2072: Game World, IC thread for 2072: Recruitment always open! Options

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:29:23; Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

As the gnome/dwarf denies having seen Jessica, Adrian sighs again. Did you really think it'd be that easy?

A good time; err, well, you see, that's not what...; I mean I'm not here to..." Wait, that look in her eyes and a comment about bad memory. Isn't that a combination I've seen before? The Trid? So she knows something but wants money?

err, I'm not looking for "fun". Too bad about your memory. Wonder if there ain't some sort of medication for that...

So, how much to offer? Isn't it always some multiple of 50?

Ordering his comm to prepare a transfer over 50 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , Adrian continues Of course that doesn't come for free. Please accept this humble contribution. In AR, a closed white envelope appears on the counter in front of the gnome/dwarf.

In the shows, that's when people tend to regain their memories. I wonder what happens in real life?

[onlyghostdancesw...]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:31:45; Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

The dwarf, definitely a dwarf, quickly scoops the envelope out of the AR with her NeoNet X54 gloves where on earth did this lady afford those gloves?! and tosses a very questionable looking soydog with all the fixins, in this case algaekraut, tobasco and something resembling onions, though they looked like pieces of use rubbers more than the vegetable in question onto the counter with a mess of newspaper as a napkin. "Thank you, my medication has been hard to find lately... I've a need for time, wish I could get some time omae... Oh and you want to find street walkers that never come back you check in with Doc Bailey over there." Motioning vaguely towards the hospital the dwarf turns her attention to the aging trid which sputters to life with commentary from an Urban Brawl game. "You see the Screamers this year have been doing fairly well, though no-one knows if they will be able to pull through to the World Cup with the loss of their Starting Outrider, James "SkullShack" Kurtz, to the unexpected ghoul population on Vashon Island last month... Is he really dead!? More on his possible whereabouts after the break!"

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:33:19; Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Not what I've asked for. But maybe what I need to know?

Adrian bows slightly, takes his soydog and walks over to Saint. I'm not sure, whether she's seen Jessica or not; she wanted to share, however, that Doc Bailey at the hospital is the one to talk to if you want to find street walkers that never come back. That fits. Think we should pay that guy a visit?

He looks at the soydog in his hand, shrugs and starts to eat. Buddhist walks to a soydog stand, says "Make me one with everything"
With a smile the food doesn't warrant, Adrian takes another bite.

[onlyghostdancesw...]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:33:35; Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

As the joke fades from his mind and is replaced by how terrible the taste, if it could be called that, assaults the remains of his palate Adrian realizes that he might have received more information than he thought at first glance, after all, not that many legit newspapers still put out old-school dead trees anymore. Something about the paper intrigues him. besides the fact that hes real, there is a pic that lies half covered in the questionable sauce that had been slathered over the soydog.... a pic of Jessica standing about where Adrian had moments ago with a very vacant expression on her face.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:33:53; Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Now that IS interesting.
Adrian uses the next availble flat surface, the wall of the house he and Saint are standing by, to flatten the newspaper page and tries to wipe away the remainder of the sauce without destroying too much of the texts and pictures on it. Hey Saint, look at this. It's a picture of her standing over there.
Let's see what she did here.
He closely examines the page.

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:35:16; Everett, Bond St.]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

She looked over to the old vendor, she had thought the hag was too old not to know what shook on the street level, considering the ease with which she freely used 'slitch' to describe the woman. It carried the weight of familiarity.

"Light illuminates our path," she said with a smile, it soon gave way to determined focus as she verified the picture, "you're a natural John."

She took a quick snap of it with her eye recorder, skimming the rest of the readable text associated with the picture.

"So she had been moon-lighting in the area, and what you said about 'missing street walkers', it would suggest multiple occasions. Jessica wouldn't be missed for at least another hour or three if she had a pimp. What kind of insurance policy does this "Doc Bailey" offer?" She paused after her rhetoric a moment to work the angles, "I'm game if you are."

