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Post by fen on Mar 24, 2018 21:54:53 GMT -6
Another day, another battle.
Every day at the same time, the Martian fleet would push forward, engaging in long-distance combat with the ESU. Every day they would test the waters, organizing their fleet to take minimal damage while attempting to pincer from the side. Each day their provocations would fail to register. While it meant that every day the MR fleet could send supplies down to the surface, the quantity was limited and the window of opportunity was beginning to shrink. They couldn’t afford to split their fleet further, even if it would help the surface considerably. They knew if they were wiped out here, the fight to re-establish a presence in the Earth sphere would be a nightmare.
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Luna was not simply a rock with cities built on top of it. It had a network of tunnels interspersed between city and road and port. Many were used daily, some had long since been forgotten. A wrong turn down a forgotten path and you could be lost wandering for miles and miles of darkness. In most cases, these paths are marked and closed off.
Inconvenient for a worker, but if you were say, attempting to smuggle out three heaps of extremely expensive ESU 6MW tech… Well, they’d do you just fine.
“This is as far as I go,” The voice called out, sticking a hand out from the cockpit of the freighter, waving at the DAGGER that had come to a stop in front of him. “I can put it on auto-pilot and you can lead it the rest of the way, it should automatically snap to the Lockjaw when it shows up.”
“Right, I understand.”
The cockpit to the DAGGER opened up, revealing a tall man, just barely leaning out of it in an ESU standard uniform. His dark hair was cut nearly down to a bowl, and a rifle was strapped along his back. The man driving the freighter gave him a wave, his space helmet locking around him as he floated to the side of the tunnel, coming to a stop by a maintenance door.
“You shouldn’t meet any resistance, but… You never know. They’re getting more antsy with the Martians knocking on our door every other day.”
“Noted. Hawk won’t want to rattle the nest any time soon.”
The man chuckled, opening the maintenance door and taking a foot inside. “I can see that. Well, until next time.”
“Liberos vivere.”
The pilot gave the man a salute as the door shut behind him, the cockpit closing as well. He settled back into his seat, the main camera coming back into focus as the freighter pushed on. The DAGGER raised its arm, a mean looking kinetic rifle slung with a grenade launcher underneath. The machine moved onward, the freighter just right behind it, with nothing but darkness to greet them as they moved.
“Lex talionis.”
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03/20/0386
06:00
Hangzhou Bay
Normally disallowed to dock near a civilian area, special permission was granted to oversee maintenance procedures. The Menaulion was part of a family of only three, and critical to the continued fight of the ESU. Beyond maintenance work, it allowed officials a chance to see how it had been functioning- to see if they were meeting expectations.
It also allowed the beginning of a new operation.
Adamaris sat in the bridge, a cup of tea in her hands, the captain blowing at it gently. The officers had been given permission to attend to other matters, and the bridge could be emptied. Despite the free time, her thoughts were still focused on the matter at hand: that they had work to do.
“Jack,” She began. “This seems off.”
The captain set her cup down, frowning. “For once, it seems like things are going our way. Despite the fact that a lot of these pilots don’t have much experience, they’re holding up alright.”
“It doesn’t seem like you want them to know that,” the lieutenant commander replied. Even after years of service under her, Jack struggled to get a read on her thoughts. His gloved hand swiped at his tablet, scrolling through the details of the operation plan.
“Let’s just pray they manage as well outside their machines as they have in them,” he continued. “There are many ways this mission could go south.”
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Of the four groups, only three had to really worry about moving.
Gamma team, or Gabe and Lana, had been assigned to investigate gang activity on Chongming Island, part of northern Shanghai. Rumors were abound that the island held Martian sympathizers, a group disguised under the pretense of simply being a Martian social club. Their supposed hideout: Orange Seas, a club and bar somewhere on the island. Easy, discrete. It wouldn’t be hard for Gabe or Lana to flash a little know-how to get to where they needed to be.
Beta team, or Sean and Lin, instead were given something… Slightly juicier. Although on the books as simply a hotel, the InterContinental Nin-Yo was really a front for a high end casino. Gambling, although normally illegal in China, still had criminal presence. Shanghai became a popular region for international travel when it came to crime syndicates. Much of it had to do with a recent relaxation of travel laws that came with the post-colonial era. Earth was a much more free, much less robust place to live in comparison to the sprawling networks on the Moon and Mars.
Unlike Gamma, Beta team’s goals were a little more direct. The ESU had information on an important Martian figure appearing at the hotel, and more importantly: the casino. Dr. Kamille Euzone was both a famous surgeon and the owner of V-Tech Health Enterprises. A big, big fish for the pond it was in. A big fish with questionable ties to Olympus Inc., one of the monoliths of Mars.
Finally, Alpha team was responsible for one thing: tracking down the ‘shipment of goods’ to supposed Martian sympathizers. Their lead was in the hands of an agent by the name of Leprechaun. Their goal was to meet along Dianshan Lake to contact this agent, and to regroup based on the information they could provide.
The ESU held China currently, but acting in an official ESU capacity would attract unwanted attention. Background channels and grounded contacts were needed if they wanted to figure out how they were moving.
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“This is about as far as we’re taking you.”
The door to an inconspicuous government car shut behind Kara, the shaded driver giving the two a nod. “Leprechaun is near the park, look for white. He’ll have the keys to another ride you two can use. Keep radio silence with your Menaulion for now, you’ll have our number to contact us once you can locate the goods.”
With nothing more than a wave, they drove off, leaving the two in a park just beside the Dianshan Lake. Most of their directives, outside of attempting to stay below official attention and to pass as the people they were looking for: boiled down to simply finding out where and when that shipment of AAs would reach Shanghai.
“Donat Lestrange...” Was all Cain muttered, a short chuckle escaping him, he already in the center of the park. He was trying to light a cigarette, fumbling with a lighter while looking over what would be his fake ID for the duration of the operation.
It was surprisingly cold, and the weather looked muggy- almost as if it was about to rain. The occasional wind ate at his somewhat exposed hand, Cain insisting on wearing fingerless gloves. He claimed he was more comfortable shooting with them- a claim that Sean probably had a good time with. Still, it was him and Kara now, with nothing more than some civilian clothing and some weapons. Some of which were in a duffel bag Cain was carrying along his back.
“Anyways… Care to start looking for our ‘pot o’ gold?’”
