Log:ACRO - Stage 5, Scene 2

ACRO - Stage 5 2015/03/05 	 Paragon Steamroller Chen Porter

2

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.

It's yet another relatively quiet day in Chinatown. The air is cold though. Colder than would normally be seasonable. Various people move about their business, bundled up against the weather. There's some snow down on the streets, which Colonial Bay has done a mediocre job of cleaning up.

Chen is on the prowl in various guises, trying to make herself just noticeable to get an invite to join the Triads, Pride's group, as a lowly soldier. With the intent of working her way up in the organisation and discovering where he is hiding and what the 'dose' is.

After being bandaged up by Porter and spending the past few evenings resting as comfortably as possible with him and Kysmette, Paragon is back up and fully operational. The upgrades Allison made to her repair systems have improved things dramatically. Usually it'd take a few days for her to bounce back from something like that, and now Paragon is ready to patrol again. Or in this case, finish dropping Kysmette off with Mrs. Growalski and walking calmly with Porter for a quiet day out. While they browse past the different markets to think of what to cook for dinner, Third ponders aloud on the recent topic of trying to figure out who Despair really is. "Most mages are able to sense magic. You...haven't suddenly developed that ability and didn't tell me about it, did you, Sweetie?" she asks Porter as she tries to work out the mystery in her head.

The quiet is broken up by the sound of several hoverbikes, the engines of which have been modified to sound like old Harleys, nominally for 'safety'. The five bikes glide up in front of the Dragon Palace and come to a stop.

Porter is all about quiet days, between Para getting shot and the recent GHI. "Um... If I did, I forgot to tell myself about it, too. And I'm not really a mage..." Yet? He gives that a little thought, before that's interrupted a bit by the loud bikes swooping in.

Chen starts making her (his) way towards the Road Ragers. Gangs don't come to Chinatown. It's not safe for them. Maybe she can stop the coming trouble before it errupts.

The biker gang members look...pretty positive. They get off their bikes and start to head into the Dragon Palace. Only to be met by a small group of asian men on their way out of the building.

"Well, you do some amazing magic right now. But I guess you'll learn even more in the future?" Para shrugs and looks conflicted about that. Usually she'd be proud of him. But instead she just seems concerned. Her attention is pulled to the loud bikes. "Oh, those are nice. I bet Malcolm would want one of those."

Chen pushes through the onlookers. "Hold up." she calls to the gangers. ""They have no place here. Let me see if I can talk sense into them." she says in Mandarin to the Triad thugs.

Porter shrugs modestly. "I try. Just-" He stops and blinks as he recognizes colors on the bikers. "Wow. Either the Ragers are on vacation, or they're WAY lost." He frowns some. "Probably not a good thing, Sweetie."

One of the Triad guys says to Chen with a smile, <>

Third tilts her head at Porter's comment, then looks over to the bikers and the asian men being brought to attention by someone pushing their way into the crowd. "Is that their boss? Someone looks like they're stirring trouble." She doesn't have translation software, or really know anything about the gangs in the city. Then she blinks and looks to Porter, raising a brow in concern. Uh oh. She has that protective look on her face. She mentally communicates her observation with Porter.

The Ragers look like they might be a bit tipsy. Their apparent leader, a portly guy with a significant beard says, "Hey...is our money no good here? We just want to do a little betting on the fights, right?"

The Ragers' comment gets a glare from the Triad member who spoke. "I have no idea what 'fights' you are talking about, gweilo. We run a legal gambling establishment here."

Porter edges a half-step ahead of Third as they walk, eyeing the collision of two groups. With a bit of a wince. Maybe everything will turn out just fine? Maybe if Porter were somewhere else.

Chen says, "Thank you." in Mandarin to the leading Triad guy. Then to the gangers, "You're out of your territory. This is Chinatown. Tim Lee has thirty metas to call on. Pride has countless soldiers with ACRO eaponry. And there's me. If you're looking for a fight I'll take you on one at a time. Otherwise you should go. Oh, nice bikes by the way."

It might be a race of who steps ahead of who protectively, but Porter is faster and gains a half step on Third. Which considering her recent damage, she allows this time without protest. They had a talk about this. Well, several talks, but this last time, she listened.

