Part 19: XIX - Fun With Pestilence

We're doing what we came here to do.

No deal.

You will get nothing from me. Go tell that bitch she can pack up little club. Her name is coming off it. Get the hell out of here. (Let's go!) Go!

Maybe you misheard me: call of the debt. NOW!



Here we go. That gunshot probably alerted everyone on this floor.



There's no boss fight, Boris is just another Russian mobster, and he falls like any other one too.



Demi comes in, guns blazing, but we take care of him.



And just as expected, everyone else is alerted. We take care of them with the fire axe and Fortitude.



Back in Boris' office, we take his Glock 9 from the ground, and a $200 money-clip from the counter.



Boris had the most advanced computer set up that we've seen. Now there's nothing left to do here, so we'll head back to Venus.



But not before I point out that there's this unique looking cop in the lobby. Now we'll head back.





Let's talk in your office.

What? Ya, I can't hear you, let's talk in my office.

Yeah yeah yeah.



Is 'at Boris' blood? Guess we're partners then. If you only knew what I had to do over the years to keep this place open. Tell you what, partner, come in every few days and I'll give you your cut. Here's tonight's.



Alright, now that we're in the club business, let's make some changes.

You know, I actually had some suggestions for the club....

Really, I'd love to hear them, but I've got to go find a new DJ. Our old one's still spinning that pixie-wavematic eighties-redux electronica - it's so last Friday. Heaps of thanks, again.

"Partners" huh. All it means is that we can come back and get some money, occasionally. It's a better deal than her former relationship with Boris, I suppose.



With that finished, we're going to try to stop this plague. Our first stop is back at the Skyline apartments.



We're here to see Paul Anderson, who Damsel told us is a ghoul. We also learned from the computer in the basement, that he spends some time upstairs with Hannah Glazer. His apartment is on the fifth floor, so that's where we're heading.



The door was unlocked, but it looks like he's not home. Why would he leave the door unlocked?



Oh.



Predictably, there's a phone message to listen to:

Hi, Paul? It's Hannah. Just callin' to see how you are. I hope I didn't give you what I've got. Ugh, I feel like crap. Actually, I need to ask you a favor. Could you pick me up some cold medicine at the store? I hate to bother you, but... I can't seem to get out of bed. The code on my door is 1203. Hey, listen, I, uh... had a really good time the other night. Maybe we could do it again sometime? Sorry... I'm rambling. Okay, bye.

This must be related to the plague. Hannah must be sick with it. But does this mean that Paul caught it and died from it? Paul's a ghoul, which is supposed to mean he can't get sick. But Vic tells me that it's essentially a storyteller's fiat. And then there's the fact that we know that vampires are causing the plague, meaning that the difference a ghoul that carries the plague might die because it has life-processes that a vampire doesn't. I don't know, what do you think?

Anyway, we know that our next stop is the 6th floor.



If you're wondering, we have to take the elevator and use the entry code. The vents are locked.



We get inside. Hannah must still be upstairs, as she said she couldn't get out of bed.



Yes, there she is.



I'm a friend of Paul's. He just wanted me to come and check up on you.



I should say that here, we're limited to lying because our humanity score is too high to tell the truth.

*cough cough* I don't really know. I - I've taken all kinds of medicine, but I can't seem to get rid of it. I - I feel like I've got a fever and a sore throat. *cough cough* I'm real weak... can't seem to get out of bed. What day is it? I - I can't remember.

Hannah is a potential lead. She might be able to tell us where she contracted the plague, if that is what she's sick with.

Sound pretty bad. Where did you get it?

Well I think... I got sick from one of my... clients. *cough cough* I was feeling fine until I... I uh... I saw her a few days ago.

Sure, sure, "Client".

Who was this "client"?

She was just a woman who called. She, uh... she found my ad in the newspaper. *cough cough* Usually only do business with referrals, you know, but she was offerin' a lot of money.

But that doesn't tell us who she is or where to find her.

What can you tell me about this woman?



Speak of the devil. We found out that she's staying in the empire arms hotel last update:


Was there anything else strange about her? Anything at all?

Yeah! I - I mean, I think so.... To tell you the truth, I don't really remember a whole lot about that night, you know. *cough cough cough* Everything's a little blurry, you know. I mean... I'm not usually, you know, into women, but I remember feeling so attracted to her. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.



It sounds like she might be causing the plague. We've got our lead.

Where did you meet her, Hannah? Where is Jezebel Locke?

She had a room at the Empire Hotel. I can't remember the number. *cough* Hey, are you sure that Paul's okay? He's not sick, is he?

Hannah is already in enough pain, there's no need to tell her that Paul died.

Paul's just fine, Hannah. Don't worry about him.

Good. He - He's a nice guy. I hope he calls me again sometime.

I'm sure he will, Hannah.



Well that's a little weird to say as she's still breathing...