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Post by Captain Ameijin! on Mar 25, 2018 14:43:57 GMT -6
Sean and Lin stepped out of a black, unmarked car and into Shanghai’s bustling waterfront district. They had been provided with little more than two hotel reservations, a saxophone case that was definitely not packed with firearms, and an objective: find Dr. Kamille Euzone.
The Huangpu River glistened with the iridescent reflection of the city’s lights, reds and purples and yellows leaving bright streaks across the water. Residents and tourists alike walked the wide pathway along the river. It was not the cover of night that masked Sean and Lin’s presence, but the indifferent crowds that blanketed the insomniac city with noise. The two stood idly as their chauffeur drove silently into the night.
Satisfying ‘pop’s resounded throughout Sean’s body as he stretched his joints. His black-and-white pinstripe suit gave him little room to stretch, lest he tear its delicate seams, but the cut was comfortable and it had been fitted perfectly onto his bulky frame.
“Wish we could’ve had a more luxurious ride to match our clothes,” Sean lamented. “My neck is sore from being packed into that car like a sardine just a smidge too big for its can.”
Unlike her partner Linnea stood perfectly still, as if afraid that doing anything else would get them found out on the spot. Any attempts at trying to stay hidden that way was completely negated by her partner, but nobody around them seemed to bat an eye at the sound of cracking joints. She slowly turned her head towards Sean at his comment, looking up at him. There was a moment of hesitation before she said, with a small smile, “For you, I think that’d be a metaphor that matches any car, but… yes. Agreed, coming from the other sardine in the same can.”
“At least ye didn’t bump yer head cramming yourself into the doorway,” Sean grumbled. “I’ve got a goose egg the size of my knuckle, and all this noise isn’t helping my headache any…”
The pair walked along the edge of the waterfront, ostentatious yachts blaring their horns over small talk. The long car ride had given them plenty of time for last-minute refreshers on the plan, and, more importantly, their backstories. Sean would operate under the pseudonym Cedric MacGilleain, a bellowing saxophonist who could hold an impressively long note. Linnea would operate under the pseudonym Brianna Muenster, a sultry vocalist with a budding career in theatre. Together, the infamously gambling-addicted duo are known as Mac & Cheese.
Sean had come up with names for their family members, hometowns, song and album names, and even spurious controversies they’d been involved with. It was all listed on their entirely legitimate web page, something he had spoofed within the last couple days. It may have been a little… excessive, but it was difficult to keep Sean from putting his all into it. While it might’ve looked like Linnea was just along for the ride, he knew that she was getting just as into it as he was.
A narrow stretch of walkway along the Waibaidu Bridge separated the waterfront from their destination, the InterContinental Nin-Yo. The hotel was closer to two buildings than one, its tall glass towers connected by a lobby at the ground floor and spindling skyways that crossed between them. Sean and Lin approached the revolving doors that sat within the mouth of a massive gold-and-red dragon perched over the lobby, an imperial decoration that indicated that the two had entered the belly of the beast.
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Linkyu
Cosmic Kiddie
aaa
Posts: 47
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Post by Linkyu on Mar 29, 2018 0:55:23 GMT -6
Kara chuckled and looked around. “A white pot, to boot. Does that mean we’re looking for someone in a white suit, or…?” She left the question in the air, as if open to any answer.
Cain shrugged, and with a ‘click’ shut his lighter, stuffing it in his pocket as he rubbed his hands together. “Maybe they’ll just be in a pure white suit. That’ll stick out, alright.”
“So much for inconspicuity...” Kara paused slightly. “Inconspicuousness? That doesn’t sound right.”
Another shrug and a wave of his hand, and Cain had already broken out into a walk towards the edge of the park they had found themselves in. The two made way towards the Dianshan Lake, traversing alongside the fenced walkway in search of their apparent albino contact. The walkway seemed to span most of the southern side of the lake, which happened to be their general trajectory. While there were plenty of passerby, none seemed to match their clue.
Cain fumbled with the smoke in his mouth, annoyed at the current events. “And here I thought this would be quick…”
“Slow is smooth, though…” Kara checked her watch. “0654. I reckon we’re still in acceptable margins.”
Her partner cleared his throat, tapping his smoke to let some ash free as he leaned over the railing, gazing out at the lake with a hint of boredom in his eyes. “Bleh, what a waste. Would have been easier to just give us a specific location instead of looking for… ‘Mr White’.”
“I don’t mind the waiting, but it sure would’ve been nice to have a more punctual contact.” She leaned her back against the railing. “Well, you work with what you have, I guess.”
“Speak for yourself,” He took a long draft, letting out the smoke with a punctual sigh. “First time in a while we get to go out for a walk and it’s stuck doing this? It’d be nice to have a proper break for once.” He turned, dropping the cigarette to the floor and crushing it, following it with another shrug. “Work’s work, I suppose.”
“Mhmm.”
Kara looked around; still no white in sight. She drummed her fingers idly on the railings. In her head, she was reciting the SOP one more time; especially in the case that the contact never shows up. Still, she waited patiently.
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Post by S☆E on Mar 29, 2018 16:29:20 GMT -6
It didn’t take long for her patience to pay off. A chinese woman in a light grey and white suit approached the two of them. “Lestrange?” When Cain nodded, she sighed with relief. “Would you believe there’ve been three other pairs that came by here today matching your description? Fuck me, that’s annoying.” Without skipping a beat she turns and heads out of the park. “If you’re headed for the end of the rainbow, follow me.”
The three of them walk down a busy city sidewalk, turning off into an alley that splits into even narrower alleyways. Passing a few cramped shops and a bar that could fit into a clown car, they come to a heavy metal door flanked on either side by a camera and a mounted taser gun. “Oh shit. I forgot which password we’re using for today. I think it’s… purple horseshoes?” she said tentatively, staring into the camera. When the electronic lock on the door shifted with soft click she gave a slight chuckle. “What a day…”
Inside was a small room where a few people were in the middle of what looked like a heated card game. Another set of heavy-duty doors led to who knows where on the far wall. One of the players was decked out in a sleek biker’s suit, all white from collar to boots to gloves. He looked up from his hand to the approaching group. “Xiao, these our two? Game is over. Time for work.” He tossed down his hand and got up, extending a gloved hand to Cain. “It is pleasure to make your acquaintance, ‘Lestrange’. I am ‘Leprechaun’, but I hate codename. Instead, call me Stepan.”
