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>>42651668
>the ringing in your ears won't stop...

“...And that's why I need you to get down to the bay right away. Vince, I- Hey! Are you listening to me?”

A cigar is waved angrily under your nose.

“Uh, yes. You need me down at the Junk Bay-”

“Don't call it that! I don't care what your guide book told you, it's Tseung Kwan O! The locals know what Junk means in English and they won't take well to you calling it that!”

“Boss, it's just a contraction. Tseung Kwan. Suun-k. Juunk. Junk. Regular pinyin stuff.”

Nothing, not even in your profession, could be as venomous as Mr. Devlinson's glare.

“Has getting promoted gone to your head already, Vince? I need you to show some professionalism right now.”

>What's the big deal boss? I'll get the job done no matter what, just like last week.
>Fuck you, the communists don't run this shithole anymore. I can call it Junk Bay if I want.
>You know goddamn well I'm a professional and a job like this should be a snap compared to last week's crap.
>(snatch the cigar from his mouth, do a mocking impression of him berating you)
>write-in

>>42651701
>>You know goddamn well I'm a professional and a job like this should be a snap compared to last week's crap.

Fuck, withdrawal.

Can't help but be a little testy.

Odd that he suddenly cares about PR and locals and respecting pronunciations when he didn't care about civvies dying last week. Is this contract really that much more sensitive?

>>42651701
>Fuck you, the communists don't run this shithole anymore. I can call it Junk Bay if I want.
Thrust our crotch suggestively.

>ringing
Or, okay, it's gunfire range related.

http://pastebin.com/2gx5bYkw
>-Tinnitus - Recent exposure to high quantities of gunfire at close range has left you with a temporary case of partial deafness and ringing in your ears. -1 to awareness until recovery is complete.
>-Tinnitus - Recent exposure to high quantities of gunfire at close range has left you with a temporary case of partial deafness and ringing in your ears. -1 to awareness.

...twice.

>>42651701
>>What's the big deal boss? I'll get the job done no matter what, just like last week.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>42651877
>>42651782

Just gonna roll so I can figure out which prompt to post.

>>42651908
Junk thrust it is.

>>42651908
>You know goddamn well I'm a professional and a job like this should be a snap compared to last week's crap.

“With all due fucking respect, you were mocking -me- for my professionalism at about this time last week Mr. Devlinson, right before punting me into a meat grinder of unforgiving assignments.”

“Hey! Look at all the life from the guy who won't stop nodding off while I'm talking!”

“Fuck you.”

“No, fuck you Vince. Listen, I'm going to level with you. I know last week was some challenging stuff and you feel like a big shot now but the truth is those were small time jobs. Now that you're a “real” exterminator, we're going to be sending you out to do work for people who actually matter. The rich and influential types, that kind of thing. People who corporate thinks are worth giving the time of day. You can't just go in and burn everything down when things go wrong anymore, understand?”

“...Yeah, I've got it.”

“Good. You're going to go far in this organization if you keep this up, Vince. Hell, maybe they'll let you have my job someday!”

He grins, trying to be upbeat and diffuse the situation, but you notice the tension remains on his face.

“Now get out of my office! And go see Pete, you're probably going to need some equipment from him for this.”

You exit, the assignment still vague in your mind. That wasn't so bad though; Devlinson didn't even make a remark about your ear. Or maybe you did and you didn't hear him.

At least you still have the brief to look over...

>Skim the brief.
>Skim the brief to refresh your memory, then go see Silver Pete.
>Try and remember how last night ended.
>Attempt to figure out how you're going to handle this week; you've got a lot on your plate.
>Fuck it, we'll do it live. (don't skim the brief right away, head down to your van and get going, you're burning daylight!)

>>42651942
>>Try and remember how last night ended.

>>42651895

Fixed that.

>>42651942
>>Skim the brief to refresh your memory, then go see Silver Pete.
>>42529893
>>Try and remember how last night ended.

We need gas grenades and cages and more tranq darts. And armor-tier protection if we need to handle fucking cats again.

Does Pete have more slow-acting poison/edible tranquilizer drugs?

Something we could stick in some steaks, bait things, and then they pass out after half an hour after the rest of them all have bites of it.

>>42651998
Probably want them to look like nondescript cat carriers so no one can see what's inside.

>>42651998
>>42651970

>try and remember how last night ended

You rub your aching temples outside Devlinson's office, trying to ignore the sound that won't go away.

You were out late last night, sitting up on the edge of the Bionic Tower. You took off the helmet as soon as you realized it would irritate your ear and let the wind blow across your face instead.

Through the thermal goggles you watched shapes more above the horizon, dipping and diving in the dying light of the day. You flicked a switch on your rifle and it hummed in your hands before hurling slugs across Hong Kong at a speed you can barely conceive.

The red-yellow blobs blinked out one after another, some vanishing right away while others fell dramatically to the earth. You only shot a few out of the hundreds of unidentifiable things flying clandestinely across Hong Kong at night, but you focused on the bat shaped ones, remembering the child's skull you found in their nest.

You learned quite a bit yesterday.

>New Traits Acquired

>Cold Blooded – Your collected demeanor in the face of life threatening situations is impressive. People look to you for guidance when they feel endangered. +1 to Nerve Pool, +1 to Charisma in tense situations.

>Controlling your anger - Complete. Vincent can now control his rage and use it to his advantage in desperate situations. This trait is destabilized by cocaine use.

>Talented shot- +3 when handling long guns (applies to tranquilizer gun as well)

[1/2]

>>42652133
[2/2]
>Practiced draw- +1 when handling pistols

>Tinnitus - Recent exposure to high quantities of gunfire at close range has left you with a temporary case of partial deafness and ringing in your ears. -1 to awareness.

>Good diet- Whenever you eat a meal at home, gain +1 STR/STA for the next 5 hours. This trait will result in additional bonuses the longer it is sustained and helps you progress along the path of fitness.

>Getting Fit: Progress [1/10], This trait represents the initial journey to fitness from Vince's initial state as a flabby ex-pat. Completing it will result in bonuses and several additional upgrade paths.

>Missing a bit - Your mutilated ear startles some people. Maybe you can spin a good story about it that will make them feel more at ease... -1 to Charisma.

>Lost: Aching Back

>Almost lost: Injured Foot

Yeah, the whole weekend is coming back to you now. What a roller coaster that was. You're glad to be back at work.

>skim the brief and see Silver Pete
>Do it live
>remind yourself what you need to do this week
>come combo of the above options

http://pastebin.com/GwrT5QVg
>high school boy
>>41234849
But Yu's 13. And the Catholic boy's school was never described as what grades they were.

>>42652164

His birthday passed.

I think I made a mistake and mentioned him in my notes and maybe in a later thread as being 14.

>>42652151
>>skim the brief and see Silver Pete
>remind yourself what you need to do this week

Lopez testifying, drugging Dr. Xi at 3pm sharp this afternoon, jogging after work to get /fit/

>>42652151
>skim the brief and see Silver Pete
>remind yourself what you need to do this week

>>42652197
and smuggling extra specimens somewhere. don't forget the smuggling.

>>42652197
You forgot swearing vengeance against the feline menace.

>>42652197
>skim, see pete, make a to do list

Assembling.

>>42652151
>Remind yourself what you need to do this week
>skim the brief and see petey

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>>42652254
>Skim the brief and see Pete

You open the brief and read down the first page while you head towards Silver Pete's supply shop.

“Client runs a fast food franchise in the Tseung Kwan O area. Contacted GEC after several employees reported a “monster” raiding their dumpsters. Reports correlated with several missing person's reports publicized by ScythCorp and a recent epidemic of fainting spells(see below). Preliminary investigations and deposition identified trails of mucus leading from sighting locations into the ocean.”

A fast food franchise? That's who Devlinson was so worried about you offending?

“We were able to take a sample of some of the mucus and although we could not identify the creature of origin, we did discover it had tranquilizing properties. Mucus trails left by the creature after crossing residential areas are likely responsible for fainting spells and cases of temporary localized paralysis in inhabitants of Tseung Kwan O.”

“Individuals who recently sailed in the area have also reported hull breaches and capsizing, though they attribute this to a recently arrived variety of sea sponge. Creatively termed the “Acid Sponge”, rumor claims the sponge is a US military creation that was designed to compromise areas commonly traversed by the Chinese fleet but never deployed during the war.”

