Nothing's Free in the Free Zone (IC), Adventure 2: A Dish Best Served Cold Options

[DrZaius]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:17 PM September 11, 2075

Sipping his wine, Grease adjusts the white noise generator built into his suit to drown out any potential eavesdroppers. "I think this place is private enough; considering we've been here this long already. Besides, Chapel is paying. I hear the swordfish is excellent." Seeing Melpomene wince, he tabs down the volume on his white noise generator slightly.

"I'd like to get over there and see what we're dealing with tonight, at least. I'm not saying we have to go in, but things are only going to get worse as we wait for the actual auction." He furrows his brow. "We have to make a choice- how much information we have before we hit him; and how much security we know he'll have. The less information we have, the less security. It's not a position I like being in."

He nods at Jack. "I think we can bring light weapons in, or at least try. I know I have a throwaway that I won't mind losing to border patrol. Either way, we'll be able to meet with Chapel's contact on the other side." He frowns. "I think Rhex and Bumble are going to have to sit this one out, unfortunately. There's not a lot I can do about that. And frankly, that takes away a lot of my firepower. I'll have to rely on my winning charm to earn my cut." He grins.

Turning to face Melpomene, he adds, "Oh, and I've never worked with this Coyote before. I trust Chapel will connect us with professionals, but a backup-backup plan wouldn't hurt, either. If things get hairy maybe we try to sneak into the Sioux sector, then try to get into the UCAS from there. Might be easier than going back the same way we came."

Looking at Jack again, he smiles. "So, you'd like a plan going in? I can't say I'm surprised. I'm willing to oblige you, rather than keep you in the dark as per normal. I think it'd be easy enough for us to get travel passes claiming we are going to a particular event or club. We're all dressed to the 9s anyways, I don't see why it wouldn't make sense to have us travel across the sector for a good party. And who could blame us for protecting ourselves?" He says, tapping his chest where you presume his weapon is stored. "The nightlife can be very dangerous. You and I can be escorting the young ladies."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:20 PM September 11, 2075

Jack raised an eyebrow. "After the success of our last job, I don't think the UCAS-Sioux border is going to work, amigo. They're not friendly at the best of times. But a back-up to the back-up isn't a bad idea. Chapel said there wasn't really a deadline. We could try to lie low in the CAS at a safe house if we can't clear the border. My main worry is someone tracking down the items. I know Snap's spirits can do that..."

Trailing off, the ork gathered his thoughts, trying to work all of the angles. "We definitely need to head over there tonight. I feel like we really need to do this tonight as well, if we're going to break into the house. Trying to pull this off during daylight hours isn't going to work. With the auction being tomorrow night, I just don't see another option than trying to hit them late tonight."

Pausing to take a swig of his beer and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Jack continued, "Another option would be to figure out who the transportation team is and replace them for this delivery. We have more time to set it up, but there's less time available if things go to drek. Then again, we also wouldn't be relying on questionable security codes."

Finishing off his beer, the ork set it aside. "In any event, whatever we decide to do, we need to get over the border sooner rather than later. I think some of the other details can be worked over once we get there. If we need any significant gear, we're probably going to have to get it on the CAS side."

"Is everyone ready to try to head over the border? I've got a magazine of ammunition I'd rather not try to get through the border, so I'm going to have to do something about that... What about the rest of you?" Jack looked around the table.

[Lobo0705]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

Snap shrugs her shoulders. "I'm basically ready to go now. I don't have anything illegal to carry, nor anything illegal to smuggle across the border. I will need to head home and get my nice dress, if you want to make it look like you two are escorting us to a nice event, but apart from that, I'm good to go."

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

"I've got some gear back at my place I'd need to grab. My cover SIN will allow me to bring across a few other items, including flash-bang grenades. If asked, my cover is I'm a consultant for a firm that does security for people in the entertainment industry. So you're cover story about going to a big event will fly, as long as we're on the same page

I want to do this now. Something goes sideways, we still have time to recover."

Mel checks the status of the algorithms running for the items while she talks.

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

"Well, that may change things a bit, possibly for the better," Jack responded. "Instead of us going as two couples, Mel and I can act as bodyguards for whatever up and coming star Grease is supposed to be and his elven lady friend. It probably makes more sense that way."

With a considered look, he added, "I'm still not sure if we should try to get any kind of grenades through the border though... We may have semi-legit permits for that kind of gear here in the UCAS, but I don't know if the CAS is going to care."

