Salvation, Making the world a better place Options

[Sedna]

0159 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

"But I'd have no way of knowing that, would I?" Alleycat unfolds herself from the chair, working out the slight stiffness in a series of embedded small stretches. Through the rest of Avalanche's information she'd simply sat, accepting, or acknowledged with a short nod here and there. "I said I could watch over someone gone astral. This isn't so very different, so now seemed a good time to start.

"Besides," she adds with another, full body-encompassing stretch, "no one asked for cell numbers, and you needed to know that we're confirmed to meet back here in 24 hours with everything we've been able to find out during the day." With a small laugh, she amends, "I guess that's 23 now.

"And it gave me the time to think out a few things, which was kind of useful, but most of that can wait until later. After all, you might still luck out with Shadowland, and what you learn there could change everything." She frowns. "Except maybe that I'm thinking Mr. Fan has some kind of connections at the Paradigm Shift ... like he sort of belongs there, you know? Maybe it might be useful to try to track? But, really, we've got nothing besides the name, sort of, and his physical appearance. Still, maybe someone's dealt with him before?"

[Shev]

0200 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

Avalanche nods thoughtfully. "Ok, here at 1 am tommorow, then. As for Mr. Fan...I didn't really get much time to pick up on it, but he did seem rather at home. If we have a pic of him, I can scan it through and see if it pops up anywhere, especially in connectiong to the Shift.

"Oh, thank for the overwatch anyways, by the way. I appreciate it."

[Sedna]

0201 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

"Null sheen." For a moment Alleycat looks like she's about to add something, but then she says instead, "You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest all-night bus station is around here?"

[Shev]

0201 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

Alleycats' subtle method of asking for a ride almost failed. "Sure, just go around the corner and turn....wait...you need a ride? I'm heading home myself, I could probably drop you off if you need it."

[Sedna]

0202 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

Although she's looking down and away from him, Alleycat's expression can only be described as ... sheepish. "That didn't come across so good, did it? All right," and she looked up straight at him, "you know I won't say no to a ride ... but I won't ask you to take me all the way home, just to the Puyallup civic centre. That's reasonably patrolled even at this hour, and I'll know my way from there."

[Shev]

0202 January 5, 2063 - the back room at Blink's Grill

"Yeah, I can take you there null persp, chummer."

A bit out of my way, but rather not take the chance of a teammember getting killed or wounded walking back through the drek of the sprawl.

"I'm parked right out front, let's go."

In the tiny Electro, Alleycat makes a few attempts at conversation, which Avalanche replied politiely to, but did not prolong his answers any more than he had to, and asked no questions of hi own. Despite his cheery exterior, it becomes quite clear to Alleycat that he is rather withdrawn, and not overly keen on small talk.

Arriving at the civic center, Alleycat hops out of the car and stretches her cramped muscles. "Thanks for the ride," she calls out to Avalanche.

"Not a problem. See you tommorow." With that, he pulls back out into the street, and starts heading for home. Ok, get home, do a brief check on Shadowland to see if I've gotten any replies, and then see what else I can dig up on CFS. I Think I'll have the shop closed tommorow so I can get some sleep for the meet. Ah, I love being nocturnal....

[Shev]

(Moved to Living in the Shadows thread...)

[Kurukami]

(moved to the Living in the Shadows IC thread)

[Sedna]

0232 January 5, 2063 - Puyallup civic centre, standing in a corner of the bus platform and generally being one with the night

Drek, just missed it, and the next all-night won't be for almost another half hour. Do I really want to wait around here that long? The other apartment's not all that far from here. The same transit line goes right by there, and it's due a lot sooner.

Two other people joined her at the terminal. One was a pimply ork kid wearing some kind of delivery hat. The other had a knife and gang colours, not the Terminators but something she didn't recognise, probably claimed the platform here and not much else. The better parts of Puyallup were like that. Wasn't even cybered -- not that many of the gangers around here were. She'd noticed that the gangs claiming a particular area tended to reflect their environment: muscle and steel and the rare revolver in the poorest areas; maybe some razors or spurs or even a smartlink would be the most of it around here. The Ancients, now ... but she'd be willing to lay odds "Talker's" only source of income wasn't just the protection money she'd have to pay pretty fragging soon. There were rumours ... and one time she'd smelled the raw chemicals on him. That could be worth pursuing.

This particular ganger was about to give the kid a bit of a hard time, but it wasn't going to be much more than posturing, not unless the kid did something unfortunate, and the kid felt too scared and smart to slip up on anything so obvious. She observed disinterestedly, not letting her attention build up the kind of weight that someone else could feel.

