Salvation, Making the world a better place Options

[Sedna]

1100 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

... arrived.

[WinterRat1]

1100 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Arriving at The Big Rhino, which is just starting to draw the first customers drifting in from work, Alleycat takes a moment to scan the place out. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the first wave of hungry soon to be diners trying to beat the lunch rush. The only thing standing out is the slightly higher preponderance of orks and trolls, but this is The Big Rhino, after all. Casually, she waits for Blaze to arrive, blending it with the crowds, just one random face in the crowd waiting for someone else, someone who will never pass as just another face in the crowd...

[paul_HArkonen]

1101 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Stepping through the door to the Rhino Blaze imediately draws the attention of the people in the bar. Looking through the hoard of wageslaves and others just starting their lunch he tries to locate Alleycat.

[Sedna]

1100 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Casually yes, but with a hidden core of nervousness: the memory of that voice, coming out of nowhere, is too near the surface to be dismissed so easily. She'd been able to sleep, dreamlessly, because she'd needed sleep and she'd found the opportunity -- or been granted it, but let's not go there. Anyway, she'd worked out a contingency plan, just in case.

And the fragging sneakers she'd picked up to match the outfit were half a size too small, and it was too late to alter them now.

She spots Blaze at once. There's a surprise.

He doesn't spot her. There's another. And she'd forgotten that mentioning it to him ahead of time might be relevant.

No Avalanche, or dwarf samurai (named Dice or otherwise), or Tin Star for that matter, although she'd been warned by Avalanche that he was likely to be late or a no-show, Dice wasn't expected before 1145 anyway, and Tin Star had by now established a pattern of being late. Durin -- she had his number, and after this meet she intended to establish final group needs and pickup of the supplies he'd promised. And Miss Cheng -- after the initial no-show, to the best of Alleycat's knowledge the woman was out of the loop, which today would officially make her out of the team. Alleycat would miss the yacht -- it had figured prominently in her original planning -- but better now than in the middle of the run.

She's got to start thinking as a team member. As such, she's recognising that this fledgling team has started to develop some serious holes. If they lost anyone else, they'd have to bring in another person or two.

We'll see who shows up by negotiation time, figure it out afterwards. The MPA doesn't need to know our situation. Avalanche went in last time with two people backing him up, but he didn't commit us to anything -- says that he didn't give himself negotiating authority. Dice and Blaze have been seen by them before. I'm the new element.

Huh. I think I just became the "leader".

But first, I'd better catch Blaze's attention before it gets any busier. Better yet -- and she fits action to the thought and stands up, and when his searching gaze wanders back in her direction, she lets him read his street name on her lips. In the moment of startled recognition, she reinforces it with a sharp nod. Slowly he comes over, still startled, more than a bit wary at this change. "The MPA," she says sotto voce, in a voice just slightly higher and harsher than the one she'd used at Blink's yesterday, and which owes more than a little of its tonality to Ripper, "haven't met Sal before," adding just that little bit of stress on the new name, in exactly the same manner, if not the same accent, as she'd used on the telecom when he'd called her the previous night. She doesn't know if he'll use her street name again, as he did yesterday -- but she's prepared to cut him off if he does; she has to assume that as an MPA-friendly place, there would be unwanted ears to hear.

And then she adds: "Have you set a city spirit to searching for her, while you're here? There's a couple of other possibilities I thought of as well, but those aren't time-sensitive."

[paul_HArkonen]

1100 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Note to self, If I ever need a disguise made up come to Alleycat

Blaze shakes his head slowly, and speaks softly, "no I haven't, the city is vast, and it is unlikely she'll be in an abandoned building, or just on the streets. Besides, I lack any real skill in conjuring."

Looking around the Bar Blaze searches for Dice or Tin Star, in a louder voice this time, "Any sign of our friends? You did tell them the address of this place right?"

