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

[Vegas]

08:21:32 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

She shook her head as the front door closed behind him.

"Trusting son of a bitch, aren't ya?"

She flipped her attention back to the trid for an instant, her random surfing interrupted on a repeat of Ivory Coast. All the explosions and gunplay reminded her of all the guns she found on her short but uninterrupted search of the place last night. Realizing she had the place to herself for at least the next fifteen minutes or more, she decided to capitalize in checking out the nooks and crannies of the house that had otherwise been off-limits last night. First up, his bedroom.

"He did say make yourself at home afterall."

She padded down the hallway, the oversized shirt she wore slipping from her shoulder as she made her way towards her target. Just before she slipped inside his room, she glanced behind her just to cover her ass. One could only begin to imagine what she might find inside.

[grendel]

08:47:02 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

The bedroom was as spartan as she expected, revealing nothing interesting at first glance. The queen bed was unmade, the sheets an unremarkable charcoal checkerboard pattern. The bedside table held a lamp, and a combination alarm clock and commlink charging base station. Pulling open the drawer, Mac expected to find another weapon inside. Instead, she found a small book titled Sand and Foam, Khalil Gibran. Neither the author, nor the work was familiar to her.

The freestanding armoire reveals nothing, packed with neatly folded clothes for all seasons. Apparently Kovacs is a boxers man.

Opening his closet, she finds more racked clothes, although these are newer and aimed towards business casual: button down shirts, polos, and khakis dominate. In the back, though, she finds what she expected. Three pairs of camouflage armor, one woodland, one tundra, and one urban, the pixelated patterns unfamiliar to her eye. A full set of form-fitting body armor, as well as a suit of thick nylon that has some kind of built in cape. A large black rolling duffel bag is stuffed with modular tactical gear, although no other weapons are present.

Mac whirls around at the sound of the front door closing, and Kovacs' steps in the hall. For a moment she considers diving into the closet and closing the doors behind her, but an irrational anger seizes her. She stands defiant, ready for the imminent confrontation.

It never comes.

Kovacs never glances her way, simply turning left into the other bedroom she hasn't explored at this point. It turns out to be a kind of workout room, with a total gym machine in the corner, the floor covered with tatami mats. Against the far wall stands an old RenRaku manservant drone. Kovacs moves before it, now wearing only a compression t-shirt and a pair of boxer briefs. Mac lets her gaze wander over his body, still well muscled and clearly in shape for his age. She can see a roadmap of scars on the exposed flesh, though, some neat and surgical but most jagged and rough.

"Ready, Sam?" he asks.

"Whenever you are, sir," replies the drone. The two stand unmoving in front of one another for a moment, before Kovacs strikes. The blow is blindingly fast, Mac doesn't see the start of it, only the finish as Sam blocks and responds in kind. The dull thud of flesh against synthetic fills the room, punctuated regularly by the higher pitched clack of synthetic on synthetic. This is a full speed, full power fight, neither opponent pulling punches or giving ground.

The drone's lower torso is a boxy, wheeled base, allowing it to absorb the full power, torquing strikes delivered by Kovacs. Its stationary position, though, prevented him from using maneuver and position to his advantage, forcing him to remain inside striking range at all times.

Mac knows first hand that the exercise is exhausting, she remembers well the burn of fatigue poisons through muscles, how your arms feel leaden and how the sweat stings your eyes. She recognizes some of what Kovacs is using, though, he's studied krav maga as well. He's blending techniques from some other art, though, maybe judo or one of the Korean karate variants. Mac can't say for sure, but she's fascinated.

The speed and power of the fight clearly demonstrate his augmentations, his responses are inhumanly fast, the snake-like fluidity of his arms as they lash out, the iron hard tension in his muscles as his blows land. Mac looks at the clock and is amazed to see that almost ten minutes have passed.

"Ready, sir?" asks Sam suddenly.

"Go!" wheezes Kovacs in reply. The drone produces a knife, a straight combat blade of about fifteen centimeters. The draw is fast and smooth, seamlessly flowing into the attack. In response, a pair of cyberspurs snap out from Kovacs' synthetic arm, locking into place and blocking the blow with a ring of steel on steel.

Mac's blood runs cold as a dim memory, suppressed by fatigue and shock, surfaces with sudden clarity.

Light, glinting off chrome and arcs of crimson.

Her stomach roils as she realizes just what happened to the man who attacked her, and what it was that caused the sounds she heard, and what the wetness on her skin must have been. Sliding to the floor, she hugs her knees to her body, unable to tear her eyes from the spectacle in front of her.

The fight continues, lethal now as the live blades cross. It ends much faster, though. Kovacs catches Sam's blade in a parry, feeds through a control and an open hand blow before turning through faster than the drone can catch. The blade, still clutched in Sam's hand, clatters to the floor. The drone lifts its arm so that it can examine the ruined wrist, fiber optics and servo lines dangling uselessly from the open casing. Kovacs grunts, retracting his spurs with a silent command.

"Repairs will require approximately two hours, sir," advises Sam, retrieving both its blade and its hand from the floor.

"Spares are in the usual place," acknowledges Kovacs, wiping the sweat from his face with a towel lifted from the workout bench. Turning, his eyes find Mac for the first time, taking in her slumped position on the floor, his bedroom, and the open closet beyond.

"You all right?" he asks.

