Living in the Shadows: IC, Jan 15th-21st Options

[grendel]

06:01:07 Monday, 22 January 2063 – Laughlin's, Flying J Truck Stop #0583, Everett, Seattle

Mac jammed her left leg against the rear of the passenger seat, kneeling on her right. Luckily the rear passenger window was already down, although when it happened she couldn't say. The Comet swerved as Mario angled them towards the street, the rear door slamming closed as it tagged the rear bumper of a pick-up truck. Mac fought to track her target, gunsights bobbing wildly. The pistol barks, the gunshot loud and surprising. She continues to turn, trying to track their opponents as the car slams over the curb and out into traffic amidst blaring horns. Two final images impress themselves upon her. First is the lifeless body slumped halfway through the diner door. And the second is the surprised look on the young corporate operative's face as he watches his cover drive away.

"You okay?" asks Mario, his voice husky with adrenaline.

[Vegas]

06:04:29 Monday, 22 January 2063 – Laughlin's, Flying J Truck Stop #0583, Everett, Seattle

Adrenaline still rushed through Mac's veins, blood thundering in her ears as she forced herself to slow her breathing, to make certain she wasn't hurt. Feeling no pain and seeing no obvious injuries, a stream of curses spilled from her mouth when she caught the Ork's eyes in the rearview mirror as she
pounded the backseat with her fist as she held on with her other hand as Mario took another turn at accelerated speeds.

"I'm fine. Just pissed we just nuked our only solid lead and managed to end up on someone else's radar in the process."

[grendel]

06:08:11 Monday, 22 January 2063 – eastbound 124th St NE, Everett, Seattle

"Weren't us that nuked it," grunted Mario. "But either way, I think that pair and their backup got handled. Works just the same for me although it's sweeter when I pull the trigger. Gotta think, though, that if one of the corps snagged 'em there's gotta be people we can ask about it. That stuff doesn't happen in a vacuum. You got anybody on the inside, maybe one of them executive assistants that could poke around and see what they could find out?"

Mac shrugged angrily, reloading her pistol with sharp, controlled motions. Then she realized that Mario probably couldn't see her body language if he was concentrating on the road. Opening her mouth to reply, she closed it a moment later. Something about her earlier plan had come back to her. She did know people who might be able to help. Finding Zeyda might be hard, the city still recovering as it was, but assuming she could access the matrix she could probably get ahold of Isomer. And he would be able to get them answers.

[Vegas]

06:10:23 Monday, 22 January 2063 - eastbound 124th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

Mac thought about an access point for a moment. She didn’t have Tristan’s business card or Kovacs’ reputation so she doubted the jackpoint they had visited on multiple occasions would be open to her, provided it was even still operational. She didn’t trust a connection via her commlink, but her eyes flicked to the corner of her vision and was rewarded with “limited connection” glowing in amber. It wouldn’t do to try to reach out to Isomer on such a weak link and unsecured line.

“I’d need a more reliable matrix connection than I’ve got to reach out. But if we can find a reliable spot, I can at least start opening the lines of communication."

She braced herself in the backseat as Mario rounded a corner with a bit more speed than necessary. She spared a lingering glance out the back window to attempt to spot any tails.

“Might want to slow it down there speed demon. No need to draw extra attention to us if it’s avoidable."

[Vegas]

[Double Post Removed]

[grendel]

06:28:43 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

"Whatever you say, Ms. Leadfoot," shot back Mario, grinning. He eased up on the accelerator a tad, slowing the vehicle to a little more respectable speed.

"It's too early for the library, that won't be open until nine. But I think there's a coffee shop down the road a bit that's got public access."

"Yaaasss," muttered Mac. "Coffeeeeeeee."

Neither one commented that it was going to be luck of the draw if the shop had survived, let alone was open in the wake of what had gone down in the metroplex. As it was, they needn't have worried. Despite two window panes covered in plywood, the shop was defiantly open. People had tacked up messages of support and concern on the plywood, as well as posting pictures of missing friends and family. Even at this early hour the small common room was crowded, and it looked like they might have been open all night.

Not wanting to answer the inevitable questions her arm would bring beneath the harsh light of day, Mac sent Mario in for coffee, while she accessed the matrix from the comfortable anonymity of their car. The coffeehouse node was similar to the brick and mortar reality, festooned with AR notes of solidarity, support, and desperate hope. Pausing just long enough to verify her own avatar remained unaltered, she routed herself to the address provided by Isomer during their first meeting.

