Fast and Filthy Rich

Dominic Dantes
Level 37 – Fast and Filthy Rich
Adventure 1
 
The flight from LaGuardia was uneventful, but comfortable. I was able to talk the person at the ticket counter into an upgrade to first class for the non-stop flight to Chattanooga. Gently exploring the agents mind made finding out the man had a young daughter, who he cared for very much, significantly easier. Flying down for “emergency surgery” for an injured child easily pulled on his heartstrings. Just a minor push was all it took to get him to believe I was a world-class surgeon, believably backed up with my very real medical credentials. I would need all the rest I could get for surgery first thing tomorrow morning. He didn’t even question that my plane would be landing in the middle of the afternoon later that day.
 
As the plane ascended, I began running over the plan in my mind. Get on the ground, check-in to a hotel then go give the address a check. A raw plan, but not knowing what to expect out of this secretive group made detailed plans more than a bit pointless, I would definitely have to think quickly on my feet. I much prefer planning ahead, particularly now, as I try to avoid any surprises that might bring out my less socially acceptable sides.
 
The taxi ride to the hotel was more eventful than the flight, but only because the driver was talkative. I found his southern accent somewhat humorous and almost cliché.
 
After a quick check-in and dropping off my small bag in the room, it was time to go see what this address was all about and get something to eat. After a fair walk, I found a café that had a good view of what would seem to be the address in question and sat down for a local specialty, barbeque. Taking an hour to enjoy the meal, something I hadn’t really taken the time to do since the passing of Angela, didn’t really give me any insight on the building. There were a few people that came and went, but nothing at this distance stood out about them. Perhaps they had some underground access, or a helipad, or just maybe I was blowing this all out of proportion and there really isn’t anything that different about them. A walk by the building after the meal didn’t give any more information, other than what appeared to be a normal office building lobby. I was a little bit disappointed, but what should I have expected, henchmen in colorful suits and maniacal laughter over the loudspeakers?
 
A quiet drink in the hotel bar rounded out my evening before retiring early, but not before doing my best James Bond impression by searching for cameras or listening devices…not that I really know what I’m looking for or would know what to do with it if I found one. Those old movies used to make us laugh.
 
Morning came earlier than expected. Time seems to act so oddly when you can’t get to sleep but then it is light as soon as you do. A quick shower and breakfast in the hotel restaurant picked me back up before another walk to the address given to me. I don’t think that was real bacon, but my taste buds did not seem to notice any difference. Not sure I could afford a hotel that had real bacon.
 
The office lobby didn’t look any different today than it did yesterday. I approached the information desk which seemed to actually have a real person staffing it and not some automated kiosk. “I have a meeting with Elder Yoshida Teru scheduled for 10 a.m.”, I said with a smile.
 
The attractive brunette smiled and looked back to me, “Yes, Mr. Dantes. Please take the elevator at the end of the hall.”, as she waved a hand indicating behind her.
 
I looked at her a bit quizzically at the rather limited guidance, no room number or anything else, but then it also dawned on me that she did know who I was withing me telling her. Keep on your toes, Dom.
 
“Thank you.”, with another smile I walked past the woman and the information desk down the hallway passing several other elevator doors. The elevator doors at the end of the hall slid open quietly as I approached, and I stepped into the empty elevator. As I turned to see what button options were available, I quickly noted that there were no buttons where expected, nor on the other side. Guess I’m going wherever they want me to.
 
I turned and faced the closing door and waited patiently. The motion was so smooth that I did not get a good feeling which way I was going, as far as I knew, this could be a Wonkavator. I didn’t have long to think about it as the doors opened again leading to a short hallway. With a quick glance around, I moved down the short hallway and could hear muffled noise, possibly voices coming from the other side of the door at the end.
 
I pushed open the door and found a relatively large, almost industrial appearing room where a casually, but nicely dressed man near the door began speaking to me. “Mr. Dantes, please feel free to wait with that group over there.” He motioned with his hand towards a small group of people. Now this is getting interesting. There was a casually dressed female, a casually dressed male and three other people in special suits, uniforms, or something like that, which obscured their faces. Apparently, I’m overdressed in my traveling suit for this occasion. There were other people in other parts of the room, but this appeared to be the group that I would be working with.
 
Revered Takashi introduced himself and the other people in the group took turns introducing themselves and briefly discussing what we each bring to the team. Maven, Switchblade, Disciple Garcia, Revered Takashi, and I would be going on the mission together. Our mission brief was given by Carla our mission coordinator.
 