[Vegas]

08:56:31 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

With her forehead now against her knees, and the sharp, bitter tang of the remnants of bile in her mouth, she shook her head and let out a meek “no” that was muffled at best. Her breath was ragged still and when she finally did lift her head up to look at Kovacs her extra-long wear mascara had finally broken down by tears leaving black flakes and smudges around her eyes.

She struggled to get to her feet, her eyes locked on Kovacs’ as she slowly approached him. The closer she got, the more she was drawn to him. Her eyes dropped from his and landed on the patchwork of scars across his biceps. Without even thinking she reached up, the difference in their height never more apparent, and gently let her fingertip trace over one of the gnarliest of scars.

“Who are you?” Was all she could whisper before turning her face up to him.

[Mach_Ten]

15:46:53 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

Pieces of the puzzle still not clicking together to form a whole picture, Remy desperately tries to figure out just what the hell is going down.
Why the hell is everyone so drekkin' intrested in these chummers alla sudden ? he wonders, as he looks at the picture of the man before him, standing alongside one of the previous five that Xade had enquired about only hours ago.
The blue green glow of the comm illuminating his face as he squints at the detail, this time actually interested in case this picture adds more detail to the missing man than the previous one.

Trying hard to keep the flicker of recognition from his eyes and and from the tone of voice he responds with as neutral a statement as he can delivered flatly and evenly, he hopes.
"I dunnos, maybe he did, maybe he didn't, we gets lots of chummers in da shop and we's not e'sactly short on weird electricals, ya scan" indicating with a wide arc of his right arm at the sheer expanse of junk that adorns the shelves of the small salesroom.

Thinking Lessee if this guy is offering more than white cards and more mysteries, He reviews the lessons Danny has instilled, carefully trying to select the most appropriate pitch that will keep him talking and dropping hints as to how much he wants the information, without saying something to drop the cast iron door of disinterest into the proceedings.
And then the infernal door buzzer activates, the noise rattling in between the hemispheres of his brain, beginning a migraine as he sees the strings of the deal unravelling before his eyes.

The door opens and admits four gentlemen, if Remy managed to conceal the recognition in his face of one of their colleagues before, he completely fails to do so now confronted by the full team.
Along the nape of his neck, a bead of sweat forms despite the icy blast from the open portal and begins to trail down his spine, feeling every millimetre of it's movements as frozen razor blades, flaying his flesh as it begins it's downward motion, while the panic begins to set in.

His first instinct now, is to not let this guy leave, he is tied to this somehow and Remy is desperate to figure out the puzzle, he wracks his brain for a ruse to play both the guy in front of him and to get him away from the mooks.

"Ummmm... yeah ...No uhhh... no problem Sir, I has sum spare parts for a comm likes dat, should be an easy fix, say five hunnerd bucks?"
He rushes to blurt out the whole thing to the customer without taking his eyes away from following the latest arrivals and emphasising the relevant parts to him as if explaining to a five year old child that everything is okay, just let the adults handle it!
Urgently shoving the arm of the client away with it's attached device, praying to any deity listening right now that he has de-activated the comm and that the picture has faded from view,
he adds "ifs you waits a few minutes I gets da job done, dere's a waiting room inna back!" Throwing a thumb over his shoulder past the glass bead curtain into the repair shop and kitchenette area.
Hoping the guy has sense to move quickly rather than spend all day questioning things that Remy now has no time to consider.

Still maintaining eye contact with the mooks he addresses the nearest two as they approach the counter "Hoi Gents, Welcome to Danny's Pawn and Loan, how cans I help you?"
The icy razor blade of sweat has now reached the arch of his lower back and as if it has severed the nerves there, his legs feel numb and almost turned to jelly as he again tries to keep his composure.

his left hand on the counter top keeping him steady and holding on as if it were the only solid and stable object in a rapidly spinning hurricane of a world.
The right hand pinned at his side, he contemplates just grabbing and holding the gun for some measure of self security, but DREK IT he remembers he hasn't returned it from his coat in the excitement of his return from Auburn.

[DeliciousD]

15:48:02 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

"Spare parts?" Joslyn asks in confusion, starting to wonder if this Ork's been listening to a damn thing he's been saying, but then notes the panic in the young Ork's eyes.

Glancing at one of the new customers, Joslyn's trained eyes note the characteristic bulge of a concealed weapon.

Interesting clientele...maybe today won't be a complete bust.

Quickly turning back to Remy, he glances at the commlink again then nonchalantly sets it recording audio and locks the device.

"I'd hoped it was just a software problem." he continues nonchalantly, setting the link down on the counter "Do be careful with that, I have some holiday snaps I've not backed up yet."

With a nod to the panicked lad, he calmly steps through the bead curtain and, checking that there's no-one else in the kitchen area, draws his Predator.

Placing the pistol on the counter for a moment, he quickly rinses out a used glass and fills it with water then retrieves the pistol and lets it hang down by his side as he leans against the counter, occasionally sipping the water as he quietly tries to listen in on the meeting next door.

A gang looking for protection money maybe? Joslyn considers No, they were too civil for that...and the boy definitely didn't want them hearing about Romano he grinned and took a sip of water My interest is officially piqued.

[grendel]

09:41:16 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

"Probably just who you need right now," replies Kovacs, his voice level and matter of fact. This close, she can smell the sweat and heat from his body, an earthy, masculine aroma that draws her irresistibly forward. He covers her hand with his own, enveloping it with calloused strength. Mac moves with him as he steps forward as if they were dancing, following his head as he guides her into the bathroom.

