Creeping along as stealthily as he can manage to follow after the Terrible Trio, Ace nearly flattens into the grass when they stop.
He watches in confusion & consternation as they seem to force their way through some sort of force field, and he backs away slowly to put distance between him & it.
He doesn't know what it is, he doesn't much care, he just figures that anything that can make a fully armored thug have to exert himself to proceed is something his unarmored & nonsteroidally-enhanced hoop doesn't want anything to do with.
At the momentary blatt of the siren Ace takes a second to scan the ether for any indication that it might be the NYPD coming to intervene.
If it IS then he can tell the others & we can get the duck out of fodge.
If it's not then he can safely ignore it as inconsequential, but better to check to make sure...
((Electronic SG: 6, 5, 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1.
Electronic Warfare: 5, 4, 5, 1, 3, 3, 5, 1.))
If he finds it to be the cops then he'll radio that fact over the encrypted "Group to All" channel first, then via the normal link to Leeson.
When the group gets nearly in touching distance of the eery red circle, Ace stops a bit farther back than mere arm's reach.
He doesn't trust the probable force field, the bonfire, the mages doing their culty convulsions, or the fact that he's feeling well & truely In Over His Head.
There's some major mojo going on & it's *nothing* he's equipped to deal with.
A sane man would turn tail & run like hell, and thrillseeker or not, he's having a difficult time staying this close to probable Ground Zero.
When Block replies to Leeson's broadcast with a warning, Ace almost nods his head off in agreement.
As soon as Block finishes his transmission, Ace sends in one of his own.
"Mister Magic, I agree with our friend. We're in over our heads. We've found the girl, she's obviously able to cover her hoop, so I _strongly_ suggest we cover our own. Let's haul a3, preferably to somewhere we won't become chunky salsa when this super sized ball of drek hits the fan. MonkeyWrench out."
Ace notices the figure seeming to materialize out of the shadows to his left & starts to aim his gun towards it.
As soon as he realizes it's Leeson he snaps the gun back down & away, heaving an exaspirated sigh.
Fiercely whispering to Leeson he grumbles: "Don't DO that, Man! I'm so jumpy I nearly shot you ''just in case''."
Turning his attention back towards the bonfire, he listens to Tiny laughing over the bets.
A deeply frustrated growl escapes his lips as he mutters something scatological & biomechanicly improbable for Tiny to attempt with the folks that wouldn't take the bet.
Radioing back via the encrypted "Group to All" link, Ace replies: "Primary. Three. Confirm sixteen cultists, Target & twin bodyguards, plus the Lady. All are inside a large circle field of some sort. I am Not, repeat NOT entering the circle. I am, in fact, about to haul hoop the hell out of here & try & take cover before this explodes. Unless you have something specific you want to know about, I'd advise calling this as Over. Out."
With that said for the record & his frustrations slightly salved over the loss of a quick thousand NuYen, Ace goes back to scanning the land, sky, & ether, watching, & trying to stay alive...
((Perception: 2, 3, 6, 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 4.
Electronic SG: 6, 3, 3, 3, 6, 3, 6, 1.
Electronic Warfare: 5, 4, 6, 5, 2, 3, 3, 3.))
Whispering sotto vocce to Block he says out of the corner of his mouth: "The s4 I'll do for a damned plate of wings!"
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