3rd Sub-Level, Paranormal Bureau of Investigation, New York, 1929.

“Sir. It has arrived.”

The new recruit had burst into his superior’s office, wincing at the realisation that he had not knocked.

His superior looked up, piercing the subordinate with a gaze from his one blue eye that was not covered by an eye-patch. Slade Wilson stood up and stretched his limbs, numb from having sat in the same position for hours. He towered over the room, his brown hair swaying in the slight breeze coming from the single fan on his desk. Unnatural wind in an unnatural setting.

“Well what are you waiting for, Slater? A formal invitation? Bring it in.”

“Of course, Sir. Right away,” replied the young man. He returned with a small box on
which a rune had been etched. Slade Wilson took a small pendant from his desk drawer and placed it next to the box.

“We were right,” he said, “the symbol is the same. Contact Area 51 to let them know that we finally have both pieces.”

“Roger that, Sir.” The young recruit turned on his heels, closing the door behind him.
Slade Wilson stretched once more, though the feeling of numbness had given way to pure curiosity. He gave a wry smile. His career thus far had been spent looking for that one rune. He opened the box. Inside was a minute crystal, hovering mere millimetres from the bottom. It revolved slowly, giving off a pale blue light.

Opening his pendant, Slade Wilson noted the crystal-shaped cavity that had plagued his imagination. No-one knew what this pendant was, nor what it meant. Its chance discovery by the Brits in 1917 during the Battle of Beersheba had not given any more clues as to its origins. Snippets here and there from ancient Sumerian mythology. Pictograms of huge, hulking creatures bearing the rune in Scandinavia. Sculptures to the effigy of these beasts on the island of Formosa. Slade Wilson’s search had been vast, but had yet to find any tangible results.

Then the call had come. An archaeological dig in Abyssinia had uncovered a mass grave. A mass grave in itself would not have been a significant discovery had not thousands of bodies been found, all bent as if in prayer towards an epicentre. A simple box had been found and logged. There was no way to open it, nor any method of forcing it open. Experts from the world over had been shipped to Vienna, where the Abyssinian Research Centre was based.

A specialist in paranormal artefacts had slipped into a delegation of American scientists and stolen the piece away. Due to administrative errors, the box and its particularities were not logged for a few years. Until 1929, when the resemblance of the rune to another artefact held in New York was flagged.

Slade Wilson was unaware that the box had yet to be opened and assumed that the crystal was safe to handle. Gently picking it up, he held it close to the pendant. The crystal began to exude a mild warmth. The blue glow turned to red. His heart pumping, Slade Wilson noted that the crystal seemed to be the same size and shape as the cavity. He ceremoniously placed the crystal into the pendant. And waited. The light faded. The warmth had gone.

The pendant snapped shut with a sound like the clap of thunder and a bright white light erupted from within. Throwing up his arms in protection, Slade Wilson fell back, hit his head against the wall and knew no more.

***

A field under a cloudy night sky, Unknown location, Unknown point in time

“Awwww seriously? I was just getting used to those latkes!”

“The person who activated their pendant is going to regret taking me away from that place.”

“*click-click* veselle!! *low whistle*”

“I think we just need to calm down...”

“Calm down? One of us transported us here in the middle of bloody no-where. Three months! We managed three months without an accident!”

“Well regardless, what’s done is done. Let’s just find some clothes and a warm place.”

“Guys! We’re not alone! There’s another!”

“He’s... also naked. And... he’s got a pendant! Could it be that...”

“Well there you have it gentlemen, the answer to our mystery.”

“Well he picked a very bad time to discover a pendant, I was just about to win that
latke eating contest.”

“Oh you and your latkes!”

“*chirp chirp* latkée monjeuve *whistle-click*”

“Let’s awaken him! I guess he’s one of us now.”
The moon came out from behind a cloud, casting a dim light over four silhouettes crouched around a supine body.

“Reed, what do you suggest?”

“Let me think...” replied Reed, as he snapped a piece of wood.

“He’s got a pulse!”

“Good thinking, Zed, perhaps we should have thought of checking whether he was actually alive first,” replied a young man with fingerless gloves.

“How come you still have those, Adessi? We all lose our clothes when we transport, but those gloves just stay right there.”

“I say this everytime. I. Don’t. Know. Maybe they’re magic. Who knows.” The man named Adessi slapped the unconscious man. He slapped him again when there was no response. “It’s no good.”

“Atta *chirp* *double-whistle-chirp*!”

“What is it, Him?”
The smallest silhouette had hobbled forward. Slowly he placed his bony hands on the man’s face and pressed down. He burst into laughter as the afore-unconscious body started writhing around.

***

Wilson Slade woke with a start. He was on soft earth. The air was cool. He could not breathe. He could not breathe at all. Rolling over with all his strength, Wilson Slade knocked over a figure that had been smothering him. Harnessing his training, he leapt to his feet and backed away. Feeling a quaint breeze upon his backside, he looked down. He was naked.

“What in the...”

The four shadows before him erupted in laughter.

“Don’t you worry,” wheezed a scarred man with a moustache and a small beard. “This always happens to the new guys.”

Slade Wilson bared his teeth. “You four have ten seconds to explain why I should not end you right here.”

The scarred man turned to his companion, “You want the pleasure of explaining, Reed?”

“Right! You don’t want to kill us because one, we are the only people here that can tell you what is going on, and two, this may be the most hostile place we have ever transported to.”

“Transported?” asked Slade Wilson.

“Transported,” replied a third shadow who identified himself as John Adessi. “What you have there is a transporter. We have no idea how it works, only that we all touched one in our past and have since been transported here and there through time and space.”

“I must be dreaming... still knocked out in my office...”

“Your office?” asked Reed. “Actually, where are you from?”

“New York.”

“You will have to be more precise than that. Did we not just say we travelled through time?”

“1929.”

“Hoo boy, perhaps it was best you left New York at that time!” piped up John Adessi.

“And why might that be?”

“Let’s just say that things are about to get very... depressing in your country.”
Slade Wilson glared at them all, then conceded. “Right. Let us assume that what you say is true. Where are you all from?”
John Adessi spoke first. “John Adessi, Liguria, 14th century.”

“Reed, Valnec II Colony, 30th century.”

“Just Reed?” asked Slade Wilson.

“Just Reed, OK?”

“Right. And you are?”

“Zed Williams, U.S.N.C.A., 22nd century.”

“U.S.N.C.A.”

“United States of North and Central America. Long story.”

“And him?” asked Slade Wilson turning to the man who had been smothering him.

“Exactly.” replied Zed Williams

“What?”

“He’s ‘Him’. He’s been transporting the longest. John Adessi joined after him. They then lost two companions during the Boxer Rebellion. I joined next, then Reed. We had been in the Levant area, 18th century when you transported us.”

“How did I transport you?”

“Well we’re not sure. All we know is that whenever any of us presses on our pendant, we transport to a random point in space and time, though mostly on earth. Whenever we transport, we lose all of our belongings, hence why we are all as bare as at our birth.”

“Lovely,” replied Slade Wilson. “I’m just going to assume I’m in a dream. What now?”