With an ease that looks effortless, he lifts her onto the countertop. Reaching behind her, he moistens a washcloth and gently wipes away her tears and the black smears of mascara. The gesture is one of such unexpected tenderness that for a moment Mac forgets the livid bruises decorating her face. The reality crashes in on her, and she turns away from Kovacs.

"Don't look at me," she mutters, one again feeling the uncontrollable sting of tears in her eyes, and hating herself for the weakness of it all. She felt the smooth, cool synthetic grip of his right hand turn her head back towards him. She resisted, but only momentarily. He waited to speak until she finally glanced up to meet his gaze.

"The flashbacks are normal. You've experienced a traumatic assault. Your mind will try and cope with it in a number of ways. First, it will repress things which are too painful to deal with now. Second, you will forget details. Third, you will feel anxious, moody and on edge. All of these are natural, normal things. Don't think that you're going crazy. The most important thing to do now is to recognize that your mind and body are trying to heal themselves and to let them do so."

Standing back, he peeled off his compression shirt, revealing a further patina of scars beneath. To Mac's surprise, he strips out of his shorts as well, standing casually naked before her for a moment before stepping into the shower. He sighs happily beneath the hot spray of water.

"As you heal, you will remember things about the incident." His voice is muffled by the spray of water and the shower curtain, but still audible. "Don't try and second guess yourself. Don't blame yourself. What happened, happened. If mistakes were made, learn from them. Do not let self-doubt get the better of you."

Mac fights a battle within herself, wanting so badly to strip off her borrowed clothes and stand naked before him, but hating the ugly purple and yellow marks tattooed across her body. There's something about him, though, that drew her onward. His casual authority, the easy control that he asserted in every situation, the dominance that he exuded as easily as breathing. She couldn't help herself.

Slowly at first, she pulled the sweatshirt over her head, then slipped the pants down before kicking them into the corner. Still, she hesitated.

Dammit, get it together, girl! This isn't the first time you've been naked with a man before!

Mac smirked at the plentiful truth of that statement, but the sardonic expression faded from her lips as she followed that thought. There was something about Kovacs which made her feel more naked. With the other Johns, it was never Mac that was naked. It was just some girl, just an anonymous female body. This, though, was different. When Kovacs looked at her, it was like he was looking right through her, as if the artifice and facade she had spent a lifetime crafting were nothing more than translucent curtains for his penetrating gaze.

Taking a deep breath in an effort to steady her nerves, she slipped through the shower curtain. For a moment she did nothing but watch his feet, and the water swirling down the drain between them. Then she lifted her eyes, finding the unsettling gray gaze from his cybereyes watching her. He reached out, sliding his arm around her waist, and she lifted her mouth to him, waiting. Instead of accepting her implicit offer, though, he simply encircled her with his arms, pulling her body into his.

For a moment, Mac stood stiffly in his embrace, finding herself in uncertain territory. Her arms came up, though, almost of their own volition, and hugged him back. He was warm from the shower, smelling of some kind of citrus body wash. His skin against hers sent a heady rush of pleasure through her body, and she felt her nipples harden in response.

Mac had played this scene so many times before that she was ready for anything other than what Kovacs did. Which was to lift her up and turn in place, setting her down so the spray of hot water coursed over her skin. She gasped at the heat, shaking her head as a bit splashed in her face. She looked up to see him filling his hand with another puddle of the body wash, setting the bottle aside before lathering it over her shoulders.

If she'd felt naked before, having him wash her made her feel downright transparent. It was unbelievably intimate, a situation so unique in her experience that she didn't quite know how to respond, standing mute as he turned her around so that he could wash her back. His hands are broad and strong, and she can feel the callouses there from a lifetime of work. His touch, though, is gentle and careful, mindful of her bruises. It does nothing to ease the arousal bubbling through her. Mac bites her lip as his hands smooth the body wash over her breasts, her nipples hard beneath the massage of his palms. And as he works his way lower, across her stomach to the smooth curves of her hips, she delights in seeing that she's having an effect on him as well.

But when he stands again, reaching past her to rinse the soap from his hands, he catches her as she reaches for his groin, shaking his head softly.

"Not yet. You're not ready. And, more importantly, I'm not ready."

He brings her hand up so he can press his lips to the back of it, before quirking a smile at her and stepping out of the shower to towel off.

[grendel]

15:50:20 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

If Joslyn's abrupt departure raised any suspicions, neither man addresses them. The first simply watches him go while the second turns to Remy.

"Yeah, a chummer of ours stopped in here a couple of days ago looking for some old liquid cooling units for server towers. He said you had one in stock. May I see it? We'd like to purchase it if it's in good working order."

Remy doesn't remember anyone in asking about the boxed up cooling unit that's been sitting on the shelf waiting for him to get around to repairing it, but it might have been Danny who handled that transaction.

"Uh, let me check in back," he says, once more glancing around at the four men before exiting quickly through the curtain. He sees Joslyn standing in the doorway to the kitchenette, a glass of water in one hand and a pistol in the other. Danny appears from the office, also armed, but with his commlink open.

"Is it trouble enough for the Star, kid?" he asks.

