@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:06; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

Lady deBathayre's whole world spun, people flashing past her as Johnny whipped her arm and sent her cycling into the middle of the floor. When she came to a stop he had already put a hand on her waist an another on her shoulder, and was dancing to the music.

People moved away subconsciously, making them some space on the floor. No-one else in the room was so much as swaying to the beat, but here was Johnny Snake-Hips giving it everything he'd got.

"Well, if you'll allow me, I'll show you exactly what I am" A sideways smile hinted at excitement.

"What should I call you anyhow? I'm sure you don't want to be addressed as Lady deBathayre"

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 11:35; Downtown, Seattle]

Cipher awoke in a comfy hotel bed. He still hated it. He hated sleeping in this virtual world but he couldn't find a way to overcome it, and knew that even here his brain needed a break sometimes. He sent an aspect of the matrix, a part of it he could control, to remove his booking information and find him somewhere else for tomorrow. People called them Sprites. Some believed they were living entites, but then some people would believe anything. Nothing here was real. All he knew was that he had more control than most. He had a shower, put on one of the plush hotel dressing gowns and ordered breakfast. Dammit! He hated eating more than sleeping. He'd tried without but something within him required the sustenance. Like his brain needed to think he was eating for his mind, wherever it was, to feel nourished. A mental link, like a phantom pain.

He ordered bacon and eggs. Part of him liked the taste, and if he was going to be forced to live within the contraints of this world then he was surely going to make the most of it. He knew it wasn't real, but deep down, even now, he wanted to believe it was. Ghost he was tired, tired of the struggle.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"Were you waiting for me? I'm sorry." A glowing red circle appears on Alpha's display, framing LeFey's face. It grows large enough for the witch to step through. LeFey looks slightly different today. The shade produced by the brim of her hat has been lifted, allowing Alpha to see her face. "Oh, the meeting. Right." She still remembered the commcode he had given her.

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 09:43:00; Alex's Everett apartment

Alex is about halfway through his first soykaf when his commlink trills again. The caller ID is simply 'Knight Errant'.

The prim voice of a young woman identifies herself as junior investigator O'Brien and asks him several questions about his relationship with a Mrs Janice Murphy. In particular, she want to know why Mrs Murphy transferred the sum of five thousand nuyen to his bank account the evening before she died. The detective then proceeds to grill Alex on various details of the case and his whereabouts at the time of Janice Murphy's death and rebuffs any of his complaints with the threat that she 'can always have a couple of officers drop by his apartment to bring him downtown for questioning if he is unwilling to cooperate'.

September 1, 2072, 10:52:00; Alex's Everett apartment

By the time junior investigator O'Brien is satisfied with his answers, half the morning is gone and Alex still hasn't even had his shower yet. He has just enough time for a second cup of soykaf and a shower if he is going to make his lunch date with Selene on time.

September 1, 2072, 12:15:00; Outside the restaurant

Well, he would have been on time if GridGuide hadn't flaked out halfway there and the moron in the car in front had actually known how to drive and hadn't rear-ended some corp exec's sedan. By the time he had negotiated his way past that and then found a place to park and then walked the three blocks back to the restaurant, he had the distinct feeling that he should have stayed in bed. Still, lunch with Selene will cheer him up. Right?

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 06:30:00, Oakfarm Estate, NE 37th St, Bellevue, Seattle]
PAN: Active, SIN: Charlotte Penthièvre (Owner), Response 8*, Signal 8*, System 8 (5), Firewall 8(4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Browse, Encrypt [6, ergo, optzd] / Drone: T [Heavy Pistol], Covert Ops, Defence, First Aid [4], Empathy, Lie Detection [3])

Disengaging her mind from the infinities of the matrix she plunged down into her waiting shell. She opened her eyes sharply, blinking against the clear nutrient rich liquid that surrounded her. The pumps of her tank whirred and the liquid retreated swiftly away to be enriched ready for her in her next down cycle. The tank opened with a soft hiss and the power cable slithered away from the back of her neck. She shook her wet hair back over the sockets and emerged dripping onto the grill that collected the last of the precious resource as a warm air current dried her. Dressing in her borrowed clothes she walked slowly up the stairs from the basement to begin preparing the children for the day.

Accessing the house node she familiarised herself with today’s schedule, noting with interest the change in itinerary for this evening. It seemed that Argent was planning on taking the children to the theatre, a not uncommon departure but one that Gossamer had so far been unable to witness in the flesh. Despite numerous virtual experiences she was aware that Argent would once again extol the virtues of the real thing and she was keen to be a part of that. Her analysis of the human condition would never be complete but seeing this through the eyes of the children would hopefully bring her a tiny step forwards in understanding their ways.

While the CHN went through the more mundane actions for readying the household Gossamer strode up the stairs to roust the children from their beds. Kei as ever was already up and bouncing around his room interacting with an AR simulation. Smiling, she charged him with waking Gael as she knew his older brother would tolerate that much better than her entering his domain. The empathy software made it clear that this teenage defiance was perfectly normal and gave her the tools to handle it but she preferred to avoid a confrontation where possible. The girls were better, she suspected that to them she represented some giant amusing doll, but never the less they respected the authority that Argent had granted her, even if grudgingly.

Surrounded by laughing chattering children she simultaneously checked over their homework, checked their transport arrangements and did the many other little tasks for which she had originally been designed. That irony of having broken her programming only to now chose to do them rather than being impelled to was not lost on her. The sense of fulfilment was no less real.

