Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:24 PST; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall
Rex, Jake, Greer (Grayson) Tigger & Whisper

Smokey Joe picks back up the chip he laid on the table several minutes ago. He touches it to his com then sets it back on the table, "I added Spencers address and the door key to the that chip. I last talked to him at 17:45 today."

Saturday March 1, 2070; 20:17 PST; Mall Office, Crime Mall
DJ
The dwarf takes another moment to look you over trying to decide if your for real. He finally points to the middle door in the back, "Then I'm a guessin' that's the room for you.." He calls out "Good Luck" over his shoulder as he heads down the bar to serve another patron... and it almost sounded sincere...

Saturday March 1, 2070 20:16:01 - Crime Mall Office

"Hot dam, how bout a whiskey sour for me then."

The young mage showed his fellow runners his grin and decided he'd better introduce himself.

"Hoi chummers, I'm called Cynic. I'm the mojo-man on tap for whatever biz is going down now."

He held out a hand to the Ork and the Hottie.

"So what should I call you guys?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:19; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"It sure as hell ain't 'chica'," Aeryn says smirking. "I'm Aeryn."

The elf then turns to the waitress. "A soda and a vodka coke."

Saturday March 1, 2070; 20:17 PST; Mall Office Rm#2, Crime Mall
Buzz, Aeryn & Cynic

The ork smirks at Aeryn's reply then shakes Cynic's hand, strongly but short of crushing, "Buzz is the name.... looks like I'm the muscle." he then turns to the waitress, "Brew.. something expensive."

She then turns to leave...

DJ
DJ is just entering the room as the waitress is leaving. She stops, obviously flustered, "You... uh.... Anything to drink?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Greer Wayne Jaspers)

"Thanks, Joe. We'll find him. If you think of anything else, let us know?" The words are incongruously sensitive from Greer's stubbly, bleak face. But there's a definite sincerity in his face. Sincerity. Once you can fake that, you're golden. Grayson's agent is working the commlink over. "When do you need this room?" He nods, "We'll be out by then."

Once Joe leaves, he looks at the quiet girl, "Magcian, eh?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:24 PST; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall
Rex, Jake, Greer (Grayson) Tigger & Whisper

Smokey Joe nods to the Greer and says, "The room is yours for as long as you need it." With that he exits the room. Leaving the five team members to themselves.

March 1st 2070 20:17

DJ smiles at the question "Sex on the beach....no, how about a screaming orgasm.....perhaps a wall banger, better I stick to beer for now I quess." DJ is quite satified with himself as he struts into the room.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:21; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

As the ganger struts into the room, Aeryn does her best to keep her manners professional. First impressions were a precarious matter, and sometimes misleading. Hopefully, this was one such time...

"Hi! As I just said, I'm Aeryn. I'm the driver."

I'm gonna have to charge extra for this run...

March 1st 2070 20:21

"Then I quess I'm along for the ride." DJ replies back with a slight grin and then peers around the room to the others.

March 1, 2070 20:21:00 Crime Mall Office/Bar

Dam, I shoulda thought of that one!

The former whizkid nods to the newcomer.

"Hoi, Aeryn, Buzz, and Cynic. What's tox chummer?"

He looks around at the group, refusing to flex his sore right hand, and then bobs a nod towards the door.

"So before our Johnson gets here, you guys up to setting up a private network so we can communicate, at least via text message, without our Johnson knowing? We probably ought to let one person do most of the talking but everyone should have input."

When he spoke his street tough manner faded and the intelligence that allowed him to survive as an undersized street urchin in the Barrens gleamed in his eyes.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = active [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

Maybe not all hope is lost here...

"Sure."

March 1, 2070 20:22:08 Mall Office
PAN: Passive SIN: Don Joe

Cynic told his commlink to send out a query to the other commlinks in the room and gave the other's his commcode. It took only a few seconds to puzzle out a private network. Then he looked up at the others.

"So who should be doing the talking here? I'm not volunteering mind you, some people say I often give a bad first impression. I have no idea why."

March 1st 2070 20:22:45

DJ smiles as he takes a seat."I'll do it....I'm told I have a way with people." Looking around DJ continues "The street names Death Jester or DJ for short."

March 1st 2070 20:23
Buzz; PAN = passive; SIN = hidden (Alexander Simmons Black-Dog)

“Uh, sure. Networking's okay.” With the commlink he was packing, “try to” was definitely the right choice of words. Still, he switched it on and started checking for PANs to hook up with. Taking a chance, he connected.

