Log:Enemy of My Enemy..., Scene 1

Enemy of My Enemy... 2008/05/24 Akeno Jennifer Halcyon Kibin Lorelei Smiling Johnny 1

A trail of black smoke rises into the air visible over the rooftops on the surrounding buildings. Joe's Shanghai restaurant, a three story building on Ming Street, is on fire.

Most hadn't seen the street smart detective Akeno in a while, but hey, that's what training was for. He was back and probably better than ever, or at least full of more philosophy. Judging by the smoke on his usual beat, he quickly radioes in the fire as he takes off towards it in his truck with the sirens and lights flashing. "Huh. Never a dull day..."

Lorelei, in Ming Street for a bit of shopping, spots this. Fire is not exactly something her powers are useful for, so her immediare reaction is to pull out her PDA and report it to the fire department, on the off chance no on has yet done so.

On-scene with an umbrella in hand, Halcyon nears the smoke source with little apprehension. With only the slightest concentration, she's ready to enter the smoke-filled place without worry of heat or smoke inhalation.

Kibin smells the fire fairly quickly, and bounds across the rooftops to get to the fire quickly. He might not be able to put out the fire, but he can at least save some people. He arrives soon after the fire department.

Outside the Inner Light Book Store a bucket rolls across the sidewalk spilling washing water as Jennifer abandons her cleaning of the store's windows, one of the tasks she has been set by the store's owner. Or 'wax on, wax off' as she thinks of it. Running for the burning building she quickly notes the external signs of conflagration and attempts to determine optimum exit routes for any people trapped inside. As she runs she's fitting a advanced gas-mask over her face to cope with smoke. Heat and flames she'll just have to worry about later.

A street fair clogs the main avenue to the fire, and people are slow to get out of the way. In the truck, progress is painfully slow for Akeno. For a fire engine, the congestion will likely be worse.

Akeno growls a bit, muttering a few unkind words under his breathe and radios in about the fair and an advisory to take an alternate route. Doing a quick U-turn, he quickly seeks an alternate route and takes off down that as quickly as possible to get to the fire.

Halcyon vanishes from the crowd and appears inside the building on the top floor, searching for anyone. While she could not hear them, she can sense them where they are hidden from light. Her umbrella is afforded some small protection as well, as the tool is quite invaluable...

A handful of panicked people stream out of the first floor entrance, almost literally chased by flames. Most of them look like restaurant patrons, a but few of them carry guns and are streaked dark by smoke and soot. All of these people are lucky; the fire seems to have made the first floor exits impassable. Panicked customers of the restaurant start to crowd the balconies on the second on third floors.

Lorelei runs toward the scene: crowds she can cope with. She jumps atop a stationary car to get attention and then calls out, "Everyone stand back - make room for the fire engines.

Jennifer goes to the nearest lamppost and kicks at the base until it snaps free. She then quickly carries it closer to the burning building and puts it down at an angle up to the second floor balconies forming a ramp that can be used for escape.

The people on-balcony are the first Halcyon attends to, instructing them to take hold of her for movement to safety with her usual method of crafting words out of darkness. She can safely carry up to eight at a time with her to a nearby building.

People start to get the message. They clear out of the streets at Lorelei's urging and make way for Akeno's truck to get through. The tents and booths still choke the street - it'll be a tight fit for the fire engine, but at least no one will be hurt if the FD trying to muscle its way through.

Kibin jumps to the ground nearby gracefully from one of the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Seeing that the rescuing is going well already and he'd just get in the way, he waits for when his help is needed.

Sighing, Akeno parks his truck out of the way. Locking the vehicle briefly as he sticks his keys in his pocket and takes to a fire escape to hit the rooftops, Akeno takes off in bursts of speed towards the fire while taking into the more portable radio and keeping as appraised of the situation as he can.

Lorelei backs away from the building to make sure people follow, too - getting people to follow her generally isn't a problem.

Jennifer's makeshift ramp is in place, but the streetlamp is a little narrow for people to balance on as they climb down.

Jennifer sends a message via the Starguard channel hoping Kibin has his communicator in use, <>

Jennifer is working on that problem, albeit as potential danger to her concealed history. Pulling out the now rarely used energy whip she extends it in line with the lamppost and a few feet higher so the straigtened energy lash acts as a handrail for the people using the lamppost.

