Blood of the People, - You Wouldn't Understand Options

[fistandantilus4....]

Link to OOC Blood of the People

Is this right? Is this moral? Can we really be doing this? .... Do we have a choice? He paced the small confines of the room, trying to order his thoughts. It wouldn't make any difference of course. It hadn't with the others, and it wouldn't now. Somehow though, debating it made him feel less a monster.

It has to change. There's no doubt. Can't be weak now. Not when we're so close. Sacrifices must be made. It was our way then... we have no choice now.

It must be done.

He left the room, the door closing hard, as if it would add some sense of finality to his actions. Make him feel as if he was past the point of no return. They would pay. They would all pay. He only hoped it was worth the price in souls they had to pay. Worth his own soul.

Ancestors give me strength.

[fistandantilus4....]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 1300 - Seattle Metroples - Doss

Another slow morning, thanks the spirits. Or whomever. Working so many late nights, late mornings became part of the price easily enough. Nix busies him self about his doss, getting virtual files together. He'd finally managed to get the bootlegged file in Filtering from the Shiawase insider. Not that he exactly needed it just yet, he hadn't even learned cleansing yet. But a little extra knowledge never hurt.

He was pulled from his work by the ring on his comm. Scanning it quickly on the AR, he saw it was an unfamiliar, but local number. That usually meant one of two things: Work, or a persistant telemarketer.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 1300 - Seattle Metroples - Doss

Looking at the LTG Nix thinks, Time to do a little research and create a spell that only requires a telecom connection... instead of line of sight..

Knowing that won't be happening anytime soon, "Yea. Talk to me..."

[fistandantilus4....]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 1300 - Seattle Metroples - Doss

Nix, I presume? My name is Virginia. I have some business I would like to discuss with you and your associates for some out of town work. You come well recommended from Mr Richards. Can we meet some place local?

The voice is feminin, no picture, as the screen is blacked out. The tone is well practiced. Either a professional Johnson, or a fixer. Either way, this woman knows the business.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:00:30 - Seattle Metroplex - Doss

I could sure use the nuyen, its been a frelling slow past few months. And its out of town.. Travel expenses.. He absent mindedly rubs the ring on his left hand, And I need to get away from Tom for awhile.

He thinks another moment, Associates... I guess that means this won't be simple surveillance...

"Yes Virginia, there's a little pub on Market near 9th here in Tacoma. They've a few private rooms on the second floor. Local enough or did you mean local to you?" He knew of the pub, but wasn't a regular. He didn't like the idea of meeting someone from a blind call at some place he frequented. It would take him 15-20 minutes to get there, but that wasn't the problem. Getting the rest of the team together might be a problem. I hope she's making the calls instead of making me the messenger boy...."

[fistandantilus4....]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:01- Seattle Metroplex - Doss

Meet me there in three hours please. I'll arrange for a space, as well as food. Bring what people you want, I've heard you work with a competant team. The pay scale is in 5 figures, but it is very demanding work. If you and your team are up for it, I'll see you there.

The number disconnects.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:01:30- Seattle Metroplex - Doss

Nix thinks a moment about his team... How the frell is it that my team is three orks..? I still have yet to figure that one out... I can imagine the street talk... Goldy elf and the three orks... Master Blasters; Three parts ork, one part elf... They seem like a pretty stand up crew though the few runs we've made together... oh heck, I forgot about the new guy...

Nix starts to call them all up and has an epiphany of his own... I hope Caliph has his dang com on him today...

OOC: Nix is calling Caliph, Gunney & Ash.. All at the same time.

[rob]

Caliph - Wednesday 11 April 2070, 13:01:30 - Snohomish - Parked in a campground

The throwaway commlink beeps from the dashboard of the van as a call comes in, but since it's from Nix it routes it directly to my brain. I sit for about 4 beeps and smirk - no sense in picking up too early...

"Oye vato, como se vas? Frank out of the hospital yet?" - the normal 'pretend-social' question that really means 'is this a business call?'

