Tokyo in the Shadows, The story of Kambei Options

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0840

The language skillsoft takes over, and Kambei suddenly understands the conversation.

"So, the chip worked?"

"Oh, yes. Like a charm, the bitch really thought she was a cop."

"Really?"

"Yes. And the other modifications worked too. She couldn't resist and won't remember anything. Still sleeping until I wake her up."

"That should be a hit on the streets."

"Not just on the streets. Shut your wife up."

Both men laugh.

"And the best thing is, since I pocketted the raw chip, it's not burned out - reusable."

"Enviromentally conscious!"

More laughter follows. Closer this time - Kambei realises that they are walking the stairs up. Either they check the doctor's appartement, or they will check the appartememnt he is in...

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0840

Sick bastards… how many girls have they done this to... I wonder what this is about a new chip. Maybe the one I pocketed is the same type… but if I could somehow get the one he pocketed I could have Rattler take a look at it up close. Seems like he knows a bit about simchips and p-fixes.

Kambei curses himself for his foolishness in waiting here while he listened to the Koreans. He backs up to the top floor hoping they would go into the middle apartment. It’s tempting to fuck them up and take the chip… but I don’t want them to increase their security even more before I’ve really had a chance to find anything… decisions, decisions…

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0841

The two Koreans enter the middle appartement, still bragging and laughing. Soon afterwards, Kambei hears a female voice, sounding servile. The men order her around like they'd order a drone, and there's no sign of resistance from the woman. Then, after a few minutes, they and the woman change their tone - suddenly the woman sounds sleepy and slightly confused, and the men are telling her that she drank too much, and crashed on their couch.

From his vantage point, Kambei sees the woman leave the appartement afterwards.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0841

Kambei is strongly tempted to put a hurt on the two Koreans, better not... I've got a job to do. Kambei follows the woman out and once he is out of the building he continues to follow her while observing her behavior and then he attempts to locate her commlink's signal and hack into her node.

Maybe I can find logs or some datatrials from what they put in her. There's definitely something bigger going on here...

[Tabula Rasa]

Double post.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0900

The woman walks through the Korean quarter, getting some breakfast at a take-away shop, then enters an old appartement building, 10 stories high. Kambei has no trouble hacking into her commlink, it has almost no security.

The datalogs show something interesting - the commlink's system was not operating last night. It seems the chip the woman slotted also brought its own O/S and firewall. Kambei sifts through the data available, but there's not much to be found - the software that was downloaded into her commlink must have erased the personafix. Kambei manages to get the remnants of the second O/S though - the system relied on the original O/S to erase that, and the cheap program did not overwrite the data. It looks like a cracked version of the latest Renraku O/S since it's missing copy protection.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0900

Kambei submits the recording of this mornings investigation into an encrypted memory chip just incase he needs any of it for later reference and notes down the woman's information before heading back home.

On the way there he leaves a message for Rattler asking to talk when he had a chance.

Hopefully he knows a lot more about p-fixes and simchips than I'd thought. What kind of p-fix has it's own OS?

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0930

Rattler answers 30 minutes later. Maybe he even was asleep until now.

"Yes, Kambei-Kun? What pressing need prompted you to call on this ungodly hour?"

His icon is wearing a cartoon trenchcoat, and uses his tail to pull it open, revealing rows upon rows of chips taped to the inside of it.

"Maybe a new program?"

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0930

Kambei laughs, “no, man. I’m not made out of money – yet. You’ll have to wait till I’m done with my current job. And speaking off… I wanted to talk to you about that.�

He transfers the data he pulled off the girl’s commlink – encrypted but keyed to his commlink – to Rattler. “So… I don’t know how much you know about simchips and p-fixes, but I think there might be something weird going on.

“These Koreans had chipped this girl with a different kind of p-fix. Seems to have it’s own OS and firewall, and it’s reusable. Seems to maybe have a different way of interacting with the personality, maybe not as overt as traditional p-fixes, but I’m just taking a wild guess.

“I also got this encrypted chip I wanted to see if you could bust for me.�

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0930

Rattler goes over the first data quickly.

"The reusable part is nothing new - that's standard for bunraku parlors that run their own softs. BTLs usually burn themselves out upon use, so people buy more, but that's a different thing.

The integrated O/S is strange though - usually, bunraku dolls get that installed with their commlink and other 'ware, or it's installed separately. This looks more like a "Instadoll" chip, but that would only work with people who already have their skillwires implanted, or the result wouldn't hold up to the "standards" of a parlor. Their clients usually expect the skills to match the face and attitude.

I can't say anything about the p-fix itself - that was completely deleted."

Rattler then starts decrypting the chip, which takes a while. When he starts to speak again, he sounds a bit different, and whistles.

"That's a load of stuff. Looks like a log of Doctor Wu's work in the last few months."

Rattler transmits the data to Kambei.

