Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:05

It wasn't long before the entire team was back together up in Heaven only with two new additions standing there waiting for their arrival. Neither of them looked like a typical "Mrs. J" nor did they look like shadowrunners so they were a bit of a quandry.

Once Jiro and Apex return to the table and take a closer look at the two women, they both can remember seeing the taller of the two seated at the bar earlier, trying to discreetly watch the team at the table during their meeting with Erik.

As everyone is situated the young Japanese woman pulls from her pocket a small but powerful white noise generator and places it on the table before them. Once the LED lights pulse and then glow a steady green, the shorter and stockier of the two women takes that as her cue to leave the table. She doesn't go far however, but if she's some type of "bodyguard" she's pretty sloppy at it.

"My name is Tara Kobayashi, and I need to disappear."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:22

Billy shrugs, jingling the ice in the bottom of his glass. "You don't really need a whole team for that, unless you've got someone who'd be looking hard for you. Any old plastic clinic to change your face, maybe a couple extra bucks to toss in an eye color change, a nice tan, and you're halfway there. All that'd be left is the paper work, and if you've got the money to hire us you've got the money you need for a new SIN."

He gives her a look, "So. Who'd be looking hard for you, that's got you so you haven't already done all that and called it a day?"

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:35

“Disappear. Like, forever? Fake death and everything? Are you ready for this? Change who you are, what you are, everything? But maybe there are other options, too. Any details you can give us about the why?”

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:22

Tara shook her head firmly at the suggestion she could just change her appearance, change her SIN or change something simple like that.

"That's not what I meant. I mean I want to be kidnapped. And it's got to look legit. Is that something you can pull off?"

She took a deep breath and swallowed hard before she continued or let any of you answer.

"My father, Hiro Kobayashi is getting re-married. His wife-to-be, Carmen," Tara spoke the name with obvious disgust, "She doesn't think that my father should be paying my expenses anymore and has made it clear that once she's in the house for good she's cutting me out of the financial picture. Now if I were to be kidnapped my father would easily pay the ransom for my safe return, which we would all split and we'd all go our seperate ways with more cash in our pockets."

Her eyes moved across each of the runners at the table, watching their faces and their reactions to her suggestion as she awaited more questions or their answer.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:54
"We can probably do it right now, if you really want." Billy's beat up chicks before. It's not his thing, but he can do it. Her security -- such as it is -- is pretty damned light right now. Short-and-grouchy even has her back turned. A club like this is sure to have some cameras, but the mics would be hard pressed to record a conversation, even before the white noise generator...what would it look like? Him sitting there, two girls approaching, him calling all his friends over, a continued conversation... but, no. Too many cameras, and all someone'd have to do is rewind a little to notice their previous business conversation. Nah. Too much of a hassle.

"But did you have a time frame in mind? And just how much of a ransom do you think daddy can afford?"

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:12:07

“Okay, that changes things a little, of course. We would need to figure out a way, that also doesn't make it too obvious that you are actually behind this. We would need as much information you can give us about your daily routine, ok, not every detail, obviously, but where you are when on a regular basis, stuff like that. Sure, normally that would be our part to find out, but in this case... also what kind of security we would have to deal with. And we need to figure out what we do when your father does, indeed, not show inclined to pay the ransom. Also, after being kidnapped you will likely get some sessions with a psychologist. You need to be prepared for that. Oh, and who's she?” Scarlet slightly nods her head towards the other woman.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:12:11

"Fucking kidnapping is serious shit, lady. The last thing we need is your old man to go to da cops or worse...get the feds involved. This won't be cheap."

The familiar scowl had returned to Julio's face. He glanced over at Billy to see how the voice of the team would respond.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:11:54

"Now doesn't work for many reasons, but it'll have to take place soon. The wedding is planned for 3 weeks from now. I'd do just about anything to spoil her "big day" if possible, so if this happens before and drags out that would be ideal. As for the ransom, I'm still "daddy's little girl" and while I'm not the prodigal son he could have hoped for, I'm all he has and I'm sure the figures would top 250-kay quite quickly. It'd be a 50-50 split, at least 125-kay for your troubles."

She turned her gaze to Scarlet to address her concerns next.

"I can give you a fairly detailed schedule of where I'll be, class schedule at the University of Seattle, nightly happeneings, planned events etc. that shouldn't be a problem you'd know my every move. There shouldn't be a problem in the slightest of getting him to pay the ransom, if he can afford the wedding, he can damn well afford to get me back. The girl? That's my good friend Kiko, she doesn't know what I'm talking to you about, I didn't want her to be "in" on anything detailed... not yet at least."

When Julio snaps off she whips around to face him and gets right up in his face.

"No drek he's gonna get the cops involved genius, if that scares you then I've obviously asked the wrong group for help. If 125-kay is "too cheap" for you then take a walk, I don't think your friends seem to think it's a bad deal."

She held her ground against the big bruiser but inside she was trembling with fear.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:01

“Relax. He isn't all that bad. He just never learned proper manners, is all.” Scarlet says with a slight wink.

