> >> She knocks softly on the door and then opens it. You see Lessa > >> sitting on a wooden chair behind a wooden table. She stands as > >> the door opens looking anxiously at the door. Relief floods her > >> face when she sees it is you and Sister Claire. > >> > >> Sister Claire says, "I hope Si Shultz will be able to help you, > >> my child." > > "Again thank you, Sister Claire," he says, giving a slight smile. > > >> " I will leave you two to talk.", then with a nod to Woof she > >> steps aside and pulls the door shut leaving Woof and Lessa in the > >> room together. Lessa looks like she has been crying, and Woof > >> sees that both of her hands are bandaged. > >> > >> "Woof." says Lessa, "I'm glad you came. My daughter's life > >> depends on your help." > > Woof takes a step towards her, and holds his hands out to her, "I'm > here, Lessa... You're hurt! How can I help you and help her? Tell > me what happened." Lessa sinks back into the wooden chair. There is another at the table and Woof sits down across from her. Lessa makes fists of her hands lying on the table in front of her and grimaces before beginning, "It all started just after I called you this afternoon...I was so happy." She sighs, and shaking her head draws in a deep breath then continues, "Got to keep it together." "A call came in on my private line. A video line." she looks down, "I watched as they killed Jim. They just *shot* him...and told me that they had my daughter." "Rachel." she looks up into Woof's eyes and he sees pain in them, "They said they had Rachel, *showed* me that they had her. Told me I had to do what they told me or they'd kill her." "Woof, they would, too. There's no question in my mind that they'll kill her if I don't do as I was told." she says, her voice cracking, "They didn't say I'd get Rachel back if I followed their instructions, only that they wouldn't kill her. If I didn't do as they...the voice...said, I'd see her again...like Jim..." "Oh my God!", she loses it, lowering her head into her hands and sobbing. Eris AKU GM
> > >> "Woof." says Lessa, "I'm glad you came. My daughter's life > > >> depends on your help." > > > > Woof takes a step towards her, and holds his hands out to her, "I'm > > here, Lessa... You're hurt! How can I help you and help her? Tell > > me what happened." > >Lessa sinks back into the wooden chair. There is another at the table >and Woof sits down across from her. > >Lessa makes fists of her hands lying on the table in front of her and >grimaces before beginning, "It all started just after I called you this >afternoon...I was so happy." He gives a slight smile and nod. >She sighs, and shaking her head draws in a deep breath then continues, >"Got to keep it together." > >"A call came in on my private line. A video line." she looks down, "I >watched as they killed Jim. They just *shot* him...and told me that they >had my daughter." "Khe... !" he softly curses in Vargr >"Rachel." she looks up into Woof's eyes and he sees pain in them, "They >said they had Rachel, *showed* me that they had her. Told me I had to do >what they told me or they'd kill her." "Lessa," Woof says, mind working furiously, but listening with his whole being. >"Woof, they would, too. There's no question in my mind that they'll kill >her if I don't do as I was told." she says, her voice cracking, "They >didn't say I'd get Rachel back if I followed their instructions, only >that they wouldn't kill her. If I didn't do as they...the voice...said, >I'd see her again...like Jim..." > >"Oh my God!", she loses it, lowering her head into her hands and sobbing. Woof comes around the table kneels beside her and puts his arms around her pulling her head into his shoulder. "Lessa, Lessa..." he rocks her until she regains control, saying her name softly. "Lessa, I'm not going to abandon you. We'll get them...and Rachel." He pulls her head back a little, looking into her eyes. "We'll get your daughter, Lessa. Tell me, do you know who they were? What do they want you to do?" Woof
Greg wrote: > > "Oh my God!", she loses it, lowering her head into her hands and > > sobbing. > Woof comes around the table kneels beside her and puts his arms > around her pulling her head into his shoulder. "Lessa, Lessa..." he > rocks her until she regains control, saying her name softly. "Lessa, > I'm not going to abandon you. Lesssa clings to Woof and sobs on his shoulders for a minute or more before she draws a deep breath and stops sobbing. > "We'll get them...and Rachel." He pulls her head back a little, > looking into her eyes. "We'll get your daughter, Lessa. Tell me, do > you know who they were? What do they want you to do?" She nods and her chin firms, "Yes, I'll get Rachel back. I WILL!" She pushes Woof back as she tries to compose herself "No, I don't know who they are, but I've got a very good idea who they are working for...." She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table toward Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to destroy *this* and then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was meant to kill me and destroy my notes, or at least to destroy the notes on the system in my office, but *I* got out and I had copies." The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and is held shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On it's cover Woof sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on Hayes and Burke". Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, put a really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it then Rachel is dead, so I can't use it." She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel back." Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She pulls a notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her voice, "Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch *this*, but I think maybe you should before committing to help me." She waits for Woof to answer... Eris AKU
