Friday, January 9th 2072. O600 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council

Deet Deet Deet Deet Deet Deet

The automative alarm clock on your Novatech Airwave wakes you up at the designated time. The king-sized bed you find yourself adjusts itself to your personal settings, and compensated for your movements during the night. As a result you feel great. Your body feels rested and relaxed despite waking up early before dawn.

You find yourself in the Pacific Northwest. In the city of Vancouver. During this time of year, the sun does not rise until 8 AM, and the it promptly sets around 5 PM. The windows outside have not been programed for a certain display, thus you get a view of the city. The sky is still dark. The streets below you are empty, save for a few joggers who resemble ants running in a straight line below you.

The hotel you are staying at is a Hyatt Regency, in Downtown Vancouver, only a few blocks away from the financial district. The hotel is comprised of a bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. There is a large trideo screen on the wall facing you. It is not on. Your hotel room is on the 27th floor. Outside you notice the adjacent buildings are much smaller in nature. Only the large corporate towers in a relatively minimal distance compare to the size of the Hyatt.

Still in bed. A large augmented reality display pops right in front of you. The background and text settings are currently in blue. The display appears before you, like a personal movie, defying gravity by hovering just above the bed sheets. The voice of a male actor can be heard, as the commlink's automative voice speaks to you.

<<"Good Morning Vera. Current outside temparture 12.77 C.">>

The morning headlines read.

Street violence is beginning to calm down in Seattle, UCAS. After months of some of the worst attacks between organized crime syndicates in Seattle's history, Governor Brackhaven made a public announcement last night stating that the worst appears to be behind us. There is still speculations that these events are surrounding the new drug...Flipside.

In Lagos, Nigeria, there have been 30 deaths attributed to VITASThe city is now estimated to have 50 million in its history related to various forms of malady.

In Urban Brawl news......

<<Personal Settings>>

-You have three new voice messages from R. Donnely. This user is currently on your block list.
-The BMW 400GT you rented currently is parked in space number A22.
-The Evening Gown you ordered from Vashon Island attire is ready for pickup.
-You have a meeting with Mr. Johnson at 0800 hours at the Golden Griffin Restaurant and Dining at 0800 Hours.

There is a highlighted Green Arrow pointing to the last message on this list. This is why you've come to Vancouver. This is a job one of your fixers described it as a job that he recommended you for. And something that could make you a hefty change of nuyen.

Vera never slept well. It was not a question of assistance, for the surrounding environment sought to please in its infantile manner. Rather, she blamed her sleep regulator, it would wake her as if it was natural to only sleep for a few hours with itself synchronised by satellites across the globe to some atomic time keeping device in a mouldy basement of a disused building than to the beat of her own biological clock.

She looked out across the city, ignoring the blinking AR displays for a moment before gathering herself into who she is. She turned on to a random musical channel.

<<...Meer von Sternen, Fragen und tiefschwarzer Unendlichkeit.>>

The water in the bathroom was cold, but soothing, she filled a glass and used it to wash down her vitamin supplements. The shower with an arborial theme seeked to soothe her body as she prepared herself, with a hint of pinewood freshness.


<<Unbesonnenheit ist das Charakteristikum der Jugend, Besonnenheit das des Alters und Vorsicht ist der bessere Teil der Tapferkeit.>>

Her Novatech Navi informed her she was a tir Taingire businesswoman, which meant whispered royalty and untold money. Boredom for being the most beautiful and rich person in the hotel. Aristocracy for the haughtiness and perfect looks thanks to impeccable breeding. Shallow from station.

She looked over her face with a careful eye before mousing up her hair into its unnatural angel curls. Angel curls would be the next hottest thing in TT, or so her persona dossier explained. Applying her make-up with just a touch of promises left undone. Perhaps she had been partying all night, and simply retouched what was already there, or she liked to get a rise from her suitors. It still made her striking, the perfect face on the perfect body.

She sipped a cold frezza as walked out of the hotel elevator, business suit for a business woman, black steel heels and french stockings titilating sensuality.

The lobby was quite quiet, one Japanese businessman on his way home and two Saudis who were brazenly drunk and oggled at her, something slurred in Arabic translated into English translated into Sperethiel flashed by her vision before being blocked. She smiled a knowing smile, before slipping on a pair of polarising AR glasses and walked out the front door.

She picked the second taxi in the line, pulling her jacket tightly around her as the weather insisted on its presence for the few feet of open air. She picked an address of one of several trace mazes she had carefully studied before.

In the third taxi as it pulled in front of the Golden Griffin, the predawn glow slowly streaming in through the bulletproof lexan cage. she wondered about morality. Not her own, but that of whose she had consumed.

Friday, January 9th 2072. O755 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Beach Road.

[Looking down at the area near the Golden Griffin.]

The Golden Griffin Restaurant and Bar was located along Beach Road, in downtown Vancouver. Just a block north of the historical and opulent Grandville Island section of the city. Vera's taxi pulled alongside the Golden Griffin into a wide cobble-stoned alley. The restaurant was separated into two sections. In the inner portion and the outer portion. Looking inside the bar she could see the chairs laying upside down atop the dining tables. The sun was indeed just beginning to arise over the city. The first golden rays peaking over the mountains surrounding the sprawl.

Upon stepping out of the taxi, Vera was greeted by a bald-headed elf. His darting wide eyes examined Vera with a look of perversion. The faint neon light from the street illuminated the shadowed areas untouched by the sun, allowing the normal eye to notice the metallic left arm dangling from this man's shoulders. An obvious Cyberlimb more then a decade old. One of his eyes gleamed with an unnatural green pupil. The elf searched Vera's body with Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) as he giggled to himself while the device scanned her body. After the search, Vera was motioned towards the area behind the restaurant.



The rear of the Golden Griffin opened up into a small park overlooking False Creek, giving her a perfect view of the residential area of Vancouver. The outer dining area rested on a circular peninsula around the body of water. Various trees surrounded the tables where people would sit and eat. In the background was the shopping district located along commercial drive, and in the far distance the University of British Columbia. Men would pay hundreds of nuyen for this view. There were only a handful of tables in the outer eatery, and a dock which harbored a silver Suzuki Tsunami speedboat and a large Surfstar Freedom Yacht. Besides Vera, there were only two other figures within the vicinity. Two elves, just like her. Both of them were standing. They were both around two meters tall.

One of them approached her. This one was adorned in a black Mortimor London business suit worth at least 1500 nuyen by itself. He had short cropped hair brown in color, small lips, high cheekbones, and the bridge of his nose looked flat and smooth. He was the one to greet Vera. His commlink is on hidden mode, thus his PAN is unavailable.

[Facial Picture of Mr. Johnson. Scroll Down to Caleb Brightmore]

The other elf is wearing a long black leather duster, with matching long black hair which falls down past his shoulders. The tips of his pointed ears are just barley visible behind his mane. His skin is tanned, and his eyes are in the shape of almonds. His expression also remains neutral. He is wearing black studded leather pants, and a pair of military boots. He remains standing, leaning against railing which protects the outer eatery from the sea. This elf is not wearing a commlink.


"Greetings Vera. Accounts of your beauty have not been exaggerated." His eyes remain stoic, and his expression neutral despite his words. He walks over to kiss Vera's hand softly with his lips "Welcome to Vancouver. As you have probably surmised, my name is Mr. Johnson, and I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to have a professional meeting with another of the chosen race. Please indulge yourself this morning. The restaurant serves and refines the most cultivated Laes this north of Seattle. The honey has been distilled 30 miles north of here, and the grapes are imported from Tir Tairngire. I encourage sampling a small taste before we discuss business."

Vera inwardly sighed. If she received a nuyen for every time someone thought a perverted thought about her, she could retire to a life of idle luxury. She submitted herself to the technological wand which would not detect the small hold out pistol she was carrying, under har armpit. It was a pepperbox gun the kind that would really be useful in a last ditch attempt. Vera's opinion always was that if she needed a gun for more than intimidation it was a lost cause anyway.

He let the man rummage around in her purse, mostly out of curiosity. Men always seemed to get strange thrills from finding feminine products, irrespective if it was a make-up kit or a forgotten condom wrapper.

The two men were waiting for her at the inner part of the restaurant. It was pure power play. Power from location, position, and behaviour. She smiled as he kissed her hand, the smile was almost genuine when he mentioned the master race. She sat down at the table he gestured towards. She took off her designer AR glasses and slipped off her jacket and let it lie against the chair, her pepperbox hidden away in its folds. She sat down in the proferred chair letting her skirt ride higher, revealing more of her as she crossed her legs. She slightly leaned forward to listen to Mr Johnson, as a bottle and a glass of Laes were brought to her, idly stroking the stem of the wine glass, her mouth open just a few millimeters.

She was about to take a drink from the glass, a moment of leaning back before leaning forward again and asking, "So, what's this offer you have for me?"

All the time her thermographic vision and accompanying emotion and lie detection software suite measuring and evaluating his behaviour. Keep a man at the promise of sexual arousal and all sorts of things may let slip.

Mr. Johnson kept his apathetic eyes on Vera during her motions. She was indeed cunning. He remained calm, collected, and his heat signature remained neutral and balanced. However, the elf dressed in the black duster behind him, focused his vision on Vera's legs when she hiked up her skirt, and then on her lips when she opened them ever so slightly.

It was Mr. Johnson who spoke.

"You are a very unique Shadowrunner. A true femme fatale. Tonight there will be a festival on Grandville Island. There will be a gentlemen there who needs to be chastised for his adultery. This man also has a data chip which is of great value to me. Find him. Find the data chip, dispose of him, and then bring the treasure back to me."

He paused, without skipping a beat he continued.


