Living in the Shadows: IC, your run might be over... Options

[Sedna]

15:00:40 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

"You already know who I am and you already know I'm in it for the story," said Tiffany levelly. "Why else would a reporter slitch like me be here?"

"Now, now, my dear, don't be tempetuous." Kiki wagged a finger in her face, then reached up with a luxurious stretch toward a golden shower which had crystallised out of a break in the "clouds", to a loud fanfare of trumpets; which briefly cast the icon's entire body into a shimmering vision of gold which fairly blazed from within the billowing red dress.

"Can't help but notice, Dragon dear," continues Kiki as if nothing had happened, "that you've had my street name from the get-go, but you've carefully avoided giving me yours, even after she let it slip anyway. I'd say that makes us about even in the who and why department." For now, Kiki seems content to hold Sybersnake's unmanacled arm twisted hard around her back, her face pressed against the exposed metal of the bar. In a different reality the hold would have been extremely painful, but who knows how the Matrix twists these things? The one in the back, working silently at the car's screws, wasn't talking. "At least he's refreshingly direct," continued Kiki, nodding at Virgil, "and you've already corroborated him, Dragon my dear ... days ago. But you'd really prefer to just snap off some more questions, and you know, I don't do so good with orders. I'm sure you've shot a few people like that before. So while I can buy your loyalty to her -- she is kind of good-looking, isn't she? -- and I can see how you got dragged into this thing, I can't really see it as your kind of thing."

There was -- not silence, not stillness, but -- a sudden non-happening? while all the commotion around them continued. Chaos -- suspended.

He is browsing the message he has received. He also thinks he already has a tracer solidly on Sybersnake. He might be satisfied with that, and he might not.

"The interesting thing," Kiki says suddenly to Virgil, "is that the word on the street, from the Azzies, is to bring Julia home. Not that they want to acquire her, but that they want to bring her back. The girl's SINless, as you might expect, but no one's invisible."

Yet never once had Kiki asked anything of the decker working quietly at the back ...?

"There are enough people who've seen her before to let me know she was born here and lived here all her life," Kiki continues. "DNA cross-checks verify it. Perfectly normal kid to six decimals. Want to know what clinic she was born at?"

"Is it relevant?" asks Tiffany dryly.

"Not really, no. There's absolutely nothing exceptional about it, and nothing exceptional about her ... until now. And now, suddenly, she's become very visible, with two different Azzie factions and a major and interestingly anonymous benefactor of the ASPS all bidding for her -- and the one entity that's not placed a bid for her yet is the one that needs her most." When no one says anything, Kiki impatiently adds, "CorpDeVo. They need whatever she's got to rein in what's happening before their research files are opened publicly and their shares crash completely."

"Or before more people die," says Virgil.

"That too," agrees the decker coolly. "But if any of you really think you can take Julia somewhere safe where no one will take advantage of her, you're living in a dream world."

"That's your interest," said Tiffany. "You've got a copy of what's in those files. Maybe you even planted it in the first place."

"Very good, my dear, and almost half right. As it happens I didn't plant it, though I wouldn't have turned down the contract if it had come my way. So I don't know who's behind that. But I do have a copy of the files -- and now," leaning over Tiffany to plant a soft, lipsticked kiss on Sybersnake's immobile cheek, "so do you."

[Shadowrunner13]

21:11:00 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki lightly ran a hand over Mioko's cheek and gently tightened his embrace.

"I've been lonely too. It's the nature of my new life to be alone. I'm so thankful I found you again. I hadn't been whole without you in my life."

The sounds of the Inferno seemed so distant as he felt her body against his own. The rest of the world was gone, save for the two of them.

[grendel]

21:11:30 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

The odd feeling that Tenmou can't identify is peace. A peace he hasn't felt since back in Japan, back before the death of his father, back when the world made sense, back when his place in the world was clear.

He found himself wondering about the honesty of the moment before, and how suddenly his feelings had crystallized. When they'd been together before, in the teams, everything had taken a backseat to utter professionalism and tactical ability. He'd always loved her, even then. He just didn't know it.

