Run #6: Where No Chummer Has Gone Before

[John]

Max smirks as Tyros gives chase to Whitelock. Turning to Doc, he suggests,

"He poured something on the ground over there. Any chance you could take a look and figure out what it might be?"

[Drew Buddy]

Doc instinctively lifts his foot up in disgust at the suggestion of a strange liquid having been poured on the ground.

"Uh, yeah, let me take a look."

He leans over the puddle and looks at it closely, giving it a sniff.

(( Roll biology I guess. Even if it's just to determine that it's not biological. ))

[John]

((Maybe engineering could determine if it's an accelerant?))

[Drew Buddy]

(( Good call. I imagine Doc could tell the difference, and then use whatever skill is necessary. Roll whatever! ))

[GM Nick]

Doc immediately identifies the substance as saline.

[Drew Buddy]

Doc sits back up and turns to the others.

"It's just a saline solution. That doesn't make any sense...

Saline is used to deliver compounds directly into the blood stream. I know his talk about being involved in nanomachines was just a cover story, but I wonder if there's any truth to it?"

Worry starts to show on his face.

"It might be nothing, but we should assume that some kind of biological agent is present on board. I doubt he's released anything like a virus, as he was sitting right next to it when he poured it out. Tyros, how's the progress on turning this drekbag into a puppet?"

[John]

Max takes his lighter from his pocket and drags its flame along the spill. He turns to the group and says,

"I don't know about you, but the idea that that might be filled with nanomachines is downright creepy to me."

[Elliott]

((waiting for the results of my astral perception survey of the passengers before making my move...))

[GM Nick]

Tyros's mind probes into the astral plane and the passengers quickly dissolve into ethereal shadows. There are a few mildly awakened individuals scattered throughout the manifest, but it would appear that Tyros is the only true mage on board.

Daniel Whitelock is still out of sight, presumably in the lavatory.

[John]

Max gives a hard scan to the passengers and security, checking for signs of stress or anxiety among his other passengers.

[Elliott]

((Are we airborne yet?))

Tyros' vision snaps back to normal. Tapping Rawhide on the shoulder so that he follows along, Tyros leads them to the lavatory door. Whispering to Rawhide, "We can't wait him out and chance that he has time to prepare something in there. On the count of three, you kick the door open and i'll take his mind. I'll have him take the blame with the crew..."

Tyros makes some subtle gestures with his hands (centering) and prepares his spell (Control Thoughts, f6, delayed action to be cast on Whitelock as soon as I can see him). Ready, Tyros counts quickly to three in a hushed voice.

[GM Nick]

Rawhide looks from the door of the lavatory to Tyros, his face stricken with terror.

"I... I can't move my arm! Are you doing something?"

[Elliott]

A twinge of fear stikes Tyros' face at Rawhides' words. "Forget your arm, and kick the door in!" If Rawhide doesn't do it immediately, Tyros kicks the door in himself and casts his spell.

[GM Nick]

Rawhide remains rooted in place, his face strained.

The lavatory door buckles under Tyros' massive boot. Daniel Whitelock is inside the lavatory, calmly fixing his tie in the mirror. He glances sideways at the troll.

"I wouldn't interfere if I were you. Not if you want your friends to make it through this in one piece."

(( Proceed with spell? ))

[John]

Max speaks over the comm channel so that Tyros and Rawhide can hear his dismay,

<I can't move, guys! What the frag is going on???>

[Drew Buddy]

Doc stares straight ahead, unsuccessfully willing his muscles to move.

<Drek, same here. Tyros are you certain there's nothing magical going on?>

Doc's eyes glance down at the puddle on the ground.

(( Roll Biology to see if Doc knows of any substance or mechanism that could induce paralysis. ))

[Elliott]

Tyros grins evily at Whitelock, all his hatred and pent up bitterness pouring through. "I think you'll change your mind, fragger."

Tyros releases his magic, his mind burrowing into Whitelock's with the force of a freight train, smashing aside any independent thoughts.

[GM Nick]

Control Thoughts Spell

[Spellcasting (6) + MAG (6) + Power Focus (2) = 4]
3 1 4 5 1 5 1 4 5 6 2 4 4 1

Resist Spell

[WIL (5) = 3]
5 5 5 4 4

Resist Drain

[WIL (4) + LOG (6) + Centering (1) + Focused Concentration (2) = 3]
6 3 1 6 1 2 1 6 1 1 1 1 4 **Glitch!**

Daniel Whitelock's eyes widen slightly as Tyros penetrates his mind.

Tyros feels a sharp pain behind his temples. (( 2S DAMAGE. ))

[Elliott]

((I have 6 combat turns before Whitelock can make another resistance check))

Tyros grimmaces away the pain, frustrated with himself that his anger caused a lapse in concentration which resulted in a mismanagement of the power coursing through him. Nonetheless, the man he hates is in his grasp. Wasting no time, Tyros calls up his magic again, his hand curled into a claw, almost as if it is sifting through brain matter (centering) (Mind probe, f3, looking for everything Whitelock knows about his plan to take over the ship, the nanos he is releasing, and how to deactivate them, etc. Also, i'm not sure there is any formal synergy bonus, but you would think it get some bonus dice on a mind probe check for already controling his thoughts.).

