Payment conversation -- this is the result of Snapp's negotiations above.

Jimmy’s initial offer is not bad for the work, but low when it comes to paying the bills. The 1,000 offer (each) he puts on the table would only half cover rent for most of you, and that’s assuming no screwups. Fortunately, after a rough start with everyone speaking at once (except the Troll, who continued to hold her tongue – or perhaps was just unable to speak around the bubble gum), the mild mannered, silver-tongued elf was left to handle the gritty details. He danced through the subject with grace; his technique both aggressive and smooth, covering any direct statements with a glaze of compliments and politeness. At last, after several impressive minutes, Jimmy had talked himself into a circle, and was forced to put all his cards, financially speaking, on the table.

“All right, all right. You’s got me arguing against myself now, so I’m just going to lay it all out flat for ya. Here’s what I’ve got to work with. I saved da boss’s hoop a while back. So, when I heard about Ida, I told him I had a family problem, and reminded him of that debt. He gave me a 12,500 fund to take care of this problem, and was even gracious enough not to ask what it was. So, I figures this must be a test to go with the boon, ya know? Show some financial responsibility, maybe move up in my liddle world, see? But family’s got to come first, as my ma (rest her soul) always said. So, screw lookin’ good for the boss. Twelve-five to be split however you all decide amongst whoever’s in. That’s all I’ve got to do this with, and it’s all I got to give ya. That, and my grateful thanks, of course.” Jimmy shakes his head, seeming a bit distressed at how poorly negotiations went for him.

“Oh, and I know you’ve got to act quick. I also know you’re not gonna cross me” he says with more than a hint of edge in his voice “because none of you have the resources to deal with the trouble that would bring down. So I’m gonna go 20% up front, which should be plenty for greasing whatever palms need a bit of oil to make this all go down smooth. 500 chips right up front’s not bad at all for this. Hey, I wish I was getting’ paid like that too. But I guess that just ain’t in the dice for ‘ol Jimmy; least not yet.”

Bubble's perception test
Anyone can read this, most of you can probably get 1 hit on a perception test

Glancing around, you see things pretty much as they were when the meet started. The skinny dwarf now has a couple empty umbrella drinks on the table, and is getting a bit amorous with the blonde woman – or at least trying. The Troll in the suit seems to be settling his check with the athletic waitress, and getting ready for a departure. The man in construction worker’s clothing is halfway through one of his cigars. The blonde elf on stage is performing a strange dance with many sudden movements that looks very surreal in the mild strobe lights that accompany it. The ork woman and blonde man at the next table are talking and watching the show; the music and the white noise generator drown out any voice further away than your own table. The troll near the door has finished his soup, and is reading an actual print copy of the morning paper. “Print” is used loosely, for the paper is only one sheet thick and updates the content wirelessly. The Japanese looking business men have made slow but steady progress on their food in slow nibbles, though they are spending more time watching the stage now than before. Otherwise, things look pretty much the same as when you came in.

Dual

Jimmy faces Codger, and replies with a slightly perplexed look. “Tir Wildcat training? I think the Tir has paladins. Wildcat are Sioux, right? Anyways, no. Esteemed position in the Family? With a capitol F? Ha!” Jimmy seems genuinely amused at this. “Ida had no interest in that. She probably ‘coulda – she had spirit, a real feisty woman my aunt. I bet if she’d set ‘er mind to it, she’d a handled those Yaks a touch smoother than Finnigan tried to do back in the 60's. But she always had other interests, never wanted to be tied to any family – her own, or “capitol F” Family. Nah, she always wanted to climb the highest mountain, dive the most dangerous reef, see the world, live life. That sort of thing. She was real upset they never let her in to Tibet; lot of good mountains there or something. So, no, my aunt's not gonna leap up and cut yer throats out like that elven special ops trid, 'less it was something she learned galavanting the world that she never told 'ol Jimmy here."

After several seconds of silence, Jimmy begins to fidget, and glance at each of you. “Awful quiet over there. You’s all got more questions, or have we got a deal?”

The initial offer of 1000 wasn't too bad in Dual's opinion. I mean, considering the job had a life of about 3 days, that kind of sucked, but it was still more than 10 nuyen an hour to basically house-sit. Not the "Shadowrunning" money he was used to seeing flash across his VR-link, but not a "Shadowrunning" job, either.