"I am willing to pay you 8,000 nuyen for the entire job. Two-thousand nuyen, up front. The other six upon completion. with the possibility for a bonus depending on how clean the objective is completed. I trust you will make the right decision and pursue this endeavor."

The elf with the long black hair and the matching duster smiled for Mr. Johnson. And somewhere in the distance you can feel the bald-perverted elf salviating.

Vera looked at the Johnson and smiled a professional, but knowing smile. She placed the glass on the table and lightly ran her finger over the lip of the wine glass. She stopped for a second and asked pouting.

"Define disposed. Do you wish him simply made dead or perhaps instead humiliation followed by incarceration?"

She quirked an eyebrow at him, signaling that minor bit of displeasure when people give out vagaries that in their minds eye are specifics.

[ Judge intentions roll of Mr J. (29d6.hits(5)= ]

Vera looked behind Mr Johnson and recrossed her legs. She focused her full attention on him, her finger-nails though lightly caressing down her stockinged thigh, toying with Mr Johnson's bodyguard.

"6000 nuyen now, and the other two upon completion. Discretion is of course part of my... many services, but if I wish to acquire your bonus... ample as it may be. I may want to know how you measure the cleanliness of the objective. A simple disappearance with no questions raised is perhaps what you had in mind?"

[ Negotiation roll with the deadpan elf. (27d6.hits(5)= ]

Friday, January 9th 2072. O815 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Beach Road.



"Dead will be adequate. Feel free to entertain yourself with this project. I would hate to rob you off personal satisfaction."

Mr. Johnson noticed Vera, staring at the other elf behind him. The other Elf in return had his eyes fixed upon Vera, as if in a trance. Mr. Johnson looked back at his bodyguard, and cleared his throat. The cough, snapped the long haired elf out of his gazing. Mr. Johnson glanced back at Vera, and nodded in approval of her ability to attract one of his men.

"6000 nuyen now, and the other two upon completion. Discretion is of course part of my... many services, but if I wish to acquire your bonus... ample as it may be. I may want to know how you measure the cleanliness of the objective. A simple disappearance with no questions raised is perhaps what you had in mind?" Vera asked.

Without hesitation Mr. Johnson replied.

"It can either be simple or messy, as long as it cannot be traced back to me. Six-thousand Nuyen up front on a certified credstick. Will that suffice?"

Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulls out a gleaming black card with a silver stripe. Holding it in between two fingers, he dangles it in front of Vera.

Vera takes the cred stick from Mr. J. Perking up a bit she grins and asks, "so tell me more about this mysterious person you want disposed of."

Friday, January 9th 2072. O817 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Beach Road.


"His name is Thomas Galloway."

A beam of light emitted from her designer sunglasses as a pictured display of Galloway flashed from them. The image rotated in a circle.

[Thomas Galloway.]

While Vera studied the image. Mr. Johnson continued.


"Thomas Galloway.
Age: Thirty Years old.
Height: 1.9 meters.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue.
Occupation: Vice President of Talent Development for Shangra-La Industries. A musical subsidary for Horizon.
Married to: Nancy Galloway, three years.
Children: Nichole Galloway. Age two.
Interests: Combatbiking, Boxing, The Synth-Guitar, Piloting, the Wilderness."


The image of Galloway became enhanced, and now floated over the table, taking the size of a large hardcover book.

"Galloway is a very accomplished public speaker. He is good at what he does, and that is finding musical talent and promoting them. He is a shrewd business man, but knows when to empathize with people. One high level executive who has worked with Galloway has said and I quote. 'That man can convince me to drive my sports car through a brick wall.' He is a married man. He is also a father. We have discovered his one weakness. A healthy appetite for women. No known bodyguards, but that may have changed in the past week because of what I am trying to obtain from him...and that is the data chip. It should be circular in nature, and be able to fit in the palm of your delicate hands. That is the only description I have for the item."

Vera studied the man's picture, noting the designer worn leather jacket and prominent jaw line. He was the kind of person who was supremely confident in his abilities. Perhaps even blindlingly so. He liked taking risks, he liked the thrill of being caught. He liked using people until they were no longer needed.

"You have given me plenty of information about the... human." Vera rankled her nose, as if the thought of seducing a human was odious to her. It would pander to the Johnson's personal judgement and make his promises of a bonus more promising.

"Now I am sure you will be very busy for the rest of the day, perhaps we can meet day after tomorrow in the same place?"

Vera picked up her AR glasses and brushed her hand along the Johnson's. She picked up her coat and put on her AR glasses. the image of the man haunting on her retina for a bit, before being filed away in her disorganized file sorting method. She never threw away anything. At least nothing electronic.

Confidently she walked out of the restaurant, passing the leering cybered elf at the foyer. She gave him a sarcastic smile as she waited an uncomfertable three minutes before a taxi rolled up and she got in.

As she tried hard to ignore the pungent tandoori smell of the ork taxi driver, she made a to-do list:

<

1. Find a friend who is not a friend of Shangri-La Industries. Preferably a sound engineer or manager who wouldn't mind a bit of payback against him and the company.

After all, even in Vancouver, those who have been in the business for 20 years knows everyone and the direction to go looking for dirt.

2. Find out about what kinds of women does he like.

3. Find out about the festival this evening and how to get in.

4. Find a tamanous contact to make the body "disappear" or use a misdirection.

"The trick with any good con is making them want to walk into it. "

>


20 minutes and two taxis later she was standing in front of her rental car, commlink open talking to three different people at the same time, trying to find the perfect contacts.

She was thinking on maybe being a simstar hopeful, who would do "anything" to get famous. She would have to record a demo tape though, have it missing a synth guitar. Get a bit of a backstory going, maybe even see about an apartment she can loan for the day. Be the diamond in the rough. But first she would have to see a small time manager of a record label that had been in the big time with Thomas Galloway and still hurting from being talked into driving his sports car into a brick wall.

Friday, January 9th 2072. O850 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Cordova Street.

Vera was in Gastown. This time of the morning, this hedonistic, upper class, portion of Vancouver would be empty of people. And it was. Gastown was one of the centers of the Vancouver night life, and a section of the city filled with small antique shops, expensive clothing stores, and bars. The weather was cool and perfect. Right by the waterfront so the occasional breeze blew by.

Gastown.

Working her contacts. She was able to come up with three that would be able to help her.

1. Sunny (Male) - A troll prominent troll bouncer in Vancouver and a local. He would be able to help her identify information about the festival and connect her with a tamanous contact to dispose of the body.

2. Harrison Dane (Male) - Elf. Current trid star. Former Shadowrunner. Harrison has been working in the entertainment industry for the past twelve years. He mentioned that he has met Galloway in the past due to previous business arrangements with Horizon/Shangri-La. He might be able to help you with finding information about question one and two.

Harrison Dane. A read headed elf with slicked back hair and a pony-tail. His former trid show about an elven bounty hunter from the mid-west was canceled a few years ago. Since then he has been been working as a free lance actor and producer behind the scenes. Dane is speaking to you. Audio only.

<<"Hey sweetheart. Talk to me. Thomas Galloway? Yes I know him. Albeit not to well. We shared a few drinks and were somewhat cordial to each other. He started off as a talent scout right out of the University, so he's been in the music business for seven years. Now he's already a vice president. Not bad. He's either very talented, very cuthroat, or knows the right people.

Galloway made a few enemies when he was a young and arrogant. He was apart of a new regime that Horizon was trying to usher into their recently acquired companies. Out with the old, in with the new kinda thing. From what I know there was one lady who did not see eye to eye with Galloway or any of his superiors and thus was shown the door very fast. Her name is Delphia. After being fired, I heard that she started to denounce Horizon through the press. That is when Horizon sent a few mercs to let's just say....ruin her life. She's a BTL junkie now. I heard it's what she does to escape the pains of the past, and of the present. Here is her commlink code number. She's in Chinatown.

The type of women he likes? *Laughs* Hmm. Let me think. He has an attraction to elves, no doubt bout it. Blondes or Brunettes, take your pick. He views himself as some kind of knight in shining armor and likes to think he is protecting his conquests from their terrible lives. He's the type of guy who likes to sweep the women off their feets. Thus he likes the innocent, angelic, cute, types as opposed to the natural predator carnivors. Man. Do I know women or what?

Hope that helps Babe.">>

<<"Hi Harrison. Love to talk to you, but I am on the clock. I still need to find some magical sound engineers. I am supposed to do a demo today, but the studio is shut can you imagine that?? Help. I don't really know what to do. Any ideas??? Time is money you know and seems the money clock is ticking something fierce. Keep me on your contact list and maybe we can do some biz later on. Thanks for the tip on Delphia. I owe you one. We'll miss you on the flipside.">>

Vera is at the same time dialing Delphia's commlink code.

<<Hi Delphia, I got your number from a friend of a friend. Listen he owed you some money, but he paid me on cred stick. Can we meet at Frankie's. The coffeeshop in Chinatown at noon?>>

Nothing quite like tempting a BTL head with money. Ask about previous dealings and they will clam up, offer money and a synth-kaff they'll tell you everything.

<<Sunny? Hi this is Vera. Yeah you don't know me, but a friend of a friend also know as Jimmy Two-Fingers. Still works the doors at Mystique and is ugly as ever. Wanted me to tell you, you still owe money to him. Anyways, I was in Vancouver and I got told you were the guy I heard I should talk about the festival tonight and a couple of other things. He said you have all the right contacts. Can we meet before you go to work? Scramble that; maybe by commlink? Thanks. Vera.>>

Friday, January 9th 2072. O930 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Cordova Street.

Harrison is the first one to get back to you.

From <<Harrison Dane.>> "Angelic Entertainment has a small studio down by the waterfront. One of the recording engineers owes me a favor. I can set up an appointment for you. How does 1400 hours sound? And null sheen on Delphia. Just lay low and stay out of trouble."

