IC: Initial Shadow Offering Options

[Sicarius]

1930, September 17th, somewhere between "The Seattle Hilton" and Pullyup, Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

"aight chum, I'll keep my ear to the street, but it'll cost ya... and let me know about these transcievers quick, I don't wanna lose the guy." Miron thinks, at least you presume he's thinking, he's awful quiet, before he says,

"Hobbes? Phiber Electronics? I'll see what I can find out.. And what do you want the decker for? Different things have different costs, and no two deckers are the same ya know."

After hanging up, it wasn't long before George was home... Unfortunately Judith was also home. She glared with a raised eyebrow as the ork slide through the door.

"You done working?" She asks, hands on hips. Its difficult to tell if she means are you done "this" job, or done 'running, more permenantly.

[Mister Juan]

1930, September 17th, somewhere between "The Seattle Hilton" and Pullyup, Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

To Miron:
"Mostly need someone who could handle some easy datasearch. I don't really need someone right now... but I'd like to have a name on stand by in case the need arises."

As he went up the small crooked stairs that led to his apartment, George could already hear the filtered noise from the trideo coming out from under the door... Judith was definitely home. It was passed seven o'clock; of course she was home. Actually, if she hadn't been, George would have been worried. A few months ago, the ork wouldn' have been so worried about his wife, but since she had fallen pregnant, his protective instinct had quadruple. He had even gone around Judith's back to her father, and convinced him of lessening her work load at the family restaurant.

As soon as he slipped the magkey in the lock and crossed the door, Judith was already in the kitchen's doorway, glaring at him with a raised eyebrow. In a strange manner, her chinese look made her look even more angry than she probably was. Hands on her hips, she spoke in a quick and sharp tone.

"You done working?"

Taking his coat off, George decided to ignore the question. As she sighed heavily, putting some hair behind her left pointed elf ear. It was a nervous ticks of hers; every time she felt aggravated, she'd fix her long black hair.

"I asked you a question George? Are you done for the day?" she asked in a frustrated tone, getting closer to her husband.

As he turned around to give her a kiss, she turned her head on the side. Not matter, the ork kissed her cheek.

"Come on baby, don't start..."

"Well, are you or not?"

"No. I'll be busy for the next 3 or 4 days... I probably won't come home until then..."

"Oh really..." Judith was disappointed... but she tried to hide it behind a frown.

As George went toward a large metal footlocker in the living room, he could feel the tension already starting to build in the air.

"Well.... it's nothing too dangerous I hope."

I could never come home

"Miron was right; it's a real cake walk. Some nobody simply wants to show off. It's really nothing dangerous."

Methodically, George started gearing up. Judith immediately turned away, shying off in the kitchen. She hated guns... and could never stand watching her husband prepare for a job.

"Listen babe, I'd like you to go at your parents for the next few days."

"I'm fine by myself George." she said from the next room.

"Well, I'd feel better to know there's someone with you."

She poked her head in the living room. The frown was gone for her face and she was now happily smiling... or at least was trying to.

"Are you at least going to stay for supper?"

Shutting the locker, the ork got up and incircled his wife with his large arms.

"I'm sorry honey... I really have to run." he smiled back at her.

"Even if I make that pork just the way you like it" she replied with a sheepish look on her face.

After a brief chuckle, the both kissed pationatly, knowing they wouldn't see each other for a few days.

A few minutes later, George was left he house. Walking back to his bike, the ork smirked to himself, trying to imagine Judith's face when she'd notice the 1 grand credstick sitting on the kitchen counter.

As he hopped back on his bike, he dialed Caitlin's number to inform the two women about the deal he had just gotten from Miron.

[Glyph]

1930, September 17th, "The Seattle Hilton", Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

Caitlin quickly mulls her options when George calls. The comm gear is a bit pricey, considering the pay for the job, but she should still clear enough scratch to keep the wolf from the door - the one upside to her squalid living conditions is that they are low maintenance. And it was something she was going to get soon, anyways. And not getting it could cost her some of her fledgeling rep... with a slight internal wince, she agrees to the purchase that has been arranged for her.

"Yes, that sounds like a fair deal for a basic micro-transceiver. Now let me ask our colleague."

Caitlin turns to Nadia.

"George has scrounged up some basic comm gear from someone he knows. It's a cool grand, but that's still not bad for pro-level stuff, even if it's pretty basic. I've decided to get some; how about you?"

