Jessie continues, "So, is it just the two of you? Do we need to arrange for any more passes or network access?"

"we should be ok. If we need to bring more personel in we'll let you know."

High Rise sends a text to Malleus <This is High Rise, I finally got a signal into the building so we can all communicate. Anything you need from me now or just wait for instructions? Also, Null says there is some security dead zones in the parking garage, corners hidden away from cameras or something.>

He figures Null should know he can get through to the others and sends him a similar message.

Orion nods.

"We're eager to get to the bottom of this. Though it's fun what you say" (and here Orion nods at Malcolm) "about everything going so well with funding, bonuses etc. Just out of curiosity, if you run a datasearch for personell since everything started to go well, who or what group have gotten the most raises or bonuses?"

I hope Malleus is as sure of finding that mage as he seems.

"Oh, and once we start talking to people, can you monitor who's leaving and tell us immediately? If word get's out we're asking nosy questions people with things to hide might decide to leave early or something. As soon as someone checks out as sick or otherwise takes the rest of the day off, please send us a message asap."

Malleus accepts the text message and compresses the comlink recordings from the time they entered the meeting and sends the file to High Rise

<<Glad to have you with us.>>

He then turns to their employers and says
"I'd also be interested in what kind of projects Chuck was working on before the fire and who he was working with. I think his immediate co-workers would be the most likely to have the reason or capability to frame him."

Jessie turns to Orion and replies, "Hmm... that's something to think about. The work group as a whole has definitey had a good year, though I'm extremely wary of chalking that up to the work of magic. Our prototype has passed every review it's needed to, but that's just because of the excellent pool of talent we have here. With regard to raises and bonuses, to be quite honest I'm not sure I like where that train of thought. . . " he crosses his arms, "ends up. I hope you're not suggesting I've been put under a spell and approved any undeserved compensation. Anyhow, our company personnel files are available at your clearance level, so you'll be able to see for yourselves. Once we're finished here I'll escort you to a temporary office we've set up for you with a terminal to access company files. Just about anything you want to know about the employees will be there."

"I'll be tied up in meetings most of the day, but I'll be able to check my messages pretty often and answer questions for you. If you want to know whether or not you're authorized to access something, just search for it. It'll say right there if your clearance is high enough to access it, and what type of permissions you have - personnel files, for instance, you'll have read-only access and won't be able to download anything to your commlinks. Generally speaking, it'll be that way for most sensitive material, if you follow."

"Also, your clearance will get you into building security. Accessing the badge tracker requires voice and fingerprint verification, and needs to be done at a terminal. With verification, though, you'll be able to subscribe your own commlink to a feed where you can track individual employees and set alerts for yourself. You'll also be able to receive feeds of security cameras for areas you have access to. It will provide you with a substantial amount of oversight."

"And, before I forget, Mr. Ancient left word with me that there would be four of you, and so far I've been ok with the fact that only two people showed up. But. . . and this is a bit. . ." he unfolds his arms, "awkward. . . erm, where are the other two then? Gentlemen, I am going to need to meet everyone to authorize four payouts. I'm not naive; I know your line of work can be. . . er. . . cutthroat, if you follow. I didn't mean to be deceitful when I asked if it would just be the two of you, but this job isn't exactly off the books. Do you follow?"

Malcolm just sits there, basically, letting his boss do the talking. His eyes glance back and forth between the two of you and Jessie.

Null is pleased when he hears back from High Rise. He spends a few moments marshalling his thoughts before composing a terse text message to the crew in the building.


<[Null]-Good to have contact with you again. Won't distract you, but could you send any data you gather? That way I can analyze it, and we won't have to play catch-up after your meeting.>

Orion listens to Jessie and nods. "And has everyone in your unit here been informed that interviews are to take place, or will they question why if we want to talk to them in person? Also, is the temporary office you've kindly set up for us to be considered private when it comes to... people listening in on us?"

