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

[BlackHat]

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

As the waitress walked away, Johnson typed up another message to the team.

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Angel:: Waitress didn't seem to know a Will, and didn't react to the pigs-in-a-blanket order. Nobody else here seems to be eating them, or wearing any nametags that say "Will". Any other ideas? Maybe I could try my hand at explaining the situation to whoever you spoke to over there....>>

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:13
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Johnson :: "Um... Johnosn... Everyone in here looks like they are factory workers or manual labor right? What's the likelyhood that one would have the money to buy a high quality Rolex?">>, the pink banged elf silently said over the comm network. She averted her gaze from staring at the man with the watch to look into Johnson's eyes to guage a reaction as she continued to listen to the wireless network.
Just then, she noticed her sprite dump a very small file on her commlink. Opening it, Angel read the contents in her glasses' AR output and let out a slight, "Hmm..." Figuring she couldnt do anything with the information other than log the commcode and address, she forwareded the file to Johnson, since he was the one asking about Rudolphos's in the first place.

[DireRadiant]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:55:23
Sledge
PAN - Hidden

<<@Mr Johnson, Angel, Fortunato:: Stand up and ask if this "Will" is in the Diner. Loudly. It's not that big of a diner right? Hey, maybe you can send a trid shot and we can ask the lady here what he looks like?>>

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:31
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

<<@Johnson, Fortunato, Sledge :: "Yeah, that might work... 'Hey, any of you named Will? We need help finding some troll in a black clinic.' Sounds like it would work real well...">>, the young elven woman said back in a sarcastic tone.
'Doesn't that lady know we are trying to keep quiet about all this?', Angel asked herself, not really knowing the answer but expecting it to be 'No'.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:35
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Mr. Johnson attempted to type back a response, but both of Angel and Sledge's messages were going by much faster than he could react.

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Angel:: Hold up. I think that just might work - we don't need him to know why we want to talk to him, we just need to know who he is - and then we can assume he'll know why we want to talk to him. And you're right, Angel, a guy with a rolex in a place like this is strange, it's probably a fake - but worth looking into. Which guy was it? >>

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:39
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Johnson :: "Fine, if you think its a good idea... Anyways, the guy is sitting in the booth right behind Rocky.">>, Angel replied over the air waves. <<Speaking of Rocky, get him to turn on his commlink. He's just stuffing his face while we are chatting like this, and he could know something we dont...>>

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:55:43
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Angel:: Sure, but can you help him spoof a new commcode ID? I'm concearned that Finnagin's men might be tracking his - since apparantly he's still using the same one from when he was working for him. >>

With that, Mr. Johnson got up from the table. Turning to Rocky he spoke under his breath. "Turn on your commlink, and let the girl see it - she'll clean it up so you can talk to the team." He then walked around to the booth behind them - taking a good look at the man at the booth before asking, "Excuse me, do you know anyone named 'Will'?"

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:56:00
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Off

At first Rocky doesn't seem to understand what Johnson is asking for, but after a few seconds his brian gets the message through the fog that he's been living in for the last few weeks.

Once it clicks for him he reachs down to his belt pulling it off and hitting the power button, then slides it across the table toward the girl, "There ya go, have fun." Then goes back to his food, glancing over his shoulder to see where Johnson was going.

[adamu]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:56:30

Fellow in the next booth was apparently alone, and just drinking coffee. Although Smith had been unable to see the guy from where he'd been sitting, his view blocked by Rocky's bulk, he did notice that when she refilled the man's coffee, the waitress skipped her usual pleasantries, even though the man himself tried to be polite.
Now, looking down at him, Smith saw a swarthy fellow of medium build. Black hair under a stocking cap. Red & brown plaid flannel work shirt over white thermal underwear. Hadn't shaved in a while but otherwise looked reasonably well-kempt. And yeah, there was indeed what looked like a Rolex peeking out from his sleeve.

"Excuse me, do you know anyone named 'Will'?" asked the fledgling Johnson.

The fellow looked up. He switched his coffee mug to his left hand. His eyes were a deep shade of blue, the white just slightly bloodshot. "'Will?' Nah, my name's Arty. Don't know anyone called that. Sorry, Mac. Can't help you."

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:56:40
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Mr. Johnson smiled and took a step back. "I'm very sorry, Arty." Johnson felt like an ass, but hid it well behind his smile. This is getting us nowhere. Returning to his booth he began typing up another response.

