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

[Scrapheap]

18:13:25 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

Scrapheap quickly pulled himself into a crouch. Simultaneously he glanced around, both to make sure that nobody else was coming after him and to look for a way around the gangers standing between him and the rapidly crawling elf girl. Seeing that most of his routes were blocked by either the flailing bodies of various combatants or by fleeing bystanders, he turned his attention fully onto the advancing punks. In the time it had taken him to look around, they had both moved a step closer.

"Look, chummers, I don't want trouble. I just want to find my niece. What say you two let me pass? We all go home in one piece, no hard feelings?"

C'mon! C'mon! She's getting away!

[Shadowrunner13]

20:04:12 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki nodded. "Yeah... I grew up in Sendai and spent a lot of time in Tokyo when my father was working. It was always so busy and I used to love that. I don't know that I could go back though. I have this perfect memory of the city, but with all the volcanic eruptions that happened when the comet went by and the change in power, I doubt it'd be the same."

Sipping his water, Shitoki looked at Tanisa and smiled. "I wouldn't want to change my perceptions of Japan by returning. It's one of memories I have that I savor."

[WinterRat1]

18:13:25 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

The punks sneer at him, mistaking his pacifism for weakness. "Don't worry," one begins, "we'll send you home in one piece."

"Yeah, it'll just be in a body bag!" The other finishes. Both snicker at their brilliant (in their own minds, at least) humor.

But there's nothing funny about the switchblade knives that suddenly flicker out of nowhere into their respective grips. One of them steps slightly to John's right and slashes high, at about face level, while the other crouches and moves to John's left, stabbing at his ribs.

[Sedna]

14:59:49 Saturday, January 6th, 2063 - Puyallup Street Clinic // Cyberspace

"We'reeeeee juuuusssstttt heeerrrreeee toooooooooooooo aaaaaaaaaalllllllkkkkkk aaaaaabbbbbbout Julia --"

Their perceptions snap back to normal speed with an abruptness that is dizzying.

The slow utility is still active. I have looped in a compensating perceptual adjustment that will allow perception in normal time. I don't want to alert him until we are clear. Get what you can. She is still one step ahead of the tracer code.

"Why don't you ask your friend, here?" the one called Kiki laughs, trying to spin a loose silk scarf around Sybersnake's shoulders. It's taking all her attention to keep clear of it -- and that only just. "Nothing personal between you and me, Father, but she is the one working for Aztechnology. Didn't you know you'd been harbouring a snake to your bosom?"

In the back seat, Virgil realises that Bob has slowly, unobtrusively pulled out some kind of tool from his worker's harness, and, concealed by Dragon and Sybersnake, is beginning to pry free the car's rivets.

[WinterRat1]

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

"Aztechnology? What interest do they have in Julia ? Assuming your information is accurate and you're on the level, what is Sybersnake's role in all this? What makes you so sure she's a traitor?" Dragon stresses the 'and', hoping that Sybersnake will realize he's just playing along to buy time, not that he doesn't trust her. Of course, right now, they have slightly bigger problems, but later on, when they're sorting this out, hopefully she won't be angry with him. Hopefully.

Keeping up the flow of conversation to distract Kiki and buy Bob and Sybersnake some time, he continues, "What's so special about this girl that the Big A would send a special agent after her, and while we're on the topic, what's your interest in Julia , and stopping Aztechnology from getting her?"

As best as he can Dragon gestures towards his crew, thinking at the same time, Dammit to hell! That goddamn priest is fragging worthless! He's the one who's supposed to know this joker, why the FRAG isn't he saying anything to help us out here? Fragging worthless civilian! Throw them for a loop in a slightly dangerous situation and they go to drek. When we get back meatside, he's going to tell us every fragging thing he knows about every fragging one involved here, and I mean everything. Whether he likes it or not, he finished the thought grimly.

Quickly continuing along and not getting caught up in that thought, he adds, "We know that our interest in Julia is benevolent, but can we say the same for you? How do we know you've got her best interests in mind and aren't just looking to spin a quick nuyen or three? For all we know you're just working for someone else, and trying to blame drek on Sybersnake to mess with us. So why should we believe anything you say?"

