Nomadic:Sessions:20190907
Valerie expresses interest in learning a second spell, so Vincente teaches her Touch.
Rick goes away on a hunting trip. Marcus is training in Washington DC. Timothy Young is updating his knowledge of guns and technology from the late 19th century to the 21st. Valerie goes to California to work on a new Quentin Tarantino movie.
Vincente pursues the study of magic. In the Bahamas he talks to ghosts and learns the locations of some normal-mana sites. In Haiti he contacts a man in his mid-40s who is familiar with necromancy -- he is fascinated with spirits and death, but not raising the dead. This man is the grandson of a Voudoun shaman/priest but his own father rejected the Voudoun religion. Ten years ago he inherited his grandfather's books. Aura: Magery 2, touched by spirits. Vincente obtains other leads to Voudoun practitioners and looks for other people who can see and/or speak with ghosts.
On September 30 Vincente comes out to Laurel Canyon where Valerie is working. He casts Touch on her arm, but it is a different woman who jerks her head around as though she had heard or seen something. A little later he points her out to Valerie, who introduces him to Jenny Torrez. Jenny appears Hispanic and stands 5'6"; when Vincente checks her Aura he gets some resistance, but detects that she is a good person, sensitive to magic and psi, and bears psychic scars from previous trauma. In conversation Vincente learns that Jenny is of Hispanic/English parentage and was born in Atlanta and raised in El Paso. Vincente: "What did you think of New Orleans?" Jenny: "It creeped me out! ... Are you a medium?" "I'm a large." She admits that she has a feeling that "something is going on" so after today's filming she'll be visiting her brother in Atlanta for two weeks. Vincente: "You are 'sensitive'. I'm telling you so you stop feeling crazy." Jenny: "Does it run in bloodlines?" Vincente hands her his card and says he'll give her some pointers on meditation. She mentions her "curlin aura" [sic] and says "I guess some people can read minds." Vincente retorts, "Otherwise you wouldn't have a shield."
Vincente returns to the Lazy 8 Ranch where he learns that Timothy and Marcus have gone out on a mission together -- Tim for some kind of engineering project, Marcus to watch his back. Rick is in Denver attending a seminar. Red Corrigan informs Vincente, "Your boss made upgrades to the shooting range. It's now a normal mana area."
Friday night at 11pm, Valerie is awakened by her cellphone. A breathless, near-hysterical Jenny stammers: "Something's wrong... I'm being chased... I killed someone, maybe two... tried calling police and got you... people missing... brother renovating a three-story mansion for a B&B..." A sleepy Valerie urges her to breathe deeply and keep her voice down; "all you're saying is 'bad' and 'weird' and that doesn't tell me anything."
Valerie calls Vincente who with a quick Internet search learns that one Sonny Torrez has a building permit to remodel a certain three-story antebellum home on four acres; thus he learns the address in Atlanta. Valerie gives him Jenny's number.
Only a few moments later, Red comes in and says, "I was told to wake you immediately." She hands him a touchpad with a video screen. Enigma's image appears and states bluntly, "We got a problem." "Oui? Is this French?" "A 'reality breach' in Atlanta. Need you to get a team." "Whose reality?" Enigma ignores the question. "It was detected by agent Annabelle. She passed out and is in a deep coma. Either an attack or a byproduct." "Can you tell me any other relevant information?" "It involves techno-magic. This is a training/rest reality for teams such as yours. Do this as low-key as possible. Use 'IS Investigative Agency' as cover. I have a computer tech covering up and preventing publicity." Vincente: "So, I'm to find out about this reality breach and deal with it as necessary." As an afterthought, Enigma mentions "there are two new agents" who will accompany Vincente, one of whom is named Frank Hardy.
Vincente carefully sets down the touchpad and steps away, but it doesn't self-destruct.
Vincente calls Rick, who despite the hour is awake and puttering around in a Colorado State computer lab. After hanging up, Vincente has Red prepare Rick's "go-bag". Vincente then calls Valerie, who tells him, "Have fun! I'm under contract."
