This one time at brat camp...

Tybalt gives a nod. "There's chinese on the stove." He calls after the woman. "Phill made it this evening, should be a little warm. But just turn on the stove for a few and get a skald on it…should be fine."

A honking horn can be heard outside the firehouse, then a loud knock.
Phillip, the Butler, is downstairs and of course goes to the door in order to open it and greet whoever is there.

"…chinese?!" That thump of stuff on the ground ends up coming pretty rapidly as Pauline flees her room. "I haven't had chinese in forever!" She practically leaps down the stairs to get to the kitchen, only to pause. Her start for the door is quickly cancled when the butler takes care of it instead.

Tybalt laughs a little. "Get some food. Phill's got the door. He knows how to screen." He winks as he goes back to his book, waiting for Phill to return buzz with news.

Danny enters the firehouse, looking serious. "Two more kids have been frozen. I think it's time we head down to the camp." He says loudly so his voice echoes to whereever the others are.

Pauline's hand is resting on the dail to turn the stove on when Danny makes the announcement. Again, she turns away. "Two more? …yeah, I don't think we can spend much more time waiting around." she looks back, grabs a plate, and settles on eating the food cold.

Tybalt gives a simple nod, closes the book and sets it down. In the next moment he's walking quietly across the floor and then upstairs towards his room. A few moments later he comes downstairs dressed as the 'Alley Cat' minus the helmet which he carried under his arm. "When do we roll??"

Danny shrugs. "I'm ready now if you are. Transportation's outside. We can be there in a little over an hour."

"HOoof uph." Pauline mumbles around a mouthful of food and takes off again, storming up the stairs. About five minutes pass and she returns, carrying the backpack but not the bones she brought in with her. Her plate's also completely empty. "Ready!"

Tybalt dips a nod and moves off towards the stairs. "I'm driving seperate. Gonna bring the Gibb." He offers, jingling a set of keys. "Meet yall there." He puts the helmet on and then nods to each before disappearing into the back of the garage.

Danny nods and heads back outside, where a somewhat beat up pickup truck is idling. He opens the door and slides in behind the wheel. "Alright. Let's go. I'd like to get there before dark."

Pauline tosses her backpack into the truck bed and climbs into the passenger seat. "Easier to search when it's not dark out anyway. I've got a bunch of flashlights just in case though."

There is the soft purr of the Gibb as it comes to life and then a feline roar as it starts out of the garage and then slows behind the truck, revving the engine twice before waiting for the convoy to start out.

Danny throws the truck into gear and pulls out into the fairly empty streets, smiling at the loud grumble of the poor old truck. Nonetheless, he sets a decent speed, just fast enough to be illegal but just cautious enough to not cause a thirty-car pileup in New York City traffic. He motions to the CB radio on the dash. "You know if Tybalt's got that crotch rocket of his tricked out?"

"He has that thing VERY tricked out." Pauline leans forward and grabs the CB transmitter. "I think it can fly." She pushes the button on the CB and speaks into it. "Hey Tybalt! That thing can fly, right?"

"Right," Danny says, grinning. "Man, if Ma knew that when I told her I was coming to the city to work at the museum, I was actually playing superhero, she'd shit a brick. Anyway, tell him to follow close. As soon as we get close, we're going to wind up playing 'find the road' in the backwoods."

"Oh, right, sorry AC." Pauline laughs nervously, "Guess you guys are lucky, I don't get a closet to come out of. Seems there's always someone with a cell phone camera or whichever to catch me doing stuff. -ah, okay, right Danny."
"Half of the 12 didn't come back…." Tybalt offers. "Number 4 said there is nothin' wierd…so." He offers as he follows behind.

"Odd," Danny says, looking confused. He shrugs. "Well, that's a pretty good sign that what we're looking for isn't going to be easy to find. And will be dangerous if we do."

"Splitting up wouldn't be a good idea in that case." Pauline thinks aloud as she settles back in her seat. "Wouldn't do ourselves any good getting ambushed by something good at hiding."

