Tangled Currents - DES, Stormy Waters subthread Options

[Raiderj]

This time Vexboy had 5000 in his credstick... and had bribed a hobo in advance to guard his possesions outside so he could quickly change into his gear if need be. He took out his commlink and sent a message to Pytor.

>>>>>"Im bumping the cut to 2000 if you can place her tonight. I barely slept last night and I am willing to blow that much nuyen. I need to find this girl NOW. Please tell me you know where she is! Kids lives are on the line!"<<<<<

[adamu]

Wednesday, 20 November, 2075, 2353; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

The reply to Vexboy's plea was swift: <<All right, but I risk my life and that of my own small children to tell you this. I only hope that your payment is enough to buy their safety. The one you want is at your two o'clock in a black and purple leather combo. She has a dark-skinned man at her side.>>

Vexboy quickly spotted the woman and her companion. She filtered amongst the crowed, often stopping to trade busses and banter before moving gracefully on. The man with her greeted no one, and no one seemed very interested in him.

[Raiderj]

Wednesday, 20 November, 2075, 2353; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

The reply to Vexboy's plea was swift: <<All right, but I risk my life and that of my own small children to tell you this. I only hope that your payment is enough to buy their safety. The one you want is at your two o'clock in a black and purple leather combo. She has a dark-skinned man at her side.>>

Vexboy quickly spotted the woman and her companion. She filtered amongst the crowed, often stopping to trade busses and banter before moving gracefully on. The man with her greeted no one, and no one seemed very interested in him.

Vexboy nodded at Pytor and went up. And slotted into the tip slot with his credstick. He proceeded to track the two around trying to remain inconspicious and trying to get a gage on D-pop. He sent a message to Rave. "Found her. Ill track her and keep a good tab. If she books it ill send you the message "out". He saved "Out" as a draft then stalked D-pop.

[DireRadiant]

Wednesday, 20 November, 2075, 2358; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

DES immediately had to re adjust his AR settings to get sufficient contrast for his ARO markers as he followed Warrior Woman into the Watering Hole. A dangerous place where predators and prey shared life giving resources in an uneasy truce. DES wondered if it would last or if there would be blood in the water tonight.

As soon as Warrior Woman paused in her social dance, not really a pause so much as staying in one spot and posing rather than prowling through the crowd, DES let the fly spy slip out and crawl it's way to higher ground. He was going to need it's eyes to determine all the possible routes through this place. That was one thing he could do. Spotting trouble in advance was going to almost impossible, but when it happened DES and the Wind could act.

Till then DES was going to protect Warrior Woman's back.

[Raiderj]

Vexboy looked over at D-pop and started typing on his Commlink of all the things he could determine from her from eyesight.

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 0006; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

As Rave observed what went on below, one of the two joygirls she shared the VIP space with said something loud and typically crass about needing to urinate. She tried to drag her companion along to accompany her, but the other young woman was too inebriated to have much interest in any activity requiring her to stand. So the girl traipsed out and along the balcony that overlooked the club and connected the various other VIP rooms, offices, and other facillities. Ever observant, however, Rave noticed that after emerging from the restroom she did not return to Ilia's room, but rather went to another of the exclusive private rooms, looked around carefully, entered a code, and went in.

Down on the main floor, D-Pop disengaged herself from a handsome man that was encouraging her onto the dance floor, then whispered to DES that it was time to go upstairs. They had to greet and exchange shouted pleasantries into the ears of a gauntlet of another half-dozen Eastern European clubgoers before they reached the steps. To DES, a few of them, those that D-Pop accorded the most deference, treated her with more than jovial familiarity - under the Euro-kisses and laughter were hints of respect and also pity in their eyes.

Finally extricating themselves from the press, the unlikely pair mounted the steps. Vexboy watched them move along the balcony and approach one of the VIP rooms. The same room, of course, the Rave had watched the joygirl enter. D-Pop knocked.

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 0006; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

It was too crowded. Too many things moving. Colors and noise everywhere. DES could only concentrate on the near space. Deal with immediate risks and plan on escaping. There weren't enough exits and going up stairs onto a balcony made it worse. Afterwards, if there was an afterwords, DES would have time to review what his commlink and drone was picking up, but right now DES couldn't process it.