[Sedna]

1101 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"Wouldn't need more than having the skill --" once again a flash of that haunted look on her face as she reseated herself, gone almost as quickly "-- and it was an against-the-off-chance, was all." Sal echoed the slow headshake. "But Avalanche said he's running late and doesn't know if he can make this meet. He'd left word with Dice to turn up at quarter to -- means he's a hiree and not a planner. I did leave a message with Tin Star -- no joy yet, but then he's been fashionably late the last couple of times as well. Got Durin's contact, so all those supplies are still in. No word whatsoever on Miss Cheng -- so as of now, she's out."

Planting her feet apart, Sal leaned forward, elbows on the table, chin resting on her laced fingers: "Think we're going to have to revise our resource list. Pity -- I was really looking forward to making use of that yacht."

[paul_HArkonen]

1101 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"they can be fun, but aren't really all they're cracked up to be. However, it does mean we'll have to revise our travel plans. Shall we meet with our mutual friends now, or should we wait another few for our other friends to show up?"

While he speaks it's plain to Alleycat who he's talking about, but Blaze continues to use his odd code, while looking around the bar and at each of the patrons.

[Sedna]

1102 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"We're far too early yet. Makes us look desperate -- which we're not," she added with a slight smile and a flash of white teeth. "Dice won't show until quarter to, and it's not like we don't have some revision to do in any case until then.

No, I'd been thinking yacht -- or boat of some nature -- because it would make a very practical, and much safer, astral platform to use for your base. Accessible, yet just that bit of distance until you're ready to go in. I'd still prefer that to anything in the area on land." She pauses. "Come to think of it, some variant on a freighter would solve a lot of issues."

[paul_HArkonen]

1103 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"well I'm afraid I don't have any access to the kinds of resources we're talking about, I never was one to travel much. I can use pretty much any non-moving station as my base, heck, if needed I could do it from my lodge here, but then I wouldn't be able to provide any healing support."

Blaze continues looking around the bar for anyone close.

And that's something I'm not willing to do, when we hit them innocents will be hurt, and I'm going to be there to help them, Leopard willing.

"once we're in Calfree I can set up in any squat, build a small ward, call up a spirit or watcher to cover me, and then do the astral stuff from there, while still being on hand to heal any of the injured. What we really needed that boat for was to transport the innocents, sorry, the inhabitants back to Seattle, or whatever their destination may be."

[Sedna]

1106 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"I know," said Sal. "No more do I, have those kinds of resources, I mean. Just by way of compiling a wish list, when we consider who we might have to bring into the project."

The place was slowly getting busier, more and more hungry soon-to-be-diners. Order now, they'd be completely ignored later, when they'd be really wanting the privacy. When the waiter (t-shirt, worn blue jeans, lightly muscled, ork) came by with the drinks for the next few tables, she flagged him down and placed a quick couple of orders for soykaf and the -- "What's the special? ... sure, two of those."

"For example," she continued when he was gone, "although any platform might work for you -- wouldn't one just off-shore work better, giving you the safety of a bit of distance, while at the same time allowing you to be close enough to give that healing support? After all, it's not all that hard to track someone astral back to their body -- but it's a bit more difficult to bring amphibious units to bear. Not much, but it might give that little bit of a break when we need it. And if it were something like a freighter, it would even be large enough to serve that second function. Which reminds me," she glanced at her wrist computer, "I'd meant to ask what you intended in case we encountered wards. Ones not of your making, I mean."

Her fingers drummed once across the table. "Oh, and everything you remember from the previous meet you had with these guys." She grinned, white teeth in a chiselled ebony face. "Start downloading."

[WinterRat1]

1107 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"Hold that thought for a moment there, chummer, let a fella get hisself situated, how 'bout that?" Both Blaze and Sal looked up into the face of Tin Star , who apparently had broken form and arrived early. Pulling up a chair, he gestured to the waitress, who started slightly at the sight of his cowboy hat, boots, and flannel shirt. Indeed, he looked like he'd wandered in off the set of an Old West trid or something.

"What would you like sir?" she inquired politely. "I'll have a glass of water, and what these two here are havin darlin'. Thanks a'plenty," he called as she headed back to the kitchen to place his order.

