Session Seven


At last check, Zebediah (and Faber) were at the museum. Bernard and Martin were heading there. Tony was at work, Lucas was unconscious (and in the clutches of the evil "Halley"), Case and Nathaniel had just arrived at the Dojo via the Michael Express.

At the museum, Faber mutters about going to look for Nathaniel and Case. Zebediah phones the Dojo, and Case answers. Zebediah asks if he should come over or if they'll visit. Case and Nathaniel discuss what to do, given the Eli matter. They decide that Nathaniel will go over, while Case takes his usual martial arts class. They ring off. Faber asks what happened, and Zebediah says they didn't tell him. They discuss Lucas, decide that they need to rescue him, and comment on the inexperience of young angels these days.

Tony ends up working on the Terry Jackson Memorial News Article for tv. He slants it to comment on Terry's sensationalism, appropriate end, and hints of past enemies. Ardon phones him, and asks if there's any further information on the Malakite of Eli, as he's believed to possibly be involved in the Outcasting of a Michaelite. Tony says he'll inform him if there's any information. Then another call - this time it's from Dominique Herself, who says she's conducting an investigation and that Tony is to be prepared to give an immediate report at any time. After all this, Tony goes back to work.

The Servitors of Lightning arrive at the museum. Faber gets introduced. Everyone looks at Terry's katana (as stolen by the Servitors of Lightning last episode). Bernard and Zebediah fail Will rolls, and get all obsessed by how gorgeous it is, and want to hang onto it. Faber says that it's old, and that he thinks there's demonic work in it. Faber asks what's been happening, and gets told all about Terry.

Nathaniel arrives, and tells them how Michael got him and Case out. Faber claps him on the shoulder, and does the Manly Malakite Good-To-See-You bit. Nathaniel warns Faber that "the bitch" and Esek were trying to get at Eli and that Beleth was manipulating Eli's dreamscape. Faber then tells him about Lucas vanishing in "Halley"'s car. Nathaniel glares at Zebediah a lot. Bernard and Martin demand explanations, and Nathaniel gives them. Everyone discusses why Esek and co should wish to generate Michael/Dominic divisions. Faber suggests telling Tony and letting him tell Dominic. Bernard and Martin go to investigate "Halley's" phone number. Zebediah rings Tony, and asks him to come over. Tony says he'll be over as soon as he finishes his article. Nathaniel says tell him to come over or he'll come over himself to where Tony is. Tony says that he's almost done. Bernard tries to walk off with the katana in his holdall, and Zebediah suggests that it should stay at the museum. There is more argument, in which everyone joins, and it is decided to take the katana to the Lightning-Tether at the University. Bernard and Martin head for the Tether, and Nathaniel heads for Meridian Television to find Tony.

Lucas wakes up in a bland anonymous hotel room, untied and lying on the bed. A man is sitting by the bed, stooped, half-glasses, bland-looking. He explains that he's from a secret Michaelite squad and has rescued Lucas, and injected him to immunise him from an evil virus that makes people Outcast. Lucas checks his arm and lo, there is indeed a needle mark. He fails an Int roll and believes all this. The mystery man says that Case and others may have the virus, and that the identifying mark is that they'll react insanely if asked whether they're loyal. Lucas phones Case to say he's okay, and heads for the Dojo. Case phones the museum to try and find Nathaniel, but is told by Zebediah that he's not there, and has gone to see Tony. Case rings off. Zebediah rings back to offer news. Case won't listen over the phone and rings off.

Nathaniel gets to Meridian TV and the security guard phones Tony, who finishes his report and comes down. They go outside to walk and talk. Nathaniel tells Tony much plot info that he has discovered. Tony expresses much polite interest. Tony asks questions about the Malakite of Eli, and Nathaniel says he thinks that Faber is innocent, and currently with Zebediah. More discussion; Nathaniel is harassed, Tony mild. They part, with Tony commenting on how he wishes more people would come and talk to him. Tony leaves an excuse on his desk for his boss re the afternoon, leaves a pile of work for Sheila, and phones the Triad. He gets Ardon, to whom he explains the situation, and says that he's planning to go up to Heaven to report it. Ardon asks casually by which way, Tony states the University Lightning-Tether. Ardon thanks him and rings off.

