11197/What's Our Stake

What's Our Stake
Date of Scene:	20 May 2022
Location:	A Seemingly Abandoned Warehouse
Synopsis:	Elektra rescues the Hellfire Club's fall collection, as the Shadow watches from the shadows.
Cast of Characters:	Sebastian Shaw, Elektra Natchios, Natasha Cranston

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Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Word has circulated on the street that there is a group of vampires causing trouble in the warehouse district. Pilfering objects of value from nearby businesses. One such recent theft has got mouths flapping. There are rumors that most of the thieves lost their unlives the other day - someone either trying to steal it for themselves, or steal it back. But the rumors are that that was only one of their bases of operations, and the stolen goods were actually in a different warehouse. With a little bit of charm and persuasion, The Shadow is able to determine the location of that warehouse.

For Elektra, things are much easier. Sebastian Shaw reached out to advise her that one of the many companies held by the Hellfire Club was robbed. Operatives from the Hellfire Club infiltrated a warehouse a few days ago, eradicating all of the vampires within and emerging with data outlining their operation. There are multiple warehouses, but this one, in particular is said to house what was stolen from the Hellfire Club. And Sebastian Shaw wants it back!

Elektra would be provided with a small communications device for her ear. "Hellenic, this is El Rey. Let me know when you are in position. I have eyes on the location, and it says no heat signatures or life forms, but given what we're dealing with, that is hardly useful information. One entrance in the front, one exit at the back loading dock. Our merchandise is labeled "Ikonic Imports". But if you see anything else of value, we can throw it in the truck. When you are doing with them, I assume they won't be needing it."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The news that there was a coven of vampires messing with the Hellfire Club's affairs had perturbed Elektra. Specially with her recent dealings with a coven, which meant this very well could become personal, something she had been trying to avoid. Yet if there was indeed a relation she was the only one she would send on this mission.

So it is without any second thoughts that Elektra lands on the top of a nearby warehouse, silent, one knee on the ground and she pulling the zip line up back to her arm harness. The one she had used to get up there atop the building. She is dressed in her usual garb. The red and black armor, the mask covering the lower part of her face and her hair pulled back in a sharp ponytail, a scarf twisted around it. Weapons, though? Well, with her previous encounters with them she had brought quite a few effective ones. Stakes, silver blades. Even a gun with silver bullets. She was ready.

"Copy that." Her tone without emotion, "I am getting in position. Now across from the warehouse." she scans the place quietly.

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Of course, warehouses - especially in this district - don't usually get or stay abandoned all that long; not with the ever growing demand for things shipped into or out of New York harbor. In fact, that's what first put Natasha on the trail -- a curious gap in the list of acquired properties by CMS or its subsidiaries, and an attempt to find an owner to negotiate with came up empty with several false trails, and a thoroughly mesmerized procurement negotiator.

    She scowls under her scarf. That made it personal.

    Thankfully, Grandfather had had a run-in or two with vampires during his career, and some of the gear he'd had cause to commission was still stored in the Sanctum. Regular bullets probably won't do much permanent harm to a vampire, but should at least inconvenience one long enough for the stakes - hardened rowan wood, polished to a fine point, coated in holy water courtesy of a priest who owed the Shadow a favour.

    She nods at Benny as he pulls into the warehouse district. "Best keep your distance; I'll call for pickup when I'm done."

    "Sure thing, boss," Benny replies, looking just a bit unhappy. "Bloodsuckers give me the creeps. Be careful, willya?"

    Natasha chuckles. "When aren't I?" she asks, securing her hat and scarf into place as she opens the cab door.

    Outside, the entirely unremarkable cab is seen to slow briefly as it rounds a corner, and only an extremely astute observer might have spotted the shadow flitting across the pavement underneath the flickering streetlight before being swallowed by the night...

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
The warehouse itself looks fairly normal - no unusual fortifications, or evidence of any guards. Although if one is paying attention, there are definitely shadows visible moving within the windows, occassionally passing back and forth. A patrol of some kind.

