IC: Checkmate, Are you Pawn or King? Options

[Digital Heroin]

Once Mack has been in the cycle, everything seems static for a few cycles. The conversation is exchanged atop a platform which seems adrift in a void of vaguely swirling mist. Great attention seems to have been placed in each detail of not only the surroundings, but the personas themselves. It is as if someone wished them to know they had taken care to learn enough about their prospective runners to personalize the personas to suit them.

The relative calm is broken a few moments later by the opening of another door of sorts to the side of the board. A rectangular opening appears, through which the whirls of the Seattle RTG can be seen. Someone's even taken the time to code an algorith into the host so that the mist stirs and blows low across the board, as if a wind had disturbed it. Moments later a new persona enters, this one wearing what would seem to be the garb of a Roman Catholic Bishop, garbed in white, as is the custom of the faith.

As the persona steps onto the board, the doorway closes again, and the mist settles.

`I see everyone has arrived, and in good time. No doubt you're wondering what you have all been gathered here for.`

There is a pregnant pause, a moment for the runners to consider the presence of their employer in the host, to put on their game faces.

`I come with an offer, a tasking of a rather delicate nature. I wish those of you gathered here today, if you would be so inclined, to perform an extraction. That is, of course, if I am not mistaken in the nature of your specialties, and you are inclined toward this type of employment.`

[Blitz]

:: Mack, accustomed to being the assertive member of any team, steps forward and speaks with the voice of authority. ::

"Before we can accept or deny your offer, we would need a few more details. Most importantly would be the nature of the extraction and the opening bid for the job to be completed. Pulling a rich man's daughter out of a gang ridden flop house is much easier, and cheaper than pulling a top ranking scientist out of a a Triple A corp. We would also need to know if this was a voluntary or involuntary subject, as that can also complicate matters further."

[Dashifen]

Nodding in agree ment with Mack, though he doesn't recognize the voice, Pili stepps forward as well, "I agree with what my associate has said and would also like to ask this: if possible, can we know the reason for the extraction? Why must the subject be removed from its current location?"

[Glyph]

Speaking up for the first time, Stitch concurs. "Yes, I think we all need to know more details. I will concede that I have many specialized talents, but I am also particular about which offers I accept."

[Digital Heroin]

The Bishop persona dips its head in a touch of a bow.

`I do appologize. I am rather new to this practice.`

An admission perhaps, or a lure. The persona moves across the board, in a diagonal befitting it's color.

`I am afraid I cannot name the target directly, even in this secured environment. The nature of the extraction, as I have said, is delicate. Your second assessment, my Queen, would be closer to the truth of this extraction, though it does no cover the entirety of it. I can asure you with great certainty the target is willing, for I am the target in question.`

Another pregnant pause. With such an admission comes new terms, and the persona seems aware of this.

`As for renumeration, I believe twenty five thousand is acceptable with the going rate. Am I correct in assuming this would be acceptable?`

[Blitz]

:: Mack virtually crosses her arms and moves across the chess board to face him directly. ::

"If we are indeed speaking if a triple A, 25k is not enough. You're looking at the least 50k a person. That's before expenses. Of course, if the company isn't in that league, the price could drop a bit."

[Digital Heroin]

`Your concerns are warranted. However, the facility you'll be targetting is a sattelite of a larger corporation. I could consider thirty five thousand apiece.`

If the persona is flustered, it doesn't show. Though the detail level is enough to convey such body language.

[Blitz]

"We'll make it 40 then with two-thirds up front instead of half."

[Grey]

Cougar stays quietly in the background, letting the others figure out the payments. People skills just isn't his thing.

[Dashifen]

Noticing that Mack seems to have things under control, Pili maneuvers his icon, being careful to follow the rules of chess, behind her to show his support for her actions.

This post has been edited by Dashifen: Feb 12 2004, 05:03 PM

[Bearclaw]

Manny leaves the negotiations to people who are used to talking about such sums. He can barely imagine:
:nuyen: 40,000 holy crap, I could move into Madam Mei's for 6 months with that. Hot and cold running girls. mmmmmmmm. And get that turbo and new paint job for my blitzen. and get a place big enough for a pool table........dinner in the space needle.......reel beef........VIP room at Penumbra......real beer....

[kevyn668]

The "Queen's" voice sounds familiar...I wonder if I know her? Whoever she is, she knows her stuff.

