Episode 12 "Different Paths"

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December 31, 101 P.A.

The Coalition States, in America, currently have no presence in Japan. However, a Scarab Officer's Vehicle is making its way through the Republic of Japan. Inside is Frank Hamilton, a childhood friend of Trevor's from the Chi-Town burbs. Frank is a Psi-Slayer, having abilities is something that helped him and Trevor bond as children. Frank's lottery number came up shortly after Trevor left and he was admitted access to the city of Chi-Town, if  he joined the Psi-Battalion. Frank underwent his training and was given his first mission, to find his childhood friend Trevor and escort him back to Chi-Town. Trevor's lottery number came up too (the CS has taken notice of his abilities and wants him working for them). So, Frank finds himself in this nice Scarab Officer's Hover Vehicle with plenty of supplies to get him to Japan. Frank is to radio in a report once a month and he will receive an allowance. As Frank drives aimlessly through  Ulo Town, he gets a tingle his Psi-Tracking has kicked in. That means he is with in a few miles of his target, Trevor Burnside. Finally after looking for so long a solid lead, now its only a matter of time. Frank inquires about the New Empire and finds out that technology is outlawed. So, he buys supplies and rents a room at the hotel and a spot in the garage to store his vehicle. Frank can sense where Trevor is so he proceeds on foot until he reaches a 3 floor palace. Trevor must be inside.

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Two days ago in a CS occupied section of the magic zone (America), a troop of veteran CS Wilderness Scouts known as the Green Helms are out collecting magic creatures. They have orders to capture creatures of magic and sell them to the Pacos Empire Logistics and Movement Infinity Company (PELMIC). PELMIC is a company located in the Pacos Empire, they install stargates and provide transportation services to private companies and clients. Right now PELMIC is buying magic creatures and selling them to one of their clients (the New Empire). Runick Skyknight, a Elemental Fusionist was going about his usual business living as a free spirit at one with the elements. Having lived in this section of the magic zone his whole life Runick is use to avoiding CS patrols. But his luck ran out today, he up against the Green Helms. They prowl up on the creature making their scanners spike. Before he knows what is happening Runick Skyknight is hit with 3 tranquilizer darts and blacks out. Two days later Runick Skyknight wakes up in darkness and finds himself in a box, he calls out.

Trevor, Takeo, Shonen, and Ryoko are in the palace they head upstairs right after they heard the voices. When they get up to the second floor they see a new crate in the center of the room. All the magic creatures still seem subdued, but as the party makes its way toward the stairs to the top floor they hear a noise. They hear someone calling out from the crate in the middle of the room. Trevor opens the crate, out comes Runick Skyknight. They introduce themselves, and share stories of what happened to them. Then the party (now with Runick) proceed upstairs to see if those guys are there, they aren't. Once upstairs the party talks more and Trevor inspects the stargate, he still can't figure out where it leads. They hear the door of the palace creak open, the party hides upstairs and waits. They hear someone coming up the stairs. Frank Hamilton (detect ambush) decides to announce his arrival. He calls out to Trevor. "Trevor! It's me Frank!" He enters the third floor with his weapons up and greets Trevor. When he gets in he tells Trevor that his lottery number has come up and that their childhood dreams of being accepted into Chi-Town are coming true, the CS want Trevor. Runick immediately becomes apprehensive and defensive at the mention of the CS. Trevor tells Frank that Runick was captured by CS troops and ended up here. Frank retracts his statement of working for the CS. and says he was barely let into the city and doesn't really know about what the CS really does. Runick is uneasy but stays under Trevor's assurance of safety, Frank even offer Runick a ride back to America when they go back. Trevor tells Frank that they can't go back to America until he finishes his mission. Frank asks about the mission, Trevor tells him he was hired to deliver a suit that was stolen. They decide to go retrieve the suit, and in order to do so they must travel to Iwakuni. Takeo, Shonen and Ryoko want to continue toward the Millennium Tree, the party splits.

