E: Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:00:23; Mechanical's Bus Barn
PAN mode: Active | ID Displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap blinked as the AR window with Sprogget's message popped up, his concentration on a moderately complex circuit diagram he'd been trying to comprehend for the last 30 seconds broken. Dammit, I think I just about got it, too. A mental sigh, then he saved the spot he was at, closed the e-book window, and fired back a response.

<< No hurry on my end, do what you got to do. >>

September 1, 2072, 16:04:02

Scrapheap unfolded his arms and nodded as Sprogget finished his inspection and came over for introductions. "Skraa, Sprogget. Still breathin', not bleedin'. Suppose dat's a good day, neh?" Scrapheap indicated the truck and trailer with a nod of his head. "What's da score?"

@E:PL/UK Gemeaux (Mordred & Tsubaki)
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]

Vivienne quietly and efficiently connects you to the commcode that you have been given and after barely a moment you are through. Rather than the (secretly anticipated view) of Lady deBathayre’s graceful form you see a swirling mass of constellations in your augmented reality overlay. These coalesce into the form of a dragon made of stars with the same wicked twinkle in its eye that you detected in the good lady. It would seem she has taken her master’s image to heart!

<<Monsieur Gemeaux? An unexpected pleasure so soon! But you are distressed and have been left somewhat in the lurch by your erstwhile companion? Of course I may be of assistance to you, for a small price naturally, but we can discuss such things later. Would you like me to turn back and pick you up? We can converse much more comfortably away from the prying eyes at the airport, it wouldn’t do for you to stay too long and draw the eye of your former employers…>>

As you, Mordred, Tsubaki and the Collots watch the palatial limo that had driven off with Lady deBathayre returns. The hulking black guards step out and scowling begin to walk back towards the small terminal building. A languorous hand waves from the interior

“I have sent them away so that we may have some privacy. Please, would you and your party care to join me?”

Either she has a taste for danger or is trusting that a group she knows to be runners pose her no threat, and which is worse you wonder…?

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]

LeFey

You have to get out of this stifling place, you tried before and were dragged back, you’ll be damned if they catch you this time! Everything’s ready right? You’ve got your supplies packed and hidden away and you’ve studied the security for the umpteenth time… your train of thought is interrupted as your Paragon looks up in amazement and the AR architecture of your wall display suddenly ripples and changes and is looking out onto a bizarre garden rather than the usual scene. A sprightly young girl, perhaps eight years old or so, springs out from a glittering pool. She appears, disconcertingly, to be naked, clad only in impossibly long flowing hair that sparkles and crackles with energy…

<<Don’t leave yet child (child?!?), I’m sending someone to help you get out cleanly. It wouldn’t do for someone to trace you to where you are going would it? Can you wait one more day? The pieces are falling in to place but they aren’t quite there yet…>>

September 1, 2072 07:01:21;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Alpha Apex

Prospero’s icon moves towards you across the water, his long flowing robes masking his face but allowing the burning pits of his eyes shine from beneath the hood. His staff strikes ripples in the code as he strides up the beach and you catch a brief glimpse of Aerial as the sprite agent darts from a shadow and whisks off again with barely a pause. You are just as glad that Caliban is not in evidence…the coding on that piece of software has rendered it downright ugly!

“Up early or late, Alpha?” the voice is mellifluous, once you could get lost in, another piece of expert code. For one who can’t sense the Resonance his skills are impeccable. It probably comes of living almost entirely in the matrix, something you perhaps envy him a little.

“I have a little job for you if you are willing? I’m told there’s a techno out there who needs some help to join us. She’s locked up tight in a corp enclave and we need to ensure she gets away without leaving an obvious trail. Do you think you and Glyph can manage it? I know she stands out a bit but she has enough experience of covering herself up when needed, and she might prove a valuable distraction if used at the right moment. I’ll send Jazz with you if you think you’ll need some firepower but I would hope that this could be kept under the radar. You’re all young enough that provided you don’t go dressed like gangers you should be overlooked. Here’s the commcode of the techno, LeFey, if you are interested. If not I can ask someone else…”

September 1, 2072 09:05:32;
Physical Location: xxxx
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph

As you drop into the node an agent immediately accosts you with a message, why they didn’t just send it to your comm you don’t know but this place never was one for following the easy route or doing things in the normal way.

<<@Glyph: Please contact – A L P H A – he has a task that needs to be completed today and you are 85% compatible with the task parameters.>>

@E:Tribe / Mechanicals
September 1, 2072 16:12:14; Mechanicals Bus Barn

Sprogget, Scrapheap & Spring

As you mill around the truck whilst Sprogget completes his final checks there is a yell and Spring races into the barn swiftly followed by an irate techie

“Get out from under my feet! Go on, hitch a ride with this lot wherever they are going and stay out of trouble! Oi, Scrapheap, keep an eye on him will you? I have had enough of him pestering me!” which is grossly unfair but Sleeper is always grouchy and you’d caught him at a bad moment…

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:01:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

The mana in your fists visible crackles around your razors as you slash at the spirit. It screams with a distressingly human sound. Despite this you suspect that the spell had little real effect and girding your will and with the approving hiss of Snake in your mind you wade in to do battle.

It could best be described as titanic as ichor sprays from its wounds, splashing across your engraved arms. It struggles to strike back but although it buffets you repeatedly the blows fail to breach your armour, despite the chitinous hooks that scrabble towards your face and torso. Under your enslaught it weakens rapidly and you thank Snake that it was obviously not a spirit of great power.

As it finally dissipates back to whatever meta hell spawned it you realise firstly that in your struggle you are frighteningly exposed and second that you have lost track of Katie and Jon…

[September 1st, 2072, 16:12:15; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Active, SIN: nope

Hey, are you insane?! I was just working on my... stopping in mid-sentence, Spring decides that's probably not gonna lead anywhere and to change tactics. Anyway, thanks for making sure, I' d get here in time. So, where we going?

He flashes the men in whose care he just had been unceremoniously dumped a nervous smile.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 07:01:53;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

"Early. Late. Day. Night. It doesn't matter in the Deep Resonance. However, it is nice to feel the sun on your face, sometimes. Soooo...Let's say "early" this time."
With a chuckle and a smile (or, at least as much of a smile as his avatar would allow), Alpha tries to play down his inner torment...

Man, I forgot how much he bugs me. Is he good because he is detached from reality, or is he detached from reality because he is so good? You gotta have balance. The Deep Resonance and meatspace are two sides of the same coin, and forsaking one is to forsake both. Is that why Zero One has sent me here to this place? Ugh, I hope not. Talking to him makes my skin crawl.
And those agents of his...give me the willies. Not sure which is worse; the ugly one you at least expect to give you trouble, but the pretty one, well, she is ugly in her own way.

"As for this...LeFey. Is this going to be a meatspace kind of breakout attempt, or purely online? Because I've kinda got a thing..."

Alpha holds up a finger. "Actually, lemme check something really fast..." Swiping across his field of vision, Alpha brings up another window and sends a quick message to Phobos. <<So, does rescuing this lost technomancer seem to match up with Zero One's predictions? Can I get out of this doorway now? I think it's starting to drizzle...>>

There is a 83.47% likelyhood that this is the advantageous event in question. However, longer residence time at this physical location should increase the certainty.

<<Right. Delay if I can, but don't lose the opportunity.>> Alpha's attention goes back to Prospero. "Nevermind. My thing just cleared up. Got a few questions for you, first. What's the timeline? I will need time to finesse the systems she's locked up in. What's the details? You know: which corp, who's watching her?"

Sitting down on the beach chair that is conveniently next to him, Alpha kicks his feet up and relaxes. "Also, there is a matter of compensation to be discussed. She's important to you, which means she's important to me... But I don't know her from Ariel, and some extra nuyen would make me care a lot more for her safety."

