December 20th, 1973

Intro Part One
It's the night of December 20th, 1973. Each of you has had heard rumor of a place in Los Angeles where other people like you are gathering. A night club called the Candy Castle. You all enter pretty easily, the doorman is a tall, muscular man with a tag on his shirt that says 'Max'. The inside of the club is loud and busy, even for a Thursday night.

Nvalt (Nightmare): nice attention to detail

Pulse tries to bring Milou in.

Skin elbows Patty when they get inside, taking a deep breath. "I'm home!" His grin comes easily as he looks around for familiar faces. Or pretty ones.

Pogo spends her time dancing and trying to score (drugs, anyway)

Pulse definitely tries to bring Milou in.

Pogo is wearing something that might be called clothing, or alternatively a napkin

Maximo looks iffy about letting a dog in but acquiesces.

Nightmare rolls her eyes slightly at Oscar with a small smile as she surveys the club, looking for anyone who stands out as "special" or important.

Skin: Y'wanna drink? Oh- Uh, got any money?

Ikiryo: Ikiryo stands around, arms folded, looking a little bit like a SQUARE.

Skin pats his pockets down for like, thirty seconds. "Ahah! Nevermind. Got it."

Pulse has jeans, tennis shoes, and a striped tee on. He seems oddly comfortable in this environment, despite being dressed like a total square.

Pulse also has a bigass dog with him. Dog is real big.

As the night progresses, each of you are pulled away from whatever it is you're doing and invited into a private room in the back to talk with the club's owner. It doesn't seem like there's any danger in going back there. In fact, a crowd is growing back there.

Pulse brings Milou with him.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare gives Oscar a stern look before shaking her head. "Nothing strong. Don't cause trouble, okay?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Hey! Don't worry about me, primita. You stay out of trouble, alright?-

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin does his thing until they're whisked away.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare eventually heads to the back with the rest of the crowd. When she spots the dog, she gives it a weird look but pays it no mind for now. She looks around at the others gathered.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo senses there may be booze

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare also makes sure to stay close to Oscar, more for his own safety than hers.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse seems to be paying a lot of attention to peoples' faces.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo goes along to this back room, because it's got to be where the people with good junk hang out

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks at Milou and shouts over any possible music or other noise, "Oo, at'sa nice dag. Hay good dag, howyou?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse squints at Pogo, clearly confused by something.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The doors are shut behind as the last person enters. The whole crowd looks nervous. A pretty woman with red hair in a tight fitting black dress is on a small stage adjusting a microphone.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare is attentive.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Joanie: Test, test. Can you hear me fine in the back? Good.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin tries to chat up some girl. "So I said to him, 'Officer man, you can't keep me down!' and I slapped him and ran for it. Got away, too. Pretty cool, right?"- He stops smiling and looks towards the stage. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo continues to watch all the cool kids get taken into the private room, before following in last. He eyes the woman carefully.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare gives the woman a thumbs up, as though her feedback was important.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse turns and faces the direction everyone else is facing.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks in the other direction, then finally at the stage.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse is taking notes in his brain.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The woman Skin is flirting with doesn't seem to speak English. A sharply dressed man who looks to be in his thirties with blonde hair makes his way up to the stage. He's followed by a black man in a suit that looks like it's been through the ringer lately.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Welcome, ladies and gents. You can call me Boost. This is my partner, Sonny. A few of you may know him. We're trying to keep real names to a minimum here as we're not quite sure who we can trust as of yet. Keep that in mind.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare hits Skin lightly on his arm and gestures for him to pay attention.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse squints a bit, trying to catch all that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin draws a zipper across his mouth and breaks the 'seal' to grin at her.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra is staring off into the crowd. Even with a spotlight directly facing him, his eyes are a nebulous void of darkness at the moment. Not comforting.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare folds her arms and listens. She catches herself staring at the guy with JET BLACK eyes. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks like she's not really paying attention.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin catches this too. "Man, look at his eyes. That's freaky."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse rubs Milou's head.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Right. So, why are we here you may ask? We're here because though the whole world may have seen a bit of what happened a few months ago, we saw quite a bit more. Each of us were changed that day. Sonny and I have been working tirelessly to get everyone we could here safe. Strength in numbers and all that. Do we have any questions to start with? I'm sure you're all very curious.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare shushes Oscar out of habit, then later adds, "...Yeah."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin 's hand shoots up. "What the heck happened, anyway?" He calls out.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Milou is looking at Sonny. He looks happy to see him again.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse raises a hand, a moment after.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at Oscar.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare raises her hand after that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: As near as we can tell, we all bore witness to some kind of...cosmic event. I'm not all clear on the details myself. But I can speak pretty expertly on the after-effects.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra 's eyes turn back to a sane color. He points to Pulse. "Go ahead, kid."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse clears his throat, and speaks with a very odd-but-clear accent. "If anyone else here is deaf, I can interpret you for them."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra smiles. "Why don't you stand by me then, Robert?" Sonny gestures for Pulse to join him onstage.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo can be seen leaning against the wall nearby, her hair hanging over her face so it's hard to see if she's getting any of this.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost points to Nightmare next.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare lowers her arm, "Why us? Why were we the only ones affected?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin looks around, trying to see if he recognizes any faces from the Event.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse shimmies through the crowd, standing between the two gentlemen. He watches them both and signs the following question and their response. Just in case anyone else is deaf, really.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo stirs, heading over to where Max is working at the bar