[Digital Heroin]

`Your terms of payment are acceptible. I have aranged for a suite at the Bellvue Hilton to be avaliable indefinitly to you for co-ordination. Simply identify yourself as being a member of the Knight party, and you will each receive a passcard. Payment will be waiting for you, certified credstick for your convinience. As well, more detailed information on myself, and the facility which shall be your target will be waiting.`

The Bishop figure seems hesistant a moment, as if unsure of itself.

`Have I covered everything?`

[Blitz]

"Actually, no. We still need a way to communicate with you after we've had a chance to cover the information you are providing us with and it would be best if you could schedule another similar meeting to this in order for us to go over those details."

[Dashifen]

Pili steps forward, but doesn't move past Mack, "And I would still like to know why you need to be extracted. If you cannot say more than you have, then I will content myself to my curiosity, but, if you are willing to share .... I'm a quiver with anticipation."

[Blitz]

:: Mack raises a single eyebrow at the last turn of phrase but otherwise hides any reaction. ::

[Glyph]

Stitch relaxes slightly as the Johnson gives them further details. It sounds like a job that he can live with. He watches, slightly bemused, as one of the other pieces, a Queen, takes charge of the negotiations. The results are about what you would expect from pitting a Queen against a Bishop. Idly, he wonders how the Johnson can be setting up all of this complicated skullduggery if he truly needs extricating from his employers. "Ah, well, the other shoe will drop sometime or other. I'll just need to be ready for it. But I'll definitely take the job - nothing offends me about it, including the compensation" he thinks to himself. Aloud, he says nothing yet. He doesn't share Pili's curiosity about the Johnson's motivations - he figures the information will be waiting for them at the hotel.

[Digital Heroin]

`I fear I might not be able to arange another meeting. The timing for this one was tough to arange. My actions are closely monitored you see.`

The persona shifts it's eyes to Pili's representation, and makes a gesture of one hand.

`This is part of my motivation. I desire more freedom than I currently have. Another party has seen fit to offer me that freedom, but they were unable to arange my release of contract.`

The Bishop pauses a moment, and paces two squares, still diagonal.

`I understand you may have concerns. I can asure you that the information I have put together should be more than enough for the job, and that there will be representitives of my prospective employer waiting for me at the drop point. Should you wish, I may be able to arange for one of their personnel to meet you at the suite, for re-asurance.`

[Dashifen]

Pili nods, "Personal desires I can understand." He takes a step back and waits for the others to be satisfied as well.

[Glyph]

Stitch nods. "I am sure the information that you give us will be as comprehensive as you can make it, given your... personal... stake in all of this. Still, if you can arrange for someone to meet us there, it would be helpful. Less to reassure us, than to make sure we are crystal clear on what you want us to be doing - you can't ask a data chip questions."

[kevyn668]

Tristan clears his throat, "Actually, I have a question, if I may? Why us? I know some of these people and some of them know me. How did you find out about us?"

For never having done this before Bishop seems pretty profficient at it...

[Dashifen]

Pili humms in surprise for a moment, raising virtual eyebrows at the Bishop while waiting for a respnose. Good question ....

[Grey]

Cougar look to Tristan and nods as the question is asked, "Good question."

He then turns back to the Bishop and awaits the reply.

[Digital Heroin]

The Bishop icon cocks its head to the side, and raises a hand to it's chin. It takes a moment to consider, as if weighing how much to reveal.

`My current employers have failed to recognize my true talents. I have a knack for gathering information, from varied sources. If you were to enquire, you would find that each of you has someone whom they know, whom has been contacted with an inquiring about employing your person. The offer will not be from the same source, nor will it have been enough for them to even consider contacting you. I needed to asses what I was to offer, as well as to confirm the words the shadows speak of each of you.`

The icon folds its hands before its chest, and inclines its head.

`If I have approached this improperly, I do appologize. I have need of great secrecy in this endevor.`

[Blitz]

"That's all well and good, but you have to realize that if we are to work without any input from you as an employer, and without any details as to what task we are to be given, then I see problems. We could very well read through the data you are providing and discover that the task you wish us to perform is far outside our realm to handle, or is so gruesome in it's necessity to force some members to refuse. Im not accusing it of being so, but we, if you not, know how this business works. The only way I am willing to accept this assignment is if we have some method of contact, even if it's as obscure as a code written into a post on a cooking website. Whatever the method, there has to be some way in place."