PARALLAX, Session 9: A friend in need

Scene setup

Scene Expectations

The team goes to new york looking for Hastur & Associates and goes to the company offices.

Expected scene test

Scene was altered! => Scene was interrupted!
Interruption Event: NPC negative, Befriend + Health
NPC table roll: Jo Mouton
My interpretation: Jo calls, saying that she’s at the hospital, injured. She’s been attacked by a man in a bar while off duty.

---

Playing the scene

We’re halfway to the airport when my phone rings. The caller ID says Jo.

Lawrence: “Hey, Jo.”

Jo: “Law…”

Her voice is brittle—thin and weak in a way I’ve never heard before.

Lawrence: “Jo? You okay?”

Jo: “Not exactly. I’m at the hospital. I think… I think my arm is broken.”

Lawrence: “What? What happened?”

I hit the speakerphone button so Pariah and Phalanx can hear.

Jo: “I was at the Blue Horn for a drink after my shift. A guy approached me—seemed nice enough, good-looking. I thought I might have actually gotten lucky for once. We left together, but as soon as we were outside, he started grilling me about Kaminski. Before I could even reach for my piece, he grabbed me. God, Law, he was strong. He wasn’t some amateur; he knew exactly how to pin me. I’d bet my badge he’s military.”

I glance at Phalanx. His jaw tightens.

Jo: “He wanted to know where we took Kaminski’s body. When I wouldn’t talk, he… he snapped my arm. Just like that. I screamed, and some guys coming out of the pub spooked him. He bolted into the dark.”

Lawrence: “Jesus Christ, Jo. Are you safe now?”

Jo: “I’m scared shitless, Law. That’s the truth of it.”

Lawrence: “Can you describe him? Did you get a good look at his face?”

She gives an exact, clinical description. It’s Robertson. No doubt about it.

Lawrence: “Did the Captain send protection?”

Jo: “Yeah. He’s the most pissed I’ve ever seen him—nobody touches his detectives. Donaldson is on the case, too. He’s a good cop, but he’s coming up empty. This guy knows how to disappear.”

Lawrence: “Hang in there, Jo. Once this is over, I owe you an evening of stiff drinks and shitty tacos.”

Jo: “It’s a date. See you soon, Law.”

I hang up. The silence in the car is heavy.

Pariah: “What does Robertson want with Kaminski’s body?”

Phalanx: “More importantly, is he a carrier? And did he just infect your detective friend?”

Lawrence: “What? Don’t you even think about touching her.”

Pariah: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but we can’t ignore the risk. New plan—Hastur can wait. Placebo, you go to the hospital. Visit your friend, play the worried partner, but find an excuse to check her for the tattoo. We need to know if she’s been marked. Phalanx and I will pull security outside. Robertson is a hunter; if he’s stalking her, we might just get lucky and catch him coming back to finish the job.”

---

Scene bookkeeping

Chaos factor

7 (+1)

Character list

Unchanged

Thread list

Unchanged