Log:I Want You to Hang

A List of Questions 2019/10/29 Night Marshal Zero Mechanica 12

The moon crisis is ongoing. It's big, and for vigilantes and people who can't do much about it, they're all coping in their own ways. Even with the world threatened by a madman, Carpenter has a job to do. And this time, it's personal.

Carpenter's contacts at the police department's gang and organized crime division have given him some information on Lu Yifeng. 'Entrepreneur' and respected business man, owns a high end club in Chinatown, and has donated to certain political parties in local and state government. He's more of a suspect with no evidence against him. Except that Lu Yifeng was the name given to Night Marshal by Tony Haoran during an interrogation on a rooftop.

There's others who are also still busy doing what they can on the ground while the powerhouse heroes deal with the moon. Mechanica has been busy juggling her web of contacts. And as such, it's a bit difficult for her to show up in person, so she passes along information to Night Marshal via an encrypted text. << I got a tip that Lu Yifeng is trying to leave town. Not sure where he thinks he's going, but last surveillance footage I've seen shows him going into the Destination club, northern Chinatown. I've got some backup to send with you, just in case. You may want to grab him while you can. This may quite literally be your last chance.>>

Zero receives a text shortly after. <> Mechanica is still trying to locate Null one last time to kill the SOB that hurt her surrogate sister from another mister.

Night Marshal has been keeping mostly busy with work. Things have been tense down at the police station for obvious reasons. The threat has been deemed credible enough that the department has been on alert...and some of his cases have had to go on the back burner, as a result. But tonight...tonight, there's a personal reason to be here. He wants to make sure nothing like this comes up again. He knows that Yifeng might be skipping town to make things harder to bring him to justice, since at least one of the hit men has sung already. He gets to the Destination Club shortly after checking briefly in on Assistant D.A. Garcia, to make sure she's still doing okay. He changes clothing and gets to a building near the club, looking down from the second story roof.

The beautiful Heroine Zero has been spending her time wisely since the Looming Moon Crisis began. After NegaPorter's announcement to the world, she found herself in a moment of self-reflection & finding new truths thanks to the truth of her mortality being unquestionably near. She realized she no longer has time to pine after William Wagner aka Null & their lost love affair. Death has proven that there is no time to waste. If she's to make a difference in anyone's life she's got to get back too it and stop drowning in her sorrows.

She redoubled her efforts to help the less fortunate & to her duties as a Police Composite Artist. As such she's been living off of a number of stimulants so her 19 hour days don't effect her too much- but even then a crash can be expected. SO crash she did, at least this morning until Mechanica's message woke her up.

We find her half dressed in her Zero uniform and sprawlled across her bed with her mask still clung ot her face.

SHe rubs her head as she sits up and activates her mask so it will scroll her new messages.

She replies a few minutes later. <<"As well as can be expected considering the whole Moon thing. I can use a bit of distraction now that I'm awake." She she replies before checking the time.

Her eyes widen at the sight and how long she's been asleep.

She rolls out of bed with a grunt and gets to putting her tight-fitting costume back on.

<> An attachment is sent with details.

11 pm: Destination is in the warehouse district of Chinatown. Cheaper rent, lower noise ordinance, etc. The windowless building is black, sleek, with a fancy backlit sign. Red ropes and bouncers maintain the line outside, and there's even a valet. People are lined up to get in. Music beats can be heard thumping even outside.

The back entrance is much quieter, but two men do stand guard.

Zero makes her way towards the location Mechanica sends her post haste, leaping out her window three minutes later (after brushing her teeth and doing something with that wild mane).

As she swings down the boulevard she checks in. <<"On my way.">

She begins moving much less visibly as she nears the area- taking roof tops & other less noticeable avenues as she approaches. Still, even doing this she arrives on time and lurks in the shadows, closing her eyes & waiting for her partner for the evening.

Night Marshal gets to the meeting place only a couple of minutes late. He's on the rooftop, so he doesn't bother trying to sneak that much. He gets to the edge and looks down at the back entrance. "Only a couple of guards. Not too bad, all things considered."

Zero steps out of the shadows once Night Marshal arrives. She sashays her way over to him and asks quietly, "So Mechanica sent me to be your dance partner tonight, cowboy?"

Hidden beneath her hood all that Night Marshal will be able to make out is a pleased smirk on her pouty lips.

