RP: ISC Phoenix [Interlude 4] - A Hard Day's Night

"Well," Enzo began, dusting his hands off, "I guess it's time for my dramatic jump over there. Mine's gonna be a bit different though, cuz I ain't got yammie stuff."

He looked down over the ledge as he squeezed his burnt hand to test how tender it was. Deciding the pain had worn off enough, he took a running start and vaulted over the ledge. As he came over the side of the building, he snagged onto a bar from the fire escape and swung from it like a gymnast. His legs shot forward and like a dart he sprang onto the opposite balcony two stories down, knocking over a lawn chair in the process. With his jump completed, Enzo decided to set the lawn chair up again and rest on it for awhile. He shivered in the night air, despite the fact that it was relatively warm there on Nepleslia Prime.

"I need a new coat," he told the lawnchair pensively.

Zeta ended up chatting with Arin for some time, she felt sort of uneasy the whole time. She was worried about Luca. She knew that both of the Vincents are with him, but still she wanted to go check on him.

She thanked Arin for pleasant evening and paid the check. She was the one offering the drinks after all. It was fine, and getting to know Arin was worth it. She was really interesting. Zeta felt nothing in romantic way. Maybe a little platonic but nothing more. She just felt good around Arin. That was Zeta's thought on the way up.

When she finally got there, she saw doors open and Vincent with both hand canons in his hands. Damn, what happened? She rushed into the room, seeing people on Balcony looking down.

Of course, she rushed there and looked over the ledge, seeing Luca holding by one hand face-palming. Whatever happened it was already settled, seeing Mel hugging her rifle with healthy grin and word "satisfaction" written all over her face.

Zeta reached her robotic arm to offer it to Luca to hold on. "Are you okay Captain? Damn I am sorry I wasn't here, I have no excuse. Stupid me!" she said to Luca.

Panther watched the others make their jumps across, he jumped up on the railing then jumped off himself. However unlike the others he fell swiftly to the 36th floor which he finally grabbed a railing before colliding with the building itself, and then swung himself underneath to the 35th floor for a soft landing.

Thankful that it was still dark, he cut a small hole in the window of this door using his claw, and then opened the door while hiding in the closet of said room. He would rest there until morning.

"Don't worry. I think we've gotten the problem licked," Luca told Zeta as he accepted her helping hand, "Good news is, I'm fine, bitch down there is dead," He pointed down to the offending offal, "And we got us a new crew member. You'll know him when you see him."
Mel, looking down at Enzo, felt a little sorry for him and lowered a rope.
"Oi, matey, a bed's a few times better than a lawn chair," She observed, "Unless yer o'er on Delsauria durin' Summer, which is every other day."

Suffice to say, everyone was eventually able to get themselves a good night's sleep. The rest of the night passed uneventfully.

That morning, Luca's hotel room was receiving a few loud knocks on the door some time at 9:12 AM. Half awake, he stumbled over and took up his HHG, opening the door slowly.
"Delivery, sir," The man on the other side of the door said as he laid down a package with a "G&M" label on it by his feet, "Sign here please." He handed him a pen and his datapad.

Luca was quick to sign the signature, and thanked the delivery guy, who was on his way quickly.

He picked up the box and put it down on his bed, he took the lid off, and saw a jacket which looked remarkably similar to his own, a series of harnesses and connectors, and a handwritten note.

From G&M said:

Dear Sir,

We have been obliged by various Intelligence Agencies, benefactors and your considerable following of fans to create a jacket. This jacket whilst similar to our previous model, (which you are wearing according to eyewitness accounts) has the added benefits of Armour, Support and Comfort.

We present the Captain, Mark III "Legend" Jacket, the first one to be made. Hard and Soft leather backed with Stone Thread, Lightweight Durandium Forearm and Shoulder Plating, and combat harness support added in.

If you are not satisfied, you can take it up with us personally.

Signed, A. Godfrey.

P.S. We have also included a membership card and with our details in the right breast pocket. Refer friends to us, and get added benefits.

Click to expand...

"Groovy," Luca commented as he put the note aside and donned the jacket for the day.It felt just a little heavier than his usual getup, and the added support allowed him to hold even more weapons and ammo more comfortably.
It took him a few minutes to put the straps and harnesses and the back mounting bracket into place, but it settled easily. He was able to walk around with a full armament of Shotgun, HHG, 10mm Pistol and M'Cel, carrying enough ammo for each with ease.

"Now... what should I do first?" He asked himself as he exited his room and leaned against the wall, contemplating his next move, "Check up on the cat? Wake everyone else up? Or get some breakfast?"

Zeta had to say that she was relieved. Luca was okay and new crewmember? Who could that be?
Zeta looked at Lucas opponent, or what used to be his opponent. Ugly.

Okay to the bed now, there will be things to do tomorrow. Another shower and then jump into the soft bed. Pistol in reach.
As always Zeta awakened at sunrise. She exercised a little and brushed her teeth and then got into her clothing. Everyone was still sleeping there won't be much to do now. She came to window and scanned the roofs around. It is good that her room is next to Lucas.