He listens to Jessie's concerns about the other two consultants and glances worriedly at Malleus before answering:
"I'm afraid that the others can't join us right now. They are managing important functions off-site. But if it's a problem with book keeping, I'm sure we can work something out when the primary job is done."

He then composes a text message for Malleus:
<[Orion]> I think one of us should talk a little more to Malcolm when he/we leaves. If you want to set up our office, I'll do it. Also, remind me to check Sons records as soon as we are in contact with the rest of the team again. Just to see if they are longtime members etc. Awfully eager to see all of us.>

Malleus nodds in agreement with Orion

"Harry's right. The other two members of the team are working off site right now. I've found that people are much more likely to open up and let something slip if it doesn't feel like they are being dragged in front of an inquirey board. Two people are far less intimidating than four. I'd be more than happy to arrange a meeting with our other members if you feel it is nessesary though."

He pauses briefly while composing a reply to Orion <<Good idea, I'll see if I can't get Jackson to take me to the interview room. I'd like to get a chance to question him alone too, something about him doesn't seem quite right>>

At that Malleus brings his hands together and says. "If it's alright with you I'd like to go and get the interview room setup, Harry has just a few other things to go over with you so perhaps Mr. Jackson could show me the way. Also, how should I go about calling the next interviewee in? If I could get the comm-codes for the employees I could just call them in individually. Saves having to bother you between each interview."

Orion listens as Malleus continues being the smooth, friendly face.

He really is talanted...

So Orion takes the time to check his comlink and notices that the rest of the team are again reachable. Happy with this he takes the time to call up a map of this level and compose a message for the rest of the team:

<[Orion] to TEAM> Jessie wants to meet us all during lunch. I can't see why. He has accepted four payouts already, wether he meets us or not should not be a factor. I say we just claim you are busy. The fact he's so keen on meeting us all makes me think he shouldn't. Null, do you remember Malcolm from any rallies? I'll see if I can take a picture with my com/get one from personell files and send it to you.

Null ponders Orion's request, frowning in concentration, before laboriously composing his reply.

<[Null]-I will check on him if you wish, but if you suspect a setup, he may still very well be one of the Sons. In fact, I would expect him to be. It's fairly easy to check up on, after all. And we don't really screen the normal rank-and-file members. Yes, if this person seeks to either discredit the Sons or gain intelligence on the Alphas - or perhaps both - then he certainly might be a member in good standing, hiding his true allegiance.

But if he plans this, how will he protect himself? We know his name and company, and could get the rest of his personal information fairly easily, while all he has is a few fake SINs and people who can fade into the shadows. Perhaps it is simply paranoia, or insecurity, at his end. This doesn't mean we have to indulge it, but his motives might be inexperience rather than malice. If he is insistent, we can all meet him when we are paid. After all, if he attempts treachery at that juncture, we all should be there, to counter it.>

Null carefully scrutinizes his message before sending it. He's beams at all of the multi-syllable words that he managed to use, and is especially proud that he got to use the word "juncture", which just sounds cool to him.

Orion scans the reply from Null.

Maybe I am a bit paranoid about that but it just doesn't feel... right. He was ok with four payments, why would he want to physically meat us all? Oh well, better focus on the job now.

He sends back a short reply where he agrees with Null's view and that maybe they should drop this and get on with the job.

Why am I on the edge? Gah, I need something to calm my mind...

As Malleus stands up he extends his hand once again to both the men. "Well gentlemen, hopefully we can have this all wrapped up quickly for you." As Malleus speaks you can see him going slightly pale. "Where, is the bathroom... I feel a little lightheaded?" at that Malleus suddenly pitches forward and falls face first onto the ground. He's out cold.

Orion assumes his position a little behind Malleus as he wraps up the meeting, shaking hands with Jessie and Malcolm.

