Axe
"Are you touched, son? I asked what I can I get for you."

The barman looks perplexed at your continued silence as you absorb the atmosphere of the tavern and various taps. Several patrons shift in their seats and on their barstools to get a better look at the newcomer.

Renton
"The pay is going to be 5K up front with 30 at the back end, presuming that you are able to sufficiently complete this task. Up to an additional 5k of product can be advanced, but that would reduce your back end payment accordingly. Note that these figures are non-negotiable and represent the total payout for your team to be divided as you see fit.

"Your task is to ascertain the identity of the individual or individuals bankrolling the distribution of specific substances, locate and destroy the manufacturing facilities, and remove any support personnel necessary to accomplish the primary and secondary tasks."

There is a knock at the door.

Mitch
The door shuts and it is a fairly quiet drive. As you begin to pass warehouses, you can feel a deep bass that rattles the windows. Stopping, the bodyguards get out and open the door flanking you.

"C'mon, time to meet those people we mentioned. And to do your bit..."

They lead you into the heart of the noise, past gyrating bodies and tangled masses of sweat, sinew and sex. Knocking on the door, the bodyguards wait a second and then enter.

Stepping out of the darkness of the rave into the lit office, you see five disreputable individuals in negotiation with a man in black with a military bearing.

Renton Team
The newcomer reeks of stale alcohol, sweat and has half a dozen telltale signs of withdrawal. Two obvious bodyguards push him into the room, nod at your employer and depart, closing the door behind them.

"Excellent timing. This gentleman will be able to assist you with tracking down the dealers."

His eyes break focus as he references an internal data field.

"This gentleman has been promised a minimum of $400 UCAS dollars from the funds you will be paid in conjunction for his experimentation on certain substances.

"Does everything I have laid out thus far seem acceptable?"

Renton

Sun listens to the offer and seems about to speak when the knock on the door happens. She pauses taking a sip from her drink while she waits.

Hmm this could be interesting.

She glances around trying to assess the skills of the others she's to be working with. As her gaze passes over Pesto she gives him a sly smile and a wink as if to say hello.

Pesto is paying more attention to the prospective employer than he is to those he would be working with when he catches a smile out the corner of his eye. He turns slightly and then catches a wink from one of the other runners. It takes him a couple of seconds but he finally places her art symbol. Pesto gives her a tusky smile and then his attention is dragged back to the meeting by the arrival of another potential team member.

::Renton::

*** POP ***

First indicating herself with her thumb, she then holds it out and up in affirmation along with a slight nod of her head. She glances around quickly to gauge others reactions, then turns back quickly to face the man making the offer and looks him over, lingering breifly on his combat harness.

*** POP ***

"Remove?"

Renton

"In short, collateral damage is a desirable side effect but not necessary."

As he listens to the client's spiel, Ryan takes the opportunity to check out his new 'associates'. Not exactly the bunch he would have chosen personally, especially the troll, but looks can, and usually are deceiving in this line of work.

The client's response to the gum-chewing troll's question elicits a small, satisfied smile from the elven gunslinger.

Sun smiles, "Okay then Mr Johnson, your terms seem reasonable apart from renumeration. This is complicated and potentially dirty work, with a lot of the legwork left to us. I'm fine with that but not for a share of your stated price. Double your offer and we're in." Her tone is confident, her mannerisms focused. She looks Johnson in the eye, daring him to make a counter offer.

When he heard how much the Cap'n was offering Al nearly swallowed his cigarette. Barely managing to keep his poker face, he congratulated himself for once again getting himself into this sort of work - it might all seem a mite far-fetched, like something out of a bad trid - but it paid a hell of a lot more than bulldozing scrap down at the docks.

And now the elf minx was asking for DOUBLE...Hell on wheels, sweet-cheeks, you go for it! he thought.

Renton
"As you seem to have an excellent grasp of the English language, I can only presume you did not hear me. The figures are non-negotiable and determined by an operational budget. If you wish to double your portion, either eliminate a team member on your own time or negotiate amongst yourselves payment for services rendered.

