IC: Dawn of the Artifacts., In Character Thread. Options

[Kerenshara]

Dartha considers her options briefly but carefully before making her way down to meet Vera and whoever else might be going on this little jaunt. As little as she’d like to spend any time with the other woman at the moment, the guides had been most emphatic about not going out alone into the city if you were a foreigner which seems like sound advice, given the look of things on the way in. But after the brief scuffle in Cairo, getting some good glasses are looking more and more important. A couple other items might just prove useful, too, and it’s a lot more likely she will find them in the world’s largest clearing house for everything somebody with money could imagine than in a boutique in Seattle.

She makes her way down to the bar and scans the room, settling her eyes on Vera. The other woman notices her almost immediately, and Dartha nods across the room when she’s certain she has the other woman’s attention. She circulates a bit through the room working her way casually to next to where Vera is seated. She allows the sounds of the foreign voices to wash over her and gathers in the bits with her Awakened talent, already beginning the process of assimilating the new languages. Even if nothing else comes out of this mission, picking up new languages is always useful in and of itself, and the languages in Lagos are in high demand in the shadows; Though coming back to this drekhole isn’t at the top of her mental to-do list, it can’t help but improve her resume. And who knows? Maybe she’ll pick up a valuable contact or a new magical trick. After all, Lagos is as much a hash of magical and religious traditions as it is a clearing house for illicit goods.

[SincereAgape]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 17:47:41. Lagos, Yorubu, Nigeria.
-Apapa District, Market Place.

Kofi turns out to be an excellent guide. A built man standing over 6'4. He carries his AK-97 very casually, and with confidence on how to use the weapon. Kofi brings the ladies and Texas Jack to a Hawala network, a dingy hut, where a short man wearing a brown robe and a dark black teeth greet them. Kofi talks to the man in an language foreign to the ladies, and manages to negotiate their conversation rate to a 10% tax. Happy with the 10%, the Hawala dealer bows and thanks them for their business.

The market is loud and roudy. Full of energy, chatter, and conversations. Their are stands of all types, people selling hand-made female and male clothing, butcher shops with live animals and awakened animals hanging from hooks. Fruits stands selling old and moldy simple foods, and an area with fresh bottled water. There is one stand that is selling rice, beans, and fresh vegetables. This is where Kofi recommends that you purchase your food.

There is a stand selling weapons. Wooden shelves and crates are lined with bullets, bandoliers. Rifles and machines guns are stacked in neat rows on weapon racks. A man in his late thirties shouts above the crowds about the weapons. Kofi leads Vera, Dartha, and Jack to a street dedicated to selling clothing. Jack and Kofi give the girls time to shop around the area.

http://www.dupsies.com/Dstore/female-pant-c-42.html
http://www.africastyles.com/Women/fashion-women.html

[Stuff they have on sale]

By the time they finish shopping it is around 5:50 PM. The sun is beginning to set and the market is beginning to take a new life. The clothing stands are beginning to close, and the 'fresh' fruit markets as well. In the stay the drug dealers, drug dens, and scum of Lagos begin to enter the market. Kofi begins to lead them back to the hotel, and very quickly. On the way they spot a scene.

There is a family with a small shop in one of the few two-story buildings in the market. Their shop is a home made jewlery and clothing shop, which takes up one third of the bottom floor, and is divided by cheap plaster wall from the other two shops. In front of the shop there is five men armed with AK-97s. One has a LAW rocket slung over his shoulder, and another one with an Ares Alpha Combat gun. Three of them have shades, all are wearing camo pants and vests. All six have nano-tattoos covering their arms. The leader, a troll begins to shout at the family who owns the store.

The two children and the wife are huddled in corner, with the mother covering her cowered children. The father comes out to face the gang, but looks scared out of his wits.

"Igbo." Kofi says calmly, watching this from afar and making sure the three runners dont' get involved.

The troll yells something in Yoruba.

"You're late with the payments again! When are you going to pay?!"

The husband swollows by stands his ground. He places fins fingers together in a peace gesture. "I can't. We did not make enough
money."

"Again? You're family is worthless. Your business is worthless. You are worthless." The troll yells.