Time to go to work. Hunting the hidden, viewing the veiled, seeing the... Yaya. Let's see: set up shop in our office, talk to Malcolm, connect with the team, talk with all the emplyees. Then extract the problem. Here or garage? Null knows best no doubt, but maybe I can... and he doesn't really listen to Malleus talk. But then he feels himself going all cold and a jolt go up his spine. Orion can't figure out why he feels this way until he sees Malleus go limp. Time slows down as the elf drops in front of him.

What the hell?!?

Orion takes a split second to react, before he drops to his knees next to Malleus. "Malleus? Whats' up? Malleus!"

Jessie is the first to react after Orion - the manager rounds his desk and drops down to his knees on the other side of Malleus. "Mr. Dawson? Mr. Dawson? ... Malleus? "

Malcolm stands up after Jessie. "Oh... oh, shit!" he says in a hushed voice.

Malleus is breathing. His face is cold, and he's bleeding from the bridge of the nose where he faceplanted.

"Should I call the medics?" offers Malcolm.

Jessie looks like he wants to, but turns to Orion expectantly. "It won't be discreet," Jessie says. Looking back down at Malleus he says, "Does he have a medical contract with DocWagon or someone? They may already have been alerted."

Orion doesn't turn to face Malcolm, just holds up a hand while keeping his gaze at Malleus. Check breathing, check pulse... does he have a monitor? I don't know. Probably not. Damn!

"Not yet, hold on. Let me check..." and to Jessie: "Let's try to keep this discreet. You have a medkit?"

His heart beats fast, and he can feel himself sweating. That first aid course, let's se now... but he can't really remember what to do when there's no massive wound. Maybe a competent medkit knows what's wrong with him. He places the limp Malleus in a better position and loosens his tie to ease breathing. And between thoughts he manages to mentally activate his comlink and send a quick message to Null and High Rise: <[Orion] to TEAM> Malleus down!

Jessie looks away for a moment, his eyes darting across invisible displays. "I don't remember. . . there's - ok. There's one on this floor. I'll get it. Malcolm, stay here with Harry and help him with whatever he needs. I'll be right back."

Jessie leaves the room. Malcolm watches him leave.

"So uh. . . is there anything I can do?" Malcolm asks.

High Rise is jolted from his peaceful matrix browsing by the small text box showing up next to the new agent review he was reading. <[Orion] Malleus down!>

<[High Rise] to Team> "The mage is here already?! How did he know we were coming?" He quickly tries to think of what to do... The only thing that comes to mind is "Don't Panic." <"What do you need me to do?">

Null curses to himself when he receives the jolting message. "Damn it, I should have been there. Too late for recrimina... recriminations. Need more details. Need to BE there!"

His reply to the message is terse, and his usual stammer is gone, although the side of his face is twitching. <[Null] to Orion.> "I can get there very quickly, if you need me. Perhaps someone could meet me at the lobby with a security pass? Will defer to your judgement, but active, hostile targets, that's what I'm here to deal with. Heh. Guess the Johnson might get to meet us all, after all."> Null grimaces at the irony, before listening intently for any instructions.

"Do you have any medical training?" Orion asks Malcolm. His thoughts dance around possible complications but he remembers nothing, right now he's just glad Malleus's heart beats.

Orion is releaved to hear from Null and High Rise but doesn't speak out loud as he's not alone. To Malcolm it just seems as if he concentrates real hard for a moment.
<[Orion] to Team> don't know if this mage attack. just us in room. medical condition? M breathes. we think this is mage? what do? HR, can you work/hack, via my com w. limited netw acess, check cams/peep's locations? Null be close to front check who leaves. maybe come inside. what do we do?

"M.. Mr Dawsson?" Orion takes a deep breath and considers the possibility that the rouge mage just hit Malleus. He takes a look around the office to see if anyone else could have watched them but finds noone except them there, no windows facing the workplace open. Doesn't mages need line of sight? Can't have been the breakfast, can it?