...but as soon as the conversation ends she gives up the ghost. Poor Hannah. Forced by circumstance to sell her body for a living, she then caught the plague, accidentally spreading it to her lover which killed him, and then she died. If we would have pressed her about what kind of "client" she had, she would have revealed that she was ashamed of being a prostitute. A sad ending to a sad life.



Oh well, let's steal the money from her safe. That'll make us feel better. In fact, let's just leave and never come back - we'll soon forget that Hannah ever existed.



But before we go, let's read her diary that's in her closet.




Well, now we know that:

• Arthur is a creep
  
• Vandal's into BDSM
  
• The Luckee Star Hotel is in Hollywood
  
• Paul was probably the only person in her life she was excited about
  
• Jezebel was offering Hannah a lot of money for her services

To the Empire Arms Hotel.



We know that Jezebel Locke is staying in the Brooklyn Suite. What floor that's on is anyone's guess. What's more, we probably need the hotel key-card to get in. It might be feasable to just knock on the door, whichever door that is, and ask for her, since she's probably delighted to spread the plague, but let's play this safe. Which means talking to the receptionist.



Is there a guest here named Jezebel Locke?

Yes. Miss Locke is one of our more, umm, popular guests. Why do you ask?

I need a key to her room.



Hmm, well let's go with the option that we've chosen the least.

[Intimidate] If you don't give me a key, I'm going to rip out your tongue.



We still don't know where she is...



...but I have a feeling that it's on the only other floor we can go to and haven't.



This must be it.



Nice place. Maybe--



I take it you're Jezebel Locke?



Look at her teeth - she's a vampire. We don't know for sure if she's spreading the plague, so we'll play along, using what Hannah told us, and try to get Jezebel to show her hand. If video games have taught me anything, it's that bad guys never keep their mouths shut about their evil plans.

You are strangely attractive....

I had a high school english teacher who had that same hairstyle. It would look great on a lego person.

Oh, come on, now... don't deny yourself the pleasure of Jezebel's talents. Just a few more steps and we can be enveloped by the sweet darkness, become slaves to the desires of our wasted flesh.

I would, but I forgot my penicillin.

That's the line we're forced to say.



Oh, well not only are we correct in thinking she carries the plague, she's now revealing to us something called the Ninth Circle. Maybe she's coordinating with other vampires to spread this plague, all part of this 'Ninth Circle'.

So I can end up dead like Hannah and her friends?

Who better than prostitutes to carry the dark gift I bring? Ah, will they not share it with the rest of those who revel in the pleasures of the flesh?

You're sick, pure and simple. Time to put you out of your misery.

We're forced into fighting Jezebel, which means it's time for a boss fight.

Watch Boss Fight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abG5A-9FbFM



Jezebel starts out by activating presence. Whatever, it doesn't do anything to us.



Her hits cut like a knife, which I guess is appropriate. Still, just hit her until she goes down.



I remember this fight being a lot harder, but here it was pretty easy. With Jezebel dead, we get a masquerade redemption...



...along with a point of experience. There's this book on the table, but we need a higher brawl skill to read it. Now, it turns out that there's nothing else to see in Jezebel's apartment. No more hints about this 'Ninth Circle', which leaves us with only one other avenue: go talk to the homeless people, like Damsel said.

But first, we're going to go back to the Last Round. We can tell Skelter we solved the problem of Patty, and we can also give Damsel an update on the plague situation, including informing her about Paul's death.

Off we go.





I took care of the Patty problem.

Good work. Man, ghouls ain't nothin' but trouble if you ask me. It's a weakness pure and simple.

And that's that. We're not finished with Skelter, though.

I've got a couple of questions. What's up with this Damsel chick?

You mean college girl over there? Hmph. To be honest she reminds me of those miserable stateside protester fucks from when I was in 'Nam. But she's on the right side in this war. Don't let the hippy vibe fool ya.

As if being against the Vietnam war is anything but the right position to take. I'm not going to pursue this tangent any further, but you can if you wish.

I have another question. Tell me about Gehenna, again.

I think I might have accidentally left this out of our last conversation with Skelter.



Do you think it's something the Camarilla made up?

Nah, the Camarilla denies any of that shit exists - vampire forefathers, doomsday prophecies - all just superstition in Cammyland.

Then who believes it?

Lots of people. The Sabbat believe in it. They go around tryin' to hunt down these sleeping ancients so's they can kill them before they rise up. That's the word anyway. Of course, most Sabbat packs I've seen couldn't find their car keys.

What do you believe?



And I thought I was paranoid. Later.

Now to talk to Damsel.



About Paul... he's dead... for a few days. It wasn't pretty.

We told him to burn the blood and go to the hospital. Said he thought he'd get over it. Men are stubborn that way. Just proves the plaguebearer's gotta be found.

The plaguebearer's dead.

Right on, 'cept we dusted a second one over near the convention center. They're part of some doomsday cult, apparently. No telling how many there are, but it's open season on all these sick sons of bitches!

This just confirms what we already knew.

I'll start looking for the rest. Bye, Damsel.

Yes we will, next time.