IC: A Walk Among the Dead, Whoosh! Options

[TinkerGnome]

"What the flamin' drek is that?" a feminine, though decidedly unladylike, voice asked from behind the suit. She didn't appear armed, but she did appear edgy, particularly about the battle suit.

"Fraggin' weirdest meet I've ever drekin' been 'invited' to, and some big fraggin' robot like outta some Euphoira trid is there. Robo-Johnson, maybe? Hello?" She slide around the bot and made her way to the forming group, recognizing shadowrunners when she saw them. As others began to make their way into the hole she looked very, very confused. "I guess the hole it is, though... an interesting chance of pace."

[Digital Heroin]

Twitchy look down to the hole, and to Valentine's retreating form. Gonna be a tight squeeze. The mechanical head of the suit rotates to look to the woman, and in a synthetic conglomerate of trid voices, both male and female, it speaks.

`They call me Powerhouse. I am no Johnson, whoever that is. I was summoned here.`

The head swivels back down to the hole, and Twitchy considers a moment.

`You should go first. Make sure the others are clear.`

[Cheese Emperor]

After the prolonged effort of everyone delving from the above ground dreary recesses to the underground dreary recesses, things only grew more outlandish. It looked like some twisted soul had ripped the lair of Batman off the silicon screen and warped it into a demented hellmouth as it were. Fierce teeth lined the mouth while a monstrous mainframe of a home telecom system resided in the back. With little in the way of illumination, most of the room is bathed in shadows and darkness. A dark figure sat in front of it shrouding the only active feature from view.

“Ostentatious, simply ostentatious. As I am sure you have deduced, I am the Viscious Vole, but you may call me VV if you so desire. This is my Vole Hole,” he says with a slight chuckle, though definitely not a nervous one. With an eccentric wave of his arms as if to say that this was all his and he loved it like a son. “The Viscious Vole hopes you had little trouble finding the location.” Turning around with his mouth suddenly agape at the sight of the anthroform, VV looked as if he were about to wet himself. His face, and the rest of his body for that matter was covered in a thin layer of fur. Small, beady black orbs were where eyes should have been, although this feature is probably more common among Johnson’s. His small round head came to a point at the tip of his nose with several whiskers protruding on either side. Two tiny incisors overlapped the bottom lip. “You came, Powerhouse. Ostentatious! VV assumes that we are all here, correct? VV is sure the formalities are wearing thin, so let us get down to business. Now then, VV supposes we should begin with the basic premises. VV will be paying you to extract a good friend of mine.” A holographic image of a deceptively tall black elf appears on the telecom display grid. “As you may be able to tell, he is one of the Wayambi. A skilled warrior and shaman in his own right, Folami has been ‘acquired’ by a rival of mine. His current whereabouts are unknown, as are his state of mind and health.”

[Lilt]

Lilt initially seems to be more interested in the decor, looking at the teeth on the entrance and testing one for sharpness, but as the holographic image comes up on the trid he takes a coupple of steps closer to examine.

Lilt turns back to VV, "Do ya have a shortlist of who might'ave taken him? Maybe a list of 'is talents so we can make our own descisions?" Then, returning to his scrutiny of the hollow projection, "Also: does'e'ave any implants or medical conditions? A medical profile would be useful in any case."

[Cheese Emperor]

"Of course, of course. As VV said before, it was a rival of mine. Her name is Iris Tarent. She's a mover-and-shaker in Cross's Matrix Tech subsidiary with some revolutionary drek about ASIST being a stepping stone or some such. Your guess is as good as VV's as to where she is. Very international, that one. Folami is adept in polearms and staffs as far as direct combat while he truly shines with spirits and their applications. Before he left, VV knew of no medical conditions or implants."

[Kurukami]

Badger's eyes flit from side to side, taking in the panorama of the surreal before him. Ooooo-kay. Well, this is hardly the first nutcase I've worked for, and hopefully it won't be the last.

"All right, then. I have a few questions for you." He begins to tick items off on his fingers. "One -- where was Mr. Folami abducted from, or where was he last seen? Two -- when, to your best estimation, was Mr. Folami taken? Three -- do either Mr. Folami or Ms. Tarent have System Identification Numbers, as far as you are aware?"