@Virtual Scream, Alex Bianchi
September 1, 2072, 12:15:32; Carluccio's Restaurant
Hermes Ikon: Active | SIN: Alexander Bianchi ( Re 4 - Sig 3 - Fi 5 - Sys 4 - Agent 4 [running Analyze 4 on commlink] )

The door into the restaurant stuck when he tried to open it, and for a brief second Alex considered dismantling it. A deep breath, some directed thoughts of violence at the door, and a firmer grip on the handle allowed him access to the restaurant. An AR hostess greeted him, and after a microsecond to read his ID directed him to the corner table and stated that his martini would be ready momentarily. Selene waved lazily at him, an evil twinkle in her eye as he sat down across from her.

"I'd give ya shit for sleeping in, but I know that Monica spent the morning grilling you over the Murphy case. Think she's bucking for your old job, and maybe a spot in my bed from the way the boys down in Vice talk about her." She sipped at her water with lime and shrugged, the light coming through the window glittering on the 3 silver hoops piercing her left eyebrow. "Think the old man had something to do with that, as well."

Alex's complexion darkened even further at that last comment, then he sighed. "Is that old fuck ever going to let off? Cynthia was just as willing as I was." He sipped at his own water to give himself another second or two to calm down. "I seem to remember rousting a P.I. like that back in the day on my second case, so I suppose I can't be too angry. Might tell her that she's supposed to be the good cop to your bad, if she takes my place." He flicked through the AR menu for a second, then ordered what he normally did; a chicken Caesar salad, which was worth the exorbitant price for the real greens. His martini arrived (dry and dirty, as usual), and he plucked an olive from the glass to chew on. "And I want to see her reaction to Sheila if she wants in on that action, that'd be worth the attitude this morning and then some...anyways. How's the 41st Street case going?"

Selene's grin from the comment about her dwarf wife faded as he changed the subject. "Still don't know much. The forensics guys have picked that place clean, when the spirit lets them even get in there. Thaumaturgy says they can't get anyone out until the middle of the month, so we're kinda spinnin' our wheels. And if the captain hears you know anything about this you can expect another phone call from O'Brien, so maybe keep it under your fedora, yeah?"

Their lunches arrived, and the two old partners left the heavier talk behind to chat about less stickier matters, and simply enjoy each other's company as they had each week since Alex had left the force. By the end of the meal they were both laughing, old jokes flying back and forth alongside jibes about who's turn it was to pick up the tab.

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:00, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

The morning hadn't been a complete bust. Dante had made just enough yen to cover his costs, fed Ayi and several other homeless on his way home and still had enough food left over for lunch, and dinner if it came to that. While it wasn't exactly 'food of the gods' the potatoes he had used had been the real thing.

He had called Taro, but the Japanese mechanic didn't have anything for him. In fact, he had spent pretty much the entire call complaining about the gremlins in the vehicle he was currently working on. At least that's what Dante thought he had been talking about. Taro had a tendency to slip into Japanese when he got excited or angry, leaving Dante struggling to keep up.

So instead Dante had loaded up WE Ultimate and was making good progress with the tips and tricks from the strategy guide he had found online. Well, he had been making good progress right up until the game had crashed in the middle of an epic fight (a fight which he had been winning by the way), dumping him unceremoniously back into his commlink node.

His stomach was rumbling and his head was aching. He figured he could use a break and some food. Maybe the game servers would be back online by the time he finished eating.

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 12:15; Downtown, Seattle]

Despite knowing it was not real, Cipher's stomach still rumbles at the smell of the bacon and eggs when the waiter rolls the trolley into his room. The menu claimed that the hotel food was real, 100% genuine bacon and eggs from real chickens. Yeah, like anything here was real. He suspected that some multi-eyed robot was pumping some protein gloop directly into his real stomach while tickling his neurons to make it taste like bacon. He tries to pretend it is real and simply enjoy the taste.

As he eats, he mentally flicks through the channels on the trideo built into the wall. Fake news and fake realities for fake people. He almost regrets sending the 'sprite' to delete any trace of his booking from the hotel's systems. It meant the cleaners would be around soon to clean it for the next fake person. He could change it back and stay here but what would that achieve? However, the alternative was equally distasteful. It meant leaving the hotel to go mingle with the morons, the sheep who went about their daily lives like they actually meant something.

@Virtual Scream/Uller
[September 1, 2072, 11:35; Downtown, Seattle]
Sony Emperor: Active | SIN: Luke MacAuley ( Re 2 - Sig 3 - Fi 2 - Sys 2)

Uller woke up late, at about 10am, staggering around his ramshackle flat looking for water and rehydration tablets. Just because he didn't need much sleep, it didn't mean clubbing all night and going on three hours was comfortable. But it was fun. And, right now, Uller felt entitled to a little fun. Sure, he was running a little low on funds. He'd relied a fair bit on that lush for information, for the technical side of things, and without the old Mage collecting bounties had got that little bit more difficult. But he'd done a good job last week and he had this month's rent. Which meant, that as far as he was concerned, he was a-ok to party all night and then watch recorded Gridiron games. But then everyone should be a-ok to do that.

Around midday, the elf started thumbing around the Bounty Hunter bulletin boards in between the actual action. There was something about his dreary little apartment that always had him reaching for the moneymakers after too long. He kept looking, hoping to see the motherload - fairly simple, dead or alive. It always bugged Uller a little letting major criminals get away with soft jail sentences and large bribes. Far easier to sweep a room with shot and hand it over for DNA testing. No less than they deserved. Real justice. Nothing seemed to be cooking halfway down the list though, so he threw out a few 'looking for work' posts, hoping to rustle up something (or at least a partner).

