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

[Lobo0705]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:01 AM, September 12, 2075

Sisco smoothly changes course, the painful battering his body took fading a bit as his VR senses overrode his physical ones. The feel of the road as his tires ate up ground was soothing, as the pavement was well maintained in this area of the CAS.

Huiquing seemed to be calming down, the immediate danger seeming to have passed. Addressing Sisco and Jack, he said, "Wǒ bùshì mángmù dì xiànshí qíngkuàng."

His eyes were a little clouded, but they seemed to be clearing a little, Mel assumed that whatever his suit had injected him with was some sort of painkiller.

"Bù nán míngbái, nǐ de yìsi shì qiǎngjié wǒ zuì qǐmǎ." He seems either unaware of Mel and Snap, or simply chooses to ignore them, focusing instead completely on the two in the front seat.

"Rán'ér míngbái, wǒ kěyǐ lǐjiě zhè jǐnjǐn shì shēngyì, méiyǒu shé me gèrén." With a tight lipped smile he continues, "Wǒ huáiyí, wúlùn shuí gù nǐ yǒu wǒ zhèyàng zuò de zīyuán, yě bùshì tāmen yuànyì xiàng nǐ tígōng wǒ suǒ néng."

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:01 AM, September 12, 2075


"Shì de, zūnguì de xiānshēng, zhǐshì shēngyì. Wǒ, wǒ zhǐshì gè sījī. Zhè shì wǒ de shēngyì"

[Chrome Head]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:01 AM, September 12, 2075

A few moments earlier, Snap had leaned forward and touched Jack on the shoulder, magically lending him a sixth sense for detecting truth from false information.

<< @Team [Snap] Jack, I just casted a spell on you that works like a magical lie detector. Normally, I'd put it on myself, but I don't understand a word of what is going on. It'll feel like a negative vibe when he's intentionally lying, and like a good vibe when's being honest. It probably won't give you much more information than that, but you can try to converge in on the lie by asking more detailed questions when you want to figure out what part of a story is false. It might help if you look at him when he's talking. >>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:02 AM, September 12, 2075

"Dāng wǒmen dào gōngchǎng, zūnguì de xiānshēng, bù huì yǒu rènhé rén xiàng wǒmen shèjí. Duì bùduì?"

<<@Team[Sisco] I forgot not all of us speak Mandarin. Sorry folks. So, Snap, I just asked him if anyone will be shooting at us when we get to the plant. Hopefully Jack gets a good vibe.>>

[Lobo0705]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:02 AM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing continues the conversation with the ork, his voice a little stronger than before. "Gāi gōngchǎng bèi fàngqì, zhè jiùshì wèishéme wǒ xuǎnzéle tā."

He interlaces his fingers and continues, "Tā zuòluò zài yóu rènhé yīgè hēishèhuì de wú rén rènlǐng de yīgè qū. Kěnéng yǒu yīxiē liáo wū huò xiǎo tuánhuǒ."

His face remains tightlipped, "Zài zuì huài de qíngkuàng kěnéng huì yǒu yīxiē shí shī guǐ, dàn wǒ huáiyí gāi dìqū yǐ biàn dé rúcǐ diūshī."

Extending his forefingers for emphasis he finishes, "Wǒ bùnéng kào wǒ de rènhé méngyǒu zài zhège shíhòu. Xiànzài, nǐ de yōng bīng de běnnéng dōu shì wǒ kěyǐ yīkào. Zhè shì bùshì zài wǒ de zuì jiā lìyì, dàilǐng nín jìnrù yīgè xiànjǐng, yīgè wǒ xiǎng zuì kěndìng wúfǎ shēngcún."

Despite Snap's warning, Jack almost jumped as he felt something in him respond to Huiquing's words. It was as Snap described it, a sort of feeling of peace and the sound of small chime in his mind each time Huiquing spoke. While the sensation was pleasant enough, it still was most unsettling. Still, he didn't get the remotest sense of anything unpleasant, so he would have to assume he was speaking the truth.

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:02 AM, September 12, 2075

Sisco keeps driving while asking Huiquing, "Shùnbiàn shuō yījù, wèishéme nǐ bèi qiāngjī, guāngróng xiānshēng?"

