IC : STARDUST, In-Character thread for Stardust Options

[Mister Juan]

Ludi lifted her head toward Hank, giving the man a large and sincere smile. Even with everything that had happened, he had stuck with her. Since the very beginning of the run, he had been her closest "ally". After he had saved her back in the sewers, Ludmila had stopped seeing him as a runner she was working with: she now considered him a friend.

As she looked him straight in the eyes, she wondered what kind of man he really was.

"Thanks."

She looked at Rick.

"Da. We're in."

Slowly getting up, she clentched her jaw to suppres the pain. Her right leg was killing her, and she had a discreet limp. Her now finished cigarette was simply dangling on the left corner of her mouth, jumping up and down as she made her heavy russian accent heard. He eyes were now on Gun.

"What about you?"

[Shadow]

Gun slowly turned the knife over in his hand. He paused for a moment looking hard at stone. the kind of look that was usuely reserved for people who were about to be in body bags.

"I'm in. Stone, you should arrange for some protection other than myself and Worm for the next few days. I also need a copy of all that information," he pointed with his right hand at the monitor.

[Mister Juan]

Well, the team's number was back up to four. They all have to get aquainted with one another, and try to work as a group.... but time was already running short. Lars was probably either on the run or in hiding...

She felt like smoking yet another cigarette, but the smell of tobacco was already starting to reak in the living room.

Both her hands were on her hips. Her jacket slightly open, it wasn't hard to miss the Ingram submachine gun she was carrying in a quick detach harness. It was obvious she had came in ready for some heavy opposition.

"Concerning the data, I can make a whole report for you three, counting Mister Stone, in a few hours. Summary, personal notes, annotated pictures, and the rest."

She seem to wonder about something. Her voice sounded unsure.

"Or I can simply transfer the whole data, raw, from her", she tapped the side of her head.

Ludi then turned to Stone.

"I'm sure we'd appreciate any data you could give us on Lars. That should expediate things. Do you know his last name? Adress? Anything helpful?"

[FrostyNSO]

"Lars Renkin." Stone answered. "I have a home address on file. He's said that he's out sick. If he's fled though, I don't know where you can find him. I have a home and cell numbers as well." Stone opened his pocket secretary and placed the information on a small datachip, which he passed to Wormwood.

Hank, silent up until now cut into the conversation. "What work did Lars do before he started working for you? I like to know what to expect."

"I don't know." Stone answered. "I think he was a bouncer, though I've heard him talk about the Army on occasion."

"Great...a boot." Hank acknowledged.

[Slacker]

Giving the others one last look of caution to judge their intent, Wormwood's eyes pause briefly on Gun. The steely glint in Gun's eyes certainly had some effect upon him, but he tried to hide it as he looked away to take the offered datachip from Mr. Stone.
Still averting his eyes from Gun, he pulls out his own p-sec and looks up the data on the chip.
Aloud, he says "923 Taylor St., in the Renton district. You guys want to start looking there?"

[Mister Juan]

Ludmila had already begun moving toward the door. Her eagerness to get to work was obivous. She was running on this one for much more than money; she was also in for revenge.

"It doesn't really seem like we have a choice. We need to stake the place out... see if he's there or not. I have a few piece of gear I'm going to need to for that, so I guess we could always go our seperate ways and regroup somewhere else."

[Slacker]

Looking at Ludmilla, Wormwood says "Well, I was thinking we could just try knocking and then break in if he's not there. Staking the place out wouldn't do much good if he's already on the run. We would just be sitting there wasting."

After a brief pause to think about it, he continues with a smirk"If he is there and you wanted to follow him we could always say we're Jehovah's Witnesses or some such nonsense."

[Mister Juan]

"You actually might be on the ball on this one... last time we established surveillance, someone beat us to it..."

As Ludmila turned to face Wormwood, she winced in pain. He abdomen felt on fire. Without even realizing it, her right positioned itself to shield it.

"I..." she took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pain "I'm all for busting in if anyone feels up to it."

[Slacker]

Seeing Ludmilla pained face and gesture to protect her midriff, Wormwood voices concern. "Are you alright? It looks like you need some rest."

After another moment to think, he says "Well I was thinking that only 1 or 2 of us should go in until first to see if he's there. The others can stay outside and watch the exits in case he tries to escape at the first sign of us. With the shape you're in, it would probably better for you to wait outside."

Wormwood continues by saying, "I've got some skill when it comes to duping people, so it would be no mean feat for me to be able to talk my way out of there if he is home."

[Mister Juan]

Following Wormwood's remark, Ludmila gave him her darkest look.

"I don't need no fragging rest."

She averted Hank's worried gaze.

"I'm fine. I'm fraggin fine." she murmured to herself, as if calming herself down.

The rest of what she said seemed to be for her own peace of mind... and sounded russian. Ludmila then straightened herself, holding herself as upright as possible... but probably everyone could see she was favoring her right leg over her left.

Peering from under a few strands of rebelious black hair that were hiding her face here and there, she looked at Wormwood.