[Vegas]

10:11:41 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

Watching him walk out of the shower, leaving her behind caused her to clench her fists and sigh heavily. This moment right there was the exact reason she never let her guard down, never got involved. Mac knew better, had been taught better, and yet here she was. Rejection in any form, was a bitch.

Stupid move, rookie.

She chastised herself for a few moments before all she wanted to do was get out of the shower, get dressed and grab a smoke. She ignored the slightly awkward silence between them as she turned the water off, grabbed a towel and quickly got dressed. Throwing the same pair of clothes on for the third time made her crave the comfort and privacy of her own little place not to mention her own things. She stalked back into the living room, jamming her feet into the pair of sneakers before tossing on her longcoat for warmth.

She tore open the front door and pulled it shut hard behind her, much like the impudent teenager she would have been had life not chosen this path for her. The cold air made it hard to take the first breath but she quickly fished the pack of Haukodo’s from her pocket and used the auto-igniter on the pack to light the first cigarette she’d had in days. One deep inhale in, and a slow exhale of blue-grey smoke flared from her nostrils like a baby dragon learning to breathe fire.

With each inhale, she started to calm, to feel the walls building back up to protect her. She was getting her bearings again, separating Mac from the girl in the shower. Becoming Josie or Rose or whomever someone wanted, expected and paid for her to be.

She carefully extinguished the butt of her cigarette before stepping back inside Kovacs’ house. She hung her coat in the foyer on a spare hook, left her shoes at the front door as to not track in moisture and made a bee-line for the couch. The smell of smoke, spice and clove followed her wherever she walked, snowflakes stood out pure white against the dark black of her hair before they melted into dampness.

Mac wrapped herself with the sleeping bag and tucked her feet up beneath her and started channel surfing on the trideo when Kovacs walked through. Not even tearing her eyes away from the screen as he walked towards the kitchen, she spoke up softly.

“I made breakfast. Leftovers are in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

[Mach_Ten]

15:52:40 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

With the sudden increase in the pace of events Remy's mind spins with possibilities and not all of them fill him with anything but a growing sense of dread.

"No, no needs for da star, I finks I gots dis" He quickly placates his uncle with a manic grin broadening on his young face "But, cooling unit? dis fing ring any bells wiv you ? dem five guys the pretty girl was after is here after it"
Without caring if the other party present can hear this discourse he quickly examines the room for something he can use to his advantage.
Recognising the box he needs, he calls out loud enough the clients in the front shop can hear him "Dis fings not got fixed yet, yous still wants it ?" He expects the answer to be affirmative and continues working.

Reaching up on tiptoes for the unmarked brown card storage box he carefully brings it down to the ground by his bench and in doing so finally spots the item he wants, in a pile in a corner,
an old tech peltier cooler & dehumidifier , another project he never got round to finishing for his hyper cooled hacker deck for his crew man GiggerByte.

Moving quickly and with a purpose now he removes the requested cooler from its container and replaces it with the hastily assembled consumer electronic device.
Joslyn leans at the door frame, listening intently into the other room with pistol in hand, sips the water and indicates with a twist of his head toward the front room, that Remy should hurry, Danny meanwhile, moves quickly, quietly to the coat hook and retrieves the pistol from Remy's coat pocket, looking back to meet the kids shocked eyes as he chambers a round and readies the weapon.
"What?!!... you think you're that sneaky your old man wouldn't know? Drek kid you got some growin' to do yet afore ya get the drop on me!"

Remy goes back to the task at hand with a groan but also with a purpose now, his hands moving quickly, pushing the contraband under his workbench out of sight he collects the box of what he hopes now looks like a similar jumbled set of cooler parts and hoists it in front of his chest, gripping it with both hands.
with a shout of "Ahhh, Got's it ... coming now sir!" he returns past Joslyn, sharing a silent prayer and a look of Well, here goes nothing! he steps into the bead curtained door frame and steels himself for the customers imminent rebuke.

The clients raise their gaze to see the returning Ork with the box of their goods, Remy emerges from the bead curtain breathing noisily and making it sound as if he is being both urgent and careful with the precious cargo.
Without looking down he catches his quickly moving leg on the bottom of the curtain, hooking his foot around it and hoping it performs as is usual and tries to assassinate him
This is gunna hurts! he promises himself as the steel wire core of the glass bead door covering tautens and indeed catches on his clothing as he passes,
reaching the limit of it's extension it halts Remy's forward movement, his hind leg tries reflexively to hold his weight but only succeeds in propelling him forward toward the gap in the counter to the open area of the shop.

Feigning a look of aghast surprise, Remy holds tightly to the box, in fact rather than any attempt to protect it, he uses it to try and prevent himself from any injury, twisting in the air he uses it as a break fall putting all his momentum into slamming it hard into the ground in front of the clients while still attempting to maintain the ruse of it being an utter accident.
The box emits a crash and the satisying tinkle of broken delicate electrical components and plastic casings.

Lying face down prone at full extension with the box lying crumpled and still in his grasp he begins to wail and cry "Oooow, oooh gods, noo I's so sorry mister, " he crawls onto his knees and gives the box a gentle shake, more tinkles of broken silicon and glass from the box "I can fixes it! .. I promises I can ... leaves us a number .. I calls you soon as it's fixed yeah ??"
He pleads with the guy, tears of legitimate pain oooh, Mights have overdone that! streak his face as he writhes on the ground.