@E:PL/UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux looks back towards the group with an avant garde grin, although his eyes say something else. He gives them the kind of resigned look of someone who has just sold his soul to the unknown.

"Normally, I would say, 'Après vous, Mesdames et Messieurs.' Given the circumstances, I believe you will afford me the honor of going first?" He does not wait for an answer.

Gemeaux strides forth confidently towards the Lady deBathayre. He gently takes her hand and kisses it.

"You have my thanks, my Lady, and indeed the pleasure is mine. I believe I speak for all of us when I say we are grateful for your generosity, as well as the opportunity for privacy." He looks back at the rest of the group.

"Shall we?"

E: Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:12:18; Mechanical's Bus Barn
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget Looks over to see what the commotion is about, Looks at Sleeper and Spring, then shrugs to Scrapheap. He then looks back to the annoyed techie, @sleeper: "{soothingly}, Sa'right Sleeper. We got it.".
@team: "As I was just saying, I got a line on a B.D. pickup, rusting in the garage of a maybe suit over in Tacoma. Not free salvage, but I think I can get it for a good price, and fix it up. You were invited {hard look at Spring} to help load it {gesturing to the trailer}, and keep any flys off while hauling it back to my shop. The owner is part of the Makers Guild I deal with some, so don't be treat'n her like a puta. The map says we could get there in 20 minutes, but I figure closer to an hour, staying below notice. The actual P.Z. is here {sending axc4mr address to both commlinks} Not know'n all the gang claims on the way, so we be cautious on the road. The cycle {waving at the Revolution} has maxed sensors, and dog brain good enough to stick to convoy". @Scrapheap: "You want point, drag, or park the bike and ride inside? Bike is more Maneuverable, but harder to use that {Gesturing to the holstered shotgun} from the chopper, if need. You got comm while riding"?

Sprogget checks what is available for sensor channels from the other 2 through the commlinks. He does not find enough to be useful. Disappointed, he releases the sustained complex form.

@team: "Times leaking away. We need to get moving quick like, if not want to risk being late. Oh, where we traveling, should miss high-sec zones. I'll be setting my comm to passive, soon as we start moving. Spring, looks like you get shotgun seat, unless you {including both Spring and Scrapheap} have better idea"?

Sprogget slaves the Revolution to his bio node, checks the results of the diagnostics run on the truck, and prepares get in and get going.

[September 1st, 2072, 16:12:15; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Active, SIN: nope

Spring lowers his eyes as Sprogget gives him the eye, opens his mouth as if to say something but closes it without doing so. Gonna show 'em I'm not some whiny kid.

As Sprogget mentions changing comm modes, Spring sets his to passive. He nods at Sprogget I'm OK with riding shotgun. How about a few more eyes? Not waiting for an answer, he mutters something under his breath and first one than two, finally three entities appear flaoting before him. They look like palm-sized inch-thick disks, seemingly made of bronze. Each has two short legs and arms and one single large eye in the middle. Parts of their "faces" are cut out and show running gears.

They're not the smartest clanks around but they can see the æther.

double post is double

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 07:15:12;
Physical Location: White Residence
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White

Glyph opened the door to the apartment and walked in shutting the door behind her, she turned around and locked the door more out of habit than necessity. Taking off her bike helmet she hung it up on the hook by the door, and noticed the ARO she had left there for herself earlier.

The ARO, sculpted by her to look like a real arrow, with fletching that matched her fur color, stuck into the wall. She plucked it out and it disappeared, reforming into the message that it represented into the lower left hand corner of her vision. She looked at the message scrolling there for a couple second before it moved into her main view.

<<@Self: Don't forget to put up a post on the nexus for a the new gear you were looking for girl>>

She brought her hand up and across her vision in a sweeping motion grabbing the message and tossing it into the garbage icon in the lower right hand corner of her vision.

As she was deleting the message she moved through the living room and into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl, and spoon from the drying rack she placed them on the counter. Opening the fridge she grabbed the carton of milk finding just enough for a bowl or two of dinner, as she turned toward the cupboards above the counters she updated the ARO shopping list on the fridge. She fished in the cupboards until she found what she wanted way in the back her hidden stash of Dragon Crunch with its picture of a great dragon laying on a pile of the golden coin shaped cereal holding a bowl and spooning up a mouthfull of the sugary stuff.

I'd love see someone catch a real dragon eating a bowl of this stuff

She poured herself a bowl of cereal, added the milk and started eating, checking her feeds for anything new while she ate. After she was done she rinsed her dishes, put everything away and headed to her room.

Closing the door behind her, she didn't even bother turning on the light, the glow that came off her was enough for her to see by. She sat down on her bed and started taking off her clothes tossing everything in the hamper in the corner save her boots, and gloves. She peeled off the subvocal mike, and earbuds and placed those on the nightstand next to her gloves. She wrapped a towel around herself and left her room heading down the hall to the bathroom.

After starting the shower she draped her towel over the sink and looked in the mirror at herself, she was used to the way she looked now, though most times she still stared at herself looking at the changes and remembering the way she used to look. There was nothing left of the fair skinned, blue eyed, golden blonde that was a younger version of her mother. She pulled herself from the mirror before her thoughts turned darker and entered the shower.


September 1, 2072 09:05:31
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall


Glyph entered the node and as always marveled at the sculpting of the node. It wasn't just the visuals that awed her, on a good day with enough time she could render something as good, it was everything else; the sounds, the randomness, all the little details, sometimes she swore she could even smell the ocean, and feel the heat of the sun that she didn't see much of anymore.

She turns and takes a step toward the strand of palm trees in the distance, and finds herself almost face to face with an agent. Surprised she steps back as the agent delivers a message.

<<@Glyph: Please contact – A L P H A – he has a task that needs to be completed today and you are 85% compatible with the task parameters.>>

With its message delivered the agent departs.

WTF!, really....? Couldn't a text message have been easier? Who sent that agent? Good chance it was Prospero. 85% compatible my ass.

<<@Prospero: Was that your agent that just dropped of this message? {Forwarded text of agents message} >>

<<@Prospero: What exactly do you mean by today? Do you mean today as in daylight hours, or today as in date because you do realize i'm going to be useless until night time, I know most of the time you see me is in the node where its always sunshine so you may not remember that I'm nocturnal, not to mention allergic to the sun.>>

@E:Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:12:38; Mechanical's Bus Barn
PAN mode: Active | ID Displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap glares at the back of Sleeper as the techie stalked away. When did I become a fuckin' daycare? Man, today's shit list just keeps getting longer and longer. He glances balefully at Spring as the kid walks over to them, then back to Sprogget. After the technomancer finishes laying out the evening's plans he opens his mouth to speak, then stops when Spring blinks the watchers into being. Huh, a wizkid. Hope someone's keeping an eye on him, keep him from being disappeared. He taps the earpiece in his right ear.

"Yeah, I can talkn' ride at da same time. Kinda hard to hear over da wind and motor, but it's doable. I'll take point, trailin' on a bike's dumb. First three in the pipe are shot, so hittin' on da move ain't hard. If I'm shooting more dan dat than we're already up shit creek and should be findin' a place to hole up and call in the cavalry."

Scrapheap switches his PAN to Passive mode as the two others get into the truck, puts his helmet back on his head, and starts the Triumph. He pulls ahead of the truck as they leave the vehicle bay and swings the bike onto the street heading for the pick-up spot.

E: Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:12:47; Leaving Mechanical's Bus Barn
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget notes but ignores for now the glare that Scrapheap gives Sleeper as he is leaving, and that Spring's comm is not showing any SIN information.
When Spring produces the watchers, Sproggets eyes widen a bit. @self:Mage! Wonder what the abilities and limits are?
Getting into the truck, Sprogget tasks the Revolution to follow behind, and report traffic approaching from the rear. He opens an out of the way AR window to display the camera view.
@RoadRunner:"Ok bud, lend me your skills till I tell you different".

