Tokyo in the Shadows, The story of Kambei Options

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0245

[ Spoiler ]

Interrogation roll (defaulting, +3 DP mods) (7d6.hits(5)=3)

Given Kouki's situation, and physical and mental state - still hurt, shaken from the loss of his zoku, and captive of an armed Kambei - it doesn't take Kambei much to get what information the ganger knows - which is not much.

Kouki, having a reputation for being a ladies' man (or so he claims) had been approached by a "Mr. Tanaka" to seduce Ahiko Mori, make her "run away", then turn her over to his employer. The money and gear promised for this was generous, and it involved the whole zoku. Of course Kouki went for it - it wasn't that different from seducing other girls and scamming them for money. Which is why he also tried to scam Ahiko out of her dad's money before turning her over, only the "stupid bitch" had stolen some encrypted commlink that night, not some easy money. It came to a dispute, and while Kouki was sure she'd have come back to him anyway, the rest of the zoku decided to just get ahead and grab her. Not exactly according to plan, with no "bye" letter written or such, but so what?

They sold her off to their employers, and got money and implants in exchange. They were still testing all their new wiz stuff last night, some just having come out of surgery. Keru, a hacker buddy of them, was supposed to crack the commlink, but didn't show up.

It was also Keru who dug around for more info on their employer, and found out they were yakuza, part of the Wanibuchi-Rengo.

Some of the information doesn't match with what Kambei heard before, but it's probably just Kouki trying to make himself more important.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0250

Kambei listens to the story while recording the conversation for future playback and reference. He ponders the new information for a moment before speaking, “my original intention was to drop you off at the police and let them deal with you.�

“But I have a better offer for you, and considering your current situation, I think it’s the best option you’ve got,� he pauses for another moment as if waiting for Kouki to accept that fact. Even without an acknowledgement Kambei continues, “I need every bit of contact information you have on the people you sold Ahiko to. I mean everything. Names, com IDs, locations, how much they paid, what they paid with, where you got your ware installed, even what brand that shit is. Then I need you to arrange a meeting with Keru at a discreet location.�

“If I can get Ahiko back safely, I don’t see any reason why I can’t let you go.�

Hopefully his survival instinct is running high right now and he won’t give a shit about spilling the dirt on everyone to save his own skin.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0320

Kouki hesitates, sucking on his lower lip, then wincing as his head wound aches in response. Kambei can clearly see that he is weighing the arguments, having recovered some in the time since he woke up. But in the end, his own skin is worth more to him than his friends or honor, as was to be expected, and the man - or rat - spills what he knows to save himself.

Not that it is much - his employers must have been professionals judging from how and where they made contact and met the Falcons, all text-book "Mr. Tanaka"-style, not traceable. But there are two possible leads: Keru, the Falcons' hacker buddy, and the street clinic where the Falcons got the 'ware installed.

Kouki could call Keru and set up a meeting, but best let Rattler make sure Kouki doesn't pass some warning along. The street clinic is situated near a Korean quarter. Not the best adress.

0330. Getting late - or early.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0320

Kambei considers everything and sends a message to Rattler saying he could use a little more help, this is getting to be an expensive habit, not to mention embarrasing. I’m going to really have to polish up my hacking skills.

He stifles a yawn before speaking, “Alright, this is what we are going to do here. You are going to send a message to Keru – with my friend watching over you – and have her meet up with you some place you have been before. Somewhere discreet and non-public but where she won’t get suspicious.�

He pauses as he considers the many ways this could be turned around on him, “remember, all I want is to get Ahiko back. I don’t give a shit what you did or whatever. If you play it straight, help me get her back, you walk free with only the bumps and scrapes your “friends� gave you. Deal?�

He continues without giving Kouki time to answer, “remember, before you answer, I found you, found your doss, broke in there before you all started frothing at the mouth and got you out before the full shit storm descended on you, so you don’t want to lie to me right now.�

[ Spoiler ]

Can you remind me what stats make up Sense Motive then roll it for me? I want to know if he is being genuine in his response.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0320

[ Spoiler ]

Judge intentions test (8d6.hits(5)=2)

Kouki seems to agree honestly, or as honestly a rat like him can be - if faced with intimidating force. The only place he can think of that Keru has been before, and which is non-public is an old doss of the Falcons - an abandonned appartement building in some yet to be reclaimed area.

