Harbinger Pt 7: HOW TO SAVE A TREE (iggo and reverend)

<ReverendLamia>: It's a new day at the S-men Academy, but, who cares about them? Today, we venture forth into the habitat of a certain Ivar Kim, who sits in a very comfy office chair, as he makes plans for the future. Outside of his door, a knocking is heard
<Ignition>: [which base are we in again?]
Ignition hides a small black notepad
<ReverendLamia>: this is current time, so, wherever iggy was last seen]
<Ignition>: "Who's there?"
<Ignition>: [last time was probably that DAISY rp thay went nowhere and the betrayal by agents]
<ReverendLamia>: tehn go with that]
ReverendLamia opens the door, and sticks his head in
<ReverendLamia>: Hello, Brother ivar, how are you doing on this most glorious day?
Ignition stares at ReverendLamia blankly for a bit
<Ignition>: Hey there, padre. Didn't expect to see you of all people here. How do you even know this place exists?
<ReverendLamia>: Eh, the usual method. Spying, got some members to try and hack anything they can, good old stalking. May I come in?
<Ignition>: Like I could stop you. Kidding. Grab a seat. Whiskey?
Ignition opens the drawyer and pulls out a bottle
<ReverendLamia>: Oh, no, I tend not to imbibe, Brother. I need to keep my wits sharp about me, as of now.
ReverendLamia pulls out the chair, and sits on it, hands in his lap
<Ignition>: Tough times, aye?
Ignition pours half a glass for himself
<Ignition>: Sooo, what gives?
<ReverendLamia>: I have found a most....serendipitous opportunity as of late, and, I have been on a binger, of sorts, grabbing items, from around the world, with, little issue. Unfortunately though, I seem to have reached an impasse. that is where you come in
Ignition sips
<Ignition>: I'm listening
Ignition *siiiip*
<ReverendLamia>: Well, I currently need help getting into a highly guarded vault. I am talking about Guards, both human, and enlightened, high tech security, and a computer lock that resets it's password every 17 attoseconds
Ignition scratches the chin
<Ignition>: Interesting. What sorta artifact even NEEDS this sort of security? Alien bodies? Zombie Nixon?
<Ignition>: 17 attoseconds. That's one hell of a lock
<ReverendLamia>: Well, no. It is a small medallion, buried in the lower level concrete floors of....Fort Knox's
<Ignition>: ...Since when can Fort Knox afford this stuff?
Ignition leans back
<Ignition>: Alrihght, I'm game. But what's in it for me? Beside, you know, partner favors
<ReverendLamia>: I promise you, when this plan is said and done, you will be given a most fortunate reward. As for what it may be, that, I'll have to disclose later, and hope you can trust me, as a man of the cloth
Ignition shakes head
<ReverendLamia>: You could also consider it a favour, as for when I help with you....pest problem
<Ignition>: One does not live long by being trusting, no offense. An item locked and hidden so tight must be important for some powerplaying. Devil you know is better and all, but I hope you will trust me as well here. You go mad with power, or try anything funny with me, I WILL kill you, Lamia. Nothing personal.
<ReverendLamia>: I understand. This saddens me a little you think I would go for powergrabs, but, if you do not believe, so be it.
<ReverendLamia>: and, please, call me John, Brother Ivar
<Ignition>: It's not that I don't trust you Johnny ol' chap, it's that I know how things go, sadly. Especially with magic. Now with that outta the way, how about we grab food and you tell me more. I assume you have a plan of getting in?
<ReverendLamia>: A semblance of a plan. Not the most up to date on technology, but, that is why I needed you. Let us grab food though, I haven't eaten in a fortnight. You want to pick the locale?
<Ignition>: There's a little bar in Bruges. Stone of Life. Live music, nice atmosphere. You'll like it
<ReverendLamia>: If you point it out to me on a map, I can get us there in an instant
Ignition smirks
<Ignition>: Ooooor
Ignition mimics Lamia's power and opens a portal to Bruges, into some backdoor alley
<ReverendLamia>: That works too. Pray tell though, do you gain my weaknesses when you imitate them as well?
