The Found Arcana - Chapter 12 [IC] Options

[Thanee]

Falcone nods a few times, as you present your assessment. Hafiz keeps in the background.

"Very well. With the threat of the ransom eliminated, getting him back is more of a bonus at this point. For you as well, naturally."

"Alright, we will wait it out. Hopefully, your instincts were right. That would be ideal."

"How would you like to proceed? Do you want to stay for the next few days? I can certainly offer you that. Or, if you prefer to return to Seattle, I can also send you the remainder of the payment, when he shows up. Everything you have earned, already, you can have right now, of course."

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby looked at the others:
"I wouldn't mind a few days in the lodge - it's a long drive back to Seattle."

[Beta]

"Yah, staying here would be fine. Keep an eye on things a bit, and relax a bit before the long trip back."

Tamarind would really like to get back to their house and the gardens, and does not see the appeal of a vacation ranch much, but even she admits that staying here makes sense.

[Gilga]

The thought of staying away from Trouble for longer gnaws at AM but she keeps silent. Can she disconnect and just enjoy it when her child is out of sight playing its tricks with no adult supervision? Trouble embodies Iktomi in ways she can't, and this is exactly what worries her. She suppressed the thought as long as she needed to work but now... staying more required another layer of pretending not to want to reunite with her child as soon as possible. There is also the creeping paranoia and the sense of not belonging in a nice place such as a resort for the rich and important. Bobby and Mato are respected people, if they have money the world spins for them... Her? No bank account keeping cred sticks hidden in the house. A fake identity that nearly collapsed at a casual pet shelter... she nearly lost her SIN and perhaps freedom by simply being in the same room as someone important, and with Falcone? Who knows what kind of guests are going to be present and if they are going to do a background check because she talked to someone.

When she speaks her voice is neutral and guarded, like she usually is. "Lets make the most out of it..." she says, and then adds focusing on the plus side. I am driving first. Not that they'll strictly need to drive... but manual driving is therapy, and she deserve something she is going to enjoy... out of all this torment.

[Tecumseh]

Mato looks around, his cybereyes scanning the darkness. The sun set about an hour and a half ago but he can still see.

"I want to ride a horse," he says. "One of those Appaloosas that Hafiz mentioned. Or maybe one of the Arabians."

He's not quite sure how the horses will react to him. Some animals were indifferent about his cyber, but others were suspicious.

"Bobby, you said you wanted to check out the Mustangs, neh? Let's go see what the rest of this ranch looks like."

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby nodded with quite some enthusiasm:
"Oh yeah, almost forgot - great chance to study a new form."

With that Bobby got up and headed towards the stables.

[Beta]

"I'm going to sleep, maybe I'll look at the options in the morning. Maybe I'll even take a riding lesson? But for now, sleep."

Despite her words she didn't go to sleep right away. She does look through the options, and books herself a horse riding lesson. She'd grown up in the caves of Butte Below, not out on the plains, and had never had an opportunity to learn. Maybe it would help chip away at her feelings of being an imposter as a Sioux national, but probably not. Her one quarter asian heritage wasn't that obvious among her mixed native heritage, but it was enough that she doubted she'd ever feel like she really belonged in the Sioux nation.

And of course she checked over all of her drones first, doing a bit of cleaning and fussing, and then leaving one Aunty near the door to their area and Uncle on the floor just under the foot of her bed. Uncle ran ultrasonic surveillance, comparing it with the visual for anomalies. No doubt unnecessary, except for the fact that it let her get to sleep.

[Tecumseh]

"Bobby, it's 22:30. The horses will be asleep soon. They need their rest. Let's go in the morning."

But, if Bobby is determined, then Mato isn't going to stop him.

"Sleep sounds good," he agrees with Tamarind.

Mato will go take a shower, get his three hours of sleep from his sleep regulator, and then be up before sunrise. Since that still leaves some time to spare, he'll try to catch up on his current British trid miniseries obsessions, including Inside the Gilded Cage, and Whispers in the Palace Walls.

Inside the Guilded Cage is his current favorite. The series follows the intertwined lives of several families residing in an exclusive country estate called Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire. Multiple families share the beautiful, brick-built country house of over 300 rooms. Beneath the veneer of polite society, long-held resentments, scandalous secrets, and desperate ambitions simmer, threatening to boil over.

Whispers in the Palace Walls is basically the same thing, just set in a different historical period, with a slightly different shuffle of personalities. Unsurprisingly, the same AI had written them both.

[Thanee]

<<Friday Morning - 10:07 - May 19, 2079 - Horse Trot Ranch, Brighton, Denver>>

The next few days are quite relaxing and peaceful. When you can look at it while it's not an active crime scene, the ranch is a beautiful place, and you can spend some time riding horses (or studying them) or just stroll around the hills. A bit of tension is in the air still, while you are waiting.

