what happened with her. There are almost certainly going to be news reports about what happened, unless Project Etna has some God-tier cover-up methods. The basics, at least: dead bodies, wounded, that sort of thing.

Okay, assume she remembers everything she and Ned saw. Assume she knows that there was a violent incident. What explains everything?

Some guy spiked your drinks. Some guy spiked everybody's drinks? You thought some guy spiked your drink and decided to get outside? You started to feel woozy after some guy spiked your drink, and wanted to get away. You called Richard for help.

But why was it "complicated"? You said it was. Maybe the complicated bit is why you're hanging out with Richard?

... hey, why are you hanging out with Richard? You'll probably need some kind of explanation for that, especially given that you (at least used to) hate him.

>Write-in.

>>28923092
Sorry, have no ideas OP. Hope you get an inspired anon!

>>28923092
I am not feeling all that creative right now, but there's one thing that might be useful. When someone says "It's complicated" it is also used to cut an awkward explanation short or when they don't feel like explaining on the spot. And then there's also the possibility that Tracy forgot we said "complicated".

I have been hit by inspiration.

"You ever get that feeling something is very wrong and that you should go away? I had that last night. That's why I got us out, I was going to go back for Ned, but then...yeah. And about Richard, he was visiting a relative nearby and I bumped into him, offered to take me back after I told him what happened"

Or something like that.

>>28923331
That sequence of events seems very convenient, but not like I can think of anything better.

>>28923375
That's the thing with excuses and lying, it's convenient.

Okay. You can say that you left, yadda yadda, planned on going back in for Ned, what happened happened, then in the aftermath, you happened to bump into Richard and he offered you a ride home. Simple, straightforward, hard to disprove. You'll call and tell Richard the story before going to school so he can confirm it if asked. He might still be asleep, so it's probably best not to do it right now.

>Study.
>Do some more physical prep work, rather than studying. Get equipment ready for the next time something happens. [Such as?]
>Make something hand-made for Tracy. [What?]
>Prepare some more questions to ask Richard about Cambions and Incubators.
>Look online to see if you can find any evidence of Incubators.
>Double check your work on that psychostimulant to see if you did anything wrong.
>Write-in.

>>28923492
>Study improvised weapons

>>28923492
Can I just say, these 'sit at home wat do' sections are incredibly boring and grinds the entire quest to a halt. Is there any chance we can only get them if people come up with something specific to do (that isn't a boring waste of time to show like studying or googling Incubators) or it's plot-important?

>>28923573
>Is there any chance we can only get them if people come up with something specific to do (that isn't a boring waste of time to show like studying or googling Incubators) or it's plot-important?
There is a chance.

(Yeah, okay, sure, if nobody minds.)

>>28923492
>Double check your work on that psychostimulant to see if you did anything wrong.
Let's make a better one.

>>28923375
I blame a gas leak. We got a headache from inhaling it and it must have ignited from someone lighting a cigarette.

>>28923734
That's almost convincing, and a staple excuse. Could work.

>>28923734
>>28923754
...except nothing really got burnt down?

>>28923775
I don't think Tracey knows enough about fuel air explosions to call bullshit on us.

>>28923775
We threw fire around, though. Can just say the leak was outside somewhere without a lot of flammable material. Besides, we just put it forward as a theory.

You do some brief research on improvised weapons, and get some idea of what's the best to use in a fight. Nothing is particularly useful (it's all fairly intuitive to you), but still, it is information and you're the queen of information.

You go back over your work with the psychostimulant, trying to see if you did anything wrong. As far as you can tell, all the chemicals and processes were correct, so you have no idea what is responsible for that unpleasantness last night.

Then you return to your studies.

>Programming: 20%

You call up Richard and inform him of the lie you're going to tell Tracy to smooth things over. He agrees to regurgitate it if asked, and you head to school, heart heavy. During classes, you study rather than pay attention, as is quickly becoming habit.

>Programming: 50%

At the cafeteria, Ned and Tracy are sitting together and discussing matters without you. It's good to see them getting on so well. When you sit down, both of them turn to you, expectantly.

"So, Abby, you said you'd explain what happened?" Tracy seems especially concerned now.

