IC: Down in the Barrens II, John Doe's search for his past Options

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

Hawk nods back at the ganger and then puts on his helmet while minimizing the mapsoft image for later use.

<<@Team [Hawk] I don't want to leave our bikes here so lets drive over to the apartments.>>

Hawk gets on his motorcycle, starting it up giving it a little extra on the throttle to make an impression. Using the vision enhancement of the visor, he looks over the closer group of gangers for possible hidden weapons. Taking off slowly as to not be threatening, Hawk drives over to the apartment buildings looking for number 201.

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47:30pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

Glancing into the astral, Ghost does not see any astral activity by the gangers, nor around them. What he does see in the darkness in the astral by the asphalt and buildings nearby sprawl. He also sees the bright glow of life from the clumps of grass and trees growing in various places off the road. Between the two, the ebb of mana in the astral itself glows lightly, providing an illumination quality to the air or rather where the air would be in the astral.

As the team pulls away, the gangers remain relaxed, but observant. Hawk is pretty sure several of them have weapons under their jackets.

The ride down the street and around the block into the apartment parking lot is quick and uneventful. For Ghost, a watcher patrolling the lot tells him that there's a mage here somewhere. The background count of despair around the apartment building tells him that the summoner must somehow be aspected to the place.

Val and Hawk take note of more mundane elements: The half a dozen youth loitering around the parking lot. The dozen motorcycles and four subcompacts parked there as well.

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47:30pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val coming back to the present gasps for a instant trying to take in all he just experienced and immediatly opens his notebook on his Com and writes everything down that he can rememebr about the vision. <Val@ Athena "Quick question i would like to ask you to run my face through anything to do with me connecting me to the russians. Just add It to my running tally of things to do please.">

Val looked at his Pred for second to see if it resemled the same weapon in his vision and looks down his arm as he is walking down the street why would he do something like that what was it for and why would the ganger bring a memory like that

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47:30pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

<<@Val [Athena] The Russians? I guess I've have stranger requests... Those those usually required a meet in the flesh.>>

Several of the youth loitering in the lot have pistols in the belts.

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

Pulling into the parking lot Hawk looks for a spot relatively close to apartment 201. Taking a spot he walks the motorcycle backwards into the spot so as to need only to drive away in case a quick escape is needed.

<<@Team [Hawk] Looks like this is the place guys.>>

Hawk sets the kickstand and dismounts his bike setting the security system before making his way towards the destination. About half way to the door Hawk stops dead in his tracks. He turns back to his companions...

"Those gangers said we were here to see Stitch right? It just happens the guy i put a few rounds in back at Bob's Bar N Grill, his name was Stitch as well. I wonder if its the same person"

<<@Stitch [Hawk] Heya boss, how's the Doc treating you? He get you all patched up? Oh by-the-way, you wouldn't happen to live over near 166th Ave NE and 92nd Ave NE would ya?>>

Hawk looks around the parking lot taking a survey of the available areas for cover should it be necessary making note of what vehicles are where. He also attempts to determine if the young punks seem overly interested in him and his companions....

[ludomastro]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Ghost

As he walks into the building, Ghost continues to scan the Astral trying to get a fix on the mage or shaman with the watcher spirit. Additionally, he smiles at everyone he passes - a big toothy grin.

Smile at everyone you meet.

It confuses most, ...

... and annoys the hell out of the rest.

You got my back?

Always!

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:47pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val looks aroud at the area and the small group of gangers hanging around the buildings entrance, I hope this stich guy isn't pissed. Val let a small smile cross his face, Still thinking of the image still fresh in his mind he tries to think about the man who he shot in his vision and what would provoke such a action. Still he needed this run and money to find maybe more information about who he was and why he was banged up in a dark alley.

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:00pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

<<@Hawk [Stitch] Good. He does real good work. Still trying to figure out your angle on this though. Not me. I live up towards NE 160th Place... Say, isn't there guy also named Stitch down near there who sells weapons & ammo? I only know about him 'cause he has the same knick name as me.>>

The motorcycles near the apartment entrance could provide partial cover in a pinch. The cars are parked a ways off and the distance between is open ground. One has to assume apartment 201 is on the second floor. Given the lack of numbering outside the building, the team can only assume which end 201 is on.

