Log:Dinner on the Run, Scene 1

Dinner on the Run 2019/08/23 	 Artemis Chen Dialydd Horizon Swarmer Thunder Union Victory

1

It's late afternoon in the Alien District - people are leaving work. It's rather hot and muggy as people get into their cars, or head to the maglev station. Some restaurants are just opening for the evening crowd, too.

The hot and sunny day has Swarmer atop the highest of structures she can find in the area, feeling the rays of the sun bead down on her without concern for what effects it might have if she remains too long by giants' standards. Be it by just sense for someone or listening to the general chatter of the birds, she rises when Artemis makes an appearance, becoming airborne herself and waving a greeting, but distance and her size make catching the attention of her favourite giant a little more challenging.

Ryosei, dressed in t-shirt, shorts, and tennis shoes today is just headed along the street. His duffel bag is over one shoulder, with his eyes taking in the sights of the Alien District. He's definitely headed somewhere as he walks along without much of a care it seems.

Chen is in the district delivering an emergency supply of fresh ginger root to the Wu Ling restaurant.

Victory is returning from the local burger joint with a soda cup in hand. Sure, he could have eaten in the Starguard cafeteia. Again. But a change of pace is nice once in a while. He looks both ways and then crosses the street, headed back toward the base.

It may be that people aren't at the best in the heat, and drivers and pedestrians both seem a bit impatient. But all the same, a couple of the pedestrians just walking out into Stardancer Blvd without looking seems excessive.

The young hero Horizon is in the Alien District because he's been on the watch for more RACE based crime after his run in with them. He figured the Alien District would probably bethe best place to start but so far he hasn't turned up much.

He's standing on a relatively low rooftop surveying the city below.

Chen is distracted by spotting Wade, and deciding the restuatrant can wait another five minutes for the ginger while she hurries over to talk to him.

As Swarmer notices something below, her mind splits into two different ideas. Attempt to garner the attention of friend, or get to know what she sees beneath the notice of many. She decides the latter, and the tiny pixie makes a bee-line for a back alley.

Artemis isn't able to spot Swarmer at a distance, but notes the jaywalkers. It seems a little hazardous. She swoops down in an arc to loop near to them.

Horns blare and brakes are slammed on, but the jaywalkers seem to pay little heed.

Raising an eyebrow, Ryosei moves over to where the jaywalkers around. He calls to them, "Hey! You might want to wait on the light! It's dangerous right there!"

Victory doesn't seem to notice Chen. But instead his attention is drawn to something else in an alleyway, beyond the jaywalkers. He figures those two might have something to do with...whatever is going on in the alley. He hurries over and points to the two jaywalkers. "You two! Come here!" Though his attention is more focused ont eh alley. He jogs over and takes a look down between teh buildings.

Chen speeds up changing direction to intercept Wade, "Hi! Wade. Hold up a minute."

As the horns honk, Artemis looks perplexed. She tries to land in beside them to pluck them out of traffic. Or take the brunt of a car with a shield if they're about to hit.

Victory sees Chen and smiles, "Hey there. Just need a second. I thought I saw somethign down the alleyway that those two were likely running from." He thumbs back toward the people crossing the street.

The two jaywalker stop in the middle of the road. "Hey! Look who it is! Hi, Victory!" They wave cheerfully.

Horizon tries to make sense of what's happening- even he thinks the jaywalkers are playing it fast and loose.

He leaps off the building, teleporting halfway down to the ground to eat up any momentum that he couldn't have taken- supposedly using it will make him better capable of dealing with the side effects of it.

He reappears and keeps running towards the jaywalkers when he sees Artemis swoop in.

He doesn't slow his approach- he just moves in to back up her play and/or confirm she's not being mind controlled.

Chen smiles back at Wade, "Right with you then. Let's go check it out."

Ryosei looks confused, and then he sees Victory. And... well, he doesn't know Chen. But seeing Artemis as well... the young teen moves away from the scene, heading for a different alleyway.

Artemis doesn't quite stop the car, but at least slows it so that it bumps into the jaywalkers such that it knocks them over but doesn't injure them.

The two laugh as they topple over. "Whoops!"

Artemis slams a fist into the car hood and digs her feet in, getting pushed back as it slows. That's one way of dealing with it. "What madness has you that you're laughing and challenging your land-ships?"