"Yeah," Ned joins in. "Tracy says you the two of you left before anybody else, on account of you had a bad feeling. I didn't catch you going," he says, rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I was a little caught up talking to Veronica. Do you know what happened? Apparently a few people got stabbed to death or something. It was on the news. Thank fuck I wasn't one of them."

Why did you leave the bar?
>"I had a headache. I think there may have been a gas leak. There were apparently some fires outside, too."
>"I started to get a little woozy, I think my drink might've been spiked."
>"I don't know, I just got a bad feeling. I was going to go back and get you, Ned, but then... well, you know."

How did you get home?
>"I bumped into Richard when I was trying to make my way home, he offered me a ride."
>Write-in.

>>28923892
>"I had a headache. I think there may have been a gas leak. There were apparently some fires outside, too. Obviously at the time I only knew my head was hammering"
>"I bumped into Richard when I was trying to make my way home, he offered me a ride."

"I had a headache," you begin, "I think there might have been a gas leak. There were apparently some fires outside too. Obviously at the time, my head was hammering."

"A gas leak?" Tracy says, cocking her head. "Huh. I guess that might explain why neither me or Ned remembers much. And why everyone went a little crazy. Do you remember anything after..." Tracy's lips become a thin line, obviously a little ashamed. "I ran off?"

"Well, I kind of ran off too," you lie easily, "then I happened to bump into Richard when I was trying to make my way home. He offered me a ride."

Ned blinks at you, surprised. "You got a ride from Richard?"

"Yeah."

"The Richard?"

"Yes, Ned."

"The Richard who is your academic nemesis, who you curse the day he was born?"

"He's not actually that bad a guy," you manage, embarrassed.

He pats you on the shoulder. "I guess it had to happen someday. You're a grown up, now, Abby. Welcome. It's good to see you giving up these childish grudges." You give him a firm scowl in response.

>Talk to Ned or Tracy about [x]
>Timeskip to the end of school.
>Super timeskip (until you get a callback from the Church regarding their maybe-Incubator, or Richard tells you it's time to get that Exile, or other relevant events; will be at least a day.)
>Write-in.

>>28924271
>Talk to Tracy about last night.
Ask her how she got home, and apologize for losing her in the crowd.

>>28924348
Sure, I'll back this.

"How did you get home, Tracy?"

"Well, once I, er, calmed down," she says, embarrassed, "I sat down and called you, but then you didn't pick up, so I did that for a little while before deciding to walk home, instead."

"I'm sorry for losing you in the crowd," you say.

Tracy looks at you with a very sweet face. "I'm the one who ran off, Abby. Don't blame yourself. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine."

"Oh God," Ned says with a groan, leaning back in his seat and leaning his head back, "please tell me this isn't going to continue on forever."

"What isn't?" Tracy asks, brow furrowed.

"This whole, 'oh, it's not your fault,'" Ned says in an exaggerated falsetto while flopping his hands around. "'Oh no, it's not *your* fault,'" he continues. "It's unbearable."

>"Sorry that our conversations aren't entertaining enough for you, Ned."
>"You know, I thought helping you get laid would get me a little slack."
>"So, Ned, since you obviously want attention, I'll ask you, how did things go with 'Veronica'?"
>Write-in.

>>28924562
> "Well, I think we can both agree it's actually your fault, if you want."

>>28924562
>"You know, I thought helping you get laid would get me a little slack."
Sass!

>>28924562
I'll tiebreak then

>"You know, I thought helping you get laid would get me a little slack."

"You know, I thought helping you get laid would get me a little slack," you say.

"That was just one of your many mistakes," he says, closing his eyes and steepling his fingers. "Another was the presumption that such a thing was even possible. A third was the assumption that I got laid."

"Just because you haven't been laid yet, doesn't mean I didn't help you get laid. I still helped, even if you failed or it's still in the future."

"Acknowledged, but my point stands."

"Well excuse me. I think Tracy and I can agree it's your fault, if you want."

"That would be better than listening to a repeat of the 'no it's not your fault' routine. It's getting real old real fast. Ugh." Ned lolls his head back. "I hope not all relationships are so drama-filled, otherwise I may have to opt for celibacy."

