[X] My Assistant

[pbangarth]

While in Karmakaze's car, Blue takes his hand off the Powerbolt spell-on-a-stick. Bad news inside of a closed vehicle.

Blue tests out the Mindlink. +++ You might want to stop more than five meters away from the other car. That's the radius of my Fireball spell at full Force. +++

+++ How should we do this conversation? Your prettier than I am, but I'm the one they hired originally. Maybe I should initiate conversation. What do you think? +++

[Bastard]

+++You initiate. I will keep watch, and interject if you need me.+++

+++This is so cool!++++

Karma stops the car about ten meters away from the Rover. +++Better to give Blue more room to work with, as well as Acidsmog Dieselface,+++ she thought to herself, or maybe to both of them?

She exits the vehicle, staying behind the door for cover for the time being. Her hands rest on the butts of both weapons at her hips.

[pbangarth]

Blue chuckles at Karmakaze's shuffle of the spirit's name. He steps out of his side of the car, opening to the astral to get a quick look to see if anything in the astral is nearby, other than Acidsalt Dieselsmog. Assuming nothing nasty is about to happen in the astral, his attention returns fully to the material plane.

He walks towards the other vehicle but stops some 6 or 7 meters away. His hands are in his pockets. Nonchalant. Not threatening. One hand on the 'Powerbolt' device, the other on the 'Armor' device. Not that they will be needed. We're just talkin'. +++ Funny how much my life has changed in less than a week. How much I have changed. +++

He waits.

[Koekepan]

There's a pause of perhaps a minute, although Blue thinks that he sees some movement inside the vehicle. Then the Senatorial's passenger-side window creeps down a little. Inside, Blue can see the same woman a bit better than before, visible in the soft mood lighting of the vehicle. He doesn't see anyone else from this angle.

The woman looks nearly immaculate, but at a guess she's in that indeterminate range between 25 and 55. Cosmetic technology has complicated such guesses. She's wearing near-invisible, very chic datagoggles that slightly reflect the internal lights of her car. A few drifting droplets of drizzle glint briefly on their way down, adding to the hazy nature of the atmosphere. Blue's thermographic vision picks up the warmth of the car in comparison to the cool environment outside.

"""Can I help you?""" Her words are professional, but her tone says frag off, sewerdrek.

[pbangarth]

Blue smiles a broad smile. """ Your presence here, to the point of stepping out of your vehicle to observe, shows an interest in the goings on behind the building. """ He indicates the back of Petsonal with a flick of his head.

""" The obvious signs of your wealth and sense of self-importance suggest not just interest, but command of the endeavour. Your reaction to the outcome tells me you are disappointed. Since I am the cause of the failure of that ... project, and hence your disappointment, I came over for a chat.

""" I am interested to know why such a person of means who, I guess, should have known I was observing this facility would attempt such an amateurish sabotage. The company in question will now be alerted to the lengths to which their production of certain animals of interest is compromised by repeated failures on the part of a certain client to control the animals of interest they already have. The sabotage tonight was a blunt and obvious attempt to redirect blame for that lack of control onto this company.

""" Good luck with any future attempt to deal with them. Why on earth did you conduct this debacle? And, really, is that the best you can do? """

+++ That should piss her off. What the Hell. Two concerns are gunning for my head. Why not make it three? Maybe if there are enough of them, they will trip over each other trying to get at me. +++

[Koekepan]

There's a moment of silence. Beaded moisture drips from the edge of the Senatorial's window.

"""The only amateur I see here is you. You were supposed to bring proof of their failures, and instead we had to take matters into our own hands. They should have been shut down a decade ago, and now we'll get a judge to do it at last. Go home and play with your toys while the people take care of their own needs. Your contract is over."""

She doesn't appear to intend to continue the discussion, because the window slides up, leaving Blue with a view of his own face in the distorted mirror of the wet, tinted glass. The car whines softly and starts to move off.

[pbangarth]

Yet another turning point in Blue's life in a busy week. Build rep / possibly commit suicide. Of course she is contradicting the criteria laid out by Mr. Johnson, and now is stiffing Blue because of it. Blue knows how he would respond were he alone. But there is another's life to consider here. Really, two for that matter. Did she call backup in that silent period? Who knows.