"Dawson's still out, and I don't know why. He's breathing atleast. Let's see if I can connect this thing and get some useful info out of it. Could you please go to the lobby and meet up with another team member and arrange entry? Seems like you'll get a meet earlier then anticipated."

Orion blows the dust of the medkit and tries to figure out how to connect the reader to Malleus. It's an older design then any he's practiced with so he just hopes that it's designed to be operated by idiots too. They usually are quite foolproof.

Mr. Reynolds blinks a bit. "Alright. . . I'll have them up here right away." Jessie glances around his office before turning to the door. "I'll be back as quickly as possible."

He leaves, and you're alone again with Malcolm.

The medkit is a few years old but still quite modern, and interfaces with your PAN without too much hassle. The AutoDoc comes right up.

Monday, March 10, 08:00 Emergent Cryonics Lobby, West Seattle.
Null

Moments ago, Orion sent a hastily composed text message: <[Orion] to Team> Null - Jessie meeting in lobby. Need badge.

You head into the lobby, taking in the room. Employees are filtering in at a steady pace, heading to the elevator banks. A very attractive elf woman in a red power suit and skirt spots you from across the large room, and smiles in a polite way when you accidentally make eye contact.
She's headed toward you.

Null is intensely focused on the job as he enters the lobby, but the attractive elf approaching him still flusters him. If this was a bar, he probably would have fallen off his barstool and spilled his drink on himself by now.

"Here. I'm here. Good. Now I can begin, yes, solve the problem. Nasty mage, I will find him. I... uhhh. Wow. Wait, she's... headed towards me. I... I... Aaargh! Hold it together! Pretend she's an anime catgirl! Pretend she's an anime catgirl!"

Actually, this does calm him down slightly, at least enough to stumble through an introduction:

"H-hello. I am Jake Styles, Oracle Consulting. My colleagues are... expecting me?"

Fidgeting nervously in the presense of the woman, Null seems more like an awkward office techie than the killing machine that he really is.

"Sasha Yarr, Emergent Cryonics HR rep. A pleasure." She extends her hand. You can tell by the way her smile drops that your nervous demeanor is putting her off. "Yes - Mr. Jessie Reynolds will be with us shortly. I have a guest badge for you. Mr. Reynolds will escort you upstairs."

<[HR] to Team> "I'll see what I can do. If you have high enough clearance it should be fairly easy."

High Rise sets Orion's node as a proxie node and checks his access levels against the Emergent node trying to gain legit access.

Null manages to pull himself together enough to politely shake the woman's hand and thank her, although his cold, clammy handshake is not likely to reignite her friendliness. He's used to that reaction, though. At least it's slightly better than the equally common "fixed, frightened smile while edging away as quickly as politeness allows" reaction.

Monday, March 10, ca 08:00 Mr Reynolds Room, Emergent Cryonics, West Seattle

"Anything like this ever happened here before?" Orion asks Malcolm without looking up. He's busy with his comlink, answering questions the VirtuaDocâ„¢ wants to know while following instructions given. He opens Malleus shirt, tearing the last button away when he fumbles with it and then places some electrodes, correcting them when the kit says so.

Everyone already thinks this is the mages handiwork. Can it be confirmed? Malcolm is sure of it anyway and he looks terrified to boot. There! Now let's see what this thing says... c'mon Malleus! It'd be bad if we lost a member without even identifying the suspect. I wont be able to carry a body out discreetly either.

Monday, March 10, 08:00 The Van down the street from Emergent Cryonics, West Seattle
High Rise

You hijack Orion's commlink, careful not to get in the way of his medkit operation. The access is good; it's definitely what you would call a security level account. It has limits, though, as you immediately discover: accessing the building's security requires finger- and voice-print authorization, and must be done while logged into a "level-3 or higher" terminal, whatever that means. There may have been instructions given to Malleus and Orion that you missed.

You can call up a building map for areas Orion's badge gives him access to, find out who sits where, see other users logged into the system, send email, start a phone call, order lunch from downstairs, and probably plenty of other things I haven't thought of.

