Movement

[sable_cloak]

((I'm so sorry for flaking out on you in the middle of this. School has been insane, but I can post as I get time at least!))All three foes of Shiwan Khan had been correct in their statements that Khan would not be silent much longer. There was yet another passage of time where things remained quiet. The younger Shadow kept his distance from New

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[evillurks]

As the Old Tiger has hinted before, he works in his alternate's city at a severe disadvantage. He is without agents, without resources beyond that which his younger self parcels out to him. Although he is no stranger to working alone, the only method to which he can resort to track criminal movements in the underworld is to fall into that kind of role himself. He makes a good act as a washed-up old drunk, hanging on the fringes of things and looking too unreliable to be hired, but also to harmless to bother curtailing their talk around. The cigarette smoke that tends to make a heavy cloud in such gatherings always leaves him the worse for wear, however

[sable_cloak]

The younger Shadow had been working as diligently as had been possible on hiding his own mind. While even he could only work so many miracles in such a short time, this was one that had taxed him. He had made significant progress however.

Upon arriving in New York, he was quick to head for the Tulku's residence, waiting for contact from him. He knew he could still be sensed, but he would test to see what the Tulku made of his improvements. The traps around the building were active, and if there was an opportunity to avoid the perils they would provide, there was little reason to walk in foolishly.

You've been practicing. It was the only welcome he received when he noticed a couple shadows move within the shop. They disappeared soon enough, leaving the building cautiously. The way is clear. The other is on his way?

Yes, Master. He was still wary as he entered and followed the same path to the room, finding the priest girding his sash and the phurba. Across the room was a well-defeated target which indicated a near-mastery

[evillurks]

Within a few minutes, he arrives nearby, but he has had far more practice at concealing his presence. While he's been working still, he has made some effort to curtail his activities and take rest when he can. It's served him well, and even as he PINpoints to their world his mind is calm and quiet. He has come fully armed and focused, ready for whatever the night holds. When he reaches out to both their minds, even that contact is wordless, calm, and well concealed from anyone else. He has hesitated just outside the entrance, unsure of what he might find.

[sable_cloak]

The Tulku smiles, even as the younger Shadow stiffens slightly.

Come in, the way is clear. Marpa Tulku's gentle presence sends its message to the Old Tiger warmly.

[evillurks]

He slips inside with a stronger sense of familiarity this time, and enters the room quietly, but without any particular attempt to evade their notice. His protective measures are against Khan, not his allies, even if they effectively cloaked his presence from them.

Despite the pervading air of calm about him, he allows the slightest of frowns as he comes to stand by them, and bow to the Tulku. "I should have kept better watch on the criminal gatherings..." The rest has done him good, but he is annoyed at himself for missing the warning signs before activity erupted.

[sable_cloak]

"To have prevented it, would have sent Shiwan into hiding yet again." The Tulku cinches the sash tightly about him, his appearance somewhat similar to Khan's with the phurba at his side. "The results are regrettable, but it may be to our benefit."

The Tulku nods to the older Shadow.

"We are as prepared to face Shiwan as we can be. We must face him before his overconfidence is justified by any more successful attacks."

The younger Shadow nodded quietly at the statement. Khan was celebrating his first victory since his defeat at the hands of the Old Tiger. Khan was not a fool, but he was a slave to his own egotism.

[evillurks]

There is a brief impulse to take charge, to give orders and assign their roles, but it is forcibly stifled. Working in his alternate's world demands a constant effort on his part to bow to the younger man's rules. Only the fact that they are so close to his own makes such a loose partnership possible. As he has done so often of late, he lets go of the lead of the situation.

"What approach do you want me to take?" There is, perhaps, the subtlest tension in his voice. He has never liked following orders, at any age, and to do so when he is technically the senior of the group is mildly aggravating.

[sable_cloak]

((AT LONG LAST, A REPLY!!))

The younger Shadow would prefer to stage the attack in waves, but without agents to pick up the rout once it starts, he will have to choose another way. That the Old Tiger has relinquished control of the situation to him, is not missed. In his own way, he appreciates the small sense of control it returns to him.

"Initially, you will be accompanied by Marpa Tulku." He tips the brim of his hat to the holy man, who simply nods back. "Scan the immediate area for naljorpa and Khan's presence, I will follow once we have an idea of what we may face in the throne room." He pauses, taking the extra second to stifle his pride again. "When Khan is located, whoever has the best opportunity should take it. I would like him for myself, but I would rather see his corpse, than to waste an opportunity."

