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

[grendel]

10:11:06 Sunday 07 January 2063 - Seattle, UCAS

"Not a problem. Watch your back out there."

Zeyda disconnects from the call.

[WinterRat1]

20:11:34 Sunday 07 January 2063 – The Street in front of Oodles of Noodles

The gangers look at him like he’s on drugs. “Find, look, what the hell’s the difference?” one of them asks. Right…gangers…no education…like they would know the difference. To them it’s probably the same thing. You’re losing your connection with the streets, Johnny-boy.

Shaking his head wearily, John replies, “You’re right, forget I asked. Well, what do you say? We got a deal?”

The gangers look at each other warily for a bit, then one of them nods at Megan who turns to John and smiles. “Deal. Well, where you want to look first? The club, or his place?”

[Scrapheap]

20:13:55 Sunday 07 January 2063 – The Street in front of Oodles of Noodles

John wondered if he looked as stunned as he felt. Wha...? That's it? Those are the only leads? The only places that they know to look for this kid? Fraggin' drek, that's no choice at all. What happened to all of Megan's "I know where he's at and I'll lead you to him" talk? Was she bluffing? This better not be some sort of scam.

He took a deep, calming breath and silently regarded the group of street-kids before continuing. "If those are the choices, then we'd better start with the club. If Twiggy has half a brain, and is in as much trouble as you guys say, then there's no way he went back to his place. The clinic men sounded like pros, so I'm sure they've already found his doss. They're probably still watching the place."

The last caused Megan and the kid she'd called on the trid, who John assumed was the leader of the little group, to exchange a quick glance. What, are they worried? Surely they'd already thought of that? The girl seems quicker than that, at least.

"So, let's save his place until we have no other choice. Hopefully Twiggy's cousin will know something. We'll hit the club first and see what's what. Lead the way."

Silently hoping that one of the kids had a car so they wouldn't have to tube or bus it to Puyallup, John resisted the urge to light another cigarette and waited for the kids to reply.

[Sedna]

15:41:28 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

The spray of bullets shudders through the armoured jacket, almost through the form-fitting body armour, and the hidden 'ware redistributes the remainder of the translated kinetic energy and absorbs it ... just. The sheer kinetic energy of all those bullets impacting against his armour at once had almost driven him back a step, his heel touching Tiffany's arm, and he forces himself to keep from overbalancing and windmilling, arcing backwards into the car. Certainly there will be bruises: but under the circumstances, getting away with some incidental bruising was very nearly the best Dragon could possibly have hoped for. Even better, he'd actually managed to block the thing from Sybersnake. His armour's starting to take some serious punishment, but better armour than skin and bones. When he'd first spotted that turret come out, a range of much worse possibilities had flashed through his mind.

Unfortunately, one of them had been the Ares Antioch which had now made its appearance from a second pop-down turret. And -- somewhere behind him, at the very edge of his peripheral vision -- no, above -- in front of him? -- had something fallen from the sky?

Before he can make sense of that sudden shriek of clashing metal, Dragon's world turns into a fiery inferno of flying shrapnel.

[Sedna]

15:41:28 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

When the fire clears away a little ... Huh. We're all in one piece, more or less. I didn't really believe that would work.

And then all five of them stare as the SMG-wielding drone "staggers", just misses the edge of the rooftops, almost recovers, and then goes arcing down into the street a few metres away from them. The grenade which had been primed in the Ares rolls loose, and begins billowing smoke.

The other, now dented, Condor which had falcon-stooped on it is wobbling a little as it struggles to regain some altitude.

"Ow," says Tiffany.

[Tiredronin]

15:41:30 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

Ouch! Daedalus flinches as he struggles to regain his bearings.

Ah headache… that stupid bus…

Reflecting back to the events of that morning: He remembers stumbling off the greyhound at the crack of dawn after what felt like a cross country session of sleep-deprivement torture. Head pounding, he had grabbed his luggage and took a cab to the studio apartment in Tahoma that Shifty had secured for him. Getting up to the room Daedalus had resisted the urge to collapse and sleep like the dead.