RoadRunner: Connects a couple of large levers into slots in the wall of Sprogget's virtual node.

Sprogget suddenly knows much better how to handle the truck, and how to keep the convoy from being noticed. He modifies the instructions to the Revolution, to better keep the convoy discrete while maintaining lookout. He changes the PAN to passive mode, and slaves the truck node to his bionode as well.

BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget verifies 3 way comm connectivity between himself, Spring, and Scrapheap.
@sp^3: <<{humorously} I dub this the sp-cubed team. Ready to slice and dice any tek that comes our way.>>

@sp^3: <<here {AR icon tagged 'monocycle sensor data'}, our rear view mirror>>

Sprogget follows Scrapheap out of the barn, maintaining the spacing suggested by the new knowledge.

@ScrapHeap: <<{tagged private}Don't mind Sleeper. He has just never found the right side of the bed to wake up on.>>

@Spring: "I saw that your comm is not showing any SIN info. Any heat that notice likely to feel he can hassle you just for breathing. Better you set that to hidden, or even better, slave it to my node, so any hits on it get me instead. You should get a decent fake, if you plan on being in the public.".

@E:PL/UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Active

Mordred tries to change his perplexed look into a neutral one as he lowers his goggles. "I see you that were busy during the flight, too." Motioning for Mr. Collot to follow, he enters the car. Inwardly, he frowns. The adept had hoped not to have to deal with NeoNET until after this was over. While there was no accounting for individual opinions, the company as a whole was no friend to the Emerged. "Yes, thank you." With the Lady's overlay in mind, what they were doing took on a new and unsettling meaning.

@E:PL UK
[May 21st, 2072, 15:52:41, NeoNet Zepplin bound for Exeter, ETA 16:00:00]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki doesn't forget to express to the Lady, "Thank you so much." Tsubaki is relieved, to say at least. She will be the last one to climb inside the NeoNet limousine. Ooh, leather seats.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"Oh, my." Morgan looked at her paragon, but even the idoru seemed surprised. Which was worrying.

"Hello." Gingerly, she stepped toward the girl. A blue beret she had been considering hung from her fingers. "I've been waiting for years. I can stand another day." It wasn't hard for Morgan to sound interested, with a solution to her problems simply standing in front of her. "You still haven't told me who you are." All the more reason for her to be suspicious. Even if she did really need help. This time, Riley wasn't around to take the blame for her excursion. And this time, Morgan would be running around with a fake SIN. She had to make it count.

Pulling her glasses out of her shirt, Morgan slipped them on. The virtual garden before her flickers, giving her a glimpse of the underlying code.

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:18:43; Leaving Mechanicals Complex
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

@Spring: "I'm going to use comm, to include Scrapheap in this.".
@sp^3: <<Do you either know things about the routes to Milton that might help us get there and back without getting harassed? I know some about Seattle, especially Puyallup, and more about tribes around Seattle, but that is not everything. Maybe if we compare notes, we can keep this ride silk.>>
@self:That nap cut into my prep time. I should have done some searches before leaving. Actually, should have sent a sprite to do the work while I rested. To excited about the truck. Driving does not take all of my attention. I can do some checks on the fly, but the feel of the shop just makes that so much easier.

That reminds be though, I need to take some time to get build some longer lasting sprites. But which ones?
@Daedalus:"Hey Dae, which tools and assistants you think I should put on retainer first"?

Daedalus:"shrug each have their unque abililties".

@Daedalus:"plaintively Lot of help you are"!

Daedalus:"I do not make decisions for you ".

@Scrapheap: <<{tagged as private}Is the "Scrapheap" id attached to a SIN? If not, you really should get a fake ID, to keep Bacon Bits and corp security from flagging you for extra attention, just for breathing. Null sweat in the barrens, not much in E zones, but I think we hit some D on this trip. They can get anal about having an ID.>>

@sp^3: <<We got a bit of road time here. Let's find out a bit bout each other. I work with 'tronix and automotive mostly. I've got a shop for that, though I do not get to work with the drones as much as I would like. I do a lot of tek maintenance work for the tribe. I do good enough there, to not get much of the standard security patrol stuff. Still get a bit, since 'Uncle' Spindle wants everyone able to at least know about that. Most of the security related work I do is virtual. I can wear one of the buildings like a skin, to keep track of most things inside and outside.

Ah, Scrapheap, when that chopper needs service, unless you already have a repairjockey, bring it around to the shop. I can do repairs and upgrades too, though you will need have the scratch for parts. Unless the tribe is footing the bill anyway.

I also use some of the salvage to make things from raw materials, or to add cosmetic decorations to other equipment. The monocycle is an example of that. I have a bunch of the steampunk on display, both physical and AR at the shop, if you want to have a look. Sold some of those pieces, which is why I've got the cred to think about the truck, when it is not straight salvage.>>

Sprogget opens an extra AR window, and starts a search for information about places to avoid on the current trip.

Emerging: Tribe, Spring
[September 1st, 2072, 16:18:51; Mechanicals Bus Barn]
Renraku Sensei: Passive, SIN: nope

At Sprogget's suggestion that he'd better slave his commlink to the man's, Spring takes a moment to mentally assess it's contents. Probably couldn't keep him out anyway, just like Tweak. Last year his friend had just breezed through the paper-thin defense on his 'link. And ridiculed him with the vids he had stored. At the memory, Spring lightly blushes. Of course Tweak had helped him upgrade his old comm - to cardboard level, not that it'd be able to support much more. With a slightly nervous shrug, he switches his commlink's mode to hidden and checks his firewall is running.

Fake SIN, better protection for my comm, how am I gonna pay for that?

@Sprogget: <<Switched to hidden.>>

Spring gets into the truck and sits on the passanger seat, his watchers trailing him.

Better tell em why I assembled them.

Please stay close in the æther and inform me of anyone or anything in it that shows interest in me or my companions.

Mentally contacting his clanks felt strange and as always he wondered what they thought about him or other humans - if anything at all.

As the watchers vanish from sight, Spring starts to compose a message.

@sp³: <<They're still around; just told them to have an eye on the æther.>>

Talk about ourselves? Like I wanted to go with them in the first place. Ah well, maybe somethign interesting's gonna happen.

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:01:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Copperhead wipes the worst of the ichor from her armor, the feral grin on her face hidden by both her respirator and slowly fading shamanic mask.

You know, the only thing worse than fighting a bug spirit, is getting a running commentary on what you are doing wrong while fighting a bug spirit.

Then I ssuposse you do not need me to remind you that you are sstanding in the open where anything and everything can ssee you hisses Snake in a condescending, almost humorous tone.

"Frag" mutters Copperhead as she dives for the nearest cover. When no immediate gunfire comes her way, she carefully scans the area for any sign of Jon and Katie.

Frag! Where did they get to now?

Clutching her shotgun close to her chest, she hustles in the direction she last saw them while trying to keep her head from getting shot off and at the same time catch a glimpse of her missing charges.

@E:CoP/Elton Wellborn & Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:00; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

The crystalline walls of the NeoNet tower provide you with a stunning view of the hallowed spires of Oxford in the distance. The sun is beginning to dip towards the west striking sharp shadows across the city and putting things into stark relief.

The live musicians on the balcony above you are passably good, about what you’d expect from a corporate do, and so far you have both managed to avoid the worst of the Ordo chit chatting. You have taken the opportunity to reinforce contacts and catch up with those people whose influence you either covet or who you want to covet your influence.

Your host for this evening, Sir Gregory Hamilton, an eminent scholar and technologist is being accompanied by a delightful young lady who you would normally ignore completely…and yet your curiosity is piqued as Sir Greg seems to be deferring to her rather than the other way round as might be expected of a piece of eye candy. The Lady deBathayre, as her PAN indicates her to be, is a genuinely young human, perhaps in her late teens or early twenties, with none of the tell tales of leonisation treatments. A data search hasn’t turned anything up in the peerages of any of the European Families so her background is a mystery, and you do love a mystery…?!

