Log:Rock, Scissors, Paper, Scene 2

Rock, Scissors, Paper 2012/06/15 	 Chen Battery 2

Battery agrees to meet with Chen at noodle shop in Chinatwon. It's close to Chen's grandfather's shop -- close enough to see it through the front window. Battery's sitting at the bar at the window when Chen arrives.

Chen heads for Chinatown and after checking how her grandfather is looking, in disguise in the shape of a stray street dog, she shifts back to her most usual form and goes to the agreed meeting place. Bowing respectfully to Battery she thanks her for accepting the request for a meeting. "Have you ordered? Can I get you tea?"

Battery smiles warmly and returns the bow with a nod of her hand. "I haven't ordered yet," she says slipping into Mandarin. She nods at the suggestion of tea. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to act faster -- if I had, I would have been able to catch that man."

Chen orders tea and rice for two. Then she says, "I'm most grateful for the warning. I had an encounter with three Japanese metas who attempted to kidnap me. They obviously wanted to capture me alive. Force, the SGG leader, was there by happenchance and we fought briefly before Force flew me and herself away."

Chen corrects herself in case she misled Battery. "I mean; Force and I fought the three Japanese metas."

"Don't mention it," Battery says. "You would have done the same for me. In fact..." Battery is distracted by the screech of tires coming to a halt. A black van with black tinted windows pulls up in front of Chen's grandfather's shop. It's between the shop and the noodle place, obscuring the line of sight of what's actually going on there.

Chen leaves Battery without thinking or stopping to say a word, in close to a panic, changing form to replicate Victory as she stands from the table and rushes outside towards the stall of her grandfather to see what is happening.

Battery shouts, "I'll catch up! I need to charge my powers somehow!"

On the other side of the van there are three private security types in suits and sunglasses. One stands watch, while another shoos away a customer. The third one is trying to grab Chen's grandfather. << Hold still, old man! >> he says, in Japanese.

Chen runs to the market stall, going around the van so she can see what is happening at the stall.

Chen screams in rage and throws herself into the fray, firing a punch at the third guy who is trying to grab her grandfather.

The grunts as Chen's fist connects solidly with his side and the bulletproof vest he wears beneath his suit. He covers his side and takes a step back. His friends draw weapons.

Chen yells "GO! Go away! Right now! Or I'll tear you all apart so bad the coroner will have to do a jig-saw puzzle just to find out which bit belongs to which person." in Japanese; which she knows her grandfather doesn't understand.

Chen doesn't even seem to notice the hits she took.

Still the security guys seem to know when they are outmatched. << Go! Go! >> The man that Chen punches shouts to the driver of the van. He hops into the open side panel of the van as the driver starts to pull away, leaving the two other guys with guns behind.

Chen calms down a little now the van is leaving, which will make it harder for the security types to get her grandfather away. But not sufficiently to care about finding out who/what/why. Stepping across to shield her grandfather from gunfire she smacks the nearest agent's gunhand trying to dislodge the pistol and then catch it.

Chen catches the security agent's knuckles on his gunhand and as the pistol drops from his numbed fingers she snatches it out of the air, spinning it around to point back at the remaining armed agent.

The man freezes and puts his hands up. << Don't shoot! >>

His comrade turns and runs.

Chen gestures with the pistol, "Take off."

He turns and runs.

Battery catches up, in time to see the last guy disappear into an alleyway.

Chen disassembles the pistol with casual skill, tossing the parts, minus a couple of small but vital components into a trash bin. Then she looks at her grandfather, whom she hasn't spoken to since she failed to protect him from Next Generation. "Are.. are you okay?" she asks in Chinese.

"Are you alright?" Chen's grandfather asks of his granddaughter.

"I am unhurt," the old man says.

Chen sobs and lowers her head, "Honored grandfather, I failed you. Can you forgive me?" she asks, tears steaming down her cheeks as she reverts to her usual form.

"Be calm, Little Lion," he says. "For what are you asking forgiveness for?"

Chen says, "I failed to rescue you from Next Generation, grandfather. I thought I knew what I was doing... and it all went wrong. I floundered, getting nowhere. SERAF rescued you, and I am in their debt, while all my arrogant supposed skills and talents achieved nothing."

Grandfather Li, reaches up and places a hand on Chen's shoulder. "And this time, you have saved me..."

Chen breaks down completely and cries as she moves to him and hugs.

Grandfather Li hugs his grand daughter. "Perhaps this is just the ramblings of an old man... I was saved then as well. Does it matter how or by whose hand? I am here, and you are here. This is what is important."

Chen nods, and still tearful, she introduces Battery to her grandfather. Then she asks Battery, "Can you and your friends watch over my grandfather? I cannot be here all the time. In return, I'll not act against any of you, staying out of any and all operations aimed at you, and will stand with you against Pride if you call on me."

"In honored," Battery says, bowing to Grandfather Li. She says to Chen, "Don't worry. If there's one thing we can agreed upon here in Chinatown, it's dealing with outsiders. We'll keep your Grandfather safe."

Battery asks, "Do you have any idea who is behind it?"

Chen bows to Battery, "Thank you." She's still crying but not as strongly, starting to think again, "Those thugs looked Japanese, didn't they. And seemed to understand when I spoke in Japanese. I wonder why anyone Japanese has an interest in me? I've never been involved in anything related to Japan that I know of. But this," she looks at her grandfather, "this attack on my family, has pissed me off no end. So, right now, no, I have no idea who they are. But I'll find out. And then I'll deal with them."