Thunder arrives via rooftops, looking down before moving to leap and land near the jaywalkers and Artemis. "Hello, Artemis. Let's get these two out of the roadway, shall we?" He moves to pick up the two jaywalkers bodily. Super strength makes this so much easier, right?

More horns sound as cars are stopped in a queue behind this car - or try to go around.

Victory sees that Artemis has the two jaywalkers under control. He steps into the alleyway to investigate. Perhaps he didn't really see anything strange. But he needs to check it ou.

Artemis shakes her hand once and helps to escort the two out of the street. There's a big of smoke rising from the car's hood after being stopped by her. "What were you thinking?" she asks the pair as Thunder carries them.

Horizon gets there just a bit too late. He moves to follow Artemis and Thunder.

Chen enters the alley beside Wade.

Victory smiles and nods to Chen, "I did. Where have you been? Did you have to go back overseas or something?"

"Hey, just relax, everything's fine, right?" says one of the jaywalkers. They give the impression they're high on something.

<> says the thing, roughly translated.

The critter keeps hopping along as it talks.

Swarmer emits sparkles of joy in soft sounding chimes, muted colours. << Yes! I am friend to many things that hide from the giants. >>

Chen grins on hearing Victory did miss her being around. "Yep. Had to go back to China. Was at the monastery. No internet. I sent off a letter to you via messenger but it's probably still on its way here."

Frowning, Thunder looks at the two. "First off, we will have the police involved in this. You two are obviously not in your right minds. What did you take? You both were almost killed there." He looks to Horizon and Artemis. "Do you have antyhing we can hold these two with? I think I need to help move the car as well."

"I've got the car." Horizon says before turning around and jogging back towards it- he leaps and flips the whole way there- never once in danger of being struck by a vehicle

Victory nods to Chen with a smile on his face, "Ah...well, you missed a bit. VENOM tried to kidnap me while you were gone. We can talk about it later, though."

As they enter the alley, Victory and Chen see what they probably don't recognise as an uvzo. An uvzo, as it happens, somewhat resembles a cute, 2' tall, dark-blue-and-violet striped kangaroo.. The uvzo looks rather startled at the two...

Chen says, "Oh... That's cute.""

Victory raises a brow, and starts to place a call in to Starguard, trying to see if they can identify what he's looking at.

The uvzo lashes out at Chen with its long, froglike tongue!

At the car, Horizon waves to the occupants. "Hey guys- I'm sorry about that. We're going to get you out of the roadway- so please just hang on." He says in a very cordial and upright tone.

Then he stoops down and gets his hands under the frame and hoists it above his head so he can get it across the roadway when the light allows.

"It seems you two have this under control," Artemis says to Horizon and Thunder, happy to not deal with police and reports. She starts to lift up off the ground.

Chen grins. Then she blinks and shudders for a moment before laughing, "That is so cool. Now I know what happened to the two jaywalkers. Victory, you're got to try it."

Victory raises a brow. "Try what, exactly? What did it do to you?"

Horizon shurgs at Artemis and says, "Well I guess so- I mean. Not much doin' now."

Chen speaks between episodes of laughter, "Made...me happy."

Swarmer gets a puzzled look to her when the uvzo attacks, then notices the giants approaching, and immediately understands. << I will protect you. >>

Horizon moves to follow Artemis. "Hey! So- like, where are you off to? I was wondering if you'd run anyto any of those RACE guys!" He shouts to her speaking rapidly before she can get out of earshot.

Artemis hears the whip-crack sound and draws a sword as Horizon shouts at her. "Trouble," is all she says before flying off towards the alley. She's easily distracted!

That has Thunder blinking. His head turns to the alleyway, then he looks at the two jaywalkers. "You two are coming with me." He keeps carrying the two jaywalkers over to take a look at the alleyway.

Victory continues to try to make his call to Starguard. "Hey umm...I have a kangaroo-like alien creature that has some kind of psychadelic affect with its tongue in an alley nearby. Can I get an ID on what I'm looking at? I'm going to try to detain it."

Chiming sounds emit from Swarmer as Victory makes a call that ends in 'try to detain it'.

"Checking the database..." comes the reply.

