Kintsugi Plays Fallen Hero: Retribution (ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ …(^_^)…)

same, though.

 

Since both choices involve brain nudging, I think I'm leaning towards leaving the case in a corner - that way she won't have any trace of a memory of looking at us that someone else could dig out

 

No need to create an extra witness.​

> I'll make her forget the case in a corner as she leaves.

Better to have yet another layer of deniability between you and her, so as she heads for the elevator, you make her foot hurt. Drawing on familiar memories, you plant the suggestion that there is something in her shoe. She puts the case down with an annoyed huff, steadying herself against the wall as she takes off her shoe and shakes out the imaginary stone.

It's not hard to make her think she picked up the case again as she puts the shoe back on; just have her focus on the happy memory of a mission accomplished instead of the fact that her hand is empty. You doubt her bodyguards will question her once she emerges. They are not paid to care what her business here was.

Hired guns rarely do.

In Los Diablos, differential diagnoses for ADHD include "a telepath just hates you".​

As soon as she has left, you walk over, diverting curious eyes. The bidding is far more interesting than you; no need to pay attention to the case in your hand. Dr. Mortum's gun is now yours; everything went smoothly.

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ ??? (ง'̀_'́)ง ???

The Rat King tugs at your mind, alerting you to the fact that there is something else going on here. No, not someone who is paying attention to you. This is something else, another danger.

Two, in fact.

The Rat King is nervous, minds huddled together against a possible threat. First, there is another telepath here; they brushed against them very briefly. They don't think they were noticed, but any telepath would know that the dampeners are down. Could they work for the casino?

Secondly, they spotted a familiar opponent. Not anywhere close to you, just present somewhere in this room. Someone you've fought more than once, someone whose thoughts the Rat King knows intimately and will do their best to stay away from. Lady Argent.

Fuck! That complicates things. More things are going on here than you imagined, but the risks are already through the roof. Are either of them here for you? For something else? Would the Rangers dare to bust this thing? Is the telepath connected to Argent? You've got no information. You'd better play this very carefully.

 

> Patience

The auction continues apace, with brief pauses between lots. Things are getting more expensive, and you shake your head at the ridiculous sums changing hands.

Far better to take what you want.

There is a pause as a man-sized container tube is rolled up onstage, strapped to a dolly. It's big, awkward, and from the look of things, heavy. Two men struggle to move it, even with the wheels underneath.

There it is! The thing you are looking for. The auctioneer presents it to the crowd as a cellular regenerator, a black-tech medical prototype, and the price tag starts at insane and will go higher. This is exactly why you are planning to steal it, not buy it.

You can feel Lady Argent's interest spike even from here, and you frown, wondering why. There's so much there to unpack, and you can't dive deep, but she wants it. She needs it. Her hand goes up to bid, and it's covered in dark leather. You can see her at last, near the front of the crowd. Is she in disguise? Yes, she is. She's posing as a hit woman known as Oryx, an antelope skull helmet encases her head, and a dark brown, faux-leather bodysuit hides her silver skin. The hoofed boots make her taller than usual, while the elegantly curved horns add even more height.

She's bidding, but people are bidding against her, including some company man with no mask but big pockets.

You don't like the thought of competition, but it's nothing you can't—

ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ!!! ヽ('Д')ﾉ !!!

The Rat King screams a warning, and a light flashes bright enough to blind you. Your HUD darkens automatically to compensate, and you brace yourself for… Yes, there it is, a fraction of a second later. A loud explosion, the sounds filtered to bearable. Someone just threw a military flash-bang grenade up there. How did they get that past security?

Most of the people in the room seem to be blinded and confused but far from everyone. There are mods protecting against things like this, and any good helmet should be able to filter the sensory assault just like yours did. However, the attack was still enough to spread confusion, even more so when the lights blink out.

The room is cast into darkness, and you curse because your helmet takes some time to adjust after the flash-bang. Everything is pitch black, but you saw a horned figure leap up onstage the moment before the lights went out. Someone after the current lot. Is that Argent's target, or is she out to stop a theft?

In the darkness and chaos, you have no problem remaining out of sight. The people who are not panicking are all focused on other things.

So are you. Switching your helmet to night vision revealed an incredible tableau.

On stage, a fight is going on. Lady Argent is obvious in her horned Oryx suit.