@E: Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:19:50; en route to salvage
PAN mode: Passive | ID displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap reached into his jacket and tabbed the commlink to voice-command operation. Prolly should have done this earlier, thankfully the roads here are actually still roads.

@Sprogget "Never been outta Puyallup and don't go into Puyallup City unless it's after KE's 'give a shit' hours, so I've never needed a SIN." Scrapheap snorts derisively. " 'Sides, after my "facelift" the poe-poes'd harass me even if I had a legit SIN, let alone a fake one I can't afford anyways."

He jinked the chopper around a crater masquerading as a pothole. Okay, calling them "roads" is a stretch...

@s^3 "Thanks for the offer Sprog, but I got a guy already that'd skin me alive if I stopped takin' this piece of shit to him. Which reminds me I need to take a trip down to his shop, see if he needs anything found. That's what I do, when I'm not rollin' around the Mechanical's buildings keeping the people Spindle and company want "out" out. Apparently this face is good for that, combined with a 12-gauge. Usually I end up in the 'yards for a few nights, digging through the stuff the corps can't dump anywhere else and finding the good shit the tribe uses. Won't live to see 30 given the junk I'm siftin' through, most likely, but 's better than flyin' colors and dyin' over a street corner no one but you and the guy shiv'ing ya gives two fucks about."

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:00; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

While perhaps invisible to most of the room, in truth Lady deBathayre had had Awesome's attention from the moment he saw her, with one eye on her while conversing with less important people. He didn't recognise her, and that was always intriguing. Meeting new people, especially women, was one of the few joys he found at these events and he wasn't going to pass this one up. Plus, a genuinely young human female...

He's tried to approach her a few times but kept getting sidelined by polite conversation. He was stuck in one now, paying more attention to the h'orderve and champagne in his hands than what was being spoken at him. He kept shooting her glances, willing her to look this way so he can catch her gaze and start to work his magic.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, yeah. Mhm. Yep. Yes, definitely. We'll catch up soon!". He ended another conversation as politely as he could and moved over towards the woman again.

"Sir Gregory! Nice to see you again. Thank you, this is a wonderful setting for a party." he turns his head slightly to address Lady deBathayre. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've been introduced.". He bowed slightly and kissed her lightly on the hand while looking her in the eyes. The glance was full of charm and grace and he hoped enough to pique her own interest in him.

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:22:07; Truck'n to Milton
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget just nods to Spring.

@sp³: <<So we have some magic eyes as well as the drone and physical eyes watching for trouble.>>

@sp³: <<All cool. There's always something around that the tribe needs fixed. Plus everything I'm work'n on for my own.>>
@self:So enough knowledge to recognize good salvage, even if Dumptruck says he is not techie ... Maybe, but I'm gonna find a way OUT!
@sp³: <<Well get a good respirator at least. No point checking out earlier than needed.>>

Sprogget notices Spring's hesitation about talking about himself.
@Spring: "Do not need details of favourite playlists here, but enough so that we have some idea of what each other can and can not be expected to do if we end up with a face full of drek inbound. We do not have time to learn to automatically divvy up tasks, like a smooth functioning urban brawl team would, but we can talk some, to get an idea what kinds of things the others might help with. We are not doing a solo scrounge here. If someone has a tasty recipe to serve devil rat for lunch, that might be interest'n. If they are going to run screaming from that rat, we need to know. If they can sing, and have the Rats run, we need to know that too".

@self:Got to remember that not everyone is comfortable with the 'trix. My casual switching between conference and private on the voice, or inserting side comments with text and throwing in AROs for links and data could seem somewhat strange to those that do not ride the electrons.

Continuing on the team voice conference call,
@sp³: <<I have minimal close in combat skills, nothing really for guns, but I can get drones and other hardware to dance plus general matrix work. If we have any breakdowns on the trip, I brought a kit along, and should be able to get us back running quick, at least long enough to bug-out. That monocycle can run some interference. It does not have any weapons mounted, but it does have armor.

Hey Scrapheap, how would you like to play chicken with that mono cycle? It can run right over most road rats, like they was speed bumps, and just keep on going.

I have a bit of skill talking to people too, which can help some, if given the time.>>

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
September 1, 2072 07:01:53;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Alpha Apex

Prospero sways before you and reaching out his staff begins to drag a SIN and profile from the ether. The framed face of a pretty young girl forms in the air between you with the swirling meta data picked out in glowing blue text beneath.

<< Name: Morgan Senlis - Alias: LeFey - Human Female - Age 16 - Height 5' 0'' Weight 91 lbs – Corp Affiliation: Ares>>

“She is in a corp housing facility in ****. She has absconded before and been dragged back and whilst I am keen that she join us, I don’t want there to be any repercussions and she needs to disappear without a trace. Between you, Glyph and her own skills I am sure that you can put up a sufficient technological white wash that she can slip away unnoticed. Time is of the essence though, this needs to happen quickly for reasons I can’t go in to. We can provide you with reasonable expenses of course, otherwise we will have to find other ways to assist you.”

September 1, 2072 09:05:31
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph

You don’t have much time to savour the atmosphere in the node or the feel of sand between your toes and sun on your skin. It’s a close thing but you stop yourself from jumping when the warped form of Caliban lurches into being from nowhere and cackles at your discomfort

”I sent message! He tasked me to find someone for this…too busy, too busy to talk, too busy to talk to Caliban…always do this Caliban, do that, no thanks for me, oh no! I choose you! Talk to Alpha He did, talk to you I do. You go help pretty techno and bring her back here. Caliban play with her!” said with a rising chortle that sets your teeth on edge. He is one nasty piece of programming!

”Go in day, go at night, I don’t care. Talk to Alpha and make your own meaty plan. Bring her back here with nobody seeing and I will be nice…”

[August 31st, 2072, 06:32:47; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]

LeFey

You search the code for meaning and find yourself almost more confused than before. The icon before you is clearly running a stealth program, one sufficient to sleeze past the ice on the home node with apparent ease. You have been allowed to pierce its masking to converse and what your senses tell you don’t make any sense! It seems to be an agent but there are telltales of the Resonance about it. It certainly isn’t a sprite…perhaps it’s an AI but that doesn’t seem quite right either as from what Idoru has revealed to you only metahumans have the ability to feel the flow…

“I am Aria. I was asked to pass on a message that help is coming. If you go to a bulletin board at this location **** tomorrow morning there will be members of the tribe there who will be able to assist you in getting out.”

September 1, 2072 09:15:22
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Glyph & Alpha

A message flashes to you with the address of an obscure matrix bulletin board where you are told the girl will be waiting for you…

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 07:02:07;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

Alpha looks over the information and nods, sipping his virtual drink with the virtual umbrella in it. "Ares, huh? Yeah, I can see why this needs to be quiet." Alpha makes a big show of weighing his options quietly to himself, even though his mind was made up the moment Phobos spat out his probability numbers. "Alright, you've got yourself a deal. I know how critical time is, and assuming Glyph is available today, we should have her home safe and sound tonight. And let's not worry too much about reimbursement or anything, you can just owe me one and we'll call it square. Pleasure doing business with you as always, Prospero. Now, if you don't mind, I'll be getting to work."

Forcing the reality of Prospero's beachfront paradise out of his mind in favor of his stark geometric perception of the matrix, Alpha starts doing a little research on the little lost cherub whom he was tasked to break out of the warm embrace of Ares.

September 1, 2072 09:06:01;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

After a little preliminary research and poking around various nodes, Alpha's Analyze thread pings at him that Glyph has logged on to the node. Taking a deep breath, and pushing his hacking thread to the background to continue to gingerly look for exploits without his direct control for a moment, Alpha allows the beach back into his consciousness. Alpha quickly composes a message to be sent to Glyph, as he tries to remember her...