From skimming the data, Kambei notices a list of implanted commlinks, other cyberware and skillwires. Not all for bunraku dolls, he did combat ware implantations as well for Yakuza soldiers, but during the last months his work shifted more and more to p-fix preparation.
Doctor Wu also stored pictures of all his contacts among the yakuza, and of the staff that was working with him in the basement - it looks like he considers this as a sort of "insurance", as leverage against the yakuza.

[ Spoiler ]

Analysing the data more thoroughly nets Kambei this:

All surgery was done in the Henshin clinic. Ahiko is not among the girls there - she was operated on by Dr. Nakano. But there was one girl that, like Ahiko, did not get skillwires implanted, just a datafilter.

Another interesting point is that the amount of check-ups on girls after surgery has increased as well - prior to a few months ago, there were almost zero after-surgery check ups unless there were complications, these days, a limited number of girls seem to be checked weekly by the doctor, and with some care. Special emphassis on psychological effects.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0930

“Wow…� Kambei chuckles, “that’s some hot stuff on that chip. Dr. Wu’s going to be shitting his pants when he finds out it’s missing…�

“Okay, so let me get this straight, and excuse my ignorance, but I’ve never been into BTLs or dolls. Essentially what’s the difference between this kind of a chip and a p-fix, and what’s the difference if the subject has no wires?�

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0940

Rattler shifts his icon, which is now wearing, despite being a cartoon snake, a teacher's hat and a white lab coat.

"I can't say what the difference is between this kind chip and a p-fix since I dont have this chip. But usually, p-fixes don't come with their own O/S and firewall since that's something already installed in the commlink of the recipient. A p-fix chip with integrated O/S and firewall would be good for one thing at least - p-fixing a person with a low-grade commlink, and making it harder to hack into it and erase the p-fix.

The difference between a doll with skillwires, and a doll without is that the doll with wires slotting the "karate slut" chip will be able to do some karate for real - not as well as a real pro, but enough to fake it. The doll without wires will be doing a nice imitation of a windmill when trying to do a kata, and probably fall down. And that showcasing of the difference between the persona and the actual skill would not only turn the client off, but also lead to problems with the persona's acting. Depending on the programming, the persona might come up with some explanation for "themselves", like being drugged or cursed, but I'd expect them to either blank it out, or lock up in severe cases.

Either way, almost no bunraku parlor uses dolls without skillwires, unless it's for strictly "no skills needed" personas - like schoolgirls, or house wives. But evne for those, skillwires help."

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 0940

“Alright man, thanks for the lesson, and how much for cracking that chip?� Kambei asks.

After the payment is handled he says, “thanks for waking up at this hour to help out. Now I gotta go through all this info.�

Kambei throws on some casual clothes and heads outside to the local sushi shop. My eating schedule's all fucked up because of this god damn pill. That'll be the last time I take long haul... I swear

He orders a quick meal and starts going through the data pilfered from the chip thoroughly, breaking down the information and cataloguing it for easier reference and to see if he missed anything on first glance.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1140

During the next hours, Kambei compiles a list of the Yakuza Dr. Wu implanted cyberware in. He doesn't have the full names for everyone, often just nicknames, or rank, but he has their faces, and the cyberware they got.

With the bunraku dolls its even worse - Wu didn't list any names. With the exception of one girl, all got skillwires. Half a dozen of them are getting regular checks by the doctor, apparently on orders of the Yakuza.

Further, there are two possible blackmail cases - one is a korean man called "Pit", a heavy set man, that was treated for bullet wounds one month ago, another is a young man, chinese, called "Li Peng", who brought in a woman that showed signs of substance abuse and almost died from overdosing novacoke. Both seemed wealthy.

Finally, Dr. Wu apparently suspects that his two Korean guards steal chips related to the business he is in. He is compiling evidence, either to threaten them, or to expose them to the Yakuza.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1155

Hmm... so he is going to rat out his guards and they've been doing the things they've been doing against the rules. Lots of possibilities there.

Kambei gets up and heads outside for a quick walk while trying to think of an angle to work this from. There's gotta be a way here for me to get the proof I need with this information. There's gotta be.

He continues to walk aimlessly for fiftten minutes before giving up in frustration. Shit, I can't think straight. I've been running around for what feels like a week without stopping. Maybe lunch will help clear my mind.

Kambei heads into the nearest place to grab himself lunch.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1215

A short lunch - a bowl of ramen - later, Kambei feels better. Less hungry in any case. But he still has no clear plan to get the proof he need. There are a few options, but all are risky. Break into the Henshin clinic and see what he can find there. Or break into the yakuza office. The wild cards are the koreans, and Dr. Wu - they may know more. Or Dr. Nakano.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1215

Kambei finally decides on a course of action. Hopefully this works and I can get to some serious sleep time.