Gunfire stabbed through the street below, seven rapid shots overlying shouts and the squeal of tires. Training and memory raced through familiar channels, Tenmou and Mioko dropped and pivoted, putting their backs to one another, hands reaching for weapons. A pair of Lone Star Strato-9 drones curved past at fifty meters, air snarling through their turbofan engines clearly audible. Both drones had weapons deployed, gun muzzles questing for targets. The combat moved quickly down the street, sirens disappearing into the night. Tenmou cleared the area once again before standing and moving over to the railing. Mioko joined him, scanning the crowd below.

"Hey! There you two are. Whew, I need to take a break." Tanisa leaned against the railing, holding a bottle of chill water against her forehead in an effort to cool down.

[WinterRat1]

18:17:45 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

The girl looks up at him, and nods quickly. "OK chummer, ya got yerself a deal. Let's get while the gettin's good." John easily leads them out of the arcade, and the two of them make their way down the street a few blocks to the aforementioned Oodles of Noodles.

Grabbing a table near the back, by the kitchen door, they sit down. Once they're seated, the girl says, "Airight, I'll tell ya everythin I can 'bout whatever you wanna know for 50 nuyen and a meal. How's that?"

[WinterRat1]

double post

[Scrapheap]

18:32:13 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Oodles of Noodles Restaraunt

John watches the girl as he lights a cigarette and takes a long drag. He holds it a second before blowing the smoke skyward and motioning for the waitstaff. As they wait, he continues to watch the young elf, and before long she begins to squirm. But her resolve never wavers. She's tough. Got to give her that.

John turns to the tired looking Korean waitress as she says, "What can I getcha?"

"The sign says that the special is Pad Thai. That real or soy?" The look she gave him was all the answer he needed. Sighing, he said, "Ok, ok, two specials then. Also, uh, how about some hot tea, and an order of spring rolls."

Turning back to the young girl across from him, John said, "50 :nuyen: , huh? I thought you said you was Nora's friend?"

"An' I thought you said dat you wants to find her."

John looked away to hide his smile and took another pull from his cigarette. Like I said: tough. I can't blame her, she's just trying to get by. It's like I always told Nora, get it while you can. Besides, I don't have much choice. He took another drag and blew it out. Still, this better be good.

Ignoring the dirty look the old woman behind the counter was giving him for smoking, he turned back and said, "You're right; I do want to find her. Consider the twenty in your pocket a down-payment. You talk while we eat. I'll decide if you've earned the other 30 :nuyen: ."

The small girl scrunched up her nose and glared at him, but only for a second before the tea and spring rolls arrived. John quickly grabbed a roll before they were gone and poured them both tea. "I'll take that as a yes? First thing I want to know is easy. What's your name and how do you know Nora?"

[Shadowrunner13]

21:11:30 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki was mildly irritated that his time alone with Mioko had been interrupted, but he did his best to stifle his disappointment. Now that he was clear on how he felt about Mioko he could swear he could almost feel the tension between them. Of course, he was hesitant to do anything with Tanisa there...

To avoid being rude, he smiled and waved.

"Well, there's a nice cool breeze out here, if you don't mind the distant sound of gunfire and sirens..." he slightly joked, his gaze following the rapidly fading Lone Star pursuit.

[grendel]

21:15:14 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

If Mioko minded the interruption, she didn't show it, laughing with Tanisa and drinking from the bottle of water. After a few minutes, she grabbed Tenmou's hand and pulled him back into the club. Instead of heading back out to the dancefloor, though, she drew him into one of the shadowed corners, pressing her body against his again.

[WinterRat1]

18:34:13 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Oodles of Noodles Restaraunt

The girl listens to his deal and nods, especially once the food is served. Grabbing a spring roll and stuffing it into her mouth like she hasn't eaten in days, a very real possibility, she mumbles around mouthfuls or roll, "Name's *chomp* *chomp* Megan. I know *munch* *scarf* Nora because we got some *gulp* mutual friends."

Taking a sip of her tea, she makes a face as it is too hot for her liking, especially after eating the steaming spring roll. Grabbing a glass of water, she washes it all down in a long chug. "We hung out at the arcade a lot, the guys who stopped you knew her too."

Great...almost got in a fight with Nora's friends. As if we didn't have enough issues in our relationship all ready. Yeesh. When is the bad luck going to end?