Not really expecting a discussion about the world, the flesh, and the devil today, so close the travel guide scrolling across my right eye and start trudging back to the van.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:01:45- Seattle Metroplex - Doss

The call routes through two double-blind proxies before connecting to Caliph. The encryption program validates a double paired-key encryption. That done, everything technically that can be done to protect the signal and the endpoints have been done. Now came the code talking, "Getting out in three hours, I thought we could meet and go together. How long till you could be at Rachel's?" The name reference was irrelevant, the current agreed to meeting spot was Katie's Diner on South 27th Street near the intersection of South J Street in Tacoma.

[rob]

Caliph - Wednesday 11 April 2070, 13:01:47 - Snohomish - Parked in a campground

"Yeah, I don't think we'll get the rest of the family on the conference call. I'ma gonna roll down there in two hours; when the rest get the message they can just meet us." - Just so Nix knows I'll move out to recon the meeting site in about a half hour; bit of a drive from here to Tacoma.

[Shadow]

Gunny - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 12:55:45- Puyallup Barrens – Rutger St and Haven.

“Listen I just want… I just, will you stop moving.� The imposing Orc reached out and grabbed the kids arm. The ‘kid’ stood just over six foot and was all Orc. Gunny wasn’t a slouch at 6’4 and two hundred and 30 pounds. A little old perhaps, but still mean. The kid tried to resist, shrugging his arm away from Gunny. The older Orc stepped forward and squeezed, sending pain up the kids arm.

The rest of the kids gang, the Bloody Knife, reached for weapons. Gunny held out his off hand in a ‘stop’ motion.

“Now, listen just listen before you go pulling ceramic. I aint here to tromp your hood or cause you trouble or make you look bad, I am just looking for Katchya. You all know her, half the hood saw you with her at the Club.�

The Orc stiffened like a board at the mention of the name. A sure sign that he knew her.

“Drek,� said Gunny allowed, she was dead. He could see it in their eyes. The guilt and the pain and the thrill.

“Where’s the body?� He dropped the question with his drill sergeant voice. Hoping to push them into a confession before the shock of being discovered wore off.

A little guy, maybe 14 with dark hair and fearful eyes spoke first. “She’s behind the crash pad, we didn’t know..� he was interrupted by one of his friends hitting him in the arm. The moment passed and fear turned to anger. Weapons cleared their holster with shouts of profanity.

“Stop,� Gunny yelled, left hand squeezing the but of his pistol.

“Stop,� he repeated.

“One murder is bad enough, you shoot me and you go down hard.� He only had to stall them for a few moments more. On the other end of his Commlink was Det. Serg. Ramirez, a Spanish elf with the Star, half a block away in a unmarked cruiser. He could hear the car racing up now. It was over.

The two cars screeched to a halt next to Gunny, uniformed and plain clothed Star jumped out, yelling for weapons to be down. Gunny slowly backed up moving his hand away from his pistol. The kids surrendered.

Just as he was going to thank Ramirez for his timely arrival his Commlink chirped with Nix’s voice.

“Hey Gunny, I have a job for us, we need to meet at a bar in Tacoma, you game?�

“Hell Nix, I’m always game. As it turns out I am in Puyallup so I can be there pretty quick and give you guys a good map of the area. Time for a drink anyways, see you then.�

[rob]

Caliph - Wednesday 11 April 2070, 13:01:47 - Snohomish - Parked in a campground

OOC: Assuming the group of simultaneous calls was a conference call - was that what you were going for, Nix? We can use that to fill in the details. Also, I'm assuming we've figgered out the doublespeak on the last couple runs.

Smile wide when Gunny's voice comes in over the comms. "Hey punk. Heard the good news, eh? No sense in all of us going early, he's probably gonna have to handle a lot of paperwork before he gets out of the hospital - insurance type stuff and all. Can yall research the insurance stuff? I think his claims agent is.... what was his name again?

Roll my eyes a little bit at all the doublespeak, some folks ain't quick on the draw with it, or don't see the point. I'm used to assuming I'm being tapped or scanned. Same planet, different worlds....

