Log:Revenge is a Dish..., Scene 1

Revenge is a Dish... 2006/11/18 Amber and Azure Lorelei Random Factor Shoro 1

It's a typical night on Main Street when, suddenly, the alarm at the First Colonial Bank goes off!

Yutaka is coming from his town home on CHB, when he hears the alarm go off, he ducks around a corner and a POP is heard and Shoro is on the scene.

Amber and Jessica are returning to the Gym from a session at Starguard, and are thus close to the Bank and in costume when the alarms start. Breaking into a jog they head over to see what is happening.

Random Factor was several blocks away, on a regular patrol when he picked up the alarm and flew to the scene.

Through the banks windows, there's no sign of activity on the inside. Nothing on the outside seems out of the ordinary either.

Shoro frowns under his mask..and goes dark.

Shoro sneaks near the Bank..alarms still going off, he looks around and *POP* he goes inside.

Azure grins at Random, "Hi, Boss. Looks clear from the outside. Might just be a faulty alarm. Now, if someone could take a look inside without having to break the door down..."

Random Factor chuckles. "I think I can handle that. Watch for anyone coming out, and keep an eye out for any possible "getaway cars".

Shoro raises an eyebrow under his mask and heads first for the bankers office, the vault is simply too obvious..

Amber nods, "You got it Boss."

Lorelei enters from Main Street.

Random Factor moves towards the bank stealthily and then fades into insubstantiality to go through the wall in the back.

Lorelei promptly find a dark spot to change to her Lorelei costume, which she happens to have with her.

The path to the banker's office is actually up a flight of stairs, a full floor above the ground. It has windows that afford a nice view of the bank floor. The door is open and the lights are on. The glass in the door reads 'Nicholas Carcetti, Bank Manager'.

Shoro examines the banker's office. It's what one would expect. Wood paneling, diploma on the wall, giant desk with a computer on it. On thing does stick out however -- next to the computer on the desk sits a small electronic device, the size of a childs lunchbox. A single light indicates that it's powered on and it hums softly.

Random Factor becomes solid, but turns invisible as he makes his way to the vault. He radios back to the twins "I don't see anyone inside yet, but the vault has been breeched, the door boken in pieces."

Amber radios back to Random, "I'm standing by. But I'll wait for your say-so before busting my way inside.

Azure has a thought, and tries the front door of the bank. It might just have been unlocked by whoever entered first. Jennifer makes her way around the back to test the rear door as well.

Shoro spots an odd electronic device on the desk next to the computer, plugged into the computer's network. He decides to leave it alone for now.

Indeed the front door of the bank is locked, as is the rear door.

Shoro perks up as he hears something in the back outside the office, he quietly tries to take a look perhaps its the person who set up this vid feed box...

Azure smiles to herself and starts working on picking the lock of the bank's front door, humming very quietly at the irony. She's trying to unlock the door to get to a robber.

As Random approaches the vault, it soon becomes apparent that there's someone in there, slumped on the floor. On closer inspection, Random makes a gruesome discovery...

A headless man in a business suit lies inside the vault, slumped on the floor, his back leaning against a wall of safe deposit boxes. He holds his head in his lap, and the eyes stare lifelessly at the ground. Someone has folded up a paper and places it into his mouth. Oddly, there is not a drop of blood to be found.

Random Factor steels himself for a moment, setting his jaw. Crime is one thing. Murder is quite another. He stands still and scans the area, looking for anyone else who might be present. (And/or the missing head.)

Lorelei approaches the bank: what with the alarm going off it doesn't really occur to her to be stealthy!

Shoro goes towards the vault now..he knows he heard something..perhaps the assailant is still in the Vault..

Amber peeks around the corner of the bank where she's standing guard while Azure is fiddling with the door lock, and gives Lorelei a waves.

Random Factor radios back, speaking low, through clenced teeth. "This has just escalated. I've found a body. Watch yourselves."

Lorelei goes over to where Amber is, trying to be a bit less obvious now since Amber clearly is. "What's up?" she whispers.

Shoro blinks and frowns..o O (What the F$*??)

Amber radioes back, "Yes, Sir. Lorelei is on the scene. Both bank doors are locked. Should I force entry or continue to wait?"

Shoro bets the beheaded man is Nicholas Carcetti...he continues his quiet movement into the vault itself, he does not touch anything, especially not the corpse.

Amber says, "Lorelei, Random is in the bank checking it out after we heard the alarms going off. He has told me there's a body inside, so watch yourself. There a murderer or murderers around."

Random Factor says, "Wait out there. I still haven't seen the culpret, unless they had a SEVERE case of bad luck. But with the doors locked and no obvious exits, they may have already left."

Amber radios, "Yes. Sir."

Azure says, "Lorelei, do you want to stay with me? Safety in numbers. Jenn is heading around to maintain a watch of the rear."

Lorelei nods. "Sounds good. What do we know so far?"

Random Factor speaks low, still not wanting to give himself away to anyone who might be here. "Shoro, it's Random. Have you seen anyone else yet?"