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Post by Captain Ameijin! on Apr 6, 2018 14:54:47 GMT -6
Two halves of the hotel flanked the sides of the lobby, tall glass structures that mirrored one another. A stream of water ran below the lobby itself and across the lower levels of each structure. In contrast to the hotel’s regal decor, lively bamboo stalks lined the sides of the stream. Stones tumbled just below the surface of the crystal clear water. The juxtaposition of the natural and artificial reflected the very nature of Shanghai itself.
The two approached the counter with their printed hotel reservations in hand. The receptionist smiled as they neared, her outfit ironed stiff and her hair tightly bunned. She bowed slightly as Lin laid their tickets on the counter.
“Good evening and welcome to the InterContinental Nin-Yo,” she said, gently pulling their reservations behind the desk and scanning them into their systems. “Mr. MacGillean, Ms. Muenster. It is a pleasure seeing you here today and we appreciate your patronage. Before you’re given the keys to your room, I must ask you to take a walk under our metal detectors to the right.”
Sean looked to his right, silently nodding towards Lin. “Not a problem at all, right Brie?”
Whether it was an act or a force of habit, Linnea bowed respectfully to the receptionist with a smile. “Of course.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” the receptionist replied. “We at the InterContinental Nin-Yo are dedicated to ensuring that all hotel patrons have a safe experience during their stay.”
The undercover duo stepped past the red velvet curtain that obscured them from the public’s eye, pausing at the steps of the large metal detector. It was something Sean expected to see at the airport rather than a hotel. He removed his cufflinks and belt, keeping his trousers held tightly in hand. Linnea had slightly more to remove: a watch, some earrings, and a couple of bobby pins from her hair. The saxophone case was taken by a heavy-set man who sat idly to the side, his hands idly clicking open the lock.
“Be careful with that, would ye?” Sean grumbled. The man glared back at him. Sean wasn’t sure if he didn’t understand or simply didn’t care.
Peeking his head out from behind the curtain, Sean motioned towards the receptionist. “Mind telling yer buddy to keep his grubby fingers from smudging up my saxophone? That instrument is one-of-a-kind, worth more than a year’s worth of yer salaries… combined.”
The receptionist said something sharply in Chinese, prompting the heavy-set man to grunt in affirmation. He opened the saxophone case. Inside lay a shiny brass saxophone nestled in a thick cocoon of purple velvet. The man’s hand hovered over its surface. Then, he shut the case tight, handing it back to Sean as he passed under the metal detector without issue.
“Thank ye kindly.”
Keeping her expression neutral, Linnea handed the man their luggage. While the saxophone case was a different story, this was simply filled with clothing and other regular travel accessories. She stepped through the metal detector quietly, careful not to let out a massive sigh of relief at the ensuing silence.
The heavy-set man begrudgingly handed Sean and Lin the keycards to their room.
“If there is anything you need, please feel free to call room service using our automated service machine stationed in your room,” the receptionist continued. “It is scheduled to begin cleaning after you have been absent from your room for fifteen minutes. We encourage you to take full advantage of the InterContinental Nin-Yo’s amenities and hope you enjoy your stay.”
Sean gave the woman a brief, casual nod as he fastened his belt back to his pants. He reminded himself to attach his cufflinks later. “Now how about we check out that room?”
Lin put on her jewelry and smoothed her hair back, putting the bobby pins back in. She couldn’t help but give a final glance over her shoulder to the pair they’d gotten past. Turning her gaze towards Sean, she nodded. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
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Post by montywonty on Apr 7, 2018 17:45:45 GMT -6
Gabe and Lana had made their initial exit from the unmarked van all the same as the rest of the teams in the operation. However, their trip wouldn’t stop there. Their escort would drop them off at the pier. The duo were seated among mainly an array of tourists, with the occasional swaying of the waves pushing about the boat. They were taking the ferry to get to Chongming Island, to investigate the Martian sympathizers at the Orange Sea club. It was a relatively simple mission. Or at least, it should be…
“How do you think this sounds, Gabe?” Lana piped up as she adjusted her heart-shaped sunglasses. “Like, hiya! Is there, like, a place to get a smoothie around here?!” Regrettably, it was her attempt at sounding like a valley girl.
To an extent, their disguise as a pair of tourists would be an easy one to perform. Gabe, for one, knew next to nothing about where they were save for the mission at hand. The perfect disguise. He looked over at Lana, fidgeting with his own pair of darkened shades, grimacing at the exaggerated accent she was going for. “If I have to hear that the whole mission, I don’t know which of us I’m shootin’ first.”
Her lips pouted in disappointment, with hands folding against the wrinkles upon the skirt of her salmon dress. “You are not a very supportive husband, you know.”
“I know. I didn’t even support the marriage.” He replied cooly, cursing as his fanny pack drooped down against his leg. “And especially not the fuckin’ fanny pack.”
“Both of those things are crucial to our cover!” Lana exclaimed, waggling her own fanny pack about on her waist. “We are a newly wed couple that has never been to China before, where we’re celebrating our honeymoon. It’s the perfect plan.” She paused, scratching her chin. “Wait, although now that I think about it...oh my gosh. We didn’t even come up with our names!”
“So ya didn’t think of any names, and ya didn’t even wanna get some decent rings for the disguise? Someone’s got some misplaced priorities.” She did have a point, though. While he could potentially get away with using his name, Lana would probably have a bit more recognition to hers. “I dunno, let’s just keep it simple.”
Lana melted into an incredulous smile as she re-acquainted herself with the white-gold wedding band upon her ring finger. While she did not play with jewelry often, she was familiar enough with what was considered expensive in that store. Despite being enthusiastic about their fake identities, it seemed that she wasn’t the only one - Gabe seemed more than willing to cover bases. “Since we are supposed to be married, I’d have to take your name, right? So how about…” She hummed, tapping her sandal against the floor. “Clint and Natasha Barton?”
He on the other hand, was far less comfortable with the little piece of silver and rock on his finger. He’d never been one for jewelry in the first place, and it felt weird having that constant reminder whenever he went to use that hand. He gave Lana a look, seemingly unconvinced of her idea. “Ehhh, I dunno if yer much of a Natasha, but sounds good to me. Just. Please don’t try and double dip the accent. Please.”
The auburn pigtails upon her wig weaved through her fingers as the boat rocked for one last time, finally reaching the dock of Chongming Island. “I will do my best, Clint.” She replied with a wry smile.