The youth are obviously watching the team. When Ghost smiles at them, two of them seem confused, turning towards each other to discuss the unexpected act.

The astral provides no clues as to the summoner of the watcher. At least not yet.

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48pm; Near Red-E-Stor at 166th Ave NE and NE 92nd Ave, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

Hawk finishes his visual sweep of the parking lot and turns back towards the stairs to the second floor.

<<@Stitch [Hawk] Yeah i was just making sure. I heard someone mention that name and was checking to see if it was you. Anyway boss, hang in there. I'll catch up with you again tomorrow.>>

Climbing the stairs counting each one as he steps on them Hawk takes an opportunity to glance around the foyer looking for any type of automated security system.

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:30pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

With no external stairs in sight, Hawk leads the inside the Good News Apartments, past the youth who talk in hushed voices as the team passes. For those with augmented hearing, the conversation is simply a few snide comments referring to the fact that the crew is definitely not locals. Nothing worth replying to.

Inside, the team finds a poorly maintained building interior, that once, decades ago, was probably a respectable place to live. Now, the carpet is rotten and ripped, the walls layers of graffiti. Onward to the center of the building, a long hall runs left and right with doors to the various apartments; Some doors are missing, others are open.

Down the hall to the left is a stairwell. Drink and food wrappers are on the floor and the carpet is missing from the stairs. The banister is poorly connected to the wall. The second floor is pretty much the same, except for the large ork leaning on the wall near the top of the stairs. The ork wears Lords of War colors on his heavy jacket. A shotgun with a pistol grip hangs in his grip, which he lifts to rest across his other half. With the teams cool, cautious, & slow movements, he maintains his a lazy, bored posture moving just enough to make the point that he and the shotgun are there to insure everyone stays chilled.

Down the hall there is a second difference. A troll sitting on a troll sized, folding chair in front of what turns out to be apartment 201. He looks up as the team walks down the hall then rises to a standing position. His horns brush the ceiling as he stands, slightly hunched. He also wears a heavy jacket with the gang's colors, but has no visible weapons beyond his crusted knuckles hanging at the end of the tree trunks he probably calls arms. "What?"

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:30pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val looks and listens as he walks the hall of the delabitated building catching hints from different types of meta's as he passes by the different groups that they obviously didn't feel they belong in the othterwise normal hood, the building felt like it was falling apart as they are walking through it, Val hoped he that while walking he would pass over a weak spot in the floor and fall to the previous level below them. the ork with the shotty didn't really concern Val but still gave him a wide birth enough to react if he made a move as he passed him. the busted up troll who with crusted knuckles looked like he had been on the winning side of his fights considering he was still alive and looked realitivey healthy seemed more the threat to worry about.

replying to the What? Val looks at him "I dont know your boss wanted to talk? you tell me "what?"

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

Passing by the large ork at the top of the stairs, Hawk nods slightly showing his acknowledgment of the bouncers authority and accepting the unspoken terms of passage. Down the hall as the massive troll stands a soft barely audible "Holy Christ" slips Hawk's lips. He waits for the meta to fully stand and then over-dramatically looks the troll over from heel to horns as Val comments to the trolls question. Hawk turns his glance to Val as he finishes his questioned comment and then back to the troll.

"We were told Stitch would be in and available for business. I do hope we were told right."

[ludomastro]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:30pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Ghost

Ghost just keeps on smiling at everyone he meets.

Who was it that said, "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet?"

No idea. Have you got a plan?

Sure. Guy with the shotgun should go down to a stun spell pretty good. Let the other two deal with the troll. Got to keep our collective ass safe.

... sounds good.