“Kiko could be a problem. I hope you know what you are doing there. At this point you pretty much have to tell her, what's going on. Otherwise she might run to your daddy when she hears, that you have been kidnapped and tell him what she learned tonight. She might not see the connection, but someone else might. Well, or we have to take her in as well.”

“The money is certainly good... if your daddy is going to pay it, that is. And regardless how sure you are, what if he does not? That's entirely our risk, since I assume you cannot make up for our expenses otherwise. You will walk away unscathed this way or that way, and you will have your wedding spoilt either way as well. I must say, I don't think your proposed 50-50 split is properly reflecting this.”

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:01

Sitting, silently in his seat, Jiro simply observed the situation. He had never been a man of many words, and probably would never be. Even though Jiro would have never voiced it out loud, the situation unfolding in front him made him slightly sick. The woman… no… this girl probably had all the opportunities in life. She had had all the chances so many kids never had. She had been cared for and nurtured. Now, she was but a rabid and honorless dog, turning around to bite the hand that had fed her for so long. Jiro had done a great deal of reproachable deeds in his life… too many evil acts… But he always told himself that it was his duty. He was honor bound to act.

But not anymore. At least he wasn’t bound to a master anymore.

When Tara barked back at Julio, Jiro, sitting next to him, brought his hand up to the man’s shoulder, calmingly setting it. It was his way of telling him that he both agreed with him, but that he should keep quiet.

Scarlet quickly voiced one of the concerns that had been brewing in Jiro’s mind: the job was terribly risky. The risk didn’t spur from the operation itself, but from the fact that the payment would be in constant limbo. The price wouldn’t be set, and ransom might never be paid.

Truth be told, the more he thought about it, the less Jiro wanted to take the job. But he was bound to his teammates. If they went ahead with it, he’d follow. It was his duty.

Jiro looked over at Billy, giving him a simple nod to discreetly confirm that he was in... and that he was going to play his usual role. Negotiations were about to start, and in a few minutes, the heat might already start to come crashing down on them. Somebody had to already be on the watch. Sliding out of the booth, Jiro politely excused himself, and walked over to Kiko. With a steady hand, he took the woman’s arm by the left elbow. Standing around like she was, she was sticking out worse than the “thing in the red dress” at the bar. As far as he was concerned, the run was already on and things already had to be taken care of.

Even thought she was Japanese, Jiro spoke to her in his accented English.

“Miss Kiko” he bowed slightly, still holding her arm and slightly pulling her toward the bar “Do not worry about your friend, she is safer than she has ever been.”

He locked eyes with her, sending in that strange vibe only years of intimidating people could do.

“Follow me to the bar.”

Added to his coarse whispered voice, it didn’t sound like a suggestion at all.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:01

Kiko's eyes widened slightly as the elder Japanese man approached her and firmly told her that her friend would be ok. When he told her to follow him, the way he said it made her realize there was very little she could or should do, besides follow. She cast one last glance over her shoulder towards her friend at the booth with the motley looking crew and shook her head not liking what Tara had gotten them into.

Tara looked at Scarlet like she had sprouted three additional heads when she suggested that Tara's father might not be willing to pay for her safe return.

"Don't you know who my father is, are you mad to think he wouldn't pay the King's ransom to have his only daughter returned to him safe and sound? If it makes you feel better, I'll guarantee you'll get paid at least 75-kay for your "troubles" should he somehow not pay." She didn't explain where the money would come from, but you got the feeling that if this escapade didn't succeed her life would be all but completely over. With a heavy sigh, she continued answering questions.

"As for Kiko, all she knows is that I dragged her here to seek out a group of 'runners to dig up some particularly nasty dirt on Carmen. That's it. Why do you think I asked her to leave the table before we discussed the details?"

The more she spoke, the more you begin to realize that for a young teen, Tara seemed to have the basics covered well beyond what your average kid could dream up after watching a zillion episodes of "Prime Runner Nights" on the TriD.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:13

“Sometimes people do unexpected things, when confronted with unexpected situations. I certainly hope your father has no track record for dealing with the proposed situation. Don't get that wrong, but we do need to cover our bases as much or even moreso than you need to cover yours. Anything that is not fact, involves a risk. That's why in our line of work it normally is common practice to get part of the compensation up front, in order to diminish that risk. In this case, things are a little different, of course, but not completely so, you surely understand. If you are willing to offer that risk-compensation, in case things do not go as you say, then I'm fine with the proposed 50-50 split as well. It's not much of a risk for you, apparantly, if you are so sure about your dad's reactions, and you certainly are the only one here that can be, but it will put our worries at ease somewhat. Good for both sides, you see.”

“So, anyone else got anything to add? Or can we come to an agreement here?” Scarlet looks to her own companions as she says this.

Friday, Setember 05, 2070 22:13:14

"I am willing to involve myself in this undertaking." Apex said quietly, then turned to look at the young lady with his thousand yard stare.