When Warrior Woman knocked on the door DES knew this was the moment of greatest peril, when two great predators met. The result of this would affect everyone.

[Raiderj]

"Frag. She is in a private room! Now what?" Vexboy messaged Rave. "Gonna have to get clever kid. Something tells me you can't bribe your way into the meeting..." Vexboy thought for a second. Then he messaged "New idea. You try and get in the room or keep tabs with D-pop and I try and find her car. I think its time to set a trap."

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 2075, 0006; Chalka, Downtown Seattle Seattle Metroplex

Maybe the mysterious Russian woman sensed DES preparing himself, because as she waited for the door to open she whispered to him - "Don't worry my friend, things will be simply horrific here."

And then the door opened. Rave and Vexboy saw the joygirl on the other side of it. She stood aside. D-Pop and her companion walked in.

[Raiderj]

Vexboy went upstairs to see if the door would remain open.

[Vegas]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Chalka, Downtown Seattle

Rave had watched and waited amidst the subdued chaos that was the VIP Balcony. She cross-referenced and cataloged interactions with the woman in purple leather with her own mental notes from the comfort and vantage point the plush chair she had be occupying as D-Pop had made her entrance.

The kid’s countless messages buzzed on her wrist like an annoying gnat, and she let them stack up after reading them before she replied. She gave herself some credit if he had made it up to the VIP floor and still hadn’t spotted her yet, it meant the rotating looks were keeping at least the new prospects on their toes.

She was certain she knew the code to the door, but she wasn’t as clear as to just whose room she could be tiptoe’ing into should she use the code, and she still hadn’t seen Ilya. While it looked like the room was only occupied by the trio for all she knew, he was sequestered away inside as well. She had to finesse her way inside the room if that was her only option, and just barging in, even with the door code was just as likely to get her shot in a place like this. She preferred to keep her options open and lingered with the best sight lines of the door D-Pop had just entered with what Rave assumed was her muscle for the evening.

She put on the bored socialite face made an obvious show of sending messages on her commlink as she fired off one to Ilya that was to the extent of being grateful for his invite and his tab but how she was bored and lonely without him. She hoped it would be enough to get him to come out of hiding. The second message went to Vexboy.

I have eyes and I am upstairs. No easy way in without causing a scene.

She erased her messages between herself and Vexboy and sat back down in her chair and nursed her drink and made small talk with those that mingled with privilege.

[Raiderj]

"Upstairs too. But I don't wanna be. If you can keep tabs on her out here I can find her ride and track her to her hideout. I have... ways of being unseen. You have only seen me in this setting where I am a dead fish. You simply won't see me on the streets. Please tell me you can track her from here on out while I find her ride. I have an idea but I am gonna have to call a favor from Knight Errant." Vexboy said.

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Inside the room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

No sooner had the door closed than the two women embraced, then pulled back to arm's length to look at each other. The other woman reached up to touch D-Pop's face. "You made it." Then she looked at DES.

D-Pop said, "This is my warrior. He is one. You can speak. What do we know?"

The other woman shook her head. She looked about twenty-two, her cosmetics expensive but abundantly applied. Her outfit strained the lines of modesty, though it was hardly out of place in a club like this. But the sadness mixed with frustration in her face carried a weight that belied her party girl exterior. "I fear you risked coming here for nothing. We still don't know exactly when or where."

"Bethan?"

"She is working, but of course she is too visible to move freely. She is prepping a new one. I have my doubts, though."

"She knows what she is doing. How are you Bronwyn?"

"Our enemies are getting closer, D. We have been hurting them, but of course they are legion."

"Are you safe?"

A pause. "I am not sure. There is a policewoman here. She masquerades as a sort of Vor groupie, and they do not suspect otherwise. But I am sure she works for Knight-Errant. And she is here tonight. Staying close to me. I hope it is coincidence."

"There are no coincidences, dear. The question is begged, however - is she against us? Or is she one we seek?"

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Outside the room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

Both watching the room, Rave had to endure various passers-by blocking her line-of-sight, while Vexboy had to take care just to remain on the balcony, between the buffeting of passing clubgoers and the sense that people were wondering what he was doing up here in the vicinity of the VIP rooms.