@Glyph<<Hey Glyph. Looks like the great and powerful Prospero has given us a job to do today. Looks like we're supposed to break a little girl out of jail. Let's meet up and figure out how the heck we are going to do this.>>

Now, let's see... Glyph... Glyph... Is she the furry one? Oh yeah! Wait a second... What does she even do around here? Sigh... Guess I'll find out.

@E:Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 16:23:59; en-route to salvage
PAN mode: Passive | ID displayed: SCRAPHEAP

"If it needs ta be shot, I'm okay with da boomstick. If it's up close I can beat it or chop it, whatever. And the last time I was in a vehicle playin' chicken...the light post won. So that ain't happenin'. I've got an in with the Firebreathers if shit goes sideways, maybe dey can give us a hand if we're closer to home."

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 09:05:33;
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White


Ewwwwwww, gross! fraggen program is such a damn lech.

"Fine, message delivered, now get going ugly"

A few seconds later she gets the message from Alpha, she wanders over to the shade of the palm trees and sits down.

<<@Alpha: Yes, I heard, though I didn't get any details. I had a message delivered by an agent when I entered the node. It was a bit demanding in tone and I wasn't too happy about it. When I tried to voice my issues about it to Prospero, Caliban....showed up ,the ugly little bugger said it was from him.>>

<<@Alpha:I'm up for a meet, Flesh or 'Trix? I've got an hour or two before I need to sleep.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 09:06:01;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

Noting the relatively quick response time from his message, Alpha sets off to find Glyph's icon in the node, composing a reply while he moves.

@Glyph<<Well, since we're both logged in already, mind as well be here. Hang tight, I'll come find you.>>

Accessing a nearby tracker agent on the node, whose icon is that of a cute cabana girl with long brown hair, a bikini top and wrap on the bottom half, and carrying a tray of drinks, Alpha has the agent locate and track Glyph's position in the node. Taking a seat on a nearby chair under the same palm tree, Alpha grabs a drink and sits down.

"Glad I could catch you on here. From your note, it sounds like you had a long night, and I don't want to make things longer by making you head out again."

Alpha takes a long slurp of his virtual frothy girly drink from the crazy straw it came with.

"So I've seen you around before, but never had the chance to work with you. Prospero said that your skills would be useful, but to be honest, I really don't know what those skills are... Personally, I'm a technomancer in communion with the Deep Resonance and emissary for the great Zero One. What that means in non-technojargon is I work hard in the matrix so you don't have to." Alpha looks thoughtful for a moment. "Or, rather, I work hard in the matrix so I can bring about a greater understanding of both sides of the world, Matrix and Material."

[September 1st, 2072, 16:24:09; en route to salvage]
Renraku Sensei: Hidden, SIN: nope

Guess he's got a point.

Hesitantly, Spring decides to start with the obvious.

@sp³: <<Well, as you've already seen, I can summon what you would call spirits, though I'm still working on the finer points of that. As for fighting, >>

I run, sneak, squeeze into holes. Damn, I don't wanna sound like a coward.

<<... well I prefer to make use of my surroundings. Not 'fraid to use my fists or my pistol.>>

With that he pats the shoulder holster on his left side.

Turning to Sprogget, he adds And no, I don't sing and so far haven't tried charming rats with my harp.

Spring audibly exhales, not used to introducing himself.

Charming rats with an instrument, most stupid idea ever.

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 09:06:01;
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White


"Wecome."

Glyph said to Alpha as he appears and sits down near her in the shade of the same palm tree.


"No longer than usual, just my normal guard/patrol schedule. I'm naturally nocturnal, so I get assigned the graveyard shift."

She says while Alpha takes a sip of his drink.


"Ah...cool. I got some of that technojargon, I may not be a techie, but i'm around enough of you to pick stuff up, I'll let you know when you've said something that goes over my head. As for me I'm an enforcer, though my skills lie mostly in stealth, I am trained in some combat."

She starts to say something, stops cocks her head slightly to the side looking a bit pensive then turns back toward Alpha and continues.

"My...change, gave me a certain...gift,I guess you could call it, that helps me in certain...interactions with others."

"So, you said something about breaking a little girl out of jail?"

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 09:06:01;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

"Wow. Like, literally nocturnal? Not by choice like some of these chip-heads who act like they are allergic to vitamin D? Good to know, but also might put a crimp in our plans."

Alpha smirks and nods when she gets a little pensive. "Everybody has their own little secrets. As long as you know what you can and cannot do, and we can plan for it, null sweat on my end."

In reply to her last comment:
"Well, not "jail" jail, per se. She wants out of her hum drum corp life. And it is our job to, at the very least, make her disappear, and at the most get her to join up with the Freedom Tribe."

"But, of course, here's the catch: We need to get this done quick. Tonight, if possible. So while you're sleeping the day away, I can start to bust my way into whatever nodes are in between our target and her freedom. Once the sun goes down, you can get on your way to physically busting her out."

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 09:12:29;
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White


"Yeah, not by choice. I, uh... am also allergic to the sun."

Glyph says a bit sheepishly, she then brings her arms up and spreads her hands gesturing to everything around her

"This is the closest I get to enjoying the sun anymore. I can still function during the day, but I'm not at peak performance I guess you could say."


"No, no. I wasn't keeping anything back, I just wasn't sure how to explain that ability of mine."

She says with a slight hint of embarrassment in her tone of voice.


"That sounds reasonable, we plan, I sleep, you hack, and I go get her tonight. Can you reach the corp's nodes from here or do you need to be closer? What information do you...."

Glyph breaks off her sentence, and her face shows a bit of puzzlement before she speaks again.

"Hmm weird, just got a message with no sender name. It has an address for a bulletin board, and says the girl would be waiting for us. Shall we go talk with her then?"

@E:Tribes / Mechanicals
September 1, 2072, 17:25:27; Tacoma

Sprogget, Scrapheap & Spring

Despite your fears the journey north has been uneventful, pleasant even away from the ash covered grime of Puyallup. The sun is filtering weakly through the murk and there is even some warmth to the air. Skirting Puyallup city you cross the river, avoiding the desultory go-gang that you see racing in the distance. It’s still early enough that the real predators haven’t come out for the night, preferring the shadows to the bright late summer sun. At this rate even your return journey should be uneventful.

The house is built into the side of a hill, with the lower side and 2 car garage at the back of the lot on an alley. An AR message directs you round the back where axc4mr Alexia Chalmers opens up. She’s a dwarf of no obvious ancestry. Possibly some Native American, some Anglo, maybe Filipino, probably other. Beautiful without being 'gorgeous' and certainly not enough to distract you from the task in hand. The garage contains the posted Peng You, next to it a brightly coloured JackRabit, obviously customized for a dwarf. When she sees there are more than one of you she surreptitiously reaches for a shotgun by the side of the door but is careful not to make any threatening moves.

“Comeon in then. Just so you know I’m recording you right so no funny stuff!”

The pickup is a drab colour with a lot of dirt, 'almost' urban camouflage. There are some bullet holes, although not in any of the glass, that account for the unit being down, but certainly nothing to draw unwanted attention until you can get it back to be patched. One round has clearly penetrated the cylinder so it’s not going anywhere under its own steam…it’s a miracle that it made it back here from wherever it got shot…

You are hurried in your negotiations as about twenty minutes in you all receive a message from Spindle

<<@S/S/S: Where are you at the moment? I need you to swing by Fre∑dom on your way back and get Doc White. Looks like Anna is going in to labour and I want the doc on hand.>>

Concluding your deal it’s time to hit the road again…you just now have the dilemma of time versus safety…the more direct and faster route that picks up the 512 carries significantly more risk…

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 09:15:22;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall

"Yep. Just spotted the message. Let me send a sprite to check out the node before we jump right in."