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:36;00 Everett, Bond St]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Heh, someone I know would say I'm a good distance away from any illuminated path.

Sure, let's go and see the good doctor.

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:36:08; Everett, Bond St.]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

"Lead on, Detective," she said, as one side of her lips curled upward. "You're the one with the directions."

[onlyghostdancesw...]

@Fortune's Forecast (Adrian/Saint)
[April 17th, 2072, 00:36:08; Everett, Bond St.]

Adrian took the lead somewhat uncertainly as images of the crime fighting trids he had watched flickered through his head, I really should have never opened my mouth! Why am I poking my head in places I don't belong? Let the KE boys do it...Omg I'm looking for the person who installed a BOMB in my fares head.... He crossed the street and started walking past the myriad points of interest catering to the vices of sailors home from exercises, the bunraku parlor, the various gambling dens and clubs and all the vermin that went with it.

Adrian and Saint slowly covered their way down Gedney street, narrowly dodging the pimps and BTL dealers who kept popping out of the shadows to offer them a "life-changing alternative". Saint felt quite familiar in a terrorized sort of way with the action of the streets; while the young cab driver dodged the street people with the air of one in a hazardous containment area, Saint dodged them because she knew what went on in these back alleys, these wolves would tear you down and sell you off soon as look at you...

Finally they arrive at the edge of the dilapidated and understaffed Everett Medical center, once run by charities of the more reputable sort this was now rumored to be a Human Nation stronghold, or at least one of the various charitable groups with questionable leanings, but noone had been able to prove anything and thus the city had never shut it down. Beyond that the level of care offered was inconsistent, ranging from top of the line, to those who could pay, to bargain counter for those who could not, but at least the basics were free.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:36;12 Everett, walking along Gedney Street]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Oh, certainly. If you'd be so kind as to direct your steps in this direction...
Directions I have; a plan I have not. Not getting a bomb put into anybody's head might be a good start...
...
No, sir, I don't...[color]
[color="red"]So, what exactly do we wanna know? And how do we get him to tell us that?

Adrian writes a list and sends it to his colleague.

<<from:John to:Saint>
So, I guess we'd like to know
if Bailey has seen Jessica
what their connection is
what she was doing tonight

anything else?
what should we tell him when he wants to know why we ask?
>

This last question still occupies Adrian's mind as he and Saint reach the medical centre.

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:36:34; Everett, Bond St.]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

She realized, having her subvocal mic would be useful, but she'd left it at home. She waited until she could spare some of her attention toward responding, as they had a difficult enough time avoiding grifters and dealers.

<<@John: A lot of people act like they're not in the know, it's as simple as small talk. If you ask about something you already know, you can test a person's ability to lie or their willingness to tell the truth. If you ask about a person you'll get a hesitant answer, if you ask FOR the person it'll seem social. And don't let anyone tell you different, it's all about the business. If you keep things related to a person's business you're likely to keep things civil. Never ask a street doc about explosives, it sends the wrong signals. [Saint]>>

After she whipped up the message, the rest she left to normal conversation.

"It's easy. We know she's a street walker, we know she had money to spend on the operation, and we know she got it done for the express purpose of keeping her secrets safe. Work with what you know."

She was about to take a step up toward the medical center, her foot moving back to the same position as she had thought of one more thing.

"Oh, and I'm not calling you John, your new name is 'Sport,' and you might be getting some chrome tonight, or similar fair, as your initiation prize." She smiled cutely, as if intentionally to ward off any harsh responses.

[onlyghostdancesw...]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 21:12:32 Крымские дворце (The Crimean Palace)]
[Quincy Mathews: PAN Passive][Jack Blades: PAN Hidden]

Jack quickly whisked down the passage to the dog leg hallway and, careful to not disturb any of the laundry I REALLY hope there aren't ak-98s in here... or come to think of it do I ? and knocked on the closet door as politely as his frayed nerves could manage.


