I'm...
A womyns
I'm a paladin.
YES! She is beginning to remember. Sworn to protect the innocent from those who would do them harm. Inside you is a spirit who will destroy many unless you stop it. Do your duty one last time! Fight it!
We know our duty and we will do it!
Remember who you are!
REMEMBER!
There's a fadeout...
And suddenly we're on Staten Island.
This must be our buddy cop.
I want you to take point. You think you're ready?
It's about damn time, Vicki.
Well, maybe you earned it, maybe you haven't. Either way, I need you on this. I know this looks routine. Just a bunch of goth kids getting high and causing trouble. But something doesn't smell right. And by that, I mean the uniform who called it in. According to dispatch it was Franco Morino.
Corrupt cops!
Who is Franco Morino?
Not surprised you haven't heard of him. He hasn't exactly made waves. Just do your job. Get statements. Talk to Morino about what happened. After that, we'll see if there's anything worth talking about.
cryptic
Well? After you, partner.
Clearly we must engage Alpha Protocol and sneak around the back.
Where are you going? In case you forgot, you've got a BADGE. You don't need to sneak around.
Spoilsport.
The yokels are getting uppity.
Let's talk to the bouncer.
I'm Codexia, this is Vicki. We're with the NYPD.
Oh yeah? You got any proof or something? Gonna need that before I let you in.
*sigh* It's your show, partner. Do what you gotta do.
Comrade Protip, to the rescue!
This ought to do.
Codexia flashes her assets.
The natives here are getting a bit restless. You wanna talk to Mrs Loris, she's inside.
Could you tell me what went down here?
I didn't see much. I was out here checking for fake IDs when that cop ran inside and saved the day. By the time I knew what was happening, it was over.
Suspicious.
What do you mean, "saved the day"?
Yeah, as in he saved lives and stopped the bad guys. He was like Bruce Lee or something. Anyway, you can go in.
Bruce Lee, huh?
Whatever. Just do what you gotta do so we can reopen. And give that cop in there a raise, will you? He was a damn hero.
Let's head on in
Hallo thar
Are you ladies with the police?
That's us.
Good. I'm Elana Loris, I own this place. Officer Morino's in the back room, along with the three idiots who started this mess.
What idiots are you talking about?
Wait, you don't know? Weren't you, whadayacallit, briefed? Well, whatever. I don't mind telling the story again. Anyway, here's what happened. These three kids pulled out knives. These long silver switchblade things. I swear to god, I thought it was gonna be a bloodbath. But then... then that Officer Morino stormed in. I swear it was like something out of a Bruce Lee movie.
[Perception] Bruce Lee, huh? The guy outside said the same thing.
Well... it's true. He fought them all. All three of them! Disarmed them and put 'em all in cuffs. Then he dragged them all to the back room.
How'd those knives get past the bouncer?
We don't frisk here, detective. Nothing like this has ever happened before.
Great security.
Those kids, they're regulars here. They come here and get wild, but they're good kids.
They always are.
I can't imagine why they'd do something like this. Anyway, they're in the VIP room back there. I guess you need a statement from all of them. I'll be here if you need me.
Codexia's womynly thinking is getting the best of her.
All descriptions flash automatically at the bottom of the screen when hovering over props in Unavowed. They also differ depending on protag gender - for example in this case male copper would remark about changing his mind about goth girls.
Let us proceed.
... or not!
Hey, you good to fly solo? I wanna talk to the owner for a bit longer.
Lazy bum.
How about I stay and you go up?
You're taking point, remember? So you've got first dibs on Morino. Congratulations. Look, I know I'm a bit... unorthodox, but trust me, okay? You're doing great.
Fake news.
Officer. Please report.
Yes ma'am. I was doing my rounds. I was just passing by and I heard screams from inside. I ran in. I found these three, armed with knives and prepared to attack innocent civilians. So I disarmed them and cuffed them.
You did that all by yourself?
Yeah. All by myself. Ask around, get everyone's statements. They'll back me up.
Sounds like an illuminati psy op.