Avalanche sure was preoccupied in the car. Bet he's going straight onto Shadowland the moment he gets to his place, and if he's like every other decker I've known, he'll be on and off for hours. If I move quickly, I can pick up on his Matrix handle and get the hack parts of the search straight to him. Maybe he'd pull up the leads on his own too, but it can't hurt. Although I think I'll not send out anything that mentions the specific camp at all, just in case. I'll work that into the summary file. She smiled, a moment of rare pleasure. Time to put the Matrix connection in this location through its paces.

The bus came, and the kid quickly slipped ahead of her and on, leaving the ganger behind. Something -- and then her smile very nearly slipped into an outright grin, even as she unobtrusively checked her own inner pockets to ensure Teresa's credchip and her advance were still there. The kid had balls, she'd give him that: but if the ganger on the platform connected him too quickly with the theft, she wouldn't lay good odds on him keeping them. Herself, she found a back corner seat on the side away from the platform, propping her feet up on the low metal armrest of the seat beside her, and waited for the bus to start moving.

[Shev]

1053 January 5, 2063 - Key to the Future

"SNNNNRG!"

Avalanche bolted upright in bed. Not nearly enough sleep. What time is it? Frag, it's almost 11?! He jumped out of bed and hurriedly started to dress.

Seriously, you'd think I'd have stopped using that alarm proggie the [I]first time it didn't work...[/i]

He slipped into his street clothes, his taser in it's concealable yet accessible holster underneath his armor jacket. It's secure weight was all he would be packing for this meet. After all, gotta keep my New Year's Resolutuions...

Avalanche met Dice one Block to the east of the Big Rhino at exactly 11:30. "Hey Ave, ya're right on time." The other dwarf stood a full foot and a half shorted than the albino decker, but was incredibly more muscle-bound. Avalanche couldn't see them, but he was sure the street samurai had at least two guns somewhere on his person. "I did a quick scan already. There's one back door that leads through the kitchen, and an 'mergency exit on the side that triggers the fire alarm. 'sides the main way in, those the only ways out of the place. Windows're tinted, so snipers don't got an easy shot. Didn't see anythin' suspicious."

"Good. Thanks, omae. If you already checked it, we'll just chill here for a bit. Our mage support should be on the astral scouting the place out himself right now. He'll meet us at 11:45 at the front of the club. We'll head over then."

[paul_HArkonen]

1055 January 5, 2063 - Blaze's Lodge

Blaze let himself slide first his vission, and then his entire being over to the astral, reveling in the freedom it granted him. Time to check out the Rhino. Blaze followed the directions he had gotten from Mapquest, 70 years and still going strong. Arriving above the club Blaze begins scanning it for any signs of warding, or anything out of the ordinary. Feeling the emotions of the place, and seeing no wards he prepares to head in.

[WinterRat1]

1059 January 5, 2063 - The Big Rhino, Astral Space

Cruising quickly through astral space to The Big Rhino, Blaze soaks in the emotions. Besides the usual busyness and clamor that would typically be found in a restaurant around lunch time, he also gets a strong sensation of...oppression, and prejudice. The shared feelings of those oppressed coming together to relieve themselves of the pressure of being different in a society that typically does not value their kind.

No obvious wards or astral security are found, but that's to be expected. He notices a pair of dwarves, heavily cybered, with suspicious intentions lurking about a block away. They seem to be expecting trouble, and are obviously prepared for it, although slightly tense nonetheless.

Inside, a table of orks are enjoying their lunch break, laughing and in good spirits, while off to another side, there's a trio of trolls, brooding and dark, their emotions turbulent, like they're expecting, maybe even hoping, for trouble. The waitstaff appear to be good-natured and although harried, are reasonably at ease. The final thing to catch Blaze's attention in his preliminary scan is a pair of humans who walk in and order a table. They seem to be...curious about something, and although they attract a few stares from the surrounding patrons, they are left alone. Their attitudes are almost...indifferent to the crowd around them, their attention focused entirely inward.

[paul_HArkonen]

1059 January 5, 2063 - Blaze's lodge

Zipping back to his body Blaze finds himself noting those three things, and checking his lodge's barriers before entering. Two dwarves about a block away, could be Avalanch and his partner, could be more trouble. Two Humans inside, might want to stay away from them, and point them out to the meat, could also be our hosts. Preparing himself mentally Blaze opens himself to the Leopard's gifts, focusing on his single piece of jewlery he feels the power of the manasphere building around him. Thank you leopard, may your gift be used in the search for justice. Casting the spell he braces for the drain.

[paul_HArkonen]

1100 January 5, 2063 - Blaze's lodge

Grabbing his helmet off the ground Blaze slides his shades off, places the helmet on and then replaces the shades. Sliding on his trademark coat Blaze steps out of his lodge and grabs his bike. Heading over to the Big Rhino he keeps his astral sight down, and revels in the speed that the world seems to be moving at, everything slower than normal, almost enough to make the counter surge that acompanies the spell worth it.

