Log:Sins of the Doctor, Part 1

2008/09/11 	 Akeno Fist Lorelei Mystique Olivia Rakshasa Yolanda 1

First there's a thin wispy thread of mist seeping in under the door of the coffee shop. The mist covers the floor near the door and then gathers together lifting up as it forms into the Witch Mystique.

Mystique says, "Good afternoon."

Rakshasa enters from Bridgend.

Rakshasa comes in and skips over to the counter, humming happily to herself.

Yolanda sits at a table by the front window reading news on her PDA and enjoying a cup of coffee. She glances up at the wisps of fog that slip under the door into cafe. She smiles and they form into Mystique. She nods in welcome. "Afternoon."

Mystique goes to the counter, "Coffee, black as my heart, bitter as the tears of a grieving family. Oh, and one of those pink iced buns. They look rather tastey."

Lorelei slips into the coffee shop, perhaps a little subdued, and goes over to the counter to order her own coffee (white with sugar) and a pink iced bun - they do look good.

Mystique glances at Lorelei, "Yes, they do. Good afternoon, Ms Lorelei. How is your father now?"

Very close behind Lorelei is Fist, with her head exposed but otherwise she is fully in-costume. She steps into sight of Lorelei with a wave, grinning a little.

Yolanda glances over towards Rakshasa for a moment before returning her attention to her PDA. She scrolls through a few articles with her thumb on the screen. Before one seems to catch her attention. Her face clouds, brow tightening as she reads. She manages a fleeting wave at Lorelei before reaching for her coffee again.

Lorelei says, "Oh, he's much better now, thank you. But I'm sure it was all a bit of a shock to him... and to me."

Rakshasa walks away from the counter with a triple mocha grande supremo caramel hazelnut latte with whipped cream and chocolate flakes. She sighs contentedly as she sits down at an empty table to enjoy it.

Lorelei waves back to her neighbour.

Yolanda sits alone by the window wrapped up in reading something on her PDA.

Lorelei looks about, wondering where to sit. Yolanda looks busy.

Mystique says, "I'm pleased to hear your father is recovering well, Ms Lorelei. Now that is not weighing on your mind... I'll send my bill in."

"He's out..." Yolanda says, thinking aloud. Her gaze shifts to the window, looking outside though not at anything in particular. She takes a sip from her drink and sets her cup down on the edge of the table. The drink teeters on the brink for a moment, and before she can correct her mistake, the cup falls to the floor. It hits, the top comes off, and most of a tall coffee with foam sprays out onto the floor.

Olivia comes into the coffee shop and looks around a bit. She seems in a rather good mood at the moment and smiles as she moves to take a seat.

Lorelei says, "Your bill is the least of my worries - not that I've seen it yet - ack!"

Lorelei jumps back from splashing coffee.

Rakshasa looks up from her drink in surprise, a bit of whipped cream on the end of her nose, "Bwuh?"

Mystique looks on with curiosity.

Olivia turns and looks over at Yolanda, "Are you alright?" she asks softly.

Fist moves to help clean up, picking up a cloth on the way to Yolanda.

Lorelei says, "You ok, Yolanda? Can I get you another?"

Yolanda's gaze jerks back into the cafe, realizing what's happened, and she stands quickly. "I... Sorry..." She takes a moment to gather her wits before setting down her PDA and walking over to grab some additional napkinss from a dispenser by the counter.

Fist simply smiles, kneeling to trap the coffee in place with the cloth.

Yolanda asks Lorelei, "I'm sorry... did I get you?" She spots Fist helping out and sighs. "Thanks, Fist."

Olivia cocks her head to the side and goes and requests actually a towel from the counter and comes to offer and help too.

Lorelei says, "Just a spot or two on my shoes - not a problem with these ones, really."

Yolanda offers a napkin to Lorelei as she drops a few of them onto the liquid that Fist has corralled.

Lorelei accepts the napkin, and, sitting, bends down to dab at her shoes.

Lorelei sighs. "Cliff was good at this sort of thing - catching coffee before it spilled..."

Yolanda offers a napkin to Rakshasa as well. "Sorry," she offers. "It's just that I've gotten a bit of bad news..."