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: It might have been random for all we know. Maybe it's a ... genetic? We're not sure.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Was it aliens?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin is just calling out now.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare elbows Skin.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo looks at Pogo like 'Are you kidding me?' but then shrugs. "How old are you, girl?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin BOUNCES HER BLOW OFF LIKE MR. FANTASTIC.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Oh. There were two big silhouettes there. Did anyone else see them?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin but not really.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo raises his own hand, looking at Skin as he is RUDE. Baka Gaijin.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: I remember I saw all of you. And... them. And something else.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nods and calls out, "Yes! And a huge face."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse says this in response to Skin, apparently, still signing the whole way.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Whuh-huh?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo just stares at Max

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo doesn't blink, and she just doesn't blink

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Someone else in the crowd yells out. "IT'S A SIGN FROM GOD!"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: Okay. Miss Privacy. What you want?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse nudges Sonny. "That old lady did think we were angels."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: SHE might be an angel, but eh!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare absently clutches the small crucifix around her neck at the mention of God.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin points a thumb at Patty, then shrugs.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo puts money down on the bar, "Whasat get?" It's not much money.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo is very religious, but also very distracted

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at Oscar and shakes her head at his remark.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: It might have been a lot of things. We don't have all the facts yet. But the more we can put our heads together, the better a chance we have of figuring it out. From what we have so far, we all definitely saw the same thing. So there's that much.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse signs.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo slides the money back to her. "It's on house tonight. We all friends here." This guy seems alright.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Helena: except for the part where he sells booze to minors

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo puts the money back in her bra, and points to whiskey

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare raises her hand again. She continues to clutch her crucifix.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: So now what?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo pours her a whiskey and hands it off. "Don't drink too fast."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin crosses his arms to get serious. Is he flexing in his jacket?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo stares behind the bar for a second at something, then downs the whiskey in one go.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Well, if you'd like. I can set those of you who came a long way to get here with a place to stay. I think it's important we stay together. It's only a matter of time before wind of this hits the public. And who knows what that'll do to the way people treat us.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: If we're entrenched in an area and we cover each other's backs. We have a better foot to stand on.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare lowers her hand and folds her arms.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Man, what are they gonna do?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: A lot of things.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare gives Oscar a stern look.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost looks at Skin incredulously. "Do you need me to lay it out for you?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Eh! I'm alright.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin shrugs, deciding to go with the flow.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: I'm not going to pretend like we're the law around here. But if you want to stick around here and not have a problem. We have a few rules.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: Stay under the radar. Very important. Don't get in trouble with the law. If we don't give them a reason to hate us, if we get found out. We'll have a good place to bargain from.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo goes over, stopping somewhere near Nightmare.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at the movement as she listens.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse pauses a moment, before translating the idiosyncratic expression into sign language.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Tell anyone you need to about your new...abilities. You all obviously have loved ones who need to know about these things. But keep in mind, everyone you tell is one more person in on the secret. And a secret's not really a secret after a certain point, is it?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin glances at Patty when they mention telling people. The look on his face says he's not for it. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare shares his glance and his sentiment. She turns her attention back to the stage.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: Last but not least. Look out for each other. Our best bet is to be a tight knit community. It won't be easy but we have a chance here to do some good.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin mutters. " Okay, man. Now what?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: If any of you needs anything. At all. You can come to myself or Sonny here and we will bend over backwards to accomodate you. With that in mind, there is one last thing we feel you all should be aware of.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: A few of you have run into some very shady gentlemen. As near as we can tell someone out there is trying to round people like us up. They could be from the government or...from anywhere really. If you know anything, we could sure use the intel. If you see anyone following you or you even have the sneaking suspicion of it. Come back here, we can protect you.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks at Boost with a dull expression

