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

[DrZaius]

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

Leaning over to speak to the passengers, Grease tells them, "We're on- Bifrost in 1 hour. I'd say we should get some breakfast, but I don't trust our cargo not to make a fuss in the drive-thru. Next time we kidnap someone we should remember to brownbag it; I'm starved."

<<@Valkyrie [Blocked]: It is. We will see you there.>>

Grease yawns. "In the meantime, let's go scout this bar out a little bit. I haven't been there in a while, it'd be good to see what we're dealing with before going in."

[Jack VII]

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

The past two hours hiding out had made Jack anxious. The "flying by the seat of their pants" approach the team was taking was not to his liking, but he adapted as well as he could. This mostly amounted to reloading all of the magazines for his Colt with ammunition and keeping his attention focused to their rear. His helmet was getting a little heavy by this point, but the ork wasn't about to take it off yet.

"Should we leave someone outside to warn us if the drek hits the fan?" Jack mused out loud.

[Chrome Head]

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

"Overkill can do that and neither Stinger nor Valkyrie will be aware of it." Amy points out.

"There's another problem though," she adds, "the concealment provided by my spirit will be gone, and finding us magically becomes a whole lot easier. If Valkyrie's providing protection to Stinger, then her team's the one who might end up dealing with Lynx and Falcon when they come for him -- or let them through."

[Jack VII]

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

"Can you get another spirit?" Jack asked, leaning forward and lowering his voice to prevent Stinger from overhearing them. "That seems to be the most dangerous situation, if Lynx and his crew show up while we're talking to Valykrie, especially if Stinger finds out. Then he can just change his request to Valkyrie to helping Lynx's crew take us down and we're suddenly very outnumbered. I think we definitely need to leave someone outside. Like you said, our other friend would be our best bet as he is kind of a wild card at the moment."

[Chrome Head]

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

"The thing is.." Amy hesitates about how to explain these things to the un-awakened. "It's not a question of needing a new spirit - I can summon another one when the sun is up - it's related to trying to conceal ourselves. When we're in a basement, the spirit's power applies, but when we meet with someone, we're in the open, the spirit cannot help us anymore. This goes for us and for Stinger. The only possibility for him to remain hidden.. is to actually have him hide.. in the trunk. We take him out of there, and all of a sudden it's a whole lot easier to find him for a spirit searching for him."

[DrZaius]

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

"Well, if that's the case we'll have to make our meeting sharpish." Grease grins. "What I mean is, even if the spirit finds him immediately, won't it still take Lynx and his crew some time to come to our location? We can let it be known that Lynx is trying to kill Stinger since he sold him out; if he contracts with Valkyrie that may be enough for her to protect him - and us - from Lynx."

[Jack VII]

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

"I'm pretty sure any protection handed out won't apply to us. It's not even remotely in Stinger's interest for us to live longer than it would take for this car to currently come to a safe stop." Jack shrugged, "But seeing as this is apparently our only play, we might as well go for it. We let the German hang back and cover our hoops as best he can and have Amy whistle up a spirit to hide Stinger while he stays in the trunk. We just have to tell her he's in there or figure out some other way for her to know about him."

[Chrome Head]

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

"We can have him be there over the matrix during the meet. Valkyrie doesn't really need to know where he is right now, before we've agreed to anything, and yeah, that'll keep him concealed." Amy suggests.

[DrZaius]

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

Grease frowns. "I don't trust him anywhere near the matrix. Unless..." He snaps his fingers. "We've got a pair of fly-spies; why don't we arrange a little conference call in the truck of the car? That way we're controlling the input. Plus, if it is a trap we don't have to tell Valkyrie where he's hidden until he roasts in there."

[Chrome Head]

Northeastern UCAS Zone, 7:10 AM, August 1st, 2075

As the sun rays brighten the sky, Amy feels the presence of the summoned spirit fade away as it leaves for a different realm of existence. Not even a good bye? Oh well, air spirits are always so cold and distanc anyway.

Not wasting any time, she immediately summons another spirit. Struggling to stay awake after another sleepless night, she opts for a spirit more likely to engage in conversation with her, one attuned specifically to metahuman everyday life. She quickly finds one and negotiates his short term servitude. His appearance was impressive, that of one who must have lived in these lands a long time ago.

"Hi Schweabe!" Amy greeted the spirit. "I'll need you conceal the man currently stuck in the trunk of this car, and yourself as well, because I don't want you to be seen. And I also want you to keep an eye out for any spirit or astral form that comes looking for him. If that ever happens, you need to inform me of the situation right away." "-Yes, of course, my child." "-So, tell me about your people. Tell me a story."

