>>43986596
You and Sebastian stay stock still as silence greets your response. Seconds seem like hours until finally...

"Roger, all sectors. All sectors clear for old Mother Goose."

You two wait a while longer, but there's nothing from the house or anything else to indicate you've been had.

>That was too much. Kill them now.
>We wanted to interrogate them. Let's do it. [Make suggestions]
>General Write in

>>43986712
>>That was too much. Kill them now.

>>43986712
>That was too much. Kill them now

...Should I wait for more people? Seemed like there were way more yesterday.

>>43986712
>>That was too much. Kill them now.

>>43987592
Yes
>>43986712
And we shouldn't kill them because the next roll call we'll be left with an alarm.

>>43986712
>Kill them now

>>43986712
>>That was too much. Kill them now.

>>43986712

Kill em.

There you all are!
>>43987976
>>43987835
>>43987726
>>43987685
>>43987451
>>43987058

You nod at Sebastian in a quick termination. You can read his surprise, but he nods as well as you return your gaze to your captive. Aiming at his head, you dispatch him with only a sharp whoosh of air to signify your weapon discharging. The two lay on the ground, dead. You feel nothing.

>Continue mission.
>Strip them, transform, and then head to the beach house.
>Write in

>>43988149
Stupid tripcode.

>>43988149
>Continue mission.
Also, hide the bodies.

>>43988149

Strip and transform. Break one of their communication devices or jam a weapon or something to create an excuse for returning midpatrol.

>>43988149
>>43988199
This

>>43988199
Third

>>43988237
>>43988199
>>43988432
Roll dice+1d10+2

Rolled 3 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>43988487

File: 1444090353914.gif (921 KB, 585x242)

921 KB GIF

Rolled 6 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>43988487

Rolled 10 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>43988487

>>43988658
WITNESSED

>>43988719
>>43988529

You holster your weapon as Sebastian tries moving forward. He doesn't get far before he turns around to see why you aren't following.

You close your eyes and begin to focus, picturing the man you just killed in your own mind, remembering the agitation he'd expressed before you captured him, and the fear when he knew he was likely to die.

Metamorphosis isn't painful, but that doesn't mean it's pleasant. You fight what little contents you have in your stomach from ejecting as your organs and bones shift. Your body aches as your muscle mass changes. Your scalp itches as hair grows mildly longer, changing color from orange-red to deep brown. Your vision dulls mildly. You lose several inches in height.

After a few minutes, the transformation's complete. You don't feel comfortable in this body, even after the shift has ended.

When it's finished, you watch intently as Sebastian reluctantly changes as well, shifting into the shape of the other man.

"This is insulting," he mutters to himself when it's over, testing out the movement. "He's....Gods, brother, he's fat."

You ignore the comment and start stripping out of your clothes and changing into your victim's, careful not to let any of his blood get onto your body. Sebastian follows suit, both of you bringing what weapons you can and adding their own to your arsenal.

You take the communicator that the man had used, a glorified wristwatch, really, and smash it under your- his- boot. "There's our excuse," you tell Sebastian as he finishes getting dressed.

The two of you head to the manor with less urgency now, some of your worry gone. You count your distance to the manor and notice the faint brush of someone reaching into your mind.

>>43989196
'We're in position', you say in your mind. 'Give us ten minutes before you start your attack.' A couple of seconds later and Sister Sarah gives her acknowledgment.

The two of you enter the house easily enough, looking around and trying to orient yourself to the floor plan mission control showed you. It isn't long before someone surprises you both.

"Wilkes! What the hell are you two doing here?" You turn around to see a rather large man with a frustrated expression less than a foot behind you. You hadn't even heard him walk up.

>Show him the comm device. "Accidentally dropped it."
>'Accidentally' drop him.
>Write-in

>>43989232
>Show him the comm device. "Accidentally dropped it."

>>43989232
>>Show him the comm device. "Accidentally dropped it."

>>43989232
>Show him the comm device. "Accidentally dropped it."

>>43989302
>>43989286
>>43989270
The man frowns. "Are you sick, or something?" It's directed at you.

You return the frown, dubious. "No, why?"

"You've been fucking up all night, man. First the comm check got held up, you screwed up the comm now. You didn't even give the all clear before you came in. You're pale, man." You resist the urge to squirm. You're in a sitting room with a large mirror in it and glare at it.

The transformation was nearly perfect, but looking at yourself in better light, your skin tone is closer to what it is in your neutral state than what the man you're copying is.