One of the other Igbo tribe members walks behind the man and kicks him in the back of the knee cap, sending the man to drop on his knees.

Without mercy, the troll shoots the man with a burst from his AK-97, killing the shop owner.

The other five Igbo tribe members begin to giggle and chuckle..."Hehehe. What about the wife and children?" One of the asks.

Lining up his AK-97 the Troll unloads an entire clip into the family. Full-Auto mode. 10 Bullets, plus more, into the wife. Into the children. The other tribe members follow suit as they destroy the families shop. After the deed is done, the pat each other on the back, get into their pickup truck and drive off.

Kofi turns to the girls and Texas Jack.

"This happens a lot in the city of Lagos."

[Chrysalis]

Vera bought some items at the market, haggling over prices in Yoruba, English, and a bit of French. She had three outfits which were Nigerian and a beautiful shawl that she just had to have.

For food, She bought some fresh fruit and bottles of water and beer. She also picked out the least scrawny of two chickens filled with rice that were being grilled on large spits and had them placed in foil for dinner.

Vera looks at the rest of her group and said to Kofi, "I think we would like to be taken back to the hotel please."

[DigitalOYABUN]

Jack spits out a stringy blob of tobaccoo stained spit as he eyes the scene.

"It happens alot in the city Lagos" the guide Kofi says.

Happens alot everywhere. Every place in this spirit cursed world has a shithole of its very own.

"Guess you got to be famous fer somethin', and New Orleans already grabbed up Mardi Gras." Jack says, not knowing or caring if Kofi understood. "Best we get the girls home before someone mistakes us for an easy payday."

[SincereAgape]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 18:13:41. Lagos, Yorubu, Nigeria.
-Apapa District, Porto Nova Hotel

Either Vera, Texas Jack, or Dartha signal to the rest of the team though an encrypted message that they have returned with the supplies. Jane takes time to leave her room and join the others down in the hotel lobby. She motions for Dexter to follow.

<<From Jane. To everyone: I would like to meet with everyone to go over plans for tomorrow and the following days.>>

Meeting everyone in the lobby, Peaceful approaches Jane and whispers something in her ear. She then nods and heads into a small closed conference room. The room is surrounded by reinforced plasticrete on one side and is in the corner of the building so brick on the other. Jane asks Texas Jack to place a sound suppressor in the center of the room, and then beckons for Dexter to stand by the closed door, keeping watch of physical security. She also asks if either Hodder or Dartha can run an astral perception check. Texas Jack's matrix perception test finds nothing out of the ordinary.

Sitting down, she invites everyone to have a group dinner. There is a table in the center of the room just large enough for everyone to sit down. There are cheap wooden seats. Towards the back of the room there is a smaller table with three small sofas able to fit either two large bodies or three smaller bodies on one. The group eats dinner together. The chicken stuffed with rice was very succulent an delicious. Jane looked around the table and was hoping that everyone would get along. The group shared a few cold one's and bottle water before making their way to the couches. One more thing, the room is entirely colored in red mud combined with dry paint.

"Okay. Tomorrow begins our search for Samriel Lockwood. Vera told us earlier in the day that she has a powerful contact who might able to help us find the elf and the artifact. From the little I know of Lockwood, I can't see him spending time in the main island, especially if he is with another contingent of elves. They would stick out way to much. He will most likely be in areas where other antiquities or artifacts maybe located such a museums or rich collectors looking to buy or sell exotic items. He is probably in Lagos to either sell the item he stole or purchase new artifacts for himself or whomever he works for. What does everyone think? I suggest a few of us go with Vera to meet her contact, and the others use Kofi or another local to help us find whatever information we can in the city streets."

[pbangarth]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 18:14:37. Lagos, Yorubu, Nigeria.
-Apapa District, Porto Nova Hotel

Upon entering the room, Hodder momentarily opens himself up to the astral and scans the room. He then organizes his thoughts for a moment. He muses about the fact that he seems to be developing the roles of social lubricant for the party and abrasive for Jane.

"I think I need to check out the Amulet Market tomorrow morning. It is one of the likely places our target may have spent some time. It is probably not a good idea that I go alone. If anyone else wants to go, I would appreciate your company. Failing any volunteer, Golf, since you are doing the scheduling, please feel free to set up a buddy system. But first, I will spend some time in the early morning with someone with whom I have arranged time to teach me the local dialect.