The door creaked open and alina, now in a hideous floral print aprin, a nighty and pink elephant slippers smiled broadly through her missing teeth, "Oh Jack my boy you got my laundry, Большое вам спасибо, вы сохранили эту старушку так много лишений сегодня. Где мой боеприпасы? 6 случаев да?" Not understanding a word of her quickfire spiel of Russian, Jack nodded enthusiastically, gleaning that she was happy with him but beyond that not catching one iota of meaning.


She looked at him in a quisitive manner and, seeing that he hadn't caught one word of the little spiel said, "мусор! Why is my Alexi never sending me good Russian boys to train?! Always with these English only pindos... I need you to get my ammunition so we can train boy!" Two seconds later she slammed the door in Jack's face, promptly dismissing him for the second time in a very short span of time.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:41;55 Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Hmm, ask what we already know, ask FOR her and talk about biz, biz and biz. Sounds easy enough.

At the mention of chrome, Adrian raises an eyebrow. Sport? Why not. I wouldn't bet on the chrome, though.

Adding softly Not ever, he walks over the street to the medical center and goes in,

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:42:13; Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

She perked up at acceptance of his new nickname, smiling with a purer humor this time. His direct refusal of implants had her confused though, and racing to think up alternatives in case it came to a discussion with Doc Bailey.

"What? I was thinking something like a datajack, nothing too invasive. I don't imagine your bosses much care if you're 100 percent sirloin, so what's gnawing on you?"

She focused on some new potential topics, but her eye kept bothering her. It distracted her from the conversation enough to hardly register the possibilities as to why he might not want 'ware.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:42;37 Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Oh, they certainly won't care if I let myself be defiled that way.

Quite the contrary. "A pilot and no control rig? What's your damage? Your so-called gift is useless anyway!"

For me it's not an option. Might as well chop my own head off...

[Aria]

Balefire / Silk
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

Silk paused for a moment to savour the weak spring sunlight on her face and the fresh breeze blowing off the lake. On a more prosaic note that breeze through the willow trees and the waves added a natural white noise to their meet. Just some strollers out enjoying the day…there was something to be said for discussing clandestine things in plain sight…

Bale was relaxing on the nearby bench with a forgotten cigarette dangling from his hand. Tall, he was nowhere near as rangy as the elf beside him, solid and disconcertingly alike his dead brother. His goatee was fading to grey and he had wrinkles at the corner of his eyes that spoke more about the strains of channelling mana than his actual age. Despite that he was more physically powerful than the typical image of a spellslinger fresh from his ivory tower. His posture said that he was relaxed but the tell-tales were there for those that knew to look. His eyes roved the approaches to the meet and he was poised for trouble.

Requiem on the other hand looked like he was spaced out as he dove through whatever virtual world had grabbed his attention. Only the flicker in the corner of her vision told Silk that he was accessing the tactical feeds and was as aware of the local area as it was possible for technology to make it. He was lean to Bale’s stockiness and apparently youthful. Only the tick in his cheek belied this, his antique ware was as likely to screw him as anything else but he was deadly and she trusted him – perhaps more important than being cutting edge!

That just left Sirene and she knew that she wouldn’t see her until their final member arrived. She was around somewhere though, the unusual bond that they had formed told her that. She still wasn’t sure why she had been chosen for the honour but she was grateful to be able to share her experiences with the newly born spirit. Although she had some bitter memories she had many more that were good and Sirene had helped her to realise this.

<<How's it jazzin'. I like sports. I'm in, drop me the hizzi on the izzo.>> Who was this guy? Guess they’d find out in a bit, he’d agreed to meet them here shortly. Aria had recommended him so his reputation must be worth the time to meet him. The shadows attracted all sorts but if they were going to resurrect Balefire then they were damn well going to make it as professional an outfit as the original had been. If Fractal couldn’t fit that mould then they would have to look again. At least this meeting would let Sirene meet Requiem, she had a feeling that Bale was already familiar to her…

Balefire / Bale
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

He glanced at Silk as she stood restlessly beneath the willow trees. She looked young enough to be his daughter but he had no doubt that she was capable of this. Balefire had been his brother’s baby but he had a feeling that he would bow to Silk on this one. She didn’t have the military training that he or Requiem had but the shadows were in her blood and that lack of training might actually be an advantage as she wasn’t bound by the same preconceptions.