Palatine, just like everything else she'd seen recently, had its own battle scars. The guards around it had more than doubled, and made no pretense now of concealing lethal programs from casual view. Apparently they were still on a full combat alert. She wondered what it was like to try and face an AI in the matrix, wondered how many of the usual suspects here would never recover from the crippling biofeedback from such an encounter. Slowly, making no sudden movements, she offered her passcode for scrutiny. Whatever Isomer had given her, still worked, as after a moment she was allowed to pass.

The interior of the matrix club looked nothing like before. Instead of the classic lines of a Roman villa, it now appeared more like a high-tech command center, with screens and status boards plastered on every surface. Icons moved quickly through the dim lighting, armed and armored figures grim with purpose. Mac scanned the crowd, moving along the wall to stay out of the way. It wasn't long before she found the familiar winged jackal, although even Isomer was now garbed in scale mail made from some kind of dark metal. She liked to think that it was a welcome smile on its face.

A survivor, then. It's good to see you.

[Vegas]

06:35:19 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

Mac managed a slight smile in both greeting and in response to Isomer’s comment.

“Not without some battle scars and big losses, but it’s good to see another friendly face.”

She was fairly certain Isomer would have been aware of Kovacs’ death, but it wasn’t something she wanted to dwell on emotionally at the moment. She remained standing beside the booth the jackal was ensconced within until he inclined his head and offered her seat. She slid in as gracefully as her avatar would allow and focused all her attention on the matrix wizard that sat across from her.

“I’ll cut to the chase since I don’t know how long I’ll have a solid connection, but I need your help.”

Her request was paused for a moment as the scent of fresh coffee permeated her senses as Mario had returned to the car. She refocused her attention and continued her request.

“I need to find the guys who put everything in motion. The ones you were tracking for me before. The ones de Medici aligned himself with. I’m going after them with anything and everything I can. I have to. I need to."

[grendel]

06:41:26 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

The jackal head mimed a brief, silent laugh.

You'd best get in line, then. Every agency I know, legitimate and otherwise, is looking for the individuals responsible for releasing Deus and precipitating the second Crash. You may already be too late for the ones in the local area.

Mac felt her jaw tense, anger swelling within her. Isomer forestalled her comment, though, with a raised hand.

I'll be the first to admit that the data at my disposal should not be trusted, there's too much damage to the infrastructure to compile an accurate picture of street truth. But my assessment of the situation is that roughly sixty to seventy percent of the initial hostile forces did not survive thirty six hours after the event. We're over one hundred hours post-operation at this point and it's a safe bet that the surviving members have either completed their ex-fil plans or have gone to ground locally.

"Yeah, that's about what we figured, too," replied Mac. "Found out about a smuggler's hangout at a truck stop, but only managed to get into a dust-up with the survivors and corporate security. Bugged out before things got too dicey."

Isomer gestured with his left hand, a trideo window coalescing into view. Mac watched as security camera footage from the Flying J unreeled, first the interior showing all the parties exiting, then the gunfight in the parking lot. Her eyes picked out her and Mario's exit, seconds before the heavy firepower arrives on scene. The three surviving Winternight soldiers don't stand a chance. They break for their vehicle beneath a cover of suppressing fire, but are picked off by well aimed gunfire.

Ares Firewatch, details Isomer, confirming Kovacs' suspicions. Battlefield medicine kept two of them alive, they're probably undergoing magical interrogation right now. Not sure it's going to bear fruit, Winternight cells are known to operate independently and without cooperation to ensure that if one is compromised, it can't betray the others.

"Goddammit! There's got to be a way to find these fraggers!" Mac's anger bubbled like ice through her veins.

How much are you willing to risk? asked the jackal headed figure.

"What are you offering?" Mac's anger submerged beneath a cold dose of skepticism.

A possible target. I know that there's a system, a host, which is used by half a dozen of Seattle's best fixers to coordinate safe houses. It's likely that at least some of the Winternight cells sourced both primary and back-up safe houses through at least one of those fixers. However, the host is currently offline, either isolated by matrix outage, damaged, or destroyed. If you could recover the physical memory, it may be possible to correlate names, SINs, dates, and locations.