Meander my way back to the truck and tuck my AK in the gym bag. Dump it in the shotgun seat wheel well, and make sure everything else is nice and hidden. Pour myself a cup of coffee from the thermos and start rolling back into town... take me an hour or so to get there; plenty of time to get comfy out side.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:02:00 - Nix' Doss, Tacoma

OOC: As people connect, my intent was to tell them we had news about Frank getting out of the hospital and add them to the conference call. I would neither have mentioned a job, nor a bar in Tacoma. I also assumed that the team would have worked out some double-speak and will continue to translate as Rob and I have been doing.

Nix picks up the few things he'll need that cannot be generated from pure mana and sticks them in his pockets as he dons his armor jacket as they talk. When Gunny answers his coms, "Gunny, just got news about Frank. Let me add you to a call." He then added him to the call with Caliph.

In response to Caliph's question, "Well it gets a little dicey there. This is a new agent and I only got a first name.... I wanted to give you all the news about Frank first, then I was gonna call my uncle about this agent." At some point the double speak started including references the team had not even discussed, but it was more important it conveyed the intent at that point..

[SinN]

Ash sits over a broken computer. It had been a while since zero zone, and he needed to keep his head down. He spent most of his time fixing things, building things, and pretty much, "things" became his life for a few months. He ran some errands and front jobs for MIT-Nick, but other than that, life had become kinda plain.

[rob]

Caliph - Wednesday 11 April 2070, 13:01:47 - Snohomish - Getting on to highway 405

Call up the list of meeting spots we have prepared and do a quick search on my mapsofts for a layout of it (OOC: I can roll a browse if yall want). Queue the RFID tags on all the stuff in my van, to make sure everything's there and in its assigned spot.

Paying half an ear of attention to the commlink, but I know all I'm gonna know right now; if it takes Gunny, Ash, and Eyes a minute to catch up, thats their problem. Be nice to catch a drink with them.

[fistandantilus4....]

Roll Data search. Its a public place so the plans and blue prints would be required to be lsited with the city.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:02:06 - Nix' Doss, Tacoma

Seeing that Ash had not connected to the call, Nix tries to connect him again.

[SinN]

Ash is finishing up the touches on his new program when his com rings.
Okay, its either Nick, or work. Either way, I dont wanna awnser it...

Ash reluctantly picks up his com and connects.

This is Ash, speak to me.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:02:30 - Nix' Doss, Tacoma

OOC: Nix connected Aiden to the call as well

"Guys, I've tagged you onto a conference call. How fast can you be moving? We have a meeting with an insurance agent..."

[Trigger]

Eyes - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:00:30 - The Dark Eye (Aiden's Doss and Shop), Tacoma

Aiden turns the page of the book carefully, the latex gloves on his hands keeping all traces of him off the paper and his lingering spell keeping any biological material in the room severely dead.

The tome contains writings about the practice of aura manipulation and viewing, written in the early 20's before everything had completely switched to electronic formatting and art of printing had been nearly wiped from the face of the planet. It had cost him nearly every 'yen from his last run but it was well worth it, a perfect addition to the eclectic collection that is his magical library. A few golden tablets sat on a shelf next a jade Buddha statue and a holographic projection of a glyph of warding. Below them sat leather bound tomes and jars of various sands, reagents, and oils. A cross hangs on the wall next to a ankh next to a pentagram. The whole place feels like a trid on mojo exploded in the room, placing things from each practice indiscriminately.

"By separating some of the connection points of your aura to your physical body the projection of it to those viewing you can be shifted to show the pattern of someone else. Certain points will still match your own natural aura and so the careful viewer can determine the actual pattern.....

BRING

Aiden's commlink rings lightly on the table next to him, breaking the heavy silence of the room with a melodic tinkle of an incoming call from one of the team he had recently been working with. Must be Nix, hope it is a job. I need the nuyen after getting this baby. Letting out a heavy sigh, Aiden turns from the tome and answers the call, not caring to hide the slight irritation in his voice. "This is Aiden. How's Frank doing?.....Insurance Agent, eh? Sounds serious. I can be done here soon, just reading up on a case.

[rob]

Caliph - Wednesday 11 April 2070, 13:03:00 - Snohomish - Truckin' down 405

"Think I missed something, here... are we all meeting the claims folks at Rachel's, or are we just meetin' there to roll down to the hospital together?"