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Post by fen on Apr 7, 2018 19:00:47 GMT -6
He was under the impression that they were meeting with the contact directly, outside. It seemed that there had been a miscommunication somewhere, or that their contact had other plans with how this was going down. In either case, he couldn’t help but to be glad to be out of the cold air. For what they believed was a small time operative, he had quite the set up going on in the room.
Although he preferred to defer to Kara, he took Stepan’s hand into his own, shaking it firmly. “A pleasure, and since we’re away from prying eyes, you can call me Cain.” Was that a faux pas? Well, it didn’t matter. Whether Stepan was his real name or not seemed unnecessary to worry about.
“I’ll have to defer you to my, ah, ‘leader’ here.” With a motion of his arm and a curt, teasing bow, he stepped back to allow Kara the spotlight.
She shook Stepan’s hand with a firm grip as well. “You can call me Kim.” Kara had requested for the name to start with the same sound as hers to make it more unconsciously natural to use. “We were told something about the keys to another ride…?” “Is pleasure making acquaintance, Kim and Cain. Before we begin with work, I should tell you that if things go south on this job I won’t risk my life for you.” He pauses for a second to take a drink and shrugs casually.
“Is good to be honest about such things if we are to work together. I want to have nice retirement where I can relax on beach. Lay in sun, drink fruity drinks, relax all day. Dying… is not good for that plan. That does not mean I won’t do all I can to help, I support your allies after all, but if shit hits fan I go.” He motions to one of his compatriots at the card table and is handed a small box. “So, with that out of the way let us talk keys. Do you want to take the van or do you want to take the motorcycles?”
Cain’s face, predictably, lit up at the mention of bikes. While he had imagined it would go a bit differently, like a high speed ride in a sleek spy car, internally he was still quite pleased with this development- for one reason or another. He did give Kara a quick look, brow cocked, before whispering to her under his breath. ”Really going to leave me out to dry like that?”
Although it sounded serious, his tone and expression quickly shifted to something more friendly, and the sniper reached to give Stepan a pat on the shoulder.
“Bikes you say? I think I know my answer, at least.”
Kara crossed her arms and let out an audible ‘tsk’.
“It does sound alluring, I’ll give you that, but what kind of bike are we talking about and is the basic equipment provided? Like you said, I don’t plan on dying here either, so taking extra risks has to be calculated.”
She wasn’t particularly worried about their luggages; the two duffel bags weren’t too cumbersome, but she wasn’t a fan of riding with no protection, especially if a quick getaway is required later and it goes south.
“Street bikes. Very fast.” Stepan says with a glint in his eye. “A hobby of mine. If you don’t think you can handle them you can ride in the van. Van is coming, following alternate route. Better to not travel with everything in one place, yes?” He brings them through the door on the other side of the table, having to squeeze through the narrow space sideways to get to it.
On the other side is a cramped space that might have been a shop at one point but has since fallen into long disrepair. A small floodlight is hanging haphazardly from the ceiling and in the center are three motorcycles; one a navy blue with yellow stripe highlights, one lime green with thin black lines criss crossing and one white with magenta accents. “I have two bikes prepared, one for each of you. The white one is mine. These are common enough in the streets that with the suit and helmet no one would pay you any mind. Is like loud camouflage, hahah! Good for travel, good for getaway, and most important of all, very cool to ride.”
He pushes aside a few pieces of plywood and moves some wooden planks to reveal a once-boarded up window that leads to the alley opposite where they entered. “Van will meet us at rendezvous point. So, friends, shall we ride like the winds?”
“I’ll say.” Kara smirked as she looked at the bikes, particularly the green one. “They are indeed pretty. Count me in.”
A whistle from Cain seemed to agree with what Kara said as he followed them into the room, arms crossed. “Of course you pick the green one…” He muttered, eyes on the navy bike. “Well, I can’t complain I guess…”
“I see you both have good taste. The Green Devil is a good choice, though the Blue Lightning is not without its charms. Just don’t break it or Xiao will be pissed. Once you both get suited up, we’ll be ready to begin job proper. Don’t take too long.” He points towards a poorly-constructed set of changing rooms on the opposite wall. “Suits are hanging over there. While you gear up I make sure everything is loaded in van.” With an excited thumbs-up he jogs back through the door and you can hear muffled Russian and Chinese as his small crew gets to work.
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Post by Captain Ameijin! on Apr 8, 2018 23:33:36 GMT -6
Sean and Lin's hotel room was located on the third floor of the building to the right. Elevators traveled from the bottom floor to the very top of the tower, operating like pistons as patrons traveled between floors. They pushed a button calling for a ride up, waiting mere moments before an elevator descended. They shuffled in.
Dozens of buttons were listed in rows of three inside the elevator, backlit by a soft yellow glow. It would take ages to search each floor for a secret casino. Sean scratched the stubble on his chin, selecting the fourth floor. For now, he thought it best to collect their thoughts in the privacy of their hotel room before engaging in some old-fashioned tactical reconnaissance.
The elevator stopped, its door opening to a long hallway that looped around the floor’s inner circle. Shimmering guardrails lined with plexiglass kept drunken customers from tumbling over. Hallways stretched outwards, hotel rooms lined on either side. At their end lay wide club rooms that overlooked the city from one-way window panes. The two searched for their hotel room, counting off the numbers as they walked. 468, 470, 472, 474… Room 476!
Sean eagerly slid his keycard into the metal scanner, opening the lock with a satisfying ‘click’. He pushed the door wide open.
Lin wasn’t as excited as Sean was, hesitantly following after him. Despite her wariness, she couldn’t help but shuffle over to the side to get a better look of the room.
Their room was startlingly crimson, specks of gold lining black furniture to break up the harsher reds. The washroom sat just to the right of the entrance, a dial from the inside adjusting the transparency of the walls for those who wanted a more steamy, intimate experience. A closet was hidden to the left, opening up to reveal a long row of coat hangers and storage racks already half-filled with extra blankets and towels. Two twin-sized beds took up the majority of the floor space, layered with blankets, duvets, and more pillows than any two people could possibly use.
As Sean approached the beds, a minifridge-shaped robot scuttered out from under the wall-mounted television at the opposite end of the room. It opened the door on its chest with a small pair of clamp-like hands, opening a miniature bottle of champagne. This must’ve been the automated service machine the receptionist mentioned, Sean thought as the robot poured two chilled glasses.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Sean said, practically tossing the champagne down his gullet. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the empty glass onto the service machine’s head. Letting out a deep, guttural sigh of relief, he collapsed onto the soft mattress below. “Well isn’t this a few steps up from our prior lodgings?”
