Tokyo in the Shadows, The story of Kambei Options

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2135

Kambei smiles when he sees the night's star. At least there'd be something nice to watch here. After getting the layout of the place memorized he heads outside to "grab some fresh air" and heads outside for a bit to look for his target's car so he can get a good look at it.

If it seems to get too hard to get back in he goes back inside before the place gets obnoxiously crowded.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

The Car - a Nightsky - arrives, and Zunigata, dressed sharply, but a bit understated for this club, steps out, followed by a larger and slightly less well dressed man with sunglasses - a stereotypical bodyguard look. The car logs on to the club's node, and drives itself to the garage - Kambei sees no driver anyway.

The garage is pretty secure, but not to the point that a bit of trickery, some hacking, and maybe some support by Rattler wouldn't get Kambei in and out. The main function of the security seems to be deterring thieves, so if one doesn't mind wrecking a car, breaking out doesn't seem that hard.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

After the vehicle situation is properly scoped out he heads back in side and finds a spot where he can check out Zunigata's booth with his back to a wall if possible.

Hopefully this chick is worth listening too. Live music can be a bitch to filter out.

While he waits he sends an encrypted message to Rattler, "let me know if you are available sometime soon. I might need to get into a few secure areas."

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

Rattler answers that he is available, and he'll even waive the retainer fee unless "soon" means "sometime this week".

The girl starts to sing, and while she's no Ai Nogami, she's talented. Unfortunately, her song is similar to one of Ai's latest hits, so it's hard not to think of Ai right now.

A glance to the booth reveals that Zunigata is listening intently as well, his attention fully on the stage.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

"Great," Kambei says while fighting back old memories, "I need access to this place's garage and a Nightsky belonging to my target. Not right now, but pretty soon."

Kambei waits for a bit observing the Yakuza making sure he knows exactly how many people he could be forced to deal with.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

Rattler nods, his icon dancing a bit to the music, or at least coiling rhythmically - it is a song one listens to easily - then disappears "to get ready" - just as he vanishes, a last bit of advice is heard "if you have the time, then slow and carefully is always better than brute force when it comes to hacking, Kambei-kun."

[ Spoiler ]

Perception (13d6.hits(5)=6)

Meanwhile, Kambei has spotted another Yakuza bodyguard in addition to the one Zunigata came in with. The other must have been already in the club, a sort of advance scout. He's standing a bit to the side and ahead, and for most people he looks like a typical party goer, but Kambei notices that he's subtly reacting each time someone passes near Zunigata - and always looks to have a clear line of sight. That alone might not be enough - it could be an assassin waiting for someone meeting with Zunigata, after all - but Kambei also notices that the "overt" bodyguard doesn't watch the second man much - and given that man's position relative to Zunigata, he'd be a prime potential threat.

So, two bodyguards, if both leave together. Not impossible odds, but not good either. Better to split them up, if they don't do that by themselves. Maybe have Rattler fiddle with doors, or create a distraction? Or take his chances and hope the second bodyguard will keep his distance and scout ahead again?

During this, Yuna is whipping the crowd into a mass of cheering, hopping, dancing people. She's doing cover versions as an encore, among them a version of Ai's first big hit "Dance Tomorrow".

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo - 04/24/2008 – 2145

Kambei’s mood quickly sours as she covers “Dance Tomorrow� but he doesn’t filter out the music for reasons he doesn’t have the psychological training to figure out.

If it wasn’t for those fuckers I would be sitting at home drinking a fine wine with his friends right now, with Ai at his side, or getting ready to do a job with full support and backup instead of the way I am now, or sparring with his dad. Bastards!

Deciding to not worry about whether he had two bodyguards or one to deal with – it’s not like he could change the number anyway – he waits till the set starts to wind down before heading out to the garage to see if he can get into their vehicle.

