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

[grendel]

06:24:03 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Westbound Interstate 10, Los Angeles, CFS

Again, his eyes meet hers in the rearview mirror. It's a long pause before he answers.

"No, not yet. My shift doesn't end until seven. I'll catch something to eat on the way home from the station. We'll be there in about ten minutes."

[Morgannah]

06:25:17 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Westbound Interstate 10, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo nods, smiling thoughtfully as she splits her attention between the watching the flow of the increasinly dense traffic along the 10 and catching McCrossan's eye in the rearview. Again, she lets the silence stretch until the cruiser reaches its destination, enjoying the light tension that seemed to roll off him every time he glanced back at her.

"Well," she shifted the duffel full of illegal gear from beneath her legs to her lap, "thanks again for helping me out tonight. I'll be busy with breakfast for a while this morning, so .. maybe I'll see you around?"

[grendel]

06:36:10 Saturday 06 January 2063 - The Daily Grind Deli, 12080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

Opening the rear door to allow his passenger to step out, McCrossan smiles at her latest comment. He offers a slim business card, printed with the official logo of the California Rangers.

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call. Next time, though? Try and pick a fight with your boyfriend somewhere you can get a cab."

He dips his head to soften an already gentle rebuke, climbing back into the driver's seat of the cruiser and pulling back out into traffic.

[Morgannah]

06:38:25 Saturday 06 January 2063 - The Daily Grind Deli, 12080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

"But then," Cosmo chuckles, flashing her dimples in a mischevious grin as she accepts the business card, "I'd never be saved by handsome strangers in the small hours of the morning, would I?"

She turned toward the deli, still grinning, and does a quick visal scan to clear her way inside before sauntering up to the counter. Only another professional would notice that her face never came in direct contact with any surveillance.

"Mm, good morning. I'll have coffee, in the biggest cup you have, one of your three-egg omelets with extra cheese, and two toasted croissants, please."

[grendel]

06:51:08 Saturday 06 January 2063 - The Daily Grind Deli, 12080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

If anyone was suspicious about her arriving via California Ranger squad car, no one commented. The coffee was hot, black, and strong, similar to how Cosmo liked her men, the croissants, warm and buttery. It was, apart from her dinner at the start of the week, the best meal she'd enjoyed to date. Traffic on the street began to pick-up, the darkened sky giving way to dawn's pearlescent gray. More and more pedestrians flowed through the doorway of the deli, departing with their own large cups of coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

[Morgannah]

07:12:29 Saturday 06 January 2063 - The Daily Grind Deli, 12080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo sighed blissfully, dabbing each corner of her mouth with a folded paper napkin and checking her reflection in the small pocket mirror she was never without. Breakfast had been incredible, much better than the simply good fare she'd expected, and she'd ordered another extra large cup of the Daily Grind's dark, potent coffee to take with her as well as enough smoked deli meat to sink a freighter.

She checked her p-sec's screen again, as if the Saturday hours for the Los Angeles Regional Shooting Center would change between one glance and the next.

No such luck, but that doesn't stop us from taking a walk down there, does it?

[grendel]

07:37:02 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

The morning wind is chill, and the wan sunlight that filters through the haze does nothing to warm the skin. Cosmo joins the slight but noticeable flow of pedestrians making their way along the wide sidewalks of the street. The businesses are varied but seem to be doing well for themselves. The storefronts are neat and well kept, the window displays engaging, offering both recent and retro styling, as well as music and the latest in technology.

[Morgannah]

07:51:38 Saturday 06 January 2063 - 17080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

It was a pleasant walk, in spite of the chill, and for a while she almost let herself pretend that she was off to work for the day .. even grumbled under her breath a bit about having to work on a Saturday. Casually avoiding any contact with the street's video surveillance, Cosmo made a study of its pedestrians instead and quite enjoyed cold reading the lot of them. In her line of work, understanding what people did and did not know about themselves, what their body language told her they might do next, could well give tip the scales in her favor and give her an edge over her opponent.

With her duffel safely stowed in a claustrophobic coffin motel a few blocks down, she was free to saunter around the neighborhood for hours, honing her skills on street vendors and shopgirls once more businesses opened but never staying in one place for long. Cosmo avoided security cameras like the plague, quite naturally, even going so far as to convince herself to pick up a new longcoat with a stylish contrasting fedora .. to better conceal her features.