Argent is fighting a woman wrapped entirely in white bandages. Over the bandages, she wears a torn gown and veil reminiscent of a wedding dress, her fur coat black like dried blood on your night-vision HUD. The bandaged woman's hands are bared like a sinister promise as she tries to touch Argent. Easier said than done, considering the fact that Argent moves like liquid silver.

Shroud. That's her name. And Lady Argent knows her….

You lock your mind down, an instinctive move, turning yourself into a rock, a chair, something nobody will notice. Because you can feel it. You can see it.

It's in the way Shroud moves as she fights. Not to punch or kick, she's trying to touch. Naked flesh, fingers splayed. A touch-based boost, but that's not what makes you freeze. It's how she positions herself. How she blocks Argent's swipes. How she anticipates and avoids.

Farm-trained.

Your breath quickens, and you bite back the panic attack. You can feel her mind. A hive of wasps.

Farm-trained telepath.

　‣ I need to go. Now. Out. Fast.
　‣ I need to know for sure. I'll stay hidden and watch.
　‣ I will team up with Argent. Shroud needs to be taken out.
　‣ Shroud needs to die. A Farm operative is too dangerous.

No sidestepping this one. That's our prize they're fighting over.​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Looks loudly at the time she followed us in the sewers ....!

Bold italics mine because what are the odds of us and possibly-connected-to-a-telepath Argent urgently seeking the same thing

?!?

??!?!??!!!!?!

What are we trying to steal and why is it telepath catnip


I'm leaning for siding with Argent on this one, but mostly out of mischief than characterization

 

honestly I'm also leaning towards 'side with Argent'
just for funsies

 

I was here to figure out who antelope-skull was (my route avoided her entirely) so I am now more than satisfied :p anyway, I'm down for either of the last two, so since thread opinion seems to be an alliance let's go for it

 

The enemy of our enemy is… okay, also our enemy. But at least she's not currently triggering our PTSD just by existing!​

> I will team up with Argent. Shroud needs to be taken out.

You need that regenerator, and to get it, Shroud needs to be taken out. You can deal with Rangers and villains, but a Farm operative, rogue or not, is too much of a danger.

Lady Argent is the lesser evil here. You might be enemies, but she seems to hate Shroud as much as you fear her.

You'll only get one shot at this, so you need to time it right. Hunched down and ready in the shadows, you watch Shroud go toe to toe with Lady Argent. All you need to do is to make sure that neither of them notices. You were trained for that, to be undetectable, a whisper in the face of powers greater than yourself.

Will she be as good at picking up thought-voids as you are?

She might be too busy to try; Lady Argent is more vicious than when you fought her. Her Oryx suit is doing a good job of shielding her from Shroud's dangerous grasp. Her claws are fully extended silver scythes, and a sweep nearly eviscerates Shroud, pale bandages darkening, your night vision revealing it all in garish detail.

That went deep, but Shroud doesn't even scream. You recognize the Farm-trained discipline as the pain gate kicks in, forcing her body to keep functioning with what should have been a debilitating wound.

>

Shroud might not scream, but she does stumble, and Argent makes the mistake of taking her eyes off Shroud to go for the cylinder on the stage. Any normal villain would have collapsed, but Argent doesn't know she's fighting a Re-Gene. Shroud won't go down that easily; if she gets a chance to recover, this will be bad.

You don't want to risk using your telepathy, so this time speed will have to do. Luckily that is something you have in spades.

Watching Shroud stumble back, you see her reach for one of the approaching security guards. You don't want to let her touch him, so you fire up your jump-jets and leap at the guard like a streak of lightning. You turn in the air, impacting the guard's modded chest, sending him flying backward as you redirect the energy into a blow aimed right at Shroud's face.

It's the hardest blow you've ever struck, at least if you count the fear and pain you channel into your armor's systems. Your fist hits her straight in the face, sending her flying backward.

"Argent," you shout, pleased to see her react in time to grab Shroud, slamming her down on the floor. "Get her," you growl, hurrying over in case she escapes. "We need to stop her before she recovers."

"She won't get the chance," Argent says, as she keeps Shroud trapped on the ground with one clawed hand, elongated fingers digging into the bandaged chest. Sharp claws draw blood; already the dress is as red as the russet fur.

Argent is touching her flesh.

You can feel the burst of triumph from Shroud. Lady Argent has made a fatal mistake.