"Understand of course that should you double cross us, or should this be a trap, I will visit upon you a fate far worse than death."

He said the last is the same tone he used for ordering a drink, merely another bit of information to consider within the converstation. He'd watched this female negotiate for her own kidnapping with a curious mind. For a young person with such drive and passion in her spirit she seemed far more interested in what she would get from her father than in what she would do with her own life. As though her being was without worth unless defined as worthwhile by her paternal unit in monetary terms. It's a strange reality we exist in.

"Do you know if your securirty detail has collected a ritual sample from you? Blood drawn or tissue samples?"

Tracking a kidnapping victim through magic would be a simple task if they have ritual materials to work from. Without that it's still possible but more difficult.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:05

Julio's eyes narrowed at Tara's retort. An instant after making the decision to rip that insolent's cunt's throat out, he felt Jiro's firm hand on his shoulder. The old Japanese guy always excelled at keeping Julio's nerves calm.

It takes him a second to regain his composure, then he leans in close to Tara and almost whispers to her, "Look kid, if you want to keep having this conversation with all of your limbs intact, you have about 15 seconds to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this job is worth more to us than the fun we'd have crushing your skull and selling your parts to the organ-leggers down the street. And getting the cops involved just means we have to really make you look like a kidnap 'victim'. Does that sound like fun to you? I does to me."

With that, Julio eases back into his chair and puts on his most predatory grin.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:05

Tara doesn't move she just sits stock still while the bruiser whispers in her ear, she doesn't flinch, she doesn't even turn a slighter shade of pale at Julio's words. When he tries to look predatory to scare her as he eases back into his seat she simply turns to him without emotion though her eyes are on fire.

"I never said this was going to be a cake-walk nor did I expect it to be immediately to your liking. What would the point of coming to the table offering you each a million nu when you might have done it for 250-kay. You want to hurt me big guy, go for it if it'll make you feel better. The point of the matter is, if you want the job take it, if it's not to your liking then walk and stop wasting my time and that of your friends."

With that she all but dismisses Julio from her frame of reference and turns back to Apex.

"There are no ritual samples from me that I am aware of, blood and tissue are on file with the hospitals and I'm sure my father has it all on file for immediate reference as well. Believe me when I say I am not in this to double cross you, if you don't succeed and receive payment I get nothing out of this and I'm in a worse position than I was in as I approached this booth tonight."

She paused as she thought about things. "Besides, if my father refuses to pay you still receive your 75-kay and you can walk away with none the wiser. Either I permanently disappear on my own or it's a miracle and I show up on my father's doorstep worse for wear. The 250-kay is all but guaranteed as I know for a fact there is an insurance policy with a kidnapping clause that offers a ransom payment of 250-kay, and yes this is on me, not my father."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:42
"Which just means we've got a pissed off insurance company and the cops and the feds and your pop's private security after us, all able to ritually trace ya from a fingernail clipping and a blood sample on-file, unless we can convince your old man not to get that many people involved." Billy shrugs, "So understand, please, the importance of that bit."

"Listen, your pop loves you, you're his little princess, blah blah blah, right? So how much could you get, right now, if you had a mind to? Maxed out credit in his name, most expensive car you could borrow, family jewelry, whatever else that's easily portable? 'Cause you high-tailing it, and doing it with full pockets, then vanishing into the 'Sprawl? That'd be way easier. For you and everyone else involved. Runnin' away from home is one thing, Miss Kobayashi, and it's still scandal a-plenty to upset the old man and the wicked stepmother's glorious day. Getting kidnapped, that's a whole different can of worms."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:42

The girl's jawline tightened, this wasn't going as she had hoped and frankly it didn't appear like it was going to go any further. Rather that waste any more of the "team's" precious time she gave in with the slightest nod of defeat towards Billy as she rose to her feet, one hand scooping up the white noise generator and slipping it back into a pocket.

"Then it appears we're done here."

She slid out of the end of the booth and without so much as another word or glance back over her shoulder she walked over to the bar to gather Kiko away from Jiro and the two girls started to leave Heaven and the team behind them.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:57

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:14:12

Billy likes money, and this Tara was a key to lots of it. He considers calling out for just a second, but then remembers the first rule of walking away; if you start to walk away, and the other party doesn't let you, you're desperate. Billy won't show desperation to a 16 year old girl. Ever.

So instead he just shrugs, and jingles around the ice in the bottom of his empty cup, at Scarlet's remark. "I should've let my table full of whores beat her ass."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:49

Since he had gotten her a drink, Kiko hadn’t said a single word. She was either scared, or too shy for any conversation… which didn’t bother Jiro at all. He had came to the conclusion, a long time ago, that he had nothing in common with today’s youth. As far as he was concerned, the job was already on, which meant staying on his toes. He kept his scotch in hand, simply stirring it from time to time, but without bringing it to his lips. Even with age, his eyes were still sharp. Tired, but sharp nonetheless. His attention jumped from one patron to the other, looking for signs of any overwatch or eavesdroppers. When he was satisfied everything was going smoothly his gaze wondered back to the table his team occupied. Even from a few feet away, Jiro could easily tell that things weren’t going exactly as planned… by anyone. Julio was agitated about something, and looked even more pissed off than usual. Scarlet kept shooting side-glances to Billy, who talked to great length about something.