People have been killed for less.

You return your attention to the man, who looks more concerned than angry now.

>Go with it and agree with him.
>Tell him you're fine.
>Write in.

>>43989505
>Go with it and agree with him.

>>43989505
>Tell him you're fine.
>"I'll be alright."
dont wanna seem hostile, but dont wanna get sent away

>>43989505
>Okay, so maybe I'm not in top form but..I can't miss tonight, man. I'm trying to save up.

>>43989505
"Shit, I am kinda pale. Hope I haven't caught anything."

>>43989551
"I'm fine," you insist evenly, but that doesn't wipe the concern off of his face. You pause for a few moments before letting yourself relax slightly, ducking your head. "I'll be alright."

The man takes a step closer, and you take one back, trying to keep some distance between you. He stops and frowns. "Are you sure?"

You let out a breath of frustration that you force to make it sound like resignation before looking back up at him. A small hint of pleading edges into your voice as you talk.

>>43989595
"Okay, so maybe I'm not in top form, but..." you take a breath. "I can't miss tonight, man. I'm trying to save up."

He gives you a half smile at that admission, along with a weird expression that you can't quite make out. "Oh, really?" he asks, amused. "Care to let me in on it?"

Sebastian inhales a bit too loudly and you shoot him a sharp look. Quickly, you return your attention to the man in front of you. "Can't. It's...um. It's a secret." You manage to spit out, and he chuckles.

"If that's how you want to play it, then." He nods and steps back. "Go see Harry about getting a new comm device. I think he has a spare in his shop." He becomes a bit more serious when he addresses Sebastian. "Make sure he doesn't have any more fuck ups, alright? Make him come back inside if he gets worse. Go on, we still need you out there."

You both nod and start heading in the direction you originally intended. "Hey!" You both freeze and turn around, the man looks annoyed. "Shop's upstairs, guys."

You both nod, your embarrassment genuine as you make to where you remember the stairs on the map.

>Head straight to the shop
>Check every room upstairs, Harry and Harold might be two different people.
>write in

>>43989827
>>Head straight to the shop

>>43989827
>>Head straight to the shop
Did we just kill his boyfriend?

>>43989827
>Head straight to the shop

>>43989827
>Head straight to the shop
do we even know our names?

>>43989914
Yup.
>>43989872
>>43989915
>>43989934
You've wasted enough time and the clock you set is winding down faster than you realized. Five minutes until the others start the diversion.

You try going straight for the shop, but you don't remember one outlined on the map. Instead, you quickly open each door upstairs. Most rooms are empty, and even though they're furnished, it doesn't really look like anyone actually lives here.

It's a quick affair, but you eventually find one room with the door locked. Just testing the knob tells you that it's heavy, so you knock rather than try to force the door.

"Who is it?" A voice from the other side calls out.

You look at Sebastian. He shrugs before his fates lights up. After a second he pulls a wallet from his pocket and sifts through it, finding a small card with the picture of the man he's imitating on it. You do the same and find a wallet in your clothes as well.

"It's...it's Rodriguez and..." you shoot a glance at Sebastian who mouths his name out. "Wilkes."

You hear some grumbling from the other side of the door until a doddering old man opens the door. "At least you guys aren't crazy about these stupid protocols," he mutters as he lets the two of you in, staring up at you through a thick set of glasses. "What's Jacob want now?"

You show him the comm device and the man nods roughly. "Yes, I believe I have a replacement. But you need to be careful, boys! These aren't cheap, you know. We don't have funding from the institute anymore. Stella!" He calls out, and just as you're getting ready to pull your pistol on him, a middle aged woman comes around, dressed rather unflatteringly. "These gentlemen need a new communicator, help them out."

She sighs and motions for you two to follow her into another room.

>Follow her now.
>Kill them both.
>Write in.

>>43990153
>Follow her now.
let's hope this is quick.

>>43990153
>Follow her now.

>>43990153
>Kill them both.
no more delays

>>43990339
but they dont seem to even be a threat. what's the point there. if thats the case we shouldve killed the last guy. maybe if we follow stella we'll see the heretic.

>>43990153
Kill them both.

>>43990372
According to the priest everyone there is a heretic. What if the old guy is the target?

>>43990420
>>43990339
>>43990236
>>43990200
Any lurker anons out there, I need a tie breaker.

>>43990580
Keep following.