[1/2]

>>42652330
“It is the opinion of GEC that the assigned individual may nonetheless have to immerse themselves in the waters of Tseung Kwan O. For this purpose a small boat has been temporarily requisitioned from a local at great expense. Assigned individuals are encouraged to purchase or rent the following gear from their quartermasters: corrosion resistant scuba gear, chain mail, spear gun. Assigned individuals are reminded that damaged equipment cannot be returned to their quartermaster and that they will be charged for the full price of the equipment.”

Fucking cheapskates. Looks like you're going to have to take a substantial financial hit if you want to complete this job without being covered in acid burns.

Arriving in Pete's domain, you find the old man snoring in a chair among the shelves. You wake him up and tell him what you need.

>request the recommended equipment
>ask for cages, tranquilizing gas, maybe some kind of tranquilizing poison or bait
>ask him what he would recommend for something like this
>write-in for more stuff or a combination of the above
>forget it, acid doesn't scare you and the locals at Tseung Kwan O village are said to be expert divers and fisherpeople. You can just get equipment and guidance from them.


(you'll review your objectives on the way to the van)

>>42652357
>>request the recommended equipment
>>ask for cages, tranquilizing gas, maybe some kind of tranquilizing poison or bait
>>ask him what he would recommend for something like this

>>42652387
Second this one

>>42652357
>>write-in for more stuff
Corrosion-resistant container, and axe or cutting implement, for them sponge samples.

weights, chains, maybe an aquarium tank in case we can bring this mermaid back alive.

A net we can drag through the water?

>>42652357

It takes you a moment to convince Pete that you really need scuba gear but he eventually relents and retrieves what appears to be a very old set for you.

"It's not corrosive resistant but we can take care of that. $800 to buy, $350 to rent."

He pulls a chainmail shirt from what is apparently a container full of them.

"Chainmail is $200 to buy, $50 to rent."

There are more spearguns than you really expected as well.

"Speargun is $100 to buy, $25 to rent. Comes with 5 spears, free."

When you tell him you want cages, tranquilizing gas grenades, and tranquilizing bait of some kind he nods and vanishes behind some shelves for a minute. He returns beneath 5 cages stacked on top of each other (they look like slightly larger than normal cat carriers) and a bag containing the grenades and bait.

"20 for each grenade, 10 for each cage (don't bother returning them, they always get ruined), and 10 for a bag of bait. Bag's got enough punch to take out a rhino, so hopefully you won't need it all at once."

"Oh, and I've got a can of stuff for corrosion resistance. Works great. 5 bucks, and it sprays right on."

Well, this all seems kind of pricey but you knew it would be. what are you going to get?

>Scuba, $800 to buy, $350 to rent
>Chainmail, $200 to buy, $50 to rent
>Speargun, $100 to buy, $25 to rent
>Gas Grenade $20
>Cages $10 each
>Bait $10 for a bag
>Corrosion spray $5

More options:

>None of the above
>Ask for something else
>Get his opinion

>>42652578
>>Gas Grenade $20
5.
>>Cages $10 each
5.
>>Bait $10 for a bag
3 bags.
>>Corrosion spray $5
Obviously.

But uh

>to rent
I thought Silver Pete handed out equipment on a refundable deposit basis. >>41796678 Now there's a rental charge?

>>42652578
>>Gas Grenade $20
>>Bait $10 for a bag
>>Corrosion spray $5
Buy everything else. Might need it later.

>>42652578
Let's buy everything except the scuba gear and the chain mail, and let's see if the locals can get us better stuff maybe?wait, if we rent do we get money back after returning it?

>>42652578
>>Chainmail, $200 to buy
>>Speargun, $100 to buy
Buy these.

>Scuba, $350 to rent
Rent scuba gear.

And >>42652640

>>42652640

Yeah, there's a rental charge now. Company policy change.

>>42652640

Anyway, this post seems to be seconded so you'll definitely get this stuff.

Only remaining question is do you guys want to do as Goo God says and see what the locals will offer rather than buy the big stuff here? Keep in mind the side trip to the village will take some time out of your trip.

>>42652765
No, we're on a tight schedule.

>>42652715
Well now we really need to comparison-shop with Internet prices for all this equipment.

Wait Vince still doesn't have a phone of his own, does he.

>>42652765
Im fine with renting the gear from here, I didn't schedule. Let's get this here, I didn't realize you were on schedule. Let's get this thing over with thing over with.

>>42652779
Okay.

Going off of:
>>42652685
>>42652682
>>42652864

You'll rent everything and spray it down to protect it. Hopefully nothing will go wrong.

>>42652895
Sounds good

The scuba suit alone puts us back the price of like.

14 specimens, at GEC prices.

Way more than any other mission yet.

>>42652895

You buy up 5 gas grenades, 5 cages, 3 bags of bait, and a can of corrosion spray.

Then, reluctantly, you plunk down the big money to rent the rest of the diving equipment. All told, it sets you back $425, significantly less than purchasing everything. Plus, most of the cost is eaten by what you took out of that guy's wallet on Saturday night.

You bid Pete adieu and make a mental note to do some comparison shopping later when you have time.

Getting in the elevator on the way down to your van, you review everything you need to do this week.

Top priority is Jeremy, who's due to be surgically taken apart and put back together again on Thursday. You could wait until then but security will probably get tighter as the week rolls on, so you should get him out of there asap. You're going to have to drug Dr. Xi to make it happen though, so you'll need to get back to HQ by 3pm if you want to make it happen today.

On Saturday, you've got to testify for Inspector Lopez, so you should call him soon to coordinate and ensure your performance is the best it can be. Plus, he's fun to hang out with.

At some undetermined time this week, you're also going to be contacted by the mysterious organization that you fell in with over the weekend. They're going to want spare specimens and intel from within GEC and seem to be very generous.

Last, you should probably figure out what you're going to do with that highly valuable intel you picked up from the "toy factory" you cleaned the wasps out of last week. Maybe you could give it to those shadowy guys...

Piling into your van, you take a quick inventory of what you've got.

[1/2]

>>42653039
I don't want to buy the gear, but it's not like we can refuse the request, and it seems fairly life threatening without the gear

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>>42653107
Complete Inventory:

>wrangling stick
>8 trank darts (4 loaded into gun)
>pepper spray
>vodka
>cocaine
>condoms
>trank gun
>motion sensors
>plastic explosive
>poison sprayer
>screecher box
>lighter
>laser pointer
>thermal vision goggles
>vial of hypno drug
>"mindreader" glasses
>Gauss sniper rifle (16 bullets left)
>2 silenced pistols, chinese design (boxes of bullets left, unlikely to run out unless OK Corral occurs)
>Military issue body armor- Heavy but a good fit and not obvious beneath hazmat suit. May wear away at your STR/STA if you have to run with it on for an extended period of time.
>Military Helmet- Has central air and fits neatly with your thermal goggles. Doesn't fit under hazmat suit.
>3 frag grenades- USE WITH CAUTION
>1 smoke bomb- Military issue smoke screen generator
>scuba suit
>spear gun
>chain mail
>5 gas grenades
>5 cages
>3 bags of tranquilizing bait

It's getting pretty full in the back... but at least you feel confident.

Now, do you want to see if you can outdrive the Van's AI to arrive at Junk Bay before 8:30?

>manual it
>automatic

>>42653148
>>manual it
Gotta level up more driving expertise.

>>42653107
>Thursday. You could wait until then but security will probably get tighter as the week rolls on, so you should get him out of there asap. You're going to have to drug Dr. Xi to make it happen though, so you'll need to get back to HQ by 3pm if you want to make it happen today.

Hmm. How to get around cameras and such. Tell Dr. Xi to take him somewhere Vince can pick him up off-site?

Hopefully Xi can provide Vince more doses of the hypno drug.

>>42653148
>Manual, gotta be early.
Inb4 getting pulled over. Is there even active police doing traffic patrolls, or are they too focused on mutants and murder?

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Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>42653182
>>42653251

>manual

You floor it, doing your best to weave in and out of the morning's commuter traffic. The console says something in a robotic monotone about traffic jams on your current route. You glance at it and adjust your plan, weaving perilously through traffic...

>Roll 3d6+1 to get where you're going at top speed. Boost up to twice with Nerves [13/13] and don't fuck up too badly.

Rolled 4, 4, 5 + 1 = 14 (3d6 + 1)

>>42653333
drive gud

Rolled 3, 6, 6 + 2 = 17 (3d6 + 2)

>>42653333
So drinking actually enhances driving with this mechanic!