　‣ "No! Get away," I scream, trying to warn Lady Argent.
　‣ I telepathically make Lady Argent pull away.
　‣ I tackle Lady Argent to get her away from Shroud.

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 43%
████████▒███████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Still indecisive, but I'm still wary of touching her mind too much given the potential of multiple telepaths in play here. Maybe tackling her...?

 

Mental contact is too risky. Physical, though…​

> I tackle Lady Argent to get her away from Shroud.

Argent needs to get away from Shroud before it's too late, and words won't cut it. No time for thought, you throw yourself at Lady Argent, jump-jets firing, tackling her away from Shroud at the very last moment.

"What are you doing?" she growls, pushing you off her so she can get back to her feet.

"Saving your life," you reply, letting her go. Shroud's the danger here; you can feel it in your teeth.

"That's rich coming from you."

"Trust me. I know what I'm talking about." Not as much as you wish you did, but enough to know the danger.

"Trust? Not likely." Lady Argent swears loudly, looking around. While the two of you were untangling yourselves, Shroud made her getaway.

"No! You don't get to escape," you growl, scanning the crowds with your HUD since you don't dare use your telepathy. The security guards that had made a move for the stage scatter like leaves in the face of your wrath, leaving you and Lady Argent alone.

"Not sure if I should kick your ass or thank you for saving me," she growls, her thundercloud mood deepening to black. But you can sense that she noticed your attempt to help her, even if it was just to get to Shroud. That cuts you a little slack. For now. "You keep turning up like a bad penny."

"Me," you affirm, trying to shake off the residual terror. Shroud is gone; you need to act confident.

"Get out of here."

"How about I crash your party instead?" You gesture to the large container she's guarding. "You're stealing my loot, after all."

She tilts her head thoughtfully, reading your intent. You helped her once, and time is running out. "Let's work together then," she finally says, gesturing to the chaos. "We don't have long to get this thing out."

"Don't tell me you're planning to get it through the door?"

"No." She gestures for you to help with the massive container on its dolly. "Give me a hand."

> Interesting

Moving the container back into the storeroom is easier when you're two, and you notice a briefcase that goes with it as well. Something she clings to closely. Documentation?

"Wait here a second." She walks over to the far end, quickly placing explosives around an area of the floor. Nothing specific about it, but you assume that she's got plans for the layout you haven't bothered with. But how did she get the explosives through the scanner? Did she have inside help? The plot thickens.

She scurries back, fast and agile, and the explosion happens a moment later, tearing a hole in the floor.

"Down," she instructs. "There are tunnels below."

"You're too fond of giving orders," you grumble, but you help her carry the cylinder all the same, in for a penny, in for a pound. Could you grab it and run? Not likely, it's too big. And you're not making an escape desperately rolling a dolly pursued by Lady Argent through the sewers, that's for sure.

"You were the one that was feeling helpful," she snaps, making sure the container goes through the hole safely. "Just tell me what you want and get out of here."

"We both want similar things, but we don't have to be at odds." You wonder what the best course of action is. "Let's get some distance first. This isn't safe."

"Fine. But no funny moves."

 

> Time To Hustle

It does go faster when you're two. You're glad Lady Argent agreed to help because the container is heavy and awkwardly bulky. But, between the two of you, you manage to keep up a good pace. No need for the attached dolly cart. At first, you were a little worried that Lady Argent might cut into the container with her claws, but she's surprisingly gentle when she wants to be.

"So how did you know I wasn't Oryx?" she asks, the tunnels dark and quiet around you as you make your careful getaway. Her adrenaline has faded into a deep unease. It's been a while since she felt this vulnerable; it reminds you of the first time you were brought into the Rangers' HQ to give advice on who had possessed her. "Now that we have a moment to talk without people rudely interrupting."

　‣ "I'm a telepath," I say. "You're easy to recognize."
　‣ "I knew Oryx," I lie. "You're not her. So I added things up."
　‣ "I've fought you," I say. "I know how you move."

"IDK, my BFFs the Rat King?" is probably more detail than she needs.​

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 51% (+8)
██████████▒█████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Well we definitely shouldn't confess to being a telepath if she doesn't know already. And it's possible Oryx has always been Argent in a costume, to go undercover, so option 2 might be a red flag to her. So option 3?

 

Of course we recognized her with one of our normal five human senses. How else?​

> "I've fought you," I say. "I know how you move."