For no apparent reason, Amy was suddenly smiling next to the other members of the team.

[DrZaius]

UCAS Zone, 7:30 AM, August 2nd, 2075

Scratching at his neck feverishly, Grease sends a quick message to the team.

<<@Team [Grease]: I'm going to stop at a friend's place and change. Someone should stay with the car, but if anyone else wants to come up they're welcome to.>>

Pulling up to a small garage, you notice Grease's BMW parked inside the large darkened glass door. Either Grease is letting someone else work on his car (unlikely), or you're at his place. It's odd that he called it a "friend's place"; maybe he has a roommate, or maybe he's just so used to lying that he does it out of habit.

Jack nods at Amy, who gets out of the car and follows Grease. As soon as the doors close the radio in the cab turns on, blaring a loud Australasian mix of Pakistani rap with Tasmanian beats. Trying the door is unsuccessfully, he jams at the buttons on the radio which prove to be ornamental. Jack folds his arms angrily and stews while he enjoys the mellow tunes of DJ Raji.

Taking stairs on the back of the garage to an apartment above, Grease opens the Maglock and lets Amy follow him inside. The apartment is modest in size but clean and well appointed. The interior has sparse but functional furniture in the modern style, and seems significantly more tasteful than you would have given Grease credit for. Most impressive is that the majority of it is bright white, and judging from the used coveralls neatly folded in the hamper by the door that is no easy task. "Is this your place?" Amy asks. Distracted, Grease answers, "Oh, right. Yeah. Just be a minute." Pulling off his costume, he folds it faster than a department store clerk and places it in a drawer, quickly running into his bedroom. You hear the shower running for about 1 minute, and then a scant 45 seconds later Grease comes back out in his suit, hair slicked back. He throws a few more items in a duffel and hurries Amy out the door, waving his key over the threshold to engage the Maglock as they leave.

[Lobo0705]

UCAS Zone, 7:30 AM, August 2nd, 2075

As Grease and Amy exit the building, the music cuts off instantly, leaving Jack to grit his teeth in frustration. The warble of the lock as it disengages is taunting, if a soft electronic chirp-chirp could have an emotion behind it.

Grease gets in, the foul odor of his stay in the chip house gone, replaced by a slightly cloying smell of cologne and hair gel. "Shall we?"

"Lets." The ork's tone is clipped and annoyed, and Grease looks puzzled for a moment, shrugs, and jacks into the car.

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 1st, 2075

The cab pulls into the parking lot, the building's AR front dull and faded, the words marching around the front of the edifice proclaiming the bar closed in giant rune-like letters. The team exits the vehicle, imperceptibly nodding to Overkill who parks his bike a couple of spaces away. At this time of the morning, the parking lot is empty except for a few beat up sedans and a single luxury sports car. The sports car, a sleek, black, Westwind 3000 is parked in a reserved spot near the back of the bar.

Security cameras turn and follow your approach to the bar, and a speaker at the door comes to life as you get near it. "Gentlemen, we are closed."

Grease puts on his best smile, I'm going to have to get a refund on these Pheromones, no one ever talks face to face anymore...

"Hello, we have business with the owner, we spoke briefly earlier today, and we have an appointment."

A moment passes , and then the speaker flares to life again, "I fail to see a member of your group that was mentioned during our conversation."

[DrZaius]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 2nd, 2075

Talking into the speaker, Grease continues without skipping a beat.

"He is currently indisposed. For reasons that will quickly become clear but that I can't go into on the street, he won't be able to join us just yet. However, there is a piece of business he would like me to negotiate on his behalf."

Grease smiles at the camera. "Time is an important factor for my client. Once you let us in I can make the case plain. I'll point out it's just us out here; I'm sure whoever you have inside can deal with us without any trouble."

[Lobo0705]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 2nd, 2075

There is a click as the maglock on the door cycles open, and the speaker rings out again in its tinny, mechanical voice, "Come inside, my associate will bring you along."

The team enters the bar, the smell of spilled synthol and old sweat hitting them as they walk into the main lounge area. Clearly the cleanup crew hasn't been in yet this morning. Apart from the odor, the bar looks in pretty decent shape, chairs stacked neatly upside down on tables, the upholstery on the booths in good condition and not stained too badly.

As the team pauses momentarily looking around for the associate Valkyrie mentioned, an tall dark-haired man in an expensive suit comes down the stairs. His brush-cut and his bearing mark him as military or corporate security.
His eyes are hidden behind his mirror shades, and his mouth beneath a closely trimmed beard, dark, but shot through with grey streaks.

