Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:46; Cat Scratch Club Puyallup District

<@Kilroy [Carter] Understood. Please forward contact information for the team, so that I can meet them.>

Carter heads out to the parking lot and hails a cab back to his apartment. Once there, he begins to collect a few items and change clothes. Stripping down, scars reflect the light back with the sheen of recent healing. Each one serves as a sign times when he was too slow or allowed a moment's indiscretion to catch him.

The rain is drizzling, just enough for the flowers some would say. It is leaving a light coat of moisture on every surface, rendering my gloves useless. The bone-deep burn of a long climb throbbing within my arms. I never should have let my temper get the best of me. If I hadn't killed the guard, she would still be trapped and the alarm would not have been sounded. Now I am having to sneak past guards.

*CRACK*

I feel the bullet tear through my shoulder, taste the hints of blood in the back of my mouth. Locking the rope around my good arm, I take aim and fire. The recoil from the pistol rattles down into my shattered shoulder.

Coming to with a start, Carter takes his fingers off the scar in his shoulder. He pulls a tight black tanktop on before sliding into his armored vest and continuing to dress.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:27:30; 44th Ave CT E (near 224th St E), Loveland, Puyallup District

Jake swears inwardly. She had the point. And he needed to try another approach.
"Can you drive?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30; Crime Mall, 1st Floor food court
Grayson

After letting Tigger know that you are in disguise, the pair of you find a spot off to the side to talk. He relays the information regarding Jack Thompson and Jack "Smash" Morgan and the other answers to your questions. During the entire conversation, he is unable to stay still and constantly looking all around.

"Anything else?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30; Crime Mall, 1st Floor food court
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)

"What's eatin' you, kid?" Grayson - now posing as Jack Thompson - wonders if he's not barking up the wrong tree. Not just with asking questions of the kid, but staying at the mall.

"So... what were you told about me?" He's clearly referring to Spencer, not himself. "And why do you think you in particular were sent? Do you think Smash would tell me who asked for you?"

Grayson is more and more sure he's chasing his tail. Still, he can't shake the notion that if he figures out who Spencer needed Jack to be, that he'll be closer to an answer about what happened to him... who he might have pissed off or who might be looking for him.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30:30; Crime Mall, 1st Floor food court
Grayson

Tigger is looking around as the question is asked. "Wha-?... Nothing man." He then makes a concentrated effort to focus on the conversation. He does begin slightly slapping his hands at his sides though. "Smash? Smash hooked me up with the pack for a delivery, but that chummer Kilroy got me the gig with Smokey Joe."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:27:30; 44th Ave CT E (near 224th St E), Loveland, Puyallup District

"Of course." Was her only response. Whisper then gets out of the van and closes the door. She takes a moment to relax, pop her neck, then shakes it off as she walks over to the driver's side of the van.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:27:30; 44th Ave CT E (near 224th St E), Loveland, Puyallup District

Jake moves aside while continuing contact with his fly. He leaves her attached upside down to the ceiling, keeping the feed open so he notices any changes. He then jumps to another one of his drone pets and as Whisper drives zooms outside of building towards window of Spencers apartment.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:27:30; 44th Ave CT E (near 224th St E), Loveland, Puyallup District
Jake, Whisper & Rex

Whisper accelerates the van away from the apartment and down the street. As they round the corner, Jake watches the signal strength meter on the connection to the first fly-spy plummet. The second fly-spy, released from the van after they passed Spencer's apartment building is better, but both are pushing the 100m signal rating... at least the locals returned to their spots in the parking lot, congratulating each other for their bravado.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:27:30; 44th Ave CT E (near 224th St E), Loveland, Puyallup District

"Drive around, don't go too far away else I will loose signal with my drones." Jake warns Whisper.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:46:30; Cat Scratch Club Puyallup District
Carter


-} Encrypted connection established from [Kilroy]
-} Connection verified
-} Receiving files.
-} 3 address book entries received with LTG [Whisper, Rex, Jake]
-} Receive complete.
-} Encrypted connection terminated.
<@Carter [Kilroy] Obviously you already have the com for the fourth member of the team. I have transfered the payment to your account. It appears as a refund from Encyclopedia Brittanica.. plus interest.>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:32; Crime Mall, 1st Floor
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)

