Log:Pandora's Box, Scene 5

[Eleven and Dancing Coyote phone Vicky Davies, Karl Sonneborn's elder granddaughter, at the University of Chicago]

ring-ring... ring-ring...

Eleven sets up his PDA for DC and himself.

Vicky answers. "Hello?" (I'm assuming you've made email contact already so this isn't out of the blue)

Eleven looks at the PDA. "hello? Can you see us?"

Dancing Coyote says, "Hello, Vicky? This is Dancing Coyote and Eleven."

Vicky probably isn't as pretty as her younger sister, but is neatly turned out and looks attractive enough, in a serious way.

Eleven nods and steps back letting DC and him be in the picture. "Im Eleven. That's the coyote."

Dancing Coyote says, "So, thank you for speaking to us. As we established over mail, we have some questions we're trying to resolve about an old acquaintance of your grandfather's, and a magical ritual they engaged in some decades ago. We believe there may be dangerous consequences to it occuring now, so all information may be of value."

Eleven nods in agreement.

Vicky nods, frowning. "I've been afraid something like this might happen."

Eleven mutters to DC, "So she knows stuff."

Vicky looks at Eleven's image. "Yes, I know stuff. Not enough, but more than I want to."

Dancing Coyote nods. "Well, we have exactly the reverse problem, Vicky. So perhaps you can share your knowledge with us and reduce the burden thereby?"

Eleven tells Vicky, "We already told you what happened, so what can you tell us?"

"Not enough, perhaps. My granddad told me some things... I think he wanted me to be guardian after him - but then he had the bad stroke. Or whatever it was."

Dancing Coyote says, "Guardian of what?"

Eleven waits for an answer.

"Of the key."

Eleven says, "The key that was stolen?"

"It *was* stolen then?"

Eleven says, "We think so.."

Eleven glances over to DC to confirm.

Dancing Coyote says, "The key unlocks the chest, right?" He nods. "I believe it was, yes.""

"Is the chest safe?"

Dancing Coyote shakes his head. "No. The chest was stolen, as well. I believe by the same couple. That's how we became involved."

"And the keyword?"

Eleven shrugs. "What about the keyword?"

Dancing Coyote says, "That, we do not know of. Who kept it?"

"Is it safe?"

Eleven says, "We do not know. We can't find Engstrom."

"So you do know who had it, then! You need to find him, or whoever has it now, and fast!"

Dancing Coyote nods. "What happens if we do not?"

"You don't know? The demon will be released into the world again!"

Dancing Coyote says, "Vicky, we know almost nothing. What demon?"

"Alkarash. That's not its true name, of course. Or all of it, at least."

Eleven shakes his head. "This sounds familiar for some reason."

Dancing Coyote says, "It does?"

"Perhaps I should start at the begining?"

Dancing Coyote nods. "Please. That would be very helpful."

Eleven nods to DC and then to Vicki's image.

"I don't know the whole story, you understand. Granddad only told me some of it. Other parts, I've worked out myself.....

Dancing Coyote whispers back to Jack "Oh... but the name is not the same? Anyway. Later.

"As far as I can make out it all started in college. Harold Engstrom looked out my grandfather and, um... Mr Ferguson...

Eleven nods to DC and listens. "Interesting."

Dancing Coyote nods. "Right."

"I think his plan was to get great power for himself, somehow, by summoning a demon. He'd done his research, and thought he could control it. But he needed two more people... He chose granddad because of his magical talent. Mr Ferguson too. He convinced them it was worth it for the power....

Eleven nods. "So, What happened?"

Dancing Coyote nods.

"The demon was too powerful, too evil. They summoned it, but then they knew if they made it fulfil the bargain then it would be released into the world - and they changed their minds, at the last minute.

"But they weren't strong enough, even then, to banish it. That was where they'd miscalculated - they thought they could bargain with it and then dismiss it. They couldn't."

Eleven chuckles. "Figures."

Dancing Coyote nods. "A common mistake."

Dancing Coyote says, "But they did manage to imprison it, right?"

"They were lucky. They had to hand an enchanted chest - one they had used in their practices. They forced the demon into that, and locked it, threefold - box, key and word. Each one kept one.

Dancing Coyote nods. "So Harold kept the word, Karl the key, Ferguson the box."

Eleven smiles. "But what happened now?"

"Exactly. They were lucky to do even that. I think each suffered injuries... of some sort. I think maybe even granddad's, um, problems may come from that....

Dancing Coyote nods. "Ferguson was hospitalized at the time. And Karl... well, I tried to help him, but I don't think I accomplished much." He hrms. "How well do you know Harold?"

"Not at all. I don't think grandad's spoken to him since long before I was born."

Dancing Coyote says, "Mm. All right. Do you know any details about the demon, besides its name? Or the ritual that bound it?"

