Up from the Bottom, Wipe Those Tears and Pass the Ammo Options

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:52:42
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Other than nodding his head, Mr. Johnson makes no move to turn and look at the troll - he's pretty sure that Angel will call him over, or that the troll will recognise her and come over on his own.

He was busy looking up public information on Rudolpho's, and monitoring messages and traffic with the rest of the team.

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:52:45
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

After seeing the man across from her just nod and continue typing like nothing happened, Angel just sat there confused for a second or two. Then she started to get the idea and leaned out the booth and looked down towards the entrance. The elf easily seaw Rocky just standing there, looking worse for wear than she last saw him, actively looking for something. Quickly waving over at him, Rocky finally saw her and waved back a bit as he made his way over to the booth.

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:52:45
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

After standing there with his stomach growling for what seemed like forever, Rocky caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking in that direction he saw the girl waving him over. She was in a booth in the corner with what appeared to be a human male in his early twenties. That must be "Mr. Johnson" that I talked to earlier. Well here goes nothing, pretty sure I can take both of them if I have to.

With that thought Rocky slowly starts walking toward the table, taking his time and scanning the room for any familiar faces from his time running with Louie. This would be an odd way to get him, but who knows what that sick f*cker could come up with. The slow walk also let him keep the focus he needed to keep control of his rebelling body. With out realizing it he finds him self-fingering the bottle of pills resting in his jacket pocket. Quickly removing his had he continues on to the table.

Arriving at the table he nods at the girl and waits for the man to look up. As he does Rocky holds out a hand, "Hoi Chummer, I'm Rocky. I hear you think you can help with our fish problem?"

[pragma]

Warehouse District, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:49:03
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Passive

"I'll do an astral flyby, but I don't feel like kicking down any wards. First sign of securtiy I say we go knock and say we have a business proposition for the troll."

"You're going to have to keep an eye on my body while I'm out. Don't get too far away."

Fortunato dismounted and moved over to the edge of the street, out of sight of th emedical complex. He carefully stretched his legs then sat down crosslegged on the sidewalk and, with a few practiced breathing exercises, eased his astral form out of his body.

Floating in the shadowy, eternal predawn of astral made him uneasy. He hadn't projected much in his life; it wasn't necessary most of the time. However, he wasn't going far.

Fortunato glided towards the medical facility to see what he could see.

[adamu]

Warehouse District, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:49:10

Fortunato uncoiled his spirit from its fleshly bounds, shedding his body like a husk. The expanse surrounding him was one of the most neutral he'd ever seen - just enough human activity to keep it "alive" in the astral, but not enough to spice it up in any particular way.
He was a bit relieved to see that the target warehouse matched that mood - underground clinics were often called "black" with good reason, but if anything too awfully nefarious was taking place there on a regular basis, there'd certainly be some sort of background impression.
Seeing nothing astrally active on the building or in its vicinity, the ex-CIA operative glided up toward the roof, and gingerly slid just enough of his face through the wall to get a glimpse inside.
What he saw was not exactly good news, but came as no particular surprise. Inside the shell of the warehouse's superstructure, the space was nearly filled with a huge, cubic tent, easily large enough to house several rooms on two floors. He could hear muffled voices inside, but could see nothing - the tent was of some sort of opaque and decidedly synthetic fabric.
And it was warded.
Clever - the place stays astrally secure, but no one on the outside would be the wiser.
The ward looked fairly run-of-the-mill; he was sure he could get through it, but almost certainly not before being spotted by one of the several watchers he could see lazily bobbing about in the space betweent he tent and the warehouse walls. In fact, it was only a matter of time before they noticed his aura poking through the wall, and he pulled back.
A moment later, he was back in his body, reporting to the rest of the team.

[pragma]

Warehouse District, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:50:00
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Passive

Stretching his neck as he settled back into his body, Fortunato said "The warehouse is a shell. There's a tent inside with wards and watchers and probably some physical stuff, I didn't get a great look."

"So, unless you have any objections I say we go over there and introduce ourselves."