He would have accepted.

The elf talked ol Jimmy up to laying 12,500 on the table, with 20% up front. That sounded a lot better, but Dual realised that the deal got subtly worse. Now, he was looking at a 2,500 share with 500 up front - so was everyone else around the table if they all agreed, and agreed to split it evenly.

The problem was, Dual had hoped that payment wasn't going to be the same rate for everyone. He didn't particularly care for the idea that he, with a good deal of hacking experience, would be looking at the same paycheck as some teenage troll who (probably - cyberware aside) woke up this morning and said, "I think I'll be a Shadowrunner."

Secondly, he had seen this happen before. Again, darker shadows - digital shadows, but you tell a new Runner than his share goes up if less people accept, or if less people come back breathing... and it becomes really tempting for a new guy to see that happen. Your street-cred goes to shit, of course, if anyone suspects it - but a lot of new Runners can't see past that first paycheck.

Lastly, Dual felt a little better about the group's abilities after scanning their gear, and seeing them use their commlinks, but he still wouldn't say that he trusted their skills. He's pulled of countless extractions with another team, and with this one, he saw as much room for error, as for success. Since the job didn't require five Runners, at least a few of them were going to be dead-weight. Dead-weight, or liabilities, that drain money from the half of the group that doesn't fuck up.

Yeah, negotiations were going well for this side, but not really in the direction he was hoping for. With even more incentive to accept a cake-walk mission, Dual didn't see any of these people turning down "easy money" - and every one that signed on was going to make his job harder, and less rewarding. Come on, he thought to himself. I know I can't do everything. I'm going to need some help. His eyes went around the table again, this time trying to be optimistic. Okay, they're new (or old), but it could be worse. Much worse. If the troll can keep her oral fixation in check, this will be fine.

AR


Seeing Dirty Jimmy get a little nervous at the silence, Dual offers some more questions. "Yeah, could you tell us your Aunt's full name? Ida What? Also, if you could give us a photo of her, and the address of her apartment complex, or commcode address, that would help a lot."

"Can she know you are involved in this? or should she not know that there is anything to be involved in? and how do we contact you when the package is secure?"

Jimmy stops fidgeting now that he has new questions to answer, though he still seems uncomfortable – most likely he’s still not comfortable talking about family matters with strangers. “It’s Ida Riccetti. I’ve got a couple of photos, I’ll include those with the address and comcodes, and give you all that info at the end of the meet.”

Jimmy straightens up in his seat at the next question. “Ida should definitely not know I’m involved in this, if it can be helped. Sometimes, families need plausible deniability too. Ida’d be impossible to deal with if she knew I was mucking about in her life, even to save it. She’ll probably suspect – hey, she’s sharp, she’ll probably even know – but if she can’t prove it, that’s probably enough. So don’t mention my name or tell her I sent you, if you can avoid it.”

“As for contacting me, I’ll give you my comcode” he says, tapping his wrist-model device. “If, for some reason, something happens to my comlink – don’t ask, it’s happened before – you can leave a discrete message with Angelique” - here he nods towards and gestures with his hand at the dark-haired waitress – “and she’ll make sure I get it.”

"Fair enough," says Dual aloud. "Any other parameters we need to know about, or do we have creative license with the rest of the details?"

In AR


"Just a couple more questions, and then I think I will be satisfied. Does this Ida Riccetti own a vehicle, or does she rely on taxies or busses or something? and do you have a safe place that you would prefer we take her to if we have to get her out of that apartment?"

In AR chat

“So far as I know, Ida doesn’t have a car. If you have to keep her safe somewhere, that’s up to you – as is the location of that somewhere.”

Dual, nods - those were pretty much the answers he expected to get, but he felt better having confirmed them.

"That about does it for me," he says looking at everyone else at the table for any further questions.

In AR


After everyone else either finishes asking questions, Dual says, "Although I can only speak for myself, I agree to your terms, and accept the job. The only additional thing I would like to ask is that, if you are happy with my work - which I am confident you will be - you keep my contact information close at hand. This is hardly the sort of work I associate with Shadowrunning, but something tells me that if this test goes well, and you move up the ladder, you'll find need for some of us sooner or later."