At the same time a electronic mail icon pops up in the corner of your icon.

From <<User: Delphia.>> "Sure. I'll meet with you. Bring the nuyen. Lunch is on you."

Moments later a troll appears on the your screen. He has a small goatee, a blond mohawk, and appears to have just risen from a deep slumber. In the background you see a Asian Women sprawled on the bed. Obviously satisfied with last night's activities.

<<"Yeah this is Sunny. Jimmy is still harping me on last seasons Canucks game? What a persistent tusker. Still a debt is a debt. You must be talking about the International Music festival on Grandville Island. It's supposed to be a wide open fair to the public, and it usually is outside of the crazy squatters from Commercial Drive. Knight Errant should be running the security. If you're a beautiful chica, and I hope you are, you should have no problem getting in.........

Hmm. I know a chop shop down in Burnaby. The freaks down there won't compensate you much on the Cyberware they harvest, but the good thing is that they don't take appointments. My fee is 20% if there is any return on the investment. If there is nothing that can be salvaged from a body, they offer reasonable rates to first time customers.">>

Vera is putting together several shopping outlets, just in case she has to go with a style. Looking innocent is a lot harder than it sounds. You have to dress moderate, but if you dress too moderate and you get hidden with the rest of the crowd. It really is the hidden art of being picked by one person to be the first cheerleader everytime. You have to conform with their mental image of a diamond in the rough so well - innocent, vulnerable, and devotional.

TO Harrison Dane. <<"Hi, thanks for the appointment. 1400 sounds perfect.">>

Now to scrounge up a song writer. An hour on the Matrix and she had a competition up for those hoping to make it big in the song writing business. Winner gets 300 nuyen, and after the demo another 300 and maybe a recording contract, deadline 1300. Big promises from a musician who wants to make it big.

To Angelic Entertainment <<"Hi, I had a chat with Harrison Dane and he said he might be able to squeeze me in to do a demo at 1400. Is that okay? Oh perfect. DNI hookups. Yeah. Look, do you know anything about circular optical chips, about the size of my hand? I got a weird recommendation on having the demo on that format.">>

To Sunny <<Yeah, well if there is some compensation. I'll send you some of the cheese if it goes well.

Mmm... Do you know if Shangri-La Industries will be there? I am hoping on hooking up with one of their reps there. I heard even their Veep might be there.">>

At 1145 She was already walking around Chinatown doing a bit of shopping and looking around. She had previously transferred all but 200 nuyen from the credstick to her own accounts. She knew a banker in Jersey who took money without questions. Like Most shadowbanks this one was discreet, ruthless and not part of any SIN structure.

Frankie's was one of those starting up western diners that would be around for another five years before being driven off by the large Chinese population. Possibly turned back into a restaurant or tea shop. At the moment she was sipping a cup of coffee at a fake wood table, looking out the window at the AR displays of the International Music Festival on passing cabs and waiting for Delphine to arrive.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1100 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Downtown.

From Angelic Entertainment <<"Hello. Yes Miss Davis, we have you scheduled for a 1400 Demo. You'll be working with Kyle Hotshida. He'll be awaiting your arrival. Circular Optical Chips? Interesting request. The format was popular back in the 40s and over the years has become relatively obsolete. It is fairly exotic. You may ask Mr. Hotshida about the format. He would probably be better suited to answer your question.>>

From Sunny <<"Shangrai-La Industries. Of course, Horizon can't resist scouting for hopeful talent. The practice nowadays is to find a undiscovered star, have them sign a long term contract, and then take over 80% of their net profits in the process. The new price for stardom. Capitalism at it's best...or worst depending on how you look at it. Yeah Shangrai-La will be there, don't be surprised if you do find a veep or two.">>

At ten minutes past twelve a black women stumbles into Frankie's. She is a tall, satuesque human with bright blue dreadlocks, and large nanotattos of tribal designs running up and down her arms. It was obvious that she was once a very beautiful, but these days she's got the thin, twitchy look characteristic of a hardcore chiphead. She is wearing a Wonder Woman type armor fashion set, but instead of it being mutli-colored it is a dark blue, matching her hair color. She is also wearing fish net stockings that are torn in various places and large boots with high heels at the end of them.

Delphia rubs the bottom of her eyes. You notice that her eyelids are twitching uncontrollably. She notices you. And with a scowl on her face, makes her way over to your table. Still standing, she growls.

"Are you the one who called me this morning? What do you want? Where is the nuyen?"

Her eyes continue to twitch. Her movements are constant. Her breaths are rapid. And in reality it's only been on hour since her last fix.

Vera holds up the credstick and places it on the table between her fingers.

"Please sit down. Would you like something? I hear the food is quite good."

Vera pulls back her hand as Delphia tries to go for the credstick, putting it in the palm of her hand.

"Before I give it to you, I want to know more about Thomas Galloway. I want his secrets, and I want to know how I can burn his entire house down. I want to know every little detail about him."

She looked Delphia in the eye and said "I am not doing this for me, you or a corp. I am doing it because he raped my sister."

Another side of her mind is looking at the story, weighing up the possible holes in it. She had to admit it was a good shocker. No moving from one topic to another. Short and concise. Usually BTLs gave people 100% concentration and a 5 second attention span. Hopefully the performance would be enough to push Delphia into cooperating The credstick was the lure and revenge was the hook.

Another more silent critic in her mind looked at Delphia and wondered did she sell herself and how could she help her. Too afraid to go forward, but too desperate to go back, she lived in the half limbo of BTL impossibilities.

[Con roll against Delphia: 27d6.hits(5)=9 ]

Delphia's eyes focused immediately on the cred stick. Vera could have swayed the credstick back and forth like the tip of a grandfather clock, and Delphia's eyes would have followed every motion. Delphia sat down at the invitation from Vera, and ordered a bowl of Pork and Perserved Egg Congee from the menu. The food came quickly. It was hot and smelled of Artificial MSG. Delphia began to dig into the food. She consumed it very quickly, as if she hadn't eaten for days.

During the eating, Vera dangles the credstick in front of Delphia once again. The women reaches for it only to have Vera pull it back. At the mention of Galloway's name, Delphia stops eating. She looks down a moment and winces. She then grimaces.

"The man has no secrets. Or very few that I know of. His record is almost immaculate. Someone in Horizon favors Galloway and he is considered one of the many 'golden boys' for their economic future. I had been a sound engineer for Carrion Studies before it was absorbed by Shangrai-La in '65. Galloway was one of the talent scouts and business representatives that was sent to review our budget, talent, resources, and ability to turn a profit for the organization. Cut costs, trim the fat, usher in a new area and expand our production value he promised."

She pauses and begins to dive back into the food. While spooning more of the broth she continues talking.

"After interviewing all of the staff, he and his representatives decided to shut us down for good. But not before taking all of our assets that showed promise. We supported a lot of musicians who had a dream of making it big. Galloway and his business partners told 95% of them that they couldn't cut it, dashing many of their hopes in the process.

He's intelligent, good looking, a fantastic speaker, and a savant when it comes to almost anything. I don't know any other secrets about him, other then he has a wife and child whom he claims to love dearly. Illegitimate children, no. Mental illnesses, no. Drug or BTL habits, no."

She pauses. Looking up from her now empty bowl.

"Oh wait. I do know a few things. Hehehe. Galloway is in debt. All of his money is borrowed and loaned to him from the White Tiger Triads. When he was starting his professional career, he had to borrow a lot of money to invest in his product and to uphold the image of a high value talent scout. I am not sure if he is still in debt, but it could be an avenue to explore. I am not sure if his gambling habits or expensive dates with models have helped the situation.

One more thing. The man is a racist. He hates Trogs."

Vera thinks over the information given and hands Delphia the credstick.

"Thank you for the information. If you remember something more, you have my commlink code."

Vera gets up with Delphia and flashes the AR system of the restaurant the cost of the bill. She slipped on her AR glasses and headed in a different direction.

The debt at the White Tiger Triads would be large. Too large for her to buy, but if he was up to his neck in debt, perhaps it would be worthwhile to do some discreet questioning. She sent out a dozen discreet questions to a number of contacts on both hemispheres of the globe. After all, the criminal underworld and especially the triads had changed with the Great Tempo shake up last year. Maybe they were a little more eager on getting their money back and perhaps they needed someone to give him a little push.

Already she was thinking on using a troll as a help in setting up the con job, but first she had to see a matrix provider about a class IV artisan skill chip. All through driving she tried out different styles of singing before finding one which worked, she was actually happy she had had her vocal chrods modified so that she could always sing in perfect pitch. She arrived outside Angelic Entertainment at 1300 and had a look at her matrix competition. How many submissions and were any of them good was the question in mind.

"Hi, I'm early, I have a meeting with Kyle Hotshida, but I thought I would come a little bit before and pick you brain if I may on what the local musician scene here looks like, how do they dress, talk and act, or well what normally walks through your door."

While listening to the receptionist she was sorting through the competition submissions, seeing if any of them were worth it.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1400 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Downtown.
Angelic Entertainment Studios, on the corner of W. Hastings and Burrard Street.

Angelic entertainment is a an immaculate three story building at the end of Burrard Street in Downtown, Vancouver. Overlooking the Burrard Inlet, this shell subsidary of Saeder Krupp is new age in every type of way. The building resembles a design built with the mind of one half new age artist and one half post-modern architecture.

[Angelic Entertainment Studios, in Vancouver.]

The receptionist is a lovely blond wearing a grey business suit and a white blouse. Her hair is tied up in a neat bun. She looks up at Vera and provides her with the receptionist smile. She answers your question.