Turning back to his team, Tin Star continued, "Figured I'd been a touch late the last time out, and seein' as how I weren't here last time and all, didn't want y'all havin' to retell no stories on my account," he added by way of explanation.

Glancing at Sal , he continued, "Well I'll be. Ain't you somethin? I de-clare, I wouldn't have recognized ya fer nothin' if it hadn't been for this here pardner." He gestures to Blaze , who is looking at terms amused and pained by this display of Tin Star's obvious southern heritage. "We were just about to hear what happened last time at this meet, so we could be better prepared for it," Sal cut him off smoothly.

"Well I'll be, I'm jist in time. Awright pardner, why doncha tell it like it is, and I'll just sit here and keep as quiet as a prarie dog hibernatin." Tilting his hat in acknowledgement, he sits back and waits for the two of them to resume their discussion where it left off.

[Sedna]

1108 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The grin widens to include both of them, while her raised eyebrows signal Blaze to continue ... or, more accurately, to start.

[paul_HArkonen]

1109 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"basically they are willing to offer some transportation for refugees, but they want to have control of them, not us, and not Mr. J. Secondly they have some demolitions, and perhaps a grenade launcher, or machine gun to lend, but they're fairly strapped as it is. That's about all we asked from them, they seemed willing to go with it; however, there will be some serious negotiations to deal with to settle the terms of the deal. The main thing is they won't be cannon fodder."

Turning directly to Alleycat, "Wards will be a problem, I have two ways to deal with them. One is to smash them down, but that's going to be loud, really loud, at least to any mages around. The other is one I've heard about but will need to go over with some of my contacts before I really want to try it. I think I can attempt to alter my form to match with what the ward is set to allow in, I don't garuntee it will work, but I can always break it down later if that's needed. As for my safety, if my meat is behind any ward it will be fairly hard to track, and it'll give me some cover. Besides, projecting from any moving thing is hard, boat, truck, anything like that, it's hard to get back in."

Looking back towards both of them, "anything else you need from me?"

[Sedna]

1110 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"Loud's not good." Sal leaned back in her chair and stretched out her legs. "Then again, most of the place can't be warded -- too big. So it's not like you'll be blocked out altogether, even if there's a ward here and there. But what we'll have to keep in mind is the 'here and there' are almost certain to be exactly where we want to go." She shrugs. "Doesn't strike me as an uncrossable bridge.

"But yesterday's discussion, how did weapons come into it? Did they have any other personal concerns, beyond not being used as cannon fodder? Did they wonder at all about the requirement to return everyone to Seattle? Did any of you ask if they had more up-to-date information about the place, or weren't the negotiations up to that point?"

She's being a bit direct for Blaze's taste, until he realised that her voice isn't carrying -- quite the opposite, it's hard even for them to hear her against the buzzing of a normal lunch crowd -- and in any case she's saying very little that the MPA wouldn't already know, and she's not talking specifics at all. Come to think of it, she hadn't even greeted either of them by name -- and she'd not mentioned names at all, after Blaze's light suggestion.

"Was a price of any kind mentioned for that transportation and the weaponry? Form of payment? Something was said before about them wanting to be paid for the manpower and the trucks, up to us to come up with the rigger ...?"

A thought struck her, and she added: "Did any of you commit or suggest commitment to anything -- personally?"

[paul_HArkonen]

1111 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

In response to Alleycat's comment about loud, "However, if I did something loudly, and then jetted I could be gone before they had a good chance to track me, and it would serve as a decent distraction. Although we should talk about that after I've chatted with my friend."

As he discusses more precise plans in relation to the meeting he slides back into his pseudo code.
"We hadn't really gotten into specifics; however, I did get the distinct impression that they would be driving our transportation. In terms of equipment they told me that they had a few things, but not much; however, we could rent out what little they had, and it should cover our needs for the trip. The price wasn't really discussed, so I'm not sure what they'll ask for. In terms of commitments we said we would talk to you about this and then get back to them, which is exactly what they said as well."