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:45pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

Something about Val's response most definitely rubs the troll the wrong way, he starts a little, guttural growl in the back of his throat like a pit bull when a Chiwawa comes into its yard and lifts its leg as if to pee. For a moment, he ignores Hawk, then looks over at the sam. "Yea. But he-" raising a finger to point at Val, said finger leveled at the elf's nose and less than a third of a meter from it, before looking back to the elf "-stays with me"

He reaches his other hand over and raps twice on the door. A moment later it opens, presenting a path inward for Hawk and Ghost.

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:48:50pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val can smell the dirty digit lingering a meter from his nose coming from the green grimy rough looking Troll, Val didn't know if he was going to kick him or pee on him from how he stood but he wouldn't take a punch so easily or a kick or what ever the Troll threw at him without a fight. slightly tilting his head to look around the massive fist with a smile Val looks at the Troll "Great I guess I'll take a soycafe with cream and sugar if you have it, Hawk tell stitch i said hello and thanks for the lovely reception. I'll see you guys when you come out." Val steps aside to allow for Ghost and Hawk to pass by and leans against the opposite wall from the door the Troll knocked on. trying to gauge the Troll's intent, which he knew from his posture and comment was going to be hostile if anything were to go down. Val thought about his first movements should anything go down obviously he would have to distract the Troll while he took out he gun totting ork first and then worry about the Tree stalking him in the hallway. Val looked at the troll "got any cards? or vodka maybe?"

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:00pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

The troll withdraws his finger, hand and arm. He smiles a yellow-stained toothy grin back at Val like something just genuinely made him happy, but in a 'I killed the neighbors cat' kinda way. "I could piss in a cup an' call it Fizzy Cola."

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:05pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val watches as the giagantic arm retracts like a tractor arm being pulled in on it self, the only Troll he can remember seeing is the one that helped him out in the Alley and this guy didn't show any recognition as to who Val was nor did he think he sounded familiar to the Troll that helped him out. "i bet. from the looks of you i don't think everything works properly.But i am sure our yen spends better then most of the drek you get in here, so get out of my way and let me see what your boss has to sell." Val watched for any movement from the Troll to grab him and tried to listen to see if the ork was taking interest in the coversation or was minding his own business.

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

What the hell is he doing? I hope he knows this guy or we are going to wrack up some more expenses at Doc Phins...

Wanting so bad to see how his soap opera was going to unfold, Hawk looks back and forth between Val and the Troll during their exchange.

Oh this is so not what we need right now...to have an arms dealer and his muscle on our ass.

Moving slowly towards the doorway purposely putting himself between Val and the troll, Hawk waits for Val to go first.

<<@Team [Hawk] You sure about this Val? I mean I know this guy is ugly and all, but don't you think we can hold the pissing contest until after we meet stitch?>>

Hawk puts his right arm up making sure not to touch the troll hoping to call a truce between the pair of verbal combatants. His left hand he keeps at his side ready to quickly draw his gun should this all turn south.

"Ah come now big fella, let the man spend his yen first. Then you can grind him to paste outside where he won't leave stains on your doorstep."

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:14pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val acknowledges Hawk conceding that a fight with the help was the the last thing they needed but something about the group down stairs and the flash back threw him a reason to be cautious so he gives Hawk a nod and smile and gives the troll a wide birth as he starts to head for the door to talk to stitch.

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:30pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

As Val steps back, the troll just watches. When Hawk presents a counter argument for including Val, the troll takes a moment stuck by the simple logic. He then smiles as he has a counter thought. This time he addresses Hawk. "You keep 'im in line or you get his spankin'." A single cyber-spur peeks out from his left hand to make the point before withdrawing.

With that, the trio enters the apartment, a haze of cannibus smoke greeting them along with a pair of scantily dressed human women in their late teens/early twenties. While neither are raging beauty queens, nor cover models, they both are moderately attractive and exude a strong sexual aura. The room is small, about 2m by 3m; Obviously not the original design. A doorway to the right and the one they entered (behind) are the only exits. To the left is a counter top running wall to wall.

The women move forward, seductively towards Val and Ghost. They rub up against the pair, Val's slowly reaching to lift his Ingram hanging from the sling while Ghost's caresses her hand across his chest slowly toward his concealed holster.

