IC: Chasing the Prize, We always get our mark Options

[Kremlin KOA]

"Knowing JT it will probably be at blings, but something is making me second guess that, come to the address I send you, I am waiting there for Edana and Herne, and I have something you need to know."

[HMHVV Hunter]

"Be right there," Helios says.

20 minutes later, Helios walks up to Gonzales at the address.

"What's up?" he asks Gonzales.

[Kremlin KOA]

"The Vaccine is a Genetically modified version of your favorite virus... side effects uncertain."

[HMHVV Hunter]

Helios's face hardens into an angry scowl as Gonzales's news sinks in.

"Son of a bitch," he mutters. "First his Japanese cult impression this morning, now he's trying to spawn more Infected...we've got to get this guy."

He stands on the sidewalk, stiff as a British marine on guard duty, while thoughts of the good doctor's slow, painful death swirl in his head as he patiently waits for their ride.

[Johnson]

Tiny arrives at Bling's after a hard 45 min drive in the Cab from the Barrens, with all the Histeria starting on the streets. Its not going to be long when looting may take place. All depends on the histeria of VITAS being released in to the air. After sloting a credstick to pay the cabs, Tiny checks the surrounding to make sure there is no surprise as he steps out the cab.

Slinging his duffle bag over his shoulder, Tiny takes a slow walk past the Bling just to check if anyone is there. Not hearing from anyone as yet he, he heads to the closest Trid board caster and watches the headlines. Just checking if anyone arrives at the Bling.

[Bastard]

JT stops by Rocket Surplus on the way to the meet to see how much MOPP gear he can pick up. Sam always has a good stockpile of old NBC equipment, but it might sell out today. He rests the bike on its stand right out in front of the store. Looks like Im the first one here today. Hustling in from the snow, JT receives the call from Helios.

"Sorry chummer...couldn't answer the phone while I was cruisin' on the Scorpion. The meet is at Bling Bling's. Im not buying beer this time, since you all bitched about it last night. They have almost everything there, if not on tap, then in the bottle. I will be there shortly, just got to pick up some equipment first."

JT hangs the phone up as he approaches Sam in the back of the store watching some old military flick, as always. Vincent D'Onofrio's voice booms from the little black box, "I am in a world of shit!"

"That's an understatement," JT answers the portable television. "Hey Sam, I need to get some protective breathing equipment-quick. You might want to save one for yourself. You did hear about the possible VITAS scare at Central Station this morning?"

"Holy Drek! Its them damn Natives again ain't it!"

"Calm down Sam, its not the Native Americans.'

"Oh Frag, its gotta be them leaf eatin elves, huh!" The old man is furious now. His face is flushed and his knuckles white in their clenched fists. A gunshot echos from the old tv, adding more adrenaline to the veteran's blood stream.

"No, its a single wacko, dont worry we're on it. Thats what I need the gas masks for," JT says trying to come the man down.

........................................................................................................................

After aquiring the new equipment from the military surplus dealer, Taggart heads to the meet.

[HeySparky]

The Brumby's tires grit as Herne makes a turn off of Maple to merge onto the 5 and into morning traffic. Usually content behind the wheel of the rough-and-ready SUV, this morning is different. He glances at Edana struggling in the back seat to get her camo gear on. Really, Herne, couldn't we have waited until I got dressed?

No.

Taggart's address blinks on Edana's now dash-mounted pocket secretary. It'll take forty five minutes, easy.

Not if we have help.

No, Herne, it's not right. We're not more important than all these other people.

Yes, we are. We know what's going on.

Edana bites her lip and holds the air-filter mask to her face as she slithers back into the front seat, cracking her horn on the window. Dammit. She rights herself, pale face all shifting patterns of mottled darkness beneath transluscent skin. Her eyes crackle and she shakes her head.

It was an old argument. Herne liked driving. He didn't like traffic. It wasn't the first time he had tried to convince Edana to smooth traffic out by sweet-talking the spirits of the road.