ReverendLamia says, as he hops through the portal, use to the smell it generates when open, a thick sulphur scent filling Ignition's room
Ignition shrugs
<Ignition>: Honestly? Never bothered to find out. We don't meet that often, not to mention other things.
<ReverendLamia>: You may wish to be careful then, it is why I need your help there, too. Inside table, or outside?
<Ignition>: Inside. I have a bug supressor installed there.
<ReverendLamia>: Understood
Ignition enters the dark pub, smelling of beer, smoke, roasted meat and oldness
ReverendLamia waves his hand, as he creates a familiar human disguise, before reaching into his pocket, and pulling out a hankerchief, coughing into it, and heading inside
<Ignition>: Not that it helps much against telepaths and such, of course. You cold?
Ignition drops onto the table in the darker corner
<ReverendLamia>: No, no, Just, a little under the weather. Shall we begin then?
<Ignition>: Aye. You said it was buried?
<ReverendLamia>: Yes, you see...
Ignition sighs
<Ignition>: Here comes the "it's not that simple part", doesn't it?
Ignition orders meatballs while he's at it
<Ignition>: [yo?]
ReverendLamia pulls out a small piece of paper, from within his coat, and lays it out on the table. It shows the complete layout of Fort Knox's. 4 electric fences, 22 tonne vault doors, Walls that could survive atomic blast, and, a small circle, written in a strange language, near the door
 Ignition inspects the schematics
<ReverendLamia>: It really is not. We have to deal with heavily armed guards, a given, really, but, the hard part is, the passcode. It is a code, divided up into 10 sections, and handed out each day to a random selection of people
<Ignition>: Hm. So firebombing the place and picking up the rubble is out of the question then?
<ReverendLamia>: Quite. We also have the issue of a little magical ward, in the vault itself, which bars me from simple teleporting in.
<Ignition>: Mmm. Blackmail?
<Ignition>: I wager there sohuld be a designer of this thing, or at least someone in charge, far enough up the food chain to know the quirks.
<ReverendLamia>: Well, Brother Kim, the designer of that enchantment has sort of been dead since the Reagan administration, and, neither you, nor I, can raise the dead
ReverendLamia glances to the side
<ReverendLamia>: "Yet." He mutters to himself, before returning to look at Ignition
Ignition grins a little
<ReverendLamia>: But, you are a big boy, and, do not suffer the issues that come with divine limitations, so, you are perfectly suited to complete this task
Ignition grin fades
<Ignition>: I guess I'm not gonna like your plan. Not when you say things like that.
<ReverendLamia>: It simply involves your technical know how, to break the code into one of the heavily guarded depositories in the world. they rest you will have assistance on. Can you handle yourself, with this task? It would be quite the bragging rights, if you can pull this off, correct?
ReverendLamia says, as he grins a wide smile
<Ignition>: A challenge, reverend?
<Ignition>: Why come to me though? There are many and many people in the world with more acute and up-to-date knowledge of the necessery technology. Safecrackers, scientists, engineers. Most of whom can be easily persuaded.
<ReverendLamia>: but, they don't have the trust I have in you, and, the ruthlessness you bring to the table.
<Ignition>: Right. So what hellhole will you have me visit?
<ReverendLamia>: I will simply assist you to the bottom of the Gold Depository, and, you will go from there. In the centre of the room, here...
ReverendLamia makes a spot on the map, dead centre of the floor
<ReverendLamia>: Is where you will have to do some smashing, and, retrieve the box. if you wish to try and carry out gold, that will be up to you
Ignition shrugs
<Ignition>: Where I am going, there are more valuable things than gold. The box then?
<ReverendLamia>: Yes, yes. We shall be free to depart when you are ready. Do you need your supplies?
<Ignition>: Just my boots and some body armor, in case the natives get restless. One question though. You seem to have it all worked out, a little too clean. How long were you working on this project?
<ReverendLamia>: Well, it has been a couple months in the working. It was sort of put on hold, when I came into complications, with the mystic stuff there
Ignition shakes the head
<Ignition>: I sincerely hope you know what you're doing, John. Been a while since I robbed a bank. Especially one this big. Shall we begin with preparations?