“Hey, Rattler, if you can give me admin access into their vehicle and give me a kill switch I’d really appreciate it right about now.�

[Fuchs]

Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0015

After a bit more than two hours the gig of Yuna comes to a close, the singer bowing, beaming, amidst a thundering applause - and probably getting bombarded with messages through the matrix by adoring fans - or hopeful suitors.

[ Spoiler ]

Perception (13d6.hits(5)=6)

Just as the singer is bowing, she suddenly looks through the club, and staring at Zunigata for a second, her smile faltering just a fraction. The man just bows lightly to her, already standing, and preparing to leave. The singer keeps smiling, but leaves the stage quicker than expected.

Rattler pipes up "You know, we need to talk one day about what else you can do with admin level control over a car, other than shutting its engine off. But here's your kill switch."

A short code follows, allowing Kambei to remotedly shut down the Nightsky.

"Anything else you need done? Hacking into the changing room's cameras costs extra though."

Rattler laughs, the icon's mouth opening far wider than even snakes should be able to - unless those are the type that can unhook their jaws.

[Tabula Rasa]

Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0015

Kambei cracks up – quickly covering his face with a hand – “no, I’m good, thanks. Just stick around though just incase. I might need you to kill their commlinks if my jammer’s not good enough. Can you do that with a jammer on or would that fuck you up too much too?�

He walks through the crowd to the garage heading casually towards the Nightsky as if he is heading to his own car.

I need to decide whether I’m going to do this in an obvious violent manner for fast results… or slow and careful… both courses seem to carry substantial risks.

[Fuchs]

Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0016

Rattler pauses for a second.

"I'd have to hack their commlinks. Possible, especially if you take the jammer inside the car - I'll be able to operate outside the field."

Up ahead, Kambei sees the "secret" bodyguard walking to a bike. From Rattler's feed of the club's cameras Kambei sees that Zunigata is on his way out the front door. Rattler delays him for a bit by mixing up the wardrobe system - Zunigata makes it quite clear that he is sure he didn't arrive with a leopard pelt at the club - but the staff won't take that long to find Zunigata's coat.

So, he has to hurry if he wants to get inside the car in the garage, or get ready outside.

[Tabula Rasa]

Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0016

Kambei says a quick prayer to his father and his ancestors watching over him and heads towards the Nightsky. He pulls on a pair of gloves, a shock glove on his off-hand, and loosens his jacket. He unlocks the driver door with admin access and pops it open and plants a flashpack in a wellhidden position where it would still have an effect, then immediately closes it and gets in the driver's side back passenger seat.

Good, admin access works.

He takes out his ceramic polymer pistol, screws on the silencer and holds it on his lap, while he waits for the car to head out to the front of the club. Kambei folds himself down a bit trying to limit how visible he would be to thermal detection.

I hope this works, Kambei thinks as his palms begin to get a bit sweaty. He could never get that little bit of nervousness to go away before he every risked a potential firefight.

[ Spoiler ]

The plan is to wait for the car to pull up, hopefully the back passenger door opens for Zuginata and when he gets in he'll grab him with the shock glove gun pointed at him with the other hand. If the bodyguard holds the door open for Zuginata he'll order the autopilot to drive as soon as he has secured Zuginata. Otherwise he'll tell him he'll shoot Zuginata if he tries anything.

[Fuchs]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

[ Spoiler ]

Infiltration to get in the car unseen. (13d6.hits(5)=6)

The car starts as soon as Kambei is inside, but he managed to escape the notice of the second bodyguard, who is following the car on his bike. The limousine's autopilot navigates the short distance to the garage, a feed from its sensors linked to Kambei courteysy of Rattler's preparations. Through it he can see that Zunigata is waiting, flanked by his bodyguard, at the door of Freefall.

As expected the second "secret" bodyguard passes the Nightsky as it slows down to halt, so as to appear unconnected. Zunigata walks up to the Nightsky, his overt guard moving to open the door. Just as the man starts to opens the door, another person appears in the entrance - it's Yuna Endo, still in her stage getup, and panting - she must have run from backtage through the club to the entrance. Her voice, a singer's training showing, can fill a club, and no amount of traffic noise or AR advertising is drowing it out when she desperately calls out to Zunigata "Z-San! Wait!"