Linnea gave the room a good, long look – this time not because she was searching for any threats, but to take in the view. Lingering nerves made her finish her champagne far quicker than she intended to, but she didn’t care as much as she would have. … actually, no. That was a lie. People didn’t often get the chance to be on super secret spy missions and get into five star hotels for free. She lowered the glass towards the service machine to refill, luxuriously sat back on the edge of her bed, and took the longest, most self-satisfied sip of any drink she’d ever had in her life. “Indeed.” There.
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moo!!
Cosmic Kiddie
Posts: 63
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Post by moo!! on Apr 15, 2018 0:29:13 GMT -6
Sean and Lin had exhausted themselves searching for clues on the whereabouts of the hidden casino. Tailing suspicious guests only made them look more suspicious, something they desperately wanted to avoid. Attracting the hotel’s security-- or worse, Dr. Kamille Euzone himself-- would put a very swift end to their mission. So they searched high and low for a secret code or hidden key that might unlock the casino’s secrets. Sean had dived to the very bottom of the crystal-clear indoor pool and Lin had purchased a mysterious grab bag from the gift shop, but both their pursuits had come up empty.
Well, maybe not quite empty. Lin’s grab bag had contained an adorable panda pen and a fridge magnet of the Shanghai Tower—spoils that she pocketed (perhaps a bit too eagerly) without a word.
They finally settled into Dizzying Heights, a high-class bar that overlooked the city from the highest floor of the hotel. Even if they utterly failed to pick up any new information, at least they would end the night on a high note. Away from the judgmental eyes of his peers Sean was happy to order a tall pint of hard cider. He wasn’t usually one to drink on the job, but desperate times called for desperate measures. After this they would have to start checking for clues floor by floor.
Sean and Lin sat quietly at a table near the window. Light conversation interrupted long periods of silence as the two slowly stewed over their drinks. They carefully watched giggling tourists come and go, leaving the bar in a constant state of flux.
“Something smells fishy here,” Sean whispered under his breath. “And it ain’t coming from the river.”
Lin was quiet, observing their surroundings. She took a thoughtful sip of her rum and glanced down at the watch on her wrist. “Hm.” Her eyes flicked back towards the bar’s exit as a couple stepped out of view. “That one was about ten minutes.”
“Aye,” Sean replied as he took a small sip of apple cider. “Fella behind ye took not one sip of his drink before bolting out the door. Why wait around for a drink just to leave the moment it arrives?”
“... maybe he’s not after the drink. He wasn’t the only one who’s done this. But if there is something going on, I’m not seeing it. No slips of paper under the glass, no odd hand gestures…”
“Too conspicuous,” Sean remarked. “If they’re ballsy enough to do this in plain sight, they’re confident they won’t be caught.”
“Regardless of how it’s done, it probably starts with the bartender. We’ll have to check him out, and anyone ordering drinks from him.” Lin looked towards the counter where the bartender stood, currently speaking to another man seated on the other side. “It’d be too blatant to just talk about it in the open, so maybe a code?”
“Doubt it’s anything complex. Wouldn’t be much use if high-rolling patrons forget the code, now would it?” Sean downed the last of his pint, standing up from his seat as he set the heavy glass on the table. “Now, I think it’s time to do what I’m best at…”
Linnea looked up at him, the worry plain on her face. “… err. And… that is?”
“Causing a scene.”
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Post by Captain Ameijin! on Apr 15, 2018 0:31:52 GMT -6
Sean stumbled towards the bar’s counter, bumping into nearly every person along the way. By the time he reached the other end of the bar he had already made a thorough fool of himself. Sean leaned over the counter without bothering to take a seat, slinging his arm over the man next to him. The anxious businessman had only just ordered his drink, yet he was already checking his watch religiously.
“Can ye believe the wait on drinks around here? I ask for a Buttery Nipple and they hand me a Cocksucking Cowboy… fifteen minutes later.”
“Y-yeah,” the man stammered, shifting uncomfortably away from Sean.
“Tell ye what. Ye look like someone who can hold their liquor,” Sean mused, words slurring into one another. “How about I order the two of us a round, my treat. Not every night ye can drink with such a view!”
“I really should be going after this--”
“Nonsense,” Sean assured. His grip around the man tightened. “Surely ye can stick around for just one more drink?”
“Well, if it’s really only one more…”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Sean said. He loosened his arm around the man, grinning from ear to ear. “Now don’t tell me ye plan to make me break open the piggy bank with something like gold-flake schnapps or vintage wine from my old great grandpa’s days?”
“Just a rum and coke,” the businessman answered, his shoulders relaxing.
“A rum and coke… man of simple tastes, I like that.” Sean motioned towards the bartender. “Barkeep! Second round of rum and coke for this fine gent and another for myself. Ye can put it on my tab.”
The bartender kept a watchful eye on Sean. His drunken, rambling presence seemed to raise a few red flags in their mind, but so far he had only proved himself to be obnoxious. “Of course, sir.”
“Forgot to ask how ye take rum and coke,” Sean admitted, turning back towards his unwitting informant. “On the rocks? Splash of lime, maybe two?”
The man pulled at his collar nervously. “Just one splash of lime… no ice.”
“Lukewarm rum and coke? Didn’t take ye for a neanderthal,” Sean teased. “Barkeep, make sure there’s a few chunks of ice in mine.”
He released the anxious businessman from his grasp. As their drinks arrived, the man chugged the first rum and coke, then took a quick gulp of the second before handing the bartender his keycard. The hotel had marketed the feature as a ‘temporary credit card’, something you could keep on your person without worrying about having your identity stolen. The credit line was good in nearly every corner of Shanghai, they insisted, and corporate guests could dine under the company dollar. The bartender quickly swiped the keycard before handing it back to the businessman. The man practically hopped out of his seat, muttering an apology to Sean as he shuffled out of the bar.
“Barely made a dent in that one, did he? After ordering him a second round and everything…” Sean polished off his own rum and coke, eyes searching for his next target. At this rate, the drunken fool bit wouldn’t just be an act.
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moo!!