<ReverendLamia>: We shall. I will meet you there?
<Ignition>: Aye. Here.
Ignition pushes a comm across table
<Ignition>: Call if things go awry.
ReverendLamia takes it, and pops it in his ear
<ReverendLamia>: Understood. We will sync up, here, in 3 hours, correct?
<Ignition>: Don't be late
ReverendLamia says, pointing at a hill 80 yards from the fences
<Ignition>: Oh, almost forgot. How's their anti-aircraft?
<ReverendLamia>: It is next to a miltary base, so I presume, very good
<Ignition>: Stealth it is. See you there.
ReverendLamia sits back, and drinks some of the free coffee, as he waves Ignition off
Ignition leaves and goes to the local safehouse. While smaller than most others, this one is homier.
<ReverendLamia>: TIME SKIP INSERT HERE
Ignition shows up 2 hours 59 minutes later on the spot.
<ReverendLamia>: Three hours later, ReverendLamia sits in a bush atop the hill, carrying a backpack, as he waits for Ignition to show
<ReverendLamia>: Early, eh? Good form
Ignition stretches
<Ignition>: It's a habit
ReverendLamia hands Ignition a set of binoculars
Ignition wears the trusty jetboots and a vest of body armour on top of usual shirt. Shades are replaced with fall-off proof anti-id shades
Ignition takes a look throught hte binoculars
<ReverendLamia>: From here, he can see heavily armored cars, with top-mounted heavy machine guns. all patrolling in precise timing in the front door
<Ignition>: Tsk. Canned meat. Frontal assault with maximum casualties?
<ReverendLamia>: No, we are here for stealth. If we are to alert them, they will lock up the personnel, and we shall not grab the codes. Here, they will not be able to see us.
ReverendLamia puts an arm over Ignition, and creates an optical illusion, to shield them from the eyes of normal men. He motions to start moving, as he walks down the hill
Ignition follows close
Ignition has a very strong urge to start making notes
<ReverendLamia>: As they reach the bottom, Lamia motions forward, as one of the cars turns the corner, heading towards them on the path. They best run, before they are hit
Ignition grabs Lamia and jet jumps forward
<ReverendLamia>: As they jolt forward, they find themselves at the door. A large steel frame, It requires immense strength to simply pull at the handle/me bows, and motions for Ignition to work his magic
Ignition looks for the lock. It's either hacking or melting
<ReverendLamia>: large locks rest near the handle of the door, three keyholes sitting one above the other
<Ignition>: Cocksuckers. A mechanical lock?!
Ignition searches for a suitable piece of metal to be made into a key
<ReverendLamia>: It is a simple one. Can you not simple burn through it?
Ignition gives Lamia a "I could explain why not, but it'll take a while" look
<Ignition>: Better be worth it, man. Better be fucking worth it
Ignition puts a finger to the keyhole and starts heating up. Sooner or later, the mechanism will melt on itself and turn
<ReverendLamia>: Eventually, the lock burns off, as the door nudges a bit open. Lamia puts a hand on the handle, and gets ready to pull
<ReverendLamia>: Help here, too?
<Ignition>: Just get clear
Ignition presses himself against the wall and jets, pushing the door
ReverendLamia lets go, and watches as Ignition pushes the door open. Inside, you see the grey, concrete walls of the depository. Cameras pan the halls, sweeping back and forth looking for intruders. Guards, waling in a 3 by three formation, march back and forth. At the end of the hall, is the main security hut, seated with two metallic doors, and, bulletproof windows
<Ignition>: Tell me you have gas, John. Or a plan. Or this is gonna get ugly and fast.
<ReverendLamia>: I was banking, that, we could try to find a way to disable the cameras. The guards will simply not see us. Once they are dealt with, we can find the terminal that assigns the numbers each day to the people
<Ignition>: Riiight. Where's the power drawn from?
<Ignition>: We cut it and go in, fast
<ReverendLamia>: About three levels down....