Picking up some of Tigger's antsiness, Grayson gets the two of them moving. He keeps his voice low and his mouth obscured by a turn of his head or a hand covering a cough or general zigs and zags in their path. Tigger is surprisingly good at making sudden changes in direction and eventually, Grayson stops signalling him. "Bah, I'm chasing my tail." He looks at Tigger. "So, what's your take? Why would he risk it? Taking the cover he apparently chose, I mean."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:46:30; Cat Scratch Club Puyallup District

<@Kilroy [Carter] Understood. I'll contact the team forthwith.>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:32:30; Crime Mall, 1st Floor
Grayson

Tigger follows you around the Mall, much happier to be moving. When you stop and question him, his reply comes back quick, "Look Chummer. I gotta talk'z to Smash to get the scan on what'z up with dis dandelion muncher. No idea'z why he'z think'n ta runin' the gauntlet in the tunnels. Take me three quarters or a full hour to make contact'z and get back with you'z. Null sheen?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30:00; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District
Jake, Whisper & Rex
Whisper pulls the van into the cul de sac on the next block over so as to keep Jake within signal range of his drones. The first drone holds its position near the door the Spencer's apartment while the second makes a run around the outside of the building. Being March, all the windows are closed, but Jake is able to land the drone on the window and look into the living room of the dark apartment. The place is messy, a lived in kind of messy, and unoccupied.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:46:45; Cat Scratch Club, Puyallup District
Carter

<@Carter [Kilroy] I'll be in touch.> and with that Kilroy severs the connection.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30:00; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"We are clear on the inside." Jake says. "Though the place might be boobytrapped." he adds a remark.
"It looks like a lot of mess inside. I ain't getting in there.."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30; Crime Mall, 1st Floor
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)

Grayson nods, "Thanks, kid. Call me." He checks the time display and curses to himself. He dials the rest of the team through his Greer identity with no visuals, while keeping moving in the mall.

<GWJaspers: Checking in. Coming up dry here. How's the apartment?>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 22:45; Crime Mall, 1st and 2nd Floors
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)
He spends the next however long before Tigger contacts him browsing from display to display with genuine interest. If Spencer was dead... Jack Thomspon might need some more gear.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30:00; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

What a ninny...

Whisper listens to any other added information Jake shares. For the mean time she just keeps her eyes on the surrounding area rather than spending any necessary strength on magic at the moment. Mess as in.. someone went in to bust him up and trashed his apartment as well or the typical slob?

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:30:00; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"It is always the worse option.." Jake says quietly, shiver runing down his spin at the notion. "He was living in a mess. And I ain't planning on going in there. And if you two do, then I want you to go to shop and buy some extra cleaning stuff to scrub all the mess from yourselves before I let you back in the van."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:50; Puyallup District

Carter slides out the locked storage bin from beneath his bed. Tapping in the code quickly, it unseals and he begins inventorying the container from memory. Each item was stored in foam so as to ensure that it wouldn't move when the case was placed beneath the bed and extracted.

Everything in its place, all that was left was to contact Grayson and setup the meet. Hopefully, he'd have information about what gear Carter would need to get this started.

<@Grayson [Carter] Your friend asked for me to give you a hand. I'm gearing up now.>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:31; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District
Rex, Whisper, Jake

"What other option do we have, Bact? This is as good a trail as any other if we want to find the guy. There might be something useful left behind if we're lucky, don't you think? Whisper and I should probably go, but we can't bring the van, and we should be very careful since we've been spotted in the area before. "

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:31; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"Just make sure you are scrubed clean once you get back into the van."
Jakes attention shifts to Whisper.
"I can take over now. I'll drop you nearby and circle around. See how Grays is doing. Keep on the lookout. And stuff.."
Then, he sees Graysons message and gives a quick reply:
[Jake: About to check it out. Your status?]

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:51; Crime Mall, 1st Floor
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)

Grayson's real comm chimes with a call from Carter. He routes the call through security protocols, then answers it.

<[Grayson] Evening, Carter. Good to have you. How soon can you be at the Mall?>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:31; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

Whisper gives Jake an incredulous look. Chea. ..or NOT. Why would you just drop me off over there after we only just got here? ..Other than the fact that you don't want me diseasifying your vehicle?

