[Salone]

Lev laughed, lowering his revolver. The laugh sounded odd, as if he wasn't used to doing it.

"I come from Tsavo. The more importantly, survived Tsavo. If it takes bullets, I can end it. I no mean boasting. But Tsavo is dangerous. Crazed men. Undead. I learned to kill things such as that before I held razor for shaving. You learn these things, or you die. I have yet to die. I do not want to participate in piss contest, but shield only blocks few assaults. I can protect, I can deal with inhuman. I can sew myself back together when need be. Have been burned on cross itself, I can survive anything"

He paused, alarmed at how much he had said. He usually tried to not be talkative, which was a basis for getting to know other human beings. He took in yet another deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He was fighting for his meal, and the battle was being fought with his weakness of words.

[Espy]

Dante noticed a strong aura straight ahead of him, and, as he drew closer, two weaker ones. Almsot at the edge of the roof, he backed up a few paces, and listened in on the convo. He was almost certain to be found here; after all, whatever could expel such a strong aura was probably strong in itself, but not many people could travel vertically as quickly as he could. Still, he fingered his pocketknife instinctively.

[Serra Britt]

"Oh..OH!" Blushing again, she realized they were still right at the dock entrance. Feenai followed Jeanne to the area she had indicated, reluctantly letting go of her mental shields. She had done this at home, in her room, and already knew that she'd lose most of her nearby perception. "If you could just watch the surrounding area while I do this..?" Feenai trailed off.

Without actually waiting for a confirmation, she opened up her psychic connection to the Network and, as quickly as possible, found Holy Corinth's map. She picked off the first tavern location and noted it's position relative to the docks, then cut the connection and replaced her mental shields quickly. It just didn't feel right, hearing all those nearby thoughts all the time. I should practice filtering them, rather than shutting them all out I guess...

"So, it's nice to meet you," Feenai said, blushing slightly and sticking out her hand. "My name is Feenai, and a tavern is just a few minutes walk away. Shall we go?"

[Sage]

Jeanne made sure that nobody bothered Feenai, but most people weren't interested in anything other than their daily business. They went unbothered, and she was amazed at the speed with which her new aquaintance was able to gather information.

It seemed like only a few seconds had passed before Feenai was done and introducing herself. "Same to you, I'm Jeanne," she said, her French accent causing it to be pronounced more similar to John. "Let us." She took Feenai's hand cautiously, but after judging it no threat, relaxed. Then she began to walk.

[CupcakeDolly]

Studying them both again, Rue weighed her options. The white Kenyan made a better argument for himself, but she knew better than most that talk did little to reflect actual ability. On top of that, bullets could only get her so far. If all went as planned, she expected to be dealing with forces that could wipe bullets away like drops of water. In that case, another psychic might be helpful, if somewhat hindering until then. The choice was somewhat pressing, but she saw no reason why she couldn't reject or hire both options.

"I may choose to employ the aid of both," she said tentatively. "However, before that..." Rue turned and stared at the presence she had sensed intruding on them. "It seems we have more company to deal with."

[Funkduder]

"Did she get through my psy-block...or did I say that out loud..."

"No matter," Michael said conclusively, turning on his laser. He looked to the rooftop and pointed his weapon and shield towards the presence of another well built person. "Another mercenary from the woodwork?" he asked rhetorically.

[Espy]

Dante growled softly. He hadn't expected to have weapons, or what seemed like weapons, turned on him so quickly, and backed up a few paces more. Unconsciously, he pulled out a handgun with his left hand, still toying with the dagger with his right.

[Serra Britt]

Feenai led the way, letting Jeanne follow a short distance behind. John? My quick scan said this person was a girl... She shook her head slightly. It hardly matters either way.

After a few minutes they found the tavern, entered, and found a seat far enough from the door for Feenai to be comfortable, and waited for a server to come for their order. "John.." she started slowly, "what brings you to Holy Corinth?"

[Salone]

Lev retrained his gun on the possible assailant. With his free hand he pushed the girl closer towards the building, forcing the mystery person to expose himself even further if he was looking for her.

"You have business? Not tell me you are looking for employ. We fight already, over job."

Lev gave a disconcerting look towards the man's handgun, writing off the dagger he held for the possible ranged threat. The situation was quickly getting awkward, and having competition was doing nothing for Lev's hunger. Especially if this prospect was a more agile gun for hire.

