RPG: Laser Train of DOOM!

[Esiphas]

Lance remained hidden nin the Cargo area. He had been hiding for some time, and only now had he heard voices. Or, he thought he had eard voices He didn't understand totally. Wasn't sure. He didn't even know what he meant. He chose to remain hidden.

[miniPhil]

@Esiphas ; There was no doubt about it, you had definitely heard voices. Through a small gap in the piles of boxes you spy 5 people in an assortment of strange clothes. Three are carrying bags while two have rifles.
"Someone mucked up on the targeting. We're in a bloody cargo area"
"Calm down" Another says. "We can loot what's here; get to work".
There's no doubt in your mind, these are bandits. As they rummage through the contents of Cargo one gets dangerously close to you. Staying where you are is dangerous and, if caught leaves you no where to run. Making a run for it on the other hand will definitely give you away.

[Tetsanosuke]

Sure, she could sympathize, somewhat. Juxtapose had it's down times before hitting the big spotlight, a few months of local gigs with androids in deep dank bars and recharge stations. They weren't the prettiest places, but inside those dark rooms and metallic catacombs the band had learned it's first lesson; 'Never let the music die.'

"I know it may seem hard fer ya' now," She spoke to the one that had responded, eventually allowing her gaze to take to all the other bandits, "But performin' is about more than the flash and the money. Performin' is somethin' we do to use our expression to reach out to the people of the world, no, the galaxy. Why rob from the very people you wish to reach out to? The very catalyst in which all of our performances undulate and shift through- becoming more than just an abstraction of our feelin's- but a'physical, tangible piece of beau'y to be enjoyed by all?"

She stood up, still strumming to 'No Regrets', the tune almost making a perfect ambiance to her words, "What is the beau'y of your art if it is funded by the coffers of the innocent-unwilling? Isn't it's core forever stained, it's base buil't on the sacrifice of those who would be the ones to enjoy it?" Her resolve was quite apparent as she spoke aloud.

Music itself was more than some medium... If there was no one to hear it, what would it's purpose be? Just like performances of just about any kind. If there was no audience, what would it have to say for itself in it's existence? Nothing. Entertainment was nothing without the people, and by it's very foundation was a noble, notable calling.

"I believe that performances are not 'just entertainment', but a'sacred bond o-trust between performer and audience. If you rob your audience, you are breaking this bond and smearing what meanin' your performances bring." She took a deep breath at the end of her speech, standing tall and proud of her beliefs."

[Esiphas]

Lance slowly crept backwards, away from the voices. He Didn't trust the bandits to have come aboard unarmed, so he didn't want to give himself away If he was shot in the bcak, he didn't fancy his chances. He quickly looked around for anything he could use as a weapon.

[Cross Avantgarde]

Location: Second Class

Charles sighed. He is obviously unhappy with your plan. “Right, but you do ALL the talking”. Getting up, he looks like a man on his way to death row. “She's going to kill me” He murmurs to himself. It's almost as though he's forgotten completely about Miles and Jace as he shuffles towards Coach.

Wondering again whether getting in the middle of Charles and his wife was the best choice, he nonetheless followed Charles to Coach. Miles remained behind Charles as Charles had access to Coach and he did not. Even from his position behind him, he could hear a commotion just inside the closed door that led to the compartment.

Maybe they’re uppity about the loud sound? Or could something else be the case?

Suddenly apprehensive, Miles waited for Charles to open the compartment door.

[-GAZKUL-]

Location: Coach Class

Logan watched the survivor run with emotionless eyes, he'd get that one later. Two bandits were still moving, hit by earlier shots, blood running dark and bold across the floor. The killer instinct was always present in Logan's personality, the coldness, the bluntness and the inability to differentiate between live and inanimate cargo, Limping across the sticky floor he calmly loaded two shots into his empty revolver.

With the clinical efficiency of one of the machines used in the Cyber Abattoirs of the former Ukraine Logan placed the dull steel barrel to the forehead of the bandit and fired. The echoing bang reverberating around the carriage, a halo of gore and bits of skull extended around what remained of his head. The other survivor looked at Logan with pleading eyes, trying to speak but it was for naught. The second shot rang out, Logan's steely eyes showed no emotion as he wiped blood from the barrel with a rag and holstered it.