Mac sensed something else. "But?"

It's location is somewhat dangerous. 508 Lakeshore Drive Apartment 8. It's in Bellevue, a gated community in an A rated neighborhood. Also, possession of the information might cause others to view you as a liability. A liability that needs to be silenced permanently.

[Vegas]

06:44:09 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

The digital Mac shook her head with enough declaration, that she was certain her meat body was doing the same inside the car. Frustration built up inside her as she once again realized just how in over her head she was

"Maybe with Tristan or Kovacs, but not alone. Not after this mess. Almost everything would be suspicious in that neighborhood that didn't belong, no matter the cover. Might as well affix flashing AROs to the car and Mario while we’re at it."

She sat across from Isomer[/i] as she studied him silently! waiting for some pithy comment or any comment at all in response to her outburst. They sat in the digital silent stalemate for what felt like minutes until she finally caved. The ice cold anger that pulsed just beneath the surface shredded any rational thought that told her to walk away. Instead she kept her seat across from Isomer and got down to business. She could feel it, a little ’shiver’ in her consciousness that likely meant the [b]Kovacs in her head was biting his tongue, but her need to find those who remained and hold them accountable pushed anything he might have said to the side. She was like an animal with blinders on, pushing relentlessly towards what could be an unfavorable outcome. She couldn’t explain why, only that she had to. A heavy sigh escaped her digital lips and she resigned herself to the fact she wasn’t going to let this go.

“If I decide to shoulder the risk alone, if the building is still standing and not damaged, and if I go poking my nose in places it doesn't otherwise belong, just what exactly am I searching for in terms of the physical memory?"

[grendel]

06:46:41 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle

I estimate that there's a seventy seven percent likelihood that the host is structurally intact. Bellevue wasn't hit hard and the houses there are built a little more robustly than in some of the lower rated neighborhoods of the metroplex. Matrix damage is the most probable cause of the downtime, although I can't rule out infrastructure damage either.

As Isomer spoke, a pale blue hologram sprang to life in between them: a wire diagram drawing of a small rack server, sixty centimeters tall by twenty wide and thirty five deep. Pieces exploded off it, hovering in space to reveal the inner workings. A series of optical storage drives highlighted themselves yellow.

It's likely that the server is something approximately this size and dimension, since it's being run illegitimately. Anything larger would be unwieldy and wasteful. The drives themselves should be fairly easy to extract. Don't worry about powering down or anything, the storage is optical so it's proof against loss from the reading lasers. Once you have them, contact me at this LTG number and I'll arrange a drop off. It will take between four to six hours to recover any data from the drives, but once I have access I should be able to make the appropriate correlations quickly. I estimate you'll have actionable targets within seven hours of delivering the drives.

[Vegas]

07:02:19 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Lazy Hummingbird Coffee Shop 1140 128th St. NE, Everett, Seattle


Mac studied the wireframe copy of the likely server, doing her best to commit the details to memory while she made sure to copy Isomer's LTG under an alias in her commlink.

“I think I’ve got it,” She rose from the booth that they were seated in, her face set in hard lines of determination and she started to turn away before glancing back over her shoulder where her face softened.

“Thank you. Let me know what I owe you for this and I’ll take care of it. Plus I owe you a favor or two in the future.”

The clock was still ticking in her head, each minute, every second, the opportunity to find anyone connected to those responsible was slipping away. She didn’t wait for a graceful logoff, just a hard drop off the grid and back into the front seat of the car. Dropping so quickly out of VR caused the inside of the car to spin around her slightly as she focused on the large, still very warm coffee that Mario had carefully placed on the dash. Once she regained her bearings she was quick to notice he wasn’t in the car beside her.

Mac sipped at the cup of coffee while she waited for Mario to return back to the driver’s side of the car. About the time she was ready to go into the cafe looking for him, he sauntered out the front door and maneuvered himself back behind the wheel.

“Thanks for the coffee. How do you feel about playing tourist this morning and taking the scenic route home by way of Bellevue? And hopefully you got something more at the cafe besides the coffee.”

[grendel]

08:11:16 Monday, 22 January 2063 - southbound Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Mario grinned, shaking the bag of croissants in his hand in way of answer. He gave one over at Mac's greedy motion before starting the car and pointing them towards the interstate.