Dialydd has accepted an invitation to join this location...

Dialydd has arrived...

Swarmer calls upon the Swarm to run interference with the giants, getting in the way of their vision to facilitate kangaropic escape. She calls to the uvzo, << Run! Hide! >> And everyone hears chiming sounds.

The uvzo, already trying to run (well, jump) and hide, does as indicated.

Artemis watches the bugs obscure their vision, puzzled only briefly. "Swarmer? My Little Friend, are you here?" she asks as she sheathes her sword.

The chiming sounds reveal that Swarmer is indeed here.

Thunder says, "Keeping hold of the pair of jaywalkers that seem to be high as a kite at the moment, Thunder moves to the alleyway entrance and looks confused at what he is seeing. "Uh... guys, what is going on here?" He shows the jaywalkers to the two. "And can anyone tell me what these two are on? I swear it has to be drugs of some sort, but they do not exactly cover that in school!""

Thunder has to stare at the uvzo, "And what the hell is /that/?"

Chen calls back to Thunder, "I'd guess a natural neurotoxin judging from the effect it had on me."

Dialydd stands, head and shoulders, among a crowd of bystanders watching the uzvos and metas. Just another day in Colonial Bay.

Artemis tries to locate the chiming. "Why are you doing this, Swarmer? Is something amiss?" she asks, squinting as the swarm blocks her view. She can't make out Swarmer from such a distance aside from the familiar chiming.

Down the back alley runs a man dressed in a cook's white clothing. "Oh no oh no oh no!" he says as he runs toward where Swarmer and her insect cloud is.

Swarmer flits out through the bugs to where Artemis is, then adjusts to be in the way of giants who might aim to harm the uvzo, arms spread defiantly. She emits more chiming sounds. She figures the uvzo can evade one giant and thus does not interfere with the man in white.

Thunder looks at Swarmer as he sees her. "Alright, hold it. What is going on here, Swarmer?"

<< The insects will not harm you. You can escape through them. >> Swarmer helpfully informs the lagging-behind uvzo.

Chen reaches out with an extending arm, that morphs from the shoulder to look like the Uvzo's tongue and attempts to grab the creature, switching to stinger mode for accuracy.

Victory sighs and sees both Swarmer and Artemis run interference. "Any reason why you two are guarding an alien life form that has attacked civilians?"

Artemis sees Swarmer try to get in the way as she makes her stand. Moving faster than most may think she can, Artemis dives to intervene, getting her right forearm grabbed instead. "Swarmer, please. I can help if you tell me what is going on?"

Chen grins as her extended arm-tonge grabs... Artemis? "What the heck? Artemis, you're in the way."

The chiming sounds from Swarmer even sound defiant, though what she is saying is left to be inferred. The surprised sound that follows when Artemis places herself in the way of...whatever one names that which Chen did.

Artemis answers Victory, "I merely guard my small friend for her own good. She would not interfere without some cause."

"Get her to explain it, then!" Thunder says. "We need some answers for those of us who were not here for the neurotoxin kangaroo thing!"

Chen releases Artemis. "I hope it's a a good reason." she says in a suddenly more serious voice.

Victory sighs again...and checks his PDA as he gets a response back from Starguard.

The uvzo hops off down the alley into the insect swarm!

Dialydd walks forward through the crowd, politely asking people to move. When he reaches the front of the crowd, near the edge of the bug swarm, he pauses and lets his sense expand.

The alien youth mutters something in his native tongue. If any can speak or understand languges it sounds like, "Lords, this is Chaos defined. What a muddle."

The critter stops short as Thunder lands in front of it.

Chen tells whichever heroes are still close by, "We need to capture that creature. If it can affect me, when I'm just back from months of meditation training with Master Chang I worry what it could do to a normal. I fear they would lose all traces of caution."

Thunder shakes his head, then drops the two jaywalkers as he crouches, shifting his footing, the young teen suddenly leaps upwards. Going over the swarm, he does an impressive second jump off a wall to land in front of the critter and brings his hands up to block the way, "Easy now! I will not harm you. I just wish to help." His voice takes a more, hopefully soothing sound. But he's cautious at the moment.

Artemis fixes Victory with a look as he sighs at her, imploring silently for patience, then turns her attention to Swarmer. "Please, Swarmer. Grant me enlightenment on what is happening. I will find a way to help." She still doesn't know what creature they're speaking of.