He stood up somewhat less gracefully than he sat down and brushed at an obnoxious damp patch on the seat of his coat. After making sure he was fully settled in physical he checked that his gun was still secured and started walking towards the complex.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:52:48
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

'Fish problem' - cute.

Mr. Johnson shook the trolls offered hand, and exchanged glances with Angel as Rocky sat down. She wasn't kidding, this guy looked like crap.

"Yes, I do. Or, rather, I think that I can help you three gets yourselves out of this - and that I can offer you all some work afterwards." He looked around to make sure no one nearby seemed particularly interested in their conversation. Johnson would much rather talk about this over the matrix, but Rocky's commlink was still off - which was probably for the best if Louie was tracking it. "My team is currently approaching Cerberus to extend the same offer - but I think it is pretty clear that if I guy like me was able to locate the three of you in one night, any properly motivated man could do the same." He was also getting a little tired of respinning the same story over and over. Although he originally asked to meet each member individually, he was beginning to think that it would have been nice to meet them all at once, and explain things once. "Until we are able to speak more freely - perhaps when Cerberus joins us - let us just say that the reason they are interested in you, won't go away until the 'fish problem' does... and with our help, you guys will be able to see that happen."

Taking a sip of his coffee, he smiles warmly at the troll, who barely fits at the table. "If you would like something to eat or drink, it's on me - but we might not be staying long."

[DireRadiant]

Warehouse district, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:50:05
Sledge
PAN - Hidden

... no glow...

Sledge nodded in agreement and followed the man across the street a couple steps offset, and far enough away she could do a free swing without hitting him. Automatically she started visually scanning the areas where the man wasn't looking. Just like when she would trail Andy when he did a job inspection, letting him concentrate on his work, while she kept a lookout for the normal, and not so normal hazards of a worksite. It was amazing how clumsy with tools and bricks some worker just chewed out by Andy could be. Of course they rarely got clumsy more than once. A broken finger or toe always improved their work rate and dexterity.

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:52:59
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

Rocky nods and takes a seat. "Sounds like a plan, where's Cerberus by the way?" As he's talking with Mr. Johnson, Rocky grabs a menu from the end of the table and starts looking it over.

When the waitress reappears, he orders the biggest breakfeast they have including coffee and what ever juice they have. Adding as the waitress is leaving to put it in to go boxes.

Once he's done with that he lays his head back and closes his eyes, resting till he's needed or his food shows up.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:53:03
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

"Nearby clinic. I'm not clear on the details." Mr. Johnson seems to change the subject a little rapidly, "This is a nice diner. Have you ever eaten at 'Rudolpho's'?" He looked up from his AR displays, and turned his attention to the sleepy troll, expectantly. He knew that he worked for Louie before this mess - but wasn't sure how close to his operations he had managed to get. "What would you say the atmosphere there is like?"

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:53:15
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

As Mr. Johnson addressed Rocky's questions, Rocky continued to keep his eyes close and focus on his breathing, trying to keep the cramps and muscle ache from totally immobilazing him.

He nodded slighty at the fact Cerberus was seeing a doc, and then answered the questions posed to him. "Yeah I was there almost every night for the last week. That's where Louie starts his work day. The place is mob, through and through, I bet most the slitches in there are made men, wouldn't surprise me if the waiters were too. Most nights we ate and watched to door till it was time to bash who ever got in Louie's way."

[adamu]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:53:34

As Smith listened to Rocky's rundown of Rudolpho's, he noticed that the troll's left arm was basically hanging limp, at his side. As with most ingentis arms, it was disproportionately long, almost reaching the floor. Following its length down, Smith noticed a pool of blood forming around Rocky's massive hand.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:53:37
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

"Rocky, you doing okay there?" Mr. Johnson gestures down at his hand and looks around to make sure the waitress hasn't noticed yet. "You're bleeding on the floor, maybe you would like to go over to that clinic?"

He pauses for a second, as if thinking about something but goes with his gut and keep his mouth shut.