[Sicarius]

As you talk, Hobbes is mumbling about how unlikely it was that a jumped up piece of pullayup barrens trash could take him in a net fight.

his nose has started bleeding again because he doesn't leave it alone.

[Musashi Forever]

"I'll take it," Nadia says. It was expensive, but she'd be able to clear it after getting paid for protecting Hobbes. Besides, it was a good piece of equipment to have around.

[Mister Juan]

As George was making his way back unto the highway, he slowed the bike a bit down to pay closer attention to Caitlin's voice coming in his ear.

"Good. I'll go pick them up on my way in."

His next call was to Miron, informing him that the deal was on and that he would come pick up the gear as soon as it was ready.

[Glyph]

After getting off the phone with George, Caitlin walks over to Hobbes to clean him up again, with an internal sigh, resisting the impulse to scold him.

[Sicarius]

George Only

[ Spoiler ]

"Not a problem chum. I'll be parked out back behind Dante's. I had business there anyway so its no biggie. "

Just when your about to hang up and head over, he speaks up again,

"Oh.. just cause you asked ya know, I got a hit on a search for your boy
Hobbes. Most of it was pretty dull stuff, 'xactly way you described, but I happened to run the name by a deck-hand you asked, and he said he'd heard that the Reality-Hackers out in Pullayup were asking around about a Hobbes. Donno if its the same guy, but thought you might be interested. F..Y..I last word I heard the Hackers were dealing out of a night club on the Tacoma..Pull border, and recently had a fruckus with the Yak over some job which went south. I apologize, but I'm gonna have to charge you for that btw... It cost me a decent penny to learn that, My deck-boy says they throw a hell of a bash, getting him to tell me something that might get him thrown off the guest list was expensive. Any...WHOOOO... See ya soon."

Caitlin and Nadia Only

[ Spoiler ]

Hobbes thanks Nadia for the attention, and than says... "So anyone up for food? Cause i'm fraggin famished... I'm figuring room service right?" He moves towards the telecom in the living room.

[Musashi Forever]

"Whoa, boss!" Nadia says. "I don't think we want even the room service people spending more time up here than necessary. Why don't you tell me what you want and I'll go get it for you."

[Sicarius]

"aight aight," Hobbes throws his hands up in mock defeat... "There was a sports bar in the lobby right.. Hook me up with a soy-burger, some fries and a soy-choco-shake." He offers out his hand for your certified credstick, and transfers a small amount for you. "Feel free to grab something for yourself and for your partners." Their boss seems pleased with his own generosity.

[Musashi Forever]

Proud of herself for getting a hang of the whole bodyguading thing. Nadia heads downstairs after taking Caitlin's food order.

[Sicarius]

After getting Caitlin's food order, Nadia makes her way down the elevator.

[ Spoiler ]

BING! It's really unbelievable how quickly the elevator brings you to the lobby. From there its only a short jaunt to the Sports Bar. Unfortunately, its packed to the brim, with standing room only, as fans decked out in the colors of a minor league urban brawl team compete to see who can scream loudest at the trid. The only space to place an order is at the bar, on the left side of a medium height japanese suit, who is drinking some kind of dark liquor from a glass. He appraises you as you side up to the bar and place your order.

"Hello there.." He says to you. The look on his face tells you he's not just hitting on you. The barman disappears to place your order.

"Is Mr. Hobbes enjoying his stay?" The suit asks you. You can't help but notice his hand is tucked into the inside of his suit jacket.

[Musashi Forever]

"Yeah, he's doing fine," Nadia says, trying her best to play it cool.

Then, using her voice control power to imitate the suit's voice, she cries out, "THE T-BIRD'S CAN SUCK MY FRAGGING COCK!"

After yelling, she makes for the sports bar's entrance.

GM

[ Spoiler ]

I am hoping that at least the drunken brawl fans will think the suit has insulted their team and will hassle him, if not attack him. Nadia wants to escape in the confusion so she can call her partners and ask them what she should do next. She's counting on the public place preventing the man from shooting her. Tell me what rolls you want me to make and I'll make them.

[Mister Juan]

1950, September 17th, 5th Avenue & Madison Street, Behind Dante's Inferno , Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

A good 20 minutes after talking to Miron, George arrived at the Inferno. Having been a boucer for some time in his life, being around such a places brought back both good and bad memories. Truth be told, George wasn't a big fan of that kind of places.... large crowds, lost of noise, everyone packed in a tiny box... it all made him uncomfortable.

