12:51 <banana> Amjad's busy, Rolf's got a big new car, and there are things to hash out on the way south. 12:52 <banana> The Athletics remain miraculously silent, but if that changes, it's surely Hughes they'll be coming for. Or does he want to reconcile with them? In either of those cases, what's he supposed to say about Badawi's role in all this? What does she want said? 12:53 <banana> Late-rush hour traffic is bad, and Ringway - technically just "Manchester Airport" now, but Northerners like their local names - is still some way off. 12:54 <hrolf> Rolf has a podcast on in the car as they drive along. The hosts seem very affronted about what's being done to our Boris. It's not right. Rolf nods angrily along, in sullen silence. 12:55 <Quaker> Badawi: “Isn’t he a Turk?” 12:56 <hrolf> Rolf's attention is diverted, and his hand slips from the wheel. The car nearly drifts into another lane, clattering the next car over, but he manages to steer it back in the time. There's some angry honking. "Wossat?" 12:58 <banana> They should really have more police on the roads, with drivers like these around. 12:58 <Quaker> Badawi googles it on his phone. “Says his grandfather’s name was Osman Kemal and his great-grandfather’s name was Ali Kemal. Minister of the Interior of the Ottoman Empire.” 12:58 <banana> It's not that late, but this is Manchester winter: the sun's very low, almost touching the horizon. Another star coming to earth. 12:59 <Quaker> “The damn Turks are everywhere these days.” 13:00 <hrolf> Rolf, brows furrowed: "Yeah, well. Says everyone in the 'uman race descened from Gengis Khan innit. Anyway..." He spots the exit, and abruptly switches lanes, cutting right in front of a car that's force to abruptly brake behind him. There's some more angry honking. "We're almost there. Wot's this for again?" 13:03 <Quaker> Badawi folds up her road map of the English midlands and puts it in the glove compartment. “I’ve got to pick up a pair of my associates. They’re helping me out with that christmas concert for the kids, and I’m helping them out with some work after this starchild thing is done. Maybe they’ll wrap up this Benni Athletic thing, too. But that might be later.” 13:04 <hrolf> Rolfs face grows more sullen at the mention of the 'Benni Athletic thing'. "That right? They'll wrap it up will they? 'ow nice, yeah?" 13:07 <Quaker> Badawi makes a gun with her hand and mimes a shot. “Well, they’ll wrap him up, sometime.” She shrugs and stretches her hands behind her head. “You heard him. He had his choice to make. Out of anybody’s hands now.” 13:09 <banana> Ringway hoves into view as you descend the hills of Trafford. Flat land on the edge of the city, the core of a converted RAF base wrapped in a new modern shell, then runways and the countryside. 13:09 <banana> There are cabs passing you heading north, and the drone of landing aircraft - after Heathrow and Gatwick, it's the next biggest airport in England. 13:09 <hrolf> Rolf: "'ow fahcking convenient for everyone." The exit turns into another section of the motorway, where the traffic is sparser. He slams on the accelerator. "Except me of course. Everyone on the fahcking street knowing I got in a rumble wif a client." 13:10 <banana> The sun begins to set, past Liverpool, over the water. The Irish Sea is far off, and you can only see it as ripples in the light that reflects onto the dark clouds hanging overhead. 13:12 <Quaker> “You’re telling me that this is the first time in your career, ever, that some bastard has paid you off, sweet talks you, and then tried to turn the screws on you, and you’ve got to take care of him?” 13:14 <hrolf> Rolf: "First time in my career I've 'ad me arse in the cacky because SOMEONE decided to provoke and talk back to a tele-fahcking-kinetic crime lord." He takes a deep breath, calming himself. Heard about this mindfulness fing on a podast. "Anyway, don'es done. Let's get these wizards or wotever." 13:17 <Quaker> “Telekinetic crime lords have got to know their place, too.” 13:18 <hrolf> Rolf: "Don't even fahcking start, mate." More deep breaths. "Anyway, 'ave you met this lot before?" 