Somewhere in Eastern Europe (probably) [Saturday evening]
Triela had cut herself off mid-quip and now her entire body was tense. Something was wrong.
Karla
"I'm such a what?" Karla glanced up when Triela stopped speaking. She was going to inquire further, but Triela's expression suggested caution.
So, instead, she sent out a few psychic threads out to see what was happening beyond the mouth of the cave. And found several minds out there. All male. It was the habit of a lifetime that kept her from probing their minds for further information.
She was going to regret that later.
Triela
Triela automatically checked her shoulder holster. "Have they noticed us yet?" She assumed Karla could tell.
Though from the steady sound of approaching feet she was pretty sure the answer was going to turn out to be 'yes'.
Karla
"Well, their psychic scents are reading both curious and amused so I'm going to say yes," Karla said, vanishing her belongings. "Unless the chipmunks have started a cabaret..."
She glanced over at Triela. "Hey!" she hissed. "These males are probably our ticket away from wherever the Hell we are. We should maybe not shoot them?"
Triela
"Maybe," Triela allowed hesitantly. "But we don't know where we are... they might be some sort of threat."
Still, she let her hand drift away from her gun.
Karla
"In that case, we don't want them knowing you've got--" Karla nodded at Triela's shoulder just as a genial male voice called into the cave. Karla had no idea what he said, however, since the language he used wasn't one she was familiar with.
She glanced at Triela and shrugged.
Triela
Triela shook her head minutely. She didn't know it either. "Eastern European of some sort, I think," she muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
No one had ever accused her of being calm when there was a potential threat nearby, but she could be patient.
Karla
"Uh, excuse me?" Karla called out. "We don't speak that language. Do you know this one?"
"Maybe they'll know yours," Karla suggested in an undertone. Because she had no idea where Eastern Europe was compared to Rome. Or that Rome was a part of Italy. Or much of anything to do with Earth geography at all.
"No worries. I speak English," the male said, though his words were heavily accented. "Americans, are you? Lost maybe?"
Triela
Americans sounded like a good cover to Triela. "Yes, we're lost." She tried to inject some note of hesitation into her voice. That's what a lost tourist sounded like, right?
The voice said something to the others and they all laughed. "Lucky we find you, then. Come out."
Triela glanced over at Karla. Was this really a good idea?
Karla
Did they have a better one?
"Okay, we're coming out then," Karla said, displeased that the note of hesitation in her own voice wasn't feigned. She tilted her head towards Triela. Did she want to go out first? Or second?
Triela
Triela nodded and checked her pistol again before stepping forward first. If they got attacked, she'd better be in front. She was more durable.
Her eyes also adjusted to the darkness faster, and she scanned the area.
Six men. A clip and a half if she had to shoot them all. Which would use half of her ammunition supply. Karla's call had been the right one. Better to wait.
Except the six men, in their various states of sloppy dress, were looking at her... like prey.
Karla
Karla slowly climbed out behind Triela, well aware of how they looked: mud-stained, tired, completely lost. If they were good males, they'd instantly be concerned and begin to fuss. If they weren't...
As she came out, she saw the grins they exchanged with one another in the light of their flashlights, heard the anticipation in their voices, even as they spoke their odd language.
Probably not nice males, then, no.
"We're expected," Karla said, even though she couldn't say who expected them or where. "We'll be much obliged if you could give us a ride to the nearest town."
"We will give ride all right," one of the ones in the back muttered.
The one closest to them turned to glare at the others, then smiled at them. "We will happily provide escort for such fine young ladies. Is only neighborly, yes? Sorry for my friend. His English not so good as mine."
Triela
Triela considered drawing and shooting them all right then and there, but... then they'd still be lost. She could wait. For now.
"That's very nice of you," she tried to simper. It was probably a good thing these guys didn't really speak English.
"Come, then," the one with the best English said. "Our car is not far." He gestured off to the right and started walking. Triela followed, careful to keep some distance between them, and her eyes narrowed as the other men formed a loose circle around the girls.
They weren't very good at looking casual about it, either.
Karla
Right about now, Karla was really wishing she knew a language other than English. Except the only other language she could even claim some familiarity with was the Ancient Tongue and that would be equally unhelpful here.
Fortunately, there were other ways to communicate. Including on a psychic thread, if it came down to risking it.
"I'm awfully glad help came along when it did," she said with false cheer, turning slightly towards Triela. "They're so friendly and helpful, they remind me of Glacia!"
Triela
Glacia. Where Karla kept refusing to invite Triela. Because of how many people might get "accidentally" shot in the face.