“Lumèr ! Lumèr ! *loud clicks*” cried Him, pointing towards lights.

“Lights!” echoed Zed. “Maybe a way to find out where and when we are.”

Slade Wilson, agent of the Paranormal Bureau of Investigation, activates a pendant that transports him to an unknown location in an unknown time.
Four companions wake him up and explain that they are all transported to a random point of time and space, mostly on earth, whenever one of them presses their pendant. Slade pressed a prendant and therefore transported himself and the others to this unknown location.

No science.

Decisions can be public and posted in the logistics thread, or sent to me by PM if you don't want the others to see and/or be influenced by your decision.
Remember, you all have a pendant and can decide to press it at any time.
Remember also that you can do whatever you want. The story will tailor to your choices. Just don't go to crazy or the story won't make sense!

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi -

The five men looked towards the lights. Each seemed lost in thought as they contemplated the lights. Five lights, interspersed not as a settlement, but as a ring.

“A single building, perhaps?” voiced Zed.

Before any of his companions could answer, Him started to cough and hack. Like a cat regurgitating a hairball, he stood on all fours, his head convulsing forwards.

“Oh here we go,” said Reed with a chuckle.

“Here we go what?” asked Slade, a look of undisguised disgust upon his face.

“Just watch,” answered Reed with a wink.

Him’s coughing and retching continued for a few minutes until a mass started coming forth from his open mouth. Green cloth could be seen, pushed farther and farther out with each convulsion. Then with a dull splat, the fabric fell to the floor.

Sweating slightly, though looking thoroughly pleased with himself, Him picked up the soggy mass and twirled it over his head.

“Heads up!” called Adessi, as he shielded his face,

Slade started to speak but was stopped by a rain of water ejected by the centrifugal force of Him’s spinning fabric.

“Good God, man! You could warn us!” he cried, jumping out of reach of the rain. The other four men roared with laughter at the sight.

Him unfurled his now dry fabric and put it on.

“Shorts,” explained Reed. “We are not quite sure how he manages it, but he always regurgitates a pair of shorts after each transport. Survives the process, you see.”

Slade looked unimpressed. He had no time to voice his distaste however as with a chirp and a whistle, Him jumped, turned and span at superhuman speed, and drilled into the ground. Slade could only marvel at the speed at which Him shot off into the distance.

Reed, who had the keenest eyes, looked on. “Yep, he’s off towards the light. I say we follow him. But let’s be careful, you never know who controls a building that is the only source of light as far as the eye can see. Remember that nasty business with the confederacy in the U.S.N.C.A?”

“That was totally your fault”, answered Adessi. “I’m with you guys, whatever you choose, so long as we keep an eye on Mr New York over here.”

Zed lowered himself to the ground and started crawling forwards, following Him’s trail.

“What are you doing?” asked Slade.

“You can never be too careful,” replied Zed, looking back. “In an unknown place, hope for the best but plan for the worst.”

“Right,” answered the 1920s man. “I’ll come along for now, but the second I’m ready, and close to my time period, I’m out of here.”

“Oh but we all think the same,” replied Adessi. “Do you not think that we hope every transport that we will land within a few years of our initial disappearance?”

Slade had no time to answer as three sharp purple beams shot from the cluster of lights, pointing directly at the forehead of the three who were still standing.

“DO NOT MOVE. YOU ARE ON FEDERAL TERRITORY. AWAIT YOUR ARREST BY IKLAVUIT FORCES.”

“Oh good God...” muttered Reed.

“What’s up?” asked Slade.

“Iklavuit... Remember what I said about the United States of Northern and Central America being a long story? Well let’s just say that part of it is that the Arctic First Nations were none too pleased about the union. They declared independence and have an uneasy truce with the U.S.N.C.A. They’re calling themselves a federal territory so I’m thinking... 25th or 26th century.”

“Are we in danger?” cried Slade, eyes converging on the light hitting his forehead.

“I’m not !” chuckled Zed, still on his front. “I’ll keep going and try to find Him. Who knows, we may even get you out of this.”

“Thanks,” replied Reed. “The Iklavuit won’t be too pleased at our presence.”

Him regurgitates a pair shorts and speeds off undeground towards the light.
Zed goes on all fours, stealthily towards the lights.
The remaining three are targeted by purple beams. They are told, by a voice identified as Iklavuit, that they must not move and will be arrested.
Reed explains that the First Nations of the Artic were not amenable to joining the U.S.N.C.A. and therefore predicts that they are the 24th or 25th century.

No science.

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi -

Reed looked around, calculating whether he could lose himself in the field. Slade emulated him, though neither could see any form of escape. He kept his pendant close, ready to act.

The ground beneath them started rumbling. Zed had disappeared, though his shuffling could still be heard heading off into the direction of the lights.

“Screw this,” growled Adessi. He started straight towards the source of the beam. He had not gone two steps before the ground erupted around them. Eight, white-clad soldiers had burst from the ground, huma-sized drills attached to their helmets. As rapidly as they had appeared, they disappeared with the three standing men.

Zed looked back as the rumbling began anew. Cupping his ear to the floor, he could hear the rumbling move under him and towards the building.

He continued to shuffle until he reached a hole in which Him was clicking and whistling along. They were now within earshot of the building, behind a wall.

“They seem to be from the same school of moles, mate,” said Zed.

“*click whistle whistle*” came the reply.

“What do you suggest?”

“Aouu *long whistle*”

Shouting could now be heard, coupled with the swearing of Reed who had seemingly copulated with several of the soldiers’ immediate family members. Him ripped a part of his shorts off and threw it over the wall. Gunshot rang. Reed swore some more. More gunshots. Then silence.

“And it had to land on me didn’t it?” came Slade’s voice.

“It’s safe to come out, my friends,” called Adessi.

Him and Zed peered over the wall and saw to their great pleasure that the three men were intact. Eight bodies surrounded them.

“What happened?” asked Zed.

“Well Slade suddenly started wearing Him’s shorts as a hat. That did not go down well with these soldiers who tried to open fire. But then the guns turned on the soldiers like they had a life of their own. No idea what happened,” replied Adessi.

Reed smiled to himself.

Him took his piece of short from Slade’s head and guffawed. He then pointed towards the now silent building.

“He’s right, there may be something interesting inside,” said Zed.

“Shall we go in, or transport? This location is not very friendly...”

Him and Zed make it to the building whilst the other three are taken by soldiers.
Thanks to a diversion by Him, the soldiers are killed, though no-one knows how...
The team now wonder whether to go into the silent building.

No science.

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi -

Reed was first to speak out.

“As far as I see it, we’re better off hunkering down for now and setting up some recon. Given the tech these soldiers were using and what I know of the Iklavuit-U.S.N.C.A conflict, our best bet is to pass ourselves off as vigilantes.”

“Like mercenaries?” asked Adessi.

“Somewhat, though only for good reasons; tracking down criminals, stopping crime, etc. Vigilantes, unlike mercenaries, don’t wage war just for money. We’re like mercenaries with a conscience.”

Adessi looked unconvinced. “I don’t know... this whole ‘middle of a war’ thing doesn’t sound too appetising. I elect we transport.”