"Now, are there any other questions beyond the ones I have already answered?"

"Whoa there, Cap'n, hold yer horses. If'n yer answer's no, it's no, but there ain't hardly no call ta be disreputin' the lady with that sorta tone." Al flashed a wolfish grin, tobacco-yellowed teeth clamped down on his filterless Lucky Strike.

"Now I'm willin' to take ya at yer word that ya ain't got no more money but whatcha done put up, an' by the same token you oughtta have the common courtesy ta give some credence to the lady's assessment that the job don't match the fee."

Al's hands - both covered in hideous burn scars - came out of his pockets in an expansive gesture of utmost generousity. "Now, that there is a pickle, but afore ya start castin' aspirations whyn't we see if there ain't more'n a few ways to tree a 'coon? You got a job ya need doin', and I for one want the work. Seems ta ol' Al here that folks 'at have operational budgets tend also ta have a whole passle of other ways to please them as wants pleasin' - tasty morsels like armor-piercin' slugs an' get-outta-jail-free cards." Al paused to stub out his cigarette on the wall, and in his other hand there was suddenly a big stainless steel zippo, which he used to light the fresh Lucky that had somehow replaced the spent one. After a hurried puff his trainwreck of a voice picked up again.

"But ah'm jist atalkin' off'n the top o' muh head. Don't mind me none - just a country boy, an' not much given to the multiplyin' o' many words. 'Let all yore sayin's be yea yea or nay nay,' 'at's whut the Good Lord done said, an' that's why most men consider me the quiet type. So I'll jist set back and let you an' the lady work this out, an' whatever's agreeable ta her, Cap'n, well, that's agreeable ta Al. Carry on."

As the negotiations continue, Ryan is content to watch impassively, although he just can't stop one eyebrow from rising dramatically when he hears Al proclaim himself the 'quiet type'.

"Then as my friend here says," Sun gestures towards Al, "What else can you offer us? Your budget seems a little low, and a doubt you want to be employing the sort of scum who would risk the success of the operation by whacking each other. I was told this would be worth my while, what can you offer besides the cash to sweeten this deal?"

Having worked with Sun before and knowing that she is much more skilled at this portion of the job than he is, so Pesto sits quietly and watches everything unfold. Although he can't help but smile after Al speaks his peace.

Mitch makes his way up to the others and drops silently into an empty chair, not wanting to interrupt the negotiations, but he also doesn't appear to be to interested in what's being said or any of the other members of the new "team."

He does however, give Al a slight nod and makes a silent hand motion to him, hoping to bum a cigarette.

Keeping one eye on the proceedings, Al tossed the strung-out newcomer a half-full hardpack and then reached over with his Zippo and gave the man a light.

*** pop ***

At every switch of speaker and new speaker Bubbles resolutely takes two chews before blowing and popping a bubble instead of interrupting.

*** pop ***

Despite the twisting she needs to do to look at each new speaker, she manages to not knock over anyone, though a particularly large bubbles almost blows up in someone else's face.

*** pop ***

At the next pause the troll repeats her gesture, raising her bright neon orange sleeve and indicating her self with a large thumb the size of an orange creamsicle push up, and then raising it in an affirmative gesture at the offer, while commenting with a broad conspiratorial wink, "Save time, I take the 5 and 30, sub contract to own crew or these operators, I'll give up my seed share for rights to all the carry off goods and money I can carry."

*** pop ***

"I can carry a lot."

Bubbles flexes her other glowing hot magenta covered arm.

Al smiled as he did the math. One smart damned trog, he thought. Passes up seven K but if the opposition's got any kinda cash, she scores big. He glanced at the cigarette-bumming guinea pig and thought about the Cap'n's rough outline of the job. An' if'n we're goin' up 'gainst drug runners, cash could be damned good. Images of his Golden Triangle score danced in his head. Fer the rest of us, though, we each get less'n a two K bump, an' no shot at a hefty cash payoff. It occurred to him that he ought to say something, but then he considered the lousy Y10 left in his pocket and decided low-risk-low-return was definitely his best play here tonight. Anyways, already done spoke muh piece. Now's ta see what comes ta roost.