"The others are being pretty silent..." he begins to type something onto the booth's table.

<<@Sledge, Fortuanto, Angel:: Rocky got here safe, but he looks hurt - how are things coming there? Think he would be able to talk to a clinic doctor?>>

He wasn't sure about Black Clinic etiquette, but if it was anything like the free clinics on campus (he doubted very much that they were free) walk-ins were commonplace. Of course, since the staff probably doesn't have medical lisences, they may be more selective about their clientelle. It seemed a better idea to let Sledge or Fortunato make the call, since they were real-life Shadowrunners.

[adamu]

Warehouse district, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:50:30

Near the parked cars was a service entrance. There was a heavily barred window beside the utilitarian metal door, but the blinds were tightly drawn.
The door did not appear to have completely latched the last time it was shut, so with a shrug and a glance back to confirm that Sledge was ready, Fortunato pushed it open.

Inside was a no-frills office, about three meters by four, with one door on the facing wall. There were a few suitably raunchy Snap-On Tools posters, and a framed blue ribbon for industrial safety in 2059. Flies buzzed around a bare lightbulb that hung from the ceiling. At an old synthwood desk equipped with an ancient-looking work terminal sat a human woman with what dangerously approached a beehive hairdo. She wore a pastel blue dress that was in style with the bargain-bin set maybe a decade ago. When they entered she looked up from doing her impractically long nails.

An ork snored in one corner, folding metal chair tipped precariously against a wall, security guard uniform shirt half-untucked, baton dangling by its tether from one wrist.

[pragma]

Warehouse District, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:50:00
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden

Fortunato stepped into the dilapidated reception area and paused for a moment weighing the stories he'd worked up on his way over (when he wasn't falling off the bike). He decided the simplest approach was probably the best and said:

"Excuse me ma'am, we have a business proposition for one of the patients here. A troll named Cerberus if I recall orrectly. Would it be possible to see him, or set up an online conversation?"

He hoped it would be a flesh and blood conversation and not an online one, he didn't want to wrestle with the commlink anymore than he already had.

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:54:01
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

Mr. Johnson's statement about the blood, actually got Rocky's attention and he lifted his head up to look at his arm. "Oh, yeah. Thats from one of Loiue's boys attempt to get take me in a few hours ago after we bailed from the coffin motel. Getting it looked at wouldn't be a bad idea."

Rocky takes a few napkins and tries to wipe up the puddle of blood, wrapping the bloody napkins in more clean ones and stashing them in a pocket. He digs in to his duffle bag and pulls another lenght of t-shirt, shoving it up under his jacket, wincing as he hits the wound a little harder than he planned.

[DireRadiant]

Warehouse District, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:50:10
Sledge
PAN - Hidden

..."Excuse me ma'am, we have a business proposition for one of the patients here. A troll named Cerberus if I recall correctly. Would it be possible to see him, or set up an online conversation?"

Sledge kept an eye on the guard, and the rest of the room as much as possible. She'd flicked her reflexes on just before coming in, which consequently forced her to have to think very hard about moving slowly and calmly. She wanted as much information and feeling for the layout before needing to act. The bad part the tradeoff, was extended verbose conversations were even more excruciatingly slow. Which all fed into her frustration at not acting when the best thing for herself was in fact to act. It was like having an itch you couldn't scratch.

... breathe...

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:54:01
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

As the hulking humanoid moved to sit down in the booth, which was made a few sizes too small for him, the quick thinking teenage elf slipped out to perch herself on an empty stool at the bar. Luckily, it was right across from the booth itself, so she was still able to listen in on the conversation if she payed attention. While she listened in, she was looking into the faces of both her ‘employer’ and the man who had threatened her life, just to save it not hours ago.
‘Damn... Rocky looks like he is really sick or something. In the daylight, he looks worse than before.’, Angel thought as she looked over his haggard face. As she turned her gaze over to Mr Johnson, she could see true interest in the conversation they were having, but the look of the college sweats and casual dress didn’t really make him look like the organizer of the rescue team. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s just to throw us off or something...’, she told herself as she continued to look in his face.
When Rocky started talking about his job at some restaurant called ‘Rudolpho’s’ and who he worked for, her ears twitched as she listened in more intently. They continued on conversing for a second before the green eyed girl received a message directed at the team. Reading over it, she thought about how he looked sick and attributed it to that, but her mind was set on finding out more about ‘Rudolpho’s’ and dismissed it.