“But then we may go somewhere even worse. And we seem to be as we seem to be time travelling chronologically. Let’s not risk stopping off in the 27th century... One hundred years of helpless exodus from our planet after the deeps finally open...” replied Reed. “What say you, newest member?”

The group turned to Slade who shrugged. “How about we just transport again and again until we reach a nice sunny beach?”

Zed replied. “We can only transport after about an hour. The more we transport, the more likely we are to arrive in a place that will kill us within 60 minutes. We have to be wary.”

Slade acquiesced.

A ripping sound caught their attention. Him had started pulling down the trousers of one of the soldiers. With surprisingly nimble movements, he fashioned a pair of shorts and promptly swallowed them.

“Ready for the next transport,” chuckled Zed. “And apparently he wants to have a nap!” he added as Him pointed to Reed and then pretended to sleep with his hands clasped by his cheek. Reed looked around. “There’s no wood.” He picked up the fallen rifles and planted them in the ground in a rectangle. He then stripped the soldiers of their clothes and spread them taught over the rifles to fashion a camp bed. Him jumped and clapped. Two minutes later his snores began.

“Didn’t even get to thank him for his diversion,” mumbled Slade. A whistle and four clicks told him that Him was aware.

“Anyway,” said Reed, "shall we go into the building?" Adessi and Slade, who still wanted to transport, looked uneasy.

The team discuss what to do next. Enter the building or transport to the next location.
Him falls asleep.

No science.

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi -

The men, bar Him whose snores rivalled that of anyone else, looked at each other. Slade frowned, unsure what to make of the stand-off.

“Without consensus, looks like we’re faced with a voiceless vote,” said Reed. “You know what to do.”

Slade, Adessi and Zed walked off in different directions. Zed kicked Him, who awoke and ambled off to his own personal area.

“Will someone please explain to me what we’re supposed to be doing?” called Slade.

Reed turned towards him. “When we cannot agree on whether or not to transport, we have a voiceless vote. Everyone can independently decide whether or not to transport.

That way, we don’t know who decided, or not, to transport. Keeps things civilized, especially when there’s a contentious appeal for transport.”

Slade slowly nodded his head and turned towards a wall.

“In your own time, gentlemen,” said Adessi.

The silence began. The only movement was that of the soft breeze on the field beyond the wall.

Nothing. A light turned on inside the building. A flickering, red light, like that of a hearth being lit.

Silence... Then a burst of light surrounded the companions, a howling wing ringing in their ears. They felt themselves compressed into an infinitesimal space as the very fabric of time ripped past them.

The vote had carried.


Unlit room, Unknown location, Unknown point in time.

“Ahhhhhh, I have a feeling I’ll never get used to this,” moaned Slade, as he pulled himself off something.

“You’re heavier than you look,” replied Adessi’s voice, as the something squirmed.

“Muhn naaah” said Him, as he began his ritual hacking and spitting.

A light burst on. A man wielded a rifle. Around him were four narrow walls in an unlit room. The only exit was a staircase at the top of which a trapdoor hid the outside world.


“You won’t take me alive!” shouted the armed man. “I need my medication!”

The team of five froze, staring collectively down the barrel of a gun.

“I think you may want to put that down,” said Slade, coolly. “Whoever we are, we certainly don’t want to take you alive.”

“That’s what they all say, then they come for me and... and they try to catch me but Kyle isn’t caught. Kyle is wily. Wily Kyle!”

“Who is they?”

“They is you! The mafia from that company. The evil company who did all them experiments on me. I need the medication, otherwise the darkness will overcome me!”

“And you think that the mafia would send five unarmed, naked men after you?”

“I don’t know! Oh God I do know. You are trained naked assassins. You managed to penetrate into my lair without moving a thing. You come from the walls, the floor, the ceiling! Ayyyyyyy!”


Him finally regurgitated the shorts he had just made and put them on. The man called Kyle looked at him in disgust. Seizing his opportunity, Slade leapt at him and wrested the firearm from his gripe.

“Now you will listen to reason!” he bellowed. “We are NOT here to kill you. We are lost travellers and we need help.”

A large crash was heard from above, couple with loud shouting.

“OH NO. THEY ARE HERE,” Kyle burst into tears. “THEY HAVE FOUND ME.”

“The mafia?” asked Zed.

“YES,” came the reply.

“We can help you, just tell us how!”


A second crash. And pounding on the trap door.

“Señor Kyle,” came a rasp hispanic voice. “We have come to take you back home.”

“NOOOOOO” shouted Kyle. He pointed towards a cupboard and grasped Slade’s collar.
“There are many weapons in there. Arm yourselves and save me! Then I will help you. I promise.”


The trapdoor splintered and two men came running down, armed with cudgels. They were dressed in red, a small sombrero donning their head.

“Gentlemen,” said Adessi. “Prepare to fight.”

The transportation vote carries, and the companions are transported to an unkown room.
A man aims at them with a rifle, thinking that they are from the 'mafia'.
Slade subdues him, but the group are surprised when two armed men arrive.
A fight begins.

ENEMIES
2x Mafia Thugs
Stats unknown.
Controlled by - SERIOUSLY

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Reed raised both arms in front of him, attempting to defuse the situation. “Chaps, perhaps we can...” He was cut off short by a shot that whistled past his ear. Him had picked up a pistol from the cupboard and shot in the enemies’ general direction. The bullet rang as it missed, ricocheted off the door hinge and span back towards the shooter. Diving out of the way, Him avoided the worst of the damage, sporting only a graze to his shoulder.

The thugs advanced upon the group. Reed, naked, picked up the fallen pistol. Frowning, he cast it aside and opted for a shotgun lying in the cupboard. Praying it was loaded he spun and pulled the ornate trigger. The shot rang true and impacted the first man in the lower torso. Reeling back, the injured man staggered his fellow assailant. Both fell towards Kyle.

The injured thug lashed out with his cudgel, striking Kyle on the head. Kyle cried as he crumpled to the floor. Seizing the distraction, Zed leapt on the first thug, wresting the cudgel from his hands. With one, precise blow, he despatched his enemy who fell, never to awaken.

Adessi, who had been observing thus far, had found a cudgel in the cupboard and was advancing on the second assailant. He fumbled, sweat from the heat causing his fingerless glove to slip. The next half-second happened so rapidly that none in the room could determine quite what happened. All they saw was a flash from Adessi’s eyes. The assailant flew across the room, clutching his left arm.

Breathing heavily, eyes dying down, Adessi pulled his slipped glove back on. He looked darkly around at his bewildered companions. There was no time to ask questions as the thug’s repost was swift, though not swift enough. Adessi blocked the attacked that deflected back onto the thug’s face. The thug fell, supine.

Slade, Him’s fallen pistol in hand, walked towards the last man. Crouching down, he pressed the gun against the heaving thug’s forehead.

“Who sent you?” he asked coolly, using his job’s skill in a way to which he never thought he’d have recourse.

The man spat blood, “The one who will end that fool, and you all.”

Slade turned to Kyle, who was nursing a smarting forehead. “Do you know who sent these two?”

Kyle nodded.

“And so we don’t actually need them to give us any more information.”

Kyle shook his head.