"Is that ok?"

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0320

Kambei considers the thought for an uncomfortable – at least he hoped – length of time for Kouki to wait on an answer before saying, “yeah, I think that’ll work. Does she typically travel armed?�

An abandoned apartment building is perfect, just incase… still need to decide what to do with this guy… I can’t let him walk out of this alive if Ahiko is dead or permanently injured, just on principle.

Despite his line of though, Kambei is not a hardened killer by any measure of the phrase, and he did not look forward to the thought of having to kill anyone.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0325

Kouki shrugs.

"Frag if I know. Keru's a hacker, so what good would it do for her anyway?"

After a bit of prodding, Kouki calls Keru, and manages, with some trouble, to arrange a meeting - turns out Keru did make it to the warehouse of the Falcons, and found them all dead, and is now a bit suspicious to say the least.

Since she sounded a bit more intelligent than Kouki, it is not very likely that she'll come alone to the meeting...

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0326

Kambei nods when Kouki gives him the time for their meet.

Good, 2.5 hours till 6 a.m. Probably the time any decent hacker would just be getting around to sleep. This is not the ideal situation but it'd have to do.

He goes to the sink and pours a cup of water into a small paper cup and takes down a dose of Long Haul to keep himself fresh and get rid of the yawns. He turns to the dock, gives him a small bow of thanks, "I appreciate your work Doc, and sorry for any trouble I may have caused."

He throws on his jacket, turns to Kouki and says, "alright, lets go."

Once outside he says, "Remember, no funny business, you deal with me straight and we both go home alive tonight. Got it?"

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0327

The doctor grumbles something about kids these days, and waves Kambei off. Kouki takes the surroundings in as the two leave. Hopefully just to get his bearings, and not to prepare a break-in.

In the parking are below the building, Kouki suddenly realises that there's no big black Scorpion around.

"Where's my hog? Where's my hog?"

He sounds more stressed than when Kouki told him the Falcons were dead.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0327

Kambei almost sympathizes, but not quite, "your Hog's dead man. You crashed it pretty bad when you started foaming at the mouth and having seizures. Just be glad you're alive."

After they get to his bike he pulls out his plasteel restraint opener and turns to Kouki, "look, I'm gonna let you loose and let you drive. I can't trust you not to jump off the bike. Just remember, I got a gun to your back and if you think you can manage to pull of anything before I put two hot pieces of lead in your spine, think again."

He pulls his gun out of his jacket just to remind him, "are we good?"

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0328

Kouki pales, looking at where Kambei's carrying his gun, and nods, swallowing.

"Yeah, we're good."

He mounts the bike, waiting for Kambei to mount too, and then starts to drive.

Whatever his other faults, Kouki is good on a bike, despite his injuries, and the trip towards the meeting spot doesn't take long at this time of the day, with no traffic to speak of. Kouki makes some remark about the bike not being an american bike, but keeps silent otherwise. Kouki stops the bike a bit away from the meeting spot, pointing the building out to Kambei.

"That's the old 'clubhouse', where we used to be based."

The abandoned appartement house is surrounded by similar structures, and Kambei can spot several signs which show that they are not completely abandoned, but must be used by squatters - or worse.

Kouki, either feeling more comfortable with Kambei, or just trying to make himself appear more useful, continues to speak.

"We probably need to chase away some squatter scum, to make the meet secure. back when we lived here, no one dared coming close to our clubhouse, but I think the scum moved back in once we left."

He laughs.

"I am sure they haven't forgotten us though - we made sure of that..."

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0328

Kambei tries to ignore most of what Kouki says and remains silent for the entire ride. If this fucker keeps talking he might just get himself killed.

