IC: Initial Shadow Offering Options

[Mister Juan]

During the brief exchange, George had been patiently waiting near the now closed door. The meet was just about to happen... which mean he could soon go home to his wife. At the moment, he simply couldn't think about something else.

Opening the door, he signaled Nadia to follow him. Caitlin was their only magical support, and so, needed to stay close to Hobbes. Also, even if the ork would have never admitted it, Markus was probably faster than him. He had seen his work, and was honestly impressed.

Nadia and he would watch the lobby. The ork knew his eyes probably weren't the sharpest... but the woman's were. If trouble came head on, he had every confidence she would spot it.

[Musashi Forever]

"Well we're almost home free," Nadia says to George once they are outside. "I almost can't believe we made it across that lobby."

[Mister Juan]

Both arms crossed on his large chest, eyes scanning the crowd, George spoke without looking at Nadia.

"Almost still isn't quite free. Don't celebrate too early toots"

[Musashi Forever]

"Got ya," Nadia says. She also crosses her arms and looks out for any trouble. SHe's trying her best to look tough, but with George standing next to her that wasn't going to be easy.

[Glyph]

In the meeting room, Caitlin gracefully sits down next to Hobbes. She seems coldly aloof, unintimidated by the money oozing from the corporate sharks sitting opposite of her. She is curious about how these high-powered negotiations will proceed, but doesn't let it affect her focus on the job.

"They'll probably chew him up, she thinks. "He should have hired me to negotiate for him, too. Talk down crazed snipers, jumpers, and street thugs with hostages, and a gaggle of suits aren't so unsettling."

[Sicarius]

Caitlin and Markus Only

[ Spoiler ]

As the meeting begins, the fat lawyer leans forward, and presses a button on the desk, initiating the white noise generator as the meeting begins. The meeting starts with the one called Mr Fabian begins,

"Shall we? I don't see any particular reason to get into the more... mmeh... technical details, but as you know our client Mr.Hobbes, has developed a rather unique innovation, which is being offered, under license, to your company, for a period of 5 years, with an option for renewal every 2 years afterwards."

The thin lawyer tapped his fingers on a datapad, and a moment later the fat lawyer grunted, but it was Hollenbeck who responded.

"As much respect as we have for Dassurn's ability to predict what the market will bear, I think in this case you've rather overstate the case."

Hobbes all the while sat, watching wordlessly. Hollebeck began tapping away at his own datapad, while continuing to speak.

"You and I both know that P...E...T" the man annuciated each letter of the acroynm as if he found it distasteful, "is hoping to turn this sale around in order to fund a full blown public offering. Why would we buy the product for this price, when in a short while we'll be able to buy the whole company?"

Caitlin from her position in the seat next to him could see Hobbe's nails begin digging in to the soft plush arms of the synthleather seat. Still he remained wordless.

"For starters because you'll never be able to afford it. Your competitors will surely make any such purchase so dear to you that you've weakened your overall position, and secondly, because this licensing agreement is being offered just to you. It will give you a two to three month lead time on your competition, enabling you to seize market share."
Hollenbeck grunted, but didn't seem to dispute the claim. Fabian looked down at the datapad, and than turned it towards Hobbes. Caitlin can't catch enough to see the whole number, but she does see a couple digits followed by about 7 zeros.

"That's for the 5 year license with the two year option?" Fabian asks.

"We'll accept no less than 7 years, exclusive license, with a 5 year option," Hollebeck retorts. Fabian looks at Hobbes, than nods ever so slightly. Hobbes speaks up for the first time.

"We'll take it."

For Nadia and George

[ Spoiler ]

For what seems like forever the two shadowrunners stand by the door, keeping their eyes peeled. After a few moments, there is a short buzzing sound, and the various businessmen in the lobby begin to head either one of the two other meeting rooms not occupied by their employer. Almost within moments the lobby is completely cleared except for the two bodyguards. The security guards from the hotel, they too have suddenly left. Before the two can worry about this sudden change of status, the elevator door opens. A small, ratty looking man, in a disheveled suit is revealed inside the elevator. He looks out over the lobby, but does not say anything or move.