Night Marshal looks back to Zero, "Looks that way. Thank you for the backup. Do you know why we're here? Or should I lay it out for ya'll?"

"You might want to lay it all out for me." Zero purrs as she stands out of sight to the men below. With her eyes clsoed she sees them jsut fine from here. "Mechanica just told me you needed a warm body to keep you safe." She uses her sultry voice to punctuate her words- almost making them sound like a come on.

Night Marshal chuckles at Zero's words. Mechanica seems to talk to him in a similar manner. "There were some recent attempts by the Triad to bribe or kill local officials. The actual hit men have been caught, but the guy who ordered the action...is in that club, according to Mechanica. This is assuming that the hit man that I threatened told the truth, of course. The guys' name is Lu Yifeng. An older guy with a pretty clean record, overall."

Zero nods and listens carefully. She consults her memory to see if a Lu Yifeng stands out from what she knows about the local criminal underworld.

"Mechanica usually knows her stuff. I trust her. And she seems to trust you, Cowboy- that's good. I always liked a man who can lead. So what's your plan on getting inside?" She inquires, clearly in all the way.

Night Marshal rubs his chin, "I'd rather not go inside, if possible. It'd be nice to deal with him on his way out. He's supposedly heading out of town imminently. I'd like to have that word with him before he does."

Zero nods. "Hmmm." She says as she tries to think things out. "How imminently?" She asks, wondering if she can go in to coax their target out with a little seduction & an implied visit back to 'her place'.

Night Marshal shakes his head, "Not sure. I expect tomorrow or tonight. This might be the real last chance."

"Well then. Sounds like someone is going to have to coax Yifeng out." She says with a smile that implies she's feeling up to the job. "Though I get the feeling he won't feel much like talking with me in this git-up." She adds as she looks down on her outfit.

Night Marshal nods. "I'll have a similar problem. I mostly want to scare him, to be honest. I want to make sure this doesn't happen again. And I want him to know...that I know he's involved."

"So how far do you want to go to scare him?" Zero asks, calculating. "I might be able to sneak in and lure him out. Dress up like one of the guests." Her smile becomes more suggestive, along with her tone. "Or if you want to spend more time getting to know one another, we can just stake out here and wait for him to leave."

Night Marshal chuckles quietly and considers the options. "Let's give it a little time, see if he comes out. We dont' know which way he went in. He might come out the back or not." He thinks about it and tries contacting Mechanica via the radio, << Any chance you can see in the club to confirm hwere he is inside? >>

<> Mechanica is at one of her safehouses, playing Oracle on multiple screens for multiple vigilantes who don't have the resources she does. <>

<> Mechanica finally responds.

Zero waits patiently, wondering if there is another way in and to him without being seen. Well of course there is for her. But she's got a partner tonight and he's the one with the grudge.

Night Marshal nods. "He's upstairs. We can probably hit an upper window someplace and head in. There are a few guards with him. Three." He looks around for an appropriate window to gain access to the right section of the building.

Zero smiles at that. "Ooh - a private party then? That sounds like a fabulous way to spend the night." She says. "I'm sure I can find a viable way in without alerting the boys at the door." She reasons aloud. "Unless of course there's just the front and the back. I'll need to be a bit closer- like on that roof to be sure." She explains, pointing to the building they are planning on entering. She sounds confident enough, but Night MArshal/Carpenter will know that Zero almost always sounds that way.

<< If you want to really scare him, perhaps I could get one of the other Furies to your location for a show of force>> Mechanica offers.

There's a skylight that leads down into the VIP lounge. It's mostly dark up there, some mood lighting, private areas, and a door that is labeled Employees Only.

Night Marshal nods, "I'll see you over on the other building, then." He looks for a quiet place to climb down where he likely wouldn't be noticed...and gets down to street level in the alleyway. He then climbs back up the target buidling toward the rooftop. << I don't think additional force will be necessary. Let's keep this simple. >>

<< I'm sure you both would be fine handling it. I've seen you both in action>> Mechanica replies in amusement.

Zero nods back and then like that she's gone.

She moves quietly and quickly with all the training her father & her psionic abilities can grant.

She'll appear on the other side a few moments later and begin scanning with her ESP for the safest & easiest way in.