She then took chair and sit next to door to get out quickyl if needed. She opened a door only a little to hear what goes in the hall, but not for other to see it on first glance. She waited like that lost in thought. After few hours heard knocking on Luca doors, she looked out and saw a delivermy. Luca signed his papers and got the delivery.

After some time Lucas door opened once again and the stepped into the hall. Zeta went out too. "Good morning sir," she hailed him.

Vincent had had little time to react to the events on the roof, and basically just stood on the balcony, covering the entrance to the room with his Hand Cannon while Mel lined up her shot. When it was all said and done, he thudded off to his room again.

When Luca awakened, Vincent himself had been up for around three hours (through the aid of caffeine and some perscription drugs), his gun aimed at the elevator through his doorframe. When Luca woke up, he put his gun away and joined him in the hallway, shrugging. "Breakfast sounds good, cap'n. If you don't go that way, I'm heading down anyways."

The elevator door opened with a puff of smoke, signaling Enzo's occupation of it. Inside, Enzo was sitting on the floor, counting what appeared to be a number of silver watches. When he saw the crewmembers in the hall, he waved at them saying, "Hey, guys! Anybody want to buy a cheap-and-crappy fake rip-off of a name brand watch? I gots about twenty of them! I'm looking for about sixty DA a piece. Jokes aside, I gots these last night around three or so for a steal at about sixty DA, and I'm lookin' to to sell at least two to cut a profit. You guys seen any gullible people around?"

"Floor 43," Vincent grunted, "Room D. Couple of dumb lookin' honeymooners with real fine clothes. Try there first."

Apparently the big career soldier-turned-bodyguard had more uses than just crushing skulls and shouting loudly.

Robert groaned as he heard the sounds of combat down the hall in Luca's room. "Not again, can't we go one measly day without someone trying to kill the Boss?" he complained to the empty room as he got up and limped over to the nightstand where his pistol lay.

He opened the door and headed down to the Boss's room. He shouldered the door open just in time to see that he missed everything. "So what's up?" he asked as he leaned against the door.

Jim uneasily slipped back into sleep, his pistol under his pillow, and rifle at the foot of the bed, ready to be fired at the slightest provocation. It took a few minutes, but the journey into the realm of sleep was a relatively quick one.

He awoke that morning still a bit sore from last night's excitement. Dressing quickly in his newly cleaned outfit previously sullied by spilled drinks, he strapped on his gun and medical pack, then slung his rifle behind him via the strap, and headed out into the hall. Catching sight of Luca, he made his way to him. However, as he approached, he saw that Luca was wearing a very new looking jacket, one that seemed to fit his form perfectly. "Someone drop by in the middle of the night and deliver that to you? It looks cool!"

Upon closer inspection, Jim noticed all the holsters and attachment points for equipment. On top of that, it looked badass. "Where can I get one of those? I'm sure I could fit a ton more medical supplies in a coat like that, especially if it was custom-made."

The Kohanian assassin awoke from his meditative sleep and stood up silently while brushing against some hanging clothing. He snatched up some pants, a pair of shoes, then pulled the jacket over his head to make himself look something like a hoody teenager.

He opened the door silently to see a male fast asleep, and moved out of the room without making a noise while heading to the elevator. He was on the lower levels, he thought maybe he could speak with his new benefactor so he took the upward traveling elevator.

Stepping on the elevator was also another occupant, and elderly lady. As the elevator rode up she caught a glimpse of his hairy black hand and looked up to see a snout poking out from his hood. As soon as the door stopped on the 27th floor she got off grumbling about kids and their costumes.

He paid no attention as he rode up to the 49th floor.

Robert yawned as he limped down the hallway, the next morning. He had gotten filled in by the rest of the crew about the nightly event. He wondered what this new crewmember looked like. He yawned again as he hit the summoning button on the elevator. He felt the need for some strong coffee to wake himself up.

"Robert, good to see you're walking around. I hope your legs are feeling better," Luca commented as he moved next to him and waited for the elevator to move up, "Now, I wonder what's for breakfast? I'm sure there's a few other gullible sorts down at the buffet, Enzo," He smiled in the rogue's direction, "Hopefully they don't speak Yamatai-go."

"Jim, some delivery guy dropped this off just a few minutes ago, he woke me up," Luca fished G&M's card out of the top pocket of the jacket and passed it to him, "Apparently these guys make entirely customised clothing, handmade."

Eventually, the elevator came to Floor 49 and opened. Luca was able to recognise Panther standing there in the disguise he'd scrounged.
"Ah, and here's the new crewmate," Luca motioned to him casually, "I trust you slept well last night?"

In a sobered state and with a better view, John was more than a little surprised, taking off his glasses, sighing into them, giving them a wipe and putting them back on.
"This is the guy that tried to take you on?" He gabbered in a mix of shock and surprise, "Are you sure he's even from around here, or housebroken?"

"Shaddup, wankah," Mel, who was standing behind him gave him a firm slap over the head, "Tell ya what though, I saw 'im in action last night and he was rightly powerful with those claws."
"Yeah and if it wasn't for him, Enzo or you, I'd probably wouldn't be standing," Luca added.