<"Hold on boys, I have him. I'll know whats going on in just a moment...">

[GM Nick]

Mind Probe Spell

[Spellcasting (6) + MAG (6) + Power Focus (2) = 4]
1 2 2 1 1 1 3 6 3 3 6 5 6 3

Resist Spell

[WIL (5) = 2]
2 1 6 3 5

Resist Drain

[WIL (4) + LOG (6) + Focused Concentration (2) + Centering (1) = 5]
3 2 5 2 1 6 4 5 6 2 5 2 2

Tyros reels from the channel of information that enters his mind, struggling to pick through the relevant bits...

[Drew Buddy]

Doc casts his eyes about the room, trying to determine if any of the other passengers are suffering the same effect.

[GM Nick]

Several of the passengers are watching the Tyros/Whitelock exchange with concerned or terrified expressions. Those that are not are slumped (seemingly) lifelessly in their seats.

[Elliott]

Tyros' brow furrows in concentration.

<"Seems like the nanos he has released work using the targe'ts cyberware as conduits, which explains why I am not effected. He appears to have been trying to sell the tech to the military, but I can't understand yet why he wants to hijack the shuttle, only that he reports to someone else, who didn't want the shuttle hijacked today. Seems like he disagreed...I'll try to find out more and in the mean time get those nanos deactivated.">

Focusing his mind on Whitelock's will, Tyros orders him to deactivate the nanos on his partners. ((Can I get more information if I mind probe again?))

((Are we in flight or still on the runway? Also, is there a security guard on the flight?))

[GM Nick]

The tell-tale dip in gravity indicates that the shuttle has just left the runway.

Perspiration beads on Whitelock's forehead as his mind wrestles with the troll's mana.

"The.. pilots... protected from the effects. Only matter of time... before... ventilation... plane will crash."

Tyros probes deeper.

[John]

Max barks over the comm, and the mounting concern in his voice is plainly obvious,

<So what's going on, fellas??>

[Elliott]

Tyros extends his mind and orders Whitelock to retreive the anti-nanomachines from his accomplice. Tyros follows close behind, ready to counter any sudden movements from the passengers.

<"Whitelock has one accomplice who apparently has other nanomachines that will reverse the effect. It is likely that the pilots will soon be effected by the bad nanos and we will crash unless they get the antidote, or whatever you call it. Whitelock's plan was to rush the cockpit and threaten to withhold the antidote until the pilots agreed to follow his instructions, which seems a bit silly since that's just a crazy game of chicken and Whitelock doesn't look willing to die for anything. There is some sort of grad scheme I still don't understand to use the ship to administer the nanos to some wider population, probably by releasing them into the atmosphere. I say we get the antidote, give it to you guys and the pilots, and hijack this ship ourselves. I imagine as soon as we give the antidote out, the pilots will want to turn around and head back to earth if we don't force them to follow through with delivering us to the space station.">

[GM Nick]

Whitelock remains standing in place. Tyros feels a slight rebounding sensation from his last command.

"I don't know who my accomplice is," says Whitelock with a grimace. "He was supposed to identify me. He won't speak up if I'm in distress, I'm sure of it. You drop this spell and we might be able to find him."

[John]

Max struggles against his paralysis, but his efforts seem to be to no avail. His straining becomes audible as he grunts and curses a blue streak against the newfound incapacity. The elf, for all his flaws and strengths, is not used to being so utterly helpless, and the sensation uncaps a fathomless well of anger within him. His entire being aches to enact vengeance upon those who have rendered him immobile.

[GM Nick]

"This plane is being flown in VR. We have to administer the anti-nanites to the pilots before their control rigs are compromised!"

[Elliott]

Tyros nods, and with apparent defeat in his voice says, "Ok, you win bub." Without relinquishing control of any kind, Tyros sits down. His mind orders Whitelock to continue with the plan to take control of the ship by contacting his associate and administering the antidote to the pilots. Tyros gives Whitelock enough control to go through the motions, but not enough to deviate from his plan, or speak about anything else. While this is being done, Tyros readies his control thoughts spell again for a second round, either on Whitelock or his associate (delay action).

[GM Nick]

Daniel walks past the rows of terrified and sedated passengers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats. I am assuming control of this aircraft. You will not be harmed."

One of the passengers--clearly a wage slave by his attire--lunges at Daniel and grapples with him.

[GM Nick]

Rawhide's eyes bulge.

<I just saw one of the passengers pull something out of his briefcase. I think I've identified the accomplice! Tyros, two rows ahead from where we are, the man with the beard!>

[Elliott]

<"We have to be sure before I make another move. Whitelock should be able to handle this - I've given him just enough free reign to carry out his plan, but can stop him before he tries anything else. Once the accomplice identifies himself to Whitelock, i'll take care of them both.">

[John]

(( ... Maybe address the passenger who is currently accosting Whitelock? ))

[Elliott]

Tyros grins as he watches the passenger get a few punches and kicks in on Whitelock before stepping in and dragging the wage slave off and slamming him back into his seat. "You fool, if you don't do what he says, we're all going to die!"