Log:Mystique PI, Drugs and Magic

Mystique PI, Drugs and Magic 2008/08/10 	 Mystique Akeno 1

The Location
This is suburbia: no towering buildings as seen to the east, but laid out as far as the eye can see thousands of lower to higher middle income houses. There are strip malls, grocery stores, and other commercial buildings, schools and hospitals, none over three storeys tall, all with parking lots. And there is more green space than in the city, but there's little sense of a heart.

Creekfield, however, is something of an exception. If you know where to look, you can still find a trace of the old village, with a couple of churches and some older houses, and even the ancient schoolhouse, still used as a meeting hall, clustered about the creek which gave the town its name.

The Characters
Mystique is a harsh featured Witch seemingly in her mid to late thirties. She wears witches' robes but definitely without the silly pointed hat. Her hair is dark chestnut in hue, hanging in curls down to shoulder length and glistening as if freshly washed. It is constantly moving as if being caressed by a mild breeze. Mystique's complexion is very pale, almost watery, and her skin and flesh has an odd translucence to it. Unless she concentrates there's a continuous extrusion of misty vapors coming from her feet and spreading a few feet out around her location before dissipating.

In her normal form Glimmer appears as a hazy and vaguely humanoid cloud of swirling gases. She is translucent so shapes and light sources can be perceived through her. The gases contained within her form are all the hues of the rainbow: reds and golds and greens and blues and violets, sometimes glowing softly with an inner radiance, sometimes dark and muddy. The only consistent feature to Glimmer's apperance are the pair of sky-blue glowing dots of light where eyes should be. Those are the last feature to fade out when she turns fully invisible.

Akeno, standing about six feet, this man's build is with muscles as one of the first things noticeable. His hands have cloth wrapping from the palm up to his elbow with a sleeveless grey shirt over his chest. The black pants are a set of track pants designed around easy movement and tucked into another set of cloth wrappings that give way to a pair of simple tennis shoes with velcro straps over them.

His face is a bit rough, but the black hair is cut back to a standard flat buzz cut. Green eyes look out cautiously and sometimes with a competitive look to them. No scars or other markings are on his body, but sometimes one might notice the wind shifting around him as if he were actually a part of him even indoors.

The Action
So much for a quiet Sunday morning. It's just gone 5am when Detective Akeno's PDA starts beeping at him.

Akeno sighs. Pulling out the PDA and activating it. He was out for a drive on a new motorcycle he bought. He liked it, but needed to modify it just in case. Tapping the button on the PDA, Akeno glare at it. "Supposed to be my day off. What's going on now?"

Mystique taps her foot impatiently waiting for Akeno to answer his phone. So she's not that polite when she speaks. "Oh. I'm so sorry to disturb you." Her voice is harsh toned. "I'm witnessing a crime in progress but that's all right. I'll just get on my way and not bother you again, should I?"

Akeno frowns. "Where?" He's straight and to the point but someone calling his personal PDA isn't something that happens daily. "And why haven't you called the police instead of a detective's personal phone?"

Mystique says, "In Creekfield. I called you because I don't care to get police officers killed even if they are a weak willed impotent bunch compared to the Guardians I used to work with last time I was manifested here. At least one of the criminals is magically empowered."

Akeno sums it up easily. "... I hate magic. I'm on my way." Gunning the engine as he hangs up on the PDA, Akeno takes off towards hopefully nearby Creekfield after phoning the station and noting it. Not to mention that he's got it handled and will call for back-up if needed.

Mystique seems as impatient and impolite in person as she was on the phone. "Ah, you're here. As it's obvious from the time you took you must have stopped for coffee on the way I hope you brought me one? No? Well let's settle a couple of details. You're the Guardian so nominally that puts you in charge. But I insist on getting the credit for discovering the criminal activity when the media get hold of this. Do you agree to that?"

Akeno quirks an eyebrow as he looks at her, "I could care less about media credit. And what the hell do you mean Guardian? I'm a cop. Now what's going on?"

Mystique pulls a business card seemingly out of the air. She offers it to Akeno. The inscription on the reads - Mystique, Private Investigator. Investigative Magic at your fingertips. She continues speaking, "Guardian, one who guards. That is your job isn't it? To serve and protect. The name changes, Guardian, police officer, Protector, Detective. The task remains the same." She turns to point to a three story house up the street. "What is going on is some kind of manufacturing activity in the basement of that house. Glassware and chemicals. Nothing I've ever seen before. But the presence of five armed thugs, one of whom is magically empowered, tells me that what they are doing is illicit. My interest here is two fold. One of the thugs is in a room with a woman. Her husband is seeking evidence for a divorce. Secondly I am bound to assist Guardians in maintaining law and order."

Akeno frowns a bit as he listens, then looks at her. "So... why me?" He's a bit confused maybe. "And what security on the house? The magic empowering is going to be the tricky part. If he's too powerful, I'll probably be out of my league."

