Ummm...the answer's yes? Yes.. the answer's yes. What's up?

PC to GM

Sinn

PC to GM

Good answer. I'll wait while you secure this line.

Sinn

Lucky
Right, sorry .... ok... go ahead. So ... what's up? hehe..

I need you to crack into a company database and find out who is scheduled for a particular job. This should be a walk in the park for you... well, if you ever walked in a park, that is. Maybe I should say it'll be a piece of cake.
The company is a small time extermination outfit called "A&E Extermination". They're local and A rated. Nothing to tough. I need you to call in on a disposable line and schedule an extermination. Make up an address, something like that. While they pull up their schedule, I need you to break into their system and take a look "over their shoulder". I want to know who's set to do the extermination for a place called 'Taste of Osaka'. The extermination is scheduled for Monday morning sometime. So, when you call in.. schedule your extermination for the same time. It'll make hacking the file a lot easier. You follow me?

Sinn

Lucky
Well if you can tell me what you want me t odo, ,I might be able to find an easier way. I mean you trying to track down a van, or see how they work, or get their doors open or what? If you just want a lsit of who's doing what, I can do that without calling them

Lucky raises an eyebrow.
Really? Good thing I called you then. What I need is the name of the exterminator handling the "Taste of Osaka" account. That's it. Keep it clean and keep it quiet. Lucky pauses, as if something just occured to her.I want a backdoor installed into their system. Something that's relatively long-term, say six months. Think you can do that?

Lucky Yeah, I can do that. Both actually. Shouldn't be hard, corp like this. Shouldn't take me more tahn a few hours to do it carefully. Be on the safe side, we'll say 7 hours tops. Hows' that sounds?

Sinn

It sounds good.Lucky let a seldom seen smile cross her face. Good job. I'll talk to you in a few hours.
Lucky hung up the phone.
Checking the clock, Lucky noticed that she still had a good hour an a half before the meet with Scotch. Looking over to Bennett who was still nursing the whiskey bottle.
Hey. You hungry?

Lucky
I could eat. I know a place that serves great french food.

Show me.Lucky smiles and heads for the door.

Lucky
Bennet gets in to his car, a descreetly armored Ford americar. The wheel wells are higher than they should be, a new hood to give some space. It's obviosuly modified. The door opens automatically for Lucky. Once she's in, the car takes off, accelerating quickly.

So where are we starting for this job?

The first thing I need to do is find out what the Black Throats have been up to. Where they've been seen and what the word on them is. I have a contact that I can talk to about the Throat but, she's ... touchy.
Sinn was supposed to be my "in" as far as the voodoo goes, but he's bailed on me for today. Not sure what he's up to. He could be trying to recoup after last night's shoot-out, or calling in his markers. I'm not sure. With Sinn, that does make me nervous. Anyway, to answer your question, I need to make a call.
The thought of making that call sent shivers down Lucky's spine. Bourbon. The Voodoo Queen herself. It was like going to Hell and asking for Satan. But, Bourbon knew N'awlins voodoo and she knew smuggling. She'd know where to look for the Black Throats and probably a thing or two about their recent jobs. The trick was asking the right way and bringing the right gift. Two things Lucky wasn't so good at.

Sinn

Taking a deep breath, Lucky pulled out her commlink and placed the call. The phone rang twice and was answered by a handsome, young black man. Lucky knew this was Julian (Why was it that so many men in New Orleans were named Julian?) Bourbon's bartender and right hand man aboard her riverboat casino, The Voodoo Queen.
Voodoo Queen. What can I do for ya?Julian drawled.
I need to speak with Mama Bourbon.Lucky replied, keeping her voice steady and calm. There was no way she was going to appear weak to one of Mancuso's men.
She know you, cher?
Yes. This is Lucky Santangelo.
One moment, cher. I'll check.
Lucky stared through the windshield, waiting. Soon enough, the line clicked again and Bourbon was staring back at her. Like always, she had a strange little amused smile on her face. The few times Lucky had met Bourbon she had looked like that. Like there was something going on and she was the only one who knew what it was. Lucky hated that look.
Well, heya cher. Where ya at?Bourbon took a long drag off a long stemmed cigarette holder, exhaling smoke. Lucky could have sworn that for just a moment it created a skull over her face. The effect was unnerving. Probably exactly what Bourbon wanted.
I need to see you Bourbon. I've got questions and right now, you're the only one with the answers.Lucky decided to play it direct.
Appealing to my vanity, sugar? It's working.Bourbon smiled.It tickles me that YOU'VE come looking for little ole ME. So, I'll tell you what. You bring yourself on over here. Bring me a little something to drink and we'll talk. Say, around two o'clock?Without waiting for a response, Bourbon continued.Good. See ya then, sugar.
The line went dead. Lucky snapped the phone shut and sighed. Turning to regard Bennett, Lucky asked, This resteraunt you're taking me to. They serve alcohol with breakfast?

Lucky
I did say it was a french restaurant didn't I?

Right. So, we have a meet with my voodoo smuggler contact at 2. She should be able to point us in the right direction. But, before that we need to pick up some rum. At Bennett's questioning look, Lucky merely shook her head. Don't ask.

Lucky
I won't
20 minutes later, they arrive at Bennet's restaurant, Le perfectionner l'expérience, a small butvery stylish french restaurant. it's oen air, with vents blowing cool area across the tiled patio. The entire area is done with vines and tanned tiling, with dark blue highlights. As promised, wine is served with lunch.

Sinn

Escorted across the patio, Lucky takes a moment to admire Bennett's taste. After they're seated, Lucky turns to Bennett. You have good taste. Do you come here often?Realizing that this sounded like the lamest pick-up line on the planet, Lucky colors slightly but doesn't correct herself.

