17305/Triggers and Sniggers

Triggers and Sniggers
Date of Scene:	29 February 2024
Location:	An old abandoned facility
Synopsis:	Spiral sets a spicy ambush for X23, offering forth a briefcase of trigger scent as bait. But when Laura reaches the roof, it turns out it's more of an audition. Spiral and her surviving Reavers depart via her portal but offer the prospective of teaming up later a possibility.
Cast of Characters:	Spiral, Laura Kinney

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Spiral has posed:
The message wasn't clever, but it had the hallmarks of someone with information. It had made its way to Laura through means that appeared to be your standard envelope and stamp, but the licked stamp was nothing that could be classified as terrestrial. Most stamps in the U.S. don't have tentacled beasts standing on the prows of sailing ships, posing as regally as possible, while wearing a tricorn.

The body of the message appeared to be typed out and name-dropped like a Boss: Kimura. The Facility.

Vials for sale.

Directions to a mothballed building on the outskirts of Jersey. A place that looks like it used to have Telemarketers, IT services, Ad agencies and the like. A dilapidated chain link fence that wouldn't keep out a zombie. Aesthetically on point leaves blowing through a parking lot of abandoned vehicles and empty spaces.

The message said that it knew Laura would be interested in getting a whiff of the old, or at least acquire them off the market before they were sold to others. But the offer wouldn't last long, and it would be off if Laura didn't come alone. Vials could be in her possession for a real deal. Either a couple hundred thou, or...strangely enough...tradeable intel.

Laura Kinney has posed:
It was pretty unlikely to be a regular stamp, but X-23 is exceptionally thorough. And it's only after checking the special edition stamps from the post offices with any sort of connection to HP Lovecraft that she gives up on finding any clues out. She even submits the stamp for DNA analysis through her Outsider connections, not that Spiral is likely to turn up in any law enforcement databases!

With the Facility even hinted at 'vials' brings up thoughts of Trigger Scent. And no matter how much it seems like a trap there's no way she can ignore it. Not when the last time someone got trigger scent ended up with her stabbing an Avenger....

She approaches the site loaded for bear. Armour piercing hand cannons, automatic combat shotgun loaded with heavy duty solid slugs, and a satchel filled with untraceable bearer bonds. The portable currency of choice for high value illegal deals and black book covert operations.

Despite her nose being one of her main advantages the threat of trigger scent means a full on military grade gas mask.

Spiral has posed:
The analysis of the stamps would have brought up unidentifiable elements not found terrestrially, though the tongue that licked that stamp would registered as something curiously close to feline of all things. Though no dander is detected.

If Laura's snoot and other senses aren't completely hindered, there are clues in the air of what waits within the nearby building and the array of abandoned vehicles and debris. This place looks like a postcard for failed Capitalism, or the local Auto Plant closing. Whatever organ of the urban body this place represented, it has withered, and in turn resulted in the health of the community suffering. The scents in the air are of rust, neglect. And yet there is also ozone, sweat and every Merc's friend...gunpowder.

There are bullet holes in some of those cars ahead. There are stitches of pockmarks on the masonry of the bricks. There are bullet casings on the ground, scattered by weather and the passage of feet. This is not a place for paintball. It could be a place for gangs to settle differences, or set up ambushes.

To a mind trained in the ways of conflict, the cars may seem to be laid out in a pattern rather than happenstance. The approach to the main entrance to the building is no unimpeded line, but necessitates agility or weaving between refuse.

Laura Kinney has posed:
The science with the samples might be a bit beyond Laura, but that's why she outsourced that part of her recon! And if it does happen to be a trap and she gets captured? Well it's in the Outsiders database now along with time delay messages that'll alert people if she doesn't return in time to cancel them.

Sadly taking measures to stop trigger scent means her sense of smell is blocked. But her eyes and ears are exceptionally keen too. Good enough a typical Human would have a near impossible task in actually ambushing her!

The area definitely has a Gotham vibe. Urban decay and ideal sites to take care of business you don't want anyone being aware of.

Her plan doesn't involve entering by the front door though. Rather than take the obvious weaving path she B-lines for a wall. Her claws can cut a Kinney sized hole in just about anything. And in a place like this who is going to care about a little property damage?

Spiral has posed:
Keen eyes and ears would pick up the noises: That slight shifting of weight, jostling of chassis, the pop and crackle of comm-links receiving signals peppered amongst the parking lot. In the empty windows of the main building, shadows that are darker than others moving, betraying presences on the lookout for their guest. Ready and observant. Prepared.