Rolled 6, 4, 1 + 1 = 12 (3d6 + 1)

>>42653406
Technically, drinking-after-driving recovers what you lost.

>>42653333
Not bad overall

>>42653406

Vincent's never gotten drunk enough that I've had to impose the drinking penalty but it does exist.

Basically you'd take a big awareness hit that you'd only be able to partially offset by deploying at least two boosts.

>>42653365
>>42653406
>>42653423
>14,16,12

Success! Writing.

>>42653492

You're beign reckless and you know it. As you enter the home stretch towards Tseung Kwan O, two Scyth officers on motorcycles spot your van speeding and take off in hot pursuit.

The traffic tightens around you like a noose but you manage to spot an opening and jet your van through it right before it closes. The Scyth's decide the risky maneuvering required to take you down isn't worth it and call it off.

Stupid rent-a-cops. they probably got your plate number but you'll have to call Lopez later and see if you can convince him to strike this from the record.

You are right outside Tseung Kwan O Bay! In what part of the bay would you like to start your search?

>Tseung Kwan O New Town, with its skyscrapers on the beach.
>The old Tseung Kwan Village, which has been here for over 600 years
>The Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, which has been abandoned since the war.

>>42653607
>The old Tseung Kwan Village, which has been here for over 600 years
village probably has people who have seen things.

>>42653607
>>The Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, which has been abandoned since the war.
I smell... specimens nesting.

>>42653607
>>The Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, which has been abandoned since the war.

>>42653773
>>42653675

Industrial Estate it is. Writing.

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>>42653783

You drive all the way up to the edge of the Industrial Estate only to find that the road is closed, blocked off by a pair of large orange cones.

Undeterred, you get out and move them aside.

The road is pitted; it hasn't been maintained for a long time. The weeds have grown high on the sides of the road but they haven't colonized the cracks inside the road yet.

Surprising, considering their teeth-rattling size.

When you finally get near enough to see the tip of the old TVB building, with its absurd cyan fin, you're dismayed to find that a barbed wire fence has been erected around the Estate.

>turn back
>look for a way through
>blow your way through with a little plastic explosive
>head to New Town or the old Village, maybe you can sail onto the Estate's waterfrontage.
>write-in

>>42653912
>>look for a way through

>>42653912
>>look for a way through

>>42653990
>>42654015

You start walking around the perimeter of the fence.

Unlike the road, the fence is in good shape. It's not corroded in the least and you walk a good distance looking for some kind of hole before giving up and turning back towards the van.

The area has been well secured by someone and they've succeeded in wasting your time.

>blow your way through with a little plastic explosive
>head to New Town or the old Village, maybe you can sail onto the Estate's waterfrontage.
>write-in

>>42654046
>>head to New Town or the old Village, maybe you can sail onto the Estate's waterfrontage.
Whichever's closer then.

This place is a little too secure to seem really abandoned.

>>42654046
>>head to New Town or the old Village, maybe you can sail onto the Estate's waterfrontage.

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>>42654128

How are you tonight, sleepyanon? Any other good quests on?

>>42654065
You turn the van around and head toward New Town. Something continues to gnaw at you about the Estate though.

When you park the van in New Town, it's 8 am. You've burned some of the head start you had when you showed up at the Estate but you're ahead of schedule.

There's a couple places where you could start your investigation here, at least according to the brief.

>Check in at one of the client's restaurants
>Visit one of the families of the people who have gone missing
>Head down to the boardwalk, take a look at the water
>Go to the nearby docks, find the boat you're supposed to use

>>42654187
>>Check in at one of the client's restaurants
There are mucus trails to follow, right?

>>42654187
>Check in at one of the client's restaurants
lets goooo

>>42654187
>>Check in at one of the client's restaurants
Fine how you doing? House and Dominion is always entertaining. Leaf Ninja for the yelling and hitching between players is funny.

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>>42654271
>>42654243
>>42654230

Plugging the address from the brief into the van's console, you swing down towards the shore and pull up next to... a fried chicken joint.

You're going to tease the hell out of Devlinson for being so afraid of the Colonel when you get back to HQ.

Outside the workers appear to be putting on some kind of performance. You can't figure out why, since 8am is way too early for anyone to eat-

"Sir, excuse me sir!"

Shit.

"Have you tried KFC's new breakfast menu?"

"No, no I haven't. Look, I had some rice and eggs for breakfast this morning, I'm-"

"Well maybe you would have liked delicious southern biscuits and dumplings for breakfast?"

"No. Can I speak to your manager?"

The employee turns pale.

A few minutes later you're in the office of the KFC's manager, looking into the dead lifeless eyes of a man over 40 who manages a KFC.

"Took you long enough to get here."

"Sir, I'm here ahead of schedule-"

"We had another one this morning. Big thing, right outside this restaurant in the wee hours of the morning. Gau Shu turned down the alley behind the restaurant and it nearly trampled him in a panic. He fell right into the slime and he's been gradually loosening up since this morning. You want to try and talk to him?"

"...okay."

The manager leads you into the supply room, where a young chinese boy is laying rigidly on the ground. Someone has generously popped his head up with a package of biscuits.

<Hey! Gau Shu! This is the animal killer! Talk to him.>

Gau Shu nods pitifully, barely able to move his head.

>(turn to the manager) Shouldn't he be in the hospital?
>Gau Shu, what did it look like?
>How long have you been like this Gau Shu? Is it wearing off?
>What was the creature trying to eat?
>Did you see where it went?
>write-in question

>>42654566
>>What was the creature trying to eat?
>>Did you see where it went?
You'll be alright son, it's just temporary localized paralysis.

...That is what it is right.

>>42654627
second this please

Time to don hazmat soon. Don't wanna get Gak all over Vince.

>>42654566
>Gau Shu, what did it look like?
>>What was the creature trying to eat?
>>Did you see where it went?
Turn on paternal charisma.

>>42654650
>>42654627

<Kid, it's going to be okay, hopefully you no freeze forever.>

Gau Shu wimpers.

<Tell me, what did the animal eat?>

<Chicken. Rotted chicken. It was at the dumpster. Stuck its head in->

Gau Shu, who has been whispering up to this point, makes chomping noises with his mouth in an attempt to imitate the creature.

<Very good. Did you see where the animal went?>

<Towards water. It turned towards the beach when it left the alley. Last thing I saw.>

Gau Shu begins to tear up and cry. You decide to end the interview there.

"This kid needs medical attention."

"Relax gwai-lo. I called the acupuncturist an hour ago. He should be here any minute."

Fucking folk medicine. You take your leave.

Outside the building you notice the absence of the creature's mucus trail. Must be quick drying stuff but maybe there are more recent tracks down by the boardwalk and the shore.

>head directly to the boardwalk
>interview a family who had an afflicted member, see if their experience paralleled Gau Shu's.
>head to the docks, find your boat
>leave New Town, go to the Village or the Industrial Estates.

>>42654847
>>head directly to the boardwalk

It ran off. And eats garbage chicken.

I'm starting to think the disappearances of entire people are being blamed on it erroneously, and they're actually vanishing into the Estate.

>>42654847
Take a garbage bag full of yesterday's chicken with you as bait.

>>42654847
>interview a family who had an afflicted member, see if their experience paralleled Gau Shu's.

>>42654847
>>interview a family who had an afflicted member, see if their experience paralleled Gau Shu's.

>>42654847
>>interview a family who had an afflicted member, see if their experience paralleled Gau Shu's.

>>42654914
>>42654928

You take a quick walk around back and take a look at the dumpster. There's still trash everywhere and it's already attracting pests. You give a particularly stupid rat a hearty kick as you approach and he sails clear into the fence at the end of the alley before scampering off.

Looking through the insides, you pick out a particularly ripe (and unopened) bag of garbage and carry it around the front of the restaurant.

As you're leaving, the manager comes out of the front entrance yelling and screaming.

"Hey, what are you doing?! I didn't say you could go back there!"

You shift the weight of the bag to your left arm so you can flip him off. He curses you and runs inside.

The bag smells like shit but it fits comfortably among everything in the back of your van at least.

In the front seat, you turn on the console and plug in a few of the local victims, first one who was merely paralyzed and then one who went missing.

Before you confirm everything and take off, your fingers pause above the "CALL" icon in the console.

If you wanted, you could easily get MedCorp down here to take care of this kid. They'd at least make him comfortable while the paralysis wore off. Or you could call them and the Scyths, who would love the publicity an "abusive boss" case like this would generate.