"Oh, yeah?" Her arm swung ever so slightly toward her armpit. "I suppose we can make sure they're properly rewarded for their assistance once we get back to town."
At that one of the men snorted roughly and made a loud comment in their language. Triela didn't know the words, but the tone was pretty clear. Apparently they didn't plan on waiting to get back to town before claiming their reward.
Karla
Okay, when Karla was picking up on the innuendo, it meant that people were being about as subtle as a brick to the face.
"I'm so glad they have a car," she said, continuing to play perky and oblivious. She was glad that Triela had picked up on her hint though, and fell back just a footstep or two. She didn't want to foul Triela's aim if it came to that. "My feet are killing me from all that walking we did."
"Is more like van than car," the leader said, trying to hide a grin. "Big van. You ride in style."
"Oh that's lovely," Karla said, giving him a bright grin. "Thanks so much."
Triela
"Big enough for all of us?" Triela asked, trying to sound worried.
"Room for many guests!" the man decreed with a laugh.
"Oh, good." Triela managed not to shoot him a dangerous look. "And how long will it take to get to town?"
"To get where we go? Not long."
Karla
"Well that's comforting!"
No, no it really wasn't. Karla'd noticed the difference between Triela's 'town' and the males' 'where we go.'
Still, perhaps she ought to be a little less enthusiastic. One of them had shot her a sharp look after her last comment. Karla favored him with a cheery grin and her best innocent face, which seemed to reassure him, but there was no reason to let them know that she and Triela were anything more than two lost teens.
"How much longer?" she asked, trying to sound just the slightest bit petulant. Whiny females were even easier to dismiss than cheerful ones.
Triela
It was a good thing Karla was along. Besides being the one who knew how to do things in the woods, Triela wasn't any sort of actress and if she'd been on her own the shooting would have started already.
"Not far now," the man promised, gesturing with his flashlight.
And he wasn't wrong. Ahead through the trees there was some sort of clearing. A large passenger van idled, its headlights on to provide more light than even the powerful flashlights the 'search party' had carried.
"There it is," he man explained, turning around to offer them a reassuring smile. He was only a slightly better actor than Triela.
Karla
Karla was momentarily at a loss. Part of the problem was that she was picking up more psychic scents from the clearing. A lot more. And not just more males like the ones surrounding them now.
"Gee," she said, trying to sound casual and failing. "That sure is a big van you have there. Big enough to fit six, maybe even seven girls our age in there. Maybe even more if they're younger." She gave the leader a wan smile.
Get the message, Triela, she willed. Get the message!
And fast, because they were still walking towards the van.
Triela
Triela kept walking smoothly forward. "But it's such a nice van," she pointed out. "Looks like you take very good care of it." No it didn't, not even remotely. "We'll have to be careful not to scratch the paint or anything."
Also, she'd be avoiding bullet holes.
The apparent leader of the men frowned slightly. "What are you meaning?"
No one ever accused Triela of being good at covert ops like this.
Triela glanced over at Karla and shot her a look that she hoped said You call it. Karla would have a better feel for when the shooting should start.
Karla
Karla barely managed to keep from rolling her eyes at Triela. Not. Helping.
"We're all mucky from being lost in the woods," Karla explained. "We don't want to get your van all gross--after all, you're doing us a favor!"
She reinforced her statement with just a touch of calm. She didn't want him to realize anything was amiss until they had a chance to get all of the group out in the open. And before Karla could make sure the other girls she'd scented were okay.
Triela
Careful to keep her hands away from her weapon, it occurred to Triela to glance over and see if Karla happened to be wearing those boots that were the reason Triela hadn't been planning on stopping by to see her cobbler on this trip. That could come in handy, after all.
She could tell that her own acting wasn't helping, so she simply fell silent.
From near the van a voice called out in whatever the local language was, and it was laughingly answered in turn. Two men stepped around the vehicle carrying poorly cared-for AK-47s. Before Triela could comment, the leader glanced over at them in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
"Don't worry about guns. For bears."
Sure they were.
Karla
Of course Karla was wearing her special boots! They were a mandatory part of her wardrobe whenever she and Triela were going somewhere!
"There are bears in the woods?" Karla asked, trying to sound young and afraid.
Triela had better not snicker at that and ruin the whole effect.
Turned out, it didn't matter if she had. Three other males stepped into the clearing from the forest line. Karla concentrated for a moment--she wasn't picking up psychic scents from anywhere else, so she was pretty certain that everyone else had gathered. She glanced at Triela, nodded sharply once and said, "'Ware the van!" and tried to make a break for the back of the vehicle.