+++ She's full of drek and stiffing us. If she goes, I think we lose the rest of the pay and gain a rep for being easy. I bow to your experience. Should I stop the car and demand fair treatment or let her go? We do have the babies to sell. +++

[Bastard]

+++Delay her, if you can! Remember that we called PetPersonal security. Maybe them two can hash it out, and we can bring in the survivors to the authorities,+++ Karma attempts to project to Blue.

She has raised her left hand up toward the vehicle, in a stop signal, while her right hand tightens on her Savalette, just in case she instigates this crazy poli-bitch.

[pbangarth]

Alllllrighteee then! Time to make a reputation ... or commit suicide.

+++ Alright! Blue out! +++ Blue breaks the mental connection. Every bit needed to help survive the next minute.

::: Acidsalt Dieselsmog. Stop that vehicle!! :::

Blue moves a step or two to give him a better angle on the vehicle in order to make it spin when ... he activates the Powerbolt spell-on-a-stick, targeting the vehicle. That should give the spirit time to materialize and have its way with the pretty car.

[ Spoiler ]

Powerbolt F6. The link to the rolls is somewhere back in this thread, but the likely-relevant rolls are 15, 14 and 10. All the rest are 5 or less.

As the vehicle is occupied by spin control and spirit love, Blue activates the Armor spell-on-a-stick. Maybe not needed, but the show is important.

[ Spoiler ]

F6 Armor. So Blue's long coat is augmented for a combined 10/6 armor. And he glows like a street light.

Then he will brazenly stroll towards the vehicle. Cojones! Siempre cojones!

[Koekepan]

Blue's spell lashes out like a whiplash tipped with a sledgehammer. The windows instantly craze as if hit by a shockwave, and body panels wrinkle like a Stuffer Shack carton. In the next moment, Acidsalt Dieselsmog manifests like a smoke and metal thing in the shape of a gorilla that lands heavily on the bonnet, kinking it before starting to tear it up like the wrapper on a present.

There is no immediately visible response from inside the vehicle when Blue approaches, but there's a whine as of the engine trying to spin up. The tyres try to grip the wet parking lot, but mostly turn up gravel, a few sprayed pieces of which dash off Blue's mystical armour.

As he draws nearer, Acidsalt Dieselsmog sinks what looks like a talon deep into the engine bay, and then pauses as sparks crackle throughout the spirit's form with an angry blue-white glow. The spirit dematerialises like a waft of dirty ozone, but the car stops. It's done, and Blue looks at a broken reflection of the glow of his protection - for a second, and then it smashes with bullets coming out.

[pbangarth]

The trid shows don't do the Armor spell justice. The shooter's aim is true, and both bullets streak towards Blue's center of mass. As they pass through the glow of the spell, they leave spiral trails of golden light, and visibly slow. They both hit his long coat, and it does the rest of the job, spreading the impact of the bullets so that Blue feels two hard shoves, nothing more.

+++ Gotta make more of these! +++

To the occupants of the car he says, """ Save your bullets. If I wanted to hurt you, you would be cooking inside this pot right now.

""" If you have a problem with what has been done here, take it up with your Mr. Johnson. He contracted for surveillance, not sabotage. Action my part against this business was to be pursuant to evidence of their malfeasance, of which as yet there is none.

""" You want to end the contract, fine. But I want the last 5000 nuyen of the deal. Now. I did my part, """" his tone grows dark, """ and I will not be cheated! """

[Bastard]

Karmakaze was expecting Blue to convince the contact to stay with words, maybe a spell. She was not ready for another spirit, this time something that looks like it cover art from a troll metal band, to smash the front of the car.

+++I probably fragged it on the telepathy thing.+++

While thinking this, her wired reflexes had already moved her into a tactical position, putting the engine block of her car between her and the policlub, and she found both firearms aimed at the windows of the town car.

[Koekepan]

Blue can make out some babbling from in the car for about two seconds before the door on the opposite side from him flies open. This is also on the far side of the Senatorial from Karmakaze. The blonde inside the car makes a straight dash from the vehicle - not for the parking lot's main gate (which would have been past Karmakaze's car anyway) but for the Petsonal building.

In her right hand she visibly has a large pistol, and her left seems to have some kind of glowing electronics - perhaps a pocket secretary or similar device. The way that she's running, it's impossible to get a clear view of it.