When it seems like no one else has any questions left...

"Mr. Jimmy, I find your terms acceptable. I will take the job."

It ain't much. Won't even get me out of that hole I live in, but it's a start. Doubt any of them will turn this down. I hope they're a greatful I got them a 1500 raise.

Waiting until everyone either accepts or declines...

In AR chat:

In AR Chat:

In AR Chat:


Codger nods.
"I'm in, as well. This seems simple enough..."

In AR Chat:

AR

Spook nods his head.

"Count me in."

Ignorant fool of a doctor, thinks he knows better than the dark one who is ready and who is not. Well, if she is ready then she will go, without his help needed. The gift is given freely to all who truly wish it.

AR:

Bubbles while still looking over peoples heads into the room, slaps her hand down in the middle of the table. She looks down and lifts her hand slightly off the table, raises her eyebrow and crinkles her forehead around her horns as she looks at everyone.

*pop* "I'm in"

Bubbles stands up and steps back over her chair without knocking it over.

"I'll be outside. Plausible deniability means we better leave soon."

Bubbles smiles reassuringly at Jimmy, and starts striding through the room, swiveling her head and watching everyone as she steps to the beat of the music.

That old guy is kind of cranky, like Knuckles just before a rumble. Better check what's outside while these guys argue about where to meet.

“Great!” says Dirty Jimmy enthusiastically. “So we’re all agreed then.” He looks at Dual as he stands, and says “Hey, even if Dirty Jimmy never moves up to squeaky clean Jimmy with money and jobs of his own, word still gets around. And I’ll see that it does, if things go well. ‘Course, I’ll also see that it does if things don’t go well too.”

Looking at the group in general, and standing now, Jimmy nods and speaks. “I’ll be expecting a call from you on Saturday to let me know Ida got to Reed as expected.” He sets an optical chip in the center of the table. “Here’s the address, my comcode, and a couple of pictures, as requested. All right gentlemen, good luck.”

Jimmy waves to the waitress, who smiles and waves back. He straightens his coat and vest, then walks out.

Dual

Dual stands up, and hesitates a moment before taking the chip. "I'll get a copy to anyone that wants it." He says, not sure if they'd take offense to him collecting the data. He also asks Dirty Jimmy how he would like to arrange to pay us the up-front money, and sees that that is taken care of.

When the final report comes in, Dual is pretty pleased with what was found. The picture ID should help them quite a bit - and the other information helps him build a mental profile of the guy.

"So, where are we going to relocate to?" he asks, generally addressing Codger. "I've already dug up some information on the doctor that could come in useful, and I'd like to start splitting up legwork so we can get to work tonight."

His eyes are given new search commands, as he starts to leave the building with the rest of the group. He pauses long enough to fire off a message to Carolyn (using his mundane commlink) on his way out.

approx 3:15 PM Wednesday, March 5th, 2070. Seattle, Impish Delights, Early Afternoon. Cool and Overcast

Bubbles steps out of the Impish Delights, and starts prowling around the building, still moving to a rhythmic beat. She scans the Impish Delights and the neighboring buildings, glancing at each vehicle in the parking lot as she purposely wanders around the entire lot so she has at least seen every bit of it.

*pop* Should have done this on the way in.

Finishing her circuit, Bubbles returns to her Growler and lifts open the seat. She lifts out a large bag of Nu-Bazooka! gum and takes out a random handful. She opens them one at a time, watching the mini holo gram run as each wrapper is opened, shaking her head and smiling at each stupid joke played out in miniature.

*pop* When will they have some new ones instead of this set of 300 jokes.

She waits for the others to come out and let her know where to meet.

*pop* Steal another set of plates for the Growler. Someone at the Hold must have my certified stick, get myself a new one. Steal a monocle or goggles with the enhancements, if I squint so much I'll end up even more wrinkled then I am already. Steal a top end Commlink, and make sure not to take it apart like my last one.

Snapp stands with the rest of the group. "Mr. Jimmy, it was a pleasure."

In AR chat

Codger practically falls out of his chair when he hears the technicolor troll wrap her mouth around 'plausible deniability', but covers it up well.
SHE is lecturing ME on subtlety? If I were twenty years younger and a damn sight stupider, I'd kill her where she stood.
Then again, I was about as flashy as she was at that age, though in a different way.
Nodding thoughtfully, Codger shakes Dirty Jimmy's hand and prepares to leave.