Arriving at the Big Rhino Blaze finds a parking spot, and places his bike there, timing it perfectly he arrives infront of the Big Rhino at exactly 11:45. "There were two humans inside who looked like trouble, two dwarfs who, as of about an hour ago were about a block away and three trolls inside who looked like they were expecting trouble. The Dwarves may have been you two, I'm not quite sure, but the ones inside looked like they were expecting difficulty. Shouldn't be too much, but stay on your toes."

[Shev]

1146 January 5, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Dice barked a laugh. "Chummer, you spend as long as I have in th' biz, and you don't got feet anymore, just toes. Anyways, what say we all get in the fraggin' place 'stead of yappin' out here?"

Avalanche smiled at his rough-tounged friend. "Well, since it appears there's no immediate threat, there's certainly no reason to loiter out here. We'll be a bit early, but the barkeep can just point the contact in our direction when he gets here, if he isn't here already. Let's head in."

The trio entered the bar, earning a cursory glance from the bar's patrons. Some did a double take at Avalanche, and one of the trolls actually did a triple take. Probably didn't realize I was a dwarf 'till the third take.

Avalanche walked right up to the bartender, who looked at him expectantly.

"I have a meeting arranged with someone with a...Mutual Interest. Can you help me out?"

[WinterRat1]

1148 January 5, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The bartender looks at Avalanche with a raised eye, and takes a long, hard look at Blaze. "Yeah, mebbe I could." Motioning at the red-garbed shaman, he asks, "This guy wit u?"

Realizing how much Blaze stood out, especially in a place like this, Avalanche thought, Hmm...so much for subtlety. Oh well, hopefully no one around here cares enough to remember us... before replying, "Yeah, he's with us."

Nodding, the bartender says, "He's in the back. I'll buzz ya in."

The trio heads to the back room, where seated at a small square table is a well groomed ork. Standing at his sides, flanking him, are a huge muscular troll and a thin, pale elf. Motioning for them to take a seat, the ork says, "You wanted to discuss a mutual interest Mr. Cube. Should I call you Mr. Cube? Well now we can discuss that mutual interest. So please, fill me in on who you are and what business you may or may not have with me."

[Shev]

1155 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

Avalanche sits down at the small table opposite the ork.

"My street name's Avalanche, but you can keep calling me Ice Cube if you want. As for who I am....I'm sure you know by now that I am a shadowrunner, a decker to be exact. I have been hired, along with others, to free a certain refugee at a certain 'relocation camp' in Saito's territory. That is the main objective. However, we have also been offered substantial rewards for every refugee we rescue and bring back to Seattle, as well as for disabling the camp permanantly.

"It is mainly for these last two goals that we may need some help. Smuggling ourselves into the country is no problem, but transporting so many men, women, and children back out is another matter. Also, disabling the base permanantly is something that my group might have a bit of trouble doing properly left to our own devices. With help, however, I'm sure we could do it. Many hands makes light work.

"Obviously, I cannot give specific details, such as the location of the facility, until I know what help you can offer. So, what do you think? Can we do business?"

[WinterRat1]

1158 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

With a neutral expression, the ork answers, "OK Avalanche, the first question I'd want to ask is what kind of negotiating authority you have to ensure whatever we decide here will actually happen. Forgive my suspicion, but plenty of runners would love to use those who believe in a cause for their personal cannon fodder, and that is unacceptable. As far as help, we would be more than happy to take the refugees off your hands and help reunite them with friends and family, or allow them to join us in the fight against oppression."

Pausing slightly, he adds, "I cannot speak for the upper echelons of leadership just yet, but I can tell you that it is possible we would be willing to commit some manpower to the mission, especially for the chance to destroy the camp. Of course, this assumes that they would not simply be used as cannon fodder. We cannot and will not attempt a direct confrontation with professional soldiers."

Folding his hands in front of him, he concludes, "So yes, I believe that we still have things to talk about, and it is possible to do business. You contacted us. What would you want from us?"

[Shev]

1158 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

Avalanche nodded in understanding. "I am not the leader of our little group, so I can't guarantee anything decided here will be final. Just as you answer to your higher-ups, I have to make sure my group will go with whatever agreement we reach. Like you, I'm just a representative here. Once we have an idea of what we'd like from each other, we can adjourn and run this by our people, and meet at a later date.

"I understand your concern regarding use of your manpower. I have no intention on making your people meatshields. What I had in mind was your help in transporting the refugees, and perhaps some supplies, such as explosives, that we could use to shut the place down for good after we get the refugees clear. Also, you might have some information concerning the camp itself we could utilize.