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Angel, Rocky:: He's claiming not to be our guy. Waitress was a dead-end too. If people here know anything, they're not talking to strangers.>>

Turning to the girl and the troll, Mr. Johnson said, "If you two will excuse me for a moment, I'm going to use the bathroom." He reached out and took his two briefcases with him. "If the waitress comes back, tell her I'm ready for the bill."

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:59:50
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Adam really did have to go to the bathroom. He didn't get a chance to go when Franco's call woke him up - and the energy drink and coffee wern't helping matters. This also gave him a chance to transfer some of Franco's funds to his suit-jacket for use on the mission, without opening up either briefcase in front of a bunch of 'norms' and criminals. About a thousand should do the trick. In the privacy of the bathroom, Mr. Johnson felt more comfortable subvocalizing to the team, so he talked while he quickly grabbed a stack of bills from his case and snapped it shut, sliding the bills in his inside pocket - right next to his Raecor Sting.

<<@Sledge, Fortunato, Angel, Rocky::
"Okay, we need a new plan. If this Will guy is here, he's not going to appreciate us shouting his codename all over the place - and he's not likely to speak up if we do. We've got a very literal deadline. If you guys are in contact with his staff, maybe I could talk some sense into them, but I'm not really in the mood to waste any more time playing name-games."

"It would be great if we could stay on good terms with a Black Clinic - especially since both of our trolls are injured - but if it takes so long that Finnigan's men show up and kill them, it isn't worth it."

"So, any more ideas? Or should we come over and turn up the heat?">>

Picking up the briefcases again, he exits the bathroom, and slowly crosses the diner to his table - hoping, in the back of his mind, that Doctor Will would flag him down. He didn't like the idea of asking his rag-tag band of criminals to get to Cerberus by "any means necessary" but it was looking like a better idea every moment.

After all, its not like they had to follow hospital rules, or anything - and if his team couldn't get past a couple of wanna-be nurses to a half-dead troll... they wern't going to be a lot of use to him - or to Franco.

[pragma]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:57:30
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden

Fortunato breathed a sigh of relief as he received Johnson's instructions.

<<@Johnson, Sledge, Angel: We'll take care of the heat.>>

He was only really good at talking to people one way, and he was going to get his chance.

<<@Sledge: I'm going to put the guard (more) to sleep. Then, on my signal, I'm going to need you to grab the receptionist and smash her face into the table. Then I'll chat with her a bit and we can go.>>

His breathing slowed as he watched mana coil around him on the astral. With the faintest flick of his hand it was channeled into the ork ... who promptrly collapsed out of his chair dragging part of it with him.

The secretary lazily looked over and sai d "Irv, wake up you lazy bum," before her eyes went wide as a snake appeared in the middle of the room. Everything stood still for a split instant, the receptionist doubting her sense and the snake sizing up its target. Some dust hung in the air.

The beast shot through the air and wrapped around the now screaming receptiionist and squeezed the scream into a panicked wheeze.

<<@Sledge: Go.>>

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 06:57:30
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

Angel hopped off the barstool and picked up the commlink at the end of the table. She looked at the screen on the small device and started pressing buttons to enter the command menus. This was all a front though, as she was really just logging on with her mind and scrambling Rocky's commcode with her technomatic powers.
The whole process only tool a few seconds, but she fiddled around with the buttons a little longer just to not make it look too easy. Figuring she had wasted enough time in the menus, she exited out of them and then set the commlink down on the table without a word.
The firey haired elf then turned and walked towards the bathroom just as Mr Johnson did a few seconds before her, his comment reminding her that she too heard the call. As she reached the single door, she waitted outside until Mr Johnson was through inside, though she called over the network while waiting, <<@Team :: "Ok, Rocky's comm should be fine now. His commcode is attached to the line now.">>

Things were quiet for a little bit as Angel waited just outside the door to the bathroom, but suddenly, she heard Johnson's voice in her head. She didn't know exactly what he ment with 'Turn up the heat' but she didn't like the sound of it. Before she could contemplate it too much though, the door opened and the human man walked out. Blushing a little, Angel slipped in past him and closed the door without a word.

