Geminid Where's Gabe go?

Gabe He heads back for El Dimeo and heads for the burger joint on Maraddon Avenue for dinner.

Geminid As you head out, you notice something in your pocket that you felt earlier when Donna was dressing you down. A note you've not had the chance to look at until now.

• Gabe blinks and pulls it out, curious.

Geminid It says on the outside, 'For Gabriel'

Geminid It's a thick piece of paper, tightly folded.

• Gabe eyes it. the only people who use his full first name are his parents. He'll unfold and read it on the train/in the taxi.

Geminid "Gabriel," it begins. "Your gloves fit well. I am thankful for them. Keep your eyes open. Trouble is brewing. If all else fails, keep your hat on. Signed, The Gripper."

• Gabe stares at the note and has a sudden change of plans, heading for his parents' house.

Geminid The way by train isn't too bad. You get there in half an hour, and no one pesters you on the way.

• Gabe walks in if the hour isn't considered too late by most standards.

Geminid You parents always keep late hours.

Geminid Your mother is in the parlor, listening to the radio. Your dad's not in.

Geminid "Gabriel! How good to see you."

Gabe "Evenin', Mom. Is Dad home?"

Geminid She shakes her head, "He's working late."

• Gabe nods a little. "Know when he'll get in? Got somethin' I wanted tot alk to him about."

Geminid She shakes her head, "I'm afraid I don't know. There's been some strange killings in town lately, and his unit's always called in for that."

• Gabe nods and sits down on the sofa. "So any family news I've missed lately?"

Geminid She pauses, then considers, "Nothing special. Lissy's still with that boy. Ron's working hard. Rudi called yesterday, worried about you. We tried calling you. Where were you?"

Gabe "Dunno what happened, all I can think is I caught some bug somewhere, knocked me for a loop all yesterday. Should be fine now, though."

Geminid She stands and feels your forehead, "Oh, you feel all right."

• Gabe chuckles fondly. "Yeah, whatever it was didn't last long."

Geminid She smiles, "Well, would you like some dinner?"

• Gabe grins. "I haven't had a real home-cooked dinner in a long time. Nobody beats your cookin'."

Geminid She smiles, "Well, let's go whip something up."

• Gabe nods and rises to go with her.

Geminid In the kitchen, she starts making plantains and rice and chicken for you.

Geminid She asks you about your day.

• Gabe tells her about the movie and his part in it, playing up the comedic/action side jokingly.

Geminid "Oh, it sounds so fun. I remember that one movie Mr. Ipanym did, it was so good. What was it called?"

Gabe "The one most folk remember is 'Sydney.' This one looks like it's gonna be one he-...a real fun ride." he grins.

Geminid She smiles, "Oh, yeah, 'Sidney.' I loved it. Very inspriring."

• Gabe nods. "It was a good one."

Geminid "Do you think this one will be like that?"

• Gabe chuckles. "I doubt it. It's more light-hearted, kind of a romantic action picture, with some comedy."

Geminid "Oh! That will be nice!"

• Gabe grins. "I think so. We're off to a good start so far."

Geminid She pauses as the door opens. Your father walks in, hanging his silver cloak up as he goes.

• Gabe looks up. "Evenin', Dad."

Geminid He pauses, then frowns, "Where were you yesterday?"

Gabe "Sick with somethin', it hit me hard and fast. i'm fine now. I wanted to talk to you about somethin'."

Geminid He frowns, "You didn't answer your door when I knocked."

Gabe "Yeah, it knocked me for a loop, I was out of it all day apparently. Never heard my phone or the door til this morning when Rudi scared the daylights outta me."

Geminid He shakes his head, "What did you want to talk about, son?"

• Gabe steps a little closer to hide it better from his mother and pulls the note from his pocket and hands it over. "Found it in my pocket this mornin'."

Geminid He looks at it, "The Gripper?"

Geminid Your father shakes his head, "That's the name of an infamous thief. When did you notice this?"