They were just waiting for this hacker to appear and hopefully the team would be off the ground. He had some ideas for a training exercise or two to gel them together and then it would be time to find a real run to test their mettle.

Balefire / Requiem
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

He analysed every sound and sight that the tactical feeds could give him. Chemical analysers tasted the air and he even had a tremor sensor under the bench, even though the nature of their surroundings made it largely useless. He approved of Silk’s choice for a meeting location. The angles of approach were open whilst still providing sufficient cover if they had to beat a hasty retreat. Hopefully this hacker would be able to free him up from the tasking of negotiating the tacnet…although these software packages were supposed to be more or less autonomous he still wasn’t prepared to trust his safety solely to a program without a human mind looking on!

The clear air made a refreshing change from the stink of Touristville…if this group proved that it could work well together it offered an opportunity for moving on. He had worked with the odd team here and there but never built up a trusting relationship that would enable him to give his best without constantly watching his back.

Balefire / Sirene
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

She watched from the astral plane as the group came together. She could taste the tension and discomfort between Bale and Silk and there were also undertones between her and Requiem. Whilst she was still coming to understand the complexities of metahuman interactions this group dynamic was interesting to say the least!

This hacker that they were to meet was an unknown. The thought of immersing herself in a false world of lights and deception was alien but she had seen enough in Silk’s mind to understand the intoxicating allure of that place.
…and perhaps this was him now…

[sabs]

Balefire / Fractal
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

Fractal approached the meeting place carefully. Already, he was scanning the area for listening devices and active matrix connections. For today's encounter he had chosen a much more respectable outfit. It had been a bit harder to pull off, but he felt gave the right look.

What approached Silk, was so far on the Trend meter, as to be almost a caricature. A young male elf, wearing today's latest trends in business casual. Eyes of pure onyx reflected back upon the viewer, long platinum hair, and thin facial expressions. "Might you have a light handsome?" He asked, in Sperethiel. Silk's commlink message light sprang up at the exact same time.

<<A pleasure. Name's Fractal. Whose the goon squad?>>

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:42:58; Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

He had dodged the question, so it must've been significant enough to warrant such a disparity in view from her own opinion on their uses. She had her own secrets, and would've been equally reluctant to go into detail about such things. Saint's attention was too centered to bother probing him about it anyway, the answer to her other mental queries had been in plain sight, so to speak, the whole time.

"Got it, cybernetically-induced allergy, it's not too uncommon. Don't sweat it omae, what better excuse to fix my eye twitch? That's our in, and you're here as my back-up in case he decides to do nasty things to me if I'm under the blankets*. It should be easy to ask him questions while I'm there for a routine check-up, and that gives us the biz angle. I love routine, that's when people hit the auto-pilot button." She rambled, obviously psyched about the encounter. She did settle down to make some priorities before continuing toward the entrance to the clinic.

"Just remember, Jessica 'is' a friend of MINE, she recommended me to Doc Bailey because of his knowledge in implantation and upkeep. Either way, you won't have to come up with anything on the spot. We need the next clue, but more important, we're supposed to be some random concerned 'friends', and I mean that loosely. She didn't exactly extol the virtues of sainthood before she died. This woman was a bottom-feeder, no doubt the doc will think the same as, or of, us. Ham up a cram addiction and you should fit right in; I still can't wash off the look of a street walker, so I'm all kinds of set."

*Read: Under sedation.

