slayers_desire | Cinco de Mayo, the Dead rises ((group scene))

Clark is there first, as expected. He takes his wife's visions seriously, no matter what they are, and a threat that requires this much backup is a grave one indeed.

Harry Dresden arrives shortly thereafter, after scribbling another note for Shepard in case she sees that he's mysteriously missing from the Normandy. Again. Remembering the rules from last time, he checks his more obvious weapons at the door before entering.

((I'll have Jack arrive on my next tag, he needs a minute to get situated.))

Ed answers the call immediately, with Cipher Nine close on his heels. Close enough, in fact, that they pretty much arrive together. Ed's been to Caritas before, and warns Cipher Nine about the no weapons policy. So Cipher Nine's blaster rifle, sidearm, and abundance of knives and flash-bangs get checked in without fuss.

Ed's always pleased to see Clark, of course, and Harry, but the moment he sees them both there and knowing April saw fit to call both him and Cipher Nine in (and possibly others who haven't arrived yet), he's able to manage only a small, tense smile for them before concern overtakes his expression.

As for Cipher Nine... Harry is a familiar face, though Clark isn't. Harry and April both get a very slight smile and a 'good to see you again' nod of acknowledgement. Other than that, though, he's not letting much of anything show on his face, more or less waiting for a briefing.

Ed lets out a quiet whistle as he checks his survival knife. "Wow... looks dire," he notes to the room at large.

April is pacing, back and forth, holding two fingers to her temples as her voices whisper. Over and over again. Whispers of danger, and she is trying her best to detail everything to Wes, who is at a huge whiteboard.

The difficult thing is she is speaking in riddles. And Wes... is doing his best to make sense of the clues to mark a map. And write down a few things on the whiteboard at the same time.

Lorne watches them all check in their weapons with a small, tired smile. "Much appreciated gentlemen. Can I get anyone drinks?"

Clark is concerned for his wife, but there isn't much he can do except what he's doing already, supporting her over the bond as best he can.

"I'll take a Coke," Harry says, the same thing he got last time.

"Did somebody say drinks?" a new voice says at the door, heralding the arrival of Captain Jack Harkness. He's unarmed - his sonic blaster's out of juice and the Doctor won't let him get another gun - so he doesn't have any weapons to check. That just leaves him with more time for scanning the room, and the occupants within. He likes what he sees.

Ed's concerned about April too, eyes tracking her pacing, trying to decipher the riddles, but he turns away enough to tell Lorne, "Coke for me, too." He does a double-take when Jack shows up, recognizing him immediately, but other than that doesn't remark.

Cipher Nine is familiarizing himself with the map Wes is working on. When Lorne asks if anyone would like drinks, he replies, "Tea, please, if you've got it," not taking his eyes away from the map. He, too, notes Jack's arrival but doesn't remark. He and Lorne are probably the only people present who are visibly non-human.

Lorne moves to the bar to prepare the drinks. He gestures to the wide variety when Jack seems excited about the offer. "I can mix anything you want sweetie."

Wes pauses. "We are going to need at least four different teams. We lost a few people last year, and judging from April's voices... it will be a few hundred this year. Unacceptable."

Serving the coke and the tea, Lorne gently touches April's elbow. "Sweetie, your guests are all here. You should make introductions."

That breaks her, and she stumbles slightly, coming out of the haze. "Sorry guys... it has been like this for a few hours."

Jack has only a limited idea of what refreshments people drink in this century, but he's an easygoing guy. "Surprise me," he says with a charming grin as he moves to join the group.

Clark frowns in concern for April, sending as much reassurance and strength over the bond as he can. "It's all right."

"We know you're doing your best," Harry agrees, sipping at his drink. They don't get real carbonated sodas on the Normandy, and he definitely misses them, unhealthy though they are.

Cipher Nine shakes his head in silent agreement with Wes's statement about several hundred casualties being unacceptable, sips at his tea, and looks over to April. "You're a very capable woman," he agrees. "Whatever the situation, you'll get a handle on it."

Ed nods, and goes over to squeeze April's shoulder reassuringly after taking a sip from his cola. "You're awesome," he reminds her, with a small smile. "You got this. And we're here for you."

"The Order of Aurelius are going to be in the city tonight. They have come all the way from Mexico... for one reason. To kill."

April pauses for a moment, then quickly points out people by name, to make introductions. "Clark. Ed. Cipher Nine. Harry. Jack. Wes. Lorne."

"You said four teams Wes? That is at least two of us in each location."

Clark knows most of the people present, but makes note of the ones he doesn't. It always helps to know who your allies are.

"What exactly are these teams gonna be doing?" Harry asks.

Cipher Nine makes note of the names and faces of the people he hasn't yet met, and listens attentively, sitting straight-backed in the chair next to Ed's. Harry's question is a good start, but he has another. "More information on our enemy would also be helpful," he adds.

"Right here is our central safe zone." Wes circles the Caritas on the map. "Anyone who we rescue can be brought here. And kept safe."

"Light shines on those saves..." April whispers.

"We need two strong magic users here..." Wes circles the north end of the city. "The Order has gained the services of a teleporter. A portal to Mexico is going to be opened, and will need to be closed by midnight."

"To the east, comes the first..." April speaks softly.

Wes makes another circle. And then he explains, "I figure that means the first wave of vampires will attack here. Where all the parades are being held. We will need alert people, those who can decide who the enemy is... and who are the innocents."

"To the west, are the fallen..." April sits down, shivering.

"I am not sure what that means, but those with a strong spirit are going to have to be here." He circles the west of the city.

"The Order of Aurelius are mostly vampires," Wes starts to explain to Cipher Nine's question. "A stake through their heart kills them. Garlic or holy symbols will keep them back. But as vampires, they have enhanced speed, agility and strength."