"Bellevue, eh? Sure, we can swing through. Guess it'll be a good test of how legit this car is." If the ork was worried, he didn't show it. Crosstown traffic had picked up a bit, the city still reeled from the cataclysm of a week ago but this wasn't the first time Seattleites had to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and get back to work. There were still a greater number of emergency and police vehicles on the road, and more than once they were forced to detour off the interstate in order to avoid roadblocks or, worse, wreckage. Mac realized that it would be months, if not years, before the damage to the city's infrastructure was completely repaired.

Passing into Bellevue proved Isomer's assessment correct; the more robust corporate estates here had weathered the storm with minimal damage. Power seemed to be reliable in most areas as well, although there were still numerous blocks without. Lone Star traffic control drones stood in many intersections, directing the flow of traffic. No one seemed to bat an eye as their Americar cruised past. Mac let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

508 Lakeshore turns out to be a community of apartment homes, four to a building, with what looks like ten buildings in the complex overall. The entrance onto the street is sealed with an ornate looking iron gate that Mac guessed was sturdier than it looked. The guardhouse next to it was probably manned, but also had a card reader and speaker box for resident and after hours access. The entrance was watched over by a pair of security cameras as well. The exit was also closed by a similar gate, although it looked like it just had proximity sensors for those pulling up to it.

[Vegas]

08:25:02 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Outside 508 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Once Mario had found a spot on the street to park, Mac shimmied her way into the back seat to get a better view of 508 Lakeshore and to locate Apartment 8 without being blatant about her scrutiny. Her short time with Kovacs had already started to change the way she viewed the building, spotting things that would have gone unnoticed before but old habits died hard and she was falling back on trying to find a way to socially engineer her way past the guards and the front gate.

She fished a crumpled pack of her cigarettes from her pocket and slipped one of the black filters between her lips, the tease of clove and the nicotine to come instantly calmed and focused her even before she lit up.

“I’m going to take a little walk, enjoy the view while I smoke. Think you’ll be ok for 10? Let me know if you need to move, I’ll catch up with you.”

She questioned the back of Mario’s head before he replied with an affirmative grunt as she slid across the backseat towards the passenger side again, pausing only to button up the front of her long coat before opening the door and stepping onto the sidewalk. She waited outside the car only long enough to light the tip of her cigarette before she moved up the block and away from the gates leading to 508 Lakeshore. Once she had hit the corner, she crossed over and made her way back down the block, slowing her gait to a casual stroll as she crossed in front of the guardhouse, casting a furtive glance or two its way as she passed.

Once she hit the corner, she walked the long side of the block, again her casual attention to the complex seeking out both hidden and blatant security measures. She stopped partway down the side of the building, feigning looking at her commlink and manually sending a reply to a non-existent message while taking a closer look at the windows that made up what she made her best guess as Apartment 8. She kept walking, taking a few moments to glance at the back of the building and taking in any possible entrance options from the back, before completing her loop around the block and heading back towards where Mario was hopefully still parked.

[grendel]

08:25:02 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Outside Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Mac felt a chill in her blood that had nothing to do with the temperature outside. Mario and the car was nowhere to be seen. Instead, parked outside the front of 508 Lakeshore was a Knight Errant patrol cruiser. One of the uniformed KE officers was leaning against the open passenger side door talking with the building's security concierge.

Check your commlink. Make sure you're broadcasting an ID. Shutdown the rest of your wireless. Quick!

With a nonchalance that was entirely faked, Mac strolled down the sidewalk, continuing to check her commlink. She quickly set her best ID to public, and killed anything she didn't have a license, fake or otherwise, for. She didn't spare a glance for either of the men as she passed, her skin crawling in imagined response to the security probe she knew was being conducted. Out of the corner of her eyes she caught the motion of the KE officer as he glanced towards his own AR display. It took a supreme effort of will to keep her steps casual and unconcerned. Ahead of her, another block down at a cross street she saw a car flick its high beams. She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

The interior of the car was warm and welcoming. Mario shot her an apologetic glance.

"Sorry. I had to roll when the 5-O showed up. I think building security scanned my ID and saw the metahuman identifier. I didn't want to answer too many difficult questions."

