Riftgate - Jefferson's America 2

The formal reception dinner is being held in the hotel's largest private dinner hall. There are four tables in the 20m by 15m room. Three have been moved to one side and provide a convenient place for the pre meal buffet and drinks. The fourth is located in the center of the room and set for dinner with places for all the expected guests. The five person band set up in a corner of the room are playing a mixture of Dixie jazz and easy listening country-style music. Waiters are ciculating with wine and serving food and snacks when requested. The Mayor of the city is seated at the head of the table and Lorelei's reservation is placed opposite his.

Characters Alex, Lorelei, Olivia, Narosia

Start of Log
The city has booked a suite of rooms in the hotel for the alternative Mediator's party. You get a great view across the city and a luxurious lounge with plenty of bedrooms to go around. The fitters arrive within minutes of you getting to the rooms and quickly measure you for evening wear. The growns and suits are delivered in time to change and get to the formal dinner.

knock knock

Someone knocks on the door to the suite.

Olivia shivers as she stands there. She looks in a mirror at the stunning dress that she ended up with. She flushes and blushes a bit. She cocks her head to the side at the knocking, "Want me to get that?" she asks.

Lorelei is sure to try on the gown at once to make sure there are no problems; the last thing she wants is a bad first impression on top of the many other difficulties here. "Thanks."

Alex comes out of his room, wearing a frown and his dress shirt and pants. "I've got to be one of the smartest people in the city, but this bow tie has me completely stumped." He holds his PDA in one hand, trying read a set of instructions, while trying to work the tie with his free hand. "Hey, was that someone at the door?"

When Olivia opens the door she sees a young woman in a smart but relatively inexpensive formal dress. "Hello. I'm Jenny Becks, the Deputy Mayor's assistant's secretary. I've been asked to make sure you have everything you need."

Olivia smiles a little, "Please come in." she says and holds the door open. She turns to look around at the others for the moment.

Jenny steps inside and looks at Lorelei with the usual expression of awe.

Alex walks over to Lorelei and stands still for the most part. "Thanks..." He greets Jenny with a brief nod.

Lorelei thinks. o O (What I need is someone keeping me informed. Does this woman know where I come from, or does she believe the sister story?)

Olivia closes the door and then smiles a little. She seems almost uncomfortable and keeps looking at her dress.

Lorelei says to Jenny, "I think we're basically fine. Well, other than that we've been thrown into things rather quickly here."

Jenny finally gets around to looking at the others in the room. "You must be Mister Winters?" She says to Alex. "I wasn't given your name, Miss." Jenny says to Olivia.

"Mm-hmm." Alex says, confirming Jenny's assumption. As Lorelei helps him with his bow tie, he finds himself gazing at her. "Reminds me of something I'd heard," he says, perhaps a little nervously. "'Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Rogers did, except backwards and in heels.'"

Lorelei grins. "That's about it. I've been working on the dancing too."

Jenny giggles politely, "They existed on your dimension too?" She asks rhetorically.

Olivia smiles a little and then shakes her head a little, "Diamond, Olivia Diamond." she says and smiles a bit. She looks at the others, "The dress is good though yes?"

Lorelei says, "They did. It's looking like maybe most people have their doubles.... I made some requests for more briefing, do you know if that's being arranged?"

Jenny thinks for a moment. "I don't remember that being mentioned. Can I help?"

Alex says, "Maybe you could start with a little bit of background about the negotation."

Lorelei says, "Well, it's a bit tricky on the spur of the moment - really I need to know enough about the history and politics of this dimension to avoid a faux pas! I asked if I could be be briefed on that overnight, between the reception and the negotiations proper. But for the moment - who are the delegations, and what briefly is being negotiated?"

Olivia shrugs a bit and moves to sit down, gently in the dress and just listen, after all she is more or less along as a meat shield more than anything else.

Jenny nods. She pulls a couple of files out of the document wallet she is carrying and hands them over. "These are the delegation members. The city is looking for finance to expand the airport. Part of the cost is being provided by the ESC in exchange for our continued association with them. Part is being borrowed from the Bank of Berlin is suitable terms can be reached."