The bike follows quietly behind.

Danny falls silent as he guides the group out of NYC and into the surrounding countryside. After an hour, he starts taking strange backroads and shortcuts. As they get deepering into the New England forests, they finally come upon the estate. He pulls the truck up about a mile from the main gain, and parks. "Well, we're here."

All the while, Pauline's gaze has been glued to the window, watching the forests fly by. When they stop, she's the first to hop out and retrieve her backpack. "You know, I had no idea how much I missed this."

Alley Cat pulls up next to the truck and pulls off his bike, pulling off his pack and slinging it over his shoulders. A fat red cat sticks his head out of the pack and looks around for a moment before disappearing once again into the pack. The visored mask looks over at Pauline and then to Danny. "Plan?"

Danny shrugs. "I know the general area that all the attacks have occured. It's about two miles north, near the river. We have free reign as long as none of the Retreat staff see us. This is an under the radar mission. They know we're here, but officially they do not know we are here. Capishe?"

"Sounds good." Pauline shoulders her bag, "We are sticking together, right?" She rocks onto her heels, then taps a foot three times. A crackling noise follows and in a burst of light (and legend), an onslaught of buzzing fills the air. The mosquitobees arrive, a startling sight to those not used to seeing them.
Turning to her fearsome-looking critters, Pauline pronounces several noises that humans should not be capable of making and the bees scatter into the thick folliage of the surrounding woods.

Alley Cat takes a step back and looks up at the skeeter-b's. Then to Pauline and then he tilts his head to the side. "Number 4, keep an ear out." he points to Danny. "Yer on lead."

Danny turns and heads off into the trees without a word, smiling mysteriously. He leads the group through the hilly, forested region as if he'd grown up there. He stops occasionally to mark a tree, or rise into the air and look around to get his bearings, but otherwise he beelines straight for the area of the attack. It's a decent hike, at least 20 minutes, before they enter a clearing with obvious signs of recent human presence. Footprints line the ground, and those with keen noses will be able to smell stale cologne, lingering body odor, and a heavy stench of fear. "Here we are."

Pauline follows with ease, very accustomed to hiking herself. She seems cheerful, a little too cheerful given the situation. She doesn't have super senses but if there was a smell she recognized in any quantity…it was BO. "Here's where the two kids were found, then." she starts picking over the area, following the footprints around.

Tybalt gives a nod of his head and reaches into his pack, dropping the cat to the ground to let it sniff around before AC starts investigating the area for signs of anything out of the ordinary.

"Good work."

The disembodied voice sounds smug. Suddenly, a figure shimmers into view in the middle of the clearing. "Before you get all violent, I'll have you know that my companions are at the Retreat. Should you harm a hair on my head, or present me any difficulty at all, the other four warriors hidden here will kill you. While that is happening, Alejandro will be having fun with the students." The man smiles cruelly. He stands about six feet tall, with blond hair and a square-jawed face. He is powerfully built, with a wicked cast to his features, and a gleam of malicious glee in his eyes. "I've seen Alejandro's fun. I'm afraid the children would not enjoy it."

Well, that's definitely out of the ordinary. Pauline immediately stiffens when the mystery person decides to appear out of nowhere, a hand reflexively going for her backpack where she keeps her weapon. Slowly, she lowers her hand and turns toward the man, taking a few steps forward with deliberate slowness. She takes a moment to use her height advantage to loom at him. "You've namedropped your friend enough. Who're you?"
Tybalt tilts his head to the side and moves to face the appearance of the new threat. He says nothing….simply stares and waits. He's not pleased….nope. He's itching to use his sword…

The man simply smiles, a cold smile. "Ah, but you haven't earned my name yet. You'll get your chance." He waves a hand, and a number of figures shimmer in and out of view, too quickly to make out any details beyond their great size. "I do hope you are up to the task, at any rate. It's extremely important." His smile turns to a distinct, wicked smirk.

"The fate of the world is at stake."