After the couple of gunshots, Karmakaze guesses that in this area they have maybe three minutes, perhaps as much as five, before at least a drone shows up to take a look at things. If the 'star is bored, actual cops won't be far behind.

At any rate, so far she isn't running with the kind of speed that suggests wired reflexes. Instead she's just running as well as someone with high end urban activewear can do in this drizzle, through the funk of ozone and old fryer stink from nearby restaurants.

[pbangarth]

Indignation and anger fade at the sight of the running woman. What point would there be to do any more to her? Maybe down the road the rest can be collected. For now, discretion was necessary.

""" Let her go. I'll figure out what to do with the renege later. We better get out of here. Police won't be far away. """

He heads back to the car. As he enters the vehicle, he drops the Armor spell. """ I have to get my Lodge rebuilt and make more of these. This worked really well. """

[Koekepan]

While Blue is on the way back to the car, Karmakaze sees her run up to the door, fiddle a bit, and let herself in. The door slams behind her.

[Bastard]

"""Cover me Blue. I am going to clear the vehicle. Do you have anything that would work like a flash bang?"""

Karma moves in to the vehicle quickly, watching for any other people exiting.

[Koekepan]

Nobody else leaves the Senatorial while Karmakaze moves up, and when she reaches the wreck she can confirm through kinked doorframes, bullet holes and other gaps that the vehicle appears to be deserted. If she wanted to yank open a door, she almost certainly could.

From inside the Petsonal Petsonalities building comes a howl that instantly makes every hair on Karmakaze's body stand erect. In a second, while the first howl still falls, a second joins it.

[pbangarth]

Blue considers Karmakaze's actions and question. """ Oh. Oh yeah. Check the car. No, what I have to make light and noise also fries. But I could ... """

Just then the first howl grates on their nerves. """ Oh for the love of ! She went inside!? """ The second howl follows. """ Well... I hope the barghests are trained to contain rather than consume. """

[Bastard]

Karmakaze checks that the door to PetPersonal closed like it should. Don't want those hellhounds to get out.

She yanks the driver-side rear door open, scanning the backseat with the Savalette, while the Ingram aims left of the driver seat headrest, in case there is any movement.

[Koekepan]

The door to Petsonal Petsonalities closed well, as far as Karmakaze can see. There's certainly no sign of immediate excursions anyway.

The car is deserted as far as Karmakaze can see. This was a solo run for the lady. However this does not mean that the car is empty: there are various items inside. On the floor of the passenger side, Karmakaze sees a couple of pairs of shoes - one pair of sneakers, one pair of dress pumps. There's an aroma diffuser smelling of jasmine, and a portable 'link in a slot built into the dashboard. On the passenger seat there's an open box of chocolate truffles. In the back there's a pillow, a blanket, and a small, stylish backpack.

[Bastard]

"""Clear,""" Karmakaze calls out.

She grabs the comlink from its docking port, and searches for the keys and the trunk release lever or button.

[Koekepan]

The car seems to have one of those proximity lock systems. On the other hand, with the electricity completely trashed, and the bodywork distorted, there's nothing to prevent Bastard from forcing the trunk with a crowbar or similar tool.

From inside the building comes the sound of a pack of hounds baying. Deep, lusty voices that seem to reckon little of masonry walls.

[pbangarth]

""" Anything in there that can Identify her? Personal stuff and such? """

+++ What on Earth can I do about those hounds? If I go in there, they will bay at me too. Even I can't hold out long against that onslaught. +++

[Bastard]

"""I got her comlink, I am going to check the glove box. Can your spirit open the trunk? The release button isn't working."""

Karmakaze circles the vehicle approaching the passenger side, keeping her gun on the front door. She reaches in to open the glove box.

[Koekepan]

Any new spirit, though Karmakaze doesn't know it, would have to be freshly summoned. Acidsalt Dieselsmog was wiped out by the shorting out of the car's electrical engine. This is of course one more step in getting things done.

Karmakaze reaches into the glovebox, and finds, among a few bits of bric-a-brac, a couple of data chips. What's on the chips is anybody's guess.

The baying stops. There's a sound of chopper blades approaching from the direction of Green Lake, or nearby.