Trixie glances around through glazed eyes. "Ye.. Yes. I think so. I have never been through one so rough though."

She pauses for a minute, then seems to focus and center herself. "What day is it and where do we stand with everything?"

Jack and Nanashi
Sorting through the data, you notice several points of intricate programming woven into the generic code from automated factories. It's more the signature of the programmer and an eloquence of code than the actual effect that draws your attention. Something re-routed a small percentage of parts from Renraku's standard CT automation to a subset of machines.

If you didn't know that you are looking for BTL chips, the process would have slid right past you. The chips are assembled on multiple machines, transferred from one to another just long enough for a single component to be hardwired in. You suspect that they are being filtered out through the automated test. Hardcoded programming creates a null response and they are placed into refuse to be recycled for component parts.

During the recycling program, the BTLs are sorted out and shipped to distributors. Overall the loss of revenue is insignificant because the chips are only using peripheral devices and silicon rather than undergoing the time consuming cook processes and claiming expensive processors.

Jack whistles softly, surfacing long enough to check on Trixie and wait for the attention of the rest of the team.

He goes over the process in detail, explaining how it's all happenening right under the noses of the corps, with 'Raku pretty much in the dark.

"There's a style, a tone, to the programming, if ya' will, that ah think is All-Father's signature."

Trixie is up in an instant and seated next to Jack. She quickly plugs into one of his hitcher jacks, "Show me."

He does so, running through the coding and the entire process on a whiteboard in the small cabin that represented his deck.

Donovan speaks quietly to Calisto, "I hope we can use this signature to track All-Father. When this situation comes to a head, I wonder how much help you or I will be. We'll have to guard their bodies while those three fight in the Matrix, I suppose."

"True but I'm more concerned at what resources the All-Father has out here. With these BTLs he could muster a small army to shut them down." Cailsto moves further away from the deckers as they talk, continuing her conversation with Donovan. "We made need to pick a place for them to do their work from that's slightly more fortified than usual. Keep track of their plans while I check in with Jaron." She moves off a little further and plugs into her phone, with a few mental commands to dial their employer.

Jaron?Hi, me again. Ok have a little more free time to talk now, I just want to apologize for the rude ending last time. We've met with some investors I think got what we wanted and we should be moving on to the main project very soon. We meet need a better equipped place to do the work though. There's more to this one than we thought at first. Any ideas?

Picking up on the conversation Jester speaks up to Cal.

"We could go back to Seattle, my hangar is pretty secure as well as remot."

Calisto:
Good to hear from you. We are catching the flight home in six hours. We're all stretched a little thin here, on the other side of the puddle I may be able to wrangle up what you need. Come by the Ranch and we'll see what we can brainstorm.

That's probably the best place to get this thing off the ground. Let me check with the rest of the sales team. Moving back to the main body of the group, Calisto motions to get everyone's attention. "I've got Jaron on the line here and he has a spot for us to do the big dive into the matrix at. We're going to need a little extra security in case the All-Father decides to send some of its meat puppets to interfere. I say we take him up on the offer, it would mean heading back to Seattle for that part of the job." She waits for the replies from the others.

"I am all for going back to the Emerald city."

Jack waves a hand, his own non-verbal agreement as he continues poring over the code fragments from what they suspect is the All-Father.

"When do we leave?"

Donovan says, "Alright then. We should leave as soon as we are able."

Calisto switches back to the call.

Ok looks like we're all agreed. Any chance we can arrange the same travel plans as last time with your people?

Calisto
My people can make arrangements for travel. Are the foreign investors sending any of their people back with our family?

Nanashi frowns at the mention of traveling to Japan. None of his jobs thus far had entailed leaving the country. But...he had contracted into this. And he doubted he could just opt out of this now, and expect to be unaffected. "I've heard stories of Seattle...guess now I get to go see if any of them are true."

Funny you should mention that, we do have some of their team joining us. I think it would be a great chance for us to brainstorm and compare notes.

Calisto turns to the local talnet. "We can get arrangements for the local talent to join us."

Jack surfaces.

"Hey, how much time do we have before we have ta' pack up? ah could definitely use more time to analyze this code, and it wouldn't hurt to check around the Matrix and see if anyone else is noticing weird stuff with chip heads and Otaku recently."

Calisto
Understood, I'll see what I can do about travel arrangements and be in touch.

Ten minutes pass, and the phone quietly chirps once again.

It's me again. If everyone is comfortable with first class, we can leave in just under six hours. Though anyone who wants to fly coach or check oversized baggage won't be able to leave until mid-day tomorrow.

