Log – Through Darkness to Illumination (2/6)

In the distance, the man’s screams can be faintly heard. The Barrens would always appear to have the highest concentration of Morlock activities. Patrols are periodically coming and going from this area. They all seem to be coming from, or going toward the south – a building in the distance that way. To the north of here there is no Morlock activity, but for one to get there… they must pass through the gauntlet so to speak. Currently, there are a handful of Morlocks heading towards the exit of the Barrens. A patrol, apparently, as they are clumped together. One of them bringing a globe of daylight along with them – proof a mage is with them. Also of note, though unlikely to be noticed, is that figure upon the rooftops. Seems he had traversed the rooftop to the Barrens side of the building. Perched at the roof’s ledge, the figure stares out at the schoolhouse in the distance.

Contrary slips through the alley carefully until she reaches its other edge. She pauses within the shadows and crouches low, looking out carefully. Getting as close as she dares to the mouth of her back door. She lightly scratches under the mask that covers her muzzle, looking first to see if there is a way into one of the buildings that rise to either side of her. failing that easier means, she looks for a ‘break’ in the patrols or maybe some more cover. Though with the street cleaned, large hunks of obstructing material are unlikely. Most of her attention is toward the north, her destination.

On your path toward the north, you would find a couple of pieces of cover, though minimal. Perhaps a sixty feet from the alley’s mouth is a broken down hovervehicle which sits and rusts. Beyond that, perhaps thirty feet, are a small group of newspaper dispeners, and even further down the street another vehicle, though is appears that is could be operational and may have someone in it. The patrols continues on its trek toward the Barrens’ exit. They are quite loud as they go, obviously rather confident in their backyard. Many a lued joke can be heard from them, in between the even fainter screams of several men from where you came. Across the mouth of the alleyway, two Morlocks exit a building. They are helmetless and smoke cigarettes. Resting their weapons they take a break and chat while enjoying a smoke. Slackers, it appears. Another thing has happened, nearer to yourself, but unless you have purposely looked behind you at that very instant, it would go unnoticed. The figure upon the rooftop has dropped to the alleyway floor, landing on the other side of a pile of trash than yourself. The fall was utterly noiseless. If you have a presence sense, however, you may feel a presence near.

Contrary hasn’t noticed the person dropping down behind her. Options.. a few options. The loud patrol she dismisses. They likely wouldn’t notice her unless she made noise. The two across the way she scrutinizes carefully. They look relaxed.. distracted. She nods slightly to herself, a flutter of anticipation rising as she makes a decision. After another beat, working to compose herself, she stands and squares her shoulders. Hands in her pockets, she gives her shoulders a bit of a casual hunch before stepping out. The plan? Act like she belongs. She’s big. She could, at a distance, in bad light, dressed as she is, perhaps pass for male at the right angle. She’ll turn toward the north and start to head down the street. Skirting the side of the building to try and keep out of any streetlights that might be working as she strides purposefully, but quietly toward the north. Hoping that one casually walking person won’t gather too much attention from the comfortable thugs.

And for quite a bit of time, it would seem that you guessed correctly. The patrol, noisy as it is, continues on its way towards the rest of Dregtown. They are actually anxious to go check out what all the screaming is about out there – probably to see if they can join in on the fun. The two men smoking acrossed the open area… they occasionally glance about the area, but for now have not even noticed yourself. They are helmetless, afterall, and normal human vision does little during the night.

This would go on for sometime, and Contrary may begin to think she has made it scott-free. Little does she know she has a stalker. Hell, it could be a vampire. In any event, the figure that stalks you does not follow out of the alleyway, but finds another means of pursuit – a most silent means. In the course of a minute or two, the figure has surpassed yourself. As you approach a building with a front door that is set within the outer boundary of the building – thus creating a small niche where someone might hide – the figure following you steps out to face you. Now blocking your path, he looks at you from darkness that he stands in. A long leather coat lays over his armored form. Both gauntlets hidden in the pockets of his long overcoat. He actually looks like one of them… but he has no weapons drawn. And he does not make an obvious outburst as to your presence. Instead, a cold unemotional voice, “Its not safe to walk here alone.”

The figure is also, around eight inches shorter than yourself.

** Start Abandon description **

First impression? Well he’s obviously a Morlock for one. The black leather trenchcoat covering the majority of his frame would signify this – the Morlock gang’s insignia etched on the back and right shoulder. He’s of human form, so most would guess he’s probably human. Average height and build for a human adult male as well.

There’d be a problem guessing his identity however. This for the main part is because of what he wears beneath the coat. A full suit of environmental body armor, helmet hiding his face. The coat looks like it might be hiding something else underneath as well, but the bulk of the armor it might just be. Who knows.

** End Abandon description **

Contrary does think she’s made it, for a bit. The anxiety easing. Her thoughts shifting elsewhere after the first minute of quiet and general open invisibility to the gangers around her. Thus she’s openly surprised, though the limit of noticing that much is from the sudden jerk of her stop when the dark man steps out in front of her and the temporary widening of her eyes. They ease at the words from the armored man, narrowing slightly a moment after. She regains her equilibrium and shrugs her shoulders faintly in response. “So?” Her short response gruff. She doesn’t seek to be afraid, but does appear cautious in posture.

And still, the figure does not sound the alarm, from what can observed. The Morlocks in the area continue on their business. The figure before you stares at you for a long while before speaking again. Perhaps it has been sometime since he has been with a woman. Or perhaps he is just looking for weapons. The figure steps closer, two, or was it three?, steps. Eventually, a low chuckle escapes his helmet. Every sound he emits is quiet, yet it sounds mechanical somehow. “So? So you can start by telling me who you are… and what the hell are you doing… waltzing along on -my- sidewalk?” The figure doesn’t appear cautious in the least, though his visor never looks away from you.