A soldier knows his weapons and capabilities, one like Dragon has his guns and his speed, someone like Virgil has his other… mystical attributes to make him dangerous. I have to rely on my mind to make a difference on the field of battle... well, my mind, Talos and Icarus. Remembering that it is never a good idea to be caught without your weapons ready, he wearily set forth reassembling his not-quite-stock LS Strato-9 drone and LDSD 41 “Condor” drone.

Ugh... we’re in the world, its not like this is a warzone, what could possibly happen here? ... But that doubt was quickly quashed knowing full well that in case anything did happen, his mind may not make the same type of impact as Talos’ MMG.

Besides, I can’t leave you guys like this, how undignified.

He smiled tiredly looking at his drones, disassembled for transport and sitting in their luggage bags. And with that he harnessed the discipline afforded him by his military training to stay up just a bit longer to restore his drones to their fully functional selves…

… which turns out to be a darn good thing he remarks to himself as he snaps back to the present and fights to regain control of Icarus to keep the drone from plummeting to the ground after the collision.

Having stabilized himself he looks down and sees Dragon and the others standing around the smoldering wreckage Dragon’s former car, staring up at him and the result of Icarus’ high speed banzai drop on the SMG toting drone.

Hrm… I suppose I should give him a call back now…

Just as Daedalus begins mentally dialing the number, a small flicker of movement catches his eye from edge of Icarus’ sensory field, where the other drone, the one that had just destroyed Dragon’s car had been hovering… oh frag...

[Sedna]

1335 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - at her Puyallup doss

"All right," Alleycat sighs, "The visas, telling me what you find out about Blaze's cousin, and the Petra SIN in exchange for delivering your message. SIN should have been tossed in for free anyway ... if it's as hot as you say."

"That SIN's still airtight anywhere outside Seattle," Grail points out reasonably. "It's only in Seattle that it's hot -- and Seattle's not the centre of the universe. Most of the time, anyway."

She waits.

"The visas, they aren't going half bad, even if the whole Bigio situation is unstable as hell, so sure, we'll add those in."

What do the visas have to do with the Bigio situation? Grail had been getting them through Durin's connections ... And then she smiles in that sudden flash of understanding: Of course. He's mob-connected. That's probably the marker that got him pulled off the run.

"But the SIN -- Lance, this is some good work here. It would actually be easier just to fudge the Star records than to create something like this."

"All right," she sighs. "Forget it then."

"Forget it?"

"Isn't that what you meant?"

"No, no," explains Grail patiently, "you counter-offer half its base price now."

"All right," she repeats. "Half price, then."

"Half price?! Are you joking?!"

"But that's what you told me to say."

"Oh, dear."

"Look, just tell me what to say," says a very tired Alleycat, not even fighting it. It's easier, and for sure it will be faster.

"You really aren't used to haggling, are you?"

"Does it show?" she asks ironically.

"No," answers Grail. "Short form: we'll fix it at the visas and a third off the SIN. And I'll even throw in Blaze's cousin for free. Wait, that doesn't come out evenly --"

"Never mind," she says quickly. "Make it a quarter off and we'll agree that the difference covers the search."

"That's all? For that kind of search?"

"But you just gave it to me for nothing."

"Yes, but it's worth ten K!"

She hangs up on him.

[WinterRat1]

15:41:31 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

Taking a moment to make sure the drone was no longer a threat, Dragon ran over to Tiffany and Sybersnake . A quick glance at the reporter's leg told him all he needed to know about her mobility. Keeping his senses alert for any other threats that might be out there, he immediately instructed, " Sybersnake, get the two of you to cover now, I'll cover you."

[Sedna]

15:42:02 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

The reporter smiles painfully at him. "Stupid, huh?"

Sybersnake struggles slowly to her feet, staring at the wreckage still raining down around her. "Shi-ite," she says slowly, and with feeling. Bracing Tiffany's arm around her shoulders, she manages to get the reporter to her feet as well, balancing awkwardly. "Could use a little help here, Father," she calls out to the priest, who's still standing on the other side of the flaming wreckage of what was once a Ford Americar.

[Shadowrunner13]

10:11:06 Sunday 07 January 2063 - Seattle, UCAS

Once Zeyda had hung up, Tenmou went through his daily routines of exercise and meditation, before he opened his duffel bag and cleaned his swords and the Ingram Smartgun, before packing them again.