<This the right net?>

Definitely a weird bunch of people to smack together, this. He liked the chick, but wasn't sure about the two guys. Typical surfacers all of them, though. Still, a team was a team, and a job was a job. As long as they didn't have to go too far.

“Hmm. Are you guys in gangs or something like that?”

March 1st 2070 20:23


DJ begins to laugh almost uncontrolable at the question. Aw great I get teamed up with Captain obvious AKA Timmy the Trog, and a princess.....chum I hope this aint a reality show.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:25 PST; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall

"Any ideas where to start?" Jakes says, wiping his face with wet handkerchief.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Greer Wayne Jaspers)

"Time is an issue. We should check out his doss first thing after leaving here. But first I want to get inside this commlink." He stands up and walks around the table to get a better look at the ganger clothes.

"So... Joe is human and Spencer is an elf - his half-brother." Greer shifts uncomfortably. "And these Mall Monsters are, uh, orks." He looks up at Tigger, who'd volunteered that information in the first place, "Are they all orks?"

Grayson studies the clothes closely, so that he can spot the gang next time he runs into them.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office Rm#1, Crime Mall
Tigger; PAN = Passive [LTG, NanoTrodes] SIN = David Belle

Tigger mods his head in agreement with Greer, "Yeah, they are all orks, as far as I know. They run 'security' for the underground entrances to the Mall and the surrounding tunnels."

Tigger sat back and started thinkign about the connections the disguise could mean. Maybe Spencer needed to get into the Underground and the Monsters weren't on good terms with him, but that didn'r sound likely. From what Joe had said, Spencer wasn't really on the bad side of any of the local crews...then maybe he wanted to get someone else either into or out of the Underground, with the latter probably being the more likely. Probably someone stuck in the Monsters turf, because if they weren't it would be easy enough to get them out through any of the other may entrances and exits to the Underground across Seattle....

Saturday March 1, 2070; 20:26 PST; Mall Office Rm#2, Crime Mall
Buzz, Aeryn, Cynic & DJ

After several minutes of exchanging com codes and getting to know each other, the waitress returns with your drinks plus one. She is followed by a dwarf with a well groomed full beard, an armor jacket, a matched pair of underarm holsters each holding nickel plated Ares Predators, black glossed combat boots and a thick black skirt.

She circles the table and takes a seat, takes a long draw from the beer the waitress sets down in from of her before leaving. Ms Johnson takes a moment to look the four members of the team over before she speaks, "Hoi Chummers.

Let's not dwaddle, I prefer to get straight to business and cut through the false pleasantries. I have a box I need delivered to my agent in the northern Tir. The box is half a meter square and two meters long, sealed and weighing in around 45 kilos. You will need to pick the box up in Redmond at 05:00 tomorrow. The agent will be at a location in Tir at 22:00 tomorrow night and wait 20 minutes. I offer eight thousand for expenses and fifteen hundred a piece upon delivery. What say you?"

She looks around the room at the four assembled here in.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:26; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Well, my car doesn't have enough cargo space for that big a box and three passengers. We'll need to get one, but I guess that's what the expenses are for. Question is... what part is for the Tir? That's a considerably higher risk border-hopping into the Tir than driving around Seattle."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall

Rex isn't sure what he should be saying right now. He didn't really have much input to give and he'd rather let someone else decide what to do. Planning and forethought had never been Rex's strong points. He relies on his instinct and gut response more than on reflexion and deduction.

This Greer guy seemed like a serious and capable guy, Rex would happily let him lead him for now.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:26; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Buzz, Aeryn, Cynic & DJ

Ms Johnson looks to Aeryn and replies, "The delivery is in a wooded location about 5 miles in. GPS coordinates will be provided. I would advise hiking in as opposed to a vehicle... But its your call."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:26; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

"Yep, for the border crossing that makes sense. We still need a suitable car to get close, though. But that won't be a problem."

Saturday March 1, 2070 20:26 Mall Office

Woods?!? Hike?!? Oh drek!

Cynic let none of his apprehension show on his face, sitting calmly and taking tiny sips from his drink. He didn't want his thinking clouded by alcohol and he rarely drank so even one would affect him. Using his left hand and minimal motions he shot Aeryn a text message.