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:32; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"You want to inspect Spencers place or not?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:32; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"Ok, this is exactly why we need to formulate a plan. Who is doing what? I thought the other guy was going into his appartment?

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:32; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"My plan is to stay away from that bacteria breeding ground and wait for you guys if you want to check it, and try and contact Grayson to see how he is doing."

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

As the team tries to come to a decision as to the specifics of their plan, Jake notices movement in the AR video feed from the Fly-Spy drone in the hallway of Spencer's building. A pair of large men are walking down the hallway and stop in front of Spencer's room. One of them looks left, then right. He then pulls something out, sets it against the door lock and a moment later the door opens.

With the video feed from the second drone attached to the outside window Jake sees the men enter the apartment, closing the door behind them.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District


Jake immediately sends the video capture to Whisper and Rex.
[Jake: Things just got a bit hot. Two apes entered the apartment. Anyone recognises anything on them?]

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:51; Puyallup District

<[Carter] If you can arrange transport, I am ready in ten. It will take longer for me as my vehicle is currently at the bottom of the Sound.>

There is a light hint of laughter at the mention of the car.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"Alright, I'm gonna go limp here in minute, do you want the driver seat back? Whisper asks Jake.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:52; Crime Mall, 1st Floor, wandering
Grayson; PAN = hidden; SIN = hidden (Jack Thompson)

Grayson sneers - it seems more appropriate than a chuckle for his Jack persona - but his voice is colored with amusement as he answers Carter. <[Grayson] Can't wait to hear that one. I'm sans transportation myself right now. Unless... >

He scans the Jack Thompson commlink hoping for some reference to a vehicle somewhere. The guy was supposed to be homeless, so Grayson isn't optimistic, but it couldn't hurt to try.

<[Grayson] While I'm checking something out, why don't you get close. By then I'll have synced with the team and they may have new info.>

He routes a message through his Greer identity to Jake, <[GWJaspers]: Made contact with our new associate. How's our friend? Need me to bring anything?>

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:52
Trigger

After a little side track to get some munchies you have been able to locate Smash. He is holed up in a poker game in one of the underground areas that passes for a neighborhood bar. Upon seeing you he finishes out his hand, then exits the game and takes a seat by you at the bar, "Tigger. Didn't expect to see you again tonight...?"

Grayson
Luck being what it is, the bad streak continues as there is no reference to a vehicle in the com-link.

Carter
His gear gathered up and ready to go, Carter is now left to find a ride... Surely someone on the team has wheels...?

Whisper, Jake, Rex
Whisper casts her clairvoyance spell and watches the two thugs while Jake uses his drones. Rex sits in the back awaiting a plan. The pair give the place a gentle once over, always one of them keeping an eye on the door. Finally after about twenty minutes they pull out guns; One with a large Predator, the other an Ingram Smartgun X. They sit back, positioned away from the door and appear to be waiting.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

I think these guys have pretty much the same idea as we do. Only with deadly intent. But their pulling guns might mean that our elf is still alive.

He then sends detailed message to Grayson about what is happening inSspencers apartment, before runing a series of basic routines through his 'doggies' to check their battle readiness. This could turn out to be ugly.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:52

Tigger leans back against the bar, his foot twitching rapidly as his last hit still circulates through his veins, setting all of his nerves on the edge. He conviced himself that he needed the hit to get around quicker, so that he could be on top of his game if anything were to go down tonight. He knew that it was dangerous, but it was worth the risk if it gave him any edge over the cybered warriors that made the Underground their home. Mojo could only get him so far, which is why he had taken some biological improvements long ago, but they weren't enough.

"Smash, itz good ta see ya. I need sum info soka? Spencer, our dandelion-eating chum, he's gone missing, ya? But the package you gotz me deliverin', it had Monster colors in it. Any clue why?" Tigger's foot bounced erratically and is eyes moved from one side of the bar to the other as he spoke to his kempo sensei and occasional fixer.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

I have my combat drones preped up if you decide to go in. Jake informs Rex.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:33; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

Whisper watches the guys and make a mental note of their appearances and anything else that stands out. Watching them brings back to mind something she'd said twenty minutes ago. Keeping the spell going, she talks to Jake. "If you answered before I either don't remember your answer or I wasn't listening. She states matter-of-factly. "In either case, I think it would be wise for me to watch these guys in astral space. Since technology appears to be your thing I'm just going to say this, to go in astral space I temporarily lose voluntary muscle control. Can you drive this car even though I am sitting in the driver seat or do I need to move?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:52; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

Rex looks to Jake, "I'm up for whichever you want brother. I can sit or I can smash 'em... Can you cast spells from astral space... mage-o-matic girl?"