"What I also think is that we as a team need to know all we can possibly know about our target and the item we seek. Our lives, including yours, Alpha, may hang in the balance over a point of ignorance." Pointed glance at Jane[Alpha].

"My sources tell me that our target is likely a member of the Mystic Crusaders, an initiatory group involved closely with the Atlantean Foundation. If this is true, we are up against a foe with essentially unlimited resources that specializes in the search for ancient artifacts of magical power. They also make it a point of honour to exterminate freelancers such as ourselves. My sources tell me further that the item is likely just such an artifact. I am prepared to go up against such a foe, and in fact relish the opportunity. I have committed myself to the point of risking my life to keep you alive, Alpha, and would appreciate a level of honesty commensurate with that commitment. Is there anything more you can tell us about either the target or the item?"

[Kerenshara]

Dartha listens as Hodder lays out the details he's learned of their quary, and instead of one of the expressions she'd like to make, she settles for cocking an interogative eyebrow at him instread.

"Huh. Usually Johnson decides to screw you over when their own hoop isn't on the line. Does that mean she was ignorant? Or maybe she was just planning to burn us up in the process. Let's see what she has to say, now."

[SincereAgape]

Jane waited for Hodder to finish speaking. The team could tell she was trying to carefully choose her words or restrain herself.

"You don't think I've been completely honest with you? I have told you everything I know about the map and Lockwood. You are the archeology expert on this team, so I was hoping you would have more information about this item then I would. It does not surprise me that he is a member of the Mystic Crusaders, before accepting the job I informed all of you that he would be a dangerous foe. The Piri Reis Map is an enigma to the world. It has been in existence for over 500 years, and still researchers and historians don't know exactly it is. That is what I know Hodder. I have invested over 60,000 nuyen into the six of you, and have personally come with you to this dangerous city. How would I benefit from withholding information from all of you?"

[pbangarth]

Hodder runs his fingers through his hair. He seems to be doing that a lot lately. His astral perception shows nothing about Jane. She is a blank slate.

"Too many Johnsons keeping things to themselves, too many missions gone wrong because of incomplete information for me to be instantly trusting, Jane. The evidence before me is that there is more to you than meets the eye. In the plane, the only one I can't rule out as dropping Dartha's spell is you, despite the fact you appear to me to be mundane, even on the astral plane.

"And also on the plane, it was like pulling teeth to get information about our objective from you, and it upset you then for me to ask for it. Had I not, would we still be in the dark? The fact that you are here certainly means that the map is very important to you. You may be here to lend your unknown skills at the appropriate moment, should they be required. You may be here to ensure we fulfill our obligations, whatever that assurance may require. You may be here to silence us once we succeed. You are an unknown. Unknowns are dangerous. Don't take it personally. Be glad we are not naive enough to trust you outright.

"As far as information on the item, my sources suggest the map was last suspected to be in the possession of African royalty. Not much use, that, except that we are in Africa, so perhaps it has not yet gone far from it's last possessor. In the business of tracking down errant items, the farther they have gone from their original location, the tougher it is to track them. So this could be a good thing. There may be people in this city who have information on the route the map has taken. Or even... will take. Find the route, find the thief.

"The fact that it is thought to give an accurate depiction of Antarctica without the ice would mean it was drawn from information at least 6000 years old, and projected onto the map using technology not known to humans for centuries after the map was allegedly drawn. Who was around mapping Antarctica 6000 years ago? Dragons? And how did the data get passed down through the ages, in a time when no one new of those ancient times? If the data is that old, then the map is likely to be of extreme interest to concerns both mundane and magical. Extreme enough to kill for. Maybe it has information that some would like to keep secret.

"I think we are involving ourselves in something way bigger than a stolen trinket. This is the stuff conspiracy theorists have wet dreams about. So, I'm still eager to begin the hunt. And I'll still do my best to keep the bullets and spells away from you. After all, I did promise Durlan." He smiles coyly.

"Just don't expect me not to be looking over my shoulder on occasion."

