IC: Project Infinity Options

[gobogen]

Thursday March 6, 2070, 13:30.
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

"Hello, my friends. As you know I've brought you here today to tell you about your first job and to go over the introductions. Don't mind speaking openly here, the owner of this place, Carlo, is a good friend of mine, and what goes on in this private room stays here."

The aging Italian human you know as Sonic takes a sip of red wine before moving on. You notice that his right arm is likely cybered under his very expansive suit. This man definitely had his fair share of action back in the day.

"I'm the kind of guy that goes right down to business so here it is. I've received a call from a corporate johnson who has a datasteal job for you. You'll meet him tonight at the Matchsticks nightclub near the Space Needle, at 8 o’clock sharp. Ask for Mr. Johnson in boot #14 and you'll be let in. He's the one who will give you the details."

Again, Sonic takes the time to look at your reaction while drinking a bit more from his glass. At the same time, dishes of pasta arrive for everyone at the table.

"As you know, you are my first team of runners and this will be the first job that I have accepted as a fixer. So I'm counting on you five to do this well and give yourselves - as well as myself - a good name with this opportunity. I will be available if you need advice, but please contact me only if it’s for something of importance, I'm a busy man."

Not paying attention to the food in front of him, he continues. "Now is the time for introductions and also the time to figure out who would be a good leader for your team. Any team needs a decision-maker and it's up to you to pick one. I already know each one of you to some extent, but I'll let each one introduce himself."

With that, Sonic looks around the table to see who will speak up first, while enjoying the traditional American-Italian meatball spaghetti that he had ordered for everyone.

[Redjack]

Thursday March 6, 2070, 13:30. Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

The elven man looks at ease in the suit he wears as he approaches the table. Being the first, after Sonic, to sit he nods to his host as the others follow in. He is the epitome of a fey elf with his slender build, his youthful appearance, his platinum-colored long hair and his deep blue eyes. A closer look also betrays his upbringing: Manacured finger nails.

He listens as Sonic lays everything out, laying a napkin across his lap. He lifts the wine, breathing in the wine's aroma before taking a first, delicate taste. His actions, motions with the glass of wine are almost erotic almost teasing the wine. When Sonic calls for introductions, PartyTime speaks up:

"My name is Simon Vindicre, but you can call me PartyTime." Then, in response to a silent command a watcher-spirit materializes in the form of a sprite and flitters around the table for a moment, pixie dust appearing to fall from his gossamer wings. "I am magical support for the team." With that said, the watcher fades away. He finishes with a seductive smile almost as if this were a fine meal celebrating a grand occation and the team were old friends, "and I am happy to be here with you all today."

[Syndicate_killer]

Thursday March 6, 2070 13:32
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Amok is already 3 fork fulls into his pasta by the time Simon finishes his introduction and slurps down the soda someone thought was appropriate to put into a wine glass for him before he begins speaking. Amok's hair is braided into several hanging braids in no real attempt to be fashionable yet, it seems appropriate considering the rest of his garmets. Amok sports the classical street wear, the type that isnt fashionable. Waving the fork slightly as he speaks. "I'm...uh Amok, and i'll be handleing your matrix needs." Amok puts another fork full of pasta in his mouth before continuing. "Chum this is great, do they do take out?...oh it'll probly be best if we all link and run our comm's through a nexus.." Amok points to himself "like moi here.....I'll be like the PAN handler." Amok begins to chuckle to himself at his joke.

[SoyKaf Adict]

Thursday March 6, 2070 13:34
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

Mulling over the spaghetti in front of him, chuckling at Amok's joke, Erik McKinney eyes everyone around him with a sort of quiet acknowledgment. "Name's Erik, chums back at the Wagon used to call me 'EatMe.'" Looking towards Sonic , he clears his throat and continues. "It's my duty to make sure those pesky bullet wounds get fixed up, I do cybernetic work for those of us who're wired as well..." He stops long enough to look at everyone with obvious cyberware first, and then skimming the rest. "I also like long walks on the beach." Adding his joke up on the shelf with Amok's, smiling slightly.

[Cthulhu449]

Esteban's fork bottomed out time and again in his pile of pasta, the clink and screech of steel on ceramic a familiar feasting chorus. Real food was always a luxury in the sprawl, and while he couldn't be sure this spaghetti was the real deal, sometimes just not being able to tell was good enough. He nodded his head to each person in turn as they introduced himself, mouth full of food, until it was his turn in line. Swallowing the food in his mouth and wiping his lips on a napkin with a broad sweep, he held his index finger up to ask for a moment before speaking up.