Vincente approaches a well-groomed man with a perplexed expression, "Yo, Frank! Vincente Carbone," and extends his hand. "I was told you were here, joining our team. There's been a 'reality breach' and we're gonna deal with it." Frank Hardy (yes, he has a brother named Joe) says he's "from New York most recently" where he ran an agency. Vincente: "Were you, like, the Hardy Boys? I read about you in books!" For this mission Frank wants "weapons, laptop, surveillance equipment... I like 9mm." He shows Vincente the magnifying glass he had picked up from Enigma's junkpile.
Valerie gets a phone call from an unknown number, which automatically goes to voicemail. Her phone chimes again and it's Jenny, seemingly scared out of her wits. "I'm hurt, I tried to rescue my brother, threw him into a split in the wall, holed up in the place he's renovating." Pounding noises in the background. Valerie: "Shh, stay quiet, stay hid. Vincente's on his way." "You're not coming?!" Jenny whines over and over. Valerie: "Vincente will help you. Sit tight."
Vincente, Frank, and Rick board a plane. Just before takeoff another man pops into an empty seat. He is tall, well-built, handsome, and sports waist-length hair. He is carrying a magazine. Vincente immediately casts Levitate on him, barely succeeding. Frank starts, and the newcomer asks, "Where am I?" He introduces himself as Art Crispen and explains "I woke up in a room, chose a piece of junk, and here I am." Vincente sets him down, saying, "I like you. You can stay." Art is a graduate student working on his PhD in psychology; his hobbies include singing and playing guitar and piano.
Art's last memory is of riding his motorcycle after a gig when he felt a pain in his neck. Frank: "I closed a case and didn't survive closure -- lead poisoning." Vincente, simply: "Volcano."
Vincente repeats the briefing. "It's a reality breach. It is a breach that happens in reality." He describes his last conversation with Jenny Torrez.
Vincente's phone beeps. It's Enigma via FaceTime. Annabelle has awakened and described "static psychic interference" overlaying the neighborhood of the mansion. "No demonic activity. She was knocked out by the feedback."
Valerie is awakened yet again, this time by someone mimicking Quentin Tarantino. "Sir," she says, "it's three a.m." The man growls something about "a matter of national security" and demands that she phone yet another number. Recognizing a prank by an acquaintance who's a practical joker, she chuckles, "Give it up, Petey." The voice deadpans, "Are you refusing to do what I ask?" "Give it up," Valerie repeats, "I've got an early day tomorrow."
Enigma calls Vincente, insisting that Valerie must be on his "team." Vincente calls Valerie who assures him that Jenny will be happy to see him. "Have fun! Bye!"
The plane lands at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Saturday morning at 5:30am Eastern Daylight Time.
Vincente rents a Tahoe and drives the four of them to the indicated neighborhood. There are hundreds of ghosts wearing clothes "not of this period" and some unlike any style Vincente's ever seen. Art feels a tingle at the base of his spine. Vincente touches Rick and shows him the ghosts; Rick exclaims, "Holy shit, are we back in California?" Vincente shows Art after convincing him to take his hand, then Frank ("Can I just touch your shoulder?" "I have to touch skin.") Vincente assures the others, "They can't do anything to you. The ones who can -- I'll let you know." Frank admits he can "identify" magic.
Vincente: "I guess the reality breach has to do with these ghosts." Art, mentioning that he has eidetic memory, says "This property has a history of odd occurrences. Things lost and found. A person disappearing between rooms. It was built around 1850." Vincente notes that the mana level is normal, aspected to transportation and movement. His Mage Sight shows him that the entire house is magic, with ghosts walking in and out.
In the driveway are a 2014 Ford Crown Victoria [the Crown Vic went out of production in 2011] and two late-model Impalas. Vincente pulls into the driveway and positions the Tahoe for a quick getaway. He passes out weapons; Rick hands out communication devices and gets in behind the wheel. He will wait in the Tahoe a few blocks away.