Gabe "When I got to work this mornin'. Didn't have a chance to look at it until this evenin', though."

Gabe "It kinda disturbed me that the guy knows my name, plus what's written there..."

Geminid He nods, "If he took your gloves, he had the chance to search your apartment. Your name's surely written on something in there. I'll have some men come by tomorrow to look over your place."

• Gabe nods. "Thanks, Dad. you wanna keep that?"

Geminid "I will need to. He steals only gloves, they say. How odd."

• Gabe nods again. "anything I should do?"

Geminid "Stay here tonight."

Gabe "Sure..."

Geminid He nods, "Let's go have some dinner. I smell plantains.:"

• Gabe grins and goes.

Geminid The food is very good, and your mother is chattery as she sits down with you.

• Gabe is happy to chat with her, and even happier to eat her cooking.

Geminid After dinner, your father says, "How's your aim, son? Do you remember anything I showed you about shooting?"

Gabe "Some, yeah." he grins a bit. "I could be better, but I could get by, I think."

Geminid "Let's go practice a bit before bed. I don;t want you caught unawares."

• Gabe nods, quietly nervous about what might be coming now, and gets up. "Okay."

Geminid He takes you out back and lends you a pistol to practice firing at small targetrs he sets up.

• Gabe is better than he thought he would be.

Geminid You hit most of the targets, but the smallest ones elude you

• Gabe jokes, "Guess I'm a little rusty."

Geminid "Not bad. You should be able to defend yourself, if trouble comes. If you catch a bastard in your place, Gabe, it's all right to shoot first and ask questions later."

Gabe "I'll keep it in mind..." he's kind of unnerved by the thought. "Somethin' big's goin' down, isn't it?"

Geminid "Things are coming to a boil, so to speak. All the nasty stuff out there is reacting to the... unrest in the city. Can't you feel it? It's the drought, the likelihood of another war, the economy... Everything."

• Gabe nods slowly. "Guess I'll just keep my eyes open. ...you got any idea why this Gripper woulda left me a note? Does he usually do that?"

Geminid He shakes his head, "Not my department. I'll ask the thieftakers, thoug--" he cuts off as something in the distance buzzes wildly. "Locusts. Get inside!"

Gabe "Locusts?" he follows.

Geminid He drags you inside, "They've been swarming over the city the past few nights."

Gabe "And doing what, that's so important we get back inside?" honestly curious and confused.

Geminid "Eating people. Don't you listen to the news?"

Gabe "Only when I got free time. They're eating people? Where'd they come from?"

Geminid He shakes his head, "I don't know, but my unit's been called in on it. In fact, I have to go, now I've spotted them. Need to get to my car radio. Keep your mother safe."

Gabe "I will. You be careful."

Geminid He nods, and heads toward the front door.

• Gabe goes to join his mother.

Geminid She's in the parlor, reading by candle light.

• Gabe sits down nearby, watching out the window if one is handy.

Geminid There is one. You see your dad on the radio in his car, then he drives off. Your mother sighs, "Out again, is he?"

Gabe "Yeah, somethin' came up.

Geminid She sighs, "Well, I think I'll try to sleep. You staying here?"

Gabe "Yeah, if that's alright. I can crash on the couch."

Geminid She smiles, "Your old room's still there."

• Gabe chuckles. "Even better. You go on to bed, I'm gonna stay up a bit."

Geminid She smiles, kisses your forehead, then goes up to bed

• Gabe stays up a bit, occasionally pacing and looking out the window for signs of locusts or his father and thinking, but goes to bed after a couple hours.

Geminid You are out on the savanna.

Geminid You feel naked, though you are clothed.

Geminid Danger is near.

• Gabe tenses, feeling the familiar adrenaline thrill, and looks around.

Geminid SNIP! echoes in the distance.

• Gabe stiffens and looks around for some kind of costume box/rack, wardrobe, etc.

Geminid Nothing but open savanna