[grendel]

10:32:19 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

Kovacs shook his head, either ignoring or unaware of her shift in mood. "You're a woman of hidden talents, thank you."

Retrieving the covered dish from the fridge, he slides it into the microwave and zaps it back to warmth. While the food is heating, he pulls a bowl from the cupboard and fills it with a whole grain cereal. By the time he's added a sliced banana and milk, the leftovers are done reheating and he carries them all to the table. He eats methodically, quickly plowing through the food in front of him to stock his body with nutrients.

He has only a few bites left on his plate when his commlink rings. Mac glances over in time to catch his look of surprise.

"Go ahead," he answers. "Oh, hey man, what's up?"

He listens for a minute, and she watches as his face goes cold and hard.

"No. I told you I don't do that work anymore."

Another moment passes, and she watches as his shoulders slump. He kneads his forehead with the knuckles of his left hand.

"All right. But this is the last time. That well is dry. Send me the details."

Kovacs puts down his phone and leans back in his chair. The commlink buzzes with an incoming file, but he ignores it, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. After a minute he drinks the last of his glass of water in a deliberate series of swallows. His eyes find Mac.

"I've got to go for a drive, you want to come with?"

[grendel]

15:55:27 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

There's a moment of utter silence in the shop, broken only by the tinkle of broken electronics as Remy glances up to find the cold gaze of the two customers on him. He begins to babble an apology and an offer to repair the item before he's cut off by the first.

"Goddamn useless trog," he mutters, turning towards the front door. The second man holds out a hand.

"We've got other places to check. We shouldn't do this now."

The first man remains silent for a moment, then nods. Without further word, he heads towards the front door. His other two companions are already out on the street. The second man turns to look back at Remy, still stretched on the floor and wincing in real pain now as the effects of his stunt catch up to him.

"You should be more careful in the future, kid. It'll save your life." He turns and heads out the front door as well.

[Vegas]

10:34:51 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

The idea of getting out of the house and the possibility of convincing Kovacs to either drop her off at her place or at least stop somewhere that she could get a proper change of clothes and a couple of packs of gum sounded like a dream trip.

She shrugged non-shalantly.

"Sure, everything ok?" She raised an eyebrow and cast a quick glance towards his commlink.

[grendel]

10:40:09 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

Kovacs glances at his commlink before standing from the table.

"For now. Although things are about to become pretty fragging far from okay."

Rinsing his dishes in the sink, he drops them into the dishwasher before heading down the hall into his room. After a few minutes he reappears, dressed this time in a charcoal gray Vashon Island long coat and suit. His cybereyes are hidden behind a pair of dark sunglasses, and he has a heavy duffel bag slung over his shoulder.

"Ready?" he asks, his voice distant. Mac nodded, eager to finally be in motion after all this time. She follows him down the stairs into the garage, sliding into the passenger seat of a late model Land Rover SUV. Kovacs opens the garage door before firing up the heavy truck's turbo diesel and backing into the street.

The overnight snow has left a heavy dusting across the city, and although the skies are bright, a cold wind still blows. The streets are sparse with traffic despite the workday. Kovacs points the Land Rover towards downtown.

"Gotta place where I can drop you?" he asks, his voice distant and hollow.

[Vegas]

10:43:36 Monday 08 January 2063 – 35010 Von Schilling Way, Renton, Seattle

"You sure that's such a good idea? I mean I could keep the car running for you..."

Mac retrieved a hair binder from a pocket of her longcoat and quickly pulled her hair back off her face in a messy ponytail that made her look even younger than usual as she rode along side Kovacs and waited for his response.

Getting nothing but a stern face focused on driving and a silent wall that felt as cold as the air outside she shook her head and realized this is where their journey would end.

"If You have to drop me off, and you're headed into downtown and could swing by Shatter, I'd love to get my bike out of hock with the valet gremlins before I owe them more than my rent."

[DeliciousD]

15:59:31 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

Joslyn holsters his pistol and carefully steps past the bead curtain. He catches a glimpse of the last two men leaving the shop and considers following for the briefest moment.

And do what? Citizen's arrest?

He bends down to help Remy to his feet.

"You okay kid? Looked like a hard fall."

"I's fine mista." Remy sniffles slightly as he stands, looking ruefully at the mess of parts strewn across the floor. Joslyn pats him on the shoulder and gently leads him towards the front door.

"Good lad," he says with a smile "Now show me some of the stuff by the window here."

As the young Ork starts to point to and name various items, Joslyn glances out the window, hoping to see what vehicles the men head to.

Once they're out of sight, Joslyn sighs and walks across to the counter to retrieve his commlink, tucking it back in his pocket, he turns back to Remy and smiles.

"So, about my missing friend," he crouches, rights the dropped box and starts carefully placing the spilled contents back inside "He was looking for a cooling system too, can't figure out why though." he gestures at the door with a bent piece of metal "Are most of your customers armoured and armed or is this just one of those days?"

[grendel]

11:09:12 Monday 08 January 2063 – Shatter, 2815 Juneau St, Downtown, Seattle

A harsh chuckle is the only reply from Kovacs as the Range Rover takes the onramp to the 405 that'll route them to 5 into downtown. Mac stares out the window at the traffic passing by, the buildings in the distance huddle beneath their dusting of snow, stark and silent in the winter wind. She feels the same emptiness within, her eyes focusing momentarily on Kovacs' reflection in the window.