Probably haggling over the price…

Tara finally stood up, pocketed the whitenoise generator and started to walk toward the bar. Jiro eyes jumped from the young girl, back to table, back to her. Something wasn’t quite right. The meet had been way too short… and the way Scarlet was talking to Billy, something hadn’t gone as plan. Tara’s face also spoke to great length.

“Come on Kiko, we’re leaving.” she said in a quick and sharp tone, one that left no room for discussion.

Kiko stood from the bar stool she had been silently occupying… but she didn’t stand all the way up. Jiro’s firm hand went from it’s resting place on the bar to her shoulder.

“Sit down.” was the only whisper that came out of Jiro damaged vocal cords. Even if Kiko probably hadn’t understood what he said over the club’s music, his hand pressing slightly down and his dead serious face got the message across.

His brown eyes went into Tara’s, as he looked down on her. Jiro’s hand left Kiko’s shoulder to grab the upper part of Tara’s shoulder, just where he neck started.

Not saying a single word, he simply applied enough pressure to assure she understood he meant serious business. Guiding her at a steady and calm pace, he walked her back to the table.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:13:49

When Jiro's hand moves from her friend to her own upper arm and firmly holds on, Tara's eyes narrow into slits. She hisses out in Japanese as Jiro starts her back towards the table.

"If you know what's best, you'll let go of me right now. My discussion with your friends is over."

With that said she started to try to slow his pace and keep him from bringing her back to the booth like a naughty child for a repremand.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:14:06

Being threatened by a teenager almost brought a smile to Jiro’s lips. During his days spent in jail, he had come face to face with some of the worst kind of scumbags the earth had ever given birth to. He had come face to face with people who would kill you with a sharpened toothbrush if you looked at them sideways during lunch.

Lowering his mouth to the girl’s ear, he spoke back to her in Japanese.

“If you know what’s best, you will not disrespect these people. They aren’t as gentle as I am” he finished, punctuating the remark by pressing his thumb slightly under her shoulder blade.

When they finally reached the table, Jiro’s manners weren’t as gentle and polite as usual. With his hand still firmly grasping her shoulder, he literally shoved her back into her seat. The girl obviously disliked authority. The girl was obviously spoiled. The girl would obviously have to learn right here and now that this was serious. Her compliance would make or break the job itself… and time to make her bendable and workable was probably going to be short. Someone had to break her. Now.

Jiro continued in Japanese, his tone carrying a mix of angriness and annoyance.

“You sit and you don’t get up until this man” he pointed to Billy “says you can, am am crystal clear? If you want to leave, you ask. You ask politely and you excuse yourself. Show some respect and you will be shown equal amount.”

He released his grip and arranged the cuff of his suite.

“Now, conclude this in a manner that is proper.” he added, turning his back on the table and going back to the bar.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:14:06

Tara glared at Jiro, her eyes burning with a sudden hate that was likely felt by the immediate area. Yet she sat for at least a minute in silence, fuming, breathing heavily as if she was trying to control her internal rage. She then looked at Billy across the table, her upper lip twitching slightly as she sat there.

Across the room Kiko sat at the bar in the middle of a rather animated conversation with the bartender with the duo sending regular glances in the direction of the team and the booth.

"I believe our business was concluded, as properly as could be since your position seemed to come across very clear. Now, before I cause a scene and ruin your otherwise pleasant evening, I suggest you let myself and my friend walk away and forget this ever happened."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:15:11

Billy pretends not to see her for that minute, idly chatting with Scarlet about lame costumes on the dance floor, predictions of the weather for the next few days, a hah-hah belly laugh funny story from a previous 'run, and a good sixty second's worth of other made-up, shallow, bullshit. It's more mature of him than some might've expected, actually, ignoring the nubile sixteen year old's heavy breathing routine. Eventually, she grits her teeth and re-enters the conversation.

"Oh! Well, hello." Billy's smile is as pearly and dazzling as ever, seeming pleasantly surprised to have suddenly noticed that Tara had rejoined them. "Thank you for coming back and being willing to conclude the conversation in an appropriate manner. Jiro, thank you for seeing her safely back across the dance floor, free from ruffians and ill-mannered men."

He leans towards Tara just a little, half-conspirational, "A real gentleman, our Jiro, and don't let anyone tell you different."

Shen settles back, arms stretching out and resting atop the back cushions of the booth, and -- even money says -- crossing his ankles under the table. "Miss Johnson, I believe you misunderstood the nature of the conversation, moments previous to your sudden, and I feel compelled to point out, fairly rude departure."