[JDragon]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:00
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden / Spoofed

"Thanks." Rocky grabs the comm setting it on the table in front of him. He then digs in to his pocket to get his earbuds. Then gets the subvocal mic out and connects it. It takes a little longer than normal trying to do it with one arm. But he gets it done and says hi to the group.

<<@Team: Hoi chummers, good to be working with ya.>>

He then mutes the mic and goes back to finishing his food so he's ready to roll when Johnson says its time to go.

[BlackHat]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:25
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Mr. Johnson's return to the table was quiet, but dignified. He smiled gently to the man with the Rolex as he passed him by, and was greated by a warm plate of pigs-in-a-blanket. Maybe it was just because he was tired, but the thing seemed to be mocking him - an edible testiment to his inability to decode the password needed to gain friendly access to the clinic. As it was, he was a little worried about what Fortunato meant by them turning up the heat, themselves - but, if this whole "Shadowrunner" thing was going to work, he would have to learn to trust his team.

Letting his hunger get the better of him, Mr. Johnson put professional appearance aside and took a bite out of one of the pigs-in-a-blanket and gestured for Rocky, who was busy trying to hurry through his own meal, to help himself. "You're going to give yourself a stomach cramp, eating like that."

A minute or two (and a handful of pigs) later, he looked up and saw Angel returning from the bathroom. Unfortunatly, the waitress hadn't yet returned with the bill. Mr. Johnson stood up, and pulled out a wad of cash from his pocket. Flipping through it, as he pulled out the first 5 bills he came across, he said "Okay, get your stuff, and grab anything to go that you can carry - the other two are convincing them to let us in. Let's move." As he said the words out loud, he liked them even less. The one thing he was good at was convincing people of things, usually in ways that ended up better for everyone involved, and the idea of Sledge or the wildcard Fortunato attempting to do his job was unappealing.

Without the bill, he had to guestimate the cost of everyone's food - but even with the troll's order, he figured it didn't run more than $50. He left five 20's on the table, underneith his coffee mug, ensuring he had paid enough, and leaving a generous tip for the waitress. He was partly worried that he and his friends had made a scene, and party hoping she actually DID know Will, and would see the money and pass along his message anyways - but it didn't really matter, he wasn't leaving a way she could contact him, and by the time "Will" heard anyone was looking for him, they will have probably forced thier way into his clinic, and ruined any chances of peacible relations.

Turning to Rocky as he slowley squeezed out from the human-sized booth, he asked, "I don't suppose you have a car, either?" He was smiling, and clearly expected the answer to be "no". It wouldn't be a surprise to him, but 'getting some wheels' was rising to the top of his 'Shadowrun to-do list'.

Just below 'Kill Louie Finnigan'.

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:30
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

As the ragtag trio headed out the main doors of the Diner to stand outside in the morning light, Angel looked over to human and asked, "Where are we headed too now and what do you mean by 'turn up the heat'?"
'I think I heard that phrase from some of the cop and war trid movies Dad and I watched, but they couldn't be thinking the same thing... Right?', the teenager asked herself as she cringed a bit on the inside.

[DireRadiant]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:59:59
Sledge - Technical Support, Apprentice Interrogator
PAN - Hidden

... breathe ....

<<@Johnson, Sledge, Angel: We'll take care of the heat.>>

.. focus .. breathe ...

<<@Sledge: I'm going to put the guard (more) to sleep. Then, on my signal, I'm going to need you to grab the receptionist and smash her face into the table. Then I'll chat with her a bit and we can go.>>

Sledge forced hereself to keep still as the man's hand flicked.

.. focus .. no glow ...

The it appeared, all sinuous and scaly and too real. Like some hot new ARO advertisement, except it had that extra quality that told you it was really there, and not there. It moved.

.. focus .. breathe ... no glow ... but ...

<<@Sledge: Go.>>

Unleashed, Sledge accelerated smoothly towards and behind the desk after first dropping extra low to compensate for the extra traction needed by her sudden movement. With her off hand she slapped at the womans head to knock it forward to land on the desk, in her other she reached and pulled out her Defiance. Interestingly she made note that it didn't get in the way as she grabbed the handful of styled hair and lifted the womans head back up while she jammed the uncharged contacts into the side of her neck with her other hand. The cool sensation of scaled skin moving didn't disrupt her concentration as she made sure to face the woman at the man. Sledge held her finger off of the trigger.

...it just had to be snakes...