*Scarf* *munch* More spring roll went into her mouth as Megan quickly snatched another roll and stuffed it into her mouth. "You'd better *chomp* watch out. Word might get out, and people might *gulp* *chug* think you're one of those guys that came by last week."

[Scrapheap]

18:36:58 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Oodles of Noodles Restaurant

John took a bite of his roll and watched amusedly while Megan stuffed yet another into her mouth whole and chewed noisily. "Mmmpfff! *munch* S'good. *Gulp*" Not quite what I meant by talking while we ate, but at least she's talking. Wait, what did she say...

Megan quickly sat back in her seat as he eagerly leaned across the table, "Some guys came for her last week? At the arcade? How many? What did they look like? What did they say? What did she say? Were they wearing colors? Did they hurt her? Tell me everything you remember!"

Blinking in surprise at the older man's sudden outburst, Megan slowly and thoughtfully chewed the rest of the spring roll in her mouth. Swallowing heavily, she took a sip of tea and then looked pointedly at the uneaten portion remaining on John's plate. Sighing in exasperation, John pushed the plate across the table.

"Well?"

[Shadowrunner13]

21:16:20 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki wrapped an arm around Mioko's waist as she pressed into him. He relished in the warmth of her body being so close to his own.

He lightly placed his free hand against her cheek and turned her face towards him. He studied her face and enjoyed the softness of her skin. Smiling as he looked into her eyes, he said, "You are so beautiful, Mioko."

[banditf50]

19:26:12 Saturday January 6, 2063 Tacoma Radio Shack

"All our tool kits are located in aisle five." Proclaimed the young ork in his best salesmen voice. Getting up from is stool he beckoned for Erebus to follow him towards the back end of the store. Given the small size of the store and the aisle location Erebus could have easily helped himself, but the kid was probably bored stiff working the closing shift on a Saturday night.

"We have two basic kits that are popular items. This is the entry model . . " the kid hands Erebus a hard black plastic case about the size of an old paperback novel. "The case is waterproof and shock resistant and contains most of your staple tools, go ahead and open it up."

Snapping open the latch mechanism Erebus sees a wire multi-stripper and cutter, a small pair of needle-nose pliers, a sturdy set of forceps, a set of four electronic sized scewdrivers, one larger multi screwdriver with a set of lock on heads, and a small roll of electrical tape.

"That kits sells for 20 :nuyen: , the next kit up sells for 35 :nuyen: but it also includes a battery operated cold-soldering iron and a coil of solder. It comes in the same type of case." The clerk hands Erebus another hard plastic case.

[banditf50]

15:00:52 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

No doubt those files will shed some light onto how Julia is tied to this sudden plauge outbreak, but it still doesn't bring us any closer to locating her.

"Whatever your specific motives in regards to CorpDeVo, Aztechnology, or Julia are not my buisness and attempting to extract them from you is not, and has never been my intent."

Two competing Azzie factions . . . potentially two times the effort, two times the resources, and half as much time for us to find her.

"You strike me as a shrewed enough professional that I cannot envision that this meeting does not benefit your motives in some fashion and perhaps I will be able to help you in some way. But none of that changes the reality that this entire web is anchored upon this one girl, and her safety from the Azzies is only compromised further the longer we wait. Do you have any information about her location that can keep me one step ahead of them?"

[Sedna]

15:00:55 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

"As if you could, my dear," says Kiki mockingly, in answer to Virgil's initial comment. "The priest is the one who took her to cover. At least, if he followed my recommendation. Ask him."

Is there anything else you need from him?

[banditf50]

15:00:59 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

I have one final question to ask, then we can leave this place. Not entirely sure how to communicate with the strange matrix presence whom appeared to be their benefactor, Virgil continued without skipping a beat, hoping that his thoughts would be heard.

"I am glad that you gave Father Bremen advanced warning, if he followed your instructions then I am grateful for what you have done to protect Julia thus far."

Now I just hope that we can pick up her trail. It seems as if Father Bremen's knowledge of how to find her went up in smoke along with the gaming house.

"I have a bit of knowledge concerning the types of factions that Aztechnology might have sent on such a mission. If you know the identities of either group it would be invaluable in helping me to prepare for the impending storm."