Swarmer flits onto the shoulder of Artemis to hurriedly and raspfully explain the creatures are in fact not prey for the giants, and she will not allow them to come to harm. This is audible within the range of typical human hearing, but it is very quiet due to Swarmer's size.

Chen goes after the creature, at least in the direction it was going when it when out of sight, "Like a ride, Victory?" she asks as she morphs into a four footed sleek looking centaur.

Victory shakes his head, "No thanks, Chen. I want to sort this, and I think that Swarmer here can help."

Artemis nods slowly as she listens. "Can you communicate with them like the swarm?" she asks Swarmer.

Chen once Victory rejets the lift, Chen takes off at high speed run.

Victory repeats what he found out from teh message. "The Uzbo is native to Gadriest VI. A delicacy. And illegal to import live to this world. The meat is allowed, but not live animals."

Swarmer informs Artemis that she has already communicated, not like with the swarm. Like she can with all beasts.

Artemis nods in understanding. "Please, then, Swarmer, ask them to come back and behave. Perhaps we can find them their way home to safety. I will not harm them. You have my word."

Swarmer points out that one of the giants just talked about eating them.

Artemis frowns in response. "Which one is trying to eat them?" She looks around for the offender.

Artemis looks to Victory. "Swarmer is protecting animals trying to flee someone attempting to lead them to slaughter. She can communicate with them. We can end this with peace," explains the usually battle-eager war goddess.

Chen reaches out to try abd grab the Uvzo. She only knew of the one at the start of her run. If she can she'll hold onto it without any squeezing.

Victory nods. "We can't let them just run around on this planet. We need to round them up. If they get transported off-world, that's fine. But they CANNOT stay here."

Chen says, "Got you."

The uvzo makes a sort of squeak.

Artemis smiles. "We may not need chase them of Swarmer tells them to come."

Chen says, "It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you. Well, unless you hurt me first."

The uzvo doesn't seem much reassured.

<< The grabby one promises to do you no harm! >> Swarmer calls out.

Chen sighs, "Guys, there's more of them." she calls back to the gathered heroes.

<< One of you has been caught! The giant promises to do no harm but remain hidden in case of duplicity! >> Swarmer does not trust giants.

The cook comes out of the insect swarm. "Great - you caught one! Thanks!"

Artemis turns to the cook. "So you are the one who brought these here?" she demands.

The uzvo decides to lick Chen again, not really feeling safe.

Victory grimaces as he hears Chen's statement. He then looks back to Artemis and Swarmer, "If they're not ALL rounded up, they will likely get shot. By someone. Or they're going to drug some civilian, who will get hurt. Or killed. Like the two in the street. And that's not even taking into account the issues in the long term. Help round them up!"

"Brought them? No! It's the chef who orders all this alien stuff. Hnonjink Hnam!"

The chiming sounds from Artemis's shoulder intensify and take on a vexed sound.

That has Thunder looking to the cook. "So, wait, do you have papers for this sort of thing or something? Because if not, then I expect you to tell us where they came from." He is hopefully confident that Chen can keep hold of the one she has.

Thunder blinks, "Hey, wait, did you say Hnonjink Hnam? As in that alien chef at the Seven Stars?"

Artemis tries to calm Swarmer, "There is some truth to his words. We shall gather them, and keep them safe from others, and others from them."

The cook nods. "That's him. Or her. Or whatever."

Swarmer flits right into the cook's face area, flitting about and making a lot of noise like some agitated hornet.

Artemis looks to Victory. "I will help you to gather them, but not harm them. Let's go."

Chen extrudes another limb abd grabs the Underchef, "You're under arrest for aidding and abetting the illegal importation of a proscribed species." she tells him, having heard Victory explaining to Artemis.

Swarmer's distraction worked! The arrest is enough for her. She makes to accompany Artemis.

The jaywalkers seem to be enjoying watching traffic lights change colours at the moment, so are safe for now.

Dialydd moves over to the two jaywalkers and looks down at them. He takes it upon himself to watch over them until medical help (well, legally licensed) arrives.

"Wait, what? Importing a - I never did - I never would - are you saying they're proscribed??"