Eight third-storey balconeers vanish with Halcyon's assistance, and the girl returns there soon after for the next group. She feels assured with the presence of others.

Kibin asks Jennifer back on the communicator, <> He moves towards the building, trying to single one of those out who's alone.

Lorelei hops up on another car and strikes her stunning pose for the three suspected arsonists.

Jennifer answers a bit distractedly <>

Kibin replies back to Jennifer, <> He looks for a single arsonist again.

Jennifer holds the energy whip extended and steady. . o O(Great. Here I am in civvies advertizing I know how to use a Wolfguard energy whip. How do I talk my way out of this. Uh, got it! Weapons instructor. Sure. That's why I know.)

With the energy whip as a hand rail, people begin to make their way down the streetlamp.

Clarise enters from Lowtown.

Jennifer laughs suddenly <>

Two of the three men with guns fall over, leaving just a third. He sways unsteadily on his feet as he gawks at Lorelei.

Clarise watches the events unfold before her. "Wow."

Kibin moves to the assaliant near Lorelei, saying, "I need to borrow him for a bit." He tries to disarm him, removing his gun.

Lorelei smiles. "Go ahead." SHe goes to make sure the other arsonists don't get trampled. This probably isn't the best place to be lying on the ground.

A burst of speed and Akeno arrives at the fire. Looking closely, Akeno heads over to give Jennifer a hand. "Long time no see." His eyes take on a distant look as he activates both of his senses and looks for any more inside in the building through them. Likewise, he looks for some alternative to Jenn using the energy whip just in case. The last thing anyone needs is that on the news.

Jennifer nods to Akeno, "Hi, Akeno. Is the FD on its way? The fire was almost certainly set delibrately. I've asked Kibin to pick up one of the suspected arsonists to chat with."

Kibin bites the mans gun, ripping it away from his grip easily. He says to the man, "Would you mind coming with me for a moment?"

The gunman, now gunless, starts shouting something at Kibin in Cantonese, he's panicked about something.

Kibin holds the gunman, contacting Jennifer back on his communicator. "I got one of them, disarmed."

By now, tourists and bystanders have their cellphone and cameras out, snapping photos and filming the rescue.

"Yeah. One moment..." He moves his hands as he turns towards a cable of paper lanterns over the streets that wouldn't offend anyone. The gesture is strange, but at least Jenn would probably recognize a ch'i focusing bit to them as wind picks up around the detective. "Wind Fist Technique, whirling wind's grace my hands, whirlwind blow!" The winds quickly encircle his hands before he swings one out, then the other at the ends of the lanterns. The aim? To unhook them as he speeds off to get both ends without the lanterns before coming back and handing one end to Jenn then leaps up on the balcony to steady and direct people. If it's long enough, he gives an alternative route by sliding downwards.

Jennifer tells Kibin "Good work. Detective Akeno's on site. Can you hand onto the guy and then turn him over to Akeno? Thanks."

Kibin replies back, "I'll take him to Akeno, then."

Clarise acts like other tourists and such and takes out her PDA and takes pictures of the action, making sure to get some good shots of the heroes and what they look like.

By now, Halcyon has all of the people evacuated from the third story balcony. Evacuation from the second floor is a bit slower as people step carefully down the narrow streetlamp. With Akeno's banner in place, people start sliding down to the ground quickly from the second floor.

Lorelei has now removed the guns from two other unconscious suspcious-looking people and tries to catch Akeno's eye too.

Akeno looks over from his new perch on the potentially hazardous balcony at Lorelei and gives a nod before he concentrates on the rescue. Keeping an eye out, he uses his senses again and tries to figure out if anyone is in the building still or not. He's stuck holding the banner for the moment as he calls down to Jenn, "Did I mention I learned a few things while I was gone?" He considers how best to handle this one. It's not going to be easy, but he could confiscate all cell phones as evidence. Maybe.

Once the people are off the balcony, Halcyon returns to the building on the inside, seeking out those who were not able to panic and run away. For one at a time, she can assist them with surviving smoke inhalation and the heat.

Kibin goes ahead and brings the arsonist he has to Akeno, dragging him by his arm.

Jennifer tells Akeno. "Neat. I should have thought of that. I'll going to check in the building, see if anyone is trapped." and with that she leaps up to the balcony and disappears inside.