Renton
"My terms are as I expressed them, which includes the section about them being non-negotiable."

Turning away from Sun he addresses Bubbles.

"Carting away items or money from the target is perfectly acceptable, though commercial distribution of the product would be ill advised. This gentleman will accompany you and in exchange for 400 of the initial 5k, he will utilize the target's product and should be able to lead you to the dealers.

"As for the rest of you, it is now up to you to either sub-contract through this woman or you may leave. Will you need a few moments for negotiations before I give you all of the information?"

"Fine, I'm in." says Sun, clearly not happy.

The money is bullshit i could earn more on my back. Maybe I'm over thinking the job seeing it bigger than it is

Pesto shrugs and says, "Ok me too." He then starts to look around at the others to see what their decisions will be.

*** pop ***

Grinning irrepressibly, Bubbles points to the unhappy elfin woman, "She hold the 5."

"She also going to hold back end 30. I want to see rest of you try to talk her into boosting your cut! Don't like it, walk."

*** pop ***

Eyeing Mitch as he smokes in his chair, "This hound dog come with instructions?"

Ryan continues to watch the interaction between his potential team mates with interest, while trying his best to keep his expression impassive. Although he is also of the opinion that the pay scale was on the small side, the elf keeps his thoughts on the matter to himself, responding to the Johnson's offer with a mere nod of his head.

Sun flashes an amused smile at the troll.

"Anyone not taking this job may leave now."

The Johnson waits a moment to give anyone leaving a chance.

"Very well, no he doesn't come with an instruction manual. Though he does come with this."

Moving around the desk, he opens a drawer and extracts a small box.

"This contains various products from our competitor. We believe that he has modified these drugs and his dealers in such a way as to allow the addicts to find them when they are doing business. Obviously, this can be problematic to my employer's operations.

"There should be ample assortment to meet most of your tastes. Here is your payment. The commcode is enscribed on to the chip will allow you to contact me when the job is completed."

He tosses the box to Bubbles and the credstick to Sun.

"If you were nominating to collect additional product now, speak up otherwise I will see you when your work is done."

Sun catches the stick out of the air, and tucks it out of sight inside her coat. "I have everything I need for this operation. Anyone need anything?"

Now that things seem to be decided Pesto shrugs and says, "I am good to go."

I guess the fun now begins, the orc thinks as he takes another look around the room.

"Greens, loopers, zombie, shakers, mushers, burners...."

*** pop ***

After cataloging the contents of the box, Bubbles looks at the man in the chair, "You'll need a smart drink for your throat if you take them all at once."

Ryan watches the credstick arc into Sun's waiting hands, then gives a small shake of his head in response to the blonde elf's query.

The front legs of Al's chair hit the floor with a THUNK! as he pushed himself away from the wall he'd been reclining against. He winked at the minx and croaked "I'm good, Toots."

Working himself to his feet and turning toward Bubbles put him just about at eye-level with Her Radiance as she sat on the floor. "Well, looks like yore runnin' this here show. Can't recall ever havin' worked fer a member o' the fairer sex afore," he rasped through tobacco-ravaged vocal cords, "But I reckon yore about as likely a startin' place as any I kin imagine." He spit on his palm and extended the burn-mottled paw to the troll contractor.

Mitch sighs and slowly gets to his feet. He then holds out his hand for the box, "Don't worry about me, I can handle it. Or maybe not. Whatever. Don't really matter."

Englobing Al's hand with one hand, as she extends the box to Mitch with the other, Bubbles stands only using her bright cyan and hot magenta covered legs to lift herself up from her sitting positon on the floor.

*** pop *** chewing mightily she looks around asking, "Talk outside?"

Absently she wipes her hand on her pants leg.

Seeing the others start to get up, Pesto takes it for a sign that the meeting is over. Shrugging to himself he also gets up and waits for everyone to start leaving before he also heads out.

