Where the rain gets in (Ch. 2: Day 12, pt. II)

psikeout · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:46 pm

(Continued from this thread in Route 99.)

----

Thanks to Rekk, Rock and his temporary crew was able to get a night of shuteye up in Starlight City before their return to Westside Island. It was all remarkably uneventful, at least bearing in mind everything that had happened the previous day. Strange as it was, Westside Island was probably going to feel a lot safer than the UF or South Island for a while, at least until the ever-growing web of conspiracies was fully unraveled.

For the second time, the group found itself at the central transit hub of Grand Metropolis. An awe-inspiring mass of steel and glass, the towering structure had many gigantic, terrace-like platforms, offering shuttle services to different parts of the city, access to skyrail systems, and pickup/loading areas for the many flying, hovering VTOL vehicles zooming to and fro. Standing on the exact same terrace as last time, with the airport was behind them, and an overview of the heart of the city ahead, the group was greeted back to the city by the same grand canyon of buildings as before. This time, however, it was overcast and dim; the wind whipped across the side of the tower, and the clouds seemed to threaten to douse everything any moment.

Rock wasn't nearly as interested in it all as he did last time. Compared to all the hustle and bustle going on all around, the white monkey looked less like what he was, and more slothlike instead, heavy boots thudding with heavy steps to an unoccupied metal bench, where he dropped his duffel, then himself.

Some sort of plan was formulated the previous night, laid out and discussed after most of the others had turned in for some rest. Rock, being the de facto leader of their outings thus far, was of course privy to the scheme, though he hadn't been terribly vocal about it. As such, it was probably a little mystifying to the others when, rather than continuing onward toward Vince's place, where they had been staying, he instead stopped, plopped down, and slumped forward with his elbows on his knees.

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Mie · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:48 pm

Though not particularly mystified, there was evident, but fleeting concern on Jam's face as she observed Rock's marked get-up-and-go deficit, but she was quick to resume the brooding that had increasingly become her norm as of late.

Lacing her arms loosely over her stomach, the salmon-colored simian remained standing even after crossing to the bench that Rock made his perch on. She gazed vaguely in the direction of the Hot Constellations Gambling District with an expression that was -- while largely unreadable, plainly not happy. It was only when her mouth opened that the contents of her mind became plain, however limited its audience was.

"Are you up to this?" she asked with such subtlety her lips barely moved. Briefly, her eyes flitted to their corners, making eye contact with the whiter primate, were he to look in her direction. "So soon, I mean."

psikeout · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:19 pm

"Yeah," Rock answered Jam dismissively as he raised his head up with a big breath then creaky exhalation. "I seriously don't feel as bad as I probably look," he claimed. That said, he did look pretty rough, but to his honesty's credit, it was mostly the combination of scuffs, scrapes, and bruises that dressed him up to look as ugly as he presently did, and nothing very serious. Worth noting was that a smoky, singed burn-mark had appeared on his shoulder that wasn't there the previous day, but had somehow cropped up during their seemingly uneventful overnight stay.

"I just need to catch up on sleep for a few... days after this," said the primate in some sort of attempt at comforting joviality.

Sheff · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:32 pm

His bag slung over his shoulder and his body stiff, Sheffer walked along behind Rock at first, glancing at the multiple shuttles arriving and departing all around. Half of him told him to catch the quickest one back to the resort, but that quickly reminded him of all the hardships and near lack of actual activity for him to do there (besides the boxing, of course). So, instead he just ambled along, following the two monkeys without any better purpose to be on his way.

The hedgehog would soon be found leaning up against the railing lining the edge of the building only a couple of feet from the primate partners, peering down to the streets far below, eyes following passing cars. It was a much more interesting view than the one above, the cloud cover a quick damper on any sort of joyous mood he could have at the moment.

Tau · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:12 am

Once more Tau was lingering near the others, though, as usual, he was silently listening to them while he observed his surroundings. He'd follow after them at a casual pace as they walked but otherwise choose to stay a few or more feet away unless addressed. Considering recent events, his focus was more on possible threats rather then idle chatter.

Greens · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:11 am

While Caz busied herself ruffling her hair for the occasion, Ace had readily followed the monkeys to their bench, but was dissimilarly able-bodied enough to stay standing while Rock took his break. "No rest for the weary, man," he added with a hearty morning shoulder stretch and several accompanying cracks. "But. If we're lucky, we won't have to be the only ones bearin' the weight o' the world on our shoulders, eh?"

A few feet away, the young miss Caz took a left turn, and trailed behind Sheffer for whatever reason. Her thumbs hooked under the arms of her backpack, she tilted her head left, as if he was something foreign and bizarre. Then she tilted her head right. Then she leaned her head in, and squinted her eyes. "Hey, um... Mr... Guy," she stated, in the hopes of getting his attention over the view. "...Where'd you come from, anyway?"

Mie · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:03 pm

Jam merely blinked in even response first to Rock's tough evasiveness and then at Ace's apparent "que sera sera" approach. The wheels in her head continued to turn conspicuously but silently, as her lips scrunched fleetingly to the side of her face.

