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

[WinterRat1]

00:01:03 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

"I...work for certain people. Sometimes these people have enemies. It is just business, nothing personal. That is why I think you will be safe. Still, I cannot take chances Lana. The fire today, it was no accident.

It was a message, directed at me. I am glad you are not hurt, and I am sure they intended it that way. If they wanted to hurt you, they would have gotten to you already. Until I can sort this out, it's better for you not to know too much. They won't bother you if they think you don't know anything or have use to them. I cannot tell you more.

Now which will it be Lana? Shall I make my own arrangements, or will you take care of yourself?"

[Vegas]

00:01:21 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

“Either way I choose there are problems. I have nothing but what I left the apartment with tonight! And if I take your arrangements do you really expect Aidan or Kat not to start worrying and or doing something stupid to come looking for me if I disappear for some amount of time?”

She paused as she realized her volume and pitch was increasing, even in Russian when Aidan overheard his name he started into the alley only to stop in his tracks when Lana held up her hand and shook her head as she turned to look his way.

“And b]Nikol[/b], how am I supposed to know you are safe, that you are ok through all of this?”

Again another pause and a long angsty sigh into the phone.

“What do you think I should do. How long would I have to disappear?”

[Cthulhu449]

20:53:09 Wednesday, 10 January 2063- The Sundowner Tavern, 14640 58th Ave S. Seattle, UCAS

"Yes, sir, that's me," Leo answered, turning his seat about and standing up to greet Roderick. The motion drew the attention of Roderick's companion, who tensed slightly before returning to his steady lighthouse-scan of the room.

"I was worried you might have had trouble on the way; I'm glad you are well," Leo continued, bringing his arm up for a hand shake just faster than he needed to and watching both mens' reactions. "You seem a bit troubled by this whole arrangement. Sit and tell me how this necessary disturbance to your normal routine can be made as painless as possible."

[bclements]

23:25:07 Sunday, 14 January 2063 – Miner’s Landing, Downtown Seattle, UCAS

“I will. Thank you” Tony said, making a conscience effort not to shake his head or check the contents of the bag as he carefully held it tucked under one arm, shielding it from the pedestrians on the sidewalk as he made his way back to the parking deck. Cold wind bit though him, but he was mainly worried about bumping into someone and setting off an arsenal in his takeout bag. Not the way to roll he thought, threading his way through the press of metahumanity still crowding the sidewalks this time of night: wageslaves heading out to party from the pre-party spot, late night shoppers heading in with Matrix coupons for late-night sales. Tony at least wasn’t the worst dressed; a few bums angling for change along the walk had more stains on their coat.

It wasn’t until he was back in his car, engine already turning over in the cold, harsh fluorescent light of the concrete parking deck that he opened the package and inspected the contents: Flashpack crystal-gleaming in the bright, unnaturally white light and smaller than the pack of cheroots that Priest used to carry, tubular grenades separated only by a small white ribbon around the top of the pull and push mechanism of one set of them. Not bad, Zedya he thought, stowing the flashpack in a chest pocket, and the grenades in interior waist pocket.

Not like you’re goin’ to be chuncking these things like in trench war, he thought, settling the seat belt well below impact level with the grenades in his pocket. He wasn’t unfamiliar with them, but the Company had been so sparing with the damn things that after the first few times he stopped asking. Even small flash bangs raised such enough purchasing blockades. Requisitioning was one of the things he didn’t miss, he thought on the drive out to Bellevue, soft jazz playing in the background, interspersed with soft Spanish swearing as the Americar joined the flow of traffic, headed south to the 405.

[bclements]

EDIT: Deleted, timestamp screwup, sorry.

[WinterRat1]

00:01:43 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

"Do you think your older sister so foolish she would not have planned for this? If you wish to make your own arrangements I have plans to assist you as well. I cannot tell you how long you will have to hide if you take my arrangements, I can only say until my business is complete.

If you think you cannot handle isolation for so long, or your friends will worry beyond what you can tolerate, then you should make your own plans. I cannot tell you what to do Lana, you are old enough to make your own decisions."

The one question her sister doesn't answer sticks out like a sore thumb: how will she know that Nikol is ok? She already knows why her sister didn't answer. It's possible she'll never know if her sister's ok. With that thought comes a startling realization that brings the beginning of tears to her eyes. If things go wrong, really far, wacked out wrong, this might be the last time she ever talks to her big sister.

[Vegas]

00:01:59 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

Biting down hard on her tongue to distract herself from the thoughts that were bringing the stinging tears to her eyes, she shook her head as if it would stop the thoughts from continuing down their morbid path.

