Session 05

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Aftermath & Refuge at Siz's Place (2024-08-16)

Setting & Atmosphere

• The group—Mia, Det, and Siz—has completed the delivery, but tensions remain high.
• They are inside the **mysterious facility** where the package was dropped off.
• Their **van is abandoned outside**, now surrounded by **armed individuals** who seem connected to the earlier pursuers.
• A **storm continues to rage outside**, though it is beginning to weaken.

Main Events

Assessing the Situation

• **Mia remains rattled**, her mind replaying the events of Martin’s death, the tattooed goons, and the possibility of mercenaries being involved.
• **Det suggests calling Den again**, to report back and possibly request a **tow truck for the van**.
• **Siz makes the call**, casually informing Den that they are **taking an alternate route back**.
• Mia reminds her to **warn Den about the armed men**, which she quickly relays.

The Facility & Its Staff

• The **building is oddly nondescript**, resembling a **generic waiting area** with minimal decoration.
• There is **a security camera behind the front desk**, but no active personnel.
• The **man who received the package** is visibly eager to **get rid of them**, urging them to leave.
• Outside, **the backdoor shouting has stopped**, but **at least one voice from the front** is heard muttering **"Oh, fuck off..."**.

Escape Plans

• Mia checks outside—**the street is empty**, likely due to the storm.
• Siz offers them **refuge at her home**, though she appears **nervous about it**.
• **Det agrees**, preferring to **lay low until both the weather and the situation settle**.
• The team **orders a cab**, rather than risk walking through **hostile territory**.

Leaving the Facility

• As they **step outside**, the **man at the facility slams the door shut** behind them, dropping **emergency shutters** in place.
• The **cab arrives within minutes**, taking them away from the scene.
• Just as they leave, a **burly capy soldier** steps around the corner, **watching them depart**.

Arriving at Siz's Home

• The **cab descends into an unusual location**, not towards apartments but into a **gap between two buildings**.
• Nestled in the space is **a bizarre, fairy-tale-like cottage** with:

 - **Smooth white walls, red tiles, and a curved red door.**
 - **Round porthole-shaped windows made of one-way glass.**
 - **A waxy, almost organic texture that repels sand.**

• The **storm dust flows around it**, as if it **does not want to settle on the building**.

The Organic House

• Mia and Det are **perplexed**, having never seen a building like this.
• Siz **scampers to the door** and sprays something on it—**instead of opening normally, the door "splits apart" to let them in**.
• Inside, the **walls are spongy yet firm**, clearly **grown rather than built**.
• **Siz reveals that she "grew" the house**, explaining that it is made of **engineered mycelia**.

 - The structure is **tougher than it looks**.
 - The entire lot is filled with **fungal networks that act as a security system**.
 - If intruders try to break in, they will be **grabbed and sprayed with toxic spores**.

Initial Reactions

• **Det is fascinated**, having worked mostly with inorganic materials.
• **Mia is cautious but intrigued**, recalling that **organic growths in the hive were always burned away for safety**.
• Siz clarifies that the **house is "smarter than a gerbil, but less than a taxi"**, using **chemical signals instead of traditional senses**.
• Mia, still shaken by the day’s events, **finally allows herself to relax**, but **her frustration with Den and Charles remains**.

Planning Next Steps

• The group **realizes they are still missing crucial answers**:

 - **Who were the tattooed men?**
 - **Why was the package so valuable that people were killed for it?**
 - **What happened to the second missing driver?**

• Mia suggests **calling Den again**, this time **on speaker**, to demand **answers and extra pay** for the unexpected danger.

Current Status & Unresolved Questions

• Who were the armed men, and who do they work for?
• What was actually inside the package?
• Did Charles know more than he let on?
• What happened to the second missing driver?
• Will there be retaliation for interfering with the delivery?
• Will Den compensate them for the danger they were put in?