She didn't want their time to end. At least, not like this. He was the first man in a long time to treat her with any kind of respect. And real trust as well. He'd left her alone in his home while he'd gone for his morning jog. In anyone else Mac would have scoffed at their naivete, but his street savvy was not in question. Why had he trusted her, then? Questions danced in her mind, but a glance at the opaque expression he wore told her that answers were not likely to be forthcoming.

They pulled into Shatter's parking lot before she was ready, but that wasn't the worst of the news. Mac glanced around the nearly empty lot, her eyes traveling over the spot where she knew her bike had been parked three times before she was willing to entertain the most likely reason why her prized Mirage was absent.

"Sonufabitch." Mac cursed.

"What's wrong?" asked Kovacs.

[Vegas]

11:15:28 Monday 08 January 2063 – Shatter, 2815 Juneau St, Downtown, Seattle

Kovacs barely had the Rover come to a complete stop before Mac was leaping from the passenger door and stalking towards the now empty parking lot, heading directly to the spot where her bike should have been. Frustration, anger and exasperation were written all over her face.

"God fraggin' damnit! Seriously what next? Gonna burn my apartment down too while your at it?"

She kicked at the debris that littered the parking lot and her urge to lose her cool was at the breaking point.

[grendel]

11:21:04 Monday 08 January 2063 – Shatter, 2815 Juneau St, Downtown, Seattle

Kovacs watched the petite girl snarl at the nearly empty parking lot, hurling curses that a fair number of street sams might have blushed at into the cold winter air. He didn't, mostly because his mind was already at combat footing, running numbers down with the speed and sagacity born of years of living on the edge. He'd spent the entirety of the drive over digesting the dossier that de Medici had sent him, along with the details of the club and the target. Now, he pushed that display to the background, routing a call through his headware comms.

Kovacs. I assume this isn't a social call? Isomer, who never communicated in anything other than text, still managed to make his tone sound dry and amused. Kovacs never understood how he did it.

You know me too well. Two things. First, can you dump the surveillance cameras for the past twenty four hours surrounding 2815 Juneau Street, downtown? All the views of the parking lot for that building if you can. Second, interior and exterior surveillance of Inspire, 7044 Northampton Boulevard, downtown. That order of precedence, as quick as five thousand can get them to me. Kovacs keyed in the routing number for the secure dropbox that Isomer used for all his payments.

Thirty minutes, replied the decker without hesitation. Kovacs killed the connection. He turned the heater up a bit in the truck. As he watched Mac he wondered at his actions for the past twenty four hours. Why had he let Linda give this girl his address? Why had he let her stay the night rather than just taking her home? Why hadn't he thrown her down on the floor and fragged her until she couldn't walk straight?

That last question was easy to answer. She was clearly damaged goods, and not just due to the ballistic pattern of bruises left by the would be rapist/murder he'd torn off her Saturday night. Her mind would still be dealing with the aftermath of that attack, with all of its impacts on her ability to trust and communicate, especially with an alpha male. But beyond that, based on what Linda had told him, she was one of the girls who grew up using her body to get what she needed on the streets. She was liable to equate physical intimacy with emotional intimacy, and certainly she would be unable to distinguish his ability to care for her without wanting to frag her.

A wry smile twisted his lips. The problem was he did want to frag her. He wanted to tie her down and do bad things to her, savage, painful things, until she wept and bled and screamed for him. There was no way she was ready for that. Not now, perhaps not ever.

Not even that, though, could explain why he wanted to help her. Why he let her sleep on his couch over night, why he'd just spent twenty five hundred nuyen in an effort to find out what happened to her motorcycle, and why he was currently contemplating taking her with him when he ran the reconnaissance on the club.

A different thought surfaced through the combat machinery of his mind. Alone, he might trip the alarms of security and/or bodyguards. But if he had protective coloration, a shiny bauble to distract them....

Kovacs mulled over the possibilities while Mac cursed herself out before stomping back to the rover, climbing into the cab and slamming the door shut. Silence filled the air inside while the heater strove to lift the temperature to something comfortable.

"Would you rather go to lunch, or would you rather swing by your place?" asked Kovacs, his voice blandly casual, as if her fifteen minute rant had never happened.

[Mach_Ten]

16:05:11 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

Standing upright now, with his chin rested on his chest to get a better view of his own torso, poking gingerly with finger tips at his sore ribs between the impact gel packs of the armoured vest, Remy hunts for anything more than the tender flesh he finds there
"Owie!.. I'm gud fanks, nuffink a fresh Sammich wouldn't fix anyways"

Preliminary medical checks concluded he relaxes and kicks angrily at the box of parts that he used as decoy, sending it skittering across the floor and into the counter,
more tinny sounds of broken electronics accompany the dull thud of the impact.
"Frag it all, I wuz hopin' dey'd leave a number or address like dat uvver woman whats wuz after them!!"
the frustration visible in the way he scrunches his face up in thought and eyebrows knit together like angry warring caterpillars.

In the doorway to the back, Danny has retrieved the curtain from the floor and holding it up to the top of the frame where it was previously affixed,
the fasteners bent out of shape and screws ripped from the timber frame
"I'm gonna get my tools from the lock up, put the CLOSED sign up kid and lock the door, let's call this a day huh ?"
with a backward glance at Joslyn that says all he needs to say without speaking a word, he pointedly holsters the Savalette Guardian and then walks out past the kitchenette,
grabbing a warm jacket before heading out into the bitter cold.