"If anyone gets through to here, we'll need to have someone strong on guard to keep the innocents safe," Clark says. "Chances are there will be a lot of people in need of protection. Unless I'm needed elsewhere, I volunteer to protect them." He doesn't kill, even if it's vampires, so he feels that's the best use of his talents. Unless he's needed for those with strong spirits...

"I'm probably the heaviest-hitting magic user here," Harry says with a nod, looking at the map's north side.

Jack isn't certain where his skills would be best used, so he waits to find out where the others are being deployed. It's been a long time since he's been on any kind of operation like this, and it's habit to want to wait for orders.

"Got it," Cipher Nine tells Wes. Then he considers where he'd be best suited, and adds, "The eastern front is probably where I would be of most help. The ability to quickly differentiate between enemy and ally is an important skill in my line of work."

Ed considers too, then says, "Well... What I've got isn't magic, but it might be close enough that I could be helpful on the north front. If not, I could go to either of the other two as well."

"I will stay here with Big Blue, keep the innocents warm and comfortable." Lorne offers.

"I need to go west..." April whispers.

Wes nods. "Okay Clark and Lorne at home base. Harry and Ed in the north. I will go with Cipher Nine to the east. And Jack, you should go with april to the west."

"West it is," Jack agrees. "You've got extra weapons, I hope? I'm fresh out of guns. Or anything, really." He's not so worried about the enhanced strength... he's stronger than an ordinary human, though not to the degree vampires are, but strength isn't everything in a fight. And the Time Agency made sure he could handle opponents twice his size.

Cipher Nine casts his gaze to Jack for a moment, then offers, "I have some spare vibroknives you could borrow. Blasters, too, but I get the sense bladed weapons may be of more use in this situation."

"Feel free to use any of our arsenal." Lorne presses a button, and one of the walls flip up to reveal several variety of bladed weapons.

"Danger whispers in the streets. A fear waits for all men..." April holds her head again.

Jack's more of a big gun sort of guy, but he knows how to use knives as well, and his eyes light up a bit at the sight of the hidden arsenal. "Oh, this is fantastic." He moves over to the wall to peruse the selection, and picks out a few knives to take with him.

Clark puts his hand on April's shoulder, worried. He doesn't like that they're going to have to be separated for this, but at least she's going with someone they sort of know. Are you going to be all right?

"Nevermind," Cipher Nine notes, amused, when Lorne displays their arsenal. He admires it for a moment, then retrieves his weapons and rearms himself, sheathing a vibroknife on his belt, holstering his pistol, and slinging his rifle over his shoulder. He frowns a bit at April's warning... there's not much that scares him anymore, but he would be a fool to believe himself fearless. He's far from it; the prospect of losing his mind, free will, and sanity scared him enough to send him into a panic. And there's a certain group April helped him uncover that unnerves him quite a bit.

Ed's uneasy about having to split up from April too, but he knows as well as any of them that she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and also knows Jack's a badass in his own right. When he hears April's warning, 'A fear waits for all men,' he takes a moment to try to steel himself against his deepest fears. Unfortunately, he won't know if he's been successful until they face whatever April's warning them about.

"Okay, I am going to provide us all with walkie-talkies. Old school I know, when we have a telepath, but still quite useful." Wes hands out the small devices.

April touches her husband's elbow. The dark side of my father is going to be difficult to face. But I must...

((bed time for this mun))

"Maybe I'll borrow your knife some other time," Jack says to Cipher Nine with a grin. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there's always time to flirt when you don't mean it to lead anywhere.

"Better to have a backup," Harry agrees as he takes his walkietalkie. "Hopefully I won't short it out by accident." He hasn't done that for a while, but if he's going to be slinging around powerful spells, there's always the chance he'll overwhelm the fragile little thing.

Clark gives April a kiss. You come back safe.

Cipher Nine arches an eyebrow at Jack. This isn't the first time he's been hit on by another man. He replies with the same thing he told Kalketh the last time his Sith comrade tried flirting with him: a calm, polite, and apologetic, "You're barking up the wrong tree, sir." (Except with Kalketh, he used 'my lord' instead of 'sir'.) He accepts the walkie-talkie from Wes, and takes a moment to check which frequency it's on and to set his comlink to the same frequency. He keeps the walkie-talkie as a backup, though, clipping it to his belt near the spot where he keeps his tiny little stun knives.

Ed sticks his walkie-talkie on his belt too, retrieves his knife, and finishes off the rest of his Coke. Then he goes to stand near Harry, waiting for the order to move out, and for Clark and April to finish the silent conversation he's pretty sure they're having with each other right now, so that he can give her a brief, reassuring hug without interrupting them.

((Bedtime for me too. See y'all in the morning!))

After letting go of Clark, April definitely accepts that reassuring hug from Ed. She is so glad that he and the others were able to help her. She is not sure what will be waiting them... but expects it will be a difficult night.

Each team seperates after leaving the club. Clark and Lorne stays behind, while the others go in three different directions. For those heading north, they will see a faint glow near the edge of the city.

Those heading east will hear the sounds of celebration, as the annual parade starts to form. Other citizens of LA are also heading east, to join the celebration.

April is tuning to her voices as she and Jack head west. They have no sound or visual clue to guide them, so must depend on the unseen.

Jack doesn't get the idiom, but doesn't look bothered. Flirting is his first line of communication. Though now it's time to switch gears for the more serious, as he and April head west. His own empathic abilities aren't useful in the same way April's are, so he simply stays alert for enemies approaching.

Harry opts to use his sword as he and Ed begin to go north. It's not as powerful as his staff, but he can cast magic with it, and the blade will probably come in handy. "Well, that looks vaguely ominous," he says, nodding towards the glow.

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