"Good to meet you all, I'm Esteban," he shook the hands of those near him and tapped his head in a small salute to those too far away to reach, "I hope if we work together we'll be on a first name basis, so 'Esteban' is fine."

He nodded and went on, "This food is great Senor Sonic, thank you." Then he was silent again, a rogue meatball demanding his undevided attention.

[Trigger]

Thursday March 5 2070 13:35
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

Holden swirls the wine glass in his hands as he listens to the older man called Sonic make his statement, giving them little details about the job without giving away too much, probably because he didn't know much more than he let on. He most likely knew who their Johnson was, but Holden didn't expect him to ever tell them who he was. And why should he? They were getting paid and that was all that mattered.

He watched as the elf at the table summoned a watcher and gloated with his magical power, showing off his skill as though they weren't sitting in a restaraunt surrounded by sleepers. The elf didn't know who could be watching, who could have just taken down his signature only to set him up for some crime later.

Holden took a couple of bites of the spaghetti, enjoying the taste of real italian food again, but it was nothing compared to what he had growing up a mafia kid. They knew italian food. And still it was not nearly as fulfilling and enjoyable as the taste of pure mana sustaining him. Holden would have much rather partaken of his ambient mana around him than the noodles and balled meat in front of him.

Holden gestures with his right hand as he finally speaks to everyone at the table, the ankh tattooed onto the back of his right hand showing from under the sleeve of his long brown coat. "My name is Holden and I find things. People, data, gear, whatever-I find it."

[gobogen]

Thursday March 6, 2070, 14:15
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

As his guests are enjoying their meal, Sonic focuses the conversation such that everyone gets more familiar with each other because he believes that it is essential for a starting team to know its strengths and weaknesses. The fixer also insists on the importance of appointing a leader for the team, adding with a slight Italian accent that "a shadowrunning team without a leader is as good as a chicken without a head."

After a bit of dicussion, it is decided that Holden would be taking the leadership position for now.

"Unless there is something else that we need to discuss, I think that I will leave you. I doubt that anything could go wrong at the meet tonight. Tab's on me and this room must be empty by 2:30. Good luck gentlemen. "

[SoyKaf Adict]

Thursday March 6, 3070 14:20
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

After eying Sonic all the way out the door, finally alone he relaxes. McKinney looks at everyone in the circle of the table, leaning up on to the table resting on his forearms.
"All right, can't say it's habit but I only trust people I'm working with. I said before, that I worked at the Wagon and obviously we worked in a group, I don't know about any of you, but there are a few things we're gonna have to work out, Chums."
He looks at Holden specifically before looking at the others. Shifting his weight and ultimately slouching back into his chair with a satisfied grin.
"Obviously, we've already moved past the group leader bit, you guys got SubVox? We're gonna need those."

[Redjack]

Thursday March 6, 3070 14:21; Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

Simon sits back for a moment listening as the others introduce themselves. What a gaggle we are: Hacker, medic, a second mage perhaps?.... Not sure about the Atlzaner though...

Whew.. I didn't really want to be team lead anyway. WAY to much responsibilty. Bet he won't have much time to paaarrrtay.

"Five hours to the meet? I have a few errands to run. I can give you all my LTG and we can meet up before the meet, if that sounds ok?"

[Syndicate_killer]

Thursday March 6, 14:22
Supremo Pizza and Pasta


Amok partially gulps down another mouthful of pasta to speak." Yeah if we can exchange links I can begin routing them. I wont mess with your presets or anything." Amok smiles and his body language becomes animated as he gets excited about an idea. "Whoa...chums, I just got a wiz idea...I got a bomb program I can uplink so if anyones tries to hack the PAN...BOOM!!! it'll be a nasty little suprise for sure."

[Cthulhu449]

"This thing barely has enough memory to run solitaire, but it sounds like a fine idea to me," Esteban said, flicking his commlink to accept inbound from the rest of the group's LTGs.

[Trigger]

Thursday March 6 2070, 14:23
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

"Just as long as the bomb does not destroy anything in my files," replied Holden as he accpeted the LTG numbers of the team and sent out his own. "Subvocal communication was a basic part of my last line of work and so was team work. Like you McKinney I was a part of a team and I learned to trust those I worked with more than any others. It is an integral part of being a team. I am willing to work with any of you to establish trust if need be, but don't expect me to be your best friend. So far this is just one run, but it could be more, so I am not opposed to working in depth with any of you."