Calisto passes the flight info out while wrapping up the conversation with Jaron.

Thanks, once again you've been perfect from start to finish. See you at the office.

Turning to the group, she moves to begin packing the few things she had out back into her bags.

"So everyone should be packing. Decide which flight you're taking and we'll make arrangements."

Jack shrugs, looking things over.

"Assuming Hafiz can handle mah pistols again, first flight is fine with me."

"Got it. Any one else?" Calisto turns to make sure the rest of the team has a chance to answer before moving on to the next bit of packing. A thought seems to pass across her face. "Are we bringing the Fool with us?"

"I think I would prefer to stay here. Call for me, my people will be ready when the time comes."

That same dismbodied voice from the cellphone calls out as the Fool looks up from the pile of electronic bits that he has been toying with while you make your plans.

Donovan replies to the question posed, "I'll need to go at mid day. This case is too large to carry on most planes. I won't leave it behind. I have other luggage in my hotel room as well."

With travel arrangements made, the team settles in to do some work before the flight. You drop Donovan off at his hotel so that he can pack and get ready for his flight out the mext afternoon.

Hafiz goes over the specifics of where he wants the van parked so that it will arrive on the otherside without delay. He passes out tickets for first class that correspond with the names you gave him for travel papers.

Donovan
Instructions are waiting for you when you arrive back at your room. You are told to pack everything and send it with the driver that comes by in four hours. Seven hours after that you will be picked up by two fairly bulky elves with tatoos on their inner wrists. You will have to be sedated for the duration of the trip but when you come to, you should be in Seattle.

Donovan follows the instructions he is given. He leaves his case and robe in Jester's van to be sure that they will arrive in Seattle. Following the instructions he was given, Donovan gives his travel bag with toiletries and changes of clothing to the driver, and then he waits for the elves that were mentioned to arrive.

Calisto tries to enjoy the free time before and during the flight. Taking some time to catch up on the little things. She makes a point to stop at the gift shop to select a few choices presents for family back home. Feeling both alien and reassured by this everyday activity, she selects a small silk scarf and a tea set.

Donovan
True to Hafiz's word, two elves that look like they eat huge bloody steaks for breakfast rather than dandelions, come knocking on your hotel door. One of them extends his hand to shake yours. Gripping it tightly, he slaps a tranq patch on the back of your hand. His companion then steps forward and places two more on your neck just below each ear. Slowly the toxins overwhelm you and you slip under...

Team
The first class accomodations that Hafiz arranged are as excellent as before. Reading material and drinks are provided to you as well as open matrix access. The brochure guarantees complete discretion and 100% privacy, but you know better than to delve into the dark places.

Hours pass by in programming and light conversation. Stewardesses offer sleeping aids to help ensure that you are fully rested and your circadian rhythms reset by the time you arrive in Seattle.

Donovan
Your drug induced sleep is fitful as flashes of pain and agony wrack your mind but it can't fight past the shield of pharmaceuticals to come to the conscious surface.

Team
Landing at SeaTac, you quickly pass through customs, each slotting your identicard for processing. You are immediately asked to declare any imports over 100 or fruits and persihable goods.

Once your luggage is in tow, Hafiz nods to Jester. The rigger and his employer head off in direction of a waiting car.

Jack shoulders the bulletproof case containing his deck, and heads out for a shower and a quick cab ride to the ranch.

Pausing to make sure every member of the team is off safely from the airport, Calisto flags down a cab to head for dowtown. She leans against the glass, looking out over the city as the cab makes its way through the traffic. A look of distance consumes her features. She starts when the cab reaches a tall glass and steel tower of condos. She pays as the doorman moves to take her luggage from the trunk. She nods and smiles to the doorman, speaking with a little French accent as she leaves instructions to have some packages mailed to addresses.

Taking the elevator up she exits and turns down a hall to a small door. Opening the door, she steps in shooing a slender cat from the door with a gentle push from her foot. The room is done simply with an understated elegance. Leather with silver tones dominate. Small bits of art have been scattered about like confetti. She pasues to listen to messages on her machine. Several people calling about various social events. The opera, a gallery opening, and a reading are rattled off.

She moves to the kitchen, reaching into the fridge to remove a partial eaten can of tune that she leaves on the counter for the cat. Looking around she breathes deeply.

Home again....

Jester quietly follows Hafiz. His thoughts linger on the man, and his unswavering loyalty to the Johnson. Jester had met a few men in his life, very few, who commanded such loyalty. At least few who were deserving of it.