Azure says, "Not much. Random and I both heard the alarms and headed over to check the bank out. Random phased inside and has reported finding a body. The doors of the bank are locked so, the murderer is still inside, they left before we got here and locked the door after them, or they can phase or teleport in and out."

Shoro tries to not die of a heart attack..he replies softly..."No..there's something upstairs disabling the cameras, but nothing..except this." he points to the corpse..I'm going to check inside further."

Shoro tries to quietly enter the vault, looking around bags and alcoves..ready for a fight.

Lorelei says, "Or they've dug a tunnel, or such - well, if superpowers are involved the possibilities become many."

After Shoro's inspection, this seem to be true: there is no one else in the vault. Also, none of the bags of money have been disturbed, and there's a small key lying on the floor next to the corpse.

Azure nods. "I'm in radio contact with Random. If he needs help I'll break the door down. But until then I'd rather keep the incidental damage to a minimum."

Shoro returns to where he last heard Random, "Seems to be empty.." he kneels and picks up the key.."Wonder where this fits.." and he looks at the key looking for a number, perhaps it matches one of the saftey deposit boxes.

Random Factor kneels down to get the paper and get a closer look.

Lorelei nods. "Sounds good."

The key appears to match a safe deposit box adn the number is inscribed on teh key.

Shoro says softly, "Whoever did this is sick."

Shoro says, "Ran..I'm going to investigate this.." he holds the key and starts to look for its matching box."

The note in the corpse's mouth seems to be a reproduction of a CBN news article. Random can make out the headline, but not much else: 'Man Dies in Church Fire'.

Random Factor takes the paper out to read it.

Shoro finally finds the matching box..he looks closely at it before opening it in case it is trapped.

Shoro opens the box tentatively. Then opens the box again watching for dangers.

The safe deposit box contains bricks upon bricks of a suspicious white substance, wrapped in plastic.

Azure waves to Ashton, gesturing for him to come over to the front door of the bank where Lorelei and she are stood.

Shoro curses low..and returns to the body.."Ran..you still here?"

Random Factor says, "Yeah. I'm gomma check for ID."

Azure says, "Random and I heard the bank alarms ringing. Random is inside checking the bank out. He's radioed me with a report there's a body in there. The doors are locked. I'm waiting to see if Random wants me to enter.""

Random Factor says, "Looks like this poor guys name is Nicholas Carcetti. Name ring any bells?"

Shoro nods, "Yeah..Bank Manager, his office is upstairs..and this box has a good 10 kilos of what looks like illicit drugs."

Random Factor has reconnected.

Shoro nods, "Yeah..Bank Manager, his office is upstairs..and this box has a good 10 kilos of what looks like illicit drugs."

Shoro looks at Random, "Have you checked that note out yet?"

Random Factor nods as he fades abck into visibility. "Yeah, it's a reproduction of a CBN News article is a tiny blurb about a small chapel on the outskirts of Alexandria VA that burned down. Investigators suspected arson. The preacher was apparently killed in the fire. This is the sort of article that gets buried deep in the paper.

Shoro nods.."Sounds like revenge.."

Shoro points back upstairs and says, "I'm going back up there..see if there are any clues.."

Random Factor nods again. "Yeah, but look at this wound. The lack of blood. Either this was done by a meta, or this guy was frozen prior to being decapitated. Heh, we got a crowd building up outside, wanna get the door and let them in? If the police are here, maybe they should stay outside until we give the place a good once over."

Random Factor says, "Whoever did this may still be here."

Random Factor says, "Say, I did't see amy signs of a guard, did you?"

As if on cue, sirens can be heard approaching from the distance.

Shoro nods, "Let me check out upstairs first.." he pauses, "Now that you mention it, no, I didn't." he puts the key to the saftey deposit box back down next to the corpse where he found it.

Azure gives thanks that she is in uniform. Stepping away from the bank door she stands in the street with SGG Id visible in hand to flag down the arriving police vehicles.

Shoro goes back upstairs to check the office once more..a bit more thoroughly.

Two patrol cars screech to a halt outside of the bank, and uniformed police officers pile out. One of them runs up to the front door to Azure. "What's the situation inside?"

Random Factor goes to open the front doors and let the others in, checking the place out with infra red as he does.

Azure says, "Random Factor is inside the bank checking the situation out. There's at least one body in there. Both front and rear doors to the bank are locked."

The lead cop nods to Azure. He sends two uniforms to watch the back door and he remains in front and talking on the radio. Soon a police hovercar is flying over head, shining a spotlight down on the scene.

Lorelei says, "Since we haven't been inside, that's about all we can say."

Kerchunk. The bank doors unlock.

Shoro looks up above him..the ventilation shaft is up there..

Random Factor steps out and reports to the police, suggesting they wait entering until they have had a chance to thoroughly search the bank to make sure the perp is not still inside. As he does so, he stands directly in the doorway, to try to make sure nobody gets past him invisibly.

Azure steps aside, hoping the police will be safe. But it's there investigation now.