Monday, March 10, 08:01 Emergent Cryonics Lobby, West Seattle
Null

There's a brief awkward silence between you and Sasha but her socialite instincts kick in. "So, your associates mentioned you were here for something about Magician Registration Act compliance? That must be interesting work. How do you do that?"

** You have to squirm a little longer!! You'll need to say something - but, one minute later. . . **

Jessie Reynolds emerges from the guts of the office building at a brisk pace, walking past the security desk. He is visibly rushed, and has fallen into some nervous joking behavior. "Good morning! I apologize for not being down here sooner, but, you know. .". He rolls his eyes and makes a gesture pointing upward and shrugging - apparently that's supposed to be a universal sign for something. "That's how it goes, if you follow. Heh."
Sasha just looks at him, trying to hide a quizzical expression.

Jessie looks back and forth between the two of you, saying, "Well, yes. Sasha, you have a guest badge for, ah... the gentleman, yes?"
"Yes, I have Jake Styles's guest badge right here."
"Ah - Thank you. Please follow me, Mr. Styles ah, this way."
The two of you walk up to Sid Geiger at the security desk. Sasha walks away wordlessly.
"Hello, Sid, good morning. Jake Styles from Oracle Consulting. He'll just be using a guest badge until we set him up with a Contractor one, okay?" says Jessie, his nerves surfacing.
Behind the security desk, Sid picks up on this a bit, but is more concerned with retrieving his guest entry protocols. "I need your SIN and your badge number, sir."

??????, ????? ??, ??: ?? ??? ?????????
Malleus


Monday, March 10, 08:02 Mr Reynolds office, Emergent Cryonics
Orion and Malleus


"Wake up, Mr. Dawson. . . come on, wake up."
<[VirtuaDoc] "Was the patient responsive?">
<[Orion] No.>
<[VirtuaDoc] "Try again. This time, using a firm, authoritative tone of voice."

Malcolm has tried to make himself useful by peering through the blinds at the fog. "Hey, check it out. . . I think I see the sun."

Malleus's heart rate spikes and he bolts upright, gasping for air. He is awake.

As Malleus bolts upright his left arm shoots out and grasps Orion by the throat. He shouts something unintelligible as he pushes Orion onto his back, straddles his chest and draws his right hand back to punch him in the face. He’s staring right at him but seeing something else entirely. As Orion winces in anticipation of the blow and raises an arm to fend it off Malleus’s eyes suddenly clear and a look of confusion takes place of the anger and fear that was there a second ago. He slumps back into a kneeling position and touches his fingers to the blood coming out of his nose.

“What… What just happened? What’s going on?�

Malleus then winces and clutches at his left arm, he slowly pulls the shirtsleeve back revealing a latticework of scars crisscrossing his forarm, they are red and inflamed as if they are still healing, not only that but there appears to be a thin sheen of ichor on them. It's odd, you remember seeing them yesterday however, Malleus had been wearing a short sleeved shirt and they looked to be several years old at least then, now it looks like he was injured a month or two ago. He quickly rolls he sleeve back down and slowly stands up. He makes his way over to the nearest chair and after sitting down for a moment or two and a glass of water he seems to have regained much of his composure. He’s still rather shaky however and his eyes have a slightly haunted look.

As Orion begins to explain what happened, Malleus glances out the window. He interrupts when someone suggests that the mage must have done something.
“No… I don’t think so, at least not directly… I’ve had spells cast on me before, this was different… More of an attack… Something was here… You say I came too as soon as the sun came up? That suggests a spirit, not a mage. Spirits are usually only bound to the world until sunup… That means that whoever summoned it was expecting us… expecting me… Mr. Reynolds, Malcom could you leave us for a moment? I need to discuss something with Harry.

If Reynolds and Malcom leave Malleus dials Alfred Ancients number into his comm. After Alfred picks up Malleus links him into the rest of the teams comm’s. His voice is still remarkably calm however considering what just happened to him.