Almost everyone was intoxicating themselves in one way or another, either with chemicals or one another's flesh. Closest to the door in question were two very attractive men, tall and in jackets cut to the latest style. They were leaning against the wall by the door, smiling and making sultry faces at one another, occasionally shoving the other, or passing a finger along a clean-shaven cheek. Inevitably, they rolled along the wall into a passionate clinch, mouths joined fervently, hands pawing at each other as they used the VIP room door for support.

Then suddenly they moved quickly away from each other, stopping short distances from the door on either side, backs to it, hands reaching for their ears.

[Raiderj]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Outside the room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

Both watching the room, Rave had to endure various passers-by blocking her line-of-sight, while Vexboy had to take care just to remain on the balcony, between the buffeting of passing clubgoers and the sense that people were wondering what he was doing up here in the vicinity of the VIP rooms.

Almost everyone was intoxicating themselves in one way or another, either with chemicals or one another's flesh. Closest to the door in question were two very attractive men, tall and in jackets cut to the latest style. They were leaning against the wall by the door, smiling and making sultry faces at one another, occasionally shoving the other, or passing a finger along a clean-shaven cheek. Inevitably, they rolled along the wall into a passionate clinch, mouths joined fervently, hands pawing at each other as they used the VIP room door for support.

Then suddenly they moved quickly away from each other, stopping short distances from the door on either side, backs to it, hands reaching for their ears.

"Got a feeling about those two. Just instinct but a feeling. Keep eyes on them." "What about D-pop?" Vexboy thought. "I don't impede your free will but I am just giving my two cents. Those two are acting too weird to be good guys. Probably got cyberears...Not like I am some flawless deity myself. Even the wisest spirits can give shit advice from time the time and masqurade it as the followers faults." Vexboy nodded. He sent a text to Rave. "They with you?"

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Inside the room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

DES was not strong, agile or smart, but he was very very quick. DES was also realizing in retrospect he could have done more. In the past few hours he could have empowered a spirit companion, Wolf or Owl would have been useful. Now was not the time for regrets. He noted this option for the future. If he had one.

DES hadn't even been paying much attention to the conversation. He'd been monitoring the feed from the fly spy and idly mapping exit routes. And now it appeared they may need it.

DES blurted "Marvelous!" and stepped aside from the door raising two fingers on his left hand and indicating each side of the door. With his other hand DES tapped his right ear.

DES hoped Warrior Woman was ready, because he wasn't prepared at all for the chaos that might ensue.

[Vegas]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Outside the room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

As Rave watched the door she couldn't help but see the pair of men as they moved into her field of vision. It wasn't their sampling of each other that caused her eyes to widen slightly, but their sudden break from an otherwise passionate embrace and their almost tactical stance on either side of the door.

Her body was moving off the chair on a trajectory diagonal to the door without conscious volition, but from years of drilled training and instantly the room seemed to suddenly slow around her as her wires responded to an instinctual command.

There were more than a few parties interested in D-Pop, this pair for the moment seemed the most threatening.

[Raiderj]

Vexboy primed himself. If they even looked hostilely at anyone he would pounce. He felt the Dragonslayer urging him for a premptive strike. He ignored it but smirked.

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Chalka, Downtown Seattle

Things were moving very fast.

Sometimes that made them seem very slow.

The hands that had been moving towards ears completed their journey, clapping themselves tightly to the sides of their owners' heads.

Rave and Vexboy saw a small flash, almost lost in the club's kaleidoscopic light displays. There was also a loud crack - probably quite loud by the two men, but almost completely lost within a few yards as it blended with the musical cacophony of the sound show. The door swung open, lock shattered.

Inside the room, D-Pop had flipped over a table to face the door and moved behind it as Bronwyn started muttering something. The door came open and then the room was filled with a crash of dust as someone blew another doorway into the exterior wall opposite.

[Raiderj]

"Now THIS IS A PARTY!!!" Vexboy yelled gleefully and snapped his fingers. Two Fichettis appeared and he shot at one of the intruders.

[Raiderj]

"Gonna be one of THOSE days...""Damnit..." Vexboy said with a shrug as the jacket crackled. He jumped off to the side and dodged the SMG's fire. "Hey Vicky! Im begining to think these are the bad guys!"