>call medcorp
>call medcorp and the scyths
>don't call anyone

>>42655121
>>don't call anyone
Technically, they are a client, and Devlinson didn't seem to want to piss them off too much.

>>42655121
>>call medcorp

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42655157
>>42655226

>>42655121
>call medcorp

>>42655325
It might not be wise to bring down the scrutiny of the Scyths on this place but the least you can do is make the kid comfortable. It's what you'd want if you had a son.

The call is over and done in thirty seconds, with an ambulance confirmed on the way. And you too, are on your way to the first of two victims.

The first is the daughter of one of the many middle-class families that live here. They live in one of the non-descript skyscrapers around here.

She greets you at the door of their apartment, giving you a charming, if crooked, smile.

<How are you, Mister?>

<Theresa! Tell him to come inside!>

<I'm well. I came to ask about your experience with the animal.> you say, then pause. <Do you speak English?>

"Of course!"

Seated comfortably within and unexpectedly provided with coffee flavored hard candies, you decide on what questions you're going to ask.

>Where did the incident happen?
>What time did it happen?
>Did you see the creature?
>How long did your paralysis last? How bad was it?
>If you saw it, did it try and attack you?
>write-in

>>42655359
>>Where did the incident happen?
>>What time did it happen?
>>Did you see the creature?

>>42655359
>>What time did it happen?
>>Did you see the creature?

File: coffee time.jpg (180 KB, 421x365)

180 KB JPG

>>42655400

"Now then, Theresa, I need you to tell me as much as you can about-"

She interrupts you excitedly.

"It had a big long neck! And it warbled at me! I was so scared that I fell backwards and screamed!"

She's gesticulating wildly as she talks, miming the event with her face and hands. You unwrap one of the coffee candies as she performs, noting the beautiful decorative bowl the family has put them in.

"So did it attack you?"

"No, it ran off and I ran after it."

You nearly choke on the candy.

"You ran after it?"

"Yeah! And that's when I touched the slimy stuff and passed out!"

"Alright." You're tempted to ask why should would want to run *after* it but you hold your tongue and try to stick to the questions you had in mind.

"Where were you when this happened?"

"I was playing outside my school, it was getting dark. The creature was by the dumpsters and I was curious so I approached it."

You're starting to see a pattern here.

"What time was it exactly?"

"About 7. Like I said, the sun was going down."

"Okay, can you tell me anything more about what it looked like?"

"It was very big. The body was maybe two meters long and the neck was almost that long too! It had flippers in the front like a sea lion... and in the back too. Only a stubby tail. No teeth either, I think it had a beak."

"Thank you, you've been very helpful."

As you leave, you feel a gentle caffeine buzz set in.

>Awareness +1 for four hours

Time to drive to the next victim's home.

[1/2]

>>42655605
> next victim's home.
[Estatening intensifies]

>>42655605

The child at the next stop is considerably more dour... and younger. He pouts upwardly at you when he opens the door and skips the greeting altogether...

<DAD! DADDY! There's a man here!>

A haggard looking man in a buttoned shirt comes to the door.

"You must be from GEC. They said they would send someone."

"That's right. Can I come in?"

"Sure, it's good you came when you did, I have to leave for work in 15 minutes or so, so we have just enough time. What do you want to know about my wife?"

>Where did she go missing?
>Around what time did she disappear?
>What do you think she was doing at the time?
>Has any evidence been presented to you about what happened?
>Do you think your case and those of others in the area are connected?
>write-in

>>42655703
>>Around what time did she disappear?
>>What do you think she was doing at the time?
>Has any evidence been presented to you about what happened?

>>42655703
>>Around what time did she disappear?
>>What do you think she was doing at the time?
>>Do you think your case and those of others in the area are connected?

>>42655760

"I just want to say... I'm very sorry about your wife and I hope she'll turn up soon. I have only a few questions."

"Please, ask away."

"On what day and at what time did you notice your wife was missing?"

"It was about a week ago, the day of that horrible gas leak in Kwun Tong. It was particularly hot that day and she had decided to walk to the local convenience store to pick up some ice cream at around 3pm for our son. She never came back."

That actually answers two of your questions.

"Okay, has anyone come forward to you with evidence about what happened?"

"I called it in to the Scyths and they made a note of it but never took action. Then those GEC investigators came by on Friday, said they thought her disappearance might be due to a "creature" in the area. I pushed them on it but couldn't get much. I told them everything I just old you..."

He's holding it together but you can see his eyes starting to drift to somewhere else.

Maybe time for one more question.

>Did your wife work with chicken or any other meat that day?
>Were there any other reasons for her to... vanish that you can think of?
>Have you talked to any other families of people who have gone missing? Any similarities if so?
>write-in

>>42655923
>>Were there any other reasons for her to... vanish that you can think of?

>>42655923
>>Did your wife work with chicken or any other meat that day?

>>42655923
>Have you talked to any other families of people who have gone missing? Any similarities if so?

>>42655923
>his eyes starting to drift to somewhere else.
Hmm. There is something else then.

>Were there any other reasons for her to... vanish that you can think of?

>>42656046
>>42656029
>>42655973

Another three way tie. Sometimes I feel like you guys do this on purpose.

Just going to set a hard rule from here on out. As long as I have at least one response, the window closes in 10 minutes. At the latest.

>>42656085
>>42655973
>Were there any other reasons for her to... vanish that you can think of?

Calling it for this, just as I was about to roll too.

>>42656104
>, the window closes in 10 minutes. At the latest.
But all of those were within 10 minutes.

So we'll still get ties sometimes.

>>42656104
>>42655973
"Do you think... Can you think of any other reasons why she might leave?"

"No!" The man brings his fist down on the table in front of you, rattling the china at the center of it. You don't flinch.

"Sir, I don't think-"

He cuts you off.

"We were happy, I don't care what you imply! She loved our son!"

You give it one last try, even with his finger pointed accusingly just inches from your face.

"I'm not saying that she didn't love your son. But maybe there was some other kind of trouble going on at work? Or something."

He grimaces.

"Not that I know anything about."

"You're sure?"

"I'm more sure than you know, exterminator."

"Okay then. If you think of anything in the meantime, just call GEC HQ and they'll relay that information to you. Maybe you have a pen-"

"Get out of my house."

Back on the street, you consider the conversation you just had. She was definitely cheating on him- you've seen that kind of anger on a man's face enough times to know what it looks like. Whether or not it was the reason she disappeared, you can't be certain.

You feel very noir detective-ish and crave a cigarette. The van's clock reads 8:57.

What's the next step, Sherlock?

>to the boardwalk
>find your boat
>head to the village
>head back to the estate

>>42656141

I know. I'm not mad, just making it clear what the window is. The number of voters tends to vacillate from prompt to prompt and I gauge when to write depending on what numbers I'm expecting.

So really, I'm just trying to prod you to vote early and often.

>>42656213
>to the boardwalk
The Lagoon monster comes first, it's the official assignment.

How long is the drive back to HQ?

>>42656257

45 minutes if you nail driving back manually.

Up to two hours depending on what time you leave otherwise.

>>42656213
>>find your boat

>>42656213
>"Okay then. If you think of anything in the meantime, just call GEC HQ and they'll relay that information to you.
>you

>>42656213
>>find your boat

>>42656345
>>42656291
>boating time

>>42656257
>to the boardwalk

Calling it and writing.

>>42656359

It's high time to hit the high seas, you think.

Once upon a time, you got to spend the summer yachts off the Atlantic coast of the US. The fond memories of the smell of salt spray and jaunty white girls are unspeakably distant in the face of Junk Bay.

The water smells absolutely necrotic. You're not sure if it's a byproduct of the sponges or some kind of run off, but the water is darker and murkier than it really should be in your opinion.

You take a few minutes after parking the van to locate your boat and are surprised when it locates you first. Or rather, the lone crew member does.

"Amanda Chen," she states, running up and shaking your hand, "I'm very pleased to see you here so early."

The voice has a distinctive english lilt to it but she's attractive enough, the tied up bun of her long hair sticking out through the back of a baseball cap and a cigarette between her grinning teeth.

"I didn't realize I would have a-"

"Captain."

"A captain!"

Well, here's your gift for the day.

>let's go see this boat of yours, Captain Chen.
>(bum a cigarette off her)
>make a remark about her baseball cap
>ask where she learned to speak English with that accent.