Hovering over reveals that
Franco Morino is the fattest cop in the 120th Precinct. He looks pale. His eyes keep twitching.
But that cop stopped us. It was... it was like a Bruce Lee movie.
It was like... something out of a Bruce Lee movie. Wait, who's Bruce Lee?
We couldn't fight him. He was... like Bruce Lee or something.
The suspects aren't particularly coherent.
Vicki rejoins the party.
Just talking to the suspects.
Yeah. Suspects. So, Morino. You got a pretty good collar here. Three of 'em in fact.
Thank you, ma'am.
I'm just curious about one thing. These three are all restrained. Police issue cuffs, it looks like.
[perception]
Yeah.
Yeah, funny thing. The standard officer's kit only has TWO pairs of cuffs. So I just gotta know. Where'd the third pair come from?
I'd like to know that too.
See that, Franco? You got us both puzzled. You got an answer for us?
Yeah. I... took an extra.
That was lucky. You didn't need three cuffs when you took down that mugger yesterday. Just the one. Or what about those two deli robbers the day before that? You only needed two cuffs then.
But today? You take down three bad guys and you just happen to have three pairs of cuffs.
Morino has played many RPGs and knows to hoard resources.
Wow, you're a regular supercop, Morino.
I... I'm just doing my job.
Your job. Right. All the suspects in all those crimes. They ALL had perfect records before you arrested them. And speaking of records, what about YOURS? You've had an unremarkable career up until this week. Care to explain this sudden shift in direction?
I've... I've been reading.
Reading? What, like self-help, or something?
Or something.
Morino suddenly takes out a book.
@_@
You should recommend me for a promotion.
...
Yeah. Yeah. Good job, Morino. Never knew you were such a bad ass. I'll... I'll just go and call this in.
Vicki leaves.
Put that book down. Right now.
SORCERY!
I'm sick of taking orders from you! For ten years I've been the bottom of the totem pole. The butt of everyone's jokes. I TRIED to get ahead. Really, I tried. But... nobody ever gave me a damn chance.
Maybe if you gave the GYM a chance...
Shut the hell up! You think this is a JOKE?
Let's see how much you laugh when I'm done with you @_@
Drop the book. NOW.
... Fuck. Okay, okay.
Look, I'll kick it over to you. Just... put down the gun. Take it. Just take it. I... I don't even know what I'm doing with that thing.
Dramatic fade as Codexia picks up the grimoire.
WHOA
I've been stuck in this uniform for ten years. TEN YEARS. I can't take it anymore! Then I found that book, and... well what would you do?
... Codexia would go berserk with it. She *BLAM*s all the three perps.
Fuck! What the hell?
SILENCE THE DISCORD.
Just another parasite.
Hello.
What the HELL is going on? What about the kids? Are the kids okay?
Goodbye.
And thanks for all the xp.
*dramatic fade*
Back to the present.
The hands you control will no longer do your bidding. In the name of myself, my witness, and the soul whom you hold captive... I CAST YOU OUT!
Aetheric barf.
The barf goes into the dude's staff and poofs.
Gotcha!
After which the dude is struck by lightning.
Eli!
Free at last. Time to conquer Earth.
Whoa whoa whoa, hol' up.
Jeez, Mandy. Put that sword away. The spirit is gone, that lady is harmless!
Harmless? I'll show you harmless! Tell me what's going on!
Hm, false bravado. I believe you are correct.
FALSE?!
Told you. She doesn't even know what's going on. It looks like her memory got scrambled during the exorcism.
Scrambled.
What? It happens.
I... apologize for the threat. It has been a long night. Please, come with us and we will explain everything.
How about you tell me right here?
Because I am cold, soaking wet, and I have been outdoors all night. However, if you want to stay up here, you are welcome to.
She leaves.
Look, she's... WE'VE had a rough night. Go easy on us, okay? Just come on downstairs. When you're ready, we'll explain everything.
Never trust anyone who claims himself the good goy.
That's it for today. Stay tuned as next time we go... DOWN THE STAIRCASE!