Remy looks at one and then the other of the two men as his uncle leaves him Wut the Drek? he considers asking but remains silent as the realisation hits him that he's suddenly very alone and vulnerable here in the place where these people keep finding him.
"Those guys could come back, could't they?" the quietly spoken question isn't really aimed at Joslyn, more a rhetorical one to the universe as the kid gazes out the window and
into the thickening blizzard where dark shadows of people passing appear and as quickly vanish.

It's only now that the full impact of the days events replay in his mind and with an imperceptible *Click* a piece of the puzzle aligns with one other to form a corner of the whole.
"HEY! ... not so fast mister !" he spins on his heel and points angrily at Joslyn "Dey were here after your chummer! .. an' I wants ta know why's! .. Who are you .. who is dey ?"
arms held wide in exasperation he demands some answers from Joslyn
"And what the drek is dat cooling system ?" moving carefully but quickly, he beckons Joslyn to follow him, Remy dashes out back and to his workbench to retrieve the carcass he rescued.
laying it on the desk he stands and stares at it, confused, not knowing what he's really looking at or where to begin any examination"
"What the frag has I gotten into ?" he sighs.

[Vegas]

11:23:41 Monday 08 January 2063 – Shatter, 2815 Juneau St, Downtown, Seattle

Kovacs’ too casual demeanor was a stark contrast to the boiling rage that she held just beneath the surface. For a moment she looked at him like he had two heads before deciding that a ride to her place would be better than having to hail a cab. Besides, a change of clothes and cleaning herself up would go far if she was going to find her bike.

“My place would be great actually. 24th and East Valley.”

Mac settled back against the front seat and grabbed the safety belt, jamming it into place as her eyes moved back towards where her bike had once stood. One last sigh sealed the deal as Kovacs pulled the Rover into traffic and headed north.

12:18:03 Monday 08 January 2063 – 2356 E. Valley St., Downtown, Seattle

It was just before noon when Kovacs rolled to a stop at the corner of 24th and E. Valley.

“Hang a left, grab a spot. You’re welcome to come up if you’d like, I won’t be long.”

The neighborhood was low-rent and it showed. All the buildings were in a state of disrepair. Homeless took up residence in almost every front stoop, and Mac’s building was no different. A filthy old man with barely any teeth and a matted, curly grey beard that went on for days flashed a brilliant smile as Mac and Kovacs approached the front door.

“Top o’ the morning to ya Miz Turner” the man said as he tipped a non-existent cap at the pair. He raised a filthy plastic bottle in a mock toast, the liquid contained inside was murky, foul looking and probably not consumable. His brow furrowed as he studied the matrix of bruises across Mac’s face. Her cheeks pulled into a soft, genuine smile upon seeing the man at the front door.

“Good morning Wally. No time for a beer this morning, can my friend and I take a raincheck?”

Wally frowned for an instant and then nodded his ok as he turned a suspicious eye towards Kovacs.

“You don’t bring friends around here Miz Turner. What makes him so different?”

Very good question my friend, very good question.

Mac flashed him a smile as she stepped carefully past Wally and opened the front door. Stepping inside, she opted for the stairs vs. the crappy elevator that got stuck every other time she was in it. Once they hit the 4th floor, she took a quick left down the hallway and stopped in front of 423 and made quick work unlocking the many locks on the door. The apartment was minimal, but it was well cared for. Laid out like a studio, you stepped immediately into the living area with Mac’s bed tucked in the corner closest to the few windows in the apartment. Her bed was the only “luxury” in the room, full of fluffy pillows and warm blankets. Everything else appeared to be second or even third hand items.

“It’s not much, but it’s mine. Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be out in a few.”

Breezing through the small space she pulled a few items of clothing from a neat stack of freshly laundered clothes and made a bee-line into her bathroom to freshen up. She stayed true to her promise, emerging from the bathroom in under 15 minutes looking like an entirely different person. Gone was the grungy ponytail, replaced by soft flowing waves of dark hair. Her bruises vanished under expertly applied body makeup and she stalked out of the room in a pair of synth leather pants which looked like they had been painted on. Strappy black platform sandals gave her back some height and the bold peacock blue of the faux silk halter she wore showed more skin than it covered.

Grabbing a skinny tube out of a container on a dresser she finished off the look with a pale, baby pink lip gloss and turned back to look at Kovacs as she transferred a few items from the pockets of her longcoat into a more appropriate looking synth leather jacket.

"I believe I owe you lunch. Not much around here besides greasy dives and vendomats, so if you have something in mind..."

[DeliciousD]

16:07:12 Monday, 08 January 2063 - Danny's Pawn and Loan, 15710 SE Newport Way, Bellevue, Seattle

Looking at the cooling unit, Joslyn wonders again what it could be useful for, he'd seen things like this on server farms back when he was setting out as a security guard but not for a long time.

"Well kid," he ignores the cooling system for now and turns to the inquisitive Ork "Sounds like we've both got a stake in whatever's going down here."

Looking at the panicked face on the young Ork disturbed Joslyn, vague memories of smoke and flame pushed in at the corners of his mind and the sound of not-quite-human voices screaming for help dimly echoed in his skull, urging him to calm the boy down.

Might as well toss him a bone, kid's gonna have a heart attack.