13:18 <banana> You won't have to wait, or even go inside. As Rolf pulls up along the long long line of taxis and pickups, Badawi sees two figures already out of the terminal, outlined by the setting star. Only the woman has luggage - a single carry bag. 13:18 <Quaker> “They’re not wizards. They’re not too keen on conversation, though.” 13:19 <Quaker> Badawi gets out and hurries over to the woman. From the car, Rolf can see her grasp the other woman’s hands and greet her warmly. 13:19 <hrolf> Rolf rolls up to park. After a few unsuccessful attempts to parallel park between two cabs, he gives up and drives slightly ahead to park in front of the furthermost cab. 13:24 <banana> As Badawi ushers her guests back to the Range Rover, Rolf sees: a man, older but sharp-faced, perhaps his own age, and a woman younger than Badawi in colourful clothing. There's something about them that reminds him of old days, Irish days and Irish gods... 13:24 <banana> Both guests smile, one gently, without speaking to Agostina. They seem to be set apart from the world, like they're paletted differently. When they get to the car, the older man leans in the window and offers a hand to shake. 13:24 <banana> "Luna." He has a slight accent. 13:25 <banana> Not Irish, as Rolf half-expected, but hard to place.. could be southern Europe, could be South America. 13:26 <hrolf> Rolf twists around his bulk with some discomfort to awkwardly accept the handshake. “Alright, then? Rolf Hughes.” 13:28 <banana> Tom Luna: "Tom Luna. Thanks for the ride, and-" his lip twists a little- "the atmosphere." The woman smiles shyly and lets Agostina help with her bag. 13:29 <banana> How are you arranging yourselves in the car on the way out now that there are four? 13:30 <hrolf> Rolf turns to look up at Manchester's grey skies and rolls his eyes. "Yeah mate. Great atmosphere. Prefer the atmosphere in Ibiza though." 13:31 <Quaker> “Hey, Tom. Hey, Martina.” She’s very effusive towards them; it might be a bit unusual for Rolf to see Badawi genuinely at ease and happy to meet someone. “Everything’s snowed in, but lots of good walking. I’m excited! You’ll love the kids I’ve found for the rest of the music.” She puts Martina’s bag in the trunk, and she’ll sit in the back with the other woman. 13:32 <Quaker> “Mr. Hughes is a friend. Helping me with that freelance work I was telling you about.” 13:33 <hrolf> Once they're settled in, Rolf starts the ignition and opens up the map app on the dashboard. "Wot's the address again?" 13:33 <banana> Tom Luna will take the front. He studies Badawi's friend, frowning with interest beneath thick white eyebrows. 13:33 <banana> Martina: "...what parts do they play?" 13:33 <banana> The sun goes as you do, leaving thick clouds that hide the moon. It begins to rain almost immediately, but that's why you're inside this thing, which has both steering assist and auto-dehumidifier for the windscreen. 13:35 <hrolf> The steering assist isn't even necessary with Rolf's perfect driving. 13:36 <Quaker> “Hotel Gotham on King Street. I’ve got you two rooms there for a week.” 13:37 <Quaker> “Two kids, they’re good on the bass and the rhythm guitar.” 13:38 <Quaker> “Martina, you can play your keyboard and synths, and Tom can be on drums.” 13:38 <banana> Tom Luna: "Thanks. That's the one that used to be a bank? I know the family." 13:38 <banana> To Rolf: "You aren't a driver by trade..." 13:38 <banana> He doesn't need to be any kind of fey to know that. 13:38 <hrolf> Rolf: "'ope its better music than that awful cack we 'ave to 'ear on guard duty." 13:39 <banana> Martina: "That would be very good. I haven't had an opportunity to play keyboard in several weeks. I have been practicing, however." 13:39 <Quaker> “Here’s the setlist.” She’ll send it to both their phones. 13:39 <hrolf> Rolf turns to look at the man next to him sharply. "Yeah mate. And you don't look like bein a drummer's yer day job." 13:40 <Quaker> “Oh, come on, Rolf. Of course it’ll be better. We’re better than the Waistcoat Gang.” 13:40 <banana> Luna: "No, no, I only dabble. Call me a businessman. How's the local business?" 