<Ignition>: Keep up then
Ignition runs to the staircase, each stroll several meters across. Gotta love the jets
Ignition storms three levels down
ReverendLamia struggles, as he gets down on all fours, and makes a running sprint afterwards. he continues to keep up the illusions, struggling a little at this speed, but maintains it, nonetheless. Eventually, they reach the powerbox, near the side of the wall. A large metal item, with rows upon rows of breaker rest in it, each labelled with what level they operate fo
Ignition places a small remote control charge inside the box
<Ignition>: Okay, here's the idea. We get to the point, we blow this thing and they go dark. I recon they have a backup, but it always takes time to kick in. Should be enough to grab the prize. If we are VERY lucky - enough to bolt as well. But don't counton it
<Ignition>: Ready?
<ReverendLamia>: Does this include the 22 tonne vault door we have to open?
<ReverendLamia>: Your suit have enough juice for that?
<Ignition>: Course not. But I prepped a pool of acid at one of my bases. When we reach the door, I'll open the portal and we melt the door. Hope you're not allergic though, the steam may not be healthy
<ReverendLamia>: I will handle it. I am ready
<Ignition>: And three, two, one
Ignition blows the charge
Ignition grabs Lamia and jets upwards, to where the boon awaits no doubt
<ReverendLamia>: As he does so, the building goes into a complete blackout. The sound of screams fill the rooms upstairs. As they reach the vault, they can see people scrambling all over the place
<Ignition>: Bugger. I'm uploading the coordinates to your comm. Make the portal, keep it small, point it at the door. We don't need to melt the whole door, a tunnel'll suffice. I'll watch you back. Hurry!
<ReverendLamia>: Got it!
Ignition assumes combat position
Ignition puts nightvision over the shades
ReverendLamia runs to the door, and raises his hands, as he begins to create the portal. It sutters a bit, before a stream of acid pours through
<Ignition>: Don't get the stuff on yourself OR the floor. Shit's dangerous
<Ignition>: [Wrong_Way, are you here?]
<ReverendLamia>: log me, Wrong_Way ]
<ReverendLamia>: Ignition, you got logs?]
<ReverendLamia>: or what was last said?]
<Ignition>: [sec]
<Ignition>: http://mibpaste.com/CxwLhX
<Ignition>: [it's kinda screwy tho]
ReverendLamia nods, and struggles a bit. it is about halfway through, as you see the slow flicker of red lights turn on, signalling the energy is almost back. As Lamia keeps this up, a swuad of guards begin to make their ways towards Ignition, before they stop, and aimtheir guns
<ReverendLamia>: STAND DOWN
<Ignition>: [do guards say that? I'm a tad slow right now]
<ReverendLamia>: yeah, the guards do]
<Ignition>: Drop your weapons and lie face front on the floor. Not saying it twice, gentlemen.
<ReverendLamia>: they look a bit perplexed, as they they keep their guns raised
<ReverendLamia>: YOU HAVE UNTIL THE COUNT OF THREE, BEFORE WE OPEN FIRE
<Ignition>: Have it your way. You've been warned.
Ignition unleashes a firewave at the guards in front
Ignition looks around the shoulder
<Ignition>: Status, John?
<Reverend>: you are the best, comp]
<Reverend>: last thing said]
<Ignition>: http://mibpaste.com/7oYOzq
<Reverend>: 30 seconds!
<Reverend>: the guards in the front roll in pain, as the back two guards let loose a barrage of bullets towards Ignition
Ignition jets upwards and rapidly to the side. Being bulletproof is not something accessible right now
<Ignition>: Make it ten!
Ignition rams the nearest group of soldiers, shooting fire at the farthest
Reverend quickly wides the portal, letting forth acid, as a little falls onto the ground. A hole had successfully been created. Ignition rams into the soldiers, knocking them in the back wall
<Reverend>: GO! I'LL HOLD THEM OUT HERE!
