Log:Early Withdrawal

2009/03/19 	 Halo Lorelei Laser Ray 1

This district is home to Colonial Bay's large Chinese community; as much Chinese as English is seen on signs and perhaps more Mandarin is spoken. Most famous is Ming Street, curving round from Beach Street to Wharf Street, always full of tourists, especially at its northern and western end. This is practically a street market, with hawkers extolling their wares to passers-by, and signs and banners advertizing everything from fresh duck to herbal supplies, restaurants and bakeries and other businesses. The Heavenly Dragon Palace and the Buddhist temple are among the more famous sights. But perhaps true Chinatown is south and west of Ming Street, where the tourists rarely go.

Lorelei is eating dinner outside in of the many restaurants - at an outside table, to take advantage of the sunlight. She's treating one of her friends from school.

"And there you were!" Jinghua says. "On a giant holoposter for the Rift movie, like 10 meters tall! I was so happy for you when I saw it, I almost cried."

Lorelei grins, having missed Jinghua's bubbling personality. "I really have been lucky, Jinghua. I'm glad to hear your life is coming together now too...."

Jinghua smiles modestly for a moment before responding. "Well, with me being able to spend more time at the store, I was able to help dad get update things a little..."

Lorelei says, "So how's the store going now? Has there been any trouble what with - you know - what's going on here now?"

Jinghua adds, "Well, I convinced him to stock a couple of things on the shelves that have really sold well. Do you remember those hair scrunchies with the little cartoon characters I used to wear? Those have been selling really well..."

She adds, "Oh and about Smiling Johnny... I haven't seen him or his goons since that one time. Whatever you people said to him back then, it seemed to take!"

Lorelei grins. "Glad to here it. What about the old crowd - do you see them at all these days?"

Jinghua shakes her head. "Not really. To be honest, splitting up from the squad was the best thing that happened to me."

Lorelei nods. "Well - that's probably true. I'm not really in touch with them any more, not even Phil. But then, last I heard, Phil wasn't really much in touch with herself any more.

"Really?" Jinghua asks. "What do you mean exactly... Her power always seemed a little weird."

Lorelei says, "Well - she had a year where she was doing five different things and, well, her selves sort of grew apart. They don't seem to want to recombined any more - well, last I heard."

"Imagine not even being able to get along with yourself!" Jinghua laughs, and then shakes her head.

Asanna is traversing the bussling street, She is taking a leasurly afternoon to look at fassionable outfits of the Chinese vendors. not really looking for anthing inparticular.

Lorelei laughs. "Well - Phil isn't the easiest person to get along with, I guess."

Lorelei says, "Sometimes I wonder how whe and Alex hooked up - they seem such an unlikely pair....."

Suddenly there's a commotion from a little down the street. Panicking men and women are running out of the neighborhood branch of the First Colonial Bank.

Asanna Can't help but notice the famous super-model/singer/actress. Asanna is Suprized that Lorelei has a moments reprieve from fans and can eat in peace whilst socializing too. Then she gets distracted by the sudden commotion.

Lorelei says, "Trouble.... I'd better see if I can help.... Sorry, Jinghua!"

Lorelei starts running bankward, adding, "Unless you want to lend a hand!"

Asanna, to the vendor of the wares she is currently browsing, "Trouble at the bank, I'm sure someon had better call teh capes anc cops. Excuse me, I think I better cal 911."

Lorelei tries to make out what's caused the panic as she runs.

Asanna opens her purse and gets a phone out whilst running for some cover that can be used for change to her Halo ID..

Jinghua smiles and waves, prepared to let Lorelei investigate. "I, uh... I think I'll let you handle it."

Lorelei thinks. o O (I can't say I blame her - though she'd be good at stopping panicking people trampling each other...)

Dozen or so people come out of the bank. It's possible to see into the lobby from the outside through large windows. The interior of the bank is bathed in a red glow from a light source that's just out of sight inside the bank.

Halo thinks. o O (Erie red glow...now I am very curious.)

Lorelei asks one of the people fleeing the bank, "What's going on in there?"

Lorelei manages to get the attention of a fleeing person. "There's a man with a laser in there!"

Now flying outside into the street is a sight to behold that is impressive yet awe inspiring. The evocative mutant paranormal HALO jets down the street toward the bank.

Lorelei thinks. o O (*A* man? Good.)

Lorelei heads cautiously into the bank, ready with something the instant she sees trouble.

Halo nods to Lorelei in acknowledgement of her presence. "I guess I'm not the only one entering reather than leaving the Bank...nice to meet you Lorelei, Your reputation preceeds you.

Lorelei says, "Halo, right? Nice to meet you."

Halo says, "heard of me? My repuation should not be that quick to catch on here in CB. See anything from inside yet Lorelei?"