Without breaking eye contact with Kyle, Slade pulled the trigger. Both thugs now lay dead.

“And now,” continued Slade, turning the gun towards Kyle, “you will give us the information you promised.”

Kyle looked back into his eyes, all glint of insanity gone.

“Weren’t you psychotic barely five minutes ago?” asked Zed?

“Just an act. It gives me a slight advantage if my enemy thinks I’m insane.”

Slade cocked the pistol, “start talking.”

“What do you want to know?”

The team despatches the two thugs.
Slade turns upon Kyle, who is not actually insane, and demands the promised answers.

ENEMY

Current status of players

Team status – Pre-battle

Order (The order y'all post on the logistics thread with the enemies fairly distributed)

Battle

Team Status – Post-battle

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Slade kept his pistol aimed at Kyle. The latter looked coolly back, as if such a turn of events was a common occurence for him.

"I wonder," said Adessi, looking around. "I wonder how those two managed to find us, I mean, we're teleporting to seemingly random points in space and time."

"ARQUEFLECHE!" chirped Him. The others looked at him, perplexed.

Adessi continued, "Do those thugs have a leader? Did they know we were here?"

"They did not," replied Kyle with a wry smile. "I can guarantee that they were after me."

"Tell us more about them," demanded Slade.

"They are a cartel, a mafia, no more, no less. They're not as bad as the Juarez, but if you're late on your loans, they kidnap you, take you to the middle of nowhere, beat you half to death and leave you there. Their biggest weakness is bad luck, apparently involuntarily obtained from Native Americans."

Reed picked up a small knife and handed it to Adessi "for reassurance and persuasion if need me". "I'm going out to scout for a while," he added, turning to leave. "There may be a few nice skeins for me."

"BOWANAROW" shouted Him. He mimed a movement the significance of which was lost upon his companions.

The door closed behind Reed.

It was Zed's turn to question Kyle. "Is the area dangerous? Actually, first of all, where and when are we? We need the year." "It's a long story," he added in reponse to Kyle's upturned eyebrow.

"You're in Mexico, and today is the 15th of September 1897. This town is relatively quiet, apart from the fact that the mafia are looking for me. That said, the peace is relative as the Sombrero Hat Gang and the Cowboy Hat Gang are vying for control over the city."

"And why would that be?"

"It's a long story," replied Kyle, parroting Zed. "I'm in debt for medical reasons."

"Hmm," replied Zed, not listening. "What can you offer us for weapons and armour?"

Kyle blew out some air, looking around. "Pfffft, you can help yourself to my old weapons in that cupboard. I've got a sawn-off shotgun, two revolvers, a hand of frag grenades, dynamite and a kitchen knife. As for armour, I have one set of this leather armour I found in a local store and a dirty, unwashed sombrero."

"BAWANAROW" chimed Him once more, snatching the sombrero and settling it on his head.

"Hey!" said Adessi. "You already have those shorts hiding your shame, give us something."

"I don't think I will be walking around with a sombrero on my crotch, thank you very much," said Slade. "Anyway, what do you keep shouting about, Him?"

Him chuckled and started miming again, one arm out, and the other one going to and fro.

"I think he wants a bow," suggested Zed. Him jumped up and down with joy and nodded.

Kyle reluctantly reached under the cupboard and pulled out an old bow and a quiver of arrows. "If it will shut you up, you can have my personal gear."

"This still doesn't resolve the fact that we are naked, and that we only have a set of armour," said Slade.

"Just a moment," said Adessi. "I can make something with this." He picked up the leather armour and started ripping it apart.

Five minutes later, the whole team, bar Him, wore a leather loincloth. "I've kept one for Reed, who ran off naked," said Adessi.

"We will trust you for now," Slade said to Kyle. "Just stick with us and don't do anything you will regret."

***

In the meanwhile, Reed was standing in a deserted street. Green, white, and red bunting adorned the houses.

"Must be for a celebration," he mused. "But where am I?"

Behind him was a small courtyard adorned with wispy shrubs. In the corner was a trapdoor, through which he had emerged. The sun was high in the sky and beating upon his skin. He made a mental note of looking for shade lest he burn. He looked up and down the street at his options.

Down one end were a group of houses, a saloon, and a barbers. On the other side was a church, militia station and a post office.

Kyle lets the team know that they are in Mexico in 1897. He is hiding from the mafia to whom he is in debt.
Reed leaves to scout the local area, having left before Kyle said where and when they were.
The team receive weapons and armour.

Team Status

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Mexico, September 1897

Reed, still as naked as the day he was born, decided that clothing was the best course of action for the time being. As he walked down the dusty street, he noted that there was no-one around. Arriving at what seemed to be a clothes store, he pushed the door. It did not budge. He rapped harshly, feeling more and more exposed to the sun's hard rays.

"Well... in desperate times, we need desperate measures," he said, kicking down the door. Inside was a single-roomed shop, clothes lining the walls and shelves. There were a few, better quality items surrounded by a majority of work overalls and other labour-related garb.

Thinking that a workman's clothes would not stand out, he took five sets, minus one pair of knee-length trousers for Him, who always staunchly refused to wear anything else than his regurgitated shorts.

Reed made a mental note of repaying this poor shop-keeper if and when he had the chance, and went to leave, turning just in time to see Him hurtling off down the street, sombrero flapping in the wind.

***

Him had one thing in mind. Fast trains! Upon leaving the underground room, he had spotted some railway lines and knew what he had to do.

Never, since the beginning of his travels, had he felt so close to the Andes. Fast train towards the peaks!

***

Reed returned to the courtyard just as the others were exiting the underground room.

"Did you see-" started Adessi.

"Yeah," replied Reed. "He was sprinting down the street towards that post office."

"We'll try and find him later. For now, I liberated these clothes for you. We can blend in."

The others proffered their thanks, explaining that Kyle had stopped moving or responding.

Adessi and Slade seemed satisfied with their new style.

"We look like the Mexicans, but I don't speak a word of it, so let's try to avoid any locals," muttered Slade, looking around.

"I'm relatively certain that the Mexicans speak Spanish," replied Adessi, pulling on his new, wide-brimmed hat. "And in any case, there doesn't seem to be many people around."

"No-one," confirmed Reed. "Not a dead rat."

After a minute of silence for the end of the Kingdom of Kaffa, the group noticed that Zed had a vacant expression.

"He looks exactly like Kyle," said Slade, waving his hand in front of Zed's face.

"That is what happens when his brain gives him no orders," said Reed. We'll have to carry him for now.

"Where to?" asked Adessi.

"Well, Him was shooting off towards the post office, so I say we go find out what he is up to."

A shrill whistle rent the air, coupled with a soft chugging.

"That is the sound of a train!" exclaimed Adessi.

The group turned towards the source of the whistle. A postal train was leaving the office, gathering speed and heading along the rails towards the group. As the train passed in front of them, Him popped his head out of an opening in a cargo wagon, guffawing merrily.

"Andes ! Andes !" he clamoured.

"Where do you think you're going?" shouted Reed. A series of clicks and whistles from the sombrero-adorned Him was the only answer.

"The train is still accelerating, we could run after it and follow Him, or even pull the escaping chap out," suggested Adessi.