Mystique says, "It's only coffee. Even the coffee I drink isn't actually toxic."

Fist stands, quizzically looking at Yolanda.

Olivia looks at her, "Are you sure you are alright?" she asks softly, "anything can do?"

There's a college student helping out part time today. He says, mainly to Fist, "That's alright... I'll clean up the rest of it." He heads to get a mop.

Rakshasa takes the napkin and wipes her nose, "Thanks."

Yolanda shakes her head to Olivia. "Thank you... But there's nothing that can be done about it... A dangerous man is being released from prison today... And it's all my fault!"

Lorelei frowns. "What man's that?"

Yolanda sighs. "I'll tell you everything... But first, I think I'll accept that offer for a coffee."

Making physical contact, Fist rests a hand gently on Yolanda's arm, brow furrowed.

Olivia raises a brow and moves to sit down again.

Lorelei says, "No prob. How do you have it?"

Lorelei goes back to the counter to order Yolanda's coffee.

The part-timer returns and works on cleaning up the mess. "Don't worry... Happens all the time," he says as he works. "Consideing some the stuff I've seen here, I'd be happy just to clean up a spilled coffee!" he says cheerfully.

Mystique finds a free chair and sits close enough to overhear Yolanda's explanation.

Yolanda looks over to Fist, meeting Fist's eyes with her own, to try and communicate how she appreciated the support. "With cream. Two sugars."

Yolanda finds a chair to sit in.

Lorelei orders Yolanda's coffee as requested.

Olivia nods and just watches for a moment and cocks her head to the side, folding her hands in her lap, forgetting for a moment about her excitement earlier.

Yolanda says, "His name is Emil Szasz, Dr. Emil Szasz... He's a rogue mentalist who went to jail for conducting illegal experiments on human subjects. He's being released from prison today."

Olivia nods, "Does he need to be followed?"

Rakshasa looked up from her coffee of doom, "Why's he being let out?"

Lorelei says, "And what sort of thing did he do, exactly?"

Mystique asks Yolanda, "Why is it your fault?"

Fist nods slightly, understanding most of what was said.

Yolanda answers Olivia, sighing and folding her arms. "I don't know if he should be followed. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if he were..." She looks over to Rakshasa: "Szasz agreed to undergo a procedure where another telepath placed mental barriers in his mind, preventing him from using his powers. Ever since then, he's been a model prisoner."

Olivia nods, "And you placed the barriers there and are worried about them holding?" she nods and seems to be thinking a little.

Yolanda looks to Mystique: "That telepath was me. Apparently the parole board felt that since he was no longer a threat to society. So in a way, I'm responsible."

Still Fist seems puzzled, but patient. She continues making contact.

Mystique says, "You doubt the effectiveness of your technique?"

Lorelei says, "You think he is still a threat?"

[To Lorelei] Yolanda says, "Before Dr. Szasz went to jail, he was a researcher for Mens Sanus -- he was my mentor, actually. His speciality was in the biochemistry of mental abilities. He actually invented the medicine that I take today to keep my telepathy in check."

Lorelei says, "Hm... I wonder if dad knows of him... that sounds in his field..."

[To Olivia] Yolanda says, "I'm confident that his abilities will remain locked. But it seem only natural to resent someone who's done that to you."

A light mental tapping emits from Fist toward Yolanda.

Yolanda nods to Fist and lets her in.

Lorelei says, "Well - you said he consented...."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside your head: << "Watch?" Fist gets that Yolanda believes Szasz should be observed. She can do so without being seen. >>

Mystique frowns, "Your confidence is probably misplaced, Dr Simmons. If he consented it would be because he was sure of being able to break that binding upon release. Almost certainly by chemical means."

Yolanda's telepathic message to Fist: << I feel a little guilty, but yes, that would make me feel better. >>

After a silent exchange, Fist pulls the black mask over her face and her hood up. She nods toward Yolanda.

Rakshasa hmms, "On the other hand, I at least have to believe in the possibility of redemption."

Lorelei says, "You were just carrying out a court order, right? Or does he have reason to take it personally?"

