Song 1: Gathering in Galveston {Lilley, Maledriel, and Marduk}

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"Pretty sure if Martha were trying to pull a practical joke, she wouldn't have warned you. But seriously," says Lilly, the sparkle in her eye and tone of voice suggesting she's being anything but. "You should absolutely go introduce yourself to Kutiel. I want to see if he tosses you over the railing."

[Charybdis Richelle]

[Marduk]

"Thank you. Its been my experience that Angel-kind can overlook things that don't seem to be celestially related."

{GM}

Martha smiles. “You’re welcome, Marduk,” she says. “That has often been my experience as well. I appreciate that you are willing to listen.”

[Marduk]

Marduk gets a glint in his eyes, "So you're saying if I wish to pay my respects, I should barge into his office? Sounds like what you humans call a 'practical joke."

{GM}

Martha chuckles. “At the moment, sir,” she says, “I fear you may have to. No joke intended. You have to understand that Kutiel couldn’t care less about the courtesies everyone has been told he wants. It’s part of the anger management program Haaiah arranged for him.” She shrugs. “I appreciate it though, as it makes it quite a bit easier for me to keep up with who’s on the Island.”

{Mal}

Mal shrugs "If you want to wait here Marduk, that's up to you, but with the emergency who knows how long Kutiel will be. People are dying and I'm not going to stand around here when I can be trying to do something to stop it." he looks at Martha "No offence."

{GM}

Martha smiles. “None taken. I, for one, will sleep better at night knowing whatever is out there that is strong enough to shred angels has been handled.” She sighs. “I do apologize for Kutiel’s ignoring you. I don’t know precisely what is going on between Kutiel and Axtyenah, but if he is ordering me to tell OEM to look at evacuation plans, then whatever is going on between Tides and Earthquakes has disaster written all over it. In his own way, Kutiel is working to save lives as well.”


The Soldier turns her head to take in all of the Celestials in the office. “You have all given me your contact information, and I have all of you in the database as being in Galveston and why. You can consider yourselves checked in. Kutiel can always call you after he’s resolved the current crisis if he wants to know more.”

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Lilly}

"Pretty sure if Martha were trying to pull a practical joke, she wouldn't have warned you. But seriously," says Lilly, the sparkle in her eye and tone of voice suggesting she's being anything but. "You should absolutely go introduce yourself to Kutiel. I want to see if he tosses you over the railing."

{GM}

Martha chuckles. “At least we’re over water,” she says. “And so far, Axtyenah is the only one who’s had that honor. Although he threatens, I don’t think Kutiel would ever throw a human from the upper deck. Only angels are really at risk. I’ve reminded him time and again that human bodies are not as easily repaired as Celestial Vessels.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal looks at Martha "I'll try my best to sort this out. How long does it take to get to shore? If you can provide the location we'll arrive at I can send it to Barazephyr and hopefully he'll be waiting for us."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Martha nods. “Thank you, Maledriel. Thank all of you,” she says, emphatically. “The trip varies depending on wind, currents, who’s piloting, but usually it’s around 20 minutes, give or take 5.”

“The boat’s a 40 Open Sunreef Power Cat,” Galgaliel says. “It could easily make the trip in 12 minutes. It does 60 knots. I could do it in less, but Marvin wouldn’t let me pilot the boat.”

Martha chuckles. “Definitely going to fledge Ofanim," she says, under her breath, shaking her head. "That's because it's against company policy and violates the terms of our insurance, Special Agent Greer."

Gathering her thoughts and getting back on track, she says, “When you dock, you will be at Pier 39 off of Port Industrial, through Port of Galveston Gate 40. That’ll serve better than an address. Most of the small streets here aren’t labeled on the map - or on the streets for that matter.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal smiles (again) "Thank you Martha. Do you have cell service here?"

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"Great," says Lilly, standing, and clapping her hands. "I'm gonna head down to the boat then. I'm a badger, not a duck and I'll be much happier once I'm back on dry land."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

Mal smiles (again) "Thank you Martha. Do you have cell service here?"

{GM}

“That depends on your cell provider, the weather, and the whims of God,” Martha says quite seriously. “Generally, the official phone Kutiel gave me when I was Assigned to work with him works about 80% of the time. My personal phone, maybe 30-40%. But if your cell won’t work, you are welcome to use the landline.”

{Lilly}

"Great," says Lilly, standing, and clapping her hands. "I'm gonna head down to the boat then. I'm a badger, not a duck and I'll be much happier once I'm back on dry land."