Eleven waits and lets DC ask the questions for now. He'll ask later.

"I've been trying to research it, but I haven't found much. THe demon has some power over the physical world - this must be the means by which it grants power. But the source I found is very vague....

Dancing Coyote says, "What source?"

She mentions some book she got on Interlibrary loan from Miskatonic U. "About the ritual - I can tell you one thing I know. The conditions will still hold. To be free, the demon will have to grant power to three humans."

Dancing Coyote says, "And once it does?"

Eleven takes note about the name of the University.

"It will be free in this world to do as it pleases, till someone can banish it. I've done some research in that too...."

Eleven perks an eyebrow at the holo image of Vicki. "Go on.."

Dancing Coyote says, "If you would not mind sending me a copy of your research notes, they would likely be extremely helpful. If I'm right, Harold and his wife now have all three components to release it... presumably they would not be doing this if they did not think they could control it this time. Or perhaps his new assistants don't care about releasing the demon as long a they have power."

Dancing Coyote nods to Jack and subsides.

"I'll send them to you as soon as I can. A lot of it's on paper - but I should warn you, there's a problem."

Dancing Coyote says, "Problem?"

Eleven glances over to DC. Hrm.

"I can see why granddad and the others didn't send the demon back. By my calcuations.... the power involved in the ritual is more than a human - or rather, three humans - can take...."

Eleven shakes his head. "So they didn't have what it takes huh?"

Dancing Coyote nods.

"And you do?"

leven grins. "We finish what we start. You can count on it. Where can we find the engstroms? If someone else found out about this, it could be a fourth party."

"I don't know, really. I *think* they're in California somewhere. But I can't even remember why I think that."

Eleven sighs. "Ferguson and Your granddad had family. What about Engstrom?" He asks DC. "Seems like Engstrom would know the most since he recruited everyone for this."

Dancing Coyote nods. "Sensible."

"Yeah, well.... Like I said, I granddad fell out with him, it seems. I'm not even sure if he knows if he had any family...."

Eleven blinks. "What do you mean by that? How do you know what he knows?" Jack looks skeptical. "What aren't you telling us?"

"What? I mean, I'm not sure if granddad knows."

Eleven chuckles. "Sure.. So what happened to your grandpops that didn't secure you as the next guardian? I mean. You could be the one after the demon's power. You are young.. smart.. "

Dancing Coyote blinks. That hadn't occurred to him. He doesn't think it's _likely_... but Jack certainly has a novel perspective.

Vicky scowls. "Smart enough to have thrown you off the scent, had that been the case."

Eleven nods. "Sure tell us to go after the final keeper, We know you have access to one. The chest is gone. The password is all that's left. Either You are going for it, or Engstrom has everything or another is now chasing the password. Anyone else know about this? We want to trust you. Sure.

Vicky frowns. "Now that you mention it - why should I trust you? You've been trying to get out of me Engstrom's location - perhaps so you can get the word.
 * And* my information on the rituals....."

Dancing Coyote stands nearby, a bit uncertain. This tack seems more likely to alienate Vicky than get informaton from her... but Jack _is_ experienced at this. Perhaps he has some tactic up his sleeve.

Eleven smiles. Vicky is repsonding as he wants. "That's right. So if anyone else asks, Don't be so trusting. We don't want anyone else beating us to the demon. DC's a nice guy. If we find anything else out Im sure he'll let you know. I don't know if we'll have enough people to put the demon away again. I mean.. there are only two of us.." He grins.

Dancing Coyote chuckles and nods.

Vicky frowns uncertainly, not sure what to make of that.

Eleven whispers something to DC.

Dancing Coyote whispers back "It's not an area of expertise. Her assistance would likely be of value."

Eleven nods to DC. "If she really wants the demon gone, she'll help us. Otherwise we'll know she wants the power of the demon."

Dancing Coyote adds to Vicky "Jack's right about one thing... I will keep you informed. It seems you know more about this situation than we do, especially about the demon. I assure you, it is no part of my intention to free it or attempt to control it for my own ends... I would rather die." He says this entirely matter-of-factly. "But time is working against us, and it is possible it will already be freed by the time we find this Engstrom fellow, or whoever is responsible. So knowing what we can about how to banish it will be of great value."

Vicky nods. "Of course. I'll send you all you need tomorrow."

Eleven asks, "Anything else Coyote?"

Dancing Coyote nods. "Thank you." He thinks a moment. "_Has_ anyone else tried to contact you?"

Eleven nods at DC's question and waits for an answer.

"Other than my family? No. No one."

Eleven asks. "Your family? Who, your mother?"

She nods. "Just after the robbery."

[Meanwhile, Yutaka's break in looking for clues at the Davies' ia a bit of a mess. Lots of minor but embarrassing security spells force him to withdraw without gaining much.]