[Sedna]

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

"Nothing personal between you and me either, dear," says Kiki to Dragon, as the Zoé scarf finally catches Sybersnake's wrists and loops around them and the car's railings ... and dissolves with a smell of burning plastic, as the restraint burners kick in. "Just because she's working for Aztechnology doesn't make her a traitor ... not to me. Right, Father? And, oh dear, you aren't doing so well, are you, Father? It's just that this place gives me the edge in case anyone's trying to double-cross me. Good thing, wouldn't you say? Not that I'm blaming you for this. It's not like you knew anything about any of this."

"Please," says Father Bremen at last, struggling to shape the words, "just let her go. I'm the one you wanted."

"What on earth makes you think I've got anything against you?" The programming brought across a sense of honest upset, the moment before gravity dropped out from under them again. "I'm trying to help you, priest."

"You have a strange way of showing it," says Virgil, trying to help Father Bremen, and failing.

"Yeah, well, you always like all the things that are good for you?" The existing harnesses are holding Sybersnake and all of her hitchers fast, but Dragon spots the small multitool slipped to her by Bob, a moment before she sticks it through the old, dusty wood of the car to short-circuit the newly-exposed wiring and the bar separating them hums with sudden electricity. "This Julia's key in a lot of things," Kiki continues almost blithely, drawing the electricity up -- into the dress? The sudden influx of static crackles along the thin silk, sending all their hair on end; and Dragon almost bites his tongue as the electricity shocks through his muscles. "Sybersnake, my dear, your contract was another. Hadn't you ever thought about why your employer would want to discredit CorpDeVo?"

"That's where you'll find the person you're looking for," says Tiffany suddenly. "An unregistered --"

"Embarrassment, of course," says Kiki without the least embarrassment, grounding the last of the electricity into the metal binding the old wooden track; causing Bob to hiss inaudibly as a spark leaped to touch his own tools. "That's for the public relations front. More importantly, if you'd succeeded in uncovering the person you say you're looking for, you'd be winding up protecting at least one Aztechnology mole. Take a close look at what's been planted in CorpDeVo's biotech research files. You know what's been starting to go around the Barrens. Take a wild guess what's going to happen to the share prices then, once this becomes UCAS business and they lose any protection from the Corporate Court. CDV's about to lose its independent status, dear -- and you helped. The only hope CDV's got now is to recover Julia before Aztechnology gets to her."

[grendel]

20:04:50 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

"Tokyo is Tokyo, it's the Rome of the Far East." Mioko reflected. Tanisa shrugged.

"I don't know, I can see where you wouldn't want to spoil a good memory. But I couldn't imagine not going home. I mean, it's home. No matter where else you are in the world, there's that one place that holds a special meaning. Where the streets seem familiar. Home." She finished with a smile, but her gaze was locked on the liquid swirling gently in her martini glass, and her mind was very far away. After a moment she glanced up and her face brightened once more.

"Sorry, I'm back from my little trip down memory lane."

Mioko laughed. "Get a souvenier?"

Tanisa stuck out her tongue again, but her clever retort was interrupted by the waiter arriving with the entrees.

[banditf50]

18:56:01 January 6, 2063 Sunset Apartments - Milton

"I can make your order available for pickup by 21:00 tonight at a cost of 70 :nuyen: per unit. Is this timeframe appropriate for your needs?"

[Cedric Rolfsson]

18:56:02 January 6, 2063 Sunset Apartments - Milton

Erebus nodded to himself at Elan's response. The fixer understood the value of speed. Things move fast in the shadows and you had to be able to keep up.

"Absolutely, the price and time frame is acceptable. Let me know the location for the exchange and we'll be there."

[Shadowrunner13]

20:05:13 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

Taking his plate of Teriyaki Chicken and rice, Shitoki looked at Tanisa.

"I will likely go home at some point. I just don't think I'm ready to go back just yet. I'm still giving Seattle its chance," he said with a smile.

[Moirdryd]

15:30 Saturday January 6th, 2063 - Redmond Barrens-Cao Jaan's Halfwayhouse

Knight slips casually into the seat offered. for a moment he considers dropping the weave of power that surrounds him in the form of the spell he had cast but then decides against it.