Cosmic Kiddie
Posts: 63
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Post by moo!! on Apr 15, 2018 0:34:48 GMT -6
It was hard not to go over and back Sean up, though in this case 'back up' meant 'salvage'. It wasn't as if the situation was going poorly, but it was so blatant that Lin felt on edge. There were so many ways it could go wrong, and yet she knew her intervention would make things even more suspicious. Sitting back and watching the situation didn’t help at all either. Not for her anxiety, nor for their mission. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look away from the scene. There weren't many hidden areas in the bar; the most inconspicuous place was a short hallway at the back corner of the main bar area, and it wasn't difficult to tell where that led to. After all, the sign right above the entryway said 'restrooms'. Still, it was the only other place they hadn't checked. Linnea was fairly sure that most people that went into the restrooms came out, but she headed there nonetheless. It was as fancy as the rest of the hotel. There the front, with marble sinks and shiny mirrors that remained untouched despite regular usage, and vases with real flowers that gave the room a floral scent. The room continued onward past the main area, into a long corridor lined with tall louvered stalls and ending in a wall an aquarium built into it. Having caught the bathroom at a point where it was actually empty, Linnea got to work checking the stalls. She had gotten through the first set when— "Hold on, hold on I wanna try it out first before I go in." An unfamiliar voice, loud and clear enough that it must have been just outside of the bathroom, and a sharp clack of heels on tile made Linnea duck into the stall and close the door behind her. “How’s it look?” “Wooooow… you look… so… cuuuute! S’like you’re an actual panda!” “The term,” The masked woman said, taking off her mask, “Is ka-why. I wanted to be all festive and like, cultural, y’know?” Morbid curiosity and growing rage drew Lin’s gaze through the wooden panels of the door. In her limited vision she saw one of two women, dressed in a black dress lined with white sequins, wearing an expensive-looking panda mask. “Oh, oh! Okay, but. How about this.” The second woman withdrew a mask from her purse and put it on her face. To no one’s surprise, it was— “Oh my god! You picked a panda too? What are the odds?! We’re like two pandas in a… uhm…” “Aahhh… a… pod?” “Nononono. Pandas can’t fit in a pod, dumbass.” “Ooooh.” “Yaaaah, girl.” “Yaaaaaaaas.” They proceeded to burst into a fit of giggles and drunken babble, leaving Lin to take a good, long look at her life choices. She emerged from the bathroom a fair bit later and joined Sean back at their table, ordering her second (... or was it third?) pint of rum.
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Post by Captain Ameijin! on Apr 22, 2018 12:29:14 GMT -6
Dizzying Heights slowly emptied as the night waned. Only a few drunken customers remained… including Sean and Lin. While they had recovered precious reconnaissance, the ticking hours had ruined any chance they had of accomplishing their objective in one night. They had thoroughly tapped the bar of information as well as its stores of rum. Sean struggled to remain focused on the mission, slowly sipping at a plastic cup of ice-cold water. The worst thing he could do was head into the next day with a brutal hangover.
“Might have uh… might have overdone it tonight.”
Lin drank from her glass to hide her smile. “A little bit, but at least you can still talk.”
“Aye, not much can keep me from doing that.” Sean gulped down the rest of his water, wiping his face sloppily with the back of his hand. “Now the real question is whether or not I can walk.”
"Let's give it a shot. And if not…" Setting the mostly-finished glass down, Lin stood up from her seat and stepped to the side, waiting. “Then hope this bar is open twenty-four hours. Chairs seem comfy, at least."
“Don’t think ye could carry me?” Sean lifted himself from his chair, balancing himself on its backside. He blinked a few times. “Well, I haven’t fallen over yet. Think it’s about time we blow this popsicle stand.”
She nodded, moving over beside him. “I can help, just not carry. The moment your legs give way, we’ll be both on the ground, so… try not to fall.”
He took a cautious step forward, then another. So far, so good… only several dozen more to go. “Is the floor not comfortable enough for ye?”
“That floor’s probably been through a lot. More than I’d want to rest my face on.” As Sean began to walk, Linnea stepped alongside him. She gently lifted his arm and shuffled in close beside him, bringing said arm around her shoulders. While this meant that if he did fall she really would end up on the ground with him, at least it’d let him use her as support. Hopefully not much, though. I mean, look at that size difference. “Alright,” Lin said, bracing herself, “No need to rush; just focus on walking straight. Easy does it.”
It was late at night when the duo made it to their room. Thankfully, they managed the task remaining intact and without any catastrophes. Sean passed out the moment he made contact with the bed while Lin was awake and sober enough to notice the newly placed towel animals in their beds.
They were doofy and perhaps slightly creepy, but incredibly soft. Lin scooped up the animals in her arms, wrapped herself up in layers upon layers of blankets, and promptly fell asleep.
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Post by S☆E on Apr 23, 2018 19:35:54 GMT -6
The two of them dashed through traffic, making their way to the aforementioned dock. Cain had split earlier, claiming he’d find a good vantage point on his own. The rain was still relatively light, but a strong mist seemed to be picking up as the two approached the dock gate. Shanghai’s south side was nearly all dock, with warehouses framed along the waterside. Occasionally, there would be a jutting of concrete and road outward into the waters, offering companies and workers slightly more privacy.
This was the case for the location they were staking out now.
Stepan had spent the past few months dealing with a particularly nasty fishmonger by the name of Tao Cai. He was a fishmonger in name only, dealing with weapons, drugs, parts, and other illegal goods and services. Tao Cai, however, was nothing more than a symptom of the business that went on in Shanghai. That by itself, was not of concern.
What was troubling were the rumors of his efforts to work with Martian sympathizers. Stepan had made contact with him and created a rapport. Although not certain, through his work he came to the conclusion that the warehouses the Martians were using had to be these.
Warehouse 16 and 17 were located on a small concrete ‘island’ that extended out from the docks. It was a private location, one closer towards the inner section of the bay. It, much like the other warehouse locations, was fenced in. A few stacked cargo crates lined areas of the fence, and the main gate seemed to be manned by two ‘security guards’. Though dressed like average 9-5 guards, they didn’t look like your run of the mill mall cops. They were each fit, held a good posture, and scanned the area leading up to the gate like hawks. Their approach was muffled by the caravan of trucks that seemed to enter and exit the area around them. They could park their bikes in an alley or behind some crates and likely not have to return to them until god knows when.
Stepan signaled Kim to follow him and wheeled into a long alley near the compound. “We’ll leave bikes here. Van should not be far. I had the boys load up some extra equipment I got a few days ago. Do you swim, Kim?”