Turning to the newcomer he grunted "Thanks" before picking up one of the rifles dropped by the bandits, giving it a quick once over for damage he took a bandoleer of shells from one of the corpses. Feeling the warm wood in his hands he walked slowly down the carriage the way the surviving bandit had fled.

[miniPhil]

@Tetsanosuke ;
“You're right” One of the banits slumps to the floor. “What have we become? This is not a means to spread joy, we are spreading sickness and depression”
The bandits carrying weapons drop them or look around, eyes vacant. Those with bags start handing back the belongings to the passengers.
“We'll leave you in peace. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
As one they get back in their pods and prepare to leave the train. “Thank, you we wish you all a merry future and long prosperous life.”
Upon ejecting the pod leaves a large gaping hole in the train and three of the passengers get sucked into outer space. The emergence blast doors close before any more damage can be done.
A woman stares at the spot her husband was a second ago before turning to you. She stares at you, open mouthed for several seconds before bursting into tears.

@Esiphas ;
Your search leads you to a crow bar in the corner. Picking it up you see it's a decent weapon, it can easily despatch super soldiers or alien parasites. Before you can do anything else an old man pushes aside the luggage he is sleeping under and stares at you.
“Who the hell are you!?”
At once the bandits are on top of you, moving the luggage out of the way they point their weapons at the two of you. “Drop your weapon!”

@Cross Avantgarde ;
After Logan had dispatched the bandits a woman sitting near the front looked up to Miles and screamed.
“Charles!” She hopped up and quickly ran to him throwing her arms around him. “Thank God you're here”.
Charles has other plans however and looks horrified. “You're the one who's supposed to talk to her” He yells pushing the girl off him and towards Miles.
Colliding with you you both hit the floor and your left leg gets twisted pretty badly.

@-GAZKUL- ; @Light Buster ;
As Logan opens the door to the second coach both of you can see the bandits within. Their leader screams at the four in coach before running on to the cargo bay. Only one has a rifle and is so caught off guard by the sudden turn of events he fumbles with his weapons. Logan and Samantha have all the time in the world to react.

[Esiphas]

Lance sighed. he gripped his crowbar tight, then darted his ffit out into one of the bandits privates. he followed with a strike, aimed for the secind bandits head with thecrowbar,and he rolled forward into cover, grabbing a bandits gun on the way. quickly loading the clip, he shot the staggered bandit in the head. " Right. lets work this thing out."

[Cross Avantgarde]

Location: Coach

Upon entering Coach, Miles quickly encountered a scene that had obviously been wracked by chaos. Before he had time to make any meaningful observations, he saw a woman quickly get up and run to Charles, only to be thrust in Miles’s direction. Miles fell to the floor with her, and felt a sharp pain go up his left leg.

Charles had previously told Miles that he had no idea why his girlfriend wouldn’t talk to him, but it was likely over the fact that he had bought her a Coach ticket. Now, however, Miles had a few additional guesses as to why someone might not be inclined to talk to Charles.

Suddenly much less encouraged to help Charles, Miles nonetheless made good on his word.

“Sorry, Miss…but would you mind helping me up after you get to your feet? My…ugh…my left leg has some pain in it at the moment…”

Finally getting to his feet with her help, Miles did his best to think of a quick remedy to the situation. Leaning against the wall as he spoke, Miles found it hard to concentrate while some of the passengers were crying. What had happened in here?

“Miss, Charles here was just thinking that you might be a bit upset over being in Coach. And I think I might be able to help.” Pulling out his Second Class ticket, Miles quickly wondered if this was the right move. Sure, things seemed to be chaotic in Coach, but things hadn’t exactly been relaxing in Second Class. Further, a small part of him still wanted to give Charles a helping hand. His idea was to smooth things over between Charles and the woman, and then tell Charles to cautiously proceed and try to patch things up with his wife. Somewhere along the way he would have to break ties with the woman, but she had to be on speaking terms with him to make that possible in the first place.

“It’s yours if you want it, Miss. And…what in the world happened in here earlier?

[miniPhil]

@Cross Avantgarde ;
“I'm so, so sorry.” The woman apologised, helping you up. “There were these bandits, then a shoot out and...” Turning back to Charles she gave him a smack. “What the hell is wrong with you Charles?”
Looking horrified Charles attempts to defend himself. “What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? You won't talk to me, here talk to her Miles”.
“I'm so sorry sir, Miles isn't it? You hurt you leg, let me take a look at it. The names Jane by the way” She says before lifting your leg up.
“Oh I see what's going on here” Charles interrupts “You say you're going to help me but all you do is try and sneak in on my girlfriend.”
Puffing up his chest and pushing Jane out of the way Charles squares up with you. “You want to fight, is that it?”