"A moving vehicle's always a nice easy way to prevent eavesdropping. Anyone here have anything we could all pile into and chat in?"

Back when I was pulling down a run a month, I would've had a safehouse to do it in. Hell, six months ago I would've had it.
Gaaah! Luxuries. If you can't shadowrun with a nine, some 'ware and some wits you aren't worth anything...

Dual speaks as Jimmy is turning to leave, and Jimmy responds without turning around “Ah yea, almost forgot. Upfront payment will be handled by Angelique also.” He waves over his shoulder, stiff new jacket crinkling around his shoulder as he does so.

Angelique comes up to the table upon Jimmy’s departure. “Okay boys, looks like the tab settles in your favor this time. We can do wireless transfer, or if you prefer, we have some corp script – Ares, in small denominations. That is unless” she says with a wink “you want it in store credit.”

AR:

Inside,

@AR


Dual says to Angelique, "I think we'd like the script. If its all the same to you, could you settle us individually?"

After cashing-out Dual heads outside. "So, anyone know a private place that we can talk, within walking distance?" He looks around at everyone else - even if one of them had wheels, the odds that they have a van with troll-modified seating was slim. He also slots the chip into the commlink at his side, and transfers the data to his "buisness" one, so the data can be added to the rest he has gathered so far. I'm not doing such a bad job, Dual thinks to himself. Just leaving the meet, and I've probably done more legwork than anyone else, so far.

He notices the troll patrolling the parking lot, and smirks. Everyone seems especially paranoid about this meet - even the Johnson was getting uncomfortable. I mean, I've seen my share of setups - made my way out of most of em too... but its not like Doc Severinsen is going to jump out from behind that car over there and mug us for talking to the son of his patient. The Corps arn't likely to care what we're up to. The 'Star certainly won't mind if we stop a dead man from commiting a crime. He takes a moment to consider what he's seen of everyone else so far. I have to admit, though... they're all a bit better than I thought they would be. A bit on-edge, and not-to-trusting, but I'm not exactly in a hurry to get to know them either.

Everyone (except Bubbles):
Angelique nods to Dual and says “Individually is fine. Ares script for you, what will the rest of you have?” The similarity to her asking for your food order is briefly amusing. I’ll have the ham on white bread, and 500 in small, unmarked bills. Oh, hold the mayo on the sandwich.

Dual:
A response comes in from Carolyn, a single word:


Castor and Pollux acknowledge their new searching orders, and set off to mine data on Ida Riccetti

Bubbles

"I will take script, thank you. I will also take 500 in Ares script for our colorful troll friend."

Subtlety is all well and good, but what a silly girl to leave before receiving payment. 4-way split of her share is tempting, but....Naaah, never break rule number 5.

Snapp finishes his transaction with Angelique and retrieves his checked coat. Just before exiting the building he gets this odd feeling that he is forgetting something. It becomes painfully clear, when he exits the building and his eyes are assaulted by an annoying add. Grrr... I hate that crap. Snapp quickly switches his comlink to hidden mode, which snuffs out all of the images. Ahhh, much better. Now where is that troll.

While Snapp scans the parking lot, he answers both Codger and Dual. "I only brought a bike, and as for someplace to go, I am not very familiar with this part of town."

after 3 PM Wednesday, March 5th, 2070. Seattle, Impish Delights, Early Afternoon. Cool and Overcast

Bubbles notices the others exiting and puts away a small colorful wrapper into one of her pockets. She steps closer and raises her eyebrows in query.

*pop* "Settle on a place yet?"

Dual smirks, "I've heard good things about a sports bar around here called 'Rookies'...." The offer is half in jest, but seems like as good a place as any to discuss the perfectly legal ways they would be spending their weekends.

"Will white noise be especially ostentatious?"