She nodded and removed her helmet. “That I do. Reckon the sea would make a good cover, yeah. If there’s any entry that side, that is.”
“Good, good. There is a dock, other side of this facility. Lighter security than main entrance when there is no ship. Plan is we get to van, change into diving gear, make our way to it. Easy as a slice of cake,” he says with a wink. “‘Lestrange’ should have a decent vantage point by then. Could spot for us if needed.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” She gazed at the fenced off area. “Got any vague idea of what we’ll find here?”
“From what my contact hinted at, it should be big.” Stepan said, his voice tinged with excitement. “Based on my payment, I am expecting it to be either AA-scale experimental weapons or an AA itself. Maybe multiple.” He walks toward the far end of the alley, the sound of a vehicle approaching in the distance. “I’ve piloted CLUB and DAGGER before. Was a border escort before I moved on to job that paid better. If we are here to steal AA...” he pauses, chuckling. “If we have to steal the supper off of our enemy’s table, know that I am a fast eater.”
She chuckled in return and locked the helmet to the bike’s side. “Well that’s good to know. And if it’s big, at least it’ll make it hard to miss… I hope.”
Quite nearly out of breath, good ol ‘Lestrange’ found his spot in a nearby office building. Thankfully it wasn’t too difficult to bluff his way to the top floor nor finesse a pair of maintenance keys, though it had admittedly taken him longer than he would have liked. His partners had no doubt set up at this point, or at least close to it.
With the pier in sight, Cain aimed down his sights, having set up a little hidey-hole for himself amidst the skyline. If he had more time he would have preferred adding a few extra touches, but time was not something he had much of at this point.
A quick tap to his coms and the sniper had pushed himself back into the conversation. “Merlin here, I’ve got a good look at the pier from here.”
There were about two warehouses, maybe three depending on what the inside of the last building down the pier looked like. From Cain’s perspective, there were too many windows and not enough large doors to warrant it being a warehouse, but he also had only one perspective. The first two buildings were, however, definitely warehouses. A few vehicles moved from within the first warehouse, out to the various crates stacked along the dockside.
Most of what Cain could see seemed to imply that the first warehouse was fairly normal- or at the very least, it wasn’t hiding anything as large as a full sized AA.
“First warehouse in front of you guys seems to be normal, not a whole lot of space in there for an AA, maybe weapons? Worth a check.”
His sight aimed over to the second warehouse, however, and things looked a little different. For one, it was shut down- and while there were people around it, they appeared to be security guards.
“Two guards by the entrance of warehouse two. Can’t confirm if there are any behind the building, but I can see enough from here to know that something is up with that building.”
‘Kim’ replied almost immediately. “Roger that, Merlin. We’re entering from other side soon as we’re ready, keep an eye out.”
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Post by montywonty on Apr 27, 2018 17:45:18 GMT -6
The bell rang across the deck to signal to Gabe and Lana their arrival, promptly stepping off the ferry to grant them entrance to Chongming Island. Even with the assistance of being a local to China, Lana had admittedly not much of a leg up further than her partner. She had come to the island only twice in her life, and the briefing for their mission had baffled her. In her eyes, Chongming Island was known for its national forest park, housing a Confucius temple, and perhaps her brief following of the women’s cycling race. But were there even nightclubs on this quaint little island? After a few innocent-looking asking of other locals for directions (by the means of Gabe being forced to do so), the two found their answer: it was the form of going through a backalley in the town of Chenjia. The outstretch of a large bridge and the glimmering of the Yangtze River from the bridge’s lights were becoming dimmer in Gamma team’s view. A few stray individuals loitered on the streets, watching Gabe and Lana’s strides with flashes of suspicion in their eyes. But the strangers led the path to their destination: the Orange Sea. (MUZAK)“Hey, this is a Virgo song!” Lana beamed up upon entrance to the club, the music blasting upon the faces of she and her partner. “My ex boyfriend is in this band, he plays guitar and writes a lot of the--” She caught herself right in the middle of her quip to adjust her shades. “Ah, mission, mission.” Gabe had seen very few places during his time on Earth, and Chongming was even more baffling than he had expected. Compared to Russia, the place was packed with people, all busy and going about their business, with architecture and attractions he’d never even heard of before. It was easy to play the awestruck tourist when, really, he was. Almost a shame he hadn’t been given a camera for personal use, really. After a few false starts thanks to Lana practically pushing him into people and forcing him to try and get information, they finally seemed to be getting somewhere. He eyed the people suspiciously as they passed through the back alley, fingers twitching in anticipation if someone tried anything. When they finally arrived at the Orange Sea, the music seemed to hit him like a wall, nearly as solid as the people inside. “Ya dated a band guy? Never struck me as a starfucker, Nat.” He yelled over the booming music, fixing up his disguise as they moved through the crowd. Lana’s shoulders found themselves already giving in to the familiar melody, occasionally shimmying with the beat. “Hey, don’t be like that, Clint! I liked him before he became famous.” She insisted while scanning her sights across the crowded albeit dingy club. The beat was admittedly catchy, but it was hard for Gabe to move along with it if he didn’t know it. “Sounds like hipster talk to me.” Though he was doing his best to sound casual, he too was keeping an eye on the crowd, both for any potential leads, and for any potential troublemakers. A dingy place like this was bound to have plenty of both. --- Orange Seas was a Martian social club, slash bar, slash restaurant. Historically, areas of China contributed greatly to the initial population rush of the colonial settling period. Primarily through Mars; though China itself had only funded a complete colony, it had its hand in several mining operations within both Lagrange 4 and 5. This meant it wasn’t uncommon to see Martians and colonists hailing from Lagrange 4 and 5 in China’s large hub and port cities. Though long-term residents were hard to come by, the Orange Seas certainly had enough customers to stay afloat. Stepping in, beyond the music- the first thing they were greeted with was the decor. Sheer white and black furniture, equipped with only the simplest of cushions gave the entire bar a very… Colony-ish look. It wasn’t too far from the insides of the various orbital stations that dotted mars, or its many domed cities. Well, at least if you hadn’t lived the Martian equivalent of a 1%’s life. To Gabe, this decor very well could have been something he hadn’t seen too often until he left home. To Lana, it was no doubt a strange experience. Both of them drew stares from the various patrons and barkeeps, but it was only for a brief moment before the atmosphere was drawn back into its mirthful exuberance. The two had no clues other than the site was rumored to house sympathetic Martians- the kind that had weapons. From its exterior, however, it seemed like a normal club. As they entered near the bar they were greeted by the bartender, a tall, older fellow with a surprisingly curvy mustache and deeply sunkissed skin. Though originally his eyes had been shut, he opened his right eye to reveal with bright yellow, almost artificial looking eye. “Aye, what can I get for ye two?” Lana briefly lowered her heart-shaped sunglasses almost in guttural reaction to the vibrance of the bartender’s right eye. And starting off with English, too? She was already in unfamiliar territory for her own scene, a steadily unsettling fact for still technically being on her home turf. All it took was to draw in a breath before her attempt to get into character. “Wow, what an exciting place. I’ll take a tall glass of milk.” Lana drew back on her diction, attempting to hide her accent. With the general decor of the bar and the fact that they were already looking for Martian sympathizers, Gabe didn’t have to worry about changing how he spoke at all. Though he wasn’t too familiar with the poorer aesthetic, it did in some small way feel like a slice of home left on Earth. “Cmon, Nat, not even gonna get a soda? Just ‘cause yer the designated driver don’t mean ya gotta be a total killjoy.” He looked up at the bartender, looking him in the presumably fake eye for a fraction of a second before switching to focusing on the other. Definitely didn’t want to seem like he was staring. “Gimme somethin’ simple to start with. A screwdriver for me.” The barkeep gave them a curt nod, quickly preparing a screwdriver for Gabe and sliding the glass towards him. A few moments later, a simple tall glass of milk was beside it. The barkeep returned to his dishes. He certainly looked them over, single eye honing in on the couple as he washed glasses. The others at the counter glanced them over quickly, but returned to their loud conversations. A patron tapped the counter, saying something in broken Mandarin to the barkeep, who responded in kind. The patron nodded and moved towards the back. What wasn't originally visible eventually became obvious: a somewhat hidden door towards the back of the building.