Pushing the external stimuli away for a moment, Alpha Apex reaches deep within himself and taps into his connection to the Deep Resonance. Taking deep breaths, he sends out a call along the pathways of Resonance to those who would listen. To anyone watching, it almost looks like he is a monk chanting softly to himself, head bowed and hands steepled in front of his face.

Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid. Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid. Oh, denizens of the Deep Resonance, heed my call for aid.

A purple worm about the size of a 20 oz bottle of water, with many small yellow eyes, pixellates into view in front of Alpha, and looks up at him, eyes blinking randomly.

"Thank you for coming to my aid in my time of need little one. Zero One thanks you for your service. Enter this node, and observe what you find. We will be along shortly."

The worm blinks his eyes in a very specific pattern, and disappears into the Matrix.

After a moment, Alpha says "Everything looks ok, let's head into that node and see how we can make someone disappear."

Alpha transfers to the new node, and immediately the little worm spins and looks up at Alpha's icon, its little eyes flashing and blinking rapidly. It almost reminds you of a little terrier frantically sniffing a newcomer into his house. Each newcomer into the node gets the same treatment.

@E: Tribes, Scrapheap;
September 1, 2072, 17:42:00; axc4mr's place
PAN mode: Passive | ID displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Scrapheap wiped the sweat from his eyes after pushing the derelict truck up onto the trailer behind the truck. What was it that poppa always said? Ain't very smart, but I can lift heavy things? Yeah. He had left the negotiations to Sprogget and Spring, since one look at him after he took off the motorcycle helmet had made Alexia flinch and reach for the shotgun again. He had managed a slightly less horrific smile and after that had kept outside, ostensibly to keep an eye on the vehicles, until they had needed the vehicle loaded. Just another dumb trog here for muscle, that's all... he thought, bitterly. After putting his glasses back on, he noticed the new message from Spindle.

<< @s^3: Should I give my guy a call, see if I can maybe get an escort down the freeway? Or do we take the backroads and hope that Anna hasn't popped before we get the doc back? >>

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 16:52:28; driving through Tacoma
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

from Aria axc4mr post

Sprogget has been chatting a bit with Spring and Scrapheap, trying to get a feel of what they are like.  Spring has continued to be mostly uncommunicative, though he did show some enthusiasm about blues and his harp.  Scrapheap has not been as closed, but he has been somewhat distracted probably with watching for trouble, and picking the best path through and around the bike traps on the streets.  That last has improved some, as the group got closer to the destination, but at the same time, being further from comfortable territory finds everyone trying to grow even more eyes in the back of the head than usual.

@self:Nice to really see what some more of the sprawl looks like.  Virtual feels different, even for the 'your are there' tours.  Usually nicer in VR, but ... different ...

@self:Not learning much about 'the team' here. Hope we can act together if something nasty goes down.

September 1, 2072, 17:25:27; Alex Chalmer's, Tacoma

The map lead right to the alley no problem.  Sprogget pings axc4mr when they get to the final block, to let her know they have arrived.  Parking behind the garage, Sprogget mostly blocks the alley with the truck and trailer.
@self:Looks like that upper floor could be a workshop.  Pretty big place for one person even so.  Let's make comm easy.

BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

...

@Alex: "Soothingly Easy Alex.  Just here to deal on the truck.  I did say I would be bringing a couple friends to help load.  It's way faster and easier with a few extra hands".
@self:Bit jumpy. glances at Scrapheap, @self:Guess can't blame her too much.
@self:Dwarf huh? The profile did not mention that. Looks a bit younger than I guessed from the voice.
Moving cautiously, so as to not startle her, Sprogget gets the sample package out of the backpack in the truck. Leaving her plenty of space, he spreads the contents on a convenient [and low] bench.
@Alex: "Have a look at these while we have a look at the truck, to see what it might be worth.  This is all small and inexpensive stuff.  Here is a file too {sending ARO link, with icon that morphs through several small steampunk pieces} with some other pieces, that are a bit big to just carry around in my pocket to show off".
@self:Showing the punked pieces should help relax her a bit.  Hopefully that will convince her about our 'honourable intentions'.  If she accepts the catalogue file, I should get a minimal in to her link.  My face is expected here, but the others probably could do without extra recordings of their mugs.  Do not want her to think the link was hacked either.  I'll just use a 'filter' to fuzz their faces a bit, like the camera did not focus quite right.  Getting in the link will probably tell me where any cameras and records are, if not just the commlink.
@Alex: "This is not your area, but since you do 'maker' work, you might be interested to know that a lot of info is included on the technical details of how the pieces were created.".

Leaving her to inspect the offerings, Sprogget grabs the automotive toolkit from the truck, and starts the inspection of the Peng You.  It looks quit drab beside the little Jackrabbit.
@self:If that is her usual transport, it is no wonder she did not want to be seen in this.  Not eye catching enough.

Discovering some bullet holes, fairly fresh looking given the shiny edges that are not coated with dirt like the rest of the truck, Sprogget interrupts Alex's perusal of the displayed goods.
@Audience: "Did your ex leave rather suddenly?  He might have had health reasons to want to be somewhere else.  The truck might be more broken than you thought".  Pointing out the bullet holes.

Alex: Probably pales a bit, but with that skin tone, it is hard to tell, "I didn't know about that.  He told me zero".

September 1, 2072, 17:32:02; Alex Chalmer's, Tacoma

Assisted by Spring, who turns out to have some automotive skills, Sprogget finishes the once over inspection.
@self:Drive train fairly good, frame solid, engine needs work.  Seems to have been used fairly hard, but also had regular maintenance.  I saw what could have been previous 'battle damage' repairs.  Depending how good the mechanic was, some of those might fail again, needing more work.  I can work with this.  Time to see how little I have to spend to take it off her hands.
@Alex: "The holes themselves are trivial.  I might even be able to use them for decoration.  However at least one of those hits got into the engine.  I think he was lucky to get it back here still running.  That is not the first time the truck had an unfriendly encounter either.  There are previous repairs.  I can't see directly from those what caused the damage, but the general pattern says it has been banged around some.  It is not quite ready for the junk yard, but it will need some repairs to get running again, and probably some regular TLC after.  That said, I know where to get the parts, and have a bit of time to baby it".

September 1, 2072, 17:37:43; Alex Chalmer's, Tacoma

Negotiations on price seem to be going well.  Far enough along, that Spring and Scrapheap have jockeyed the truck and trailer into position, where the winch can be used to pull the damaged Peng You up on to the trailer.  Sprogget sees an ARO pop up from the for show commlink.  Incoming high priority call, showing it is coming from Spindle, addressed to all three of the 'away team'.
@self:Spindle? To all three of us? Better take that.
Breaking off suddenly, Sprogget holds up a hand toward Alex.
@Alex: "{apologetic} Excuse me, I need to take this call".
@Spindle/sp³: <<Tacoma {send address reference} Yes sir, we can certainly do that.>>
Thinking quickly, @self:Wrap this up, get loaded.  Discrete travel is about an hour, we can cut that down some, but if short-cutting brings problems, we could end up later instead of earlier.  Pass the buck at least some on that.
@Spindle/sp³: <<How fast you need doc there?  Can wrap negotiations here quick, but standard travel precautions with the load would take a full hour.  The more we cut that down, the higher risk that something will interrupt us, making us later instead of earlier.  If you are really in a hurry, we could leave the truck and trailer rig here with Spring.  On just the bikes, pushing hard to outrun instead of dodge trouble, Scrapheap and I could probably be at Mall in 15 minutes.  From there, doc could ride my bike, while I control remotely and ride double with Scrapheap.  If we keep the load, with reasonable safety, I do not see it being less than 45 minutes.  If we grab 512 with the load, if go gangers happen to be around, the truck is not going to do much running.  Assuming the go gangers are sleeping or stuffing their faces 20 to 25 minutes.  Your call boss, how close is Anna?>>
@self:Spindle knows the risks from the options.  Just give him the numbers to decide from.  He knows those are all 'best guess' anyway, and the medkit smart assistant should be telling him how soon things are likely to get interesting at home, even if he has a personal stake, he shouldn't want to risk tribal resources needlessly.
@Spindle: <<Spring seems OK, but one is not really enough with tribal resources this far from home, in unfamiliar territory -- Sprogget>>

Scrapheap: @s^3<<Should I give my guy a call, see if I can maybe get an escort down the freeway? Or do we take the backroads and hope that Anna hasn't popped before we get the doc back?>>

@sp³: <<call now, find out.>>
@Spindle/sp³: <<Scrapheap knows someone in a gang.  IF they are ready to roll, and interested in showing the colors, we might be able to arrange an escort.>>

As Spring and Scrapheap also get off the call, and hurry to start the actual load (amid a bit of mild profanity about life and timing).