Around 1700, Tenmou suited up in his form fitting armor, before dressing for business in a nice shirt and pants. Grabbing his duffel bag, he walked to his car to scope out the delivery point, before heading out to pick up the package.

[banditf50]

20:24:21 January 6, 2063 Hwy 520/Bellevue Eastbound

The feeling of the night air whipping by his exposed form brought Erebus a moment of calm introspection. He'd put a few leads out for potential work and knowing the shadows of this city something was bound to turn up soon. He was even starting to feel more comfortable with the handling of the Rapier.

As he passed a sign indicating his exit in two miles Erebus noticed that the the Nissan Jackrabbit that had recently merged ahead of him was starting to move quite erratically.

Fraggin drunken moron. Autopilot exists for a reason, and even the system on that bargain car has got to be smarter than you.

Twisting the throttle Erebus leans to move to the right lane when the front tires of the Jackrabbit break lose, causing the car to fishtail across the path that he'd just chosen for his lane-change . . .

[Cedric Rolfsson]

20:24:21 January 6, 2063 Hwy 520 - Bellevue

Oh fragging drek!

Erebus leaned into the turn more, hoping to sneak in between the spinning commuter car and the thick ferrocrete "Jersey" barrier lining the edge of the busy roadway.

He hesitated, taking a split second to eye the distances and estimate his chances of avoiding a far too personal meeting with either the hood of the car or various portions of the roadway, torn between grabbing a fistful of throttle or slamming on the breaks.

Adrenaline raced through him, powered by the cyberware and bioware augmentations, and he had to fight against his own reactions. All the the body modifications he'd done made him faster and stronger and he'd trained himself to use all of that in time of danger, only now his reactions were all wrong. His muscles quivered with the needed to dive and roll, and he had to fight the automatic reaction of his right hand to release the handlebar and reach for his gun.

All that nuyen spent on these nifty mods and they all mean zilch when some moron can't control his car. If he wasn't busy being terrified he'd probably find it funny. Hmmm, this might hurt.

Erebus clenched his teeth and grabbed a fistful of throttle.

[WinterRat1]

20:14:05 Sunday 07 January 2063 – The Street in front of Oodles of Noodles

Then it occurred to him. They were street kids. SINless. Hell, home was as likely to be the gang hangout with a spare room as it was a real, genuine apartment. So maybe it wasn’t that far of a stretch that the kid headed back there to be with all his friends. Still, it wasn’t like John was going to admit he might be wrong, especially given the circumstances.

The kid from the trid, the one Megan had talked to, nodded and stuck out his hand. “All right, we’ll go to the club first. You can call me Tyler .”

Nodding back and shaking his hand firmly, but not aggressively, John nods. “Lead the way kid.”

Luckily, the group had arrived in a van, albeit a beat up old one that barely looked like it would run, but it’d suffice. Here’s hoping this actually gets me somewhere, and not just a dead end. I’m coming for you Nora .

21:04:45 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Near Underground 93

About an hour or so later, they arrived at Underground 93 , and John could practically hear the kinks in his legs working themselves out as he stepped out of the van. Leaving the group at the corner down the block from the club, Tyler turned to the group. “Wait here, I’m going to find Twiggy’s cousin,” he explains.

A couple minutes later, he comes back, a large, intimidating bouncer dressed in black walking alongside him. When he gets to the group, the bouncer glares at John , not bothering to hide the fact that he’s checking him out. “I hear you’re looking for my cousin. What’s your deal?” It wasn’t really a question, so much as a demand for an explanation.

John sized up the bouncer in return, and gathered his thoughts to reply.

[banditf50]

20:24:22 Saturday January 6, 2063 Hwy 520 - Bellevue

Twisting the throttle hard Erebus threw his weight to the left and was greeted with a sharp chirp as the tires came alive with the sudden shift in momentum. He had been very careful to make soft turns during his night's riding so as to not exceed the safe level of his minimal experience . . .safety is all relative at this point.

The Rapier dipped towards the pavement and Erebus felt that in a nanosecond his body would be acting as a secondary brake pad for the speeding bike. But then the suspension of the Rapier took hold, as if to shout agreement with all the trid adds proclaiming the machine's 'race-bred' lineage.