<<@Team[Sisco] Just asked the Paper Fan why he was being shot at. This should be interesting.>>

[Lobo0705]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing speaks quickly, and it is difficult for Sisco to follow, let alone Jack. "Wǒ huì rènwéi zhè shì míngxiǎn de, zhè shì yīgè ànshā. Wǒ zuì guānzhù de shì, wǒ bù zhīdào shuí shì tā de hòumiàn. Nánrén shuí xíjí wǒ de bǎobiāo, wǒ shì wǒ zìjǐ de gōngzuò rényuán."

He continues to speak vehemently and with a slight rise in volume, "Wǒ bùnéng kěndìng shuí zhīfù tāmen, dàn wǒ de érzi huì huí jiā, míngtiān wǎnshàng. Yǔ tāmen tuǒxié wǒ bìxū jǐnkuài jiějué zhège wèntí, zhīqián, tā bèi fàng zài gèng duō de wéixiǎn bǐ tā zài yǐjīng."

Again, Jack felt the tingling sensation that seemed to indicate that Huiquing was telling the truth.

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

"Wǒ hěn bàoqiàn guāngróng juéshì wǒ kělián de yǔfǎ. Zhè shì yīcì ànshā qìtú, wǒ zhīdào. Rúguǒ nǐ zhīdào wèishéme yǒu yīgè ànshā wǒ xiǎng ]xúnwèn de?"

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

While Huiquing spoke, Jack sent a message to the team.

<<@Team [JustJack] So far, getting nothing but warm fuzzies from him. He seems to be worried about his son, who is conveniently out of town until tomorrow. I don't remember if we even knew if he has a son. Hmmm... anybody know if Triad rank is hereditary?>>

[Chrome Head]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Snap was feeling very powerless. That's it? That's all they're talking about?

<< @Team [Snap] No clue. But what about more immediate concerns, like his own life and what he's willing to pay us for it? Why was he being shot at? By whom? Any info about the warehouse? Who knows about it besides him? >>

[Melpomene]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Mel, multi-tasking again, nodded.

<<@Team [Melpomene] Let me see if I can get some info on his son and Triad ascension methods.>>

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack frowned and sent a simple message.

<<@Team [JustJack] We're asking all of those questions, I'm just giving a summary. He's also a high-level Triad member... even though no one is around to see it, he isn't about to lose face by caving to any hardball questioning.>>

As Jack sent the message, Huiquing's eyebrow shot up at Sisco's question. "Zhè jiāng shì róngyì dé duō, rúguǒ wǒ zhīdào shuí huò wèishéme tāmen shìtú shā sǐ wǒ. Zhè jiùshì wèishéme wǒ yǒu nǐ dài wǒ qùle gōngchǎng. Wǒ bùnéng kěndìng wǒ zìjǐ de sān hé huì de chéngyuán bù chūlái yǒu wǒ táotài."

[Melpomene]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team [Melpomene] Well, then I'll just let you do the heavy lifting then.>>

ETA: After a moment...


<<@Team [Melpomene] Huiquing has one son, Bai. He's 15 years old, and attends Vandermay Academy in the CAS. Triad ascension doesn't follow strict heredity, but if (or when) Bai joins the Triads, he'll get a much higher position because of his father's existing status.>>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

<<@Team[Sisco] If dad get fragged by his own triad, I don't think Bal will be initiated into the ranks. Maybe a different triad, but not this one. Assuming he don't get fragged too.>>

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Mostly eliminating Huiquing's son as a possible suspect, Jack turned to a different line of questions.

"Wèishéme nǐ rènwéi zhè jiā gōngchǎng shì ānquán de?"

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:03 AM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing responded to Jack's question quickly. "Wǒ zuì guānzhù de shì hēishèhuì, wúlùn shì biérén háishì zài wǒ zìjǐ de yīgè pàibié. Wǒ bù xīwàng zìjǐ de shìlì fànwéi zhī nèi qù rènhé dìfāng. Gāi zhuāng píng chǎng yīzhí shì bèi yíqì de, yīnwèi 2058 nián, suǒyǐ suīrán tā bùjǐn shǔyú zìjǐ de fànwéi zhī wài, rènhé ānquán yě yīnggāi shì bù cúnzài de. Wǒ bùxiǎng bèi zhuā jiù rènhé ānquán shèxiàngtóu."