>>42656499
>>let's go see this boat of yours, Captain Chen.

>>42656499
>>make a remark about her baseball cap
>>ask where she learned to speak English with that accent.
>let's go see this boat of yours, Captain Chen.

>>42656499
>>ask where she learned to speak English with that accent.


>The voice has a distinctive english lilt to it but

Of course that's a "but". Vince hates the English?

>>42656578
He's a 'murrican patriot, so I wouldn't doubt it.

>>42656578
>>42656577
>ask about the accent

>>42656535
>>42656577
See the boat.

Calling it for doing both those things, in that order. Writing should be short.

File: thealbion.jpg (997 KB, 1600x1200)

997 KB JPG

>>42656634
"Not many people left speaking with that accent, Captain Chen."

"Oh, I was raised in Britain as a child. Obviously we're all dispersed now but I left a few years before the war to work my grandfather's old boat here. The family has its roots in the village."

You barely notice it, but she's walking you down the dock.

"That's very interesting. You know I always liked the Brit-"

"And here's the New Albion!"

For such a grandiose name, the boat isn't much but it's actually more than you expected from corporate.

"Comes equipped with powerful twin engines, sonar, and some specially waxed nets for fishing in these acidic waters. I'm very proud of her. Now, if you would just run back and get your things, exterminator, we can get out on the water."

>(frantically run and get your things)
>Tell her you're not sure you're leaving just yet
>Ask about the sonar
>Ask about avoiding the corrosive fluid in the water. You're not gonna sink, right?
>write-in

>>42656739
>>(frantically run and get your things)
Apply anti corrosion spray to errything.

>>42656739
I wonder if it will want the old chicken if we release it in the water.

We should also acid-resistance-spray a bag or something to take some sponge samples I guess for GEC and our buddies. We might need a sprayed knife for that?

>>42656828
Combine chicken with bait, and we'll at least catch something.

>>42656790
>frantically running

Poor Vince looks like such a fool sometimes. Writing.

>>42656870
It only comes to the surface during the day, and it probably won't want to come near a boat, so.

Tie some chicken to rocks with string to sink them in the bay, down to the dark parts where the creature lurks.

Though it might attract unrelated creatures. This thing is big enough to be noticeable on the sonar.

>>42656929

You dash back to the van and do your best to unload the SCUBA equipment in an impressive and manly way. It's incredibly heavy and ungainly, so you don't do very well.

Captain Chen graciously assists you in loading it onto her boat nonetheless and starts the process of spraying it down thoroughly with anti-corrosion spray for you, stating that she's done it hundreds of times before.

"You should get anything else you think might be useful while I finish this. Take your time on this trip though; I'm going to be busy for a few minutes with this."

>What do you want from your inventory for your fishing trip, if anything?

>>42657003
tranq gun, wrangling stick, spear gun, chain mail, one cage, screecher box.

Definitely spray all that stuff.

Also the new bait and old chicken. And some rocks from the beach. They should have string on the boat, or at least nets?

>>42657121

There are definitely nets on the boat and string; it's outfitted for fishing.

Your vote is the winner, btw.

>>42657121
>>42657003
Hear me out guys. What if we..... Sprayed the chicken with the anti-corrosion spray. Thus the monster would miserably try to eat it, yet fail.

>>42657182
But it doesn't eat things with acid.

It has, like, teeth.

It would slow down digestion, but gastric juices are stronger than acid sponge, and more concentrated in a small space.

The result is it would feel full for longer, and not be hungry, but possibly starve to death.

>>42657180
Wait, is the screecher box equipped to be water proof?

>>42657180

You retrieve your tranquilizer gun, the wrangling stick, a single cage, and your screecher box.

"Is that really all you're bringing?"

"Not at all."

She watches with confusion as you walk back to the van and rustle around in it for a moment before emerging with a large black bag. The look quickly changes to disgust as you get close.

"That's... that's a can of rubbish."

"Hush, I'm going to show you how we fish back in the States."

She just shakes her head and starts the engines. You almost lose your footing as they roar to life and the boat starts moving out onto the water.

"So, how do you fish in the USA Mister-"

"Esperanza!" you shout over the roar of the engines, clutching your milk white cap to your head.

"Yes, Esperanza! What's your big scheme to catch our local Nessie?"

>Put the chicken on a rod, sink it down somewhere
>Turn on your screecher box, lower it into the water
>Ask her if there are any local diving spots worth investigating
>write-in

>>42657386
Note: The spear gun and chain mail are already on the boat, they went on with the scuba gear.

>>42657386
>Ask her if there are any local diving spots worth investigating

>>Put the chicken on a rod, sink it down somewhere

>>42657462
And the bait. And probably something that will sub for rocks.

>>42657386
>>Put the chicken on a rod, sink it down somewhere
Also, we should find the most explosive thing on the boat and prep it into a grenade, just in case this thing comes up to attack us.

>>42657500
Let's not use grenades for self defense, that's a bit too kamikaze.

If it's coming right for us we have less pyrrhic weapons.

>>42657386
>>Put the chicken on a rod, sink it down somewhere
I'm back! not that anyone missed me

>>42657529
The grenade's a final gambit, not an opening salvo.

The more suicidal option would be to ram the boat into it's head, Ala Call of Cthulhu. Then have it explode.

>>42657478
>>42657500
>>42657582
>ask about diving spots+put the chicken on the rod plan

“Ms. Chen, I guess the first thing I'd have to ask if there's any local diving spots left that are worth visiting. And I guess any that aren't anymore, with the acid sponges and all.”

She rolls her eyes as she answers.

“They told you about those, did they? Those two investigators you sent out here were the biggest weirdos I've ever met. Wore white suits, very fancy, but with a little dead bug logo on them! Absolutely ridiculous looking. Fascinated by the sponges too, so I went down and cut off a little sample for them. They nearly forgot all about me after that.”

“Anyway, diving spots. There used to be lots of little caves honeycombing the cliff face by the village. I used to take dunks in them when I was a child and the water was still clean. Nowadays they're full of sponge growth, so no one goes, as you hinted.”

“Sounds like a promising place to start.”

“And what are you going to do when we get there, chief?”

“I was going to bait a line with the chicken.”

“The garbage chicken.”

“Yes.”

“Well, I have fishing rods over here somewhere...”

>How large were the caves? Anything down there a two meter long sea monster might live in?
>Wait, how much sponge growth are we talking about?
>So, what other kinds of creatures are in the water around here?
>Write-in

>>42657696
>>How large were the caves? Anything down there a two meter long sea monster might live in?


>Wait, how much sponge growth are we talking about?

Hope there's a knife here somewhere we can use if we go diving.

>>42657696
>>How large were the caves? Anything down there a two meter long sea monster might live in?
>>Wait, how much sponge growth are we talking about?
Anything that might want to eat us?

>>42657696
all three please!

>>42657727
>>42657773

All three it is. Almost done writing.

>>42657855

"While you're searching, mind telling me how big the caves were? Anything a monster might enjoy?"

"Probably. There were some large ones near the bottom, as well as a few with relatively small entrances that had large inner caverns or tunnels attached. All probably overgrown with sponges now."

"Wait, how much sponge growth are we talking about?"

"Enough that there's a limit on how close I can bring the boat, Mr. Esperanza. It's quite the serious problem.”

“That might be an issue. I hoping I wouldn't have to, but I might have to take a dive around there.”

“I figured when I saw the SCUBA gear, Esperanza. You're damned foolish but the anti-corrosive spray should afford you a few seconds of protection if you come into contact with a high concentration of sponge ink.”

“Ink?”

“Yeah, those investigators didn't mention that to you? It's not really ink but it's sort of a rusty orange color. You can usually see a cloud of it pretty clearly if it's on the surface.”

“No... well, I don't usually read the whole brief anyway,” you admit.

“Is there anything else I should be wary of down there that I might have missed in the file?”

Captain Chen holds up her hand and begins counting them off on her fingers.

“Let's see, there's the jellies, the needlefish, the everloving octopodes, the white coral, and the sharks of course. But hopefully you won't see any of those.”

Hopefully.

“Anyway, this is as close as I can get us. Nothing on the radar now but I've got the rod ready for you. Just needs some of your... rubbish chicken.”

“Garbage.” you correct gently.

“Americans...”

You prepare your bait methodically, inserting a generous helping of tranquilizing bait into the ass of a rotten chicken before lowering it into the ocean.