@Alex: "{hurriedly}Something just came up, so I need to slot and run.  Negotiating with you is fun and good practise, but how about I throw in the data chip and mug, and we split the difference on the numbers?  You've got my contact info if something in the package is just begging for a home in your place".
@self:With the reaction to the bullet holes, I don't think she will be splashing any recordings around.  No time now to do that discrete smudging of the pix.  I'd invite her to check out the gallery at the shop, but I doubt she would be comfortable that close to the barrens.  Guessing she is living a bit below her 'standards' here, to get the space for the ceramics.

Quickly pack the rest of the samples, and put them in the truck, then assist Spring and Scrapheap getting the Peng You loaded, fastened down, and covered up, referencing the AR file that shows how to make the load look as much like total scrap as practical.  A quick but thorough inspection to make sure things are not going to come loose, or shift once moving. Verify that the monocycle is ready for rear-guard again.
@Spring: "Those extra eyes still around?".

September 1, 2072, 17:42:00; leaving Alex Chalmer's
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 09:15:22;
Physical Location: White Residence
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White


Glyph watches in amusement as Alpha summons his sprite and dispatches it to go check the address, and transfers over to the node when the ok was given.



Virtual Location: Obscure Matrix Node

She looks around the node taking in its bland utilitarian iconography.

"Quite a departure from paradise."

Glyph takes a seat on the floor, and looks over toward Alpha.

"So where is she?"

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 09:15:22; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
Virtual Location: Prospero's Nexus node in the Mall
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

Maybe "Who are you?" wasn't quite the right question. "What are you?" might have been more appropriate. With the only answer she could give being a bizarre amalgam of everything and anything Matrix. "Aria. Thank you. I'll be there." That left her with quite a bit of time. She practiced her disguise again, and examined the aforementioned bulletin board. Then she went through the motions of her mundane life, thinking. Was there another choice? "Many. Very few of them remotely productive."

Morgan nodded. "I thought as much. It has to be this."

@E:PL/UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:07:22, Exeter Airport]

Gemeaux, Mordred & Tsubaki

You settle back once more into luxury – you could get used to this! – the leather seats of the Rolls Royce Phaeton envelope you with infinite softness. The gaze that Lady deBathayre rakes across all of you as you climb in is anything but soft but her smile is inviting

“So, how may I be of assistance? And please, in this time of obfuscation and intrigue, call me Ether, not my real name of course but there is power in names is there not?”

Little Luc takes one look at her and promptly wriggles free of his father and into her lap

“Ah, little one, you make me feel old…do you not find that?” This from someone who barely looks into her late teens and certainly younger than all of you…

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:16:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

You scramble through a broken wall and breathe a sigh of relief as your thermal sight detects trace heat that you are reasonably certain comes from your charges. Crossing the street in a stooped run you briefly consider whether it might be safe to contact Requiem and Stitch. The gunfire seems to have halted abruptly so hopefully that’s a good sign…?

Hunkered down by a burnt out truck in an alleyway you finally find Katie and Jon, apparently unharmed although you can see the start of shock in the erratic movement of their eyes. What is not such good news is that they are still limned in the glowing golden AR overlay and in the distance you can see the incandescent stab of a search light from the hovering VTOL as it begins to sweep the area…

@E: Tribes, Scrapheap;
September 1, 2072, 17:41:21; axc4mr's place
PAN mode: Passive | ID displayed: SCRAPHEAP

Hope Zippo's awake...and Janie hasn't got his head spinnin' on whatever shit she's smokin' this week.

<< @Zippo: ¡Oye, hermano! You up? Need to know if you and few of your vatos can ride shotgun with me and a couple of my new tribe. We gotta get a truck back to home, no time to take the safe ways 'cause the jefe wants us to pick up a stitcher for a soon-to-be mama. Can you help?

@s^3 "Dropped him a line, we'll see what shakes out."

@Emerging: Tribe | sp³
September 1, 2072, 16:50:03; driving through Tacoma

Spring was getting more nervous the closer they got to their destination. It didn't help that his clanks had left a few minutes ago.

Little good they did us, haven't seen anything the entire drive. Guess I'll do without them til we head back.

Looking out of the window, he wonders what the æther looks like and whether he'll ever be able to see it himself and almost misses their arrival.

Come on, don't doze off like a kid on an excursion. Think of it as enemy territory, stay sharp.

Alex' hospitality, while reminding him yet again of how far he is from home, still makes him smile a bit.

Guess I'm not the only one who doesn't make new friends easily.

While Sprogget shows off his creations to Alex, Spring almost runs to the battered Peng You.

Hmm, I've seen worse. let's have a look inside.

He sticks his right pinky into one of the bullet holes in the car's hood, whistles and says Somebody really didn't like the paint job, eh?

Not waiting for an answer, he opens the hood and shines his flashlight into it to take inventory. Not a big fan of cabling either.

As Sprogget comes near, he points at a plastic with a bullet hole smack in the middle and adds Think I've seen a compatible one just a few days ago.
...
Crawling out from under the car, Spring seems truly relaxed for the first time since their journey had started. Spending time with tools in your hands and grease on your face feels right, whether you're in Tacoma or Puyuallup.

Trying not to overdo it, he chimes in now and then as Sprogget negotiates with Alex, but can't hold back when he hears her initial price. Come on, I've seen cars in better shape, inhabited by rats!

...

Sure, bet on my cous to bring something up when I start to like this gig.

He listens with hanging shoulders, thinking of the last time a new tribe member was born, the way all the single women - and some guys, too - had gone baby-crazed and started to treat him like one for a while.

Frakking great

Knew this was coming; didn't think so soon.

September 1, 2072, 17:41:03

Back to mostly silent, Spring assists in securing their haul. A little surprised by Sprogget's question, Spring answers Oh, they left a while ago. Didn't think we'd need them here. Was gonna get some again for the return trip.

... but it pours. Maybe the trip back isn't so boring...

I could also call a more powerful clank, but I'd rather keep that to if we really need it.

If only cous didn't run with his pre-historic toolset, Id actually be able to learn something from him...

@E:Tribes,
September 1, 2072, 17:42:00; driving through Tacoma

Sprogget

After what seems an eternity, particularly given the time it takes to load the pickup and hurriedly finish up your negotiations (at the cost of some of your bargaining power), you finally get a response from Spindle

<<@Sprogget: Nah, don’t rush back, I’d have sent a runner if I thought it was that urgent. I’d guess that she’ll drop sometime in the next two to three hours so don’t take any unnecessary risks getting back here.>> Now he tells you!

Scrapheap

You connect with Zippo easily enough and by the sounds of it the Firebreathers are just waking up for the night.

<<@Scaps: Ya want us to come and babysit? Sure we can do that, we haven’t been down the 512 in a while, always happy to mix it up with Them! They deserve a good thrashing after last time and if coincidently you make it home safe then that’s a bonus right? :-)>>

Cheeky sod, you know that behind the banter he’s got your back but that he’ll have to sell this to his gang to get them to help out someone who isn’t showing the colours.