Dual shrugs, "I... think the manager would understand - plus, its not even four yet. There probably won't be many customers to notice. But, I was just kidding..." Dual seems to think the idea over a little bit more. Man, taking a brand-new group of Runners to a place called "Rookies" is just too perfect. Probably too perfect, though. He shakes his head, "Its... probably not the best place to discuss this particular job - ties to Mr. Johnson. Course, if we're still taking his sob-story with a grain of salt, that might be just the place to check our facts... but I think its a little early in the day to start biting the hand that feeds us. Plus, we'd probably have to drive." I'd go back into the Impish Delights, if we hadn't just left. I dunno what I was expecting to find out here. A limo? Well, I guess I figured somebody drove - or had a safehouse or something.

Dual sighs slightly. Well, you're a Shadowrunner now. Shouldn't you be driving fast cars, breaking into megacorps, and fraternizing with sexy spy chicks? He looks around, again, as if a car is going to materialize out of thin air. Not hanging out outside a titty-bar in the middle of the day with a bunch of guys (and a troll named, "Bubbles") as broke as you are, wondering what you're going to do next....

Discussing a mission online, was never this hard....

"Lemme look for someplace nearby... I can't garuntee I'll find a place where no one will notice your little noise-machine... but since we don't have any information worth overhearing.... Maybe 'not using it' would draw less attention."

"Oh, screw it. This place is nearly abandoned, and the only group likely to have listening devices in the area is employing us. Let's just dicker in the fraggin' parking lot- no need to make this any more complicated than it needs to be.
If you've got listening devices connected to a commlink, please disconnect them now."

Codger reaches under his coat and turns on his white noise again, not bothering to be subtle about it this time.

"Let's start with self-introductions and an explanation of capabilities. We haven't a prayer of working together without something like it. Hello, my 'name' is Codger. My schtick, in ten words or less, is 'street sammy that doesn't look it'. I've been shadowrunning more or less continuously since I was eighteen, so I know the business backwards and forwards- and quite a few folks with useful talents owe me favors. I have firearms from hold-outs to assault rifles, and can use all of them proficiently. My bones are laced, my muscles are agumented, and my reflexes are wired- all at moderate levels. I can sneak, fight, shoot, lead, jump, build guns and blow stuff up- and, more importantly, know when to do and when not to do each of those things.
Who next?"

Bubbles winces as the discussion starts, and rapidly moves to interpose herself between Codger and a particular light pole in the lot. She then emphatically points in turn to a person and particular spots for them to stand.

*pop* "Cameras, Lips"

Bubbles blows a bubble large enough to obscure her mouth, then talking around it says "I do hardware, tools, locks, disable physical security systems, and I suppose you'll make me do any heavy carrying."

Dual nods to Bubbles as she indicates new places for them to stand, and Dual gives Codger a funny look when the old man asks everyone to disconenct audio devices from their commlinks, but he quickly lets it go. He pulls his Novatech Airware off of his belt and puts it in the pocket of his coat. After their introductions he jumps in, careful of the cameras. "They call me 'Dual'. Hmm, ten words or less... 'Hacker, Rigger, Sensors, Security, Augmented Reality, Guns, Stealth, Gear... and... Cyberware " I have a lot of Shadowrunning experience in simulations - but this would be my first real 'mission' that doesn't just involve hacking. Yeah, you could probably call me a hacker - and I suspect that's what my role in this mission will be, but I am also proficient in the use of most weapons and have some experience with every role from street sam, to rigger, to Johnson. Not magic though, really havn't done anything with that. That would probably be a disaster - there is a huge learning curve."

"I don't have much in the way of gear - but I do have some spare 'rigs at home that might be useful the next time we want to have a discrete conversation - or to communicate during a mission. I've got a lot of cyberware. A lot. Simrig, commlink, control rig, smartlink, drones, sensors, skillwires, you get the picture. I also have an extensive library of programs, if anyone is interested - although not nearly enough skillsofts, yet."

"Let's see... managed to get into this place last night." He nods his head to the side, indicating Impish Delights. "Got a little info on our boss, our boss's boss, and some of the 'talent'. Found out some more information on our Doctor as well. Records say he died four years ago in a vehicular accident. I don't buy it, though. Word is he's been operating in the shadows since then - in the Loveland area of the Puyallup barrens. Rumored to have performed two euthinasias recently, probably operating out of a van. Might be kind of hard to track down, but I managed to get a picture as well."

"Oh yeah, another thing. He opened a private practice in Sioux Falls about 9 years ago, which closed upon his 'death'. Makes me wonder what could have happened to the Doc that could make him want to give up having his own practice (and the wealth and prestige that comes with that), and chose to fake his death and live out of a van in the barrens.' Dual shrugs, "...but I am getting ahead of things...."