Vincente stops a ghost in modern-day clothing. "Hi! Where are you going? Can I go?" "There's a pressure I can't fight, pushing us outward. I went through a door." "Sorry you're dead. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to go *through* a door?" "I choked on a fishbone in August 2014." "So you were on the other side and got pushed out. You've been very helpful. I'll remove your fishbone."
A female ghost walks up behind Art and starts "batting" at his long hair, saying in a girly voice, "He's pretty. He reminds me of my boyfriend. Can I have him?" Vincente: "Can you possess him, you mean?" "Sorta." "Go ahead! I don't care if you make him mad!" "I think he'll like it." "Oh, now, I can't allow that." The girl had died in 2001. She is not from "this" Atlanta; she says "The 'ether', the flow is different. I could have fought it, but I was curious. They outnumbered me and finally killed me, but it took a couple of platoons." She tells Vincente her name is Emily LaBelle. Vincente touches Art and shows him the ghost who's been messing with his hair. Art thinks she's gorgeous. Emily says Vincente is "the cutest medium I've ever seen. The others are ugly. ... I'm going to explore this Atlanta."
The front door opens into a "majestic" foyer with a grand staircase and a lighted chandelier. Vincente calls out, "Hello! Who you gonna call?" A rich tenor voice sings in response, "Ghostbusters!" Vincente: "Hey, come on down!" Ghosts are streaming silently down the stairs, but then footsteps are heard. A tall male with jet-black, shoulder-length hair looks down at them. He is wearing dark sunglasses and hard-soled shoes that make a distinct 'tap' as he walks. He moves "like a dancer or a fighter." "I knew she had called somebody. We didn't torment her. I'm Alvin Quint. What may I do for you?" Vincente: "I have come to speak with Jenny." "Alas, she's not available." (Art detects a 'half-lie.') "That's not acceptable. Are you distressing her?" "I myself am distressing her not one bit." Art: "Is she on the second floor? 'Yes' or 'no' will do." AQ: "She is currently not in the house." (Art reads 'impatience' in his body language.)
Vincente teleports beside AQ, who is startled. Vincente pushes AQ over the balcony. AQ turns a double-flip and lands on the floor with the wind knocked out of him. Vincente: "Turn around so we can talk. So, where's Jenny?" AQ: "She's elsewhere." "Where the ghosts are coming from?" "Yes. She's alive... her brother Sonny, a little less so."
Clumsily, AQ strikes out at Frank and Art. Art tries a judo throw but AQ counters.
AQ throws a punch at Art's midsection; Art blocks the punch with a judo move. Frank draws down on AQ. Vincente casts Levitate on himself and jumps.
vincente casts Itch on the middle of AQ's back. AQ scratches at it. Art throws AQ to the ground and gets him in an arm bar.
Vincente: "All right, Alvin, let's go find Jenny." AQ: "He's better than I am." Art: "Remember, he has a pistol." Vincente: "Frank, have you ever shot anyone?" Frank: "Yes."
AQ claims there are several people on the third floor. "I am not the boss. ... Your Miss Torrez hurt several people. We can't afford a gunfight to draw attention from the local authorities. But you don't care. ... You don't have any idea what this is." Art: "You're holding a lady captive." Vincente: "There's a breach in reality."
AQ seems unaware of ghosts. Vincente touches his neck and AQ faints. Vincente casts Awaken and says, "Get up, don't be a weenie. Guess you didn't know about ghosts. Welcome to my world."
The doorframe "bothers" Vincente and seems "creepy" to Art. Vincente: "Is this a door, or is it a portal?" AQ: "It's both. You wanted to go where Ms Torrez is. (raising his voice) But if you'd rather go somewhere else, we're setting up and priming a waystation." Vincente: "I know what that means. It's a pocket between realities, like a train station." AQ: "You're more dangerous than they implied." Art: "What are the biggest differences?" AQ: "I'm afraid I must decline to answer." Art punches him in the head, then slaps him; "I don't like people hurting women." AQ: "The main difference is the outlook. The culture is more violent. The US is more warlike, an empire that dominates the western hemisphere. They're not Nazis. They make Nazis look nice."