Bank Delegation The Bank of Berlin delegation consists of five people, three males and two females. The oldest is Hans Gruber, a late middled aged man of distinguished features, the head of the delegation. His wife, Lise Gruber, has accompanied him but has no official role in the talks. Ernst Goldstein, a fit man in his late thirties, is the accountant with the group. Edward Wolfe is Ernst's assistant. Edward is an athletic looking man in mid twelties of impecable dress and matters. His accent is English. Marla Reinfeld is the fifth member of the delegation. Her role is unclear. Probably an executive secretary along to do the paperwork and record keeping. She is a rather attactive young woman in her early twenties.

Eastern Seaboard Group Representing the Eastern Seaboard Confederacy in the talks is a six person team headed by a man in his late forties, built on a scale suitable for a noseguard, named Jorge Holgrim. Frizzled blonde hair and pale blue eyes suggests a Norweigian ancestry. His assistants are Mark Peters and Wilson Smythe, interchangeable mid thirties aides. The group includes an economist, Marie Slovack. She is dressed soberly, has her hair pulled up in a tight bun and wears old fashioned round-wire glasses. The remaining two members of the group are pretty obviously ESC security personnel. Martin Williams and Fredrick Dolland are their names according the the guest badges.

Lorelei nods and starts looking at the files. "Are the negotiations especially delicate for some reason? If they're important enough to bring us here..."

Alex begins looking through the files as well, starting with the ones that Lorelei's not going through.

Jenny nods. "When these kind of sums are involved negotiations are always delicate. But in this case expanding our airport will move trade into the city. That means some of the ESC associates are going to lose some of their trade."

Loreleiremembering something from last year about the city have a vote on whether to change political affiliation, asks, "What's the city's relationship with the ESC like at the moment, exactly?"

Olivia looks back and forth a bit lost at the moment, trying to keep up and following what is being said.

Jenny nods acknowledging the point. "Fragile. We came close to voting against continuing association with them last year. That is partly why they are even considering making a grant towards the airport expansion."

Lorelei says, "Who was the competition, as it were? The group you might have joined instead?"

Alex says, "So there are three parties involved, right? The Bank of Berlin, the Eastern Seaboard Group, and the City itself. If funding is arranged, then the City and the Bank win, but the ESG loses somewhat. If the funding is not arranged, then it seems as though the City and Bank lose, and the ESG wins."

Jenny says, "The Canadian and Northern Federation."

Jenny say, "The ESC as a whole will gain. Some of the increased trade that will come to the city is going to move from other groupings. However some members of the ESC will lose."

Lorelei says, "A political map would be really useful.... Hm. Who in particular in the ESC might lose out from this? I take it that Colonial Bay has always been a bit of a transport hub here, as on our world? Well, since the railways."

Jenny tells you, "The main loser is likely to be Seattle. They haven't improved Sea-Tac airport for over fifteen years now. Our rail links and port are as good. An improved airport will make Colonial Bay more viable than Seattle for a number of businesses."

Alex nods slowly. "A map will be handy. In our dimension, all the territory south of Canada and north of Mexico is one country."

Olivia blinks and shakes her head a bit.

Alex says, "Seattle is part of the Canada and Northern Federation, yes?"

Lorelei says, "Seattle, really? I wouldn't have thought they'd be close enough to be siginificantly affected.... Um, if your Seattle is where our Seattle is..."

Jenny shakes her head, "No. Seattle is a member of ESC at the moment. Of course if ESC make a grant to us they'll have little choice except to leave. In which case they are likely to link up with the Vancouver Union."

Alex nods. "I can see the conflict now."

Jenny tells you, "I'll get an atlas to you after the dinner."

Lorelei says, "Thanks."

Jenny checks her watch. "It's time for me to go and join the Mayor's party. The dinner will be starting in a short time."

Alex hmms. "Before you go, Jenny: So the ESC and the Bank have put together their proposals... are there any sicking points in particular."

Jenny frowns, "Probably. But we won't know until the proposals are placed on the table tomorrow."

Lorelei nods, and checks her look once more in the mirror to make sure she's making the right impression before she leaves. "Well - let's go then."

