After dropping off his sister at the shop, Chester heads to the campus.
Upon arival he almost gets a pure high off the energies of the place.

Woah....

He mindlinks to his spirit:
Alright, good spirit. What I need you to do is keep a close eye on myself and the others Ill be with. Stay on the astral. If I appear to be in danger, resuce me. Understand?

Flash stashes his weapons in the hidden compartment in his apartment. I hate to go in unarmed, but that's the nature of the beast some days.

He made his way on foot out of the Mckinney Warrens, since the buses don't run there. Once across the tracks, he made his way to the bus stop. Two connections later and he was stepping on to campus. His first stop was the campus book store.

Looking in the mirror, he admired the new sweatshirt. One step closer to blending. The campus wasn't a regular spot for him, but he had assisted in an eviction or two of cheap rentals just off campus for Jack Morgan.

After grabbing burrito, he made his way to the quad to stake it out a little early for the meet. Taking a wide circle around the quad, he begins to mentally inventory the mingling students as best as possible looking for anyone who stands out as well as his team mates. After a circle, he enters the quad a few minutes ahead of the scheduled time.

<<@Team [Flash] Anybody got anything?>>

The elf looks up at the gathering team and motions for them to sit down. "You boys look hungry; care to join us? Who's kid brother is the squirt?"

Chester raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms.

Speakin of squirt, why dont I make you're neck do that after Ive fed your head to the spirit I have at my command?

The elf laughs a bit. "Ooo, the big bad mage-boy is gonna hurt me. I'm so frightened," she says with dripping sarcasm.

The human adds, "Cool your jets. You aren't the only one with power here. Not to mention, you wouldn't want to kill your employer would you?"

Dont tempt me.

Flash steps up, smiling at the Johnsons "Piss and vinegar." He turns his head to Chester as he passes, scowling. "They are full of it." He then turns back to the Johnsons, smiling again. "I apologize, we seem to be getting off on the wrong foot." He extends his hand, "They call me Flash."

With a straight face she says, "You can call me, Mr. Johnson. I was under the impression that there would be more of you. Are we ready to start?"

Steve ambles over and drops his ass on the ground in front of Flash and Chester and the Johnson. "There are more of us. We just like to keep you on yer toes. Hey, fellas what's shakin'?"

The young woman is non-pulsed. "Very well, let's get down to business. If you need more people then you are on your own dime for that." She pulls a pair of latex gloves from her purse and then extracts actual paper from a book. "Here are the pertinent details. As you can see, the target is a student here on campus. Please note that this is not wetwork. That would break the accords. However, feel free to ruff him up a little. We need data from his group's network here on campus. So, send him a message and extract some data. Should be simple enough. Questions?"

Chester raises a skeptical eyebrow.

Why?

Turning to her friend she says, "Isn't he cute!" She turns back to Chester and says, "Let's just say he isn't playing by the rules and we want to have the tar and feathers ready when the time comes."

I get why we're doin the job, I suppose the roughin him up is for the same reason? Well, Im down to steal the work, but as far as hurting the guy, Im not on board with that. No matter how you want to spin it kids, it is, in fact, Wet work.

Chester looks to the male of the two.

Our reps are our entire network of things. Once the word gets out that we did something like that for the two of you, then thats the kind of work we'll be getting from now on. And Im not particularly interested in such jobs. Now, that Ive given you your first lesson in being an easier Johnson to deal with, Ill get down to bussiness. What are we lookin at as far as pay?

MITNick shoots a message over their group network, monitoring from the van.

Keying on his commlink :Note to Self: Have Flash start meets from now on:

<<<<<To : Team {MITN}
Hey this seems straight forward enough. Flash, tell the kid to stop antagonosing the other kids , and get off the damn protein/testosterone shakes.

College kiddie network should be easy enough. If these guys are this bad, I'm guessing our target will piss him off enough that chester will want to rough him up 'fore we're through.

Ask about price. And any intel they've got on the network. Hardware or programmers preferrably. >>>>>

Why?

The words echoed in his head. He looked over at Chester, then back to Johnson as she replied. When Chester started talking again, Flash clamped a meaty hand down on his shoulder. The more he talked, the more Flash squeezed. He looks to Johnson quipping with a smile "He really does have his uses."

He then puts on his serious face, "Roughing up means a a lot of things. In certain hoods a guy never walks straight after one of those. In others a few bruises and a bloody nose suffice. Then there is always the matter of retribution: Is he a frat boy? Daddy a corp? How much heat will be coming back? Perhaps a packet on the target would be a good place to start."

<<@Team [Flash] Are you sure you want to work through their IT guys?>>

She licks the grape juice off her finger rather suggestively. "Smarter than the average bear aren't you? Here's your data packet." Again she reaches into the large book - which on second glace looks more like an art folio - and pulls out a dark yellow envelope and passes it to Flash.

"Right, thanks toots. Now the other fun question. Which you haven't answered yet." Steve smiles his weasel's smile. "How much?"

<<<<<@TEAM[MITN] Let's scan their intel first, then I'll see what I can dig up in the quick few minutes it'll take for the Kid to piss them off and you to difuse it again.