But that doesn't mean they have the drop on X23. All they've done is tipped off their hand. There's some aptitude in the way they've stayed out of sight initially, have chosen or been told where to lurk. But with Laura's proximity comes a breach in diligence and decorum. Perhaps they, whomever they are, are just too eager now that she's shown up.

There are a dozen in the lot, in bunches of three. The smell of their oily augmentics may not be getting past the gas mask's filter, but their artificial limbs and enhancements make sounds very different from that of a common thug or the way their metal fingers grip weapons and prepare to bring them to bear.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Ah an ambush then. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone people aren't out to get you.

Popping her claws with a SNIKT she cuts a hole into the wall, listening carefully to the high pitch noises of cybernetic limbs, she moves to flank them from an unexpected angle. She raises the shotgun. The rounds she's brought will go clean through the walls of run down industrial buildings like they're paper.

And opens fire.

She aims low. A stream of solid slugs booming out. Smashing fist size holes into the structure. She's aiming to wound rather than kill, but in a ambush like this? Fatalities might happen! Just don't tell Tim. Hopefully they all got the cyborg legs.

Spiral has posed:
The blast from Laura's shotgun is a thunderous report, and the rounds strike the armored legs of assailants waiting in ambush just beyond. The sound of damage is more than brick and mortar, it's mechanical and metallic. Sparks fly and cybernetic fluid ink-blots out in terrible looking wound patterns. Black inky Rorschach spatters explode from two of the cyborgs hoping to get the drop on X23. The wounded are bowled over into twitching squealing heaps.

In the parking lot, those others in hiding receive their orders to converge on the disturbance. This place is going to get hot.

Within the building, it is as disused looking at the exterior. Fleeting evidence of foot traffic is there briefly that speaks of more that either came from, or headed to, the upper floors where some windows still remain. Attempts at stealthy footfalls come from the stairwell ahead.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Stairwells are some of the most dangerous places tactically speaking. Attempts at stealth suggest a certain sort of approach if the opponent has been trained in urban combat. Covering the angles. Weapons at the ready. Covering the distance with a burst of motion X-23 readies a flashbang. Hurling it with enhanced strength and precision so it'll bounce off the wall and detonate inside the stairwell.

The close confines amplify the disorientation of the blast so even cyborgs will hopefully be slowed down.

She doesn't stop even as she throws though. Claws still out she bounds up the stairs. Leaping several at a time, kicking off walls to turn faster, whirling her adamantium claws to slice through any incoming fire.

And hey if the incoming hostiles happen to get close they can do with weapons. Hands. Maybe feet. Cyborgs can afford to be more literally disarmed without risk of fatality than typical mercenaries at least!

Spiral has posed:
The inside of the stairwell is absolutely infested. If these were unaugmented muggles, the confines would have been crippling. To the hybrids inside, it does have an effect. The time between sensory inputs switching between optimum bands, auditory having to reset and general combat readiness, means x23 has the edge. And speed is key.

Reaper-like limbs raise like Mantis, vibro-blades humming, guns training towards where they anticipate their target will emerge. But Laura is ~fast~.

Slice 'n dice, those that are within reach find their extremities being separated from their bodies. Guns blast and join in a chorus of cordite and gunsmoke. The air fairly detonates the acrid clouds with miniature shockwaves until the air is obliterated into nothing but light and sound. Rounds stitch off the concrete stairwell, chasing Laura as she keeps seconds ahead of the torrential amount of rounds from SMG. The garbled squawk of commlinks blurt static and distortion as the amount of wounded and/or disarmed climbs as Laura ascends the stairwell. Each floor boarded, blocked off, bricked over, except the top floor and roof access which is wiiiiide open.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Even as quick as she is with that many attacks in such a small space Laura is bound to take a few hits. A slash from a blade here. A stray SMG round there. But she trusts to her healing factor. Pain is temporary and her training lets her ignore it.

There's no room in her thoughts for her own safety at this pace anyway. Each moment flowing to the next like it's in slow motion. Existence boiled down to instinct alone as she moves from one disabling strike to the next.

The barricades couldn't really stop her if she wanted to go through them. But it's pretty clear she's being channelled. A flow of enhanced enemies leading back to whomever set the trap. Still it'd be rude not to show up after all that effort.