[Redjack]

Thursday March 6 2070, 14:24; Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Listening to the conversation about friendships and the like, Simon holds back a smirk. Man I thought had issues. I should introduce them to the virtual shrink program. Think I'll talk to the hacker off-line about the coms though..

"You can't have been a clubber very long and not use sub-vocals.."

@Holden

[ Spoiler ]

<[PartyTime] Hey chummer. I see that your wiz too. Thought we could compare notes on how we might complement each other's skills?>

[Syndicate_killer]

Thursday March 6 14:24
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Amok reponds to the comment by Holden." No worries chummer, I'm going to interface the databomb program to the Input Organizer array sub routine and loop it from my PAN as the master unit to monitor, like a fail safe right? Then do a back hack from the array to the microprocessor..." Amok see's the looks of bewilderment or plain boredom and continues "Uh yeah....I'll just make it work...null sweat." Amok looks over Esteban's commlink from a distance "Chum, that things uh ....chum you need an upgrade, probly running on the stock Operating system it came with too I bet......you actually get reception with this?"

[SoyKaf Adict]

Thursday March 6, 2070 14:26
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

After fiddling with his comm a moment to send out his LTG and comm link address, he sits back, idly disinterested with the technobabble being presented. Looking at every person of the group as his mind wandered with details.

Hmmm... Team work, Holden, not involved with running or the Wagon that was for sure, maybe he was some corporate wage slave before this, wow... Look at me talking, I was one too. Amok, a dime-a-dozen hacker, more of them than Cockroaches in Seattle it'd seem. Esteban, kid's probably seeing his first action this run... Gonna have to keep my eye on him, make sure he stays alive long enough to see his balls drop. PartyTime... Who gets a nickname like PartyTime anyway? fraggin' Elves.

He shakes his head like a mother disapointed with their child at his last thought. As PartyTime comments on his being a clubber, he tunes back into the conversations going on. Watching Esteban hold the 2 nuyen drekheap comm, he knew he was gonna need some looking after, but then again...

I could always teach him the tricks of the trade, it would be kind of a tribute...

He trails off, a stray glance goes down to where his concealed holster is on his chest, covered by the jacket of his dinner attire. Assuming karma didn't already have the kid in it's crosshairs.

[Cthulhu449]

Thursday March 6, 2070 14:28
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

"Nah, this," Esteban said gesturing to his commlink, "this is all I'll ever need. Did I ever t...well, of course I never told you," he laughed a bit at himself, "I remember slapping together some traceivers - the bare bones things, no operating systems or such, because we didn't have the parts at the time - and all the damn thing could do was transmit some chirps and squeaks. Cap knew some sort of code they used to use at the turn of the century, so no problem." Esteban shrugged his shoulders.

"Anyway, it was damn useful. So we're 3 klicks out of Zone Lagos - I can't tell you where that is or I'd have to kill you as they put it," he chuckled and looked around to see if anyone else got the joke. Whether they did or not, he wasn't about to be stopped in mid story. Twirling and stabbing his fork in the air to accentuate his points, he continued.

"And three klicks out we're sitting there waiting on some Azzie supplies that are supposed to roll through, but they're late. So we send some of these beeps back to our cover and recover team waiting to take the supplies and ask if they have any idea what's going on because, well you know, if things don't go e'zactly as you 'spect you s'posed to bug out." His spanish accent became more pronounced as he got deeper into the tale.

"So, they send back what they hear on the radio - oh, I forgot to mention the cover and recover team was monitoring azzie comms; we had their codes at that time. So we get the answer back and the convoy has pulled up short because the Azzie CommInt officer in the group has been picking up some intermittent beeps and squeaks on his 'link. The whole time we're holding up the show because of our prehistoric transceivers! Anyway, we go silent and finally the strike goes off without a hitch, but man, I guess it pays to be a history buff, or at least it would have for those Azzies. But the moral is, don' be hating on the low tech, man."

Esteban took a swig of his drink. "I have to say, it's nice being able to tell that story and not have an Aguilar rain hell on the bar you're drinking in just because you forgot to check for bugs. I kid, that never happened of course, but it is a nice thing. Hey, do any of you follow Urban Brawl?" He asked, changing the subject abruptly before descending into a long private conversation about the state of the North American leagues.