"Does the-" Tracy stops herself, realizing what she almost did. "Never mind."

You give her a knowing smile.

>Talk to Ned or Tracy about [x]
>Timeskip to the end of school.
>Super timeskip (until you get a callback from the Church regarding their maybe-Incubator, or Richard tells you it's time to get that Exile, or other relevant events; will be at least a day.)
>Write-in.

>>28925215
>"So Ned, what's your take on aliens? Roswell, Area 51, that sort of thing?"

>>28925215
> "So Ned, how *did* things go with Veronica then?"

>>28925284
Seconding. We might be able to help him out!

Did we take up psychology or pick up artistry?

21 minutes.

>>28925714
Until what? I come to your house and fuck your mother? I need to do things like eat and go to the bathroom, you know.

>>28925731
I'm sorry, that was uncalled for.

>>28925731
You could fucking tell us. Most everyone has already fucking left thinking you abandoned, you idiot.

>>28925731
Hah! I like you.

>>28925747
I'm eating and going to the bathroom right now, as I write the next post.

>>28925747
It's not really been that long, the time between the previous updates was longer.

>>28925731
Speaking as another quester, you should really tell your players about delays.

>>28925747
>Not knowing not to rush the QM

Seriously....

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>>28925731

>>28925776
>Rushing
>"Hey, tell us about delays"
>Rushing

>>28925772
It's not a delay, I'm just writing while eating some Doritos.

>>28925814
>eating Doritos while going to the bathroom
Dude.

>>28925859
I am a monster, I know.

(I actually am not going to the bathroom and eating Doritos at the same time.)

>>28925872
Can you actually write the update?

"How did things go with 'Veronica', then?"

"Good, good," he says, leaning back smugly. "After we calmed down from... whatever, we wound up picking up a small meal at a nice little Tex-Mex place. I got her number. She seemed really interested. Like, super interested."

"Ah, I think I see what happened," you begin.

Ned cocks his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Yeah. It's called misattribution of arousal. It's where you get scared around a member of the opposite sex, so your heart racesem. So you think, 'wow, this person is so hot, I've never had my heart race like this,' but actually, you're just scared."

He gives you a scowl.

"Hey, man, it's real. I'm not just making it up to mock you."

"I believe you, that's just a mean thing to say." He pouts in an exaggerated fashion.

"What, do you want me to lie to you? Look, it's not that bad. You've just got to make sure things keep scaring her in the middle of every date, and you've got it made."

He gives you a look. "I'll see what I can do on that front. No promises."

>Talk to Ned or Tracy about [x]
>Timeskip to the end of school.
>Super timeskip (until you get a callback from the Church regarding their maybe-Incubator, or Richard tells you it's time to get that Exile, or other relevant events; will be at least a day.)
>Write-in.

>>28925891
No, obviously not.

>>28925908
> Ask Tracy if she wants to do anything together soon, then timeskip to end of school.

>>28925908
>talk to Ned about aliens
Guy has some idea of what's going on, but we won't get anywhere asking about the Church.

>Talk to Tracy
>Plan next date.

>>28925908
>>Timeskip to the end of school.

>>28925908
>racesem
...

See, this is what happens when you rush me. You can't rush Tart.

>>28926054
Maybe his heart really IS racist as fuck? You never know with these cults, man.

"Hey, Ned, what are your thoughts on aliens?"

"Probably real, almost certainly not yet observed by humans. Why?"

"Just curious," you say, and turn to Tracy. She adjusts to look at you. "Want to go on a date again this Saturday?"

"Sure!" She responds, cheerily.

"Great!" You respond, smiling yourself.

You finish your meal, discussing meaningless things with Tracy and Ned, and go back to class when the bell rings.

>Programming: 70%

School ends. You're free.

>Go study more.
>Go Incubator hunting.
>Go ask Richard some lingering questions.
>Write-in.

>>28926317
>Go ask Richard some lingering questions.
Let's get some more (non-personal) details on manifestations. And how often we can expect to be up against them.

>>28926317
Let's train our hand to hand combat skills.