"Those four gents, as far as I scan, just came into town this past week or so. They've been looking for untraceable tech and, for some reason, a cooling system. They're...how should I put this? Not legitimate businessmen...of the extra-legal persuasion."

"Now, you said a lady was looking for them...do you know anything about her?"

[grendel]

12:21:16 Monday 08 January 2063 – 2356 E. Valley St., Downtown, Seattle

It wasn't lost on Kovacs that Mac's demeanor changed closer to her home turf, nor that she was pushing to take control of the situation. He filed away her address for later, responding to Isomer's notification of an incoming file with a request for details about the location as he stood in the kitchenette of her studio apartment.

Data flashed past on a forty percent overlay in his vision, a security camera feed that he spun through at ten times speed, his practiced gaze picking out the required timestamp. He was ready for her when she came out of the bathroom, but not quite for just how much better she looked. Now he really wanted to do bad things to her.

Instead, he smiled. "Lunch sounds like a capital idea. I have just the place. But first...."

Leaving the sentence hanging, he unrolled the screen on his commlink, orienting it so that she could see, before playing the camera feed at 1:1 speed. The image shows the parking lot at oh five hundred, heavy snowflakes dusting past the camera. The pair of valets exit the club, hands jammed down into the pockets of their coats. One stops the other, though, and points to Mac's motorcycle, sitting alone in the lot. They confer momentarily before one heads off to the loading dock, raising the rolling door while the other pushes the motorcycle inside, leaving it in the wide hall that connects the loading bay with the club's kitchen stores. The two close the door and disappear from view.

"Seems like someone was looking out for you. Anyway, you're on for lunch. Although don't sweat this one. It's going to be a business expense. I'll explain later."

So saying, Kovacs turned and exited the apartment, checking up and down the hall as Mac laboriously relocked the door, before heading down to the range rover.

12:37:22 Monday 08 January 2063 – Inspire, 7044 Northampton Boulevard, Downtown, Seattle

Copy all? asked Isomer. Kovacs stepped out of the Land Rover, his silent communication with his decker unremarked upon by his lunch companion, who simply gave him a questioning eyebrow at his choice of restaurants. He smiled in return.

Good copy. I need loopback coverage on all the interior cameras that cover the entrance, dining room, and restrooms. Probably for an hour. I'll get the bill afterwards. Starting now. Kovacs held the door for Mac.

"After you, my dear."

"So now you're a gentleman?" she teased, eyes mischievous behind her sunglasses. He shrugged as she walked past.

"Gentleman, scoundrel. All this and more."

Loopback on, came Isomer's message. Kovacs cut the call, eyes adjusting to the indoor lighting automatically.

Gentleman. Scoundrel. Assassin.

[Vegas]

12:39:35 Monday 08 January 2063 – Inspire, 7044 Northampton Boulevard, Downtown, Seattle

With the weight of the status of her bike off her shoulders Mac had gained a bit of spring in her step as she brushed past Kovacs as he held the door. She moved with a cat-like grace even though most movements still stung. As she breezed into the entryway, her jacket slipped from her shoulders and draped over her arm, exposing creamy pale skin and the hint of a peek-a-boo tattoo where the bottom of her halter draped against the small of her back.

She blinked twice as her eyes adjusted to the interior lighting scheme, revealing to her a sea of dark hardwood, gleaming chrome and high polished black glass. She bit her tongue as she much preferred the dark, dirty, smoky fetish clubs to a high-end place like this.

The switch had been flipped. It was almost unavoidable, places like this just brought out a certain performance from her. A higher-class carriage with a hint of trouble just lingering beneath the surface. Something most men who could afford to dine in a restaurant like this found, irresistible. She had to play the arm candy when working a place like this, paid to be pretty, a trophy of sorts. Old habits die hard and she was comfortably slipping into that role as the pair approached the Maître d’.

Mac pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and flashed a coy smile up at Kovacs.

“So, if this is a business lunch, just whose business are we conducting?”

[grendel]

12:44:09 Monday 08 January 2063 – Inspire, 7044 Northampton Boulevard, Downtown, Seattle

"Mine," replied Kovacs, matter of fact and not just a little sotto voce. He flashed a smile at the maitre' d, who took in his corporate attire as well as the pretty young thing on his arm and made the exact quick slice judgment Kovacs wanted him to make.

"This way, sir," she said, drily. She lead them back past the bar and through the maze of small tables to a booth in the corner, an intimately comfortable distance away from any of the other patrons. Kovacs scanned the menu as she departed, his eyes mostly on the exit lanes and security cameras, the windows and the hallways leading back to the kitchen and restrooms.

"Order whatever you want," he told Mac. "If the food here is particularly unpalatable, we'll stop for something real on the way back to the house."

[Vegas]

12:48:36 Monday 08 January 2063 – Inspire, 7044 Northampton Boulevard, Downtown, Seattle

A small, almost imperceptible raise of an eyebrow is all the response she gave towards the mention of "home" before picking up the tablet that rested on the table. Mac read over a menu that contained a ton of things she had never eaten let alone could barely pronounce.

The attentive waitstaff wasted no time politely approaching the table, checking on the pair. Mac flashed a million watt smile at the young woman who stood before them.

“Could I please have the house salad with grilled chicken, dressing on the side? Oh and sparkling water, with orange if you’d be so kind?”

Inwardly, Mac laughed. It was better than acting, and it felt like so much more “fun” than when she was working.