Then, satisfied he'd done enough real work for now, he threw in a few more messages to some hunting buddies, then settled back into the cracked vinyl chair to watch some Urban Brawl. Man, and to think he could have been some poor sucker stuck behind a desk right now. Thank God for Lone Star redundancies!

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 3:15:00, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: hidden, SIN: Liu Zi Ang (4), Response 3, Signal 5, System 4, Firewall 5, Weapon Watcher 3, Encrypt 3, Agent 3 (Analyze 3)
iBall: Clearsight 3, Adaptability 3, Covert Ops 3

Dante switched the game off with a mental flick of disgust. The AI hadn't even been subtle about it. Playing against other competitors online, Dante had been doing well, winning more games than he was losing. Then, after a few games, things changed. His new-found tactics simply...stopped working. His "competition" no longer trash-talked and just methodically (one could almost say, inhumanely) dismantled his defense, sending impossible through-passes to charging VR players who perfectly slotted the ball into the upper 90. Every. Single. Time. Apparently it hadn't taken the AI long to take notice of the games going on, and not much longer to take over the game signal feed in the CHN and subvert it so that Dante had no choice but to play against it and no others. His throbbing head reminded him he had had nothing but beer for lunch. Some fresh air would do him good.

Securing his pistol in its familiar spot, he stepped out onto the street and was greeted by pale, lukewarm sunlight filtered through a soup of smog and haze. No fresh air, this. His contacts filtered most of the worst of it, but he still hadn't experienced anything like a blue sky day in...how long was it now? 5 months? 6? It had been on the cargo ship, smuggled out of Beijing on the slowest-of-slow boats with Dante secured in a scan-proof shipping container. It wasn't very difficult to jimmy the lock and have free roam of the ship, most of the functions being controlled from somewhere else by a rigger. Sensors pointed outwards, wary of pirates and other external threats, no sensors were pointed inwards on the boat to detect his presence. The little community of indigents on that boat had gotten along pretty well, all sharing what little food and water they had. Those days had been nice, relaxing, with plenty of fresh air and actual visible sunlight.

Dante shook his head to focus back on the present. He sent a quick message to Jiu Jiu, asking if he had any work. It had been awhile since his fixer had had anything for him, and Dante was starting to get a little nervous. Had he done something to insult the Seattle native? Chinese here were so different than Chinese in Beijing, he was never sure if he was following the local customs or not. Not much to do about it at this point. Dante stopped at a local street stall of a vendor he knew, knew the guy used edible, if not exactly clean, ingredients. Juggling a soydog with the works and a cup of beer, he walked in the direction of the turf of the Red Lotus. Maybe Xiao Hong had something going on that he could get in on. The Triads were always in need of some muscle.

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 09:30:00, Oakfarm Estate, NE 37th St, Bellevue, Seattle]

With the kids all packed off to school after breakfast Gossamer finds herself all alone in the house. Even the house node seems quiet and sullen. While there are plenty of chores she can do to keep herself busy, she feels a strange sense of loss. Is she feeling lonely?

@Virtual Scream/Cipher
[September 1, 2072, 12:32; Downtown, Seattle]

After his delicious meal, Cipher left the room. He called the elevator before he got there, and it opened as he approached. To an onlooker the whole way he moved through this world seemed alien. It was unnaturally smooth, like he was just drifting through. While he waited for the lift to descend through its 25 floors he created a machine sprite and sent it to override one of the cities numerous drone taxis. It would be waiting for him when he stepped out of the hotel.

As he climbed into the cab he ordered it to circle the district indefinitely while he lay back, closed his eyes and immersed himself in the matrix. It was better here. He felt more comfortable. Here's where he would eventually find his answers. It was still modelled to look topologically real, and there were still plenty of people pretending, but at least here everyone knew. Knew that this wasn't reality.

He started his routine. A far reaching search using specific keywords to find anything he could that might garner him new knowledge. He quickly browsed the conspiracy theories and dismissed most of them as misguided idiots. Some things he flagged for further attention. Then he started on the NeoNET news items. He always took an interest in those...

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Stumbling through the stagnant water that glows dimly with a putrid light of its own is better than being shot at, marginally! The AR overlays seem to have disappeared as any matrix signal is washed away by the oppressive weight of earth and concrete above you…now you just need to find a way out and hope that the bastard hasn’t got some way or reacquiring Jon and Katie’s signal.

It’s difficult to tell over the general miasma but your sense gradually begin to tell you that a new smell has entered the mix…one that makes the skin on the back of your neck crawl. Ahead a pair of feral red eyes appear from a side tunnel and a rasping voice echoes down towards you

"My, my, a midnight snack? Hello pretty one, have you brought me something tasty? If you give me the girl you can keep the boy…or I can take him if she’s more your thing poppet!"

Great! Fragging ghouls, this just gets better and better! And your comm probably won’t reach Reuiem and Stitch even though the rendezvous can only be about a block or two away now…

@VirtualScream Cat
[September 1, 2072, 01:32; Anathma Club, Downtown, Seattle]

A lithe body moved though the crowd of revelers in the direction of the bar, heels clicking against the hard illuminated floor, strobe lights picking out each swish and flick of her long blue hair. She paused briefly every few steps to shout in the ear of someone, kiss the cheek of another, dancing expertly with some, skipping away from others. Eventually her winding path reached it's destination and she threw herself against the bar top, leaning over to catch the new bar woman's eye, one leg levering up at the knee behind her to keep balance.

"One for the road and then I'm out of here! Put it on the tab!"