[DrZaius]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

Grease smiles. "I felt it would have been gauche for me to suggest that you act as my Bodyguard Jack; but I'm glad you brought it up. That will fit a lot better with what they're expecting. One thing I'd like is to drive my own car; that may be tricky if we're going with the whole "transporting me as a trid star" angle." He scratches his chin. "Of course, I could be on Snap's staff instead- and that way, I'll be the one talking to the border agent since I'll be in the driver's seat. My fake SIN *is* in marketing, after all.."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

Things seemed to be falling into place. "So two bodyguards and a hype-man. The covers mesh pretty well, assuming Snap is a celebrity of some sort. How about a hot, new Warrens rapper or a street artist? I don't know if it would really matter what her SIN said..."

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

Mel nods, liking this plan. "That cover could be solid." She looks at Snap. "You don't really need to know anything about the street scene, unless the border guards start asking specific questions. If they do, I can coach you over commlink. Either way, I think we can rock the shit out of this."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:21 PM September 11, 2075

"While we're waiting, I'm going to see if I can find anything over in the CAS that would be appropriate. It's Friday, there should be plenty of things going on..."

Jack mentally activated the browser on his commlink and opened a search window, looking for any art related events open to the general public.

[Lobo0705]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:25 PM September 11, 2075

As Mel's food arrives, the team gets a message on their commlinks,

<<@Clients [Blocked] I understand you have a need to travel. Meet me at Ascension in 30 minutes, I'll be the one all in black.>>

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:25 PM September 11, 2075

Jack reviewed the message on his commlink. That place is pretty popular...

Looking around the table, the ork said, "I've been there. It's one of those AR/VR clubs. It's physically located downtown in the UCAS Hub, but I think most people that use it for biz visit in the Matrix. Who's going?"

[Lobo0705]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:26 PM September 11, 2075

Snap shakes her head, "If we are going to do this tonight, I have a few things I have to take care of back home. Once we go across we have no way of knowing how long it will be before we can get back, and I have to talk to Sam and Kevin. Grease, can you give me a ride?"

Grease drains his wine glass, and nods. "Sure thing. To be honest, I've got to pack and get myself ready too." Turning to Mel and Jack, he says, "Do you want me to drop you off at Nic's, or do you want to do the meet here?"

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:26 PM September 11, 2075

Mel shakes her head. "I've got about ten more minutes of searching, so I'll catch a cab back...I need to get home as well."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:26 PM September 11, 2075

Jack weighed the convenience of taking Grease's taxi back to Nic's against the terror of taking Grease's taxi back to Nic's. Since he was unsure of how much this coyote business was going to set them back, terror won out. Pocketing the credstick, he said, "If I'm going to the meeting, it's going to be in AR, so I can really do it anywhere. Since time's a factor, I'll take up your offer and hitch a ride back to Nic's so I can decide on equipment depending on whatever answer we get from Onyx."

Glancing at Mel, he said, "I'd like you along if possible. The meet isn't for another thirty minutes, but last time I was visiting that club in the Matrix, I felt like I stuck out just a bit..."

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:26 PM September 11, 2075


Mel smiles. "Yeah...I can see you might stick out a little. You want to meet virtual, or you want me to come with you, body and soul-like? Can we get back to a static location in thirty minutes? I'd rather not get into a car accident in the middle of a meeting..."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:26 PM September 11, 2075

Jack shook his head. "Nah, Ascension's located downtown... I don't know if we could even hop a shuttle to get there in time. I was planning on meeting with Onyx's persona in the Ascension host from wherever I am in thirty minutes. We can just both head to our homes and enter the host from there. Grease is nice enough to let us use his taxi when we're working together, although it's a little bit... quirky."

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:27 PM September 11, 2075

"So we're staying? Good. Give me a chance to finish up here. And EAT...shit, almost forgot."

Mel tears open the bag and begins to wolf the burger down.

She shakes her head, clearing her throat of food. "Sometimes when I'm doing five things at once, I completely forget to friggin' eat. One time they found me unconscious because I hadn't eaten for three days."

[DrZaius]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:27 PM September 11, 2075

Grease stands, letting Snap out of the booth. "I'd like to dial into the meeting with Onyx as well. I don't know much about Coyotes, but I know when someone is trying to fleece me. I can make sure we aren't suckered into paying for his rust-proofing."