Mystique smiles for the first time, "Why you? Because you are a meta, as they call heroes these days. You are a detective. Mostly, though, because your name is already in my 'might be a useful contact' file." She gestures at the house. "Security shouldn't be a problem, assuming you have the minimal ability to direct the actions of a dim witted fool. I'll summon Glimmer to handle that. As to you being out of your depth, that I cannot judge not having seen you engaged in Guardian duties before now."

Akeno considers. "Can you pick a lock?" He looks at the house, frowning as he seems to be considering how best to handle the situation. "The glassware and chemicals could be anything, though. That's what worries me."

Mystique says, "No. I do not need to pick locks. If I wish I can pass through a door without needing to open it. I can also remove inconvenient doors entirely. Although that is a little... noisy. Glimmer can pick a lock if you wish to to have that done."

Akeno considers, "Fine... summon... it... and I'll go down what I do best." He sighs. "Oh, and next time... please call the station first? My PDA isn't exactly listed for this sort of reason."

Mystique nods. "When Glimmer is here tell her the alarm control unit is in the closet under the stairs on the ground floor and the code to enable and disable the door alarms is 3857. I've been watching long enough that one of them went out for fresh milk. that was the code they used. You can tell her which lock to pick. Remind her not to be seen. If you are wise you will tell her to re-summon me before you enter."

Akeno frowns a bit. "Re-summon? What the hell are you?" He looks at her again, blinking a few times. His eyes take on an unfocused look as he turns back to look at the house itself.

Mystique changes in front of your eyes. The harsh faced witch is gone, replaced by a swirling roughly human shaped cloud of gases. "Ohhh... Hi!" The cloud speaks in a high pitched excited fashion. "I'm Glimmer. Who are you?"

Akeno blinks a few times. And he's supposed to be the airhead. "Akeno Matsuya, CBPD detective. Listen, I need you to head to that house." He motions at the house, "and head for the closet under the stairs on the ground floor. Put in the code 3857 and disarm it... after that, I need the front door unlocked and for..." He looks at the card. "Mystique to be re-summoned."

Glimmer lifts off the ground and starts drifting over towards the house. "okay-odokey..." She says and then fades out of sight. The last thing visible before they too fade away is a pair of sky-blue eyes floating in empty space.

The cloud is out of sight for about a minute. Then she reappears in front of you. "I've done that. Do I have to bring Mystique back? Can't I watch?"

Akeno sighs. "Unfortunately, yes. I don't know what her game is, but right now... no offence, but she's probably going to be more helpful at the moment."

Glimmer manages to pout somehow, which is amazing considering there's nothing much of a face visible. "You're NO fun." She accuses before changing back to Mystique.

Mystique drops down to the street with a thump of shoes. "Drat that fool. When will she learn to land before summoning me back."

Akeno chuckles. "She was a bit mad. Come on. You said the basement, right?"

Mystique nods. "Yes. I need photos of the woman with the thug. But, yes, enforcing the law of the land must come first. Bear my needs in mind though, if you would."

Akeno shrugs, "Have a camera handy?" The detective gives a grin. "If you didn't hear... I'm faster than I look."

Mystique holds up her PDA. "These things are amazing. We had nothing like them last time I was manifested here. There's a camera built in."

Akeno nods. He considers, then sighs. "I'll transmit one if I get one. You feel like playing back-up? Five thugs is a bit much if one's a meta."

Mystique nods. "You may leave the normal thugs to me if you wish. Uh, how broken can they be? Do you want to have something left to charge with their crimes?"

Akeno frowns. "No permanent injuries. And no killing unless you have no other choice." He turns and heads for the house. Silently, what looks like some form of mystic energies begin to gather on his hands. Invisible to the normal eye, but definitely there for her to sense. "'Sides... I never did find out what my abilities do against magic."

Akeno starts sneaking quite quickly as he heads for the front door, nudging it open once he's sure he doesn't hear anything. After that, he begins to move slowly and silently towards the nearest basement entrance.

The movement from Akeno's and Mystique's vantage point to the house goes un-noticed by those inside. The door is unlocked as promised by Glimmer and no alarm sounds when Akeno opens it. The entrance to the basement is obvious from the smell of acetone and sulphuric acid coming up from behind a partly opened door. The sound of powerful air blowers can be heard from there too.

Akeno frowns, motioning towards the downstairs as he pulls out a handkerchief to wrap around his lower face. No use getting knocked out by the stuff if it's that heavy. Testing the door to see if it makes too much noise first as well as peeking around it to see what might be there. Silently, he makes sure to activate his senses as well. Hopefully the slight pulse from the sonar doesn't alert whoever is mystically empowered down there, really, but he sure doesn't know about that aspect.

The door to the basement opens silently on oiled hinges. It's very bright down there from many lamps hung up on the ceiling. From the top Akeno can see part of a Meth laboratory. There's a couple of voices too, only barely audible over the sound of the air blowers.

