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

[BlackHat]

Northbound - I-167
Tuesday 8/19/70 08:17:23
Mr. Smith - Hacker
PAN - Hidden

Johnson took the commlink when Fortunato waved it around (Angel was in no shape to use it), but just laid it in his lap, since it still took a good deal of attention to drive. Punching a few buttons in AR the van's autopilot program took over, following the casual flow of traffic down the highway.

Johnson began connecting his commlink to Rosso's and attaching trodes to his head. In one window, he saw the output of the van's displays, in another, the boot-screen for Rosso's commlink asking him for a password. Holding the commlink, fold-out keypad forward, back towards Rosso, he asked "Think you can fat-finger your password?"

Otherwise, I'll have to try to hack my way past it....

[Konsaki]

Northbound I-167
Tuesday 8/19/70 08:20:00
Angel – Technomancer - Hidden
PAN – Hidden

As the minutes past, Angel’s comparatively small body in Rocky’s secure embrace slowed its compulsive rocking along with the unintelligible mumblings until it ceased altogether. The elf girl still hugged her knees to her chest as her troubled mind slowly gave way to the encroaching weariness that such a chaotic day had left her with. Slowly closing her eyes, her breathing started to carry a rhythmic beat of one who was relaxed, but it was just an illusion her body let on in its release to the weariness it felt.
Her mind still filled with doubt, insecurity, fear and self loathing; Caittie continued to ‘hear’ the two sides of her psyche bicker over the actions she herself had done not minutes ago. Back and forth, circling the other, each trying to gain the advantage in the struggle over her conscience while her conscience assaulted her none the less. Still, even this too was dulled by the succumbing of her body to the specter of rest, though not completely quelled.

[BlackHat]

Northbound - I-167
Tuesday 8/19/70 08:20:00
Mr. Smith - Hacker
PAN - Hidden

With an unsteady hand, Rosso was able to gain entry to his own commlink. In AR, Johnson spent a minute or to looking around, and calling various queries on Rosso's contact database from his own commlink. He eventually said, "What about 'Gabs'?" He said the name hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure he was saying it correctly.

Rosso also seemed to hesitate, as if this wasn't the place he wanted to go, but eventually gave in to his desire and nodded slowly. It looked, to Johnson as though the Runner wasn't going to be awake a whole lot longer - so he was glad that the details of his drop-off had been taken care of.

A few more finger-motions in mid-air, and the van's autopilot acknowledged the new destination. Before it deviated from the Sledge's randomized pattern, Johnson figured he should warn her.

<<@Team:: "Okay, we're headed out to drop off Rosso. Sledge, here are the coordinates, if you want to follow - otherwise you could scout out Rudolpho's. That should give us some time to rest up and come up with a plan. Please use this channel if you have anything mission-oriented to discuss - I'd prefer if Rosso knew as little as possible about our goal.">>

Confident enough to take his eyes off the road, he glanced back at his passengers and spoke silently into his subvocal microphone. <<@Team:: "Seriously... is Angel okay? I was hoping she could do a once-over of Rosso's cyberware....">> He noticed her eyes were closed. <<@Team:: "... guess not...">>

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:42:00

It had been a long drive to the northernmost reaches of the 'Plex, the better half taken up fighting traffic headed downtown to start the workday. I-5/99 had cleared right up once they were past the core, once they'd left the Space Needle and the Pyramid behind them.

Still on I-5/99 as they entered Everett, the navicon had suggested a shortcut across Lynnwood to 194th, which had then turned NE, becoming Seattle Hill Road, the demarcator with Snohomish. As they approached the Snohomish River, things became much less built up - lots of empty fields where the water table too high to suffer the construction of anything too substantial. Taking a series of go-nowhere roads through rolling, mist-covered hills, they'd come to an old-fashioned mailbox at the end of a long muddy drive. The numbers on the box matched the address they had for "Gabs" - and a hundred meters of so up the drive was a nice looking two-story house, with a barn out back.

As the Love Machine and the Harley slowed, the distant barking of dogs sounded over the intervening pastureland.

In the back, Rosso snored on the floor.

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:43:04
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

At least the snoring meant Rosso was alive. After the beating he had taken, being kept conscious on Stims, alone, was likely to do more damage than good - and Johnson was a little worried that their package would be DOA, after the drugs had worn off.