Night Marshal gets to the roof, and makes his way over to the skylight. "Seems simple enough."

Zero will appear on the other side a few moments later. She appears next to him & the skylight. "I know." She says, sounding displeased by this fact- but she's a cat burglar. Of course she wants some mission impossible style break in & high stakes con job to go along with it. She can be a bit of a spoiled brat.

As the heroes get to the skylight and observe for a bit, the VIP group lounging beneath the window get up from their couch and bottle service and start heading down the stairs to go dancing. It's just a 3m drop down if they open the skylight, and 5 meters to the employee only door.

Night Marshal goes ahead and opens the skylight. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. He then drops down and makes his way to the door to check it.

Zero follows, appreciating Night Marshal going first and not sarcastically either. Its very gentlemanly in a dangerous situation.

She smirks before following.

The music covers up most of the noise, and the darkness and their sneakiness allow them to go back into the employee only area unnoticed. This area is well lit and white-walled. Straight ahead of them is a stairwell going down. At the bottom of it, there's a door leading outside, and a door to the left leading to the operations area.

To the left is a hallway with a door on the right, and a door at the end.

There's sounds of some movement down the left hall behind the door. And muffled Chinese being spoken.

Zero listens carefully but only hears a language she can't understand. She thinks it might be Chinese- which stands to reason considering they are in Chinatown.

Zero closes her eyes and looks through the walls with her third eye as she follows Dark Horse.

Night Marshal heads down the hallway to the two doors, trying to decide which door to try. He raises a brow and points to the door with the voices inside, to see if Zero agrees with the choice.

Zero holds a moment. She looks at Night MArshal and considers him a long moment after opening her eyes.

She pulls down her hood and taps her temple then points to his head. Then she reaches out with her mind, trying to link them so they can converse silently. (Don't get the wrong idea, Cowboy. I don't usually link on the first date but this is the only way I can tell you I see without tipping anyone off.)0o. She thinks to him.

If allowed to connect she'll give him a rundown.

Night Marshal blinks...and refuses the connection entirely, staring at her. He says quietly, "Stay out of my head." He draws his weapon and preps to go through the door.

Zero shrugs. She shows him four fingers. Then Three before turnign her hand into a finger gun and patting where they are on her body with one hand and flexing her opposite arm.

She steps to the door silently and outlines where they are standing on either side of the door. Then points to where the third one is inside the room.

She holds up another finger gun and shakes her head and points to the one she assuems is their target. The walls being in the way mean she can only give a rough idea of where tehy are but its better than nothing.

She mimes scrambling to pack things before pointing back to the soft one she senses.

The door is made of wood. There's not much talking now, but then something is said, and something in another voice is said back.

Night Marshal nods slowly, having gotten a good impression. He still has the gun drawn, and figures...that will be enough of a deterrent to having the goons fight back. He counts off with his fingers so Zero can see. 1. 2. 3. And then he pushes the door open, aiming for the nearest target...but not shooting.

Night Marshal regains his drawl as he steps inside, "Ya'll stand down, ya hear?"

Zero flips up her hood before sliding in behind Night MArshal as she draws her weapon. Its just a linegun but she uses it masterfully.

She levels it at the other goon while closing her eyes and then alternates between the he and the other. Now everyone is covered and neither can get the drop on her with her ESP lit up.

"You heard the man, Sugah. Hands up." Zero says, finally enjoying herself.

"Tian a!" exclaims the chinese man loading a dufflebag from a heavy metal safe in the wall. He's in his mid to late forties, but his hair is still a pure black. He's dressed in a fine suit. Expensive.

The two by the door and the third by the older man are all on the younger side. Their suits aren't pressed and are probably off the rack from some department store. Two reach for something in the back of their waistbands, but halt when they see Night Marshal's gun, hesitating.

Night Marshal waves the men into a group with his pistol. The weapon won't kill them. It can't. But they don't know that. He just doesn't want any of them behind him or Zero. "Over there." He looks at the older man, "Yifeng, right? You were looking at leaving town?"

Zero uses her pointed weapon and waives it int he direction she's expecting the goons to move. She steps opposite to them so she can keep them in sight.

The men herd together as Night Marshal waves the gun at them, starting to put their hands up. Except for the older man. "Yes," he switches to english. His accent is moderate, and he speaks with a British affectation. "You've come to rob me? You're making a big mistake."