As he pulled up behind the establishement, in the large parking, finding Miron wasn't too much of an issue.

Cutting the engine on his bike, George hailed the fixer.

"Hoi chummer. Hope I didn't make you wait too long"

[Sicarius]

Miron is sitting on top of a black Westwind, his legs crossed at the ankles. Miron is wearing a ankle length leather trenchcoat, open to feature subtly armored clothing. the side of his head features two data jacks, and a chipjack. One might wonder if Miron didn't emerge fully grown from the sprawl like Athena from Zeus' head... already wheeling and dealing. as the Ork gets closer, the fixer tosses a package to him.. Catching it adroitly, George sees it contains two micro-transcievers, with small mics meant to be taped to a cuff or shirt collar and a small optical chip.

"There you go. Four-thousand is the price, plus another eight hundred for the low-down I managed to pull up on Hobbes. The most notable info i gave you over the cell, but the file i included has some background info.. place of birth, police record, school enrollment, some W-2s. It was short notice, but the guy is a total civilian so it was not really a problem. Hence the price being on the lower end of the spectrum.. I take it we're cool?" Miron says, his fingers making that most international of signs...

[Mister Juan]

1955, September 17th, 5th Avenue & Madison Street, Behind Dante's Inferno , Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

George, not even double checking the package, slid it under his arm. Miron was, even for a fixer, a good guy. If he said the package was good, it was.

"Thanks a lot chummer, saved me a lot of trouble on this one."

After speaking with Caitlin and Nadia, George had already taken care of arranging the payment to be made. The 4 000 nuyens would be transfered via the matrix to numerous anonymous acounts before being rerouted to one of Miron's. Quickly dialing a local RTG number on his phone, George gave the electronic go ahead for the transfer. He made sure to add the 850 from his own pocket.

"Well, I'm sure you've got tons of people to see tonite."

The large ork turned around and started walking back to his bike.

"You take care of yourself chummer." he said as he turned the ignition key on.

The biker was then on his way back to the hotel.

[Sicarius]

1955, September 17th, 5th Avenue & Madison Street, Behind Dante's Inferno , Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

George Only

[ Spoiler ]

Miron waves goodbye, heads towards the front of the club, and is quickly waved to the front of the line by the bouncers, as you hop on your Harley and head back to the hotel. Traffic is getting thicker as the clubbers are beginning to flock to the downtown area for party purposes. You really aren't far from the hotel, but how long it will take will depend on the traffic risks your willing to take.

[ Spoiler ]

a bike test against TN 4 will speed you up, representing some risky traffic weaving to get to your destination rapidly

Caitlin Only

[ Spoiler ]

You are sitting all alone with Hobbes, who doesn't seem to know what to do with himself as he waits, his hands figeting... when suddenly the phone rings.. Hobbes snatches it up.

"Hello..." On the screen appears a 50ish white male human, wearing a nicely tailor business suit.

"Mr.Hobbes.. our discussions were interupted a moment ago." The man says.

"My apologizes," Hobbes offers, "I had a slight interupting with my connection. We'll have to conduct business by Trid-phone for the time being."

"I understand.. In any case, let me tell you that we have several interested prospects at the IPO we discussed. But all are contingent upon an agreement with Microdeck if that falls through, few are willing to bank on the company's survivability."

"I know that... but do Gate's people?" Hobbes asks.

"That's unknown. Let me tell you though that the people here at Dassurn are anxious to see your success."

Hobbes looks over and flashes Caitlin an "what a bunch of drek" look, before looking back,

"Certainly. The meeting time is set?"

"well," the suit replies, "They've asked that we bump it up to tommorrow? are you comfortable with that?"

"Certainly, saves me money." Hobbes says with a smile. "What time?"

"Noon. See you there." The converstation ends abruptly.

Hobbes turns to Caitlin,

"Can you folks be ready by tommorrow afternoon? On our part it will be me, the broker, you folks and maybe Selina. They'll be bringing their own security, and a number of suit types. The conference room is about 10 floors down. It's been reserved since yesterday. So its all yours to check out.