Knowing that it would be too obvious for her to start searching right where she was, she decided to have a sprite perform the task for her. Instinctively, she felt that her current sprite wouldn’t be able to handle the task, nor the ones she had registered to her specific resonance. Silently concentrating, she sent out a call that was quickly answered by a flash of light and the appearance of the blond haired man in the village.
The cyber angel that comprised her avatar smiled at the sprite as Angel told it, “I thank you for your help. I release you back to the resonance and wish you well.” The strong looking man grinned as he replied, “Sounds good. If you call me back again, make sure there is something interesting to do...” With that, a quick flash of light, and he was gone.

Quickly continuing on with her self chosen task, she concentrated on warping the fabric of the matrix around her to call a sprite that would be able to perform her needed task. The set of events went along normally up until the motes of lights usually gathered and formed into the sprite. This time, she felt something wasn’t right as the motes just sort of hung in the air before fading out.
Slightly annoyed, she frowned in the real world while swearing under her breath, “Damn...” Quickly looking around but seeing nor hearing nothing of interest at that moment, she started staring off into space yet again. When she flexed her mind the second time, she concentrated a bit more, and after the expected flash, there stood a new being.
Slightly taller than half her avatar’s height, wearing a billowy black coat and a wide brimmed tan hat, stood the sprite she just compiled. Though she couldn’t see his face through the deep shadows his wizard’s hat made, his eyes shown akin with the glow all her sprites had.
As they stood there for a second looking at each other, she saw the sprite raise one of his hands into a slight wave as he said, “Um... Hi. I’m Vivi...” Smiling back, she replied, “I’m Angel. I’m hoping you can help me with something. I need to know more about a place called ‘Rodolpho’s’. Do you think you can help me?” Hearing her question, the sprite held a hand up to his shadowy face and thought about it for a second before replying, “I think so... I’ll see what I can find.”

As her concentration slipped away from her AR vision, she grinned. It faded quickly as she heard Rocky tell Johnson about how he was shot by one of Louie’s men. Watching him wince as he placed some rag on where his wound was, her face softened as she felt sorry for him, though it didn’t last long as she reminded herself about how he had decided to work for Louie in the first place. This left her with conflicted feelings with her heart going out for the wounded man, and her mind saying he got what was coming to him...

[adamu]

4325 E. Paloma, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:50:16

The woman opened her mouth and drew a breath as though to speak, but then seemed to think better of it. She cocked her head in momentary thought, and opened her mouth again, but once more shut it before saying anything, as expressions of confusion and bemusement paraded across her features.
Finally she shrugged, and just said, "My cousin Earl had a pet chipmunk he called Cerberus, once. Listen, maybe you two are at the wrong address. There's no one here but me, Irv," sidelong glance at the snoring ork, "and the Filipino dwarf that does clean-up. I'm sorry but I forget his name. I'd remember if it was Cerberus, though. Manager'll be in about eight. That is, unless he stops at the diner - the special's pigs in a blanket today, and Will does love his pigs in blankets. So it could be nine or thereabouts before I get my coffee. What address are you looking for, I can look it up for you. Or if you've got a message you'd like to leave...?" Her voice trailed off, and she took a cigarette out of a fake-gold case that sat on the desk, staring at Sledge and Fortunato as if waiting for a reply as she lit up.

[pragma]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:54:20
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden

The old hag rambled for a while and Fortunato did his best to read between the lines. He reflected on the fact that passwords worked much better when you were privy to them ahead of time.

"Of course, the address must be wrong. We'll have some friends check with Will at the diner to see about your coffee though."