Her other flashbang goes out onto the rooftop before her though and if there's a lull in the goons she'll even ready the shotgun for whomever is waiting. No sense in playing 'fair'!

Spiral has posed:
The flashbang hurtles with the promise of ringing ears and disorientation before X23. It sails ahead, ready to do its good works to bad folk. It looks like a real plum of a throw as well, but the device slows as if sinking into treacle.

On the rooftop, some manner of atmospheric phenomena is manifesting at the corner of the building. The vista of New Jersey providing a backdrop of capitalistic success and failure. Silhouettes of failed business and further along the survivors, until prosperity surrounds this pocket of urban decay.

The flashbang slowly flies onwards, but becomes slower and slower as if time isn't playing fair. To either side of the vortex, a pair of Reavers wait, weapons at the ready and held up to their breasts, but not pointed towards X23. On the ground, halfway between the open rooftop door and the vortex is an open briefcase. Within are glowing vials that may look familiar. They have varying states of ~fullness~, suggesting expired or quite old samples. Quite dusty.

The vortex fluctuates and a certain six-armed Sorceress separates gyrates.

Spiral speaks, her voice distorted by time and space and hocus-pocus. Her voice full of mirth. "Oh Talon, you brought party favors. I see you passed the coat check and went straight into the party. I suppose you've earned your door prize."

Laura Kinney has posed:
The lack of flash or indeed bang signals a change in tempo. A need for more caution. Laura's not in Goon territory any more.

She brings the shotgun up to one of the Reavers and, a foot claw popping with a snikt, tenses as if ready to kick out at the other. But she holds fire for now. Mindless violence might provoke an escalation and, while the bad guy is in monologue mode, it seems prudent to hear Spiral out.

"I hope their medical cover is excellent," she notes dryly. It's hard to say if it's intended for Spiral regarding her goons. Or for the two Reavers flanking her. Possibly it's both. "They'll be needing it."

She doesn't ask what the prize is. Merely raising an eyebrow.

Spiral has posed:
"I fully believe in Green policies. Reduce, Recycle and Reuse." Spiral smirks. "You've reduced my toybox, but I can pick up the pieces that are still useful.

That comment is not lost on the two goons flanking her. One in a red metal skull-mask, the other a rather handsome pretty-boy apart from the silver limbs that are fairly blinding if the sun were bright and shining. Both kitted out in paramilitary gear and weapons conventional and energy based. The skull-mask exchanges a glance with Pretty-boy, the latter whom registers unfriendly emotions to such comments on how disposable they are.

The flashbang is now gently drifting end over end towards Spiral, taking its sweet time through one time dilation effect or another. Spiral's face becomes harder, eyes narrowing while she saunters with a little graceful gait. "Do keep your nails in. This won't take long. Consider this a gift." An arm gestures towards the open briefcase. "I've liberated some of your pesky perfume from an old associate. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist. You and your kin are so dependably primal." She flashes a smile. "That's not an insult."

Spiral offers a wave and clicks her fingers, turning back to the vortex, intending to walk directly into the portal. "Dogs. Come." she sneers to the Reavers flanking her.

Spiral pauses, and asks over her shoulder. "Unless of course, you'd be interested in doing me a favor in return. I'll leave the door unlocked for the next few minutes before it ~another tongue cluck~ closes. And then afterwards, the only way to get my attention will be to groooooowwwl my name." she laughs and resumes her hip-swaying exit.

Laura Kinney has posed:
There's a slight smile at the discomfort of the Reivers. A little quirk of Laura's brow which seems to say 'better leave now before you join the others'.

She doesn't put her claws away or lower her weapon though. Not yet. Too cautious by far. She adjusts her position as they move to follow Spiral. Keeping them all in her sights.

The bag with the bearer bonds has another little surprise hidden inside. She never intended on claiming the trigger scent. Or even testing if it's the real deal. She's brought enough thermite to utterly destroy whatever is in the package. And burning at four thousand five hundred degrees Fahrenheit it'll likely also destroy the roof. And the floor below. Maybe several floors depending on just how badly run down the building is.

Spirals offer doesn't even register until the prize is destroyed. Her eyes flick to the portal. A potentially useful ally? Perhaps. But also a risk. The entire trap likely an audition or bait for some bigger scheme.

She pulls off the gas mask once she's sure no trace remains of the trigger scent, it burns so hot she doesn't have to wait long, and inhales deeply. Trying to use her nose to pick up a clue. Does she walk into what's probably another trap?

Well that's a story for another day...