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks concerned. She tries to remember if she's noticed anything out of the ordinary like that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin raises his hand again. Yay! "What if it's just the police? They do that here y'know." He grins, but it's bitter.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at Skin but doesn't admonish him this time. It was true, and she shared his bitter expression briefly.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Well we're not talking about cops here. Just don't rile the police. The LAPD are bad enough when you haven't done anything.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo stiffens slightly, pursing his lips in thought.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: Amen to that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare remembers NOTHING.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse glances at Boost and Sonny with this cop talk, moreso than how he's watching them to signlate. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra looks at Pulse knowingly and follows it up with a nod. "I've run into them in person. They are armed to the teeth and mean as all hell."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare furrows her brow. She clearly didn't like the sound of that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: All that said, you're free to come and go here as you please. We're open all hours and either Max back there or someone else will be watching our doors.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse nods at Sonny, after a quiet exchange with him.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin mutters low enough so that only the people right around them can hear. Like Pogo. Friggin' pogo. Only problem? It's in SPANISH.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo is wiping the bar. There's a little girl there with him reading a book. Max waves to the people.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks at Skin like she's not sure whether that was directed at her

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at Skin and replies. IN SPANISH.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse watches Nightmare and Skin -=very carefully=-, as if he understands what they're saying (he doesn't).

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Some of the people in the room look a little peeved at the lack of answers and start to file out. Most have started to mingle or head for the bar. There's an uncomfortable atmosphere in the room.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks between Nightmare and Skin blankly

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: C'mon, let's get drinks.-

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: If anyone is interested. I've got a bit of a job that needs doing. Come see me if you want to help.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Okay. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: I'll help.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin notices Pogo. He puts on his charm face. "Hola, pretty lady. Wanna get a drink?" He seems eager for drinking, less eager for work.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse said this to him directly, since he's right there.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra pats Pulse on the back. "What'd I tell ya about this kid?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: A go-getter.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo happens to be standing nearby, she might be confused for part of the crowd that volunteered

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo immediately makes his way over to Boost, no patience for mingling apparently. "I will help."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost turns off the microphone and signals for those interested to come close. "Somebody is missing. I think he may be in trouble."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks over at those gathering. She furrows her brow and appears conflicted about going over there. She stays near the bar for now.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo is at the bar with a little girl that looks like his kid. He smiles at Skin and Nightmare. "What I get for you?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Um. Just a coke.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: What can you tell us about him?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin puts his hands in his pocket. "Sorry big guy, not right now." He marches on over to the volunteering group.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse has a peculiar way of speaking: he always looks directly at whoever he's speaking to, as if they have his full attention in that moment. And they do, because he's deaf.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo slides a cold coke in a glass bottle to Nightmare. "Have a nice night, pretty lady."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare grits her teeth as Oscar walks away. She looks between he and Max several times before taking her drink and heading towards the group.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare stands in the back, like she's only half-committed.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks oddly thoughtful, like she may sneeze

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Most of us, it seems, can pass for normal in day to day life. The poor soul we're looking for can't. He's got a bit of a...

