Shadow of Death (IC)

[Ghel]

After returning to the Nexus, Sapputiyok makes a habit of scanning everyone xe interacts with, with xer powers (including Strongarm but not Colt, since xe hasn't seen him since their return to the Nexus), as long as xe is comfortable that xe is in an area where xe won't be overwhelmed by the Nexus itself.

When Strongarm suggests that he switch up the teams, Sapputiyok agrees. "Colt is very good at what he does, but he is not easy to work with. Also, I hear he is having some difficulty dealing with what happened in dimension 1. He did what was necessary, but I understand that it must be hard for him."

Sapputiyok looks Strongarm directly in the eye. "I want to keep working. I'll team up with whoever you say. If Colt still wants to work with me when he's ready to work again, I'll consider it. But for now, I think it's better if I work with someone else."

[Mytical]

Colt

The officer looks at Colt confused more then anything. Then the officer says "I think you really need to talk to Strongarm. I think you have the wrong idea about the IDP. Yeah, we have our policies and procedures, but we are NOT the local police. We do what is necessary, whatever that is. You think Strongarm is the type who bites his tongue? If he had one OUNCE of concern how you handled it, he would be in your face in a second. Heck, look at Electra. Guy has killed more people without remorse in his years with the IDP then we can count. Think normal police would keep somebody like that around? So .. you want to bang your head on the wall in frustration, go ahead. Nobody here will give you one minute of problem for doing what had to be done. The skip was wanted dead or alive. Not alive or alive." The officer shrugs. "You need time to adjust to the fact we are not raking your nads over coals, that is fine, but don't take it out on us because we DON'T give you grief for it."

Sapputiyok
Strongarm nods. "While he is getting his act together, I'll put you back with Goldie. Have something that might require a little more diplomacy this time. A peace delegation is meeting between two warring dimensions. Need you and Goldie to be baby sitters for the main negotiator. Get them to the meeting safe and sound. Think it is something you would be interested in?"

As for your sight you see the same thing from those you met before as you did. Though.. your sight does seem to have gotten 'stronger', as you now see ((How to explain this...)) Not thoughts..but pathways in peoples minds. You can't read minds..but you can see how their brains are wired to work..if that makes any sense. However, this does not seem to work on Strongarm. Also, you notice something from Strongarm for the first time. His mechanical arm and hand emit a soft power not unlike the technology from the Utopians.

[Tyg3rW01f]

Colt paused. The thought had occurred to him that something was different. He'd figured the leaving him alone was the IDP's way of forcing him to think, but was it really just him and had he just been projecting on Sapputiyok?
"Thanks."
Colt went back to blasting targets, thinking the whole time.

After a while, he walked into the Core and looked around. "Okay, so why da frell was I in here?"

[Ghel]

Sapputiyok smiles at Strongarm. "Sounds like old times. Higher stakes, but still... Yes, that's definitely something I'm interested in."

[Mytical]

Colt
After checking the logs of your activity inside the Core, you are more confused then before. You picked out certain dimension viewing crystals, and then deleted them from the Archive. Worse because they were deleted, how many, or what dimension they are is not found. There was about 5 of them that the Core no longer even is aware of .. for whatever reason. That is when you notice something. Steel. You have not heard a single peep from him, and he is quite the talker. It's as if something is between you and he.

Sapputiyok
The journey to the dimension to pick up the peace negotiator is rather unremarkable. You arrive without so much as a glimpse of any trouble. The negotiator is young, but your sight tells you they have power. It is not white, grey, or black however (good, neutral, evil). It is a pleasant shade of blue. The negotiator does look young, but from your sight, you can tell they will be very capable.

"Pardon, but among our kind.. it is considered rude to read auras without permission." The voice fits the negotiator. She is young and female, dressed in something like an earth Gi.

[Ghel]

Sapputiyok quickly closes off xer sixth sense. Xe makes an open-arm gesture of deference. "I apologize. I have never before met anyone who noticed my use of my gift. It is as natural to me as sight to most beings, so I thought nothing of it." Xe pauses a moment, then speaks haltingly. "Other uses of my gift are... difficult at best without that sense. Since we are here to protect you, I would like to know in advance if you will allow me to use my gift to defend you if it should be needed."

