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

[grendel]

19:00:04 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo caught the phone on the third ring, pausing the program she was in the middle of working on.

"Good evening. How is your day?"

She wondered for a moment at the fact that it was his voice on the line. If he were to call from his headware, which she assumed he had available to him, the voice would be a flat electronic construct. No other sounds were present in the background of his transmission, though.

[WinterRat1]

22:35:09 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

The form whizzing towards Blaze looks like an old, old, old school private eye, possibly from something resembling film noir. The P.I, for lack of a better mental classification, gives Blaze a wide berth and shows his hands open, palms up.

No hostile intent is detected from him, and he nods in greeting to Blaze before continuing on his way, being sure to keep a respectful and peaceful distance. Then he continues flying past Blaze deeper into the Barrens...

[Morgannah]

19:00:11 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo smiled, quite simply, and leaned back in her chair. The slight shift in position was more than enough to ease some of the tension from her back and shoulders after hours of barely moving. A slight purr crept into her voice; she liked that he'd called her directly but wondered at his reasoning.

"Mm, better now. How are you, Caska?"

Was it a mark of how he felt for her or was he simply out of range for the headware to work?

[grendel]

19:00:23 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

"Busy, unfortunately. I'm not going to be able to break free tonight. Are you busy tomorrow?"

[Morgannah]

19:00:45 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

She sighed softly. It was likely for the best that he was busy tonight; she had work to do as well, distateful as the prospect was.

"I might be, but even then it shouldn't take longer than an hour or two. What'd you have in mind?"

[grendel]

19:01:16 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

The pause in the conversation left little to the imagination as to what Caska had in mind, and Cosmo could see the half-smile that curled his lips whenever he was thinking something particularly wicked.

"Nothing fancy, dinner and the theater?"

[Morgannah]

19:01:48 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

Taking a second or two to visit a wicked daydream of her own, she almost didn't catch the word "theatre." A broad grin swept across her face.

"Sounds heavenly. When should I expect you?"

[grendel]

19:02:13 Thursday 04 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

"I'll be by at 1800 to pick you up. I'll see you then."

Caska clicked off the call on his pocket secretary, tucking the slim unit back into one of his utility pouches. He glanced over at the supine rigger, strapped into the command couch on the other side of the van.

All right, are they in position yet?

Quill highlighted the pair of symbols making their way across the topo-overlay on the central MFD.

Almost. Twenty five meters to go. Target still unalerted/non-evasive.

Vegas opened her eyes, blinking in the red-lit dimness of the van.

Astral's clear. I've got Snoopy shadowing the insertion team, but he'll break off once they approach the ward.

Caska nodded, adjusting the ride of the Ares Alpha slung muzzle down across his tac vest.

Roger.

[paul_HArkonen]

22:35:09 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

What have I got to lose? Besides my pretty dreky life anyway.

Giving the "private eye" a moment's head start Blaze zooms after him. Blaze's cat form continues testing the air, searching for any sign of his targets, along with any anger from his fellow astral being.

10 to 1 this is all a goose chase, but if he's a P.I. Maybe he'll have some idea of where Melissa is. If not the P.I.'s were always the good guys in old movies... right?

[WinterRat1]

22:38:13 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

The P.I gives no indication that he is aware Blaze is following him. However, after a few minutes, he screeches to a halt and turns around quickly to face the shaman.

"Hoi chummer, I don't think I was bothering you. Care to tell me why you were following me?"

[WinterRat1]

18:09:16 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

Dragon pauses and looks over at the shaman, waiting for him to respond. However, Virgil is unusually quiet and looks a little spaced out, whether because he was thinking or just recovering from a little too much mojo lately was hard to say. Deciding he may as well fill in Daedalus while Virgil is lost in whatever he was lost in, Dragon rubs his eyes and answers, “Well for starters, our orders are going to have to sit on the back burner for a moment. We’ve got a bit more pressing things to worry about for the moment, like staying alive.”

“Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!” Daedalus immediately raises his right hand, points the first finger towards the sky, and brings it diagonally down across his body to his hip in a motion akin to strapping on a seatbelt, all in rhythm with his chanting.

“Do you mind? We’re in a restaurant here and people are going to stare, and we don’t need the attention!” Virgil hissed irritably, before refocusing his gaze back on his plate, intently buttering a slice of bread.

“Heh, sorry, I saw it on an old flatvid once a long time ago, and I thought it was pretty funny.”

Clearing his throat, Dragon tried not to laugh, but failed miserably. Although the rigger’s sense of humor could be a little wacked sometimes, it was still pretty darn funny sometimes, if only because it was so stupid.

“Right. Moving along,” Dragon regained his composure and continued in a low voice, “As far as who’s after us, right now we’re pretty sure the Big A is on the opposite side of the fence, and we’ve got a hit team after us by S-K as well. Aside from that, whoever and whatever wants a piece of Julia . As far as shaking them, I think we’re going to have to flat out deal with them one way or another, because we can only run so long.”

“You keep saying ‘we’. Who is ‘we’?” Daedalus interjected.

“Ah right. Well, let me fill you in from the beginning…” And with that, Dragon began filling the rigger in on the events of the past few days. Sybersnake , Tiffany , Julia , the whole nine yards. About the only thing he left out were the personal issues he and the decker, and later the reporter, had. He figured it wasn’t immediately relevant to the discussion at hand, and he wasn’t certain yet if he was ready to talk about that anyway, although he did tell the rigger about Roberto . When he finished, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head.

“Like I said, we’ve got a lot to do before we can even think about working on our mission. Thoughts?”

[banditf50]

18:19:18 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"Wow, you pretty much covered everything right there. Daedalus, I think the most important topics that you can comment on at the moment are what the possible connection between this gomba Vinnie and Jonah is, and where can we hole up for the night. I know that my hideway was likely compromised this afternoon, and I doubt it is safe for us either Dragon or I to head back to our main dosses at the moment."

[paul_HArkonen]

22:41:25 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

Stopping instantly in the air Blaze's cat like apearence shrugs slightly. "You look like the kind of person who might be able to help me, so, I was following to see if you were oging somewhere urgent, before asking for help. I'm searching for three people/things, and I was wondering if you and your, freinds" indicating the two watchers by his side, "can help."

[Tiredronin]

18:20:23 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"Well I guess we can go to my place, Shifty set me up with a temporary little flat till my proper housing arrangements can be made. As long as we can make it there without being tailed. Maybe we should travel seperately."

Pausing for a moment as Mandy returns with their orders, Daedalus takes a moment to check on his drones outside and takes a moment to scan for any potential survellience drones or suspiciously parked cars.

"Enjoy your meal" Mandy says flashing a smile before leaving.

Continuing his train of thought, "As for Vinnie, he's the smuggler who is suppposed to be bringing the rest of my equipment in tonight, but I gather he has been busy, a 'small complication' he says. But I can't seem to reach him. And I have no clue how he may be connected to this Jonah."

[WinterRat1]

22:41:54 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

The P.I., who, on closer inspection, is actually a troll, looks at him curiously. "Maybe we can help you chummer, and maybe we can't. But why should we is a better question? After all, how do I know you're the not one who's up to no good?" There is no malice or contempt in his tone, just a simple, reasonable, matter-of-fact inquiry.

[WinterRat1]

18:21:59 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"And how are we supposed to travel separately? We only have one car." Dragon answered. "And as far as this Vinnie goes, you think you might be able to ask him about Jonah? I gather that him and Jonah are pretty tight, so we'd have to be clear we're trying to help him, not hurt him. But even then, it might be a tough sell. Does he know enough about you to trust that?"

Turning to Virgil but addressing them both, Dragon adds, "And what about the girls? Given all the drek that's happened at the clinic today alone, do we really want to leave them there by themselves? Would a healing spell or something help Tiffany's leg?"

[paul_HArkonen]

22:41:54 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

Blaze shakes his head, almost in apology. "The only thing I have to offer you of my good intentions is the truth, and my word. I don't know how far that carries, but it's all I've got."