Better to keep it handy for the next few minutes, just incase. Careless means dead in the shadows.

He tilts his head and regards the Asian man for a few moments before nodding softly and speaking.

"Indeed, Mr Jaan. I was informed you are in need of astral security for your establishment here, as well as magical security in a more direct and.. physical.. fashion. These are services I am quite willing to provide, as my presence here surely indicates." he pauses for a moment. "Such services do cost, however. Mr Jackson informed me that you are willing to provide accomodation, which is of course sensible since my presence on site is somewhat required by the job. He has also furnished me with the 1,000Y downpayment for my services that you offered. A most generous sum i must add, he did however leave the details at that."

Knight stretches in the chair as Cao Jaan takes up his own seat now.

"My first question, in regards to details, is how deep and effective a magical security do you desire? or indeed need? The second, as i was also told you wished some astral survielance to spot those in need of your own services, is how big an area do you wish me to watch for you?. Once i know these things I can better judge the exact requirements to your task. Then we can inevitabley talk money."

Knight falls silent and he awits the man`s response.

[grendel]

20:28:34 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

Tanisa nods as if to agree, but conversation gives way to food, the ambient sounds of the restaurant filling the emptiness. The meal is excellent, well cooked and flavorful. Tenmou listens to Tanisa and Mioko as they chat and share stories from their work. For a moment, he remembers what it felt like to be part of a team, an integral member working towards a common goal. It would have been his life, his career, but for the death of his father.

[WinterRat1]

18:13:30 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

Years of reflexes kick in, and John instinctively moves to put punk A between him and punk B, in the process letting A's knife whiz harmlessly by. It's like a fragging training sim, I'm even thinking of them as A and B he thinks grimly. Cocking his wrist slightly, he releases the cyberspur within as he shoves it deep into the first one's side.

Moaning, the kid drops. Trying to take advantage of the situation, the second one keeps coming at slashes wildly, nearly catching John's exposed arm. Quickly retracting his arm, John kicks out with his leg, catching the ganger in the leg and knocking him just slightly off balance. Not enough to do any real harm, sure, but enough to buy him the time to bring his own spur back into play as he slashes it across the kid's arm, forcing him to drop the knife. Holding up his hands in surrender, the ganger picks up his wounded friend and quickly tries to backpedal into the crowd, keeping his eyes on John the whole time.

Forget about them, they're nothing. But that girl...she seemed to know something. Where the frag has she gotten herself to? John thinks to himself as he contemplates what to do next in the middle of the swirling melee.

[Shadowrunner13]

20:29:01 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki drifts away from the conversation momentarily upon the thought of his father. His father's death was still his driving factor for doing the job he did. He strove to find the man within Renraku responsible for his father's demise. The corp's name even made him conflicted. In one hand, he would have happily served them and put his own life on the line in their defence. In the other, he would tear the corp wide open in order to find the one at the center of the conspiracy behind the tarnishing of his family's name.

He snapped out of his revelry and brought himself back into the conversation. He looked over at Mioko who, despite listening to Tanisa, gave him a worried look.

Shitoki simply smiled and nodded, mouthing "I'm OK," before returning to the conversation.

[Scrapheap]

18:13:45 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

With the riotous strobe of the arcade lights reflecting off his mirrored eye-shields and blood dripping down the spur extending from his cyberarm, Scrapheap watches as the swirling crowd swallows the two wounded gangers. He straightens from a crouch just as light smoke from the burning dance-game begins to pour into the row, and for a second he looks like something straight off of the trid: the deadly street samurai, violence personified, terror of the streets. The moment quickly passes, leaving only a tired, middle-aged man in rumpled clothes.

John quickly turns so that the video games are to his back and begins to move toward the end of the row. Keeping his back to the machines allows him not only to keep the area where the punks entered the crowd in sight, but also affords him a view of the action in general. As he moves he reaches under his grey armored jacket with his right hand and draws one of his battered Colt Manhunters out of its concealed holster. The motion is blurred by his enhanced reflexes.