He steps of the bike once they stop and puts on a shock glove. No reason to let this get lethal.

He looks at Kouki and says, "lets get this place cleared out fast, but we ain't here to kill anyone. So try not to get too excited."

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0340

Kouki had been right - the squatters who made the building their home did not have forgotten the Falcons, most flee without waiting to see what the pair wanted once they realise who just came for a visit - greatly helped by Kouki's loud "Guess who is back, scum! That's right, it's me!" greeting. The elevator is out of commission - the shield indicating this still glued to the door on the first floor - and the stairs are smelly and full of trash, as are most of the floors, but the building itself seems structurally sound still.

On the 4th floor one squatter, wearing old, ragged BDUs of the Imperial Navy, charges them with a make-shift club, but he is so strung out on alcohol and drugs that Kambei has no trouble evading the clumsy swings and taking him down with a touch or two of his shock glove. When the veteran is down, twitching, Kouki steps up and starts kicking him into the ribs and lower torso, cursing the man.

"You piece of drek, how dare you! I'll teach you a lesson!"

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0345

Kambei puts one hand on Kouki’s shoulder and pushes him back a bit while making sure not to accidentally shock him, “enough, we’re not here to crush skulls. Here for one thing and then you can get back to your fun.�

Once the area is clear, Kambei performs a full security sweep of the area while keeping the zoku in front of him the whole time. He surveys entrances and exits, windows, hallways, the thickness of the walls, anything that could be relevant to securing the area.

A quick report from his Predator confirmed exactly what he already knew. One in the chamber and thirteen in the clip. Fuck! Great idea just bringing one clip. Under normal circumstances I’d prefer to rig this place up with a few security measures and not to mention have more ammo and maybe even a bigger gun. Who knows what kind of backup she’ll bring.

He looks at Kouki standing around trying to look tough, shame I couldn’t trust this piece of shit to wait around while I got my gear, he laughs to himself, or better yet, bring him with me when I go get my gear. I’m going to have to find a place like this to stash some emergency supplies incase shit like this happens again.

[ Spoiler ]

Kambei makes a perception check to look the area over: (13d6.hits(5)=10)

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0445

The building seems clear. Kambei doesn't spot anything more threatening than a few squatters eyeing the entrance from a neighboring building. The main walls are solid, and would offer good cover. the interiour walls are nothing to write home about though - barely more solid than traditional rice paper walls. No sign of traps with the exception of some pitfall in a room, probably made by the squatter that lived there as a security measure.

60 more minutes until the meeting... and Kouki is already talking again as if they were close buddies. The idiot keeps sneaking glances at Kambei's pistol.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0445

The idiot still thinks he has a chance to turn this around on me. Gotta stop calling him an idiot in my mind though, it’d be foolish to underestimate anyone.

Kambei picks out a room on the third floor with a window – non-barred preferably – with a drop to the ground below safe enough for himself but potentially lethal to your Average Joe and a door that opens into a second room – with a similar window. Never hurts to plan for worst case scenarios.

Kambei’s intention is to watch from the other room as Kouki greets the hacker so he can assess the situation before he is seen. The windows will serve as a primitive escape route incase she comes in with a lot of heat.

Now fully awake from the effects of the Long Haul, Kambei paces the room, while trying to suppress his revulsion in Kouki and engaging him in his small talk to try to lessen the chance of him trying to turn against Kambei if violence breaks out.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0545

Kouki seems to think Kambei is his best friend from the way he acts - Kambei hasn't seen such sucking up in quite some time. Fortunately, time does pass, and before Kambei's self-control is too tested, his cyberears pcik up the noise of a bike.

A quick glance out the window shows a bike stopped at a spot a bit away, with two figures on it. One female and one male - Keru and her backup, most likely. Zooming in, Kambei looks Keru over.

She looks to be about 20 years old, short, green hair. Slim and slender, with pale skin, she doesn't look physically impressive. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a band sign, she looks like a regular student - but no student would be found out here, at this time.