"I believe that is a Kohanian," Anna came out of Sebastian's shadow, the couple stayed close to each other, "Their homeworld was recently went supernova, and they were relocated."
"I heard they look a bit like animals, but I haven't seen one in the flesh," Sebastian queried, "This is a rare opportunity indeed."

Luca leaned over to his mother and whispered to her, "He speaks Trade, mum, he won't cause any trouble and he's got nowhere else to go."
"Are you sure?" She replied in kind.
"Positive."
"Promise?"
Luca sighed a little, "Promise."

MEANWHILE, DOWNSTAIRS...
"Tom, I am here at the Forty Five star hotel, I have heard reports from police that the mercenary, Luca Pavone, came under fire from radical bounty hunters," Dan, the man-on-the-field from Channel 4 news was standing in the lobby of the hotel with his microphone in hand and a camera man.

"Ranging from Snipers, an allegedly indescribable gelatinous woman, and what witnesses believe was a Nekovalkyrja just last night - it seems as though Mr. Pavone and his crew were able to deal with the onslaught with ease and grace, according to eyewitness views and security footages."

"Nothing ever seems to slow that man down, Dan." Tom's voice could be heard in Dan's ear and on screen, "People have called him the new 'Knight in Shining Armour', going as far as drawing comparisons to the Empress herself, and Sky Marshall Davis."

BACK ON THE 49th FLOOR...
Mel, John, Sebastian and Anna were ready to have a late breakfast. Crane had already eaten, as had Hitori. Mitch was oddly absent.

Shall I have bacon, eggs or sausages? Luca thought to himself, feeling a bit hungry, Enzo won't have any problem hocking those watches, some of the people on the beach couldn't have run rounds for the slow butcher. ((OOC: Aussie Slang: Incredibly Stupid))

As everyone else was still up in the hallway, Enzo was heading down the stairs, busy wheeling and dealing the watches to everyone in sight. He eventually made his way to the dining area where dumb tourists were flocking for their watering like cattle. Some tourists were cold, but most were receptive and excited to acquire "the latest model from a well-known Elysian watchmaker" and "a rugged timepiece used as the official chronometer of the Yamataian government". Some were even willing to pay the price he was actually asking for, hurriedly sliding their money cards across their tables. By the time he had finished his rounds, Enzo was left with six watches and a small stack of the one-time use money cards tourists and business men were so fond of.

He cackled mischeviously to himself while he sat down at an empty table, dropping each money card on the table as he counted it. "That leaves me with six-hundred and eighty-eight DA, a pretty good haul. Let me adds that to my current funds of...three-hundred and thirty-six. That gives me a grand total of one-thousand and fifty-four! Oh, Vincienzo, you dirty little cockroach! You makes youself proud to be Nepleslian."

Seiren found himself at the hotel, more or less when the newscasters started broadcasting. He sighed to himself, muttering about how easy it was to find Luca. With that, he slipped past the throngs of curious bystanders and towards the buffet area. He'd assume they'd be there, only because he knew of two things: One, having several fights in one night raises and appetite. Two, the hotel buffet is convenient. And inexpensive (Usually). So, Seiren waited at the door for them to arrive - and hopefully give him a job.

Luca's clan, he thought as he kept mental notes on what was being said. If the Panther ever wanted to challenge Luca again, he'd need any information he could gather. Otherwise he just gave a nod and kept to himself, his foot in front of the door so it won't close until they got on.

Kohanian, eh? Zeta never heard of them, but it didn't matter. If Luca says he is part of the crew, then he is part of the crew. On the other hand Luca can hire sleazebags like Enzo.
Well it doesn't matter anyway, Luca is a captain he can do whatever he wish to do. Yesterday she was relaxing today, she would do her job properly. Today she'd become Lucas shadow.

Jim took the card Luca offered, tucked it into his pocket, then made his way downstairs to get some dearly needed coffee. Before departing, he asked the entire crew, "Hey, who needs coffee? I'm gonna make a run to the nearest Spoffi coffee place. I saw one when we came in, and screw the hotel coffee, I need something with at least three shots of espresso. Anyone want anything?"

Arin woke up to a crazy headache. She somehow managed to sleep in her NAM uniform leaving all kinds of imprints where all buckles and buttons were pressed on her skin. All her memories between the bottle of wine to the present was a hazy blur, she vaguely recalled the rest of the crew running off to chase a pink elephant... Or some other kind of animal looking thing. The Representative hoped she didn't do anything stupid that would tarnish the Company name.

She downed one of the hotel's complementary bottles of water and then returned to sleep, no point going out in this state when her utility relied on her currently incapacitated head.

"Whatever ya say there Boss," Robert said with a quick lookover of the new crewmember. He had accepted the fact that the strangest things came to Captain Luca. So a large, furry creature was not too farfetched for the ex-gangbanger to believe.

"And yeah, it's starting to feel a whole lot better. Definitely enough to make me wish I hadn't broke it enough that I'm still limping," he shrugged as he stepped on the elevator, "So, anyone else try to kill ya today Boss?"