"Gentlemen. Ma'am." He moves to a locker unit on the wall nearest to him. With a wave of his hand one of the lockers opens, and he steps back. "I'd like to invite you to deposit any weapons in this locker. They will of course be returned to you after the meeting is concluded." His tone, while polite and respectful leaves not doubt that the 'invite' was not negotiable.

As the others listened to the man speaking to them, Amy took a moment to shift her perception to the astral. The man had significant bio and cybernetic enhancements, with much of his body having more machine than meat. His aura seemed harmless enough, however, a mix of blue and green signalling caution and alertness, but without the red and purple undertones indicating malicious intent.

[Jack VII]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 2nd, 2075

Jack nodded toward the man and walked over to the locker. Puling out the two pistols he had brought to the meeting, he placed them in the safe, still loaded. After having done so, he returned to the team.

[Lobo0705]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 2nd, 2075

Grease smiles disarmingly at the man who stoically waits until the elf deposits his pistol in the bin and then gestures toward the stairs. "Lead on, my friend."


The man waits while Amy holds up her hands up and turns around slowly. Seemingly satisfied, the man waves them up the stairs, and the team walks slowly upward. Grease takes the lead, and as he passes the first step a wall mounted unit beeps. He hesitates, but a nod from the muscle bound man indicates he should continue onward. Jack passes next and the unit beeps again, the ork not breaking stride as he continues. Finally, Amy goes up the stairs, the unit silent as she passes.

The team comes out into a hallway with doors on both sides leading to private meeting rooms. Standing in front of one is a tall, thin woman. Her red hair is long, with one side of it shaved, revealing several cybernetic housings in the side of her skull. Her dress is functional rather than formal, pants and a shirt of denim and leather, with a long blade strapped to her leg and a pistol on her hip. She steps aside and indicates the group should enter the second room on the right.

The team enters the room, eyes alert for a trap, but instead see only a strikingly large muscular woman behind a desk. She stands as they come in, and she towers over all but Jack, standing about 6'6 inches. Her voice betrays her Scandinavian origin as she says "Welcome. 'Make your case', as you put it." A blouse and jacket cover her torso, and the cut of the shirt reveals a bullet scar near her collarbone, as well as the telltale stippling under the skin of dermal armor.

She leans forward, her knuckles on the desk top as she waits for Grease's explanation.

[DrZaius]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:01 AM August 2nd, 2075

Grease eases himself into the chair in front of the desk nonchalantly, and for a moment seems relaxed enough that he may put his feet up.

"I presume from your obvious Nordic heritage I'm addressing 'Valkyrie'. People call me Grease- my reputation may or may not have proceeded me. Before I get into too many details I need to know any arrangements you have with Lynx. Our business will greatly depend on your agreement there."

[Lobo0705]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:03 AM August 2nd, 2075

At Grease's introduction, Valkyrie does not show a flicker of recognition, though her eyebrow does arch at his relaxed posture. A slight raised eyebrow and a small change in her posture disabuses Grease of any notion that he will retain the use of his feet should he place them on her desk.

"Ja, I am Valkyrie. I have a feeling that you have much to learn in the way of these things, Herr Grease, if you believe that I will discuss my other business with you. Whether I have arrangements with this individual or not is not public information, any more than my discussions with you are, short lived as they appear to be." Her stance does not change, but Grease gets the sense that she is fast losing patience.

[DrZaius]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:03 AM August 2nd, 2075

Grease straightens, adjusts his suit and clears his face, odd looking without the trademark drek eating smile. "Fair enough. I'll make it brief, you're obviously busy. Stinger would like to hire you to guarantee his protection. He has an item of mine that I'd like back. He refuses to get the item for me without guarantees for his protection- that's where you come in." Grease pauses, a tight grin. "He'd like you to act as a neutral party, making sure that we both get what we want. I get my item, he gets to leave of his own accord. You get, I presume, whatever your normal fee is for this type of transaction."

[Lobo0705]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:03 AM August 2nd, 2075

Valkyrie relaxes incrementally as Grease sounds slightly more professional. She takes a seat, so now instead of towering over the elf she merely looms over him. With an imperceptible nod of her head she signals the redheaded woman at the door, who nods and closes the door so the team can have some privacy.


"A business proposition. Excellent. We handle many different forms of protection services here, let us briefly discuss some matters before I accept." She pulls out her commlink and puts up an ARO for the room to see.