> > > "Oh my God!", she loses it, lowering her head into her hands and > > > sobbing. > > > Woof comes around the table kneels beside her and puts his arms > > around her pulling her head into his shoulder. "Lessa, Lessa..." he > > rocks her until she regains control, saying her name softly. "Lessa, > > I'm not going to abandon you. > >Lesssa clings to Woof and sobs on his shoulders for a minute or more >before she draws a deep breath and stops sobbing. > > > "We'll get them...and Rachel." He pulls her head back a little, > > looking into her eyes. "We'll get your daughter, Lessa. Tell me, do > > you know who they were? What do they want you to do?" > >She nods and her chin firms, "Yes, I'll get Rachel back. I WILL!" Woof nods, admiring the steel of conviction in her voice. >She pushes Woof back as she tries to compose herself "No, I don't know >who they are, but I've got a very good idea who they are working for...." "Who?" he asks simply. >She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table toward >Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to destroy *this* and >then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was meant to kill me and destroy my >notes, or at least to destroy the notes on the system in my office, but >*I* got out and I had copies." "You were in your office when they blew it up?" he asks amazed at her. >The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and is held >shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On it's cover Woof >sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on Hayes and Burke". "Hayes and Burke?" he asks. Do these names mean anything to him? >Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, put a >really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it then Rachel is >dead, so I can't use it." "Not yet," he murmurs. >She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel back." > >Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She pulls a >notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. > >She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her voice, >"Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch *this*, but I think >maybe you should before committing to help me." > >She waits for Woof to answer... Woof places his hand on hers. "Let me see. I want to help you. This will probably help. And I want to know what it is all about. And what you've been thinking of doing. Let me see..." Woof
Greg wrote: > >>> "Oh my God!", she loses it, lowering her head into her hands > >>> and sobbing. > > > >> Woof comes around the table kneels beside her and puts his arms > >> around her pulling her head into his shoulder. "Lessa, Lessa..." > >> he rocks her until she regains control, saying her name softly. > >> "Lessa, I'm not going to abandon you. > > > > Lesssa clings to Woof and sobs on his shoulders for a minute or > > more before she draws a deep breath and stops sobbing. > > > >> "We'll get them...and Rachel." He pulls her head back a little, > >> looking into her eyes. "We'll get your daughter, Lessa. Tell me, > >> do you know who they were? What do they want you to do?" > > > > She nods and her chin firms, "Yes, I'll get Rachel back. I WILL!" > > Woof nods, admiring the steel of conviction in her voice. > > > She pushes Woof back as she tries to compose herself "No, I don't > > know who they are, but I've got a very good idea who they are > > working for...." > > "Who?" he asks simply. > > > She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table > > toward Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to destroy > > *this* and then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was meant to kill > > me and destroy my notes, or at least to destroy the notes on the > > system in my office, but *I* got out and I had copies." > > "You were in your office when they blew it up?" he asks amazed at > her. "Almost. I have been dead if I had been. I grabbed my bag and my notes and was just stepping into the lift when something exploded down the hall right outside my office door. It was something in the mail cart, I think." she says, "The doors closed and the lift went down and I got away." > > The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and is > > held shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On it's > > cover Woof sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on Hayes and > > Burke". > > "Hayes and Burke?" he asks. Do these names mean anything to him? No, they don't. > > Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, put a > > really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it then > > Rachel is dead, so I can't use it." > > "Not yet," he murmurs. > > > She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel > > back." > > > > Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She pulls > > a notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. > > > > She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her > > voice, "Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch *this*, > > but I think maybe you should before committing to help me." > > > > She waits for