banana It's Saturday night.. and the pressure is on! Though ...

explain.. <strong>and</strong> vague allusions to a terrible afterlife.What does *that* add up to? The small, tastefulgargoyles of <strong>the</strong> waiting room stare down at <strong>the</strong> waitingGangrel.Ferrinus Yes, yes, try to trap Khas in a vinculum. Soon, yourtransformation into Luca will be complete. Ei<strong>the</strong>r way,Khas sits back in <strong>the</strong> couch, staring morosely up at <strong>the</strong>most interesting gargoyle in view <strong>and</strong> mulling over wha<strong>the</strong>'s heard.dammitwho "You are all right, mamma?" Sarah suddenly feels veryawkward in front of her sire.ITS NOT MY FAULT YOU HAVE TERRIBLE POSTURE, DRAGON<strong>banana</strong> Elsewhere, elsewhen, Dietrich's restraining a Carthianvampire - barely more than a teenage girl. She's go<strong>the</strong>r head tw<strong>is</strong>ted around, trying to stare at himdefiantly, but doesn't have <strong>the</strong> upper body strength tobreak free. She's also just claimed that <strong>the</strong> answers hewants are at "<strong>the</strong> Bunker", <strong>and</strong> that she'd be happy toshow him <strong>the</strong>re. Whe<strong>the</strong>r it's a good idea...Ferrinus Constant post-mortem torment. But <strong>the</strong> Countess wasn'tdead, was she? She was pinned to her body by whatevermagic <strong>the</strong> Invictus must be hiding up its sleeve - thatcan't be pleasant, surely. Explains it neatly.<strong>banana</strong> Vermella, wearily: "Yes. I do not enjoy <strong>the</strong> idea of a..*quest*, for such macabre treasures, through <strong>the</strong> nooks<strong>and</strong> fjords.. but it might be worthwhile.""It will take up a great deal of my time for <strong>the</strong>forseeable future, to arrange <strong>and</strong> manage th<strong>is</strong>.. you maybe on your own a lot, Sara mia."dammitwho "I have been on my own for most of my life, mamma. Iwill manage."Nicolae Dietrich has lowered h<strong>is</strong> stake away from <strong>the</strong> girl'scardiac region, but h<strong>is</strong> arms still hold her in place."The Bunker, you say. You know, that doesn't reallysound like a place I want to go into with you alone."dammitwho "Speaking of which, a few kine who knew me before...before you found me have come into town. They have comewith o<strong>the</strong>rs, Americans, who say that <strong>the</strong>y are bountyhunters of some sort looking for 'dangerous men'. Ithink <strong>the</strong>y hunt Kindred."dammitwho "I do not think <strong>the</strong>y know yet what I have become, but<strong>the</strong>y gave me th<strong>is</strong>. Do you recognize it?" Sarah holds<strong>the</strong> business card up for <strong>the</strong> Countess to see.<strong>banana</strong> The Carthian - she must be ei<strong>the</strong>r Sara or Meghen -shrugs. "Feel free to bring friends, imperial<strong>is</strong>tlackey. We're not afraid of numbers."<strong>banana</strong> Vermella frowns, <strong>the</strong>n pales as she looks over <strong>the</strong> card.Shocked for a moment out of her reflexive Invictus

mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaemattbaby<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhomattbaby<strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong>keeping up of appearances, she stops breathing <strong>and</strong> herface goes <strong>the</strong> white of <strong>the</strong> grave.Contessa: "I.. I've seen a symbol very much like it.The bird was not <strong>the</strong> same, not styl<strong>is</strong>ed like that, but<strong>the</strong> depiction of a Camarilla shield, crushed beneathit.. yes.""You're right. They'd be.. hunters."Ah yes, of course. The Crones.That puts <strong>the</strong> l<strong>is</strong>t, <strong>the</strong>n, at: Anton's Assemblycontacts, h<strong>is</strong> secretary, h<strong>is</strong> financial-servicescontacts, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Crones."Imperial<strong>is</strong>t... what?" Dietrich mulls that over in h<strong>is</strong>head. "I'm no imperial<strong>is</strong>t, I'm an... entrepreneur. Withan unorthodox but highly valued skill set." He grins alittle as he composes some ad copy for himself on <strong>the</strong>spot. Then h<strong>is</strong> face grows colder. "Tell me th<strong>is</strong>, littlegirl. If you <strong>and</strong> your Carthian friends have known th<strong>is</strong>,why didn't you do anything about it? There are a lot ofpeople who'd be interested in knowing that information.Or just deal with <strong>the</strong> problem yourself."Coincidentally, Anton happens to remember finding <strong>the</strong>access codes to <strong>the</strong>ir computer network lying around onthat first <strong>night</strong>. If <strong>the</strong>y had influence with <strong>the</strong>Council <strong>and</strong> Assembly, those codes could be h<strong>is</strong> ace-in<strong>the</strong>-hole.SOme of <strong>the</strong>m mgiht even explain <strong>the</strong> odditieshe remembered from meeting that Assemblywoman."Dealing with <strong>the</strong> problem," Sara/Meghen points outreasonably, "<strong>is</strong> what we were doing before you burstinto <strong>the</strong> room, destroyed property, <strong>and</strong> nearly stakedme. You're <strong>the</strong> one dem<strong>and</strong>ing evidence at doorwaypoint.""I suspected so, though I do not think <strong>the</strong>y know what Ihave become. Who are <strong>the</strong>y? They say that <strong>the</strong>y haveconnections with <strong>the</strong> American government, but thatcannot be right. Surely we would all be burning now ifthat were true."Anton idly considers <strong>the</strong> possibility of simply stealingsomething valuable <strong>and</strong> blackmailing <strong>the</strong>m with it.Cajones.Vermella doesn't sound as worried. "That's veryd<strong>is</strong>turbing, but.. it can't actually be true. I'd assumeit's a lie. Come parla! We'd be dead already. Put thatpart of it behind us. Where I have seen <strong>the</strong> symbolbefore was not in a government-related capacity.""These hunters were associated with <strong>the</strong> Lu<strong>the</strong>ranchurch.. paramilitaries who knew very little butsuspected much more. I dealt with <strong>the</strong>m in Bremen,once."Is Anton calling anyone, <strong>the</strong>n? Or.. calling everyone?!

dammitwhomattbabyNicolaemattbaby<strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>dammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>"Bremen... interesting. I notice <strong>the</strong> Valkyrie, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong>ir presence here in Soroya where <strong>the</strong>re are so manyof <strong>the</strong> Old Men. Coincidence?"Of course, he would still need some way to find <strong>the</strong>computers <strong>the</strong> codes were on. Of course, <strong>the</strong>y were on anetwork of some kind - that was how he found <strong>the</strong>m in<strong>the</strong> first place, after all, but he'll need to make sure<strong>the</strong> signal <strong>is</strong> good...Dietrich narrows h<strong>is</strong> eyes at <strong>the</strong> girl, <strong>and</strong> brieflyconsiders just staking her on general principle. Helooks pensive for a few moments. "Why would you offerto take me to <strong>the</strong> Bunker? Why let someone else in on<strong>the</strong> secret? I get <strong>the</strong> impression you wanted th<strong>is</strong> to bea Carthians Only operation."<strong>It's</strong> after mid<strong>night</strong> - calling Tex might be apropos, butcalling <strong>the</strong> Crones or Assemblywoman would tip h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>for sure.Vermella motions with her eyelid, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> butler-ghoulturns <strong>the</strong> platter, shaking her head. "I don't know.<strong>It's</strong> worth investigating. I will bring th<strong>is</strong> to <strong>the</strong>attention of <strong>the</strong> Primogen Council, too - unless youprefer me not to for now?"The wireless network Anton originally accessed waswaaaayy out in <strong>the</strong> middle of nowhere, off <strong>the</strong> beatentrack - he never found <strong>the</strong> actual source of <strong>the</strong> signal,but it was definitely near a glade where <strong>the</strong> Acolyteshad been performing rituals.No - he would have to wait to call Tex. Perhaps, waituntil he found something...What's left, <strong>the</strong>n or who?"I had not wanted to tell <strong>the</strong>m before I knew whe<strong>the</strong>r<strong>the</strong>y were some catspaw of ano<strong>the</strong>r Kindred. Now... yes,<strong>the</strong> Primogen should know."Vermella: "I'm certain <strong>the</strong>y're not - imagine <strong>the</strong>*wrath* that symbol would invite!"An excellent question. If only <strong>the</strong>re was someone hecould call for advice on things of th<strong>is</strong> sort. Covert,electronic blackmail seemed to make <strong>the</strong> most sense, butit also involved a degree of physical danger. He wasreluctant to confront whatever it was that had seared<strong>the</strong> minds of those mercenaries. But what were <strong>the</strong> oddsof encountering it??Sara/Meghen shrugs again. "Two reasons. One,proselyt<strong>is</strong>ing. You look like a chea.. like someone downon <strong>the</strong>ir luck, to me. You could st<strong>and</strong> to hear about ourbetter ways of doing things. Two, you've got a stake tomy heart."She must be older than she looks, or fear has given her

eason.mattbaby Tires screech as <strong>the</strong> Lamborghini leaps forward for <strong>the</strong>highway out of town. It was time to return to where ithad all begun...dammitwho "Good. I had intended to give th<strong>is</strong> card to Mr. Khas, sothat he might ask among <strong>the</strong> Dragons about anyconnection between <strong>the</strong>se hunters <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old Men. Th<strong>is</strong>was when I knew nothing of <strong>the</strong>m. Unless you think itunw<strong>is</strong>e...?"<strong>banana</strong> The only people that come to Anton's mind who knowabout covert surveillance or blackmail of Kindred areSimon Peter.. <strong>and</strong> Sarah Thalmann. He's seen her spy,after all, on <strong>the</strong> camp he's heading towards now.mattbaby She could perhaps be of some ass<strong>is</strong>tance here. Theautodialer spools up. Ring Ring, Sarah...<strong>banana</strong> At <strong>the</strong> Incessant, on <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> dance floor -smoky air, d<strong>is</strong>co lights, dampened music. AnatoliGrigorivich <strong>is</strong> in.. someone's element, on a lea<strong>the</strong>rsofa.<strong>banana</strong> Why take your h<strong>and</strong>s off <strong>the</strong> wheel if you don't need to,after all.Nicolae Dietrich also shrugs. Technically, <strong>the</strong> stake's not a<strong>the</strong>r head anymore. Just sort of, you know, in a placewhere it could be heart-located very quickly ifnecessary. "All right. If it's true... I definitelywant to know more. And if it's false, <strong>and</strong> you've gotsome crazy trap in mind, well... I've dealt withworse." He grins. "But I am going to bring backup."Vermain And he's not looking like h<strong>is</strong> usual cheerful self,ei<strong>the</strong>r. He -hates- d<strong>is</strong>co lights. Still, at least he'saway from Everything for a while, which <strong>is</strong> a nicechange of pace.Nicolae Well, it's not at her heart anymore, ei<strong>the</strong>r.<strong>banana</strong> It would definitely d<strong>is</strong>orient someone, though, to havea chunk of splintered doorframe rammed through <strong>the</strong>irbrain.Nicolae He looks at <strong>the</strong> girl, <strong>and</strong> loosens h<strong>is</strong> grip, enough tosuggest he <strong>is</strong> maybe considering letting her go. "If Ilet you go, am I going to regret it? I'm feeling muchless inclined to get violent with you... for now."<strong>banana</strong> Meghen: "I'm not crazy enough to take on a guy withmuscles three times my size <strong>and</strong> a face like a bulldog.I'm Meghen, nice to meet you, shall we start things offagain?"She has a very, very faint accent, but speaks Engl<strong>is</strong>hwell.Nicolae Dietrich nods, <strong>and</strong> releases <strong>the</strong> girl. "My name <strong>is</strong>Dietrich. Sorry about <strong>the</strong> door."

VermainNicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>dammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermaindammitwhoNicolaeThe whole last month has been somewhat of a blur forAnatoli. After <strong>the</strong> Manion incident, he reported back,faithful a hound as ever, <strong>and</strong> now... well, what -now-?H<strong>is</strong> sire was looking awfully perky for someone who wasnearly destroyed by a yeti, <strong>and</strong> for someone who wascamped up in <strong>the</strong> cellar of <strong>the</strong> Dragon's academy. Which,of course, only brought <strong>the</strong> fur<strong>the</strong>r question of why hewas <strong>the</strong>re to mind.He looks down at <strong>the</strong> splintered doorframe in h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>."Ah, yeah..." He shrugs.All in all, Anatoli has an armful of questions <strong>and</strong> fewanswers. And <strong>the</strong> d<strong>is</strong>co lights are only fur<strong>the</strong>ring <strong>the</strong>descent of h<strong>is</strong> mood.Vermella flickers eyelids, <strong>the</strong> butler makes her shrug."On matters like th<strong>is</strong>, I think ANY sane Kindred will beon <strong>the</strong> same side as us."She's about to say more, but at that moment your phonerings.Sarah looks apologetic at her sire, <strong>the</strong>n flips open herphone. "Yes."Anatoli's been left with more questions than answers,but also few responsibilities. As <strong>the</strong> Prince's..whatever he <strong>is</strong>, he's got free accomodation <strong>and</strong> neverhas trouble hunting - boredom <strong>is</strong> almost a problem.People seem slightly scared of him, <strong>and</strong> Luca Sillovir<strong>is</strong> h<strong>is</strong> main conversational<strong>is</strong>t. She's here to<strong>night</strong>,somewhere, but not on th<strong>is</strong> sofa."M<strong>is</strong>s Thalmann. <strong>It's</strong> Anton. Do you have a moment?"Meghen takes a couple of shaky steps back, getting awayfrom your presence enough to calm her Beast. "Right.Okay, shall we go, <strong>the</strong>n? Th<strong>is</strong> place <strong>is</strong>n't verycomfortable with that hole.""Right. First I want to make a call. Where should Imeet my backup?" he asks, getting out h<strong>is</strong> cell.Anatoli <strong>is</strong>, frankly, a bit relieved. As charmed as he<strong>is</strong> with Luca, he's found her starting to be a bitgrating on him. Perhaps it's merely <strong>the</strong> fact that sheseems to be <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r end of <strong>the</strong> conversation moreoften than not, or how often she's interested in bloodtoasts. But <strong>the</strong>re's very few o<strong>the</strong>r people who seem tobe willing to converse with Anatoli, or, perhaps, justput up with h<strong>is</strong> bad accent.<strong>It's</strong> Lady Thalmann, you god-damned nouveau richeglorified accountant. "M<strong>is</strong>ter Chernovic! I'm sure I canspare some time for you. What <strong>is</strong> it?" she sayspolitely.Dietrich looks over at Meghen, <strong>and</strong> dials a number,looking at her out of <strong>the</strong> corner of h<strong>is</strong> eye. He hopes

ananaFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermainmattbabyNicolaeVermaindammitwhomattbabyNicolaeAnatoli <strong>is</strong>n't getting up to... whatever <strong>the</strong> fuck it <strong>is</strong>he gets up to.Russian speakers seem to be rare in <strong>the</strong> mainstream ofSørøyan society. As far as Anatoli's heard, <strong>the</strong>re aresubcommunities.. especially in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>ast of town,Russian suburbs, Russian bars, Russian supermarkets..<strong>the</strong>y keep to <strong>the</strong>mselves.Khas actually speaks Russian, although he's willing tobet <strong>the</strong> gargoyle across from him doesn't. He'scurrently got a notebook <strong>and</strong> pen out <strong>and</strong> <strong>is</strong> scribblingidly while thinking to himself, trying to work out someof <strong>the</strong> implications of h<strong>is</strong> interview with <strong>the</strong> Countess.The Grigorivich cellphone <strong>is</strong> ringing. <strong>It's</strong> not one of<strong>the</strong> usual numbers, though, but something he must haveadded hastily <strong>and</strong> forgotten about - <strong>the</strong> caller id justsays 'D'.Not even a 'Deet'?That's cold, bro<strong>the</strong>r.Even for Soroyan undead....sort of like Kindred, ironically enough. Anatolifinally shakes h<strong>is</strong> head, h<strong>is</strong> rambling train of metathoughtfinally ending as <strong>the</strong> hum <strong>and</strong> bustle of Elysium- <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ringing of <strong>the</strong> Grigorophone - brings him backto reality."I was hoping to ask if you could lend some of yourexpert<strong>is</strong>e at some point To<strong>night</strong>, as a personal favor. Iapologize for <strong>the</strong> short notice, of course, <strong>and</strong> I wouldunderst<strong>and</strong> completely if you can't...""Anatoli? <strong>It's</strong> Dietrich, from <strong>the</strong> thing with <strong>the</strong>ghosts. Yeah. Hey. I kind of have a favor to ask."Anatoli spends a few moments blinking, h<strong>is</strong> undead mindtaking a few moments to reg<strong>is</strong>ter before h<strong>is</strong> face breaksinto recognition. "Ah, yes! Comrade Dietrich. I, eh,hope you are doing well? I am apologizing for leavingso quickly, but <strong>the</strong>re was, eh... matters, yes? What amI doing for you?"Sarah has already made her apologies to <strong>the</strong> Countess<strong>and</strong> <strong>is</strong> on her way back to Adrian. Busy busy busy... "Myexpert<strong>is</strong>e? On what subject?""Electronics, in fact. I underst<strong>and</strong> you're something ofan expert."Dietrich thinks for a minute. How should he put th<strong>is</strong>..."I've just been offered evidence of... well, somethingthat would interest a lot of people. My boss, yourboss... The problem <strong>is</strong>, it's in some place <strong>the</strong>Carthians call 'The Bunker', <strong>and</strong>, well--" He slips intoRussian briefly, glancing at Meghen.

dammitwhoNicolaedammitwhoFerrinusVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>NicolaedammitwhoVermainEngl<strong>is</strong>h. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to comealong.""I dabble, but if you're looking for someone to rewireyour haven I fear you're barking up <strong>the</strong> wrong tree.Anything particular in mind?""As backup. In case <strong>the</strong>re's some shit <strong>and</strong> it startsgetting close to some fans."Barring interruptions, Sarah will have reached Adrian<strong>and</strong> silently gestured him to follow her back to <strong>the</strong>car. Yeah, she's gonna talk on <strong>the</strong> phone while takingher guest home, he's a Poor.There's a pretty amateur<strong>is</strong>hly-drawn wolf taking shapeon <strong>the</strong> bottom of Khas's notepad now, <strong>and</strong> as he gazesimpassively at it he realizes he can't remember a damnthing. And he's certainly never seen one, or at leastnever seen one to h<strong>is</strong> knowledge. He'll have to hit <strong>the</strong>books - after getting in touch with S<strong>and</strong>ra, anyway.Adrian blinks when he notices Sarah's approach, <strong>and</strong>r<strong>is</strong>es to follow her back to wherever he can retrieve <strong>is</strong>coat <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n to wherever her vehicle <strong>is</strong>.Anatoli sighs dryly from h<strong>is</strong> nose, quietly enough so asto not let it pass through <strong>the</strong> cellphone, respondingwith h<strong>is</strong> usual cheerfulness. "Ah, very good, comrade.Just Carthians, yes? It <strong>is</strong> not big problem. Where am I,eh, meeting you?""Gimme a sec." He looks at Meghen. "Where am I meetinghim?"Meghen: "Somewhere on <strong>the</strong> way to <strong>the</strong> Test Zone, but whoare you telling th<strong>is</strong> to?""No, actually. I've heard you're pretty good attracking down <strong>and</strong> locking up leads - surveillance,remote network access, that sort of thing. I've got afew leads I'm tracking down. After that meeting - well,<strong>the</strong>re's a time factor involved <strong>is</strong> all."What used to be a couple of small towns on <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rnborder of <strong>the</strong> M<strong>and</strong>ate, used for nuclear testing back in<strong>the</strong> 60s, are generally referred to as <strong>the</strong> Test Zone<strong>the</strong>se days.. it was very low-intensity, butnever<strong>the</strong>less a concrete wall marks <strong>the</strong> boundary of <strong>the</strong>potentially-hazardous-to-humans zone."My friend Anatoli. He's good with a gun or two. Don'tworry, Meghen, I'm sure he won't start anything.""Interesting. Well, I do have a fairly tight itinerary<strong>the</strong>se <strong>night</strong>s, but I'm sure I can reschedule. As afavor. I do have a few things to take care of at <strong>the</strong>moment, when <strong>and</strong> where shall we meet?"And now <strong>the</strong> glorified accountant owes me one. Good.If events surrounding Anatoli are any indication,

ananaNicolaemattbabyNicolaedammitwho<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusNicolae<strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhothough, things just generally start around him -without- him actually doing anything.Well, people seem to request him when <strong>the</strong>y think <strong>the</strong>remight be trouble..Much like Dietrich."How about on <strong>the</strong> outskirts of town? I appreciate th<strong>is</strong>,by <strong>the</strong> way."Anton suggests a location off <strong>the</strong> highway not too farfrom <strong>the</strong> ritual locationDietrich has a general idea of where <strong>the</strong> Test Zone <strong>is</strong><strong>and</strong> how to get <strong>the</strong>re. He arranges a meeting point along<strong>the</strong> way with Meghen <strong>and</strong> Anatoli... unless <strong>the</strong>Storyteller would prefer someplace significant, it'sprobably on a r<strong>and</strong>om street corner."Very good. I will meet you <strong>the</strong>re." Unless Anton hassome last-minute message to impart, Sarah hangs up.<strong>It's</strong> not in prec<strong>is</strong>ely <strong>the</strong> same direction, although <strong>the</strong>Test Zone <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blackwater camp *are* both broadly"to <strong>the</strong> south". You travel, <strong>the</strong>n, without any m<strong>is</strong>hap.Over <strong>the</strong> ride, once Sarah's fin<strong>is</strong>hed speaking:"So...did <strong>the</strong> Countess know anything?"We're all going to die, aren't we. I mean, again.Anatoli doesn't have any problems making h<strong>is</strong> way to <strong>the</strong>meetup ei<strong>the</strong>r, although one thing does happen on h<strong>is</strong>way out of Elysium..Through several doors, surrounded by an entourage, hecatches <strong>the</strong> eye briefly of Alex<strong>is</strong> Carrell, moving downtoward h<strong>is</strong> chambers - <strong>the</strong> aura of sheer *awe* thatsurrounds <strong>the</strong> Prince overwhelms him, <strong>and</strong> he findshimself waiting for a glance or a word. Carrell doesn'tseem to spot him, though, <strong>and</strong> makes h<strong>is</strong> way on. Theaftereffect of h<strong>is</strong> aura leaves Anatoli somewhatdesolated, it's that powerful.Anton reaches h<strong>is</strong> destination - a small, very familiarcarpark, no longer covered in snow - far before Sarahdoes. Anything he'd like to do while waiting?The penetrating force of Carrel's presence <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>d<strong>is</strong>heartening effects of <strong>the</strong> d<strong>is</strong>co lights has, ingeneral, left Anatoli as a bit of a wreck to<strong>night</strong>. Heglumly marches out of Elysium, kicking a few stones ashe goes.To add to Anatoli's gloom, nobody else reacts <strong>the</strong> sameway. They all seem to be enjoying <strong>the</strong>mselves back in<strong>the</strong>re. A wavering scream from a dark corner, though,indicates that maybe <strong>the</strong> few humans present to<strong>night</strong>might be about to stop having fun..."Some. She believes <strong>the</strong>y are true hunters, but notagents of any government *or* of any o<strong>the</strong>r Kindred. She

NicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusVermainmattbaby<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhoVermainFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>believes it <strong>is</strong> worthwhile for you to investigate amongyour covenant. The Primogen Council will be informed."After meeting Anatoli, <strong>the</strong>n, Dietrich rides with Meghento <strong>the</strong> Test Zone Bunker. Along <strong>the</strong> way, he fills <strong>the</strong>Russian in on <strong>the</strong> situation.After meeting Anatoli, <strong>the</strong>n, Dietrich rides with Meghento <strong>the</strong> Test Zone Bunker. Along <strong>the</strong> way, he fills <strong>the</strong>Russian in on <strong>the</strong> situation.Normally, Anatoli's grim sense of humor, tempered byh<strong>is</strong> living in <strong>the</strong> harsh Siberian wilderness, wouldreact to th<strong>is</strong>, but, no, it just makes him feel glummerfor some weird reason. Oh, well. Off to <strong>the</strong> Test Zone.Sounds like a cheery enough place.With Anatoli informed about <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> m<strong>is</strong>sion,you speed off. Meghen looks askance at <strong>the</strong> Mekhet,taking in h<strong>is</strong> coat <strong>and</strong> holsters."You some sort of authority figure that I, by mystereotypical nature, oppose?"Khas nods grimly as <strong>the</strong> Invictus drives. "I'll, uh, ask<strong>the</strong>m about it, <strong>the</strong>n. ...man, two hundred-odd years. Iw<strong>is</strong>h she'd been more forthcoming.""I am, eh... Russian."Anton leans back in <strong>the</strong> seat. He doesn't close h<strong>is</strong> eyesor sigh or brea<strong>the</strong>. He <strong>is</strong> dead, lying <strong>the</strong>re in thatseat as h<strong>is</strong> mind frantically works for ways to save h<strong>is</strong>skin <strong>and</strong> get as powerful as possible."Maybe not <strong>the</strong>n! Dutch. You old enough to be from <strong>the</strong>USSR?"So do I, Sarah doesn't say.Anatoli nods. "I am, eh, remembering <strong>the</strong> good days of<strong>the</strong> Union, yes. A good time for many people. It hasprepared me well, yes?""I mean, a lupine? I thought <strong>the</strong>y were basically fairytales for our types. And <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>re's whatever oath'sactually keeping her alive...although I guess that'ssomething you wouldn't d<strong>is</strong>cuss with me, ei<strong>the</strong>r."Adrian drums on h<strong>is</strong> armrest. "Thanks for <strong>the</strong>opportunity, ei<strong>the</strong>r way."The Carthian seems to warm up noticeably. "That's aninteresting way to put it. Prepared you for.. what,dying? Being used to being one of a People helps?""It <strong>is</strong> more that I am very used to cutthroat politics<strong>and</strong> people trying to shoot at you in shady alleys,yes?""Don't get me wrong, Commun<strong>is</strong>m failed because <strong>the</strong>ydidn't let people be free enough, but.. sharingresources, working communally, that's good stuff.""...oh."

Nicolaedammitwho<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhoVermainFerrinusmattbabyNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhomattbabyFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>dammitwho<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinusmattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Owned you fucking Carthian."Not at all. I'm pleased you could provide usefulinformation."There's headlights on <strong>the</strong> horizon, but <strong>the</strong>y've turnedout to be trucks before.. it's been a while. Anton'sstartled into mobility when h<strong>is</strong> phone rings."Hhh. I wonder if <strong>the</strong>re are *any* fairy tales without agrain of truth to <strong>the</strong>m anymore. I should find that mostunpleasant.""Fortunately, I have mostly been shot at in open groves<strong>and</strong> in basements, so it <strong>is</strong> at least interesting changeof pace." Anatoli nods reflectively."Well - even if <strong>the</strong>re aren't, it's still a sort ofmercy," Khas says. "Imagine if some were wholly true."Anton doesn't start, exactly. Reflexes like that are ahalf-forgotten remnant of h<strong>is</strong> life. H<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong> snakes to<strong>the</strong> dash of <strong>the</strong> car <strong>and</strong> presses <strong>the</strong> dimly glowing greenphone button."Anton.""Sharing resources, working communally. Like, sharinginformation with a... eh, what was it, imperial<strong>is</strong>tlackey?" Dietrich smiles.Meghen: "Well. We've got basements, I guess.." shewaves vaguely ahead, where <strong>the</strong> low concrete wall <strong>is</strong>growing on <strong>the</strong> horizon."The Carthian dream, undead <strong>and</strong> well in Soroya, eh?"Anton's phone: "Oh, great, you're around - look, wehave to make th<strong>is</strong> quick. I've d<strong>is</strong>covered something verydangerous!"Where does Khas want to be dropped off?"Dangerous?"Probably Elysium - he wants to get in touch with S<strong>and</strong>raif he can before heading off to study.The voice: "Our phones - yours, mine, maybe Dietrich's- <strong>the</strong>y're bugged! Someone's l<strong>is</strong>tening to everything wesay! Look, you need to turn your phone off, take <strong>the</strong>battery out, leave it until we see each o<strong>the</strong>r again.I've almost tracked down who did th<strong>is</strong> - maybe <strong>the</strong>Carthians we negotiated with last week."Then <strong>the</strong>re we are."But I can't say more on <strong>the</strong> phone, obviously!"Heck, yes! Khas heads off, <strong>the</strong>n, telling Sarah he'llget in touch somehow if he digs up something more onei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> hunters or <strong>the</strong> Countess <strong>and</strong> that he'll beinterested to hear if rebuilding efforts succeed."Fuck. Fuck! Thanks for <strong>the</strong> tip."The o<strong>the</strong>r fortunate thing about <strong>the</strong> carpark of SørøyaCentral Terminus <strong>is</strong> that it's where Khas left h<strong>is</strong> car!

dammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinusdammitwho<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeSooya! :cool:There's not many o<strong>the</strong>r vehicles in <strong>the</strong> carpark, ei<strong>the</strong>r,but it's festooned with banners..Anton hangs up immediately. He removes <strong>the</strong> battery. Heopens <strong>the</strong> door, <strong>the</strong> trunk, <strong>and</strong> goes through h<strong>is</strong>remaining phones, one at a time, removing <strong>the</strong>batteries.Khas's car...which has a freakin' stick jammed into itsgas tank or something, godsdamnit. That's still <strong>the</strong>re,I imagine?The undercarriage, but yes.Remind me, <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> car driveable in its current state?Safely driveable?Yes, just with an annoying chattering no<strong>is</strong>e.Dietrich, Anatoli <strong>and</strong> Meghen pass through an oldsecurity checkpoint, unmanned for decades, <strong>and</strong> enter<strong>the</strong> supposedly deserted Test Zone. There are lightsabout in <strong>the</strong> ghost towns - <strong>the</strong> Carthians who run th<strong>is</strong>place are careless.Well, that's...nice. Is <strong>the</strong>re still a copious amount ofspilled gas down <strong>the</strong>re?Anton's carrying a pound of batteries <strong>and</strong> a tonne ofquestions when Sarah drives up.Of course, given Simon Peter's warning, whoever wasl<strong>is</strong>tening would know exactly where you are.For a place with a name as ominous as Test Zone, th<strong>is</strong>place seems surpr<strong>is</strong>ingly homely, <strong>and</strong> reasonably welllit. Anatoli casually glances out <strong>the</strong> window as <strong>the</strong>ydrive past.The petrol <strong>is</strong> dry now.Well, <strong>the</strong>n. Unless we're minutes from dawn or somethinglike that, Khas down into <strong>the</strong> Incessant. If S<strong>and</strong>ra's<strong>the</strong>re, he'll try <strong>and</strong> start a conversation - if not,he's heading for <strong>the</strong> last mechanic he remembers beingreputable.Sarah rolls down her window. She's in a Nice Car th<strong>is</strong>time, not <strong>the</strong> crappy spy van. "M<strong>is</strong>ter Chernovic. Goodevening."The ghost town <strong>is</strong> mostly run down <strong>and</strong> ab<strong>and</strong>oned, but asurpr<strong>is</strong>ing number of buildings are inhabited. Nobody'soutside, but lights <strong>and</strong> in one case chimney smoke givethat away. Placed on a large billboard at <strong>the</strong> centre of<strong>the</strong> town <strong>is</strong> a massive public Geiger counter, tickingaway - apparently, by being in th<strong>is</strong> part of <strong>the</strong> Zoneyou're subject to a level of rads that would be alethal dose for humans in under two hours.Dietrich looks around <strong>the</strong> place, eyes open for any signof an ambush. The Carthians are probably honest, or at

ananaNicolaemattbabyVermainNicolaeFerrinusmattbaby<strong>banana</strong>NicolaemattbabyVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaedammitwho<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaeleast not d<strong>is</strong>honest enough to want to kill him, but<strong>the</strong>n again, considering h<strong>is</strong> recent h<strong>is</strong>tory of violence<strong>and</strong> Covenant affiliations...Fortunately, dead cells don't get cancer.Meghen directs you to go through <strong>the</strong> town, <strong>the</strong>n stop ata black stone building set into a hillside.Dead cells do, actually, get cancer, but it goes awaywhen you r<strong>is</strong>e <strong>the</strong> next <strong>night</strong>!Or ra<strong>the</strong>r, bodily modifications caused by it do.How <strong>the</strong> hell does that even work, man."Good evening," Anton says, seemingly d<strong>is</strong>tracted.Magic. Undead magic.Fucking undead magic.No way, how? <strong>It's</strong> not like <strong>the</strong>y divide on <strong>the</strong>ir own."Ah, Lady Thalmann." maybe he's making all new kinds ofm<strong>is</strong>takes nowGood point. Maybe no cancer at all."Hi I'm an undead cell I haven't used my DNA in decadesOH FUCK X-RAY NOW I'M BROKEN :("Ahem. Anyway. "Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> place? Looks like you've gotyour own fucking CIA out here, Meghen.""Ah, yes. Thank you for coming out here. Well look. I'mhoping to ask you for some help. When we were out herelast time - <strong>the</strong> first time we met - I came across somepoorly protected passwords on a Crone server."Anatoli gets out of <strong>the</strong> car, which <strong>is</strong>, presumably,stopped (presumably), stretching out h<strong>is</strong> necroticlimbs. There's no real reason to do th<strong>is</strong>, but it's justsomething you expect from people after <strong>the</strong>y've fin<strong>is</strong>heda long car ride.Fair point. Ei<strong>the</strong>r way, Meghen <strong>the</strong> Teenaged Carthianhops out of <strong>the</strong> car <strong>and</strong> nods. "Welcome to <strong>the</strong> home ofNew Radical<strong>is</strong>m, mainstreamers. Hopefully what you seehere will change your minds about a few things.""If you've got <strong>the</strong> evidence you say you do, it'sdefinitely going to change my mind about one thing.""I see. And?"She treads across <strong>the</strong> cracked ground to a metal slab in<strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong> obsidian building, <strong>and</strong> begins to entera code in a wea<strong>the</strong>r<strong>is</strong>ed keypad next to it.Anatoli watches Meghen intently as she punches in <strong>the</strong>code, clearing h<strong>is</strong> dry throat. "I, eh... shouldprobably ask. Is <strong>the</strong>re any sort of, I don't know...ghosts or robots or yet<strong>is</strong> down in your little bunker?""Just *vampires*, Prince's man. That's bad enough."Dietrich also gets out of <strong>the</strong> car. H<strong>is</strong> Vigor has wornoff, but he's ready to flush h<strong>is</strong> undead muscles withVitae should <strong>the</strong> need ar<strong>is</strong>e.

VermainNicolaeVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyNicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>dammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby"Oh, whew. Just vampires.""If you ask me, vampires are easier to deal with thanghosts."Anatoli, of course, reaches into h<strong>is</strong> coat, producingh<strong>is</strong> ever-trusty weapons in all of <strong>the</strong>ir gleaming glory,cocking <strong>and</strong> readying <strong>the</strong>m. Secretly, Anatoli wonders if<strong>the</strong>re will ever be a m<strong>is</strong>sion he goes on where he -doesn't- have to shoot something. The thought's a bitunnerving."...usually."The metal slab clanks <strong>and</strong> rolls to <strong>the</strong> side slowly.Within <strong>is</strong> a heavy-duty reception area, or loading bay -<strong>the</strong>re are several parking spots for large vehicles, <strong>and</strong>a security booth with mounted machine gun. <strong>It's</strong> manned,just - a Kindred nobody recogn<strong>is</strong>es <strong>is</strong> scrambling insidejust as <strong>the</strong> door opens. "You could have given us morewarning," he calls out to Meghen."Well. I have a few things I was hoping to retrievefrom those servers. I underst<strong>and</strong> that it's something ofyour specialty. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> part of my project."Dietrich perks an eyebrow at <strong>the</strong> machine gun. "You guysdon't fuck around. Was that here from <strong>the</strong> testingdays?"Anatoli looks up from h<strong>is</strong> cocking, stopping mid-cock onone of <strong>the</strong>m. "Oooh. I thought you meant vampires whoare, eh, trying to -kill- us." Anatoli amiably locks<strong>the</strong> safety on both of h<strong>is</strong>, tucking <strong>the</strong>m back in h<strong>is</strong>coat.She approaches h<strong>is</strong> booth, smiling apologetically."Right.. <strong>the</strong>se two are here to speak to an evangel<strong>is</strong>t,<strong>and</strong> see some proof of how <strong>the</strong> L<strong>and</strong>lords have fooledeveryone recently."Guy in booth, to Dietrich: "Right.. don't get tooclose, or you'll find it still works.""Evangel<strong>is</strong>t? Did I w<strong>and</strong>er into a Spears facilitysomehow?" he asks facetiously.Meghen doesn't have a good answer, so she just smirks.<strong>It's</strong> not a very practiced smirk."Ah. I can't help but notice you look a bit d<strong>is</strong>tracted.They don't already know you're coming, do <strong>the</strong>y?"The Soroyan wilderness, dry now in <strong>the</strong> beginning ofspring <strong>and</strong> utterly barren, stretches as far into <strong>the</strong><strong>night</strong> as <strong>the</strong> eye can see around Sarah <strong>and</strong> Anton, emptyin all directions. It ra<strong>is</strong>es <strong>the</strong> question of who "<strong>the</strong>y"*are*."I hope fucking not. But I just had <strong>the</strong> terrible newsthat someone has been bugging my phones - no idea who,of course. They're all quite d<strong>is</strong>connected now,

fortunately."Nicolae "I've been shot at quite enough recently. You're fine."Dietrich says to <strong>the</strong> guy in <strong>the</strong> booth.Vermain Anatoli quietly wh<strong>is</strong>tles into <strong>the</strong> empty, radioactive<strong>night</strong> air as he tilts back <strong>and</strong> forth on h<strong>is</strong> heels,apparently attempting to d<strong>is</strong>sipate <strong>the</strong> fact that he'svery heavily armed from present minds.<strong>banana</strong> Elysium... to<strong>night</strong>, at <strong>the</strong> door, Gregoire stops Khasfor a moment. "Just a sec. I know you, but.. becareful, <strong>the</strong> atmosphere inside's pretty intense. Yousure you want to come in at th<strong>is</strong> time of <strong>night</strong>?"Ferrinus "Intense..?" Khas looks like he can guess what Gregoiremeans, but <strong>is</strong> making sure.<strong>banana</strong> Unless <strong>the</strong>re are any protests, Meghen leads you deeperinto <strong>the</strong> bunker, through metal-walled corridors (setwith ancient computer systems <strong>and</strong> clicking counters).Occasionally, she nods at Kin you pass - everyone stayswell back from each o<strong>the</strong>r, nobody's threatening,nothing's setting off <strong>the</strong> Beast, but still.. you'removing deeper inside, <strong>and</strong> it would be hard to get outin a hurry.<strong>banana</strong> Gregoire: "Playtime's over, <strong>and</strong> dinner's being served."Nicolae Dietrich grits h<strong>is</strong> teeth, clenches h<strong>is</strong> f<strong>is</strong>ts. H<strong>is</strong> Beast<strong>is</strong> getting a little paranoid. So's <strong>the</strong> Man. "Couldn'tyou have just brought <strong>the</strong> files to <strong>the</strong> loading bay orsomething, Meghen?"Vermain Anatoli follows along, giving a cheerful wave to <strong>the</strong>Kindred that he passes by. It never hurts to beunassuming.Ferrinus "Mmm. Well, I was hoping to track down <strong>the</strong> bartender -S<strong>and</strong>ra? Is she inside, or..?" Please say no.Vermain "Never scorn a good opportunity for nice change ofscenery, yes, comrade?" Anatoli notes towards Dietrich.<strong>banana</strong> Gregoire: "The M<strong>is</strong>tress <strong>is</strong> overseeing <strong>the</strong> Ceremonies,as usual. Like I said, we're still technically open, ifyou want in."dammitwho Sarah does her little annoyed h<strong>is</strong>s. "But of course yourunknown l<strong>is</strong>tener may divulge your plans <strong>and</strong> receive <strong>the</strong>thanks of a grateful Circle- not to mention drawing mein. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> quite <strong>the</strong> favor you ask."Ferrinus Khas hesitates.<strong>banana</strong> Dietrich's attention might be d<strong>is</strong>tracted - he'sspotting people he's seen before. One or two of <strong>the</strong>ones here.. he could swear <strong>the</strong>y were on <strong>the</strong> rig.mattbaby "I didn't mention anything of <strong>the</strong> sort on <strong>the</strong> phone."<strong>banana</strong> Meghen responds to Anatoli, though: "As you say. And, Iadmit I wanted to feel safer myself. You're not herefor us to harm you, though."

Nicolae He punched a few Carthians on <strong>the</strong> rig... th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> goingto be trouble.<strong>banana</strong> Sarah can see now that Anton's d<strong>is</strong>assembled phones <strong>and</strong>Blackberry are sitting in <strong>the</strong> trunk of h<strong>is</strong> car.Nicolae Oh, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> guys on <strong>the</strong> rig were defectors aligned withSlesvig <strong>and</strong> h<strong>is</strong> ilk.Right?mattbaby "If you're not interested, so be it. But, high r<strong>is</strong>k,high reward."<strong>banana</strong> That's what you believe was <strong>the</strong> case, yes. You're notup to <strong>the</strong> minute with Carthian politics.Ferrinus "...maybe tomorrow, <strong>the</strong>n," says <strong>the</strong> Gangrel toGregoire. "Thanks for <strong>the</strong> tip. Hey - you don't know agood auto mechanic around here, do you?"Nicolae Fun fact: Dietrich has crafts 3!Ferrinus Well how should I know!<strong>banana</strong> Gregoire: "Uhh, th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a train station.. I guess youcould see if <strong>the</strong> company does cars as well. O<strong>the</strong>rw<strong>is</strong>e,I'd head out into <strong>the</strong> suburbs."Vermain Anatoli <strong>is</strong>, of course, oblivious to all of th<strong>is</strong>, fartoo d<strong>is</strong>tracted as he inspects <strong>the</strong> old bunker as <strong>the</strong>ypass by. <strong>It's</strong> clearly bringing back a few, dustymemories of h<strong>is</strong> USSR days.Nicolae "What exactly <strong>is</strong> th<strong>is</strong> evidence you have? I can'timagine you managed to get incriminating photographs."dammitwho Sarah: "I did not say I wouldn't help. I merely noteyour debt.""You may w<strong>is</strong>h to take notes."mattbaby "By all means."<strong>banana</strong> Th<strong>is</strong> bunker was once, in fact, part of NATO's frontlines against <strong>the</strong> Soviet Union - parts of <strong>the</strong> oldiconography are obvious to Anatoli's trained eye, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> whole plan of <strong>the</strong> place. However, it's probablybeen ab<strong>and</strong>oned since before even <strong>the</strong> 1980s.Ferrinus "Right. Seeya." Khas steps away, heading back up to <strong>the</strong>lot over <strong>the</strong> Incessant. He figures he'll head for <strong>the</strong>neighborhood <strong>the</strong> Academy's in, <strong>the</strong>n, drop <strong>the</strong> car offat some small operation within an easy walk of <strong>the</strong>Academy <strong>and</strong> hit <strong>the</strong> books.<strong>banana</strong> Meghen, to Dietrich: "An eyewitness. Lo!"Perhaps she used to be a <strong>the</strong>atre student? She thrustsopen a bulkhead door, very dramatically.Inside <strong>is</strong> a small room with several open doors, a ventspitting out cold air, <strong>and</strong> a green baize card table.Sitting on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side, under harsh lights, <strong>is</strong> abeautiful woman, blonde <strong>and</strong> shapely. She looks up froma cup of.. something that <strong>is</strong>n't blood, though she's apowerful vampire.

NicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhoVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaemattbaby<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae"I don't know, Meghen, are you sure <strong>the</strong> card table <strong>is</strong> areliable witness?" he says as drolly as he can manage.Oh, dammit, you should have said that before I gotwitty.Anatoli, very w<strong>is</strong>ely, doesn't say anything, settlingfor just leering inside, some of <strong>the</strong> light reflectingoff of h<strong>is</strong> bald head like a magnifying glass.Until now, you get <strong>the</strong> impression nobody knew who youwere, but Anna Biemel clearly recogn<strong>is</strong>es Anatoli. AsMeghen ushers <strong>the</strong> two of you into <strong>the</strong> room, she r<strong>is</strong>es,exclaiming shrilly - "What <strong>the</strong> HECK <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sherriffdoing here? Everyone on alert!""To begin: Every element of an extraction must not onlytake into account <strong>the</strong> condition of <strong>the</strong> field at <strong>the</strong>current moment, but well after <strong>the</strong> extraction <strong>is</strong>complete. It <strong>is</strong> not sufficient to endeavor to leave notrace- you will fail. You must also arrange to severany possible connection at at least two additionalpoints between you <strong>and</strong> your target."Anatoli pauses mid-stride, deflating slightly. "Uh...I... think you are m<strong>is</strong>taking me?"Through <strong>the</strong> side doors, Dietrich <strong>and</strong> Anatoli can seeinto a set of o<strong>the</strong>r small square rooms, all connectedby <strong>the</strong>se open doors; a bunch of <strong>the</strong>m have Kindredlounging about, talking, or using laptops. They r<strong>is</strong>e<strong>and</strong> look menacing at you."The Sheriff? What <strong>the</strong> fuck? Whoa, what <strong>the</strong> fuck?"Dietrich ra<strong>is</strong>es h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s."I see," says Anton as he tips open a late-modellaptop. There's no br<strong>and</strong> name on <strong>the</strong> back of it.Anna, pointing a finger at your chest: "I think not!Sit down, <strong>and</strong> don't touch those guns!"There are a couple of folding chairs."What are you two doing here? Who's <strong>the</strong> Nightmare?""Anatoli! What <strong>the</strong> fuck!"Anatoli smiles very weakly as h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s slowly slidedown from next to <strong>the</strong> lapels of h<strong>is</strong> coat. "I, eh... letus sit, yes?"...<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n very quickly scoots over, sitting down <strong>and</strong>attempting to retain as much dignity as possible.Now that you think about it, given that you've spent<strong>the</strong> last couple of months doing enforcement <strong>and</strong>investigation at <strong>the</strong> Prince's behest, it'sunderst<strong>and</strong>able that people would m<strong>is</strong>take you for a"Sheriff". Inconvenient, though."We're here because she--" a thumb <strong>is</strong> cockedMeghenwards-- "said <strong>the</strong>re was something here we'd beinterested in seeing."

that proves it."Nicolae "If. Meghen said <strong>the</strong> evidence was here. So. We'rehere."<strong>banana</strong> She st<strong>and</strong>s up. "Wait here."Nicolae "I don't think I have much choice, do I?"<strong>banana</strong> So, what exactly has Anton been learning from Sarah?Some minutes are passing inside <strong>the</strong> bunker. Armedguards continue to stare at Dietrich <strong>and</strong> Anatoli, buthaven't volunteered conversation.mattbaby Anton sets up shells, pings, spikes, all <strong>the</strong> crazyhacker shit that usually was little more than a RoyalPain In H<strong>is</strong> Ass. He's actually hacking in under hersuperv<strong>is</strong>ion. He knows enough of <strong>the</strong> basics to be ableto Git 'Er Done.Nicolae Dietrich leans over to Anatoli <strong>and</strong> wh<strong>is</strong>pers in h<strong>is</strong>semi-decent Russian. "Do you know what that Sheriffbusiness was all about?"<strong>banana</strong> You have to move out into <strong>the</strong> woods, unfortunately -towards that glade - before you pick up a phone-networksignal with <strong>the</strong> right SSID to hack into. <strong>It's</strong> a fewminutes walking.mattbaby Anton's got h<strong>is</strong> Auspex up in case <strong>the</strong>y actually HAVEbeen followed, or if any of those weird monsters showup.Vermain Anatoli continues to quietly wh<strong>is</strong>tle, arms stillcrossed, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> way he's positioned seems to give one<strong>the</strong> impression that he's ready to rip out a rain ofbullets at a moment's notice. He turns over toDietrich, shrugging. "I am dealing with many men <strong>and</strong>many women, yes? Carrel has me run many, eh... err<strong>and</strong>s,as it were. They are thinking I am like some Americangunslinger, with <strong>the</strong> two weapons, yes?"dammitwho Fade in: "--above all else, do not be too in love withyour own work. The most careful plan becomes a trap ifyou are unwilling to tear it down <strong>and</strong> burn <strong>the</strong> ruinswhen--" Fade out.<strong>banana</strong> The Crones' network, <strong>the</strong>n.. untraceably, you enter. Awealth of information <strong>and</strong> communication <strong>is</strong> spread outbefore you. Names <strong>and</strong> contact details, <strong>and</strong> an internald<strong>is</strong>cussion forum.. plus a ton of personal data storageareas, protected individually.Vermain Anatoli's face seems to turn down a bit at <strong>the</strong> thoughtof being considered American.Nicolae Dietrich shakes h<strong>is</strong> head. "Paranoid crazies..." he saysto himself, not realizing <strong>the</strong> irony of saying thataround a man who was only invited along because of h<strong>is</strong>own paranoia.<strong>banana</strong> It took a while, but Adrian's finally found a 24-hour

ananaFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaegarage. Reversing <strong>the</strong> car in, he steps out <strong>the</strong> smalldoor, ready to come back in a few hours for h<strong>is</strong> repair<strong>and</strong> paint job.Biemel returns, <strong>and</strong> a tall man with her. He frowns,almost a snarl at <strong>the</strong> presence of two unfamiliar Kin,<strong>the</strong>n h<strong>and</strong>s her a yellowing piece of paper he's holding.Anna: "Th<strong>is</strong> dates back to before <strong>the</strong> Second World War.<strong>It's</strong> addressed to my sire, as you can see, <strong>and</strong> you canignore most of <strong>the</strong> details - an old scheme forexploiting a government rationing program in Britain.The important part <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> signature."Paint job? No, he didn't ask for one of those. It'dcost extra <strong>and</strong> it'd be jarringly different to look at.What's Khas without a horrible offensive clunker todrive around? The Gangrel's heading for <strong>the</strong> Academy onfoot right now, Sarah's card in one of h<strong>is</strong> pockets.He's hoping one of <strong>the</strong> saner elders are currentlyavailable to talk to.Actually, it might be w<strong>is</strong>e to ask Judge about th<strong>is</strong>,too.The letter <strong>is</strong> written, in a spiky h<strong>and</strong>, by 'Firius - or"Simon Peter" as <strong>the</strong>y know me in your country'Dietrich leans over, giving <strong>the</strong> letter a once-over. Hereads with h<strong>is</strong> index finger. When he gets to <strong>the</strong> end,he bites h<strong>is</strong> lip. "So. I guess it <strong>is</strong> true. The man whopaid me to deal with Meghen <strong>and</strong> her friends <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> sameman <strong>the</strong> Prince wants dead."Hm. "Eh... no hard feelings, Meg?" He grins sheep<strong>is</strong>hly,although with h<strong>is</strong> peculiar dentition <strong>the</strong>re's nothingsheeplike about it.Biemel: "I suspect most people want him dead. The'corporat<strong>is</strong>t' nonsense.. <strong>the</strong> head of a covenantattempting to depose <strong>the</strong> majority of it... all based oneven MORE ancient ideas of privilege <strong>and</strong> right. The wayI underst<strong>and</strong> it, he hates Carrell because he <strong>is</strong>n't*old* enough, which begs <strong>the</strong> question: who <strong>is</strong>?""So yes, obviously we're hunting him down for <strong>the</strong>bounty, <strong>and</strong> because it's good for everyone. You can seewhy you might want to get out of <strong>the</strong> way!""More generally, of course, th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>Invictus *all* work! The new Earl, or whichever sillytitle, in league with <strong>the</strong> area's old 'Lord' - he's justas bad. So's <strong>the</strong> Prince, for all that he's on <strong>the</strong> rightside on th<strong>is</strong> one. Both of you seem like far too capablepeople to be working for <strong>the</strong>m.""Out of <strong>the</strong> way? Why would you want me out of <strong>the</strong> way?"He leans forward. "Do you think he's ever going to,say, invite you or some o<strong>the</strong>r Carthian to h<strong>is</strong> place?

Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyNicolae<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Khas totally has a tiny closet-office, <strong>the</strong>n. <strong>It's</strong> piledwith camping supplies <strong>and</strong> mostly unusable as an actualplace to read or write.Hans: "To live forever.."Nei<strong>the</strong>r's paying any attention to you.Anton's looking for information on <strong>the</strong> Assembly- <strong>and</strong>that odd Assemblywoman <strong>and</strong> her odder bodyguard-aides.What are THEIR points of access? <strong>the</strong>ir enemies? <strong>the</strong>iragendas?What Anton gets <strong>is</strong> a quick refresher course inpolitics!Live forever? ...well, <strong>the</strong> good Doctor was talking tothat ghost before... Khas clears h<strong>is</strong> throat again."Excuse me? Elders?"You'll remember - or you will now - that Soroya has twobranches of government: <strong>the</strong> Leg<strong>is</strong>lative Assembly, which<strong>is</strong> like a parliamentary lower house, which passesleg<strong>is</strong>lation, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> City Council.The City Council <strong>is</strong> both executive branch - with <strong>the</strong>Mayor at its head - <strong>and</strong> upper house, with a veto/approval right over laws.Although <strong>the</strong> Assembly <strong>is</strong> elected from populationproportionated<strong>is</strong>tricts, <strong>the</strong> Council has one memberfrom each *region* of Soroya, giving enormous power to<strong>the</strong> rural areas of <strong>the</strong> M<strong>and</strong>ate - which, it turns out,<strong>is</strong> how <strong>the</strong> Crones influence it.oh thats right it was a councilwomanYes, <strong>and</strong> you're now reading internal Circle d<strong>is</strong>cussions- only a very small amount of <strong>the</strong>m, in <strong>the</strong>se 'public'areas, but it's <strong>the</strong>re! - about <strong>the</strong>ir bought-<strong>and</strong>-paidforCouncil members. THREE of <strong>the</strong>m.sc<strong>and</strong>anavian republican witches!! ingeniousFor reference, <strong>the</strong>re only *are* 19 Council D<strong>is</strong>tricts in<strong>the</strong> M<strong>and</strong>ate.oh wowSince <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>is</strong>n't really party-<strong>is</strong>ed, a bloc ofthree members <strong>is</strong> reasonably powerful.<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y are bought <strong>and</strong> paid for? its money <strong>the</strong>y use??That's 16% of <strong>the</strong> council! That's more than a good tip!In one case, it's money; in ano<strong>the</strong>r, blackmail; inano<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> Crones have so much control over <strong>the</strong> localarea - Roy d'Mer - that <strong>the</strong>y essentially choose whogets elected. An elder's ghoul.Although, th<strong>is</strong> local control <strong>is</strong> really behind <strong>the</strong>blackmail <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> money as well, just indirectly.nothing about whats-her-face? <strong>the</strong> womn with <strong>the</strong> oddsmellinglackeys?She was an Assemblywoman

mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong>FerrinusVermain<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>ahIn Kautokeino-Guovdageaidnu, <strong>the</strong>ir spy network foundout about a Councillor's illegal perversions, <strong>and</strong> inGamvik <strong>the</strong>y own all <strong>the</strong> industry.What sort of illegal perversions?Anna: "Really? I'm very grateful, Mr.. sorry, I don'tknow your name yet.. but I admit I'm a littlesuspicious about <strong>the</strong> sudden conversion! Most peoplehave to be *persuaded* why <strong>the</strong> oppression of Elders <strong>is</strong>worth fighting against."Nicolae: Public Exhibition<strong>is</strong>t Car-Fet<strong>is</strong>h Horse Porn.Barbie: "It will take a re-dedication to our ideals, asshown by-""Ah. Adrian."Hans: "Adrian, good to see you again!" He struggles,feebly, to r<strong>is</strong>e, <strong>and</strong> grasps your h<strong>and</strong>.Adrian nods, <strong>and</strong> shakes Doctor Buechler's h<strong>and</strong> gravely.Anatoli, a tool of <strong>the</strong> oppression of <strong>the</strong> Elders,remains relatively silent, still trying to keep h<strong>is</strong>smile cheerful.They look at you expectantly, with similar owl<strong>is</strong>hexpressions. Harmless old men, apparently."Krieger. Dietrich Krieger." The young boy inDietrich's heart, <strong>the</strong> one who loves action movies likeJames Bond, just went HELL YES. "My conversion hasnothing to do with your political ideals, I'm afraid.Th<strong>is</strong> man played me for a fool, he played Anton for afool, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prince wants him dead regardless." Hethinks for a moment. "The prick even knocked me out <strong>and</strong>drank my blood without asking when I went to see him.""Uh - like I was saying, I've run into somethingtroubling that I was hoping you could provide insightinto." The Dragon reaches into h<strong>is</strong> pocket as he speaks."A woman I know in <strong>the</strong> Invictus recently ran into menshe believes to be, uh, vampire hunters. They hadth<strong>is</strong>."The card's placed smartly on <strong>the</strong> table between <strong>the</strong> twoelders, <strong>and</strong> pushed forward.The eyes of <strong>the</strong> man with Anna widen. "The bastard. Theyeven take our BODIES for <strong>the</strong>ir own. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> why we callourselves Radicals.. because no tactic <strong>is</strong> too far tooppose <strong>the</strong>m.""But I think that in th<strong>is</strong> case, our interests...coincide." He interweaves h<strong>is</strong> fingers."I was wondering if you might know of itssignificance," Khas concludes.Hans shakes h<strong>is</strong> head, slowly. "The meaning of yourmessage, or of <strong>the</strong> message.. escapes me. I wonder.." He

ests h<strong>is</strong> head on h<strong>is</strong> chest, deep in thought.Barbie, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>is</strong> frozen, staring at <strong>the</strong>card."The Project.."Vermain Anatoli nods alongside Dietrich, seeing a good place tostick h<strong>is</strong> nose in. "I am, eh... getting <strong>the</strong> impressionyou are not so keen on me, my good lady, but we canboth agree that it <strong>is</strong> important to remove Rosenberg, asit were, yes?"<strong>banana</strong> The Carthians both nod.Ferrinus "The...project, Philosopher?" Khas's brow furrows.<strong>banana</strong> Anna: "Hmm. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"Barbie: "Ach, don't call me that - it <strong>is</strong> confusing."Nicolae "So. What <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> plan?" He nods <strong>and</strong> shrugs, <strong>the</strong>n turnsto Anna. "You know, he was going to pay me, like eightygr<strong>and</strong> to rough up your buddies. You think maybe wecould, eh... fake it? Before we kill him <strong>and</strong> eat h<strong>is</strong>soul?"Ferrinus "...right, yes. But still, what project?"<strong>banana</strong> Barbie: "Project Valkyrie.. <strong>the</strong> most dangerous group ofKindred Hunters I have ever heard of. Mein gott, <strong>the</strong>ystill ex<strong>is</strong>t? Why are we sitting here, all of a piece?"Hans: "!"(he makes a little no<strong>is</strong>e)Ferrinus Khas <strong>is</strong> still staring. "Sarah- <strong>the</strong> Invictus, I mean -told me <strong>the</strong>y were here from America, looking for, uh,dangerous persons. With some sort of governmentsanction."<strong>banana</strong> Anna: "Actually, yes. Yes, that would provide anexcellent excuse... for you to get in close to him."She smiles, an ugly look on her face for a very briefmoment. "And <strong>the</strong>n.. we can supply you with <strong>the</strong> sort ofweapons you'll need to take a man like Firius down."The tall, hawk<strong>is</strong>h man slides a slip of paper across <strong>the</strong>table. "My card."Vermain The mention of "weapons" sparks something in Anatoli,<strong>and</strong> he leans forwards. "Do, eh, go on."<strong>banana</strong> There's an address - somewhere along <strong>the</strong> coast, youthink - <strong>and</strong> a name. "Spectator. Equipment."mattbaby Anton downloads as much as he can of <strong>the</strong> variouspolitical d<strong>is</strong>cussions he finds on <strong>the</strong> Crone's servers.He works as rapidly as he can without becoming franticor (he hopes) making any m<strong>is</strong>takes.Nicolae "How old <strong>is</strong> Firius, anyway? <strong>It's</strong> gonna be a little hardto just walk up <strong>and</strong> stake him, you know?"Dietrich takes <strong>the</strong> card <strong>and</strong> looks at it. "Always goodto know more arms dealers..." he says, pocketing <strong>the</strong>card.

Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusNicolaeVermainmattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus"All men are friends in <strong>the</strong> house of Grigorovich, yes?"Anatoli leans back in h<strong>is</strong> seat again. "Though I wouldbe interested in knowing what sort of, eh... weapons weare using. Nothing flammable?"Anna: "..I don't know. He claims to remember <strong>the</strong>Camarilla.""I'm pretty certain that Rosenberg <strong>is</strong>n't h<strong>is</strong> real name,at least.""The Camarilla?""I know I've heard of it, but..."Spectator: "An ancient, semi-mythical society ofkindred in <strong>the</strong> days of, uh, <strong>the</strong> Roman Empire.""<strong>It's</strong> th<strong>is</strong> thing <strong>the</strong> Invictus invoke to claim <strong>the</strong>irright to rule.. although around here, as in o<strong>the</strong>rplaces where <strong>the</strong>y've got what <strong>the</strong>y want, <strong>the</strong>y justthreaten to kill you instead."In <strong>the</strong> Academy, Barbie's face <strong>is</strong> as waxen <strong>and</strong> crumpledas it was when Khas first walked in - that <strong>is</strong> to say,*very much so*. He takes in a dry, rattling breath."That would fit...""The Project was a group of hunters who sought to enact<strong>the</strong> ultimate pun<strong>is</strong>hment - <strong>the</strong> destruction of <strong>the</strong>Masquerade.""To align with governments, <strong>and</strong> have us *officially*Hunted - that was <strong>the</strong>ir aim."Khas's face <strong>is</strong>n't crumpled, but it's about as colorfulas ash at <strong>the</strong> moment. He l<strong>is</strong>tens intently.Dietrich wh<strong>is</strong>tles. "Damn. Two thous<strong>and</strong> years old. Ithink I'm definitely going to need some equipment forth<strong>is</strong>, yes." Dietrich, at th<strong>is</strong> point, <strong>is</strong> about a year<strong>and</strong>-a-half,vampirew<strong>is</strong>e.Anatoli waves a h<strong>and</strong> vaguely. "A thous<strong>and</strong>, twothous<strong>and</strong>, ten years. You get enough bullets <strong>and</strong> itsolves all problems, yes?"After working on th<strong>is</strong> for a while, Anton destroyswhatever virtual infrastructure could lead back to him<strong>and</strong> closes <strong>the</strong> laptop, hurrying back to <strong>the</strong> road <strong>and</strong>h<strong>is</strong> vehicle.Klaus Barbie "smiles". "The good news <strong>is</strong>, <strong>the</strong>y weredestroyed. Fin<strong>is</strong>hed off. Driven from <strong>the</strong>se shores, atany rate. In sou<strong>the</strong>rn Germany, partly by our own dearThule Society, <strong>the</strong> Project was d<strong>is</strong>mantled.""To see th<strong>is</strong> emblem now.. it hurts me deep inside.Please, take it away."Khas removes it immediately, but doesn't walk away."But if it's turned up now, <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s of men whopurportedly come here at <strong>the</strong> behest of <strong>the</strong> Americangovernment...I mean, something's survived, hasn't it?"

NicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaemattbaby<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusdammitwhoVermain<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyNicolae>dammitwho

dammitwhoNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermainNicolaeFerrinusmattbabyslitting throats to make a point. It was taking carefulnote at first sight."Sarah's eyes widen ever so slightly. "I know aMaximilian Thalmann, who was on occasion called that...why do you ask?""Child lover? You mean <strong>the</strong> fat annoying one who talkslike <strong>the</strong> Internet?" He turns to Anatoli. "Come on, man,you can do better than that."Barbie opens h<strong>is</strong> eyes again, just long enough to directa darkly annoyed glare at you. "Gypsy, of course.. frommy Branch, he was also. The Academy at Bohemia.. I'llnever forget it."Anatoli's smile dims only vaguely. "Comrade Lucia <strong>is</strong>,eh... good friend, yes? It <strong>is</strong> always good to makefriends with <strong>the</strong> friends of <strong>the</strong> boss. I am alwaysthinking so, anyways."Spectator pauses on h<strong>is</strong> way out <strong>the</strong> door. "You mightthink that, sir.""Oh, well, you know how it can be in my position. Everyonce in a while you come across some little tidbit ofnews." Anton's watching her reaction intently behind aveil of boredom."Some day, I hope you'll real<strong>is</strong>e that <strong>the</strong>re are NObosses at <strong>the</strong> point of a gun.""See you tomorrow <strong>night</strong>.""I'll look him up, <strong>the</strong>n. Uh, thank you for your time,elder." Khas nods to both of <strong>the</strong> enterpr<strong>is</strong>ing immortals- <strong>and</strong> why not, after all, it's as noble a goal as any -<strong>and</strong> backs out of <strong>the</strong> library.Where <strong>is</strong> Gypsy, generally?He doesn't actually have a lab, <strong>and</strong> he even travelssometimes. However, Emily has rooms, <strong>and</strong> usually knowswhere her sire <strong>is</strong>."Yes, but <strong>the</strong> friend of my boss <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> man we'retalking about here. So." He shrugs. "Is that all,<strong>the</strong>n?"Anatoli's smile remains, a brick wall of stoic<strong>is</strong>m,though <strong>the</strong>re's definitely a faint grinding sound comingfrom somewhere around h<strong>is</strong> general area. "Well, weshould, eh, be off, yes?""Yes, let's. Th<strong>is</strong>... th<strong>is</strong> has been instructive."Hey, I didn't know Gypsy was Emily's sire - <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong>refore, technically, a very very very d<strong>is</strong>tantrelative. Vaguely certain that Gypsy's at least more ofa go-getter than Barbie <strong>is</strong> today, Khas heads forEmily's lodgings in <strong>the</strong> Academy."Well, in sort of <strong>the</strong>, ah, aftermath of th<strong>is</strong> businesswith <strong>the</strong> Contessa - <strong>and</strong> how <strong>is</strong> she doing by <strong>the</strong> way? I

happened to learn that some people were interested in<strong>the</strong> location of h<strong>is</strong> grave, <strong>and</strong> shared that locationwith me. Of course, if you know th<strong>is</strong> Maximillian surely<strong>the</strong>re are plenty of Thalmanns by <strong>the</strong> name of Max. Ishould never have brought it up, I suppose."<strong>banana</strong> Anna sits over her card table in <strong>the</strong> harshly litbunker, brooding. Th<strong>is</strong> place <strong>is</strong> different from <strong>the</strong>stages you're used to seeing Radicals on.. more armed,for one thing, <strong>and</strong> more serious. They don't act like<strong>the</strong> ineffectual Halvors<strong>is</strong>ts at all anymore.There's no response to your final comments.Vermain Anatoli very quietly pads out of <strong>the</strong> card table room,h<strong>and</strong>s clasped behind h<strong>is</strong> back.Nicolae Dietrich <strong>is</strong> not really thinking about <strong>the</strong> politicalimplications of <strong>the</strong> Carthians holing up in a bunker. Heprobably should be, but, well. He's Dietrich. If<strong>the</strong>re's nothing else, he follows Meghen out.dammitwho "While most of <strong>the</strong> Thalmanns remain in <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>rcountry, <strong>the</strong>re are a few branches of <strong>the</strong> family whichhave... gone astray. It would be interesting, as aminor personal point, to know what happened to <strong>the</strong>m."Sarah <strong>is</strong>n't betraying her intense interest if she canhelp it.<strong>banana</strong> When you leave <strong>the</strong> bunker, Spectator <strong>is</strong> already out<strong>the</strong>re, heading around <strong>the</strong> back. He notices you're righton h<strong>is</strong> heels, <strong>and</strong> stops."If you're going already, why wait until <strong>the</strong> nextevening? Come get some ordinance. I want to see a twothous<strong>and</strong>year old mo<strong>the</strong>rfucker taken down <strong>and</strong> drained.""Can't believe you volunteered, but I want to help itif I can."Nicolae "Like I said down <strong>the</strong>re -- I don't like being played.What do you say, Anatoli? Want to deal with th<strong>is</strong> now?"Vermain Anatoli <strong>is</strong> giving Spectator a particularly harsh look -at least as far as Anatoli usually gives looks - but henods, anyways. "Might as well save gas, yes?"mattbaby "Oh yes, well, he's actually buried in a vault thatapparently ex<strong>is</strong>ts beneath <strong>the</strong> Ordo Dracul's Academy.Strange indeed, I suppose!"<strong>banana</strong> You mean..Anatoli <strong>is</strong>n't grinning?Vermain He's not frowning, but he's not grinning. H<strong>is</strong> mouth <strong>is</strong>just sort of in a line right now.<strong>banana</strong> :|Spectator, <strong>the</strong> tall khaki-clad vampire arms-dealer(?):"Right. Your car, <strong>the</strong>n?"Nicolae "Works for me."dammitwho Sarah's going to have words with Adrian. "Ah... not all

Vermain<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>dammitwhoFerrinusdammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbabydammitwhoFerrinusdammitwho<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>Nicolaethat surpr<strong>is</strong>ing, really. Giving honor to an oldcompatriot."Anatoli nods, heading back to The Car, trying to keeph<strong>is</strong> eyes off of Spectator in <strong>the</strong> hopes that h<strong>is</strong> usualwacky grin will return.Some time passes."Dare I ask?"Dietrich takes <strong>the</strong> wheel. Spectator leads <strong>the</strong> way.Anatoli grins.Later: Dietrich, Anatoli <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> presumed Carthian aredriving downhill, into <strong>the</strong> western port area of Soroya;Adrian <strong>is</strong> at Emily's door.Knock, knock."I'm busy!""You are an American, so you will not underst<strong>and</strong>. TheDragons were very old men even before <strong>the</strong> Embrace.Maximillian, too, was an old man. They would not leavehim." Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong>n't exactly what Sarah believes happened,but she doesn't seem inclined to explain fur<strong>the</strong>r."<strong>It's</strong> Adrian. D'you know where Gypsy <strong>is</strong>?" Khas callsthrough <strong>the</strong> door."As I said, a minor question over a relative long dead.Thank you for clearing it up.""Come back later, Adrian! I'm busy!" Emily's voice <strong>is</strong>muffled; she's clearly fur<strong>the</strong>r than just <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r sideof <strong>the</strong> door."Fair enough. Thanks for <strong>the</strong> help, my Lady."Sarah: "By all means. Perhaps someday you can return<strong>the</strong> favor." Count on it."-...sure, right, sorry." Interrupting ano<strong>the</strong>r's GreatWork <strong>is</strong>, of course, strictly forbidden by <strong>the</strong> Order'srules, <strong>and</strong> on top of that Adrian <strong>is</strong>n't particularlyinterested in inadvertently learning somethinghorrifying about <strong>the</strong> perpetual twelve year old. Heretreats from <strong>the</strong> shut door.If <strong>the</strong>y have no more to d<strong>is</strong>cuss, Sarah's leaving.And retreats also from intellectual curiosity, provinghimself unfit of <strong>the</strong> title Dragon >:-)Anton's halfway into h<strong>is</strong> car.That leaves <strong>the</strong> Gangrel stuck, of course... Elysium's ablood bath, Barbie's useless, Emily's occupied.Fortunately, when all else fails, Khas has notes tocompile <strong>and</strong> cross-reference.Spectator: "In <strong>the</strong>re, behind <strong>the</strong> warehouses - <strong>the</strong> smallflats."Dietrich follows Spectator, h<strong>is</strong> paranoia kicking inagain. Down by <strong>the</strong> docks, great place for a body dump.No! Shut up, Dietrich's Brain!

FerrinusNicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusVermain<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>VermainWhat does it sound like's going on behind <strong>the</strong> door,though?"What sort of ordnance did you have in mind,Spectator?"Dietrich shouldn't be worried, really, consideringAnatoli's following close behind, <strong>and</strong> he's stilldouble-cocked.The area has people in it, actually - maritime workers,even though it's 2, 3 AM. The unloading <strong>and</strong> loading ofcontainer vessels <strong>is</strong> 24 hours a day.Khas has super-hearing, after all."Nothing flammable, I am hoping?"All Khas could hear was objects being moved around.Also, breathing.Its time to head back to <strong>the</strong> Haven. Anton's got work todo <strong>and</strong> some nifty little notes to cheat from. Perfect.Spectator: "Well, now. A better question might be...what do you want?""Normally, people add 'within reason' to that. Forgetit. What do you want, within or without reason?"He takes out a small key, unlocking a door to a unitbehind one of <strong>the</strong> warehouses.Anton's off, <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>and</strong> I assume Sarah also. Aproductive evening has been spent!Breathing, hmm. Well, Khas doesn't want to deal with<strong>the</strong> fallout of barging in on Emily - whatever she'sdoing - so he's going to see if he can't find anythingsubstantive on Invictus blood oaths or lupines oranything else particularly strange <strong>the</strong> Countessmentioned. He'll look in <strong>the</strong> Vault if that's where hefigures such material lies, <strong>and</strong> try Emily in a fewhours."I think, in th<strong>is</strong> case, excess <strong>is</strong> a good idea, yes?""Hmmmm... flamethrower's out. Heavy firepower, maybe.Something that will probably incapacitate him, put himin torpor, instead of turning him to ash outright. Afew guns, maybe a really big axe... unless you havesort of gun that shoots wooden stakes.""Yes.""Is that all?""You have a gun that shoots wooden stakes?""Yes.""I would love to see that."The door opens, leading to.. an office. There are acouple of desks, <strong>and</strong> a bunch of card catalogues <strong>and</strong> faxmachines.Anatoli tries to ponder <strong>the</strong> physics of it all, but th<strong>is</strong>was never h<strong>is</strong> best subject. "Eh... any good p<strong>is</strong>tols?"

ananaNicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>VermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Spectator begins thumbing through things, turning to<strong>the</strong> side <strong>and</strong> d<strong>is</strong>abling an alarm system quickly <strong>the</strong>ngoing back to h<strong>is</strong> work."P<strong>is</strong>tols, check. Heavy firepower, check. 'Guns', check,big axes, yes, gun that shoots wooden stakes, yes."He's selecting cards <strong>and</strong> making a small pile."I'm surpr<strong>is</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> limits of your imagination,gentlemen - but I suppose you aren't revolutionaries.""Hmmm. I don't suppose you've got some crazy full-bodysuit I can wear so I can jump him during <strong>the</strong> daytimewithout getting sun on me.""Like, you know, biohazard suit, welding mask, I don'tknow...""Maybe a tank that shoots wooden stake...""Welding mask, yes, biohazard suit.. has v<strong>is</strong>ors,wouldn't stop sunlight. Tanks, not at short notice."More cards from <strong>the</strong> files."Damn. I bet you could make a lot of money if you madesome kind of vampire daytime suit, you know?""It would be a bit too obvious, I think, to my o<strong>the</strong>rcustomers.""Put <strong>the</strong> welding mask on <strong>the</strong> biohazard suit, maybe..."Dietrich has thought about th<strong>is</strong> before, apparently."Anyway. Right. Daytime ambush <strong>is</strong> out, I guess.""So you only burn out your eyeballs? Could work, Iguess. Hunt by scent."There's a no<strong>is</strong>e outside - a kind of thumping.Spectator frowns. "Well, let's get into <strong>the</strong> warehouse."Anatoli turns, noting <strong>the</strong> thump, before followingSpectator, presumably twoards <strong>the</strong> warehouse."Maybe get some <strong>night</strong>-v<strong>is</strong>ion goggles <strong>and</strong> turn down <strong>the</strong>sensitivity, so, like, it's not REAL sunlight..."Dietrich looks over in <strong>the</strong> general direction ofOutside, squinting. Hopefully it's just dock workers.Anton, on <strong>the</strong> way back to h<strong>is</strong> haven.. your powerful carcrosses <strong>the</strong> short bridge to Sørøyhav, at <strong>the</strong> heart ofHammerfest. The executive apartment suites with <strong>the</strong>irluxury underground parking <strong>and</strong> elevators are mereminutes away, <strong>and</strong> it's hours before <strong>the</strong> sun will r<strong>is</strong>e.Dietrich's internal 12-year-old <strong>is</strong> currently doing <strong>the</strong>equivalent of doodling a super car with rockets <strong>and</strong> jetengines in a school notebook.You cross a darkened alley from <strong>the</strong> office to awarehouse, Dietrich glancing out at <strong>the</strong> port - <strong>the</strong>re doseem to be a lot of dock workers moving around <strong>the</strong>re,some of <strong>the</strong>m running. Odd.Spectator unlocks ano<strong>the</strong>r door, a rolling one th<strong>is</strong>time, <strong>and</strong> slides it up just enough to squeeze under.

mattbabyNicolaemattbabyNicolaemattbabydammitwhoNicolaeVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>NicolaedammitwhoAnton considers heading straight home. Could <strong>the</strong>re bean ambush? If <strong>the</strong>y've tapped h<strong>is</strong> phone <strong>the</strong>y surely knowexactly where he hides from <strong>the</strong> sun. It could bespectacularly dangerous.If Dietrich was bo<strong>the</strong>ring to use <strong>the</strong> Blush of Life, <strong>the</strong>hairs on h<strong>is</strong> neck would be st<strong>and</strong>ing up.On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, if it wasn't safe now, would it everbe? They could have just put a bomb in <strong>the</strong> car. Maybe<strong>the</strong>y will anyway.Sadly, h<strong>is</strong> follicles remain bloodless <strong>and</strong> so h<strong>is</strong> hairsremain flat. But <strong>the</strong> paranoia <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong>re. He turns onAuspex as he kneels down to look under <strong>the</strong> slidingdoor, crouching down to get ready to slide under.The car idles outside <strong>the</strong> apartment complex.It might be paranoia... well, it <strong>is</strong> paranoia, butparanoia <strong>is</strong> an important thing to have. Sarah checksher own phones, including hunterphone. Have <strong>the</strong>y buggedher yet?So basically at th<strong>is</strong> very moment half <strong>the</strong> PCs arecurrently going Agent Mulder-style.Anatoli bends down, beginning to squeeze underneath <strong>the</strong>door carefully.Dietrich follows. <strong>It's</strong> a little harder for him tosqueeze, being built <strong>the</strong> way he <strong>is</strong>.Inside <strong>the</strong> warehouse are.. crates. Lots <strong>and</strong> lots ofcontainers of all materials <strong>and</strong> sizes. Armed with h<strong>is</strong>catalogue files, though, Spectator knows exactly whereto go. He leads you around, humming, retrieving a pairof XM8 assault rifles *here*, some full body armour <strong>and</strong>welding masks *<strong>the</strong>re*, a massive, modern-smithingqualitybattleaxe, two Sig high-velocity silencedmachine p<strong>is</strong>tols, a chaingun modified to fire stakes...he's very strong, able to carry <strong>the</strong> whole haul.One by one, Anton re-installs <strong>the</strong> batteries on <strong>the</strong>Blackberries - <strong>and</strong> systematically erases <strong>the</strong>irmemories.Sarah goes over her own phones, very carefully... <strong>and</strong>can't find a single electronic surveillance device orprogram.From somewhere outside <strong>the</strong> warehouse, <strong>the</strong>re comes <strong>the</strong>echoing no<strong>is</strong>e of rain. Must have been a very suddenstorm?"Holy shit." Dietrich looks around appreciately at <strong>the</strong>massive arsenal. Assault rifles? Armor? A battleaxe? Astakegun!? He's a kid in a c<strong>and</strong>y store. The deadliestc<strong>and</strong>y store on Earth.That just means <strong>the</strong>y're so well hidden she can't find<strong>the</strong>m! aaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA

anana Speaking of hunterphone, she prom<strong>is</strong>ed to contact Elerywith details of <strong>the</strong> black markets soon.Maybe not th<strong>is</strong> late/early, though.Vermain Anatoli's similarly pleased, <strong>and</strong> h<strong>is</strong> eyes light up at<strong>the</strong> sight of <strong>the</strong> Sigs. Maybe Anatoli does have at leasta -bit- of American in him.Nicolae Everybody's a little American, Anatoli.Even <strong>the</strong> Storyteller.mattbaby He leaves <strong>the</strong> batteries in. Fuck whoever did th<strong>is</strong>. Hecru<strong>is</strong>es around, one at a time finding as many fast-foodjoints as he can. As he drives about, he drops adifferent phone off in <strong>the</strong> trash can.<strong>banana</strong> Anton carefully d<strong>is</strong>poses of h<strong>is</strong> phones, in a patternthat will confuse anyone who tracks <strong>the</strong>m down - <strong>the</strong>ninfuriate <strong>the</strong>m when <strong>the</strong>y d<strong>is</strong>cover one.Nicolae Dietrich hefts <strong>the</strong> axe in h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s, grinning like amadman. Is th<strong>is</strong> a 5L (9-again) axe, by any chance?<strong>banana</strong> Spectator, near a door to <strong>the</strong> warehouse, thumbs aremote to start it opening, <strong>the</strong>n turns to you, smilingwryly.(That's exactly <strong>the</strong> axe it <strong>is</strong>)Nicolae I love you <strong>banana</strong>.Ferrinus What have you done. What have you done<strong>banana</strong> "Think th<strong>is</strong> will be enough? You'll need skill as well,<strong>and</strong> luck, if Firius <strong>is</strong> as old as he claims."mattbaby With that accompl<strong>is</strong>hed, he returns to h<strong>is</strong> haven -carefully. He's had some time to prepare for th<strong>is</strong>, soas he steps out of h<strong>is</strong> car, he's got a gleaming p<strong>is</strong>tolin h<strong>is</strong> coat pocket, where nobody will see just howbeautiful it <strong>is</strong>.<strong>banana</strong> There's a THUMP, much louder than before, as <strong>the</strong> entirearea of crates behind Spectator bursts into flames,ammunition boxes exploding <strong>and</strong> spraying everywhere.<strong>banana</strong> More grenades fly into <strong>the</strong> warehouse, exploding intonapalm that spreads rivulets of flame throughout it,o<strong>the</strong>rs producing shrapnel. The walls <strong>the</strong>mselves beginto burn. Within seconds, gunfire <strong>is</strong> everywhere.Outside - you see through <strong>the</strong> opened doors -Spectator's union men are fighting a desperate battleagainst suited attackers.At <strong>the</strong> head of <strong>the</strong> mob, st<strong>and</strong>ing - somehow - on ara<strong>is</strong>ed soapbox, <strong>is</strong> a familiar figure -Vermain Anatoli h<strong>is</strong>ses <strong>and</strong> elects a quick roll away from <strong>the</strong>explosions, trying to shield h<strong>is</strong> eyes from <strong>the</strong> blazingfire. It sucks to be a Mekhet, sometimes.Nicolae "What <strong>the</strong> FUCK?" Dietrich clenches down on <strong>the</strong> axe inh<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s, ducking as a round of some undetermined butvery loud caliber zings over h<strong>is</strong> head.

anana "Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha,"says Savik Aglukkaq, completely failing to noticeDietrich among <strong>the</strong> flames <strong>and</strong> chaos. He continues tohurl explosives <strong>and</strong> spur h<strong>is</strong> small army on.Nicolae As he ducks, Dietrich turns on h<strong>is</strong> Vigor.<strong>banana</strong> Spectator: "....."Spectator: ".....GET OUT OF HERE! NOT THAT WAY, GO BACKTHE WAY WE CAME!"Nicolae Apparently, contrary to h<strong>is</strong> earlier assertion, it <strong>is</strong>not actually good to know many arms dealers. Especiallyrival ones.Vermain Anatoli wastes no time arguing, making a dash towards<strong>the</strong> rolling door, which, hopefully, still has thatsmall escape slit underneath it to crawl under.<strong>banana</strong> Dietrich's supernaturally strong, Anatoli's practicallycowering - but what do you do?When you say rolling door - <strong>the</strong> big one that justopened, or <strong>the</strong> one back at <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side, that leadsto <strong>the</strong> alley?Vermain The alleyway one.<strong>banana</strong> The one near here <strong>is</strong> easy to get to, but has, well,armies fighting in front of it.Right!Nicolae Dietrich bolts with Anatoli for <strong>the</strong> rolled-up door,still carrying h<strong>is</strong> shiny new axe.He hopes Spectator won't mind.<strong>banana</strong> You thread a careful, rapid, terrifying path throughboxes of flame <strong>and</strong> explosions...Anatoli, please make a frenzy check.You hear Spectator screaming behind you, as he turns tofight for h<strong>is</strong> business - "GRAB THE GUNS AND GO!"Unfortunately, you don't have time to grab *all* of<strong>the</strong>m...Pick two things each, please.Vermain Anatoli, being Mr. P<strong>is</strong>tols, grabs for <strong>the</strong> Sigs.Nicolae Is th<strong>is</strong> two guns we're not already carrying, or...?<strong>banana</strong> two "items". So, "<strong>the</strong> p<strong>is</strong>tols" would be one, a riflewould be ano<strong>the</strong>r, body armour ano<strong>the</strong>r, stakegun, <strong>and</strong> soonVermain Okay, p<strong>is</strong>tols <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> body armour for Anatoli.Nicolae Dietrich tucks h<strong>is</strong> axe -- which he was already carryingth<strong>is</strong> doesn't count right -- under h<strong>is</strong> armpit, alsograbbing some body armor <strong>and</strong>, of course, <strong>the</strong> stakegun.Vermain Anatoli's h<strong>and</strong>s nearly grab <strong>the</strong> weapons of <strong>the</strong>ir ownaccord, h<strong>is</strong> whole face painted with fear <strong>and</strong> anger,barely managing to convince himself to grab <strong>the</strong> bodyarmor as he spends much of h<strong>is</strong> effort trying to keep<strong>the</strong> r<strong>is</strong>ing Beast back in its cage.

Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermain<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeDietrich tosses <strong>the</strong> armor over h<strong>is</strong> head, not bo<strong>the</strong>ringto deal with <strong>the</strong> straps, <strong>and</strong> it hangs limply, floppingon h<strong>is</strong> chest <strong>and</strong> back.Haha, ok I'll let Dietrich get away with that but noXM8 assault rifle for ei<strong>the</strong>r of you.Axe in one h<strong>and</strong>, carrying <strong>the</strong> stakegun in <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.Vigor Rules Everything Around me.You run, <strong>the</strong>n:Running <strong>is</strong> a superlative idea.Through <strong>the</strong> alleyways of burning ordinance, to a moreprosaic gap between buildings. Outside, <strong>the</strong>re's gunfireeverywhere. One of you please roll Dexterity +Streetw<strong>is</strong>e.I want quick figuring of where to go!!wodroll 6 dex+streetsNicolae rolls 6 dice (Rerolling 10s) to dex+streets <strong>and</strong>gets 5 successes. (Rerolls: 2 Failures: 2 Ones: 0)! In th<strong>is</strong> situation, Dietrich's instincts don't failhim.You dodge unerringly, leading Anatoli, between fights<strong>and</strong> destruction - <strong>the</strong>re must be a hundred peoplefighting here, counting both sides.A PA system crackles to life, <strong>and</strong> Savik's delightedlaughter peals out through it, as do Spectator'sbattlecries - Marx<strong>is</strong>t rhetoric, <strong>the</strong> victory of <strong>the</strong>proletariat against <strong>the</strong> bosses. They must be fightingnear a microphone.Dietrich's not unfamiliar with <strong>the</strong> docks. He did alittle work around here back when he was working forh<strong>is</strong> sire, smuggling things <strong>and</strong> dealing with things.Back alleys, tucked away behind dumpsters <strong>and</strong>buildings, Dietrich navigates h<strong>is</strong> companion through<strong>the</strong>m like he had a map in h<strong>is</strong> head.To <strong>the</strong> tune of Kapital <strong>and</strong> gunfire, <strong>the</strong>n, you run foryour Requiems (pity about <strong>the</strong> car, which must have beenblown to hell already) <strong>and</strong>, ra<strong>the</strong>r later, make it upinto <strong>the</strong> city proper.Let's not kid ourselves. Dietrich hasn't driven a carhe cares about in ages.Anatoli keeps good pace with Dietrich. It must be all<strong>the</strong> walking he does.Having muscles in <strong>the</strong> same exerc<strong>is</strong>ed shape <strong>the</strong>y werewhen, an active-duty agent, he was Embraced, probablyhelps.Dietrich pauses with Anatoli in a back alley."Fucking... what <strong>the</strong> fuck... Savik? Jesus Chr<strong>is</strong>t,Anatoli, if I'd known th<strong>is</strong> was all going to happenI'd've let you stay at home!"

ananaVermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeFerrinusNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusVermainNicolaeFerrinusIt seems that <strong>the</strong> Halvors<strong>is</strong>ts made a good choice inpicking someone to even <strong>the</strong> sides of <strong>the</strong> arms race.Anatoli spends a few moments stopped dead, glancingdown at h<strong>is</strong> new weapons, shrugging. "Well, on one h<strong>and</strong>,<strong>the</strong>se are quite nice, yes?"That <strong>the</strong>y are. +3 p<strong>is</strong>tols, completely silenced.Dietrich grins <strong>and</strong> looks down at h<strong>is</strong> new acqu<strong>is</strong>itions."They are that, my friend. Very very nice."Fully automatic fire without being audible from a metre<strong>and</strong> a half away.Spectator must be one of <strong>the</strong> biggest arms-runners on<strong>the</strong> Baltic Sea.No wonder Savik was p<strong>is</strong>sed.Must have been, you mean.Or insane.Probably both....very definitely both.Meanwhile, down in <strong>the</strong> deep vault, above <strong>the</strong> tomb ofMaximilian Heinrich Thalmann, Adrian Khas <strong>is</strong> quietlyreading.If you'd like to make rolls to learn stuff about oaths<strong>and</strong> so on, th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> time for it.Hell, yes. What kind of equipment bonus <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> Vaultworth, Int + Occultw<strong>is</strong>e?Five.Plus Five.Well, now.Ferrinus rolls 14 dice (Rerolling 10s) to Khas spends awillpower point, throwing himself into h<strong>is</strong> work! <strong>and</strong>gets 4 successes. (Rerolls: 0 Failures: 10 Ones: 1)That should be three successes, I forgot <strong>the</strong> clan flaw.You're sitting amidst <strong>the</strong> plundered occult wealth ofall Central Europe, collected by <strong>the</strong> Thule Society over<strong>the</strong> war years, backed by <strong>the</strong> Wehrmacht, <strong>and</strong> hastilysmuggled to <strong>the</strong> tiny refugee city of Sørøya.Although <strong>the</strong> Lancea Sanctum section has been burntdown, <strong>the</strong> rest remains.And all my stupid Beast can think about <strong>is</strong> that it'snot quiiiite full. Shut up, lower soul!Anatoli spends a few moments sticking h<strong>is</strong> newlyacquiredSigs into h<strong>is</strong> coat (he has a lot of holsters,seemingly), giving <strong>the</strong> body armor a good inspection.Dietrich doesn't have room for a giant fucking axe <strong>and</strong>a stake chaingun.Then again... sometimes it's always h<strong>and</strong>y to havefriends.Or entire soul, arguably. Khas moves from shelf toshelf, leafing through countless tomes. Anyone watching

ananaFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyNicolae<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusNicolae<strong>banana</strong>him would find it slightly strange, because while <strong>the</strong>man <strong>is</strong> obviously engrossed in h<strong>is</strong> work he also actstwitchy, as though shot full of adrenaline or evenneedful of a trip to <strong>the</strong> restroom - he doesn't completea full fifteen minutes' reading in any single stretchwithout abruptly st<strong>and</strong>ing from h<strong>is</strong> seat <strong>and</strong> pacingaround <strong>the</strong> vault, running h<strong>is</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s through h<strong>is</strong> hair<strong>and</strong> h<strong>is</strong>sing to himself.<strong>It's</strong> literally <strong>the</strong> kind of axe a viking warrior woulduse if he had access to modern metallurgy <strong>and</strong> anatomytextbooks.And <strong>the</strong>n Khas <strong>is</strong> back at <strong>the</strong> table again, glaring downat whatever volume he's using as though it's a personalenemy of h<strong>is</strong>, occasionally running a bone-dry fingeracross a page before turning it. Frustrating buthopefully-informative hours pass.Well, what was Khas looking up?Elsewhere..Anton's fin<strong>is</strong>hed d<strong>is</strong>posing of h<strong>is</strong> phones, <strong>and</strong> he'sgoing to have to spend <strong>the</strong> day SOMEWHERE. 5 AM <strong>is</strong>creeping up, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun will be up by 8.mattbaby: With that accompl<strong>is</strong>hed, he returns to h<strong>is</strong>haven - carefully. He's had some time to prepare forth<strong>is</strong>, so as he steps out of h<strong>is</strong> car, he's got agleaming p<strong>is</strong>tol in h<strong>is</strong> coat pocket, where nobody willsee just how beautiful it <strong>is</strong>.Dietrich concentrates, putting into practice <strong>the</strong>Obfuscation techniques taught to him recently by Cian.He picked it up pretty easily, it seems. The chainsaw<strong>and</strong> axe prove as easy to hide as <strong>the</strong> pencils <strong>and</strong> CDcases he trained on back in h<strong>is</strong> hovel.Expensively jacketed, Anton st<strong>and</strong>s in <strong>the</strong> undergroundcarpark. There's soft lightning, <strong>and</strong> perfumed air. Thegleaming marble elevator to <strong>the</strong> penthouse apartmentsst<strong>and</strong>s before him, apparently untampered-with.Two things interest Khas principally: whatever <strong>the</strong>Order knows about Invictus blood oaths (<strong>and</strong> what powersthose supposedly have to prevent a Kindred's death bydecapitation), <strong>and</strong> lupines. The Dragon's alwaysd<strong>is</strong>m<strong>is</strong>sed <strong>the</strong> latter as a myth, but <strong>the</strong> Contessa'sblase mention of an encounter one has spurred h<strong>is</strong>interest - any sign <strong>the</strong>y're real, or ever were real?Dietrich slips <strong>the</strong> body armor underneath h<strong>is</strong> lea<strong>the</strong>rjacket, <strong>and</strong> soon h<strong>is</strong> new armament <strong>is</strong> hidden from casualviewers.Dietrich, <strong>the</strong>n, pauses for a second by <strong>the</strong> side of <strong>the</strong>road <strong>and</strong> stuffs <strong>the</strong> chaingun into a small pocket, OrSomething. To an observer's eye, he pretty clearly put

it in h<strong>is</strong> Inventory.Ferrinus The former material will eventually be channeledtowards Khas's Great Work, while <strong>the</strong> latter's mostly acuriousity - but <strong>the</strong>n, it's good to be prepared,especially for someone who spends as much time on <strong>the</strong>ice as Khas sometimes does.Vermain Anatoli spends a few moments strapping on h<strong>is</strong> bodyarmor, throwing h<strong>is</strong> coat overtop of it. It pays to befashionable, sometimes.mattbaby Anton stares at <strong>the</strong> elevator doors. Could it have beensabotaged? Ano<strong>the</strong>r bomb, waiting to go off? Is th<strong>is</strong> howReqiuems are spent?<strong>banana</strong> By some.. pretty much!Research. On Lupines:mattbaby Anton considers. They've had too many chances to pullth<strong>is</strong> off. He steps into <strong>the</strong> elevator <strong>and</strong> boldly pushes<strong>the</strong> button, fully expecting to not be incinerated.<strong>banana</strong> They're not real... everything says <strong>the</strong> same. Theysimply aren't. Myths, once from many sources, werecrystall<strong>is</strong>ed into one idea of 'werewolves'.. with <strong>the</strong>advent of popular cinema. The Ordo researchers whowrote <strong>the</strong>se tomes are certain of it. However!Nicolae "Shit. Now that that's over with... you want to comewith to deal with Firius? You don't have to do if youdon't want to, I'll underst<strong>and</strong>. <strong>It's</strong> been that kind ofday."<strong>banana</strong> There are some things.. that are *like* Lupines. Mostnotably, rumours of an obscure Gangrel bloodline, orspeciality of Protean, that lets Kindred transform intophysical beasts.Ferrinus I'm guessing you mean some sort of outl<strong>and</strong><strong>is</strong>h monstershape?Since Khas could transform into a wolf with onlya little effort, hypo<strong>the</strong>tically.<strong>banana</strong> No I basically just mean Protean 4Ferrinus That's hardly a matter for obscure rumor!<strong>banana</strong> Except, possibly, something more powerful than anordinary animal, or a hybrid of more than one.On Oaths.. one of <strong>the</strong> greatest secrets of <strong>the</strong> Invictus.Nothing's secret, of course, to those who people defectto when <strong>the</strong>y can't live with <strong>the</strong> Curse anymore...Ferrinus Hmm. Well, it figures, <strong>the</strong>n - "it's just a damnvampire" was Khas's working hypo<strong>the</strong>s<strong>is</strong> for <strong>the</strong> purposesof explaining any werewolf rumors he'd run into. Muchmore likely that <strong>the</strong> Countess was simply uneducatedthan that she'd encountered a genuine 'foreign'monster.<strong>banana</strong> In <strong>the</strong>ir simplest form, <strong>the</strong> Oath 'magic' of <strong>the</strong>Invictus covenant <strong>is</strong> literally: prom<strong>is</strong>es which Are

Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>mattbabyKept, with supernatural accuracy.They can prom<strong>is</strong>e to obey each o<strong>the</strong>r - a prom<strong>is</strong>e <strong>the</strong>yphysically cannot break.Similarly, to perform tasks, or avoid <strong>the</strong>m..Anatoli gives a shrug, glancing at Dietrich. "Do youreally think that <strong>the</strong> two of us can take down someonetwo thous<strong>and</strong> years old? I mean, as nice as <strong>the</strong>sep<strong>is</strong>tols are..."Oaths seem to be a property of <strong>the</strong> Blood - as always.They're binding on <strong>the</strong> one who swears <strong>the</strong>m, nobodyelse. Could a sufficiently practice covenant memberswear an Oath to.. not die? Well, maybe. The Contessa'ssuccess seems to have been only partial, after all.Interesting. And th<strong>is</strong> really <strong>is</strong>n't some sort of obscured<strong>is</strong>cipline or form of blood magic? The bloodjust...does that, for anyone who knows how to tell itto?Yes, but!The secret seems to be tied to <strong>the</strong> Invictus method ofhierarchy, of organ<strong>is</strong>ation by merit <strong>and</strong> rank. Itliterally only works within <strong>the</strong> covenant.Even defectors, or those ejected, can no longer use it.So when <strong>the</strong>y claim <strong>the</strong>y're uniquely fit to rule, maybe<strong>the</strong>re's something TO it.. fit to rule each o<strong>the</strong>r, atleast, to bind <strong>the</strong>mselves to conditions <strong>and</strong> principles.Hmm. There's probably a <strong>the</strong>s<strong>is</strong> to be written here aboutabstract supernatural principles which <strong>the</strong> Covenantssubconsciously organize under.Still, that'd be a lot of work, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Academy atpresent <strong>is</strong> not one Khas <strong>is</strong> hugely concerned withimpressing. Still, th<strong>is</strong> explains <strong>the</strong> Contessa'spredicament fairly neatly.Anton presses <strong>the</strong> button.Ding! The doors shut.The elevator starts up."We've got our weapons... but you're right. Justkicking down h<strong>is</strong> apartment door <strong>and</strong> hoping he staysstill long enough to put stakes in him seems alittle... hopeful. Now that my Beast has calmed downfrom that shit at <strong>the</strong> docks."It r<strong>is</strong>es.It doesn't explode.. but it stops.Does Khas's research lend any fur<strong>the</strong>r insight into <strong>the</strong>hypo<strong>the</strong>sized means of reviving her? Is <strong>the</strong> reasoningsound, on fur<strong>the</strong>r inquiry?And <strong>the</strong> lights go out.Excell- Anton snarls as h<strong>is</strong> eyes kick into VampireNight V<strong>is</strong>ion Mode

anana So, tell me about <strong>the</strong> body armour. Dietrich put it on,did he?Vermain "I think, perhaps, planning <strong>is</strong> in order, yes?"mattbaby The p<strong>is</strong>tol <strong>is</strong> out of h<strong>is</strong> jacket <strong>and</strong> h<strong>is</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong> <strong>is</strong>already reaching for <strong>the</strong> alarm button.<strong>banana</strong> Because if so, when he stripped down, he found <strong>the</strong>miniature spy camera attached to h<strong>is</strong> lapel.Ferrinus ...!Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> probably not a good time, but Khas should spendh<strong>is</strong> third research success in <strong>the</strong> Vault looking intoProject Valkyrie itself. If it had its genes<strong>is</strong> inGermany, <strong>the</strong>re must be something here.<strong>banana</strong> Anton slaps <strong>the</strong> button, <strong>and</strong> a fire-like alarm begins toring out - a loud bell, echoing through <strong>the</strong> lift shaft<strong>and</strong> whatever floor he's on.Nicolae "...wait, what? What <strong>the</strong> hell <strong>is</strong> th<strong>is</strong>?"<strong>banana</strong> The lights don't come on, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> doors don't open, but<strong>the</strong>re's that.Vermain "Hm?" Anatoli leans over.<strong>banana</strong> <strong>It's</strong> a miniature spy camera! <strong>It's</strong> really obvious,actually - it looks like a tiny little webcam, that hadbeen fastened literally to h<strong>is</strong> collar. There's a tinyscratchy area which <strong>is</strong> probably a sound pickup, too,<strong>and</strong> an antenna that ran to h<strong>is</strong> sleeve.Nicolae "How <strong>the</strong> fuck... how long as th<strong>is</strong> been on me?" He pullsit off, <strong>and</strong> looks it at.mattbaby Anton considers h<strong>is</strong> situation for a moment. He does notwant to be rescued by a bunch of Kine firemen. Does <strong>the</strong>Open Door button work? Could he reach <strong>the</strong> panel on <strong>the</strong>ceiling?<strong>banana</strong> Well, Dietrich doesn't think he put it on when hedressed after waking.Vermain "Er... you could answer that better than I could."Anatoli taps h<strong>is</strong> chin. "Perhaps in your meeting withthat, eh, woman who lead you to <strong>the</strong> Test Zone?"Nicolae "Maybe..."Dietrich spent last day in a dumpster. The last time hewas asleep before <strong>the</strong>n...Oh."I hope for both of us that it was her."<strong>banana</strong> Pressing what he thinks <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> Open Door button, Antonhears a scrape of metal. He squints where <strong>the</strong> door was,<strong>and</strong> it does seem to be a darker outline now thanbefore.Vermain "Who else are you thinking of?" Anatoli ruffles h<strong>is</strong>coat slightly.Nicolae "Because o<strong>the</strong>rw<strong>is</strong>e it means Firius has had me buggedsince he asked me to deal with <strong>the</strong> Carthians."