Jester:
The van immediately responds to your digital call and rolls around to the front of the airport. Loading in with Nanashi, the two of you notice the immediately obvious containment coffin laying across the center of the floor. The control panel indicates that it is still in use.

::Day 6 1435::

After attending to the small things of day to day life, the team meets back up at Jaron's ranch. Cleaning crews have been through to set right furniture that had been knocked over in the attack and sweep. All hints of blood have been removed and carpenters have repaired the wall and doorjamb where bullets had embedded themselves. If not for the fresh coat of paint and your own memories of the attack, it would be possible to pretend that nothing ever happened. Though Falcone will probably never forget the fact that he could walk until events less than a week ago transpired.

A ramp has replaced the two stairs that used to lead into the side kitchen near the stables but the half door has the top open and the smell of coffee and chocolate chip cookies mixes with fresh cut grass and tilled earth.

It’s good to be back in the UCAS. Nice place Tokyo, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Jester rested near the window with a good view of his van. He glanced out every once in a while to check on things with his Mark 1 sensors. Occasionally he hopped into the Firebat to look around. Currently it was hovering 200 meters in the air above the ranch, rotating at about 2 revolutions a minute. Only the passive sensors were on and it was running in 'quiet mode'.

"So Scooby gang, what the next move?"

Calisto leans against the counter, admiring the open space of the ranch. "I think the next step is in the hands of our matrix savy set." She looks to the deckers and the otaku woman, eyebrows raised.

Jack tips the hat back a little on his head, looking around at the rest of the group after tucking the reinforced case under his chair.

"Well, we've got the data we need to shut down production of the BTL's, for the short term, at least. The Otaku know what's going on, and they're planning on helping out. Ah say we finish hawking this info off to the highest bidder and shine up our shoes. This here particular project's gonna be a doozy!"

"Where is the professor? My understanding was that he should have arrived with you Jester."

Jaron glances around the room taking note of the absent mage.

"It is my presumption that you have an arrangement already for the data and will not be needing my assistance in that. I must profess some curiousity as to what progress you've made in the last several days. Is it still your belief that All-Father was responsible for Zeidel's murder?"

"Proffessor? What are you talking about?"

"Mr. Donovan is a professor of Magical Theory and Thaumaturgy from Texas," Jaron replies.

"Oh, he's around here somewhere, I think. He didn't make any arrangments to ride with me though. I just rode with," he points a thumb at Hafizz," him. As for new developments, it would be best to talk to the Cowboy or Trixie, they understand whats going on a lot better than this old man."

Calisto arches an eyebrow while hearing about the lost and found mage in their party. "Since this part revolves around the wire and chip set, why don't I check on Donovan?" She moves through the kitchen, working her way towards Hafiz. She spares a look to Jaron, she found herself oddly moved by his change in circumstance. Moving near the rigger, but taking a care not to violate his personal space. "So what were the arangements with his entry into the country?"

"He was to be placed in a containment coffin, much as Biomage used on the way out. There, he would be shipped via suborbital--it is the only way to have the gear arrive when it is necessary. The coffin is needed because all cargo is kept in zero G without atmosphere. His coffin should have been placed inside of Jester's van, but if that is not the case I must do some checking."

The Arabic man excuses himself and moves into the deeper sections of the ranchhouse, probably to make phonecalls in private.

"Oh, ha. That, I htought it just had gear in it, yeah hes in the van. Now that was an alzhiemers moment. Lets go wake him up."

Hafiz, Jester, and Calisto head out to the van. Moments later, they have the decompression sequence run and help Donovan to sit up.

"There will be some remaining residue of the drugs, but that should pass quickly."

"My apologies Donovan." Calisto looks honestly embarassed by the laspe. "We should have had you up and out sooner."

Donovan yawns when the lid of the coffin opens. He sits up slowly and exclaims, "What dream I've had!"

Looking perplexed, he says, "Why do I feel so weak?"

"It could be the after effects of the sedative you were given." Calisto jogs back to the house, grabbing her pack and returning to Donovan. Kneeling down she quickly digs out a med kit and begins to examine him for any complications. "But let's be sure."

"You look fine, there some toxins still in your system but that's no surprise. I am not seeing anything that would indicate an allergic reaction." Calisto packs the kit away. "Walk it off, you may just be feeling the effects of the sedation along with the physical inactivity."

Hafiz leads them back inside as Jaron continues on.

"Trixie, Jack, how long will it take for you to barter off your information? Also, what proof have you gathered that the All-Father was behind Zeidel's murder?