Game-Changers & Grudge Matches

*Ven looks back. Tenzin sighs.*

V"W-what?"

Tenzin<I'm afraid that the owner of this establishment was shot. The Purist Leader followed me here & took aim. He was caught in the crossfire.>
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*After parking the car, Euryale spots the firefight. She opens the door & slides across the hood, running towards whatever is going on at the docks.*
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<Shit! Go inside, get the girl!>

*One of the Plantbenders does that, grabbing ahold of Astarte by the scruff of her neck. With only 2 of them now, it's becoming difficult to hold on to Roatha. One of them puts him in a stranglehold. The other tries to hold his arms behind him, away from any of the swampbenders.*
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Finally getting police comments! It is believed that all of these attacks had intentional targets, & that none were "decoys." Tenzin is confirmed to be at the cafe that was shot up, & there was a casualty related to the shooting.

Mortal sees someone strangling Roatha, and rushes over to help him with that, kicking one of the swamp benders in the head.

--

"Was anyone else injured?" Noct asked.

Gabe put a hand on Ven's shoulder, unsure of how to cheer her up.

I assume Astarte still has no control, so she doesn't do anything anyway.

*Euryale punches the other in the face, & they're pretty much knocked out cold. The swampbender holding Astarte forms an ice dagger, & holds it up to her throat.*

<Don't move! Just stay right there, & tell us about the spirit!>
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Tenzin<Not as such. I am of the understanding that his daughter was kidnapped by cultists earlier, & a boy named "Roatha" has gone after them. A couple of policewomen are on the case, & appear to expect it to be resolved shortly.>

*He heads over & turns on the radio.*

Of the other victims, "Lightning Bolt" Zolt was recovered & taken to a private hospital. As for Chief Lin Beifong--

*Tenzin grabs the radio, lifting it off of the counter, & jacks up the volume.*

--She was not found in the wreckage. Police say that a tunnel had been made with Earthbending, into the sewers. It is possible either that she escaped the blast, or was disabled by the explosion & swept downstream.

"Hand her over and we'll tell you everything we know," Mortal said.

--

"I just came from that scene," Noct said, "The police have it under control, and I feel confident that Chief Beifong is alive."

Astarte held her breath, not able to move even if she had not been influenced by hypnosis.

<And lose my only leverage? Yeah, I don't think so.>

"Just give this up. You're down to your last man. The jig is up, & you've got nowhere to go."

<But I have a hostage!>

"And that's what got you into this mess."
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Tenzin<But why hasn't she resurfaced yet?>

"I don't think you really understand how this is going to end for you," Mortal said, "If you hurt her, we're going to hurt you, if you hand her over we won't."

--

"If there was a targetted attempt on her life she might not believe she is safe enough to resurface," Noct said.

*Tirea looks angry, but says nothing. Monu stands silently*

*Ven looks at Tirea & pulls her towards herself & Gabe. Outside, the ambulance can be heard driving off.*

Tenzin<I suppose you're right.>

*He turns towards them abruptly, swiping his robes & sending a gust of wind at the assembled.*

Tenzin<We should get you all back to your homes.>
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<Then why aren't you attacking? That's right, I called your bluff.>

*Euryale makes a show of holding her hands up & backing up, but she's also moving away from Mortal & Roatha, to the right.*

E"I'm not exactly sure what you expect us to tell you. We don't know how to control the Spirit."

*Tirea lets herself be pulled*

Monu:<Well, it was nice to meet you guys. I forgot to mention my name's Monu.>

Tirea:<I'm Tirea, that's Gabe, and that's Ven.>

*She points at them. Monu smiles*

"Uh, nice to meet you," Gabe said. She then looked at Tenzin, "I don't live too far from here. I can get home on my own."

--

Mortal doesn't back away, but bends down to check on Roatha, "Are you alright?"

R"Peachy. He hypnotized Astarte, or something. She got me in the chest, but I think it'll be fine, it didn't go in very far."

*Roatha stands up, spreading his coat to look at the hole in his shirt & the red stain around it.*

<You know something!>

E"We didn't find it. It wouldn't appear to us. I'm sorry, but there's nothing to tell you."

<You're lying!>

*Despite this claim, he takes a step back.*
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*Ven looks at him like he's an idiot.*

Tenzin<I would feel better if we traveled in a group, for safety. But I can't make you. Anyone who's coming with me, follow me to the back. That's where Oogi is waiting.>

*He heads out of the door.*

*Monu follows. Tirea stays where she is*

"There is a back door, go around and make sure he can't escape from it," Mortal told Roatha quietly.

--

Noct certainly wasn't going to follow him, and Gabe had a quicker route home through the front of the building.

Gabe took a step away then looked at Tirea, "Are you going?"

Astarte continued to stand, frozen.

The trio continued to be restrained.

Dalia went inside and turned the radio on.

<Nope.>

*Roatha starts backing away.*

<Hey, don't you go anywhere!>

*That put an end to that. But while he was distracted, Euryale lashed out with a cable, grabbing his wrist & pulling it away from Astarte's throat.*

E"Mortal, knock him out!"
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"Are you staying to wait? What if Astarte isn't even brought back here?"
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*Outside in the parking lot is a Flying Bison. It lets out a low roar, causing Monu to stumble back.*

Tenzin<Don't worry, he's just saying, "Hello." Oogi, this is Monu. We're going to be taking him home.>

*Tenzin walks up & scratches "Oogi" behind the ear. The bison turns his head & closes his eyes.*
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It's going to rain pretty hard tomorrow.

Mortal shoots a blast at the man's face after taking a few steps forward. She then continued forward and tried to punch him in the face.

--

"She'll probably be brought back to the police station, if anything," Noct said in an offhand manner.

"So... should we wait there?" Gabe asked.

Astarte dropped to the floor like a rag doll, then put her hands over her head.

Great.

*Monu looks up with amazement*

<You're even cooler in person.>
---
*Tirea shrugs, and sits on the floor*

*It roars again.*

Tenzin<That's him saying, "Thanks.">

*Tenzin spins, gathering air beneath him, & leaps up onto the saddle.*
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*He is viciously beaten, & falls to the ground, unconscious.*

R"Oh, now you can move."

E"Well, hypnotism works on the perception that the hypnotist has some kind of power over you. Anything that removes that sense of power often breaks the trance."
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*Ven looks rather impatient.*

V"Well, if we're going to be waiting here all night, I'm going to go find something to eat."

*Ven heads for the door.*

Noct follows in after her.

"But... that is still a crime scene, I'm not sure if it is smart to just... eat around the crime parts..." Gabe said, worriedly.

--

Mortal bends down to check on Astarte, "Are you okay?"

*Monu uses surrounding rocks to boost himself up to where he can climb into the saddle*

<Thanks again for this!>
---
*Tirea stares blankly at the wall, arms around her knees*

"I'm fine," Astarte said without looking up at them, her shoulders shuddering. "What happened to my Dad?"