Woof to answer... > > Woof places his hand on hers. "Let me see. I want to help you. This > will probably help. And I want to know what it is all about. And > what you've been thinking of doing. Let me see..." Leesa hits a button on her computer and a picture resolves on her screen. It is a closeup of her 3 year old, Rachel. She stands and walks around where she can't see what is displayed on the screen. A digitized voice says, as it pulls back to show Rachel being held in someone's arms, "Leesa Kramer, we have your daughter." The woman is that is holding Rachel, is masked, and Woof's attention shifts as the camera continues to pull back showing, a man tied to a chair, a gag in his mouth. The voice continues, "You've been a naughty girl, poking your nose in where it doesn't belong. My employers are not amused." An arm, covered in red fur, appears to the side of the camera shot, raising a shotgun. Without warning there is a blast and the man is shot square in the chest. Blood flies everywhere and Rachel begins to scream. Then her scream is cut off when the woman holding her clamps a hand roughly over her mouth. "Now your *former* husband has paid the price." the digitized voice says calmly, "If a single word of your prying ever sees the light of day, Sianna Kramer, your *former* daughter will suffer the same fate." Leesa's fists are gripped tightly and her shoulders are shaking. She isn't watching, but Woof can tell she is again seeing all of this in her mind. "I assure you, the police will find all the evidence they need to arrest you for this, Sianna." says the voice, "Turn yourself in and suffer the consequences or run. We don't care. Just remember, if any of your notes become public you will see your daughter again...dead." The voice adds, "On the other hand, if you decide to be a good girl and keep your mouth shut your daughter will live. She is already on her way to a new life on a new world." The camera scene abruptly changes to a shot of Rachel being carried aboard a starship by a woman with long black hair. A man is walking beside her carrying two suitcases. You can't tell from the shot what the starship's name is, but it looks like the gangway to a smaller ship, not a passenger liner. "Say good bye to Rachel, Sianna Kramer." the digitized voice says, then the connection is cut and the screen goes blank. Woof can hear Lessa breathing in the silence of the room. Eris AKU GM
> > > She nods and her chin firms, "Yes, I'll get Rachel back. I WILL!" > > > > Woof nods, admiring the steel of conviction in her voice. > > > > > She pushes Woof back as she tries to compose herself "No, I don't > > > know who they are, but I've got a very good idea who they are > > > working for...." > > > > "Who?" he asks simply. > > > > > She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table > > > toward Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to destroy > > > *this* and then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was meant to kill > > > me and destroy my notes, or at least to destroy the notes on the > > > system in my office, but *I* got out and I had copies." > > > > "You were in your office when they blew it up?" he asks amazed at > > her. > >"Almost. I have been dead if I had been. I grabbed my bag and my notes >and was just stepping into the lift when something exploded down the >hall right outside my office door. It was something in the mail cart, I >think." she says, "The doors closed and the lift went down and I got away." "Thank god..." Woof says softly. > > > The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and is > > > held shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On it's > > > cover Woof sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on Hayes and > > > Burke". > > > > "Hayes and Burke?" he asks. Do these names mean anything to him? > >No, they don't. > > > > Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, put a > > > really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it then > > > Rachel is dead, so I can't use it." > > > > "Not yet," he murmurs. > > > > > She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel > > > back." > > > > > > Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She pulls > > > a notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. > > > > > > She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her > > > voice, "Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch *this*, > > > but I think maybe you should before committing to help me." > > > > > > She waits for Woof to answer... > > > > Woof places his hand on hers. "Let me see. I want to help you. This > > will probably help. And I want to know what it is all about. And > > what you've been thinking of doing. Let me see..." > >Leesa hits a button on her computer and a picture resolves on her >screen. It is a closeup of her 3 year old, Rachel. "Beautiful girl..." he says, watching. He notices Lessa move beyond sight. >She stands and walks around where she can't see what is displayed on the >screen. > >A digitized voice says, as it pulls back to show Rachel being held in >someone's arms, "Leesa Kramer, we have your daughter." Any chance of recognizing the voice? Any accent? >The woman is that is holding Rachel, is masked, and Woof's attention >shifts as the camera continues to pull back showing, a man tied to a >chair, a gag in his mouth. > >The voice continues, "You've been a naughty girl, poking your nose in >where it doesn't belong. My employers are not amused." > >An arm, covered in red fur, appears