Still, despite his relief that Rosso was alive, there was no way he was going to be able to lift this guy. He was bigger than Adam was, naturally, and the chrome wouldn't help. "Alright, Cerberus, Rocky. Either of you guys feeling okay enough to help me drop this guy off? I can't carry him."

In the distance, the dogs barked again. "It might not hurt to have a little backup, either."

God knows who or what 'Gabs' is.

Without really waiting for their response, Johnson opened up his door, steped out and stretched after the long drive, and lazily made his way around the back of the van. There had been some chatter on the way over reguarding the plan - but it was mostly discussion about whether or not the team would survive long enough to lick their wounds. Adam was of the impression that they wouldn't be able to find anyplace secluded enough that Louie's eyes and ears wouldn't track them down.

As he made his way around the rear of hte van, he took in the scenery, and nodded at Sledge . It appears he might have been wrong. Somehow, he couldn't see the Mob's influence being too strong out near some old-fashioned Farm. Heck, the dogs barking were as good of an alarm that strangers had arrived as Angel's drone had been.

Having made his way around to the side-door, he opened it up - and helped get Rosso's body out of the van. "If you guys want, I can see if 'Gabs' wouldn't mind having some company for a while. I imagine that anyone that lives in a place like this must really value their privacy - but, who knows?"

I'd still rather get this done sooner rather than later... but rushing in with damaged goods, and botching the whole thing up isn't going to get me any more work. I'm only going to get one shot at this - and people are counting on me.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:43:12


Rocky hopped out into the mud, while Kyle and Cerberus dragged Rosso's inert form over to him. The ex-prize fighter couldn't help but notice how bad off his former partner was - the mage had done his magical healing bit on the green-skinned troll not twenty minutes ago, but he didn't look much better. But then the mage was looking pretty out of it himself.

Once Rocky had hefted the weight of the big human that had almost killed him a couple of hours ago, Kyle jumped out as well. Turning to his best friend, he held out a hand. "Looks like you got it from here, brau. You're up to your green gills in some nasty stuff - and it's just not my scene. These guys you've fallen in with, though, they're an impressive bunch - in more ways than one." He took a deep breath. "Damn, haven't smelled air like this in years - gotta get up here once in a while. Call me when you get this mess sorted out, and we'll come up here for some hiking."

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:45:53
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

Seeing that one of the troll's was willing to carry the injured human, Johnson thumbed backwards towards the farm. "I say we approach on foot. No obvious weapons. No signs of hostility - and make sure that anyone looking can see Rosso."

His smile got rather large. "Eventually someone's going to come to see who's here, and I'll do some talking. We're basically here to drop Rosso off, so I can't imagine they'll be too upset with us once they realise we're friends." The amusement he seemed to find from this statement didn't inspire confidence, but Johnson definatly had a way of making things sound like they wouldn't be so bad.

Once the plan was explained, he started to head down the long driveway - making sure it was clear he was in the lead of this parade of criminals. Sledge and Rocky brought up the rear, bringing along Rosso's unconscious body.

[Abbandon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:45:53
Cerberus: Street Samurai
PAN - Hidden (eyes,earbuds)

Cerberus eyes were as heavy as cement but when Johnson had said his name they popped open again but were threatening to close until movement caught his eye. The door to the van slid open and Rocky had climbed out and had pointed at Rosso's form while looking at Cerberus and told him to help move him. Kyle and Cerberus had both got a handhold of Rosso's sleeping body and dragged him over to the door.

Cerberus was about to hop out of the van and help Rocky with whatever it was he was doing but Kyle had got in his way and said he was leaving. He looked on as Johnson, Rocky, Rosso, and Sledge started up a muddy road towards a solitary 2 story house.

Kyle, "These guys you've fallen in with, though, they're an impressive bunch - in more ways than one." He took a deep breath. "Damn, haven't smelled air like this in years - gotta get up here once in a while. Call me when you get this mess sorted out, and we'll come up here for some hiking."