Her back-up looks unimpressive as well. Early twenties, dark hair, average height, thin, with a prominent adam's apple. Pants and a shirt. Kambei can't spot any weapon, and he doesn't look like he can fight unarmed. Then the man leans forward, resting his head on Keru's shoulder, and goes limp. Keru looks annoyed, but not surprised, and steadies him, with some difficulty. After two minutes, the man lifts his head up again, and looks up, directly at Kambei's and Kouki's room.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0545

Fucking shit! A mage. That’s about the last thing I expected.

Kambei shifts position around the window, peeking from the other side while trying to remain unseen to the mage’s physical eyes. He holds his gun carefully in both hands, reassuring himself while trying to show no sign of worry or stress..

Probably some punk untrained kid at best. Nothing to worry about.

Kambei holds himself ready to jump down and disable their bike if they try to take off.

“Alright Kouki, just remember, you use your charm and get that girl to cooperate and we’ll be done before you know it. We’re all really on the same side here.�

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0550

The two humans on the bike confer, Keru staring at the window as well, and a few moments later Kouki speaks up.

"Keru called... she wants to know who you are, what do I tell her?"

The zoku looks at Kambei questioningly. For all his posturing and assumed closeness, he is waiting for Kambei to tell him what to do.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0550

Kambei pauses for a moment, still annoyed at the fact that she brought a mage, "tell her I'm someone you know who is also interested in finding out who killed the Falcons and why and I can help."

Hopefully she buys it. Hell, it's practically the truth anyway.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0550

Kouki nods, and tells this to Keru. Apparently she buys it, since she and the mage drive up to the building. The hacker parks her bike at spot she seems to know - not surprisingly, since she must have visited the Falcons here before.

Two minutes later they arrive on the third floor, the mage panting a bit from the exertion. Keru looks around, still a bit suspiciously. Then she adresses Kouki.

"I came in late, and all but you were dead... overdosed... what happened? Did you buy some suicide chip or what?"

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0550

Kambei considers for a moment whether to confront them with a show of force and hope to cow them into helping him, or to hope that Kouki has realized that his best option is to work with him than against him and approach the hacker and mage as potential allies.

Deciding on the latter options - while seriously hoping that the mage is in capable of doing any real damage to him before he plugged him full of lead - Kambei holsters his weapon but keeps his holster loose.

As soon as Keru walks in and poses her question, Kambei answers before Kouki has a chance to speak, "they were set up. All their ware had a program installed on the back end. It flipped their commlinks into hotsim and then turned a scrambler on in their brains."

Kouki keeps his eye on the mage when he answers, watching him for any signs of aggression.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0555

Keru wrinkles her nose.

"So... a set up by the yakuza? I could have told you that. And a very high-tech set up as well. No one will ask questions that way."

The hacker shakes her head, acting cool, but she seems a bit shaken by the deaths. The mage looks around, adam's apple bopping up and down, and seems to switch between astral and normal perception. He looks not like much of a threat, but he's a mage...

"So, why exactly did you call me here?"

Keru adresses the question to Kambei, she seems to gave deducted that he's the one calling the shots at this meeting.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0555

"It's not as simple as that," Kambei says, "it's not even that likely that they are really the Yakuza. I think they sent you on a false datatrail."

"Didn't you wonder why they'd be willing to pay you so much for one girl? Why wouldn't they just take her themselves? The Yakuza make a shitload of money kidnapping girls and turning them hollow, if they had someone this valuable to go after they'd do it themselves. So I figure they had you do it to set you up as the culprits and then kill you all off to keep the truth from getting out.

"And I need to know whatever you know about the "Yakuza" you dealt with."

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/22/2008 – 0555

Keru looks unconvinced.

"From what I can tell, they were yakuza. If it was a set up then it would explain why they dealt with the Falcons, and not with a more traditional zoku."

She looks at Kambei, narrowing her eyes a bit. Probably offended at his tone, taking it for patronising or macho.

"So... now we know what you need to know... and what are you offering in exchange?"