>>28926317
>Go Incubator hunting.
Living on the edge!

>>28926431
This.

>>28926317
Experiment with disposable cameras, attempt to convert the flash mechanism into a working tazer.

>>28926461
...why not just buy a taser?

>>28926516
Would Batman just buy a taser?

>>28926431
>>28926454
At an actual dojo or at home?

If dojo: use real name or what?

>>28926619
Hmmm, dojo and real name should be fine.

You decide to get some training in hand-to-hand combat done. You head to the nearest dojo - they teach judo - pay for some lessons, and get in some practice. You learn quickly - very quickly - compared to the other students. As you get your bag to leave, the teacher stops you.

"You're sure you haven't ever done this before, Abigail?"

"Pretty sure," you respond. "Why?"

"You learned very quickly. I'm impressed. If -" he pauses, uncertain. "If you have any interest in studying further, feel free to call me." He offers you a card. "I genuinely think you have some incredible potential, and I'd like to be the one to help you realize it. This is my dojo, so I can open it up any time you have need, if the normal hours aren't good for you."

"Ah, thanks," you say, awkwardly, taking his card. "I... have to go now, though."

>Go Incubator hunting.
>Go study more.
>Go ask Richard some lingering questions.
>Write-in.

>>28926925
>Go Incubator hunting.
Let's do this.

>>28926925
Let's ask Richard some things.

Like what his Cambion looks like. I'm curious.

>>28926925
>build a silencer for the gun Richard gave us

>>28926949
>>28926925
I vote for this.

Also OP, I had a question. Since we were near that other Incubator that died did we like, gain more life span or something?
Because when it died nothing really happened.

Not that I'm asking for skyrim style dragon souls, but you know. Just curious.

>>28926996
Yes, participating in the demise of the Cambion did in fact increase your lifespan.

>>28927061
Sweet, thanks!

>>28927105
I should've made some mention of it when it happened (i.e. "you feel a sense of relief, vaguely like taking off socks after a long day" or something), I'm just a big clown who flies by the seat of his pants and so sometimes forgets things.

>>28927124
Nah it's no problem, I know you're still getting use to QMing stuff. I like the quest so far, for what it's worth. I just don't catch it till later in the day.

Incubator hunting. You need to do this to live: you *need* to find Incubators and kill them. You head home, pulling open your computer and going through the local news sources, blogs from locals, everything, searching for some piece of worthwhile data.

It takes a while, lots of careful reading and noting. You notice stories that probably refer to Daniel and the Exile Incubator relatively easily, but finally find something worthwhile.

Somebody's dogs all got sick and died one night. They actually cared enough to get an autopsy done on their dogs. Christ, some people. They thought they were poisoned by the neighbor, but the doctor couldn't find any evidence of it. Their hearts just stopped beating, apparently.

Sounds like it might be a Healer, and the blogger blames the next door neighbor's kid, who otherwise fits the profile. Fifteen years old, he's probably in a gang, has a tattoo, you know the deal. Violent, cruel to animals, teased and bothered the guy's dogs. You find the kid's Facebook page, go through the pictures. The history. A few weeks ago, his face subtly shifts and his acne clears up. He's an Incubator, almost certainly.

>Investigate in person before moving further. How are you going to approach it, if so?
>Give the information to Richard, ask him what to do.
>It's killing time. Get the "gang" together.
>Try to recruit him.
>Write-in.

>>28927286
>Give the information to Richard, ask him what to do.
Might as well let him lead one more time, until we get the hang of it.

>>28927286
>>It's killing time. Get the "gang" together.

>>28927286
>Strategize with Richard

>>28927286
>>28927351
Agreed. Let's get Richie's opinion, to see if we should go after this guy, or the Church's Healer first. We've never fought one before and this would be a good opportunity to 'test' it.

Richard will know this stuff better than you. You call him up.

"Abigail?"

"I'm 99% sure I've got a Healer Incubator here. Matthew McConnell. Take a look at the kid's Facebook page," you say, and give him the information. There's silence for a few moments.

"Yeah, kid's an Incubator. What makes you say Healer, though?" You direct him through the evidence, and he nods along. "Okay, sounds like a good target. You know if the kid's got any family pets?"