Tigger: Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Tunnel's End

Smash has a slightly puzzled look, "Spencer's gone missin'?". He pauses a few moments taking a hard look at his student. His tone is slightly hardened when he answers, "He needed an escape route." He keeps his tone low and looks around for just a moment before continuing, "The disguise and id on the com were to allow that.... and keep that to yourself. I don't need those knuckle-draggers coming round asking questions about why I'm hooking something like that up."

Tigger nods in agreement with Smash, his bobbing slightly more animatedly than usual, though his eyes show that he is completely focused on the conversation at hand. Tigger leans in closer to Smash and asks in a lower tone, "Waz the escape route for him or one a his clients?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Puyallup District

Striking out on the chance of getting a ride, Carter grabs the duffel bag that he uses for occasions like this and loads up. A few moments later, he is on the street, his coat wrapped tight around his chest, but billowing around his legs from the sporadic gusts of wind. With luck the sky would stay clear for the few blocks he had to go before picking up a cab.

Boots strike a fast cadence as they grab traction in the loose dirt and tangled weeds. One had thrown a grenade into the middle of the Aztlan supply line, fouling up the traffic long enough for Two to coordinate with rebel forces and open fire on the convoy with armor piercing rounds.

Unfortunately, Uncle Creach had been riding in the truck with Mr. Connors when the dirt clod crashed down on the hood. Brake lights flared to life and the farmer's truck stopped in the road.

Is he my uncle? Who are these people and why are they important to me?

Carter raises his hand out to flag down one of the autocabs in the area. Programming the address manually into the touchpad and slotting a certified credchip, he heads a few blocks from the CrimeMall to a small coffee house. While in the cab, he casts his mind out trying to force the memories which had just hit with the force of a child slamming into his back to stay. It was useless, everything that had happened in the last decade or so of his life could be remembered in perfect clarity. Everything before that was gone.

Does the soul live in memories, feeding off of who we are by reading who we were? Is a man with half his memory missing half his soul? Could that be why he became the monster he was?

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:52; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

"Hmmm...ok, here is the plan. I can drive remotely, but I'll need to relinquish control of other drones. So, we find nice, safe place around to park, Rex and one of the drones exit the van and go to check what our boys upstairs know about Spencer. Meanwhile, whisper observes them via astral. and we keep the comm lines open. Sounds ok?"

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District
Jake, Whisper, Rex

Rex nods in agreement and exits the van, waiting for the drone to exit the rear of the van.
Jake's com chirps requesting his attention, there is a message from Kilroy.
<@Jake [Kilroy] I've added some muscle to the team, a sam called Carter. I've attached his LTG to this message.
-} Encrypted connection established from [Kilroy]
-} Connection verified
-} Receiving file.
-} Address book entry received with LTG [Carter]
-} Receive complete.
-} Encrypted connection terminated.
You all are five minutes apart. He lives in Loveland.

Tigger: Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Tunnel's End

Smash thinks for a moment.. "Not really sure, but the size sure fits Spencer.. Could've been for him..."

Carter, Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Loveland, Puyallup District

Carter finds himself in a battle of programming with the auto-cab. It rejects the destination as being in an area without a suitable law enforcement contract.
Ahhh.... the Puyallups... The closest a person can get to civilization is Loveland and Puyallup City, everyplace else is considered "barrens" by about everyone and lacking in basic services....

Grayson, Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Crime Mall, 1st Floor, wandering

The call connected to Jake, but you seem to have been put on hold. On top of that, a bald headed human and his to lackey's have decided to start tailing you. You couldn't help but notice the humanis tattoo on his arm....

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 20:53; Tunnel's End

Tigger nods in understanding to Smash and pushes himself off the bar and towards the exit back into the Underground proper. Looking back at Smash he quickly says, "Thanks again Smash. See yaz when I figure this all out, soka?" And with that Tigger ducks back into the tunnels, cueing up his comm with Rex's LTG number.....