He nods at Jack. "In the meantime, let's send a message to the arms dealer in the CAS, letting him know we'd like to meet later this evening. Ideally we won't have to use him, but I don't want to have to get him out of bed if we end up taking that route. Besides, I'm sure there's something he has we wouldn't mind bringing along."

The elf stretches, readjusting his suit in a finicky manner. "What's the point of a suit like this if I can't use it to impress? At any rate, send me a message if you need the cab or anything. It works fine," he adds with emphasis, "Although certain orks are a bit too rough with the paintwork, and are punished accordingly."

He is about to leave when he catches himself. "That reminds me- we didn't discuss this, but I have a proposal. Since we have an advance on this job, last time we took our shares separately, and spent them accordingly. I propose we keep it as a pool for the job, and divide the remainder after we complete our mission successfully. That is, provided that makes sense to the three of you."

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:27 PM September 11, 2075

"A pool sounds good to me."

Mel takes another bite, chews, swallows and clears her throat. "One other thing. What about the side job? Are we committed to killing Chen?"

[DrZaius]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:27 PM September 11, 2075

The elf frowns. "Frankly, I'd prefer not. We basically assured the Johnson we wouldn't. However, Chapel is the one footing the actual bill. If this 'priceless art' turns out to be flea-market fare, then taking out the target is the only value he'll get for his 100k."

He sits back down at the edge of the booth. "So, I guess what I'm saying is that I'll go with the vote of the group. I'm pretty flush right now, but I wouldn't want to take any 'yen out of someone else's pocket. I don't have any reservations about that aspect of the job other than personal; as a professional, I'm willing to go with the majority."

[Jack VII]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:27 PM September 11, 2075

Jack considered their options before speaking. "The guy seems like a piece of drek, so I won't cry any rivers if he happens to end up with a 9mm migraine by the end of the job. With that said, this lady, who claims she still loves this guy, is paying us a ton of cash just to make him look bad. What's she going to do when she has even more 'yen and is colérico that we geeked her hombre? This run seems personal, not some corp-based play. I'd be really worried about blow back from her."

Thinking through what he just said, the ork summarized, "I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think we should go out of our way to earn the bonus. If it becomes a necessary part of the job to earn our pay, so be it."

[Lobo0705]

Ascension Host, 6:55 PM September 11, 2075


<< Jack, Mel and Grease each arrive virtually at the entrance to Ascension's host. Jack's persona icon the same basic and boring anthropomorphic figure; its one concession to individuality still the small winged helmet and the wings on its feet. Grease simply manifested as a digital version of his physical self, while Mel appears as an elegant woman, swathed in a white robe, her face hidden behind a tragedy mask. Jack and Mel glide through the Matrix, while Grease's avatar moves jerkily and starts and stops due to the lag of the Public Grid.

As the three approach the towering edifice of the host, Jack says, "Follow me, I've done this before." The three ascend into the sky, following a long line of other patrons. They are greeted in figures hooded and robed in a similar fashion to Mel. They hand the runners a virtual piece of paper with an elaborate wax seal, and as the runners accept the paper, their personas each apply a MARK on the host, and the host deducts 20 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) from their accounts.

The group enters the ground floor, and are immediately grounded, their normal three dimensional movement cut off. They are forced to walk through the virtual crowd, who appear as a cornucopia of varied colored and shaped figures moving about. It is impossible to tell which of them are in the club physically, and which are at home and visiting virtually the way the team is.

Jack turns to Mel and yells over the music, "I've been wondering, why can't we fly in here? I couldn't last time I was here, and I can't now."

Mel answers without turning to him, her virtual senses extended, feeling as always more at home here than in the physical world, "Sculpted system." When she fails to get a response from Jack, and notices the confused look on his face, she continues, "The creators of this host have written their own rules for personas entering it. They've established gravity in here, probably to make it appear more like the actual club."

Jack wonders what else you could program a host to do differently from the rest of the Matrix, but beckons the other two to follow him. They move up the staircase to the second and then third floor, opening the door and walking through. As before, the silence is like a slap in the face after the noise of the first two floors. "I met my last contact here, let's look around."

Several other patrons were on this floor, each engrossed in conversation with one another, moving slowly throughout the labyrinth of rooms. None seemed to match Onyx's description. The team began to walk in a circular pattern, until Mel touched Grease and Jack on the arm and pointed. "Over there."