Nodding, the ork paused to get the rest of the team up to date on the situation.

<<@Team [JustJack] Here's where we're at so far. Huiquing doesn't know who is gunning for him, but he suspects either one of the other Triads or a faction within his own. The men Hao Fe took out were apparently his own matones, so either explanation could work. He's worried about his kid, since he thinks they may try to hit him next. As far as the bottling plant, he said it's been closed since 2058 and none of the Triads lay claim to it, so he thinks it should be safe. I'm sure we all agree we need to scout it out first. Now that he's laid out his position, we're going to see what all this is worth to him.>>

Message sent, Jack looked Huiquing square in the eye and asked, "Wǒmen wèishéme yào bāng nǐ? Wǒmen yǐjīng jiùle nǐ yīcì, yǒu duōshǎo shì zhídé ma?"

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing's eyes light up slightly, and his body relaxes slightly. Clearly he finds the prospect of negotiating far more comfortable than dodging bullets.

"Wǒ gǎnxiè nǐmen de jíshí jièrù, bìng huì gèngjiā gǎnxiè nǐ zài zhè zhòngyào de, ér bùshì huálì de yǎnshuō, dàn zài hánlěng de yìng tōnghuò de wéiyī huòbì. Wǒ bù zhīdào zhè xūyào duōjiǔ, dàn wǒmen rènwéi 5000 měitiān měi yīgè gùdìng qì, ránhòu yòu shì 200 shí, wǒ zhēngqǔ zǎo zài wǒ de quánlì dìwèi."

Without being prompted, Jack translated for the rest of the team.

<<@Team [JustJack] He's asking for our help to return him to power. He's offering 5K per person per day as a retainer and 200K to split between us at the end. Is that worth our rep?>>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075


Sisco thinks about it for a second: Uncle Morty always said there's an opportunity around every corner. Yes uncle, yes there is.

<<@Team[Sisco] I know I'm just a sub-contractor on this gig but how about this Yank: Instead of a final payment of 200k ¥, ask him for somewher between 75-100k ¥ and the two items. We complete the mission. And you didn't actually promise to kill this White Paper Fan, did you?.>>

[Chrome Head]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

I wish I could be negotiating myself. Or better yet, have Grease do it, he's pretty slick. Oh well.

<<@Team [Snap] I'm not interested in his offer as it stands and I'd rather just complete our job and get out of the CAS. His terms are not that great anyway, and we are in a good position to negotiate. I'd rather just counter-offer with his life against the same 200k than to take on yet another job. If he doesn't take that, we can trade down for the art we're actually after, and ask for extra nuyen for clearing out his house. But don't show him our hand just yet. Don't tell him what we're really after before he's giving us something to begin with. >>

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack sighed, wishing he could put Snap on silent, but knowing that would likely get one or both of them killed. For someone who had just started running the shadows, she sure acted like she was the only one who knew the score. In any event, if this is how everyone wanted to negotiate now, he still wasn't sure why the frag they hadn't just capped Huiquing at the estate and gone for the art when they had the chance for the relatively easy 135K.

<<@Team [JustJack] No kidding? I'm not even sure why all of you are taking his ceiling of 200K as chip-truth. You always open with a low bid. While I don't think negotiating with him for the art is within the spirit of our job, Mrs. Johnson can't really complain about it. Let's see what we can work out.>>

Turning to Huiquing, he said, "Nín xiànzài de wèizhì zài zhèlǐ jiào ruò. Qǔxiāo wǒmen de hétóng jiāng sǔnhài wǒmen de shēngyù, wǒmen bùgǎn xìngqù de lìng yī fèn gōngzuò, yóuqí shì dìngyì rúcǐ zāogāo. Xiāngfǎn, zuò rènhé shìqíng duì nǐ de, wǒmen juédé 320000 shì yīgè gōngpíng de jiàgé wèi nín de shēnghuó. Nǐ bùshì ma?"