On thursday morning, Captain Razak reminded you, that Blackhawk was going to leave, but there was a slight hold-up, so you had one more day to catch your ride back (which would be today in the afternoon). Hopefully it will be enough.

* * * * *

On friday morning, a black SUV arrives at the gate of the ranch and stops there. The rear passenger door opens and a slightly disheveled-looking Jonathan Belenkiy steps out of the vehicle.

The door closes, the car turns around, and drives off, while the Ares executive slowly walks towards the ranch. Looks like the Black Cats have actually held their word.

Shortly before the car leaves the road leading towards the 168th, it changes into a burgundy-colored mini-van.

[ Spoiler ]

BTW, what did you do with Belenkiy's commlink?

And did you provide any further information to the guys at Marcel's?

I'm assuming you did inform Razak about passing along his offer and how to proceed with it.

[Gilga]

AM passes the days in the wilderness getting attuned to the local spirits and as reluctant as she is, she spends some time travelling the mountains with whomever fancy some outdoors hiking where she experiments with her new body and realizes that comes with wells of energy that do not often have room to express themselves in her day-to-day live.


Friday: When Belenkiy arrives she actually breathes a full breath for a while. At least Bobby would not be pissed off... she reasons as her lips curl realizing the economic significance of the occasion. Even if, post debt money has less allure than it had when her life depended on it. Still, it was nice to have more of it. Nicer still to not be the naïve bad girl that lost them half the job.

[Tecumseh]

Mato spends the morning riding a white Appaloosa with so many black spots that it looks like a Holstein dairy cow. Or is it a black horse with white patches? A question for the scientists, or artists, or philosophers.

Mato finds - or, rather, rediscovers - that Appaloosas are particularly advantageous for novices due to their gentle disposition and cooperative attitude. He had ridden one years ago in his fragile youth, and for a brief moment there is a pressing sense of nostalgia that overwhelms him. Then it passes and he's back in the present, wondering why such a frail kid would have taken a risk like riding a horse.

But the horse is pleasant and seemingly indifferent about Mato's cyber, and never threatens to buck him off. Mato, perhaps a little too pleased with himself, starts to wonder what the current record is for enhanced bull riding. He makes a mental note to look it up later.

Mato arrives back at the ranch about the same time as the black-SUV-now-burgundy-minivan drops off Belenkiy. He spares a thought to trying to race after it, but the urge passes quickly. They weren't hired to bring anyone to justice, and his own sense of morality considered the Black Cats' actions "all in the game". Would he have done the same, if hired to do so? Perhaps, but perhaps not.

"Right then," he says. "Let's settle up and go catch our ride home." His mind is already at work with the debits and credits of the job, and its state and local business tax implications.

[ Spoiler ]

I don't think we did anything specific with Belenkiy's commlink. I figure it's on hand nearby. I don't think AM cracked it, not wishing to incur Ares' wrath if the hack went sideways.

I don't think we provided any further information to the guys at Marcel's, in large part because I forgot about them. Were those the guys at the restaurant?

Yes, Mato would (or would prompt Bobby to) file a report with Razak, including SIS' overtures to the Black Cats on his behalf.

[Jack_Spade]

Bobby has spent a delightful time getting to know all the domesticated animals on the farm - as well as the wild ones. He joined Mato on the rides, albeit as a bussard and a fox as well as one time as a pony.
When the car arrived he was just practicing his golden retriever impression. Using the opportunity, he sniffed Belenky up and down to figure out where he had been as well as how he was. When everything appeared to be ok, he barked happily, before running of to get changed.

[Thanee]

<<Friday Afternoon - 16:36 - May 19, 2079 - Horse Trot Ranch, Brighton, Denver>>

Belenkiy is fine. Physically unhurt. Emotionally irritated. He only talks to Falcone for a bit, and then heads off to get some rest. Surely, there is more to follow, but that won't be yours to deal with.

His commlink is going to be missed very soon, but that will be one of those questions that just do not seem to have a proper answer.

You receive the rest of your reward, as promised. And with that, the job is concluded. You pack up and get back on the road. You have a plane to catch. Well, sort of.


<<Friday Evening - 19:23 - May 19, 2079 - 20 km south-east of Cheyenne, Sioux Nation>>

Captain Razak meets you in a similar place as before, outside of the city. Akecheta and Tashunka are there as well. You hand over the Gopher and report.

The Captain is pleased. Everything worked out well.

"I promised you a little extra, if you could work this out. I havn't really put a number on it, so, why don't we just keep it open. A favor for when you need something, that I can provide. I hope that works for you."