The lead cop says, "No arguments here, Random Factor." He turns to his radio. "Oh, and bring the meat wagon. There's at least one stiff inside."

POP and a blue flash and Shoro is gone..or something.

Shoro crawls along the vent shafts as quietly as possible..

Random Factor says, "Oh, and Shoro is onscene inside."

Moving through the vents, Shoro comes to a point in the duct where someone has cut away the side, providing access into a small workspace. The workspace seems to house some of the electronics for the security system.

Shoro thinks. o O (Son of a...ok lets take a look at this...)

Shoro crawls into the workspace, looking over the security system, watching for tampering and bugs.

Lorelei wraps her arms about herself, shivering. "I hope we can go inside - or home - soon!"

One of the police officers looks over to Lorelei. "Don't worry, Lorelei. You've got Colonial Bays Finest between you and whatever's inside. "You cold?" He starts taking off his jacket.

Amber thinks. o O (How does she do it?)

Lorelei smiles, "Thanks! I didn't think about winter, or even Novmeber, when designing this costume!"

Shoro shivers himself,. . o O (Its more than AC..)

"Thompson," the lead police says, eyeing his partners antics. "Crowd control."

Random Factor invites the other heroes inside.

Lorelei thanks the policeman again and goes inside (with his jacket).

The lead cop says to Random. "We'll let you know when the boys from Homocide show up."

Thompson gives Lorelei his jacket and then stomp off, staring daggers at the lead cop.

Random Factor nods. "Thanks."

Lorelei doesn't have much idea what good she can do in this investigation - unless the murderer happens to be on the scene still, invisible or shrunk or otherwise hiding. To that end she deports herself in a most eye-catching way as she walks through the bank - hoping to make the imagined murderer lose his presence of mind and betray himself....

Random Factor says, "Ok, folks. We need to check and make sure this place is really empty, but be careful not to disturb any evidence. Call out if you find anything."

Shoro shakes his head.."Dammit.." he looks for any other signs of tampering, then heads back into the vent system..following it further.

Lorelei says, "I'm on it...."

Still there's no sign of anyone inside the bank other than the heroes.

Lorelei does a thorough search of the bank, to make sure all rooms are covered.

Random Factor checks throughout the building, looking for "cold spots".

Shoro isn't liking what he's seeing..still a clue's a clue. he crawls up the vents past the ice encased fan and out to the roof.

The police hovercar shines its light down on Shoro after he emerges on the rooftop.

Lorelei returns to find Random. "No one anywhere that I can find...."

More police show up, along with a coroner's van, and a pair of detectives wearing suits.

Shoro looks up.."Damn..now this is incriminating.." he puts his hands up. points to the iced fan..hoping they can put 2 and 2 together.

The pair of detectives walk in, one is Black and heavy-set, the other younger, white, with dark curly hair. "Mm, hmm, hmm..." the first one says, "What have we here?" He's looking at Lorelei when he says that.

Shoro Shouts, "I'm going back in. Hope you don't mind." he looks at the vent and tries to teleport back in before anything really bad can happen.

The Young Detective laughs. "Out of you league man." He walks in and asks. "Someboyd call about a body?"

Lorelei says, "Good evening, detectives. I'm afraid he haven't found much - whoever did this doesn't seem still to be here. Yeah, the body's this way...."

Random Factor scowls, frustrated, and crosses over to the detectives and tell them what they've found so far.

"Jimmy, you wound me," the older cop says. The pair of cops follow Lorelei and Random to the vault and he continues talking. "Lorelei, right? Let me ask you a hypothetical question."

The hovercar over the building sweeps it's spotlight away from Shoro, and begins to scour the area with it's beam.

Lorelei nods. "Sure - ask away!"

West, the older detective says, "If two people genuinely like one another, should age be a factor...?" He walks into the vault and stops dead in his tracks. He stares at the body. " $@! "

Jimmy stares at the body too. "@$&!"

pop and Shoro's back into the vents..going back down a level to investigate further.

Lorelei doesn't respond with her intended quip on seeing the reaction.

Jimmy looks over at West and repeats: "#&*!" West shakes his head looking back at his partner. "$@^! me..."

Lorelei mostly just tries not to look.

West and Jimmy start to work the crime scene, their conversation mostly reduced to monosyllabic cursing.

Lorelei slips back out of the vault, feeling she'd just be in the way now the mood has changed.

Random Factor says, "I figure it's gotta be a meta, or someone with high tech trying to make it look like a meta, and apparently planned for some time." as he points out the frozen aspect of the body and the vault door, and points out the note and the safety deposit box. "We haven't been able to find much else so far."

Shoro climbs through the vents looking for other clues before heading back out and up to the roof, he looks for any other signs of ice around the roof top...if not ice then the rememnants of such in the form of water.

Shoro drops out of the vent system.."Random!" he shouts, not wanting to be stealthy now.

Random Factor calls out "Yo!" in response.

Shoro jumps from the second floor to the bank main floor, "Got something."