Inside the bank, it's possible to see what's happening inside. It looks like someone has blasted their way through the bulletproof teller partition. It's a man in a lightly armored costume with a tinted Flash-proof visor. He's got a giant laser mounted on both of his gauntlets, and he's using it to cut his way into the the vault.

The man, Laser Ray, turns as the heroes enter the bank.

Halo says, "Well now, I dont think he is from the Wells fargo armored car transport service, do you?"

Halo in a raised voice that Laser-man can hear..."Now that looks like a nice piece of harware you have, couldn't you be a welder rather than a criminal?"

Halo clenches her fists tightly and tries to look as impressive as she can

Laser Ray is taken aback a little by the appearance of the heroes. "Well I'll be! Lorelei and Halo... I guess I should consider myself lucky! Laser Ray's the name, ladies."

Laser Ray turns his wrist mounted laser onto Halo.

Lorelei says, seductively, "Oh my - you DO have a big gun! But you wouldn't hurt us, would you?"

Laser Ray lowers his laser gauntlets. "I can't see why we can't all just get along. 'Sides. I'm not after the money of all those regular folk. I'm fixing to get just one deposit box. What say you let me grab it, and we can go on our separate ways."

Halo reasserts control of her actions, flying a half move toward him. She tries to flair another aura.

Halo says, "why dont we all hae a nice chat about this before we need a doctor. Mind lowing that laser of yours?"

Lorelei asks, "Why are you so interesting in a safely deposit box anyway?" While she shimmies her body in just such a way (hopefully) that he can't take his eyes off her.

"It's what's in the box, sugar," Ray says, unable to pull his eyes off of Lorelei.

"Uncut diamonds, belonging to that crook businessman." Ray adds.

Lorelei says, "Which one, the one they're trying now?"

Halo looks between Lorelei and Ray, a slight smile crosses her lips in appreciative approval.

"That's the one. I got a tip that he was using this box to hide some cash from the cops," Ray says.

Lorelei says, "Huh, generous sort of tip! Who told you that?"

Halo wispers to lorelei so as not to break the concentration, "Either he has been duped by someone else, or is lying to us."

Ray says, "An old guy with a... What do you call it? Not a cane.. a staff. I'm supposed to give him a cut when I complete the job."

Halo Shakes her head, "Nope, he's not to bright i think."

"Whaddya ya say? Diamonds are a girl's best friend, right? I'll cut you in.

Halo flies over to Ray rto inspect his armor and lasers to see if they can be removed while he is distracted.

Lorelei smiles, keeping the man busy while Halo tries to disarm him. "Well, you know, I already have some diamonds...."

Halo begins boostin her strength while its a conversation.

Ray says, "Well these diamonds are tax free. And you can never have enough of 'em, right?"

Lorelei smiles and gets closer to Ray the better to distract him. "Well - you're right, you can never have enough diamonds...."

Halo says, "hmm, why dont you take of that bulky armor so We can talk about things better"

Ray doesn't respond to Halo's suggestion -- he seems lost in Lorelei's eyes.

Lorelei says, ""Though you know, there are other good things besides diamonds... of course your armours kind of in the way for those!!"

"..." Ray can't seem to believe his luck. "I got a place... maybe we should go there...?"

Halo return to loreleis side, "lets keep this up. soon, between teh two of us, he will have completely lost his will, self confidence, and motivation.

Halo looks around for fearful or hurt bank associates and patrons.

Lorelei shows gets closer and makes as if to removes some clothes. "Can you really wait that long?

Laser Ray starts by removing his laser gauntlets. "Gotta be quick... dunno how much longer till the cops get here."

Lorelei grins. "More exciting that way!"

Halo flairs another halo-aura and continues to subver his will.

Ray is dead on his feet halfway through completes removing his armor. Pretty much, he complies with what ever he's told. By the time the police sirens approach he's standing there in his boxers.

Lorelei gets back on what clothes she's thus far removed. "Why do you say he was lying?"

Halo says, "Jsut a possibility...but I am leaning toward him jsut being a dupe for that staff-man he mentioned. Hes a pawn for a bigger scheme."

Lorelei says, "Oh, Merlin's behind it, all right. But why don't you think it's diaminds he's after?"

Halo says, "I am wndering why he needed diamonds rather than hard cash... Regualr money is easier to launder and spend."

Lorelei says, "easier to carry? And if he already had a buyer for the diamonds."

Halo says, "True, buy why not try and get both...I'd think that merlin woulda told Ray to take anything he wanted that he could carry."

Lorelei says, "Merlin seems to be picking on Means in particular.... If he's not lying. Merlin is supposed to have retired after making a bundle, so if he lost it all in the ponzi scheme..."

Lorelei says, "Unless the whole thing is a lie."