The delegations are already in the dining hall, each keeping to itself and separate from the others. The band is playing quietly a melodic jazz number and waiters are circulating.

Alex nods. "Alrighty." Alex disappears into his room for a moment, to put on his blazer. He shrugs his shoulders slightly. "Not quite used to wearing the shoulder holster."

A black clad waiter pauses as your group enters the room, as he is the closest to you, and offers wine. The city delegation and the ESC delegation are visibly armed. So are the waiters and band. The Bank of Berlin delegation do look a little apprehensive in the midst of significant firepower.

Alex comments quietly to Olivia and Lorelei, nodding to indicate the Bankers. "I think I know how they feel. It's a bit odd, seeing all this weaponry on display."

A elderly man in formal attire that has a definitely Southern look to it comes over to greet Lorelei. "Howdy. I'm Col Jack Eddings, the Mayor of this here city. It's sure a pleasure to be meeting you all. My thanks for you agreeing to stand in for the Mediator."

Lorelei sweeps into the room gracefully as if she knew what she were doing, accepting a glass of wine in passing. If the guns make her nervous, she's sure not to let it show.

Lorelei says, "A pleasure, Col Eddings. I only hope I live up to your expectations."

Col Eddings grins in an open friendly fashion. Like any practiced politician. "I'm sure you will, Ma'am. The Mediator has put her trust in you and I'm sure not goin' be a second guessing her. And you can put money on that."

Alex hovers nearby, listening to the conversation. He tries to spot Marla Reinfeld, to see what she's up to.

Lorelei does her best to act the role of politician, or better of diplomat, herself, continuing with the small talk, as she casts and eye over the delegations.

The Mayor chats happily with you, keeping to the cover story of you being the Mediator's younger sister. He introduces you to Ellen Slayton the city treasurer, and mentions in passing that he has asked young Jenny Becks to see you have everything you need.

Alex smiles, slightly, having solved one small question. One down, many to go... When he has a moment to speak quietly to the others, he says, "Marla Reinfeld, she seems to be security."

Jorge Holgrim comes over to the group and introduces himself, "Good evening to you all." He looks at Lorelei, "You have to be the Mediator's sister." He says with a smile to Lorelei.

Lorelei smiles. "I suppose I must, Mr Holgrim, isn't it?"

Jorge smiles, "It is indeed."

Alex steps aside to chat with Olivia a moment. Looking around, he comments, "Not my usual scene. It must be even more weird for you; you were just getting used to our version of Colonial Bay."

Olivia nods and heads out of the dining hall for a while..

Lorelei says, "How do you do. I hope you're not too disappointed I'm here in my sister's place."

Lorelei struggles to find something to talk about. It's tricky, not knowing anything about the world!

Jorge shakes his head, "Not at all. I doubt the Mayor would ask you to stand in if he didn't have confidence in you."

A gong is rung to signal the start of dinner. People start heading towards their places still chatting.

Lorelei heads to her place, trying to get a basic sense of the delegates and their attitudes.

Narosia has arrived from the hotel suite.

Alex smiles as he takes his seat. He looks to the person next to him at the table and cheerfully comments, "So, how about those Yankees?"

Wilson Smythe glares at Alex. "It was a fixed match. The referee deserved to be shot. I can't think why the league is complaining about it."

Alex shrinks under Smythe's glare. "Right that's what I meant. How about the nerve of them." He reaches for a glass of water and drinks from it. o O ( Smooth going, Alex. Try to wait until after the appetizers are served before inciting a riot. )

Mark Peters laughs, "The Seahawk's wide receivers couldn't catch a cold standing naked in a rain storm in winter." He smirks while telling that to Wilson Smythe.

Alex winces slightly and drinks some more.

Wilson Smythe leaps to his feet knocking his chair over backwards. "Retract that or pull heat!" he shouts at Mark Peters with a hand by the butt of a shoulder holstered silver gilded pistol.