Sun stands, nodding to Bubbles suggestion. As she glides towards the exit she takes a moment to adjust her hair. Then wanders out the door and waits for her new friends to join her. She casually studies her "colleagues" as they walk through the door.

At the general movement towards the door Bubbles skips ahead and barrels out through the opening into the loud music. Taking a few steps into the bouncing crowd she turns around and looks back at the group behind her. After a thoughtful pause, she settles her shoulders and turns and uses her bulk to create a channel through the waves of gyrating ravers on her way to the exit.

Bubbles waves her incandescently bright colored arm for everyone to follow.

...might as well get out of here quick, no way all those oldies want to stay here...

Sun follows in Bubbles wake, pulling a pack of menthols form an inner pocket of her jacket and lighting it with practice ease. As they near the door she finishes her Bloody Mary and deposits on a nearby table. She pauses for a moment to study the face of a girl at the table and spins neatly to keep following Bubbles.

Pesto moves through the crowd following the others. He tries to be mindful of bumping into to any of the young dancers but no matter how hard he tries there are just too many chaotic people to avoid them all.

Trailing the others outside, the cold air hitting his lungs sent Al into another violent coughing fit. Of course he had the back-up, but he'd be damned if he was gonna use it...he sure as hell wasn't that far gone yet he couldn't breathe a little night hair, for Pete's sake.

Hawking up a generous load of phlegm - If I was a damned whale I could sell this shit! - he got himself under control and squatted on his haunches, leaning his back against the exterior wall of the club. Watcing the others gather around Bubbles, he rubbed his hands together and hoped one of them had a car.

*** pop ***

Standing in the street Bubbles points to her right, "McHugh's couple streets down?"

*** pop ***

"More like three, but close enough, nice to see your observant. Shall we go somewhere for further discussion?" Sun's distaste at the burger factory is clear in he voice. She draws on her cigarette, all the while scanning her surroundings for possible threats.

Al rose eagerly to his feet. "Hell yes we should go somewhere...McHughs.. what the boss-lady done said!" And without further ado, he trudged off in the indicated direction.

Hmm Mchughs, yea I could get one of their desserts or shakes, Pesto thinks for a moment and then says, "That sounds like a good idea to me."

"Okay," says Sun looking like she has a something rotten under her nose, "they do do something vegetarian right? Name's Sun by the way. Does anyone mind if I change?"

That stopped Al in his tracks. Turning around to look at the elven vixen, he shrugged and rasped, "Suit yerself. But seein' as how yer carryin' our cred, I reckon we can't rightly let ya outta our sight, now can we?"

Sun flashes a smile towards Al, "I was just making sure no-one was going to get embarrassed. Hold this sweety." Dropping her cigarette she chucks her Lined coat towards Al, and starts to pull off her t-shirt. Underneath is a latex bra which along with her trousers switches to a deep metallic purple. Her hair hair lengthens and darkens until it is jetblack. Her skin tone changes to a gothically valid white. She grins towards the team as she extends a hand towards Al for her coat.

"There that's better, shall we go towards the land of grease and fries with everything?" her accent is French, husky and seductive.

Sun's mannerisms have changed, more subtley than the physical changes. From bouncing sex kitten she has transformed into a perfectly controlled dominatrix, the only thing missing is a whip. From her boot comes a cigarette holder to which she adds one of her own and lights it.

"Ahh...", Pesto was about to suggest that Sun could use his truck to change in, but she moved to fast for him and then distracted him with her interesting display.

"And that boys and girls is what I can do, I'm sure we can find a use for it."

Mitch grins, "I know I could..."

"Mon cher, you could not afford me."

*** pop ***

In the meantime Bubbles long strides had taken her on ahead to where she stood in the middle of the next street intersection ignoring the little bit of traffic cruising past as she waited for everyone.

Peering at the group, Bubbles frowned, then pointed at the elvish woman, "Hey, that's the wrong one!"

"How we eat without money?"

The new look Sun flips the credstick out from where she had it hidden, "I'm still your accountant, mon grande amie. I just felt like a petite change."