Cerberus, "Wait your leaving? Man I feel like my life has come full circle. You found me as a punk kid who was nothing but trouble and then you helped straighten me out and now im right back where i started getting involved with the mob and getting you into trouble. I am greatful for the things you have showed me though and I think I will be able to make it out of this alive. Your right about this group of people, they all seem to have amazing abilities and I hope I can hold up my end. But Kyle this guy who is after us, he is pretty good at tracking people down so please keep your head low or go on vacation or something. I would like to come back up here with you sometime. I will let you know when its all over. Goodbye my friend." Cerberus clasps Kyle's hand and pulls into a hug.

Kyle says his goodbye and then steps back and shuts the door to the van. Cerberus looks around the van to see Fortunato and Angel mostly out of it, he continues to search and finds what he was looking for. Pulling the assault rifle off the rack he begins to check it over and see how it works. Cerberus didnt know if it was his little cat nap or something Fortunato had done but some of the pain and soreness around his bulletholes were feeling alot better now. It still felt like he had been shot but the pain was becoming bearable.

I guess im on gaurd duty till the others get back.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:09


The moment they crossed the cattle guard, the barking of the dogs doubled, and three huge wolf-looking breeds started bounding down the road toward the trio, while two more stayed at the house, where they bayed and howled and scraped at the front door.

A few seconds after the small pack took off toward the shadowrunners, two things happened. First, the animals paused, sniffed at the air, and then as one catapulted themselves down the road with redoubled speed, their calamitous barking now turned to viciously throaty growls. Second, an old model Microskimmer, about the size of a garbage can lid, shot out of some sort of port in the wall of the house and headed after the dogs.

But it was clear the dogs would reach the team first...

[DireRadiant]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:09

Sledge - Puppy Chow Salesperson
PAN - Hidden

Sledge was convinced. Johnson... Sugar Lips was not at all taking into account the fundamental nature of metahumanity.

It's a dog eat dog world.

She eased up on her share of the load, shook free an arm, and readied the shocker. With a wink, where the young collegian couldn't see it, to the troll on the other end of their burden she set her feet.

With a slight push at the barely living human between them, "Puppies want chew toy real bad!"

... breathe... at least it's not a Idensitech doggies...

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:13


Standing ankle-deep in mud, Rocky helped Sledge out further by throwing Rosso completely over one shoulder, leaving the ork free, and even opening up his own right hand.

The three dogs bounded in, alternately snarling deep in their throats and whining in confusion. They skidded to stops in front of the team - pack animals to the core, they had fanned out across the road. They were clearly upset and at a loss as to what to do - and ALL their attention was on the troll.

The dogs quivered - clearly on the edge of action - but what? It seemed that even the animals were not sure...

[JDragon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:14
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden

As the dogs come to a stop focused on him Rocky smiles and tries to stay as still and non-threatening as possible, watching for the first sign that the dogs are going to pounce, knowing that when they do all will come at once.

Keeping an eye on the dogs he speaks quietly to the others, “Lets hope who ever is controlling that drone will see Russo and call the dogs off. If not, lets try not to kill them I have enough enemies for now.”

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:15
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

Johnson considered his options in the seconds that passed while the dogs ran forward. He stood about no chance of outrunning those dogs, but maybe the others could get back to the van - without Rosso's dead weight. If Adam wanted to save Rosso, he'd have to buy them time.

He briefly considered ordering his team back and acting as a distraction, but wasn't sure even his luck would see him out of that situation.

His indecision cost him. In moments the pack of dogs was on the team, but rather than jumping in and tearing out their throats they seemed to surround them and seemed to be waiting for something. Adam was somewhat surprised at his appraisal of the situation. A few months ago, he would have been pretty piss-scared, and would have run screaming for the van - but being surrounded by angry wolves and being surrounded by angry underworld-types wasn't all that different. Adam was aware of this.

The main difference is that the underworld-types knew enough to let him live, after beating the hell out of him... and that he was armed then.

When Rocky spoke up, Johnson nodded slowely. "Yeah, make sure it can get a good look at him. These arn't wild dogs. They're somebodies pets. Let's hope they are well-trained." He tried not to move. He felt like even backing away could cause the dogs to pounce before he got anywhere.

It was just like with his dealings with Franco's "associates". Look tough, look confident, and try not to give them a reason to kill you. Unfortunatly, his charming wit, and silver tongue wern't going to do him any good against these things. He had to wait for their master to act.