to the side of the camera shot, >raising a shotgun. Without warning there is a blast and the man is shot >square in the chest. Blood flies everywhere and Rachel begins to scream. >Then her scream is cut off when the woman holding her clamps a hand >roughly over her mouth. "Goddamnit!" he says in Vargr, starting at the shot. "No..." >"Now your *former* husband has paid the price." the digitized voice says >calmly, "If a single word of your prying ever sees the light of day, >Sianna Kramer, your *former* daughter will suffer the same fate." > >Leesa's fists are gripped tightly and her shoulders are shaking. She >isn't watching, but Woof can tell she is again seeing all of this in her >mind. Woof's hands mirror hers, clenched in rage. >"I assure you, the police will find all the evidence they need to arrest >you for this, Sianna." says the voice, "Turn yourself in and suffer the >consequences or run. We don't care. Just remember, if any of your notes >become public you will see your daughter again...dead." > >The voice adds, "On the other hand, if you decide to be a good girl and >keep your mouth shut your daughter will live. She is already on her way >to a new life on a new world." > >The camera scene abruptly changes to a shot of Rachel being carried >aboard a starship by a woman with long black hair. A man is walking >beside her carrying two suitcases. You can't tell from the shot what the >starship's name is, but it looks like the gangway to a smaller ship, not >a passenger liner. Recognize any of them? Where was the ship? Look at the background. Recognize the port? >"Say good bye to Rachel, Sianna Kramer." the digitized voice says, then >the connection is cut and the screen goes blank. > >Woof can hear Lessa breathing in the silence of the room. Woof quietly closes the laptop. He comes and stands behind Lessa, and wraps his arms around her, supporting her, letting her know he's there. "Oh Lessa... How did this happen? Tell me what this is all about." Woof
Greg wrote: > >>> She pushes a brown cardboard folder that is lying on the table > >>> toward Woof and says, "...and what they want me to do is to > >>> destroy *this* and then die. I'm sure that bomb at MNN was > >>> meant to kill me and destroy my notes, or at least to destroy > >>> the notes on the system in my office, but *I* got out and I had > >>> copies." > >> > >> "You were in your office when they blew it up?" he asks amazed at > >> her. > > > > "Almost. I'd have been dead if I had been. I grabbed my bag and my > > notes and was just stepping into the lift when something exploded > > down the hall right outside my office door. It was something in the > > mail cart, I think." she says, "The doors closed and the lift went > > down and I got away." > > "Thank god..." Woof says softly. > > >>> The cardboard folder has a flap to hold its contents inside and > >>> is held shut with a dark red cloth string tied into a bow. On > >>> it's cover Woof sees printed in Lessa's neat hand, "Notes on > >>> Hayes and Burke". > >> > >> "Hayes and Burke?" he asks. Do these names mean anything to him? > > > > No, they don't. > > > >>> Lessa says, "I have enough here to clear myself and, I think, > >>> put a really big crimp into the Guild's plans, but if I use it > >>> then Rachel is dead, so I can't use it." > >> > >> "Not yet," he murmurs. > >> > >>> She adds with a hard glint in her eyes, "Not until I get Rachel > >>> back." > >>> > >>> Lessa reaches under the table and picks up her large bag. She > >>> pulls a notebook computer from it and lays it on the table. > >>> > >>> She opens the lid and then stops and says with emotion in her > >>> voice, "Woof, I'll understand if you don't want to watch > >>> *this*, but I think maybe you should before committing to help > >>> me." > >>> > >>> She waits for Woof to answer... > >> > >> Woof places his hand on hers. "Let me see. I want to help you. > >> This will probably help. And I want to know what it is all about. > >> And what you've been thinking of doing. Let me see..." > > > > Leesa hits a button on her computer and a picture resolves on her > > screen. It is a closeup of her 3 year old, Rachel. > > "Beautiful girl..." he says, watching. He notices Lessa move beyond > sight. > > > She stands and walks around where she can't see what is displayed > > on the screen. > > > > A digitized voice says, as it pulls back to show Rachel being held > > in someone's arms, "Leesa Kramer, we have your daughter." > > Any chance of recognizing the voice? Any accent? No, the voice has been digitally altered. You can't tell anything about it from just hearing. There might be some software that could make something of it, but you don't know for sure one way or another. > > The woman that is holding Rachel, is masked, and Woof's > > attention shifts as the camera continues to pull back showing, a > > man tied to a chair, a gag in his mouth. > > > > The voice continues, "You've been a naughty girl, poking your nose > > in where it doesn't belong. My employers are not amused." > > > > An arm, covered in red fur, appears to the side of the camera shot, > > raising a shotgun. Without warning there is a blast and the man is > > shot square in the chest. Blood flies everywhere and Rachel begins > > to scream. Then her scream is cut off when the woman holding her > > clamps a hand roughly over her mouth. > > "Goddamnit!" he says in Vargr, starting at the shot. "No..." > > > "Now your *former* husband has paid the price." the digitized voice > > says calmly, "If a single word of your prying