10441/The Dragon Moves

The Dragon Moves
Date of Scene:	14 December 2019
Location:	Shanghai, China
Synopsis:	Tombstone sends his emissaries to China to join the chase.
Cast of Characters:	Indiana Jones, Tombstone

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Indiana Jones has posed:
It has been a busy three hours.
The SUV Dr. Jones made off with was found a few miles away, near a subway station. The vehicle had been wiped down, so no chance to trumping up a car theft accusation against the man.
Another hour before someone could be found to translate, the grandfather of a Triad footsoldier (who had been kept out of the loop, because you normally don't trust this sort of thing to the rank and file) who had looked at the words on the cloth and gave the translation. Jingjiazhuang.
By itself, the word meant nothing. Another 30 minutes of searching via Google (as well as the name Hsi Wang Mu) came to a site in Shannxi Province in China. It was out in the rural areas, away from the big cities where the PRC trumpeted how wonderful the Communist utopia was. But it also meant almost no one went out there.

Tombstone has posed:
Tombstone stamped his foot impatiently as he eyes the front door to the Chinese Restaurant he was currently at. Standing at either side of him were members of The Syndicate, a Harlem based gang that Tombstone took over and used to start his drug empire. Their alliegence to The Syndicate was obvious from their colors, which were Black and White. Suddenly, Tombstone heard the bell to the restaurant's door ring and looked up. The newest patron that was walking towards him was a Chinese man wearing a red and gold suit and sunglasses. His black hair was spiked up, obviously by gel, and he had a serious, no nonsense look to him. Tombstone grinned and said,

"You must be Zhao. Mr. Wu has told me a lot about you. Says your his son's best lieutenant. I am sure Wu gave ya a basic run down. But, i will reiterlate just in case. Some bastard university professor nearly burnt somethin that belongs to me. While the bastard got away, he failed at his task and, after getting some old coot a Triad friend of mind knew to translate, this Jones fucka might've lead me to something big. We talking Eternal Life here playa. I want you to go this place, Jingjiazhuang and figure out what is there and if ya find something, bring it back to me. Also, if ya happen to find Jones while there, waste him and whoever is with him. Here is a picture my boys found in a yearbook."

Zhao nods solemly as he takes the photo and slides it into his pocket. But, before he leaves, Tombstone snaps his fingers again and says,

Before ya go, i figyred sendin one man alone, regardless of whatever contacts i manage to get off their lazy asses to help over there, may be a bit unfair, so i am sending ya a little help. Jerome! Get yo ass out here!"

A raspy chuckles is heard as a man wearing a white suit steps out of the shadows. He is a tall, African-American man wearing sunglasses and has short, black hair cut into a buzzcut. The most bizzare and frightening part however, is that his left arm was replaced with a metal arm topped with a hook. Tombstone grinned at the chuckling man and said," This crazy muthfucka is Andrew. I knew this fucka ever since we were kids. This guy has been part of the Loa Boys in Metropolis for years, but has dropped off recently, thus the hand. The fuckers chopped it off. But, he can still kill people pretty good. I want you to bring him with ya." Zhao was about to protest, but Andrew stomps up to him and says," No time for protests now boy. The Loa tell me that Jones is getting to his goal by the minute." Zhao raises his eyebrow but grunts in affirmation and heads out the door, Andrew following. Soon they are on a plane to China, there destination, Shanghai.

Indiana Jones has posed:
As the Odder Couple wing their way westward, a few updates from Tombstone's boys were coming in.

Jones had a cell phone that had been traced by a "friend" at the phone company. The phone had been shut off, but the tower it had pinged last was within range of an Army base in Brooklyn...one with a long airstrip for cargo planes. An hour after that, it had been confirmed by a contact at the base - Dr. Jones had deadheaded on a C-130 headed for Seoul.
The odd note was that he had an assistant, a former student named Cindy Moon. No background on her, but the contact had opined that she was "a tasty little thing."
A little math later, it was confirmed that Dr. Jones and Companion would arrive in China around the same time Zhao and Andrew would...and would probably have similar ways of circumventing Customs.
The man was indeed resourceful.

Tombstone has posed:
After a long flight and some creepy mutterings from Andrew about the Loa, Zhao and Andrew finally arrived in Shanghai. As the two climbed out of the airplane and towards the waiting customs, Zhao gripped Andrew's shoulder and said gently," My friend, we must find a way past customs. We are not exactly carrying "legal hardware"." Andrew just lets out a grunt as he puls out his cell-phone and seemingly calls Tombstone. After a rather lengthy phone-call, Andrew hangs up and says, "The boss manged to get into contact with Fa Lao, his Heroin supplier, and Fal managed to slip a bribe with the airport's customs chief, we should be free to go."

Andrew and Zhao walk past the customs officers, who give them a smile and wave as they walk by. On the way to get a cab, Andrew was being stared at by the people at the airport, but Andrew gave them no heed, except to hold up his and grin menacingly at two children staringly at him funny, scaring the crap out of them. Upon climbing into a cab, Zhao pulls out a laptop from his case and checks fro any emails.

Indiana Jones has posed:
It's not a good sign when you get an email titled POTENTIAL CRAPFEST.

An old-school Triad boss, Kao Chan, had sent some information, including a couple of encrypted documents. The man was nearly a hundred, but his mind was still sharp even though he had been nicknamed "Poisoned Prune."

Tuan Kang was a local warlord in the area. Moved in from Tibet, fancied himself the true successor to Temujin (Genghis Khan). Was filling a power vacuum left by local squabbling Triad clans who fell before him. Due to him operating in remote areas, the PRC wasn't devoted any resources to stopping him. Probably banking on him getting wiped out by the locals, or simply saving up to squash him once he got too big for his britches. The thing was, he was swaying the superstitious farmers by saying he had special powers. No one knew if he was a mutant or what, but he was gathering an army. Number of soldiers...unknown. A picture was added, and even Zhao had to admit the guy LOOKED like a Mongol warlord.
Final Analysis: Tuan Kang was big trouble, and Zhao was told not to underestimate this murderous, tricky bastard.

Tombstone has posed:
Zhao elbows Andrew and tells him to read the emial. Upon reading the email a second time, Zhao turns to Andrew and says," You think you can contact the Loa for advice on how to avoid this madman. If i knew we could be running into this, would'nt have agreed to do this." Andrew just looks at Zhao and says," I will see what they have to say once we arrive at the hotel. But for now, try to relax." The two men then settled in and waited to arrive at the Lotus Hotel, the Hotel Tombstone arranged for them to say.

Indiana Jones has posed:
The Lotus was a high-class place. The drinks weren't watered down, the suites were top-notch, and only the cleanest escorts worked the place. It was rumored that China White herself frequented the place. All in all, a nice place to stay far above the riffraff.
A vehicle was already being set up for them, a Changan CX70, a solidly-designed SUV, with all-wheel drive, offroad capabilities, and survival gear included. Any query about the conditions of roads in the rural areas of Shannxi was met with hysterical laughter. Apparently roads aren't a priority in the Worker's Paradise of China.

Tombstone has posed:
The two men took note on the car and the horrid condition of the roads outsdie of the city. Instead of going out right away, the two decided to room up for the night. As they arrived i tneir room, Andrew immediatley rushed to his part of the room and closed the door, saying something about mediatation. Zhao just shrugged and flopped onto his bed, quickly falling asleep.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Five hours later, the phone for Zhao's room begins to ring. After a few rings, it cuts to the speakerphone for the room.
<WAKE UP, ZHAO!> The voice is loud and acidic, most likely the local boss who set up the car. <JONES LEFT SHANGHAI AN HOUR AGO. GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR!>