<<Hello Sir? This is Malleus.>>

<<Malleus, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. I can’t imagine you’ve solved everything have you?>>

<<No, we havn’t, the mage knows we’re here though, I was just attacked. It looked like… Felt like… Lab’s favorite spirit, only after she was corrupted. Lab was there too... Warning me, forcing me to wake up. I don't know for sure Sir, but I think we’re dealing with a Toxic, and I think whoever it is knows who I am. I need some advice as to how we should proceed.>>

Monday, March 10, 08:05 Mr Reynolds office, Emergent Cryonics
Orion, Malleus, and Null

As Malcolm leaves the room, Jessie Reynolds and Null reach the office.

Malleus's voice suddenly takes on a very hard, almost cruel edge.

<<Definatly Sir. Can I kill the bastard?>>

<[Alfred] You don't need the permission of an old man for that, son. >

<[HR] to Orion> "To get to the cameras I need a finger and voice print at a level 3 security terminal. It says you have that access but you need to physically log in."

Orion rises from the floor slowly, after Malleus sudden awakening and recent violent behaviour. "No problem, I'm fine..." he says silently but he notices that Malleus is preoccupied with a comcall and soon thereafter he get's the tap and listens to the conversation with Alfred.

He checks the medkit just to have its opinion but it wasn't connected long enough (or properly) to get any reading. Well he seems okay enough, I'll take his word for it. But what was the rest about there? The medkit is put into order in no time, and then:

Null follows Jessie with palpable relief. Hunting a dangerous rogue mage - that's something he's more at home with. He pauses slightly when the commcall gets routed to him. He smiles approvingly at Malleus's understandable anger, but his smile wilts a bit at Orion's rejoinder.

Well, mine not to agree or disagree. Mine to be part of the team. And the team must function smoothly, yes? But perhaps this one will be difficult. Extreme measures may be required. Oh yes, extreme measures.

He turns to Jessie, who is looking slightly puzzled, with a smile that is meant to be reassuring. "I have received word that my associate has recovered."

As they enter the office, Null nods at his teammates, then peers at the blinds. "Interesting. The sun shows up, and this malevolent spirit flees. A respite, but I fear it will be... a brief one." But his tone is one of pleased anticipation, as if he welcomes a confrontation.

"Good. . . great. That's good news." Jessie opens the office door, and, seeing everyone inside, says, "It's five past eight, and I really have work to do. Malcolm can show you to the office we've set up. I'm sorry to be. . ." he smirks, "kicking you out of my office like this, but, you've got a job, I've got a job." Looking at Malleus's hardened expression, his face droops a bit. "I'm sorry, is - is everything ok now?"

** when Malcolm shows you to the office **

The office they've set up for you is a windowless unit in the interior of the building about 3 meters deep and 2 meters wide. Unlike all the other offices you've seen so far, it doesn't feature a floor-to-ceiling adjustable opacity window next to the door, making you think it's probably retrofitted storage space. Inside is a classic, ergonomic work desk system with AR terminal, input ports, function lamp, and utility drawers. The desk faces the door, and there's just enough room for one human or elf to walk behind it comfortably. A fully loaded, black office chair is wheeled up behind it - the kind with ten or more different fully customizable comfort parameters, including presets: Stress Lift, Productivity Maximizer, etc.

Upon seeing Jessie's expression Malleus smiles reasureingly. Not to worry, I'm fine. A little shaken up is all. I just hate it when they pull drek like that.

<<Don't worry Orion... I spoke somewhat rashly... I've had... issues with toxics before. As for Lab she was my sister, and the reason I joined the Sons. A run in with a toxic ended up getting her killed*... It's a long story. I'll tell you over a beer sometime.

After being escorted into the office Malleus smiles and says "This should do nicely. Lets get this show on the road ok. If you could call the first employee in I'd appriciate it."