What a load of d-....

11:58:07 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Los Angeles Regional Shooting Center, Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo gave her head a slight shake, pausing in front of the Shooting Center for the second time that morning, admiring her new hat in the mirrored plexiglass facade and trying to ignore the plastic-sheathed steel bars that sliced through her reflection in 30cm intervals. She didn't need to check her watch to know that it was well after 10:00.

[grendel]

12:00:19 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Los Angeles Regional Shooting Center, 17080 Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

The shiver of her phone made up her mind for her. Wandering away from the entrance to the range, she pressed the slim handset to her ear.

"Ah, buena sera, signora! How does the day find you?"

Tino's voice, hale and hearty over the phone, can't help but bring a smile to her face.

[Morgannah]

12:00:42 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

"Signore," she chuckles, "it has been a long day already but hearing from you lightens my heart. Don't tell me you're only just waking up from your evening with the lovely Magdalena."

[grendel]

12:01:18 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

A heavy chuckle sounds over the line.

"Ah, bella signora, it would never do for me to discuss such matters. Although, you might say that I am just recovering from my morning with Magdalena."

Another distinctive laugh fills her ears before his voice slides down to seriousness.

"My call is about you, though. I have arranged a meeting for you with Oracle, tonight. An online club called Palatine at eight p.m."

[Morgannah]

12:02:56 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

"Grazie, Tino, you are amazing!" Cosmo dimpled, tilting her head to one side. "I'm sure we'll speak again soon but for now, hmm .. would you be able to recommend a discrete firing range where a girl can get in a few hours' training time?"

[grendel]

12:03:29 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

"Discrete, eh? Well, as you might guess not all of my clients are well balanced, well mannered, well figured young women such as yourself. I know a certain gentleman who operates a facility that should cater to your needs. It's out in Riverside, south on the 15 by Ontario Road, called Velocity Mine. Ask for Kenner."

[Morgannah]

12:04:16 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Nightengale Lane, Los Angeles, CFS

"Wonderful. I appreciate your help, Signore. Please, enjoy the rest of your day and buy your lady something nice. Added to my bill, naturally. Ciao."

12:51:27 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo stifled a sigh as she flipped through her ever-shrinking roll of bills, giving the taxi driver an extra 50 :nuyen: for his silence and a radiant smile for his trouble. With her flop at the Trade Winds Hotel still clear, she'd been able to swap out her duffel for a backpack and her trendy clothes for something a bit more serious as she wasn't likely to spend this night on the town. Gun, p-sec, and a few other goodies were either stashed in the bag or any one of her jacket's pockets.

Still smiling softly, she scanned the building before heading inside, wondering what sort of person this Kenner would turn out to be.

[grendel]

12:54:09 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

The building is an oversized quonset hut, forty meters on the short side by almost ninety long. The front door is solid metal, hefty in Cosmo's hand as she pulls it open. The interior is lit with harsh halogen floods, white lights illuminating gray industrial shelving littered with all manner of weapons supplies: clips, stocks, slings, grips, sights, cleaning supplies, and protective cases. Beyond the shelves, about twenty paces into the store, was a low counter that ran the width of the building. Behind it, on a steel pegboard, were a dozen weapons. Mostly pistols, with a pair of HK submachineguns thrown in. The soundlock to the range was on the right, and even through that she could hear the staccato of gunfire. A heavy set ork looked up from the book he was reading behind the counter.

"May I help you?"

[Morgannah]

12:57:49 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo noted the lack of obvious video surveillance almost right away and inclined her head toward the ork, looking for a few cues in his body language, things only someone trained as she would know not to give away. She ran one finger across a shelf, nodding slowly but watching him from the corner of her eye.

Not just an employee, but someone in charge. Armed, two pistols, right thigh and lower back, but who knows what's behind the counter.... Is that .. Dostoevsky?!

She flashed her dimples at the ork reading Crime and Punishment, approaching the counter with a natural predatory grace that didn't need to be masked, for once.

"A friend of mine sent me here to find someone, actually. Is Kenner around?"

[grendel]

12:58:11 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

The ork quirked an eyebrow in surprise, retrieving a bookmark that consisted of a 14mm shell pounded flat with his left hand.

"Really? Who might your friend be?"