Zipping past what would have been the moment of impact Erebus could just make note of the Jackrabbit slamming passenger-side first into the plascrete barrier on the right side of the highway, he didn't dare risk turning his head to look.

[banditf50]

15:41 Saturday January 6th, 2063 - Redmond Barrens, Cao Jaan's halfway house

"Those that display the Talent soon realize that they have a quick trip out of an area like this. There are no street Shamans or the like nearby that would be trying to defend their territory Any shamans or mages we'd see around here are most likly laying-low for some reason or another and would probably want to avoid contact even more than those of us here would."

Trying to anticipate what other recon questions Knight might have Cao Jaan continues on with his report . . .

"We are also far enough away from any toxic zones that we don't have to watch for things that might come crawling out of the sewers . . . or worse."

Knight spies a small sudder working it's way up Cao Jaan's spine, though the room is well heated.

"Am I forgetting anything?"

[Tiredronin]

15:42:30 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

By the miracles of technolgy Daedalus connects with with Dragon and the following message pours out at literally the speed of thought:

"Dragon, you are about to have a VERY bad day. Another missle was launched masked by the explosion of the first one. Get everyone out of the way as superhumanly possible."

[WinterRat1]

15:42:30 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

Dammit to hell, when it rains it fragging pours. Yeesh, what next? A tank coming down the street? Er, maybe I better not jinx us any more than we already are...

Immediately transmitting his response at the speed of thought, Dragon flies back into action. "Daedalus, I'm already having a very bad day. Gotta hand it to you though, great timing. Do you have a point of impact the missile is targeting? I'd like to avoid running to the place it's going to hit. Which way should I get everyone moving to? And can you do anything about the fragger who's firing these missiles at us?"

[Cedric Rolfsson]

20:41:01 January 6, 2063 - 161 S.E. Street Bellevue

His hands had stopped shaking. In retrospect Erebus actually enjoyed that rush, the pounding adrenaline and the knowledge that life and death were only a breath away. He had to fight to keep a grin off his face and he cruised through the streets of Touristville towards the club. If he didn't enjoy that sort of rush, the crystalline sensory awareness and the feeling of being totally wonderfully alive that always seemed to come only when death hung in the balance, he would have found a different occupation a long time ago.

He dropped his bike off in front of a bar about two blocks from the nightclub, the place had almost a dozen other street bikes parked there, and decided to walk to the meeting. He doubted any of the local street apes would be stupid enough to go messing with someone's bike in front of a place like that when they had no way of knowing which of the beer chugging knuckle-draggers inside it belonged to. It was about as secure a location as he was likely to find in the Barrens without having to pay.

[banditf50]

20:53:01 Saturday January 6, 2063 - Touristville

Confident that his bike would be as safe as possible considering the area Erebus strode quickly across the two blocks between the biker bar and the Paradigm Shift. Noticing that the small crowds strolling the sidewalks as they milled from nightspot to nightspot Erebus couldn't help but snicker to himself.
Rich corporate brats out 'slumming' in the barrens. rebelling against your uptight corp parents. . . just not far enough to leave the comfy nest egg. As much as it irked him to be surrounded by the uppity youth crowd at least he had less pairs of hands to watch, and the increased Lonestar presence that the rich-crowd brought to the area could be a benefit as well.

Turning a corner Erebus avoided the mass of humanity filtering itself into lines at the massive glowing maw of the Paradigm Shift and instead strode straight around the back of the building. Sure enough the lot behind the club had been purchased and converted to serve as a VIP parking lot. The valets taking keys at the clubs entrance drove the luxury vehicles around and parked them behind the safety of the four meter high chain-link fence. Working for tips that wouldn't even cover the insurance of cars like those.

The gate to the lot featured separate lanes for entering and exiting traffic with a small concrete island separating the drives. The island was host to a small security hut filled with the blinking lights of several surveillance monitors. A human male sat inside the hut bent over the various screens. Standing outside the hut was a large but clean-cut troll wearing street leathers and brandishing an unusually large stun baton. No doubt he's carrying some heavier heat in a more concealed fashion. But spotting an extra bulge on a mass of metahuman that size was virtually impossible.

As he closed the distance to within a half-block Erebus could feel himself at the center of the troll's attention, and locked into his field of vision. . .