Zunigata, a mixture of emotions running over his face before it settles into a stony mask, turns to her right when his guard pulls the car door open.

[ Spoiler ]

Kambei:
Surprise check (17d6.hits(5)=5)
Zunigata and his bodyguard:
Surprise check (8d6.hits(5)=3, 8d6.hits(5)=2)

Kambei's presence takes both the bodyguard as well as Zunigata by surprise. The guard is standing behind the door, the Yakuza Lieutenant one and a half meters away from it, and turned back toward the entrance, but in full view - and line of fire - of Kambei. Unfortunately, Kambei is in full view of Yuna as well. The second bodyguard is about 40 meters past already, but looking back and slowing down.

[Tabula Rasa]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Kambei curses his luck, the good run was bound to end. He lounges across the backseat and tries to knock the door into the bodyguard as he reaches for Zunigata with his shock gloved hand.

[ Spoiler ]

If I'm not close enough to have a chance of reaching him let me know and I'll change my plan.

[Fuchs]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

The three other people seem to react in slow motion compared to Kambei's enhanced speed. His shoulder throws the door open and into the bodyguard, while he makes a grab for Zunigata.

[ Spoiler ]

Shock Glove Attack (13d6.hits(5)=4)
Damage resistance versus shock glove (3d6.hits(5)=0)
Shock resistance test (3) (7d6.hits(5)=1)

Kambei's shock glove makes contact with Zunigata's neck and discharges. The shock knocks the yakuza prone and leaves him momentarily incapacitated on the ground, twitching.

[ Spoiler ]

Knockback resistance vs. door (6d6.hits(5)=2)

The bodyguard is pushed back by the door, but not unbalanced, and pulls a long knife out of a sheath under his jacket. Yuna, at first paralysed, screams loudly. The other bodyguard, 40 meters away, starts to speed his bike up, preparing to turn back.

[Tabula Rasa]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Kambei tries to haul Zuginata into the car before he fully collapses to the ground and if he manages to even get him partially in he orders the car’s autopilot to start rolling forward.

[ Spoiler ]

Given the change Kambei will also disable any collision avoidance system to have the car whack the second bodyguard on the bike.

[Fuchs]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Kambei grabs Zunigata, and drags him inside the Nightsky.

[ Spoiler ]

check to drag Zunigata inside (6d6.hits(5)=1)

He has some problem, but adrenalin and bioware-enhanced muscles prevail, and as soon as the bigger part of the limp Yakuza is inside the car, the autopilot starts rolling. The bodyguard starts to run after the car.

[ Spoiler ]

Running check to catch up to the car. (4d6.hits(5)=2)
Reaction to grab hold of the car before the doors close. (4d6.hits(5)=1)

The Yakuza even manages to jump on the car and get a grip before the door closes, but he's in an awkward position, hanging on by one hand.

[ Spoiler ]

Dragging Zunigata fully in (2). (6d6.hits(5)=2)

Kambei drags Zunigata inside and slams the door shut, breaking the bodyguards grip on the carframe and a number of fingers of the man's hand. The second bodyguard, riding his bike, is coming towards them, and getting an extendable steel baton out.

[ Spoiler ]

Evading the Nightsky (7d6.hits(5)=3)

He evades the car's autopilot's attempt to ram the bike, and wheels the bike around to give chase, leaving a trail of rubber on the asphalt. Yuna is still hysterically screaming.

[Tabula Rasa]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Kambei keeps himself calm and slaps a tranq-patch on the Yakuza’s arm to keep him from stirring awake after the taser effect wears off, zips his hands behind his back with a plasteel restrain and crawls into the driver’s seat after shoving the Lieutenant down into the passenger seat leg space.