Blaze looks over his shoulder, and then continues, his meaning fairly clear despite his choices of words. "an exact intinerary hadn't been discussed, and they didn't offer any travel guides, although I forgot to ask about them."

[Sedna]

1111 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

"Understood."

Blaze had half been expecting for her to say it in Japanese. But there's a slight frown in her, one that doesn't make sense given what he'd told her, like she thinks there might have been things said there that he wasn't saying, or maybe had forgotten.

And then the food arrives. She asks the price for the table, and when the waiter tells her, she tosses a couple of diagonally-folded multinuyen notes and one folded lengthwise on the waiter's tray and waves away the change: good tip flirting with generous, but not exceptionally so. Not a completely usual thing here, to pay with cash notes -- but not unusual enough to raise eyebrows.

She's silent while she's eating, like she's thinking.

[paul_HArkonen]

1112 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Blaze eats his meal in silence, considering the steps that may need to be taken to ensure the safety of all the prisoners they will be rescuing.

[Sedna]

1146 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The place isn't silent. Quite the opposite. But under the usual busyness and clamour that would typically be found in a restaurant around lunch time, there's also a subtle but definite undercurrent of -- what, exactly? Uneasiness, certainly. People taking comfort in the presence of others of their own kind. At least Sal's on the fringes of belonging. Blaze and Tin Star: not a chance, not here.

Live and learn ... but this is the last time I'm ever agreeing to meeting so far in advance, in the same place as a different meeting.

Tin Star hadn't ordered during the last three meets either, so Sal adds in a soykaf on his behalf, next time the waiter comes around. It's been cooling in front of him for almost half an hour by the time Dice walks in. The dwarf does a visible doubletake upon not seeing Avalanche there. As she greets him without detailed explanation beyond "He's running late", Sal just feels a sudden, uncharacteristic relief; recognising then what had been troubling her about this place: the two men with her are just about the only humans in the entire place ... and elves aren't what anyone might call common either. Though she could have dealt with that, had she been on her own. This whole "working with a group" thing is starting to wear on her.

Why am I here again? Oh yes, to negotiate. Going in blind, on behalf of those who aren't here, for help none of us here really want. A sudden smile: I have got to talk to Blaze about the importance of details. Fading just as quickly: If he'll even find that relevant. Or care.

She's got her next step in that pursuit clear in her mind, at least. So that's something. Set it aside for now, completely, centre, stillness, catch the rhythm of the place, focus on what's coming. Who in here is just here for the companionship and the food, who in here is trouble.

Blaze has been poking at the last of the meal for some minutes now, still in brooding silence. Draining her soykaf, she stands up, and an interesting vestige of formal etiquette brings the CASan to his feet as well: "Shall we?"

[paul_HArkonen]

1146 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Blaze stands up and, after getting out of it, slides his chair back into place under the table. He takes up the position on Alleycat's left side, a little behind her, and surveys the resteraunt for any potential threats, astral or otherwise.

[WinterRat1]

1146 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

As Blaze rises to join Sal, Dice and Tin Star rise smoothly to their feet as well, the former falling in to the elf's right, and the latter behind the group. The strut in their walk makes it clear that she's with them, and that anyone looking for trouble better go looking somewhere else, unless they want to bite off more than they could chew.

Inwardly, Sal winces. Oof. So much for subtlety. On the other hand, that is their job; to make it clear that we're not to be messed with. Sigh, double-edged swords and all that. Still, maybe next time I'd better make it clear that subtlety might not be such a bad way to go, especially when we stand out enough as is, for the most part. Oh well, what can you do?

Scanning the place thoroughly with both his natural senses and those he had been gifted with above and beyond a normal person, Blaze spots no one with even potentially hostile emotions. Well, except for himself and the rest of the team, that is.

[Sedna]

1147 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

Ye gods and little fishes, we look like a military unit.

Almost as quickly flashed through her mind: I could get to like this.