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: Body hair problem. And an inclination towards feral behaviour now. We've been keeping him safe here but he got away a few nights ago and we're worried he might have fallen on old habits.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo comes over to the crowd of volunteers.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Got away. Old habits.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin can't keep the incredulous expression off his face. Yo. What.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glances at Pulse, then at his dog.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse rubs Milou's neck. Good boy.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: He bites people. Our missing friend.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare wrinkles her nose at that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Is this guy some kinda wolf man or something?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: He's never done more than that since we've known him but there's been news stories lately of people being attacked near here.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo pulls a bit of a face. "You do not think he is responsible for his action?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra nods to Skin. "More or less. Clive is a gentle person but he's having trouble adjusting."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Maaaan. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: You want us to retrieve him before anyone else does. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: you're kidding, right? <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost pats Pulse on the back again. "Smart boy. If the police catch him, he's as good as dead." <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Or someone else.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare chews her lip.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: If we can find him, he'll talk to us and we can bring him back where he's not a danger to himself or anyone else.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Grabbin some show I dunno, anyway?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo sits down on a table, looking at the others like that made sense.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost frowns at Pogo.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks at Pogo. She looks embarassed that she didn't understand.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Okay, okay. Fuck. Okay. Fine. What do we get? We get something for helping out, right? <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare rolls her eyes at Skin.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: You get to help a human being in need.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse tries to decipher Pogoese. He speaks this language, doesn't he? DOESN'T HE?!?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra looks pissed off that he'd even ask that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare smacks Skin in the back of the head, hard, then comes a bit closer to the stage. She glares at him. "Don't be like that, dummy."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: holds his hands up. "Calm down, man! It's just... Y'know. Life is hard. Fine. No problem. Okay." <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin doesn't even look like he felt it. A second later, he says "Ouch!" He's not a good actor. Right now, at least.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: If you need a job. I can get you work. If you came here for a payday though, you're in the wrong place.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Where was he seen last?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: I get you, I get you. This place is cooler than where I'm working anyway.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin looks around, nodding in approval.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost waves to a girl outside of the circle. "Joanie, get me the map." He orders her around in that typical alpha male fashion.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Joanie gets the map and plunks it down on the stage.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sonny unfolds it and draws a circle on it in red pen. "He's gone up to the hills. It's probably instinct. He doesn't seem to go far."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nods.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Let's go get him then and get it over with.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Patty, stay here and let us handle it.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Go? Where?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo is oddly coherent

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: To look for the fucking teen wolf.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare glares at Oscar. "I'm coming along."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo said that super serious.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: ...Where? <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: The hills.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: Hollywood Hills. Its tourist spot really.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo has heavily lidded eyes behind her shades, like she's half asleep.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nods, gesturing to Max.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Oh, yeah, course

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse is somewhat rapidly looking between people as they speak. This is the most active conversation he's been part of for years..!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">doomfunk (Pulse): also there are GIRLS here

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: Sonny, you give me van. I drive. You need rest, man.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse seems to have just realized: a) what Pogo is wearing, b) where she is sitting.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse knows everything

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin looks at Byron. "So... He likes you, right?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo has no victoria secrets

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse fights to tear his eyes away.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: We get along well enough. He trusts me.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare approaches Pulse and Milou, "Hi, is this your dog? He's so beautiful." She squats and starts to pet Milou and talk to him in a babby voice.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin 's body goes slightly amorphous before turning into a spitting image of Boost. He flashes him a grin and speaks with his voice. "Think this'll do, boss?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: Well. Fuck. Me.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse fights to find his voice, then nods, still glancing periodically at Pogo. "I... yes, his name is Milou. He's a good boy." Then Skin turns into someone else and he furrows his brow, considering what's happened.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost looks mortified for a moment and then impressed. "That...is really something."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo watches Skin, eyes going a bit wide. We don't have those in Japan.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse concludes Skin is not too dangerous to live.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Don't worry about a thing. I've got you right covered, see?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks back, rising and noticing two Byrons. She furrows her brow like a disappointed mother but says nothing.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo blinks, then hops down off the table, heading over to the bar like she didn't just see Skin become Boost

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin even laughs like him before going amorphous again to look like his old self. "Okay. I call shotgun."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo tries to ferret away the bottle of whiskey from before.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost frowns. "I don't talk like that, do I?" He looks at Sonny for validation.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo hides that whiskey in a bag she has, because there's not enough clothes on her to conceal it otherwise