No. It's not right and just now, I'm not feeling up to it. I would probably do more harm than good. But I will scout ahead.

She leans the seat back and stills her mind. The swirling on her face and hands slows visibly. But energy still crackles under her eyelids, sparks flaring and arcing. How will I ever sleep with this?

Get to scouting, girl.

Right. Her astral form lifts out of her body and she begins to really understand the extent of the changes the night has wrought: her head is wreathed in a dark crown of ragged clouds that twist and float and trail down her back in a swirling train. Bolts of energy crackle across her body and thunder rumbles faintly, as if very distant. She is stricken by the effect, by the change. What does this mean?

GO. Herne's sending is strained and Edana's Astral form bolts forward to report back - lane changes, accidents and when traffic finally bogs down enough for Herne to ditch the highway and take parallel streets.

She snaps back into her body with a jolt. What's the news on the train station? Edana turns up the volume as the Brumby makes the turn onto JT's street to pick up Gonzales and head to Bling's.

[Kremlin KOA]

Gonzales jumps up as the Brumby arrives. "Helios our ride is here, let's head to Bling Bling's." Gonzales runs up to the Brumby "Hey Helios, hey Eda..." What the frag? did the doctor's stuff do this to her? is she still Edana? I'm going to kill that doctor. Repeatedly. "... Uh, hi."

"Good Morning Gonzales, Helios. In the back with you two... where is the meeting?" Herne asks a horrified Gonzales.

"Bling's, and I need sleep. wake me when we get there" The Dwarf finds being half asleep the only thing stopping his ming from going mad with what his eyes present to him.

[HMHVV Hunter]

Helios loads his stuff in the back and gets in.

I'm just hoping they serve coffee at this place, he thinks. Otherwise, I'm going to be running on pure adrenaline...

His thoughts suddenly get cut off as he falls asleep in the back of the car.

[Ecclesiastes]

JT's phone rings, with the ID showing up as Bishop. If JT picks up, Bishop says, "Hey boss. I got some shut-eye and I'm ready to go. What was the happenings overnight?"

If JT doesn't pick up, the above is left as a voice mail for him.

[HeySparky]

Edana registers Gonzales' shock and shifts her eyes away, uncomfortably, "Sorry it took so long," she mutters reaching for the controls for the heater. She dials up some warmth for the guys in the back and flashes a look at Herne as he turns east onto the street the crew will find Bling Bling's. She winces at the glare of the sun through a thick bank of clouds, her eyes suddenly sensitive and puts on her sunglasses.

"You know guys," Edana's comm chirps as she dials a number, "Bling Bling's isn't likely to be open this earl-- Townsend. It's Edana. I'm not gonna be at my place for a bit.”

She nods, “Yeah. That's why. I don’t know how long. Everything okay with you?”

She pulls down the visor and looks at the patterns swirling under her skin, “Good. I locked my place up, but if you're not leaving - could you water my mint for me?"

She smiles again, “Thanks a lot. I owe you one. Take care of yourself while I’m gone.”

She nods, “Thanks, I will. Bye.”


She hangs up and dials Jason’s number, “Hey Jason. It’s Edana, Gonzales’ friend. Yeah, don’t worry - he’s right here.”

She shifts the visor to look into the back seat at Gonzales' faintly snoring form, “Fine. Both of us. Just wanted to check in and make sure you’d seen the trid—yeah. VITAS… No kidding.”

She shakes her head, “We’re right in the middle of it. Just wanted to make sure you knew what was going on and were okay. I’m going to write up a doc with what we know and send it to you incase... Incase.” The last word is heavy in her mouth. “Okay. You too. Bye.”


The pale, unsettled young woman takes a deep breath and breathes it out slowly. She begins collating her thoughts and assembling a dossier to send to Jason and one for JT’s fixer too. Couldn’t hurt to have two teams going after this loser if everything goes all pear-shaped. She starts outlining a document with lots of blanks to fill in when the team gets together.