[To Mystique] Yolanda says, "I hope that you're wrong... As part of the agreement, his knowledge of chemistry and biology were both locked as well."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside her head: << "Where?" She's also looking for what he looks like. >>

Yolanda says, "But at the same time, you may be right, Mystique. After all, his mental abilities came from a drug that he developed."

Yolanda's telepathic message to Fist: << I'm not sure where he is staying, only that he's going to be staying in the Colonial Bay city limits -- it's a part of his parole agreement. >>

Lorelei says, "Ow. That doesn't sound good...."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside her head: << "Clues?" She needs somewhere to start. If he taught Yolanda then many of his hobbies and passtimes would be known. >>

Yolanda says, "The doctor's last project for Mens Sanus was a drug to amplify the mental abilities of psychics, or potentially to grant non-sensitives psychic abilities. Mens Sanus cancelled his research, but he continued to work on it, even after he was fired for misappropriating company resources for his project."

Lorelei nods.

Yolanda's telepathic message to Fist: << He does have family in the area. He's divorced, with children. Outside of that, I'm not sure what he'd be up to. >>

Yolanda says, "Eventually, I think he formed a solution which he tested on himself. It gave him mental powers, but it also drove him mad..."

Mystique listens

Yolanda says, "When he agreed to have his mind locked down, he knew that there were only a handful of people capable of even attempting it; he knew it would be me. I think... I think that on some level, he was glad. Proud to see what I've become."

Yolanda stares down at her coffee, studying it.

Mystique says, "It would seem, Dr Simmons, that if he was confident he could break the lockdown there is no reason for him to resent you. If he cannot break the lockdown it doesn't matter if he resents you."

Lorelei nods in agreement with Mystique. "He may be trouble, but hopefully not for you."

Yolanda nods listening to Mystique. "You're right, you're right... But you're assuming that he's still being logical...The drug he took, it changed him."

Akeno wanders in about then, idly looking about before heading for the counter. No badge, so an off duty Akeno for the moment. He smiles at those here, "Don't tell me something came up this time?"

Yolanda sits, gathere with everyone else, as if she's telling a story.

Yolanda looks up. "Akeno. You might just be the person I'm looking for..."

Akeno shrugs, "I'm off duty, but what's up?"

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside her head: << "Lab?" She has the suspicion that despite the order not to go, Szasz might go back to it. Or someone he hires. >>

Yolanda shakes her head to Fist. "His lab was raided and shut down when he was arrested a few years ago."

Lorelei sips quietly at her coffee.

Yolanda says, "Akeno... There's a man I know who was just released on parole. Would it be possible for you to find out his general whereabouts?"

Akeno shrugs, "No problem. We keep tabs on them all the time."

Yolanda says, "Emil Szasz... he was just released. I don't want to know anyone's checking, but I just want to know where he is and what he's up to."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside your head: << "Friends?" >>

Akeno nods. "I'll do my best on it. Unless the parole officer is one of those that takes bribes..." He shrugs. "Then again, if he is, I can take it from there."

Yolanda nods to Akeno. "Thanks."

Yolanda looks to Fist. "Friends? I suppose that I do still care about him... when I was younger, maybe a little younger than you are now, I used to get these terrible, terrible headaches..."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside her head: << "His." She seeks to know who his old friends are, who might lead her to him. >>

Yolanda nods to Fist. "And then... Oh, right. /His/ friends. Most of the people that he knew distanced themselves from him, once they discovered what he was up to."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside her head: << "Most." >>

Yolanda says, "The ones that I knew, anyway. I'm not really sure what circles he moved in just before he was caught."

Akeno shakes his head, "So what about the rest of you. Need me to look up anything?"

Mystique says, "Do you have contact with MAMBA, detective Akeno?"

Akeno shakes his head, "No... they're a criminal organization. One of the few I've seen that have some honor to them."

Yolanda says, "Hm. What is MAMBA?"

Akeno shrugs. "If you see a lady that's half-snake and half-human, that's Naga, their leader. I'm not sure what the acronym stands for 'cause they only showed up once that I'm aware of. Then again, I was also stuck world-hopping at the time."