Blaze bows in a manor of greeting. "My name is Blaze, and now you have that much more."

"The only reason I have to offer you to help is perhaps I can pay you, or help you with a problem of your own at some later date."

[banditf50]

18:22:47 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"To be honest with you, I don't want them staying at the clinic any longer than is absolutely needed. I know that Galina and Juliette are already busy beyond belief trying to help a desperate community, and the presence of Tiffany and Sybersnake only attract undo harm onto innocent bystanders. As far as the broken leg goes, both Galina and Juliette are far more potent healers than I will ever be, they will do their best, and anything else will be in nature's hands at that point."

[Tiredronin]

18:23:24 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"Ok, so wait, with all of these people moving out of the clinic, you guys are saying that there are NO other places you guys can take them? If that is the case, then we definitely gotta keep from getting this place found out. I can take a cab home, you guys should go drive the most convoluted route that you can imagine"

"And we'll see about Vinnie, Shifty is my connection to him so I have never met him personally. But it is worth a shot, if I can get a hold of him."

[banditf50]

18:24:32 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"That'd be great if you can get any sort of line on the Jonah-Vinnie connection. At the moment it is our only lead to locating Jonah and thus finding Julia."

"As far as us all hiding out for the night, as tough as it is to have that number of us lying low undected, we are much better equipped to handle threat when we are all together. The way the opposition is stacked against us, they'd have a field day picking each of us off one at a time."

Just like in those cheesy teen-horror movies. Never split up.

[WinterRat1]

22:42:05 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

"Huh." The P.I. looks at Blaze, sizing him up. After a moment, he makes his decision. "OK then, well how about we make a deal. Let's meet in the real world, and you can tell me your story, and I'll decide if I'm available for hire, so to speak. I like meeting my clients face to face before making any decisions. Pick one, the when or the where, and I'll pick the other. Fair enough?"

[WinterRat1]

18:24:39 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

Dragon nods. "I agree with Virgil. These guys aren't chumps and lowballers, they're the real deal. I do not relish the idea of running into all of them at once by myself. For a variety of reasons, we're on a tight timetable, and it might be best to stay together if only to be able to act in a coordinated fashion when it's time to go."

Snapping his fingers, he exclaims in a low voice, "Wait a minute! Actually, this isn't the last place we can go, but we should treat it like that. Still, if push really comes to shove, we could always go to the wilderness or something. Virgil's connections could help us get there, and I can keep us alive while we're there. If things get truly fragged, there's always that as an option. Anyway, you sure we should split up en route Daedalus? If they're tracking us, they'll track us whether we're with you or not, and there's no sense in exposing yourself as a target just yet. What do you two think?"

[banditf50]

18:26:01 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"You do make a good point, we do have the resources and connections to hide out in the Salish lands, but I think it's best that we leave that option as either a last resort, or as a move to make once this whole lump of business is taken care off. While we're laying low out there we certainly won't be able to pursue any leads related to Julia or Sybersnake's former employer."

[paul_HArkonen]

22:42:05 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - Astral Space, Somewhere over the Barrens

"That sounds fine. The place I don't care about, but the time matters, kinda busy tomorrow. How about 9am?" Blaze's astral form had begun, for lack of a better term, pacing slowly while he was waiting, his slightly frantic attitude showing through.

"Oh, and I presume that you'll be able to recognize me again if that time is fine for you."

[Tiredronin]

18:27:23 Saturday, 6 January, 2063 - The Fox and the Hound

"Yeah, lets hope it doesn't come to roughing it out in the boonies. But for purposes of traveling back, splitting up is definitely not a good idea, but considering my role as team rigger, I'll always be somewhat isolated from the rest of you guys in any given situation. As such I'd prefer to not expose myself at all in association to you guys," Daedalus resumes eating his steak.

"You mean assuming that they havn't already spotted and associated you with us." Dragon interjects.

Daedalus pauses mid-chew, "Hmm... how likely do you think that is?"