"In the meantime, I hope you don't mind if we stay here." Fortunato said Shooting a sidelong glance at the dozing ork. "Security seems a bit lax and I'd hate to let a business opportunity slip through my fingers."

Fortunato took a seat and started typing in midair:

<<@Sledge: If that made any more sense to you than me, let me know. I say we give a peaceful solution a shot for a couple of minutes then try giving them a firmer talking to.>>

Fortunato noticed an incoming message as he was finishing up with the silent communication to Sledge.

<<@Sledge, Fortuanto, Angel:: Rocky got here safe, but he looks hurt - how are things coming there? Think he would be able to talk to a clinic doctor?>>

He responded:

<<@Sledge, Johnson, Angel: Having trouble getting past the receptionist peacefully. If there's anyone at the diner named Will, try asking him about 'pigs in a blanket.' She dropped some allusion to that in the middle of a bunch of code speak."

Rather pleased at his mastery of email, Fortunato let his eyes move to the astral and watched the receptionist for any indication she was planning to remove he and Sledge forcibly while telling his perpetually bobbing watcher to keep an eye for anyone coming to the door of the clinic.

[adamu]

4325 E. Paloma, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:54:35

"Suit yourself," the receptionist said, and went back to her nails.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:54:35
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Turning to Rocky, Mr. Johnson sighs, "It looks like they're having some trouble getting the staff to cooperate. Luckily, the guy we're supposed to contact to book an appointment should be here at the diner - so we'll get you looked at." He notices Angel already looking around the place, so he turns his attention to the gross plastic menu instead. On a hunch, he checks to see if "pigs in a blanket" is even listed as something they serve. Without pulling his attention from the condiment-stained pages, he asks in a very hushed voice, "Did you, ah, take the bullet out at least?"

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:03
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

After a few seconds flipping through the menu, Mr. Johnson noticed that "pigs in a blanket" was, in fact, today's special. Damn, I was hoping that was the code - it would have made things much easier. Glancing around, he didn't see anyone else eating them - but decided to flag down the waitress and try his luck. His stomach growled slightly, at the sight of food, but he ignored it.

"Excuse me, miss. If it's not too much trouble, could you add an order of pigs-in-a-blanket." He gestures at the menu where the picture is, "... and might you know someone here named 'Will'? We were told he might be able to help us, and that he might be around."

There, hopefully she recognises one of those words. Mr. Johnson doubted that the waitress was directly connected to the clinic, but it was worth a shot. If the manager of the diner was teamed up with the doctor at the clinic, the rest of the staff might be told to look out for anyone mentioning the special, or "Will", but even if that's not the case, Johnson was hoping that this "Will" guy is a regular, and she'll know who he is talking about.

Unfortunatly, she didn't seem to register any of this as unusual - just another customer ordering the daily special. "I don't know anybody named Will, sorry. I'll be right back with your order, is everything else okay?"

Mr. Johnson smiled through his disappointment. "Yes, everything is fine."

[DireRadiant]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:55:07
Sledge
PAN - Hidden

... breathe...

She suppressed her impulse to twitch, and concentrated on staying as still as possible. This was an interesting development, apparently there existed a whole form of double speak communication which this man seemed familiar with. While Sledge would have simply called her out for lying to her face against the evidence, this man was telling the others to be on the lookout for another lookout at the diner that they were in. The only way she think of any meaning for the pig in a poke phrase was the kind most her crews would have come up with, and this was supposed to be a clinic, not one of those other kind of places.

... breathe...

Sledge made a mental note to get a better input devices for the man after his obvious gestures turned out to be ARO manipulations instead of turning the receptionist woman into a puddle of bubbling flesh.

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:54:45
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

"Actually, I didn't have to. I got lucky and it just grazed me, but I'm sure a real bandage or a few stitches would be the best way to go." Is Rocky's reply to Johnson's question.

As the waitress arrives with the food Rocky thanks her and starts to dig in as soon as the plate is on the table. Its very apparent he's very hungry and tired, but you can see he has apparently learned to eat in civilized surroundings, at least most of the time.