[Chrysalis]

The chicken was quite good. Vera really liked the beans and the rice. In most places the ability of aving even fresh food would place this into the realm of haute cuisine. Here it was the cold reality that soy was the expensive import.

She listened to the growing paranoiac tirade. It was one thing to call someone a liar, it was another to call it to her face - no matter how veiled. Vera stopped twirling her fork in the left overs of the meal and stabbed down hard a few times, hard enough to snap off the plastic tines on the table.

"Sorry I was thinking of something in the past. Hodder, are you feeling well? You really look pale. Hopefully you are not getting an adverse reaction from the drugs in your system. As the doctor of this group I really recommend you do lie down and let the medication take its course. High blood pressure, awakened drugs and beer don't mix."

"Perhaps we should all calm down a bit, Jane has so far been honest with us. She hasn't told us much about herself. But neither have we. Let's not start pointing fingers, especially if they are in the same room with us. Hoddder, you have found important information on Samuel Lockwood being a Mystic Crusader. That's really good information. Maybe the Atlantean Foundation has a facility or an office here. How about focusing our search there?"

"Do we have any concerns about the Piri Reis map, do we have to be careful in moving it? Has been handled with a contact poison we should be worried about? If not perhaps we can simply see about where we can find it. If it is with an African king then perhaps it may be easily found."

"I will be seeing my contact here in Lagos and see if he can help us out. Maybe we should also divide our forces, some of us looking for the map and others seeing if they can track down Samuel Lockwood."

[pbangarth]

The snapping of Vera's fork punctuated Hodder's frustration. Her argument for calm, however, was logical. And for God's sake, Jane had yet to do anything overtly negative, and she was the boss. The boss gets to decide need-to-know. "Slowly comes wisdom to you, Simon, but come it does."

"Right. You're the boss, Jane. You decide who knows what, when." Hodder turns to the group.

"Well, if Vera has a powerful contact, an irritant such as myself is probably not the best to tag along on that foray. I would be more useful in the markets, dealing with the kind of people with whom I am familiar. Particularly after my language lesson in the morning. So it looks like we should split tomorrow.

"It seems best if our Alpha were in on the talk with Vera's contact. There should be magical awareness in both teams, and both teams should have firepower. So what if we were to rearrange Dexter's system slightly for the day? Say, Jane, Vera, Dartha and Dexter in the contact group, and Jack, Sakura and myself in the market group? Dartha, maybe you could use your Fashion spell to make our outfits more mufti, to fit into the local crowd better.

"How does that sound?"

[Karoline]

I was quiet during the trip from the airport to our hotel. Watching the filth and squalor that people lived in, I felt detached. I sensed that part of me wanted to feel sorry for them, to cry out against the inhumane conditions in which they lived, but another part of me didn't care at all, and yet another felt some small level of... I'm not sure, like they were lucky somehow. And so I simply sit and watch them fly by, noticing how poorly the kids hold their weapons. I'd like to reassemble my gun, but likely a bad idea in the car.

The hotel is nothing special, at least compared to the apartment back in Seattle, but after seeing everything along the way, it must be a near paradise here. I'd like to go with the group shopping, I know there is something I need, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It'll have to wait though, think I'm having a bit of a reaction to the shot, and so spend the afternoon in my new room. I don't bother unpacking, simply storing my bags under my bed, it seems like we may have to move at a moment's notice.

I spend the rest of the day in bed, half dozing, half thinking. A dream that can be controlled, that you know is a dream. I try and picture myself as a child, but my dream becomes dark, faded. I can barely make out vague shapes around me, much less anything specific. I do hear loud noises though... like explosives... or gunshots.

Eventually I'm woken by my commlink. I consider for several moments if I should bring a weapon with me, but decide against it. I even go so far as to not change back into my armor. While it is designed specifically to keep me cool when I want it, or keep my suit cool when I need it, it still isn't as comfortable as regular clothing. So I change into a pair of shorts and a tank top. It seems fitting enough in the heat, though I doubt it would blend in well with the natives.