>roll 3d6+2 for your first attempt to lure the beast, the DC is lowered by delicious garbage chicken!

Rolled 6, 1, 4 + 2 = 13 (3d6 + 2)

>>42657975
Here goes...

Rolled 4, 6, 6 + 2 = 18 (3d6 + 2)

>>42657975
>inb4 we expert fisherman

Rolled 6, 4, 4 + 2 = 16 (3d6 + 2)

>>42657975
for glory!

>>42658049
>>42658030
>>42658001

>You expert fisherman

Writing.

My god.

I didn't even have to roll.

Good thing we brought bait.

>>42658059
>I roll unnatural 18
I feel like a real American right now, showing that filthy Brit how to be good.

Rolled 2, 3, 2 = 7 (3d6)

>>42658100
how about this natural 18?

>>42658131
That only happens for dodging completely immobile boxes.

>>42658131
my shame

>>42658059

The sun is hot and you quickly start to sweat as you wait for something to approach your bait. You remove your cap and roll up your sleeves, causing Captain Chen to titter at you.

"That's not nice."

"I can't help it. You look like you should be off Cuba somewhere right now."

"Cuba is very nice this time of year you know..."

Suddenly you're interrupted by a faint blip from the sonar.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, it vanished straight away."

A moment passes, both of you waiting impatiently for the next blip.

"There! Closer this time... it's quite big but I'm not sure... No, I think it's a shark."

"A shark? Should I reel it up?"

"No, just-"

Another much louder blip interrupts her.

"Is that still the shark?"

"No, it's something else! And much bigger!"

"Well where is it?"

"It's headed towards the shark, I think."

"To eat it?"

"I don't know. They're almost upon each other."

You both fall silent again. The waves crash against the cliff about a quartermile away, uncaring about the drama unfolding in your little boat. The sonar blips excitedly.

After a moment, you spot some red in the water, in the direction of the cliff.

"I think I see blood."

"Yep, that's where they were."

"Maybe they're both dead?" you ask, hopeful.

Then the shark floats to the surface, belly up.

"Holy shit, it killed the shark!"

"No you idiot, dead sharks don't float. It's in a trance state."

A wake lifts the boat and something yanks down hard on your rod. The entire boat lists in the direction of the line and Captain Chen starts to scream.

"Cut it! Or let it go now! It's going to take the whole boat down!"

You grab a nearby knife and cut the line just in time.

"We don't have a chance of taking in something like that in a boat like this."

"That's why I poisoned the bait."

The Captain looks impressed for once.

>wait, watch the sonar and see if it returns.
>bait another line, just in case
>write-in

>>42658328
Hey, free shark.

>>42658328
>>bait another line, just in case

I love it when a plan comes together.

And we can take the shark home too! It's a mutant shark right.

>>42658380

Just a regular shark but you could kill/tranquilize it properly right now and tow it back to the docks with you.

>>42658379
See I said we should ask for an aquarium tank to keep a sample in.

We'll have to improvise as we drag the paralyzed shark to shore in a net.

Will we have to dive down and drag up the drugged paralysis creature? Along with more sponge samples for our shadowy friends.

>>42658380
>>42658379

>bait another line, grab a shark while you're here

Writing.

I hope natural sharks aren't an endangered species or something.

>>42658380
>>42658427
I was only kidding when I said "Free shark", guys...

Still, it might get us a good paycheck if we bring it to a local restaurant. Shark fin soup is a delicacy you know, and we could do something with the teeth, too.

>>42658472

You mash more bait into a chicken while you continue to give orders to Captain Chen.

"Keep watching the sonar to see where that thing goes but drive us over to the shark"

"You want to take in the shark?"

"Yup."

"Nutter."

She does what you ask though and, once you get close enough, you jab the shark with a tranquilizer dart on the end of your wrangling stick. It starts to sink and you panic for a moment before Captain Chen hits it in the thick of its tail with a harpoon.

The sinking form pulls down a rope with two small pods at the end of it, which inflate into buoys and yank it back to the surface.

"Handy."

"Indeed."

Captain Chen opts to secure the shark to the boat while you watch the sonar for a moment. What you see is... not promising.

"It's still moving down there!"

"Yup, but that poison should set in any minute now, right? It was slowing when I looked at it."

"It should have set in about a minute ago actually. And you call that slow?"

"You didn't see how fast it was going when it hit the shark from below. Are you going to try and bait it again?"

The creature is moving deep below you in circles.

"Maybe..."

>Lower your new chicken bait in, give it a second dose
>try and use the screecher in the water
>write-in

>>42658600
>>Lower your new chicken bait in, give it a second dose
For America.

They did say that one bag of bait was for a rhino, so we did need a lot of it given its size.

>>42658600
>>Lower your new chicken bait in, give it a second dose
This time, try to drive the boat to the boat ramp, and have the creature try to catch the bait. Hopefully we can turn the boat in time to avoid the ramp and have the creature go up it and beech itself.

>>42658600
>Lower your new chicken bait in, give it a second dose

Come on, one more good roll and we can be home in time for lunch.

We'll have to make a stop at that nightclub to somehow arrange the exchange of Jeremy though.

>>42658600
>>Lower your new chicken bait in, give it a second dose
Ready for round two, gelatinous-blobfag?

>>42658723
>>42658703
>>42658643
>>42658640

Unanimity. Writing along here.

>>42658824
You add the rest of your first bag of bait to the chicken you were preparing.

“It's still circling” reports the Captain. She sounds more excited than someone with a sea monster under her boat probably should be.

“Probably waiting for more free food.”

“Are you going to give it to him?”

“Hell yeah.”

You dunk the chicken into the water and the increased rate of blipping on the sonar is immediate. Another wake lifts the boat and this time you let the line run while the creature returns to the bottom. You're hoping it will try and run off and tug the boat along until it tires itself out but... no. It just keeps swimming under the boat. It doesn't seem like the poison is working at all...

>try and pull it towards shore
>try and pull it out to sea
>try and antagonize it into action with the screecher box
>try and lure it to the surface with more chicken
>ask Captain Chen for her input
>write-in

>>42658844
>>try and lure it to the surface with more chicken
Enjoy the sunlight with us my flippered friend.

>>42658844
>try and lure it to the surface with more chicken
then tranq it if possible

>>42658844
>>try and lure it to the surface with more chicken

>>42658897
We'll need all our remaining trank darts at once for that.

Maybe we should lure it towards shore BEFORE luring it to the surface.

>>42658844
Wait fuck, put our hazmat suit on.

We have to be paralysis-mucus-proof before we lure it!

>>42658892
>>42658897
>>42658910

God, it's a good thing you have an entire trashbag full of this crap. Already tired of stringing up bait, you just decide to toss some of it onto the surface. The line relaxes right away as the creature approaches the surface and then there's a slight bubblign sound and the chicken vanishes. The tautness on your line returns.

Amused, you toss out some more. Same thing.

“It's better than feeding the birds.”

“I don't think most birds eat chicken, Esperanza. Do you have a first name by the way?”

“Yes, Vincent.”

“Vincent? That's not very American sounding..”

You shake your head disapprovingly.

“You Europeans never did understand,” you say, making a mock tragic face as you toss still more chicken onto the sea.

“Understand what?”

“Every name is potentially American sounding!”

Your declaration is matched by tossing a particularly large piece of chicken into the sea which unexpectedly erupts to reveal a beaked mouth and jet black eyes set into a skull the size and texture of a basketball. Your prey is watching you from just a short ways away.

“Quick,” you whisper to Captain Chen, “bring us closer.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

>try and stick it with a tranquilizer dart
>dangle more chicken in front of it, try and befriend it
>have Captain Chen hit it with some of her harpoons
>shoot it with your speargun
>ask Captain Chen if she has any explosives
>write-in

>>42659028

You didn't bring your haz-mat suit but if you partially put on your scuba gear it should offer similar levels of protection for your hands. As would gloves, which a fishing vessel undoubtedly has aboard for squeamish fish gutters.

>>42659114
It could just paralyze us and take the chicken. Wear some protection Vince.


>dangle more chicken in front of it, try and befriend it

Animal Handler 2/3 GET.

>>42659114
>>write-in
Don scuba gear/gloves.


>dangle more chicken in front of it, try and befriend it

Turning on the engine might spook it. But we do want to move towards shore eventually.

>>42659177
>>42659230

>try and befriend it

You put on a pair of gloves as the boat slowly motors closer to the creature. It watches your movements on the boat carefully, turning its head to track you.