[NFB, NFI, Part 5 of WHEN WILL IT END? Preplayed with the dashing and debonair glacial_witch]
Karla
"I'm such a what?" Karla glanced up when Triela stopped speaking. She was going to inquire further, but Triela's expression suggested caution.
So, instead, she sent out a few psychic threads out to see what was happening beyond the mouth of the cave. And found several minds out there. All male. It was the habit of a lifetime that kept her from probing their minds for further information.
She was going to regret that later.
Triela
Triela automatically checked her shoulder holster. "Have they noticed us yet?" She assumed Karla could tell.
Though from the steady sound of approaching feet she was pretty sure the answer was going to turn out to be 'yes'.
Karla
"Well, their psychic scents are reading both curious and amused so I'm going to say yes," Karla said, vanishing her belongings. "Unless the chipmunks have started a cabaret..."
She glanced over at Triela. "Hey!" she hissed. "These males are probably our ticket away from wherever the Hell we are. We should maybe not shoot them?"
Triela
"Maybe," Triela allowed hesitantly. "But we don't know where we are... they might be some sort of threat."
Still, she let her hand drift away from her gun.
Karla
"In that case, we don't want them knowing you've got--" Karla nodded at Triela's shoulder just as a genial male voice called into the cave. Karla had no idea what he said, however, since the language he used wasn't one she was familiar with.
She glanced at Triela and shrugged.
Triela
Triela shook her head minutely. She didn't know it either. "Eastern European of some sort, I think," she muttered, shifting uncomfortably.
No one had ever accused her of being calm when there was a potential threat nearby, but she could be patient.
Karla
"Uh, excuse me?" Karla called out. "We don't speak that language. Do you know this one?"
"Maybe they'll know yours," Karla suggested in an undertone. Because she had no idea where Eastern Europe was compared to Rome. Or that Rome was a part of Italy. Or much of anything to do with Earth geography at all.
"No worries. I speak English," the male said, though his words were heavily accented. "Americans, are you? Lost maybe?"
Triela
Americans sounded like a good cover to Triela. "Yes, we're lost." She tried to inject some note of hesitation into her voice. That's what a lost tourist sounded like, right?
The voice said something to the others and they all laughed. "Lucky we find you, then. Come out."
Triela glanced over at Karla. Was this really a good idea?
Karla
Did they have a better one?
"Okay, we're coming out then," Karla said, displeased that the note of hesitation in her own voice wasn't feigned. She tilted her head towards Triela. Did she want to go out first? Or second?
Triela
Triela nodded and checked her pistol again before stepping forward first. If they got attacked, she'd better be in front. She was more durable.
Her eyes also adjusted to the darkness faster, and she scanned the area.
Six men. A clip and a half if she had to shoot them all. Which would use half of her ammunition supply. Karla's call had been the right one. Better to wait.
Except the six men, in their various states of sloppy dress, were looking at her... like prey.
Karla
Karla slowly climbed out behind Triela, well aware of how they looked: mud-stained, tired, completely lost. If they were good males, they'd instantly be concerned and begin to fuss. If they weren't...
As she came out, she saw the grins they exchanged with one another in the light of their flashlights, heard the anticipation in their voices, even as they spoke their odd language.
Probably not nice males, then, no.
"We're expected," Karla said, even though she couldn't say who expected them or where. "We'll be much obliged if you could give us a ride to the nearest town."
"We will give ride all right," one of the ones in the back muttered.
The one closest to them turned to glare at the others, then smiled at them. "We will happily provide escort for such fine young ladies. Is only neighborly, yes? Sorry for my friend. His English not so good as mine."
Triela
Triela considered drawing and shooting them all right then and there, but... then they'd still be lost. She could wait. For now.
"That's very nice of you," she tried to simper. It was probably a good thing these guys didn't really speak English.
"Come, then," the one with the best English said. "Our car is not far." He gestured off to the right and started walking. Triela followed, careful to keep some distance between them, and her eyes narrowed as the other men formed a loose circle around the girls.
They weren't very good at looking casual about it, either.
Karla
Right about now, Karla was really wishing she knew a language other than English. Except the only other language she could even claim some familiarity with was the Ancient Tongue and that would be equally unhelpful here.
Fortunately, there were other ways to communicate. Including on a psychic thread, if it came down to risking it.
"I'm awfully glad help came along when it did," she said with false cheer, turning slightly towards Triela. "They're so friendly and helpful, they remind me of Glacia!"
Triela
Glacia. Where Karla kept refusing to invite Triela. Because of how many people might get "accidentally" shot in the face.
"Oh, yeah?" Her arm swung ever so slightly toward her armpit. "I suppose we can make sure they're properly rewarded for their assistance once we get back to town."