[Mytical]

The girl (who looks maybe 14 or so) nods. "Thank you for asking. You may use your gift around me if you wish." She gives a motion, which Sapputiyok guesses is a sign of respect.

[Tyg3rW01f]

Considering the actions the Core has recorded, Colt goes to Strongman. "Boss, we have a problem. Namely, I've been in the Core, deleting files. LOTS of files, and I haven't a clue why or what files. I know because I keep waking up in there and wondering why, so I checked. What I found out is making me think I'm some sort of security risk."
Colt tapped Steel. "Also, Steel has been really quiet of late. I dunno what I said or did not say, or did."

With that, Colt waited for Strongman to deliver verdict.

[Mytical]

Strongarm carefully considers you, then presses a button. A giant floating jellyfish comes into the room. Strongarm points to Colt, and the jellyfish places a single tendril on Colt..it hurts but just a tad. Next thing Colt knows he is inside a forcefield of some sort.

Strongarm says "You have been possessed. My guess is the last Skip wanted somebody to kill him so that he could possess them. Until we can get him OUT of you.. you are going to be quarantined."

A voice comes from Colt, but it is not Colts. It laughs at first. "You are too late, I've done what I needed to do. So throw whatever you want to try to get me out of here.. it will hurt Colt more then me."

((The reason Steel can't talk to Colt is because the spirit has silenced Steel))

Meanwhile
Only Goldie, the girl, and Sapputiyok leave the girl's dimension. About 10 minutes into the dimension the group is jumped by about six gun toting bounty hunters..all who look like they are from Colt's home dimension. They take out the transports tires, so they will have to be faced.

[Tyg3rW01f]

Colt's voice snarled, "When I get free I'm gonna pwn your face so hard, your body will be twitching fer a year, you ethereal !!"

The other voice laughed, "Yeah, you and what army?"

Colt's reply was a string of words and suggestions that made Strongman lift an eyebrow.

[Ghel]

As soon at the first shot is fired in the ambush, Sapputiyok opens xer gift wide. Xe immediately throws up a shield around the delegate. Then, in the time it takes for the attackers to shoot out the vehicle's tires, Sapputiyok has taken stock of the situation.

Xe reaches out with xer gift and yanks the rifle out of the hands of the nearest ambusher, spins it around, and shoots him in the face, point blank. Before his body even hits the ground, Sapputiyok turns the rifle to the next nearest attacker and shoots him, the bullet passing through his eye socket and blowing out the back of his skull.

By this point, the other attackers have noticed that something is wrong and are diving for cover. It is no use, though. One by one, Sapputiyok takes away their weapons and shoots them, until only one of the attackers remains. Sapputiyok takes away his weapons and aims them at him. "Don't move!" xe orders.

[Mytical]

Colt

Strongarm finally finds his specialist. A girl that looks way too young. She destroys the person possessing Colt, and he is set free.

Strongarm sighs. "We may never know what he did, or what he was up to. This is my fault. We should have checked for possession as soon as you arrived, because it was way way too easy."

Sapputiyok

When the last one is left, xe senses a very small vortex in the bounty hunter. A very dry chuckle is heard. "Win or lose we win. Either you feed us more death, or we claim your soul. You have 4 more dimensions to pass through.. we are legion..do you really think you can survive? The girl will NOT make the peace treaty. There will be war, and death... glorious death."

[Tyg3rW01f]

Colt sat up, nursing the worst hangover he'd ever had.
You okay?! Steel asked, worried.
"Steel, you and Strongman no speak loud; caffeine and Advil no work yet. I feel like I been on a three week tequila bender."

[Mytical]

Colt

Strongarm looks at Colt. Once you feel up to it..need your special services. Somebody has figured out how to cross dimensions without setting off our devices.. any of them. They are using this skill to run very dangerous drugs across dimensions. Find them, and shut them down.

[Tyg3rW01f]

Hearing this news, Colt fought to his feet. Pulling out his little notebook, I need a new notebook, this'n's loosin' space. Fast. Colt got ready to take notes.
"D'ya want 'em Dead or Alive? Tell me everything we know."