I draw my shotgun from my bag. Better safe than sorry. and sling it around me. I am being paid to protect someone after all and a dead person can't hurt anyone and I'd be doing a fine job of it if I can't fight

I'm surprised at the chicken and rice. It's a good meal, especially considering how bad everything looked on the way over here. I eat slowly, savoring it as though I've never eaten anything so good before Maybe I haven't. 'Delta' doesn't waste much time in getting right into both informing us about our targets, and accusing 'Alpha' of keeping things from us. I'm not sure why, but it makes me giggle out loud, while at the same time making me feel crushed inside. I lower my eyes, not wanting anyone to ask why I laughed like that, instead returning to my chicken, which tastes much worse all the sudden.

Finally I decide to speak up. "A thing is a thing isn't it? And a person is a person. We just need to find it. I don't see if it matters if it is an old map or the latest... I pause for a moment to think to the adds I saw all over the mall emotitoy. Multiple people want it, only so many can have it. And as for Samuel... like I said, a person is a person. A hole in his head will make him just as dead as any other... Or can magic save you from that?" I ask.

Now if we had something about what he could actually do that might be useful for just how big a hole his head needs

[DigitalOYABUN]

Dinner and a show... but Delta did have some solid points

Jacks puts down his fork, the first time since the food had arrived. It was more than passible, it was actually very good. "Now that the pleasantries of the dinner party have concluded I'd like to bring up some business. As the matrix expert I'd like to set up a more secure inter-PAN linkage. It'll require a bit of sacrifice in the personal privacy department, but the benefits outweigh the negatives."

Jack drinks from a small cup of coffee "And if Alpha and Delta can give me some particulars, I'll work up an intel package as best I can for dissemenation to the team."

[SincereAgape]

Monday, April 9th, 2072, 18:55:12. Lagos, Yorubu, Nigeria.
-Apapa District, Porto Nova Hotel

"Thank you for the offer 'Charlie' but no thank you. I enjoy my privacy."

Jane looks at Hodder, and looks like she wants to say something. But does not.

"Concerning the report for everyone. I shall provide you with that information tonight, before I go to sleep. And here are my suggestions for tomorrw's meetings. If we are meeting with members of the Igbo tribe, who picked us up, earlier in the mornng then I suggest taking as few females as possible. I like the idea of Bravo (Vera) taking Charlie (Texas Jack) and Golf (Dexter) with her. With Foxtrot (Dartha) providing magical support. Delta, myself who have the greatest number of contacts in the city besides Bravo should search the streets lookng for information. Echo can provide backup for us."

Jane turns to Hawkeye and smiles at her. She is taking a liking to the girl and ignored the giggle when Belloq began talking.

"Sadly. I don't think having a young female working meeting with the Igbo and whatever Aces Bravo has up her sleeve is a good thing."

[pbangarth]

Hodder nods. He looks at Jane[Alpha]. The spirit mask fails to hide the mix of curiosity and ... sadness? regret? ... in his eyes. "Yes, I remember the greeting we got earlier. You are quite right, Alpha.

"The sun will rise tomorrow at about a quarter to seven. I should rise with it a somewhat healed man. I will meet my language instructor for breakfast at seven. I find talking about food is a good way to start learning a language. By 10 am I should be done, and hopefully have the basics of the language under my belt. If you and Echo can find something to do till then, we can the three of us head out. Safety in numbers and all.

"Now that I think of it, the talismonger Kofi told us about is in Leventis market, not far from here. We could swing through there, first, and then go on to the Amulet Market in the afternoon.

"Charlie, I will send you the addresses you need to link up with my communications, and also the information I have garnered so far, so you can disseminate it to the rest.

"If this is acceptable to everyone, I will retire for the night. I can certainly use the rest."

Once the team is in agreement over scheduling, Hodder will make his way up to bed. Alone in his room, he flops down onto the bed. "I don't know, elohim, what to think. Should I trust her, or should I be on my guard?"

"To trust everyone, invite death it does. To trust no one, to be already dead it is."

With that, the spirit returns to metaspace. Hodder chuckles, "Thanks." His clothing and armour feel much heavier, now, without the strength of the spirit added to his own. He sends the information to Jack[Charlie]Slowly, he undresses.