[banditf50]

Double Post . . .edited for deletion

[grendel]

21:16:20 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Mioko responded by leaning forward and kissing Tenmou with a passion that took his breath away. She tasted of mint and sake, and a hidden fiery desire. Breaking the kiss, she shivered, hey eyes opening after a moment.

"Take me home, Shitoki," she whispered.

[Cedric Rolfsson]

19:27:00 January 6, 2063 Tacoma Radio Shack

Erebus dropped the small microtronics set into the storage compartment on his bike and hopped on. The basic kit was worth the 30 bucks he'd spent on it. Small, easily carried and he could supplement it with the stuff needed for the more nefarious tasks he planned to use it for.

Dropping onto the saddle of his Rapier the young Elf revved the engine and slid into the night time traffic. He had about half an hour to talk with Angel before he had to head to Redmond to meet his contact. Angel might be just another dancer at Neon Dreams but she also had more gossip about who was doing what to whom in the shadows than anyone Erebus knew. She would never have the details but she'd have all the rumors, and sometimes those rumors turned out to be true.

Besides, she could dance like a dream and had the body of a simporn star, talking to her was never that onerous a chore.

[Cedric Rolfsson]

Double post - edited for deletion

[Sedna]

15:01:03 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

Is there anything else you need from him?

Although it couldn't show on his icon, Virgil frowned at the repetition. Clearly his message hadn't gotten through.

"All I've gotten," says Kiki, "and this is strictly hearsay, mind you, is that although they're both after Julia, they're both after different things. I'm not sure if both are officially project leaders: what I've gotten, people talk a lot about the leaders of both factions taking this awfully personally. I've also heard that for one or maybe both, it's really all about respeto. Something about Julia, or maybe about you four, dears, really pissed someone off -- a couple of someones -- and it's not the kind of pissed off you get just by killing people. I'd be kind of curious to know what's behind that, myself."

[Shadowrunner13]

21:16:52 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Still reeling from Mioko's kiss, Shitoki simply nodded. He figured Tanisa would get a ride to wherever she needed to be in one way or another. He looped his arm around Mioko's waist and led her through the crowd, toward the front doors of the Inferno.

The cool night air quickly enfolded them as they broke free of the massive gathering of people. The world seemed strangely silent after the din of the club. It made Shitoki feel like he was alone with Mioko in the world and the thought brought a smile to his lips.

He unlocked the BMW and opened the door for the woman he loved before rounding the car and climbing in. Putting the car in gear, he pulled out of his parking spot and merged into traffic.

[grendel]

08:47:21 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Seattle, UCAS

Rain rattles against the windowpane, rousing Tenmou from sleep. He blinks against the dimness of the apartment, eyes adjusting automatically to the low light level. Something isn't quite right, and it takes a moment for him to register the faint vanilla and honeysuckle scent of Mioko's perfume. He knew immediately that she was gone, though, but he slid out of bed to check anway. On the countertop in the kitchen was an origami crane, folded from one of the scrap pieces of paper he had laying on his desk. The crane's wings were charred black, though, and crumbled as he ran his fingertips across them. Tenmou smiled as he remembered.

Mioko covers herself shyly as he slips her blouse from her shoulders, glancing through the veil of her hair. He understands as his eyes adapt: she carries the scars of an operator, faint though they are, she knows that he will see them. Gently, he runs his fingers across them, barely touching her skin. Softly, one by one, he kisses them, feeling her tremble beneath his lips. Her hands, hard with a warrior's callouses, are soft and warm as she pulls him close. "Shitoki", she whispers, and all afterwards is lost in the liquid fire of her eyes and the embrace of her body.

[Morgannah]

19:52:07 Monday 01 January 2063 - Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CFS

A small, slow smile deepens the dimple in her left cheek as she settles onto the offered chair, deftly draping one of the vivid napkins across her lap as she watches Caska move about the table. There was something .. otherworldly about all of this, thrilling too, as she considered how she had begun this day with a pocket secretary and a handgun. Cosmo chuckled softly as a saxophone wailed in the background, idly trailing a finger across the supple linen, almost unconsciously testing the texture of the fabric, savoring its luxuriousness as she realized it was the very best. She was thrilled .. but not at all surprised. This race against the clock, a dance between life and death, crawling through the slime of the inner city only to find herself stalking among the beautiful and the powerful a few hours later .. it was all as familiar to her as breathing, somehow, and she knew that nights like this one ranked among the deadliest. It was easy to lose oneself in a slow, seductive moment, to drop an otherwise ironclad guard .. that was how she'd operated before ....