"If we were turning down the job, we'd have knocked you out, called your father, and turned you and a recording of this conversation in to him for whatever reward he deemed appropriate to a humble group of Good Samaritans out to save him from scandal and emberassment -- there's always a way to turn a profit." Pleasant as Billy's tone is, open as his smile, friendly as his body language all are, it's not wholly impossible that this remains an option. "In truth, we might've even been offered a bodyguarding gig from him for a move like that. As it was, voicing misgivings and concerns as we were, we were merely wanting you to understand the enormity and seriousness of the task you're putting us to."

"You are not ordering an instant-gratification Shadowrunner team off some 'trix shopping hub. You're paying people to engage in combat on your behalf -- which you'll stand in the center of -- of either a lethal or non-lethal nature, determined largely by the response of whatever security we find around you at the time. You're paying those people to then swoop you up and make an escape with you, unharmed by both that initial ambush, your security response, and any pursuit that might ensue." His smile turns a little sharper. "And then the tricky part starts. The hiding you, the you following our every single command without pause or question or comment. The part where your father, with everything his money and the law can arm him with, comes looking for you in fear for your life, well being, sanity, and whatever might remain of your virtue."

The smile's gone, by then. "And, of course, then the exchange of funds itself."

"We mention these misgivings and concerns not because we doubt our ability to handle such a task, Miss Johnson. But -- speaking for myself, at least, and with my doubts not in the least smoothed over by your abrupt exit -- because we want to make sure, absolutely sure, that you understand what you're signing up for before we begin to break Federal laws on your behalf. We're not going to be nice to you. We're not going to make you comfortable. We're not going to let you know when we're making our move. You won't know where you're being held, or for how long, or when your father's made payment." For a few moments, Billy Shen looks nothing like a silver tongued womanizer, and everything like a Triad hitter who's done this sort of thing, maybe, once or twice before. Every ounce of the magic Billy possesses comes to life in his words, making each one hit home like a bullet, forcing this young girl to realize the enormity of her proposition before, not after, the process might begin. "You will be a kidnapping victim, Miss Johnson, for as long as we feel you need to be completely detained and controlled in such a fashion. You will not be some secret partner again, our Miss Johnson, until we feel totally safe the transaction with your father is finished. And then you will have to vanish, once we let you back into some proper clothing and out of whatever rock we hid you under. You'll walk away from all your friends, all your family, and all your father's affection and finances besides the fifty-fifty split of whatever ransom he coughs up on your behalf."

"Now, Miss Johnson." Billy leans back forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled. "Is our business concluded? Should we all forget this ever happened? Or does this still sound like a good idea to you, in which case we should be expecting a data file from you with your plans for the next few weeks?"

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:25

Tara sat there stone-faced as Billy chided her and tried to scare her. Inwardly she shivered at bit and yet she also laughed to herself silently as they thought they had the upper hand with her.

Without here there was no deal. If she walked away from the table a second time her security detail would increase ten-fold and a “leak” would happen of word of an intended kidnapping and all hell could break loose.

As she leaned slightly forward and was about to unleash her tongue and full teen-angst upon the cocky Chinese man across from her, firm hands rested protectively upon her shoulders silencing her instantly.

“We got a problem ‘ere chummers?”

The rich bass voice boomed from the large ebony troll bouncer behind her, and the cracking of knuckles let her know he wasn’t alone.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:14:06

As Jiro walked away, a second time, from the team’s table, he couldn’t help but notice Kiko exchanging a few words with the barman. It wasn’t something that would have usually bothered him… was it for the way they were both looking toward where he was coming from… and with somewhat of a worried pair of eyes. The night was definitely not going according to plan.

With a few more steps, the old Japanese man was across the room and back on his bar stool, his back turned to the barman. Taking up his glass again, he simply stared at the half melted ice cubes that were gently bobbing in and out of the alcohol.

He still had no idea if Kiko was pure blood, or if she understood Japanese. As he spoke to her in his slightly accented English, he simply looked in his glass.

“I apologize if I scared you before…” he said, his sentence sounding as if it wasn’t finished.

“Don’t worry about your friend. She’s in very good and gentle hands.” he finally added, not believing the lie himself. Jiro had never been a man good with words, or with people in general. His sole purpose, for almost his entire life, had been that of a soldier. His duty was to obey, carry out his assignments. His duty was to kill others before they killed his masters.

Kiko simply sat there, totally mute. Jiro couldn’t blame her… The night was probably turning in something she hadn’t quite expected. That and the fact she was probably terribly worried not only for her own well being, but her friend’s.

After a few more minutes spent in silence, Jiro opened his mouth. Half way through getting his first sentence out, a large silhouette caught his attention at the corner of his eye. Slowly, as if he was just gazing around the present crowd for famous faces, he turned his attention to the large troll that had just entered the room. Dressed in the club’s security uniform, he was not only looking toward the team’s table… he was walking purposefully toward it.

His eyes went to Kiko just long enough for him to send a good stare through her whole being.