13:41 <banana> You're heading back north to the CBD now... against the flow of traffic. It's a pain, but the trip isn't that long. The low rise of Manchester's red brick skyline is punctuated by a couple of spears of glass, the light of their windows substituting poorly for the absent sun. Rain intensifies and makes the traffic even worse. 13:44 <hrolf> Rolf: "Business is good. Could be better." He looks in the rearview mirror, shooting a scowl at Badawi. With the reduced traffic, he picks up speed. The Rover zooms forward." 13:44 <banana> Martina, not to anyone in particular: "Popular music for young and old. The songs that everyone knows in England are based on local history, but what made the history local? There aren't as many American songs on the list as I expected." 13:46 <banana> "For vocals, we have Agostina and the children.. most of them are vocalists? Do they know any choral music or chants?" 13:47 <banana> There's a crack of thunder in the distance - the country's own vocal accompaniment. 13:49 <Quaker> “I’ll do the vocals myself. The kids are just there for their own carols.” She leans over and shows Martina her sketchbook, where she’s drawn the plan for the small stage. 13:49 <banana> Rolf's phone can run Huntr, so he gets a message. It's from Richard, but his part is just a preamble which says: <I'm forwarding this note to everyone - isn't it nice to get a positive reception for once?> 13:49 <Quaker> “Rolf’s sore because he was being paid by that Benni Athletic I told you about, Tom. Thinks he’s out of a job or I blew up his nest or something like that.” 13:50 <hrolf> Picking up a phone and reading texts while driving is extremely reckless and puts yourself and your fellow motorists at risk. This is what Rolf proceeds to do. 13:51 <banana> Tom Luna: "Huh. That man will never matter anywhere away from his birthplace. He's monocultural." 13:51 <hrolf> Rolf snaps. "Shut the fahck up already. You went there to provoke and you fahcking know it. I'm not going over that bollocks again for the tenth time, so fahcking stuff it, yeah?" 13:53 <banana> Luna leans forward, hunching over the glovebox a little. "Don't yell, Rolf Hughes. Martina's back there too, and it's not her fault." 13:53 <banana> <From: Nigel Burrough, Jan Janssen. Subject: We appreciate your hospitality!> 13:53 <Quaker> To Martina: “See? Put the drums on a little platform, there.” She looks up. “I put the line down and he stepped across. Nothing to do for him, now.” 13:54 <hrolf> Rolf: "Yeah, yeah. I'll focus on the driving." He procees to pick up the mobile and and read Huntr again, one hand on the wheel. 13:54 <Quaker> “Yeah, I thought you’d like having Jose Jose in it.” 13:54 <hrolf> Rolf, to Badawi: "You readin' 'untr? 'oo's this nigel fella then?" 13:55 <Quaker> “The Alpha Strike demons, I think. Their business names, not their internet ones.” 13:55 <hrolf> Rolf opens up the email. Anything in the body? 13:56 <banana> <It's only this month that our clan has realised there's more to 'Willie and her friends' than friendly chefs with a little opening into our world. You've got your own agenda, and and you extended trust to us, showing Tert important things we might not have spotted. Thank you. If you want to partner further.. and it doesn't involve us risking extended sojourns Outside... Alpha Strike supports 13:56 <banana> the Nameless House.> 13:57 <hrolf> Rolf turns on the auto steering and takes both hands off the wheel to shoot off a reply. "its the night wathc thx - rolf." 13:57 <banana> The thunderstorm has brought on full night early. The streetlights are enough to see by, as you cross into the central business district, but you can't see far. Then- light, a skyscraper full of it, all ablaze with far more strength than its office windows should have. 13:57 <banana> Beetham Tower is lit up like a burning Christmas tree. 13:58 <banana> Martina: "I'm looking forward to hearing - dios mio!" 13:58 <hrolf> How far away is this building from the car? 13:59 <Quaker> “Huh.” 13:59 <banana> Several city blocks. The building is the tallest in Manchester, so it's still scary to those of you that have lizard-brain instincts - it looks like a pillar of storm and flame, solid lightning hovering in place, which could crush you if it fell. 14:00 <banana> Tom Luna: "Are we seen?" He looks around the car, twisting in his seat. "Nobody's- no. It's not for us." 14:01 <hrolf> Rolf immediately pulls over to the side of the road, going over the curb and knocking over a bicycle chained to a stand. He rolls down the window and begins filiming. "Phwoar, look at that!" 14:01 <Quaker> She texts Octocat. AB: <…Beetham Tower…?