IC : STARDUST, In-Character thread for Stardust Options

[HobbeGoblin]

Ernies spiritual self smiles at the Hearth spirit as he whispers his reply in the language of spirits." I'm a close friend to Rat yes. Might I impose on you to grant me your favor?"

[FrostyNSO]

Ernie

[ Spoiler ]

The hearth spirit replies softly, it's form shifting and fading in and out. "What does Rat wish of me, my friend?"

[HankWS]

Hank will continue to wait at the bar till 7:55 then he'll proceed to find this Rick Stone.

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

09 05 04 03 03

When Hank finds Rick Stone he'll introduce himself. Then he'll take a seat at the table if able.

[Qillin]

7:50 Downtown in Matchsticks

Jack walks into the bar, hearing the smooth jazz, he thinks to himself "Great jazz, I wonder why I haven't come in here more often" and then takes a good look around as he steps up to the bar.

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

05 05 02 01

Thinking to him self " that’s right, to many corps here. Always too stuffy for me"
Jack flags down the bartender "beer, what every you got on tap"

Noticing "hank" (sitting a few feet down the bar) as the only person that really looks a little out of place other then himself. Jack thinks this must be Rick.

About 5 min's later the bartender finally gives Jack his beer. Jack pays for his beer and as the bartender is walking over to the till, "Hank" stands up and nods goodbye to the bartender and the he nods back. Jack keeping an eye on hank as he makes his way over to the elf bounce at the back door.

If hank gets past the bounce and through the door, Jack will get up and try to follow him thinking he is Rick. Telling the bounce he has a meeting with Rick.

[HobbeGoblin]

Ernie tells the Hearth spirit " I only ask you protect me from harm here, as a favor to Rat."

[FrostyNSO]

Act II : Someone to Love

"If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thru' narrow chinks of his cavern."
-William Blake

Ludi

[ Spoiler ]

You hit the elf bouncer with your proposition and he looks you up and down like a piece of meat. "So you're here to see Stone, huh? He's expecting you." The elf opens the strong-looking oaken door and points down the hall, In front of the far left door, one of the orks you spied earlier is stepping out of the room, an unlit cigarrette hanging flacidly from his lip. "Last door on your left." The elf adds gruffly. To the right, you see the doors to the men's and women's bathrooms, as well as an exit at the end of the hall. As you approach the door you need to go through, the ork eyeballs you with a squinted eye. In his deep, ragged, tough-guy voice he spurts a warning:
"We know you've got weapons, so just remember that we've got them too and we'll all walk away from this thing. Go ahead in and have a seat."
Inside, the well-dressed man sits at the head of the table with his other ork friend standing menacingly on his left side. In front of each seat at the table is a trode net, each with a spirally wire connecting to ports on the underside of the table. As you pick your seat, the young man greets you coldly.
"Good Evening."

Hank

[ Spoiler ]

You wait until 7:55 and then proceed to look for Stone. First examining the obvious, you talk to the tough-looking elf near the back who the female just talked to. A quick question and answer gets you through the oak door and you see one of the large ork bodyguards you watched enter the club earlier standing in front of one of the private rooms you checked out earlier. As you get closer, he addresses you in a firm, rough voice.
"We're not gonna search you, but understand that if you decide to play it hot, we're packing just as much heat as you are." After putting out his disclaimer, he allows you into the private room. Sitting in a far chair at the head of the table is the good-looking, well-dressed man you saw earlier, his bodyguard standing watch a short distance to his left. In a nearer seat, you see the female who you saw enter through the oak door earlier. On the table in front of each seat is a trode net, a headpiece used to access the matrix for those who don't have datajacks. Each one has a spiral cord leading to a ports on the underside of the table. You choose a place to sit and the young man gives you a terse little greeting.
"Hello."

Jack

[ Spoiler ]

You pick yourself up from the bar and watch as Rick heads towards the back of the club. Walking past the stage where the band continues to play, you watch as he exchanges banter with the bouncer. A minute later, the elf bouncer hefts the door open and Rick goes into the back.
Following his lead, you saunter your way over to the bouncer whom watches you warily as you approach. You explain to him that you're hear to meet Rick and he directs you to the ork at the end of the hall. You enter the hall and approach the tough-looking ork, who is lighting up a cigarrette. He takes a deep breath and proceeds to blow the smoke out in perfect rings before addressing you.
"You must be here to see Mr. Stone. ake it easy in there, we'll be watching you."
The ork opens the door to the meeting room for you and allows you entry. Inside, you see a well-dressed man, with slick, dark hair and a handsome complexion. To his left is an large ork who looks as the young man looks pretty. The young man sits at a large meeting table with some sort of controls near his seat, built into the table. Around the table are some empty chairs, and two which are occupied, and all have trode nets, complete with a spiral cord plugged into a jack infront of them. One by a well-dressed woman with spiked hair, and the other by who up until now you believed was Rick. Finding the only appropriately sized chair for your bulk, the young man gives you a pained look and a greeting.
"Evening, sir."