Our mission would be the retrieve Roland Drake, a person important to Level 37, but currently being held by IERA. His transfer from one location to another was initiated by a Level 37 operative known as The Widow. Our task is to intercept him in transport and return him to Level 37. This would be done in rural Tennessee. Our mission is to be accomplished by “any means necessary”. Well, I hope it doesn’t come down to that, but I didn’t get involved with this blindly, my intentions aren’t exactly pure.
 
We pile into 2 separate vehicles driven by Dom and Dante, which takes me aback a bit, and head out to the highway. It isn’t too long before we are approaching the armored vehicle like a New York cabbie.
 
As we get closer to the armored car, Takashi has the roof opened on the SUV and pulls a rifle and takes a shot at the vehicle, leaving a “thunk” sound. Takashi gives a command over the radio to The Widow and the vehicle begins to slow.
 
Once the armored vehicle came to a stop, the chaos began. Another car that had been traveling at the same speed also stopped ahead of the armored car. Two IERA special agents jumped out of it with weapons drawn and one SWAT officer got out of the passenger side of the armored car.
 
At this point, Switchblade ran out of the SUV, like through the SUV, and into the armored car, again right through the doors. I’m definitely not the only special one here, given what I saw from Maven’s shapeshifting earlier. The others jumped out of the vehicle as well. Stuck in the back, I was a bit slow to get out, but this does appear to be convenient for me.
 
Maven points out something flying in behind us. Takashi notes he is a local-ish super who does flying stuff.
 
A blast from behind me strikes the SWAT agent that jumped out, I’m hoping that is from Garcia. The IERA agent with a big gun takes a shot at Takashi, I think, but misses, the huge amount of lightning arcing around. Those IERA types always complaining about energy and here they are throwing around lightning bolts.
 
Takashi returned the fire with some sort of dark blast from his gun and definitely making an impact on the IERA agent. With all this weapons fire going off, I can feel my anxiety rising. I am not used to this sort of action, and it all begins to blur.
 
I’m a bit shocked out of it when what must be Maven tries to eviscerate the SWAT officer in front of the SUV. I’m not certain it is Maven, but that entity got out of the vehicle right behind Takashi, so I’m pretty sure it is Maven. Fortunately for him, her attack was a bit clumsy.
 
At this point I saw the second IERA agent come around the armored vehicle nearing Maven and Takashi, I focused on him briefly causing his thoughts to explode, dazing him before he can approach my teammates.
 
Holy crap! That flying guy came swooping in next to the vehicle and Takashi disappeared.
 
Holy crap again! That poor SWAT officer that Maven swung at before wasn’t so lucky this time. He was nearly cut in half by that attack.
 
With Takashi gone, and Maven apparently quite capable of taking out guys with guns, that flying guy drew my attention. Reaching out and plucking his mental strings, he too is was temporarily entranced by the thoughts, images and sounds flooding his mind. This caused him to plow into the one IERA agent and take them both down the road a bit in a heap.
 
Maven then went running off into the tall grass on the side of the road, at which point I really wasn’t sure I wanted to see any more.
 
Maven is off on the side of the road, Takashi disappeared, I haven’t seen Switchblade in a while, I think Garcia is still around here somewhere. I’m really glad I decided to stay in the vehicle. I really only have a good view of the remaining SWAT officer, hopefully I can disable him before Maven makes a mess of him. He too has a mind that is overwhelmed with his own thoughts.
 
Woosh! There goes that flying guy again, right back by the SUV. Looks like he might have clipped Garcia who was just behind the SUV. Garcia then returned the favor by throwing something at the flying guy and a dark orb enveloped the flyer, keeping me from seeing him any longer.
 
Another shot rang out from near the SUV I was in and the remaining SWAT officer goes down.
 
At this point, Switchblade emerged from the armored vehicle, this time actually using the doors, along with who I assume is Roland Drake, two SWAT agents calmly sitting in the back and begin hand cuffing themselves to the vehicle. The team and Roland re-mount the SUV’s and make our exit.
 
We drive a short distance away to a clearing where two suited men and a man in red robes are waiting for us. The suits confirm our mission success, and we approach the red robed figure.
 
The robed figure then asks us to come closer and begins waving his arms around, the area around us shifting through a yellow light, with overlay of another setting eventually becoming a comfortable office. The robed figure tells Mr. Drake to move behind the desk and welcomes him to the lodge. The area around us begins to light shift again this time looking like the room we were first in when we received the mission.
 
Portal then tanked us and portaled away again.
 
Takashi then thanked us and told us that Portal, Level 37 is happy and that we will be contacted again, and we are dismissed.
 
I give my card to Maven, they definitely seem like someone that could use some help.
 
Now to just find my way home.
 
 
 
Encounter notes:
Chromium Condor – Flies fast, doesn’t seem to be able to do much more.
IERA Agents – Unsure, the big gun looks mean, but didn’t see it do damage.