"Angelic Entertainment Studios Supports musicians of all creeds, meta-types, religions, and other forms of diversity. We love and welcome every talented musician here at Angelic. The local music scene is very diverse, and over the years we have seen every type of genre covered. Sadly, Vancouver is a city that has never supported it's live music scene to its fullest potential. Schools have cut budgeting on musical education, local bars and clubs prefer DJs and recorded music over live performances, thus most of Vancouver's talent travels abroad.

Our state of the art facilities accommodate everyone. We see a lot of classical musicians, independent vocalists, and ork/dwarfven rhythm sections. Vancouver's musician is elegant, refined, cultured, and educated. That being said, we are open to all types of music here at Angelic and are in the need of something fresh, exciting, energetic, and vibrant. Do enjoy your experience with our versatile engineers."

You look through the song lyrics people have sent. Three sets of lyrics stick out as the best. Three different feels, that can be translated to any format. One would think.

The first is from user @Redtail

Take it to Mister
Once, long ago, when troubles came your way
You couldn't take them on yourself,
But you knew just what to do.
To find someone who would help.
When they burn out the farm,
or ravish your sister,
You put your hat in your hand
And take it to Mister
Take it to Mister

Then, as they will, all these things changed their way.
The ones who guarded you proved false.
The lord, the patron, the grand seigneur,
Helped themselves and no one else.
So they ravished the land
And whored with your sister,
they made you rip out your pride
And take it to Mister.

Now, we have learned the other way
To face the future for ourselves,
We all know what we must do.
If you want to take back what they stole
Feed the rage in your heart
Till it's ready to blister.
Now put your gun in your hand
And TAKE IT TO MISTER!


The second is from @Lady Mink

Who Weeps for the Children

CODA
But tears run down to the ocean.
in the rivers that can carve through stone
And in the dawning morning,
we see that we are not alone

The ones who wept for the future
As they fought to hold back the night
Paid for a ransom with their heart's sorrow
And brought back the children for a golden tomorrow.



The last one is from user @TheMightyEmu

Puta
Yo soy tu madre, so don't frag with me.
I'll mess you up bad if you dare disagree.
My time is money, you know that carbon.
You got what you wanted, so why hang around.
Yo soy tu madre.

Lovely puta, that's what you say to me,
Hola, puta, I'm what you want me to be,
Till you get the thing you want,
Nothing's to good for me.
But when you're done
And have your fun, then it's
Puta, dirty puta, just get away from me......



Standing in the lobby of the building, you continue to flip through the other lyrical submissions. You hear the soft chime of a elevator door bell being ding. Out of the silver cylinder capsule, a Japanese man walks out. He is 5'7, medium set. He appears to be in his late 30s early 40s. He wears no glasses, and has short hair with a couple strands of grey.

"Hello. You must be Harrison's client. I am Kyle Hotshida. How can I help you?" He speaks to you, a few still standing a few meters away from you. He pauses a moment before addressing you, and then gives you a slight forward bow.

Upon seeing him, you recognize Kyle Hotshida. He was the Japanese business man you ran across in the lobby of your hotel room this morning. As you were exiting the building, he was entering.

Vera inwardly sighed, ask a corporate blonde what do they wear and expect a corporate blonde response, but fresh, exciting, energetic, and virbant were things she could work on. She smiled at the receptionist and said.

"I'm sure I'll enjoy my experience with your versatile engineers."

She looked through the three songs. One about rape and shooting someone. One about simply shooting someone. Lady Mink's was the best, a deeper darker love ballad. It's a shame it was so short, but I am sure she could let it stretch out into an acceptable 3 minute recording.

Vera replied with a proper bow, from years of experience. It always pays to know how to reply to Japanese businessmen.

"Hajimemashite Hotshida. I'm Jennifer Davis and I believe we had an appointment today for a... recording... session."

Vera looked him over in a polite, but secretly appraising manner. She was not the only one with secrets and she wondered how best could she extract them from him.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1415 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Downtown.
Angelic Entertainment Studios.

"Hajite-mashte Miss Davis. Oh yes. Of course. Right this way."

Hotshida turns around and heads into one of the hallways. Beckoning for Vera to follow. The pair pass through a set of sliding automatic sliding doors which open from a mere thought from Hatshida. Stepping through the doors, Vera finds herself in a small room with four elevators and a high ceiling. At the other end there is a large circular cylinder which houses a plant. Inside the room there is a roto-drone. It scans Hotshida's commlink. Three sets of lights begins to illuminate..red..yellow..green...go. An augmented reality button display beams forth towards Hotshida, as you see that he presses a button on his commlink. One of the lights above the elevator door lights up.

[Elevator Room.]

Hotshida heads in, and then presses one for one of the lower floors. You see that there are eight floors in total. Three going up. Four going down. The floor Vera and Hotshida are currently on is labeled "L." Hotshida pushes the floor number two. Which is the second lowest floor in the complex. The buildings devices beam the floor numbers into your commlink. The elevator ride is a short one, and Vera does not even feel the descending movement. Hotshida turns to her.

"I hope you prefer to have a live rhythm section perform with you. Many solo musicians rely on synthetics and harmonizers to purity their voice for a recording. But unless you have the most cutting edge technology, you will simply be another straw of hay in the stack. Having a live band will assist in capturing the emotional experience that will be projected by your performance, therefore making it more authentic."

The elevator door opens into a diamond shaped hallway, opening up in two directions. Hotshida heads toward the right side. The material which comprises the hallway is blue concrete. Thus, making the entire floor shaded in blue, with a white tiled floor. On the walls are cameras which project advertisements for the stars and entertainment programs which are on the market.

<<Experience the classic combat bike playoff match of 2057 between the New Orleans Buzz and L.A. Sabers! This new installment of the classical sports line allows the fan to take the persona of Dougan Rose! The linebacker of the Buzz who met his tragic fate in this bloody death match against archrival Jonathan Winger! Get into the mind of one of the most psychotic athletes of previous decade! >>

<<Now on sale! Ork punk hot's rising star Nabo! Buy the recording from 2072 as he plays live from Citicorp Field in New York City in front of thousands! Feel, and tremble with all of those in attendance that night when the tremor rocked the stadium, along with the music! See the explosions in the distance of when the terrorist attack happened at Laguardia Airport the same night! The BTL for the greatest concert in ages! Become a fan with a VIP seating.>>

The advertisements spam in front of the pair as they walk through the hallway. The hallway takes a 45 degree sharp angle towards the left, and that is when Hotshida enters the first door on the right after the sharp switch into the intersection. When Vera enters, she finds herself in a large recording studio. There is a main soundboard in the center of the room. Flanking it, are two tables with monitors and cyberdecks. Sitting alongside the cyberdecks are commlinks and recording software of all different types. Hotshida keeps his desk very clean. There are no soykaf stains anywhere in sight. The room is also made of synthetic wood. There are small lights on the ceiling, as well as a large white alarm in the center of the room. The alarm acts as a sound suppressor for the entire area. The room is very quiet on the inside. There are also two doors on the left side.

[Recording Studio.]

Hotshida goes to the soundboard and activates a large projection with his commlink. There are various computer screens, programs, and windows which open up. He puts on a sim-rig to tests out the programs. In-mid air he grabs one of the screens and slides it across the table, to put in the lower end of his priority list. This activity continues for a minute, before he places the commlink down, and heads to one of the doors.

He turns to Vera..."Miss Davis. Let me show you the room where you will be performing."

He opens up the door for Vera. The next room is an exact replica of the previous room in terms of diameter and size. The synthwood is replaced by the blue concrete walling and instead of a soundboard in the center there is a large drum set with a ork sitting at the helm. To the far side of the room is an elf with long shaggy brown hair on the keyboard, and on the near side is a human with a clean short haircut wearing a T-shirt and a pair of Synth jeans. In his arms is a bass. The bass is dangling towards his waist, and it the strap holding up the instrument is very loose on him.

"Miss Davis. Let me introduce you to Uniform 81. That is Jonathan on the keyboard,"

"Ehhhhh." The Elf responds with a heavy Western Canadian accent.

Hotshida: "Jules on drums."

"Hoi sunshine." The ork smiles, shooting Vera a tusky grin.

Hotshida: "And Evan on Bass."

"Hey. What's going on?" The human replies with a small smile.

Evan then turns to Jonathan. "Give me an 'E.'"

The elf promptly plays one of the keys on the end of the keyboard. A low dulling sound echos through the studio. The elf presses the key one more time as Evan tunes his guitar. This is followed by the 'A' 'D' and 'G' strings.

"Yo Evan. Please don't play any of that really high octave shit during this session chummer. That fucking stuff keeps throwing me off."

Evan shoots the ork a small smirk. "Don't think that your decision to make. It's up to Kyle and our vocalists."

"Don't forget you need me omae to cover up your mistakes."

"Wouldn't want to take that fun away from you."

The three share a small laugh together, before all three look at Hotshida and Vera. "Ready when you guys are."

Hotshida smiles. "I'll be in the other room. Let's make this quick if we can."

With that Kyle heads back into the main recording session. Before he enters the recording studio, Hotshida speaks a simple command.

"Computer. Give us a night back drop of Chicago Michigan Ave 2010."

[Backdrop]

Behind the band, an augmented setting falls over them, as the room turns dark except for a few set of lights. There is a set of AR Gloves, a sim rig, and a sim module on a stool in front of the band. As well as an external stand microphone if Vera wishes to use it. Hotshida plans to capture the emotions Vera displays and exhibits during the recording in addition to her voice. After Vera sets up, a simulation of a small sized stadium crowd appears before the band to simulate a liver performance.

Evan:"Three...two...one..."

Vera followed Mr. Hotshida into the recording studio. It was she admitted very bewildering to go in and actually have a live band there waiting for her. Furthermore she was shocked that not only would she be singing but she would expect to have a simrig recording made. This is with her having a song she had barerly looked through on the elevator on her way to the recording studio.