It's not particularly surprising that they've caught the ork bartender's eye long since -- and the glance at the shaman tells Sal that he's definitely recognised Blaze, no question there. Behind her, Tin Star gets a harder look: This guy with you? Sal smiles quietly to herself. Even though Tin Star had come dressed down, as he had for the second meet, in some places just being human and looking like you knew how to handle yourself was enough to make you stand out.

To her right, Dice has managed to be almost ignored. Not that he's ignorable or really even been not noticed -- but it's all in the environment and the context.

"We have a meeting of mutual interest arranged," she says quietly, drawing the bartender's attention to her. "Apparently you're the person to see."

"How nice for you," says the bartender, his gaze still straying toward Tin Star. "All 4 of u?"

Sal had a moment's reflection on how the conventions of adspeak could come across, even when on the surface the words should have sounded identical. "Yes, they're with me."

[WinterRat1]

1148 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The bartender looks them over, shrugs, and says, "Aight. I'll send ya back." He picks up a phone in the of the bar and mumbles something along the lines of 'they're here', or so Sal guesses.

After a moment, he nods at them. "They're expecting you."

The four of them walk on into the back room, where Blaze recognizes the ork, elf, and troll who were there last time. Once again, the ork is already seated behind a small, round table, the curiously normal elf and the massive troll flanking him. He raises an eyebrow at their entrance, and remarks, "I remember you, man in red. The dwarf too." He motions towards Sal and Tin Star. "But you two..."

Fixating his eyes on the elf, he says, "I gather that you are the primary decision maker that Mr. Cube spoke of. I assume he filled you in our discussion last time, yes? Perhaps you could inform me as to what developments have arisen on your side as we reopen our discussions." He folds his hands on the table in front of him and waits patiently.

[Sedna]

1148 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The beauty of a creative truth is that you shape it, and it shapes you. With the ork's words, Sal settles into that truth, and it becomes her.

"How specific are you looking for, at this point?" She smiles gently. "Because I think you would think less of us if we just assumed there wasn't a trust issue involved, here ... on both sides."

[WinterRat1]

1148 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

The ork shrugs nonchalantly, and smiles casually. "You already know what you've asked from us, and you already know what we've asked for in return. Let's just pick it up from there, and tell us what you're still willing to give, and what you still want from us? In short, let's pick up where we left off last time, shall we?"

Leaning back, he motions politely with his hand. "And as I recall, last time, you came to us with a list of requests to open the talks. Seems as good a place as any to start, so how about that list? Or perhaps I should say, the revised version thereof?"

[Sedna]

1148 Saturday, January 6, 2063 - The Big Rhino

She's already reviewed in her mind what Avalanche had said, as well as what Blaze had added to her understanding of the meet. Neither had mentioned anything about any list of requests they'd made. As Sal sits back in the chair she'd picked and steepled her fingers, her elbows resting on the chair's arms, her face shows no sign that her mind's racing; and she's far too deep into the challenge even to feel any irritation. Insofar as any emotions penetrated the cool calculation, it would have to be ... exhilaration?

"Somehow I doubt the word 'list', as such, was used by Ice Cube at any point in the negotiation," she says without hesitation, tapping a gloved finger on the arm of her chair. "Nevertheless, I believe the primary negotiation was for available bulk transportation from San Francisco to Seattle, in exchange for nuyen. A second was for any resources which you might be able to make available locally; although if you agree to create a major diversion or to smuggle weaponry to the people inside the camp, we could alter the negotiations toward that direction. As a resistance movement, I suspect you might prefer to have any spare weapons in the hands of those inside the camp in any case, leading them as you see fit. As I am sure you will appreciate, people fight hardest when they can glimpse their own freedom. So long as you can assure that their bullets won't be coming at us, we have no objection to their being armed."

Then she leans forward, elbows and forearms on the table. "Key to everything we agree to, here, is that we intend to take this camp out of operation permanently." The dead evenness of her voice leaves no doubt as to her sincerity. "I believe this should be in our ... mutual interest ... and may factor heavily into whatever price -- and specifics -- you wish to open at."

With that she settles back in her chair, cocking her head at Blaze: "Let me know if I'm missing anything."