You can see the mucus trailing off of its seemingly scaly hide in the water. It must be unbelievably potent stuff, you think, wondering how it could possibly generate so much toxin so quickly.

You reach into the bag and get a half a chicken with a bit of old macaroni and cheese stuck to it. You extend out with your arm, hoping the beast doesn't just decide to take your hand with its black beak...

>roll 3d6+2 from your Charisma! Feel good in knowing the beast doesn't care about your messed up ear.

Rolled 1, 5, 5 + 4 = 15 (3d6 + 4)

>>42659286
Pivotal moment. Dare we boost?

>>42659316

Sure, I'd let you boost from Nerves here.

Rolled 4, 2, 1 + 2 = 9 (3d6 + 2)

>>42659286
Time to befriend the crap out of him.

Rolled 4, 1, 5 + 4 = 14 (3d6 + 4)

>>42659286
>-Cold Blooded
If only this counted as a life-threatening tense situation we'd be even more charming.

>>42659367

I don't think the large sea monster is terrified enough by all this for your take-charge charm to set it.

>>42659338
>>42659316
>>42659367
>Boosted Success!

Good job rollers. Writing.

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>>42659397

>Nerves [9/13]

You start to itch a little as you get close but you manage to keep your cool, just barely.

The sea monster too seems cautious but suddenly you feel it gripping on the chicken, tearing it away in chunks. The eyes are still watching you, but only imbetween bites.

Figuring someone has to make the first move in any relationship, you reach out and touch its head with your left hand (the right still holding the chicken) and to your delight, the creature reacts passively, finishing the chicken and allowing you to pet it.

Captain Chen laughs behind you and the creatures attention shifts to her. It moves to the side of the boat and then unexpectedly, rises up out of the water. Chen quickly kills the engine as the creature decides to investigate the inside of your little vessel personally, extending it's long long neck into the cabin.

It assesses both of you, warbles happily, and sticks its head into your garbage bag.

"Hey!"

You pull the bag away from it and the creature warbles again, irritably.

"Vincent. You should probably give it what it wants or it may climb up here on the boat and take it."

You toss a piece of chicken at it and the creature catches it in midair, revealing the bizarre inside of its mouth in the process.

[1/2]

>>42659505

Then you toss another piece out into the water.

The creature abruptly pulls out of the boat in pursuit of the meat.

"Start the engines now, we'll bring it onto the shore."

"And then?"

>And then it goes in my van.
>And then we kill it.
>And then we get help.
>And then we "write-in"

>>42659505
>barely
Oh man was the secret DC 14.

>>42659548
>>And then it goes in my van.
Gonna be a messy drive to the office. But we'll have to put a few extra bags of garbage in the back with it.

>>42659552

I'll just say that you needed that boost.

>>42659548
>"write-in"
Maybe we need to rent a much bigger truck locally for the automatic drive back to GEC?

If the van can't contain it.

>>42659586
>>42659618

It's going in the van. Or a truck, if you can commandeer one.

Dr. Xi is a unique opportunity. Just how high ranking are they?

They could backup the specimens database on a USB drive to sell to the new friends.

And should probably liberate two other humanoid specimens that are docile and easy to control and contain like Jeremy Yu is, so that it's not obvious how targeted the breakout is.

>>42659641
I'm sure the Colonel will want to volunteer one to ship his pest out of town.

And all the garbage you can eat.

>>42659641

The boats powerful motors kick into action and you start to accelerate away from the beast and towards the shore.

You don't get much time to build up a lead though.

"Would you look at that, she's keeping pace!"

"Lady, in my country it's now a capital crime to assign gender identity like that."

That gets you a scowl. But it's true, the monster is keeping pace quite nicely, dipping in and out of the waves. At times you can see a large shell on its back breach the water and you count not two but three sets of flippers, pounding the water together.

As you get nearer inland, the beast moves to the northwest side of the boat, hugging the shore near the old village and away from the estate. It follows you right up to the docks though.

"Alright, start slowing down now. I'm going to grab the garbage and hop out before we pull in all the way so I can run around to the boat ramp and the thing can beach itself neatly."

Captain Chen expertly does as you say and you leap off the still moving boat and onto the dock, tearing both the knees in your uniform but coming out of it mostly unharmed.

You start to run down the dock towards the boat ramp but the creature unexpectedly breaches behind you, throwing its entire body out of the water and onto the dock. You can hear people screaming as it toddles after you, warbling hungrily.

You immediately apply more speed and dash towards your van; fortunately the creature cannot keep up its initial boost of speed for very long and quickly falls behind, especially once it sees you reach the van and put the bag down.

You frantically do your best to clear whatever you can out of the back of your van and into the front seat. You toss the garbage in, hop in the drivers seat, and back the van up towards the waiting creature.

It warbles curiously once and then you hear the suspension squeak under its weight as it gets in and starts scarfing up the remaining garbage.

The console says it's 11:27.

[1/2]

>>42659792
>away from the estate.
It has enemies there?

Did it escape a facility?

> leap off the still moving boat and onto the dock,
Vince you absolute madman

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>>42659792
>, in my country it's now a capital crime to assign gender identity like that."
Does the president have blue hair?

>>42659792

Captain Chen runs up to you after shutting the doors to the back of the van, cheering.

"I can't believe you did that!"

"Neither can I," you admit.

"You really think she's going to stay back there?"

"As long as I keep feeding it, I think it will."

"Well, perhaps some extra feminine company will keep it pacified."

You're not sure, but you think she just ran a finger across your forearm.

>Yeah, you can come with. I might need some help later anyway.
>No way, you have a whole shark to butcher!

>>42659863
>Yeah, you can come with. I might need some help later anyway.

We might need a local contact if we want to look more into the Estate some other day anyway.

Might want to call HQ and tell them to prepare a specimen aquarium for our new pet/vivisection victim. And to meet us with chicken. Expired chicken.

>>42659937
>yeah, come on

Writing.

Also might want to call Lopez about the future speeding ticket.

Make it go away and we can pay him back when we party later.

>>42659956

"Maybe so. See if you can squeeze yourself in with all the crap on the passenger side. There's vodka in the glovebox, Captain Chen."

"It's Amanda out of the water and that's all I needed to hear."

She's soon crammed in alongside you.

"Uh, by the way, whats going to happen to that shark? Seems like a terrible thing to waste."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll call someone to pick it up, no problem. Always someone willing to buy a shark in this country."

"Maybe they could get my gear too? It was rented."

"Oh... um. Yes! Let me just make some calls, hold on."

While she's busy doing that, you start thinking about the trip back to HQ. You'll probably want to pick up some more chicken in New Town before you leave but you feel there's a serious question to be answered here:

>fresh

>garbage

To speed back to HQ or not?

>>42660004
>garbage

But one piece of fresh just to test if he likes that more. for science.

>>42660004
At this point changing the diet would be a mistake

>>42660027
seconding this

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>all that pointlessly expensive rental chainmail, speargun, and scuba suit
>when all we needed was gloves and chicken

>>42660015

Remember, it's barely noon.

>>42660038
>>42660027
>>42660015

>Garbage

It never occurred to you that there might be a point in your life when you'd consensually go to KFC twice in one day but here we are. The van parks itself in front of the restaurant and you get out, entering into the alleyway.

As you unload the trash, you reflect on how satisfying it would have been to take the sea monster through the drive-in but it's probably best not to change his diet now.

You pull three full bags from the dumpster in total and stuff them over your shoulder to feed to the sea monster.

"We really should give it a name, don't you think?"

"Why? I'm probably never going to see it again after today."

"It would just be.... nice."

"That's true. Maybe we can think of something on the trip."

How do you want to drive?

>Manual
>Automatic

>>42660109
>>Manual
Need more practice for future high speed chases.

>>42660124
Probably don't want to actually speed this time though.

>>42660109
>>Manual

>>42660148
>>42660124

You roll out of Junk Bay one sea monster richer than before.

Hitting the highways, you find them pleasantly empty and you're free to push your weighed down ran to its legal limits.

>roll 3d6+2 to see how quickly you cruise back

Maybe if we wear a bigger hat it will hide Vince's ear.

Rolled 3, 3, 6 + 2 = 14 (3d6 + 2)

>>42660187

Rolled 1, 1, 3 + 2 = 7 (3d6 + 2)

>>42660187
Resisting road rage.

>>42660205

Whoo, you resisted alright.