The bar woman, a tall ork with pink hair, a couple of piercings, tats on her arms, and a look that could only be described as Attitude, picked up a bottle of golden liquid and a shot glass and sauntered over to Cat. She poured out the liquid and placed the glass on the bar, her hand still firmly holding it. "Frank warned me about you and your 'tab'. He asked me to remind you that you still owe him for August, it's 540 yen"

Cat blanched internally, but her face remained a mask of composure. That was more than half of her remaining money. She really needed to find a job, but how many people are looking to employ artistic socialites for the kind of money she needed to support her lifestyle? That was a problem for tomorrow. New month, new problems, new solutions. She'd find a way.

Keeping her deep blue eyes staring straight into the defiant eyes of the ork, she slipped her credstick out of her clutch bag and held it up suggestively. "That's no problem, got somewhere I can put this?" She asked, nodding towards the credstick with a wink. Catching the brief flutter of the bar lady's eyes she figured this was an approach that would work and pushed the credstick slowly into the slot in the bar, transferred over the money. Palming the credstick back into her bag Cat tilted her head and smilesd "What's your name, newbie?". The bar lady gave Cat an exaggerated eye roll, but answered anyhow. "Anouk, since you ask." Cat warmly placed a hand on top of Anouk's, "Anouk, you can tell Frank he only has to ask." She then leant over the bar until her mouth was next to Anouk's ear and whispered "And so do you." With one fluid movement she picked the shot glass out of the bar lady's limp hand and drained it's contents with a flashing grin and an eye brow wiggle. Cat placed the glass back on the bar and turned towards the door.

Regaining her composure, Anouk calls "Hey, you haven't paid for that either!" after the dryads departing form. Cat replies, looking back over her shoulder, "Put it on my tab." and heads for home, bed and sleep. Tomorrow she would need her wits about her if she was going to find a job.

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

Copperhead sighs, her head drooping until her respirator, which had blocked the stink of the ghoul(s) until too late, is almost resting on her chest.

So fragging close!

Head still down she whispers brief instructions to the kids, both now huddled close against her back.

"Watch da rear. Ya see any glowing eyes creepin up behind us, you aims between 'em and you keeps shootin' until I tells ya ta stop."

How good can these things hear? They can't see for shit if I remember right but they can sniff you out good. And this one talks, normally they just attack. So, not feral then? And is he alone?

She realises wearily that knowledge is power. And that her current lack of knowledge could end up getting her and the kids killed in this stinking sewer. This time, she knows the soft hissing in her head is Snake.

Her head comes back up slowly until she is standing as tall as she can in the cramped sewer. She cricks her neck and draws a trickle of mana into herself, just enough to manifest her shamanic mask.

"Lisssen up chummer. Sso far, I've had ta fight my way passt gangerss, bugss and a fraggin' attack helicopter ta getss to dese kidss. Pluss, I iss only gettin paid if I bringss both of dem back. Sso I ain't too keen on handin one of dem over ta a deader like yersself. But itss been a long night, sso I'll cutss ya ssome sslack. If ya really wantss ta munch on ssome fressh meat, you let uss passs and I'll tell you where you can findss a big old pile of bodiess that, unlike me, won't put up a fightss."

She jerks a thumb back in the direction they came, while bringing the Enfield slowly up until the smartlnk targ sits squarely between the ghoul's glowing eyes.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom, Alpha Apex
September 1, 2072 19:24:23;
Physical Location: Fre∑dom Home, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
BioNode: Hidden | Meta Link: Active, SIN: Alan Shepard

Smiling as he sees people start to trickle into the area, Alpha pulls up LeFey's icon and starts to transmit the feed to her, and brings up her avatar on the AR projectors.

"A jailbreak it is," Alpha says to Scrapheap with a relaxed smirk, "And it's going to be a doozy."

Looking back over the assembling group, Alpha takes a deep breath, centers himself, and launches into his prepared remarks.

"Thanks for your assistance everyone, especially you gents from across the street," motioning to the group of Mechanicals hanging together. "My apologies for the unsubtle summons, but it's getting late and we're on a time crunch. I am Alpha Apex, and I will let this lovely lady," motioning over to LeFey's avatar "introduce herself. Glyph should be on her way shortly, as she had some errands to run before we got started." Or she overslept...Whatever, doesn't matter. She'll be here... I hope.

"We need to bust someone out of an Ares controlled mansion," Alpha pulls up the 3D model of the house in AR, and projects it. "In an Ares controlled neighborhood," Alpha zooms out the map a little to show the surrounding neighborhood, "in Bellevue. We need to do it tonight, and we need to do it quiet with no trace... especially no trace back to us.

"I already have a backdoor into the house matrix node laid out, so I should be able to take care of any matrix based security concerns. However, this still leaves the physical breaking and entering and leaving to be accounted for. I am still looking into the types of on the ground security for the neighborhood and the house itself, and should get some info on that soon. It should go without saying that Knight Errant response times will be very fast to this particular area."

"Meat space security is not my strong suit, so I am looking to you guys to come up with some ideas."

@E:Tribes, Spring
[September 1, 2072, 19:24:23; Fre∑dom Home, Puyallup]
Renraku Sensei: Hidden, SIN: nope

Tweak: Don't just stand there, the grub's not gonna...



Tweak: As I was saying, don't just stand there, the meet's not gonna come to us. This way, I know a shortcut.

Tweak leads Spring into a narrow corridor, up a ladder, through what looks like an abandoned service tunnel and the two emerge from behind a fallen-over shelf leaning against a wall.