"I do want to make something of my own clear, however: the refugees are to be taken back here, to Seattle. As much as I love sticking it to that racist thug, I'd like to get paid in the process, and the J needs to be able to see the people for himself so make sure we didn't just take a picture of some random tourists and say they were refugees. Rather than you taking them off our hands, we'd appreciate some help getting them out of there completely. Really, it's better that they get as far away from Saito as they can, because he'll be sure to have men be looking for them."

[WinterRat1]

1200 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

Nodding at Avalanche's reply, the ork says, "I understand you have your...requirements in this undertaking, the same as us. However, how do we know that the refugees will really be taken to a better place, and not simply pressed into service somewhere else as forced labor, or worse, slaves? The slave trade isn't dead yet, as I'm sure you know, and a supply of refugees with a variety of talents and skills who won't be missed would be prime stock."

Clearing his throat, he adds a bit hastily, "Not that I am accusing you of such things. But as I'm sure you know, trust is not easily given in this world we live in today, especially in light of recent events in California. Since this is a bit different that what you are used to, I would have to ask what your group would have to offer us in this exchange. Of course we would want to help just to help our people, but in exchange for helping you bring those people back to Seattle, supplies, personnel, information, shutting the place down, and transport, what would you be prepared to offer us to continue our struggle? Long after you all are gone and paid, we'll still be fighting. And while we do want to help, we need resources ourselves to replenish what we'll lose, and maybe even more, to expand our operations and fight back against our oppressors. What are you prepared to offer us in exchange for our help?"

[Shev]

1201 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

"Of course, nuyen would be our primary form of payment. Also, while I am hesitant to volunteer my fellows, I am willing to put my decking skills to good use for you a bit of a discount in return for your help.

"As for the matter of the refugees, I'll admit I can't guarantee anything. However, I don't think you can guarantee that Saito won't rip them out of your hidey holes and execute them all for rebellion or some other drek. For what it's worth, I myself plan on looking into their fate after we bring them here, but they will need to be brought here, barring our Johnson allowing some other method of verifiying how many are rescued. That said, I can look into that if you wish. If the J is fine with leaving the refugees in your hands, I'm fine with it. It makes things easier, in fact, since we won't have to smuggle them around."

[WinterRat1]

1204 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

"Nuyen is always acceptable. And a skilled decker would be a welcome resource to be able to call upon for a crucial operation. If you are willing to look into leaving the refugees with us, that is good. But you raise a good point, they will be exposed to potential danger anywhere they go. That said, let's get into some hard details. Can you give me a list of what you want from us, in order of priority, and what you would be willing to offer in return? Then we can return to our respective groups and discuss with them our tentative initial offers."

[Sedna]

0250 January 5, 2063 - Puyallup doss ... if it can be called a doss

The Matrix connection worked, Avalanche had been tracked and PMed, all the searches and automatic forwards had been set in motion, and Alleycat would still have just enough time to catch the cross-town bus, if she ran. After all, there'd been a reason she'd ensured the two places were on the same route.

She caught it, just. Almost, she fell asleep on it, the day's and week's and months' exhaustion catching her up all at once, and dug her nails into her palms to stay awake. She stopped herself just before she would have drawn blood: half willpower, half a very deep instinct.

And then, thankfully, she was home -- when had she started thinking of it as home? -- very familiar smell of motorcycle exhaust which she couldn't for the life of her place just then, up the stairs, through the door -- somehow she managed to remember not to turn to the right after wedging the chair under the doorknob, fell into bed and into dream right in her clothes -- just on time to be woken by the persistant buzzing of the landline. She snarled something at it and fell asleep again. Hard to believe that in only three hours, she'd be back to what had so quickly become her normal routine.

Please, Avalanche, don't call, at least not for a few hours. You've got everything I can get for you right now anyway, everything except me, and you can get the others to do that kind of stuff anyway. I'll deal with everything later.

[Shev]

1204 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

"Ok, here's what we need:

First and foremost, transportation. Even if we're just moving them a short distance, we have a lot of refugees to worry about, and moving them on foot is simply not an option. We'll need trucks or tansports of some kind, and drivers (riggers if you can spare them) to drive them.

Second, supplies. We're going to bring this camp out of business, and to do that will require some items of...less than legal nature. Things that really can't be carried across the border. Explosives, heavy weaponry, you get the idea. As a side note, any demolition experts you can offer would be good to have as well, I'm not sure

Lastly, any diversions you can offer would be useful. Again, I'm not suggesting that you use your troops as cannon fodder, but anything you can do to lessen the amount of the guards at the compound just before we strike would be helpful."

Avalanche leans back in his chair. "So, what would you be expecting in return?"

[paul_HArkonen]

1204 January 5, 2063 - Back room at the Big Rhino

Sliding his vision over to the astral plane Blaze begins examining the other people in the room. First a quick glance, and then a close study of all three other members of the meeting.