"You put gun away. No need unless you use it now. That not your intention, I think. We have need of cool off, yes?"

[Suzerain of Sheol]

Shealtiel checks his MID once more while he walks, only to discover that the powerful signature is not only nearby, but has been joined by second, though the first dwarfs it. Only a few streets away, he quickens his pace, subconsciously letting a trickle of Sheol's power seep into his muscles and lungs, so that he will not get winded from the exertion.

Rounding a corner he comes to the end of an alley where three people are gathered -- no, make that four; the blind man from earlier is on one of the rooftops -- in what looks to be something of a standoff. Drawing himself up, approaches from behind the woman in the crimson cloak.

As she jerks her head around to see who else has disturbed their meeting, he raises his walking-stick, pointing to her.

"You... you are from Babylon." He feels her psychosis thunder into his mind, but it is a trivial thing to fill it with enough memories of horror to drown out his own paltry personal narrative.

"Oh, do not look at me like that, like I've somehow bested you. It doesn't take psychosis to notice the Whore's mark on you."

Lowering the walking stick, with a shrug he reaches under his left sleeve and casually presses the button on his MID to create a field of psychic static -- though with this one, she'll likely be able to overcome its effects, at least to a degree.

Stepping forward again, he says "Now, then. All of you, lower your weapons. As pathetic as they appear to be, the police forces of this city could still deal with the likes of you. And, you!" he called up to the blind man "come down from there!"

He leans against one of the buildings, never taking his eyes from the woman. "Now, then, my dear, shall we talk about the man you killed this morning?"

[Espy]

"From Babylon? A whore? Then I have just found my target!" Dante growled. Kicking off the roof, the bounty hunter flipped out the blade of his knife and made straight for the strong aura.

[Funkduder]

"Well it's true that I did want to stay here a while," thought Michael at the man's thought. The psychic static from the old man's device was messing with his psychic block that shielded his mind. "I won't be able to impose it on specific people, but I can still shield my own mind." Michael lowered the gun from the rooftop and brought it to his side as with his shield, but he didn't turn either off. "This man's dangerous," he thought. "And what about what he said about the girl. 'From Babylon' he said. Does that mean that she's working for Jez'ebel? Or does that mean..." His thoughts wandered off in a couple of directions as the men (and woman) in front of him continued until he saw the blind man jump down aiming straight for his employer. With a split second to act, he rammed the falling assailant with his shield, crashing both him and the blind man into a pile of potato sacks on the side of the ally.

[Espy]

Dante was caught unawares. Too focused on his goal, he'd failed to take into account the others.

Recovering his senses slightly, he kicked the man away from him and opened fire on the girl.

[Salone]

"Nyet!"

Lev threw his weight against the girl, Knocking her back towards the street as he took two shots directly to his front. In the heat of the moment his free hand found the hammer of his revolver, fanning it as shot after shot rang out. He stumbled back the way he had pushed the girl, sinking both in to the angry swarm of people that pressed in all directions after gunfire had been heard. He ducked low as he pushed her along, free hand pressing against one of his wounds. He needed something to divert their assailants.

With two more shots, Lev fired his pistol into the crowd towards the alley, sending a swarm of fleeing people towards it. In such chaos, there would be no way for them to follow in the streets.

[Espy]

Dante spat on the ground. In his mind's eye, he saw coins bouncing out of his reach, followed by a turkey dinner, a sandwich, a room at an inn...

"Hey, come on, I gotta eat, you know!" Dante yelled after what seemed to be a man helping his target. As if on cue, his stomach growled. No time to find my pills now... He had only taken a single step to give chase when the alley was flooded by townspeople.

Shit...I'm sure I look like murderer now... thought Dante to himself, not quite willing to stow his weapons. Two auras, one much stronger than the other, were still nearby.

Climbing a few windowsills and loose bricks, Dante made his way back onto the rooftops to better track what seemed like a powerful psychic.

[Suzerain of Sheol]

A stray bullet hit Shealtiel in the chest, but his Interdiction Badge caught it, absorbing the impact. Nonetheless, he deemed it prudent to flatted himself against the wall and get down. Granted, he could probably deal with all of them except the psychic if need be, but the cost to his health would be appalling, and he didn't want these people dead.

After the woman and her apparently newly-hired bodyguard escaped from the alley, Shealtiel hurried over to where the other man had crashed, noting that the blind man was escaping the alley. Extending his hand to him, he asked, "Are you injured?"