Spring coughs, nods at his fellow tribesmen and shoots Tweak a glare. <<That was a shortcut? Nice collection of rat skulls though.>>

Guess they'll expect me to get a label too.

In AR a coil spring pops up over Spring's head, changes color a few times, settles on a dark red, starts pulsing and the wire it's made of turns from solid into "spring" repeating over and over.

Listening to Alpha's introduction of tonight's target, Spring can't help but be a little baffled. Bellevue? Damn, how're we gonna not stick out like a pack of lit flares?

A though interrupted by Tweak: <<Butt ugly my ass!>>

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:06; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

The Lady deBathayre dances deftly and you are pleasantly surprised that she is able to keep up with you – the blessings of youth no doubt. She smiles at your question, a mischievous twinkle in her eye ”My Lady will suffice!” Seeing your momentary disappointment she amends that ”Call me Ryl. My friends do, and we are going to be friends aren’t we?” her tone is almost predatory and you spare a moment to wish for the lost innocence of youth…just a moment, debauchery is far more fun!

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:24; Outskirts of Exeter]

While you try to deflect the Lady’s attention away from your target, futilely you suspect, she pulls up the limo into a light industrial park on the edge of Exeter. Consulting an AR overlay she directs you to a unit off the beaten track.

”I’ve arranged for a Prairie Cat to take you onto the moor. I trust one of you can manage it? If not the autopilot should be good enough. As promised there’s a tag scrubber inside. Enjoy your trip.”

As you pile out of the limo to change to the almost equally luxurious interior of the Cat ”I’m glad I could help you. Don’t die any time soon, I intend to call in the favour!” hardly the most reassuring way of saying goodbye…!

@Virtual Scream
[September 1, 2072, 09:00:00, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]
PAN: Hidden, SIN: Jo Datsik (Fake SIN Rtg4), Response 6, Signal 5, System 6, Firewall 6, (Armor 3-Ergonomic, Attack 4-Ergo, Biofeedback Filter 6, Browse 6-Ergo, Command 6-Ergo, Disarm 3, ECCM 3-Ergo, Edit 6-Ergo, Exploit 6, Scan 6, Spoof 3-Ergo, Stealth 6)

Secondary PAN: Active, SIN: Jo Datsik(Fake SIN Rtg4), Response 3, Signal 4, System 4, Firewall 4, (Agent 3, Analyze 4, Browse 4, Edit 4, Tacsoft 2)

The transition of some mellow Trance music playing through Henry's head to a more up tempo beat brings him out of sleep.

"Good morning sir," his Agent's ARO icon cheerfully greets him from his peripheral vision.

He silently waves a hand in response as he pulls himself out of bed.

"The current temperature is 62 with an expected high of 74...." she prattles on with the highlights of the newsnets he frequents while Henry moves through his morning routine, though he's really paying more attention to the selection of music she's pick for today's soundtrack. The music is definitely putting a nice spin on his day. He sways to the beat a little as he showers and gets dressed for the day.

"Any appointments today?"

"No sir. Mr. Caspa will be playing at the club tonight, but there is nothing else on your calendar."

Henry does a quick check of his account balance in AR. Ugh, I need to hurry up and get some work or I'm not going to be able to afford this place next month. Maybe Reed will have something for me tonight.

"Cindy, start loading up the programming suite then. Looks like I'll get back to working on that Spoof program, after breakfast. I just know I can do better than the drek I've got now."

After making a tasty breakfast of soy-eggs and cheese on only moderately stale toast, Henry dives into his custom commlink's node to renew the redesign of his Spoofing program. Pulling on his headphones to fully emerse himself in the music and code, the hours fly by.

@E: Tribes, Scrapheap
September 1, 2072, 19:25:01
PAN mode: Active | SIN displayed: Eric Jones

Scrapheap's eyes widen in disbelief as Alpha lays out the night's work. Where's the hidden cameras, this gotta be a prank.

"You're kiddin', right? A buncha Barrens trash are supposed ta just waltz into corptown an' swipe one 'a dere kiddies right out from under dere noses without gettin' very dead. I've slotted some bad chips before, chummer, but dis one takes tha taco." He shakes his head. "Let's see tha map 'o the neighborhood again. Mebbe dere's somethin' dere that we can wreck ta get the heat lookin' ta other way...wait, you said quiet. Well, dat fucks dat, then." Scrapheap's already ugly face gets worse as he frowns in concentration.

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 18:30:00;
Physical Location: White Residence
PAN - Active; SIN - Calliope White


The sound of Lohikäärme wakes Glyph from a deep sleep. She lays in bed for a few minutes listening to the scandinavian goth-rock band before she groggily sits up and looks at the time.

6:30 frag! I'm running behind I should have been awake half an hour ago I must have really been tired.

Glyph quickly dresses and checks her com for messages and sees a reply from Natasha.

<<@Glyph: I was so looking forward to this lesson too, but this will be good experience for you child. Whatever I can obtain will be here for you to pick up this afternoon.>>

I hope she was able to get everything, if not I'll just have to make do.

Glpyh grabs her helmet from the door and heads down to one of the old access corridors where she keeps her bike.


September 1, 2072 18:42:43;
Physical Location: Blue Moon Over Bombay cafe
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White

Glyph parks her bike, locks it to the post provided for such, and removes her helmet, inhaling the scent of coffee and baked goods. Carrying her helmet with her she walks through the open doors and into the cafe in front of her.

Stopping by the coffee counter she places her order for her favorite an "Eye of Sauron" and waits for it to be ready before heading down the nearby stairs and into an large eclectically decorated sitting area. She looks around and waves at a few of the regulars she knows as she makes her way toward an already occupied table.

