Living in the Shadows: IC, Jan 8th-14th Options

[Bastard]

1130 Monday January08, 2063- Marquis Cooper's Apartment

Marquis sits in his chair daydreaming a bit, cleaning a Ares Preditor that he has taken on. The owner loves the classic model, but wants it upgraded to Preditor III capabilities. Marq understands the owners feelings, as he looks out the window at his sunset orange 2005 Cadi. A combination of old and new has always been better than SOTA, at least to those in their respected industries.

Standing to get a "wake up" stretch, Marq sets the weapon onto what has become his work desk. He double checks that he has everything before heading outside. With him he carries small dufflebag containing his overalls and lunch, just in case he is at the shop longer than expected. Today Chavez needs an extra hand droping an engine into an old Brumbry. It should only take about an hour to help him out, but you know how things go. There is always one bolt, usually the last you get to, that is stripped out.

[WinterRat1]

08:36:19 Monday 08 January 2063 - 6 Bellevue Way, One Lincoln Tower - 41st Floor – Penthouse

"I would like to speak to the Professor please," the voice at the other end answers. A slight hint of an asian accent is present in the precise, measured tones of the speaker.

"This is him," Max answers in a precise, professional tone of voice. At least, he hoped it was. As a relative newbie to shadow biz, he hadn't been exposed to very much 'real' running, working more as a freelancer on a wide variety of projects rather than limiting himself to blowing up labs and jumping off skyscrapers onto helicopters.

"A party that I represent has heard of your credentials. You seem to be an expert in parazoology and the more, shall we say, 'arcane' areas of science, yes? This party is looking for a man like yourself, one with exceptional scientific credentials and a willingness to work in more...'grey' areas of science. This party wishes me to meet with you to discuss terms of employment in regards to a special research project. Are you interested in meeting with me to learn more?"

The voice pauses, waiting for an answer.

[Slipshade]

08:38:30 Monday 08 January 2063 - 6 Bellevue Way, One Lincoln Tower - 41st Floor – Penthouse

The thought of a job was a relief to Max, but what the man ment by the more grey areas of science he didn't know and that bothered him.

'Well, no harm in hearing what this gentleman has to say'

"I would be happy to set up a meeting with you. Where would you like to meet and on what date?"

Figuring it was best to treat this conversation as if it was one of his old faculty meetings, Max kept the tone business-like and polite.

[WinterRat1]

08:38:59 Monday 08 January 2063 - 6 Bellevue Way, One Lincoln Tower - 41st Floor – Penthouse

"How about this evening, at 2200 at the Paradigm Shift. It is a new club in town, in Touristville, Redmond. Tell the bouncer out front that you are there for Mr. Fan, and he will direct you from there. Is this acceptable to you?"

[grendel]

10:12:55 Monday 8 January 2063 - The Grounds coffeeshop, Capitol Hill, Seattle, UCAS

Tony flips closed the last page of the Journal just as his phone lights up with an incoming call. The caller ID spit out the number he'd just dialed for his fixer half an hour ago.

"Tony," he answered.

"Hey, it's Zeyda. I got your message earlier. Why don't you stop by Miner's Landing tonight, say seven? I'll brief you on what I've got then."

"Sure." Tony made a note in his electronic datebook. "I'll see you then."

"Be careful out there." Zeyda cut the line. Tony pocketed the phone, his eyes glancing across a headline buried in the very back of the local news section. Pioneering computer programmer shot dead.

[grendel]

11:48:30 Monday January 08, 2063 - Cooper's Automotive Shop, Seattle, UCAS

Chavez was standing by the open garage door as Marq walked up to the shop, wiping his hands on a rag. He hooked his thumb towards the back office.

"Hey, some guy was here this morning when I opened up. Says he wants to talk to you about something. I told him you'd be by later and he said he'd wait. That was two hours ago. Something's not right about this ese, watch yourself."

[Bastard]

1150 Monday January 08, 2063-Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

Ok, what did I get myself into... Checking his twin gold Savalette Guardians, Marquis pulls the one for his left hand holding it low against his leg. Turning the corner into the office, he drags the gun behind him, hidden behind the wall. Standing in the doorway he is prepared to pull his other pistol, and swing the other from behind the door way.

