Nanashi was surprised at just how fast the otaku moved as he quickly found himself locked out of his own bathroom. But they were his guests, so he patiently waited at the end of the line, and hoped that the hot water would last long enough. Unfortunatly it didn't quite make it to him, resulting in his shower being the quickest of them all.

Donovan gets into a position where he can readily assense the physical status of his teammates as they jack in to the matrix.

"I'll be watching you guys like I was before if anything goes wrong," he says.

Double post.

Calisto:
"I hope the morning finds you well. Hafiz spun ghost stories for me about his night on the town. Are negotiations going well with our foreign investors? My conference is over the day after next and I hoped to catch the red eye home late in the evening. I have a few business needs at the ranch."

Team:
"We must leave soon."

The Fool's speech device squawks out as he sits fiddling with a few more bits of electronics that Nanashi has strewn across the aprtment.

"They are meeting us at a tea house a few blocks from here."

Trixie smiles at Jester, "Give a girl a lift?"

"Anytime, give me a minute to get it in place."

Jester activates the RC deck in his leg and calls out electronically to his van. Not ever truly off the big Opel rumbles to life. Internal sensors scan for any foreign objects, and external sensors pop on to gauge traffic. The van takes a left turn into traffic and accelerates to merge.

Jack paces back and forth in the small apartment, waiting anxiously for transportation to arrive.

Just a moment, let me check on that. Calisto moves into the living room, speaking out loud to the team. "I've got Falcone on the line. He wants to know if we can wrap this up in the next 24 hours?" As she speaks, she grabs her over coat and slides in on.

Trixie looks shocked and glances around at the faces gathered in the room, "Is he joking?"

"Rides here, give me a minute to clear it, don't need a repeat of Bio."

Jester slings his compact SMG under his coat and limps out of the apartment. He makes his way down stairs, before leaving the security of the building for the waiting rig he jumps into his van and takes a look around using her sensors.

Jack cocks an eyebrow at Calisto.

"Does he have ah damn'd clue what's been going on down here?" he asks incredulously.

Donovan asks, "Did he say why he wanted this done in such a short time?"

Ok old man, make the leap.

Moving as quickly as his croppled body would allow, Jester slammed through the door, over the sidewalk and half climbed, half jumped into the cab of the van.

Phew.

"Ok were all clear, you guys come down when ready."

Calisto moves with the rest of the group heading out as she switches back to her conversation with Falcone. It looks like the negotiations are going to take a little longer than we first thought. We've had to look for more venture capital at this point. Ms. Trix is meeting with some associates to see if they can help with introductions and make the rest of the talks go more smoothly. As for the ranch, I hope it's nothing vital that's calling you away?

Trixie follows behind Calisto, knowing that if something happens, thats who she wants in front of her.

Jack peers around catiously as they climb in the van, deck slung over his shoulder. He seems relieved each time a member of the group reaches the van without incident.

Once everyone is loaded in the van, Trixie speaks up.

"I don't it to look like I'm showing up with a bunch of muscle. I'd like only Fool, Jack, and myself to be at the meet. Calisto, do you think you can enter the tea house after us and just be there blending in, in case things go south?"

Jester leans back intot he comfortable acceleration chair and closes his eyes. Immersing himself completly in the electronic horizon of rigging. Trixies voice pops up on his internal intercom.

Sounds good Trix. I will play pilot and keep an eye on things with the 'Bat.

As soon as everyone is in and buckled he eases the battered vehicle out into traffic. The right side still needed work after there frantic race to get to a street doc.

Calisto:
"Just a few network issues that haven't been resolved yet. Hafiz said he could get the systems back online within forty-eight hours of getting his hands on them. I'd also like to check on the horses, I have never liked leaving them with the sitters. Let me know if there is anything I can do to relieve some of the pressure. I know how stressful negotiations can be, when children are involved."

Team:
The drive is almost over before it gets started. Arriving at the Green Leaf, a quiet tea house and matrix cafe, the Fool disembarks first. Stepping firmly off the van into the shade provided by an awning decorated with digital representations of trees and a holoprojection of fallen leaves picked up to dance in the wind, he waves you on.

The projection distorts slightly as Jack, Trixie and the Fool pass through it into the tea house.

Inside:
Matrix terminals and jackpoints line the walls, with users sipping on tea as they chat amongst themselves. Most people are using trode nets to keep their hands free while they talk animatedly with companions. Others are in full simsense gear, visible behind small privacy screens as their bodies lay back in ergonomic chairs.

Kicking off his shoes before walking on the tatami mats, the Fool steps up to the central bar, a circular desk in the middle of the room. Three boys in their late teens are working, watching the various terminals and making tea. Ordering a pot of tea, the Fool heads over to a low table and kneels down in front of it watching the door.

Jester parks the van across the street and half a block down. He waits patiently for a large vehicle to pass buy before flipping some virtual switches and having the paint job change to a soft beige. The transponder also shifted to a new identity.