The gunman starts shouting in accented English to Kibin and anyone else who will listen. "Guns! Guns in basement! Big kaboom!"

Kibin sighs. He gets some more of the banners to tie the gunmen up with, and then goes in with Jennifer and Akeno.

Jennifer simply grabs up the three panicked workers and carries them to the balcony and escape route, "Anyone else inside?" she asks hoping they can understand her. Then she shouts to Akeno, "I'm more worried about people than guns right now, Akeno."

The cook says, "No... everyone else maybe it out!"

Lorelei is looking about, trying to see if it gives her any idea how to help. With her lack of physical powers, she's likely just to add to the problem if she goes into the building....

Clarise decides to stay out as well.

Jennifer yells, "Second floor seems clear. The cook here thinks everyone else got out. I'm heading down to check on the first floor and basements. Someone chek the third floor please."

The first floor is mostly swept by fire already. Navigating the blaze will be difficult and dangerous.

Akeno coughs from the smoke as he heads down towards the basement himself to see how bad the situation is, "The guns aren't the issue Jenn! Fire reaching the guns is!" He's willing to brave it. If the basement is filled with guns? The heat could cause one hell of a boom.

Jennifer stops for a moment seeking a safe route through. Seeing none she activates her force field, checks the gas-mask is in place, and runs through the flames.

Halcyon moves on to the second floor when the third is deemed clear, keeping up the pace of searching. When it's clear Jennifer and Akeno are also on the second floor, she moves down to the first and into the heart of the blaze.

Lorelei calls once again for the crowds to stand back, worried about an explosion, and helps the authorities evacuate adjacent buildings too.

Kibin goes downstairs with Lorelei, saying, "I believe Halcyon is on the third level already."

Jennifer thinks. o O (I'm going to ask Timmy to cook up a thermal shield. This isn't fun.)

Kibin hopes his thick hide will provide some sort of protection from the fire, and goes to the first floor, using his speed and agility to try to find a way into the basement as quickly as possible...

Jennifer can hear someone calling for help. A section of roof has collapsed to block the stairs leading down to the basement, and the voice is coming from there.

Jennifer uses her energy whip again. At least this time she's not in public view and grabbing away the roof section blocking access with the whip seems a better idea than grabbing it with her hands.

Jennifer pulls the section of roff free and clear opening up access to the basement. "I can hear somebody down here." she calls out not really expecting to be heard over the roar of flames in the area.

Meanwhile, outside the blazing restaurant, a Chinese man in a finely tailored white suit steps up to watch the fire. He's flanked by a couple of men in ties and blazers who have a tough guy look to them.

Halcyon looks at Jennifer, nodding once. Hearing isn't an issue in Halcyon's case. She enters the basement blaze and helps to search for whomever Jennifer heard.

Lorelei goes up to the man in the suit and says, "Not smiling today, Johnny?"

Kibin guesses that Halcyon and Jennifer have it under control since they both seem fairly resistant to the fire... so he leaves the building, helping people to evacuate the area just in case the guns blow.

Jennifer gestures for Halycon to go down first. She'd have a problem getting the trapped person out safely. She hopes Halycon can take him or her out by that step into shadow trick that's so impressive.

The man in the white suit looks to Lorelei, with a sour expression on his face. He opens his jacket to place his hands on his hips. "Little girls shouldn't poke their noses into thing that don't concern them." he says.

Akeno heads down to the basement after the two ladies. He occasionally blasts away some potentially hazardous burning objects with his powers as he keeps every sense he can peeled for danger. It isn't combat, but fire and rescue training was probably at least half-way part of the police course. He's just got to cover the two and let them get out then he can bust out of the place himself.

Lorelei says, "Perhaps. But I'd stand back if I were you. I hear there are a lot of guns in the basement that may be about to go off. But perhaps you know about that?"

Kibin goes over to Lorelei, to see what he's doing, and who the suspicious looking is.

The basement is mainly a storeroom, but most of the supplies down here are now in flames. Canned good pop and spatter as their contents are superheated by the flames. At the far end of the room is something curious. A thick steel door that would seem at home in a bank vault sits in the far wall. There is a perfectly circular hole melted in the thick steel revealing a weapons cache on the other side. The fire has spread to inside the vault.

There's a man trapped in the basement under a collapses support. A sub machine gun lies on teh floor next to him.

