295 replies to this topic

[Synik]

The young waitress looks at each of you in turn, her expression is anxious. You would think she doesn't want to disappoint. "May I trouble you for your reply?" Her voice cracks slightly and a flush rises to her cheeks.

As she talks the man in the shadows steps forward. His pace is measured, deliberate. The shadows slip from him like dark glue, pulling from his tanned almost Arabic features at the last moment. His expression is firm, yet kindness shows in his eyes. As the waitress fidgets, he arrives. "I would be glad of Mr Hopton's company," he replies. "I have been waiting to talk with him for some time." The man's tone is even, his voice smooth and accentless from either education or travel. He is certainly not 'street'.

The waitress' hand rises to her throat in alarm. "I - I'm not sure the invitation was for -"

The man smiles. "Why don't you check your invitation," he offers kindly. "I'm sure my name will be on there."

Blushing, the woman does so and her eyes double-take as she reads and re-reads the invitation. "My apologies, sir," she manages. "I must have misread it."

The stranger nods, his head tipping forward in an old gesture of respect. "Nothing is lost". The man looks to you. "Shall we join our hosts?" he asks. "Would you like some answers as to what you carry with you?" The man breaths out slowly. "I am Shift." Again, he bows, but this time from the waist. "It will be quite safe. I will see to it."

[Dehoffren]

Fidelis’ grip on Cass’ waist tightened as the tension increased “I take it there’s not actually a choice here” By the expression on the man’s face the answer was no. Painting a smile on his face and putting false jubilation in his voice Fidelis continued “I’m sure we would all love to met him” Keeping his eyes on the man Fidelis whispered into Cass’ ear trying not to move his lips “Be careful this fella seems as if he can manipulate things, did you see what happened when the waitress checked the card”

[Early Bird]

Ophelia hesitated. She had been about to say they were on their way to meet a friend and decline the invitation politely but firmly. She was not happy about facing Hopton at all, the man had killed her after all, but this man 'Shift' he had called himself had assured them of safety and he had already helped them once. Also, most importantly, he had promised answers about these infernal numbers and that had to be worth the risk. Even if Hopton had suspicions about her identity he could have nothing solid she realised, otherwise he would have already acted and when she had seen him the first time he had been unaware of her presence. So long as she kept her head she would hopefully lead him to believe any suspicions he might have were unfounded.

"Ok then, what he said. There's not really any choice so let's get it over with".

[currymaniac]

Hayden nodded as Ophelia agreed, it 8 seemed that they were kind of stuck with no other choice. 4 He also promised answers to what they carried with them, did that 6 mean the numbers? It must do, for what else did they 3 have which needed answering? He gestured for the man to lead 4 the way, offering the waitress a small wink 7 as well, hoping that she would take the hint and 9 leave them be, if things went bad he didn't fancy anymore 2 people than necessary being caught in the crossfire.

[Synik]

"There is always a choice," Shift says picking up on the tension within the group.

The waitress nods to each of you in some odd corporate mannerism you're not used to. "If you would care to follow me," she says and turns to walk towards the small bridge.

As she reaches the bridge, Shift speaks again: "If you do not wish to go, that is understandable. Hopton is not a man to be trusted." Shift's expression changes as if he's heard a tune you cannot....

.... behind your eyes the patterns flare. Numbers circulate, spinning in a numbus around each person's head like a nightmarish merry-go-round. Garish colours saturate your sight and threaten to overwhelm you.

"WE SEEK THE ANSWER." shouts a chorus of voices. "THE SOLUTION TO THE EQUATION." The volume makes your teeth shake in their sockets. "THE ANSWER...." comes the shout again.

"1. 2. 3." A gentle voice this time. It washes through the cacophany. "1. 2. 3." It is Shift. "Come back to me. Each of you," he whispers. "There will be time to talk with the pattern later." He counts again as if soothing a screaming child. When he stops you find yourself free of the numbers. "If you do not wish to face the instigators of your afflication," Shift continues. "Wait exactly 12 seconds and take the elevator to the grav-lift platform."

With that, he turns on his heel and walks silently towards the waitress.

[fury]

Cass gripped hard onto Fi as the numbers screamed at her, she shook with panic. Slowly as she became herself again she whispered back to Fi [color=#6666CC;]"ok if he can help, we need him,"[/color] she added with a grin [color=#6666CC;]"Plus I think he's pretty sexy, I'd even give him special discounts!"[/color]

[Early Bird]

"NO!" Ophelia's mind screamed at her with the fresh onslaught of the numbers, the strongest yet. "NO! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!". Those voices, what were they? They seemed to want something.. something she couldn't provide... A small quiet voice in the midst of the cacophony, counting gently, the numbers receding.

Ophelia looked at the man as he spoke. Even though the numbers seemed to have gone completely this time, they might well come back. He had promised answers later and answers were something she badly wanted, even overpowering her fear of Hopton. "I think I know better than anyone he's not to be trusted" she said. "But if you say it will be safe..." She didn't know why she was so ready to trust this man, the promise of answers maybe? His calm quiet manner? But she would still be cautious around Hopton nonetheless.

[Dehoffren]

Fidelis was about to quip back to Cass that she would never hit her first million credits giving freebies to oldsters like this fella when the glut of numbers began drilling even harder into his brain “What equation?” he replied to the voice that erupted within him, wincing as its harsh tone scoured his ears. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to concentrate on the man’s words but only managed to catch snippets of the conversation it was as if the numbers were cajoling him into following this stranger. As if in a trance like state Fidelis began to follow Ophelia, slowly pushing the numbers aside as he gained more control over his mind and body

[currymaniac]

Hayden didn't exist 2 any more, he was 429336, the numbers had overruled him. He 8 felt himself slipping further and further awy, he was almost lost when he was 7 pulled back to reality. He stood shocked, the pulse of the 3 numbers seeming to match that of his heart. Breathing 1 in slowly he said, "We must do as he says, I can't take it for much longer." 8

[fury]

[color=#6666CC;]"I agree, I thought if I gave in I would just be at peace. Obviously that is not the case,"[/color] replied Cass, obviously shaken. With her free hand she rubs at her temple.

[Synik]

This concludes Chapter 1. Please continue here.