A couple of the Ragers back up a step, considering the situation. The leader and the other two don't seem quite as swayed, though. The leader grins and takes off his sunglasses, "Well...fahr be-it from me to pass up a fight." He hands his glasses to the woman with him.

The Triad thugs spread out to watch. A couple more pedestrians hurry past...others move to cross the street to avoid any confrontation. It's not their problem. They work to just keep to themselves.

Chen grins, "That which doesn't kill you nakes you stronger. Watch my technique. After this you will be stronger. When you wake up."

Chen says "Crane style." and sets into a martial stance, arms lifted and out to her sides, one foot raised about knee height. She shifts to martial mode without letting the shift be visible.

Chen balances on one foot and makes the classic Bruce Lee 'come on' gesture with one hand.

The gang leader grins and takes a step forward as he swings his fist in a fairly wide arc toward Chen.

The gang leader's just a little too quick for Chen's block, but his swing goes sailing over his target's head.

Chen blocks the slow looping blow with her hand but her fingers slip on the greasy lether of the ganger's jacket and she doesn't get the grip she needed to throw him to the ground.

Third can understand english plain enough when she hears the threats. She armors up as the triads start the fight. Metal envelopes her with some whirrs and clicking noises as it latches into place. The plates shift and adjust with the tensing of her muscles as she prepares for an incoming attack should her call for peace fail. "Now, now," she says as she steps up and holds up her hands in a peaceful gesture. "There's no need to fight and bar these gentleman from a gaming and entertainment establishment. They have every legal right to be here without being harassed," she says with informative calm as she looks over to the Triad causing trouble. Then she looks to the Road Ragers' leader. "If you are just hoping for a fight instead of beating on one, can I recommend Auggie's Gym? They have a boxing ring and have plenty of challengers looking for a fight to practice."

Chen calls out, "This is Chinatown. They," she gestures at the Road Ragers, "Aren't wanted here. If they don't leave there'll be trouble. So, Ms Tin Can, who don't you take your metal clad butt and your /big sis/ act elsewhere and let Chinatown deal with Chinatown problems?"

Chen waits to see what Paragon will do. She's not going to attack Paragon or try to get past her.

Paragon can be pretty dense at times. Who knows if she's -that- dense as she looks to the wannabe triad taunting her, because she doesn't back down or walk away. Those perfectly circular glowing eyes narrow for a moment, then resume to perfect circles. "That is a very narrow view of the world, son. This is a free country no matter what neighborhood you're in," she lectures kindly. She remains intervened between the two, but she doesn't look like she's going to start a fight. Her body language is very casual and her guard appears to be down, even though her body is tensed up rigidly like the half-machine she is.

The gang leader also waits for the moment. "Hey...if the locals need a superhero to save them...not my problem." He grins, looking past Paragon at Chen. The other Ragers laugh.

Chen eases out of a martial stance, "It's you being saved by a superhero." she tells the Road Rager leader."

"Correction: I am saving both of you," Paragon states while raising a finger to volunteer this helpful information.

Chen tells the Triad quartet in Mandarin, "I'm good. But I'm not that good." she points at Paragon at the end of her comment

The bikers head off into traffic, headed west - toward their turf. The Triad members relax a little bit, but they still look on edge with Paragon still hanging around. The Triad spokesman nods to Chen, << Talk to me later. We'll see what we can do about that. >>

Paragon's finger is still up as she watches the Rager leader retreat. Didn't they want to play games? Wasn't she defending their rights to, peaceably? Her head tilts quizically as she processes that, and gradually lower her hand back to her side. Danger averted. But there's still a known criminal in her presence. One that should be aprehended normally. But Jennifer and Chen and others have told her to leave the Triads alone. Her eyes dim as she forsakes her morals once again and turns 180 degrees to return to Porter.

Chen nods, "I will do. I'm Wang Chu. Just got in from Hong Kong." she says in Mandarin, introducing her(him)self.

The young man nods to Chen, << Ask for Qing. When you stop by. Not today, though. Too many...capes around. >>

Chen nods to the Triad guy, making a note of the name, and turns away from the Dragon Palace. She goes to a stall and buys a bowl of hot chicken and noodle soup.

The Triad members head back inside. 'Steamroller' gives Paragon a glance, but he doesn't say anything...apparently not wanting to draw attention.