"Hello Anastasia" she says as she approaches the table not wanting to startle the woman.

Anastasia looks towards Glyph with blind milky white eyes that seem to bore through her.

"Hello Calliope. Come sit child, while we wait for Natasha."

"She's not here?" Glyph says as she sits across from Anastasia

"Not yet, she's been delayed, some problem with one of our suppliers. She decided that it would be best to deal with them in person."

As she takes in this news she lets out a small sigh composes a quick message and sends it off.

<<@Alpha: I'm going to be running late, waiting on delivery of some gear.>>

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 3:42:00, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]

Dante gets a worrying <<no signal>> message from his commlink as he heads towards Red Lotus turf. Fortunately, it is just the crappy reception due to the crappy part of town where he lives. His 'link reconnects to the matrix just as he arrives at the Hai Fuk noodle house come massage parlor where Xiao Hong sometimes hangs out.

The place is pretty empty but a couple of Xiao's men are sitting at one of the few occupied tables on the ground floor restaurant, drinking sake.

"Mister Xiao upstairs getting massage" sniggers one while the other mimics someone performing oral sex. The sniggering man, Wang, gestures for Dante to join them. The motion opens his jacket just enough for Dante to see the pistol holstered under his arm.

"You want sake, beer, something to eat?"

Turning to the geisha attired waitress, he signals her over.

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 06:29, 524 7th Street Northeast]

Cat rises with the sun, 5 hours of sleep enough for her to feel refreshed and ready to begin her day. Knowing her parents won't be up for another hour, she works through her morning routine of meditation and yoga. Between breathing exercises Cat settles her mind on her decision. Today is the day she'll start her path towards becoming truly independent for the first time. She completes her cobra pose while thinking through the steps she's going to take.

Her parents wake at 7.30 and Cat prepares a light breakfast of synth-muesli, fruit, and soy-milk for them all. She enjoys the small talk with her dad and even the chidings of her mum for her to return to the corporation don't get a rise out of her.

As Cat's morning progresses, she spends a couple of hours prepping her 'gear', finding the perfect match of clothes that screams 'easy-going-shadowrunner'. She starts putting on the layers of her outfit, beginning with her colour coordinated underwear, followed by her form fitting body armour, finishing with her boot-cut, bottom hugging, hipster jeans and a slightly steam-punk blouse and corset combo in white and brown, all covered by her leather jacket with the buckles. Natural brunette hair today, but she sets her contacts to a piercing gray. Rounding out her outfit with accessories she pulls on her lace and buckle knee high boots with the sensible 4 inch heels and loads her satchel bag with her taser, the fake SIN her old school friend Jim got for her, her commlink and her credstick. Feeling as dangerous as she's ever going to feel, she heads out the door at 10 sharp for her 10.30 appointment with the fixer Jim had also put her in contact with.

Arriving in the local park at 10.25 sharp, Cat sits down on the bench, and watches the AR display on her contact lenses tick up to 10.29, at which point she begins her breathing exercises. As the clock ticks over to 10.30 Cat brings up the fixer's number and begins a voice-only call.

"Martha, how can I help you?"

"Hello Martha, my name is Cat. I believe you have my resumé. I do hope you have the time for me to explain why I'm the perfect candidate for your enterprises."

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Listening to Alpha Apex's decription of the job, Sprogget thinks,
@self:All the stuff I was thinking about for tags and signal blocking apply.  Loitering in the middle of the night for the time needed could be a problem though.

@Jailbreak Team: "With the kiddies' active assistance it should be possible.  Maybe not easy, but possible.  One of the considerations, is to have as much time as possible between when the exit actually occurs, and when someone at Ares or Bellevue notices something is wrong.  If {Reading the public ID} Morgan can leave shortly after any physical bed check, while any monitoring thinks she is still there, that should give us lots of time to get clear.  A problem though, might be that our presence in the area at that time might bring more attention than is good.  Is this in a gated community?  If so, getting past physical inspection at that gate, especially out, might be the biggest problem.

I am assuming that Ares and parents are not considering her to be an active escape risk?  I do not know how to quietly disable an active magical watch.  Common tech stuff I think we can handle".

@LeFey: "Morgan, have you ever experienced personally the effects of a jammer?  We will need to deal with any tech that could trace your movements, set off alarms when if you are not where you are supposed to be.  That means taking the time before leaving, or blocking the signals, then cleaning up after.  Blocking can be extremely uncomfortable for a TM, but lingering any longer than absolutely needed increases risks".

@Alpha Apex: "Alpha, if needed, could you provide electronic documentation that would provide a plausible reason for a maintenance crew to be in the area at the right time?  Not sure how much could be prepared ahead of time, but I would like to duplicate the signals for any of the usual tags that could be used for tracking, and leave them behind for the tech to watch when Morgan leaves.  More time before that nest of devil rats gets stirred up.  With the access you have, could you read the tag info remotely?  All the important stuff, except for stealth tags"?

Remembering Scrapheap's 'gabby' comment
@self:Easy now.  Do not really need to put everything out at once.

@Jailbreak Team: "I hear that Glyph has some experience staying unnoticed.  She can probably add some to getting in and out again without bringing down the heat, assuming the tech is taken care of".

@self:hmmm.  I wonder if there might be any steampunk fans close to the right spot that I could visit or deliver something to?  Of course having me on the official books is not the best idea either.  I need another SIN that is not related to Sprogget in any way, and transporation that has not been punked.