Clever little girl.

A gentle smile went to his lips as he dug a last UCAS dollar bill from his pocket. Gently folding it, he placed it half under Kiko’s glass.

“It was nice to meet you Kiko. You be a nice girl now.”

Grabbing his own, still full, drink, Jiro strolled toward the main dance floor… where all the night’s socialites were still swarming amongst each others, exchanging rumors of the plexe. As he mingled amongst the people, using them as cover, he unclipped his Taiwanese knock-off second hand commlink.

[<jiro> Awake. Local Sec.]

Although not the most descriptive message, it would be enough to rouse the rest of team’s attention.

Depending on how the next few seconds would play out, the day could take a whole new turn. From his spot, Jiro was almost at equal distance from the table (and so, striking distance) and Heaven’s exit. If he made it down to the main floor, he could easily lose himself in the crowd. But then again… bailing on his team wasn’t something he felt like doing.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:32

"No. I don't think we have a problem." Billy shakes his head, his expression neutral and his usual smile still conspicuously absent. If he's scared of the security, it's certainly not showing. There's tension in the air, though, and his tone is softer and more serious than most people have come to expect from him. His eyes stay on Tara, not the troll, as he answers. "Do we?"

Then his grin grows from out of nowhere, and he looks up at the bouncer, suddenly relaxed again, leaning back and sprawling out. "Oh, wait! Yeah. I could use a little more brandy, and a waitress hasn't been by in forever."

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:32

The verbal interplay had become boring. Billy didn't actually feel the emotional content of his words, his aura suggested seriousness, interest, and casual passions. The girl's aura was a maelstrom of emotions, if he'd had time to pick at he would've but the large troll approached, and with a sigh Apex returned his sight to mundane reality.

The security agent and Billy exchanged words, Billy being flip as usual, and Apex considered simply seizing control over the girl's mind and forcing the responses he wanted from her until he remembered the astral security present.

A bar fight certainly didn't interest him, if forced to leave he would, but just in case he prepared himself to begin manipulating mana.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:33

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:35

The young girl's eyes moved across the faces of each of the runners still seated at the table and gauged their emotions and remembered their features. Tilting her head slightly to look up at the bouncer leaning over behind her she gave a slight shake of her head. She had made a large mistake, a huge one even. She picked the wrong team and their attitudes, cockiness and greediness above all disappointed her.

"No, no problems at all. As I was just leaving."

She slowly rose to her feet as the bouncer removed his hands from her shoulders. She smiled gratetfully at him before she walked with him and his co-worker back towards their positions at the doors. Along the way Kiko joins her from the bar area and the girls make their way towards the doors to the lower part of the club.

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:35

Billy's commlink blinks itself into his hand with a flick of his wrist, like an old-school stage magician (before real magicians made that sort of parlor trick obsolete). He sets it on the table, spinning it in little circles with an idle twirling finger. To call, or not to call. He sighs, suddenly, fingertip flicking his commlink as he straightens up. "Dammit. No one ever did get me another brandy. Some customer service."

He leaves his potentially-spoiled-little-bitch-plot-ruining electronic device on the table for him to glare at as he, again, flings himself backwards to stretch and sprawl out and try to decide what to do.

"So." He still looks accusingly at the commlink, but he's probably talking to the other 'runners, not it. "Thoughts?"

Friday, September 05, 2070 22:17:37

“After this little scene, the risk has gone too high, anyways. People might remember her and us meeting here. Let her go.” Scarlet just shrugs. From her perspective, the job was gone and hopefully something else would come up in the near future.

“Night's still young. Enjoy yourselves,” the elf then says with a wink and goes back to where she was before Billy had called her over to this rather pointless meeting as it had turned out, which wasn't Billy's fault, of course. It surely had some promise for a while.

Monday, September 08, 2070 12:35:42

You’ve had a few days of downtime, time to process what happened at Bliss on Friday night and you still couldn’t piece together how it all got so fucked up. You’ve had time to sleep. You’ve had time to eat. You’ve even had time to get laid if that was your prerogative. You’ve had time to drink. You’ve had time to get high. You even got to sleep in this morning, to make up for the late night you had the night before. The only thing you haven’t done yet this morning is turn on the TriD.

When you get around to doing so all the channels are covering a breaking news story out of Seattle. ABS, NBS, KSAF, LSC, and NN are all covering what appears to be a high-profile kidnapping at the University of Seattle campus. Live feeds are coming in showing smashed up cars, bullet holes, broken glass and blood on the sidewalks. Cameramen pull tight shots of the casualties bleeding and being bandaged up by rescue personnel on the scene.

You turn up the volume on the story and a sickening sensation ripples through your stomach as the pretty blonde talking head moves her lips and reads her copy with the perfect amount of news anchor-seriousness and feigned concern.