Let's keep the "roughing up" as a "by needs" basis, unless the little cuss is as annoying as these two, or they pay extra.>>>>

The other girl pipes up at this point, "Five up front plus ten on the back end. There could be a bonus if you keep it really quiet."

Toots? I've spend way too much time with Regina when that makes me cringe.

As Steve pushes the money question way too soon, John turns his head towards the young man.
<<@Team [Flash] These two are killing me here. Next time the kids stay in the car. And if anyone accepts this offer without a little debating it, the damn flowers will grow really good on campus this year.>>

John/Flash takes the packet, opening it to take a look at the data within. The money question was already on the table, asked and initially answered so I'll have to work from that. He doesn't respond to or even really acknowledge her response to payment, yet.

MITNick however, does notice money. Flash is way to cool for school.


<<<<<<@TEAM[MITN] That's a lot of cred for a hack and maybe a little rough stuff. They could pay a bunch o' bums a hundred bucks to roll the kid, and a decent decker a grand to do the work. There's gotta be more here if they've got a whole team. Gotta know more about this kid and the data. Fifteen is good money, but I'm seein' little red flags all over this pair.>>>>

Chester stands there with his arms folded, slightly scowling and half smiling, attempting to put on a face at the the two collage students. The only thing keeping his mouth shut is the crushing hand of Flash on his shoulder.

Mindlink to Flash:
Ill keep quiet, so unless you want your arm to end at the elbow, Id suggest removing your hand. Ill give a visual, A hot dog thats been overcooked in the microwave. Soka, chummer?

The other girls smiles and pipes up, "Thoughts?"

Flash smiles at the kid's spell. He is impressive and the tactical considerations of the spell play through his mind. He is not so distracted that he forgets to release his hand. He pats the kid on the shoulder, then pulls it back. "I think we have a mutual understanding."

"I have to assume that for that pay, there is a message that will accompany the beating.... and that someone not on these documents will be looking to stop that beating?"

Both smile broadly. "Yes. That would be a good assumption. However, that is why you are getting paid - to avoid the ... other someones. If there is nothing else, we have class."

{Steve@Team/Flash: Look if you would let me do my JOB, this would be SO much easier. Scan?}
"We'll be quick doll face. Last few I swear. As has been said this is too much cred for little work. How bad you this guy hurt? Permanent, fixable? Thou, what ain't these days. An' How do we know you ain't gonna drop a dime to the Blue when we're done?" Steve presses quickly.

"My, aren't you the questioning type? As I said, a little roughed up - just enough to send a message. You don't actually have to say anything to him - he'll know where the beating is coming from. Nevertheless, leave him in once piece and fixable by normal means. A martyr won't help us. As for police involvement, you have my word as a Southern Lady."

<<<@Team{MITN} Let's just get this over with. Get a straight answer outta this slitch on something. I'm way to tempted to see if their competition is any less a jack ass with maybe a similar amount of cred to burn. Wanting all the info might be asking for a bit much but this slitch ain't told us a damn thing about this job she supposedly wants done.

Glad you guys are the ones that have to do the talking. I'd have rubbed my cigar out in that punks face by now.>>>>




Of course MITNick knows there's no way he'd actually have enough malice to do something as vicious as all that to a couple of damn kids but he'd definitely blow smoke in their faces. He contents himself with the mental image.

haha... cough you bastards cough! Hehehe...

MITNick gets a headache while threading the data-search form. After a few unusual hits - an elf porn star from the Tir and a Chinese ork ganger from the CAS - he is able to narrow the focus down to a student named Timothy R. Stevens. He is a grad student in computer science and the president of the Student Council.

Runs Data Search on the 'lad' , a quick one cycle through, to see what else he can bring up on him, then forwards it to the team for instant review. Allow the rest of the Search to cycle through, so we can have more intel to pore over later.
4 hits

<<<<@TEAM[MITN} Looks like this is our kid. Running a search to see what other bullets of interest there might be.>>>
<<DATA PACKET SENT>>



MITNick shoots out a quick packet for CrewRevue, giving them a bit more of the story and background to handle the negotiations.

Let the J stew for a while. If they're late, maybe they'll letsomething slip. DAMN I need something for this headache.

Once the packet is sent, he slips out of full VR for a moment to gulp down a few NERPS to silence the pounding in his head.

{Steve@Team: Miss J/Thing is doing this on purpose y'all. She thinks she's bein cute. Call her on it? Or we good? Nick, them toy's o yers any good on who She is?}

<<<@Team{MITN} Frag her and bein' in a hurry. This is business. Don't let her rush ya man.

I hesitate to scrag up data on our J though, even if she is a pain. Just bad form if ya' ask me, but if you all think we need it, say the word. Flash?>>>>

{Steve@Team: Naw, shes being cute and evasive on purpose. Thought J wasn't supposed to do that? I'm just looking fer whats drivng her. I'm goin' fer 6K, any objections?}

Steve smiles and feels the surge of mana through his skin. It causes a slight ache in his cyber. "Well we don't wanna keep such a pretty little Southern Lady from her classes. Now for your safety and ours, we kin only take cash. That's Scrip or credstick. Flash Do the honours would ya?"