Pauline takes another step forward, her eyes narrowing as she ups the threat of invading Mr. Mysterious's space. "Listen, buddy." She thinks, trying to nail this guy's angle. "You're going to have to be more specific than that. What the hell is going on that you gotta drag a bunch of scions into?"
Tybalt feigns patience and distance, idly wondering around the area, idly looking at this and that. He's paying attention of course, but he has nothing to add, and he certainly isn't giving this person the honor of having his full attention.

"Stop," The man says in a monotone. "No wandering about. No threatening me. Because then I'll give the signal. And after I disappear into the wind, Alejandro will have his fun. By the time you get to the retreat, he'll be long gone. And the poor children will never be the same. Those who survive, anyway. Maybe he'll be merciful this time and not let any survive."

"Threatening you?" Pauline unfolds her arms to show empty hands. "I'm not threatening you, buddy." She smiles a not-so-nice smile, "You'd know if I was threatening you. Now how about answering my questions since you've worked so hard for your captive audience."

Puts up a hand and for the first time since his arrival he speaks. "No…." He offers quietly as he puts a hand on the pommel of his sword. "You've already killed people. You are responsible for quiet a few deaths, and our patience in the past has been rewarded by more problems….so…we -are- going to kill you. Because, let us be honest….that is what we as Scions do. We can have the witty banter, but in the end, you are going to die. Now wether you want to take those children with you or not is completely up to you by my job…" He offers as he slowly brings the sword out and idly runs his thumb along it. "…is to destroy you. Not to negotiate, not to save anyone. To kill you. So, I'm very sorry that you feel that this was a good idea, because you were very mistaken." He offers with a shrug.

"Good work."

The disembodied voice sounds smug. Suddenly, a figure shimmers into view in the middle of the clearing. "Before you get all violent, I'll have you know that my companions are at the Retreat. Should you harm a hair on my head, or present me any difficulty at all, the other four warriors hidden here will kill you. While that is happening, Alejandro will be having fun with the students." The man smiles cruelly. He stands about six feet tall, with blond hair and a square-jawed face. He is powerfully built, with a wicked cast to his features, and a gleam of malicious glee in his eyes. "I've seen Alejandro's fun. I'm afraid the children would not enjoy it."

Well, that's definitely out of the ordinary. Pauline immediately stiffens when the mystery person decides to appear out of nowhere, a hand reflexively going for her backpack where she keeps her weapon. Slowly, she lowers her hand and turns toward the man, taking a few steps forward with deliberate slowness. She takes a moment to use her height advantage to loom at him. "You've namedropped your friend enough. Who're you?"
Tybalt tilts his head to the side and moves to face the appearance of the new threat. He says nothing….simply stares and waits. He's not pleased….nope. He's itching to use his sword…

The man simply smiles, a cold smile. "Ah, but you haven't earned my name yet. You'll get your chance." He waves a hand, and a number of figures shimmer in and out of view, too quickly to make out any details beyond their great size. "I do hope you are up to the task, at any rate. It's extremely important." His smile turns to a distinct, wicked smirk.

"The fate of the world is at stake."

Pauline takes another step forward, her eyes narrowing as she ups the threat of invading Mr. Mysterious's space. "Listen, buddy." She thinks, trying to nail this guy's angle. "You're going to have to be more specific than that. What the hell is going on that you gotta drag a bunch of scions into?"
Tybalt feigns patience and distance, idly wondering around the area, idly looking at this and that. He's paying attention of course, but he has nothing to add, and he certainly isn't giving this person the honor of having his full attention.

"Stop," The man says in a monotone. "No wandering about. No threatening me. Because then I'll give the signal. And after I disappear into the wind, Alejandro will have his fun. By the time you get to the retreat, he'll be long gone. And the poor children will never be the same. Those who survive, anyway. Maybe he'll be merciful this time and not let any survive."