Kambei laughs to himself as he guns the engine and activates his jammer trying to get the hell out of the area. I’m a dead-man-walking if they ever catch me after pulling this shit… maybe I should have gone with a different plan.

[Fuchs]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

The Nightsky speeds up, leaving the first bodyguard, whose slowly getting up, cradling his broken hand in front of his chest and sporting ripped and torn clothes after his fall from the car, behind. But the second bodyguard is chasing after the limousine on his bike - and he is keeping up.

[ Spoiler ]

Pilot check to lose the second bodyguard. (10d6.hits(5)=4)
pilot check on bike (7d6.hits(5)=3)

[Tabula Rasa]

Outside Freefall - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Kambei tries to pick up speed and head away from the heavier populated areas into the bad parts of Neo-Tokyo, using his knowledge of Yakuza territories to try to avoid heading towards where backup might be coming from.

“Hey, Rattler. I know I don’t ask you for too many favors,� Kambei says ironically, “but anything you could do to help me out of this little mess would be appreciated. Need to get the this fucker off my tail while avoiding the police.�

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0017

Rattler answers the call, sounding a bit pressed.

"I am a bit busy suppressing a number of signals from your recently acquired car. I'll send some false alerts out to keep the police off your tail, but your new friend shut off his commlink - I think he suspects a hacker after you took control of the car."

Fortunately, the road gets worse, so with a bit of good timing, and innovative use of the flash-pak, there might be a way to get the biker off his tail.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0017

“Thanks man,� Kambei says, “you’re always on top of things. Remind me to get you a bottle of something expensive if we ever meet in person.�

He grits his teeth as he swerves to avoid a distracted pedestrian. He reaches down and picks up the flashpack he’d tucked away earlier and lowers the window a tad to make room to put it through it.

Kambei waits for a moment of opportunity when the road gets bad around a sharp turn to speed into the turn, dropping the flashpack right as he activates it to hopefully blind and disorient the biker while he is speeding through the turn to follow.

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0018

[ Spoiler ]

Crash Test (7d6.hits(5)=2)

The yakuza biker turns around the corner, and the flash-pak goes off, filling the street with disorienting noise. The yakuza doesn't quite crash headlong into the next wall, but he doesn't get the turn right, and ends up sliding over the street, his bike trailing sparks and bits of plastic before coming to a rest at a dumpster.

By this time, Kambei has turned the next corner, and accelerated. A few minutes later, it's evident that there is no pursuit - Rattler checked the matrix nodes nearby as well.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0018

Kambei takes a quick look at Zuginata to make sure he is still out. No sense in getting surprised now after I’ve cleared his guards.

He drives down at only a bit over the speed limit – just like anybody else – and heads towards a similar neighborhood – but not the same one - to the one where he had arranged the meet with Kouki’s chubby hacker friend and that creepy mage.

“Hey, Rattler, can you just give me a good location with very little matrix activity in this area? I’m going to get pretty close to him when I’m talking to him so my jammer is gonna cut out my connection too after that point.

“I just need a parking lot or something similar where I can question this guy without getting bothered by a bunch of hobos.�

[Fuchs]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0018

Rattler evidently doesn't like the idea of cutting oneself off from the matrix - he mutters something about fiberoptic lines and cables - but finds a location for Kambei that is reasonably safe. Some rumors about a curse that strikes down infidels, or such. Hopefully spread by someone who wanted to scare people, and not based upon anything - at least one should be ok, for the interrogation.

So the Nightsky parks in the garange of a ruined shop, ground floor. The floor is covered with dust, rubble and something that looks like rat droppings, but it's reasonably safe - it was a talismonger shop years ago.

[Tabula Rasa]

Neo-Tokyo, streets - 04/24/2008 – 0018

Kambei scans the area quickly going through various types of visions to see if there is anyone around. If the coast is clear he pulls Zuginata out of the back driver's side door and leans him against the read quarter panel. He pats him down for weapons and then rips of the tranq-patch.

He nudges him a few times, trying to rouse him.