Aeryn:
Cynic:

The box is six feet six inches long and weighs a hundred pounds, toting that thing is going to be a problem.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall
Aeryn; PAN = hidden [Skinlink, Datajack]; SIN = Selina Seymore (not broadcast)

< [Aeryn] Well, yes, metric or imperial, that thing will be tough to carry, especially when we need to keep a low profile as well. >

[[ Ms Johnson's party has move to Her Topic ]]

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Back Room), Crime Mall

"Before we go galavanting I think what we need to do first is learn just what our team is comprised of. ie introducing ourselves and our specializations. After that, I have an idea to throw into the pot but I'm sure our brainstorming would be best started after knowing what we have to work with." Whisper says. She then waits to see what the others have to say; not wanting to go first and have no one be listening.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall

Slowly floating through the air, their microscopic tentacles extending and retracting, remniscent of the man in the dark seeking for something. A gap in the suit, an exposed part of the skin in which to burrow and dig, tear and infect. He could see them. He could feel them.
The white nose generator won't make THEM go away.
Microbs and bacterias.
This place was so dirty, so...exposed.
Why all the needles talk and introductions.
Couldn't they move to the clean interior of his van and discuss things there. It was as safe as in here.
And cleaner at that.
"I think we can discuss that in my van. It is safe." Jake said, instinctively going for wet tissues to clean the sweat that was collecting on his brow.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:22; Mall Office, Crime Mall

Rex can't help but ask, "Sure chummer, but what the heck is wrong with you? Are you allergic to something?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall

"This place. Its dirty. Bacteria crawl through it. See.." Jake points in the air and then towards the troll "Can't you feel them digging into your skin?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall

"Woah chum, you're messed up. This place is as clean as can be and I don't see no bacteria. I don't know what you're talking about, but my skin is darn hard - dunno about yours - and I don't see or feel anything digging through it, no. You sound more insane than anything right now."

Rex isn't trying to provoke a confrontation, but this man was just weird.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall

"They are everywhere I tell ya!" Jake says and then rises up rushing off with haste "I need to get to my van."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall

"What's that guy going to be good for in a fight? He flees from imaginary enemies, I don't wanna think about what he'll do when he sees real ones."

Rex shakes his head with his hand on his forehead in disbelief.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall

What the fuck.. I thought I had issues.

Whisper looks at everyone else with a slightly stunned expression. Was that supposed to happen? I think not. "Uhh.. Well, we don't know for sure that there isn't something here. I mean, are we sure it's an imaginary enemy? Perhaps we should follow him before we lose him completely..?" She suggests and kind of slowly walks to the door to see if people are following or what their course of action is.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall

I don't want to be creating a big fuss, but man that little bugger is a real nut case.

"You really think that wuss is good for something? You might be right, maybe he's some kind of freak techno boy. They can be really messed up sometimes. I'll need proof of his sanity before I trust him though."

Rex gets up and slowly, disapprovingly, walks towards the door.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Greer Wayne Jaspers)

Grayson addresses the nervous rigger, "Go get the van ready. I'll make sure to record everything to catch you up later."
<[GWJaspers]: When I make introductions, what do you want these guys to call you?>

He squints at the others, "He's a drone rigger. And good at what he does. He wouldn't be here otherwise. And he's not wrong - right now there are 31 toxic, deadly chemicals in your blood stream, an average of 17 viruses, and depending on your diet - anywhere between 2 and 3 dozen bacterial colonies - and I don't mean the healthy kind. The 5 second rule... it's garbage. As soon as you come into contact with microbes they've glommed onto you waiting to be transferred into a suitable environment for reproduction, like your eyes, nose and mouth."

"So before you go calling him crazy, consider the last time you washed your hands and how many microbes they've picked up since then. Not to mention your clothes and hair."

Greer smiles and holds out his hand to shake with Rex and the kids, "Name's Greer, I'm an out-of-work industrial and residential painter."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall

Rex listens carefully to the explanations about bacteria, but he doesn't completely get it. His brain has trouble analyzing all of that, and he's never heard of microbes before. The sprawl where he's from doesn't usually speak like a professor giving a lecture.

"Well.. huh.. I.. I didn't know. It seems silly to worry about it so much though.."

Damn it! You sound like a fool again!