“Niki I… Maybe it is better if I stay out on my own. I mean I’ll have the guys to look after me and like you said, if I don’t know anything it’s likely they’ll leave me alone. Not that I don’t appreciate everything you’ve thought about to help me. I’ll be fine… I just want to you to be ok too.”

Perhaps she would be “safe” from the people who were trying to keep her sister from doing whatever it was she was doing, but would she be safe from O’Halloran and that whole mess that she had gotten herself right in the middle of.

“Promise me Niki, if you get the chance to let me know that you are ok you will. I don’t know what I would do if something happ…’

She cut the last statement off short, the reality of it all was that something had already happened, and likely nothing else would be the same.

[WinterRat1]

00:02:31 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

"I promise Lana, I will update you as often as it is safe. And I will do my best to be ok. Don't worry, everything will work out."

Nikol's voice was soothing, but it was painfully obvious she was quite aware her younger sister's fears were well founded. She pauses for a moment, letting the silence hang before answering, her voice calm and clear.

"Go to Sea-Tac International Airport and find storage locker 763. The code is 4D5E9HG1. Inside you'll find some things I stashed away in case something like this happened. In the meantime, lie low, and do not put yourself in unnecessarily risky situations. If people come after you, cooperate and give them want they want. I will be fine, but I cannot risk your safety. I could never..."

Nikol's voice seizes up for a moment, and her normally controlled voice suddenly becomes husky.

"I could never face our parents if something happened to you. So take care of yourself my little Svetlana. I pray I will be able to see you soon."

Her voice goes silent, and for a moment Lana thinks her big sister hung up, but she checks her phone and sees it's still connected. As much as she tries to hold back, she's starting to sniffle a little, knowing full well her big sister is saying good bye. Just in case. Before the tears can kick into full gear, her sister's voice breaks through the silence, heavy with emotion.

"You are strong enough to get through this Svetlana. Before you know it, things will go back to normal. Do not worry, we will see each other again, I promise."

[Vegas]

00:02:46 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

Lana's grip on her cellphone tightens as her sister begins to say her goodbyes and she chokes on her tears as she tries to be as strong as her sister believes she is.

"I'll get to the airport and I'll find the locker. I will be careful, I promise. I... I love you Niki"

Lana fell silent, the tears spilling down her cheeks as she struggled to remember to breathe. This couldn't really be happening to her, to her sister.

[WinterRat1]

00:03:16 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

But it was happening. To her, and to her sister. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, tried to pretend this wasn't happening, tried to pretend she wasn't really saying goodbye to Niki, maybe for the last time, the inescapable reality of their situation kept collapsing on her conscious mind like a ton of bricks.

The sobs catch in her throat, and she gulps for air as Nikol whispers, "I love you too Svetlana. No matter what happens, never forget that. Good-bye."

The line goes dead as Nikol disconnects, leaving Lana alone in the silent, dark alley.

[Vegas]

00:05:35 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

She heard the line go dead, and she pulled the phone away from her ear and tried to look at its status through the tears. Seeing nothing but the world go blurry she let her hand hang loose by her side in defeat as the world seemed to move in slow motion. With her forehead resting against her arm against the wall of the alley, the slim black cellphone clatters to the damp and dirty alley with a barely audible click as everything overwhelms her at once.

Her choking sobs echo in the alleyway and drift down to the trio who had been waiting so patiently for her return. Instantly Aidan started to close the distance feeling the need to check up on his girlfriend when Kat stopped him with a hand on his arm and shook her head with a look that said this was going to be handled better by another woman. The leggy blonde made her way down the alley to where Lana was bawling and didn’t say a word beyond “Oh Lana” and just gently rubbed the girl’s back in an attempt to soothe her and calm her down.

She struggled to pull her emotions back into check, the sobs quieting down but her eyes were still brimming with tears that threatened to spill at a seconds notice. Before anything, Lana bent down and picked up her cellphone and glanced at the screen. True to her sister’s word the screen would still illuminate in brilliant detail, but now the service provider information was missing and “NO SERVICE” had taken its place in large block letters. She slipped the phone into her pocket beforeKat gave her friend a tight hug and kept her arm around the girl’s shoulder as they started to head back towards the opening of the alley.

At the mouth of the alley the girls were met with two expectant and concerned faces, Aidan opened his mouth and was about to speak when Kat once again shook her head and he quickly stopped his question. Lana looked up into his eyes, her own streaked with smudged and smeared black eyeliner and mascara, and quietly but firmly made her requests, though they sounded more like demands.

“I need a drink. And I need to get to the airport.”