>>43990153
>Follow her now

>>43990718
>>43990649
>>43990236
>>43990200
You follow without question, Sebastion lagging behind a few moments later. The room you were just in was a bedroom; this looks more like a machinist's junk shop. Gutted electronics are strewn about on workbenches and a computer terminal stands online in one corner.

Stella keeps moving you through until she stops at a table lined with what looks the only place that has intact tools. "Gimme the communicator," she says shortly and you hand it over. She inspects it and sighs. "What did you do, smash it with a rock?"

You say nothing.

"Whatever," she finally says in the silence and tosses the device onto a workbench without care before handing you a new one. "Channel twenty-six, key is 'gingerbread house'. Don't screw this one up, okay, guys? Doc Sandefur out there is already riding my ass today, I don't need more on my plate right now." Your ears prick at the name, and as she turns around, you start going for your pistol. You look back to signal Sebastian.

Who is currently aiming at your head. "Don't. Please, brother."

>"What the fuck?"
>Assess the situation
>Hands up
>Take him down
>Write in

>>43990952
>Assess the situation

>>43990952
>"What the fuck?"

Slow night.

>>43990952
>"What the fuck?"

>>43991485
>>43991034
>>43991001
"What are you doing, Wilkes?" you hiss out. Sebastian's face is twisted into anguished determination. His aim is steady, however.

"I can't, brother. We can't." He responds.

"What the fuck is happening?" Stella asks. You don't turn to look. Sebastian has somehow become the immediate threat here.

"I didn't know your group would be the target," Sebastian says. "I only knew about you."

"Morgan?" Her voice is oddly calm, though you can tell from it that she's prepared for things to turn foul.

Sebastian's eyes flick to Stella and then back to you, too quick for you to take advantage. "You left the Garden with someone. I never found out who. It was Harold Sandefur, wasn't it?"

Stella doesn't say anything for a while. And then, "Who are you?"

"Brother Sebastian, Priest." That sends a whole new spike of confusion through you. "I received your messages, but. I think there was something wrong with the system. I saw it on his terminal as well. You need to evacuate."

He addresses you next. "Things...they aren't right at the Garden, Ivan. They've been lying to us."

>Stall
>Try to figure out what's going on
>The messages
>Write in

>>43992746

>Try to figure out what's going on

>>43992746
>Try to figure out what's going on
>The messages

>>43992746
>I don't care. I have no interest in betraying them. My life of thievery, murder, and devotion is enough for me.

>>43992746
>"I-Is this a test?"

>>43992856
I'm hoping we're gullible enough to get taken in with them.

>>43992763
>>43992791
You drop the act. Sebastian blew your cover, anyway. "Lying? What are you talking about?"

"We aren't..." Sebastian inhales and his form warps slightly, thinning out and flowing into his neutral form. It's a lot more natural for him than it is you, though you attribute that to age more than anything else.

"We're not the chosen for the Gods, Ivan. They aren't actual clergy. We aren't anything except tools. There's no justice in what we do. We're mercenaries at best, and disposable tools at worst. I've seen it, Ivan. Even if you aren't killed in combat, you'll die a slow death in a few years, anyway."

He jerks his head to the side, and you assume that he's referring to Stella. "Stella used to be a Priest, but she left the Garden with someone and was branded heretic. I never found out who, but she started contacting me with coded messages, pushed me in the right directions and-- gods, Ivan, we don't have time for this right now!"

"You sound insane," you say quietly, scared of what's happening right now.


He motions at Stella with his free hand. "Get out of here and start any evac plans. Ivan, you can either help me and I can show you more, or this is how things end. Either way, I can't let them die. There's already too much blood on my hands and I'd rather die here than kill more innocent people."

>Try to keep him talking
>Go with him for now
>Look around for anything you can use to your advantage
>Attack him outright [current arsenal: silenced 9mm semiautomatic pistol, 45mm pistol, stun baton, zip strips]
>Write in

>>43993160
>Try to keep him talking
>Look around for anything you can use to your advantage

>>43993160

>Go with him for now

>>43993160
>Look around for anything you can use to your advantage
Pretend to go along, kill him when he drops his guard.

>>43993160
>Try to keep him talking
>Look around for anything you can use to your advantage

>>43993207
>>43993221
>>43993296
"I'm just trying to understand, Sebastian. I know we don't know each other that well, but all of this? How did you know I got any kind of messages?"