[bclements]

1015 Monday, 08 January 2063 The Grounds Coffee shop, Capitol Hill, Seattle UCAS

Somehow, I don't think that suicide's involved. But who wants to kill an old computer guy now? Tony thought to himself while scanning the story. Dismissing the thought and finishing with the paper, Tony gets up and smooths his clothes, and makes his way into the drizzle back to his apartment to get his car. Now with a plan for the day, and some time to kill before this evening, he decides to pick up the car and some gear, head over to Sung's dojo for a bit, then off to his Bellvue safehouse to drop off some clothes. Maybe that old man needs some help cleaning up the place. And with a job on the way, the retreat may get some use out of it soon.

[grendel]

11:51:18 Monday January 08, 2063 - Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

Standing in Marquis' office is a young man dressed in an expensive tres chic suit. He carries an attache case in his right hand and makes a show of checking a very expensive chronograph on his left wrist. Apart from his shaved head, the only notable thing about him are the pair of obvious cybereyes revealed when he removes his sunglasses. They are opaque and pale white, giving the impression that he has no eyes at all.

"Mr. Cooper." It's a statement rather than a question, more of an opening to the conversation than anything else. Marquis gets the impression that this man doesn't ask questions to verify information he already knows. It doesn't reassure him, though.

"Who's asking?"

"I have a business proposition for you. I understand you have a business that deals with weapon modifications and customizations. I have a weapon that needs to be modified."

[Slipshade]

08:39:28 Monday 08 January 2063 - 6 Bellevue Way, One Lincoln Tower - 41st Floor – Penthouse

“That is acceptable. 2200 at the Paradigm Shift.” After hearing Max’s response the voice at the other end of the line thanks him and hangs up. Before he forgets, Max jots down the time and location for the meet and downloads directions to the Paradigm Shift from the matrix to his P-Sec.

‘Good this still gives me time to help out at the Respite before my meeting. I’ll have to remember to ask Keira if she has heard of this place.’

It has been a while since Max had been to a nightclub. The last time was just before his transformation. While he had been out to fundraisers and such since his surge, he had stayed away from clubs and bars. Fundraisers were controlled events, he had a purpose their and more importantly he knew most of the people involved. They are at least somewhat used to the changes that had occurred to Max, maybe even more so than he was.

‘It’s about time I give it a go.’

[bclements]

11:00:40 Monday 8 January 2063 – Capitol Hill Terrace , Capitol Hill, Seattle, UCAS
Tony checked his bag. clean clothes, and some food. Never have a enough food, and running to the Stuffer may not be the best idea if I’m having to use the place. Grabbing his Browning and making sure that the clip was loaded with gels, Tony puts it in his holster and walks down to the car to check on Sung-Kwan

14:45:11 Monday 8 January 2063- Kwan’s Dojo Capitol Hill, Seattle, UCAS
Tony walks out of the door toward his car, shaking his head at the old man. After helping him clean up the dojo, Sung gave him another of his philosophy lessons in lieu of a sparring match. Having made the mistake of taking off his holster while sweeping the floor, Sung launches in. “Why are you carrying that gun around? You’ve got to remember kid, you are the weapon. That thing is just a tool. You’d laugh your hoop off at a worker that carried a hammer everywhere.” “The reason I’m carrying it, grandpa, is that I’m heading to a part of town where they might shoot you if you look at them funny, even more so if you laugh at them. You said I was the weapon, but what about the armor? And where’s Sam by the way?” “Don’t know kid. He’s not supposed to come in ‘till the 3:00 class” “Tell him to call me back, I’ll need a drink later on” Tony only got to leave after promising to come by tomorrow afternoon for a workout, without the gun.

15:26:31 Monday 8 January 2063- 4054 East Gate Dr, Bellevue, Seattle UCAS
Pulling up a couple of blocks from the flat-house after circling it once, Tony checks to see if anything is amiss on the block. Nothing out there. Tony thinks to himself. Getting his bag from the trunk and walking quickly toward the building, Tony keeps an eye out for anything out there. Quit being paranoid. Not like you’re in the Barrens for God’s sake Tony thinks to himself while unlocking the front door. Feeling his psec ring, he drops the bag by the secondhand couch and pulls it out. Seeing that it’s Sam, he answers “Bout time you called me back pops. How’s the class going?” “Not bad kid. There’s one tough Troll here, but he don’t have anything I can’t handle. What time do you want to start?” “Meet me at 8 at the Spirit. Don’t let the kids beat you up too bad, kay?” “Frag off. You’re buyin, kiddo” Sam said as a way of a signoff. Getting back to his task, Tony puts away the food and clothing, and checks to make sure that the hot water still runs. Satisfied, he heads back to his car. time enough to drop off this piece, watch Awakened World for a bit, take a shower, then to Miner’s Tony thinks to himself while driving through a McHugh’s for lunch.