There is also the image of a group of people in front of her. It was a shocking experience, all sorts of emotions welling up within her as she put on the simrig. She stopped being who she was supposed to be and simply concentrated on who she was.

she let the music build in her mind and in the musicians instruments before opening up her heart and singing. The words may have been Lady Mink's but all the emotions, the rivers that carved through her veins were her own. As she finished she let the music linger until it was silent for a long pause, finally opening up her real eyes from her AR ones.

"How..." her voice cracked. "was it?"

There was this unnatural silence in the studio. It felt like all of the conversations at a busy restaurant or in a rowdy marketplace had all of a sudden ended. The human and the elf looked at each other, each thinking the same thing. They each shot each other a smile which was impossible to hold in. Jules made it official.

"Yeeee-haw! Shave my head and call me Shirley. That was whiz girl!!"

"Sent shivers down my spine Davis." Jonathan, the elf chimed in.

"Performances like that are the reason the three of us are in the music business." The human added.

Vera had broken through the first wall of being accepted and respected within the small fraternity of these three musicians with a loud bang. She had erased any thoughts of "Newbie." or "Just another Diva with the look." thoughts any of them might have had.

"How about another!?" Jules exclaimed, leaning forward on his stool and excited like a puppy dog.

"Sounds good. I am in." Said Evan.

"Me too." The Elf followed very quickly.



"Iie." The large image of Hotshida's face beamed onto a large augmented reality display at the front of the room, as well as into the commlinks of Vera and the trio. You could see the heavy wrinkles in his forehead, the sight of no facial hair on his face, and the natural greys which were beginning to congregate at the base of his scalp. His interruption came off very abrasive and resembled an uptight business supervisor shooting down a wonderful innovative idea a employee might have.

"That is all for today. Our schedule does not allow for extracurriculars. Miss Davis has paperwork to sign. Miss Davis. Please enter the recording area to conclude todayas proceedings."

His image promptly cut off, not allowing for any type of rebuttal or comments.

"Fragging suit. Has to nab his nuyen." The ork mumbled.


"Hey Davis. If you ever need another backup band or want to chill with us. Give us a call."

"Yeah Davis. You have talent."

Uniform81 sends Vera their contact information via the commlink. Hotshida continued to remain silent in the programing studio.

Vera waved at the group and walked out of one side of the studio to the other one. She wondered what kinds of papers did Mr Hotshida have to have signed and whether this was a question of writing in blood. She had sold her soul long ago for her to sell it again and only money would appease her.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1445 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Counci. Downtown.
Angelic Entertainment Studios.

The noise generator above them begins to hum the moment Vera steps into the production area.

"Miss Davis. Please step away from the door." Hotshida begins.

There is a soft click. The doors to the recording room lock, leaving the members of Uniform81 in the other room. Hotshida presses a command on his commlink. Moments later Vera starts hearing a hissing sound, followed by the sounds of the musicians in the other room.

"Hey. What's going on?!"

"Gas!"

Sounds of someone coughing and choking followed by a crash of drum symbols clanging against the floor.

"Jules!"

There is a loud thud. The sound of a body hitting the floor. Footsteps of someone running. There is a loud banging against the door which connects the two rooms. More choking. More coughing. Before another loud thud.

Hotshida speaks. "It is only neuro-stun gas. They will survive this encounter, but will not be able to recollect the past hour of their lives."

Another command on Hotshida's commlink turns on the air ventilation system in the recording room. It will take a few minutes to filter out all of the gas. During this time, Hostshida addresses Vera. He provides her with a simple smile.

"I will explain in due time. In the meantime, let this speak for me. These images were taken this morning from a microdrone which was planted at the Golden Griffon. Observe.

Another projection is displayed. Taking up one quarter of the room. The image is projected in green and black. The footage is of Vera's meeting this morning with the trio of elves. It captures every word, and every gesture she makes. From hiking up her skirt, to the bodyguard leering, to her placing a hand over Mr. Johnson's before leaving. A few minutes after she leaves, the bald-headed elf joins Mr. Johnson along with the other bodyguard. It was the seduced bodyguard who spoke.

"Can she be trusted?"

"You tell me. Are you that weak willed?" Mr. Johnson repled.

"She comes highly recommended."

"We'll see. I trust our operation in the hands of an elf over the other metahumanic races."

Mr. Johnson finishes his glass of Laes before getting up from the table and walking out of the vicinity. The bodyguard and the pervert then begin talking. The frame then freezes, holding the image of the two guards speaking to one another.

"That is when our connection was jammed. Now, Miss Davis. I am not hear to harm you. I am hear to offer you an opportunity. I want to hire you to spare the life of Thomas Galloway, and bring him to me."

Vera goes back from being her true age to that of a Shadowrunner. Cold ruthless and devoid emotion and scruples. She watched with first trepidation and then with cold disassociation as the last of the beating one the door stopped.

She coldly listened to the offer of Hotshida, he was in the Hotel, which meant that she had been followed, there was a larger operation in the mix and she had been targeted for this.

"I might be able to supply you with Thomas Galloway, but then with certain provisos. You give him a new face and name, and I'll give him to you. This offer is only for him, not his family or anything. Can you work with that?"

She moved closer to Hotshida, as he sits in his chair. Finally leaning over him.

"Second, I need your assistance if I am going to make contact with him. The demo i just recorded needs to be put on several forms of media, including an optical disc. Do you know anything about optical discs and what do they look like or usually held? I also need to have an accidental meeting arranged between me and Mr Galloway at the music festival tonight, can you accommodate me?"

Vera leans over and whispers into his ear. "This is without me yet negotiating my fee. With such a short window, my fees are going to be... expensive."

Hotshida turns his chair his revolving chair towards her. Fidgeting a bit before becoming comfortable in the synthleather chair. He pushes a button on his commlink which leads to one of the machines ejecting a small circular optical disc behind him. Hotshida reaches over from his chair takes out the disc, places it in a silver case and hands it to Vera.

"This is the type of recording format the elf asked you to recover from Galloway. It is an old style optical disc, about twenty to twenty-five years old. I am not how old you are Miss Davis, but this type of recording was becoming obsolete when I was a teenager. These types of discs can only be heard over a matching piece of hardware that is built to play it (Think of a VCR and a VHS.) This particular disc has a recording of your session, which was very well done. I also have your music recorded in other types of formats, any of which are available to you. I would be able to personally introduce you to Mr. Galloway. And I offer the transportation services of Angelic Entertainment Studios to take you to the festival this evening."

(Getting into Grandville Island is a nightmare. There is only one road which leads to the island and it will have bad traffic. Hotshida is offering you a chauffer service or a boat to get there.)

He lets her examine the case before continuing.

"I can work with your provisions. So long as we can convince Galloway to work with us. He is currently on the hedge about becoming a employee for Saeder Krupp. If you would like, I can have a few of my men on stand-by to assist you extract Mr. Galloway. Or you can use your own resources and contacts for this endeavor."

The Japanese man then leans back, studying Vera before making his offer.

"Eight Thousand Nuyen. All up front."

Vera grinned and whispered into Hotshida's ear. "10,000 nuyen and I get to keep the demo and all its copies. Another 20,000 and I'll let you keep the demo, all up front."

Vera placed Hotshida's hand on top of her heart. "What do you think?"

Hotshida ponders. Placing his forfinger underneath his chin. "If this demo is released, wouldn't that draw a lot of unwanted attention to you Miss Davis?"

"You can always change the faces and places to fit the right icon you wish to promote."

"Twenty-Thousand is a lot to pay for one song. 15,000 nuyen is what I can offer for your music. Eight-thousand up front. And the other two if the job is pulled
off successfully."


Chrysalis pulls her skirt up and sits down in Hotshida's lap. Hotshida's body tenses. The sudden cool demeanor and control of the meeting on his home turf was being threatened.

"No more?" Vera asks.

Hotshida coughs. And then fidgets a bit. "I am a married man Miss Davis..." He also unlooses his tie, making it easier for him to breathe.

"I guess that's a no then."

Vera gets off of Hotshida and replaces her skirt. Hotshida let's out a deep sigh.

"I'll take the 8000 now and the 2000 later then," Vera states "And I get to keep my music."

Hotshida nods. And then stands up very quickly, walking over to the recording equipment. He pulls out an small chip and hands it to Vera.

"No other copies or masters?"

"Yes. I am a man of my word. Eight-thousand up front. Two-thousand upon completion. My Sylph will be waiting for you at English Bay Beach at 2000 hours this evening."


"I will see you there then."

Vera takes the chip and disc and walks out of the recording studio.

Hotshida leans against the wall. Looking up to the ceiling he let's out a deep sigh. It was time for a cold shower.



********************************************************************************
******************************************************

Once Vera steps outside of the Saeder Krupp subsidairy she receives a incoming text message over her commlink. It's from Sunny.

<<Text. Hoi sweetheart. Was able to get in contact with a enforcer of the White Triads, named Ming-Kin. He says they'll talk to you about Galloway. I can set up a meet for you, or provided you with a commlink code where he can be reached out. Either way babe, this setup will cost you 100 nuyen. Let me know. Full of rays....-Sunny.>>

Vera reads the message and responds to it.

<<Hi Sunny, just got your message. Provide me with a neutral third party location and say that we can meet. It has to be soon because I have to be places by 1800. If in person is not possible, lets meet over VR.>>

Vera does some quick shopping online, she has a nice outfit slected for herself. Vivacious exciting, but maybe not as good as it could be. Showing poor self-esteem issues. She had the whole thing delivered to her hotel, where she could then pick it up.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1545 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council. Downtown.
Hyatt Regency.

Text from Sunny.

