EOTC: Life as a Lawman

[Chaser1]

Reggie observes her for a moment then looks over to his dad. "Want me to ride over and check her out?" Reggie figures the rest of the party is likely a better shot than him (due to being older/more practiced) and have better odds of providing effective cover fire if it's needed. Plus if she is another refugee, he might be less scary than they others.

The sheriff briefly laughs, "Yeah Reg, go ahead. Keep your guard up in case it's a trap," he pats Reg on the shoulder. Everyone begins aim their weapons in the general direction, observing the woman.

[Norgarth]

Sheathing his rifle, he gets Apple movie at a trot towards the stranger. He does make sure his pistols can be drawn quickly just in case, and angles his approach to avoid getting into the line of fire from his Dad and the others.

As he gets close to her, he calls out, "Hello!"

[Chaser1]

Sheathing his rifle, he gets Apple movie at a trot towards the stranger. He does make sure his pistols can be drawn quickly just in case, and angles his approach to avoid getting into the line of fire from his Dad and the others. As he gets close to her, he calls out, "Hello!"

Reggie’s breath catches. She’s taller than he first thought with long, dirt‑blonde hair matted to her face, features that might’ve been striking if not smeared with grime and old blood. Her bright green eyes lock onto his for a single, desperate second… then her legs buckle. She drops to her knees, swaying, “Please… help…” The words barely escape her before she collapses forward into the sand with a heavy, final thud. She doesn’t move.

Apple trots up beside her, sniffs her once, then lifts his head and scans the horizon with an oddly detached calm. For a horse who usually reacts to everything, his indifference sends a cold ripple through Reggie.

To the south, the quiet is broken by the rising roar of engines. Three flyboys streak in from the direction of Lake Crenshaw, each one kicking up its own twisting column of dust that spirals into the sky like warning flares.

Back at the group, Hank throws his hands up in a wide, exasperated gesture with a half shrug and half demand for an explanation, as if asking, 'What in the hell just happened now?'

[Norgarth]

Reggie grabs his first aid kit and dismounts, moving over to the woman and checking her (First Aid 47%).

If she turns out to be dead (ooc: got a bad feeling about Apple's reaction), he'll check the body looking for identification or some clue where she came from.

[Chaser1]

Reggie grabs his first aid kit and dismounts, moving over to the woman and checking her. She seems dehydrated with multiple minor abrasions across her arms legs and face. She's attractive, even with the severe sunburns across her arms face and shoulders. As Reggie props her up on his lap, her eyes briefly flicker open. Her bright green eyes pierce into his, then cross as they close.

Reggie checks for identification, finding a UI Card. Her name is Patricia Jeunet. She's 28 years old. Her pulse is faint, but her breathing is strong. Seconds later, Lt. Mikado and his boys land several yards away, still kicking dust up towards him.

"Sitrep?" Nico asks.

[Norgarth]

"Not fully sure, sir. She fainted before she could say much. She is dehydrated and sunburnt, which makes sense if she's been walking through the wilderness." Reggie pauses to try and get her to swallow a little water, then lays her down and brings her ID over to the Lt. Mikado. "I found this if it helps."

"We had a refugee arrive from Drive City earlier today, they got hit by Pecos Bandits. She may be another."

[Chaser1]

"Not fully sure, sir. She fainted before she could say much. She is dehydrated and sun burnt, which makes sense if she's been walking through the wilderness." Reggie pauses to try and get her to swallow a little water, then lays her down and brings her ID over to the Lt. Mikado. "I found this if it helps. We had a refugee arrive from Drive City earlier today, they got hit by Pecos Bandits. She may be another."

Nico pauses for a moment, then his SAMAS opens up as he hops out with way too much ease, signifying that he's had to climb in and out of the thing more times per day than he prefers. He takes the ID and gives it a brief once over. Nods slowly and then holds up his index and pinky finger. Vargas aims at the woman as Sgt Williams faces outward, keeping vigilant.

Nico leans down and looks her over with determined concentration. Eventually, he looks up shows a hand signal that Reggie doesn't recognize. He then turns back to Reggie, "Well, deputy. We haven't determined if she's a d-bee or not. So let's get her somewhere secure for observation." He pats Reggie on the shoulder, "Where's the best place besides a jail cell? Just in case she's normal."

[Norgarth]

"Umm, I could bring her back to town, maybe bring her to the clinic. They can treat her heatstroke and can handcuff her to the bed I suppose."

[Chaser1]

"Umm, I could bring her back to town, maybe bring her to the clinic. They can treat her heatstroke and can handcuff her to the bed I suppose."

Nico reaches into his SAMAS and pulls out a set of thick handcuffs, metal clinking in the quiet air. “Here. Use these… in case she’s not what she seems.” His voice is low, almost cautious, and he lifts a hand to beckon the sheriff and the posse over.

As they draw near, Apple edges forward with wary steps. The horse has grown mostly used to the SAMAS suits, but its ears still flick back at their hum, nostrils flaring as if it senses something the humans don’t. Hank, Al, and Karen arrive in a loose formation. Nico’s tilts toward Karen and lingers a moment too long, too intent. She meets his stare without blinking, her expression unreadable.

“Have we met before?” he asks, the question carrying a strange weight.

“No,” she replies, flat as a closed door.

Something in Nico’s posture tightens as he turns to the sheriff, confusion creasing his brow. “I’ll have your deputy take the woman in for treatment, restraints, the works. But we should sweep the entire line again… just in case something’s moving out there.”

Hank nods, though his eyes drift toward the shimmering horizon. He leans close to Reggie, voice barely above a whisper. “Hey, son… just be careful.” The wind slightly shifts making the hum of the ley line more audible.

[Norgarth]

Hank nods, though his eyes drift toward the shimmering horizon. He leans close to Reggie, voice barely above a whisper. “Hey, son… just be careful.” The wind slightly shifts making the hum of the ley line more audible.

Reggie nods back, "Okay, dad."

Then he tries to figure out the easiest way to carry both the woman and himself on Apple. Maybe holding her in front of himself?

OOC: Part of Reggie's OCC starting gear is 6ft of MDC chain and a MDC lock.