Nomadic:Sessions:20160227

Vicente: "He [Dr Sullivan] thinks you're a Fed and I'm a hood. I'm refined." Marcus: "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

As Valerie types into the console, the photo of a woman appears on the display and a voice says, "Did you know you look like Maria Berry?" "That's Vanessa Vaughn," Valerie replies. "Why are you here?" Three more photos appear, labeled Dr Thorn, Lawrence Cross, and Julia Yeoman. The latter is identified as a theoretical physicist who studies "soft masses."

a handsome-in-a-greasy-way young man slips into the room and taunts Valerie for not knowing the correct password, then says she shouldn't be in here. She points out that the device is in a public building and the door had been unlocked. He tries to impress her by giving his pedigree -- his name is Edward Stark, and his parents are the billionaires Tony and Pepper Stark ("They made their money in 'arms') -- and is crestfallen when she seems completely unimpressed by his name, background, or wealth. He mentions a party taking place at the Phi Kappa house tonight.

Strange noises interrupt Father Martin's meditation, and beads of sweat form on his brow. He wipes his forehead and his hand comes away covered with blood. The noises resolve into the babbling voices of three men and two women who have apparently been staring at him, and as he gets up to walk away, they follow. A small object falls at his feet and he picks it up -- it is a bugging device. He tells the others, "Security is trying to bug us."

Vicente has heard of 'Tony Stark' as a comic-book character called 'Iron Man,' but Rick says this society does not have comic books.

Vicente, Marcus, Father Martin, and Valerie go to a nearby Starbucks. Vicente checks Fr Martin's aura and finds no new contact with demons. At Starbucks Vicente motions over a tall but stocky man with black hair and blue eyes, who gives his name as Lomar Boyer. Fr Martin shows him the bug; "Look familiar?" "Yes." Vicente casts Sense Foes which highlights several people, including Boyer. Boyer says "You are a suspicious group" and "we are inconspicuous security for government projects." They have already identified several in Vicente's group (who Vicente realizes have doubles in this world): Fr Martin is at a retreat in California, Vicente Carbone died at age three; Marcus Johnson is on active assignment in Berlin.

Vicente points out the other 'foes' and Boyer claims they're not his. He identifies one woman as Callie Powell, a leader in some religious cult. Vicente and Fr Martin call her over to their table. She points out another man named Forrest Spears who works for a Mr Wells, a former KGB agent who now works for the Chinese.

Dr Thorn is head of research at Newberry College, specializing in "applied string theory and quantum linkage" which he expects to lead to a starcraft propulsion method similar to Star Trek's warp field. Franklin Richards (another name Vicente recognizes from the comics) is building the equipment.

Vicente: "Nobody needs to be shot, right?" Fr Martin: "Prevent your heart from being ripped out by demons." Vicente: "Go, and take your backup team that you lied about with you, or we will have to go back to the shooting."

Vicente teleports Boyer outside. After several moments to clear his head, he walks rapidly away.

Vicente, Marcus, and Fr Martin go to the Hawkings Educational Building. Fr Martin enters Dr Thorn's office, Vicente goes into Dr Yeoman's office, and Marcus flirts with a coed. Fr Martin warns Thorn, "You're going to attempt this propulsion system, and you will be destroyed by demons." Thorn says that a minor test is scheduled for Saturday. Yeoman tells Vicente that they're inventing warp drive, which 'in theory' could be a conduit between realities. She indicates to Vicente that she knows her office is bugged. Vicente casts Darkness, then asks Yeoman to let them attend the test. "We won't interfere. Our priest thinks a summoning is going on."