"Why dont' we finish introducing ourselves, then we can talk about our plans for tonight."

How very direct, I think I may like dealing with this Codger fellow. Snapp maneuvers himself to the possition indicated by Bubbles. In moving into possition Snapp walks very close to Bubbles and discretely says "Your share." Just as discretely he hands off 500 in Ares Script to Bubbles and continues to the possition indicated by Bubbles. Once there...

"People call me Snapp. I have reaction enhancers, synaptic boosters, and muscle replacements, although the latter only makes me about as strong as your average human. You just saw part of my skill set. I can talk, negotiate, con, and intimidate and I do them all very well. I can kill from a distance or up close, sniper rifle, although I lack one at the moment; pistols; mono whip. Stealth is my friend, and I blend in to crowds as your average joe. I don't do electronics, but I have good tools that help me break into places. I don't do magic. I hate the matrix, and the matrix hates me."

Snapp looks expectantly at Spook.

Bubbles stuffs a paper filled hand into her pocket after the elf, Snapp, moves by her. She frowns, puzzled, then pulls her hand out of her pocket. A pile of Nu-Bazooka! bubble gum wrappers mixed with the red, white and blue colored Ares scrip is all mixed together in her hand. She quickly swaps the scrip to her other hand, and stuffs the into one of her pockets. She starts carefully uncrinkling the bubbles gum wrappers and aligning them in a stack, suppressing the holo jokes in the wrappers as they activate.

*pop* "Collectible."

Every now and then she glances up and around over everyone's heads and scans the parking lot as they speak.

Wonder if the pretty boy kept a bit. See if it all adds up at the end. Just like the Hold, boys standing around bragging about their equipment.

Bubbles chokes off a giggle.

In the Club: Spook takes his money in scrip and heads out with the others.

Parking Lot:

Spook moves into place and disconnects separates his earbuds from his PAN, also putting his respirator over his face as an added measure.

"Spook. Magician. Focusing mostly on support, healing, and utility spells. If we need astral support, i can conjure as well as the next mage. I'm not completely helpless in the matrix, but i'm not remotely close to a decker either."

"Good to see I'm not the only person who still says 'decker'. I was starting to feel old old."
Codger grins.

Dual nods, "Magician, Face, Hacker, Sammy, and ... well, 'hardware'.... Not a bad team. Our skills are well rounded, at least - I suppose our actual 'teamwork' has yet to be tested...."

"Now, as for how we're going to put those skills to work.... First, lets go over the mission. Then, lets assign some legwork tonight, plan a place to meet up tomarrow morning, and a plan for how we're going to get this done."

Dual, still well aware of the cameras, continues "I'll avoid repeating the details. We were all at the meet, but if there are any questions, lets have them asked - we all need to be on the same page. Our mission seems to consist of two objectives. First, we are to prevent our targets from meeting tomarrow afternoon. Current whereabouts of the Doc are unknown, so this may be more difficult than it sounds. We're probably best starting with his patient, who we assume is at home. I doubt the old lady has been driving into the barrens for her appointments - so I'm going with the rumors that the Doc is operating out of a van. He probably makes house-calls, especially if the nurse caring for... 'the aunt' is connected to him."

"The second objective is to keep the two of them seperated for the next three days until Johnson's arranged appointment. This sounds easier than the first objective - but considering we couldn't find a safe place to have this discussion, I might be wrong. Also, my gut says the Doc isn't going to let his patient go that easily. Johnson mentioned a contract between the two, and I think the Doc (and probably the nurse) have a big stake in this 'treatment' happening, as planned. I don't think that keeping her in her apartment is a great idea, and I'm sure as hell not taking her back to my place - so someone is going to have to look into finding some temporary 'storage' for the weekend."

He holds out the chip Jimmy handed out. "We have information on the Aunt, and I've dug up a little bit on the Doc. I'd like to see if I can find out anythign about this nurse, and maybe confirm her stake in this."

"Someone should case the apartment complex tonight. We'll want maps (of her building at the very least), and probably want a decent idea of what the security looks like there, what staff will be on-site, and where the Doctor's van would park when he gets there, that sort of thing."