"Yeah, null sweat. I should've figured that Bellevue would still be paranoid as frag." Mac tapped out another cigarette. "Let's head out before KE gets any more bright ideas. There's an Astrobucks just up the road, they spammed my AR when I went public."

Mario nodded. "What do you think our next move ought to be?"

[Vegas]

08:46:19 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle


Mac had spent the better part of the last couple of weeks flying under the radar so when she was forced to broadcast her best ID, she found it distracting and almost overwhelming. The local advertising spam, while upscale and tasteful AROs and the like, still pulled her attention away from her street sense as well as things she had picked up being in the company of Kovacs.

By the time they had pulled up just down the block from the Astrobucks and found a place to park that had the best options for egress should it become necessary, the pair made their way inside the coffee shop that still seemed "busy" even post chaos that had taken place across the city. Working her way through the line as she suggested Mario find them a place to sit, she cringed inwardly as she slotted some cred to pay for the two large soykaf lattes.

She sank into the chair across from Mario with a sigh even though she appreciated his choice of table. One out of general earshot of patrons along the wall that provided them a good view of both the front door as well as the hallway to the restrooms and beyond.

She took a long sip of her latte and closed her eyes as something close to delight crossed her face. She reopened her eyes to find Mario shaking his head and quietly laughing at her.

"Fine, I'll delay my continued enjoyment and get to work." She lowered her voice for his ears only before she continued.

"So with paranoia running high in the neighborhood, I figure we need a way inside the building that bypasses the guards. A Trojan horse of sorts, like a delivery that has to be signed for or handed to the occupant."

She paused for a moment, her fingers idly playing with the sleeve on her cup as she attempted to form a plan when an idea came to her.

"How much do you know about computers?"

[grendel]

08:52:45 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

"Not enough to fake the kind of data you're talking about," replied Mario with a harsh chuckle. "I'm the hired muscle of this outfit, remember? You're the brains."

Mac shot him her best quit-fragging-with-me eyebrow and took a deliberate sip of her soycafe.

"Besides," continued the ork with a cold twist to his mouth, "that place strikes me as the kind of joint where deliveries are made to the front desk, then couriered up via building security staff. You know, just so that the rich folks don't have to worry about meeting any of the peasant class in a darkened hallway."

Mario had a fair point, Mac had visited several higher lifestyle residences in her time and the people who lived there paid extra just so they wouldn't have to socialize with anyone not of the same economic class. Not to mention the same racial stereotypes as well. More often than not the delivery people in the metroplex were metahuman, often orks and dwarves. And that thought spurred something else. Mario was apparently thinking along the same lines, since he spoke as she reached for her commlink.

"Any chance you know a working girl with a regular in that building or the neighborhood?"

[Vegas]

09:01:33 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle


Mac shrugged as she set her soycaf down and quickly fished out her commlink.

“No one off the top of my head, but it can’t hurt to put out the feelers, even a friend of a friend would be a foot in the door at this point, literally.”

She made quick work of penning off a message that she was looking for a intro into the specific building in question and would offer an enticing ‘referral bonus’ for the earliest access.

As she scrolled through her contacts and added them to the message, her fingers hesitated over Linda’s name. She had already brought enough trouble to the Madam’s doorstep and she worried what the consequences could be if it tied back to her business. Mac left her off the initial message to her network, but before she put down her commlink and picked up her coffee again she dashed off a message only for Linda.

Call it reckless if you want, but I’m going after them. For K. For me. For the girls. Need access to a swanky, secure apartment building in Bellevue, don’t want it to darken your door if it goes sideways, so I’ll leave it to you to say yes or no, but any help would be appreciated.

Mac pocketed her commlink and picked up her soycaf to stave off the chill that ran through her, a moment of self-doubt over all that they were planning that was soon replaced with a simmering anger as she lifted her eyes and looked into the face of someone other thank Kovacs.

Her voice was flat but she bit out. "I guess now we wait."

[grendel]

09:19:26 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Mario nodded. "But we should figure out the rest of our plan. After all, getting past the doorman is only step one. I'm pretty sure that place has security cameras in its common areas like the halls and elevators, so you'll need some kind of disguise. And then how are you getting into the apartment? If you can't pick the lock, are you going to kick the door in? What if someone is home?"