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Hey.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse waves at Skin.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo steals that whole bottle of whiskey. The little girl at the bar sees her but doesn't seem to care.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Anyone who knows him will be able to tell you aren't him very fast.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Massima winks. "I don't tell anyone."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo avoids the child, heading back over to the others, "Gotta goo, yah?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: I don't know him, and I can tell.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Nah! Man, you should see it. Works all the time.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse says this with such earnestness, like he really wants you to be better at this shapeshifting thing, man.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin is too confident for the truth.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost looks reassured by what Pulse is saying. "I'm coming anyway. It's a big van."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: No it doesn't. You stopped being able to fool aunty weeks ago.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nudges Skin.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Van? Whosgotta van?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Ay! Fine. Whatever.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: I've got a van. We're not talking about my van, right?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Oh. We do too. We took it from some bad people.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Because I'm definitely driving if we are.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: I hope not. It's filthy.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare grins slightly.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: Alright. Lets get going. I drive. Gumby, you ride up front with me.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare laughs, "Gumby."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo leads the charge out the door and to the parking lot. He pats his daughter on the head on his way out.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Aww yeah. Wait, aww no!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Will there be room for Milou..?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin climbs in, checking out the interior in lazy judgement.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: Should be lots of room but ah...dogs might make him skittish.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo follows the man, smiling politely before hoppin' on in, keeping quiet the whole time.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse rubs Milou's chin and neck. "Can he stay somewhere? He's very good."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare will take the central most seat on the van, whichever puts her the closest to everyone else.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Sun Ra: I'll look after him, kid. I promise.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Massima: Me too! Me too!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: He knows hand signals better.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin looks around at those coming in the van. "So who the heck are you guys?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse quickly demonstrates how he gets Milou to stay, sit, follow.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The inside of the van is strewn with a lot of strange junk. There looks to be some kind of complicated police radio-looking device integrated into one side of the van. The other is a bunch of empty racks that looks like they used to have weapons in them.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse ducks out to the van once he's sure his dog won't explode in Sonny's and Girl's care. (Shortly)

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Milou looks content to stay here if he has to. The little girl seems like a dog person.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo goes out around the same time Pulse does. She says something to them while they're leaving, to the back of his head.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">doomfunk (Pulse): rolling for Sense Vibration

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo sets his jaw, picking up a weird looking mask from the floor. He stares at it real good and hard, holidng it tightly.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Helena: you picked out about half of what she said

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse turns around and walks backwards for a moment, looking very sincerely at Pogo: "I'm sorry, I am deaf. Can you repeat that?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Yagota neice DAG, a DAG. Nissan.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse nods, smiling. "Yes, he's been with me for a long time. He's a good boy."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo produces the whiskey from the bag she has, offering it to him, "Yantu?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare addresses everyone once they're inside the van, "So we should probably introduce ourselves. I'm Patty and the loudmouth is my cousin Oscar. We're from around here. What about you guys?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse holds his hand up, shaking his head as he enters the van. "I don't think it's a good idea right now."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse introduces himself to Nightmare, Skin, etc ass-first in this fashion.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Hey! I thought we were going by codenames. Way to blow it.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo looks up from his creepy mask staring, putting it back on the floor carefully. "Ikiryo."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare scoffs at Skin and rolls her eyes. She looks at each of them as they speak.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo waits for everyone to pile into the van. He adjusts the steering column and driver's seat to his considerable size. "I am called Maximo. Boss man says I am the brawn around here." Max flexes his bicep. MUSCLE POWAAAAAH!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo gets into the van, after drinking from and stowing her whiskey, since Max is there.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo didn't see the whiskey. He's paying too much attention to his bulging bicep.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse missed the entire exchange up until now, unfortunately. But, he seems to get the idea after Max speaks, then thinks for a moment. "I... Call me Pulse. You'll see why."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin glances at Ikiyro. "You guys always have the weirdest names. I like it." He raises his brow at Deafy McDeafster