"We're assuming she's not going to be cooperative, but if one of us wanted to try to talk to her first," Dual looks at Snapp, "and see what she believes is wrong with her - maybe we could even get a little more information on the appointment out of her. I could also target her commlink tonight - and hope that she keeps doctor's appointments in her planner. At the very least, she's likely to have his number stored somewhere - which might come in handy if we ever need to track the guy down, or distract him tomarrow."

Dual seems pretty pleased, "That sounds like five jobs, and there are five of us - but I'm not saying those five things should be the top on our lists. Just some ideas if we don't know where to start."

"You guys know your skills better than I do. What where you planning to do? Let's hear everyone's ideas, and start asigning two or three tasks a piece to get us started tonight. We can plan to meet somewhere early tomarrow morning, share info, and.. I assume we'd be going from there to the Aunt's apartment complex... the question is, what we plan to do once we get there."

Dual looks at Codger, assuming he'd be the one most likely to have already worked out a plan of his own.

Dual

"It would be much better if she was willing to go along, but i can't imagine how we're going to explain what we know without having some akward questions about Mr. Johnson come up. It's just a little unlikely for several random people to show up in a situation like this, you know. I could help with 'convincing' her, but given the situation, i don't think the boss would approve of that."

"On the other hand, i could certainly help with convincing the nurse, and i doubt the boss would care in the slightest."

*pop* "Doc already killed people. we could say we investigating previous victims? Make like the Star interested in all Docs patients since some die. Who has this doc killed? They have family, say we represent them, not Jimmy."

The (hu)Man always taking stuff away, saying it's for "Your own good" we can do same cause most people think it okay as long as they think you the (hu)Man.

"I believe my skills will be best put to use, by paying Aunt Ida a visit. I was thinking of posing as a son of a very sick mother who went to see Doctor Severinsen and is now trying to get in touch with the good Doctor to find out where his mother is. Now, if we decide to take Ida to a safe house I can use Bubble's suggestion and say I am really an undercover agent of the Star investigating Doctor Severinsen."

Dual nods, "Also, if we do end up talking to her, it might be a good idea to see if she is aware that the Doc does what he does - and also that he doesn't have his medical license anymore. If she's being conned, she might not know what's in store for her - and somoene with ties to the sorts of people as could hire us, could easily cover medical care if she wanted to go to a legitimate Doctor. We might make some progress if we can make the Doctor out to be a hack and a criminal." His eyes glaze over for a second while Snapp was speaking, but he doesn't seem to have missed any of the conversation.

"I got a little more information on the Aunt. No birth cirtificate on record, but that's not all that surprising. Her public info matches the chip - but I've nabbed a few posts from her 'adventurous' past. I think Johnson was right - she may be more than a handful. I have a few more names we could drop that she's likely to recognise."

"One problem with pretending to be Lone Star... we don't have badges, or any credentials. Might be better if we were private detectives or something - or like you two suggested, start with one of us claiming to be a worried son (might strike closer to home)."

To Spook, he says, "I agree about the Nurse. Johnson didn't say anything about keeping her in the dark - but we'll have to be careful that she doesn't pass along anything we say to her to either the Aunt, or to the Doc. I'm operating under the assumption that she's working for the Doc. She probably keeps her eyes open for tenets at that complex that are either gullible or dying and then offers to put them in touch with a good Doctor she knows. Probably doesn't mention that the bastard has been dead for years, doesn't have a license, a practice, or any ties to a hospital - or that his patients are dead." Dual shakes his head, "I'm sure she's aware of what she's getting herself into - but if she knew that the Good Doc has talked his last two patients into the same thing, she might reconsidder why the Doc's so eager to 'ease her pain'. That said, sounds like a good idea to go see what she knows."

"We could all head over there right now - Spook talking to the Nurse (if she's on duty) or attempting to visit her at home if she is not. Bubbles seems to have an eye for security systems, so it makes sense for her to do a preliminary casing of the complex, and the Aunt's building. Snapp could work on the Aunt. I think I'd be best cracking her commlink and checking for appointments and phone numbers - and maybe taking a peek in the apartment complex's security node. Codger, you have any preferance as to what you'd like to do?"