Trevor Burnside (psi-tech), Frank Hamilton (psi-slayer), and Runick Skyknight (elemental fusionist) decide to walk back to Ulo Town to get the hover vehicle and gear the Frank has stored there. Frank Hamilton (streetwise) finds a black market dealer/snitch in town. Trevor has Frank inquire about purchasing a cheap power armor. The snitch tries to up sell them, so Trevor asks for the most expensive armor. The snitch says, "OH! That you can only get that in Iwakuni its the hub of the Black Market in Japan. Best guy for power armors is Bluey, but he's hard to get a meeting with. Your best bet is to find him in Bakar's Bar on 5th Ave. Ask for Frago and Razo." The three drive into the Republic of Japan toward Iwakuni. Along the way they see 6 oni demon, they fire missiles from a distance. The oni try defensive magic that is no use to them, so they flee. 4 of the oni get away but the party collects 2 of the heads and return to Ulo Town to retrieve their bounty. Now the bounty has gone up to 1000credits per head since the "protectors" the mandalorian mercs have gone missing. They now drive straight to Iwakuni without interruption. They pull up to hotel and ask a doorman where 5th Ave. is, on the other side of town. Runick suggest that they go fishing for food, he then boils water and catches 4 fish already cooked. After the party feeds they continue, they ask a man on the street for directions to Bakar's Bar. The man is happy to trade the information for some fish. When they get to the bar Frank bribes the bouncer and get the three of them in the bar. Frank also goes up to the bar and bribes the bartender for information, he points out Frago and Razo. The party approaches the two guys and are stopped by security. Once they announce who they are, they are let in to the VIP section to see Frago and Razo. They negotiate, the terms are that just to meet with Bluey and see the merchandise they have to bring 10% of the cost of what they want upfront. 120,000credits. A car will pick them up at midnight and take them to a warehouse just outside of town. They make the deal.

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The party does not have enough credits, so they plan to bluff their way through. At midnight they show up behind the bar. Shortly after a limo comes rolling up. The door pops open and the driver says, "Get in." The party complies, and they go for a ride. About 30min later, they come rolling up to this warehouse and the pops open and the driver says, "Get out." They do and the car drives away, two men stand at the door and escort them into the building. Inside it's dark everywhere except for a light at the middle of the warehouse. The party approaches and a man sits at the desk. He asks for the money, a man comes over and grabs the suitcase with the credstick inside. The lights turn on, eight men surround the party. A large man sits at a desk, behind him stands a dragon-borg. The large man speaks, "I am Bluey, and these are the Power Armors in the price range you have asked for. Please feel free to look while we check your credstick. Any thinng here is in your price range and we will gladly explain any features to you." Trevor spots the super tengu power armor that Hagi ordered. Trevor scans it and determines the power source is in it and it is functional, he activates it and controls it with his abilities. Frank and Runick begin to fight the 8 henchmen, Trevor tries to fire a missile at the dragon-borg but there is no ammo. Trevor uses the power armor to entangle the dragon-borg while the Runick activates his flame shields and starts taking out hencemen, Frank starts firing his rifle killing the rest of the henchmen. After the henchmen are down Frank back flips on top of Bluey's desk, but bounces off a force field. Bluey laughs, "You think I'd still be sitting here if I was in any danger. Hahaha." Bluey reaches over and pushes a button on his desk, a red light starts flashing and a buzzer starts going off. The warehouse fail safe is a plasma blast that incinerates the power armors so no one can steal them. Bluey's desk and seat start descending into the floor as he laughs, "I'll see you  boys again, you can count on that. Hahaha." Trevor tells Runick and Frank to run, he will hold the dragon-borg til they can escape. They run, after they get clear Trevor releases the dragon-borg. It looks at Trevor, shakes its head then flies straight up through the skylight at full speed. Trevor quickly runs of to the power armor and gets in and flies up through the skylight just in time. The warehouse explodes.