IV: The Airport

[andrew]

There's a crowd at Cairo International Airport, but it's light by most standards. It being 2:46 a.m. has a lot to do with that.

You go to a shop, one that's apparently open 24 hours, and buy a new phone. After your transaction, you turn around and begin to try it out when you see a tall blonde man, and another man, a red-head of average height, turn and duck around a corner. This being Cairo a blonde and red head aren't typical. And it seemed they were trying to prevent you from seeing them.

[marionarsis]

Jacob wonders if they were here waiting for him, although it's possible he didn't see them following him on the road. He activates the phone to make sure it works. He then downloads an app that makes his phone work like a mirror.

OOC: Such an app exists now, so I assume it exists in the future...?

Jacob then heads to the ticket counter to purchase a ticket to Washington, thinking furiously about what to do with his gun and the syringe.

OOC: I presume I still have my NDL identification. What would an NDL agent do if traveling with a gun? Approach someone in authority, and if so who? Or is it just not done? Or does Jacob even know?

[andrew]

You activate your newly bought cellphone, discovering it does, in fact, work. Tinkering around the interwebs, you download an app. that gives it a mirror-like functionality.

Next, you buy a ticket to Washington D.C. The earliest flight out is at 6:00 a.m., so you will have about two hours and fifteen minutes before boarding. The man at the counter offers to check-in your bags, but you tell him you have none, drawing a curious look.

In our future earth, we'll say you don't go through a metal detector until it's time to board your plane. So, you have a couple of hours to decide what to do. They will not allow you to board a commercial flight with a gun. Nope, not no way, not no how, regardless of who you are.

So, you have two hours. What will you do?

[marionarsis]

Jacob goes to the common area near his gate, and notes the location of the restrooms and a convenience shop. He goes to the restroom to wash his face . . . and while there, he takes notice of the sharps box -- the box where passengers can dispose of sharp objects such as insulin needles and razor blades. He mostly wants to make sure that one is there.

He also takes note of the bathroom stalls to make sure they have doors.

Once finished, he loiters in the convenience shop to see if he can notice his followers are still with him.

[andrew]

You go to the common area near your gate, and locate the restrooms. A little farther down the walkway is a convenience store, this one is not open. You go into the restroom and do, indeed, see a sharps box. Walking over to one of the sinks in the bank of sinks, you begin to wash your face...

You hear him in one of the stalls over the running water. You stop what you're doing. When he steps out, you see a short man, Anglo, about 5'5", slicked back black hair. He approaches the bank of sinks and begins to wash his hands next to you. He nods. "Hello."

[marionarsis]

Clearly not one of the guys Jacob had noticed earlier . . . but something makes him suspicious. He grunts something that could vaguely be interepreted as "hi," finishes quickly, and leaves the restroom to sit in the waiting area outside his gate.

[andrew]

Make a L1SR-LK.

[marionarsis]

09:25, Today: Jacob Fleury rolled 3 with the Tunnels & Trolls, Saving Throws system. Luck Saving Roll 

Ut-oh 

[andrew]

You turn to leave the bathroom, taking a step when you hear the man's voice. "Take another step and I'll blow your head off." Your sixth sense tells you the guy is all business, and means what he says. When you turn around, you see the black orifice of a Sig Sauer pointed at your chest, ready to spit instant death. A silencer is affixed to one end of the gun. The wire of an earpiece dangles from his right ear. You think about where you've seen a Sig before. There's a connection. The realization of what you're up against trickles like cold honey into your mind.

"Hand over the laptop," he says with a cool, steady voice. "We both know you're no hero. Don't be stupid, and try to be one."

You have the laptop with you, obviously not trusting anyone to leave it unattended in the common area of the airport. 

[marionarsis]

OOC:

1. How far away from him am I?

2. How far from turning a corner am I?

3. How accessible is the syringe?

4. How accessible is my pen/knife?

And here's why I am asking: I am contemplating the risks/rewards of (1) running, (2) trying to stab him with the syringe or knife, or (3) hitting him with the laptop.

[andrew]

<Jacob Fleury> 1. How far away from him am I?

About five feet.

<Jacob Fleury> 2. How far from turning a corner am I? 

About six feet.

<Jacob Fleury> 3. How accessible is the syringe? 

It's probably in a pocket inside your jacket.

<Jacob Fleury> 4. How accessible is my pen/knife? 

It's probably in a pocket inside your jacket.

<Jacob Fleury> And here's why I am asking: I am contemplating the risks/rewards of (1) running, (2) trying to stab him with the syringe or knife, or (3) hitting him with the laptop. 

Good luck! 

[marionarsis]

Jacob stalls a bit as he slowly closes the distance to the armed man. "OK, OK, no need to mess up the linoleum. But tell me . . . who do you work for?"

OOC: Ultimate objective is to get close enough to knock him upside the head with the computer. It's already in my hand (I presume) so I don't have to do something threatening like reach in my pocket.

[andrew]

Let's do this:

Take the average of your DX and SPD, which is 13, and make a L1SR on that number. Make it and you get close enough to the gunman to hit him with the laptop. If this happens make another roll...

...a 2d6 roll using the laptop as a melee weapon. Your goal is reduce his CON to 1 or below, knocking him out. His CON his 9. Miss the Saving Roll or fail to knock him out, he fires his gun.

[marionarsis]

Fleury inched closer as he spoke, then with a sudden move lifted his laptop to smash across the chin of the gunman.

10:32, Today: Jacob Fleury rolled 6 with the Tunnels & Trolls, Saving Throws system with rolls of 5 & 1.

Oy, another missed saving roll. 

[andrew]

You attempt to distract the gunman, and get in close to deliver a knockout blow. But he sees it coming, and wastes no time pointing and firing his gun.

The bullet tears into your stomach. The pain is intense and blood begins to pour from the wound. You drop to the ground, cupping the wound with your hands.

18:15, Today: The GM rolled 11 using with the Tunnels & Trolls, Saving Throws system with rolls 5,6. Shot from Gunman.
18:15, Today: The GM rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,4,4. Damage from from Gunman.

As you writhe in pain, near panic, the gunman pries the laptop away from you. "I oughta finish you off now," is all he says as he runs from the bathroom. As he does so, you hear him speak into a mouthpiece. "Got it---" he then bursts through the door, the rest of his words going unheard.

Darkness slowly surrounds you. Someone enters the bathroom, an airline passenger, and stunned, kneels next to you ... but so does the black shadow of eternal unconsciousnesses.

Will you wake up?

___________

The dice gods were not on your side at all. The gunman's DEX is 14, the SR required 25. He needed to roll an 11+ to hit you, and got it. The damage from his Sig puts your CON at -4. You're dying. 

You get a Megadeath LK saving roll to fight off death and persevere. The mission may be lost, but right now Jacob struggles to live. Since a lot of bad luck figured into your position here, and not so much poor play, the SR will L1. Make a L1SR-LK and Jacob lives. Miss, and... well, let's not think of that.