Narosia rather bursts in on the entire crowd, lead sulkily along by a man dressed what only that species called 'tailors' deign-perfected coif and diamante cuffs. The favourite grey dress has with force gone. Replacing it is a plum dress of shimmering satin scooped hallow at the back and tied nicely halter style. Some well meaning person arranged her hair in a flowing manner that helps expose the neck. Two dangling pearldrops hang from sore ears. "Honestly dear, you could not go out dressed in that-that charity garbage you named a 'dress'-oh my!"

"Gentlemen! - oh! - Narosia - where had you got to?" Lorelei tries to use Narosia's belated entrance as a bit of a distraction from the mutual offense of the two men.

Lorelei thinks. o O (I need to work out whether this going for guns at every little thing is just part of local 'rhetoric' or if it's as serious as it seems....)

Alex stands up quickly, nearly spilling his water. He spots Narosia but swiftly returns his attention to the matter at hand.

"Wanting heedlessly to shake this man away." Narosia answers, the undertoned growl evident, "Off, off." She too watches the scene, tightening her lips.

Wilson Smythe glances momentarily towards the door as everyone attention is drawn that way by Lorelei's comment. But that only lasts an moment before he is glaring at Mark Peters again. Other people on that side of the table are quickly moving away leaving them on their own.

Out of the corner of his eye Alex notices that while everyones attention is focused first on Narosia's entrance and then on the stand off, the Mayor winces and slaps at the side of his neck as if bitten by an insect.

Mark gets to his feet and crouches with his hand hovering over his pistol butt. "The Seahawks stink." He says flatly with eyes fixed on Wilson Smythe.

Alex's eyes narrow. He looks past the fight, to the Mayor. He leans over to Lorelei and asks, "Did you just see that? It looked as if the Mayor just swatted an insect on his neck..."

[To Alex] Lorelei says, "No but... Oh, you mean...?""

His attentionfocused elsewhere the Mayor looks down the table at Lorelei and then indicates the two gunmen with a slight movement of his head, while subconsciously rubbing the side of his neck with a hand.

[To Lorelei] Alex nods. "I'll check on the Mayor, ok?"

Lorelei tries to work out what angle somthing that stuck into the mayor's neck would have come from while asking, "Are you all right, Colonel?"

The Mayor looks surprised, "What..? Yes of course. But perhaps you can talk some sense into those two before lead starts flying?"

Alex steps away from the arguing men and moves over to the Mayor's side. "Are you alright, sir?" He asks. "May I take a look?"

The Mayor glances up at Alex, "Huh? What?"

Lorelei nods, kicking herself for missing the cue, and goes over to the men, and says, with intentionally incongrous calm. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but perhaps this could wait till after dinner?"

Alex spots that there's a tiny puncture mark on the side of the Mayor's neck. He is looking a little plae in color and despite the coolness of the room has a slight amount of perspiration showing on his face.

Diamond's example blossoms a strange, up the wall plan. Endevouring her plain best to smile mysteriously Narosia walks over to the men, slipping a hand under Willson's arm. "Hello there...hansome?" She coughs, inflecting the hansome like she supposes it should-just making it sound slightly off pitch.

Mark and Wilson look around and then at each other. Mark straightens up. "My remark was in poor taste and uncalled for, Sir. I retract it." Wilson nods. "Your apology is accepted." He sighs, "You're right of course. We need a new wide receiever."

Alex looks aside to Jenny and speaks quietly. "Call an ambulance immediately. I think that the Mayor has been poisoned." He looks up from the Mayor and tries to figure out where a projectile may have been fired from.

Wilson turns to Narosia and Lorelei, "Ladies, my apologies for disturbing your meal."

Narosia says, "It...it is fine. Sir."

Lorelei smiles, making light of the situation but not of the participants. "Thank you. I do find it *such* a waste if we don't get to desert at least, don't you?"

Estimating the direction that something striking the Mayor's neck must have come from Alex sees one of the band is holding a flute to his lips. The flute is pointed in the direction of the Mayor, and Alex cannot hear any sound of a flute in the music being played.

Alex murmurs something to himself.

Jenny is on her cellphone calling for an ambulance. The Mayor is looking quite gray now. He gasps and falls face down into his soup.

Narosia gazes sharply at Alex, stepping and letting go of Wilson. Silently she resolves to contrive an exit so she may apply her powers discreetly.

