Behind the Crown [IC], Behind the crown are shadows Options

[Bastard]

"""Okay. This deck will be the cost of his betrayal, then,""" she says, peaking into the bag.

"""Lets get out of here."""

Karma looks around the area, taking note of any vehicles that may trail them afterwards. Especially that car that had been there when they arrived.

[pbangarth]

Blue heads to the car. He asks the spirit to Guard the two of them and the vehicle.

[Bastard]

Karma darts for the car as well, carrying all of the loot evidence she took off of Billy.

The Elektro scoots off as Karma drops the gear over her shoulder into the back seat.

"""Can you conceal our vehicle? If I find some traffic and overhead cover, can you then reconceal us? We can then abandon the car in a parking garage and I can have a contact pick us up."""

[Koekepan]

The good news is that between trees and buildings, it's not too hard to move behind visual cover from the aircraft. There are enough businesses that want buildings around the Seatac airport, that careful dodging is quite viable. The vehicle is also sufficiently nondescript that it blends with every other blobby grocery getter on the road.

The spirit continues to hover, guarding as per Blue's request, but there are no immediate obvious threats to push it into a response.

[Bastard]

Karmakaze takes no chances and heads for downtown, where there are larger buildings, overpasses and parking garages that can provide coverage if needed.

[Koekepan]

While Karmakaze drives, Blue can look around enough to determine that apparently the gyrocopter decided to loiter around Billy's place without attempting a landing. It makes lazy circles in the air, not particularly high. This does mean that the further Karmakaze drives, the easier it is to have other structures interposing at a low angle.

[pbangarth]

Blue considers the tactical situation. """ Yeah, I could have the spirit conceal our vehicle, but if we do that as we drive, other drivers will also have trouble avoiding us. Heh. Now might not be the time to experiment with the interaction between the Concealment and Guard powers of a spirit. If we were to stop somewhere, that would be more practical.

"""It looks like the gyrocopter is staying around Billy's place rather than following us. I don't know whether that means it didn't notice us, or is relaying our direction of travel to something else. """

[pbangarth]

As all this is going on, a running conversation, albeit one-sided, carries on in the back of Blue's mind. Beyond that, into the aether.

::: Well, Owl, it looks like this is one of those times Freddy talks about. ::: He always refers to Nietzsche as Freddy when he talks to Owl.

::: I'm scared and hurt. Things are hunting me, the way sparrows and crows treat your kind. You will evade and run. But in the end, it is you that eats, not they. This is what i need. I will face them come what may. Give me strength, Owl. :::

[Bastard]

Relieved the chopper isn't following, Karmakaze hands Blue her link.

"""Look up Jaxx's number. Use a new burner to contact him. Ask him if we can meet ASAP."""

+++Oh no. Blue's paranoia is contagious. A gyrocopter will do that, I guess.+++

[pbangarth]

Blue breaks and tosses the previous burner, and pulls out his last one. """This is my last one. I'll have to get more. New maintenance shopping list: socks, food, burners."""

He gets Jaxx's number from Karmakaze and sends a message. <<<Blue here for me and K. Need to meet ASAP. Please respond with location and time.>>>

[Koekepan]

Jaxx, whatever his interpersonal shortcomings may be, is a businessman at heart. What is the first rule of closing the deal? Answer the damn phone. Or Matrix message. Or whatever.

He gives a prompt response: <<<Right now I'm at the Krispybab Kebab shop in south Renton. I'll take a seat and hang out for half an hour. Soon enough?>>>

According to the dashboard autopilot of Karmakaze's car, that should be plenty of time to scoot over. He might still be licking grease off his fingers by the time that they get there.

[pbangarth]

Blue forwards Jaxx's response to Karmakaze. After her nod regarding the timing, Blue responds, <<< See you there. >>>

[Bastard]

"""Good idea sending a text message rather than calling. Otherwise we would have never got the meet location in time."""