[grendel]

12:09:11 Thursday, 11 January 2063 - Outside the ABC Convenience Store #2071, 6350 Woodridge Road, Renton, Seattle UCAS

The longer Litany remained on the block, the more certain she was that something just wasn't right. The air seemed colder here, filled with a harsher wind than that which swept down the street, carrying half-formed flurries of snow. The prickly feeling growing at the base of her neck was reserved only for the times immediately preceding gunfire, and she hurried to finish her snack. The air was somehow quieter here, outside these stores, filled not with the usual sounds of the city but with some kind of faint humming, a high pitched scream barely audible to the unaided ear. The hollow store front with its simplistic advertisements stares back at Litany in silent mocking.

[grendel]

00:21:29 Thursday 11 January 2063 - 862 Lucile Ave, Apt. 2C, Los Angeles, CFS

HardBitten's digital icon laughs nastily, but somehow Cosmo doesn't think he finds any humor in the situation.

"What do I think? I think you should make tracks for the hills as soon as possible. I think you're mixed up in something big and when the last domino falls it's going to fall hard. I've got some suspicions but I've got more fact checking to do. When I know more, you'll know more."

[WinterRat1]

00:06:41 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Sea-Tac International Airport

A little over an hour later they pulled up in front of Sea-Tac International Airport. Per Lana's 'requests', they'd first stopped by a local Stuffer Shack were Razor had gotten her a drink, several actually, which she'd consumed liberally on their way to the airport.

Now parked in the passenger drop off area, Kat turned to Lana, who'd just taken another long chug on her liquor, and asked, "What are we doing here Lana?"

[bclements]

20:53:47 Wednesday, 10 January 2063- The Sundowner Tavern, 14640 58th Ave S. Seattle, UCAS

“It’s just a little misunderstanding between me and Nas,” Roderick said as his hand came up to shake, a bit more congenial now that Leo was being less brutesque and more accomidating than when on the telecom. The quick reflexes didn't seem to phase him or his companion.

“And I’m sure that you’re caught up in this the same way I am, just a misunderstanding.” His minder behind him rolled his eyes at Roderick’s change of deamenor, before switching them back to checking the mostly empty diner.

Sitting down opposite of Leo, Roderick asked “What did Nas tell you? Remember, I can tell if you aren’t telling me everything” he added, winking a heavy eyelid. His companion rolled his almost real looking cybereyes again.

[bclements]

10:35:05 Sunday 14 January 2063 - The Green Papaya, 600 East Pine St, Seattle, UCAS

“Aye, don’t go on duty ‘till 1800” Roscoe said, reaching into a pocket of a long, battered synthwool coat and producing a cheap commlink. “Also, be a bit ahead of ya, mebee. Ready to receive, or just want me to tell ya?”

[Cthulhu449]

20:53:57 Wednesday, 10 January 2063- The Sundowner Tavern, 14640 58th Ave S. Seattle, UCAS

"I don't know about that, sir," Leo said shaking his head and waving the waitress away from refilling his glass, "She says people want to injur or kill you and she wants me to prevent that. Nastasya doesn't 'misunderstand' many things, and while I'm sure she's a damn good liar, I have to assume she is giving me legitimate information."

Leo paused a moment before switching gears once again, always keeping his voice even and formal despite the contrary nature of his statements.

"I don't want to cause you too great a disturbance, so if you were to give me a better idea what your situation is everything will go a lot smoother. It would benefit the both of us."

[Vegas]

01:06:41 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Sea-Tac International Airport

Lana cracked the safety seal on yet another Ork-sized nip of vodka and drained it before she tossed the bottle to join the growing collection at her feet. The growing buzz still wasn't enough to take the edge off of all that had happened, but if she kept drinking what was left of what Razor had picked up at the Stuffer, she'd be dead or passed out by dawn. Right now either felt acceptable.

"You guys are doing nothing, nothing except waiting here. Me, I'm going inside."

With slurred speech she fumbled with the door handle and stepped out of the car and attempted to stagger slightly towards the entrance on her search for storage locker number 763.

[grendel]

10:35:49 Sunday 14 January 2063 - The Green Papaya, 600 East Pine St, Seattle, UCAS

Vedic opens up his commlink to mesh with Roscoe's, sipping from his stoneware cup.

"Send both."

[WinterRat1]

01:17:23 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Sea-Tac International Airport

After several minutes of slightly drunken searching, Lana manages to locate storage locker 763. She carefully enters the code Nikol gave her and opens the locker. Inside is a medium sized black duffle bag. Grabbing the bag and double checking to make sure there's nothing else in the locker, she heads to the bathroom so she can have some privacy while she examines its contents.