"They were for me," Sebastian says as Stella hurries past both of you, going out of her way to keep her distance from you and he. "After I found out what was going on, I started relaying messages. Stella found a backdoor into the Garden's systems and was using the clergy staff identity to communicate with me. The code's hers. I worked with it almost every day for months. I know what it looks like untranslated."

You look around. There are things that you could use here. The place is a mess, with scattered objects. The problem is his gun. Any move you make would undoubtedly cause him to pull the trigger.

"Last time I'm going to ask, brother."

"Sebastian, just-" you're interrupted by the sound of automatic fire from somewhere outside the house. Sebastian's breathing becomes erratic. His eyes dart back to where you two entered the shop erratically.

You still had three minutes before they were supposed to intervene.

>Sebastian's distracted, this is your opportunity. You still have a mission. Kill him and relocate the doctor.
>You might learn more if you go with him. Things aren't adding up.
>Let him think you're going with him, then take your chance to kill the doctor.
>Write in.

>>43993700
>Sebastian's distracted, this is your opportunity. You still have a mission. Kill him and relocate the doctor.

>>43993700
>You might learn more if you go with him. Things aren't adding up.

>>43993700
>Sebastian's distracted, this is your opportunity. You still have a mission. Kill him and relocate the doctor.

>>43993700
>>You might learn more if you go with him. Things aren't adding up.

>>43993700
>This...This must be a mission! Sebastian and you are infiltrating the enemy.

>>43993700

>Kill him and relocate.

He's talking crazy and holding on a gun on us. Take him out and figure it out later.

>>43994094
>>43993882
>>43993734
Roll, motherfuckers. 1d10+1

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>43994131

Rolled 10 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>43994131

Welp, nat 10. That's really all we needed.
>>43994204
The loud burst of an explosion joins the weapons fire. Somewhere outside, glass breaks and Sebastian looks back at the door again.

You take your opportunity. Within reach is a rather hefty-looking wrench. Quickly you grab it up and fling it toward him with surprising accuracy. He stumbles back from the force of it, and in the time it takes him to recover, you've pulled your weapon. You can barely hear the report as whoever's downstairs joins the fight. Sebastian's body jerks back with the force of the gunfire and topples over as you fire two more rounds into his gut. Finally he topples over. You stay only long enough to confirm he's dead.

You're still on mission, you have to remind yourself as you tear through the shop and into the bedroom. Sandefur and Stella are gone. It can't be too far, though. The fighting would likely corral them somewhere specific.

Something catches your ear and you strain to listen over the weapons fire. Someone else is moving around on this level.

>It could be Sandefur. Investigate.
>Wait for them to move on, you can't afford to be caught right now.
>Write in

>>43994450
>Wait for them to move on, you can't afford to be caught right now.
Can't compromise the mission

Jeeze, I really need to edit this shit before I post. I am sorry for my shitty writing.

>>43994450
>Wait for them to move on, you can't afford to be caught right now.

>>43994450

>Wait for them to move on, you can't afford to be caught right now.

Yo, taking a break. I'll be back in a bit. Keep voting.

>>43994628
>>43994525
>>43994475

You position yourself near the door, straining to hear the movement on your level, crouched low. Eventually they move downstairs and you stand straight. Cautiously you move through the door and into the hallway.

>Check the rooms first. They could be hiding up here.
>Head downstairs and see if anyone's seen them.
>Write in.

>>43995071
>Check the rooms first. They could be hiding up here.

>>43995071
>Check the rooms first. They could be hiding up here.

>>43995071

>Check the rooms first. They could be hiding up here.

>>43995144
>>43995115
The incoming fire grows louder as you check the rooms. You turn the entire upper level over, but the rooms are just as barren as they were when you and Sebastian first came up. No hidden panels, no secret doors, no panic rooms.

You decide not to waste too much time up here and descend the steps carefully. Down here the sounds of battle are much louder. Outside another explosion rings out. You see someone move past the stairway and pause when they see you.

It's the large man from before.

"Ernie! Harry and Stella are out of here. Where's Jack? We gotta go!"

>Kill him
>Go along with him
>Write in

>>43995376
>Go along with him

Thinking we should probably stop here for tonight.

>>43995604
good ngiht.

Bumping in case OP wants to continue tomorrow.

>>43995376
>Kill him

>>43995376
>Go along with him
Mission first. We don't know where they're taking him. This could be our only chance.

>>43996138
Secondary helping bump.

>>43995376
>Go along with him