Augh. I hate comms over the matrix. Be so much easier if we were within direct link range.

[Redjack]

Nix - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:03:30 - Nix' Doss, Tacoma

Nix had to think a moment to get all the double talk straight in his head, << Meet at Rachel's, then we'll go to the hospital and meet the insurance agent there. Can you be there in two hours? We need to be at the hospital in three.>>

Nix reviews the details to this point in his head, Rachel's is a reference to Katie's Diner on South 27th Street near the intersection of South J Street in Tacoma. The team will meet there before heading over to Finnegan's, a little pub on Market near 9th here in Tacoma. It'll take me about fifteen minutes to get to the diner and take us another fifteen to get to the pub.

<< See you all there...>>

Not much to do till then, Nix flips on the trid and chills for a little while.

[Trigger]

Eyes - Wednesday April 11th, 2070 , 13:04:05 - The Dark Eye, Tacoma

Aiden nods in agreement even though the others cannot see him, "Alright, Rechel's then. See you guys there. I am going to get some flowers ready for Frank in the meantime, I think he will enjoy them." Aiden adds the last part before the end of the call to give the others a heads up that he is going to be bringing a spirit along as back up if need be.

Disconnecting from the call, Aiden turns back to his new tome, sucking in the musty taste that lingers in the air around it. I will get back to you later dear, now is the time for business.

With another breath Aiden opens himself up to the Astral Plane, expanding his sight into the radiant aura of his library. The golden pocketwatch with its amethyst hands glows with its own aura on his desk, sitting next to the also radiating emerald stud earring. The two foci would be joining him today as well, most likely with their own spells bound into them. But the thing that stands out the most in the room to Aiden's sight is the faint subconscious astral form of an owl nestled on top of his bookcase. The totem animal had appeared to him on the day he awakened, calling on his own natural thirst for knowledge, and the spirit had stayed around even when Aiden abandoned the shamanistic path of his ancestors for other avenues of study. Owl's wide eyes simply watched Aiden coldly, always watching.

Taking Owl's 'interest' as a silent comfort, Aiden's hand closed tightly around the ring on his right hand that also comforted him in his castings. The runed silver band with its large emerald insert had been his last mentor's, the woman who had taken him through his initiation into the deeper studies of magic and the one who had introduced him to the wonders of the metaplanes. The thought of her reinforced his psyche as he began the cool steady chant of a summoning, calling on a spirit of man, or woman in this case as the spirit called takes a distinct resemblance of his former lover.

(OOC - For summoning I roll Magic 6 + Summoning 3 + 2 for my Mentor Spirit bonus for Spirits of Man. I am going for a Force 4 Spirit. I roll 6 Successes on the summoning test, and then I roll Logic 5 + Willpower 4 to resist drain: 1 Success. I then rest until I need to leave for the meet to get rid of what Stun damage I take. For the two hours I roll Body 3 + Willpower 4, getting 3 Successes for the first hour and 3 Successes again for the second hour.

[SinN]

Speaking in code? Why couldnt we have just encrypted the line? Oh well. Better let Nick know Im going out. Ill just leave him a message.

Message to Mit-Nick:
Hey Boss, got a job. Ill be out for a while. Ill let you know when I get back in case you got some work for me. Take care.
Ash
Ash gathers his things and cleans up his computer parts scattered across the floor.
He looks in his closet for a suit.
Gotta look professional.. He says to himself as he trails off grabbing at the black suit. Its the one he usually wears. But for some reason he always contimplates it.
After getting into the nice bussiness suit. Ash heads for the door on his way to check the place out before the meet.
Katies diner eh? Havent been there since I was a kid. Of course I have been alot of places since I was a kid.
Ash sets his security system, Walks out the front door, locking it behind him.
Time to work.

[fistandantilus4....]

@Trigger

[ Spoiler ]

One success to resist the summoning. Going to try a binding?

@all

[ Spoiler ]

Remember folks, until you say that you're going to the diner, you're still sitting at home twiddling your thumbs or what not. I'm not going to move characters without being told that's what the're doing. So please post to that effect when you're set to go. :)