It took a lot of restraint to not reach for his commlink to try to contact him, first.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:21


After several tense seconds of stand-off between the pack and the runners, the drone finally arrived on the scene. Hovering behind the dogs, its obsolete camera array panned across the trio of would-be assassins, and then the device darted toward Rocky - or rather, toward Rocky's burden. After a few moments of close examination, the drone pulled up above their heads and hovered, and a woman clad in coveralls and a plaid flannel shirt came running out the front door of the house, the other two dogs at her heels. She raced up the road toward the group, wiping her hands with a dishtowel as she came.

Meanwhile, the first three animals continued to snarl and whine.

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:46:29
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

Looks like we got someone's attention at least.

Looking up slowly at the woman making her way down the long driveway, he decided that shouting to her at that distance would probably upset th dogs. At least, until she called them off, Adam was going to keep his voice soft - which meant there was no use in trying to communicate yet.

Likewise, waving was completely out of the question.

Returning his attention to the dogs, he kept the same confidant expression and thought over and over in his head. ... good dog... good doggie... He was impressed that Rocky who had the unfortunate luck to be the focus of their attention, had kept his cool, so well. Of course, in general, he didn't suspect that trolls had much to fear from dogs - even wolves.

Sledge, on the other hand, had her taser ready, and seemed to be ready to take control of the situation. He had seen that she can handle herself against crazy animals before - he was just glad it hadn't come to that. Still, it was good to know that she was ready to act if it did.

They've gotten off to a rather bumpy start, but, all in all, Franco seemed to have handed him a really good team. His desire to oversee every aspect of this mission had gone down quite a bit as the morning had passed - right then, other than being the only one who probably cared if Rosso lived or died, Johnson would have felt pretty confident letting his team handle the mission and just report back for payment. At least, that's how he thought this relationship was supposed to go. Of course, it didn't hurt to have an extra pair of hands around, for when the hacker went into shock, or when something should be handled with some amount of tact.

Plus, he got to drive pimped out cars really really fast.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:47:00


She ran toward the three strangers without any apparent trace of fear, but seemed to gain some control of her senses when she came abreast of her dogs. She gave them a command in a harsh sounding language none of the runners recognized, and they went silent, but remained tense, bristled, watching the interlopers unblinkingly.

She swallowed hard, eyes locked on the figure over Rocky's shoulder. It was hard to tell whether her words were question, assertion, or statement - "He's not dead."

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:47:06
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

"No. He isn't." Johnson answered just as matter-of-factly, as he tried to gadge Gabs's responses. Clearly she was about as thrilled to see him here as he was to hear that this was where he was going. "He took on a job that turned out to be a little more than he bargained for, and, well, it didn't go so well. Your number showed up most often on his commlink, so I suggested bringing him here. He was barely conscious, but indicated that it would be alright."

Gesturing at her dogs, Johnson added, "I'm sorry about not calling ahead to warn you - but there are some people involved that you really don't want knowing we brought Rosso here."

Pausing for a moment, he turned his hands upwards in a shrug. "So... we cool?"

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:47:09


Indecision played across the woman's face for the briefest of moments. "Yes. Yes, of course. Quick - bring him inside." She gave another unintelligible order to the dogs, and they stopped their growling. A couple bounded toward Rocky and got up to try and lick Rosso's face, but the woman sternly called them off.

For her own part, the woman looked as though she wanted to do as the animals had - she looked at the inert form of the huge human sammie with obvious concern, but concentrated on ushering the trio on down the road. "These people that you don't think should find Rosso, will they recognize that van? Would you like to put it in the barn?"

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:47:12
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

"If it isn't too much of an inconvenience, it wouldn't hurt."

"Also, my team could use some time to regroup and I would like to stick around and make sure Rosso is alright. If you don't mind, of course, I would very much like to talk to him when he comes around." It wasn't all a ruse. Johnson did recognise Rosso's potential usefulness, but was suggesting it for another reason entirely. He suspected it would take a few hours before Rosso slept off his wounds and the side-effects of the drugs, which was the same amount of time he suspected it would take his team to get back to a reasonable state. While the idea of letting a bunch of Shadowrunners crash at her place would probably not be too appealing, Gabs would certainly be more open to the idea of the man who saved Rosso's life wanting to talk to him before he left - and that, incidentally, could take hours.