The front door has a basic facade on it and a heavy chain through the handle, securing it to the wall.

It's remarkably quiet - no chittering of rodents anywhere near by, which is strange for New York.

Shaw's voice comes through to Elektra. "Still no signs of life, but I am pretty sure I saw something in one of the windows. Be careful. We have no idea how many are in there."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Narrowing her eyes Elektra casts a look across to those windows where motion was noticeable. Yes, definitely not empty. And somewhat chilling. It's perhaps a good thing she had discarded her fear of the dark long ago. Now? She embraced it. Yet just as she takes a step to the edge of the building to advance on it she catches sign of something else... A car?

She looks from above as another shadow is swallowed by light. But one she had definitely seen before.. < We may have company on this. > she says on comms, < Of the vigilante type, but no matter. > she knew the mission, and it's not as if capturing vampires was feasible. They had to be killed.

"Moving in now." She shoots the zip line from her arm harness, latching on the warehouse and then sliding across, her feet hitting the wall gently and with barely a sound. She is near that window where the shadow was spotted earlier and starts sliding closer and closer to it to take a look in...

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    The side door is locked, of course - but with a padlock that even an amateur would scoff at. Natasha supposes that in this particular case the occupants probably prefer would-be burglars to make it inside; less of a commute for dinner. Regardless, it's less than thirty seconds' work with the proper tools, and half of that is making sure no sound is made. Then it's time for another pause, listening carefully to the rhythms of the noises inside, mapping them to movement, feeling the pattern - and slipping through the door in that window when no one is paying too much attention.

    Things will get very loud soon enough, but at a moment of the Shadow's choosing, not the occupants'...

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
There are definitely two vampires walking back and forth near the window that Elektra is perched by. It's hard to tell what they are talking about, but it sounds like something about properly garbing themselves? Unclear. But they are defintely muscle, from the looks and sounds of them.

Down by the lobby, as the Shadow creeps in, there are shadows approaching from the hallway. At least three. hard to tell how tall they are, without knowing how far away the light casting them is. But there are definitely long claws visible on the hands.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
There's a bit of a cat and mouse at work now, Elektra bidding her time until getting into action, perhaps waiting for the Shadow to reveal herself so she can use the distraction to do what she has to do inside..

Yet it's not as if she can tarry for long, and these two targets are primed for execution now. She works the lock on the window silently, masterfully before she slithers into the room like a 'wraith', watching the two vampires go on about what proper clothings to wear. A smirk comes to her lips, it always amusing to her when predator is turned to prey. Silver Sai flashes under the moonlight for a brief moment and then it's tossed through the air. A moment later it's protruding from where one of the vampire's hearts was previously, blood splattering everywhere in the room...

And then she is running across the room to the other, jumping up in the air and with her Sai primed towards the remaining vampire. Hit them hard. Hit them fast. That's how Elektra does things.

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Knowing what evil lurks in the hearts of Man can be... Unpleasant, especially when confronting the truly vile and unrepentant. No torment or guilt for these parasites; no conscience or remorse, just the smug certainty that immortality and power are their natural rights and nothing they do to 'cattle' matters at all.

    The Shadow's eyes narrow in disgust and disdain. These will not be permitted a chance to learn their error.

    Fortunately, they've grown entirely too confident in their superiority and aren't as attentive or as focused as they should have been - A brief perceived flicker of movement draws their eyes to the left -- and by the time two of them conclude there was nothing there and look back, they're just in time to see the third of their number collapse with a rowan stake through her heart, a slight bubbling hiss around the wound showing where holy water is burning away more of her undead flesh.

    A cold, almost cruel chuckle behind them is all the warning they get before a tall form materializes out of mist and shadow, a stake in each hand, lashing out with a speed they wouldn't have believed cattle could move at -- and then there's no more time for anything ever again.

    The Shadow watches for a moment longer to ensure these won't be rising any time soon, then continues on her way deeper into the warehouse.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
With several vampires down, the forces are greatly diminished. Natasha, as she heads towards the main area of the warehouse, will encounter a trio of vampires just inside the doorway of the larger room which contains several aisles of shelves, although very few of them are occupied by boxes.