Mystique says, "A criminal organization, as detective Akeno stated. I know little about them other than they have been quiet of late. An incident yesterday may have a MAMBA connection.""

Yolanda says, "Hm. What happened?"

Akeno shrugs as he gets his plate of donuts and a cup of coffee before heading over, "I saw the post on the 'net. I'm just not sure what to make of them coming back. Either Naga /wants/ a challenge from this generation of heroes, or there's something they will be looking for. That's my only guess so far."

Lorelei looks woefully at her now-empty coffee cup.

Mystique says, "A scaly lizard like creature some twelve feet in height released a substance into the air conditioning of the Ocean Center on the island. It temporarily changed the staff there at the time into human-lizard hybrids. The detective at the incident suggested MAMBA as a possible suspect for involvement."

Yolanda looks Lorelei. "My turn. What do you want?"

Lorelei says, "Another coffee thanks, cream and one sugar."

Yolanda hears Fist's voice inside your head: << "Details?" So far, Fist has been given general information but nothing she can actually begin from. >>

Akeno hmms. "I'll look into it. But... that doesn't figure into their usual MO." He looks at Mystique. "Like Sable said on the 'net and I confirmed, they try to not involve any civilians."

Yolanda nods. She heads to the counter. "Anyone else for a refill?"

Lorelei says, "Maybe that's the third bad thing, assuming bad things come in threes too."

Mystique nods, "Yes, thank you."

Yolanda heads to the counter to order another round of drinks. "Fist... maybe you can work with Akeno to figure out what he's up to."

Fist nods in agreement, looking to Akeno with her head inclined, offering him her fist.

Akeno blinks a few times. "I'm at a loss here, but what who is up to?"

Yolanda returns with drinks for herself, Lorelei, and Mystique. She says to Akeno. "Szasz. The man I asked you about... Fist was going to keep an eye on him for me, at least for a little bit."

Lorelei says, "Thanks Yolanda..."

Yolanda nods. "Say, did they ever find who was behind that break in:"

Akeno nods at Fist. "Go ahead and keep an eye on him. I'll get back to you on what the parole officer says."

Fist nods slowly, looking as though she's waiting for something.

Lorelei says, "Yes. Um, an old enemy of the family, ultimately. Dad ended up kidnapped and a lot of us had to go and rescue him, though he was badly hurt the process.... He's better now but..."

Lorelei sighs. "For the first time I really feel the need for Cliff, but the agency's given him the sack."

Yolanda says, "Cliff... is he still?"

Lorelei says, "Hm, still what?"

Akeno rolls his eyes, placing his fist against Fist's and chuckling. "Sorry. Forgot about that. I've got a lot on my mind recently."

Yolanda says, "Akeno, I don't know about his whereabouts. If you can tell Fist where he is, she can keep an eye on him."

Fist smiles, still looking as though she's waiting, looking to Yolanda. Then she looks at Akeno when Yolanda speaks, looking quizzical.

Akeno shrugs, "I'll see what I can do."

Yolanda says, "Is Cliff still having those dreams?"

Lorelei nods. "Which is why he hasn't been fit for work for ages. I suppose I can't really blame the agency for not keeping him on, but still..."

Mystique says, "Who is Cliff and why is having dreams reason to fire him?"

Yolanda shakes her head. "If it's been so long... maybe there's something that can be done. Options, perhaps."

[To Mystique] Lorelei says, "Cliff's my bodyguard. And basically he's had so little sleep he's been unwell for months."

[To Yolanda] Lorelei says, "How do you mean, options?"

Yolanda nods. "It's possible perhaps to limit his ability for a short period time, until maybe the cause of the visions is gone."

Lorelei says, "Possibly. Though from what Cliff told me, his abilities are already being suppressed."

Yolanda nods.

Lorelei says, "I really hope he gets better soon. He had trouble like this as a child too - that's why they he has the suppressor."

Lorelei says, "Well... I shoold be off. Thanks for the coffee."

Lorelei says, "Take care, all."

Lorelei gets up to head out.

Mystique nods. "And you."

Yolanda nods and waves. "I should be going too. Thanks of listening... it feels good to be able to talk Szasz, at least."

Mystique turns into mist and seeps out under the door.