Rolled 5, 4, 4 + 2 = 15 (3d6 + 2)

>>42660187

>>42660205
And then Vince killed everyone.

>>42660195
>>42660205
>>42660222
>Success!

You make frankly amazing time and arrive at 1:50 pm. There's still an hour and ten minutes before lunch.

You take the time to dial up Lopez but you can only get his secretary. Apparently he's out of the office and, judging from her tone, doing something she strongly disapproves of. She promises to relay your message to him however.

Next you call up GEC HQ itself and tell them to get ready, because you're sending in a van with a highly toxic creature who adores moldy chicken and is immune to tranquilizers. The person is specimen handling is remarkably calm on hearing this and assures you it will be okay.

You get out of the van, discretely taking your illegal drugs and alcohol with you in your equipment bag. You also take your hypnotic vial, which you'll need to drug Doctor Xi.

"Now what?" asks Amanda.

>How about lunch?
>How about we get a cab back to my place and come back in an hour?
>How about we just check into a bar for a little while?
>Write-in

>>42660294
>How about lunch?

I missed a few threads, and you get guys get him addicted to cocaine. Nice job.

>>42660294
>>How about we just check into a bar for a little while?
Vince's place is terrible and needs cleaning.

>>42660330
It was one bump!

>>42660294
>How about we just check into a bar for a little while?

We need a safehouse to put the specimens in for the MIB to pick them up at.

Are they still using that meatpacking plant/rave basement? Should we tell them a meeting place there?

Should we send Chen in a cab to convey that message?

>>42660336

>one bump

Until he got up the next day to go for a run and "accidentally" found it in the back of his car. And then he got high with a cop.

Don't act like I didn't have to pull an entire weekend out of my ass after you guys turned it into a Tarantino movie.

>>42660346
>>42660336
>>42660346


To the bar it is. Writing.

>>42660382

"Why don't we get something to drink?"

"Fine by me. Do you know a place around here?"

"I've only been to two places in this town and one of them was just a bloodbath."

"How so?"

"Just messy, I guess."

You manage to find a pub style drinking establishment and sidle up to the bar.

"You know, it's a little quaint to take someone like me someplace like this."

"I could do with quaint after today. Excuse me, bar tender?"

The bar tender turns around, polishing a mug with his enormous hands. It's Zheng.

<Yes?>

"Uh... <I'll have a Guinness>."

<Right away.>

<Me too,> adds Amanda.

He serves you both your drinks expertly, but you notice he picks your coaster out of a different pile from Amanda's.

And he winks.

>END THREAD

>>42660451
There we go.

If not here, I imagine he'd manage to become the cab driver.

>>42660451
Thanks for the run, Simmons. Here's to hoping we beat that addiction!

>>42660382
But the gaining of cocaine addiction was the product of one bump!

The rest was irresistible consequences and trying to salvage some fun from it.

>>42660451

Well, that's it for tonight.

Awakening Quest will probably be my next run, on Wednesday.

We're all archived up on suptg:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=exterminator+quest

My disappointment that you guys did not attempt seduction is palpable- I had a song picked out for success and everything.

As usual, I'm always available @qmsimmons

Bonus question for players who can't ever leave:

What is the best part about Exterminator Quest?
What's the worst?

>>42660506
>success
>implying
no DC is low enough.

>>42660513

Hey, this is the quest you guys derail with high rolls.

You want to talk about low rolls derailing something... AQ's last session was... not as planned.

>>42660503
to be fair that one bump came after years of using before we got caught

>>42660506
>best
Inevitably increasingly tangled web of obligations tightening like a noose.
>worst

Sometimes confusing degrees of success system. Successfully trank-ing the Persian 'succeeded', but at great cost? Dodged bullets but got permanent charisma penalty as a side effect?

It's like sometimes there are two DCs.

>>42660506
>What is the best part about Exterminator Quest?
moe blind bugshota son
>What's the worst?
Never actually seeing bugboy son because Vince works late.

>>42660506
>What is the best part about Exterminator Quest?
How terrible Vince has got it at times, with awesome shenanigans on the side. Seriously, getting fucked up on the job is always fun.
>What's the worst?
The lack of players.

>>42660625
>Sometimes confusing degrees of success system. Successfully trank-ing the Persian 'succeeded', but at great cost? Dodged bullets but got permanent charisma penalty as a side effect?
>It's like sometimes there are two DCs.

I understand what you're saying here. These things happen because of how I set up the scenarios to incentivize making "good decisions".

The club was one big scenario with a couple things going on that you might have gotten involved with but you sat down and sussed out the robbery. Then you went to the bathroom to follow the shady guy and you had a few options for how to approach him. Three actually, but you picked the one with maximum danger and came close to ending the quest forever.

When you do that, I like to commemorate the occasion with something. Even so, the ear will be fun (eventually).

>>42660654

You know it's coming.

>>42660694

I'm very happy with having regulars, though I wish we had more too sometimes. Next time I'll call it Hypnotized Insect Boy Loli and see if that inflates the population.

>>42660733
regular here but Ivote not nearly enough I m sorry... i will gladly votte in our bugboy loli quest next time more...unless I miss it

>>42660733
>Next time I'll call it Hypnotized Insect Boy Loli

>muh sonfu
Sounds like a plan.

>>42660538
What, just cuz we didn't do any scuba diving exploration whatsoever?

I can't remember another high roll that derailed it before. Unless you count not getting shot on Saturday night as derailing.

>>42660782

You derailed it just by noticing the robbery with a fantastic awareness roll, which had a high chance of going smoothly and unnoticed otherwise.

There was a chance it would have gone violently anyway but it was maybe 15%.

I'm glad you did it anyway, depraved Vince is a lot of fun.

If you want to know what happened today I expected you guys to try and kill the creature with grenades or your rifle, which had a chance of instakill or driving it into the caves. That or use the screecher, which would have had a similar effect.

Again, the end result was better and made me feel good about how I structure the quest now.

Now we can ask Chen all about the Industrial Estate, and how kids must love having an abandoned place to check out right.

It's can't be that literally nobody goes there and there's a very well-maintained barbed wire fence.

Pff, couldn't they gave given Vince their spy-phone or whatever on Saturday instead of waiting for the work week to start.

>>42660733
That's what I like about this quest. No plot armor and getting fucked the shit up. When you say the quest could end from the right combination of mistakes and rolls I believe you.

I haven't seen that since Fronk and Wolf Quest.

>>42660538
Not on flirtation rolls.

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>>42660506
>What is the best part
Violence and cocaine.
>worst
Vince forgetting simple things like 'turn light on in the dark' and 'you have pepperspray'.

>>42660830
>Again, the end result was better and made me feel good about how I structure the quest now.
With multiple opportunities for how to do things, or placing clues and bait and clues-about-bait around?

I'm assuming you anticipated the possibility of using bait.

Vince should level up in Animal Handler and whatever the trait is for driving skills by tomorrow going by today I imagine.

>higher cause

>$1000 for "humanoid" specimens
Wait maybe the black market drug runners have a conscientious modus operandi and want to prioritize liberating people from the megacorps.

>>42660733
>These things happen because of how I set up the scenarios to incentivize making "good decisions".
Today actually went much, much better than Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, then, right.

>Jeremy is currently in GEC custody and Vincent is striving to free him.
>Likes:
>-cockroaches
>-dark damp places
>-alcohol

Oh right we gotta buy a tiny bottle of bourbon to-go from Zheng before we leave as an apology gift to Jeremy for taking a week to free him.

I mean that's what I'd want when I was 13.

>>42661394
If Vince doesn't want to be on security cameras, sending Dr. Xi in to get Jeremy, Jeremy receiving a new bottle of alcohol will make him suddenly realize it's exterminator-guy helping him again, and it's not actually a trick to lure him into the surgery room.

Booze, the universal language.

>Dislikes:
>-being vivisected without his consent

>without his consent
>consensual vivisection
Jeremy confirmed for browsing guro

Also we have to get Jeremy laid with an android. It's the only way he'll ever get any.

>>42653333
Nice quads.
>Rolled 1 (1d10)
I wonder if rolling high or low was better here, rolling for traffic/cops.

>>42653912
>The weeds have grown high on the sides of the road but they haven't colonized the cracks inside the road yet.
>Surprising, considering their teeth-rattling size.
...Oh. That might be another clue that vehicles drive down these shitty roads frequently enough to keep things from growing up in them. Not abandoned. Fake abandoned.