Nathaniel rings Case to say that he's about to Ascend to check on Lucas' Heart. Case tells him that Lucas is free and coming over. Nathaniel says, "So am I," and rings off.

Bernard and Martin reach the Lightning-Tether, and Martin has to remind Bernard to hand over the katana. Bernard fails a Will roll and really, really wants to hang onto it. "We'll see to the car number first." The Seneschal insists that the katana be scanned. "Zero point zero zero one probability of damage." Bernard protests. "Probability recalculated to zero point zero zero zero zero zero zero one per cent of damage." The katana is run under several scanners, while Abdi-Bezek the Seneschal flashes meaningful lights at Martin. Bernard is very twitched. Abdi-Bezek declares there's a Song of Compulsion on it. Bernard twitches more. Abdi-Bezek says they'll see if the Song can be removed, and naturally they won't damage it in the meanwhile, flashing yet more lights at Martin as he says this. Bernard fortunately doesn't try and resonate this statement. Bernard and Martin go to scan car numbers.

Lucas arrives at the Dojo, and spots no followers. Case lets him in, and tells him Nathaniel's coming. Lucas panics. Tries the question. Case goes, "Yes, why?" Lucas relaxes and blurts out details, realising the holes in the story as he does so. He tries to talk Case into telling Nathaniel all this for him. Case refuses. Nathaniel turns up, and Lucas gives his report from the other side of Case. Nathaniel points out the huge holes in the story, and peers out of the window, but fails Perception and sees nothing. He then looks Lucas over (a Medicine roll) but sees nothing obviously wrong. Lucas heads off to the University Health Centre for a checkup. Nathaniel warns him to be careful who he trusts, especially if he doesn't recognise their Vessels. Nathaniel then tells Case about Terry's death, then goes off to follow Lucas from a distance. Case stays to maintain his Role and take the next set of martial arts classes, but on alert.

Tony is about to go into the University Library to the Tether, and fails a Perception roll. He is shot from behind in the left shoulder, and collapses on the steps, trying to crawl up and in. There is much confusion and pandemonium. (Geographic note: there are shallow steps leading up to the main revolving doors into the library, with a small normal door to the side of them.) Abdi-Bezek flashes an alert on the screens inside, and simultaneously calls the police. The sniper outside shoots again, and chips the marble by Tony's head. Bernard grabs helpers, makes an Emote roll, and persuades one to hold the door while the other comes out to help him carry Tony in. Bernard realises the sniper is in the building opposite, while Martin manages to spot his position on the roof. Bernard and his helper duck outside, and grab the injured Tony. The sniper manages to shoot Bernard in his hip, and Tony in the chest (lung wound), but they get Tony in. The sniper keeps on shooting, through the glass doors. Much screaming and running around.

Bernard and Martin (now in another student) get Tony to an inner room, cleared by Abdi-Bezek, and Martin does a rapid Song of Corporeal Healing which fixes most of Tony's damage. They hear someone outside go celestial. Bernard goes celestial, and goes to look; he sees a sniper rifle on a professional rest abandoned on the roof, no other traces. He returns. Tony says that he has to go up to Heaven at once, and that the only person to definitely know where he was going was the Seraph of Dominic who he'd just told everything to, including the fact that he was just going to report. However, they need Tony's wounded body to show the police. Abdi-Bezek suggests that he goes up to the Marches, and from there to Heaven, which will leave his body lying around. Tony does so.

