Nothing's Free in the Free Zone (IC), Adventure 1: Broken Star Options

[Lobo0705]

At the Safe House, 3:51 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Stinger licks his lips, "Bradshere, Lieutenant Calvin Bradshere. If we needed anything, we were supposed to get in touch with him."

He looks around nervously. "I can link him to some serious shit - I have all of the info on a datachip."

Grease looks at him expectantly, "Well, where is it?"

"I don't have it on me. It is back at my place."

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 3:51 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Grease rolls his eyes. "Sell me another one."

Seeing Stinger sweat, he continues. "So, you sold out your contact, what your crew has been up to, who you're working for, and copped to any number of other activities." A predatory smile spreads across his face. "Frankly, your life isn't worth squat to anyone but me anymore. I just have to send this recording to Lynx and you'll have more problems than you know what to do with. So let's dispense with all the drek, and you just tell me everything else you know."

[Lobo0705]

At the Safe House, 3:53 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Stinger looks back at Grease and says, "Bradshere and Browne - those are the two names I have in Lone Star. The cops we were hitting were all in drug enforcement, or had been at one time. All of them interdicting the flow of drugs to the Los Mags."

"I don't know who we were working for, although I wouldn't put it past the Azzies - trying to stir up trouble in the 'Zone. The Mags would pick out the target, Bradshere would deliver us a time and place to hit them, and we would take 'em out."

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 3:53 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Sensing an opportunity to really dig the screws in, Grease continues. "The lady cop at the stuffer shack- that was you? How does Lynx decide who ices who?"

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 3:53 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Jack remained silent and stoic, standing with arms crossed.

<<@Grease [JustJack] It's probably obvious, but it might be a good idea for YOU GUYS to get him to talk about the rally>>

[Lobo0705]

[b]At the Safe House, 3:53 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Stinger looks at Grease with disbelief, "No, for the record" inclining his head at the drone recording the conversation. "I didn't kill anyone - that was Lynx. I just followed Lynx's lead. He gets the targets from the Los Mags, gets the details from Bradshere, and has them taken out. Truck did most of the killing, although Falcon got in on the action too."

"I'm just tech support."

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 3:53 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Grease scoffs, but continues. "What about the rally the other night? Was your crew there? Why were they trying to arrest that guy?"

[Lobo0705]

At the Safe House, 3:57 AM, August 2nd, 2075

"That thing in the park was all Lynx. Nobody else went with him on that one - although Gutter backed him up with his drones. He was pissed as hell - at you guys it seems. Made him lose some money on some side job he was running."

"What side job?"

"Hell if I know. He had a meet with Bradshere and then headed out, laughing about 'playing dress up.' I was too busy trying to get my next fix to worry too much about it."

Grease frowns, and continues his questioning. A wave of his hand and an ARO opens with a list of names. "These all your doing?"

Stinger looks over the list. "I seem to recognize most of those names as people Lynx was contracted to hit. Don't know Wright, though." Nodding, Grease closes the ARO, and pulls up a chair opposite Stinger.


"You've done a fair job covering up the evidence. There was that data bomb on the surveillance at the apartment complex, and we've got a trail of bodies all over the 'Zone - and not just the officers. How many witnesses did you kill?"

Stinger snorts again, "The data bomb was me - guess tall dark and dead over there managed to disarm it. If so, he wasn't a bad decker. If you have found any dead bodies, again, Lynx is a crazy man. It ain't me."

"Does the name Mary Jane Kelly ring a bell to you?" Grease puts up a holographic image of her face."

"No - should it? I have no idea who that is."

Grease leans forward. "You are starting to piss me off, Stinger. If you want to remain useful to me, you better start offering something I can use. What are Lynx and the crew up to now? Where do they lay their heads?"

Stinger leans right back toward him. "Listen, I've been cooperative, and I told you I have physical evidence linking Lynx to those crimes - video of him talking to Bradshere and meeting with the Johnson. But as I said, it ain't here." His voice raises a little, "As you pointed out, my life ain't worth squat, and you ain't offering me shit. So my choices are sit here and give up more information, at which point what? You haven't even offered me anything - and even if you do offer me something, why am I supposed to believe you? You shot your own teammate dead, so your credibility ain't exactly high."