"Hooo boy," muttered Slade to himself. "I must be dreaming. Surely this is just some asinine dream..."

Reed finds clothing for the group, and spots Him running off to the town's post office.
Upon finding the rest, the newly-clothed group wonder what to do.
A whistle tells them that a postal train is leaving the town. Him is on the train.
The group wonder what the best course of action is.

Team Status

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Mexico, September 1897

The train chugged further and further away, Him's sombrero bobbing in and out of the view of the opening. He was up to something.

"I wonder why this place is so deserted," said Adessi, ignoring the train. He looked around the empty street, and pointed towards a group of houses. "We should have a look over there. Perhaps those thugs in town scared the locals. Let's split up into groups, yes? Cover more ground."

***

The loud noise of the train drowned out the goings on in cargo carriage seven. The lumber wood, intended for a building site down South, was being ripped by a curious chap.

Indeed, Him had decided to build a battering ram and clapped with glee upon seeing the cargo that surrounded him. The dark interior was punctuated by a few slices of light.

"What are you doing?" shouted a voice behind Him. Slade's face had appeared at one of the openings. Him chuckled and bustled over to open the cargo door for his new friend.

Slade tumbled in, hair ruffled by the train's acceleration. The man was about to say something when several yelps and bumps came from outside. Sticking his head out of the now-closed opening, Slade saw Zed, holding on for dear life. The ground was now a blur, streaking under him as he struggled to hold on.

"Don't just gawk! Get me up!" shouted Zed. Slade did not move, entertained by the sight of the man in work overalls trying to move his legs to keep up with the dusty ground.

The carriage door crashed open, splinters flying everywhere. With a cheer, Him pushed forth his new battering ram once more, making the sliding door spin off into the distance. Zed shielded himself from the debris.

Slade reached out a hand and pulled him in. "It would seem that we're on a little bit of a journey," said Slade. Him slapped his two friends on the shoulder, glad to have some company.

"Andes !!" he said, with a whistle and a click.

"I don't have a clue," commented Zed. He looked back out of the wide open carriage, towards the receding town. "The others decided to stay and look for locals."

"Did they say if we should try and head back towards them?"

"If they did I didn't hear them," replied Zed.

"Hmm..." said Slade, scratching his chin. "I guess all that is left to do is wait and see where our journey will lead us. I'm off to search for some items that may be useful to us."

After 10 minutes of searching, Slade returned with a spade, a ball of string, a friendly cat, and a map.

***

"There must be a map in this town somewhere?"

"That little store was only filled with dry food and alcohol."

"Of which you grabbed several bottles."

"Hey, it's hot, and I don't trust the local water."

"We're reaching the houses. Hopefully we will find a cart or something otherwise the other three will be long gone."

Adessi and Reed had remained in the town, scouting for information. The former carried several bottles of what seemed like the local moonshine.

Before them stood four houses. A red, three-story edifice with a welcome mat, two white cuboid buildings with a flat roof, and a run-down shack.

A spluttering, mechanical noise was coming from the shack. A blue light was emanating from one of the white buildings.

Slade and Zed catch up with Him in the train. The latter has built a battering ram.
Adessi and Reed are still in the town, looking for information and transport out of town.

Team Status

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Mexico, September 1897

Reed looked at each of the four houses in turn, scratching his chin. The choice for him was simple, head for the noise. It may be of use combined with his skills.

“Would the thugs not go to the cleaner houses in order to scare the locals?” voiced Adessi.

“Perhaps, though I think that it would be unwise, as strangers, to find them. They may not take kindly to more outsiders.”

“True,” conceded Adessi, and the pair headed towards the noisy shack.


***


The train continued to chug along, bouncing southbound on the old railway line. Slade, moving away from the other two in the carriage, started rummaging around. The friendly cat purred as she rubbed up against him. He glanced down, remembering his childhood and his grandparents mastodon of a feline. Mastodon of size and temper... Shaking the memory from his mind, he took out the map. Only three railway lines existed, all of which started up north before converging upon Mexico City and spanning off again. If they were North of the capital, they would inevitably pass through... A good place to stop and wait for the others should they be following. Were they to be farther South, they would end up at the border with the Southern countries.

“No way to know, really, until we stop somewhere with a name-sign or until we reach either Mexico City or the border,” he muttered. He hunkered down between two boxes and closed his eyes to get some rest. The friendly cat leapt onto his chest and curled up, purring up a storm.

Zed also rummaged around the carriage, searching for anything else that may be of interest. Most boxes were filled with uninteresting trinkets that looked like they were heading to an antiques store. He pulled out an old silver ring, embossed with the initials ‘RH’. Slipping it on, he continued his search. He did not notice Slade, who was now lightly snoring with his new friend. He looked back towards Him who was nose-deep in his short pocket. He seemed to find satisfaction as he pulled out a doughnut and threw it at Slade. It bounced off the sleeping man’s head. With a frown, Him picked it up. Looking slightly crestfallen, he looked at his pastry.

“I’ll have it,” said Zed, who had not eaten a doughnut since the beginning of his time as a traveller. Him looked up, and rent the doughnut in two, launching the bigger half across the carriage and straight into Zed’s open mouth. The latter chewed with delight and savoured the cinnamon filling.

He spluttered and choked, as he pointed excitedly out of the window. In the distance was a sprawling metropolis. Him looked around, nodded, and then curled up on his battering ram, emulating Slade.

Zed shook his head, as the church-towers and rampant streets of Mexico City drew nearer.


***


Adessi and Reed stood before the shack.

“HEY!”

They span around, unsheathing their weapons to face the newcomer.

“Calm down, it’s just me,” said Kyle, who had come out of his stupor.
The pair put their weapons back and filled the non-traveller on what was going on.

“...and now we were just about to open this shack.”

“It has been making that noise ever since I arrived here two days ago,” said Kyle. “The few locals I have talked to said they never went in there. Some kind of legend about a rabid daemon.”

“A rabid daemon making the mechanical noises of an engine,” rebuked Adessi.

“Well... the people here seem simple.”

Reed opened the shack door, and stepped inside.

The world as they knew it ended. An explosion. A blinding light and the screams of the others.

After several years and lifespans... Thrown to the floor... or was it the ceiling?, Reed felt his limbs being ripped from him. Something solid careered past him as he tumbled onto the wall... or perhaps this time it was the ceiling. Colours he could taste swirled around him as he heard his parents shouting at a child who was trying to climb a tree. Only it was now a giraffe’s neck that snaked downwards as Satan himself reached up, knife and fork in hand.

Reed opened his eyes.

He was tied to a wall, his limbs bound together. He looked around, spotting Adessi and Kyle in the same situation. They were seemingly in the shack, and an engine, source of the sound they had heard, was puttering on. A solitary slit of light shone from a crack in the wall.

A dark form shuffled around from behind the engine.

“Strong enough to survive the illusions... An interesting trio...”

Reed started to speak, but found that a gag had been placed into his mouth.

“It moves... Perhaps it speaks...” The gag was removed.

“And now it shall speak... or suffer some more illusions... stronger this time... higher dose and several injections...

Slade, Zed, and Him continue their journey on the train, joined by a friendly cat. They spot Mexico City in the distance.