Ignition jets through the hole in the door past Lamia
<Reverend>: Lamia hops into the fray, and begins to use his powers to the fullest extent he can. Ignition can now see into the room. There, he sees the walls and walls of gold, lining it from corner to corner. That is what Ignition would usually see, but, in front of him, he sees a middle aged man, in a security uniform, leaning back on a chair, reading a book. He looks-
<Reverend>: up, and stares at Ignition
<Reverend>: just confirming Wrong_Way is still here]
Ignition brakes before the man
<Ignition>: You. I'm in a hurry here. You have powers and know the code to the door. Tell me and live. Fight me and die painfully.
<Reverend>: SOrry sir, I am afraid I cannot let you out of here, at least without handcuffs.
<Reverend>: the man says this, as he flicks a finger, Ignition's hands feeling heavier than before, as he feels something clamp onto them
Ignition doesn't look and instead jets at the man, aiming to speed kick him
<Reverend>: the man cowers, as a large gold fist comes from behind him, and punches Ignition to the side
<Reverend>: Ignition, can you keep logs? I think ww afk'd]
<Ignition>: [I'll try]
<Reverend>: alright, danke[
Ignition *oof*'s an slides to the side and looks at the hand
<Ignition>: Metal control. Logical. But not against me.
<Reverend>: It's a large gold fist, that recedes behind him, as a gold exoskeleton starts to meld over the man, walking forwards towards Ignition. Ignition should pay heed that he has also used gold to place Ignition's hands in crude handcuffs
<Ignition>: Gold melts at 1000 degrees. Bad move, ol chap. Bad move.
Ignition unleashes a concentrated stream of fire at the golden giant
<Reverend>: The fist starts to melt, but still comes at Ignition, now a stream of liquid gold
<Ignition>: Dicks
Ignition jumps to the side
<Ignition>: For the record. I meant what I said about letting you live. An opportunity you blew/
<Reverend>: The man doesn't reply with an answer, as he raises his finers, and turns them into guns, shooting a variety of gold bullets at Ignition
Ignition allows the armor to take impact. It'll probably hurt.
Ignition jumps on the golem's head, bashing and burning it with the boot
<Ignition>: [the boot is powered by Ig's powers, if it was unclear]
<Reverend>: the man struggles to grab at Ignition, as he smashes to and fro, trying to jostle him off
Ignition slams the boot at the head over and over, barely keeping balance
<Ignition>: You sorry ass janitor! I fought gods and monsters!
<Reverend>: He tries to strike at Ignition with a second tendril of golden force, but, unfortunately, Ignition's boot gets through, as it burns the mans face to a cinder. He screams in pain, before freezing up. A sharp needle is near inches from the back of Ignition's head, frozen in place.
Ignition huffs, literally burning with anger
<Ignition>: Useless piece of meat. Didn't even give me codes.
<Reverend>: Ignition doesnt need the codes, as, here is the locaton he is needed to be.
<Ignition>: [really? you said two doors?]
<Reverend>: It was already burnt through]
<Reverend>: it was a two ply vault]
<Ignition>: [gotvha]
Ignition jumps carefully from the golem
<Ignition>: LAMIA! STATUS?!
Reverend dust off his hands, as a gaggle of guards lay before him, unconscious
<Reverend>: All clear, and you, Brother?
<Ignition>: Just tell me how to get the boon.
<Ignition>: I've had just about enough of this Goldfinger crap
<Reverend>: Centre of the room, can you bore down a hole about 6 feet deep?
Ignition pulls out a grenade
<Ignition>: I assume we are in a hurry
Ignition drops the grenade
<Reverend>: A bit. Can we speed this along?
<Ignition>: Get clear
Ignition gets clear
<Reverend>: as Ignition gets clear, the grenade goes off, a decent sized chunk is blown out of the floor. As the smoke and debris clears, he spots a small wooden chest, with strange symbols on it, lying in the crater, unharmed
<Ignition>: Check for any security spells or charms or whatever
<Reverend>: It seems to be completely spell and trap free, your natural twenty saw to that
Ignition grabs the box
<Ignition>: Can you teleport yet?
<Reverend>: Not inside there. It should be easy enough to carry out
<Ignition>: Right. We split. I take the box, you make a distraction. Rendezvous in Pittsburg, 3 hours. You'll know where to look for.