Lucky
When I can. I like to find things that are done well and with taste. This is one of my favorites. The wines are all imported, much better than you can get here in the States. Legally at least. You'll see.

I look forward to it.Lucky sipped her water. Normally, this would be where I would ask him about himself, but it doesn't seem right. Like, we're supposed to be a mystery to each other. Either way, he's one of Mancuso's men. I can't trust him. Remember that.
Using the excuse of sitting out on the patio, Lucky slipped her sunglasses on. Relaxing, Lucky let her eyes drift softly out of focus until the astral plane shifted into sight. The sunglasses tinted the astral strangely but she could still make out what she needed to. Looking at Bennett, she let her eyes stray over him.
Assensing Bennett

He has extensive cyber modification. his essence is less than 1. Mundane. By the amount of 'ware he has, msot of it must be alpha or betaware. He's in good health, and seems very relazed at the moment. Or at least calm. He is mundane, and human.

Enjoying the sun, and for just a moment forgetting about the thousands of things that were all needing her attention, Lucky enjoyed the rest of her lunch. The food was excellent and the wine was all that Bennett had said. By the time, the check came Lucky was feeling more like herself then she had in days. Feeling thankful, Lucky took the check and quickly uploaded the amount to the waiter's com along with a hefty tip.
Thank you, Bennett. I actually feel, well... sane again.
Lucky stood up and surreptiously scanned the resteraunt as she slid her jacket back on.
No undue attention, no one at the exits. Okay. Good. No made men here. Interesting. Unaffiliated? This place could bring in bank. Wonder who owns it? I'll have to look into it.
Lucky made her way out the resteraunt, ever mindful of Bennett at her back. Opening the door, she felt his hand slide to the small of her back. Inside a tug of war waged.That feels good. Like what being taken care of feels like... oh, what you need to be taken care of? What are you the little woman? Grow up, girl. Pull it together!Straightening, Lucky pulled away from Bennett's hand and walked to the passenger side of the car. Instinctively, Lucky searched the area, her eyes always watchful.
Head to the east side. We're going to a garage on 48th Street.Luckly slid into the car once Bennett had it unlocked and the motor running.

Sinn

Lucky
After a short drive, lucky and Bennet arrive at a garage on the waterfront. The sign simply reads S&M Repairs. The owner here isn't looking to attract joe wage slave as clientele after all. he'd rather work the other side of the line without interruption.

As the car pulled up to the garage's huge roll-up door Lucky turned to Bennett and gave him a quick run-down:This is Scotch's place. Scotch is... well, he can be unpredictable. The last time we talked... things didn't go well.Huh, ... I say that a lot, don't I?He had a relationship with Sinn's late wife, Sirene. When she died, he and Sinn got into it.
Lucky quickly got out of the car. Looking over the garage, it appeared that not much had changed. There was still a bullethole in the roll-up door. Walking over to the office door, Lucky rapped and then tried the doorknob. It opened easily.
Hey, Scotch. You home?Lucky yelled.

Lucky
The grease cover human known as Scotch comes out of the office. As usual, he's wearing a "wife beater" under shirt and jeans. But Scotch is one of those men with the lean physique and gruff good looks to pull it off.

Hey there Lucky. Who's the muscle?

Scotch, this is Bennett. Bennett, .. Scotch. He's helping me out with a few things. Lucky moves toward Scotch, concern coloring her face.
How ya been, Scotch? I was worried about you for awhile there. Word came down that you re-opened the shop, but I didn't hear from you.

Lucky
Well, been busy, but business has bene good. you know, stuff needs moved. So people need stuff to move it in quiet like, and stuff to blow other stuff up with in case they can't. You know the biz. What's your biz today?

Catching Scotch's tone, Lucky is all business in a second.
I heard you used to know something about the inside of the ring. More importantly, that you still know something about the inside of the Underground here. Did I hear right?

Lucky
yeah i know a few things, a few folks. What you wanna know about?

I want in. I've seen everything else, Scotch. I want something new. Think you can help me out?

Well I guess that depends on what you're looking for. You jsut wanna see some fights, or mee some pople?

Lucky smiles. Scotch, I'm not a "sit back and wait" kind of girl. I'm more of a people person.
God, if Sinn heard me say that he'd piss himself laughing.

Sinn
Sinn wakes around 1000, groggy from a dream about being trapped ina box, sleep grit, and probably dirt in his eyes. It's a wonder he's not claustrophobic now. Dante is still asleep. How someone like Sinn was blessed with a five year old that sleeps in ,the world will never know. It's an eerily "normal" morning, waking the boy, each having a bowl of Fruit Loops, watching cartoons on trid. Luckily Sinn is the "adult" and gets to pick the cartoons. Sometimes.

Lucky
Well I can put you in touch with LeCroix. He's a big ork that runs things down at the Arena, We go back a ways, althogh it's bee na while since we did business. Hold on a sec...

Scotch pulls out his commlink, taps some kes, and sends Lucky a file on her 'link.

That's the directions to the Arena. Just go down the back alley, and drop LeCroix's name to the pissed off looking guy that tells you to go away. He'll show you in for 200. Le Croix 'll e the only ork there over 30 in a three piece suit.

Sounds like my kind of night. Thanks for the info, Scotch.
Tapping a few keys on her own commlink, Lucky uploads the info and also dashes 500 over to Scotch.
Maybe we can take in a fight together, sometime?

yeah sure thing. Just lemme know when.

Scotch manages a decent smile for the first time. Seems he isn't quite sure just what everything is about, but is able to relax a bit.