“Details are sketchy at this immediate time, however we have heard from unconfirmed sources that the target of this kidnapping was a daughter of a high-ranking executive of a corporation here in Seattle. We are working hard to get the details and as soon as they come in we will bring them to you live. Again we are showing you a live feed from the University of Seattle where just about 45 minutes ago there was a kidnapping involving gunfire and there are wounded at the scene. Stay with us here for the latest breaking news….”

Monday, September 08, 2070 12:35:44

Looks like the girl got her kidnapping after all... Scarlet thinks, as she watches the news.

While she would have prefered to be one of those making these news instead of being here just watching them, she wasn't really angry about that. It was a lot of heat these guys had coming for them now. High risk, high pay. Isn't that what they always say? But sometimes it's just not worth it... Scarlet had already learned that lesson the hard way. Not many could say that, not many that still lived, at least. And in the end, the payment often isn't really as good, as you had thought, when put into perspective.

Just out of curiosity, she sends a message to her team members.

< [Scarlet] Hey, what are you thinking? >

Monday, September 08, 2070 12:35:44

It had been a rather quiet day at the shop. Clients were few and sparse, and orders rather simple and to the point. One bouquet for a sick grand mother, a few roses for the new girl friend, a green plant to put some life in the house. Simple. Jiro had used most of the time to water and trim the rows of bonsai that grew in the two main windows, while Kenji transplanted various plants and flowers.

Once they had both accomplished their daily routines, they had begun their still daily game of Shogi. It wasn’t until some client mentioned the kidnapping that Jiro became aware of it. Kenji took the initiative of turning on the small trid unit that sat under the counter, quickly filling the small shop with the news anchor’s voice.

Arms crossed, brow lightly furrowed, the old Japanese man watch the report. It was more a look of annoyance than concern. With a sigh, Jiro went back to work, arranging some flowers.

Seconds later, his commlink was buzzing to life, a small message from Scarlet scrolling on the surface of it’s screen. Clumsily, he typed something back.

< [Scarlet] Hey, what are you thinking? >

< [Jiro] Clumsy. Amateurish. Gratuitous >

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:29:52

As the day wore on "updates" on the University Kidnapping were splashed across the news. Usually they just contained glorified closeups of the blood and carnage, the injured and broken glass, all of it wrapped up with sexy graphics and atrractive talking heads.

Later in the afternoon however they were running new footage. Earlier it had been confirmed that it was indeed Tara Kobayashi who was kidnapped, only now there was footage of camera crews ambushing her father. A serious and no-nonsense Japanese business man, flanked by his bodyguards, assistants and other entourage, walked briskly past the cameras, stone-faced and silent as questions and even accusations were being hurled at him.

What is most concerning to each of you however, when you manage to catch the news update feeds, is that KSAF has gotten "exclusive rights" to air video containing "Persons of Interest" as determined by Lone Star. The news feed cuts to video footage from the other night at Bliss. Tara is clearly highlighted in the film and then there is footage of Jiro walking her back to the table where the team of runners sat. Of course they cut out the portion where the bouncers arrived and the girl walked away alive and unharmed. The damage was done however.

All 5 of you were now being broadcast on the local news in some shape or form, and since the networks were salivating to capatilize on breaking the story first, they were pulling out all the stops to paint the 5 of you as guilty as possible without proof or defense.

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:37:10

Great, just great... Scarlet thinks. Then she begins figuring out, where the camera was, that has shot the pictures on the trid. Was it one of the cameras in the Bliss? Or did someone 'carry' it? Either way, getting full surveillance videos from the Bliss might be a good idea, but Scarlet waits to see what her team-mates got to say, before going after that.

Next, Scarlet makes a search for Mr Kobayashi's com number. If possible, one, that reaches him directly. She will also figure out, how to reach Kiko.

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:37:19

Billy hums to himself as he strolls towards his kitchen, towel around his waist and hair halfheartedly slicked back and still shower-damp. "Kitchen: lights, low."

"Doo, doo-doop, doop-doo..." He rummages in a cubbard and pulls out a styrofoam cup, gives the little tab on the bottom a yank. Chemicals do their near-magical work, and by the time he's tossed the string away and reached to peel the lid back, the contents have been flash-boiled and steam pours out the top.

Chopsticks are retreived from the drawer next to the sink, and soon he's be-bopping his way over to his couch and plopping down onto it with none of the grace for which he's renowned.

"Tridset: on. Channel random. Scan, three seconds." He stretches out, and notes the blinking light on his commlink. He eyes his soup, decides letting it cool a few seconds would do his tongue some good, and barely gives the tridscreen a glance as he reaches or his comm.

< [Scarlet] Hey, what are you thinking? >

< [Jiro] Clumsy. Amateurish. Gratuitous >

Billy's brow furrows. He thumbs the scrollbar, calling up previous messages since those two, alone, just don't make any sense. All he finds in his previous texts was someone promising him a Troll-sized penis, someone else swearing that his long-lost rich uncle died back in the Arcology takeover a million years ago and they wanted to help Billy inherit, and a very private message from a redhead he'd met back at the club, on What's-His-Name's booze tab.