"Threatening you?" Pauline unfolds her arms to show empty hands. "I'm not threatening you, buddy." She smiles a not-so-nice smile, "You'd know if I was threatening you. Now how about answering my questions since you've worked so hard for your captive audience."
Puts up a hand and for the first time since his arrival he speaks. "No…." He offers quietly as he puts a hand on the pommel of his sword. "You've already killed people. You are responsible for quiet a few deaths, and our patience in the past has been rewarded by more problems….so…we -are- going to kill you. Because, let us be honest….that is what we as Scions do. We can have the witty banter, but in the end, you are going to die. Now wether you want to take those children with you or not is completely up to you by my job…" He offers as he slowly brings the sword out and idly runs his thumb along it. "…is to destroy you. Not to negotiate, not to save anyone. To kill you. So, I'm very sorry that you feel that this was a good idea, because you were very mistaken." He offers with a shrug.

"AC." Pauline stiffly holds up a hand, palm flat, and turns just slightly, her eyes fierce and her tone firm. "No. We're not going to have any more children die if we can help it. Stand DOWN." Her eyes shift back to the mystery man, "As for you, I want you to swear on whatever god you follow that you're going to honor your offer."
Alley Cat laughs a little. A soft distant purr…nay…a rumble of a laugh. "My hands?" The rumble grows. "No…My actions are directed at you. Your actions are directed at them. If 50 children die so that I can destroy you and 50 more may live without the fear of being herded by you again at a later date when you have some other sick idea, then it will be worth it. But no. My hands will only have -your- blood on them…." He grunts a bit and keeps the golden sword on his shoulder and continues to look around the area, seemingly disinterested in further conversation.

"I always keep my word, my dear," the man says. "Also, I feel that it needs to be pointed out that I do not harm children. That is Alejandro's pleasure. And should I die, there will be no one to restrain him. Think of the plague he will be on the innocent youth of the world with the powers at his command and his little obsession driving him. Kill me, and you release something infinitely worse." He shrugs, a slow and langorous motion. He does not seem worried. "But it's up to you. I only arranged this little tete-a-tete for a simple request. There is a cave here. Guarded by a fierce beast. That's what the youths ran into. Inside this cave is the entrance to a tomb. And inside the tomb, is a relic. I want that relic. And I want you to go get it."

Pauline cringes, she's tried Tybalt's logic once on something else, an incident she'd been hoping to forget with no avail. "I don't see you swearing." With a frown, she tilts her head to the side, "Why haven't you gotten it yourself? And out of curiosity, would we be the first people that you have sent to retrieve this relic?"

"AC." Pauline stiffly holds up a hand, palm flat, and turns just slightly, her eyes fierce and her tone firm. "No. We're not going to have any more children die if we can help it. Stand DOWN." Her eyes shift back to the mystery man, "As for you, I want you to swear on whatever god you follow that you're going to honor your offer."
Alley Cat laughs a little. A soft distant purr…nay…a rumble of a laugh. "My hands?" The rumble grows. "No…My actions are directed at you. Your actions are directed at them. If 50 children die so that I can destroy you and 50 more may live without the fear of being herded by you again at a later date when you have some other sick idea, then it will be worth it. But no. My hands will only have -your- blood on them…." He grunts a bit and keeps the golden sword on his shoulder and continues to look around the area, seemingly disinterested in further conversation.

"I always keep my word, my dear," the man says. "Also, I feel that it needs to be pointed out that I do not harm children. That is Alejandro's pleasure. And should I die, there will be no one to restrain him. Think of the plague he will be on the innocent youth of the world with the powers at his command and his little obsession driving him. Kill me, and you release something infinitely worse." He shrugs, a slow and langorous motion. He does not seem worried. "But it's up to you. I only arranged this little tete-a-tete for a simple request. There is a cave here. Guarded by a fierce beast. That's what the youths ran into. Inside this cave is the entrance to a tomb. And inside the tomb, is a relic. I want that relic. And I want you to go get it."

Pauline cringes, she's tried Tybalt's logic once on something else, an incident she'd been hoping to forget with no avail. "I don't see you swearing." With a frown, she tilts her head to the side, "Why haven't you gotten it yourself? And out of curiosity, would we be the first people that you have sent to retrieve this relic?"