At that one of the men snorted roughly and made a loud comment in their language. Triela didn't know the words, but the tone was pretty clear. Apparently they didn't plan on waiting to get back to town before claiming their reward.
Karla
Okay, when Karla was picking up on the innuendo, it meant that people were being about as subtle as a brick to the face.
"I'm so glad they have a car," she said, continuing to play perky and oblivious. She was glad that Triela had picked up on her hint though, and fell back just a footstep or two. She didn't want to foul Triela's aim if it came to that. "My feet are killing me from all that walking we did."
"Is more like van than car," the leader said, trying to hide a grin. "Big van. You ride in style."
"Oh that's lovely," Karla said, giving him a bright grin. "Thanks so much."
Triela
"Big enough for all of us?" Triela asked, trying to sound worried.
"Room for many guests!" the man decreed with a laugh.
"Oh, good." Triela managed not to shoot him a dangerous look. "And how long will it take to get to town?"
"To get where we go? Not long."
Karla
"Well that's comforting!"
No, no it really wasn't. Karla'd noticed the difference between Triela's 'town' and the males' 'where we go.'
Still, perhaps she ought to be a little less enthusiastic. One of them had shot her a sharp look after her last comment. Karla favored him with a cheery grin and her best innocent face, which seemed to reassure him, but there was no reason to let them know that she and Triela were anything more than two lost teens.
"How much longer?" she asked, trying to sound just the slightest bit petulant. Whiny females were even easier to dismiss than cheerful ones.
Triela
It was a good thing Karla was along. Besides being the one who knew how to do things in the woods, Triela wasn't any sort of actress and if she'd been on her own the shooting would have started already.
"Not far now," the man promised, gesturing with his flashlight.
And he wasn't wrong. Ahead through the trees there was some sort of clearing. A large passenger van idled, its headlights on to provide more light than even the powerful flashlights the 'search party' had carried.
"There it is," he man explained, turning around to offer them a reassuring smile. He was only a slightly better actor than Triela.
Karla
Karla was momentarily at a loss. Part of the problem was that she was picking up more psychic scents from the clearing. A lot more. And not just more males like the ones surrounding them now.
"Gee," she said, trying to sound casual and failing. "That sure is a big van you have there. Big enough to fit six, maybe even seven girls our age in there. Maybe even more if they're younger." She gave the leader a wan smile.
Get the message, Triela, she willed. Get the message!
And fast, because they were still walking towards the van.
Triela
Triela kept walking smoothly forward. "But it's such a nice van," she pointed out. "Looks like you take very good care of it." No it didn't, not even remotely. "We'll have to be careful not to scratch the paint or anything."
Also, she'd be avoiding bullet holes.
The apparent leader of the men frowned slightly. "What are you meaning?"
No one ever accused Triela of being good at covert ops like this.
Triela glanced over at Karla and shot her a look that she hoped said You call it. Karla would have a better feel for when the shooting should start.
Karla
Karla barely managed to keep from rolling her eyes at Triela. Not. Helping.
"We're all mucky from being lost in the woods," Karla explained. "We don't want to get your van all gross--after all, you're doing us a favor!"
She reinforced her statement with just a touch of calm. She didn't want him to realize anything was amiss until they had a chance to get all of the group out in the open. And before Karla could make sure the other girls she'd scented were okay.
Triela
Careful to keep her hands away from her weapon, it occurred to Triela to glance over and see if Karla happened to be wearing those boots that were the reason Triela hadn't been planning on stopping by to see her cobbler on this trip. That could come in handy, after all.
She could tell that her own acting wasn't helping, so she simply fell silent.
From near the van a voice called out in whatever the local language was, and it was laughingly answered in turn. Two men stepped around the vehicle carrying poorly cared-for AK-47s. Before Triela could comment, the leader glanced over at them in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
"Don't worry about guns. For bears."
Sure they were.
Karla
Of course Karla was wearing her special boots! They were a mandatory part of her wardrobe whenever she and Triela were going somewhere!
"There are bears in the woods?" Karla asked, trying to sound young and afraid.
Triela had better not snicker at that and ruin the whole effect.
Turned out, it didn't matter if she had. Three other males stepped into the clearing from the forest line. Karla concentrated for a moment--she wasn't picking up psychic scents from anywhere else, so she was pretty certain that everyone else had gathered. She glanced at Triela, nodded sharply once and said, "'Ware the van!" and tried to make a break for the back of the vehicle.
[NFB, NFI, Part 5 of WHEN WILL IT END? Preplayed with the dashing and debonair glacial_witch]