> 14:01 <banana> Thre aren't many cars heading this way - some that were have abruptly changed their minds; others honk pointlessly, or slow as their drivers, too, hold phones outside. 14:02 <Quaker> “Like that other tower that burned down in London.” 14:02 <banana> Octocat's response is instantaneous, appearing on Badawi's screen the moment she taps send. <Very much so. Entering lockdown now. Please stay to the south of the building and you'll be safe.> 14:03 <hrolf> Rolf opens up whatsapp and rapidly sends a video over to a group chat of his mates. <bldy big fier here in manc chk it out!!!!! - rolf> 14:04 <banana> The light and fire and rage falls off the tower exactly as your instincts feared it might - but not toward you. The great sword of storm-potential falls straight south, over Strangeways. You can't see what happens there, beyond the buildings and the canals. 14:04 <banana> Everything's dark for a moment, after-images in your eyes - then the tower begins to glow again, building up light once more. 14:04 <banana> Tom: "Let's get to the hotel." 14:04 <Quaker> Badawi forwards the exchange to the rest of the cell. She leans forward and looks out the windshield. “The wizards are acting like it’s pretty serious. Make sure to stay on the south side of the tow - oh, look! There it goes!” 14:06 <hrolf> Rolf nods and stows the mobile away. "Insane innit? Isn't it one of the top business buildings in this city, like?" He restarts the ignition, and reverses, nearly crashing into a car behind him, then makes a u-turn to take a side street towards the hotel, away from the tower. 14:06 <banana> Stationary lightning builds, enshrouds the tower, becomes a sword and falls again, following the same path as before. The Hotel Gotham is, unfortunately, northwest of Beetham Tower - but only a little way, and you can go around to the side, out of the path of the fury. 14:07 <Quaker> Badawi twists to keep it in sight as they pull away. “Jesus. What’s it, forty? Fifty stories tall? Look at it go.” 14:07 <banana> Racing through the streets - as most people race away - you can see the tower a little after each strike. It's completely intact and normal-looking, in the instants before it again begins to fill with power from the whirlpool of thunderheads above. 14:07 <hrolf> Rolf: "Fahhhckin 'ell. Looks like some kind of magic innit?" 14:08 <hrolf> To Badawi: "Any of your wizard pals got a line on this then?" 14:08 <banana> Martina has her hands over her face, waiting for things to get better. 14:09 <Quaker> “Yeah, Octocat, the one you met without a beard, he’s saying they’re in lockdown. Huh, I don’t think the tower is actually on fire after all.” She’s got a hand on Martina’s shoulder and pats her gently. 14:10 <banana> Tom Luna: "It's a hell of a distraction for anyone who might want one." 14:12 <banana> As you crawl around the surface roads to King Street, you get a better view of the third strike. It's a little weaker - the raging shroud light forms a blade as it falls, but that blade is red-hot instead of white-, and coming apart at the edges. It cuts toward the prison complex and is turned aside, shattering into a web of light that earths itself in a dome shape on the streets and rivers. 14:12 <banana> A breaking news alert on both your phones: "Dangerous lightning storm reported in Greater Manchester. Weather authorities urge all citizens to stay indoors and away from windows." 14:13 <Quaker> “Bit of a public show for the Seers, isn’t it? Thought they stuck to car bombs.” 14:14 <banana> Haldane's on Huntr again. <The cameras outside aren't showing anything at all. What's going on?> 14:14 <Quaker> AB: <Beetham Tower is shooting lightning at Strangeways prison> 14:14 <hrolf> Rolf, texting and driving: <smells like wzrd bullshite - rolf> 14:15 <Quaker> To Rolf: “Didn’t we give them those stupid spiky things Willie and Aster got off that businessman? That one who wanted us to field test something?” 