"And finally -- precisely how much are you offering us for this 'expedition', and will you be covering any travel expenses? Particularly for this..." He gestured over his shoulder at the enormous metal hulk which now stood at the base of the recently greatly enlarged hole in the sidewalk. "... thing?"

[The Frumious Ban...]

Valentine simply stands near the rear of the group with a surprisingly non-plussed look on his face, mindful to keep that behemoth ironworks display well in his view. He says nary a word, simply listening attentively to the others and paying close attention to their reactions and questions.

All the while, of course, he's transcribing the details into Cadbury.

[Digital Heroin]

Twitycy contemplates, the readouts from his sensors a little sketchy, the audio feedback's a bit distorted, or maybe the guy's got a funny voice. He'll have to look into it either way. Maybe tweak the feedback filters. Come to think of it the third spotlight seemed a little dim; he'd have to replace the bulb. Once more the eerie conglomerate of voices speaks.

`The mechanically insensitive one has a point. If we are to travel, accomodations will need to be made for me.`

He wouldn't be leaving the suit. Nope. Well, not unless he really needed to pee. But not in front of witnesses. He can't be revealing he's not just a drone. Let them think it.

[The Frumious Ban...]

Upon hearing the overgrown rust bucket's words, Valentine just gives a quiet shudder under his voice... a shudder that would make Lurch from the old flatvid reruns of The Addam's Family proud.

[Cheese Emperor]

"He was last seen in his home which resides in the Sioux Nation by VV on the 5th of this month. He rarely entertains visitors thusly it would be difficult to determine the exact date, but VV discovered his abduction on the 13th of the month. While VV is sure that both of them possess various authentic fakes they acquired through their contacts and connections for whatever purposes, VV is not privy to any specifics of them."

"As for your payment, VV is willing to fully reimburse all expenses deemed necessary by myself. Things such as international transit, certain equipment, medical expenses in excess of 5,000 Nuyen, and the like along with 30,000 Nuyen flat payment. VV will privately discuss 'that thing' as you so crudely put it with the operator after the rest of you have departed."

[Glyph]

Stitch looks thoughtful. "We will also have to pay for information, especially picking up such a cold trail. Hopefully that will be factored into our expenses. Your initial offer seems fairly reasonable, but I think a retainer would not be out of line, given the time commitment you are asking from us - a sign of good faith from you, to match the good faith that we are showing you."

Stitch is curiously assensing the Vicious Vole, wondering if he is a hologram, someone masked in illusion, or some metatype, shifter, surged mutant, or victim of some variety of HMHVV. He is still using masking and his mirrorshades to hide his perusal.

Stitch has a faint smile on his face. He seems more bemused by their eccentric host, and the hulking powersuit/drone/whatever it is, rather than shocked.

[TinkerGnome]

Kat lets out a low whistle at the sight of the place. "Super chiller digs..." she mutters, but otherwise remains silent for much of the meet. As the mention of the Sioux nation is made, her eyes perk up.

When the mention of money is made, she licks her lips. "Geeze, we'd love to help and all, but the Sioux nation is a real killer place to get to. Ain't like most of us can use public transportation to get that far, an' I hear they've got some wizard chem sniffers on the Salish border these days. We'll have to bribe our way through the orks at the least... We might need some considerable working capital."

[Cheese Emperor]

As Stitch spoke, a flash of recognition passed over VV's face. Only Stitch and Kat were able to notice it though. He was obviously attempting to shortchange the team by seeming overly generous.

"VV assumes that the standard half up front will be acceptable? As for international travel, VV believes he has already mentioned this. If you would prefer recommendations, VV would be able to oblige."

[Digital Heroin]

He's going to not only leave the city, but head across a border? This won't work, it can't. Calm, panic attack down. He'll be in the suit, what are border guards going to do?

`A way to get me across the border would help.`

The synthetic voice always did calm him. It was like having a chorus of friends.

[TinkerGnome]

Kat nods. "Even when you arrange it, the risks still go up a whole bunch. We'll be a long way from our support network... and I don't know if anyone even speaks the right languages."