Chameleon job done he leaned back and put his mind into his drone. The launch was flawless and soon he had the freefall sensation as the rotor kicked in and carried him into the air. He parked it a hundred feet up and at an angle he could see inside the the entrance to the Tee house. Occasionally he put it in standbye and did an active sensor sweep.

Trixie follows in right behind The Fool, following his lead and removes her shoes as well, thankful that she'd taken a shower just moments before. Nothing like skinky feet to make a girl blush. She kneels down next to The Fool, tucking her legs under her small form.

Jester:
Within the Firebat, you extend your senses over the building that the team is moving into. The heightened electronic fingers comb through the delicate field created by the holoprojection to note cameras and a well-hidden MAD sensor system. It is obvious that the owner of the establishment keeps tabs on who brings weapons into the tea house, even if they don't stop them.

Down the street, two teenagers and a woman in her mid-thirties step up out of the train station. They move awkwardly in their bodies, as if unsure how to manipulate the flesh and muscle.

Well thats odd...

"Calisto, we have a problem, possible tangos aproaching from the west, 100 meters. I can't put my finger on it but it is just weird. My first thought is zombies. Like that thing in the room. Didn't we talk about this AI taking over people?"

Jesters virtual finger hovered over the vans safety unlocks for the big gun. Though he hated to kill someone who wasn't in control of themselves.

Hearing the machinery in the van click, Donovan starts from staring at the floor of the van and asks, "Is something going on?"

Jack follows the pair in, mimicing the Fool's actions to maintain some sense of propriety. He certainly had no idea how one acted in a place like this.

"Thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out." Calisto pauses at the door, saying to the group. "Save me a seat, I need to make a quick call, be right back" She digs out her phone and dials her voice mail and lingers outside the tea house.

"Odd...guess I'll go take a look-see." Nanashi commented before slipping astral to go take a look at these oddities, leaving his body slumped in its seat in the safety of the van.

Calisto:
The voice mail connects and responds by telling you there are no new messages. All three otaku pass you as uncomfortable in their skin as they seemed at a distance. There is an odd sensation in your gut, as if these three should all have been more graceful and robust, but they gave it up for another choice.

Nanashi:
Shedding your skin and pressing out of the protective layers of steel that the van offers, you step out on to the street. The city calls to you and the Sun welcomes you home with its warm embrace. You watch the three incoming people, each aura is vibrantly colored with blackened spots at different locations.

Calisto accesses the comms for the team. They do seem odd, I'll follow them in and keep them under my thumb. Be ready to evac the team if needed but let's avoid loud if possible. She finishes up her mock conversation with a jaunty "Bye hun!" and heads back into the tea house, grabbing a table a near Trixie and Jack.

Jack settles in with the comfort of someone oblivious to whatever social faux paus he may be making, glancing around and keeping an eye on the door.

Inside:
As your assassin seats herself within a dart's throw of the matrix based members of your team, the three awkward otaku move forward and seat themselves across from the Fool.

They look over the three of you seated at the table and their gaze settles on Trixie.

"We came because he called and there are many favors which we owe being forgiven here. What is it that you want and why should we allow it?"

Outside:
The street is quietly continuing on at its same pace, unknowingly watched and unaware of the danger that your team poses should you take action.

Say the word if you need help. Jester and I have the van secure. No one is going to get us with his guns and my magic. Be careful, and good luck. Keep us posted, Donovan says over the comm channel.

He settles back and looks out a window, waiting.

Simple and to the point. Fine, I can play like that too.

Trixie straightened her back, and locked eyes with each of the fellow Otaku in turn.

"I need access to a Resonance Well. My need is great. I can't go into details here, but we face something that could end up being on the scale of what happened at the Arc. I need to dive."

I don't like this guys, not at all. Get what you need and get out of there fast. Donnovan, can you move to the street and give more direct support of needed. The windows on the Tea house are to tinted to cast through I imagine, or for me to see through to shoot accurately.


Jester puts the Firebat in hover and reverts his conciseness to the rig. Revving the engine he turns out into traffic and parks the van opposite of the Tea house. Situated so he can provide fire support with the turret if needed he resumes direct control of the drone.

Inside:
The eldest otaku, waves over to one of the boys at the central bar.

"Kinshen, can we get a privacy section?"

The boy, apparently named Kinshen, brings over a small terminal laced with hitcher jacks.

"We can speak safely in there. You will not dive if you cannot convince us the need is great."

With that, the three otaku lean forward and jack in.

The Private Room:
Here all three otaku sit at a table almost identical to the one you were at in the tea house. They appear vibrant, full of life, and comfortable.

Outside:
Tension sings through the van as the rigger subconsciously lets his emotions flood through the machine.

Jack arches a brow at Trixie and Nanashi, but reaches down and jacks in with them.

He appears in his stylized sharp edged cowboy persona. He leans back a bit and shifts the shades up to his head, letting the Otaku see his eyes.