<Reverend>: Understood
<Reverend>: See you there
<Reverend>: And, thank you, Brother Ivar
Ignition jets at full speed outside, where a drone one-person plane is about to land
Ignition yells
<Ignition>: Don't thank me yet
Reverend creates a portal, as he heads back, to places unknown, waiting to return to Pittsburg
<Ignition>: [timeskip ahoy?]
<Reverend>: yep]
Ignition 3 hours and one minute later
Reverend sits back in the familiar locale from before, waiting for Ignition
Ignition is waiting in Pittsburg ARM branch. Which is pretty much an abandoned warehouse, secretly used to store a supercomputer
Ignition managed to get a shower and a change of clothes
<Reverend>: Hello, Brother. A job well done, eh?
<Ignition>: Better be woth it, John. That was quite a stunt we did there. I'm not getting any younger, you know.
Ignition hands Lamia the box
Reverend takes the box, and opens it, a glow beams onto his face. A wide, sinister smile is plastered on his face, before closes it
<Reverend>: Most helpful today, my friend. I greatly appreciated the help
Ignition observes the reaction and takes out a small cigar
<Ignition>: So. You're gonna tell me why exactly did we fuss over it? What exactly makes this "medalion" so important?
<Reverend>: It's not the medallion itself, it's what is on the inside that counts. A small gem, buried in the times of WWII, froms the mines of a small Indonesian nation, it said ownership brings horrible luck to all that possess it, eventually making it's way to a Ecuadorian president, before being carted away to fort Knox for safe keeping.
<Reverend>: With it, and, other death riddled odds and ends from across the globe, it'll complete an important task
Ignition sighs heavily
<Ignition>: So this is part of some "bad luck" superspell?
<Reverend>: oh, heavens no, you think i would lower myself to that?
<Reverend>: No, no, I will show you
Reverend snaps, as a portal opens up, inbetween the two of them
Ignition looks inside
<Reverend>: Through there, he can see a long stone hallway, damp and dark
<Ignition>: What am I looking at here?
<Reverend>: A walkway, of course. I say, you deserve a little explaining, for helping
Reverend hops through the portal, as it starts to close
<Ignition>: I'm not going in. Explain from here.
Reverend walks back through, as he sighs, and shuts the portal
<Reverend>: Alright, fine then. A while back, remember when I helped you with your agents?
<Ignition>: Like I could ever forget.
<Reverend>: Well, while i fought the oozing one, I stumbled on an underground spot, when we smashed into one of the stonehenges. After I went back to gather some items, I noticed the opening, and, explored a little, and, what I found was marvelous
<Reverend>: A catacomb, of the dead, from across the ages, all lying, in tribute, to a higher power. I explored, and found out, that, this higher power could help me bring back lord Treeneto from the brinks of an eternal slumber!
Ignition drops the cigar
<Reverend>: All I needed to do was amass some idols here and there, garner myself a tribute, and complete the ritual, and, salvation shall return!
<Ignition>: Are you out of your fucking mind?
<Reverend>: I do not follow, and, please, watch the language
<Ignition>: Are you telling me you want to bring Tree, THE Tree, back from whatever afterlife was kind enough to take it...him?!
<Reverend>: Why, yes, I do not see the issue here, Brother. He was taken too soon, before we could see his final goal, in all of his glory. After all is said and done, we shall inherit the Earth!
<Ignition>: Yeah, you do that, Johnny boy. Hopefull, I'll be long gone from Earth when that happens. But let me tell you something, right here, right now. It's a mistake. A big, Archduke Ferdinand murder big mistake. He cannot be reasoned with. He is blinded by his own sheer power. He will be the death of all who follow him. YOU included.
<Ignition>: So do your magic and pray to whatever gods there may be that this once, just THIS once I am wrong.
<Ignition>: Goodbye, John. I'll drink to you.
Ignition turns around to leave
<Reverend>: I pray that you are wrong, too, Brother Ivar, and, I hope to see you again one day
Reverend turns, as he walks, a little dejected, back into the portal to Stonehenge