Reed, Adessi, and Kyle are still in the town, they enter a shack and are captured. Reed is told to speak by a dark figure.

Team Status

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

A train, Mexico, September 1897

Slade, Zed and Him poked their heads out of the carriage opening, observing the city. The dust thrown into their eyes by the train did nothing to abate their excitement at having finally reached a potable destination.

“Good,” grumbled Slade, “I wasn’t having a very good dream... Who would have thought you could use a euphonium in such a way...”

Zed threw him a quizzical look. The 20s man ignored him and addressed Him. “And I could have been awoken in a slightly more gentle way. Throttling someone isn’t your average wake-up call.” Him gave him a knowing grin, as if to say “it worked, didn’t it?”

“I’m guessing we’ll be stopping at a station,” said Zed. “They won’t take too kindly to stowaways I don’t think.”

“We should find a way to make ourselves more palatable to the Mexicans,” agreed Slade.

Him scooted off to the back of the carriage, ripped the side of a crate off and started busying around.

“Watch out for Mr Jinx,” called Slade, perplexed, as Him threw a piece of wood over his shoulder, narrowly missing the cat.

“Mr Jinx?” said Zed.

“Mr Jinx,” the first man confirmed.

“Ta-daaaa” shouted Him, as he held up a sign. The words ‘I love you Venezuela !’ were scrawled in large writing.

“I... don’t think that will be much use in making friends, mate.”
Regardless of this last comment, Him hammered the sign onto the outside of the carriage and chuckled in glee at the approaching station.

The train slowed, then screeched to a halt. The station was dusty, as was now expected from everything around here, and few people were here to greet the cargo train. The three men looked cautiously around, making sure that they could sneak off without being spotted.

“AY!” came a shout from the left. A controller had spotted the trio and was storming towards them, rifle raised. Him whistled the Venezuelan national anthem, Slade poised himself, ready to launch himself on their new enemy, and Zed grabbed Mr Jinx, ready to launch her on their new enemy.

The controller stopped. He had spotted the sign, and heard Him’s tune. His eyes narrowed, before he beamed and threw open his arms. “AMIGOS!” he cried, “I had lost all hope of seeing someone from the homeland!”

“Ahh... si,” replied Zed. “We knew we could find some compatriots around here.”

“How are we supposed to pretend we’re from Venezuela,” hissed Slade.

“I don’t know,” Zed hissed back.

Him hissed.

“Follow me!” continued the controller excitedly, we shall feast on some sopa de mondongo to celebrate your arrival!”

***

A dark shack, Mexico, September 1897


Adessi stirred awake. Something was not quite right. Without opening his eyes, in the face of danger, he took in his surroundings. He was tied up, the room was dark, and the machinery was still making noise. His next thoughts were punctuated by Reed’s voice.

“What’s this aboot, eh? We didn’t come here to be tied up like no jerky caribou. We’re just tourists, y’see. From all Mississauga way. Our car broke down in your here village and we’re looking for some gasoline, you figure?”

“Your illusion is still in effect, or has it transformed you into a lunatic?” came a second, sibilant voice.

“Ahahahahahaha YESSSS, I have gone mad !!” said Reed’s voice.
“Madmadmadmadmadmad !!! Now I wonder if aaaaaanyone can reach their pendant, THEIR PENDANT.”

Adessi grasped the not-so-subtle message, but his hands were tightly bound. Unless he could free one hand, he would not be able to transport. In any case, would transportation work if half the group were far away in some unknown location?

“Interesting,” came the quietly dangerous voice. “Perhaps a stronger dose will do the trick!”

A giant yawn punctuated the drone of the machine. Kyle had awoken, and with a big smile said “I hadn’t slept so well in a LONG time !”

Adessi opened his eyes a crack and let out an audible gasp at the sight of the syringe. It would be comical if the situation were not so terrifying. The syringe was half a meter long, and filled with a phosphorescent liquid.

“Well then... Now that we’re all awake, who should I prick first...?” asked the man, “SPEAK! Or I shall kill you all and be done with it!”

Slade Zed and Him, pretending to be Venezuelan (Him's idea), happen on a Venezuelan controller at the station who invites them for supper.

Reed, Adessi, and Kyle are in a dark shack, trying to escape from a dangerous man who threatens to kill them unless they say who should be injected first with the phosphorescent liquid in his long syringe.

Team Status

Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Mexico City, Mexico, September 1897

Walking down the dust road, the controller was jabbering away in quick Spanish. Both Zed and Slade hung back, not wanting to give away the fact that they had very few notions of the language. Him, humoured the happy man, clicking and whistling. “Ballet ! Ballet !” he cried, flailing Mr Jinx around.

“Oi !” shouted Slade. “Careful there, mate.”

Him turned towards Slade, his eyes imploring.

“I think he wants you to let him dance with the cat,” said Zed. Him nodded and pointed at the controller. “And I think the controller... is the dance teacher?”

Him cheered and threw Mr Jinx into the air. The cat landed gracefully on Him’s head.

“How does that even remotely count as conversation?” Zed whispered to Slade.

“Search me... but it seems to be to the liking of the controller,” replied his fellow traveller.

“Perhaps he just assumes Him is a bit addled, and is humouring him.”

“I wouldn’t have him any other way, to be honest.”

Zed gave Slade a quizzical smile. “You suddenly seem rather friendly towards us. What happened to the cool and distant Slade that we’ve had up to now?”

“Well, people change,” replied Slade with a grin.

The two men fell into silence, Zed not completely sure he grasped Slade’s sudden change of disposition.

He was unable to ponder any more about it, as two figures landed in front of them. The glare of the falling sun blinded Zed and Slade for a brief moment as they looked towards the newcomers. Slade looked around for Him, knowing something was not quite right. The clicking companion had disappeared, as had the controller. A sad guffaw brought his attention back to the two men. Only now there were four.


***

A dark shack, Mexico, September 1897

“And therefore, both the lack of warning signs and your refusal to give us our statutory break every two hours of captivity is why you will get absolutely wrecked in court.”

“You amuse me,” said the man wielding the syringue. “I think I will let you live for now.” He turned towards Adessi, whose eyes now flew open.

“I don’t think you want to do that, mate.”

“And why not?”

“Well... someone of your intelligence and cunning could not possibly live with killing someone wearing something as banal as fingerless gloves.”

“I don’t see...”

“Don’t you? Do you not? Killing someone wearing fingerless gloves is like imposing your choice of whine on a restaurant oenologist. You just don’t do it.”

The man seemed to ponder for a short while before saying “that does not make sense, but just to be sure...” He pulled off Adessi’s left gloves. And stopped. The bound traveller had smirked as the first glove came off and his left eye had turned scarlet.

“What devilry is this?” shrieked the captor. “Oh you thought you had me, didn’t you. Tricked me, you think you did. But I will not remove your other glove, and you will remain calm until I prick you with my here syringe.

“Oh it’s too late for that,” growled Adessi. He addressed himself to his companions, “I have about ten seconds of lucidity left. I’ll free you. You must then run. Run as goddamn fast and far as you can.”