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Post by Charredgp on Apr 27, 2018 17:45:42 GMT -6
The disguised athlete claimed her prize, retrieving her glass of milk from the counter and greeting it with a generous gulp. No sigh of satisfaction however. Lana kept her lips pursed while maintaining the cooled voice she was slowly acting out. “Clint, milk does your body good. That’s how it goes, right?” She retorted, neglecting the layer of moo juice glazed upon her upper lip.
Though whatever exchange went on was lost on the Martian, the hidden door would definitely catch his eye after a few casual looks around as he drank. He looked over at his “wife”, giving her a light nudge under the counter and subtly shifting his head in the direction of the door. Hopefully she’d catch sight of it, but he didn’t want to risk being obvious so close to someone who seemed connected to the issue.
Still sipping from the glass, Lana’s eyes rolled over to the side behind her shades as she attentively followed where Gabe had gestured, eventually catching sight of the door in the back. The isolation of the supposed entrance was suspicious enough. Putting two and two together from the barkeep’s greeting, as well as the earlier patron’s horrific Mandarin, there was no doubt about it - this hole in the wall really must be teeming with unsavory Martians.
She followed up on her “husband”’s inconspicuous dance, closing the distance between the two as she buried her face into the crook of his neck. To those watching it would seem like a tender gesture. It was also the perfect range for Gabe to catch his partner’s whispers. “We have to find a way to get over there.”
In a crowded place like this, with a clear lead on their mission, it was enough to forget they were technically supposed to be married. The intimate gesture caught him off guard, feeling the sudden warmth of his “wife” crooked against him with a slight start. He put an arm around her to complete the image of the lovestruck couple, responding to her whisper with a nod. “Might be a special or somethin’ to order.” He whispered back quickly.
The only other hint they had was whatever had been said in presumably Chinese or Mandarin, but he wasn’t sure Lana had even caught the whole conversation. For now, the best he could think of was to wait and keep drinking. Hopefully if the two of them kept up the act of the dumb tourist couple, they’d let their guard down.
There was nothing overtly strange about the bar the longer they spent their time there. While there had been more English used than they would have thought for a Chinese bar, nothing out of the ordinary had transpired outside of that somewhat hidden door in the back. The barkeep had kept his attention focused on the various patrons that would approach the bar counter. Many approached from the side the couple wasn’t located on, and each time the vague sound of Mandarin (whether broken or fluent) was punctuated with a quick response and a curt nod. The patron would go to the back, and the door would shut.
Out of every patron that entered the bar, it was about every fifth that waddled their way to the back. It seemed that the Orange Sea had a pretty sizeable customer base. Further inspection as time ticked away revealed that though there were plenty of patrons, maybe less than a quarter were truly out-of-place Martians, the others were most definitely Chinese. Whether they were bonafide Martians with Chinese ancestry, or simply individuals that thought the Orange Sea was a good watering hole, they were definitely not out of the ordinary for Shanghai.
Yet it wasn’t long until the two found themselves flanked on both sides, by tall, imposing looking patrons. While they tapped the bar counter for drinks and paid them no mind, their timing, stature, and appearance seemed to spell out something else.
While they waited, Gabe had been content to indulge in a few more drinks while the loving couple enjoyed the atmosphere of the quaint pseudo-Martian bar. A few giggled whispers here, a few loving touches there, and of course, a few casual looks around while they tried to figure out where to go next.
From behind his dark glasses, Gabe watched the sudden pair suspiciously, eyes flicking between the two of them. They seemed innocent, but even in his slightly tipsy state, alarm bells were ringing in his head at full blast. He wasn’t entirely sure if they’d try anything in what seemed to be the public space of the bar, but if this was a criminal dive...They might know how to make people look the other way. Slowly, he tightened his grip on his latest, unfinished bottle of booze, ready to make a move if they tried anything.
Despite not indulging in anything other than a few glasses of milk, Lana was fully engulfed in the act the two put on. It was difficult not to do otherwise. The mission was to get to the bottom of the club and to find a way behind the mythical door that got passed through further by the hour. But alas, playing off the image of a married couple intimately enjoying themselves was what they could do for a while.
Then, the two new figures intruded by the bar with their demeanor. At first Lana had a moment of naivety - seeming as if just the usual patron. But she was just in the right range to see Gabe changing his gears, close enough to see the shifting behind his shades, and a slight flex in his arms as he grabbed his bottle with purpose.
Now, there was something wrong, but that put her immediately in the right mindset to shoot straight ahead to the objective. The faux-redhead idly danced her fingers around her own weapon for the moment - her tacky, patterned purse.
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