He leans back in his chair. "So here's the deal. Kill me if you want - cause I have no confidence you aren't going to do just that when I'm done talking, and if that's the case, I sure as shit ain't helping you."

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 3:57 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Grease nods, and then gets a distant look in his eyes as he communicates with his teammates.

<<@Team [Grease]: Alright- let's take this party on the road. A couple of questions for us: 1. Do we want to let him know Overkill is alive? He will be more likely to trust my word, but will think I'm less likely to kill him out of hand. 2. Amy, what do you need from him to convince him you're able to use blood magic to make his life hell? Other than that, I think we need to go get this "evidence". We could have Overkill on overwatch, able to come rescue us if things really hit the fan since he won't be expected.>>

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 3:57 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Walking behind Stinger, Jack gave Grease a thumb's up and prepared to get the thug ready for transport.

[Chrome Head]

At the Safe House, 3:57 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Amy subtly shrugs to Grease and points towards the exit, as if to say 'I'm following your lead'.

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 3:57 AM, August 2nd, 2075

"Alright, let's go for a ride." Grease grabs Stinger by the shoulders and lifts him out of his chair, planning on leading him out of the room away from the direction of Overkill. "On the way, you're going to explain how we're going to get that datachip without you leaving our sight, or calling your friends to come murder us. I'm VERY interested to hear your plan there."

<<@Team [Grease]: Let's hope this works. Overkill- follow us in 5 minutes, you have a Mark on my car still so you can track me. You can be our backup in case drek hits the fan; I'd prefer this chipper didn't know you were still alive.>>

[Lobo0705]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Grease grabs him by the shoulders and lifts, but Stinger shifts his weight slightly, and the thin rigger is unable to get the burlier decker out of the chair. "Oh no. We aren't going anywhere yet."

"Here is the deal. I am sure you know Valkyrie. She runs the Bifrost Bar over in Derby on E. 76th." He looks around, getting blank stares from Jack and Amy, but Grease nods his head in recognition.

"Good. Then we can dispense with the how full of shit am I part of the conversation. Call her. Set up a meet, on my dime, and together we arrange for a team to escort us to my house. The deal is you walk away with the chip, and I walk away, and Valkyrie's team is there to ensure I do just that. Afterwards, I just want the hell out of dodge."

<<@Team [Overkill] I know her. She is a fixer that specializes in security work. Bodyguarding, matrix overwatch, that sort of thing. Has her own team that handles most jobs, but she subcontracts out as well.>>

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Smarter than he looks...

<<@Team [Grease]: Speak now or hold your peace. I'm prepared to make the trade, if he's on the level.>>

"Setting terms now, are we? Well, that's a very clean little bugout plan you've got there- smart 'runners tend to live longer though, I suppose. Of course, there's no way for me to know if Valkyrie is already working for Lynx, and this is a backup plan y'all have setup in case one of you gets pinched, and you need to bring someone to an ambush."

Before Stinger response, Grease holster's his weapon and starts typing on his commlink, preparing a message for Valkyrie. "However," nodding at Jack, who bodily lifts Stinger out of his chair. "We ARE leaving. I try to make a habit of distancing myself from bodies I create; I find it's just a good policy to have." Moving to leave, he continues, "I'd look like a real flat if the cops showed up and they found us illegally detaining you." he adds with a wink.

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Jack was uneasy with the trade. On one hand, it put them a step closer to tying together the conspiracy with actual proof. On the other hand he doubted that Stinger was going to stay in the FRZ long enough for them to track him down again.

<<@Team [JustJack]: How do we explain letting him go to Johnson? He's probably going to be doing everything in his power to get the Hell out of the FRZ, what with our investigation and him rolling Lynx under the bus...>>

[Chrome Head]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Amy walks about in the room and speaks in her subvocal microphone, away from Stinger.

<<@Team [Amy's subvocal] We better be sure of what's on the chip and be sure that we get the whole thing before he can go. But I'm fine with the deal. The one we really want is Lynx.>>

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

With at least Amy on his side and Overkill silent, Grease responded to Jack.

<<@Team [Grease]: Frankly, I'm willing to trade up to get Lynx and the 'star connection. I told Stinger when we first started it was his lucky day; he gets to play make a deal. We can certainly put the Johnson on him afterward, but I'm willing to deal in good faith if he's willing to roll over on his friends and deliver the paydata to us; that's worth at least a day's head start. This job is getting dicey, and we need to wrap it up quick before we get killed.>>

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Jack shrugged as he walked Stinger toward the door. Nearing it, he shoved the man into the door frame.