Kyle and Reed started to protest, but Adessi had let out a curdling scream. He ripped his left arm out of their bonds and burst from the rest of his shackles. Scarlet had started to seep into his right eye. Running towards his companions, he knocked their captor to the ground. In two swipes, both Reed and Kyle had slumped to the floor, free of their bindings.

“NOW RUN,” growled Adessi, as the scarlet took over the rest of his eyes.


***


Mexico City, Mexico, September 1897

“Him want Andes! No Venezuela,” cried Him, with a depressed whistle. He had a knife to his throat. It was a trap. The controller had lured them into this dust road, his cronies laying in wait.

“Hand over your objects of value!” said the controller. “Or we kill your friend here.”
Slade drew his pistols, Zed his cudgel. “You kill Him, we kill you, and no-one’s happy.”

“Have it your way...” replied the controller.


***


200 meters away from a dark shack, Mexico, September 1897

Reed was out of breath. He did not know why, but he had never believed something so strongly in his life. He would not have been around much longer had he remained in the shack. Kyle caught up with him, spluttering with the effort.

Without the sound of the wind whistling in his ears as he ran, Reed could now hear the commotion they had left behind. Roars, a scream, the sound of smashing upon metal. Ripping, tearing... or perhaps it was slicing and shredding. A wall of the shack was blown out of its foundations, throwing up a storm of dirt and sand.

As the dust settled, the two companions saw a form emerging from the now-derelict shack. It walked slowly, trailing a corpse behind it. Its red eyes looked up and spotted them. With an otherworldly shriek, the form hurtled towards them.

The pair continued to run. Their lungs and muscles screaming in protest at the undue sprint. Reed dared to look behind him. “Wait,” he called, as he grabbed a hold of Kyle. “Look.”

The form was now at only twenty meters, slowing down, the snarling dying away. As it kept trying to lope towards them, it stumbled. The scarlet seeped out of the eyes as Adessi fell to the ground.

The pair ran towards him, wary of this sudden return to normality.

“Gloves,” said the man on the floor.

“Yes, your gloves, Kyle picked them up from the floor as we were running out.”

“On me. Now. Before I regain...”
Reed slipped both gloves onto his companion, who sighed with relief.

“That’s better...”

“Care to explain to us what the hell just happened in there?” asked Reed.

“Better if you do not ask. I am just glad you survived.”
Reed opened his mouth to protest, but was silenced like before. “You are alive, we are all alive. That is all that matters. Now let us determine what our next step is... I am starting to get sick of this place.”

“You still have a lot of questions to answer...” replied Reed.

Him is held at knife-point by the controller and two of his cronies. A batte begins.

Adessi's gloves come off and he snarls at his companions to flee. That they do, and are witness to the carnage he causes.
Adessi calms down and does not wish to discuss what happened.

ENEMY
Team Status

To everyone, don't forget to have a look at your equipment to see what you hold !! I've made some changes to equipment and statuses.
Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Mexico City, Mexico, September 1897

The sun beat down upon the stand-off. Slade and Zed, standing ground, faced by three thugs. Him, neck pushed upon a blade. Weapons drawn.

“Hnnnnnnnggggg,” squeezed Him, as he scrunched his face up, flushing it red. “HHHHANNNGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHUH.”

Slade and Zed took a step back. They knew all too well that Him was prone to doing unexpected things. Their belief was solidified as, with a bang, Him expelled all of his belongings in every direction and leapt into the air. With a graceful half somersault, he stretched out his arms above his head and span straight into the ground. The ground shook as the short man travelled to his intended destination. The thugs followed the trail of raised dirt, stamping around in an attempt to stop their hostage from getting away.

“Chuck us your pendant,” shouted Slade. “So they don’t get to it.”

“You cannot take off your pendant,” replied Zed. We’re stuck with them.

Slade growled, and raised his weapon. “This is your last chance ! Stop moving or we will be forced to attack !”

The thugs rounded on the pair, bearing arms. Him’s dirt trail rocketed towards them and he flew out of the ground, landing gently in front of his companions. He stared longingly at his sombrero which was no sitting in the dust not too far away.

Zed, not taking any risks, readied his revolver and took a shot at the controller. The bullet ripped into his right shoulder, propelling him backwards. With a shriek of pain, the wounded controller picked up Him sombrero, and placed it onto his head.

“ATTACK !” he shouted


***


Village, Mexico, September 1897

The tree men were back in the main street where they had emerged from a basement. So very long ago, it felt. Reed eyed Adessi with some suspicion, remembering the eyes, and the screams... and the fear.

“I say we try and find the others,” he said, finally. “They jumped on a train, chasing after Him, so I elect we wait for the next one heading in that direction and hop on.”

“No objections from me,” replied Adessi. “I could do with a rest.”

Kyle nodded his approval. “That direction is Mexico City. Not the best place to be if you are foreign, but I think a group of six would be generally left alone.”

“Let’s hope a group of three that includes a sombrero-wearing chap will also be left alone.”

“Would it not be quicker to just use our pendants to travel?” asked Adessi.

Reed pondered the matter. After a brief moment, he replied, “We have never tried travelling whilst far apart from one another. I do not know if we would all land together or still far apart. Imagine if we land on a remote island, given that we press the pendant, and the rest land a hundred miles away in the middle of the ocean?”

Adessi gave a non-committal grunt. “I say we should consider taking that chance. I mean, how likely is it that we find the others in a huge city?”

Their conversation was cut short by the shrill whistle of a distant train.

“Well that was conveniently quick,” commented Kyle, as the three ran towards the tracks. The long, red cargo train was rapidly approaching and was seemingly not going to stop.

“We’ll have to run and jump,” shouted Reed.

The train hurtled into the village.

Him ejects his equipment and flees back to his companions. Zed shoots the contoller, severly injuring him. The battle continues.

The trio in the village decide to catch the next train to see if they can find their companions. Adessi suggests simply transporting to the next location.

Enemy
Team Status
Battle

To everyone, don't forget you can choose to travel whenever you want. Just let me know by PM if you don't want the others to know you decided to travel ! Only one person using their pendant will make the whole group travel.
Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

Village, Mexico, September 1897
 
The train shot into the village at speed. It would not stop and could not be reached. With a determined snarl, Reed pushed himself to run faster. The other two were lagging behind. Now running parallel with the tracks, he did not flinch as the engine buffeted him. Glancing behind, he say and opening and did not think twice. He launched himself sideways and into the compartment.

Adessi, feeling the residual strength of his transformation, hauled Kyle off of his feet and threw him forward into the compartment. Reed’s face appeared.

“I’m losing energy!” shouted Adessi over the roar of the wind and the engine.

“Grab my hand and we’ll pull you in,” Reed shouted back. “Or rather... I’ll pull you in, Kyle has been knocked out.” Reed stretched out his hand, and latched onto Adessi’s wrist. With what felt like a herculean effort, he managed to pull Adessi into the compartment with them.

Both men fell back, panting. Their compartment was completely empty, save for the supine inanimate form of their temporary companion.

“He need to get that condition checked up... always losing consciousness like that,” commented Adessi.

“Hmm, at least it gives us time to plan.”

“How do you intend to do that?”