"Maybe," replied the monkey brusquely, nodding towards the other's shoulder. "Not like it'll do any good when even one night's 'rest' results in souvenirs like that."

Both brows shrugged upward as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and asked in a tone that tried to be nonchalant, "Anything you wanna share with the class?"

Sheff · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 10:49 pm

The hedgehog's response was not immediate. It seemed he'd somehow become partially hypnotized by the passing cars down below and all around, his eyes seeming a bit fogged over... obviously one night of sleep wasn't going to cut it for how much rest he truly needed. The mole's query did break through eventually though, his head groggily swiveling her way.

"Hm...?" He blinked once, then rubbed his eyes with a forefinger and thumb, shaking his head slightly. "Oh... um..."

Sheffer stood a bit straighter then, a little more alert then he was a moment before. "Ran into them..." He nodded back to the trio placed nearby. "...over near Central City. Decided to come along and get done whatever needed to be done."

He gave a weary sigh, glancing back to the others. "Didn't realize it'd get me on GUN's wanted list."

psikeout · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:21 am

At Jam's question, Rock's gaze drifted toward some distant building.

A very colorful memory of the previous night shot through his mind.

...

"Just had a little misunderstanding," was his phlegmatic response, uttered unblinkingly.

Jahkari · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:29 pm

As she scanned the terrace, Key thought back to the sparse info she had for this job. To be honest, it wasn't much, but she didn't mind that; the unknown difficulty made it a bit more exciting. Plus, it was work. Something to do was always appreciated.

She was scanning the crowds for white. As she was terrible with names, she couldn't remember if she was looking for a Rock, or a Rick, or a Rekk- it something starting with R. But, the description was for a white primate. Her eyes caught a tail- but it was salmon. Next to that one, however, she spotted her contact. Shouldering her bag of essential tools, Key headed for the group, not exactly thrilled with it being a relatively large one.

"Um," she mumbled, in an attempt to announce herself. Key never was that great at first impressions. "I think I'm supposed to meet you here."

psikeout · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:44 pm

Rock looked almost pleasantly surprised to see the stranger walk up. This may or may not have had to do with the fact that the last help they received came wearing a heart-shaped bustier and half a catsuit. (Subtlety is always a plus.) Whatever the case, she matched the approximate description he'd been given, so the battered monkey shoved himself of his seat and to his feet, and took a step forward.

"If you're the, uh, 'tactical locksmith,'" he said, inventing a tongue-in-cheek term for her questionable occupation, "then yeah, you're at the right place." He extended a hand and introduced himself as monosyllabically as ever: "Rock."

Greens · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:21 am

"Hm," Caz answered with a taut nod of her head. "Hm," she answered again. "Well, don't let it get'cha down. After all, we're the good guys. I think. So we should be just fine." It was a shallow exchange, and she knew it, hoping at least to catch the guy's name. And she just might have asked, too, were she not greeted with newer, more exciting company! So with an interested "Ooo!" the mole flipped around and waddled her way towards the koala (but keeping herself at Ace's side for now).

Concerning Rock's mysteriously cryptic answer, ol' alley cat merely answered with a humble sounding "Hauh." And he almost started to formulate a hypothesis for his burn mark, too, but then reminded himself that Jam didn't have her lightning ring anymore. And he probably wasn't that kinda guy anyway. He withheld any further comments he might have had with the appearance of the new girl, opting to give a pseudo-friendly glance in her direction and a scratch of his opposite shoulder.

Sheff · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:34 am

A short-lived conversation now behind him, Sheffer busied himself with his spaced out staring for a moment longer before deciding to learn where the mole had rushed off too in such interest. Turning his head, he saw the newcomer near Rock. Sure enough, he quickly wondered who the koala was, and why she was even here, discussing with the white monkey. It must be for business... the hedgehog couldn't imagine Rock shaking a stranger's hand otherwise.

Giving a small huff of effort, he pushed away from the railing and swiveled around on one foot, walking over to join the welcoming party.

Jahkari · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:56 pm

Key laughed, shifting her feet uncomfortably as people started glancing her way. "'Tactical locksmith', huh? That's a new one. I kind of like it." She took his hand and shook it, then flexed her gloved fingers. "Key," she offered. "Yes, it's a nickname." She added immediately after, the conditioned reflex of one who got that question asked a lot.

Casting a wary glance at the interest she was garnering, she turned back to the white monkey. "Are... all of them in this, too?" She asked, clearly not a fan of the idea. If it was necessary, she'd tough it out, but the larger the crowd, the more uncomfortable she'd be, at least initially. "Also... how much info about this do you have?" Key was curious how much this contact new, as her details on the job were vague at best.

psikeout · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:16 pm

"They're... involved," answered Rock with some consideration, "but there's only gonna be a few of us in the team that goes in." He glanced around at their burgeoning crew as he spoke; the sheer size of the group had kind of crept up on him, too. "We'll have to be a little discreet at first. We can't really talk about it here, though. All I can tell you right this second is that the plan involves probably gettin' shot at, so, if you're not comfortable with that, you may wanna reconsider."

Where the rain gets in (Ch. 2: Day 12, pt. II)

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