Ernie

[ Spoiler ]

The Hearth spirit swirls in understanding and answers softly "I will protect you from harm as Rat wishes it."
With assurances from the spirit, you exit the bathroom, spotting immediately a large ork standing in front of one of the other doors in the hall. The ork sees you come out, checks his watch, and then addresses you.
"Hey, are you Ernie? You're almost late. Be sure not to fool around, we've got our eyes on you." The brute blurts out while opening the door for you. Entering, you see the young man you watched enter the club earlier, flanked by his ork bodyguard to his left. Around the table, you see the assorted 'interesting' people whom you also watched unseen in the club earlier. You see only one more available chair, in front of which lies a trode net with a springly spiral cord connected to a port on the underside of the table. The young man gives you a look normally reserved for the guy who cleans your septic system and forces a greeting.
"Why hello, sir."

"Now that you have all arrived, Mr. Stone is waiting for you. You'll notice the trode nets in front of you? Mr. Stone is waitng to meet you on a secure server. Please use the nets we've provided for you, we don't want any cowboys." The man looks at each of you and continues. "We'll understand perfectly if you want to leave somebody to make sure we don't try anything nefarious, but whoever goes in must be able to speak for all of you, so I suggest you decide amongst yourselves what you want to do."

[HobbeGoblin]

Ernie brushes past the large ork and mutteres to him."Almost late is called....on time."

[Mister Juan]

Ludmila tried to give her best and warmest smile to the first ork she met. She liked the fact they knew she was packing: that meant they weren’t amateurs. What she also liked was the fact they let her keep it. It was a good way to put a runner at ease, and her future employer probably knew that.

Once she was inside the meeting room, she replied to the man’s greeting with a simple nod of the head. Cold and detached: a Johnson like so many others. Suspiciously, she eyed the trode set in front of her while fishing around her jacket’s left pocket for her pack of cigarettes. She took one out, slid it on her ear, and left the already half empty pack on the table. She then proceeded in slowly turning her cheap plastic lighter in her fingers, while waiting for the rest “guests” to show up. Her previous anxiety had now evaporated.

Ludi was a bit nervous, yes, but felt in control. Within a few minutes, she was surrounded by three other men; two that she recognized from earlier. None of their faces was familiar to her, but then again, she had mostly been on jobs connected some way or another to the mob. This was one of her rare “freelance” operations. She took mental note of their appearances; she’d do a quick background on all of them… or find someone who could vouch for their abilities.

After “Mister well dressed” delivered his small speech, Ludmila slowly took her cigarette to her mouth and lit it. Blowing a tiny smoke cloud toward the ceiling, she leaned forward in her seat. She spoke in a calm tone, her Russian accent always clearly apparent.

“Well, tavaritch, it seems Mister Stone is pressing upon us to form quite some bond already. I, like you all, am not liking this, how to say… method, but I do not think we have a choice.”

She took another long drag from her cigarette, closing her eyes for a few seconds.

“I will go and meet with Mister Stone.”

She then slowly looked directly at each of the three runners.

“You…. May do as you wish. I do not like leaving my body like this… but I am ready to show some trust.”

[Qillin]

8:01 Downtown in the back room of Matchsticks

Jack speaking to the room " I'm Jacky D."
Tossing the trode net with one hand onto he table
" I'll be staying out of that, I'll hold the room down"

Jack then looks over the room, trying to see what everyone is packing

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

11 02 02 01

[HankWS]

Hank Enters the room and takes a quick look around.

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

15 05 04 03 01

Then sits next to the lovely lady. After Mr. Stone finishes with his straight to the point speech. Hank will reach for the trode net. As doing this he says "I'm going to the meet, now I don't know none of you guys and you don't know me. But if I don't come outa this meet alive I'll find someway of getting back at all of you. Even if it means haunting your asses for the rest of your lives. Cause I aint ready to leave this world. There are some still some people I need to meet up with."