“First things first; we’re heading in the same direction as the others, so hopefully, we’ll end up in the same place. Logically speaking of course.”

“You seem to think that our travelling believes in logic,” answered Adessi.

“You’re right. Well, let’s at least try to help ourselves out for the current situation. Do you know any Spanish?”

“Not one bit... and as far as I see it, we should find some better place than this to travel to. I say we find the others and travel. In the mean time, I’m going to recoup some energy. Wake me up if anything interesting happens.” Adessi curled up in a corner and started to snore.

Reed looked around. The compartment was not completely empty. Two crates were stacked against the back wall. A explosives sign was painted on both of them.

“Ay ay, que explosives en el train, pericoloso,” muttered Reed, “No quiero los explosive crates.” He approached them nonetheless.

 
***


Mexico City, Mexico, September 1897
 
No sooner had the cry of “ATTACK” been called, than Him shot like a rocket towards the controller.

“Ohhh boy,” chuckled Zed, “That poor soul should not have touched Him’s sombrero.”

Him’s pushed off from the ground, heading, arms stretched out, towards the controller. What Zed and Slade saw lasted but two seconds : Him grabbed onto the controller’s left arm, rotating, abducting and extending his shoulder past 100 degrees. That, coupled with the supination of the arm, ripped the clavicle from the acriminon process, and ripped the arm clean off the controller. In the same movement, Him slashed the detached arm back down onto its previous owner, knocking him to the ground. With a luxurious swan dive, Him grabbed the sombrero off the falling man and landed gracefully on his feet.

Between shock, awe, and disgust, Zed sprinted forwards under covering fire from Slade. The two remaining thugs dived for safe refuge behind a cart. Zed scooped up the little man, and sprinted off down a side-alley. Slade rolled to the side, avoiding a riposte volley from their enemies, and stopped around the corner of another alley.

“Three on two... this should not be too much of a hassle,” he thought to himself. He looked back around the corner just in time to see reinforcements arriving to aid the thugs.

“Three on seven... this might be slightly more difficult...”

Reed, Adessi and Kyle manage in extremis to jump onto the train. Reed sees two explosives crates.

The contoller, having made the mistake of taking Him's sombrero, gets his arm ripped off by the latter. Zed scoops Him up and runs into an alley. Slade does the same, into a different one. Reinforcements arrive and the thugs now number seven. 

Enemy
Team Status

To everyone, don't forget you can choose to travel whenever you want. Just let me know by PM if you don't want the others to know you decided to travel ! Only one person using their pendant will make the whole group travel.
Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi - TEMPORARY PLAYER "KYLE" - Controlled by - DeerBoarDude -

A train, Mexico, September 1897
 
“Are you guys alright?” asked Reed, lurching off-balance as the train trundled on.

“I think I’m in one piece,” replied Adessi. “Though you could have just guessed that, rather than wake me up. I haven’t eaten in years and I can’t escape into my dreams. All they have are buffet selections. Succulent beef. Tender lamb.”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Reed, turning to Kyle. The man still did not move. Reed pressed two fingers against his neck. “He’s dead.”

“Well that’s awkward.”

“You don’t find it strange,” continued Reed, “that all we see in this train are these two crates of explosives?”

“Can we eat them?” asked Adessi. “If not, I’m not interested.”

“I’m going to snoop around some more... see if I can’t go into another compartment.”

Adessi grunted his nonchalance, and fell back to sleep. Reed tried in vain to open the doors at each end of compartment. Sticking his head out of an opening, he saw that there were not that many carriages, though all were cargo. He considered going out and clambering into the next carriage, but something caught his eye as the train slowly lost pace.

“Oi, Adessi.”

“What...” mumbled the slumbering man.

“Look at this.”

“Food?”

“Better...”

 
***
 
Mexico City, Mexico, September 1897
 
Seven against three. Seven thugs in the main alleyway. Two travellers in one side-alley, and one more in another.

“This doesn’t look too good, does it?” muttered Zed.

Him showed a rare glimpse of grim. He growled slightly. The seven thugs were bearing down upon them, shooting so as to pin them down. Him’s eyes slipped towards a group of dustbins, strewn on the alley floor. He arched his back, and sprang towards them, spinning on one hand as it hit the ground to aim a sweeping kick at the bins. Like pins, the thugs were bowled over.

“Nice one!” came Slade’s shout from the next side-alley.

“Over hiere, Him,” hissed Zed, as the louts pushed themselves back to their feet. Cupping his hands, he gestured Him to run in and boost himself. Him ran. And sprang up towards the rooftop joining Slade and Zed’s side-alleys. He let out a strident, stentorian shriek, that echoed for many seconds after he had closed his mouth once more.

An interim leader seemed to have made himself known to the others. “You three, go to the left. You two, to the right. I’ll handle Springer over here.”

“Now would be a good time to determine an escape route,” Slade called.

“Could not agree more,” came Zed’s reply.

Him ran from one end of the roof to the other, gesticulating towards his companions. Rapidly understanding his intent, the two men on ground level both entered doorways into the building on which Him stood. With a crashing backflip, the latter broke through the ceiling and landed between the pair as they entered.

“Nice one, genius,” said Zed, “a closed in place with only two exits.”

Him laughed, pointing upwards.

“Ok... three exits.”

“Let’s choose one and all leave this place once and for all,” suggested Slade.

No sooner has hid words been said, than shadows appeared at all three openings.

“Well what do we have here?” leered the interim leader. “Three stuck rats who aren’t from around here. They comes in, kills our leader, and then decides that they coulds just scamper off and be rats elsewhere. DO NOT REACH FOR YOUR GUN OR WE WILL PUT YOU FULL OF HOLES.” Slade had slowly reached for his weapon.

The six thugs on the ground level drew their weapons and advanced. “Pick them off one by one, but don’t make the first few shots fatal. Rats don’t deserve an easy death..”

The situation was hopeless : Penned in on all sides. No escape. Slade closed his eyes, waiting for the bite of lead to rip him away from this short-lived escapade from his life. What if he hadn’t been so hell-bent on finding that pendant? Perhaps he would now be in his cool, calm office, drinking a cup of coffee and attempting a crossword... Ah, he would never again do a crossword. Never again see those that he left behind. Nevermore...

“EXPLOSIVE BATTLE CRYYYY”

Slade’s eyes snapped open, just in time to see the interim leader go flying out of view, leaving only a spray of blood behind. Through the ceiling jumped Reed and Adessi, bandoliers of explosives entwined around them.

“Sorry all,” chuckled Reed, “we had trouble tracking you down.”

“Thanks to Him and his... unique shrieking, we could easily target your position,” added Adessi.

“Five on six,” smiled Slade. “Now we’re back in business.”

“LET’S GET THEM!”

Zed, Him, and Slade are cornered and on the brink of summary execution, when Reed and Adessi, who have finally found their companions, swoop in to bolster their chances.

Enemy
Team Status

NB - Don't forget that you have general items (including weapons) at the bottom of your character status list -- feel free to use them !
The current enemies have an intelligence of 1, and will therefore each attack a random character. Should give you enough time to work out a strategy between you !
Slade Wilson - Reed - Him - Zed Williams - John Adessi -