[evillurks]

((Glad to see it! Still, school comes first.))

The heavily lined face is an impassive mask as he nods. This is work, and he's quick to slip into the mindset of that regardless of who is laying out the plans. "If more than one of us can be spared at that opportunity, a joint attack would have a better chance, but we'll have to take it as it comes." There is the subtlest flickering of his psychic energies, as he makes a quick check of the various shields layered around Myra and Ming. Practice across dimensions has made it slightly easier, but it remains a constant if subtle drain. He gives no outward sign of this, pulling out his PINpoint to draw up the coordinates taken from within Khan's throne room.

[sable_cloak]

The Tulku glances over at the Old Tiger, but his look is only one of brief distraction, before he nods his acceptance of his role. He moves within arm's length of the Old Tiger, uncertain how the devices work as he speaks.

"I am ready."

The Younger Shadow has the coordinates as well, and pulls out his own PINpoint, drawing them up in case he needs to meet them quickly.

[evillurks]

Physical contact is generally required, and in any case the space they'll be dropping into is not a large one. There seems to be little more to say, but the old man draws a gun with his free hand, takes the safety off, and takes a long step closer to put himself arm-to-shoulder with the Tulku.
A press of the button drops them into the space between curtains and throne room doors, and The Shadow lands with the gun at the ready.

[golden_master]

The Tulku and the Old Tiger are dropped into the throne room entrance, but the room is in pitch black. There is a rancid stench in the darkness, and the room is significantly warmer. There are no naljorpas to sense in the darkness, and the Tulku keeps his shoulder in contact with The Shadow as he soundlessly draws his phurba, taking up position with their backs together.

I do not sense naljorpa in the room. There are ones nearby, but I would need to expose our presence to find them.

[evillurks]

In the darkened space, The Shadow lets his other senses take over, although perhaps it would be best not to rely to heavily on smell. The PINpoint is swiftly put away in an inner pocket, and rather than draw a second gun he opts for the tiny flashlight, although he does not immediately turn it on. Schooling his own breathing, he listens for that of others, and very carefully sends out mental tendrils. It must be done with calm care, lest he give away his own presence, but he's not nearly as skilled at it as the Tulku is.
The smell... it's warmer, something's been drastically changed. Might be a trap. He edges sideways, keeping the wall at his back until he feels the first door hinge against his shoulder. If he's reached the edge of the doorframe, then somewhere in front of him in the blackness is the edge of the curtain along this wall. His eyes seek out any shred of light, and he turns on the flashlight within his pocket, drawing it out with his hand cupped over the lens.

[golden_master]

There's the occasional sound of softly hissing air, but it hardly sounds human. The door frame is solid and does not move as he presses against it. The Tulku follows The Shadow's example.

When the light blinks on, even in the dim light, vague, coiled movement is visible just beyond the curtain. Some of the coiling freezes at the light, and the head of a great constrictor pokes its head under the curtain, its beady eyes reflecting the dim light. It's obvious even this behemoth is not responsible for the sounds and movement, it is not alone, but it is the only one currently interested in the sudden glow.

[evillurks]

It's been a while since he was threatened by a snake, and The Shadow does not immediately recognize the sound, but when he makes out the shape of it in the diffused glow he is not alarmed. He has always had a certain rapport with animals, which are so much easier to get along with than people.
He also recognizes that this is likely the least of immediate threats. His hand is steady, and he keeps it clenched about the light so that only a dim trickle escapes between gloved fingers. Slowly he move the hand with the flashlight to one side, away from his body, distracting the snake's gaze while his own makes use of the limited light. He scans the floor at the base of the curtains, and whatever of the vast dark room beyond he can see. Unfortunately the light is not likely to reach far in such a large space.

[golden_master]

What can be made out in the poor lighting, shows that the room has been converted from its prior use, into a make-shift snake temple. Naljorpa with their writhing bodies have been known to worship the animals, and it is not outside of Khan's preferences to hold a certain fondness for them as well. The room that can be seen is a writhing mass, mostly constrictors, but smaller, more colorfully banded snakes can be made out in the mix as well. None appear to be poisonous, but bones occasionally poke up between coils. It's impossible to identify the various remains.

The large constrictor that watches the glowing fist flicks its tongue toward it hungrily.

The Tulku holds no dislike of snakes, but he knows the purpose of the temple, and that earns a deep frown as he watches the snake carefully.