He pitched his voice just far enough to reach Mac although his concern was a little misplaced. The coffeeshop's other denizens were all engaged in various trauma coping mechanisms, most of which involved AR feeds and interaction. Nevertheless, both she and the ork kept their voices low and made sure no one was casually listening in as they elaborated on their plan.

A cold smile spread across Mac's face. "As it so happens, I am adept at bypassing maglocks. And I've got skills with make-up that go beyond just covering up bruises." She gestured to the still healing wreckage of her face. Mario quirked an apologetic smile but she waved it away."

"The real problem is dealing with any occupants. While I'm confident this ruse will get me past the doorman and up to the apartment, I don't think it'll work for you. I mean, we saw how they reacted when you just dropped me off."

"No big surprise there," replies the ork, sipping from his coffee. "Think you could smuggle in enough hardware to take care of 'em?"

You're going to have to prep if you do, it's likely that such a high lifestyle establishment has weapons detectors at the door. You'll have to vacuum seal the ammo for your pistol to avoid setting it off. And the pistol is about the heaviest weapon you can get in there, broke in Kovacs. She nodded in response to the silent communication.

"Probably only going to be able to take my pistol," she said out loud, "I don't think I could safely slip anything larger past their weapons detectors."

Mario blew out his cheeks. "That's risky. Maybe too much."

[Vegas]

09:22:47 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle


Mac’s lips twisted into a momentary frown before she raised her brows and shrugged.

“What other avenues do we have? This is the only hard lead we’ve got.”

Something slithered through her subconscious. Something that had her agreeing with Mario that perhaps this wasn’t the best course of action. Something that felt very much like doubt. She shook her head as if to clear the feeling and for the most part her anger and need for retribution filled the space, but that concern still sizzled around the edges of her thoughts.

Think Locus would help?

She didn’t doubt Mario’s physical abilities, he had proven himself indispensable many times over already, but she did doubt he’d have the tech that would help give her a chance to circumnavigate any scanners she might encounter entering the apartment building. She was confident enough about getting past the front doors and likely all the way to the apartment itself, even inside. It was what might await her behind the door that had her concerned.

“If we can ‘legitimize’ getting me past the guards and into the building via ‘work,’ I’m wondering if with all the chaos happening upon the streets of Seattle we can use that as our cover to have you enter the building with me, for our protection.”

Her finger absentmindedly traced the top of her coffee cup as she started considering options for more protection upon entering the building.

[grendel]

09:31:06 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

No, he's not an operator anymore. He has a brick and mortar store to look after. You might be able to source equipment from him, possibly on a loaner basis, but you'd better make sure to return it in working order. Otherwise that resource is going to dry up with a quickness.

Mac gave a mental nod of understanding, forcing herself not to let black despair overwhelm her. She was afraid she wasn't up to this challenge, and that failure would mean Kovacs' killers went free. Or, worse, that she and Mario ended up dead as well. She took another sip of coffee, chasing her thoughts around before sighing.

"I'm getting nowhere, let's lay out what we've got and what we know. First, I'm not going to assume any outside help. If that comes along, we can re-evaluate the plan. But for now let's say that it's just us who are going to get this done."

"Sounds reasonable," replied Mario.

"All right. Step one: get inside. We've got to worry about the doorman, cameras, and weapon detectors. Step two: get to the apartment. Probably not too difficult if we take the stairs. Step three: get inside the apartment. Here we're facing a maglock, probably with an anti-tamper circuit, and a hallway camera or two. Step four: grab the goods. Hopefully it won't take us too long to find it."

"That's a good point," interjected the ork. "However we accomplish steps one through three, we've got to leave ourselves enough time to locate the memory before security shows up to throw us out."

Mac nodded. "Right. And then step five: make a clean getaway."

Mario rubbed his hand across the dusting of stubble on his cheeks. "You know, I been thinking about what you said earlier, about the delivery? I think we could make that work. At least to get you inside with your gear."

"How?" asked Mac, cycling her mind back to the earlier part of the conversation. "I agree that you wouldn't be able to get past the lobby security and up to the apartment."

"Yeah, but I might not have to. What if I roll in with a dolly of boxes and distract the doorman long enough for you to get past and to the stairs. And, the dolly's metal, so we know it's going to set off the weapon detector. Let's say that in addition to the boxes, I'm also carrying a small satchel with your gear and maybe your weapon in it, but out of sight, right? Then, while I'm distracting the doorman, I kick the satchel to the side, and you scoop it up on your way across the lobby."