[Karoline]

I think for a few moments after Jane's comment directly to me, and nod in agreement. "The city is so low though, I could almost provide cover to both groups if they were both close enough to the hotel... I wonder if I can get up on the roof... But yeah, given the looks I was getting back at the airport and everything, best I don't interact with the locals so much." I add, looking a bit thoughtful. I may try getting up there tonight and getting a lay of the land. "Can I get where exactly we're going? So I can see what I can see, so to say." I ask.

I purposefully ignore the request for access to my commlink. It has all the personal information in the world for me, and I don't feel like giving a stranger access to it. Right now I have it set up to only accept manually input commands to prevent hacks. And since I lack a trode or anything similar, it doesn't really hamper me any.

Hodder seems eager to end the meeting quickly. I can't really blame him, given how he was bleeding back in the plane from something. And it is rather amazing how draining sitting in a plane for the better part of a day can be. "What should I wear so as not to stand out too much when we're wandering around? Maybe looking like a native would help as well." I look at Vera and Jane for an answer, as they seem to know the most about this place in general.

[Chrysalis]

"I did a bit of research on the flight. Also, my past experience has been five years in the Yukatan working with indegenous tribes there. So I have a bit more experience with different cultures than certain other people."

"First of all Lagos is a feral city, which has several districts. Understand that when the neighbouring countries collapsed a lot of refugees from outlying countries and cities moved to Lagos. Disease and massive social upheaval have changed traditional social structures."

"The groups here operate based on tribes, language groups, lingos, metahumanity and interest. Certain interests will over-ride other features at times. As foreigners we are allowed some leeway here in Lagos, we are allowed to make some social mistakes, but only to a point."

"There is though a national character here. If they do something they do it to the full. If someone is happy they make sure the whole neighbourhood knows, if someone is sad the whole neighbourhood helps out. Quiet and unassuming are not words that go together here in Lagos, it means you are a thief or an outcast, both of which sum up to trouble."

"The corner boys are usually unarried men who are making a name for themselves, some understand that it means civic-minddly defending the tribe or neighbourhood, others as an orgy of destruction. Only about 1 out of a 1000 survives where they have their own personal empire. They are ruthless and have only their interests in mind."

"Everyone is looking for a bit of a handout, as foreigners they consider it our obligation. Also, we have a tendency on not seeing the difference between handing them 1 nuyen or 5 nuyen, but for them it can be a huge difference. So stimulating the local economy is accepted, but also known as a walking cash machine isn't. That's why it's useful to have a local do the negotiations and buying."

"Young women do not walk alone in Lagos. White foreigners are given a bit of space as we form our own tribe, but alone. That's like walking alone drunk at night in the Redmonds in a miniskirt - it's asking for trouble. Some groups here consider white women to have magic and the way men can be healed of any disease is through forcible penetration of a foreign woman."

"Things that we should be careful about, People in Lagos take cleanliness seriously. Everyone I have seen so far may be a bit dusty, but they are clean. Also, be careful what tribal jewellery you pick up and wear and clothing as well. It can be acceptable in one place, but not in another. I really recommend that as foreigners in Lagos we keep together, no-one wanders off. Also this hotel has kept itself carefully neutral of anything going on around it. Don't have it take sides with high-powered rifle rounds. Especially as they will plow through several buildings and people before stopping."

[SincereAgape]

Jane listened to what Vera had to say about Lagos. She hoped the rest of the team was as well. Thus far they had been lucky. They had played it safe by hiring locals in Kofi. The team had also managed to find a rational of logic with the son and father at the airport. The Igbo tribe had provided them with an escort the airport, so they did not have to deal with the local populous, at least not yet.

Tomorrow would be a big day. Angel of the Igbo is one of the 1 in 1000 whom Vera was referring to. He ruled under the guise of fear, and if pushed the wrong way he was one of those who could have the city coming down upon a particular group of people in a manner of a heartbeat.

"Thank you Vera. I couldn't have put it better myself. Thank you for being a voice of reason. The stress and fatigue had gotten the better of me this evening. Jack if you can transcript everything Vera just said and have it in your report that would be appreciated."

Jane gets up from her seat and follows suite with Hodder, as she walks out she turns to address the group one more time.