Night Marshal laughs. "No. You are the one who made a big mistake. You created a list and gave it to two men. A list of people to blackmail and then kill, if those people turned out to be uncooperative." He tilts his head, and his neck cracks audibly. "I'm here...to send a message."

Zero smirks, waiting to see what Mechanica's friend is going to do. She'd of course rob the guy and leave him tied up in his underwear but that's her.

That gets Yifeng's attention. He shouts at his men in Chinese, but they're still not reaching for their guns, which makes Yifeng look angry. And also? Scared. Yifeng falls silent and straigthens up, realizing he's done as he eyes the vigilantes. "I see..." he finally says.

Zero's smirk turns into a smile as Yifeng seems to realize his position and his goons are smarter than they look. She seems unworried- but anyone with danger sense would be in this situation.

Night Marshal tilts his head, "You're never going to pull this again. Ever. I will burn down your world if you try. I will find you. And you will regret it. Briefly. You are also not going to leave the country. How do I know that? You've already been named. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a patrol car on their way here right...now."

Yifeng looks like his blood just ran cold. He tries bargaining. "W-wait. You can have...half the money if you let me go!"

"Looks to me like we could take ALL of the money if that's what we came for." Zero says, hoping that's what they came for or at least an option on the Cowboy's agenda.

Night Marshal shakes his head, "What else were you packing? Could it be...something incriminating? How about that paperwork you were storing?"

Zero looks absolutely giddy by the prospect of taking 'paperwork'. Might as well take some bills with it too- jewels, gold, whatever. It all sells and is all easily donatable to worthy causes across the city. Winter is knocking and shelters are always at capacity.

Yifeng glances towards his computer briefly before looking back to Night Marshal. He gives Night Marshal a cold, hard look.

<> Mechanica radios to the vigilante teamup.

Night Marshal turns his aim toward Yifeng. "Did that thought bother you? I reckon that's too bad." He says into the radio, << Let me know when they're on the way up. >> Of course the people in teh room can hear his side of that conversation. They can probably figure it refers to cops. He's had some dealings with the police while in costume, but if he and Zero are seen by them in this situation it might not turn out well.

Yifeng grows nervous. "What is it you want? We can still make a deal here!" he says urgently.

Yifeng also still thinks these vigilantes can be bought.

Zero nods towards Night Marshal. He's clearly the leader here. She defers silently to him. She gets teh feeling there won't be any dealing done today- not by Night Marshal anyway but she leaves room to be surprised.

Night Marshal chuckles quietly. Perhaps a little ominously. "I want you to hang. But I'll settle for you going to jail. I'm feeling all magnanimous-like."

Yifeng's eyes widen in fear. You can't reason with American Cowboys or Texans. Even he knows that stereotype. He sighs in surrender, putting his hands behind his head. "I'll remember this."

Mechanica cuts into the radio comms for Night Marshal and Zero again. <>

Zero is impressed by the cowboy, not even suspecting its her friend and ally from work. "OOh Sugah, I hope you do. I know I will- the look on your face was priceless." She teases.

Night Marshal nods and says to Yifeng, "I 'spect you should. That was the point of all this, right? To make you remember what NOT to do in this here town."

Night Marshal nods to Zero and starts to back out of the room.

Zero moves towards the door, keeping her linegun on the goons until the very last second before bolting to leave the way they came if that's still an option.

Once there she'll shoot her line up and out the skylight and retract herself up.

Night Marshal hurries out the same way as well, using his cling grips on his gauntlets to get out through the skylight. He's not quite as fast as Zero is, though. . o O (Okay...that's a piece of gear I could use)

Zero turns to offer her hand to help pull Night MArshal up and out. She's much stronger than she looks.

Just as the vigilantes escape, the cops storm past and into YiFeng's offices, guns drawn. "Freeze! You're under arrest!" Good thing Yifeng and crew were already frozen by the vigilantes. No shoot out occurs as the Triads are taken into custody.

Zero kept her eyes closed so she could see the police as they came- and as they entered the Yifeng's offices. She smiles. "They've got them in custody." She reports to Night Marshal. "That was some message, Cowboy." She says approvingly.

Night Marshal nods, "Excellent. And...thank you for the backup. I appreciate it."