"No..." you say, uncertain. "Why?"

"Messing with humans is tough, complex, risky. Animals, though? Well, if you kill it by messing with its body the wrong way... who cares? Just an animal. Had to fight what amounted to dire wolves once, not eager to repeat the experience."

The two of you talk on the phone for a while, going through the data. The kid doesn't seem to have any animals, though that's no guarantee.

"Give me an idea of what we're talking about with a Healer Incubator," you say after a while.

"A fucking monster in melee combat. They can fuck you up with a single touch. Generally they have your brain dump some major chemicals on itself, which can disorient you to all hell. Do not let one of them touch you, and do not grab them. If they have time..." He pauses, the silence dragging out. "They can do whatever they want to you, pretty much."

"What do you do to take out a Healer Incubator?"

>(1/2)

"Shoot at it until it dies. Wear something, anything, to prevent skin-to-skin contact."

"Do you think we should wait until after we get the Healer from the Church?"

"Assuming there even is a healer at the Church... it wouldn't be that much help. They can't really counteract each other in a combat situation, at least not for our benefit. In order to do anything too bad, they need serious, long-term contact. Same goes for fixing anything important."

"Other tricks I should know? Besides the animals thing."

"Their ability works on themselves. Expect them to heal themselves. If you don't kill him, he'll be fine within the hour. I mean, all Incubators heal quickly, but there's heal quickly, and then there's Wolverine."

That reminds you. Your wound from yesterday. You touch the spot, expecting it to still be a bit tender... but it's not. A quick check in the bathroom shows it to be almost completely healed.

"No way. I already healed up from yesterday?"

"Just figured it out now? Yeah, you're tougher than normal in that regard. So, you want to kill the kid, then? I've got my own thoughts," he says, "but again, I'd like to hear yours first."

>Write-in.

>>28928227
Buy some gloves, a sturdy jacket and a ski mask. Maybe some goggles too.

>>28928200
>>28928227
Right, shit I knew I forgot to do something.

Put this target on our list of "To kills" and lets move marksmanship to the top of our list and practice with the gun Richard gave us. We need to get accurate fast.

Kinda curious how common these Incubator guys are, obviously there are a bunch but I wonder what's causing the surge.

Incidentally, god damn it we're fighting Doctor Mut here? Now I wish we had picked that Incubator.

Anyway tell him to practice marksmanship, this>>28928298 and we'll move in like two murderers later in the evening. Use facebook to find the guy's schedule, since it's retardedly easy to do that with facebook.

>>28928329
>Incidentally, god damn it we're fighting Doctor Mut here? Now I wish we had picked that Incubator.
You're fighting Panacea. Plus the ability to use her abilities on herself, less the extreme speed and control she has.

>>28928298
This.

We should also look into practicing more judo or the like.

>>28928500
Hopefully without the ability to convert any microbes in the air into some awful plague though.

Panacea OP.

inb4 he makes us love him

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>>28928720
>Have a transformation and mind control fetish
>This Cambion's powers.

"Get some nice cold-weather clothes, cover up tight, and surprise the kid by using his schedule."

Richard snorts. "We are of one mind on this, then." There's a pause, the faint sound of clicking, then he continues. "Christ, I can't believe Etna hasn't nailed this dumb ass yet. Fucking Facebook? Really?"

"Well, besides the dog thing, I don't have any evidence of him being a Healer."

"Yeah, but still. Like he wants someone to find him."

"Just one other tiny little thing. I've never used a gun, so I should probably practice my marksmanship," you add.

"Nah, no need, your Cambion gives you plenty enough accuracy to manage it. Back when I first became an Incubator, I had the same thought as you and went out to the range. I did ridiculously good my first time out. From the way you caught and treated it when I tossed it to you, you know how to handle a gun, right?"

"Yeah, I studied safety and maintenance."

"Good, then save the money on the ammo and the range and let's do without. Daniel should come too. I'm looking at his social schedule... should be out at a bar tonight. Drinking on a weekday? And a fifteen year old doing it, to boot. We can follow him and wait for our moment."