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Byron sits next to Patty. "You can call me Byron, Miss. I go by Boost on account of my special talent." <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo stares at Skin, entirely unsure of how to take that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: What... can you do Mr. Boost? Byron?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Max starts driving as soon as everyone is in the van. Byron goes on. "Well, if I touch someone with powers like ours. I can boost whatever they've got for maybe an hour or so. I've done it to Max, tell them Max."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: It's true. I almost lift thousand pounds!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Oh. Wow.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare tenses her brow, idling wondering wtf that would do for her. Probably nothing good. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare idly <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo yawns.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse watches Byron for a moment. "Please never do that to me."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Byron shakes his head. "I don't do it to anyone unless they ask me. It's just proper manners." The minutes go by weaving through late night LA traffic. Maximo stops the van in a lightly wooded and hilly area beneath the gaze of the famous HOLLYWOOD sign.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nods, "Or me." She smiles slightly afterward.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: I wonder what'd happen to me...

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo: You turn green, Gumby.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare laughs. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Pfft. Can do already.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse nods, then glances at Nightmare, then Skin. "You could find out right now, but it could be dangerous."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Byron slides the van door open and hops out into the night. Max does the same. The two start handing out flashlights.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: -But I'm not going to. Okay! So wolf man likes the woods?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin takes a flashlight and flicks it on, shining it out into the darkness.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse slides a gold watch out of his pocket, holding it in his palm like a talisman. He studies his flashlight oddly before turning it on.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo shines her flashlight in someone's face, possibly on accident

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost: These aren't even proper woods. But it's the best he's got around here. Let's stay together and search slowly. He'll probably come looking for us.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse NOT BLIND. DEAF

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Helena: not blind yet but SOON

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare wills herself not to look at the light.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare steps out of the van and takes a flashlight.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: HEY HAIRY! YOU OUT THERE? COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin calls out casually as they trudge through the 'woods.'

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Maximo likes this idea. "DOGGY, WE COME LOOKING FOR YOU."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare sighs and shakes her head.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo follows the others, only cringing a little bit at the shouting.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo stops to puke in a bush somewhere.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: He'll feel threatened with you two shouting like that.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo chills out near the van, 'rinsing' her mouth out with whiskey

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare nods, "We have to be delicate. He is probably scared, so knock it off."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: It should be a voice he knows, calling him by name.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Otherwise, we're strangers hunting him.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The group stumbles upon a teenaged couple in the throes of some romantic encounter.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse shines his flashlight right on some peen.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Oh.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare makes a face and looks away immediately.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse seems alarmed.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The boy looks pissed. "What are you weirdos doing out here? You fucking perverts!"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">MJ (Pogo): that's two crotch shots for him in one game

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nvalt (Nightmare): haha

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo hears something rustling in the bushes near the van.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: We're sorry, we're looking for a friend of ours. We didn't mean to um... interrupt.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse doesn't, lol

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare doesn't look at the boy.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin guffaws and gives him a thumbs up. "Just looking for a wolfman. Good job!"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The teenager zips up. "FUCK YOU!"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo hides the whiskey, making a half-assed effort to adjusting her hair.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo mostly just ends up pushing her hair back

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">The teens slink off with guilty faces. A large, shadowy form strides out of the woods towards her. He smells like vomit.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">MJ (Pogo): towards which her?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Helena: Pogo

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Helena: my bad

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo puts her hand out, "Ey doggy, where's your buddy?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo must think Milou came along.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nvalt (Nightmare): daggy*

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">MJ (Pogo): hahaha

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse can't hear. Explores woods with flashlight, paying attention to things like grass, dirt, trees, leaves.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive keeps closing in on her, he's got vomit on him. "I need a... I need a bite. "

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo stares out into the forest a little bit too intently, shining the flashlight as he does.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare turns around to wherever the voices are coming from, shining a flashlight in the direction. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Mr. Clive...?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo sways a bit, asking distantly, "Issat you? C'monover."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost calls out. "Clive?"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin wanders around aimlessly searching. Wolfman here? Nope. Wolfman there? Nah. Wolfman anywhere? Who knows?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse gets a good look at the ground. "Something walked toward the van."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Eh? Lead the way, man.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#660066;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: California's usually pretty arid, there's still the impression?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks back at the others and follows Pulse.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive pauses briefly when he hears the voices, clutching his face in his hands. "I need a bite. Please." He pleads with Pogo.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: Bite?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Big person. Very heavy.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nvalt (Nightmare): brb