Vincente: "Alvin, let's go be violent. Are there Carbones on that side?" AQ: "The magistrate in charge of the Chicago region is named Carbone." Vincente: "More family to kill." Over the headset, Vincente murmurs, "Rick, watch out, they have agents." Rick replies, "I think they underestimated us."
They enter a room wider than it is deep, covered in shag carpet; there's another door on the far wall. There's a writing desk with a laptop. Seated at the desk is a 3' male, hobbit-like, wearing blue jeans and a denim shirt. He says, "If you would care to, I would like to log your names." AQ, quickly: "We'll waive that. Enter subjects 1, 2, 3, 4." Art insists that AQ give his name. The hobbit introduces himself as Dan Fields.
Vincente asks for Jenny Torrez, "and throw in Sonny as a bonus." DF: "They are in Detention Area 3.4, northwest Atlanta." Vincente: "Have them transferred back here. I'd appreciate it." DF: "Just a moment." The hobbit taps the desk, a phone rises up out of it, and he speaks to it in a different language (translated, of course, by the amulets), "The operation is in serious danger. Have you requested the appropriate control team? They want the young lady who was so difficult. (pause) Really? (pause) Okay. Yes, yes, I think it'll work."
In English, DF says, "I've been authorized to expedite her release to your custody. It will be thirty minutes. Would you like refreshments?" Vincente: "No drugs for us."
Art pats down AQ, finding a translucent water pistol (with an "ambiguous" feel) in the small of his back, a fighting knife strapped to his left calf, and on his right calf a magic wand. The coins in his pocket resemble contemporary US coinage. AQ admits that the water pistol "generally does what the user wills it to." Vincente reads AQ's Aura: High psi potential for molecular manipulation. AQ: "The wand throws firebolts; its activation word is "kwasinart" and the secondary word is --" "I wouldn't do that," interrupts Vincente, pointing the wand at DF. Vincente: "Why'd you send Alvin by himself?" DF: "He's usually pretty good."
Vincente notices that no ghosts have come through since they stepped into the room. Vincente: "Where are the ghosts coming from?" DF: "It's an unintended side effect. When the gradient is modified, they will be pulled back. Most people can't see them, but my eyes have been augmented." AQ: "This is a very big investment. We are peaceful. Miss Torrez cold-bloodedly killed three of our people." Art senses that this is a blatant lie; he slaps AQ, saying, "We don't have time for this."
Vincente: "Jenny will want her brother, but you have a bunch of people with guns coming. Can you have them bring Sonny, too? Or will there be enough people on the 'control team' to make the point moot?" DF: "Sonny Torrez is being prepped for return, but he is much further away and it will take time. Are you sure you want to wait that long?" Vincente: "What do you mean, 'prepped for return'?" DF: "He was injured. He needs healing and his memory adjusted." Vincente: "Have you molested Jenny?" DF: "We took a blood sample. Several people want to execute her for killing our people." Vincente: "You should have tranked her."
Art shoots the water pistol at DF's feet, thinking it might force him to be truthful. The shot misses but DF pulls his feet up anyway.
DF: "Can you convince her to wait and not make a fuss?" Vincente: "Y'all need to move this breach. Y'all are causing problems." DF: "We'll consider it."
A door opens and Jenny enters, flanked by tall, olive-skinned men wearing scarlet uniforms and sidearms. She walks up to Vincente. He casts Aura and knows it's not the real Jenny, but he says aloud, "Yep, it's her." (Art knows this is a lie.)