[toturi]

Grave is acutely aware that he does not have much in the way of protection against bio-weapons. He does the next best thing, he avoids contact with other people. He knows that contact with other people cannot be helped when he meets with the others but he is determined to minimise exposure either by him or to him. He rides to the meet using the backlanes and side streets, it might take longer but it might be safer.

[Johnson]

Only 5 minutes has passed and Tiny is already concerned about the others as he has not heard from them.

I hope they are all alright, and nothings happened to them.

Tiny takes a slow walk past back to the Bling hoping to see his colleges arriving.

[Bastard]

"Hoi Bishop. Whats happened over night you ask. Well the drek has hit the fan. Turn on the news, or better listen to it on you way over to Bling Bling's, we're all meeting there."

After ending the call with his teammate, JT calls Bling Bling McShizzle's. They are never busy at this time, usually all the tables are open, its usually just a couple regulars playing pool, or getting a cup of joe before work. Just to be on the safe side though, JT reserves a large table in the back for the party.

[Ecclesiastes]

"If things are showing up on the news, that is a bad thing indeed. I'll see you at Bling Bling's."

Bishop jumps into the shower and opens up a window in his vision displaying the local news feed.

"Drek."

[BishopMcQ]

::December 16, 2063 0840::

The last team members pull into the parking lot at Bling Bling McShizzle's. Except for vehicles belonging to the team, the parking lot is empty. Stepping inside, you move to the back of the room where two large tables have been pulled together to function as a meeting space and breakfast table. All the fixings are laid out and two pots of coffee are sitting on the sidebar.

A few staff-members lurk near the bar, well out of hearing unless they are cyber-modified.

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop walks inside and removes his Respirator, then steps up to the table and places a White Noise Generator next to the coffee pot. Flipping it on, he then turns to the pot of grabs a cup. Black.

"What the frag happened?"

[Tanka]

Charlie looks around for some sort of alcohol. Bad news is best taken with alcohol. Then again, any news is best taken with alochol.

"Well, I have nary a clue. I did find out a few things about our mysterious doctor."

He slides the sheets to the center of the table.

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop picks one up and begins to read.

[HMHVV Hunter]

Helios walks up to the table and orders some coffee.

[HeySparky]

Edana looks around and swipes a cup of coffee from the pot, bits and pieces of the troubling night are still gnawing at the edges of her mind. But her eyes are clear and bright - focused, literally and figuratively flashing with energy.

At some puzzled looks she waves a hand at herself dismissively, "Later," is all she says. She sits forward, with her pocket secretary held in both hands, Herne behind her, arms crossed and forbidding, like an awful lot like a body guard.

"I think we can all agree that this potential crisis is Ballefour's doing. We need to notify the authorities and get some heavy, heavy guns after this guy. Or at least ready for the damage he might cause."

She nods at Grave's report that he has already done so.

"Let's take turns. Charlie, you're up. Tell us everything. What did your decker friend dig up and what else, anything, even small stuff, did you find?"

[Tanka]

"Well, as it says on those sheets," he points to the sheets in the center of the table, "our boy bought a ticket for the suborbital, but never showed. He also went to the bank and withdrew fifty bigguns, half in certified cred, half in hard currency.

"Several weeks before leaving, he wasn't around the office much. His excuse to his secretary was 'legal troubles.'"

[Ecclesiastes]

Bishop grunts. "Still not a lot to go on..."

[HMHVV Hunter]

"How's about the fact that the "vaccine" we found in his lab was actually a strain of HMHVV?" Helios chimes in.

[Kremlin KOA]

Waking up after his fourth coffee, Gonzales looks at the others, "Okay people, we gotta catch this guy. Step one: Who funded his hidden lab, Charlie I believe you have a decker that can check the credit trail for the lab's location. Then we need to find out if those people are still helping him, and if they know what he is up to... that should provide leads to his location." Gonzles finishes and waits for comnment