[banditf50]

15:42:12 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

When your reflexes are not artificially enhanced by advancements in cybertechnology it is difficult to understand just how quick a merc who has had their reflexes wired can be. Staring at the smoldering heap of twisted scrap metal that was Dragon's car but a moment ago Virgil is very aware that if Dragon had not been able to move at such a freakishly high pace, they would all have a place amongst the flaming crater in the street.

It's a good thing that neither of us keeps track of how many times one has saved the life of the other Scanning the scene in front of him Virgil can see Dragon tracing the sky with the muzzle of his spas. No doubt I will have a chance to return the favor very soon.

Tiffany and Sybersnake were struggling to get to better cover and his first step was towards the two women, Wait! One or two men standing alone is a waste of ammo . . .three or more men is a target . . or however one of Dragon's morbid merc sayings went. Knowing that he would not be strong enough to move the women quickly enough to be safe Virgil is relived when the mountain that is Father Bremen moves over towards them.

Time to earn my keep. Backing away from the car and back towards the clinic Virgil begins to gather the words of power around him. We are out-gunned and out-positioned. Watchers of the city, I am in dire need of your help in order to ensure the survival of my friends. Please send me the embrace of your protectors.

Virgil did not think that his called seemed as strong as he would have liked, but his ears were still ringing from the explosion and none of them had time for him to settle himself. However his call was enough and in a heartbeat he felt the comforting presence of a city spirit hovering above his aura.

Now where did those two watchers get to?

[Moirdryd]

15:45 Saturday January 6th, 2063 - Redmond Barrens, Cao Jaan's halfway house

Knight shakes his head, though his eyebrow raises almost imperceptively as he detects that momentary hesitation and distaste..

Fear perhaps?..at what I wonder

..in Cao's voice.

"Nothing else that i can think of directly, Mr Jaan, the only question which remains is the rather regrettable one of cred. You have engaged my services for sure, Mr Jaan. But i would like to know how much Nuyen a week you are offering me for my services?"

Knight awaits to hear the number but isnt really listening.

This is a pretty good deal. Crash space and a job that will at least feed me. It's well ignored enough that if anyone does come looking for me I doubt they'll find much of anything and with there being a zero of other Awakened here abouts it will be easy to spot anyone snooping about.

Mentally e also lists the precautions worth doing here, some warding and elemental support will be a must. Despite Cao's reluctance a fire elemental will scare the hell out of most street dwellers and if things do go down during his stay it would provide invaluable fire support. Watchers too will prove useful. But it will all cost.

Knight nods as Cao speaks.

"Very well, Mr Jaan. I shall start tomorrow, I have some things to take care of tonight. Personal things, friends to call, dates to reschedule..you understand."

He leans forwards a little and smiles as Cao takes the offered hand.

"A pleasure to be working with you"

[WinterRat1]

15:42:31 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

"We've got another missile incoming! Stay sharp! Virgil, send a watcher or something, and track down the rigger and the missile ASAP!"

Great, when it rains it pours. Better stay sharp, and see if I can figure out where that missile is heading before it gets here.

[banditf50]

15:42:31 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

City guardian, please conceal myself and my companions over there so that we can escape to safety.

Danagrath, move down that alley and scout for enemies. Warn the women holding the gun if there is any danger.

Not even sparing a nano-second to watch the two spirits move across the astral plane to carry out their instructions Virgil instantly begins extending his concentration to fall across the auras of his friends. If this is the same team that ambushed us earlier they might not have had time to replace their fallen mage. But that would be a dangerous assumption to make given an enemy with an unknown amount of resources.

[Sedna]

15:44:02 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

As he's laying out the magical protections the missile finally makes its appearance. In fact, it screams right over Virgil's head. It's spiralling and wobbling, like it's having difficulty orienting on its target -- and then it straightens, like it's going to go ... past the burning car?

[Tiredronin]

15:44:02 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic

Realising his inability to assist with the missile, Daedalus quickly redirects his perceptions through Icarus's sensors to check that the downed drone is indeed still down and then looks to track the flight of the Condor that started this situation.

"It looks to be an AVM, should be dodgable. Attacker is fleeing, will moniter. Warning: downed bird is still probably operational. Godspeed."