<<"Sure thing. How does 1630 work? I know of this small pub called Barrels, in the center of downtown. A neutral territory where a lot of Fixers and Johnson frequent. It's sacred, anyone who causes trouble there will find their street reputation plummet like a rock thrown from a cliff.">>

A few minutes later a incoming Commlink, dings on the hotel telescreen. Vera has the option of a audio or visual display.

"Miss Young." The sound of a young man. Canadian accent, with Ork undertones. "Your apparel has arrived. Shall we send up the delivery or will you come to the lobby to pick them up?"

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1545 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council. Somewhere downtown.

<<Sunny, 1630 at Barrels sounds good. I'll see him there.>>

Vera changes the direction of the car and heads for Barrels. Meanwhile she gets a message from the hotel. An AR screen opens up on her dash board on the passenger side and she smiles at the hotel clerk with a professional smile.

"Hi, I'll pick them up from reception when I finish my business meetings. I have not been in since this morning, could you check if someone has been in my room in the meantime?"

At 1630 she arrives at Barrels and walks briskly as her high heels allow into the den of inequity. She looks around a bit and seeks out her Triad contact. She was wearing her polaroid glasses and looked every inch of a Ms Johnson. She even had her commlink broadcasting the professional <<all information barred>> subroutine.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1630 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council.
Barrels.

There is a 2072 red Evo Pegasus racing bike parked outside of the pub. Vera enters. The interior of the pub has a wilderness, rustic feel to it. The area is made of a combination of real wood and synth wood. There is a smell of fresh cut saw dust in the bar. The pub has two floors, with the stairs leading up to the second floor right at the entrance. The entrance to the second floor is currently closed off by a red velvet rope.

[Interior of the first floor of Barrels.]

The bar is immediately to the left of Vera as she enters. It winds down around the corner and takes up nearly 50% of the space area. There are a few tables. They are all empty. The bartender is a human who stands about 1.8 meters tall. He has short stylish brown hair and is fairly good looking. He has a variety of tattoos on his arm. He is wiping down the counter. He smiles at Vera as she enters.

At the other end of the bar is her contact. A shorter man of Asian decent. Around 170cm tall. He has long black hair, and a glare in his face at all times. His complexion is clear. He is wearing a sharp black business suit, with a blue dress shirt underneath, and a red-tie. He is leaning forward against the bar. His commlink PAN in on private mode.

He looks in Vera's directions. Giving her a smirk, and rolling his tongue to the corner of his mouth, before turning back to her and eying her seductive body from head to toe the entire way while she approaches.

"You must be the contact." He says in perfect English.

Vera looks at the bartender and smiles at him a bit and walks over to him "Club soda please."

She continues to walk over to the Chinese man, who if standing would be a bit over a head shorter than she was. "And you must be the man who knows about the secrets of a certain Mr. Galloway. I would like to know more about... him." Vera takes off her jacket and opens her bun letting her hair cascade over her shoulders. "If the information is good maybe we can talk about compensation." She sips her drink to see what is the Triad's reaction. her mind and software recording analysing and assisting in making every motion and word perfect.

[Joint post.]

Friday, January 9th 2072. 1630-1645 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council.
Barrels.

The bartender makes his way over to Vera, placing a glass on the bar and then filling it with the club soda. He places a napkin underneath her drink, and provides her with a straw.

The Triad enforcer views the elf from head to toe, before returning her smile with one of his own. The Triad Forcer likes what he sees

"Hmm. Alright. But I would like to see some nuyen first."

He takes a sip from his drink and waits for Vera.

"Well, I am sure we can wave the financial viewing... if I like what I hear,” Vera begins "Besides, discretion is important in my line of work."
The Enforcer keeps an eye on her legs as he responds, not even bothering to look up.

"That's not the way it works. You provide me with a little nuyen then I can talk about Galloway. Since you gorgeous. I'll say 100 nuyen." He looks up with another creepy smile, "With an option for more if you like what i have to say."

"Sounds acceptable." Punching in a function on her commlink, Vera sends him 100 nuyen.

"Okay." With a beautiful women in front of him and his bank account a gambling money in his pocket the Triad contact continues, "Galloway owes us money for helping finance his delta grade cyberware implants last year."
"What kinds of implants?"

"Items he couldn't put on his corporate accounts. Wired Reflexes, dermal plating, and a smartlink."

“How much did he borrow?"

"More then 40,000 nuyen."

"Must have a nice interest rate on that loan."

Vera sucks on the swizzle stick looking him in the eye.

The Triad goon snickers leaning towards Vera even further. Sliding an arm along the railing, behind her, "Galloway's a good client. He makes his payments on time, including the interest."

Vera brushes the hair from her face and peers at him "How much does he owe you in full?"

"He owes about 26,000. Making payments of 2,000 nuyen a month."

"Not much then."

"Not much more. But he still owes us. His financial numbers thus far show that he is able to pay us. If that changes in anyway....you know what happens."

"Certain things are extracted." Vera finished his sentence.

"Exactly. Smart liang gwai-low." The Triad examines her legs once again. Rusted gears circling and squeaking in his mind.

"I know my fair bit of the trade. I thought he owed you more, what with his extravagant lifestyle."

"Galloway is a smart business man. He knows how to make money, and does a decent job spending it. Like I said. The money he borrowed from us, was for certain implants which could not explained if he put it on the Horizon tab."

"I think you answered my questions well. What would you like in recompense?"

"How does 400 nuyen sound? Or....."

"Now, what you are offering is a bit more expensive than 400."

Vera Laughs lightly "I am not that cheap"

“You can either pay ME 400 nuyen for the information I have provided you. Or we can choose a little foreplay."

"What did you have in mind?"

“The gentlemen at our club, is always looking for new entertainment. Perhaps you can attend some of our functions, as a guest. Serve as my date for one of these functions. A man with a beautiful women dangling on his arm, holds a great deal of status in the Chinese culture.”

"I might, but what's in it for me?"

"The information I provided you. At a discount price."

"At how large a discount?"

“Two hundred nuyen. With the 100 you gave me earlier, that would be 300 in total."

Vera smiles, "Agreed.” Transferring the two hundred over to the goon.

“Pleasure doing business with you.”

"The pleasure was all yours." Vera extracts herself from the odious criminal and walks out of the bar.

************************************************************************

When she walks out of the a message icon pops up in the corner of Vera’s digital screen. It appears to be an email or a message from the Hyatt Regency hotel.

<<Text: Miss Young, the dresses that you have ordered have arrived at the hotel. They shall be waiting for you at the counter for you to pick up at your convenience.”>>

By the time she returns to the hotel it will be 1715-1730 hours. Hotshida had planned to meet the femme fatale at the English Bay beach at 8PM or 2000 hours. The festival itself begins around that time. With the recordings in hand, and her attire awaiting at the hotel, the plan to attract Galloway’s attention at the festival was in place.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 2000 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council. English Bay Beach.

Vera had been back to the hotel and had dinner which was a selection of smoked salmon over a greek salad. Then she had gotten dressed and availed herself of the full complement of manicurists, cosmetologists and hair dressers.

She was wearing a micromini dress that changed colour depending on what it was next to. A material that utilized ideas taken from chameleon suits. It was fabricated in a way reminiscent of chiffon and was a breath away from revealing to translucent, and when sitting a breath away from revealing her matching thong. She was wearing 5 inch stilletto silver rhinestone sandals and thigh-high sheer-white memory stockings.

Ornate silver ear-rings could be seen under the white mass of curls, her face accentuated with the pinks and pastels of her makeover.

Over this she wore a dark black acryllic knit jacket, which at the moment hung to mid-thigh, tied so that the jacket framed her breasts instead of covering them.

A small purse held the disc, her commlink and various other sundry items.

Vera checked her lip gloss before walking over to Hotshida's boat that would take her to the island where the festival would be held.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 2000-2015 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council. English Bay Beach.


[Grandville Island, from the water looking in.]

She approached the beach, finding Hotshida standing on a dock in the same business suite he was wearing at the studio before. The boat that was next to him was a silver Colorado Craft Sylph (Hydrofoil. Page 111 of Arsenal.) There was an ork and troll, both wearing long black leather dusters. They both had spiky black hair, and matching earnings. It almost seemed as if they the ork and troll were brothers, just off different metatypes.

[Kyle Hotshida]

In the distance she could see Vancouver. Looking from downtown to the other side of the former Canadian city, she could see all of the high rise residential apartments gleaming with life. In the distance she could make out Grandville Island. An area with no tall structures. Nonetheless, even from a distance she could see that the place was a bondfire for activity this Friday evening. Out over the water, there was a large augmented reality advertisement the size of a large ferris wheel advertising the 'Vancouver International Music Festival.' There were even pictures and AR billboards of various types of musicians, from classical, jazz, rock, etc.

Hotshida helped her into the boat. His eyes were cool, as was his expression. But anyone with some sort of intuition could tell he was thinking something else. Even the Ork and Troll brothers looked up from their preparations to notice how stunning Vera looked.

"Hello Miss Davis." Hotshida spoke. "You are picturesque."


[Bird's eye view. The boat is coming from the direciton of the high rises.]

Hotshida helped her into the boat, allowing her to sit in the shot-gun seat of the speedboat. Above her was a protective windshield which extended over her seat and past her. Thus shielding her from any type of wind during the boat ride. The ork took the driver's seat. His control rig and plugged into his datajack. He went into a trance like state as he began to operate the Slyph remotely. Hotshida sat in the seat behind Vera. The troll withdrew the anchor from the boat, and then they were off.

Hotshida spoke.

"Now Miss Davis. When the time comes, Sponge and Soak," He made reference to the two brothers, "Will be the men who will come assist you with whatever plan you have to extract Galloway. They will assist you with this job, and will be at your command. They are quiet competent. Sponge is your muscle, Soak is the transportation."