[Glyph]

Caitlin nods coolly. "The change in security plans, we can adjust to easily enough. Understand, however, that we still expect to be paid the full amount that we negotiated earlier, whether you require our presense for the full three days or not. I have a distaste for re-opening negotiations during the middle of the job. I don't try to extort extra money from employers when unexpected complications arise, and I expect the same courtesy from them. I'm sure my colleagues would concur."

Her expression softens back into her usual introspective look. "Now, as for the conference room, have no fear, we will go over it thoroughly. I'll wait until George gets back, though. Someone should stay with you at all times until the meeting. I also want to ask him how this might change our plans to keep you moving. If the meet is tomorrow, we might be sticking closer to the hotel."

[Sicarius]

Nadia's scream appears to suprise the "Suit". Nadia is equally suprised as the first round from the pistol hits her right over the breast plate, thumping solidly against the form fitting body armor. The second round whizzes harmlessly by, as Nadia takes the momentum of the first round, and uses it to her advantage, spinning to her feet and towards the door.
No one seems to notice the shots, the sounds of screaming fans and clinking glasses covers it. But they definetely notice that the "Suit" isn't a home-town fan, thanks to Nadia's subterfuge, and three burly brawlers from the wrong side of the tracks apparently decide to make an issue of it, especially since he's picking on a "helpless" woman. They're coming towards the japanese man quick, but they aren't as quick as the Suit, who, Nadia knows instinctively, is a born and bred killer. So she doesn't look back to see the results, but catches enough out of the corner of her eye to see the brawlers go down to the sounds of snapping bones and broken cartiledge in an orchestra of pain and human suffering.

"GUN!" Nadia screams, adding to the havoc, Two doormen, security types, break into a run, headed towards the bar, as Nadia takes the opportunity to get unnoticed quick.

[ Spoiler ]

You are safely hidden in the vestibule where the elevators are. Security, is at present, paying you no mind, busy apparently hunting for the disturbers of the peace fleeing the bar.

[Sicarius]

Hobbes nods at Caitlin.

"No worries about your pay. I've been more than satisfied with the work you've done. I'll pay for the full three days regardless of when the meet finishes. This must be easy money for you guys..." He says with a shrug.. apparently attempting to make what passes as conversation between the Principal and his bodyguard.

[Musashi Forever]

Nadia calls Caitlin on her wrist phone.

"Some fragger in the bar asked me about Hobbes and then tried to kil me!" she cries after the other woman answers the phone.

[Glyph]

Caitlin picks up the phone, and frowns slightly. "Apparently not successfully... so what happened to the assassin? Is he still running around loose, or did you take care of him? Ah, I see. Well, at least you delayed him a bit, maybe more depending on the hotel security. But you had better get back up here... I need to stay with the client, so I can't come down. Are you injured? Good. You can give me a more thorough briefing when you get back up. I think we'd better stick together now - that may have been the first thrust, but it might come to a head pretty soon."

She smiles ironically at Hobbes as she hangs up. "Looks like the 'easy money' part is over. Hmph. I'll bet she forgot the food, too. At least there's some stuff here." She idly spreads salmon salad over a wheat roll as she waits for George and Nadia to come back. Occasionally, she checks the astral plane to see if things are still clear on that front.

[Musashi Forever]

As quickly and quietly as possible Nadia makes her way to the elevator and heads for the penthouse. On the way up she calls George and tells him the story, asking him to get his hoop back as soon as possible.

[Sicarius]

20:00, September 17th, 6th and University Street Blocks from the Seattle Hilton, Seattle Metroplex, UCAS

George only

[ Spoiler ]

George zips through downtown traffic, anxious to return to the principal and his cohorts, when suddenly, darting out of an alleyway, is the red and black rapier, which looks strikingly similar to the one was following the team earlier. It is perhaps two blocks ahead of him. Behind it comes two scurrying hotel security people one foot, one of whom rather fruitlessly fires a taser at the flying biker.

Caitlin and Nadia Only

[ Spoiler ]

The elevator dings yet again, and Nadia is back within the "safety" of the hotel suite.

"where's the food?" Hobbes asks, before seeing Nadia's slightly disheveled look, which quickly shuts him up.

[Musashi Forever]

Take what you need and get back in the bedroom, boss," Nadia says.

"Look at this!" she says as she pokes a finger through the hole the bullet made in her outerwear. "I just got shot at. They might be coming, you should get back in the bedroom and pile some stuff infront of the door."