Spring

In the bustle you seem to have been largely ignored, bloody adults, you knew how much that heap of drek was worth and Sprogget almost didn't make it out with his trousers. Being out here makes you slightly uncomfortable despite telling yourself otherwise… being out of your comfort zone back with the tribe or the anonymity of the barrens. Everything seems brighter out here, and not just that hideous jackrabbit!

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
September 1, 2072, 17:42:00; driving through Tacoma
BioNode: Hidden | CMT Clip: Passive; SIN: Hugo Wright

from Sprogget Scrapheap Scrapheap Spring E:Tribes

Spindle: <<Nah, don’t rush back, I’d have sent a runner if I thought it was that urgent. I’d guess that she’ll drop sometime in the next two to three hours so don’t take any unnecessary risks getting back here.>>

@self:Great! He could of said that first time.  There was no need to rush.

@SP³: <<Ok all, we just got demoted from Doc Wagon HTR to taxi.  Scrapheap, if you can tell your bud, thanks, but maybe next time without hurting feelings, we can take the slow way home, with a stop at the mall.  Unless you figure we would be safer with them, and potentially in the middle of some biker tag.  Don't want you owing any extra favours for this.>>

...

Spring:"Oh, they left a while ago. Didn't think we'd need them here. Was gonna get some again for the return trip".

@Spring: "{learned older brother mode}See, that shows what I said earlier about needing to know.  We can't see your spirits unless they want us to, so you need to tell us when they leave.  If you know ahead of time how long they will stay, telling that is even better.  You're right, they were not really needed for talking to Ms Chalmers.  Knowing who and what is doing the watching can be important just in case of surprises though.  We did not know who might have been in the house, or around the corner.  For things we are used to, there should way less problems here.  Thing is, we are not used to her area.  There could be different problems we do not know about".

Sprogget opens an extra AR window again, to do the data searches for good paths and trouble avoidance on the way to South Hill Mall, with the extra input from the discrete travel knowsoft, and the consideration of avoiding spots that might be stirred up from the trip here.

@Spring: "{approving}Good work on the inspection.  I think we can safely add some skill with vehicle repair to your play list.  You seemed quite at home crawling around under the P.Y. {normal} Me, I'd much rather jack it up some, and use a rolling cart.  Or send a drone on remote.  When I've got the choice.  If this 'transport' breaks down, I can fix it, but you could probably get eyes on any problem underneath faster than I could.  Knowing that, I could send you to look while I did something else.  But if I don't know you can, I don't know to ask either.

{confiding/equals}That starting price from Alex was high.  I don't know if she really thought it was worth more, before we showed the decorations or not.  Either way, you've got to expect people to try for more.  Don't mean you have to let them get away with it.  I think you surprised her a bit though.  Coming from a 'kid', sounding so sure of yourself, seemed to distract her a some.  Made some of the rest easier for me.  {hurriedly}Now don't scowl at that kid tag.  Being treated like a kid is a serious pain. Been there, done that, used the ragged Tee to clean a drone.  {big brother lecture}But sometimes it can be useful.  You can get underestimated.  With people thinking of you as a kid, sometimes you can 'be' a kid, and get away with things you wouldn't otherwise.  Sometimes you can learn stuff too.  Some people just don't notice kids, or don't figure they can hear and think.

{disgustedly}I could have got the price down some more, but let myself get rushed when 'Uncle' called.  Another example of incomplete information.  He did not tell us enough to make the right decisions to start, and it cost a bit.

A bit of advice there.  If there's time, ask an extra question of two.  Getting started in the right direction can save way more time than getting started sooner, but in the wrong direction.

We might have gotten an even better price if I knew ahead of time that you know some about dickering.  Then we could have worked together on getting a better deal.  Knowing what the people around can, and are likely to do, is important.  {curiously}Do you always run solo?  Don't you work with anyone that you trust to have your back, because you know they will do the best they can, and you know what they can do, and they know what you can do"?

@E:PL UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:07:22, Exeter Airport]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Infinite softness, huh? That's some pretty nice stuff there. Happily, Tsubaki curls up. Not literally, but enough said.

Anyway, Tsubaki feels that the woman's question—the woman calls herself Ether—is best left to be answered by the individual among them who appears to have the association with. It's not very professional, or even polite, to suggest that she has the right to ask Ether for anything at a time like this. Even if it's something as simple as, "Please take us to Clearwater," Tsubaki isn't Ether's friend, after all. Ether is Gemeaux's friend, and Ether is here because Gemeaux asked her to. Speaking of friends...

"So, tell me," Tsubaki smiles pleasantly, "How do you two know each other~?" Her silver eyes connect glances to and from the woman and the Frenchman. And while she's doing the looking, in the meanwhile, she will slip a sneak-peek into astral space in Ether's direction...

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 09:15:22; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
Virtual Location: Obscure Matrix Node
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"Right here." A curtain of mist flowed into the node, obscuring part of the room from view. From it emerged a woman dressed as a witch. "Are you the ones Aria told me about? From the tribe?" Her face was concealed by the brim of her pointed hat, and she stood perfectly still, watching Glyph and Alpha.

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:16:32; Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Copperhead breathes a sigh of relief when she sees the kids are alright. She snaps her razors back in as she crouches down next to them, her large frame at least partially concealed by the burned-out truck. Seeing the nervous look in their eyes, she tries her best to soothe them.

"It's gonna be okay. Da bugs is gone for da moment. We just need ta lose dese fraggers in da VTOL now."

She fumbles in her pockets for some energy bars and passes one to each of the kids.

"Here. Eat one a dese. Da sugar will help."

She unfastens her respirator, chews off half a bar herself and takes a drink from one of her canteens. She passes the canteen to the kids and gives them her best 'it's going to be okay' smile before fixing the mask back in place.

While the kids drink from the canteen, she switches her commlink settings from off to personal and then to short.

Hopefully Requiem and Stitch got clear. Maybe I can get a message to them.

As her electronics come back online, she hisses as she sees the AR glow still around the kids.

"Frag! You is still lighted up in my AR. Jon, can you see if I'm still flagged too? And is it my 'link or something else dat's broadcasting. We is gonna need ta lose whatever dey is using ta track us."

She switches her commlink's wireless off and on a couple of times, checking with Jon each time to see if she is still flagged as 'hostile'.

@E:PL UK / Tsubaki
[May 21st, 2072, 16:09:15, eTher's Phaeton, leaving Exeter Airport]

As you snuggle into the seats and let yourself calm to the point where you can shift your senses to the astral you have to physically restrain youself from jumping. Even so you get some funny looks from the others.

Sitting across from you, with little Luc in its lap, you can see the aura of a small dragon, a drake to be precise. It's a far cry from the pretty young woman your mundane senses can see. Thankfully they only see the astral in their natural form...right? The aura is beautiful, in the way that a tiger is beautiful but with the promise of violence. it almost eclipses the aura of the happy little boy.

An amused female voice fills your mind, one that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a pro troll wrestler...one with a decidedly feline purr to it. Bypassing any mental barriers you might have with ease

~It's rude to stare you know?~

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 09:15:22;
Physical Location: SE Corner of 39th Ave NW and 7th St SW;
Virtual Location: Obscure Matrix Node

As the mist flows into the node, the little worm tenses up, sweeping its head from side to side. The worm scoot scoots up to the witch as she enters, and stares intently at her, eyes blinking furiously.

Not sure who this Aria is...but the rest checks out.
"That's us. I'm Alpha Apex, and this is Glyph. So we hear that you want out of the corporate life, and into our little tribe? I believe that we can help you out in that regard."

Alright, let's hope this little girl has done her homework, and can get me a little info about what I have gotten myself into.
"We were told that this is a job that needs to get done quickly. Is that correct? If so, we need you to be ready to move tonight. Where are you located, and can you tell us a bit about the security there?"