[Musashi Forever]

"That's weird," Nadia says George to after the room clears but before the elevator opens. "I think I liked it better crowed."

As she finished talking the elevator dinged and revealed the worn-looking man. Nadia lowers her voice so that it does not carry past her companion's ears. "I don't like the looks of that guy."

Focusing her magical powers she asked the newcomer a "loaded" question, "Who are you?"

[Mister Juan]

George's left hand went up to his collar, were he clicked the transmit button of his micro transceiver. He whispered in his throat mic.

"One here. We have suspect movement in the lobby. Stay sharp."

[Sicarius]

The doors to the elevator begin to close again, the odd looking little man rapidly disappearing from view, He shouts back at Nadia, something that sounds like "Jay Thompson," and than is gone just as soon as he appeared.

[Sicarius]

Almost as soon as he'd appeared, "Jay Thompson" was gone, leaving George and Nadia wondering whether they'd successfully deterred an attack, or if possible they'd just been seeing things.

Inside the conference room, a long series of datapads were being passed back and forth, with digital signatures being provided by the various corporate entities, their representatives, and their lawyers. It took approximately thirty mintues to finish all the final wrapping up processes, but little was said during that period by anyone involved. Finally as Hobbes used his stylus to put his signature on the last document, he stood up, shaking the cramps out of his hand, as he turned to Fabian,

"Are we done?" The skinny weasel lawyer nodded.

"Alright then. Gentlemen, a pleasure doing business with you," said Phil Hobbes, Owner and CEO of Phiber Electronic Technologies. He turned to his security compliment. "Shall we go?"

It was now 1:15, a quarter of an hour after the supposed kill clock, was to end.

[Mister Juan]

With one big finger, George pressed his ear piece in as he spoke.

"One here. The lobby looks clear. The time limit for the bounty has now expired, but we shouldn't let our guards down nevertheless. Keep sharp and lets bring the cat home."

[Glyph]

"Three here. The meeting has been concluded successfully, as have our duties. Let's get him back to the room - and let's keep an eye out for any desperate last-minute attempts, before we settle up with our employer."

Caitlin feels the satisfaction of a job well done, but she still stays alert as she and Markus exit with Hobbes, joined by George and Nadia. The pay may not have been that great - although the possible bonus might change that - but this job should help her out immensely in building up her fledgeling reputation in the shadows.

[Musashi Forever]

"I still don't know about that guy in the elevator," Nadia says to George. "But I'll be glad to just get this whole thing over with."

[Tashio]

As they reach the elevator, Markus turns to Hobbes, he offered his hand. "I believe this is where we part company, the deal has been completed and you are safe for now."

Turning to the others, "It has been good however short it was, I wish you the best, I'm sure we shall see eachother again sometime, I just hope its from the same side."

With that he pressed the down arrow on the elevator and awaited its arrival.

[Sicarius]

Hobbes nods, "My limo is waiting at the front door, if you'd be so kind as to walk me there?"

[Tashio]

Markus nodded, "Sure I'm heading that way." He entered the elevator as it opened holding the door open for the others before hitting the button for the ground floor.

[Glyph]

"Of course," Caitlin replies to Hobbes. She still seems to be alert, as if she won't fully relax until he is actually at that front door. She smiles at the others.

"It has been good working with all of you. For a team thrown together like we were, we meshed surprisingly well. Maybe we'll work together again some time."

[Sicarius]

With a reassuring "bing" the elevator doors open, and the party enters. Swiftly, and without problems, the elevator makes its way uninterrupted to the lobby. The team disembarks to find the lobby crowded with people, perhaps because it is lunch time. Folks are flowing to and fro headed towards and away from the lobby's bar and restaurant. But for the team of shadowrunners, the goal was the doorway, a black limo, and than home, for some well earned rest.

The unloading area of the hotel is much as the team remembers it when they arrived what seems like forever ago. The Limo is parked to the side, the familiar chauaffer stands there looking at them expenctantly from perhaps 30 meters away. On the team's left are two doormen in close proximity to the double doors, to their right maybe 10 meters, a line of folks awaiting taxis.