Akeno sneaks down slowly, using his sonar to tell where the thugs are a bit better as he uses his PDA to get a picture of hopefully the woman and the thug from around the corner.

Down in the basement is a large scale Meth laboratory. The voices Akeno heard belong to the laboratory chemist and a tall black male in a red Gi. The obvious martial artist has flame tattoos and flame shaped scars on his face and hands.

Akeno glances back, making a face before he looks towards the mess. He signals two to Mystique as he snaps the photos with his PDA.

The black martial artist suddenly lifts his head and looks towards the foot of the stairs. "There is a presence here. I feel Kai power." He states as his head turns to look at Akeno.

Akeno sighs. He glances back, then shrugs before motioning a wait here gesture to Mystique. Stashing the PDA, he 'ports out of the stairs into the first open area he finds, standing there with his arms folded. "I call it ch'i, but it's the same thing. You're busted. Care to come along quietly, or do I need to see how good of a fighter you are?"

The martial artist steps out from behind the equipement to the opposite edge of the open space. "I am sha'dan of the school of Fire Fist. Your kung fu is weak, old man."

Flames appear around the martial artist's fists.

Akeno quirks a brow. "Old man?" He settles into a stance easily, "And since when did people start to copy my family's style? My name is Akeno Matsuya, heir to the Wind Fist."

The martial artist boasts, "Why should we copy an inferior style. Fire Fist kicks Wind Fist. We eat your style for breakfast."

Mystique mutters a quick incantation and gestures. A cloud of noxious gases and vapors appears around the lab tech's head. Even over the smell from the chemicals the reek of the gases is potent and vile. The tech coughs and chokes for a moment and then sinks down nauseated and unconscious.

Mystique says, "I'll stop the other thugs from interfering and go get my photos, detective Akeno."

Akeno moves suddenly. Quite suddenly. One step and he's suddenly gone from view. Reappearing right in front of Sha'dan, Akeno gives a hard punch straight at the man's face meant to send him flying. "Inferior, huh? We'll see." The sheer force of the punch is quite strong all things considered. Let alone his own speed. Mystique getting out of there before things really get going would be a good idea.

The black martial artist is rocked back onto his heels as he fails to block the punch from Akeno. He shakes his head to clear it and growls, "Anyone can get lucky once, old man."

From upstairs a foul reeking mist drifts down into the basement. Diluted as it is the mist is harmless. Upstairs it must be pretty noxious and incapacitating.

Akeno frowns. "You're one to talk." He spins into a wicked kick meant to use the other martial artist as a pinball if he doesn't have the enhanced strength like Akeno does. "And I hate copy cats."

The black martial artist stares in disbelief at Akeno for a moment after the second punch easily slips past his defense and strikes him. "You..." he manages to get out before his knees buckle and he topples to the ground out cold.

Akeno shakes his head. "Never, ever use a copy-cat style." He pulls a pair of cuffs and cuffs the martial artist before dragging him off towards the stairs and up along with dragging the chemist. After all, Mystique might need some help.

Mystique appears to be watching from the foot of the stairs. She nods in acknowledgement of you as the black martial artist drops. "You are impressive, detective Akeno."

Akeno frown. "Thanks... but this one's going to get questioned a lot. If someone's copying my family's style... they're about to have a whole lot of trouble, even if the element is different."

Mystique take a longer look around the basement. "What is this? Do you recognize it? I was certain enough what was happening here was illicit to phone you but I do not know what they were doing."

Akeno sighs. "It's what's called a meth lab. The meth is a hallucinogenic drug that is addictive." He shakes his head, placing the call on his PDA. "It's a meth lab. Get to this address. We have four unconscious thugs and a meta. I'm going to be questioning the meta personally if allowed." He listens for a moment or three. "Uh-huh. Don't remind me. Oh, and one Mystique is the one that gets the media credit."

Mystique smiles as she hears the credit being given to her. "I have my evidence too. The rest of the people in the house are incapacitated and uninjured. I would not be adverse to working with you again, detective Akeno. You have my card? If I may be of assistance call me. If I encounter other criminal activity where metas are involved I will call you. Not your office. You personally. I like to know that I'm talking to people who are competent."

Akeno folds his arms, frowning. "I'm not a private detective. I'm CBPD. I'll help with cases, but without some good hard evidence, there's no way I can help." He walks over to her. "Speaking of which, how did you get my private number?"

Mystique smiles, "It's in the book." She says and then turns into mist and dissipates. In an instant there is nothing left in sight. Your private number isn't in the phone directory but you might recall she didn't actually say -which- book it was in; and it's clear she has some unusual abilities that would allow for finding out what she wants to know.

Akeno blinks a few times. "... I am really starting to hate magic..." The detective shakes his head, blinking a few times before he sighs and starts tying up the thugs and the martial artist better.