"If that's the plan, I wouldn't be going there. VR work is best done someplace safe - but I would like us all to keep communication up. If someone with wheels wanted to make a pit-stop somewhere, I could lend everyone some simrig trodes and a spare commlink. I've got some programs that help maintain situational awareness among ditributed forces. I would be more than happy to run 'Overwatch,' keeping our efforts organized and keeping the information flow going. I assume that her commlink is commercial-grade and that the apartment complex doesn't have the financial backing this place does," he gestures with his thumb to the Impish Delights. "...so they shouldn't require more than half of my attention."

Spook raises an eyebrow at the plan, and says "I wasn't talking about talking to the nurse... lets just say that this falls under the 'utility' category of spells i am familiar with. And i don't think we particularly need to do that ahead of time, since the longer she is under the effect, the greater the chance something will cause her to be released from the effect. As such, i recommend waiting on that one until the last moment."

"Of course, if you want i can go along with someone to use the same technique to get more information about her by persuading her the person is someone to be trusted, for example. Combined with the correct skills, it could be extremely effective" he says as he nods his head at Snapp.

Dual seems to catch on once Spook spells it out for him, "Ahh, got ya. Like I said - no experience with magic, so that tends to be my blind-spot. Okay, if you're confident in your spells, it's your department. Of course, I don't see the point of getting information out of her at the last second. The reason we'd want the information tonight is so we can formulate a half-way decent plan tonight."

"If you think the magic you want to use to influence someone isn't likely to be noticed, I'd suggest you go with Snapp and use it on the Aunt. With luck, the two of you could convince her to take a weekend vacation somewhere or something."

"Which does bring us to another obstacle of the mission - and perhaps a good task for Codger. If we need to take her out of that apartment (which I believe will be likely), we're going to need someplace to take her, and some way of getting her there that the Doc can't easily trace." He looks at Codger, "What do you say? With the most 'experience' of all of us, you've probably had a few safehouses in the past. I trust you know where to look, and what to look for?"

Dual seems to consider something for a moment then continues. "Transportation might be tough, though. She seems to have had a wild past, but at her age, she probably isn't much for riding motercycles anymore. We don't have enough cash, between us, to get a car tonight. We could boost one maybe - but that's just asking for the 'Star to put their noses in our buisness...." Dual shrugs, "Any ideas?"

"We're being too complex. As I see it, one of the most straightforward interpretations of this run is that we have to keep the Doc from plying his trade for the next three days. Assuming that he is indeed operating out of a van in the Barrens, that could be as simple as putting a three-round burst through the engine block of the vehicle. After that, provided Spook has a spell that controls emotiosn or thoughts, we could get her to our 'white hat' doctor with relatively little trouble.
This plan reduces the job to two distinct and simple components- a structure hit and a snatch-and-grab with a precondition of sublety. Disguising ourselves as the Star, or convincing her that this guy's a fly-by-night, just have way too many things that can go wrong."

"Except for one thing," Dual says, holding up a finger. "We have no idea where this van is - or what make or model it is or anything. All we've got is a name, a face, and a huge area of Seattle to look in (all based off of some rumors). We could spend the whole night canvassing Loveland looking for him to end up with nothing for tomarrow. The only thing we know about this van is which apartment complex it is going to be at tomarrow night. I still think that is our best bet."

"Also, there is a 2-day gap between the structure-hit and the hand-off. That's plenty of time for the Doc to find another way to get to her and cash in his contract. That's also way too long for us to keep her under lock-and-key without raising suspisions. The last thing we need is for her nurse to notice she's missing (or not answering her door) and get the Star involved."

"Having said that. I like where you were going with this idea. Let's say we could find this guys van before tomarrow afternoon. Why put a hole in the engine when we could just take the thing? Two birds with one stone. He isn't going to report it stolen - cause he's dead, and its probably stolen already. He certainly can't fix it up or replace it in two days, and it would give us a vehicle we could use to transport the Aunt to wherever we decide to go."

Dual shrugs, "Afterwards, we dump it with some chop-shop and make a little on the side. Course, this all hinges on our ability to find the van (and the Doc) before tomarrow afternoon. Does anyone have any ideas on how we might actually pull that off?"

"Use of a city spirit's Search power in the Barrens seems the best bet. Spook could probably manage that- ne?"