Heading to the handicapped stall for more room, she locks the stall door behind her and opens the bag. Sitting on top of a pile of clothes is a note labeled simply, Svetlana. Opening the letter, she sees the letter is written in Russian with her sister's precise handwriting.

[Vegas]

01:17:35 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

It didn’t make sense. None of it made sense to her at all. As Lana looked over all of the contents of the duffle bag she wondered how long it had taken Niki to put this all together, not to mention just what could have precipitated such an event. She sat there on the toilet seat, the bag dwarfing her lap and she fingered the certified credsticks and had the type of instantaneous thought that nearly any teen who had 5k dropped in their lap would have.

“Time to party.”

As fleeting as that thought was, a glance back down into the bag also meant seeing the letter again, and all the trust that she’d be able to take care of herself with what she was given, even under the immense responsibility. She sat there with her eyes closed for what felt like an hour while only minutes ticked by. Soon she was repacking the bag, stuffing things back inside and slinging it over her shoulder. She knew in her current condition, now wasn’t the time to be studying the things Niki had left for her. The public bathroom at the airport wasn’t the right place either.

She hefted the bag up over one shoulder and let herself out of the stall. Pausing to look at herself in the mirror, she noticed she looked tired. Instead of aging her however, all the day’s trials and unexplained events just made her look painfully young and helpless. She took an extra few seconds to try to clean up the smudged eyeliner before splashing a bit of cold water on her face and heading back out towards the passenger drop-off area with her new things.

Coming out the doors she looked around and spotted Aidan’s car a little ways up from where they dropped her off. She made her way up to the door and rapped on the window to unlock the door before she climbed inside and scooted over towards Kat keeping the duffle bag to the other side of her near the door. She didn’t need her friend getting overly nosey as to what was inside. She didn’t make any attempt at first to explain its presence either.

“Thanks for waiting. Lets get out of here, before the cops ticket you for sitting here in the no standing zone.”

[Konsaki]

19:37:46 Thursday, 11 January 2063 – Tooth and Nail, West Galer St, Downtown Seattle, UCAS
Leon Mordred

Dro eyed Leon for a second before looking down at Freya. A second later, while his demeanor didn’t change much, the pale man moved to the side and let out a, “Yeah… It’s cool. No problems…”
Nodding, Leon stepped up towards the door and through it into the inside of the club. He slowed his step a little as he took on last look at up at the slightly taller tusker, but said nothing as he then continued towards the stairs up to the next floor.

Behind him, his little sister and the DJ shared smiles as looked down at the second elf walking through the door. One cute but arrogant; the other big but menacing, they just left it at that. Catching up with her elder brother, Freya called up to him as he walked up the stairs. “Where are we headed?”, she almost had to yell over the increasing volume of the music.
“Up to the ‘Trog Rock’ floor.”, the brown haired man said back down over the music. The sound of wailing guitars was gaining volume in the pounding baseline along with the screaming and yelling of the lead singer on the playing track. “We need to go through there to get anywhere else.”, he continued for no real reason but to say it.

[WinterRat1]

01:25:17 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

She noticed Aidan and Kat's eyes meeting as they glanced at each other in the rearview mirror, exchanging what appeared to be concerned looks, before Aidan said, "Uh, sure thing babe. But uh, where are we going?"

[Vegas]

01:25:47 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Metropolitan Park Apartments, 601 S. Washington St., Seattle

Lana leaned back against the backseat and exhaled slowly and redrew a breath with the same pace. She closed her eyes against the tears that were threatening to fall again, her fingers tightening around the handles of the duffle bag.

"I don't care where. Your place, a coffin motel. Anywhere but here so I don't get on the next plane to Moscow."

She let out the breath she was holding with a slow rush that assimilated a sigh and she felt the buzz that had numbed her slowly slipping away with each rotation of the tires as Aidan pulled away from the curb and back into the flow of traffic surrounding the airport.

This was going to be a delicate balancing act. How much could she tell her friends without putting them in jeopardy and how much was necessary to keep to herself but still keep their trust and keep them on her side.

Plus there was still Kat's problem with O'Halloran to deal with.

She dangerously wondered if the day could get any worse.

[WinterRat1]

02:13:26 Thursday, 11 January 2063 Aidan's Apartment

A little while later she sat on a tattered couch in Aidan's tiny apartment, nursing yet another drink as Kat, Aidan, and Razor (who'd volunteered to stay with them) looked on anxiously.

They kept exchanging glances, wanting to break the ice but unsure as to who should do it first and how.

After a while Aidan cautiously ventured, "So uh...you mind telling us what's going on Lana?"