"Sorry..." the big ork muttered, clearly not sorry.

<<@Team [JustJack] As long as everyone is okay that we're giving Johnson yet another reason not to pay us in full, I'm okay with it...>>

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

There's no pleasing some people!

<<@Team [Grease]: Let's see how this plays out. As far as I'm concerned the Johnson doesn't need to know Stinger even exists, if it comes to that. We give him the crew leader and the connection, along with whatever troll parts you're keeping around, I think we're in the green.>>

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

<<@Team [JustJack] I'm pretty sure we gave him a copy of the surveillance video from the Wright murder, starring my buddy here. Then again, we're already hoping he'll understand about our icing Truck, so I guess we just have to play the cards we got.>>

[DrZaius]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Here goes nothing.

Shrugging, Grease pulls out the burner 'link he used earlier and types out a message.

<<@Valkyrie [Blocked]: Hello. You don't know me, but we have a mutual acquaintance who goes by Stinger; the code-slinger with a southern accent. He has asked that I contact you to setup a meet on his dime; he has a business proposal to present to you. Are you available to meet?>>

[Lobo0705]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

After Grease sends his message, the group waits anxiously for a reply. the seconds minutes seem to drag into hours, and Grease is pacing the room, the drugs in his system preventing him from remaining in one place for too long.

<<@Grease [Overkill] I'm annoyed at you my friend, this floor smells of rat piss. Next time pretend to shoot me inside somewhere cleaner.>>

Amy turns to Grease, "How long do we wait for her call?"

Jack answers the slender elf, "If you want my opinion, we get on the road now. Staying in one spot seems a bad idea with Lynx searching for us."

Grease nods, then turns to Stinger, "Agreed. I'll get us on the road, I know some backroads that should keep us off the radar. Time for you to go in the trunk again." Stinger grimaces but makes no protest and stands with difficulty, Jack taking him by the arm and escorting him out the door.

<<@Overkill [Grease] Now you know how I felt sitting in that chip house for over an hour. Consider yourself lucky. We'll be out the door in a minute, give us a couple of minutes to get him in the trunk and then follow us.>>

The team hurries out of the door, Amy's spirit following it at a distance. Grease pops the trunk and starts the car with a mental command, and Jack puts Stinger none to gently into the trunk. Amy climbs into the back seat with Jack taking shotgun, Grease sighing with contentment as he eases into his seat and plugs himself into his car. His voice comes through the internal speaker. "Ready to go?" Without waiting for an answer, he backs out of the driveway and hits the road.

[Jack VII]

At the Safe House, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Settling into the backseat, Jack checked himself to make sure all of his weapons are still in their proper place and that he still has the keys to the restraints. The last thing the ork needed was for Stinger getting loose. Confident that everything was in place, he spoke up.

"I'm not getting the best feeling about this... feels like a set-up to me. Since the drekhead in the trunk is the one paying for the meet, if Valkyrie knows his current situation, who's to say she won't contact Lynx so he can ambush us at Stinger's squat?"

[DrZaius]

The Warrens, 4:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Grease shrugs, distracted while driving in AR. "If he's smart, he knows if we smell a setup we'll kill him and dump his body somewhere. It's in his best interest to make this go smoothly, and make us feel safe. If it's going to be a setup, it has to be one that fools all of us while we're on our guard."

[Lobo0705]

Northeastern UCAS Zone, 7:00 AM, August 2nd, 2075

After several hours of driving around the UCAS Zone, sun is starting to rise over the eastern horizon.

The team reflects on the message they received a few minutes ago from Overkill.

<<@Team [Overkill] After doing some research on Valkyrie, nothing seems to contradict my own personal knowledge of her. She has been in the 'Zone for two decades now, and on her own for half of that time.>>

The elven decker was several car lengths behind them as they cruised down the road, with Grease's rotodrone flying down the street halfway between the two.

Before anyone could put their thoughts into words, Grease's commlink chirps.

<<@Blocked [Valkyrie] God Morgen. I recognize Stinger's name, and am willing to do business. I can be at the Bifrost in an hour, is that an acceptable time frame?>>