"The cameras will see it, though," Mac pointed out.

"That's only a problem if they have someone watching them 24/7," replied Mario. "Otherwise, by the time they review the footage, we'll be long gone."

[Vegas]

09:36:19 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Mac found herself nodding along with Mario’s summation and possible plan before developing it a touch further and making her own suggestions.

“It’d be easier and less noticeable for me to carry a dummy bag and lift my weapon off the dolly honestly. If it’s packed small and compact, but easily unwrappable me palming it off the pile will be less obvious than trying to scoop something up off the floor while trying to remain forgettable.”

She paused only to drain the last sip of her coffee before continuing, feeling a tiny spark of hope that they could pull this off, or at least cross the major hurdle of getting past the guards.

“I can pack some other ‘incriminating’ items from my old line of work for cover, a pair of metal cuffs, something that gives me an out if they stop me separately. I think if we can time it right and the guards hit the lock on the door to let you into the building itself to make the deliveries, I can manage to arrive at the same time and graciously open and hold the door for you, giving us a plausible opportunity for me to grab gear and get inside and move to the stairs to access the apartment on the second floor. If you can manage to get inside it’s a pure bonus, if they hold you up, I can at least fade into the background a bit so I can throw off any scrutiny and prying eyes and maybe you can keep them occupied long enough for me to get upstairs and at least part way through the lock in case they are monitoring cameras more solidly.”

Mac chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip while she worked out the timing.

“If I can get past the locks, I figure I’ve got maybe three, possibly five, if I’m lucky, minutes to search the place. I’m pretty confident I can locate what we’re looking for inside the apartment if I can find the computer. I had a pretty good visual of what needs to be retrieved. Of course that’s assuming I don’t run into opposition on the other side of the door.”

[grendel]

09:47:26 Monday, 22 January 2063 - Astrobucks #297, 1410 Lakeshore Drive, Bellevue, Seattle

Mario nodded. "I like where your heads at. Make sure you include a bright pink fake dick or something like that. If they saw that on top of your bag or if you 'accidentally' spilled it, everyone's gonna be too busy looking away from it to pay much attention to anything else."

Mac chuckled, nodding in agreement and taking a sip of her coffee. "It's still risky since all I'm going to have is the pistol. The subgun is way too big to try and conceal like that."

"Maybe you should have an emergency back-up in case you run into something heavy in the apartment. Something you could drop to cover a hasty exit." Mario rasped a hand over the stubble on his chin. "Something explosive."

Mac already knew she didn't have anything suitable in her inventory. Could Locus help out with that?

A standard flash-bang would work. He should have one on hand for you.

She nodded once, finishing her coffee. "All right, I like it. So we need a hand truck, a couple of boxes, something to conceal my pistol in, and a flash-bang. Oh, and a delivery get-up for you."

"I got a cousin who works for DHL, we can swing by and borrow one of his shirts. A hardware store for the dolly. We can just rummage through the recycle out back for some appropriate boxes. No idea about the grenade, though." Mario swallowed the last of his own brew.

"Actually," replied Mac, a crazy grin on her face, "that's going to be the easy part."

[Vegas]

10:07:22 Monday, 22 January 2063 - 2063 - 5420 Mont Clair Blvd, Redmond, Seattle

Mac guided Mario out of Bellevue and across into Redmond, feeling a little more confident in their plan to gain access to the apartment building. She was still trying to run the angles, consider how things could go sideways, so much so that she was rather quiet for most of the drive and broke from her contemplation only when Mario pulled to the curb at their destination and broke the silence.

“Tell me we came all the way here for this!” Her Ork companion gestured towards the advertising that decorated the quonset hut.

She found herself rolling her eyes at Mario’s reaction towards HansBiertos and grabbed the lapel of his jacket to detour him from making a bee line towards the restaurant and instead pulled him around to the side until she stood in front of a familiar steel fire door. Mac tried the door but found it locked. She paused a moment before sweeping her gaze around the door, tipping her face up ever so slightly guessing that given the events across Seattle in the past week security around the building would be heightened given the contents inside. Mac held her ground while Mario mumbled something about it being closed and a waste of time to make the drive into Redmond while he was looking around for potential signs of trouble. Her patience finally paid off as she was rewarded with the heavy thunk of the lock disengaging.