[Sicarius]

George and Nadia Only

[ Spoiler ]

They recognized it almost immediately. Standing right in the middle of the pack of those waiting for a cab, is the man you saw earlier on the elevator. Jay Thompson, he'd said his name was, when compelled to by Nadia's magic. His right hand is fingering something in the pocket of his grey raincoat pocket. It looks like it maybe some kind of weapon. His left hand is in a fist, something appears to be concealed inside his palm.

Markus and Caitlin Only

[ Spoiler ]

Scanning the crowd, the soon to be ex-bodyguards eyes stop over a nervous looking twitching man in a grey raincoat. His right hand is in his pocket, his left hand clenching something.

Everyone's eyes are on the man in the cab line already, even before he steps forward, tugging a large ugly looking revolver from his pocket.

"HOBBES!" He shouts in a scratchy voice, as he takes aim.

[Sicarius]

The gunman has a crazed look in his bloodshot eyes, as he steps forward, the enormous revolver looks too large for his hand, as he brings it to shoulder height, and takes aim, a tiny red dot appearing on Hobbe's chest. But whatever drugs fuel the mad assassin's assault are no match for the electrons speeding through Markus' neural system. The company man's submachine gun spits a burst, and all three rounds land square in the would be killer's chest. With a look of shock he drops his handgun. The small object in his left hand drops to the ground, and turns out to be a grenade, already activated... It drops, and bounces once, twice, three times, away from shadowrunners.

The explosion is deafening though, and while the heavily armored shadowrunners are well out of range, the small crowd awaiting taxis is not, and the screams of the wounded can be heard.

Hilton Security is rushing the scene to help the wounded... and 'Star sirens can already be heard.

blood is already beginning to drip off the curb, and onto the asphalt road service.

Hobbes picks himself off the ground, a look of horror on his face.

[Tashio]

Markus dives for cover as he sees the grenade from from the Assassins hand. After the shockwave from the explosion passes over him he scrambles to his feet. Pulling the door to the limo open he grabs ahold of Hobbes and bundles him in.

[Musashi Forever]

Taking an opportunity to hopfully escape any further attacks, Nadia jumps into the limo along with her employer.

[Glyph]

A bit shell-shocked from the explosion and its aftermath, Caitlin looks at the carnage unleashed by the errant grenade with an expression of horror. She mentally shakes herself, though, and makes herself get into the limo.

Leaving the wounded people for others to care for is a difficult, and bitter, decision for her, but she doesn't want to be there when LoneStar arrives. Being a SINless person at a crime scene is always a bad idea.

[Mister Juan]

Everything around George slowed down.
Seconds ticked by like minutes.
He had the drop on him. He had the drop on them.
This was it.

Time stood still as the man brandished his weapon in their direction. Even with his juiced up nervous system, the ork was simply too slow this time around.

Shots echoed in the busy street as things sped back up. Before George even knew what had happened, he was on the move. Next to him, Nadia and Markus were already shoving Hobbes into the limo. His large hand went under his coat, wrapping itself on the handle of his weapon.... but George decided not to draw. There was already enough panic.... and the hotel's security response would probably arrive soon. After all, someone had just detonated a fragging grenade on their doorstep.

George stood between the downed gunman and the rest of the team until he took a few of his giant strides toward the man. His heavy boot came down on the man's weapon as he slid it on the asphalt, far away from him.

Satisfied the man was now harmless, the ork continued to distance himself from the scene.

"One to all. Get Prime on the move. Fan out and regroup at a safe location."

[Sicarius]

Nobody had to be told twice, those who jumped into the limo were sped off by the anxious driver, the same elderly black gentleman who'd they'd used before. George's bike was parked in the valet parking lot, but nobody complained when He went and got his own vehicle. Apparently everyone was too distracted.

They met up at the same University bookstore where the run had started. No one was really in the mood for being chatty. seeing a good handful of civilians devestated by shrapnel has that effect on folks.

Hobbes manages a weak smile as he hands out a second certified credstick to each member of the team. "I've given everyone a thousand nuyen bonus. I appreciate your hardwork today. Let me say upfront that there will always be work for you at Phiber Electronics."

With that Hobbes disappears back into the Nightsky limo and disappears.