With a graceful smile to smile to show the men she's not upset she walks back to her seat, making sure the flute player gets a good and distracting view. "Mr Mayor!" she exclaims as he falls in his soup.

Alex pulls the Mayor up out of his soup. "Narosia!" he gestures to call her over quickly. "It's the flute player in the band who's done this."

Lorelei says, "Is there a doctor here?"

As if the collapse of the Mayor was a signal, and it probably was, the members of the band spring into action. The Bongo player tosses his two Bongos towards the table. The Flute Player aims the flute at Lorelei, and the other three band players pull out concealed SMGs.

"Long Live the Union of the States!" they shout and then open fire.

Lorelei thinks. o O (So much for subtle. WHy does subtle never work?)

Narosia nods, backtracking inside a shadowed part of the room, warping and melting until no one can see her. Including hopefully, the flute player. Gripping the wall the girl makes her way behind the would be assassin.

The Bongos bounce and spin across the floor and detonate in loud blinding flashes at the table.

Alex says, "Oh, hell." Then he throws himself on top of the bongos.

The Bongos explode just before Alex gets to one and he catches the full effect. Everyone in the room except for the sunglass wearing band members is left blinded and deafened.

The snarling chatter of multiple SMG's firing isn't heard by anyone in the room. Neither is seen Jorge's head exploding from multiple hits.

Hans Gruber is picked up by the gunfire and hurled across the room into the far wall as a bloody broken mess.

Distracted by Lorelei's beauty the third gunman misses her and sprays lead into the far wall.

Loud, pained cross between wail and gasp echoes round the room, lost under the ping of gunfire. Narosia materialises and slumps, hand shielding her watering eyes.

Alex tries to grab the giant dining table, lift it overhead and slam it down on it's side, forming a barrier between the band and the guests.

"Hnnrf!" With a grunt Alex lifts the dining table, showing surprising strength for his size. He slams it back down the ground. "Take cover!" he shouts, hoping that people will hide behind that table. It may not be bulletproof, but it's better than nothing.

Lorelei, recovering her sight, takes in the carnage, horrified. "Enough! Enough I say! There will be NO MORE KILLING!" All this she combines with striking a pose for the band.

Lorelei surprises even herself as the band drop from the sheer shock of seeing her in all her beauty. "Someone get a doctor in here for the mayor!" She says even as she hurries over to take the band's weapons away from them, lest they recover.

Alex is still blinded and defeaned. He huddles down behind the table for a few second, until he too regains his senses.

Over the next few seconds people start regaining their sight and hearing. Some wish they hadn't. Lise Gruber is in hysterics as she crouches by her decreased husband. Marla has a gun in her hand but is looking pretty sick as she stands beside Hans. The ESC party are handling it better. This isn't such a shocking event to them.

Lorelei repeats, "Get a doctor!" - even if it's only any use for the mayor. She's feeling pretty sick herself.

Lorelei says, "And secure these assassins...."

Alex over to check on gunshot victims to see if there are any he can help.

Lorelei thinks. o O (I'm an idiot... I was expecting trouble - why didn't I even glance at the band?)

The hotel's house nurse is first on the scene for the Mayor. She gives him oxygen and keeps him alive for the ambulance. Jenny is looking a bit green on her face but she comes over, "Are you all ok?" she asks unsteadily.

Narosia blinks, staggering up-her face is ashen when she surveys the bloodied room riddled with bullets. Like treading through molasses she paces through the room, checking for survivors like Alex.

Alex thinks grimly. o O ( All these guns and no bulletproof vests? )

There's a brief discussion as to whether the band members should be shot out of hand but calmer heads prevail. The band are taken away by the CBPA when they arrive. Jorge and Hans are both unequivocally dead. Hit multiple times.

Lorelei says, "I'm ok? WHo are these people? Unigov terrorists or something?"

Lorelei hopes she remembers the term correctly - it sounds right for what was shouted.

Narosia thinks. o O (The blood is nothing but red water...the gore attached to it though...who executes such a open murder?)

Lorelei makes sure the flautist is carefully searched for poison darts, etc, so the poison can be determined.