Elektra would encounter no further resistance until gets to the doorway to the catwalk overlooking the warehouse. There are two vampires perched on either end of that catwalk, keeping an eye on the goods down below.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Guards. It means Elektra is getting close to her goal. Good. And on a catwalk? Not really much of a place to hide at. So Elektra steps out right into the open in the middle of that catwalk. Is she really going to face two vampires head on with being a human? Not really...

Like every good assassin Elektra cheats by bringing guns to what should be a claw and tooth fight! Bullets wheeze through the air at one of the vampires. Bullets specially prepped to fight them so even with all that agility it only takes a couple hitting the mark to have the vampire hiss and fall back. Of course that it also makes it so it alerts others that may be nearby with the shots and the vampire screaming.

As she takes one of them the other jumps on Elektra and she only has time to backflip to get out of the way before a claw hits the place she was a second ago, "Wait your time, darling." she whispers. It might be a good thing these vampires aren't the old ones so Elektra plays a bit confident now even if she gets knocked to one of the doors as the vampire advances to her.. Yet as the vampire lunges for the kill Elektra slips out of the way and stabs a Sai through it's heart.

Getting back to her feet and wiping some blood from her face she says on comms, << Nearing our goal. Place is heating up though. >>

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    The shouting and screaming comes as something of a surprise. Is someone else attacking this place as well? Natasha turns and moves swiftly - if silently - down the hallway toward the central storage area where the screams came from.

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
Elektra is able to dispatch the vampires, and sees clear sailing down towards the loading dock exit. There are a few large boxes there, but it is hard to tell what labels are on the side.

Sebastian's voice sounds anxious. <<Good, be careful. And please make sure the goods are safe. They are incredibly valuable to us.>>

When Natasha finds her way into the storage area, she will find a trio of vampires between her and the boxes within the storage area and the exit. But they appear to be the last three...

Natasha Cranston has posed:
    Unlike the previous ones, these vampires are alert and spoiling for a fight. Unfortunately for them, they're looking for a fight ahead of them, and not paying quite enough attention to what's approaching behind them until the hindmost manages one pained gasp around the point of the stake suddenly protruding out of his chest.

    The other two whirl at the sound, but the Shadow has already drawn her guns. Sure, they're only conventional rounds which won't be able to permanently kill a vampire, but one's kneecaps turning into tiny shards is still incapacitatingly painful, and should buy her the time she needs to pull out another pair of stakes...

Elektra Natchios has posed:
As Natasha engages with the remaining vampires Elektra is busy checking on the container boxes, eyeing the labels. << Found it. Ikonic Imports. >> a beat, << You can send in the retrieval, just mopping up the remaining stragglers. I will divert the vigilante away too. >> the rest of the crates? They will have to be checked later because it won't do for her to be inspecting it up with the Shadow right around the corner.

Literally!

So as the Shadow is reaching for those stakes Elektra comes running out of a corner.. The vampire, while hobbling, is just about to fly up to run away. Dastardly sneaky ones! It also means it's nearly weightless... So as it is going up it connects with Elektra's kick from behind..., which just sends it flying towards a wall, tumbling against it before falling down to the ground at Natasha's mercy.

Elektra's attention though? It's on Natasha. She reaches up to the earcomm and turns it off, "Shadow. I think it's time we had a talk."

Sebastian Shaw has posed:
With bodies flying and bullets firing, Shaw can be heard in Elektra's ear. <<Keep them away from the box!>>

It all seemed fine, until one last vampire went flying. It crashes into the wooden create from Ikonic Imports, the box exploding as its contents get scattered throughout. A shard of the crate embeds itself in the vampire's chest, rendering it dust.

And as Elektra goes to talk to the Shadow, it rains a torrent of imported black Italian leather thongs and corsets.

Clearly, merchandise of great importance to Sebastian and the Hellfire Club.