"I've had worst. I'll be fine."

She zipped her coat up.

"Lets go get this sucker now..."

[FrostyNSO]

"Bout fraggin' time." Hank said with a satified smirk on his face. "Mr..." Hank gestured towards Gun and couldn't seem to recall the name. "You ready?"

[Shadow]

'Let's roll. Like I said Stone, get your self some protection."

Gun led the way out the door, his dark eyes scanning the terrain looking for possible dangers.

"I've got a ride around here, if anyone needs one, if not I'll meet you at the spot. Ludy, I think you should wait in the car and cover our backs once where there, your sharp eyes can serv us much better that way."

[Slacker]

Wormwood follows Gun saying, "I'll ride with you, thanks."

[Mister Juan]

Ludmila was about to make a comment of her own, but swallowed it. It was true that she was quite injured, and in no shape to get in a fight...

"Alright."

As they walked out of Stone house, she hurried her limp to get to Gun and Wormwood.

"By the way, I'm Ludmila." she gestured toward Hank "and thats Hank."

She shoved both her hands in her pockets and concentrated herself on walking as straight as possible.

"Do you have any comm gear with you? All I have is one micro transceiver, and a spare hand-held unit. If need be, I have a full array of surveillance and counter surveillance gear... but I doubt we're going to do in the subtle right now. I..."

She was about to add something but stopped dead in her tracks. Her head was turned a bit to the side and she was studying Gun's face.

"Hey.... Where do I know you from?"

[Slacker]

Not sure what connection Ludmilla and Gun could have, Wormwood furtively glances at them both paying particular attention to Gun's reaction.

Attempting to break up any tension that might arise from her question to Gun, Wormwood says "I have been known by many names, but feel free to call me...Jacques or just Jack." He just isn't comfortable giving out his former handle to people he has just met. The wrong people might hear the name Wormwood.

He pauses, offering his hand, before continuing. "I've got a micro-transceiver also, so no problems there."

[FrostyNSO]

"I got a buddy named Jack." Hank cuts in. "Guess we'll see if this makes two. Good to officially meet you...Hank." He says while extending his right hand to shake.

[Mister Juan]

Ludmila seemed to snap back to reality, turning her eyes away from Gun and to Wormwood.

"Jacques, da?" she lit her 4th cigarette in less than 15 minutes "you.... fransouski..." the russian was looking for the word ".... you french?" She offered him the pack.

Unclipping a small microphone from her collar, and taking out her earpiece, her left hand went under her jacket, as if she was trying to take something out. After a few seconds of struggle, she came out with a micro-transceiver unit and threw it to Hank.

"Use it. I'll keep the handheld with me in the van. Well, lets all set ourselves on the same frequency... might make things easier once in the field."

[Slacker]

"Non. I am no frenchman." Wormwood says, spitting to his side as he says the word frenchman. With pride, he firmly says "I am Corsican!"

That settled, he sets his micro-transceiver to the same frequency as the others are using.

[Shadow]

"I usually work alone so I didn't pack any com. gear." He smiles tightly at Lumilla. Generally he reserves smiles for when hes holding a knife.

"Not sure Ludy, but I get around. You ever get to Frisco or..." He stops dead in his tracks. His eyes narrow a bit...

"Portland, about two years ago our paths crossed. You still working for that guy or are you freelancing. ?"

[Mister Juan]

She took a long drag, holding the cigarette between her index and middle finger. The woman had a slight sly look on her round face.

"Portland.... Makes more sense now. Feels like ages ago."

Blowing a cloud of smoke thru her nose, she let out a small laugh.

"That was fun... I was sure I knew you from somewhere. Reassuring to know I'm not going crazy."

Ludmila's usual agressive attitude was slowly slipping away; she was getting relaxed, comfortable. She knew her temper flared up on its own way too often, and she probably haddn't made a very good impression on her new associates. Now was the time to show some trust.

"Well, as you can see, I'm starting to branch out on my own. Simply worked with the Vory v Zakone for too long. I still run intelligence gathering for them, now and then, like I used to."

Brushing her short black hair away from her face, she gave him a once over look.

"Still quite the arm breaker, I see."

[Shadow]

"Pays the bills doll, pays the bills. Good to see you are doing well, you struck me as a good operator when the drek hit the fan. You wanna ride with us or you got a ride?"

[Mister Juan]

Ludi waved her hand, as if dismissing the offer.

"Spasiba. I will ride with Hank. I... need to pick some things up."

[Slacker]

Nodding to Ludi, Wormwood says "Ok, we'll go on ahead and give the place a looksee. We'll wait until you get there by doing any thing else."

To Gun and with a gesture towards the car, he says "Lead the way, mon ami."

[Shadow]

The car is a rental, but it is a nice rental, leather interior, total automation, the works. Gun drives it on manual though. No nead to leave a trail of where they are going.

During the quiet time on the way over he says, "a little more than we bargained for eh?"

[Slacker]

Wormwood answers, "Yeah. Definitely not what I originally signed up for. But at least we're getting well paid for the new circumstances."