Looking in the direction she pointed, the team saw an incredibly tall figure, humanoid in shape, made completely of a black crystalline substance. It beckoned them closer, its arms and legs so spindly it seemed impossible that it would be able to support the weight of its body. The group approached it, and when they had gotten near, it said, "So. What can I do for you?">>

[Jack VII]

Third Floor, Ascension Host, 6:55 PM September 11, 2075

<<Ascension looked the same as the last time he had visited. Given that the host was strongly correlated with the physical club, Jack figured they didn't change it all that much unless the club itself was undergoing a remodeling. As the three members of the team walked around the club, Jack kept his eye out for Smokey, on the off chance the odd conspiracy theorist was logged in.>> Given how paranoico that guy is, he's probably changed his icon...

<<Walking up the stairs to the third floor, Jack admired Mel's icon. Even with his limited knowledge of programming, he knew that a persona icon with that level of detail took a lot of time, care, and skill to achieve. That hopefully reflected well on her abilities as a decker. Looking over at Grease, Jack did his best not to chuckle in the real world. Accessing the matrix through the public grid made the elf's icon look like it was alternately high on uppers and downers as the lag and noise took their toll.>> How fitting...

<<Once they had finally located the persona they presumed to be Onyx, Jack looked to Grease to take the lead. When the elf did not, he responded. "Hola, our friend from church told us to ask you for help. We've got a... party to attend in the CAS tonight, but none of us are well traveled and aren't sure what our options are for getting there and back. Our friend from church thought you might be able to help us out.">>

As Jack spoke in the matrix, his commlink pinged in the real world. Reading through the message quickly, he mentally composed a message to the team.

<<@Team [JustJack] I've got a line on another fixer in the CAS who will be available from 2100 to 2300 once we get to the other side. In case we want to touch base with her in addition to Stone>>

[Lobo0705]

Third Floor, Ascension Host, 6:55 PM September 11, 2075

<<The crystalline figure chuckled, an odd sound coming from something that looked like it belonged in someone's nightmares. "He sent me some virgins, did he? Not to worry, your in good hands with me." In point of fact, given the spiky projections in the avatar's appendages, in his hands looked about the last place one would want to reside. Grease fervently hoped the coyote's real world persona wasn't as, well, spiky as his avatar's.

"So, you've got a couple options, and I need to know what you are looking for so I can make arrangements and calculate compensation for my services. There are a lot of factors to be weighed in."

One jagged finger raises in the air, "First, we have quantity and quality of party attendees, so to speak. How many of you are attending? Do I have to make special accommodations for the size of any of your party."

Another finger joins the first, "Second, party gifts, we'll say. Are any of these things that the sector authorities would frown on you giving to your hosts? How many gifts are you bringing that you can't carry on your persons?"

He raises a third finger, "Do you wish a private vehicle, or are you okay with traveling coach, as it were. Mind you, while I'm reasonably sure that none of my passengers are border patrol informants, I can't control what the other passengers may say once they depart my vehicles."

"I may have other questions depending on your answers, but that is good for a baseline." >>

[Melpomene]

The New McCormicks Seafood House, East 72nd and Grape Street, 6:55 PM September 11, 2075

<<@JustJack [Melpomene] Jack, please keep an eye out on my meat-side...I'm going to run cold-sim.>>


Third Floor, Ascension Host, 6:55 PM September 11, 2075

<<Mel opened her eyes and let the simsense filters show her the wonder of the Matrix. She didn't care for Cold-sim very much...it was half-assing the Matrix, but she preferred it to AR, and she knew that Jack would watch her body while they were here.

She had been to Ascension a few times, and it appealed to her in a general way. There were a lot of posers and dilettantes here, but many of the patrons knew their music and let the DJs know it. She saw a few icons she knew and mentally straightened her dress (even though she knew that doing so did nothing to remove any wrinkles, as the only wrinkles that might be on her dress were mentally put there by Mel in the first place). She looked at Jack and smiled underneath her mask.>>

It's a good try...I can think of a couple of touches that would kick.

<<Then she saw Grease and winced.>>

He's on the fucking PubGrid? Ugggghhh.

<<She immediately actively ignored the sputtering and flickering of Grease, looking for the man called Onyx. It wasn't long before she spotted the figure in crystalline black. She smiled at the icon's simple impressiveness, angling the others to him.>>