[Trigger]

Thursday March 6 2070, 14:29
Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

Holden reads over the last message from PartyTime and files the series away into the memory of his comm as the little clock in the upper right corner of his vision flcikers. He cracks his knuckles to draw attention away from the tale Esteban is weaving and to himself.

"It is nearly 2:30 and the room is no longer going to be at our disposal. May I suggest that we take the meeting somwhere else? I have a doss in northern Tacoma not too far from here that will be able to accomodate us all." Holden suggests to the table as he pushes his own chair back from the table and rises to his feet. He collects himself and straightens his coat, adjusts the long locks of black hair with burgundy highlights in front of his eyes, and pulls a pair of shades from a pocket inside his coat. "Let us decide where we are headed quickly, as I do not want to intrude on Sonic's kindness."

[Redjack]

Thursday March 6 2070, 14:29; Supremo Pizza and Pasta, Downtown Seattle

Noticing the time after having spent several minutes getting to know his teammate Holden better over coms and hearing the current dialog, Partytime gets up from the table. "I'm game, your doss is as good as any chummer. Who has wheels?"

[Syndicate_killer]

Thursday March 6, 14:29
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Amok speaks up at the question."I'm mostly public transportation these days." Attempting a smile at Esteban, Amok sheepishly speaks "I meant nothing by it.....I can jazz it up if you like. It'll be the same thing as putting a new engine in your favorite car...one with super charging and kickass....well...I dont know cars but, some fast stuff. I can boost performance by switching...." Amok stops himself before he begins more of his techno-babble.

[Cthulhu449]

Thursday March 6, 14:30
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Esteban shook his head at Amok, smiling, "Oh, don't worry about it man, I appreciate it, I'm just kidding around with you. When we get to Holden's place I'll throw it your way - I know a little about electronics myself, I'll be interested to see."

He looked over at PartyTime, "Yeah, I've got wheels. I'll stop off and grab us something to drink on the way - it isn't 'party time' without some drinks, no?" Rising from the table he gave Amok a strong pat on the back of his shoulder to clear up any hard feelings and grabbed the address from Holden.

"I hope you have a trid'" he said, "the finals are on; Mitsuhama Warriors vs. Ares-St. Louis Patriots, don't wanna miss that. Anyone who needs a ride can jump on the back of my bike if they want."

With the invitation out there, Esteban headed out the door and hopped on his bike (with or sans passenger) and throttled out into the streets.

[gobogen]

Thursday March 6, 14:30
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

On his way out Esteban crosses a short, chubby Italian man in his late 40s, who was about to enter the room.

"Imma so sorry, gentlemen. I thought the room woulda be empty. Iffa you choose to stay here longer, it isa my pleasure", the man says with a thick Italian accent.

He then stands right outside the room passively to see if you leave or stay.

[Redjack]

Thursday March 6, 14:30 Supremo Pizza and Pasta

PartyTime follows Estaban out the door, "That it isn't!" He accepts the offer for the ride and jumps on back.

[Trigger]

Thursday March 6th 2070
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

"I also have wheels if needed, I can take two more in my car,"Holden added as he too started from the meeting room towards the parking lot and his own Honda Spirit.

[Syndicate_killer]

Thursday March 6,
Supremo Pizza and Pasta

Amok stuffs two breadsticks from the table into his mouth and a small handful that was left in the baskets on the table into his longcoat pocket before exiting. "Yeah....I need a ride. I mostly use the mass transit...it's a wonderful system, although it has a few problem areas...things like having to jump to other lines, and crowds....chum, I heard of the unwashed masses but, wheeeewww. It's like a melting pot of bad cheeses, beer and onions....i never seen or smelled a real onion before but, VR is pretty much on. So, I've been told." Amok keeps chatting away as he follows Holden out.

[gobogen]

Thursday March 6
Downtown Seattle

It's cold and sad in Seattle today. What can be seen of the sky in downtown is fully covered, and the evening will be snowy if the forecasts are accurate. And the forecasts always are when it's about snow or rain or anything miserable.

Wageslaves and punks alike are walking by with the same air of desperation. It's business as usual for the anonymous masses and no one seems to have anything to look up to, especially not spring which gives no sign of getting closer.

A very tall woman in her 30s is walking by not far from you. She slows down and looks intently at each one of you as she progresses on the sidewalk. She is wearing a black and white mini-skirt and a white puffy winter jacket which lets her pretty legs uncovered and probably freezing. Her hair is very short and electric blue and she has no tattoos or piercings on a rather ordinary face. She blows a kiss in the air and winks in your direction when she passes nearby.