ever sees the light > > of day, Sianna Kramer, your *former* daughter will suffer the same > > fate." > > > > Leesa's fists are gripped tightly and her shoulders are shaking. > > She isn't watching, but Woof can tell she is again seeing all of > > this in her mind. > > Woof's hands mirror hers, clenched in rage. > > > "I assure you, the police will find all the evidence they need to > > arrest you for this, Sianna." says the voice, "Turn yourself in and > > suffer the consequences or run. We don't care. Just remember, if > > any of your notes become public you will see your daughter > > again...dead." > > > > The voice adds, "On the other hand, if you decide to be a good girl > > and keep your mouth shut your daughter will live. She is already on > > her way to a new life on a new world." > > > > The camera scene abruptly changes to a shot of Rachel being carried > > aboard a starship by a woman with long black hair. A man is > > walking beside her carrying two suitcases. You can't tell from the > > shot what the starship's name is, but it looks like the gangway to > > a smaller ship, not a passenger liner. > > Recognize any of them? Where was the ship? Look at the background. > Recognize the port? You *think* it is the Mark Starport, and it is probably a small ship, clearly under 600 dtons. From the lighting you'd say it was mid-day when this was shot. Mid-day puts it several hours before the call was placed to Lessa and the bomb went off. > > "Say good bye to Rachel, Sianna Kramer." the digitized voice says, > > then the connection is cut and the screen goes blank. > > > > Woof can hear Lessa breathing in the silence of the room. > > Woof quietly closes the laptop. He comes and stands behind Lessa, > and wraps his arms around her, supporting her, letting her know he's > there. > > "Oh Lessa... How did this happen? Tell me what this is all about." "I was doing research for a story." she says, "A story on the Spacer's Guild. How it has infiltrated the governments on other systems and corrupted them, and how it is trying to do the same thing here. I guess I wasn't as careful about covering my tracks as I thought I was. They must have found out what I was doing and..." She breaks down into sobs again. Eris AKU GM
> > > An arm, covered in red fur, appears to the side of the camera shot, > > > raising a shotgun. Without warning there is a blast and the man is > > > shot square in the chest. Blood flies everywhere and Rachel begins > > > to scream. Then her scream is cut off when the woman holding her > > > clamps a hand roughly over her mouth. > > > > "Goddamnit!" he says in Vargr, starting at the shot. "No..." > > > > > "Now your *former* husband has paid the price." the digitized voice > > > says calmly, "If a single word of your prying ever sees the light > > > of day, Sianna Kramer, your *former* daughter will suffer the same > > > fate." > > > > > > Leesa's fists are gripped tightly and her shoulders are shaking. > > > She isn't watching, but Woof can tell she is again seeing all of > > > this in her mind. > > > > Woof's hands mirror hers, clenched in rage. > > > > > "I assure you, the police will find all the evidence they need to > > > arrest you for this, Sianna." says the voice, "Turn yourself in and > > > suffer the consequences or run. We don't care. Just remember, if > > > any of your notes become public you will see your daughter > > > again...dead." > > > > > > The voice adds, "On the other hand, if you decide to be a good girl > > > and keep your mouth shut your daughter will live. She is already on > > > her way to a new life on a new world." > > > > > > The camera scene abruptly changes to a shot of Rachel being carried > > > aboard a starship by a woman with long black hair. A man is > > > walking beside her carrying two suitcases. You can't tell from the > > > shot what the starship's name is, but it looks like the gangway to > > > a smaller ship, not a passenger liner. > > > > Recognize any of them? Where was the ship? Look at the background. > > Recognize the port? > >You *think* it is the Mark Starport, and it is probably a small ship, >clearly under 600 dtons. From the lighting you'd say it was mid-day when >this was shot. Mid-day puts it several hours before the call was placed >to Lessa and the bomb went off. I have contacts there who can track down what ships left when...and their posted destinations... Pick-axe comes to mind...local muscle, etc. > > > "Say good bye to Rachel, Sianna Kramer." the digitized voice says, > > > then the connection is cut and the screen goes blank. > > > > > > Woof can hear Lessa breathing in the silence of the room. > > > > Woof quietly closes the laptop. He comes and stands behind Lessa, > > and wraps his arms around her, supporting her, letting her know he's > > there. > > > > "Oh Lessa... How did this happen? Tell me what this is all about." > >"I was doing research for a story." she says, "A story on the Spacer's >Guild. How it has infiltrated the governments on other systems and >corrupted them, and how it is trying to do the same thing here. I guess >I wasn't as careful about covering my tracks as I thought I was. They >must have found out what I was doing and..." > >She breaks down into sobs again. He holds her as she sobs. "You know you were on the right track. Those bastards!" Woof thinks. "I think some of my partners have some experience with the Guild. I hear they are determined to get markets open. And I have some contacts at the port, maybe...maybe I can find out what ships lifted when..." Woof.