[Kurukami]

Badger dismisses that concern with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry, I can speak the Sioux lingo well enough. And we can discuss transportation methods for, um," he snaps his fingers twice and points at the massive robotic frame as though trying to remember, "Powerhouse, later. I've got a few ideas, but this group you've assembled can talk over plans after we've completed our discussion here."

He looks back at their hirsute host. "Do you have a picture or file on Ms. Tarent that you can provide to us? Something of the sort might certainly help in the retrieval effort."

"Finally, I presume that flat fee you mentioned earlier is for the group as a whole. That's a reasonable sum for a trackdown and retrieval... but if there are unforeseen complications that increase our costs, what do we do? Submit to you an 'expense report' or something of the sort, after the job is complete? Personally, I'm a bit uneasy with that -- no offense, but transactions of this sort are, by their nature, off the books. It would seem more reasonable to have access to a certified account containing a limited sum, and contact you on the quiet if we were in need of additional finance."

[Ol' Scratch]

Nearly forgotten in the shadows of the Vole's secret underground lair, Valentine simply continued to stand there while listening to the others discuss the deal. When the one calling himself Badger belied Kat's attempt to ooze a higher payment from the rodent, only to offer a poor attempt to do the same, the former bodyguard shook his head sadly and stepped forward.

"If I may be so bold," Val began, his voice dry but cool and collected. Nonetheless, his mere presence and demeanor seemed to demand attention. "But I don't think it would be wise if the lot of us," he gestured towards everyone present, "where to pile into the back of a single van in order to cross the border. Especially with that... thing," he again paused, pointing a disgruntled thumb at Powerhouse, "crammed in the back."

Valentine continued to step further into the dim light; his eyes completely hidden behind the inky black lenses of his round, wire-rim glasses. "It would be best if we were to cross the border independently, perhaps in as many as three different vehicles (especially those with 'hidden extras' if you catch my drift), each passing through a different checkpoint at a different time, then rendezvousing at some predetermined roadside hotel or other location once we're safely inside the Sioux Nation."

"This beautiful young woman," Valentine nodded in Kat's direction, "and myself could slip across as a vacationing couple in my Lexus. Our Rastafarian friend and the tin can could enter in a van or truck for some construction job of some type, while the rest of you could believably be part of a carpool traveling to Denver on business or for a convention. Or some other similar arrangement. And the more vehicles we have at our disposal while within their borders, the better."

"Our only significant travel expenses this way would be for fuel, a few detailed mapsofts, maybe a linguasoft or two for those capable of using such, and the fake IDs and passports needed to slip across... which, if memory serves, our humble employer has already agreed to pay for on our behalf." Val turned to look at the Vole, lifting a brow above the pitch black circles of his shades as asking for confirmation on his assumption. "And assuming so, I'm fairly confident that I could easily acquire said passports within a day or two."

"Alternatively, I might be able to arrange a friend of mine to smuggle us across, but that will be far more pricey, dangerous, and in my humble opinion, foolish. Especially considering that we don't know how long we will need to stay within those borders, or even if our targets are still located therein. With three vehicles of our own, we will also have more options available to return the target to our employer."

---

OOC: Throughout the discussion, Valentine has been using Interrogation (Verbal) skillsoft (5 dice with a Task Pool of 3 available) as a sort of human lie detector. He's taking careful note of the Vole's responses, trying to determine if he's being dishonest or is hiding something from us. He's also keeping an eye on the surface conditions via his telecomm link with Harlot's sensors.

[Kurukami]

"Going across in multiple groups makes perfect sense to me," comments Badger. "Although corporates going to a convention, it seems, would be more likely just to fly from here to Denver. I mean, come on -- when's the last time you saw one of those manicured suits dirty their hands by driving sixteen hours?"

He shakes his head in negation. "The rest of the plan sounds solid... but we'll have to rethink that last part. Again, I think that's something we can discuss once we've concluded our initial dealings with... VV... here."

[Digital Heroin]

`I don't know much about corporate types, but wouldn';t their hirelings, or aides travel by more economical means than air travel sometimes?`

Just a leap of logic, he has no real foundation of knowledge, but he knows how life on the streets works. Those on the bottom get a lot dirtier than the big boys. Why wouldn't it work the same in a corp?