The Triad of Judgement turns up on Zebediah's doorstep, and say they're there for the Malakite of Eli. Zebediah fails his resonance three times running, and invites them in, going to the other room to tell Faber (who has been spending his time usefully by cataloguing the sword collection, and leaving chunks of pointy metal all over the floor.) Faber makes loud noises of, "Oh, I'm just coming, sure," while tiptoing towards the other door out, but alas, the Elohite Jachin comes into the room and gives him a look. She makes a snide reference to Habbalah of Baal. Faber and Zebediah come back into the room with the other two of the Triad in it - at which point Faber makes a resonance roll, stops, mutters something about finding his notebook, and turns to walk back into the other room. The Elohite does a legsweep, Faber falls on her and the two roll around on the ground, and Ardon the Seraph yells to get him. Zebediah, deciding that Something Is Definitely Rotten In The State Of Denmark Here, "accidentally" pulls Jachin off Faber and throws her into Ardon. Thahash the Ofanite meanwhile charges Faber. Faber knocks him over the head with a rare expensive seventeenth century armour print. Zebediah winces. Ardon sings Thunder, but alas, only Thahash falls over. Faber and Zebediah retreat into the main room where Faber has been cataloguing swords, and grab swords for themselves - Zebediah also grabs a shield. Ardon calls on them to surrender. They charge. Faber wounds Jachin, and Zebediah shieldcharges Ardon and knocks him back. Jachin pulls a gun. Ardon attempts Celestial Entropy, and fails. Zebediah hits him with the flat of his sword. Ardon then pulls a gun also. Zebediah rolls real high and cuts Ardon's hand off. Jachin shrieks in anger and shoots at Zebediah, but he catches it on his shield. Faber strikes at her and wounds her again. Thahash gets upright, and pulls a gun himself. Zebediah shouldercharges Ardon into Thahash, and Thahash accidentally shoots Ardon. Jachin shrieks and says, "Hell's worth it. Be afraid, you bastard." Zebediah feels a wave of fear crawling over him, but manages to shrug it off. Faber cuts Jachin down. Ardon lies there bleeding. Thahash tries to back away, but the Malakim charge. Zebediah takes a bullet in the side, but gets him against the wall. Ardon goes celestial, and Faber goes celestial a moment later to follow him. Zebediah finishes Thahash off. He turns back to see Faber reappearing and looking annoyed. "He got away." Zebediah gets out his first aid kit, and Faber bandages him.

Lucas is approaching the University, having failed to notice Nathaniel following him, when both hear the police sirens, pandemonium, and Symphonic noise of someone going celestial. They run, and find a police cordon round the site. The police are meanwhile finding out that the roof is empty of snipers, though they do discover the sniper rifle and rest. Nathaniel phones the Lightning-Tether from the nearby phone booth, and gets Jane, a Soldier he knows who's a secretary there, who summarises events. He then phones Case, and tells him there was a sniper attack and Tony was hit. He then phones Zebediah, who tells him painedly that three friends have visited. Nathaniel says he'll be across, collects Lucas, and heads for the museum. Case shuts up the Dojo, and heads for the museum.

Martin is questioned by the police (in his student body) and lies a lot about being on a first aid course a few years ago.

Tony arrives in the Marches, and heads through Blandine's Tower to Heaven. He zoops to the Celestial Tribunal, and gets to Saffron, Dominic's secretary today (another Mercurian). He mentions Grigori, Falling, and Dominicans in the same sentence. She takes it straight in to Dominic, asking him to wait. She's out straight away, and sends him in at once. Dominic is in cloaked Seraphic form. Tony tells him much stuff. Dominic transports them to a Heartroom in the Tribunal, where they see the Hearts of the Seraph and Elohite have shattered, and the Ofanite is orbiting in front of his (cracked) Heart slowly in Trauma. Dominic does Archangelic stuff and checks the Ofanite's surface memories. He tells Tony that Michael had passed on some "worrying information" and that he had been making his own investigation. He tells Tony to work on relations with the other angels, and gives him the Elohite of Judgement attunement. Tony expresses due gratitude, and descends.

Case, Nathaniel, and Lucas turn up at the museum. They share information with Faber and Zebediah, trying not to step in the blood all over the floor.

Tony and Bernard compare notes in hospital. Tony phones the Dojo (with no result) and then the museum. He and Zebediah compare notes briefly. Everyone discusses what to do with the bodies.

Martin, still at the Lightning-Tether, gets info on "Halley"'s car - hired, again. He phones the Dojo (no result) and then Case's mobile. They share information guardedly. Nathaniel gets sterile gloves from his medical supplies and uses them to manhandle the bodies of the Ofanite and Elohite into their car. Case borrows sterile gloves and assists. They drive the Triad's car out to the New Forest with the two bodies in it, use a scalpel to mangle the wounds, try to set it up so it looks like a love triangle murder, then torch the car and leave (using a five-minute fuse which Faber sets). Nathaniel dumps his trenchcoat, it being somewhat bloody.

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