Of course, Rosso was also probably the most experienced Shadowrunner for miles, now, and Johnson wanted very much to make sure he left him with some contact information.

When he paused, giving Gabs time to respond, Johnson typed up a message to the team, suspecting that no one would be awake to recieve it.

<<@Team:: Contact made. Moving the van into the barn for safety.>>

And then he began sending the commands to bring the van up remotely - watching its progress in AR while talking with Gabs and leading the others down the long driveway.

[Abbandon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:50:25
Cerberus: Street Samurai
PAN - Hidden (eyes,earbuds)

Cerberus heard the message in his ears and saw the message scroll across the AR window in his field of view and steadied himself for the vans movement but without Rocky here to hold up Caittie she began to slide along the wall of the van and towards the seat of the bench she was sitting on. Cerberus deftly grabbed the assault rifle he had been examining with his off hand and quickly moved across to the opposite bench and prevented Caittie from falling like a sack of potatos into the seat of the bench.

Setting the ssault rifle down and adjusted Caittie position. If they are moving the van up I freaking hope that means we are staying and that I can finally get some sleep. I feel like i could sleep for 24 hours or more.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:51:00


The van had caught up to the people on foot and trundled along through the rutted track behind them as they walked to the house, the dogs whining after the fallen Russo incessantly.

Gabs paced along quickly, a strong sense of urgency in her step. She did not lead, but stayed alongside Rocky, all her attention on Russo. She examined his injuries even as she made her way through the mud, occasionally drawing breath sharply between her teeth as she realized the extent of the beating he'd taken.

Arriving at the front of the house, she'd pointed out where to put the barn. Even as she entered the dwelling, she was calling back to them - "I'll get those big doors open for it. Bring Rosso in here, we need to get him cleaned up and into bed."

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:51:03
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

Johnson helped everyone along, but Rocky was doing most of the heavy lifting. Johnson's attention was more on the van and on their new host, Gabs. "Do you know the proper people to contact? He mentioned having a wife...." He didn't want to be so rude as to ask their relation, but Johnson sure was curious as to who Gabs was.

[JDragon]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:51:01
Rocky - physical adept
PAN: Hidden

Rocky followed Gabs instructions up to the house, stopping at the door using the mat there to try and get the worse of the mud off his large feet. He then slipped inside and followed here to the room she wanted the runner in. He removed him from his shoulder carefully and then laid him out.

Once Russo was safely on the bed Rocky looked at Gabs, "Thanks for not sending the dogs after us." and then slips out of the room to stay out of the way. He moves back to the front of the house, going out on the porch to see what the plan was from here.

[adamu]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:51:05


At first it didn't seem as though the woman had even heard the young man that had showed up on her doorstep with his motley entourage in tow, the man she loved slung over the shoulder of a huge troll.

"I'm going to have to biopoxy his jaw back to..." she was saying to herself, and then, several seconds after the erstwhile college student's trailing question, she looked up at him with a start. "I'm his wife," she said, nodding at a wedding picture on a nightstand. "So I'm who to contact...I know what my husband does for a living, but I have no idea who he works with....It's not you?"

[BlackHat]

42398 Rural Route 11, Everett
Tuesday 8/19/70 09:52:38
Mr. Smith - Delivery Man
PAN - Hidden

"Not at the moment." Johnson felt it wasn't necessary to mention the fact that his team was, in fact, the people who did this to her husband. "... I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

"I'm pretty sure the rest of his team didn't make it. They didn't really know what they were getting themselves into. Your husband is a fighter, though. He really wanted to see you again. I'm just glad I was able to help."

"I don't know how this whole mess is going to change how he feels about... what he does... but if he's still interested, I might be able to help get him back on his feet, in touch with a new team, and maybe get him some new work to help lighten the blow to his rep." Johnson sympathised for the woman, and couldn't really imagine that she would want him going back to a job where he came home like this - or where he might not come home at all. He wasn't sure he could guess as to why Rosso would want to go back either. He seemed to have a nice home, a loving wife, and didn't really seem to need the money. Still, something made him choose this lifestyle - and getting his ass kicked probably didn't change anything.