"Just remember," the driver called back to them, "We're just here to pick this guy up. Do your bit and it'll go smooth as silk."
"Yeah?" Kenny said from the back of the van, "Then why do you want us all to be armed?"
"Precaution. You should know about being prepared, Frodo."
Kenny shook his head. "I hate it when they call me that."
He looked over at his friend. "Pistol or shotgun?"
"The pistol, I guess." Jay took the weapon and holster and strapped it on underneath his heavy jacket.
Kenny fitted his laser device to the 20 gauge shotgun and slung it under his long coat. He looked over at Jay. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Jay said after a moment. "I didn't really know Roland - only met him once - but I know he was concerned about the direction we were headed. I heard him speak at a conference once and got a chance to chat with him and some others afterwards. We spent a couple hours talking about reform... before it was treason to discuss such things," he added sadly.
"So you'll know him when you see him?"
"Oh, definitely. Though I doubt he'd remember me."
They stopped the van on a snowy side street. The driver gave them a hard look. "Go through it one more time."
Jay sighed. "We walk two blocks west to the donut shop. Our man should be visible through the window. We enter, order identical drinks and pay for them separately. This will be the signal for him to follow us. We leave, continue west for two blocks where you'll pick us up. Another car will then pick Roland up."
"Good. Backup is here if you need it. Good luck to you."
Jay and Kenny avoided the snow piled high around the street and started on their way.
"Cold," Jay shivered.
"You'll get used to it," Kenny remarked airily, his breath making clouds as they walked. "Maybe you should get a cool scarf like I have."
Jay looked at his at Kenny's long, multi-colored scarf, long jacket and floppy hat. "I don't want to have that high a profile," he said dryly.
"You have no sense of fashion."
They turned off the side street and started heading west, walking quickly in the cold. Up ahead they could see the light from the dilapidated donut shop shining in the distance.
"Okay," Kenny whispered, "What's wrong with this picture?"
The pair slowed slightly and Jay casually glanced about. "Ah, too many cars illegally parked, with tinted windows?"
"Yeah. In this neighborhood there shouldn't be any, or at least only one belonging to the local pimp or drug dealer. I can spy at least two. Now I could be paranoid, or something's up."
"Paranoia can keep you alive," Jay whispered. "You order first. We can always try to arrange another pickup later."
Kenny slipped his hands into his pockets. "It could be just nerves," he said with a frown.
A few moments later they reached the shop. They could see a man sipping coffee by a window seat.
"Looks like Roland," Jay whispered. "So far so good."
They entered and walked up the counter. The woman at the counter give them a tired smile. "What'll it be?" she asked.
"Coffee, please," Kenny declared, "Cream, no sugar."
Jay glanced down the aisle to where their pickup was. He gave them a look of anticipation and rose.
"Hot chocolate, please," Jay said.
Kenny raised an eyebrow. "I'll pay for both," he said as he tossed a few bills on the counter.
Then he pulled out what looked like a PDA or a calculator. "That should even us up," he remarked as he pressed a few buttons.
The man looked oddly at them for a moment and sat down.
The pair walked out of the cafe, styrofoam cups in hand.
"Not the one?" Kenny asked as he sipped his coffee.
"Not the one. Not unless he shrank two inches and then took to wearing lifts."
"Damn."
A car passed them and came to a sudden halt. Two men in black jumped out and pointed weapons at them. Both Kenny and Jay dropped their drinks as the tazer's projectiles dug into their jackets.
From behind the Black Hats came the sound of gunfire and one of the men staggered. Passersby screamed and scattered.
Kenny's PDA beeped softly and a bowling ball fell from the sky, striking the car's back windshield. It crazed but didn't shatter.
Startled, the Black Hats pointed their weapons skyward. Kenny's knees buckled as he keyed the PDA again.
Another bowling ball materialized out of the night sky, just missing the Black Hats' car.
"Bowling balls! They're throwing bowling balls at us?!" One of the MIB's yelled incredulously as both Black Hats flung themselves away.
Jay caught Kenny by the elbow and yanked the tazer darts out of their coats.
"Let's go!" he shouted, pulling Kenny along.
"Hurray for body armor," Kenny gasped as he unslung the shotgun. He staggered unsteadily as they ran.
"Give that to me," Jay said as he snatched the weapon from the Etherite. "You're going to hurt someone with it."
"That's generally the idea," Kenny remarked weakly.
"Not if that someone's us!"
They crouched low as the more shots were fired. A van roared by with someone firing an automatic weapon at another car.
"Wasn't that our van?" Jay asked.
The sound of a crash reached their ears.
"I hope not."
Across the street a large man stepped out of the shadows.
"Halt," he said calmly, raising a large gun.
"Get down!" Jay yelled.
Jay and Kenny dove behind a car just before the man fired. The car they'd taken shelter behind exploded. Bits of flaming metal rained down around them.
"Oh come on!" Jay protested as they fled the fiery wreckage, "That only happens in the movies!"
"Use the laser!" Kenny urged frantically.
Jay nodded grimly and knelt behind another car. As the man crossed the street Jay activated the laser attached to the shotgun and flashed it across the man's face. The man should have fallen back screaming from the burns the Etherite device inflicted but he merely paused for a moment.
"Shit!" Jay pulled the trigger.
The man's head rocked backwards from the impact of the 20-gauge slug but he remained standing. After a moment he resumed his pursuit.
"HITMark." Jay cursed and grabbed Kenny. "Come on!"
They rounded a corner and stood gasping for breath in an alleyway, their clothes still smouldering, Kenny swaying from an excess of Paradox.
"Give me a range..." Kenny muttered as he pulled out his PDA.
Jay glanced back at the approaching HITMark. A bullet whizzed past them. "It won't stop him!"
"GIVE ME A RANGE!" Kenny screamed over the increasing gunfire.
"Ah," Jay glanced again at the relentlessly approaching android. It was like being in a Terminator movie.
"15 meters in ... 2 seconds."
Kenny's device beeped and chunk of concrete molded into the shape of an anvil fell onto the HITMark, smashing him into the street.
Kenny fell against the wall and started to slide down. "Oh, that hurt. Did I get him?"
Jay dragged him to his feet. "You got him. Now we've got to get away from here before he gets up again."
Behind them, the HITMark started to rise.
Jay spotted a doorway a few feet down the alley. He prayed that it was unlocked. "Let's go!"
Dragging the other man he hit the handle and shouldered the door open.
(Story continues in "Wolves Glen Pub" at: http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.games.frp.storyteller/msg/b9a29d167e77a24b.)