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Inside the VIP room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

Inside the VIP room was aswirl with placrete dust and before anyone had time to react a dull-gray metal sphere came through the new hole and the wall and dropped quietly on the floor. D-Pop sprang for the aperture and tossed the grenade back.

"Shit...run!" bellowed a timpani-roll of a voice and four-hundred kilograms of troll in a tac-vest rolled himself through the hole and into the room, inadvertently crushing the mysterious Russian woman that was probably his target. In the corner, Bronwyn was muttering something and until a fresh blast accompanied by a blast of heat tore into the room through the hole, drowning out all sound, her incantation has sounded like a summoning to DES. He had already commanded his own companion to drive the attackers away, but there was no time to await its arrival on this plane - the troll had realized his unlooked-for good fortune and dropped his massive shotgun to pull a combat knife with a vicious serrated edge, eyes only on the woman squirming breathlessly beneath him.

And then a voice spoke into his ear. His face twisted in a combination of confusiona and defiance, but the former won and he awkwardly squeezed himself back through the hole...just as a being of living air headed into the other doorway...

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; Outside the VIP room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

The moment the door popped the two men had long ammo clips in their hands and after pulling up their right sleeves were slamming them into apertures in what had appeared to be perfectly normal forearms.

Vexboy and Rave saw the move clearly because they had both taken advantage of the men's concentration on their room breech to creep up behind them. Just as the two men were preparing to fire into the room, the young cop and younger would-be shadowrunner struck. Vexboy fired sophisticated Stick 'n' Shock rounds point-blank into his target's back from twin Fichettis that had appeared in his hands as if by magic. Electricity crackled visibly around the man's insulated jacket. It wasn't enough to take him down even though it should have dropped a rhino, but it was enough to stop his attack on the room. He whirled, but the voltage slowed him down by about an eighth of a second - more than enough time for Vexboy, no stranger to a firefight, to guess his line of fire and get out of the way before the man's upturned palm spit a burst of lead into the crowd.

Rave was not as fortunate, at least not at first. She stabbed her man in the back, center mass - the body was a hydraulic system, and if you stop the pump, it can't keep moving. But a combination of armor and enhancements stopped most of the force and the blade sank in about two inches before stopping. The man roared and whirled, almost wrenching the knife from the undercover cop's hand. His hand reached toward her stomach as if to gut punch her, but instead of his fist a trio of bullets hit her, knocking her to the floor as she prayed the venlar sheath under her party girl clothes had held - she felt like she'd been slugged in the solar plexus by a troll, and she'd heard that's what being gut shot felt like at first, before the worst sort of pain imaginable started. But before she could even reach down to check, the man had stepped forward to stand astride her. His palm opened in front of her face, and she could see the smoking hole in its center, huge with the promise of death. A wind blew across her face and the next thing she knew, the man had vaulted the over the balcony railing, jumping down into the crowd below.

Senses amped by her implants, she didn't miss a beat seeing Vexboy facing the same sort of fate she had. No time to see who was winning, she scrambled forward across the floor and slashed at the back of the other man's leg. She was rewarded by a splash of crimson - not enough to hamstring him properly, but it wasn't the sort of wound anyone could ignore.

[DireRadiant]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; VIP room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

DES stayed down and stared across the floor at the struggling Warrior Woman as he spoke his will. The mass of flesh crushing her got up and left. DES ignored the chaos outside the room feeding into his ARO display. He had his blood and honor to defend. He would keep his Trust.

DES rolled over and grabbed the shotgun and stood up, careful to keep it pointed at the hole in the wall. For the chaos outside on the balcony DES trusted the Wind.

As long as he held the weapon, DES knew that was one less danger to Warrior Woman.

"Hold or hunt?" DES asked as he hoped Warrior Woman could answer.

[adamu]

Thursday, 21 November, 00:08; VIP room, Chalka, Downtown Seattle

"Hold," she said, raising herself onto her elbows.

Bronwyn spoke clearly from where she was huddled among the cushions of the conversation-corner: "My spirit follows the flight of the troll and his friend. Our new friend's spirit secures the door. Our Russian friends approach. And it seems we have new friends without..."