@Virtual Scream, Dante
[September 1, 2072, 3:48:00, Hai Fuk noodle house, Redmond Barrens, Seattle]
PAN: hidden, SIN: Liu Zi Ang (4), Response 3, Signal 5, System 4, Firewall 5, Weapon Watcher 3, Encrypt 3, Agent 3 (Analyze 3)

"I like to drink beer. Sake has a strange taste. Japanese have some strange ideas about alcohol." Dante answers. Pulling up a chair, he accepts the beer from the waitress with an obvious appraising look at her body, then turns to watch the various gangsters play cards. It's not long until one player throws his cards down in disgust, having lost a big hand and all of his remaining money. The others turn to look at Dante expectantly. "I'll play." he says as he authorizes his PAN to transfer some nuyen to the group pot that has been set up at the table's node.

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:24; Outskirts of Exeter]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

"Madame, this is perfect," says Gemeaux. He is nonchalantly ecstatic with the turn of events that has the group traveling in style. He allows the others to enter the car, and bows gratefully to eTher before following suit. When he hears the lady's farewell, he permits himself to reveal a predatory grin as he considers the potential ways to make his former employers pay. He looks back to her with the smirk still on his face when he gives her his reply.

"I should hope so, my dear. In fact, I look forward to it."

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

For some time, Morgan watched, the enormity of their situation seeming to grow. There was no doubt. She was responsible for what happened to these complete strangers while they were "rescuing" her. She cleared her throat.

"I can. Help, I mean. Ok..." She marshaled her thoughts for a moment before launching into a summary of her home's defenses. "We're not gated." First, the good news. "Nor do we, that is, the actual household, have any defenses that aren't mundane. There are spirits, but they're present for the safety of the neighborhood as a whole. Fact is, although their standing in Ares is excellent, my parents aren't exactly on the top of the food chain. Not the type of VIPs you'd allocate the better part of your resources to."

So much for the carrot. Now for the stick. "That said, Knight Errant patrols are quite frequent. Metahuman officers with drone support. Each door and window is equipped with a high quality maglock. None of which will be a problem if get the chance to open one from the inside and let you in." Morgan glances at Alpha. "As you probably already found out, the house is also well guarded where the matrix is concerned."

At that point, LeFey turned to information she was not as confident about. "Assuming I am not unbearably dense, I doubt I'm considered an escape risk. No one knows about my abilities, and my record is the next best thing to spotless. If you are worried about my parents becoming a problem, I may have a solution. I happen to know a man who my parents have been hoping to speak to for a while. I'm sure he'd be willing to keep them busy until the job is done."

She tried to keep a straight face. But inwardly, she felt so...cold. If only they knew how wrong that suggestion was.

It had been a few years since Morgan found out she had a brother. Since then, she had noticed her parents making periodic attempts to get in contact with Riley. If he called them personally, it could be enough to get them out of the way for at least an hour. All she had to do was exploit most of her immediate family. But this wasn't just about her any more, Morgan thought, looking around the node. She would hate herself for doing so, but she could live with the guilt (couldn't she?). The same could not be said for any tribe members who discovered.

"I can take it. Er, the jammer, that is. Just...try to get it over with quickly."

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:10; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

Johnny smiled briefly to himself. Youth and naïveté. She thought she was totally in control of the situation. At least, he hoped she only thought it... He dialed it back a bit in case he was getting carried away.

"Why don't I..." he said with a twirl. Then he stopped dancing suddenly. "...buy you a drink. Let these good folks get back to their own business for a little while." He gently took her hand and led her over to the large marble-topped bar. As he approached he opened the <Cocktail List ARO> and browsed the selection.

"I'll have a Mojito thank you my good man, and a Cosmo for the lady."

Then he pulled up a plush leather barstool and lifted Ryl up onto it before pulling up his own. "And of course we're going to be friends." he said with a smile.

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:24; Outskirts of Exeter]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Active

The adept knew when he was being teased. It didn't stop Mordred from giving the vehicle a onceover with the tag eraser. His own tag eraser. "Clear as I can manage. Let's go." Additionally, the Lady might have considered her future favor to be worth the expense of transporting them. Though they seemed to be making progress, the encounter had left the adept feeling they had complicated things, unnecessarily. Hopefully, nothing about the Collots had been betrayed. "Do you think she works for Celedyr?" Given her talk of dragons and connections to NeoNET, it was a fairly easy conclusion.

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 10:30, 524 7th Street Northeast]

Martha's nasal New York accent is enough to set even the most pefect teeth on edge. Fortunately for Cat, she gets to do the bulk of the talking. The old fixer seems completely unfazed by Cat's attempts to sweet-talk her and steers the conversation back to any topics Cat attempts to avoid such as her rather limited 'self defence' skills. Martha also emphasizes the 'cut-throat' nature of the 'freelance secretarial market' a couple of times, almost as if she was trying to put Cat off. However, after a half-hour long grilling, the old fixer seems somewhat satisfied.

"Well, despite your rather narrow skillset, you're certainly keen and maybe there is something I could line you up with. My fee is ten percent and that's non-negotiable, sweetie. I'll forward your name and contact details to my client. He will contact you on this number. When the contract has been completed to his satisfaction, I will transfer the payment to your account, minus my fee."

Cat is still sitting on the park bench, whether recovering from Marha's grilling or simply processing the fact that she has taken her first steps into the shadows, when her commlink flashes up a message.

<<@Cat[caller unknown]: Be here <matrix node> @ 12:00:00. Be punctual>>

@Emerging:Tribes; Spring
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Renraku Sensei: Hidden, SIN: Steven Brokvich (fake R3)

When Sprogget brings up magic, Spring visibly becomes more attentive. Sure, they're prolly rolling in it. Silent, now that's a tough one.