Victory walks over to the cook, "They're not legal on the planet. At least not live animals."

The sight has Thunder looking at the underchef, then he looks to Victory, "Are you certain of this? If so, perhaps we should have words with Hnam."

Chen nods, but leaves Victory to talk to the underchef.

"I didn't know that! Look - I don't import them! I just cook them!"

Swarmer (to Artemis) accuses the subchef of also butchering them and chasing them. Which are to her noteworthy as things to add.

Artemis flies up and over the others. "Swarmer, help gather the other creatures to me. We'll get them all together and safe, then find them sanctuary."

Victory nods to Thunder, "Quite sure. We need to round up the animals first. Then we can deal with the consequences."

Swarmer seems wary of this plan to capture the uvzo group, wanting to know where they should be led to find this sanctuary.

Victory looks directly at Swarmer, "Can you help round them up, please? It will help to ensure that no one gets hurt. Including them."

Nodding, Thunder looks to Swarmer. "Swarmer, listen, we could seriously use the help. We will find some place safe to send them when this is over with. Victory might even have contacts in Starguard that can. Plus, we do not know what these eat, nor anything else about them. They could get sick if you feed them the wrong substance."

The odd exclamation in the distance suggests that other people may have run into the uvzos.

THe swarm of bugs dissipates. Swarmer asks Artemis to know where she should lead the uvzos.

Artemis says, "Lead them back here to us. No touching the mortals on their way."

Swarmer seems suspicious of this plan, but trusts Artemis to have sincerely the best interest at heart. She locates each uvzo (or a group of them?) to convince them to return with a promise of protection.

The uvzos are persuaded by Swarmer before too long - perhaps the idea seems less threatening to them that city traffic. They congregate nervously near the heroes. Chen has taken the underchef off to the authorities, so there's no fear of him spooking them.

Artemis smiles and plants on her hands on her hips. "See, Victory? Easier to lure with pluret rather than veralum," she chuckles.

Meanwhile, medical personal turn up to treat the drugged people. Luckily, uzvo toxin is known, so they can get the right treatment (eventually).

Victory looks at Artemis. "I have....no idea what that means. But that's why I wasn't running to chase after them. I figured that they might be rounded up more easily."

Victory takes a deep breath. "I'm sure that the authorities are going to have a word with the chef that imported them."

Dialydd readily relinquishes 'control' of the jaywalkes to the medical personnel then wanders over to where the heroes have the uzvo 'corraled.' After a moment, he nods to Swarmer as she's the only one here he recognizes offhand.

Swarmer converses with the uvzo gathering and surrounds them with the scent of a grove.

The uvzo aren't all that happy. <> they complain. <> <> But they aren't trying to run.

"Ah. I suppose it is not a saying here. A great many words do need to be had with the chef. And perhaps your Starguard can assist in transporting these creatures to their homeland?" Artemis asks.

Thunder considers, "Actually, do they have some place we can keep them first? I can probably teleport one or two there at a time."

Victory calls in to Starguard to have a team show up to deal with the animals. Since it isn't far away, it shouldn't take long.

Indeed, Starguard can turn up in no time. They're not exactly experts in herding, though.

<< Protected. Mighty friend, that one >> Swarmer indicates Artemis with a motion. She puts out a sign that reads 'hungry' nearby.

Delta eventually manage to get the critters into a truck and take them to Starguard.

Swarmer decides she is going to accompany. Partly to keep the uvzo group more calm, partly because she simply does not trust any giant save one.

Artemis assists in gathering the uvzo for transportation. "What food do they like? Perhaps we can get them fed soon."

Dialydd murmurs in his vaguely Scandanavian sounding accented English, "I would imagine they are an interdicted animal that Stargaurd might have some idea. Best to know such things after all."

Wade's information indicates that they are herbivores (mostly). Whether they like Earth vegetation is another matter, though presumably their biochemistry isn't too alien if they're edible to humans.

Victory shrugs, "Starguard had them in the database. They'll be able to get them some food, I'm sure."

"A great relief," Artemis sighs, having restrained her instincts for battle for some time. "Speaking of relief, I crave some physical activity. I must go seek something worthy of challenging," she says restlessly.

Dialydd smiles brightly. "That is good to know. Thank you, ser."