He heads back home, applies a nanopaste disguise kit and changes into a plain outfit - a pair of jeans, a long sleeved shirt, a baseball cap, and an armor lined jacket - grabs his Predator, a spare clip of ammo and his standard breaking and entering tools, and heads out to his bike.

He heads back to Dr. Wu's house to case the joint for the first of the Koreans to head out of the house after checking to see if the house is occupied.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1315

Kambei disappears in the lunch rush crowd as he approaches the house. It eases up some as he gets closer, since the taller buildings to the left and right of Wu's house are not offices, and therefore less busy over lunch hour - most occupants did their grocery shopping in the morning, and are now eating.

A bit later, one of the two Koreans leaves Wu's house, wearing an ill-fitting suit and whistling some melody as he walks down the street.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception cehck (13d6.hits(5)=4)

He doesn't see any sign of the second Korean, but that doesn't mean much - he could be inside, and just not visible.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1315

Kambei follows him, while trying not to get close enough to get noticed. If he sees him get to a vehicle he speeds up so he has a chance to plant a stealth tag on the vehicle, otherwise he follows him until he finds a good spot, relatively clear of any observers where he can sneak up on the Korean and get a little closer to make his move.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

The korean walks through the street with a casual attitude, nodding at a few of the shop owners as he passes. Most of the thinning crowd moves slightly out of his way. He makes a slightly crude remark to a pretty young woman tending to a vegetable shop's product display, and laughs when the woman blushes and quickly enters the shop.

It becomes apparent that the man is, despite the hour of the day, headed to a small bar nearby, the "Red Flower". He is not taking an side streets though, and there are always people around.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

Kambei follows him into the bar and takes a seat somewhere where he has a view of most of the inside without having to turn his neck.

Should have known with a degenerate like him... probably hoping to find his next victim.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

The Korean takes a spot at the bar. He seems to know the bartender pretty well, the two exchange friendly if crude banter. There are not many other people in the bar, and so Kambei gets a few looks. A waitress who wears too few and is too cheerful for this time and place comes to his table and asks what he'd like to order.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception check to listen in at the "Red Flower". (13d6.hits(5)=6)

Kambei manages to catch a snippet of the conversation at the bar - the Korean asks the bartender how the programs are working out, and the bartender says they are working well, both look at the waitress while they talk. They might be just ogling her rear, but there's some undertone to their conversation that hints at something more, some tie to those "programs". The Korean also says he is looking for an upgraded version.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

Kambei orders a beer and an appetizer and makes as if he is fiddling with his commlink. I wonder if she is chipped...

He waits for his drink, thanking the waitress, and after she leaves he scans for her commlink and tries to hack in.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

[ Spoiler ]

Scanning for the node (6d6.hits(5)=0)
Scanning for the node (6d6.hits(5)=1)
Scanning for the node (6d6.hits(5)=2)
Scanning for the node (6d6.hits(5)=3)

Finding the node of the waitress' commlink takes more time than Kambei expected, almost 15 seconds. Then comes the harder part - hacking in. In this siutation, there's no probing the target, no sniffing around for backdoors and passwords, it's a brute-force attack.

[ Spoiler ]

Hacking the node (Hacking+Exploit) (7d6.hits(5)=3)
Hacking the node (Hacking+Exploit) (7d6.hits(5)=2)
Hacking the node (Hacking+Exploit) (7d6.hits(5)=4)
Hacking the node (Hacking+Exploit) (7d6.hits(5)=2)

Scanning for Kambei (Analyze+Firewall) (8d6.hits(5)=2)
Scanning for Kambei (Analyze+Firewall) (8d6.hits(5)=2)
Scanning for Kambei (Analyze+Firewall) (8d6.hits(5)=4)
Scanning for Kambei (Analyze+Firewall) (8d6.hits(5)=4)

After 15 seconds, Kambei has managed to gain admin access - but the firewall protection was tougher than expected, and he almost got spotted twice on the way in.

Once inside, he starts to analyse the node - the waitress' implanted commlink. It doesn't take him that long to detect the "mood program" buried under the "Price List" knowsoft that is running. It's not really BTL, but close - a program, almost a p-fix, that keeps the waitress friendly, helpful, and obedient.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 1325

Kambei nods to himself, do these guys just chip everyone for the fuck of it? She’s just a waitress… at least I won’t have any guilt over what I might have to do to this guy.

He copies what he can of the program information from her commlink without risking detection and then leaves her node. He stores the file in an encrypted folder and puts the recording of the conversation he caught between the bartender and the Korean in the same folder.

This might be just the extra bit of blackmail material I need to prove Dr. Wu’s allegations that they are stealing chips and using and selling them on the side. Now to just get the fat bastard alone.

Kambei continues to wait around idly, his ears focused on the Korean, while he pretends to be fully engrossed in his commlink. He sends a quick message to Aoi and Ayaka asking them how the race was last night.