18:45:31 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS
One of these days, I’m going to get a limo and a driver. And that fragger is going to drop me off at the damn doorfront with an umbrella instead of me parking two blocks away in a garage and walking in this goddamn never-ending drizzle. Tony thought to himself on the walk towards the club. At least this place has good bourbon.

[grendel]

18:47:04 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

Downstairs, Miner's Landing was packed with couples and families eating dinner, voices raised above the clink of silverware and glasses. Outside the boardwalk was empty, the driving snow and cutting wind having pushed even the most ardent of shoppers back indoors.

Upstairs, the conversation was hushed, voices low and conspiratorial. Above them rose Aria's throaty contralto, the elven singer whispering dulcet secrets into the old fashioned microphone. The music calmed the ragged edges of Zeyda's nerves after eight hours of negotiations, allowing him to keep the same even tone. His eyes flickered across the club, registering Tony as he came up the stairs. A simple hand gesture passed him off to the bar for the next couple of minutes, however long it took to finish the current business.

Tony ordered, sipping from his drink when it arrived and letting the smoky ambiance of the club curl about him. As always, the bourbon chased away the January chill.

Halfway through the drink, Zeyda motioned him over.

"Glad you could make it, omae, some weather out there, neh? Listen, there's movement out on the streets, more than usual and stranger than usual so watch your back, ok? I've got a Johnson who wants to meet with you about a bodyguard job. Ten p.m. tonight, the Exxon-Mobil station West Van Medter and 30th Street. It's on the edge of the Barrens, so walk soft."

[Bastard]

1152 Monday January 08, 2063-Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

It isn't normal for people to stop by unannounced, usually one of Marquis's fixers gives him a heads up. Maybe this is just a sign that his business is going to take off.

Still standing in the doorway, Marquis asks, "What do you have in mind?"

[bclements]

18:55:22 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

In the time that Tony had known Zeyda, he'd never even seen him rattled. "You're not paranoid if they're really after you. Anything in particular I need to worry about? And on the job, pay's high, medium, or low?"

[grendel]

11:52:50 Monday January 08, 2063 - Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"Destruction, actually. I need this rendered unusuable and untraceable." The pale-eyed man reaches into his attache case and withdraws a plastic flimsy. It's a close-up color photograph of an upper reciever and barrel of a rifle. Marquis glances at it, and has a difficult time concealing his surprise. The parts pictured belong to a Gepard M4(B) 12.7mm anti-material rifle.

[grendel]

18:55:52 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"No, I don't have any specific threats to warn you on. Just that there's been an unusual amount of activity lately. Pay on this job was good, between two and three thousand for a couple days work."

Zeyda consults his pocket secretary for the details.

[bclements]

18:56:03 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"Mark me down for it" Tony says. Making a note in his psec, he repeats "10:00 P.M at the Exxon-Mobil station West Van Medter and 30th Street." To Zeyda "After this job's over, I'll give you a call. I'm going to need a decent decker, nobody real fancy though, for some personal work. I'll give you more details in a couple of days."

Downing the rest of his drink, Tony gets ready to leave. "If there's nothing else, I'll get out of your hair. Take care hombre. Call me if you need me."

[grendel]

18:56:25 Monday 8 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"All right, I'll have a name for you when you check back in. Keep me posted, omae." Zeyda nods as Tony stands and makes his way downstairs and into the frigid night.

[bclements]

18:59:41 Monday 8 January 2063 – Outside Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"...no Sam, probably won't be able to meet you till after 11 now, if then. Somethin's come up. Have Rebecca put what you get on my tab till I get there, and only get the cheap stuff" Tony shouts into his phone to overcome the high wind coming off the Sound and the higher noise coming from Sam's end of the phone.