Then Hank Puts on the trode net.

[Mister Juan]

After hearing Hank's comment about the haunting, Ludmila couldn't help herself but break a smirk and short lived giggle. Quickly, she regained her composure.

Without turning, she looked at Hank out of the corner of her eye.

"Very well. I believe it is a fair deal."

She then looked straight across the table; directly in the troll's eyes.

"Thank you Mister D. If it is possible, we will try to come back and update you before concluding any deal."

Ludmila licked her finger and proceeded in putting out her cigarette. Gently setting the trodes in her lap, she started looking for the most comfortable position in her seat.

[FrostyNSO]

Jack

[ Spoiler ]

As Hank and Ludi place the trodes on their heads, their eyes close and both seem to enter a sort of trance. Glancing at Ernie, you see him shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He picks up the trodes, looks around the room at both the young man and the bodyguard, and then finally at you. With pained resignation, he gets out of his chair, putting the trodes on the table, and in doing so, puts the bodyguard visably on edge. The young man addresses Ernie:
"Is there a problem sir?"
"I don't like this, this is dirty somehow, I just know it." Ernie replies shakily.
"I'm not worried about your intuition and I don't want to hear doubletalk. You aren't required to put the trodes on, your coworkers are going in for you, so if you're going to walk away from this meeting, do so." The young man says sternly. Ernie, stepping backwards away from the table looks you directly in the eye.
"Something very bad is going to happen here. If you're smart, you'll get out off here too." Ernie tells you.
"Very well." The young man interrupts. "I believe it is time for you to leave." With that, Ernie backs out of the room as the young man shakes his head in disgust. After a moment, he addresses you, trying to avoid discussing the incident. "So, Mr. Jacky D, How did you come to know Nathan?"

Hank and Ludi

[ Spoiler ]

As you both place the trodes on your heads, the virtual world of the matrix comes alive right before your eyes. Shortly, you find yourselves in a digital room, similar if not for the somewhat blocky iconagraphy to the one you were just in, only without any doors. In the center of the room is a large table. At the head of the table, a large thone-like chair with a digitized, somewhat blocky character with no face in a business suit sits and waves an arm to greet you. The character's dark grey suit, and the darkness of the room itself is placed in contrast to the platinum blonde "hair" of the icon. Through the blank head where his face should be, the icon addresses you in a confident, male, ethereal voice. "Good evening. I take it not all of you desired to attend? No matter, so long as you can speak for the rest." As the character makes his statement, you both take a look at eachother. Both of you have matching light grey business suits worn over a genderless generic icon with a similar faceless appearance as the icon in the throne. While you two scope eachother out, the icon begins again: "I'll get straight to business. I've called you here because I believe one of my models is in danger. She has received a series of electronic correspondances from a man called Cain. The first of these seemed like normal fan mail, but as the letters continued to come, they grew more brooding and even violent. In the last, Cain threatened her life if she didn't tell him she loved him as much as he loved her, and to come to California with him. This last message was mailed to her residence. Naturally, this worries me, and is why I cannot trust my own security details with her at the moment. This is where you come in. I need you to meet her at her home, and escort her to my townhome in Bellvue where she will be safe. After that, I would like you to find this "Cain" for me. I don't have the correspondances for you at the moment, but she has them saved on her cyberterminal, as well as the letter that was sent to her home. Her name is Kote, I'm sure you've seen her." He pauses and a large picture pops up out on thin air at the center of the room. A face shaot, the girls has long, auburn hair, and a beautiful smile to compliment her green eyes and fair skin. She looks vaguely familiar, maybe from the trid? The icon continues, "Pay will be :nuyen: 5,000 a week, each, with :nuyen: 20,000 for you to split up front. How does that sound?"

[HobbeGoblin]

Ernie sits looking around thinking. No fragging way i'm putting trodes on my head.

[Mister Juan]

[ Spoiler ]

Protect and transport a package, plus some investigation: the job seemed quite simple. Which means, it was probably going to be very difficult to pull off without an itch.

"It sounds like a decent proposal, Mister Stone. But before we strike any deals... I have a few questions for you"

For a few seconds, Ludi wondered why Stone had chosen this mean of communication. After all, he had been at Matchsticks, last night, and was probably still in Seattle at the moment. Also, his real world contact, "Mister Well Dressed" seemed a strange pick for a modelling exec. She would have to share these toughts with her new team mates, when the time was correct.