The boat ride was slow and peaceful. The ork did not use the speed boat functions to their fullest capacity. The trip felt like a slow ferry-ride or a cruise with the boat just gliding over the water. They were heading towards Grandeville Island. When they were within the vicinity of the place, Vera could already hear the chatter from the festival. Like a pack of Geese of a cocktail party. On the Grandeville Bridge which connected Downtown Vancouver to Vancouver's other neighborhoods she could see the line of traffic and headlights, twisting off to the highway trying to head onto the Island.

The Troll's commlink beeped. A advertisement for the festival. The automative speaker's voice was a female. For the heck of it, the Troll accessed his commlink.

<<International Music Festival: Hello Bill. Welcome to the 82th annual Vancouver Music Festival. This festival began in 1992 and hosts over 100 musicians from 48 different countries...this year's prime attraction will be....>>

Sponge skipped the introduction, and went straight to the song selection portion. He selected some type of hard-rock music, reminiscent of the Industrial Music scene from the 2000's. The music played while they cruised.

Vera could make out a army of other sailing vessels from yachts to sail boats, to water skis, to other speed boats. The Slyph glided into pork. Sponge jumped from the boat and tied down the vessel to the dock. Hotshida was out next. Sponge then came over to assist Vera. Up ahead was the festival.

[More photos of the Island.]

The island is littered with narrow roadways/sidewalks, and limited parking spaces, restaurants off the harbor, and teaming with people. Surrounding the entire island is a boardwalk. The island serves as a market place for fresh natural and soy products, has a main eatery area full of the finest Vancouver cuisines. Three restaurants of four to five star quality dining. The island is also the main art hub-spot of Vancouver. There are art stores of all types, even a sculpting studio. There are two pubs, all rowdy and loud. There is also a theater for live performances. At the current moment, the attraction of the hour is playing, which is a galiec band from Tir Na Nog. Grandville Island has alleyways or narrow inlets in between the antique, exotic dress and jewelry stores.

There are various 'town' square areas where live performances are being held of all types of music. The island is also littered with street performers, of all types. Awakened magicians performing dazziling showcases of their powers. Acrobats using either their magical talents or the latest in augmented wear to enhance their performances.

There is even a hotel here.

The crowd is filled with people of all classes, races, metatypes. There are corporate suits with escorts, families with children, couples looking for a lively way to spend their evening, teenagers 'hanging' out, and large parties. Hotshida walks next to her.

[Map of Grandeville Island on your AR Display.]

"I'll see if I can find Thomas Galloway."

Vera is helped onto the boat. In some ways heels are not the best thing to have on when navigating around boats. For one its really hard to stay upright, especially as she is already leaning on the forward balls of her feet.

She smiles at Hotshida and replies to the complement, "thank you, you're looking quite handsome too tonight."

She nods at being intrduced to Sponge and Soak. "Galloway had some delta grade cyberware put in him, a move by wire system and subdermal armour. So just in case it gets rough, you should know. He also like combat sports."

In another life she would have wanted to siply wander around the evening listening to music, eating over priced soydogs and generally enjoy the spectacle.

She took a hold of Hotshida's hand as they stood there on the edge of a waterfront 'town' square. unfortunately she was on the job and her priority was finding Galloway.

"Maybe I should come with you."

Kyle Hotshida takes a hold of Vera's hand and glides through the festival. Checking the various PAN networks, around the area, Soak is unable to pick up a sign of Galloway's known Commlink code or any type of RFID tag on him. His commlink must be turned off or set to private.

Eventually Hotshida, runs into two suits, standing at the entrance way to the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design.

"Roger! David!"

Their PAN networks state that they are business and advertisement employees of Shangra-La.

"Kyle Hotshida. You son of a gun, how have you been?"

One of the men embraces Hotshida and then shakes his hand. They make a comment about Vera's looks in a kind way. The three engage in a short conversation about business and sports, before Hotshida asks.

"You actually was hoping if you could tell me where I can find Thomas?"

The one named Roger thinks.."Yes. You should be able to find him on the boardwalk behind the Net Loft."

Hotshida thanks him, and then leads Vera towards the direction. Vera notices that they are heading in an area away from all of the music, away from the crowd. A place where all of the cars are parked. A area of the island where the people are headed in the opposite direction. They pass a small parking lot and then a small park before seeing the boardwalk.

There is Thomas Galloway, over looking the pier. Standing alone underneath a neon lamp post, staring outwards the False Creek Channel into the Pacific Ocean. There is a small bench beside him. He is wearing a dark gray blazer with matching khaki pants. Underneath he has a top quality brand black dress shirt. His hair is cut short, the color of a perfect chestnut brown.

Hotshida approaches him, with Vera in tow.

"Thomas. Thomas Galloway." Hotshida calls.

Galloway turns around. He looks happy. His eyes are smiling. And he seems at peace standing alone, away from the crowd..

"Kyle." He says with a faint British accent. One that appears to be lingering after spending years away from his native country. He smiles. "Glad you could make it. Wasn't sure if you were attending the festival this year."


Galloway's eyes stop at Vera. He smiles at her. He smiles at her for a good amount of time. "Hello." He says rather softly.

"Thomas. Let me introduce you to a friend of mine, who is looking to break into our business. Please meet......"

Vera smiles her winning smile "Hi, I'm Jennifer Davis. Wow, I finally get to meet you. I've heard so much about you." She laughs for a moment looking him in the eyes. "Umm, Hi." She tilts her head a bit and looks at him over her bang.

Galloway matches her smile. One where he laughed lightly. "That can be either a good or bad thing, depending on who you ask. So Kyle tells me that you are looking to become a sim-star? Is that true? If so, maybe I could help you."

takes one step towards Thomas and looks him in the eye, "Yes, it's what I would like more than anything... I want to become a sim-star, and I think I am ready for it too." Jennifer smiled at him, the pleading and pleasing promise in her eye.

Galloway turns to Kyle.

"Kyle. She has that look."

He then turns back to Vera.

[Galloway.]

"The one of someone still optimistically holding onto their dreams." He says slowly. "Maybe I can listen to you sing in person or at a performance, of if you have a recording of some sort, I can see what type of talent you have.."

Jennifer looks at Galloway as if he said the magic words. "I brought my demo with me. Do you want to hear it? It's on optical disc. Please?"

Jennifer looked hopefully into Thomas' eyes.

He gives her a simple smile while nodding his head slightly. It is the type of smile you would give someone if you sincerely wanted to do for a favor for them. It wouldn't have mattered if Vera was good or bad, he just wanted to give her a chance.

Vera handed him the disk, the circular optical disc.

"Oh." He smiles at her, "It's my favorite musical format. The quality on the chips isn't nearly as good as it ways back in the day when Jetblack, the Shadows, and Maria were selling out the venues. You really did your research Jennifer."

He looks at her, very impressed. Galloway turns to speak to Hotshida.

"Kyle. You don't mind if I borrow her for the rest of the night?"

"Not at all," Kyle says bowing. "Miss Davis, I shall take my leave. You have my commlink number if you need anything."

Hotshida walks off. Galloway then turns his attention back to Vera.

"Unfortunately, we can't play this optical disc on our commlinks. The programming is not available on our devices. We'll have to listen to your recording at one of the theaters."

Galloway smiles at her and leads her down along the boardwalk, heading south. After they had been walking for a few minutes, Galloway's hand naturally find hers. It was comfortable.

"Tell me about yourself Jennifer. Make me forget about the sins of my past. Make me forget about the regrets that I have. Make me forget about everything I cannot seem to get away from."

Jennifer smiles and laughs at the comment.

"Well not much I can say about myself. I grew up in Seattle, my parents moved around a lot as they both worked for Ares. I went through Ares college and ended up as a secretary/receptionist. Always liked doing music and singing. Three months ago, I decided to have enough of my job, quit and started doing some gigs at clubs and drifted here to Vancouver."

She grinned and squeezed his hand. "So far I haven't regretted it."

She hesitates for a while before continuin. "Do you want to stop off at that wine garden? I would kinda know more about you too."

She gave her a simple smile, the kind often replied to when someone has sincerely done a favour to you.

The timing was good. Straight ahead was a wine garden. It was in the Southwest of the Island where there were only a few patrons in number. The wine garden was a small restaurant with nature as it's theme. According to the AR display, the wine was distilled and refined within the restaurant.

"Sure. I would love to." Replied Thomas Galloway. Taking her hand, Galloway lead her into the garden where they were greeted by a Maître d'.

"Bonsoir. Quel joli couple." The Waiter stated. "Comment puis-je vous aider"

Galloway responded.


Bonjour. Je voudrais une table pour la jolie dame et moi-même

Oui. Droit cette voie. Suivez-moi The waiter smiled and lead them into the garden. It was like walking into an oasis inside the already beautiful city of Vancouver. The technology of 2072 enabled such a place to exist. In the center of the restaurant, there was indeed a garden. The restaurant itself was square in shape, like a wall. The dining area itself was like a courtyard inside of a castle.

[Wine Garden]

The host lead them to a small table. Galloway went behind Vera, and pulled the chair out for her. Galloway ordered the house wine for the both of them, thanked the waiter, and then sat down himself. Looking across from Vera, he took her hands over the table and cupped them in his own.

"This is nice." He said. "So you would like to know more about me? I'm what people would call a corporate shark who makes a six-digit salary. I smother the dreams of hopeful, talented, adoring, musicians such as yourself." He leans over the table with small laughter, and a kidding smile on his face."Other then that. I am a regular guy, who loves British Football, enjoys dinners with beautiful and alluring women, and if he could leave the corporate life for something simple...."

Jennifer smiles as he pulls the chair out for her. She sits crossing her legs and slipping off her wool jacket. She looked around and admired the scenery.

"This place is certainly nice. And you say the sweetest of things..."