No drekin' around next time. I managed to handle those punks, but I ain't as young as I used to be. If I was, those two wouldn't be leaving here under their own power. Of course, back in the day those kids would never have attacked me in the first place. They'd have known better.

Holding the heavy pistol at the ready, and with his spur still extended, John glides smoothly down the row. His head and eyes are in constant motion as he alternately scans the floor and the crowd. On the floor he's looking for the photo of Nora, just in case it was dropped by the fleeing girl. He checks the crowd both for possible danger and for the girl who represents the latest lead in the search for his missing niece.

Ok, elf-girl, where have you gone?

[grendel]

20:42:12 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

Mioko dabs at the corners of her mouth with her napkin before looking longingly at the desert tray waiting in the corner of the dining room. Tanisa drains the last of her third martini before munching on the olive.

"Drek, but that's good. I haven't had a meal like that in too long. If nothing else goes right tonight, this, at least, was a good time. Thank you." She smiles at Tenmou, who nods in return. Both women excuse themselves to go freshen up and Tenmou signals for the check. The bill is expensive, but not exorbitant, which is to be expected for the quality of food and service. Tenmou pays with certified cred, popping one of the after dinner mints into his mouth. Well, on to phase II.

[Shadowrunner13]

20:42:12 Friday 05 January 2063 - The Other Place, Seattle, UCAS

When the ladies return from the restroom, Shitoki rises from his chair and motions for the ladies to accompany him back to the car.

He climbs into the car, starts it up and soon merges with traffic, heading towards the Inferno. Traffic is somewhat lighter than it was, but he doesn't have to travel far to get to the trendy night spot.

"This place is going to be packed," Shitoki thinks to himself. "Hopefully, a little cred in the right hands will get us inside without spending the whole evening in a line-up..."

[grendel]

20:47:35 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

The line outside Dante's Inferno stretches down the block to the corner. An equally long line of luxury vehicles, Toyota Elites and Mitsubishi Nightskies, idle at the curb, waiting to disgorge their loads of party-goers. Tenmou sighs, it was going to cost more than just a little cred to get them in ahead of the rest of Seattle. Tanisa strides confidently ahead of him, though, while Mioko hooks her arm through his. The ground ripples to the bass pumping through the club, and the music streaming through the large double doors hammers the trio like a waterfall as they step up to the velvet rope. Tanisa smiles brilliantly at the doorman, leaning over to whisper something in his ear. He nods to her, stepping back from the red carpet. She turns and motions to Tenmou and Mioko, striding through the entrance like a queen leading her entourage to court.

[Scrapheap]

18:15:50 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

As John neared the end of the row, he paused as three gangers rolled across the floor and into his path. Two human females wearing the same colors were battling an orc male, and looked to be getting the better of him. They rolled back and forth across the floor: punching, kicking, scratching, and biting. He watched dispassionately as they fought, simply waiting for his chance to get by the fight without being forced to join in himself. Finally the orc struggled to his feet, the two girls still clinging to him, and lurched down the row. John just stepped aside, his back against a game, until they were past. He then continued on.

Stepping out of the row into the main aisle that ran to the entrance, John was immediately forced to duck as a plastic chair went flying past. Battles raged on both sides of him now. He watched as off to his left a large troll wearing a red fez tossed an entire game cabinet onto a group of unsuspecting gangers. Gangers who had, up to that point, seemed to be fighting each other. Maybe the big guy felt left out? John thought to himself with a faint smile. Off to his right he could see a couple of elves kicking a prone figure who was, judging by his uniform, one of the arcade's security guards. Are those guys wearing Ancient's colors? I guess the heavy hitters have arrived.

John began to make his way cautiously down the aisle. Looking ahead he could see that a large fight had broken out near the entrance, apparently started in the scramble to escape. He started to look away when something caught his eye. Concentrating, he could just barely make out a figure hiding beneath one of the tables from the concession stand near the entrance. The figure was hard to make out as the fight surged around the area, so he triggered the zoom function in his eyes and the area leapt into closer focus. It was the girl he had mistaken for Twiggy. She seemed to be tensely watching the entrance, waiting for her chance to escape. Smiling at finally getting a stroke of luck, John started to zoom back out but then, noticing something else near the girl, his smile widened. He hurried towards the entrance.