Jenny nods. "Lincolnists. Terrorists of the worst type. They haven't admitted the Second Revolution is over and Liberty won."

A number of poisoned darts are found on the flutist, and even better a hypodremic of antidote he carried in case of an accident.

Alex shakes his head, looking down over Jorge's body. o O ( Didn't have a chance. ) "I'm sorry," he says for the benefit of his friends, and he heads over to check on the Mayor.

Lorelei takes these to the nurse, and then goes to offer condolences to all parties.

Now the antidote is found and used the Mayor's condition stabilies. He is still in a bad way but no longer in any danger.

Lorelei thinks. o O (The only mercy is because they attacked all parties the parties aren't likely to blame each other....)

Alex assists the nurse, until the paramedics arrive to move the Mayor to an ambulance.

Lorelei then has a thought, and asks Jenny, "But how could this attack possibly benefit Lincolnists?"

Narosia finishes checking one body little nicked, finger pressed against a cold unresponsible pulse and airs idle thought, "Hm, was this attack to sow terror into hearts or deliberately needed?"

Jenny shakes her head. "Nothing will benefit them. They think that if they create enough terror and destruction the cities and associations will have to band together against them. It will never happen. Our love for liberty is too strong."

Mark and Wilson gather together and talk briefly. Mark nods to Wilson and shakes Wilson's hand. "We see no need to delay the meeting." Mark says, "Wilson will take charge of the ESC delegation."

Lorelei shakes her head sadly at the thought of how the best of intentions can drive people to the worst attrocities if they believe in winning at any cost.

Ellen Slayton, the city's treasurer agrees, "So two o'clock tomorrow afternoon as planned? If the Colonel hasn't recovered sufficiently I'll lead our delegation."

Alex looks up from his work and over at the diplomats. o O ( What's just happened? )

Lorelei goes to talk quietly to the bankers: she wouldn't be surprised it they aren't willing to keep on.

Narosia says, "Madam, seeing the slaughter tonight is another meeting tomorrow wise?"

The Bank of Berlin people are looking at the other delegations in shock. "You're crazy! All of you! We're going to be on the first plane out of this mad country." Ernst Goldstein shouts disgustedly.

The bankers watch Lorelei approaching.

Lorelei says to Goldstein, "I don't blame you. In your position I'd be thinking exactly the same. But surely the country is no madder than it was an hour ago, and you were here then."

Lorelei regrets even having to try to persuade them to stay. But she made a promise.

Narosia gently tugs on Lorelei's arm, talking under her breath "Lorelei...I have an idea. It's nowhere near perfect of course, but how about we...we place meta dopplegangers in for the meeting? Round up the suitable number, disguise them-there's the feeling they won't stop early."

Alex stands up. He looks over at the nurse, thinking that she has matters well in hand. He walks over to Narosia. "Hey. You alright?"

Ernst Goldstein looks at Lorelei rather wild eyed, "An hour ago my superior and friend wasn't laying dead on the floor with a table cloth over him. We're leaving before any more of us end up the same way."

Turning round, Narosia gives a half-effort nod "I lived, unlike others." She says simply, ill-fitting to the gory scene they are ankle deep in.

Lorelei says, "If you don't want to do business here - if you never want to - well, there's not much I can do to persuade you otherwise. And I wouldn't try. If you do, this is, stupidly, the best time to do it. They've made their attempt. They aren't likely to try again this time. If you postpone negotiations, they'll have time to plan another attack in time for those negotiations."

Alex nods and places his hand on Narosia's shoulder, meaning to reassure her. "I'm sure no one would think any less of you, if you wanted to head back to the suite."

Ernst Goldstein listens to Lorelei and, reluctantly conceeds a point here and a point there until he finally nods in resigned agreement. "Very well. We will attend the meeting tomorrow. But we want a full time police presence guarding us during the entire period of our stay here."

Lorelei nods. "I'll make sure you have it. I'd insist on it myself if you hadn't."

Jenny, standing silently by the side up to now, nods and promises that the CBPA SWAT team will be hired to provide security for the bankers during their stay.

Ernst Goldstein nods and the bankers withdraw to their rooms.