{GM}

Martha laughs at that. “Badgers don’t swim?” She asks, semi-seriously. Sobering, she adds, “Marvin is waiting for you, all of you. I asked him to stay when he brought Special Agents Johnson and Greer since I knew Lilley would need to go to shore. The boat can easily hold all of you.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

"He might be driving and I don't want to distract him by calling, especially the way he drives." he winks "Let me check my phone..."

Mal checks his phone for a signal.

[archolewa]

Martha laughs at that. “Badgers don’t swim?” She asks, semi-seriously. Sobering, she adds, “Marvin is waiting for you, all of you. I asked him to stay when he brought Special Agents Johnson and Greer since I knew Lilley would need to go to shore. The boat can easily hold all of you.”

"Not if we have any choice in the matter," says Lilly with a grin. She gives a wave, and heads out, following the directions Martha gave her before the others showed up. "Thanks for the help Martha, don't be a stranger!"

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Martha chuckles. “Understandable.”

Mal, having a cell phone provided by Lightning, gets a fair signal, about 3 bars.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal messages Barazephyr:

- Pier 39 off of Port Industrial, through Port of Galveston Gate 40. 20 minutes or so. Found friends. -

He puts his phone away and turns to Martha "Thank you for your help Martha. I hope we can meet again under better circumstances. If you'll excuse me..."

He heads off after Lilly.

[Tay-Dor]

[Marduk]

Marduk shrugs and shakes his head at the others not following custom. He move towards the door he saw Kutiel move through and heads through himself.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"Don't forget a life vest!" calls Lilly playfully as she watches Marduk go after Kutiel, before heading down to the boat.

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal follows Lilly to the boat.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Lilley and Maledriel bypass the ladders that are the most immediate way down and take the stairs that are inside the hallway. They climb down several flights until they finally reach the wooden deck that serves as a dock.

A motorboat, a 40 Open Sunreef Power Cat as Galgaliel says, bobs up and down in the water, tied to the docks. A stocky grizzled, balding Caucasian man stands at the helm of the boat, ignoring the captain’s chair. He looks to be in his late 60s to early 70s, but seems to have a certain wiry strength. The weathered-looking man may have liver spots on his hands, but they remained calloused for hard work. He wears worn, navy blue work pants and a light-blue denim long-sleeved button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He wears a neon yellow, blue, and orange safety vest over that. A white hardhat sits on a nearby seat.

As the Lilley and Maledriel approach, he walks to the side of the boat nearest to the dock. “Good morning,” he says. He frowns and glances at a battered, waterproof watch. “Err, make that good afternoon.” He pauses just a moment. “Are you looking to go to the Island?”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

Mal nods "Galveston? If you could, yes please"

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"Should we wait for Galahad and Robert?" asks Lilly, giving the bobbing boat and rippling water a wary look. It was one thing to look out across the ocean when she was up high. But down here, up close and personal, it was another thing entirely.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Mal}

Mal nods "Galveston?"

{GM}

“Yep,” the elderly man says. “I suppose I could take you to Pelican Island if that’s what you really wanted, but usually folks just want to go to the Galveston pier.”

{Mal}
"If you could, yes please"

{GM}

The man nods. “That’s what I’m here for,” he says, matter-of-factly. “Come on aboard. Do you need a hand getting in?” His eyes glance back and forth, taking in both Mal and Lilley.

“Name’s Marvin, by the way.”

{Lilly}

"Should we wait for Galahad and Robert?" asks Lilly, giving the bobbing boat and rippling water a wary look. It was one thing to look out across the ocean when she was up high. But down here, up close and personal, it was another thing entirely.

{GM}

“Those two FBI fellows?” Marvin asks. “Special Agent Johnson and that young one, Special Agent Greer? Are they heading back to the Island already? If so, and it won’t be too long or too inconvenient, I’d rather wait. Saves on gas, good for the environment, and all that.”

“But if you have important business and it can’t wait,” Marvin says, “I can always come back when they’re ready to leave.”

Catching Lilley’s worried expression, Marvin gives her a reassuring smile. “You got nothing to worry about, little lady,” he says. “I’ll help you aboard, and I won’t let you fall in. A little slip of a thing like you, I could haul you in one handed if I had to. And if you’re nervous, I can give you a vest before you come aboard.”

[shaidar]

{Mal}

"Thanks Marvin, the pier is fine. I guess we can give them ten minutes."