He slurps up a mouthfull of noodles, then his fingertips dance over his keypad. When in doubt, say something that'll spark a conversation.

<[bs] hey, uhh. no matter how bad the netsex session is going, j, you're not supposed to tell her things like that. >

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:38:09

Apex flipped through the virtual pages of an article by Professor Edwin Calloway of Boston College's Occult Studies program dealing with the complex formula invovled in summoning of familiar spirits, trying hard to understand the necessary steps without complete information when he noted the small figure of a two centimeter tall elf clad in greens and browns waving a hand for attention in the corner of his visual display.

That icon represented his Agent program Puck, one of the best investment's Apex had ever made since he was practically brain dead when it came to computers and stuff. The agent, armed with some programs he'd purchased and had modified, handled most of the research leg work for the young mage. It also was responsible for diluting his data trail at regular intervals. A virtual touch brought the icon front an center.

"Yes Puck?"

"As per your instructions I am notifying you that your commcode is being pinged by an authorized source. Further, a standard scan of the recent news article revealing an image with an 89% correlation ratio to your own features."

Holy drek! Apex thought, immediately closing the connection to the on line journal and calling up the noted news programs. It took only a few seconds to catch the basic thrust of the article and suddenly he was back in Boston again, feeling the omni-present pressure of being hunted by people he didn't know with more resources then he could possibly hope to match. He shunted Puck to his ancillary icon in the corner of his vision and gave him new instructions.

"Until further notice your primary responsibility will be to spoof the data trail being broadcast by my commlink, at least every 3 minutes. Secondary priority is to analyze any incoming signals for trace programs or attempts to access online data files. Execute."

The immediate being taken care of Apex stood and pulled his 'work bag' out of his closet and began stuffing with enough gear to last for a few days on the run. The news might have images of him on the trid but he didn't exist in the system this time, which meant anyone hunting him would have to work a lot harder. He called up the comm-channel the team used and noted the chatter.

<-[Apex]- Uhhh, guys, does anyone realize that we're now going to be the target of a significant bounty and most likely a whole heck of a lot of high level attention? The club probably has our data trails, and I know they had magically activer personnel on site who assensed our auras, which means we may be vulnerable. You all seem to be taking this pretty calmly, all things considered. Maybe we should start looking into this in order to get ahead of the game. I'm considering a low level of panic as a starting point.

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:38:31

< [Scarlet] Yeah, right. Calm. How the heck do you come to that conclusion!? I'm trying to figure out if it was an installed or a mobile camera, that took the pictures, and how the information got there... could be as simple as the star following the trail of Miss K., or it could have been Kiko, or even Erik, though I doubt this. It could have been a setup by Miss K., or even some random person could have spied on our little meeting and figured that we would make for some great scapegoats, and kidnap her without her approval. Yeah, ok, guess that's a bit too much paranoia right there. I doubt, that Miss K. has hired another team and leaked this, because that would make no sense, and she seemed smart enough to figure that out herself. Kiko seems likely. That's why I'm also trying to figure out her number, or how we could get in touch with her. Also, Mr K.'s number, since it would be best to talk to him directly about this incident, I guess. We could offer them our help in some fashion and that should take care of the heat from the star at once. Of course, he has to believe us, therefore getting the complete video from the camera would be rather useful. Of course, that's the one thing, that stands against Kiko being the source, or the star having found the video without some help, they cut out some portions, that would leave a doubt. Could have been the trid guys, though. It certainly has a higher impact that way. >

Monday, September 08, 2070 16:39:44

From behind the counter, Kenji gave Jiro a concerned look. He knew very well of his employee's past life... and current lifestyle. But he also knew Jiro could have simply not done it. The kidnapping had taken place earlier today, at about the time they were starting their game of Shogi. Nevertheless, the elderly man felt worried.

"Do not worry sir, not harm will come to your establishment."

"You'll always be a fool Jiro." said the elderly florist with a small smile. "It's about you I'm worried. What are you going to do?"

Putting to a rest the broom he had been holding Jiro looked out the large shop's window, simply gazing out at the masses of people still flowing around on the streets. His eyes seemed tired. His shoulders slumped down as if he was carrying a terrible burden.

"I don't know."

Grabbing his jacket off a hook near the door, the old yakuza gave Kenji a respectful bow and simply walked out. Jiro knew he had to get on the move, now, even if he had "done nothing wrong". It was probable the Star already had his SIN, and knew where he was working. But that didn't worry Jiro. They had nothing on him. They couldn't charge him with anything even if they got their hands on him.

Looking over at his commlink, he could already feel a slight wind of panic sweep through.

<[Jiro] I'm off to the international district. I'll start looking Kiko. Scarlet; keep me informed on how your search goes. >

Kiko, and the Kobayashies , were of japanese blood. No matter how long ago they had arrived in Seattle, they were bound to have some ties to the local japanese community. Jiro had very few friends left in the international district, but hopefully, those that were still around might know a thing.