>"Let's move out. Call up Daniel."
>"Let's move out. Daniel can sit this one out."
>"I think we should sit on this for a little longer."
>Write-in.

>>28928753
still hoping he has significantly less control than Panacea. Like nothing mirco level.

tart plz

>"Let's move out. Daniel can sit this one out."
He doesn't really have any ranged options.

>>28928834
>Dan can sit this one out

>>28928834
"Richard, one thing I need to ask. Does a Healers ability only work on living things?"

>>28928329
What if we try doing Fire again, but this time using a proper flamethrower? Creating the proper arrangement of compressed gas, napalm and plumbing pipe should be well within our abilities.

>>28928838
Like I said, less the extreme speed and control she has.

If he's messing with your brain, it's as a skilled neurosurgeon, not mind-controller.

>>28928861
What about dropping cinder blocks on people?

>>28928834
This seems like a stealth op sorta thing. Daniel may not be needed...but never hurts to be sure. Call him up and tell him to stop being a drunk

>>28928834
>>"Let's move out. Call up Daniel."
He still gets the bonus from killing them though.

>>28928873
We should really calm down with fire. I mean, study up on how to make one? Hell yeah. But we shouldn't use that shit on a kid. Not unless he manifests. Fire catches fast and burns down EVERYTHING. No need to take in lots of casualties. That's what we're trying to prevent.

>>28928834
We should buy chemicals to make explosives. Where would we get that kind of stuff anyway?

>>28928861
>>28928862
Daniel stay home.

>>28928906
>>28928925
Daniel come with.

Vote for which.

>>28928906
"Dude, superman never drank. What the fuck. Come on man. Come on. Really. Dude."

>>28929221
>>28929204
I say have him come with, using this excuse.

Otherwise just roll for it yo

>>28928906
>>28929221
Oh, sorry, that was ambiguous. Daniel isn't going to be at the bar, the kid is. Blargh.

>>28929276
In that case call Daniel and fill him in on the Healer's powers. If he's got barbells, bring them.

>>28929276
Wait, the 15 year old?
Damn son, this town has shitty drinking laws.

Anywho, lets call Dan and bring him with

>>28929248
>>28929291
>writing

"Let's move out. Call up Daniel."

"Roger that, ma'am," he says, a faint tone of mockery in his voice. "I'll be sure to give him the full treatment of Healers."

"Oh, yeah, real quick, can Healers use their abilities on dead things?"

"No, only living stuff. Maybe a just-recently-dead body. Maybe. I dunno. Otherwise, no."

"Thanks, that'll be all."

"Yes ma'am," he says as he hangs up.

You collect what you'll be needing. Your burner. The gun. The jacket, the balaclava, the gloves. You take a deep breath and head out.

You get to the bar well before Matthew is supposed to, and Richard arrives some time later. "Made you this," he says, covertly handing you a fake driver's license with your picture on it. It's really good. If you didn't know better, you'd say it was the real thing.

"Jesus Christ, this is professional work." You place it in your pocket quickly.

"Thanks, it's mine," he says with a smile. Daniel arrives a little later, landing in an alley nearby and walking out.

>"You two go inside, I'll wait out here and keep an eye on the door until the kid arrives."
>"You two go inside, I'll wait out here and keep an eye on the door so the kid won't leave without me noticing."
>"Let's go inside and wait for the kid to show up."
>"Let's all mull suspiciously around the door together."
>"Richard, you watch the door, we'll go inside."
>"Daniel, you watch the door, we'll go inside."
>"Daniel, you watch the door from the air, we'll go inside."
>Write-in.

>>28929498
That's how he's escaped notice. He's an expert forger.


>"Daniel, you watch the door from the air, we'll go inside."
>"Find something heavy."

>>28929498
I think if Dan went flying around someone would notice him easier... it'd be a pretty weird thing to see.

I vote for Richard to wait outside and for us to go in and wait with Dan. Pretend he's our 'date' or whatever. Gut wrenching as the thought might be to Abby.

>>28929498
>Let's all mill around outside the door in a suspicious manner

>>28929667
Second

"Richard, you watch the door, we'll go inside," you say. He gives a quick nod and heads off.