14:15 <banana> Outside the Gotham there's a concierge and a couple of waitstaff, standing on the pavement gawping at the sky. Across the road is a patisserie, just closed, whose owner is doing the same, as presumably are people throughout the area. 14:16 <hrolf> Rolf: "Who's them? Wasn't involved wif that stuff mate....ah, 'ere we are." Rolf pulls up into the hotel's driveway." 14:16 <banana> Light is building up in the Beetham Hilton again, slower then ever - this time you can see the whole process. The windows flare and the silhouettes of office desks become stark even at your distance, then the whole thing floods into white red as a torrent of sparks pours from the sky to join it all. 14:17 <hrolf> Rolf: "This 'ole fing stinks of the night city though innit? 'uman office'd be all over this shite." His face darkens. "If it 'adn't been gutted." 14:17 <Quaker> “Let’s get out of the car, at least. Come up to the lobby with us.” She’ll get Martina’s bag out of the back. 14:17 <Quaker> Is there a place to watch from inside? 14:18 <banana> Tom Luna: "Some things aren't our business unless we make them so. You're welcome inside." 14:19 <banana> He gets out, as does Martina quietly, startling the bellhop:: "...I tried to post a video, but it's not- oh, excuse me. Welcome to ge, to the Gotham of Manchester.." He trails off, looking at the glowing tower. It doesn't seem like anyone needs a bag carried. 14:19 <hrolf> Rolf gets out of the car and taps a gawping valet on the shoulder, handing him the keys and a tenner. "Take good care of 'er lad." His grip tightens. "No scratches, hey?" He waits for the rest of them to make their way inside. 14:20 <Quaker> “Well, it’s either the Seers or whatever thing the demons were talking about earlier. Either way it’s on the opposite side of the people we’ve picked as friendly.” 14:20 <banana> By the time you check in and get up to the room, through the south-facing windows you can see that the towerlight has finally gathered strength enough to form a sword shape once again. As swift as before, but fading rapidly, it goes crashing down out of your vision. 14:20 <banana> The tower remains dark. 14:22 <hrolf> Rolf is tapping away at huntr: <RH: any wrd?? haldne??? sourjack? do we hv any intell??? - rolf> 14:22 <banana> Tom Luna sits on one of the well-made single beds. "Martina, it should be okay to get your keyboard out. A lot of things are coming together in this place.. the kind of synergy you get when connections are made between previously independent operations." 14:23 <banana> He smiles at Agostina. "We'll need quite a lot from you." 14:23 <hrolf> Rolf looks at the two beds, then at Badawi's guests. "You two not together then?" 14:23 <banana> Haldane: <This one seems like an easy coverup - nobody's been able to record it, only the naked eye sees the 'power'... or whatever you're seeing. But there will be a lot of people radicalised.> 14:24 <Quaker> Badawi: “Yeah, well, you’ve got me for a month or two after this job is done in a week.” 14:24 <banana> Haldane: <Our employer, or whatever he now wants to be, as gone to ground. Light's off on the special phone.> 14:24 <hrolf> <RH: coverup was humn office wrk...whs goign to do it now then???? - rolf> 14:25 <banana> Luna: "Great." He didn't answer Rolf's question at all, but Martina shakes her head emphatically. "We could let you go if it's over - or just Rolf, if you want to catch up a little." 14:25 <Quaker> AB: <what do you mean ‘gone to ground’. you cant reach him at all?> 14:26 <banana> RH: <The Office covered up too many things though. That's why we're all in this predicament now, where the truths of the world are breaking through and nobody's ready for it.> 14:26 <banana> RH: <@AB: No ringtone.> 14:27 <banana> It seems like the attacks have stopped. You can't see Strangeways from here, but you have a feeling it's intact. 14:27 <hrolf> Rolf: "Ah yeah, sure. I'll 'ead out then. Welcome to the UK. Best fahcking place on earf." 14:27 <Quaker> Badawi mutters under her breath. “Pendejo…”