"I would like to know if you can provide us with any sort of material support... mainly vehicles. If we are to escort Miss Kote, we certainly won't use our own vehicles. This woman is probably very important for you, or we wouldn't be here right now... And so, I want to know what sort of resources do we have access to. Only things you we can ourselves procure? Also, if we are to do this, I believe we would rather prefer to be the ones totaly in charge: no premade plans, or preestablished routes by anyone else than the four of us. If you want us to deliver you "package" in the safest manner as possible, we have to be in total control of this operation. Are you ready to give us this sort of leeway? This implies that you might be kept in the dark about some parts of this operation. Are you ready to be kept in the dark about some things?"

Ludi left a few seconds of silence go by.

"I take it this is a totaly covert operation, and that we won't be issued any bodyguard permits or anything of the sort, correct? This might make our job easier concerning weaponry and such. If we encounter a threat, are we free to judge the amount of force necessary to use, or are there restrictions? Any time constraint concerning the movement of the package?".

She wished she had another cigarette. The virtual world made her uneasy.

"Also, there are three monetary issues I'd like to discuss. First, medical coverage: if any one of us is injured while protecting Miss Kote, we would like you to pay any medical expenses. We would also like you to include a combat bonus: if we are to engage any threat in direct combat while protecting Miss Kote, we would like you to add more nuyens to our pay. Consider it... hazard pay."

Once again, the Russian took a pause, waiting for Stone's answers.

"Twenty grand upfront is satisfactory, but five a week probably isn't. The services we provide are top of the line, and you know we are all experts in numerous fields. Since we will provide a quality of service equal to the amount being paid for such service, we would greatly appreciate for you to up such pay. The more you pay us, the further we will go in accomplishing this mission. If you want cheap, there are plently of thugs for hire in the streets. But you'll get what you pay for. If Miss Kote's well being is dear to you, we suggest you add some nuyens to this five grand. Considering you are asking us to accomplish two different objectives, escorting Miss Kote and finding Cain, we would like you to keep our mode payment, and amount, open to renegotiation; which will take place upon the safe delivery of Miss Kote into your hands."

She turned her faceless features toward Hank.

"Did I forget anything?"

[Qillin]

8:09 Downtown in the back room of Matchsticks

Looking across the table at the suit. "So... how long they normally in there for?"
Reaching into his pocket, Jack pulls out a pack of cig's. putting one into his mouth, he pats down his pockets looking for a lighter, not finding one he looks over at "ernie" and says " You got a light Slick?"

Keeping an eye out for trouble, he stays up some casual conversation.

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

07 05 02 02

looking at ernie. "So Slick youz looks to be packing the best firepower inz the room." knowing full well he is the only one here without a conventional gun, or at least a vary well hidden one if he is packing. Jack is thinking he must be a vary trusting guy not to come to a meeting without a weapon or as the suit declared as the meeting started everyone here does has weapons and that ernie is probably a magic user of some sort.

[HobbeGoblin]

"I dont put much faith in guns omae, they always seem to perform less than expected." Ernie says as he grows increasingly nervous at being questioned why he wasnt packing.

[Qillin]

8:11 Downtown in the back room of Matchsticks

Jack, looking at Ernie while he answers his question.

Perception

[ Spoiler ]

03 02 02 01

Obviously not getting that Ernie is becoming nervous Jack continues "I'z don't think you have much faith in yourself holding a gun, the gun itself shouldn't be the blame there Slick. Guns were the greatest invention on the 3rd millennium. You should be going around bad mouthing guns in you profession." Jack now leaning forward with his elbows on the table starts to realize his voice was getting a little load and he needed to calm down a bit.
Lowering his voice and starting to lean back into his chair he takes another cig, putting it in the corner of his lips while he speaks. " Nowz I’m not saying there aren’t better thingz then gunz there Slick, it's just there the best thing I'z knowz how to uze. Now I knowz you aint hiding a gun under your jacket but I still thinks you gottz the most firepower in the room, uze be a magic man aintz you?"