"Pretend you're my date," you whisper to Daniel.

"Why's it got to be pretend?" He asks with a goofy smile.

"Because I'm spoken for," you hiss, "and gay."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Daniel says with an exaggerated shrug. "Normally it's one or the other, though, not both."

"Can't imagine why."

He sticks his tongue out at you. "Alright, alright," he says. The two of you flash fake IDs at the bouncer and head in. You pick a table in a corner, giving you a view of the door and most of the bar.

The kid - Matthew - comes in with two other, substantially older, men, and sits down at a large table with a bunch of other people at it. He sits next to the obvious leader of the group, who welcomes him and claps him on the shoulder. Matthew's response is to be sullen and irritable.

"Hey, Little Doc, look," he says, "I know you don't like it that much, but you're really useful now, and we'd all hate to lose you." There's a general nod of agreement around the table. "If they weren't still gunning for you after you beat off that attack, they'd be doing it now on account of what you did to... what was his name?"

"Jacob," the boy replies, a sadistic grin on his face as stares into space and recalls... something.

"Yeah, that was pretty fucked up, Little Doc. I mean, it's your right, of course, but still. Fucked up. So we gotta keep you safe, now. Keep some of our guys with you at all times. They're just there for your safety, you understand."

You wince involuntarily. Daniel catches it. "What's up?"

>"Kid's got protection. This could be a problem."
>"Kid's got protection. Just a minor setback. Nothing important."
>"Kid's got protection. We need to bail out and come up with a new plan."
>"Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head off about, dear."
>Write-in.

>"Kid's got protection. This could be a problem."
"I'd rather not kill other people if we can help it. Even if they are looking like a gang of thugs."

>>28930049
Using powers causes people to freak out right? Have Daniel fly around while we shoot the Incubator then his group of thugs.

>>28930140
>Using powers causes people to freak out right? Have Daniel fly around while we shoot the Incubator then his group of thugs.
It does not do that. If Richard's statements on the subject in thread 7 was ambiguous, it's my fault.

Manifested Cambions make people freak out.

Normal Incubators using their abilities don't.

>>28930049
The men, how are they dressed?

Are they armed, acting like they are armed, have bulges in their clothes, whatever?

Look around, scan for possible exits, items of use.

Text Richard about the protection.

>>28930245
Ordinary street clothes, nothing fancy. Wife beaters, t-shirts, hoodies, too-large sports clothes.

You're pretty sure they're armed.

>>28930268
>You're pretty sure they're armed.
We wait until he leaves, then.

Maybe lure him out with Feminine Wiles.

"Kid's got protection. This could be a problem. I'd rather not kill other people if I can help it."

You send Richard a text about the protection. "kid hs friends" you type, keeping your burner low.

"I figured" is the curt response.

You could try to lure him away from the group with your 'feminine wiles'... but you aren't that charming and they do seem suspicious. Plus, you would probably have to touch him and Richard made it seem like that's an incredibly bad idea.

>Do it anyway.
>Bail out.
>Write-in.

>>28930509
Daniel, start a bar brawl. Involve the protection. Get everyone kicked out. Then we'll take out the kid alone.

>>28930547
...how will that make the kid be alone?

Okay, sorry, I think I'm gonna call it a night here. I'm sleepy and the responses have dwindled and I want to double-check the modified combat system.

G'night, folks.

>>28930834
Aw. Goodnight Tart. We'll think up a better plan next time.

>>28930834
Listen, I saw the bashing you took in the QTG. You shouldn't let all the dicks in that thread get to you, in case you had. We've got a small player base but it's not 'dying' as they said. As I said, I'mma fan, just can't catch the thread near the start myself. Timezones and all.

>>28931387
I'm cool, I got thick skin and honestly didn't see any "real" complaints.

(i.e. complaints about things that actually matter, in contradistinction to complaints about tags on suptg)

>>28931556
Glad to hear it then. It's a real cool premise that's for sure, it's just since it's based in modern era, it makes in-between bits a bit more difficult to do, since it can slow down stuff. Things got a rocky start since we picked the path you least prepared for, but I think you're picking it up just fine.