"Yes," the man says. "I've seen your prowess in battle, and you do have a chance at defeating us. A small one, but a chance. Not without losses, though, and the aforementioned horrible torture and slow death of scores of kids. However, I need you because neither I nor my compatriots can set foot in that cave. We are bound from ever entering it. You, on the other hand, are not." He tilts his head, looking at Pauline. "I swear by Gaia, the mother who birthed us all, that I will remain true to my word. Should you retrieve this relic for me, I will allow the children to go unharmed. If you do not, I will signal Alejandro to start the games while we battle to no purpose in the woods."

"Another time, AC, another time." Pauline says through gritted teeth. The Gaia comment gets a raised eyebrow and is quietly filed away in her mind for later. "How interesting. I wonder why that is. Well, I will hold you to your promise. But…" she lifts a hand with two fingers raised, "Two more questions. First, what does this relic look like? And second, what do you mean by the fate of the world being at stake?"

Tybalt is silent and goes wandering again, moving quietly behind a tree in slow stalking pursuit of another lizard. He has nothing to add at the moment as Pauline seems to be doing a good job at playing negotiator. He however does look over to Danny to see what he thinks about all this, but then again….something moves and once again he is distracted.

The man looks frustrated. "You love to talk, don't you? I want that relic. If I don't get it, the world is in danger. Terrible danger. The kind that you don't just walk off and overcome with stirring music and a telethon. I'm sorry I've had to use these methods, but I had to ensure your cooperation. If I don't get that Relic to mother, then you can just kiss your asses goodbye. The relic itself is a crown, set with three emeralds and three rubies. I, ah, wouldn't touch anything else. You remember that scene from Aladdin? Yeah, only touch the lamp, or crown in this case."

"Talk? No. Ask questions? Yes." Pauline points at the man, "And see, if I hadn't asked we wouldn't have known about the whole boobytrapped treasure thing." 'And the treasure's always boobytrapped, why is that?" she mutters to herself. "Direction of the cave?"
Tybalt lifts his visored gaze towards the man once and then to Pauline before giving a nod of his head and looks down at the fat orange cat who idly pads off in one direction. The cat then goes still and simply flicks his tail before heading back towards the motorcycle. AC obviously speaks cat and knows the way, as he sent the 12 in for recon earlier in the week.

"I've told you all I know. You have my word," the man says. "Now, I must go to restrain Alejandro. Don't worry, though. I still have eyes upon you. If you survive, I will meet you here. Without hostages in thrall." He suddenly fades into thin air.

Pauline lets out a small growl after he has disappeared and turns to the others. "I don't like it all any more than you guys do but I don't think we have much of a choice. If that guy harms the kids anyway, I'm breaking his and his child molestor buddy's faces."
Tybalt shrugs a little. "He's telling the truth. The crown has to go to him." He offers as he continues to walk. "This is vaguely alladin esque, so the beast might -be- the cave for all we know. But he's definately playing the part of the Vizier….or the sorceror. He's second in command to a bigger deal…"

"He is," Danny confirms, speaking up. "He's not the top guy. Whoever this is, they're smart. They know that we're powerful fighters, and so they sent one out to use us, but they had backup in case we made a fight of it. The man back at the Retreat . ." Danny frowns. "Anyway, there is an actual beast out here. My guess is Basilisk. Sort of smells like snake around here." He looks at Tybalt. "That's probably why some of your cats never came back. Cats and snakes . . don't get along."

Tybalt looks at Danny and rumbles softly. "My cats had my blood in them. They are fighters….if they tangled with it, it's gonna be hurting." He notes.
Pauline looks from Tybalt to Danny, "…how can you tell? This whole thing just reeks of a Scion-killing deathtrap setup to me." She hrmphs, folding her arms and glancing over to Danny again, "Can you track the smell? It could be our cave monster."

Danny nods. "It's pretty strong that way," he points off toward the river. "Snake is a distinctive smell. Dry and . . reptilian. Not sure how to describe it, actually. But it smells big."

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