Eyes flicker over Alex's hand resting on her, Narosia acquiring a mixture of bemusement and resolution on her features. "Soon. I should-help...even though I did naught earlier." She clumsily reaches up and pats his hand with her left, ready to leave when he shall.

Lorelei would have a good shout at the mayor for the inadequate security, but that point should be obvious to him. So she play the role, and makes sure everyone is ok, and pretends to be ok herself until she's alone with the others and can let out what she's really feeling.

The ESC delegation head out as well, leaving just the city people and CBPA agents. Jenny looks over to all of you, "I'll arrange for a meal to be brought up to your rooms if you wish to retire."

Lorelei says, "Thank you."

Lorelei uses that as an excuse to withdraw.

Lorelei is barely into the room when she bursts into tears.

Jenny says goodnight at the door.

Alex nods. "Looks like Lorelei's got the delegates under control. We should head over and figure out what next to do." He begins to step away, towards Lorelei. He stops briefly, looking at Narosia over the shoulder. "You look nice tonight, by the way." He heads up to the room to catch up with Lorelei.

Lorelei is in full flood when Alex finds her.

Narosia blushes, any flush gone once following Alex, Lorelei's weeping reveals itself.

"Ah, Stephie." Alex says, sighing with a tone of sympathy in his voice. He crosses the room over to her, opening his arms to offer a hug and a shoulder to cry on.

Lorelei accepts both. "We failed... we messed up so badly.... Why didn't I look at the band? Why didn't I think they might all be in on it once the flautist got the mayor?"

Narosia says quietly, "See myself out. And Lorelei, mistakes happen. You handled the battle so no further bloodshed occured. Plus we have the criminals under lock for questioning. I would conjecture that a sucessful stitch."

"Stephie," Alex says, "If you hadn't flattened the band when you did, things would have been much worse."

Lorelei says, "I don't even know if I did the right thing. Maybe I should have let the bankers go back to Berlin or wherever. I know I'd want to, if I were them. Anyone would...."

Lorelei says, "These negotiations had better be important. I thought when they brought us here it would have to be somethng huge... more like a big peace treaty or something, not financing an airport!"

"You did the right thing," Alex says. "It would have been bad for the Bankers to make such an important decision in the heat of the moment. At least now they'll consider things fully..."

Narosia leaves the suite and passes into her designated room, personal opinion the view of over-furnishing. Her half baked plans could wait until the 'Mediator' no longer needed a friend's comforting shoulder. Shaking all images away, the mageling sits crosslegged on the floor, door shut while she meditates. Minds are oft frail.

Alex adds, "Especially if it turns out that one of the parties was behind the attack."

Lorelei nods. "And... it's a crazy world, but an airport will still do them good, and terrorists are still bad.... worse than the status quo, however mad it may be...."

Lorelei says, "RIght. - Say - we need to find out who got the band in here."

Narosia thinks. o O (Their motives were mad, unless this 'airport' Alex mentioned the other day was hiding another project?)

Alex says, "Regardless of nature of the negotiation, we managed to save lives today. Maybe if I'd gotten to the flash-bang grenades in time, things would have been better."

Alex sighs. "It's not a good feeling, but I think we've been doing our best, considering the situation."

Lorelei nods, and then, finding her determination again, says, "I need to make some calls."

Alex nods. He steps back, and starts undoing his bow tie and collar. "I'm not sure if you've noticed this, but the ECS faction might be shifting to be more pro-Seattle."

Narosia fidgets, inward chanting started doing zero for the curiousity bug. She casts round, searching in vained effort where a book might lie. A good distractor.

Lorelei goes to the phone, and asks to speak to Jenny. This time there are some things she wants. She wants to find out who was responisble for hiring the band. She wants to find out why these negotiations are so important to bring a substitute Mediator from another world. She wants to make damn sure there will be people briefing her all night on history and geopolitics. And she wants all of this to start as soon as she's showered and dressed to get the blood off.

Narosia finds two books, a Guidan Bible and the collected letters of Thomas Jefferson.

Narosia mumbles, "Jefferson. This bible...cover stings. Ouch."