[Koekepan]

It's a short enough trip, and even with a few traffic snarls they get there under 20 minutes later. Through the window of the little kebab shop, Blue spots Jaxx sitting at a plastic table on a plastic bench, sipping some kind of neon orange drink in an idle fashion. He's alone, not counting a couple of bored-looking girls behind the counter, who are ignoring the universe in favour of chatting with each other about something - anything that doesn't involve doing a job or paying attention to the rest of the world.

[pbangarth]

Once they find a spot to park that at least partially hides or blends their car in with the rest, the two enter the shop. Blue catches the girls' attention (no easy task, that) and orders a couple more of that orange drink Jaxx is drinking. Taking his place at the table, Blue sits so he can see out the window.

"""Glad you could see us on such short notice. """

[Koekepan]

Jaxx doesn't particularly react when they enter, but is similarly unsurprised when they join him. When he's not setting Karmakaze's teeth on edge, he can play it cool with the best of them. """Null persp, amigo. It sounded important, so I found the time. So what's the big read?"""

[Bastard]

"""Blue has been burned. All his contacts turned on him under pressure from Mitsuhama. We need to be off the grid from any pursuers.

"""We are also working a job trying locate an undercover Lone Star agent that has gone missing. I need a decker that we can trust to run the legwork we need. I have Blue's decker's cyberdeck as payment. I yanked the battery to prevent it being tracked. I am sure a decker can pull the data needed, and keep the deck as payment, or partial payment."""

[pbangarth]

Blue adds, """Yeah, Mitsuhama has been pulling all kinds of tricks the last few days. With Karmakaze's invaluable help, I've managed to dodge them all and do a job or two in the meantime. This missing person could help us answer a few niggling questions about another matter, so finding the agent is really important. """

[Koekepan]

Jaxx sits back, stretching out his legs somewhat off to one side of the table so that he doesn't collide with Karmakaze's long limbs.

"""Yeah, that'll happen. Sometimes ya gotta operate no matter whose edamame ya burned.""" He takes a sip from his drink, and looks thoughtful. """I know people - of course I know people - and I can definitely farm this out. I'm just curious what the value of this deck is. Any big datablobs on it? Anything I can take to the bank? Or is it a grab bag of freaky sims and datasteals from low-rent fab shops? Do ya have a name I might know, whose it was?"""

[pbangarth]

Blue replies, with a concerned look on his face. """Yeah, I can tell you what his moniker is. But, if he's on Mitsuhama's radar, because of me, then anyone passing his name around will also become a person of interest for the big M. """

See that? See how Blue is getting all 'street' now after only 6 days and a bit?

"""You want to risk that kind of attention?"""

[Koekepan]

Jaxx shrugs. """If they're monitoring things, they know what I do, and that I talk to all kindsa people all the time. The fact some slot's moniker passes by means nothing. In fact, I'd be more surprised if I hadn't heard of him, and dealt with him before. So it's everyday biz - just lay it out."""

[pbangarth]

"""Well, in that case, his name is Billy Morgan. He's fabricated some identities for me, and has done some research into business connections pertaining to a case we worked on earlier. """

Since it probably doesn't matter anymore, Blue gives Jaxx the address where he and Karmakaze found Billy. No need to mention Billy's niece. Though, thinking just now of her, her impending indoctrination into nefarious magic does worry Blue some.

[Koekepan]

Jaxx nods thoughtfully. """Yeah, I've heard of the man. Not the hottest, not the worst on the 'trix. I'll take the deck and pass the work to someone worth dealing, but where is Billy now? Do you have a go-to on him?"""

[pbangarth]

Blue thinks he knows what Jaxx means. """Last we saw him, he was just outside his doss the address of which I gave you. Here's his 'trix contact info. """

[Bastard]

"""We need this to go to someone reliable and trustworthy, Jaxx," Karma emphasizes the need for loyalty. """We have been burned too many times..."""

Karmakaze ensures Jaxx has the entire list of inquiries for the new decker to work, the same handed to Billy previously. In addition the request for a copy of all the data stored on the cyberdeck, as there may be other clues in there pertaining to either job.