Trixie settles into the host and smiles, this is a much better place to meet... ok, best to start off blunt.

"First, let me start with a question of my own. Do you know of All-Father?"

The Private Room:
"We have heard whispers spoken in the darker corners of our world. Deus and Mirage are also spoken of in such places, are you suggesting that this All-Father has awoken and found a brave new world in which to play?"

Inside:
A wide selection of teas and light snacks scroll by on a digital menu for Calisto. The Fool leans forward and plugs a cable in, joining the private conversation area. A quick glance is shot over to the assassin as he slides his speaking device, the frankensteinian collection of electronic bits fused to a cell phone, into his pocket. The device is still connected to a second datajack in the Fool's arm.

"He has more than woke, he is moving... and strong. Two Otaku tribes have already fallen to him. Perhaps you heard of the one in Russia? The wickedness he has in the works is on the level with Deus...

New BTLs have hit the street, developed by All-Father. He uses them to control people. The chips aren't just BTLs, but also have C2 components and a wireless uplink in them. We're not sure on all the details, but it seems he is using this army of chipheads to power himself. He is also going after Otaku tribes, recruiting them. If they don't join, he sends assassins in. I've already been attacked twice...

He has someone in the meat world, his main puppet. We're trying to track him down to see what we can get from him. I need to take a dive, to learn the Echo of Traceroute. Please, allow me this. Who knows how far reaching this evil can get. This could end up being more of a disaster than the Arc, I was there! But All-Father isn't traped in a single building, he is roaming the world. We must stop this."

Calisto gives the appearance of struggling over a menu choice before deciding on one. She begins to dig around through her coat pockets, appearing to be looking for something. Using the movement, she scans arround looking for any physical threat to the team.

Inside:
Scanning the room, Lady Death finds each possible exit while noting the weapons that her teammates have hidden on their persons. No one seems to be paying special attention to the group Calisto is watching over. A few boys are paying special attention to her however, jabbing each other in the ribs and pressuring one another to advance.

The Private Room:
"We would like to help you, but if this danger is so great, how can you assure us that our tribe will not be placed in danger for assisting you? The resonance wells are rare things, we do not wish harm to come to it or our tribe."

"I wish it no harm as well. Not only are they rare, but they are also precious. I have a team working with me, I am sure they would be will to help guard the location."

The Private Room:
"Take us to meet your team. If we agree that they are not a danger to our tribe, we will give you what you ask."

Outside:
Jester begins scanning the airwaves to pick up transmissions. The tea house and matrix cafe is alive with wireless communication inundating the air with invisible strands of data.

Though he wasn't seeing anything out of the ordinary in astral, he was still concerned. He decided to head on in to the tea house to keep an astral eye on things. If there were any in the group who would notice him, he would explain himself. After all, it was as much for the otakus' protection as it was for his companions.

Over Trixie's comm, she sends out to the team. "All team, move into the Tea House. Non-hostile, they just want to meet the people that will be protecting them while I'm using their Resonance Well."

Trixie then says in the chatroom, "If you'd just log out, I've called them all in to meet with you."

Crap.

Trix, you want me in there as well? I don't think thats such a good idea. Inside the building I wont be able to cover you from external threats.

"Come on in and keep everything on remote controll. I don't want to slip anything up here, so lets have them meet everyone face to face."

Trixie logs out.

Dangit.

Jester piped his voice over the open Vans intercom, "ok everyone is going in, be on guard."

There was no way for him to remote his drone and be effective inside at the same time. So he made the hard call of docking it. He did however leave all the vans systems on standbye. It would only take a moment to use the RC deck to jack in and take over the van from inside the tea house. Of course a moment could be the difference between life and death.

Packing the Glock in his artificial leg, and UMP in his coat, Jester unplugged the deck from rig. The vehincle continued to hum with power as its powerplant stayed on.

He slid out of the drivers side and made his way across the busy street. He limped into the tea house, his leg giving him trouble again, and foudna seat near the door.

"I'm in," he said over the comm channel.

Already in the neighborhood, and disliking the idea of everyone coming in before they knew just what was so odd with these people, Nanashi manifested next to Trixie. "You called?" he said with a smile.

Inside:
The boys cajoling each other to approach Calisto fall suddenly quiet as Nanashi manifests in the middle of the tea house. Everyone in the open room turns at the sight of a real projecting mage. A sight common in sixth world movies was now happening right in front of their eyes.

All three otaku are initially taken aback by the blatant display of magic and then they begin to squirm and shift uncomfortably as they realize that everyone in the room is looking in their direction.

With the entire team in the tea house, the newcomers spread along the periphery of the crowd, no one notices the shift in the balance between Innocent and Criminal. Focusing completely on the projecting shaman, the youths and middle-class people of Tokyo slowly rise from their seats. Cautiously and then all together people begin coming over to talk with the spectral form, ask questions "Does it hurt to leave your body? How long can you do it? What do I look like in Astral Space?" and invariably some of them reach out to try and touch him.