mattbaby anton has auspex??? th<strong>is</strong> shouldn't be too difficultVermain There's complete silence from Anatoli's end for awhile. A little whip of wind blows across <strong>the</strong> two of<strong>the</strong>m in order to punctuate <strong>the</strong> stunning lack of sound.Finally: "Oh."Nicolae Dietrich lifts <strong>the</strong> webcam <strong>and</strong> looks into it up close."You fucking prick," he says clearly into <strong>the</strong> camera'smicrophone, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n grinds <strong>the</strong> thing to dust in h<strong>is</strong>palm.<strong>banana</strong> mattbaby: you can do it! I'm just being atmospheric.mattbaby oh ok!!Vermain "So, eh... hm." Anatoli just sort of st<strong>and</strong>s <strong>the</strong>re,looking down at <strong>the</strong> grass. "Maybe we should delay plansfor killing Rosenberg, yes?"mattbaby Anton carefully slides h<strong>is</strong> way out of <strong>the</strong> screamingelevator. He <strong>is</strong> fucked if <strong>the</strong>y shut down power to <strong>the</strong>whole building! What <strong>the</strong> hell <strong>is</strong> going on! What floor<strong>is</strong> he even on?<strong>banana</strong> Anton slides one foot carefully out onto <strong>the</strong> gap - <strong>the</strong>nit bangs into a wall. He's between floors,unfortunately.There's enough of a gap that he could drop down, if hewanted to!mattbaby That will be exactly what he does!Nicolae "Delay <strong>the</strong>m? If that was Firius on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r end ofthat camera, <strong>the</strong>n he knows we know who he <strong>is</strong>." Hesnarls. "And I don't think our two-thous<strong>and</strong> year oldfriend <strong>is</strong> going to just sit back <strong>and</strong> let us walk around<strong>the</strong> city with h<strong>is</strong> secret."mattbaby Anton checks <strong>the</strong> intercom button. Anything working?<strong>banana</strong> You step back into <strong>the</strong> lift, <strong>and</strong> press <strong>the</strong> button -<strong>the</strong>re's a crackle of sound, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n a voice on <strong>the</strong>o<strong>the</strong>r end!"Hello? ...Hello"mattbaby "The power's out in th<strong>is</strong> lift. Send someoneimmediately."<strong>banana</strong> "I'm sorry.. Anton."mattbaby whose voice <strong>is</strong> it<strong>banana</strong> "I can tell, by calling, that you did turn off <strong>the</strong>phones. But.. I can't take <strong>the</strong> r<strong>is</strong>k that he's alreadygotten to you."Nicolae Three guesses.Vermain "Perhaps we are going back to Elysium, <strong>the</strong>n? I, eh, amnot knowing how much you care about Carrel, but if welet <strong>the</strong> secret of Rosenberg slip, <strong>the</strong>re will be farmore people against him. Much harder to track us down,yes?"<strong>banana</strong> That would be <strong>the</strong> voice of Simon Peter, 'former

secretary to Duke Firius Rosenberg'.mattbaby Anton's voice trails off halfway through <strong>the</strong> word"lift".Anton considers th<strong>is</strong> - poetically - for a moment.<strong>banana</strong> "Thanks for hitting <strong>the</strong> alarm. You never did ask aboutour old contacts in emergency services."mattbaby "You're fired."<strong>banana</strong> "...""I admire that, I think.""Goodbye."mattbaby Anton swings h<strong>is</strong> legs out, staring down <strong>the</strong> loomingdarkness of <strong>the</strong> shaft. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> going to suck.Nicolae Dietrich nods. Taking down an Elder vampire on h<strong>is</strong> ownwould be quite <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>r in h<strong>is</strong> cap, but <strong>the</strong>n againhe'd ra<strong>the</strong>r not have h<strong>is</strong> cap shredded to pieces tryingto get a fea<strong>the</strong>r to put in it."You got Carrell's number, Anatoli?"Vermain Anatoli pulls out h<strong>is</strong> cellphone. "On speed dial. Just amoment." He punches a few keys, holding <strong>the</strong> phone up toh<strong>is</strong> ear. Hopefully <strong>the</strong>re's good reception here."You, eh, do know where he <strong>is</strong> now, yes?" Anatoliaddresses Dietrich as <strong>the</strong> phone beedles.<strong>banana</strong> Where are you? Somewhere between <strong>the</strong> docks <strong>and</strong>Hammerfest? If so, yes, reception.Nicolae "He's probably not in h<strong>is</strong> apartment."mattbaby Is <strong>the</strong>re anything Anton can grab on to in <strong>the</strong> shaft?Surely <strong>the</strong>re's a ladder or something nearby!Vermain "Where <strong>is</strong> it? It might be a good lead, ei<strong>the</strong>r way."<strong>banana</strong> Anton looks around, sharpening h<strong>is</strong> v<strong>is</strong>ion to <strong>the</strong>maximum extent possible. Like a spy movie or something,objects st<strong>and</strong> out ludicrously, darker shades ofdarkness, becoming three-dimensional. Yes, <strong>the</strong>re's aservice ladder.. on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side of <strong>the</strong> shaft.On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong>, velocity.. if one was to jump, <strong>and</strong>fall for a while..Nicolae "I know where it <strong>is</strong>. Let's hope he's ei<strong>the</strong>r too proudor too stupid to go elsewhere." Dietrich grabs h<strong>is</strong> owncell phone. Time to make a call to Mr. Chernovic.Dietrich, of course, doesn't know that Mr. Chernoviccurrently <strong>is</strong> operating under <strong>the</strong> Byers-Langly-FrohikeSchool of Telephone Conversations.<strong>banana</strong> The phone rings.. <strong>and</strong> rings..Strangely, <strong>the</strong>re's a no<strong>is</strong>e coming from a side alleyway,next to a Burger King.Nicolae "Fuck. Anton's not picking up. Probably in a fuckingmeeting doing... something." Dietrich still has h<strong>is</strong>Auspex up from <strong>the</strong> warehouse, having activated itbefore going in.

VermainmattbabyNicolae<strong>banana</strong>mattbaby<strong>banana</strong>Vermain<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeAnatoli finally sighs, putting down h<strong>is</strong> own phone. "Notpicking up. Hm."Anton summons literally everything within him he can<strong>and</strong> makes a leap for that service ladder.What does <strong>the</strong> no<strong>is</strong>e from <strong>the</strong> Burger King alley soundlike? I don't suppose it sounds like a ringing phone,does it?Shuffling to <strong>the</strong> side to get more room, Anton Chernovicmakes <strong>the</strong> jump. <strong>It's</strong> a long time since he's had toexert himself physically like th<strong>is</strong>.. whatever sports heused to play as a younger man, he's forgotten how <strong>the</strong>muscles go, but.. he Needs to make it. And he has <strong>the</strong>power of <strong>the</strong> Blood.There's a moment as it looks like - he's not going tomake it, he's going to plummet dozens of feet before hehits it - but h<strong>is</strong> outstretched h<strong>and</strong> just barely catchesit. A cufflink goes flying off into <strong>the</strong> darkness as h<strong>is</strong>h<strong>and</strong> tightens around <strong>the</strong> steel rung.You open your eyes wide <strong>and</strong> *Jump*, clutching at <strong>the</strong>ladder... just out of reach. Falling, you come closer,momentum propelling you - your h<strong>and</strong>s scrape againstthat steel rung.Unfortunately, you didn't grab with nearly enoughconviction, bounce off it, <strong>and</strong> go hurtling down into<strong>the</strong> darkness.Anton feels a sharp shock, <strong>and</strong> stops being aware.At least.. for a while.Indeterminable time later, in a mortuary, you awaken..but that's later.To<strong>night</strong>, <strong>the</strong>re's only a couple of people still moving,running out <strong>the</strong> clock til dawn.Specifically, Anatoli <strong>and</strong> Dietrich, having failed tomake <strong>the</strong>ir phone calls.Of course, it's quite common that <strong>the</strong> Prince doesn'tanswer, especially late in <strong>the</strong> <strong>night</strong> like th<strong>is</strong>, butit's bad timing.Soon to be devoured by The Burger King Horror, nodoubt.Interestingly, <strong>the</strong> moment Dietrich hangs up, <strong>the</strong> no<strong>is</strong>efrom near <strong>the</strong> Burger King stops. <strong>It's</strong> a shockingsilence, almost.And, in all likelihood, <strong>the</strong> subject of <strong>the</strong>ir ownpersonal Blood Hunt, with Firius Rosenberg as <strong>the</strong>exclusive participant.Dietrich looks over at Anatoli, <strong>and</strong> looking around, hemakes h<strong>is</strong> way closer to <strong>the</strong> Burger King. "That's... notgood." On a whim, he redials Anton's number as heapproaches <strong>the</strong> restaurant.

Vermain<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermainFerrinus<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeFerrinusVermain<strong>banana</strong>NicolaeVermainFerrinus"What? Burger King? We never had it back in Russia."Anatoli follows close behind.Ring ring. Ring ring."The food's not good ei<strong>the</strong>r but I'm talking about thatsound." Now that he's re-calling Anton's cell, does <strong>the</strong>no<strong>is</strong>e start up again?(Ringtone plays)Dietrich runs for <strong>the</strong> sound of <strong>the</strong> ringtone.What's Anton's song? <strong>It's</strong> coming from that garbage can,whatever it <strong>is</strong>.Dietrich's clawing through <strong>the</strong> garbage can instantly,<strong>and</strong> h<strong>is</strong> eyes widen as he pulls out Anton's cell.Anatoli points towards <strong>the</strong> thoroughly musty cell. "Didyou...?"He hangs up h<strong>is</strong> own phone, staring slackjawed at <strong>the</strong>one he just found, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ringtone stops.The final piece of research, on Valkyrie.."Ohhhh, fffffffuck.""Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong>, eh... bad, I am assuming."Khas's pupils trace left <strong>and</strong> right, left <strong>and</strong> right, as<strong>the</strong> lights above him buzz unpleasantly.The german phrase involved could be translated asProject, or Task Force, or many o<strong>the</strong>r things; <strong>the</strong> termValkyrie, however, definitely referred to a group ofhunters in sou<strong>the</strong>rn Germany, in <strong>the</strong> late 1930s.They were sponsored by <strong>the</strong> provincial government ofBohemia, <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong> verge of going official (ra<strong>the</strong>rthan working batman-style through key individuals).Fortunately, <strong>the</strong>y were wiped out.There, <strong>the</strong> story ends.. though it had plenty of detailsalong <strong>the</strong> way."<strong>It's</strong> Anton's. And it's in a trashcan."Are those details in <strong>the</strong> vault?"Maybe he, eh... didn't like <strong>the</strong> model?"Ferrinus: Yep. Anything in particular you want to know?"Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> Anton. He'd probably have tried to sell it orpawn it or something.""Just putting in <strong>the</strong> trash where anybody could pick upan expensive cell for free? Not h<strong>is</strong> style.""I don't think we need to call Anton to let him know<strong>the</strong>re's something up with Firius."Anatoli makes a little clicking sound with h<strong>is</strong> tongue."It <strong>is</strong> not good, comrade, but, eh... <strong>the</strong>re <strong>is</strong> not muchwe can do, yes? Unless you are knowing much about wherehe was moving to<strong>night</strong>."Well, what <strong>the</strong> heck: how'd <strong>the</strong>y find out aboutvampires, how were <strong>the</strong>y found out, who wiped <strong>the</strong>m out,how can we be certain <strong>the</strong>y were all wiped out.

Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong><strong>banana</strong>And how did we deal with <strong>the</strong> government of Bohemiaknowing about kindred, anyway?DOES Dietrich know where Anton's plans were?a) One of <strong>the</strong>m *was* a vampire b) her sire gotsuspicious c) Hitler d) <strong>the</strong> book takes it as a faitaccomplie) By having key individuals accused of commun<strong>is</strong>m orjew<strong>is</strong>h ancestryThanks, Hitler! ...did he know about vampires?Not as far as <strong>the</strong> book knows.So why'd he wipe 'em out?Suspicious vigilantes of ethnic <strong>and</strong> religiousminorities, who High Adv<strong>is</strong>ors wh<strong>is</strong>pered against.In order to start answering <strong>the</strong>se questions, Khasstarts delving into <strong>the</strong> Thule Society h<strong>is</strong>tories tha<strong>the</strong>'d never before been allowed to readAh, clever. And that's it? As far as <strong>the</strong> Vault knows,Valkyrie began <strong>and</strong> ended in <strong>the</strong> early 1900s?Of course, he might not be *technically* allowed in <strong>the</strong>Vault still, but nobody's complained.Thule Society h<strong>is</strong>tories...! Khas can't help but readon.He d<strong>is</strong>covers that although Hermann Goering was novampire himself, he *was* an extremely superstitiousperson, who believed deeply in <strong>the</strong> Society's claims ofmagic <strong>and</strong> racial power, <strong>and</strong> was duped by <strong>the</strong>m intoadvancing <strong>the</strong> Order's interests.Hence <strong>the</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>ring of occult works from across <strong>the</strong>l<strong>and</strong>..Unfortunately, Dietrich has no idea what Anton planned.<strong>It's</strong> left to Dietrich <strong>and</strong> Anatoli, <strong>the</strong>n, to findsomewhere to rest before dawn... possibly informed by<strong>the</strong>ir knowledge that Firius Rosenberg(?) <strong>is</strong> alive <strong>and</strong>well <strong>and</strong> almost certainly wants to kill <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong>y're <strong>the</strong> only ones who know it.Tune in next time, for <strong>the</strong> solution to th<strong>is</strong> <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rexciting problems...Nicolae Dietrich pockets h<strong>is</strong> boss's cell phone <strong>and</strong> turns toAnatoli. "So. We need to kill Simon before he killsyou, or me, or possibly Anton.""I w<strong>is</strong>h I'd never gotten up th<strong>is</strong> evening."Vermain Anatoli shrugs, patting h<strong>is</strong> coat. "Weapons are stillgood, I am thinking. Always look on <strong>the</strong> positive side,yes?"mattbaby "..."

FerrinusbrennonNicolaeVermainNicolae<strong>banana</strong>Nicolae<strong>banana</strong>Ferrinus<strong>banana</strong>FerrinusMeanwhile, Khas feels like he's reading through <strong>the</strong>script for <strong>the</strong> latest H<strong>is</strong>tory Channel special.Was Hitler manipulated by a cabal of vampires...<strong>and</strong>also a gay Atlantean?! We can't be sure...Th<strong>is</strong> Thursday on H<strong>is</strong>tory Channel, Future War III: TheRed Menace, what could have happened if Stalin won <strong>the</strong>duel with Lord Cornwall in 1939"I think we should find a safe place to spend <strong>the</strong> day.A really safe place, nowhere near here. Firius mightrecognize what buildings he saw on h<strong>is</strong> camera.""Agreed. But, eh... where would be best, <strong>the</strong>n?""Fuck. I w<strong>is</strong>h Spectator really did have a fuckingdaytime vampire suit.""Savik, Spectator, whichever of those crazy gun nutslives through <strong>the</strong>ir turf war, I'm getting <strong>the</strong>m to makeme one..."Dietrich looks around. If <strong>the</strong> Storyteller <strong>is</strong> willing tocontinue playing, <strong>is</strong> he willing to describe <strong>the</strong> area?He's intermittently present.USELESSYou're up on <strong>the</strong> edge of a park, overlooking <strong>the</strong> wharfs- halfway between <strong>the</strong> docks <strong>and</strong> Hammerfest.There's a line of shops to your left, a 'cliff' ahead(down to <strong>the</strong> docks), <strong>and</strong> roads to <strong>the</strong> right.The park <strong>is</strong> behind you, <strong>and</strong> <strong>is</strong> pretty dreary.I imagine I won't get to find Emily <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore Gypsyto<strong>night</strong>, having fin<strong>is</strong>hed my reading?Emily, alas, doesn't come out of her room before dawn.Emily..!