As he made his way towards the girl, John realized that people were giving way as he approached. Gangers were taking one look in his direction before turning to look for easier prey. A couple even raised their hands and backed off, careful not to make sudden moves. Kinda like the old days, he thought to himself with a quick swell of pride. His reverie was shattered as an empty bottle hit him in the shoulder, spraying him with the remains of its contents. It was then that he realized that it wasn't like the old days at all. Unlike then, the respect this trash was showing wasn't for him and his sterling street-rep, but for his bared Manhunter. Who cares as long as they stay out of my way? True though that may have been, he couldn't deny that it stung.

Dodging a group of combatants huddled together like some sort of rugby scrum, he noticed the elf girl's eyes widen as she finally spotted him approaching. She started to dart from beneath the table, but quickly dove back as the fight continued. The fighting was thick here, and John was forced to club a few people who strayed too close. Most, however, noticed the grim set of his features and his exposed weaponry and quickly gave ground, just as before.

Soon he was squatting over an unconscious ganger sprawled on the floor near the girl's hiding place. He cleaned his spur on the punk's tattered shirt before his mental trigger caused it to disappear back up into his cyberarm with a clack. Then, smiling his rueful half-smile, John plucked the pack of cigarettes that he, from across the room, had noticed sticking out of the guy's pocket. He quickly checked the pack's contents, and seeing that it was 3/4 full he stuck it into his shirt pocket. That done, he looked up and met the young elf's wide-eyed gaze.

"Hoi. What's a nice girl like you doin' in a place like this?"

"Listen, mister. Mebbe you didn't scan me before, but..."

"Look, I don't care what you're about to say; I just want to find Nora. You said before that you knew her? Well, she's my niece, and she hasn't been home for over a week. Now, as I just demonstrated," he gestured towards the cigarettes in his pocket, "I'm not a proud man. Don't make me beg. Let's just get out of here and go somewhere quiet where you can tell me your story."

[Morgannah]

17:28:06 Monday 01 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

There was something to be said for the benefits of sleep and steam, both worked wonders for clearing her mind, helping her find some sort of focus after such deeply disturbing events. Cosmo tilted her head back a bit, lazily trailing a finger along the edge of the tub as a chest-pounding reggae beat brought her small-ish apartment to life.

Search apartment for signs of surveillance: Check. Nothing found.

Secure doors and windows, trip-wire balcony door: Done.

Self-check for transmitting devices: Done. Nothing found.

Nap .. three hours: Done, not long enough, dammit.

Espresso at Il Grano: Delicious; emergency pastries in the cupboard..

Manicure, haircut: Check, and check.

Bubble bath …

Cosmo smiled softly, examining her freshly painted nails with a critical eye. The polish’s pale rose hue had never been her first choice .. but then her trademark apricot had always matched the tan she’d maintained so meticulously. Pale skin, pale polish. She patted the loose pile of curls pinned on top of her head. Long hair certainly was a luxury, one she had every intention of enjoying before it became necessary to return to the shorter styles she favoured. A sigh of pure, feminine bliss slipped from between her lips as she sank further into the softly scented bath.

Profile both shoppers ..

“Resume list. Subject one .. “ pausing for a moment to ensure that the p-sec was, in fact, recording her words, Cosmo continued, her normally throaty voice made all the richer by the sultry lap of warm water about her shoulders, “.. male, mature, with classic taste. Favors basic black, European fashion .. silk rather than lace.” She sighs again. “Controlling. Extensive resources and no apparent motive. Cautious. Well informed. He knows my shoe size, dress size, equipment, standard and non-standard, quite possibly my methods; he knew where I was last night .. potentially knows what put me there in the first place. Apparently a ‘tech head,’” a dimple peeks out of one cheek at Tino’s appellation. “Supplied luxury coupe, clothes, weaponry, and equipment. Linked to Drago and Caska. Provided cover identity Megan Richards. ’Trix persona: an unremarkable man .. needlessly false tan, brown hair, brown eyes. Conclusion: none as yet. Pause.”