Cosmo glanced from his left hand to his face to his right hand, realizing that the ork was no amatuer. The movement with his left hand was more distraction than anything else. His right had moved to just beneath the counter, resting on the smooth composite stock of what she guessed was a shotgun.

[Morgannah]

12:58:22 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo grinned but made no other move, resting casually against an empty wall when she noticed that his hand had indeed slipped below the counter.

"I spoke with Signore Drago just this morning. Feel free to call him if you like."

She couldn't help but wink, her grin turning wolfish.

"I hope this isn't his idea of a joke. He doesn't owe any money here, does he?"

[grendel]

12:59:39 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

The ork laughs, once, harshly.

"Ha. Not likely. Drago is good people. The name's Kenner. What can I do for you?"

His hands spread themselves on the counter, empty.

[Morgannah]

13:00:04 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

"Cosmo," she chuckled, pushing away from the wall and walking the rest of the way to the counter. "And he is."

"I guess you could say I'm new to CalFree and looking for a quiet place to run a few rounds through the Manhunter, if it's chill with you."

[grendel]

13:00:36 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

"You need targets? Eyes and ears? Ammo?"

Kenner gestured towards the wall of paper images of make believe bad guys as well as standard IPSC pistol and rifle targets. The cubbyholes of safety glasses and ear protectors were below those.

[Morgannah]

13:00:50 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

"Everything. Can you set me up for the afternoon?"

She flipped a new roll of bills between two fingers and arched a slender blonde eyebrow.

[grendel]

13:02:44 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

"100 nuyen an hour, for as long as you want. Lane six."

Kenner set a pair of circular IPSC targets on the counter, along with a pair of ear protectors and shooting glasses with amber lenses. Four fifty round boxes of ammunition joined them.

[Morgannah]

18:04:44 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Lane 6, Velocity Mine, 804 Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo breathed softly, the gentle rise and fall of her chest completely at odds with the ceaseless report of weapons firing all around her. She stood comfortably in her Street Tac boots, black cargo pants and tank, with a single long ponytail brushing the small of her back. Her usual easy smile was gone, lips resuming their natural pouty curve as she focused on a spot roughtly ten meters in front of her and an insistent ticking behind her. Few thoughts intruded beyond the recent memory of a sneering woman she couldn't hit to save her life, blurred by the agony of what she'd done only a few minutes earlier and a constant threat crouching off to one side .. waiting for her to make the slightest mistake.

There.

It was the first weapon she'd received since waking up. The first reminder that she could fight back against whatever had put her to sleep. The Manhunter slid from its place against her hip as Cosmo's fingers encircled its stock, caressed the trigger with just enough force to keep it taut as she brought the pistol to bear. A heartbeat to interface while the Smartlink painted its crosshairs onto the centre target and then a soft exhale as the weapon bucked in her hands. Once. Twice. Adjust. Three, four, five, and six times in rapid succession. Better. A few more hours and I'll have it.

She didn't need to look at her watch to know that it was time to go, however much she'd like to stay until her technique was ingrained. The target would reflect skill that was improving. All hits to the torso, most of them upper, but a 40cm spread slanting left. Novice. Frowning slightly, she gathered her gear and tried to remind herself that learning was a process. There was no way to excel at everything. Not immediately, anyway.

[Morgannah]

18:13:07 Saturday 06 January 2063 - Westfield Drive, Los Angeles, CFS

The beginnings of a smile twitched across Cosmo's lips, growing along with the pool of light on the road in front of her and the telltale sounds of large vehicle deaccelerating somewhere behind her. Waiting until the last moment as she had earlier, she flipped her ponytail over one shoulder and grinned at the gap-toothed old timer in his battered pickup.

"Bit late for a sweet gal like yerself to be walkin' by yer lonesome, eh?"

"It is, but I'm just headed down the road a'ways."

"Weell hop in, then. No sense walkin'less y'ave'ta."

Nodding gratefully as she did in fact 'hop' inside the vehicle, Cosmo sat back and listened to an inevitable stream of chatter that picked up once the old man agreed to drop her off a couple blocks away from her next destination. She didn't wait to see if the 50:nuyen: that 'fell' out of her pocket had been discovered once she'd stepped out of the truck; the lights indicating she'd found the Hot Linx Cybercafe flickered just ahead....