Jennifer gets in Halycon's line of sight, "Call you get him out if I free him from the rubble?" she asks pointing towards the trapped man.

Akeno runs over towards the man, using his speed to get there quickly as he reaches to lift the beam or at least get it off of him. The detective is far stronger than he looks at least. Then again, there goes another shirt. He frowns as he notices the machine gun and kicks it away. "Ladies, we don't have much time. Shouldn't there be a sprinkler system in here?

Johnny says, "I wouldn't know anything about that. But I do hear things. Maybe you, your hero friends and I should have a chat once things cool down here."

Halcyon vanishes from Jennifer's sight, appearing beside the trapped man. She nods, looking at Akeno quizzically, and shrugs in reply. She kneels, touching the man and teleporting with him a few feet to the side.

Lorelei says, "I was thinking that."

The man appears to have no trouble breathing once Halcyon touches him.

Jennifer sees Akeno and Halycon have the trapped man situation under control. She heads inside the vault like chamber to evaluate the threat. Guns melt, ammo will pop off in heat but not do any real harm. What else is in here she wonders.

Halcyon offers her hand to Akeno, still touching the one unconscious. She glances at where Jennifer went, then back at the windy officer, waiting for his decision as to what he plans to do.

Akeno shakes his head, coughing, "Get the man out. I'll make sure she gets out." He nods at Jenn.

Nodding, Halcyon vanishes with the man, ending up in a building across the street where she had delivered the others from the balcony. Not one to remain for photographs or news media, she vanishes quickly after that, certain she has done all she can to really help here.

In the basement, it's mostly guns and ammunition, though there's one box of explosives down here.

Akeno heads over towards Jenn. "Jenn! We have to go! This place could come down any minute!"

Akeno is of course coughing occasionally. He doesn't have gas masks or respirators. You'd think learning new powers he'd get some breathing devices, no?

Jennifer winces on sighting the box of explosives. She can defuse a bomb. But a fire isn't subject to defusing. The only option now Halycon has departed is to carry the box out. "Akeno, it could also go UP! We need to get this box out of here. If I drop take over and get it out. Oh, and if you can carry me as well that would be nice. She is lucky. She still has her force field up when a gout of flame sweeps across her from a bursting tin exploding. Before a second after that she slips off the force field harness and wraps it around the box. "Let's go."

Akeno nods. "Stand back, then..." He moves his hands again, "Wind Fist Technique, whirling wind's grace my hands, whirlwind blow!" The blast this time is aimed straight up at the ceiling at an angle to try and create an opening in the already weakened ceiling. Hopefully it will give them a moment's peace as the fire gets caught by the wind as well.

Jennifer singed and smarting from the lick of flame on no longer protected skin Jennifer grabs up the box and makes a grab for Akeno as well after he has blasted an exit route. She needs to give up smoking, because her clothes are smouldering and flickering with small flames as she exits the building with the explosives. "Fireman! Get a hose on this box!" she's calling out.

Akeno winces as his hands and arms take some injury due to his using the wind powers in an inferno. Grabbing on to Jenn as she leaps, he follows after and helps her get out of the hole as well. Mutual help. He coughs, calling out to the fire department as well as he makes usre to pat the flames out on Jenn's clothes. Nope. Wouldn't due to have that kind of exposure. At least jeans aren't going to catch fire that bad with him.

The fire department has arrived on the scene, having navigated the narrow street to the restaurant. They deploy hovering firebots and one of them hovers over Jennifer's head, spraying the box with fire suppressing foam.

The immediate threat seems averted as the fire department starts to do their thing.

Jennifer grins. "Thanks guys." she tells the firemen. "Uh, you would have a jacket I could borrow. I feel like a pole dancer near the end of her act. I'll have to start wearing flameproof clothing."

Akeno, of course, is now foamed. And probably looks like the stay puffed marshmellow man. He just needs the tie, the hat, and probably a big grin on his face as he looks at Jenn. "Why do I get the feeling we will not be living this down for a while?" He comments to her as he looks at the box and checks to see if there is any markings that might identify where it came from.

Smiling Johnny says to Lorelei. "When your friends are cleaned up, tell them to meet me at the Dragon Palace."

Lorelei says, "Will do."

Kibin asks Lorelei, "Who's he?"