[Lobo0705]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Huiquing spread his hands slightly, and responded to Jack's latest proposal. "Nǐ zěnme jiànyì wǒ fù nǐ qián shí, wǒ yǒu wǒ de hùkǒu jìn bù qù? Wǒ bèi suǒdìng zài zhàndòu zhōng wǒ de zhǔrén, wǒ zhīdào, yīnwèi wǒ shì xiǎng tíxǐng ānquán, dàn wǒ de commcode bù zài shòulǐ."

He shakes his head, and sits back in the chair. "Jíshǐ wǒ zhāodài jiàgé zhèyàng yīgè huāngmiù de tiào, wǒ yě méi bànfǎ jiǎonà, zhídào wǒ huí dào wǒ de zīchǎn de kòngzhì quán."

His lips set in a hard line. "Wǒ céng hépíng bùjiǔ qián, wǒ kěyǐ jiārù wǒ de zǔxiān zài rènhé shíjiān, suǒyǐ nǐ bù huì yǒu wǒ qǐqiú wǒ de shēnghuó. Wǒ wéiyī dānxīn de shì wǒ de érzi. Wèile bǎohù tā, bìng zhīfù nǐ de qián, wéiyī de bànfǎ jiùshì bǎ wǒ dì dìfāng huílái de báilián zhī nèi."

Throughout all of this, Snap's spell continues to ring out clarion, vibrant tones in Jack's mind, letting him know that Huiquing is telling the truth.

"Nǐ shì wàidì rén, hé shòurén yīyàng, suǒyǐ suīrán nǐ kěnéng bù míngbái wǒ de yìsi de shìyán, wǒ jiāng shìsǐ yī dào nǐ la. Jiù wǒ de érzi. Huīfù wǒ de quánlì, bìng jiǎnglì jiāng shì jùdà de. Wǒ fāshì zài wǒ de zǔxiān de línghún."

He closes his eyes, saying only, "Fǒuzé, xiànzài shāle wǒ, wǒ huì kàn xiàlái de láishì wǒ de érzi." before beginning a slow, steady stream of Chinese in a sing-song voice.

[Jack VII]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Jack did his best not to roll his eyes. This was about how he expected it to go down.

<<@Team [JustJack] Unsurprisingly, he isn't a big fan of paying more for our help. With that said, I feel like we can probably negotiate for the artwork. Haven't asked yet, just a gut feeling. On the downside, he claims to be locked out of his accounts due to the coup, or whatever this is, so we're not guaranteed anything until we finish the job. He basically wants us to rescue his son and return him to power and that he will reward us greatly. Snap's spell says all this drek is true. I don't know, I think it would be easier just to cap him. Most of us are running around illegally in the CAS with no visas. How long are we going to stay in front of Knight-Errant like that?>>

Jack pretended to consider Huiquing's offer while he waited to hear the rest of the team chime in.

[Chrome Head]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Meh, what can we do.

<<@Team [Snap] Someone like him probably has certified credsticks hidden somewhere, we could ask about that. But otherwise I agree, we might as well just focus on getting the art any way we can, and get the hell out. After claiming our 50k prize of course. >>

[PraetorGradivus]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

He got him praying to his ancestors... what a mess. I'm low man on the totem pole- no way I'm gonna get that Yankee to tone it done a notch. Uncle Morty- what would you do? Beats me but you'd probably say it serves me right for dealing with Yankees in the first place.

On impulse, Sisco blurts out, "Going under for a bit to feel the road."

Sisco enters cold simsense, becomes Mr T, leaves his worries behind and enjoys the feeling of racing down the highway.

[Melpomene]

Chinatown, CAS Zone, 5:04 AM, September 12, 2075

Dear God, what have we gotten ourselves into?

<<@Team [Melpomene] My initial reaction to this was to just kill him and bug out of the sector. But if Jack has a good feeling about getting the art, we should try that. The worst that happens in the negotiating is that he says he can't (or he says he can, and we detect his lies), and we just go ahead and cap him. If he can secure the art for us in exchange for his life, I'd rather go that route.>>