@Esiphas ;
As you lunge forward with your crowbar the bandit in front of you moves aside and your shot at his crotch goes wild. Keeping up with your momentum you make a second swing for a bandits head. Getting close but the second bandit dodges. Finally grabbing one of the rifles the bandit lets go in shock, spinning round you fire, taking him in the chest.
As he hits the ground his companions get ready to return fire. Before unloading at Lance the old man screams.
“You're here to kill me! Battle Bots, activate!” At once 10 fully functional Battle Bots emerge from the area.
So shocked are the bandits that the other with the rifles opens fire but misses wildly. Two with pistols hit the robots but do no damage against their armour. One gets a lucky shot and takes down one of the robots.
Still not fully activated, the robots return fire but miss spectacularly. The cargo at this point looks like Swiss cheese. Two of the bullets ricochet and hit a bandit both in his right leg and arm.

[Esiphas]

Lance doubls takes at the roobots activation, then he rolls into cover again, aiming and firing at the bandit whos leg got hit. He nods at the ild man. "thanks for yoyr help. i promise i wont hurt you if you keep helping, at lwast for now." Then he shot at the nearest bandit, a few rounds before crouching again.

[Tetsanosuke]

((Level up complete, Dexterity now at Good))


To say she wasn't happy with her accomplishment was inaccurate. She was glad that she managed to convince the bandits of their mistake, and make them see the error of their ways. But their exit could have been much more careful...

Bringing her to the woman crying. Cassandra laid a hand on her shoulder with a visage of pure empathy... Perhaps some sympathy too. She knew all to well what it was like to lose a loved one, and she couldn't help but tear up over the sloppy exit of the supposed 'performers'.

"I'm sorry fer your loss, Miss..." She'd say in a sincere, sympathetic tone. "But I have to 'elp the train get back to it's equilibrium before more are kill'd fer misguided greed..."

With those words she slid the guitar, strap and all onto her back and dashed towards the door to second class- swiping two laser rifles dropped by the bandits who had done so.

She aimed to make her way towards coach, stopping at the first class door only to shoulder one of the rifles. She took the charge pack out of the other, discarding it, after which she'd tie her hair again in a pony tail. If they wouldn't listen to her words, they might listen to her barrel.

[Light Buster]

As Samantha noted the bandit with the rifle - which he fumbled - she quickly charged him in attempt to take his rifle. She quickly began to disarm him and disable him. She then quickly took his rifle so now she has more weapons in her arsenal just in case she needed it.

[-GAZKUL-]

(Level up complete, Toughness now Good)

Noticing his new found ally deal with one of the guards Logan blocked out the pain of his leg and calmly put the butt of the rifle to his shoulder, leveled it up on the nearest bandit and fired. How many times had he done it before? too many he thought to himself, In the area formerly known as Siberia he's worked as an enforcer for the local crime lord, until his past caught up with him.....

[Cross Avantgarde]

Location: Coach

In a turn of events that seemed—oddly enough—stranger than a dance-off followed by a sudden explosion, it appeared that Charles was now on the verge of attacking Miles.

Jane had his left leg elevated, inspecting it. Worried that the enraged Charles could pounce on him at any given moment, Miles removed his leg from her hands and backed up—awkwardly—to the wall behind him.

“Charles, Charles—you asked me to help, remember? What I don’t remember is hitting on your girlfriend. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m supposed to help you with Jane here and the situation with your wife. And now you’re threatening me? Come on, calm down…”

Miles was doubtful whether his words would work or not, and he was even more skeptical of whether he could even move out of the way with his hurt leg if Charles did indeed decide to exact his imagined revenge. Every good repo man knows to leave yourself an out in any and every situation. But Miles had never been trained for encounters with dancing evangelists, mysterious explosions, and unnecessarily vengeful train passengers. Sure that no books had ever been written on such a subject, Miles was desperately searching for a plan in case of an attack from Charles, a nearby janitorial broom the only lackluster object at hand that caught his frantic attention.