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse sprints along the footprints.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo looks in the bag she has, stowing the whiskey. "Reckon I have a candy inere"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive grabs Pogo's wrist forcefully and tries to bring it to his mouth. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo seems unbothered by a dog talking to her, but she does find that last part worrisome

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive manages to pull her pretty forcefully to him. This is why you don't get drunk before you hunt the wolfman. (Roll Athletics to break loose)

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#005000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nvalt (Nightmare): back

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin runs with Pulse, trying to keep up.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare runs too.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo Follows close behind Skin, looking back into the woods every now and then.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo yells bloody murder, like some boy's grabbed her at the applecart race.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse can't hear. Still follows dem printz.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare looks horrified at the scream.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin leaps way high into the air, towards the source of the scream.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo can't break loose. <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive bites down. She can see him clearly his face and body is covered in grey-black fur. His nose is darkened and leathery like a dog's nose. His teeth are...sadly still pretty human looking. The bite doesn't really do much more than leave a mark for the time being.. He keeps gnawing away.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo does her best to aim for the nads, as is the way of her people

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse will reflexively fire a warning shot into

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive if he sees this while tracking.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Hey! You can't just bite ladies, furball!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo kicks and fights, and then takes off whether the dogman is attached still or not <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin runs over to try to free Pogo from his grasp. He's not in fight-mode just yet.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo's kick to the nuts misses. It's dark and she's drunk. She rises into the air with Clive in tow.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive let's go instinctively, dropping to the ground.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: -Oh. Wow.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin is now grappling with Clive, he tries to bite down on HIM this time.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Stop! Oscar get him to stop!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: Mr. Clive we're here to help you, please calm down!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo might land properly, but really it's anyone's guess.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Relax, big guy! Calm down, we're gonna take you back to the Castle, alright?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Byron comes running down the hill after the others. "Clive, It's my Byron. You've got to stop, mate!"

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse fires to miss, but scatter dirt and shit impressively.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse does this by leveling a watch, then FAPPO a shockwave happens.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive looks scared as shit now. He balls up defensively. "Please, please I just needed a bite."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: Uh. Well. That's pretty rude, man. Just relax and come with us, okay?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Clive gets up onto his knees, pleading for mercy. "I can't stop. I have a problem. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He has tears in his eyes.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: You can't, or don't want to.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse watches Clive's response very carefully.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare: It's okay, we're going to take care of you. Just stay put, okay?

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Despite the screaming, and presence of wolfman, Ikiryo makes a beeline into the woods, splitting off from the others. How terribly LAME of him.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Boost holds his hand out to Clive. "It's alright. We're here. We're gonna take you home." Clive looks genuinely remorseful about his behaviour. "I won't, can't. It's getting too hard."

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse: Why not chew gum.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">A burst of machine-gun fire rings out into the night. It just narrowly misses Ikiryo.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse can't hear.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo shows up, covered in dirt and grass, clothes askew. "Hey guys... anyone seemashoo?" <span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare goes white at the sound of the machine-gun fire. She nearly drops her flashlight.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: What the fu-

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo stops at the gunfire and hits the ground

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin also hits the ground because these things happen.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: WHUMP

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse points at the shoe, then turns to see if he can spot what everyone's freaking out over, crouching.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare seems to be frozen in place.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: PATTY! HIT THE DECK!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: IYAM!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Skin: NOT YOU!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Ikiryo sprints towards the source of the gunshot, looking mighty angry and determined.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pogo: NOYOU!

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Nightmare shivers before practically falling to the ground with a thud. She curls up into a ball.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Tiny red lights flick on everywhere in the woods around the gang. Ikiryo sees three more sets of the lights in the woods ahead of him.All around them are masked men holding guns, their bright white tunics stick out against the night. It's a goddamn AMBUSH.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#770000;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Pulse gonna blow this shit up you guys

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">TO BE CONTINUED.

<span style="font-size:15px;font-family:Arial;color:#261a12;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;">Next Episode: Don't drink the SILENCE kool-aid. Also, Pogo throws up some more.