Vincente: "We'll just sit and wait for Sonny. Oh, and when they bring me Sonny, tell them to bring me Jenny, too. Dan, haven't I been reasonable and patient? Then you bring me this lovely lady and two more fighters. Why are you insulting me, Dan?" DF sighs, "We'll give you Jenny and Sonny if you go away and leave our waystation -- it's harmless." Vincente: "Said the Pilgrims to the Indian." DF: "Is that a yes?" Vincente: "That's an 'I'm thinking.'" DF sighs again, gets up and approaches Vincente. The two men in red uniforms step back. Art says to them, "Pur your weapons down and go stand in the corner or I'll knock you out." Jenny: "You could do that to a woman?" Art: "Yeah. Ask your buddy Alvin Quint what happens."
vincente: "You were given a chance. We could have had a discussion and come to an agreement. Are you proposing violence, Dan?" DF: "You read her aura without a spell, you see ghosts... Jenny Torrez disrupted our shielding last night. She made three calls before we captured her, and now you want us to release her to you... Bring her in, please."
Two more large men enter, carrying an unconscious Jenny in a sling between them. Vincente verifies her Aura; it has been "dimmed" somehow. Vincente: "Dan, step back." He puts his hand on Jenny's forehead, which feels feverish, and casts Awaken. Jenny's eyes open and focus on Art, and she murmurs, "Maybe I died and went to heaven." Vincente: "I hear you caused a lot of trouble." Jenny: "I did." Vincente: "Dan, is it true you beat Sonny to where you can't give him to me?" DF: "He was injured. Broken tibias, collarbone, torn ligaments in his legs and back. He got thrown through a portal before it was stabilized." Vincente: "I want him as-is. You give us those two, we'll leave, and you'll have time to prepare for us to come back." One of the red-coats says, "I don't understand our orders."
Vincente: "Dan. Sonny. Any time." DF: "He's on his way. Who do you work for?" Vincente: "Edward Nigma." DF exclaims, "Infinite Solutions? Our record didn't indicate he had agents in this cluster! Have you been preparing for us?" Vincente: "You'd have to talk to him. I just flew here."
DF knocks on another door, opens it, walks through, and it closes behind him.
Vincente speaks to Chandler, the leader of the Scarlet Guard. "Do y'all kill a lot of people?" Chandler: "No. 'People', we don't usually have to fight." He implies that Vincente is "several steps lower" than a 'creature'. Vincente: "Do you take steroids to get that swole?"
Jenny tells Vincente she had fought "house guards."
Vincente wants the second activation word for the wand. AQ quibbles, then speaks it. Vincente points the wand at Chandler. The wand grows hot, and Vincente teleports the wand behind AQ's back. The wand explodes, knocking AQ forward. Chandler says "That's a shame," then fast-draws a gun and puts a bullet between AQ's eyes. Vincente: "He was getting tiresome." Chandler: "Yes, he was. Dan Fields went to get Sonny Torrez. Once he comes back, what do you want?" Vincente: "To get Sonny and walk through that door with Sonny and Jenny. We can discuss further on the other side. ... I'm gonna have to find Emily. She's a real powerful ghost. She would be fun here."
The door opens and two more Scarlet Guard carry in Sonny. Jenny verifies that this is her brother. Vincente casts Missile Shield, puts his hands on Sonny's chest, then casts Levitation. DF: "It's now 7 to 3." Vincente: "I know. We're leaving now. Thanks for the memories."
Frank is the first out the door. Five steps later, he collapses. Art shouts, "Frank's down!" DF shrugs and says, "I did nothing. It's been a stressful hour. Maybe he couldn't take it." Art detects "something different" about the doorframe. Vincente, with Mage Sight, see that the doorframe is still a magic item and now has another spell stacked on the previous one. He casts Dispel Magic (crit success); the wood grain of the doorframe changes and the doorframe emits a distracting hum. Vincente to Dan: "We're good? We can go now?" DF:" I haven't tried to stop you." Vincente: "Yes you have."
Art steps out, turns, starts down the hallway, and wills himself through the nausea that had felled Frank. Every door in the hallway has undergone the woodgrain change. The third floor is blocked off. Vincente sends Jenny through; nothing bothers her. Art shakes Frank awake. Vincente pushes Sonny through, then steels himself, jumps through, and shuts the door behind him. As he falls unconscious (there was a psionic Sleep attack in the doorjamb), the house phase shifts and they are back in the dimension they started from.