Vera looked him in the eye and leaned over the table only to be broken off with a polite cough and bottle of housewine and two glasses. The wine cork is offered to Galloway to sniff and two glasses are poured one third full.

jennifer picked up a glass, "May I propose a toast? To getting to know someone as fascinating as you, and hopefully you find something that will distract you from your complex life for something simple."

She grinned at Galloway and drank a bit of the wine.

Galloway embraced the toast. And when she removed her jacket, he took notice of the dress she was wearing. Galloway smiled at her wit.

"Wouldn't say I am fascinating per say. I am in a fascinating business which is as cut throat as they come. You know it's funny. Your recording, which I would like to eventually hear of course, is in a similar format of something I came into possession not to long ago.." He pauses a bit. Thinking. "Ah. Nevermind. I am talking about work again. Things have indeed been complex and full of stress these past few weeks. To be honest, I was rather blue before you and Kyle came over to greet me. So I thank you. I am glad that you were able to grab my attention this evening, instead of some of my colleagues."

To this point, Galloway's wine glass remained full other then the sip he took from the toast.

Friday, January 9th 2072. 2100-0030 Hours. Vancouver, Salish Shidhe Council. Granville Island.


The wine garden was quite empty, despite how full the island was for the International Music Festival. The surrounding white noise generators and luscious garden decor made the place quite serene. The AR displays were muted and the occasional violin could be heard as it flitted between expanses of artificial silence.

Jennifer looked at Galloway, a handsome and rugged Englishman, who had weathered many years in Vancouver. As a hard cold businessman and promoter of the music industry, her hopes and aspirations a mere commlink call away. She looked at Galloway’s untouched glass of wine, his strong hands and his stress hardened face.

She quietly asked him looking in his eyes, from under her bangs, "Can we pretend that we aren't simstar hopeful and corporate shark for tonight?" She reached out and took his hand into hers.

He held her hand and his face softened, the years of corporate suitdom slowly fading away. His eyes becoming softer, "I was hoping you would say that. What were you thinking?"

She laughed and sipped at her wine. "Let's just start over again. Hi, I'm Jennifer, what's your name?"

"Thomas." Galloway brings her hand to his mouth. "Jennifer that's a lovely name." He added kissing her hand.

They talked about many things between heaven and earth. The wine glasses emptied and a new bottle of the wine garden's finest was brought. After leaving the wine garden leaving a heavy tip to the waiter, heady, laughing and giggling, they continued to walk down along the waterfront.

Heady with the wine she looked at Galloway with a wink and guided his hand to circle her waist and rest against her hip. He winked back at her holding her tight by his side. She leaned against him as if she could at any moment trip and fall. In response, he moved his hand over to her arm, holding her tightly and shielding her from the cold and anyone else who might make claim to his beauty.

A crowd of people started heading their way, trying to get in for the last show. As they did, Galloway turned his back towards them and shielded Jennifer from the oncoming crowd, wrapping both of his arms around her very tightly. Jennifer hugged Galloway, looking him in the eyes.


As the crowd angled around them, Galloway protected her with his sheer presence. It was a perfect moment, lowering his head, he kissed her. The kiss lasting as long as it would take for the crowd to finally pass.

Even after the last person had gone by, he still held onto her looking into her eyes, asking her silently if she was okay. In response Jennnifer kissed him again. Satisfied with the answer, he drew her very close, as they continues to walk. He had her lean against him and said, "I have a boat, docked on the island. We can sail around the harbour. It's not a rowboat, but a yacht. It’s my floating citadel from the pressures of work."

She leaned against Gallloway's shoulder and said, "Mmm... you're very handsome and cute for a British man. I can't wait to see your boat."

They laughed and slightly teased each other as they walked to the dock. Galloway brought Jennifer to the end of the dock where there was a Harland and Wolff Classique III yacht. He took her commlink and entered in a LTG code. A visual display of a dwarf comes up. "Dobson. Get ready to embark, we're leaving early."

He turned off her commlink and handed it back to her. Vera smiled winsomely and guided him ahead of her onto the gangplank. She asked innocently, looking at him from the dock, "Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted. Welcome to my pride and joy." He replied, taking her hand and helping onto the yacht.

He lightly told her, showing her around the expansive aft deck of the yacht. "This is my personal yacht, bought and paid for by Horizon. If I were to lose her or even worse sink her. I am not sure what they would do to me. Still, despite all that I have yet to name her."

They entered the main salon with its highly comfortable and impressively leather furnished furniture. Every surface gleamed with extensive wood panelling accentuating the harmonious light aquamarine pastels of the islands of furniture. He pulled her back into his arms and rested his forehead against her, "How comfortable are you with me? Would you like to get to know your date more, or are we past that?" He inquired gently, his fingers lightly brushing down her neck.

Jennifer let out a minor gasp at his electric touch, her dress changing colour to a more subtle pink, highlighting herself well from the rest of the room. She gasped out in quick breaths "Can we know each other a bit more? I would love for you to show me around your Pride and Joy."

He continued to caress her neck, brushing her away from, his fingers tracing down her back, causing her to shiver. He whispered into her ear, "of course, I would love to show every seam of her."

He showed her around, past the dining room and into the galley and then up the stairs to the pilothouse and from there onto the bar area. The bar is well lit with gleaming brass fittings and two large red couches framed by ornately shaped glass tables. He led her to the railing where they both admired the view as the yacht pulled ever deeper into the blackness of the Burrard Inlet. She could help but admire the view and Galloway cannot help but admire the view of her.

He tore his eyes away from her for a moment to drink in the receding panorama of a lit Vancouver, "I grew up here and I'll probably never leave." He stopped his train of thought, looking back at her and leaned over to lightly pull aside her wool jacket to kiss her shoulder. He pulled a bit more incessantly and her jacket came away from her. Leaving her only in her ultra thin dress.

"Is it just the two of us on the boat?" She asked him carefully as he nuzzled her.
His hands were moving slowly over her body as he replied, "Dobson is down below, but I am sure he won't be bothering us."

Jennifer turned around and ran her fingers under his tie loosening it. She lightly pushed against him with her body quietly but firmly asking, "so are you going to show me the rest of your boat?"

Galloway guided her down the spiral staircase past the main deck, to the lower deck. He stood at the beginning of the corridor showing her two VIP bedrooms and the master bedroom.
The master bedroom was large, with ornate wooden cupboards and wall space. Against one wall a large wood relief of Buddha had been placed. The rest of the wall space was filled with strategically placed mirrors and TriD screen, making the place from large to expansive.

The red and white of the room made her dress turn to a more wilder red as she also adjusted her dress’ opacity from tantalizing to titillating. This change did not go unnoticed as stopped and simply admired her as she walked around the room, before sliding to sit down on the bed. Her legs crossed, her body slightly arched as she pouted at him. She ran her fingers over the coverlet admiring the rich texture of silk. He slides in next to her, looking at her inquisitively rubbing her arm.

She lay slightly back turning to him and said, "You have a very impressive boat..." She winked at him and added, "...and the bed is quite soft too."

They slowly kissed his hands running down her back as she gave a small squeak as he pulled her forcefully towards her. She breathlessly between kisses asked, “Mmm... do you... want to... listen... to my music?”
He reluctantly broke off the embrace as Jennifer carefully looked at him, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. She asked him in a teasing manner, “I don't think you would have an old optical disc player in this high-tech boat of yours.”

Galloway grinned and pulled himself away from her, rubbing his finger along her cheek. "Oh I have a few surprises.” He said as music pipes in from around the room, “I'll be right back."

Galloway looked back for a second at her as he pulled off his tie, nearly running into the door frame. She blows him a kiss and a wink as she waited for a few moments. Shortly afterwards he came back with two glasses and a bottle of Laurent-Perrier's Grand Siècle, of 2055 vintage. He took the optical disc from Jennifer and poured them both a glass. They both lay on the bed listening as the music started to play.

It was an ethereal song of of nature, of decay and love lost the possible promise of a brighter future at the final apex. It was beautifully played and executed. While she was enjoying she could not help but notice that while Galloway looked relaxed he had an unreadable expression on his face. He takes her hand and while listening tabs his index finger on the back of it with each reverberation of the bass.

Frowning and not to be outdone by her own dulcet tones, she ran her finger along her thigh, playing with her lacy stocking tops. It causes him to stop tapping and focus on her finger as she plays with the hem of her thigh high dress. The song reaching its final lull, Galloway's expression goes from scrutiny to acceptance. She took a hold of his hand and in a hopeful and fearful way asked, "Are you alright?"

He turned around and looked at her, "It's really good." He begins "You have talent. There a few things I would recommend, but the charisma and emotion they are all there."

Jennifer grinned and gave Galloway a hug. He smiled and pulled her back.

"If you would like, I am willing to sign you Jennifer Davis. You'll have to work with my engineers and my instructors, but we can make you into a star. Before you continue, I want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. Fame isn't everything; you’ll have a lot of people... Who will want a piece of you, in more ways than one."

Jennifer nodded, understanding his words, but not really. She was about to become a star and any words of wisdom were drowned out by the promise of fame.

He grinned at her and gave her a hug, "Good. Now, for some reason I can't erase the image of you running your finger down your thigh."

Jennifer mischievously ran the digit in question slowly down her body, before running it up and hooking the hem of her dress. She pulled on it lightly, revealing nothing more between her and the air than nature had put there. She pouted letting it relax to just below her hip. "Like this?" she inquired.

"Yes like that." Galloway gasped his eyes riveted to her, his hand slowly reaching out to her chin and kissing her delicately on the lips.

Jennifer broke off the kiss to finish the glass. He filled it up again, splashing some on her hand. She smiled as he kisses it off. She puts down her glass as he pulls himself on top of her. As they consummated their passion Jennifer's siren song started and looped in the background.