`I believe it would be wise, to split our entries... if one team were discovered, then at least the others can continue.`

[Cheese Emperor]

"VV has special interest in Powerhouse and will do whatever is necessary to allow him to participate in this run. VV will further discuss this with Powerhouse after the preliminary meet so as to allow the rigger the privacy he wants and needs. VV would also not want to waste any of your valuable time. As for the retainer, yes it would be for the group and the aforementioned system of gaining more funds would be essentially as discussed by Badger. VV can provide you with a optichip with a full holographic image and profile of Iris if that is what you would prefer. If the fake Ids are necessary, VV may be able to provide a limited few short-term solutions. Unless you seek aide in crossing over to the Sioux nation, VV has no preference as to how it should be done as it is obviously something that should be determined by the team as to what would work best for cover."

The man is having a battle of wills with himself to remain calm, cool, and collected throughout the meet, though he is winning without too much difficulty. Valentine is unable to notice little else then this. Meanwhile, Stitch's assensing attempts prove futile, unable to get more than the faintest reading on him. It's just as likely to be a dragon in human form as a cyberzombie as a highly initiated shaman displaying a horrendous shaman mask for all that the street doc can tell.

[TinkerGnome]

Kat nods. "Fake IDs would be good. And transport... but I think we're better off as one group going across the border, if we're on land. I hear the Salish do the searches at random, so we stand a better chance of slipping past as one group."

She raises an eyebrow. "Or we could charter a private plane. That should be good enough, if you don't mind bribing a pilot for a woodland landing."

[Ol' Scratch]

Valentine simply lifts a puzzled brow above his shades at Kat's words. "That's precisely why going in several small groups is far wiser. Small groups stands a far lower chance of raising a red flag for a random check. 'Oh look,' one of the border patrol guards might say, 'there's a large van full of a motley group of individuals and a giant robot. Nothing suspicious there.'"

He paused and just stared blankly for a brief moment.

"Should we be stopped, at least only two or three of us will have to worry about the search as opposed to the entire group. And, as previously mentioned, a charted flight would leave us without transportation upon our arrival. Remember, we don't know where our targets are located or how much we'll need to travel to hunt them down."

[TinkerGnome]

Kat shakes her head. "Not from what I've heard... every fifth or sixth car gets searched. Bein' a red flag'll get you searched out of turn, but the odds of hitting the randoms goes way up."

She shrugs. "I guess the question is how many of us can stand up to a thorough search. I can if they don't get frisky with the cyberware scanners. An' a chartered flight only gets you no transport if you don't hire the right pilot and plane. I used to know a guy who ran a modded C-230 that'd hold a citymaster if you wanted it. I'd call him, but the last thing I heard 'bout him was that he was doin' fifteen to life for somethin' or other."

[Digital Heroin]

Fly? He'd never flown before. Which makes sense since he's never left the sprawl. He's not sure if he'd like it, but it seemed like a good idea. Why bother with authorities when they can be avoided?

`Transportation could be arranged when we arrive. I have the skills needed to procure it.`

He could jack a vehicle, null sheen.

[Ol' Scratch]

Valentine's only response is to reach up and pinch the bridge of his nose. "Yes, because as we all know, riding around in numerous stolen vehicles will be less risky than legally crossing a border as vacationers or travelers." With a hard-to-read look at the others, Kat and the tin can in particular, he just turns and returns to his previous position only a few meters from the entrance to the lair.

After doing so, he continues to simply stand there. In his mind, he struggles to rationalize why he should bother working with these amateurs, let alone a barmy client whose seen one too many trid shows. "Stealth is completely out of the question with that fucking piece of metal," he muses. "Why the hell this Saturday morning reject hired such an idiotic thing for a job of this nature is beyond me. Not only that, but that bitch there is clearly as irrational as every other specimen of her gender, and the job itself sounds abyssmally mundane. But you need the cash, Christian... you need the cash. So stay cool, man. Just... stay... cool. If push comes to shove, you can just slit their fucking throats in their sleep and watch them rot in the morning sun."

Despite the inner monologue flowing through his mind's eye, Valentine is the picture of collected calmness and professionalism as he simply stands there, apparently listening to the rest of the collected runners hash out the job.