“What were you saying about a waste of time? C’mon.”

She grabbed the door handle and swung it open as she glanced over her shoulder at her companion and stepped inside. She paused just inside the threshold, allowing the door to close and relock behind her and her companion and to give herself a second or two for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting. Taking a deep breath, she found some semblance of peace in the cool dry air filled with the scents of cordite and gun oil. Hard to believe she stood in the same place less than two weeks prior under an entirely different set of circumstances. She started towards the counter, grateful to see the familiar extremely attractive face behind it and inclined her head in greeting.

“Hello Locus.”

[grendel]

10:23:16 Monday, 22 January 2063 - 2063 - 5420 Mont Clair Blvd, Redmond, Seattle

The elf's smile is restrained, but genuine despite the fact that he understands completely the ramifications of who accompanies her and who isn't there. One elegant eyebrow raises as he catches sight of her new arm, but again, he doesn't comment.

"Mac. It's good to see you again."

Beside her, Mario let's out a low whistle. "Now that is a piece of hardware."

Mac glances over and a ghost of a smile flickers across Locus' face.

"Ah, a fellow connoisseur I see." The elf retrieves the sleek black shotgun from its mounting brackets. "Franchi SPAS-24. The latest in tactical pump action. Twelve gauge, with an integral smart link controlling the choke and the action, a ten round removable box magazine, fixed stock with recoil absorbing butt pad, and a fore-end light customizable for low-light output. Usable as a pump action for reliably cycling low-pressure less lethal rounds or as a gas operated semi-automatic capable of three round bursts."

Locus points out each feature as he describes the weapon, before cycling the action open and verifying the breech and barrel are clear. Flipping it easily in his hands, he offers the weapon stock first to Mario. A toothy grin breaks out on the ork's face as he shoulders the weapon, sighting down the barrel through the ghost ring sights. Mac shakes her head softly, leaning against the counter. Locus returns his gaze to her, certain now that Mario isn't going to do something foolish with the shotgun.

"I need a flash-bang grenade and a favor," she says, pitching her tone carefully to convey her understanding of just what it is she's asking for. Wordlessly the elf disappears into the back before returning a minute later with a slim gray cylinder that he sets on the counter before her.

"He was a good friend. He didn't trust lightly, and his approval of you carries some authority. Don't abuse my kindness, though." Locus holds Mac's gaze, and she nods in reply, already frustrated with having to ask for help.

"I pay my debts," she replied, fighting to keep the curtness from her tone. Again, Locus favors her with a warm smile.

"Of that I have no doubt. You can owe me for the shotgun. The grenade is on the house."

Reaching beneath the counter, he produces a box of ammunition and two spare magazines for the weapon.

[Vegas]

10:41:51 Monday, 22 January 2063 - 2063 - 5420 Mont Clair Blvd, Redmond, Seattle

Mac forced herself to uncurl the fists her hands had turned into out of frustration and breathed out a long, quiet breath before she palmed the flash-bang into the pocket on her longcoat and offered Locus a genuine thank you.

This was the hardest for her, going above and beyond the asking for help, but receiving help because she was able to tread on Kovacs’ reputation that for one reason or another was extended to her. She hated the handout and was already calculating what she could afford to shed of her own gear to pay back Locus as quickly and efficiently as possible. She forced herself into a casual lean against the counter while Mario was getting comfortable with the shotgun.

“Time to take your new shiny toy for a spin.”

Mac’s voice was all business again as Mario’s head snapped up from the weapon and his eyes moved between her and Locus and the Elf graced him with a brief nod before the Ork’s eyes moved back to Mac.

“We have things to do and people to see.”

Mac paused as the pair of men nestled the shotgun and its accessories into its case and Mario snapped the case shut firmly before she started for the door.

She glanced back over her shoulder towards the counter and the Elf who remained guarded behind it.

“End of the week. If not before.”

With a nod to herself, committing the promise, she pushed through the door and stepped back into the narrow walkway and headed towards the car at a brisk pace. She was far too aware of the clock that was ticking and how much they still needed to pull together to have a hope of making this plan a success, or at least keep them both out of jail or dead.