"What you think I've been doin? You stand me up, and I'll buy the house a round of the best on your fraggin tab. Get your hoop back here in one piece." Sam shouts back over the no-name Elven neo-soul band in the background.

Hanging up and walking back to his car, Tony starts to think about the meet. I'm no expert bodyguard, but I would have picked a place that has, I dunno, an enclosed area to meet in. Especially that close to the Barrens. I'll need a piece and a change of clothes. Turning up his coat coller to the wind and keeping an eye out for obvious tails, Tony walks quickly back to the garage.

21:22:25 Monday 8 January 2063 – Capitol Hill Terrace, Capitol Hill, Seattle , UCAS

A shower, a Nuke-n-Eat meal and a call to a cab company later, Tony waits outside in the wind and light snow for his ride. A flask of whiskey would be good right now. One of those Dunkelzahn ones with him breathing fire on the front. At this point, I wouldn't even mind that. Of course, if you weren't so paranoid, you'd be in a warm car right now Tony thinks idlely to himself. Even in the normally warm securetech outfit he had on, the wind was biting; Tony could even feel the Browning in its holster getting cold. Grabbing his knife would probably hurt him just as much as the fragger he was going to use it on, if it came to that.

Just as he was pulling out his psec for an angry call to the cab company, he saw his ride round the corner. Getting in, he told the Dwarf cabbie: "One block east of West Van Medter and 30th Street. An extra 30 nuyen if you wait for me." "It's your dime, chummer" the cabbie answers back as they drive off into the night.

[grendel]

21:50:46 Monday 8 January 2063 - One block east of West Van Medter and 30th Street, Seattle, UCAS

The streets are white, even here on the edge of the Barrens where working streetlights are few and far between. The wind, driven hard from the west, cuts right through Tony's thick longcoat and armor. Visibility is almost as low as the temperature, thick veils of blowing snow drifting across the street. Pulling the coat close about him, Tony glanced up and down the street, being careful to include the building faces as well as rooftops in his scan. Or, at least, he tried to, in this weather it was difficult to tell what was a trick of the blowing snow and what was the shadow of a sniper hunched against the roof coaming. If it comes to that, at least it'll be as bad for them as it is for me. The thought, while true, brings little comfort. Approaching the address for the meet, Tony is surprised to see another figure standing in the snowstorm, gray longcoat buttoned up and hat pulled down low over his eyes. The figure lights a cigarette as Tony watches, the flame from the lighter momentarily illuminating a harsh, weathered face.

[Bastard]

1153 Monday January 08, 2063-Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

Marquis enters the room, holstering his golden Savalette Guardian, but not before letting the client get a good view of its craftsmanship. The polished pistol finds its resting spot on the side of Marq's thigh, hidden underneath the unzipped coveralls. Taking a close look at the photograph, he steps toward the bald man.

"So you want the whole weapon destroyed, never to be seen again, or do you want the rifle back, with new barrel, new bolt and firing mechanism, different exterior, and of course, no serial number? Not that it has one now," Cooper smiles.

[grendel]

11:54:03 Monday January 08, 2063 - Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"I'm sorry, perhaps I was unclear. I require the destruction of only this portion of the weapon." The pale-eyed man taps the picture to emphasize his point. If he noticed the Savalette in Marquis' hand before it was holstered, he gives no indication.

[Bastard]

1155 Monday January 08, 2063-Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"No problem, I would like to do more with it, but if all you want me to do is destroy that portion, I can do that. You dont neen any new parts then? When can you get it to me?"

[grendel]

11:55:45 Monday January 08, 2063 - Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

The pale-eyed man cocks his head to the side as if considering the implications of Marquis' statement. After a moment, he nods.

"Before we make delivery arrangements, I would like to talk fee. I am willing to pay 100 :nuyen: per hour for the destruction, and a flat 1000 :nuyen: for disposal of the remaining pieces. Is this acceptable?"

[Bastard]

1156 Monday January 08, 2063-Cooper's Automotive, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

"Some of those other parts I will have to modify or destroy, before they are 'disposed'- that is if you want them untraceable. Don't worry about the time, I spend a lot of extra time on my work. A flat fee of 3,000 :nuyen: will cover everything."