Part 25: XXV - Caught in the Machine

We have arrived back in Downtown. Your first inclination might be to report back to LaCroix about what happened at Grout's mansion. But think about it. Who did we see leaving the scene of the crime? Nines Rodriguez. We don't have any proof that he killed Grout, but the fact that Nines was leaving the mansion is still a little suspect. Reporting to LaCroix means fingering Nines, and before we do that we should confront Nines himself, for a couple of reasons. The first is that we might get to the bottom of the whole ordeal by confronting Nines. The second is that if we want to keep on good terms with the anarchs, we should go to them before LaCroix. They'll like that we're giving Nines a chance to explain himself before we tell LaCroix what happened.

The point is that we have to play this safe as to not piss off anarchs to the point of them losing their trust in us.



Nines isn't here. Shit. Well, at least the anarchs will see that we're coming to them with the story before LaCroix. When, or if, we tell LaCroix, no doubt they'd get word before we even exit the Venture Tower.

As usual, the first Anarch we'll talk to is Jack.



Jack is Jack: he been around a long time, he's got a lot of experience, he's seen a lot. But this is Nines we're talking about. If anything would phase Jack, it would be this.

I found his ashes, but the real problem is I think Nines did it.

Beg your pardon?

I saw Nines at the primogen's mansion and now... the primogen is dead.

Mmm... I don't know. I dunno what score Nines would have to settle with a primogen. Nah, c'mon, this can't be right.

That's just what it looked like! I don't know.



We saw Nines leaving Grout's mansion.... but could it really be a set up? We don't know if LaCroix enticed Nines into showing up to Grout's mansion, but this doesn't matter. The fact is that we saw Nines there. Maybe LaCroix knew about it. Maybe LaCroix got someone else to off Grout before Nines showed up, knowing that we'd be there to see him leaving the scene of the crime. Without Nines, he LaCroix might think, the anarchs don't stand a chance. But why would Nines be visiting Grout's mansion in the first place? Why would be kill him, if he did at all? Yes, Grout was camarilla primogen; Yes, Nines is an anarch. But what good would come from killing a paranoid Malkavian more interested in his own experiments than any political goals?

In any case, if we want to stay on the good side of the anarchs, we should nod our head and agree with Jack.

That's probably it.

LaCroix ain't gonna make friends on the street with these moves. Underhanded shit like that catches up to you. Usually gets paid back in creative and painful ways; stake you with your own femur, ya know, that kinda thing.

I'm supposed to go back to LaCroix. He wants to know about the primogen.

You do what ya gotta do.

Jack might not care if we finger Nines, but the others will. Jack is somewhat detached from the anarch movement -- the others are in the thick of it. We should talk to them before heading back to LaCroix, starting with Skelter.



Where is Nines?

He went to go look into somethin', why?

I just saw him... at Alistair Grout's mansion.

Say what?

Nines is almost larger than life to Skelter and Damsel. They won't take this well.

The Malkavian primogen was killed and I saw Nines leaving the scene.



I guess. Later.

We can't ask Skelter what we should say to LaCroix. Maybe Damsel will be inclined to influence us.



I have a question about Nines.



I understand. I'll come back later.

I'm sure the anarchs would love it if we didn't finger Nines, but they're not saying so. We now have to head back to LaCroix, but as usual we have to deal with Chunk before we head up.



No doubt almost every smell reminds the chunky Chunk of food.

I don't smell anything. I've got an appointment with LaCroix.

Ah, sure, I'll open her up for you. ... Aw geez, I could go for one of them double Space Burgers... with the onions and the cheese and some bacon and that guacamole....

Up we go.



Candles probably burned around the time of Grout's first death. Now, coincidentally or not, they're burning around the time of his second.



That's no longer possible.

Grout's dead.

Grout's dead?!? What?

The shock in his voice is either genuine, or very well practiced.

Yeah. And this guy Bach set his house on fire. Nearly killed me.

Bach! Every time I think he's lost the scent.... So, Bach killed Grout to draw me out.

If only it was that simple.

Bach didn't know Grout was dead.



We're forced into fingering Nines. If LaCroix really is trying to frame him, not ratting Nines out signals to LaCroix that we're not to be trusted.

On the way in, I saw Nines Rodriguez leaving the mansion.



I'm positive it was Nines. This may mean war with the anarchs, is that right?

We can't be positive it was, but that's the option that pleases LaCroix the most. And we've already fingered Nines.

It means... Under most circumstances, I would call a blood hunt on the murderer immediately. However, the anarchs of this city may interpret such an action to be a declaration of war. I do not want a war with them. This decision will take some time.