About an hour after your arrival, you get a message from the smuggler, that it's time. << Blackhawk: Strap in! We are good to go. >>

The Black Sunshine vibrates as the massive t-bird lifts off and thunders away into the sunset.


<<Friday Night - 22:47 - May 19, 2079 - "Number Sixteen", Sea-Tac, Downtown, Seattle>>

After another two-hour flight, you are back in Seattle. You thank Blackhawk for the passage, and soon after you part ways.

Time to head home.

[ Spoiler ]

Rewards:

20,000¥ (Piasma Bounty)
20,000¥ (up front job payment)
50,000¥ (partial job payment for preventing the blackmailer to follow through with his threats)
50,000¥ (partial job payment for returning Mr. Belenkiy)
20,000¥ (bonus for the names of who is behind the ransom)
Favor Rating 4 (bonus for getting the Black Cats to a face-to-face with Captain Razak in or near Cheyenne)

Contacts:

Blackhawk, T-Bird Smuggler, "Number Sixteen", Sea-Tac, Downtown, Seattle (Connection 4, Loyalty 1)
Jarone Falcone, Ranch Owner (retired Fixer), Horse Trot Ranch, Brighton, Denver (Connection 5, Loyalty 2)
Hafiz, Assistant, Horse Trot Ranch, Brighton, Denver (Connection 2, Loyalty 1)
Ramses, Dwarf "Tough Guy", Marcel's, Stapleton, Denver (Connection 3, Loyalty 0)
Dean, "Information Guy", Marcel's, Stapleton, Denver (Connection 5, Loyalty 0)
Trinket, Talismonger, Trinket's, Paradise Lane, Aurora Warrens, Denver (Connection 3, Loyalty 1)
Rattler, Weapons Store Owner, Dartguns 2 Smartguns, Paradise Lane, Aurora Warrens, Denver (Connection 3, Loyalty 1)
Zhang Wong, Talismonger, Mystic Curiosities, Chinatown, Lowry, Denver (Connection 2, Loyalty 0)
Jack 'Frost' McPherson, Bodyguard (associated with The Trinity mercenary team), Denver (Connection 4, Loyalty 1)
Susan 'Banshee' Johnson, Fixer and Bar Owner, Hardpan, Thornton, Denver (Connection 5, Loyalty 1)

Mato:
Cassie, Ork Mechanic (working at Apex Plasmids), Thornton, Denver (Connection 2, Loyalty 1)

AM:
Kyra Blackfoot, Face (Leader of the Black Cats runner team), Thornton, Denver (Connection 3, Loyalty 1)

[Gilga]

When we finally left the farm behind, the last golden rays of sunset spilling across the fields, I found Trouble waiting by the plane. “Trouble!” I cried, lunging forward—only to have the spirit-cat dematerialize and rematerialize, claws gently tangling in my hair. Spirits don’t need to be “close” to be close, I reminded myself, as I cupped the wisp of cat-spirit in my hands.
“I missed you so much,” I whispered, and for a moment I half expected a meow. But Trouble’s answer came not in sound but in thoughts that blossomed in my mind:
Me: How was it, being on your own? Did you enjoy yourself?
Trouble (mysteriously): Immensely...
I smiled around the laughter that was really hers.
Me: And what did you do?
Trouble: I was with my mother most of the time...
Me: Your mother?!
I winced. Of course they knew what I meant.
Me: You mean Anna— I mean Mom. I say a bit shocked that she came out as a first name, but thoughts go where thoughts go.
Trouble: Of course. I was already in Cheyenne. It’s a shame you were too busy to come... but somebody gotta make money and keep Mato alive. Mom says you are more than a secretary—that you should ask for a raise... or a promotion. She is very adamant in it.
My face must have gone pale. “Well... I can’t tell her I became a criminal... Can I? That I took money from the Mafia, bought an illegal cyberdeck and used that deck to do more illegal things for money.” I ask rhetorically, frustrated that she is not going to accept my choices. “She wanted me to find a job that doesn't scan sins too seriously... Heck she calls me Emma or Emilly, despite naming me Amy.”
Trouble: I know. says the annoying cat spirit, and of course they do... She is ***their*** mother too... I made Trouble a version of myself. “Praise Iktomi for teaching me about unintended consequences.” we say in unison.
Trouble: Well... I made a friend... a spirit friend.
I pale again, my distrust of free spirits evident. Of course you did... you... should. His name is Patrik, a spirit of man. ”Just be careful love. I’ll be open to your friends. How did you meet?
When your mother was enjoying herself in Bingo he was watching the happening. We started talking once I made sure she made some cash.

I still can’t imagine my mother cheating at bingo. Trouble thinks at me. I know right? Such hypocrisy...but technically I cheated, she just benefited from it. she is the worst That she is... but she is our mom.