Frank covers while Art shakes Vincente awake. Vincente hears Rick's voice in the headset, "Five minute radio check." Rick reports "a bunch of Jeeps and police vehicles circling the area." Rick had moved out of the area when the police arrived. The time is now 8:40am.
Vincente: "We'll try to get out around the back of the house. We have one person severely injured. Jenny, what did you drive here?" "2008 Malibu, sky blue. Sonny drives a Crown Vic." Someone finds the keys to one of the two Impalas. Vincente: "We're gonna drive casually and get out of her." From Rick he obtains a route to the nearest hospital, (Northwest Atlanta General).
They are almost out of the neighborhood when a cop pulls Vincente over. Alertly, Vincente casts Simple Illusion to cover the back seat and tells Frank, "Don't talk." The cop asks if he's seen a roving gang, and Vincente replies, "No, sir, I haven't." Cop: "You should get your taillight checked." Vincente: "When you go cheap, that's what happens." After a few more idle exchanges, the cop lets Vincente go. The cop's Aura is "subdued", "under an influence."
Vincente arrives at the hospital's ER at 9:30. Jenny does all the talking while Vincente drives a short way away to park. Vincente and Art go into the hospital and find Jenny in the waiting room. Art notices that various people's body language is "out of sync"; "people aren't acting hurt."
Vincente phones Valerie. "I got Jenny and her brother from another dimension. Something is off. That's all."
A couple of nervous men (wearing earbuds) seem to recognize Art. There's a nervous woman with a child who is definitely a young hobbit. The hobbit and the men have hidden weapons. Vincente warns Frank, "There are enemies in the hospital." Art: "This channel might not be safe." Rick: "Switch to Channel 2." Frank: "They're waiting to snatch them?"
Vincente: "Jenny, we're in trouble. There are people here that want you or Sonny. Why are you so important?" Jenny: "They probably had Sonny awhile. Sonny wasn't home, so I came to the house and sneaked in. I found my brother being held in the servants' quarters. I managed to take out the guard. They weren't trying to kill me. There was a running fight through the house. I ended up separated from Sonny. Called 911 but they didn't answer right. Called the police and they didn't come. Found a hidey-hole. That's when I called Valerie. I've lost a day o my memory -- I called Valerie on the third -- at least 24 hours." Vincente: "Then they brought someone who looked like you." Jenny: "I won't try to figure it out." Vincente: "Relax and don't resist."
Meanwhile, Art drifts over toward the operating theater. A man whose nametag says Taylor stops him and says, "You're not supposed to be in this area." Art: "I work here, I forgot my coat." Taylor: "You can't wander the halls without your badge." He starts leading him to the security desk. Art asks to stop at a restroom; "I know where the desk is." "Okay," replies Taylor, walking away.
Art dons a white coat and heads to the surgical suite. Two other men are in the observation area. Babcock, a man wearing an expensive suit, sits down beside Art. Art greets him, "Hi, Mr Babcock, remember me?" Babcock: "I'm a contributor to the hospital. They gave me privileges. I'm intrigued by trauma surgery." Art notices Babcock palming a stun device and asks, "What are you going to do with that?" "What?" Babcock tries to use the stunner and Art disarms him with karate. Babcock denies trying to stun Art. "Enjoy your nap," replies Art, activating the device and knocking Babcock out. Art pockets the stunner and searches Babcock, taking his wallet and keys. His name is Guy Babcock and his address is in the same neighborhood as Sonny Torrez' renovated house. He goes outside the hospital and locates Babcock's BMW.
Vincente casts Body Reading on Jenny, looking for implants. He finds a small magical tracker button and tells her, "They're tracking you. I'll have to cut it out." He takes her to the handicapped stall in the men's room, has her unbutton her blouse, takes out his switchblade, pops the tracker out, and flushes it. He casts Minor Healing to close the cut.
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