"I am sorry that not everyone here trusts me. I have been in your shoes before, so I understand. Because I have run the shadows before, I tried to be as fair of a Johnson as it was made possible to me. I am discovering that being on the other side of the job is a lot tougher then I realized. It puts a lot of things in perspective Get some sleep everyone. Tomorrow is a big day."

Jane leaves. And heads into the hotel room.

Night falls in Lagos.

[Karoline]

"What about native girls? What would they wear. Would they ever carry weapons or anything like that? Would it be odd for them to be with a group of foreigners? Would they have any troubles walking on their own?" I figure the 'why' behind my questions should be fairly obvious, but the 'how' behind they 'why' may not be. I restrain a grin as I think about that.

"And I'll try not to destroy too many buildings with my weapons while we're out tomorrow." This time I can't help a grin. It's true, my rifle would cause a fair bit of structural collateral damage around here if fired at ground level, and might even hit someone unintended a mile or more away from the actual shot.

[Chrysalis]

"The basic unit of society in Lagos is the family and the xtended family is the neighbourhood. A native girl would not travel alone, unless she is in her neighbourhood and maybe with her child. if they had to for one reason or another travel outside of the neighbourhood, say to the women's clinic they would of course have a male escort. It could be a brother, uncle or father; or they may hire the corner boys to take her."

"Some people want to leave Lagos and want to hang out with foreigners, because they want to learn the language or might even hope for marriage. However it is a delicate situation and would involve certain type of family and a certain type of woman."

"Most women live at home, work at home, have children at home. The more traditionally dressed the more likely they are also more traditionally minded."

"I am of course painting with a very large brush, last I remember the estimate of how many people in Lagos is 30 million, which covers 150 km radius inland from Lagos Island. That's roughly six times the population of Seattle over the same area."

"I think the only thing comparable to dressing up as someone from Lagos is the equivalent of dressing up as a UCAS officer based on TRiD images of uniforms and then go off to a bar in Ft. Lewis to meet the locals."

"This is my first day in Lagos like everyone else, but I was using my eyes when we went out, and asking a lot of questions. So, be careful. For instance I got propositioned four times. Twice for marriage and twice for sex. Two of those was the Hawala. So if someone asks if you are married, say yes."

"So to summarise: native girls can dress anywhere from traditional nigerian dress to western clothing as I saw today. I did not see one single woman carry a weapon, but I did see that the male escorts do. I did not see a woman who was not part of the neighbourhood walk alone. As soon as it got dark, they all went inside. The ones left were bar girls. I saw a father or uncle dragging a girl by the hair last night, I assume home."

[pbangarth]

Hodder considers Vera's words. "Thanks for the background. I see your point about dressing locally, and failing. When we are out tomorrow, I will play the role of father/husband with Alpha and Echo." He smiles. "I will age myself a bit to fit the role."

"Goodnight, all." He goes to bed.

[Chrysalis]

Vera once the meeting has concluded also heads off to bed. She tries sleeping, otting and turning for a while. It's 00:27 according to her internal chronometer. She gets up and opens the door, looking down the darkened hallway, she locks her door and walks over to Dexter's door. She lightly knocks on it.

"Pope? You awake?"

[Mister Juan]

The first knock has me sitting up in my bed before I even know what it is. My meat hand is fucking twitching crazy, like it’s trying to free itself from the rest of my arm. My knees hurt like a mother when I get up.

I can hear Vera whisper through the paper thin door. Its only when I when I grab my BDU pants to pull ‘em on that I realize I’ve got my gun in my hand. Old habits die hard. Especially at my age. But then, that’s what kept me alive so long.

She knocks gently a second time.

“Pope?”

I put the gun down the bedside table, next to the still made bed. The hotel’s place the thing too much at window height for my taste. Bad business to sleep in a place you can easily get shot. I’ve got my jungle pack open, with my camping kit set up on the floor, where I sleep. I’m scratching my hairy chest when I crack the door open. I’d probably rub my eyes if they were still real. I stare at her for a second, as she stares back.

“If you tell me its bad dreams, am gonna tell ya to change work.” I finally say.

[Chrysalis]

Vera was dressed in a new skirt, but the same t-shirt she had on as she did during the day.

"I have a sleep regulator. So I can't sleep, not for another 24 hours. It means I have a lot of time to think."