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:30pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val looks toward the women with a sly smile "well aren't you a sight for sore eyes but if your looking for something to play with you won't find it in my jacket, besides Your boss has nothing to worry about from us, we are here for business. not for play." and val steps aways from the young women and opens his jacket a little more to show his ingram"he has nothing to worry about." Val looks to the left at the only other exit, knowing full well this is probably just pre meet room to ensure they weren't going to try to make a move on thier boss. Val just got his gun and he wasn't to sure about giving up his only weapon. he hoped they didn't ask for his Pred aswell, he might be able to get away with bringing it in if he gives up the one they found, but if they continue to look he was willing to give up both.

Val from the meeting outside in the hallway knew that he was already on thing ice, so keeping that in mind he unslung his ingram and ejected his clip and stuffed the clip into his jacket pocket and went to hand over an empty ingram to the young women"If you wanted my weapon before the meet all you had to do was ask for it, although i did appreciate the attention."

[Redjack]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:45pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle

She takes the Ingram with a smile not caring the weapon is now unloaded. "Thank you Sweetie." She turns to her right, setting the weapon on the counter to the team's left. She then turns back to Val taking a tentative step forward, "I still have to frisk you, but I promise, I feel up more than just your jacket." She lowers her hands as she closes the distance, still moving slowly and seductively.

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:45pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens,
Val

Val just smiles and looks at the young girl and in Russian "you tease." puts his arms out and stands like a T with his arms out wide and opens his stance to spread his feet apart 6 inches. "do what you have to, I won't try to stop you this time." Val looks at Hawk to see how he was faring with his frisker.

[LordArcana]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Hawk; PAN=Passive; SIN=Marcum Curst

Hawk looks up to make eye contact with the troll...

"I can't argue with your enormous insight of logic. Fair enough. If my friend gets out of line you give me the whoopin."

Turning back to the door and taking a step forward, a smile comes across Hawk's face as the pair of naked girls enter his vision. He walked through the threshold when it dawns on him what the girls are doing.

Seriously? Even paranoia can be taken too far sometimes.

Hawk doesn't even wait for the the girls as he walks over to the counter in the cramped area and begins unloading his usually carried arsenal onto the counter. Pulling the Ingram X from the high holster under the right arm he ejects the clip and the chambered round and places the weapon on the counter. He puts the clip and the round in a pocket under his coat...

"One Ingram...check"

Reaching to the lower holster on the right side Hawk pulls out a Predator IV. He ejects the clip and the chambered round placing the weapon on the counter and the ammo in a pocket under his coat...

"One Predator IV...check"

Reaching to the holster on his left side Hawk pulls out his Slivergun. He ejects the clip and the chambered round with efficient military crispness. He places the ejected round back into the clip taking the place of the round fired earlier. Hawk places the weapon on the counter and the ammo; again, in a pocket under his coat.

"One Ares Slivergun...check"

Hawk looks over his shoulder at his companions getting frisked by the naked women with a renewed smile. Looking at the ladies Hawk reaches behind him under his coat and withdraws two cougar fine-blades and places them on the counter.

"Two blades...check"

With the top of his boots covered with a small fold of his camouflage pants, Hawk is confident about the hidden weapon he keeps there. He makes no acknowledgment of the hidden boot-knife tucked into his right boot as he turns from the counter waiting his turn to be frisked down.

"You know ladies, if you were not young enough to be my...very young daughters, this might be a good opportunity to get to know the both of you better."

[Saytr]

Friday, March 27th, 2071; 6:49:50pm; Good News Apartments, 16400 NE 91st Street, Redmond Barrens, Seattle
Val

Val glanced over to see the arsenal placed onto the table and thought he was well under equipped with only two weapons to place on the table he was sure he would have to get a couple more pieces of hardware to make it if he really wanted to be able to keep up with the likes of Hawk and Ghost. allthough he was enjoying being handled by a young lady. even if they were leaving little to imagination he still liked the attention for some reason.