Flash was lost in thought for a minute, allowing Steve the opportunity to drop in a few comments. Flash let them pass, focusing instead on Johnson. "Ok, I think we are clear."

Once the data packet is received, the angle becomes clearer.
<<@Team [Flash] Ok. We got her angle. Let's find this kid, scout his escorts and find a place to smack him, collect our pay and go home..>>

"I think all that is left is to finalize the terms. As I understand the offer on the table: Five upfront, ten on the back end and a bonus for discretion." He looks to one side and then the other. "Our expenses run a little high.. What with manner lessons for the boys and the need to keep our IDs clean....." and Flash enters into a few minutes of subtle negotiating..

<<<<@Team/Flash[MITN} Check out that packet, see if it's got any intel on the network location. If not, , Steve-o, ask the chick. Hell of a lot easier if she can give us some intel on it.>>>

<<<<Steve@Team/MITN: Can do, can you check the net? Beating boy should rate a blog or some such. Either way we need to trail his ass afore we beat it. Flash Lemme know when yer done.>>>>

<<<<@Steve-0[MITN} Sure, after we're done with the meet. Find out about the tech end.>>>>

Flash connects slaves the optical chip to his com.
<<@MITN [Flash] Scan that and tell me what we have there... and if it has the matrix details you are looking for.>>

<<<<@Flash [MITN}Looks like a lot of stuff that would be useful or stalking and jumping this kid. Nothing I see on their sys. Not even an outside link. What, they want us to beat it out of 'em ? They should at least be able to tell us where there's an outside link or where the hardware is at.>>>>

The data she first mentioned finally clicks for Flash. He'd been so preoccupied with the physical aspect that he'd missed that.
"Ok. The kid should be easy enough to find and deliver a message to. Lets talk about 'his group's network here on campus' and the 'data' you want from it. We're gonna need more details than that to insure that we don't end up bringing a research paper or something."

"Oh, hell. Here." One of the girls hands the other a 10 nuyen coin.

"Well, well. You are smarter than you look. Or you have friends. Meh, either way, here." She flips you another chip with her still gloved hand.

<<<<@Flash{MITN} Slitch.>>>>

Flash catches the chip, looking maybe a moment to long at the one who lost the bet.
<<@Team [Flash] Some days and some slitches you just wanna pull train on her ass with a dozen of your hardest swinging buddies.>>

Flash accesses the chip so that MITN can inspect the contents. He's not sure about some of the technical specifications, but he knows high-rent.
<<@Team [Flash] Shhhhiiiiiaaatttt. I'm not so sure an ass whooping is gonna stop a boy making this kinda yen... but hey, we're just paid to whip a little ass then disappear.>>

<<<<<@Team[MITN] 15 is good money for a serious run. This could be a big one for us rep wise, we pull it off right. Don't know who this slitch is, or how she figures in exactly, but we pull the job right, could look real good for us. I say negotiate for more upfront money on principal o' trying to jerk us around and being a damn slitch. You gotta pay if you ain't got the chops for bein' disrespectful. 'Cause honestly, i've about had it with these two and I'm about at the line o' unleashin' Chester-boy.

Pro or no go Flash. That's my vote. We do the run, and no more jerkin around.>>>>

After reading the message, Chester's eyes lower on the two. His lips part, revealing a very disturbing, very evil-looking grin.

Flash gets the message from MITNick. He raises his right hand to his face, cupping his chin, rubbing his cheek in thought. "So that's the real rub." He lowers his hand, smiling. He addresses the winner of the bet. "This was kinda undersold." He turns to the loser of the bet, "Considerably undersold." He takes a semi-dramatic pause before continuing. "My team is considerably.... Let's just use the word concerned. The jury is still out, but the current thought is this job is underpaid."

"Well, shit. Here." The girls hands her friend the 10 nuyen coin plus another.

"You're better than your reps would have indicated - that's good to know. We'll flip your payment: ten up front with five on the backside. You still get the bonus for being quiet. And, now . . . . some information. You are up against a man who makes most corporate security guys green with envy. He's smarter than anyone I know about systems but still manages to be naive and clueless with life as well as being soft and squishy. He's protected by a few thugs from the S-K guys - looks like he's about to unveil his new security protocols. Get them for me ... I mean us."

She proffers yet another chip with details on the thugs.

<<<<<@Team [ MITN} Uppin' the upfront pay? That strike you as a little odd? I mea, I like havin' money in the bank as much as the next guy, more pro'lly. Just seems odd that they'd bet more on us succeededin', instead of givin' us more incentive.

This guy might be able to intimidate for information than hack his systtem ... although I'd still love to give it a go. But hey, path of least resistance right? You call Flash man. You know anything about these toughs? not really my department.>>>

Chesters eyes go wide. More then anything his frustration with the two females is almost too much for him. His mind was screaming at him to say something.

Chester puts his hands up and starts to walk away a few feet.

You handle this Flash, I cant take anymore without frying someone.

Chester takes a few breathes and paces a few yards away from the group.