[FrostyNSO]

Ludi and Hank

[ Spoiler ]

The icon sits unmoving and fields your questions: "As far as vehicals are concerned, I can provide you :nuyen: 1,000 for a rental if that will be satisfactory, and you get to keep the rest. To your query of me being left in the dark, Kote had her own life. I was not over her shoulder 24/7. I am most interested in this job being done properly and safely. Do as you deem neccessary. This operation is to be considered covert. I would like her taken to my townhouse as soon as possible, and in this regard, time is important, after which, the sooner this Cain is found, the sooner I would feel better about the whole situation. There will be no bodyguard permits, and as to use of force, you are the experts, not me." The icon pauses while you chew on his run-on statement and then continues. "I am sorry, but medical coverage is out of the question. There are too many ways that dishonest types could extort money from me if I were to make such an agreement. I am not implying anything," By the tone of icon's voice, and long experience, you know he is in fact implying. "...but I have to protect myself as well. If medical coverage concerns you that much, I would suggest that you save some of the generous advance i have already offered you." The icon admonishes. Turning his head towards the silent Hank, he continues. "As for pay, we will discuss this in more detail..."

[HobbeGoblin]

Ernie smiles."Guilty of that I am, I wasnt bad mouthing guns it's that i'm not the best shot in the world. Oh...and for the record, I wouldnt stand directly in front of me if I'm firing. I've been kicked out of 3 gun ranges so far." Ernie thinks to himself...lets see how he likes being nervous.....Rat chuckles.

[Mister Juan]

[ Spoiler ]

Well, Stone seemed open to discussion, which was a reassuring thing. For a few seconds, Ludmila wished that the whole meeting had taken place in the real world. It was, at least for her, easier to read people than icons. But, there she was!

Come on Ludi... Deal with it. Don't chicken out now

"Well, Mister Stone, this 1 000 :nuyen: offer is quite generous. For security reason, it would have been better for you to provide the actual vehicle. You see, renting such a thing requires a SIN, which leaves "paper trail"... meaning said vehicle can be tracked quite easily. If you man, Mister Cain, has any Matrix skill, or connections, finding such rented vehicle could be accomplished. But we do understand that your resources are not unlimited. We are simply trying to provide the safest mode of transportation for Miss Kote. But if 1000 is all you are ready to spare for Miss Keller's... I mean, Miss Kote's well being, we can always try to work within those parameters."

She paused a few seconds, hoping her statement had some effects.

"We understand you concern about us taking advantage of you "generosity", concerning the medical care. Would you accept to pay Doc Wagon contracts, basic care, for the duration of the opertaion? We couldn't use them for anything else than medical care. You would be covered on the monetary aspect, and we, on the physical one. Such care on your part will alleviate worries from our minds, and enable us to perform with much more ease... which means that the job will be cleaner and faster. But, as we said again, we understand that both you and us are profesionals and will work with whatever resources you can spare."

Come on fish.... bite

[FrostyNSO]

Ludi and Hank

[ Spoiler ]

Stone's icon twists in irritation at the Keller comment. After hearing you out once again, he retorts: "I am sorry, but I can do no more with the transportation. I should think :nuyen:1,000 should be enough to cover the vehical for a night and leave you some money to take care of the paper trail. Who said you had to rent it from a rental company anyways?" You catch a tinge of good humor in Stone's synthetic voice, but it quickly passes. "As for medical, the :nuyen: 20,000 advance is enough to cover 4 basic docwagon contracts. Beyond that, I am willing to increase the advance by :nuyen:1,000 and the weekly pay by :nuyen: 250 each. I assume you are free to speak for your co-workers who are waitng at Matchsticks, right?" Mr. Stone places his offer on the table with authority and awaits a reply.

[Mister Juan]

[ Spoiler ]

All Ludmila wanted to do, at that precise moment, was to grin. Her remark concerning Keller had worked. Stone had confirmed his identity.

She hadn't won much out of Stone, but still had scored a few points. The one grand would probably cover the "rental" of any sort of vehicle for a single day. Stone was right, and he knew he was... but Ludi had nothing to loose. She had tried.

Another grand in advance wasn't much, but it was still more than what Stone had first offered. If the run took more than 1 month, the extra 250 :nuyen: would pay for that month's rent, which was fine by her.

She turned toward Hank.

"Anything you would like to add?"

[HankWS]

Hank responds "actually I think you covered everything quite well." "There's nothing I have to add to this." "The deal seems fair enough to me."

[Qillin]

8:11 Downtown in the back room of Matchsticks

Jack " Well I think we'll do just fine togather, I'll shot the guns and you doez your magikz and I'll make sure no one putz a gun in you hand."

Jack looks over at the suit, "Can we get a bar maid in herez? I need a drink, bad."

[Mister Juan]

[ Spoiler ]

"Very well then."

She turned her attention toward Stone.

"You have yourself a deal Mister Stone."