A fireman offers Jennifer a fire resistant blanket to wear.

Jennifer sobers up. "Akeno, if the wrong people see images of me using the energy whip living this down won't be my worry. Carrying on living will be my concern."

Jennifer drapes the blanket around her shoulders with a smile of thanks for the fireman.

Lorelei says, "How about I buy you some new clothes, Jenn - no shortage of shops here. That Kibin, is Smiling Johnny, and he'd like to meet with us once everyone's cleaned up."

Akeno nods, looking to see if the cops are in range as he seems to consider. "I can probably help with it... maybe..."

Kibin nods at Lorelei, saying, "Yes, I heard him..."

Smiling Johnny and his men make their way through the crowd and away.

Jennifer nods, "Thanks for the offer, Akeno. But I suspect it's too late to stop the images. However, if you would mention to anyone from the asking questions that I'm employed as a weapons instructor at the Gym I'll claim that's why I learnt how to use one."

Akeno considers, then radios the police. "Yeah. I'll do that. Alright, fellas, start confiscating anything with a camera on it pronto. We need to check them for evidence of what started it and why as soon as possible."

There are a few police officers on scene by now. They start helping with the collection of PDAs and cameras.

Lorelei says, "Sorry, if I'd known the need in advance I could have set up a distraction..."

Jennifer smiles at Lorelei, "It was a no-brianer. Save lives or play safe. If I'd gone for option two that would have demeaned everything we kids have tried to do since leaving Wolfguard."

Jennifer grins, "Ofcourse if I'd been smart as well I would have done what Akeno did and used one of the street banners."

Akeno nods. "Be careful, then." He looks to the fire to see how bad it is.

Akeno chuckles, "You weren't thinking, Jennifer. It was save lives or take the time to think."

The restaurant looks like a complete loss, though thankfully the fire didn't spread.

Jennifer looks over to Akeno, "Detective, the hole in the arms vault door wasn't done by any building fire. That was a cutting torch or energy beam."

Akeno nods. "I guessed as much. So it was deliberate." He calls a cop over that isn't that busy to guard the box or at least put it in a trunk so they won't lose it. "Shoot, my truck's miles away. If you find someone that sells that flame resistant clothing, let me know? This is the fiftieth time some sort of fight or danger has taken out my clothes." He looks at Lorelei and Kibin, "Thank you for the help definitely. Where's the arsonists you got?"

Kibin points over to where he tied up the arsonists, in banners.

Lorelei says, "Or they were trying to cut in, but the building fire was accidental."

Akeno shakes his head, "There was a hole, Lorelei. We both saw it plus whoever the other girl was."

Lorelei says, "My clothes are pretty fire resistant. But also excessive expensive."

The man who Kibin's wrapped up speaks. He says, "I want a lawyer."

Akeno looks at the man. "No, sir, you are under arrest. Anything you say can and will be used in a court of law against you." He reads the full miranda rights to the man. And makes sure to have the cops stick all three in cuffs and a nice cozy back seat.

Jennifer says, "Mind if I take a look at the explosives, Akeno?"

Kibin looks over to the explosives, asking, "Where'd you get those?"

Akeno nods. "Go for it. Just don't touch anything. You know how the higher ups get on that.

Kibin sniffs the explosives, trying to detect the scents on who's touched it... except Akeno and Jennifer, of course.

The box of explosives smells like smoke, mostly.

Jennifer chuckles, "I won't disturb it, much." she assures Akeno and looks over the box of explosives, opening the box and checking the material itself, smelling and even experimentally tasting some of the compound.

Jennifer looks up as she's sniffing the explosive compound. "This reminds me. We ought to buy Halycon a big bunch of flowers as a thank you. Uh, black roses maybe."

Jennifer puts the explosives back in the box. "Construction grade. Not military. The major difference is that... Huh, you don't need a lecture. Anyway this kind of stuff is make all over the world. I can't help locatise it. Sorry."

Kibin says, "I guess we go see that guy then?"

Jennifer says, "What guy?"

Akeno blinks, looking at Kibin. "See who?" He was unfortunately inside as well.

Lorelei says, "Smiling Johnny, who seems to have an interest in this. At least, he wasn't smiling."

Jennifer grins as she comes out of a shops changing room dressed in the latest Chinese style. "How do I look?"

Lorelei says, "Not bad - not bad at all!"