Cosmo paused and considered the slender knife resting against the inner curve of her thigh, something she had placed without a thought but felt there was a reason. Now she knew.

Not just a soldier, then; a killer.

She smiled more broadly as the salad was placed in front of her, murmuring a soft "thank you" while she fought against a surge of nausea. A killer. She appraised Caska from across the rim of her goblet, her bold, expressive eyes reflecting the small light of the gas flames until they seemed to glow with their own inner fire. Cosmo took one last sip of her wine as she waited for him to settle himself as well, admiring the easy, predatory grace of his movements, the strength just barely held in check ....

To her credit, she did restrain herself from taking a bite of the exquisite-looking first course until Caska had his fork in hand, though a fragrant hint of white truffle made it a truly herculean effort. She sighed blissfully, savoring the delicate balance between ingredients almost as much as the salad itself. A few moments pass before she glances back up at her partner and blushes becomingly under his intense stare, the plate before him untouched.

"It's delicious, Caska, won't you have some?"

[grendel]

19:52:36 Monday 01 January 2063 - Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CFS

Caska glances over at Cosmo, his expression fixed for the second it took him to decide whether eating the bite of salad on his fork would constitute a concession in the game. It was more of an invitation than a direction, though, following it would not endanger his control of the situation. He fades the text notes that hover in his vision to a twenty percent mask, ghostly pale letters framing the left isde of Cosmo's face. The food was, predictably, excellent. He rarely saw Ankaros, but he kept the lines of communication open for occasions just as this.

Taking another bite of salad, he dismissed the list of notes and possible topics of conversation and questions altogether. He set his fork down on the plate, and looked over at Cosmo, his gaze as intense as hers of a moment ago.

"There is no mistaking the truth in us, we are both proficient in our chosen craft. I know you by your professional name, as you know me by mine. I'm sure if I were to ask you would be able to provide me with another name, complete with history and personality, all believable yet fake. You could expect the same from me and not be disappointed. Something tells me that I shouldn't waste our time like that. Instead of trading lies tonight, tell me one true thing about yourself. Anything."

Taking his glass in hand, he stared out into the night sky, his gaze far beyond the city lights and the stars on the horizon. When he speaks, his voice is not the urbane and playful thing Cosmo has heard so far, but something remote and gravelly. It is his true voice, the animal's snarl left when the conscious mind exerted no control.

"For myself, I love the rain. To stand out in it, to let the heavy drops wash down your face, to feel it soak you to the bones. In my life I have never been happy. But the rain brings me a sense of peace."

[Moirdryd]

15:35 Saturday January 6th, 2063 - Redmond Barrens-Cao Jaan's halfway house

Knight listens to the man talk, drinking in the apparent genuine empathy he seems to have for meta-humanity, especially those who are truly unlucky in the world.

"So," he speaks softly with a considering air to his voice "you are really requesting more astral recon for those waywards unfortunate enough to be in need of the sanctuary of this, your, establishment? " he raises a brow looking to Jaan.

Jaan nods, "Yes, there is very little potential for any magical threat here and I only wish if trouble happens for people to do it elsewhere, or if possible not at all."

Knight pauses thinking this through. Is this guy for real? He certainly seems to give a damn about those he looks after and i dont get any feeling of duplicity....

Using the moment he takes to breath and ponder Jaan`s words he gentley extends his perceptions astral again at the same time dropping the complex weave of magical energy he had held in place about him.

Nodding Knight continues " I can do that, calling up a spirit requires a little warning time though and a few tools, but i can arrange some Elemental support for the building and the immediate area. A showy enough display from a fire or eath elemental should send most Barren`s gangers running. Such things, given the right resources, are the easy part of the work." Knight leans back and folds his arms. "The more complex aspect of the task is the astral recon or rather how often you`d wish me to be keeping survielence upon the local region for those in need? I`ll not lie to you Mr Jaan, I have a great deal of business to be attending in the `plex. While I am more than willing to do this job for you, it is useful to know roughly how much exterior time I will have whilst in your employ and thusly how much of my business I shall be needing to place in the hands of others?..."