[pragma]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 6:57:45
Fortunato - Support Mage, Senior Interrogator
PAN - Hidden

Fortunato stood up with the calm and grace of a natural born predator. In this single instant his weight, his haggard eyes and his normal lack of grace were replaced with the confidence a cobra or a tiger has before a kill.

He fished a pen out of slacks as he walked across the room and carefully, with a choreorgraphed push, set it at the base of the receptionists eye. Grabbing her jaw he said:

"Listen you slut. We are on a timetable. If you don't tell us where Cerberus the troll, is, very bad men are going to kill him and probably you. More importantly, if you don't talk now I will tear out your eye with this pen and then do something really horrible to you."

[adamu]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:15

The older woman abruptly dropped the screaming and whimpering act, her voice going cold: "He's here, but there's no way to talk to him - he's still in surgery. His friend's on the way to the diner right now. Go talk to him, amateur."

[adamu]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:16

Still perceiving the astral, Fortunato was just beginning to probe the woman's aura for signs of stress that might reveal deceit, when a sound from the physical plane drifted through to his consciousness. He looked up just in time to see that the interior door had swung open, revealing the stout and bearded figure of a male dwarf, arms outstretched, fingers together, one hand atop the other forming an inverted V pointing directly at him - followed by a battering ram of force aimed directly for his heart.
The ex-CIA mage had just enough time to raise his defenses, but the impact was nonetheless substantial.
And then, a mere fraction of an instant after the door had opened, it shut again. He barely heard it slam over the barks and yaps of a pack of pint-sized bulldogs - the watchers he'd seen earlier - worrying at his snake spirit.

[pragma]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 7:00:19
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden

She's got an ace.

He knew it as soon as she looked back at him; she wasn't scared. She wasn't even worried. And suddenly the full force of not being backed up by a multinational spy agency hit him. He was the only one responsible for prep, intel gathering and keeping his team safe. He was alone, in a big city and the bitch had an ace. Now it was just a matter of seeing if she played it.

"He's here, but there's no way to talk to him - he's still in surgery. His friend's on the way to the diner right now. Go talk to him, amateur."

Fortunato calmed down as she chewed him out. This could all be salvaged if it was a simple miscommunication. No one was dead, we back down and apologize and walk away. Things would get smoothed over.She might not be playing the card after all.

That all changed as the door popped open

shitmothercokcbitchcunt ...

The dwarf was highlighted on the astral and framed by a pack of rushing bulldogs. Fortunato's skin tingled as the mana around it started charging.

...fuckbitchpissmoangoddamn...

His arm moved instinctively into a sweeping block as the dwarf's hands were thrust forward in a killing point.

...worthlessshitbagdumbass...

Astral space flashed as the sound of crashing glass and the smell of ozone permeated the local mana. Watchers bounded past him and the door slammed shut. Fortunato spent a split second stunned before diving behind the desk and ordering the snake to deal with the pack of miniscule spirits that were bothering it. He imagined Sledge encased in a protective shell of astral cement to set down some rudimentary spell defense as he caught his breath and slowed the stream of profanity pouring through his head.

Your PAN was the mistake for the day? You were bound to fuck up you godfosaken desk jockey.

The secretary had disentangled herself from both Sledge and the snake and was straightening her hair. She was a piece of work; hardened drug runners and professional killers had cracked under less pressure.

Squatting behind the desk Fortunato said, "Sorry for the confusion ma'am."

[adamu]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:00:35

"Well, you should be, young man." She forced a thin smile and reached for her nail file. "But I can see Irv is not dead, so perhaps nothing's been done that cannot be repaired. Since subtlety is out the window for today, I will tell you once more that the friend of the one you're looking for has already decided to speak with you. He's on his way to the diner. In any case, it will be up to the Doctor whether the two of you are ever allowed back in here. Finally, this place enjoys the protection of a very powerful and ruthless organization. Your voices and faces have been recorded. Please leave now."

[pragma]

4325 E. Paloma, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 7:01:5
Fortunato - Support Mage
PAN - Hidden

He stood and brushed himself off.

"This fiasco was my call and not hers, let the Doctor know that," he said. It stung him to do so. But PR was critical in covert ops. Make sure the fallout stays contained, never let anyone get wind of who's running the op and always minimize the collateral damage.

He had thoroughly resorted to his usual self. The instant of real, professional terror had passed.