When Greer introces himself, Rex puts his confident composure back up. He shakes the man's hand and answers, "and I'm Rex, bodyguard and ex-bouncer. Nice to meet you chummer."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall
Jake

As you exit the back room and step into the dimly lit bar, you com comes alive again as it reconnects to the local telecommunications grid (LTG) and as your personal area network (PAN) connects to your subscribed devices: your drones and vehicle. All is safe and well, except for the ganger it detected urinating on the tires of the car parked next to your van three minutes ago.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall

Whisper watches intently as Grayson gives them the detailed account on bacteria. Finding the whole thing ironic and amusing she smirks as him and Rex shake hands.

Not wanting to be left out, she introduces herself. "I'm Whisper; one of the magic hands on this run."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:29; en route to parking, Crime Mall
Oh my god, I hope it is not to late! The contamination! Jake immediately jumps into the van and strats the engine up, moving the vehicle away from the car.
I hope I am not too late..

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall
Greer (Grayson), Whisper, Rex and Tigger
Tigger simply smirks a little at the exchange over germs, watching but remaining silent.

Greer (Grayson)
The com code laid open you inspect the files loaded therein. You find the com to be mostly configured to all the factory defaults. The things that are not factory defaults are the following: (1) SIN for Jack Thompson, an ork is loaded. He is a resident of the Puyallup district and listed as homeless. (2) An ARO with a digital certificate issued by the Mall Monsters. (3) LTG for Tigger. Description lists him as delivery agent and coyote through the underground.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Greer Wayne Jaspers)

Grayson grins without irony at Rex's straightforward acceptance of Greer's outstretched hand. But he did note the flicker of amusement on the girl 'Whisper's' face. Kid's a sharp one. Good.

The Agent chimes it's successful penetration of the comms meager defenses. "Paydata." Grayson peruses the intel and shares it with the team. "Tigger... you know anyone with that name - Jack Thompson? Maybe one of the Mall Monsters?"

It's a stab in the dark, but maybe it'd lead somewhere.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:33; Parking, Crime Mall


Clearing the van out of 'contaminated' area Jake cleans himself up and gets in waiting for the arrival of others.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:27; Mall Office, Crime Mall
Greer (Grayson), Whisper, Rex and Tigger

Tigger looks over the shared data, then stands up, "I don't have the foggiest idea but I'm gonna get to the bottom of it. This is kinda weird, not like Smash to put me in the middle of something like this. I'll go to the underground and try to scare up what ever connections he has to the Monsters and talk to Smash about this com link. I'll be in touch." and out the door he goes... leaving three in the room.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:38; Mall Office, Crime Mall
Jake

You vehicle now moved to the edge of the parking area you begin the work of checking the bacteria levels within, the air in this area of the Puyallups far thicker than the northern neighborhoods.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:38; Parking

Jake shivers at the info and his thoughs immediatelly drift towards skin scrubbers he left at home. He quickly enters the van after he cleans himself up, pleasant relief washing over him in the sterile insides of the vehicle.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:28; Mall Office, Crime Mall

Whisper watches as Tigger leaves the room. Her eyes stray back to the other two who are left. "Alright then.. This team project thing.. wow, awesome idea." She states flatly.

After a minute or so of silence she decides to try and move things along. "Do either of you have any ideas or anything in particular you want to do? Are either of magical? Stopping by the guy's house and using any DNA samples -or something to that effect- sounds like as good a place as any to start in my opinion."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:29; Mall Office, Crime Mall

Yeah, that would be a good place to start. With luck there might be some kind of clue left behind, even though I doubt it. Anyway, can you do that, find someone magically through a DNA sample, Whisper? If not it would be nice to find someone else who can.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:29; Mall Office, Crime Mall

"Yes, I'm qualified to do that. I just thought to ask to ensure no one's feelings got hurt if I did it. Didn't want to steal anyone's glory and honor. She adds with some jest in her voice.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:29; Mall Office, Crime Mall

Rex answers with no enthusiasm. Glory? .. Honour? .. I've seen quite a few people live strictly for those ideals. He pauses and looks to her. They always end up dead.

So I guess we should get going. Should we take Mr. "Bak-tee-ria"'s van?

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:30; Mall Office (Room#1), Crime Mall
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Greer Wayne Jaspers)

"I don't how honorable or glorious digging hair out of a shower drain is, but if that's what gets yours socks rolling up and down, hey..." He shrugs. The shrug says 'who-am-I-to-judge.' His face says 'weirdo.' His eyes glint briefly, mischievous. Or lascivious. Take your pick.

"If no one objects, I'm gonna stay here and see if I can scare up any more info about our coyote friend. I'll be in contact on the quarter hour, starting..." He glances in the display projected onto his glasses, "...now."