[Aria]

Balefire / Fractal
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

The young woman you take to be Silk eyes you with caution…She shrugs at you in response to your verbal query “Sorry, didn’t get that…” whilst simultaneously responding to the matrix communique <<Welcome to the sports club! This is Bale and Requiem…>> two street résumés accompany the text. “We’re reasonably secure here, precautions have been taken to minimise the possibility of eaves dropping…and who would want to listen in? We’re just meeting by the lake for a spot of nature spotting and for a rare glimpse of the sun…”

The group are studying you intently, taking your measure. They all hold themselves with poise and their slow cautious movements bely their potential lethality. They are an interesting mix, from the slight form of Silk, the robust form of the combat mage Bale and the whipcord build of the elf samurai Requiem…and then another young lady steps out of the lake…for a slightly delusional moment it looks like she is naked, then you see that she is wearing a thin summer dress and somehow appears to be dry despite her recent immersion.

“And this is Sirene…” there is a smile in Silk’s voice. “As a gesture of trust here is the link to our tactical network. You can check it yourself to make sure you are satisfied that we can talk. I would prefer to discuss this here rather than allow any electronic eavesdropping on our comms. We are putting together a team with the intention of forming a professional outfit that can pick and choose the types of run that we want to undertake. I know it sounds idealistic but we have the backing of a good fixer and the skills to be successful. Hopefully you will agree to work with us for an even split of the profits? We need someone to monitor comms and the tac feed and handle any electronic impediments to our goals. Are you interested?”

[sabs]

Balefire / Fractal
[May 09th, 2072; Madrona Park, Lake Washington Blvd, Seattle]

Fractal runs some diagnostics on the TacNet, before attaching it to a jailed portion of his commlink, for now. "Ambitious goals. Aria did not mention this was.. a career interview." Fractal shakes his head, "I admit, a long term mutually beneficial engagement would be welcome." He considers, "Professional jobs, usually have professional costs."

Internally, Fractal is already building dossiers on each of the team members. Most of them have huge gaping holes, for now, but that can be fixed.

"Knowing Aria, she has not bothered to explain my skill set." This is said, not as a question, but a statement of fact. "I'm interested, although in me, you'll get more than just a digital babysitter. Though I do that job well. So, lets talk tofurkey."

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:43;00 Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Okay, think, I've got the script. As for that addiction...

Didn't know I should have taken acting lessons before getting behind that wheel.

Adrian looks around, scoops up some dirt and smears it onto his trousers and jacket.

Think I'll pass if I fidget a bit?

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:43:13; Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

Saint critiques his work, not having the heart to tell him exactly how much she actually knew about cram addicts. She moves closer to him, invading his personal space, putting her cold hands on the exposed flesh of his face.

"It'll have to do, there is one other universal thing about them is quite standard, besides the fidgeting. We'll have to wait until we're ready to visit him, and I apologize ahead of time for it. Other than that, I think we're as ready as we can be. When you fidget, think about someone trying to tickle you at random spots on your body, especially the neck, shoulders, waist and back. I'll let you know if you're over-doing it." She cupped his face in her hands, even though she was shorter than him, giving him a small reassuring slap on the cheek.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:43;13 Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Apologize? Do I even want to know?

Ok, just imagine she's tickling... errr someone, someone, is tickling you. Just focuouch!

Surprised rather than actually hurt, Adrian takes a step back.

So, we're going in or what?

[SoyKaf Adict]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 17th, 2072, 00:43:21; Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Passive, SIN: Erica Hallowford
PAN=Hidden, SIN: Vivica Leman

"Sounds good, hopefully they have a reception desk somewhere in here." She let her hands fall to her sides when he stepped back, at least it would give his mind something else to think about, rather than getting wrapped up in whether his acting abilities were believable.

[Ears]

@Fortune's Forecast
[April 18th, 2072, 00:44;00 Everett, just outside the Everett Medical Center]
PAN=Active, SIN: John Taylor

Well, there's an easy way to... Adrian twitches ...to find out.

He walks to the entrance, opens it and waits for Saint to walk through. After you.

I wonder what a Sunday night looks like here.