"If I could take thirty seconds, I hate to leave a mess." He focused on the mushroom-cloud-esque spell signature.he'd left floating over Irv. It had been a big spell and he had every intention of leaving no trace it had gone off. They had his name and face, but no reason to leave his signature too.

Stepping out into the sunrise Fortunato turned to Sledge and said, "Could have been worse."

He typed into the air:

<<@Team: Stay at the diner, someone's coming to meet you guys.>>

[adamu]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:01:07

Seemingly no sooner had the motley trio - strung-out and bleeding troll, disheveled human looking like a drowned rat in his still-soaking U of S hoody, pink-haired little elf girl clutching a backpack with everything in the world she owned to her chest - no sooner had they gathered themselves outside the diner than they all got the same text-message from the bearded elf - someone apparently was going to meet them there - the person just hadn't arrived yet.

[BlackHat]

Outside the Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:10:00
Mr. Smith - Johnson
PAN – Hidden

Son of a bitch.

Well, on one hand, it sounded like Fortunato and Sledge handled the situation on their own. On the other, the group was going to look very suspicious paying for their meal and walking out of the diner - only to walk back in after a minute or two and going back to waiting.

Can't be helped.

"Okay, guys. Looks like they're on it - let's wait here for the contact." He shook his head a little bit. "At least we don't have to go back out in that." He gestured at the rain as he opened the diner door for Angel and Rocky.

As they made their way back to their table, people were obviously looking at them - especially the man with the rolex. Their waitress came running up to them as they reached the table. "I'm sorry! Your change!" She was quickly fumbling for bills in her belt - but obviously hadn't expected them to return.

Mr. Johnson waved her away. "Keep the change. Turns out we wern't stood up, afterall - but our 'friend' is running a little bit late."

As the team sat down again, taking up their previous positions in the booth and on the nearby stool, Mr. Johnson typed out a reply to the rest of the team.

<<@Team:: Okay. We're in position. Will keep you two posted. Keep an eye out for company.>>

The next ten minutes, or so, went by relativly quietly. Johnson was going over his pitch in his head, wondering what he was going to say to "Will" when he showed up to convince him to let the team talk to Cerberus, without tipping his hand too much.

[Konsaki]

Paloma Diner, Meredith, Renton
Tuesday 8/19/70 07:10:00
Angel - Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Passive

The shortest member of the trio looked over to the human expecting a reply from Mr. Johnson. He seemed to open his mouth to say something, with a slight quirk of a smile, when he immediately closed it with a frown. Angel could see why as a message from the separated team came across her AR vision at the same time. ‘Ok, so we stay here and look out for someone...’, she thought as she also frowned a bit.
As they stood outside for a minute, waiting on Johnson to figure out what to do next, the young technomancer set down her backpack and pulled a sky blue long sleeved shirt out as a cool after-rain breeze blew in from the bay. Putting it on without buttoning it, she brushed her hair out from underneath the makeshift jacket.

As she finished, the human man standing beside her in the college sweatshirt started talking, causing her to look over at him. "Okay, guys. Looks like they're on it - let's wait here for the contact.", Johnson said as he shook his head a little bit. "At least we don't have to go back out in that.", he continued, as he motioned into the distance. Looking into the west, Angel saw more dark clouds rolling in, slowly darkening what could have been a sunny morning. ‘Oh, no... Not again.’, she mentally groaned as she visioned her experiences in the weather not four hours ago
Looking back towards the man running this adventure, she saw him open the door to the diner and motion for them to enter. The young elven woman led the way, going back to the same stool at the bar she vacated not too long ago. She heard the waitress fuss over the change due to the brown haired man, but ignored it mainly because it had nothing to do with her.
In almost no time, the trio was back where they were seated before. Rocky, still looking worse for the wear, staring out the window, Angel looking around the diner slightly twirling some strands of hair with her fingers and Mr Johnson, wet and bedraggled, typing away on his AR keyboard again.
She knew it wouldn’t be long before she saw his message appear in her AR, and he didn’t disappoint. She looked over the incoming message and then looked around the diner yet again, seeing the same faces she had seen before they left. After a few minutes of waiting and nothing happening, she looked over to the man who sent out the message.

<<@Team :: “Do we know what this person looks like, or will we just ‘know’ as soon as we see them?”>>, the green eyed elf sent across the wireless airwaves to the team’s commlink network.