Vera walks into the room, letting Dexter close the door behind him.

"My job is being able to look at a person and know what he or she will be doing in the near and far future. Based on my knowledge of people I have some concerns and issues that need to be raised."

"You and I are the mom and dad of this team with Jane being the doting aunt. At the moment we really need to put some fire into them, making them work as a team and not as individuals. We need to set an example and put some snap and spring into the group so that they will operate as a team."

"My biggest concern is Dartha, she is a hand grenade with the pin pulled. The moment she walked into the airplane she was looking for a fight and she and I have been at logger heads since. This means that when she explodes she will explode at me and hopefully no-on else on the team. I would recommend that she be taken aside tomorrow and given a chat to if her attitude continues."

"Our priorities are to find Samuel Lockwood, the Piri Reis mop and keep jane safe. I have an exit strategy planned and I needed to share it wit you in case something goes wrong with the meet with Angel."

"There is a Horizon R&R facility here in Lagos. From Council Island there are daily trips to the R&R facility. There are VTOL craft there, which would allow you to go anywhere. I would recommend an off coast pick up with the VTOL being ditched afterwards. If that is not possible there is a UCAS observation post on an island 2000 nautical miles SSE of Lagos. There is a Dawkins group operating in the facility, so keep your eyes open."

"As for me. I killed Bunker. It doesn't bother me that I killed him. And... that's what bothers me. Confession over. Any Qs?"

[Mister Juan]

Vera slides by me, and comes into my room like she owns it. I ain't minding at all. Haven't had a little nova chick barge into anything of mine like this in some time. She seems to take the place in real quick before sitting on the bed. I opt to just put my back against the door and scratch my chest. Gotta be that new shirt I had on earlier. Maybe it's a reaction to that fuckin' polo I wore.

When she launches into her talk of worries, I'd like to smile at the fact I know I'm not alone anymore, but I don't. She might be going somewhere completely different, so I don't wanna take nothing for granted. She says we're pretty much the mom and pop of this op. Frankly, with two kids younger than my daughters, I feel almost more like the grand daddy. If I'd met my wife any time earlier, I could actually be a grand dad.

While she talks, my left hand begins to tremble again. I fold my arms across my chest and try not to think about it.

"If you ask me, y'all civilians have fuckin' ego problems."

I catch myself.

"Well, not all of y'all, but just most. Everyone wants to run the show. Everyone wants to be real fuckin' cool. So yea, you can't fuckin' imagine how much I got eye to eye with ya on this."

I've got a hard time just standing there doing fuckall but talking. So I grab the revolver on the bedside table, go over to my bunk and sit down.

"I gotta say I agree about the Dartha. She's young. She's got skills, and she has no fuckin' clue where she's in the food chain. That's a real bad combination. If you think you can handle her, I trust you. She's cocky as fuckin' shit, so odds are; she'll get herself kill out there in the bush and do us a big favour."

I start rolling the cylinder across the back of my hand, making it tick slowly.

"Well, if she doesn't and if comes to a face off, I've got your back, don't worry. She might pack mojo, but I was putting Azzies in body bags before her parents were doing it. So I got it."

I make an attempt at shrugging.

"I mean, I can talk to her tomorrow, but I ain't the talking kind, ya know. I'm more used to dealing with grunts who've got their shit already straightened out."

I put the revolver down next to my pillow.

"Worst comes to worst, it'll shift her attention from you to me. Which, in all honesty, I don't really give a fuck."

I stretch out a bit and lie back down.

"Don't worry about Bunker. Wasn't an easy call to make. It was the only call to make though, and you know it. If he thought any different… guess he was dumber than a bag of hammers then. What the fuck were we supposed to do, turn him over? Take him with us? Don't loose any sleep over it toots. I sure as hell don't anymore."

I stare at the ceiling, watching the small electric fan spin lazily.

"You might think you're fucked in the head because you don't care. You ain't kid. You're just twice as more honest with yourself than most people. When the chips are down, we're all a bunch of egocentric jerks. We care about no one but ourselves."

I turn to look at her.

"If you need to deal with it, don't do it now. You'll have the rest of your life to regret everything you've did."