There was no helping the wry twist of her mouth at that last admission; even though she was fairly certain that the pocket secretary wouldn’t judge her, a failure was still a failure and the better part of a day had already been wasted ….

Not wasted, Meg. You’re clean, alive, and safe .. for the moment ..

She grinned and took a sip of ice-cold cherry cola.

.. and you have a date tonight. Things could be a lot worse.

“Resume list. Subject two …”

There was something different about the way her apartment had been set up, a complete contrast to the luxuriousness of the BMW and all of her new clothes. “furnished apartment, stocked with healthy food, cherry cola, no alcohol. Gender undetermined, although scented products seem too contrived to be selected by a person of discerning taste.” Cosmo paused, chewing on her lower lip as she considered the too-sweet scents of vanilla and lily of the valley as they wafted around her. “Conclusion: indeterminable. The apartment could have been furnished by proxy. Mail order. Also possibly to fit more firmly with the Megan Richards cover. End list.”

17:35:49 / 01 January 2063

Cosmo drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she resolved not to look at the clock again. There'd be plenty of time to properly pamper herself before seven and get enough rest to last her for a while longer; who knew when she'd have a chance like this again.

Rest is a weapon.

Now where did that thought come from ...?

[grendel]

18:55:01 Monday 01 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

Caska stands just to the side of the door, out of view of the peephole, knocking twice. He listens closely for the sound of footsteps, judging when the time is right to hold out the small bouquet of flowers. This time, there's no mistaking the trill of feminine laughter from within. The door opens, and Caska offers the Irises and Baby's Breath to Cosmo.

"You look beautiful."

[Morgannah]

18:56:17 Monday 01 January 2063 - Riverwalk Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, CFS

Cosmo's smile was warm as she pulled the door open, her cheeks gently flushed as though she'd rushed to get to the door in time (which she had). There was a bit of a playful sparkle in her eyes as she nodded, accepting the compliment for what it was, her fingers lightly brushing against his as she accepted the bouquet, sighing as she breathed in the heady floral fragrance.

"Caska, thank you."

She laughed softly, not bothering to adjust the loosely tied robe that was barely long enough to cover the satin garters she wore. Vivid teal silk contrasted sharply with translucent black stockings and stylish stilettos that already encased her delicate feet. Her already-striking features were subtly enhanced with warm shades of peach to compliment the soft blonde curls that fell to either side of her face.

"Would you come in? I'm not quite ready yet though it shouldn't be much longer...."

A dimple peeked out of one cheek as she glanced meaningfully up at him, saying 'you're early,' without actually speaking the words themselves. A quick wink took any sting out of such an implication, though, and she spun around before any apologies could be offered, revealing the long, straight seams that ran up the back of each stocking.

"There's bottled water in the fridge if you like," she called over her shoulder, already striding towards her room at the end of the hall, "and a few cannoli on the bar if you're hungry. Please, help yourself, I won't be much longer."

[banditf50]

18:56:50 January 6, 2063 Sunset Apartments - Milton

"Do you know where the club Paradigm Shift is located."

"I've heard of the place." I know I saw something about it on Shadowland. Some hot new club down in Touristville.

"There is a small VIP parking lot behind the club. Approach the gate and tell the guard that you are here to pick up your take-out order. He will direct you to the courier whom will make the exchange. I regret that I have some vital buisness to attend to this evening, but I assure you that one of my most trusted associates will be attending to your needs."

[Shadowrunner13]

20:47:55 Friday 05 January 2063 - Dante's Inferno, Seattle, UCAS

Shitoki glances over his shoulder at the doorman and after he was certain he was far enough away, he leaned forward to Tanisa.

"Dare I ask what you said to him?"

[WinterRat1]

18:16:08 Sunday 07 January 2063 – Virtual Daze Arcade

The kid looks at John and then back at the swirling melee around them, obviously feeling trapped and needing to decide between two evils. Finally deciding that if he really wanted to geek her he could just do it right there, the girl nods.

"Aight. But you gotta get me outta here in one piece, with no funny business. And we talk somewhere public, I ain't goin' nowhere shady by myself wit you. Capiche?"