"Firstly, will this be on or off the books? I need to know for invoicing purposes. Secondly, where is the item? A general location - in the UCAS Zone, somewhere else in the FRFZ, or elsewhere, as this will determine travel expenditures and other fees. Thirdly, Is there an imminent threat, or is Herr Stinger simply being cautious? Obviously we want to tailor your team to your needs, additional security personnel require additional funds. I might add that attempting to downplay the opposition in order to save money is unwise in the extreme."

She looks up expectantly for Grease's response.

[Jack VII]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:03 AM August 2nd, 2075

Jack sighed inwardly, seeing the plan pretty much falling apart from the get go. Leaning against the wall, he kept his eyes mostly focused on the door, ready to react in case the drek hit the fan.

[DrZaius]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:03 AM August 2nd, 2075

Grease sits up straight and addresses Valkyrie in the eye. "I'm going to level with you; as I'm sure you've picked up already, this is not a typical job. While as much as I'd like to keep it as professional as possible, I think the circumstances will necessitate a certain amount of free range, as I'm sure you'll soon agree." Seeing Valkyrie frown at this, he puts up a hand. "To respond to your questions in order." He starts listing the items on his fingers.

"While the job itself is straightforward and completely legal, I would say the circumstances would lean towards the "off the books" portion of your ledger."

He continues. "As to where the item is; I don't know. If I did, then Stinger would not need your protection to go fetch it for me. Or rather, it would be a moot point."

"Third.." He pauses, frowning. "There is an immediate threat. The reason I asked about your other dealings, faux pas that it is, is that he was working for a crew that he betrayed. This information will grant him safe passage out of the zone and to safety. However, he refuses to give it to us because he doesn't trust us." Grease shrugs. "Frankly, he knows how much trouble he's in. But I didn't want to waste your time if there's an obvious conflict of interest on your part."

[Lobo0705]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:05 AM August 2nd, 2075

In terse tones Valkyrie responds, "Herr Grease, we do protection work here. Unless your job were to pose a direct threat to the life of one of my clients, there is no need for them to know about our dealings here, just as there is no need for you to know about any of my dealings with them."

Her eyes bore into Grease's, as she continues, "Again you question my professionalism. Do not do so again or our business here is concluded."


"Now, assuming we can get back to business, I cannot proceed until I know where the item is. I don't need an exact address for now, but I cannot give you a price until I know if my team will have to cross borders to get there. Secondly, what sort of threat does Lynx pose? Does he know where you are going? If so, what kind of firepower are we potentially walking into?"

She sits back slightly, and says, "These last questions are a deal breaker if I don't have an answer."

[DrZaius]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:05 AM August 2nd, 2075

The elf nods, expecting that response. "Lynx is a serious threat. He has attempted to kill members of my team. I would not be surprised if he tried to kill Stinger if he saw him with us. He does not know where we are going, but it wouldn't be a stretch for him to figure it out. Firepower-wise, there's him, a rigger, a mage, and potentially some less well equipped allies. However-" Grease raises a finger, "I don't believe we'd have to worry about his allies. Likely he'd want to deal with this "in house". It's possible he'd try to deal with it himself. As I'm sure you're aware, it's a bad habit to show weakness in front of your employees."

Grease looks over at Jack and Amy. "It will take a moment to determine the general location. Would it be alright if one of my compatriots stepped out to make a call? I presume this room is sealed from electronic listening or recording."

[Chrome Head]

The Bifrost Bar, 8:05 AM August 2nd, 2075

For a brief moment, Amy appears puzzled at Grease's demand, but it finally dawns on her that no call was to be made. "I'll go make the call from inside the car and I'll be right back." And she walks towards the door looking expectantly to the fixer.

Valkyrie nods, and a moment later the door opens again, the striking redheaded woman opening the door to allow Amy to leave.

Amy finds her way back out, escorted by the chromed up woman. As the door shuts behind her, she looks back out of habit, to verify if she's being watched. She makes her way to the cab and the door opens for her on the passenger's side. "How polite." She says jokingly to the auto-pilot. "Take me to a back alley close to here, will you?"

Dark Back Alley, 8:06 AM August 2nd, 2075

A minute later, the car comes to a stop after driving remarkably slowly and calmly. The shaman looks around in the physical and astral worlds and, seeing no one, she gets out and pops the trunk. Stinger gasps for air and lets out a curse. "Shut up Drekhead! I got good news, you might get out of this mess with your head still attached to your body. We're discussing terms with Valkyrie and she wants to know the location of your damn datachip."

"Where is it?"