{Tigger: Rex, I got more info on Spencer and why he needed the gear in the package. Where ya'll at?}

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; 45th Ave E, Loveland, Puyallup District

After finding appropriate spot to park the van and dislodge Rex, Jake jacks into one of his doberman drones and trotts out.
"We have a power up. A dude named Carter. Lets wait for him and then go in for a look."
Jake then contacts Carter.
[Jake: Kilroy says you are jacking with us. I am sending you our coordinates. Be prepared for some rock and roll.]

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:53; Loveland, Puyallup District

Disgusted with the auto-cab interface, Carter withdraws the chit and disembarks slamming the door. The message surges across his vision as he ponders tearing the computer out of the auto-cab and driving it manually.

We don't need that kind of heat right now. Maybe on our way out of this town when this ID has proven useless. But first, the job...

[@Jake [Carter] You are three blocks away. Patch me into any eyes you have and since we haven't met, visually tag friendly targets that don't deserve not-so-friendly fire. Or did you mean music?]

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:54; Loveland, Puyallup District

[Jake: We are not in the hot zone yet, waiting for you before moving in. Sending you tags on friendly faces.]

"Whisper, can you check out if our friends have left some kind of sentry in front of the building?"

Damn, I wish Grayson was here. I am not in this planning-leadership stuff..

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:55; Crime Mall, outside

<[@All - GWJaspers]: All right. I'm on my way. Gonna take a bit. The mall was a bust. The courier didn't know anything else. Glad to have you, Carter. >

Grayson walks outside and settles the mask on his face. It's not raining yet, but the sky is thick clouds reflecting orange sodium light back down at the city. The orangish glow is shaded with purple blotches. Grayson admires the flashes of lightning behind the clouds, high up, for a moment before warily stepping out into the lot and making his way to a cab stand. He places a call to the nearest place that a cab would come to the mall and hikes his collar up to keep the wind-driven grit off. Gonna be a long walk. His eyes scan left and right. With any luck he'd get out of the Mall unaccosted.

He begins to shed the Spencer disguise bit by bit. With an eye on the guys trailing him. He steps between a car here and a car there - always checking for occupants and obstacles - with the intent that, by the time the men catch up to him - he'll be fully human and they'll just be 'mistaken' about his identity. Greer is a Humanis sympathizer... and Grayson considers that he might be able to parley the mistake into an opportunity.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:54

Tigger; Ork Underground, Puyallup District
<@Tigger [Rex] We're near Spencer's place. A pair of goons have made dem 'selves at home. We'z gonna find out jus' what they think they're doin'.> Rex activates a team link to Tigger and his location pops up in an AR window across a map of the Puyallups. He's in Loveland, some 30 minutes away.
As you head back into the underground, the signal fades and is lost. Only places with repeaters maintain service. Doesn't matter though, in five minutes you'll be back in the Mall.

Grayson; Crime Mall, Puyallup District
You managed to ditch the trio, not too hard as their are plenty of metas around to catch their attention. As you exit the mall and begin to ponder the length of your walk, Rex activates a team link with you, Tigger, Rex, Whisper & Jake. Tigger is headed back towards the Mall before his signal disappears from the map.

Parked outside of the entrance is a beat up station wagon, an old ork and a cardboard sign...

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:54. Loveland, Puyallup District

Whisper carries on and tries to go inside the building via astral, hoping to see the aura of the characters in the home.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:56; Crime Mall, outside

"What the hell," Grayson shrugs and waves to get the 'cabbie's' attention. He walks over and leans into the window to address the old ork who is, presumably, Daryl.

"What's the rate to Loveland?" It really doesn't matter what the rate is, he's just going through the motions. Hopefully it's not too steep though. The payoff for this gig was going to be nice, but if it didn't work out, cabs were a luxury he couldn't afford.

He hops in and gives the driver an address that is about 5 or 10 minutes away from Spencer's doss. He would be taking a bus the remainder of the way to meet up with the crew.

Saturday March 1st, 2070; 21:54; Loveland, Puyallup District

Hailing the auto-cab back over, Carter programs in the coordinates his new teammate had sent over. While the autocab drives to the new destination, he leans forward and partially unzips the duffel bag.

It takes a moment because of the angle and the jacket, but by the time the autocab stops, he has managed to get the holster clipped to the his belt in the small of his back. The coat would take care of the rest.