"I've fought you," you say. "I know how you move. A pair of horns is not going to change that."

"Clever," Argent mutters, impressed despite herself.

"That's how I stay one step ahead of you," you say, trying not to sound too smug. You still want her somewhat friendly. "How far are we going?"

"We should be safe here," she says, looking around. You're not sure exactly where you are, but you agree with her. Pickup will have to wait; you don't want to involve anybody else in this until you know where you stand.

"Just let me add the final touch." You ponder your surroundings. It's a disused part of what you think might have been an underground parking garage. Once upon a time. The door you entered through is bent and broken, and you reach out to brush your hand over the wall. The nanovores eat through the structure with voracious ease, and a massive slab slides down to cover the way you entered.

"Not bad," she says, and you can see the way she's looking at you. Intent. Focused. "And when we want to leave?"

"There's probably another exit somewhere. If not, I'll make one. Though I guess you can dig yourself out, given time."

"So you're trapped in here with me." There's no light here. If it hadn't been for your helmet, you would have been blind. She's obviously not, which is annoying.

　‣ "Wouldn't have it any other way," I say with a chuckle.
　‣ "Or you with me," I point out.
　‣ "Didn't want us to get interrupted," I say with a shrug.

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
████████████████████

Leadership: 63%
████████████▒███████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
████████████████████
Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
███████████▒████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
███████████████▒████

Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
█████████████▒██████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████

Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60% (+9)
████████████████████

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
██████████████▒█████

Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
████████████▒███████

Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>I'm not trapped with you, you're trapped in here with ME

 

Did we... did we retrieve our case, or..... Anathema, let's not forget our favor for the good doctor here,

 

…huh, you're right, the text never actually specified on this playthrough. :|a I should report that… In any case, though, we've still got it!

 

> "Or you with me," I point out.

"Or you with me," you point out.

"We both want the same thing, so I guess we're both lucky then." Lady Argent gently puts down the container.

"Really?" You can't stop the smug smirk under the helmet.

"Shut up, you know what I mean."

"We need some light," you suggest instead. If she can see in the dark, you've already lost your advantage. And though the infrared works, the low-light spectrum is almost useless when there's no light at all.

Luckily you have the means to fix that, and you pull out a small, round cylinder. You squeeze it gently, and it starts to glow as you put it down on top of the machine. Just so you know where it is.

She puts down the briefcase; it's right by her foot.

"So. You wanted to talk. Talk." She gives you a long look, the soft, yellow light turning her Oryx costume into a horned demon wrapped in shadows.

"You obviously want the prototype. And know what it does." That's not hard to pick up. She doesn't know how it works, but she knows it's forbidden tech and that the medical firm who developed it got taken down somehow.

"So do you, I assume." Cautious and on guard. But listening.

"It's going to need assembly." You assume that the plans are in the briefcase. That's the only thing that makes sense. "Were you planning to do that in the Rangers' HQ?"

"No," she says defensively. "It's black tech. There's a limit to even my leash."

"Leash." Your smirk hardens. "I've got a place where it could be assembled safely."

"You know how to do that?"

　‣ "Yes," I say, hoping it's not unfounded.
　‣ "I know someone who would kill for the privilege." Dr. Mortum would.
　‣ "I've got a discreet scientist that owes me a favor." Dr. Mortum.
　‣ "Do you?"

We do have means of getting it built, if we want to tell Argent that. Dr. Mortum is of course the most qualified person available to us, and we have the tech expertise to at least make a go of it ourselves if we prefer.​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

Their sense of style is androgynous, secondhand streetwear, with many piercings in their ears, nose, and tongue. They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine, with no significant wounds.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
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Subtle Manipulations: 74%
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Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate. They are a known killer.
Infamy: 51% / Obscurity: 49%
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Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 5% / Fine: 95%
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Leadership: 63%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 28% / Anonymity: 72%
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Ruthlessness: 40% / Empathy: 60%
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Daring: 59% / Caution: 41%
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Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 78%
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Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Eternally flirting. Josie is using Barbara as a spy.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 63%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 66%
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Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
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Lady Argent respects Anathema's abilities.
Lady Argent's Interest in Anathema: 60%
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Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Friendly.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 72%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: He seems nice.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 64%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

>[I, Robot voice] do you?

 

Let's not go leaking Mortum without her approval here