You're becoming quite indispensable to me, so - out of all my available personnel, I'm going to entrust the retrieval of the sarcophagus to you. It was quietly delivered to the Museum of Natural History a few hours ago.

Predictably, even if we were on LaCroix's bad side, he'd give us this task.

I'll go at once.

The manifest from the Dane shows there was a small box from the same dig on board, but it was listed as missing. Keep an eye open for it, it may have been overlooked. It's crucial we get the sarcophagus in our possession within the next few hours.

So we have our next quest, but before we leave we can utilize a dialogue option available to us because of our persuasion score.

[Persuade] All these tasks have left me a little short on cash.



With a little higher of a persuasion score, we could say "That should permit me to more quickly bring the sarcophagus to you", further bettering LaCroix's attitude towards us.

So what do I do now?

Here are the keys to the front door of the museum. The sarcophagus should be in an examination room of some sort. There's a small security staff on site, but I don't want a massacre. Mortals are just as easy to deceive as they are to kill.

We don't actually receive the keys, because Melissa has a better idea.

Keep the keys, I'm going in topside. But I had a few questions first.

One or two, but that's all.

How does Bach know you?

My history with that family dates back to Bach's grandfather, who pursued me into Africa, where I killed him. Bach's father tracked me to London to meet his death. And now Bach and the Society of Leopold have followed me across America. They never learn.

The Society of Leopold -- Christof Romuald had to fight his way out of their London Headquarters in Redemption.

The Society of Leopold?

Witch hunters - an anachronistic holdover from the Middle Ages. They are inquisitors whose fanaticism has convinced them that their triumph over the supernatural will save mankind and secure them a cushy spot in heaven.

What's a blood hunt?

A blood hunt is a death sentence. When one commits a high crime against our society, a blood hunt may be called. It is then the responsibility of the city's Kindred to bring the offender Final Death.

It might surprise you to learn that a blood hunt cannot be called off -- at least that's what was said to me in the Redemption thread. In one of the multiplayer chronicles, the players ended up having a blood hunt called on them, and the chronicle can end with its removal.

I see. I'm ready to go to the museum now.



Okay.

Before we go, let's see the anarchs' reaction to what we've just told LaCroix.



Where is Nines now?

I hear Nines got word. I'd wager he's gonna be layin' low for a while.

What do you think happened?



What can I do to help?

Heh heh. You're just eager to please, ain't ya? I could give a goddamn, kid, but I'm sure the boys here would appreciate it if you kept it business as usual. Ya hear me?

I can do that.

Let's see what Skelter thinks of business as usual.



Not well, evidently.

What did I do?

As if we have to ask.

You fingered Nines. Said he killed a goddamn primogen.

I just saw him there... at least, I think I did.



Splinter Cell: Double Agent had meters of trust for the two factions Sam Fisher had to schmooze with. It certainly would have been ambitious if Troika would have done the same thing in Bloodlines.

Where did Nines go?

Don't expect to see him until this bullshit is resolved.

Alright. I'm outta here.

Believe it or not, Damsel actually has nothing new to say. I'm surprised she doesn't have a new insult to throw our way.



It's been a while. There should be a collection of money waiting for us at Confession.



None of the money will be spent here, Venus.

Before we leave for the mission, we're going to head back to our apartment.



Heather, being a ghoul, might need a fix. There's also our email to check.



Just as predicted.

Looks like a certain ghoul needs her blood fix.

Blood? What do you mean?

That's right -- we've told Heather what we are, just not what she is.

I fed you my blood that night... that's why you feel so "alive".

I didn't mean anything by it. Please, give me your blood.

Here... don't waste it.



And I for you, Heather.



We're destroying her old life.

Your college loan money? I can't take this. You can't drop out.

I'd rather you kept it - I think I'm going to drop outta school. You know, so I can watch over you during the day or run errands for you. It's the least I can do to earn my keep.

Right now we have the option to tell Heather to return to her old life.... but even if it feels like the right thing to do, how interesting is it when compared to the alternative?

When you put it that way - thanks, I could use a few extra bucks.



Good. I'll be back later, in case you want to give me something else.

Last thing to do in our apartment is check our email. There's only one that's new.



TheMcD (which is a terrible forum handle, IMO) had a good post relating to who could be sending these emails:


Now, off we go.



Just drive.



Next time we tackle the Museum heist. Sorry about the gap between this and the previous updates. I had a week of midterms, and at the same time I started reading the Heechee Saga series of sci-fi novels in my spare time.