Nomadic:Sessions:20180224

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At the Lazy 8 Ranch, Rick adds wifi to a new Lincoln Navigator. Marcus has presented his credentials to the government intelligence agencies, and acquires excellent comm gear for the group to use on future missions. Vincente remarks to Marcus, "The ends justify the means," then to Rick, "You need to be our governor in regards to right and wrong. When Marcus and I work together, it spells DOOM for some people."

Enigma issues an invitation to dinner in the ranch's private dining hall for August 31. Valerie, who is working in Los Angeles, is given a Skype link. Vicente: "I've convinced some people not to kill me. Marcus, did you steal any secrets lately?" Marcus: "Not that I'd tell you about."

Enigma's face appears on a screen. "I've lost an observer in a nearby reality." Adam Nicholson (6'1", 180#, 40ish, black eyes, balding; Level 1 Marksman rating) has worked for Enigma out of Atlanta, Georgia in that reality for ten years. His last communication indicated that on Sunday, August 22, 2010 he rented a car in Sacramento to drive to Bridgeport in Mono County CA in order to "investigate abnormalities." Twelve hours have passed since he should have reported; he has never missed a check-in before.

Enigma expects that the group will drive from Denver to Sacramento (15-20 hours) in order to reach the portal that will take them to Adam's reality, and is nonplussed when Valerie suggests they can overnight air freight the Navigator and all their equipment; Marcus, Vicente, and Rick can take a commercial flight from Denver to Sacramento, and Valerie will fly up and meet them at the airport. Vicente to Rick, who had started to object: "Bad guys and gray guys really know the law. Good guys like you, don't. We know we can't carry guns on a plane."

Vicente: "We need a cover story, something where we can carry guns." Enigma will furnish private investigator identification for "Private Solutions" as well carry permits, $100K cash and a debit card.

The next morning the group meets in Sacramento. They have breakfast, catch up with each other, and go over the documents and photos Enigma had given them. Around 5:00pm they drive through the portal. Vicente notes that the mana level is low and that there are more spirits around than usual.

Around 7:45pm they arrive in the small town of Bridgeport (pop. 800) and are drawn to the Ruby Inn. The parking lot is 3/4 full. Valerie notes two broadcast production trucks for Collin Media. Rick reports "chronodimensional/spiritual energy" coming from a 2009 Impala with Los Angeles plates. Marcus pops the lock. Vicente sees an old paper California map on the passenger seat, candy wrappers on the floor, a tissue box on the dashboard. The car is registered to Wade Miller. Inside the trunk are a gun case, a Geiger counter, and three tiki torches. He gives one of the torches to Valerie. Rick says the energy reading is coming from the tiki torches. The Impala is registered to Wade Miller, a PI with Tyler Investigations.

Vicente and Marcus find out Miller's room number. Vicente knocks; the door is answered by an athletically-built woman with dirty-blonde hair. She is dressed casually in a blouse, jeans, and jacket. Vicente, indicating the Impala: "Is this your car?" Woman: "No." She gives her name as Maya Cobb; "I'm an investigator, I'm checking out stuff." Vicente: "Where's your car?" Maya: "I rode up with Wade Miller." Vicente: "You wouldn't be armed, would you?" Maya answers "Yes," cutting her eyes over to where Marcus is pointing Miller's AR-15 at her. Vicente: "Would you slowly hand me your weapon?" She produces a 9mm pistol. Marcus, after giving her the once-over, points to her left ankle and says, "That one, too."

Vicente walks Maya back into the room, tells her to sit on the bed. Marcus: "Where's WAde?" Maya: "Out, checking out some stuff." Vicente: "Could you be more specific?" Maya: "He's meeting with Sheriff Barr." Vicente: "Would you speed up and tell me what I want to know? I'm not negotiating, I'm demanding." Maya: "Looking into some aspects of Collin Media Company." Vicente: "What makes them special?" Maya: "Our client lost money to them, wants to get them in trouble and turn them over to the law."

Vicente: "Tell me about the tiki torches." Maya: "One of Collin Media's film crews left them at the garbage pits, northeast of Bryant Airport." Vicente: "Why'd you pick them up?" Maya: "Wade did, two hours ago. He didn't tell me why. I told him they might draw attention." Vicente: "You were right. The tiki torches are why we're here. I guess we need to go to the garbage pit." Maya: "A film crew was out there. They're pitching some new reality show." Vicente: "Do you want to go to the garbage pit?" Maya: "No."

Vicente asks Marcus to check Wade's and Maya's luggage; Marcus drops a listening device in each. Vicente has Maya lie down on the bed, then casts Sleep on her. His spell works on her, but barely. Marcus tosses the firing pin from Miller's AR-15 to Vicente.

Valerie has located Nicholson's car. It's a little dirty, as if recently driven on secondary roads. As she crosses in front of the car, at a certain point she experiences a sudden chill, an uncomfortable feeling, and thinks she hears a distant, unintelligible whisper. Valerie says aloud, "I can't hear you." Then she hears a pleasant, soprano voice speaking rapidly, "You feel different, like he did. You're stronger. I shouldn't be here. Can you help me? Adam hasn't come back to his car. I might be dead." "I'm Valerie. What's your name?" "Carmella Johnson."