...

Hmm, good thing we don't have to directly go against it.

With that in mind, he speaks up once Morgan is finished.

Good we don't have to go against magic. Wards wouldn't be too bad, don't try and put magic through them and they do nothing. Spirits now, whoever called them instantly knows when they're destroyed. Not that killing them is all that easy. Luckily, they don't really grok us and really don't get mundane stuff. Say if we go with the repair crew disguise and one of them looks at us, it won't go "Gee, why's a mage kid wearing dirty coveralls and carying tools?" Now if they're teamed up with officers, that'd be more of a problem...

Spring let's the sentence trail off, seemingly lost in thought. Are they really discussing this?

Anyway, if I don't call any Clanks remembering how many strangers he is talking to, Spring corrects himself err, Spirits first, we should be fine.

Planing to hit Bellevue, free a girl. Heh, they're gonna say, kidnap her. That's headline material. Calm down! Where was I? Oh yeah...

Visibly nervous, Spring continues Sure, opening the window's a good start. But I bet there's stuff in the garden. My experience's mostly limited to scrap yards but even they have the occasional motion sensor, camera maybe even ultrasound or drones.

Looking around at the people listening, the kid who's not used to that much attention, abruptly shuts up, slinks down in his chair and looks to the side.

Luckily Tweak takes the opportunity to chime in: Plus there's pressure pads, Harry caught us with one. Nothing says you can't put them in the dirt. Or grass or whatever they've got in corp heaven. Course if it's there, it's useless if it's not connected. And if it's connected, we should at least see it. And if you see it, you can get around it. Me and Spring've gotten quite good at getting around stuff. Barrens stuff at least.

For a moment, Tweak had forgotten about what he was boasting and how much trouble they'd be in if things go bad.

Tweak@Spring: <<Thought you could hog all the attention?>>

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:25:48; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget listens a bit tensely to Morgan's somewhat stumbling description of what they were facing.
Sprogget relaxes a bit. [@self:All good news there.

@self:Expected, and if Alpha is as good as Tweak seems to think, then with someone inside, that should be doable.

@self:Good.  Wait?  She can arrange a meet with someone the parents have not been able to?

@self:That avoided answering the actual question.  I don't think she has any idea what that would be like.  Quickly enough does not seem likely.  {Wincing} Maybe ..

@self:Gonna have to allow Spring some respect, in things he knows.  At least when he is feeling serious about it.  Guess Bellevue is serious enough for him.

@Jailbreakers: "Outside sensors are an excellent point.  {Looking between Alpha and LeFey} Would those be connected to the house node, or somewhere else?"

@Tweak: "Connected does not have to be wireless and easily detectable.  At home we also use some wired connections, where the optical cables are already in the walls.  Odds are, it will be wireless, but I'd rather not gamble more than needed.  I've got a non-linear junction detector at the shop, that can help with that.  Come to think of it, that would be good for locating tags too, since they do not need to be transmitting to be detected.  That can find them, but can not make sure they are dead".

@self:Hey!?  Wait a minute here!  Do we even need to get into the house physically?
Sprogget, sounding a bit excited,
@Jailbreakers: "When I was thinking about this earlier, before I heard the details about just where and when this needed to happen, I figured we would need to jam or block signals initially, because we would not have time to do the cleaning on the street before leaving.  But, if we can take the time at your home before we leave, the jammer would not even be needed.  You could be clean before walking out.  How about doing most of the tag cleaning yourself, with help from a sprite with a skillsoft?  Then all we need to do is get the tools to you, and you can take the time to do tag cleaning in the comfort of your own room, with nothing to show that anything is happening, except for the presence of some restricted equipment.  That way there is zero chance of either mundane or magical detection of strangers helping you pack".

@Jailbreakers: "Having everyone else out of the house while doing the preparations could help, but if they came home and discovered you gone, that would raise the alarm earlier than if you left after they were safely home and asleep.  If we really do need to use the jammer, that comes with its own risk.  The jamming signal can be noticeable, if someone is paying the wrong kind of attention.  I'm also afraid quickly is not really an option with what I know, when using the jammer.  With the jammer blocking the signals, the signal scanner has nothing to lock on to.  The jammer would need to stay running until we got you in a room that blocked the signals at the wall.  Then the jammer could be turned off, and the scanner used to make sure all of the tags were removed or toasted.

Much better if we can get you and the scanners together before doing the vanishing act.  The only place we might still want to use the jammer, is while actually removing a security tag.  I've heard that removing them can trigger an alarm signal.  Setting up a decoy so that it takes over the 'normal' signal when the security tag goes off the air, then jam long enough to remove the tag and either destroy it, or get it into a Faraday cage.  From the way you answered my earlier question, I don't think you have ever directly experienced jamming.  I have a short simsense recording of what it felt like the first time I experimented with a jammer.  You better try it, so you know what to expect, before it actually happens.  For a few minutes, you can grit your teeth and take it, but you need to know what to expect.  Set it up to stop if you 'let go'.  With me at least, it messes up equilibrium.  Made it hard to coordinate things, even simple actions like turning it off.

Alpha, I know it is hard to stay unnoticed for very long in a system you do not have valid credentials for.  You eventually get noticed.  But could you upgrade Morgan's existing account to have better access, then use that valid account to safely keep the system pwned long enough to remove security tags, kill and verify other tags?  I figure at least half an hour.  This is not the time to wave an eraser around, and hope you got all the important tags.  And that is assuming we already have any decoy tags ready to fool sensors after we leave.  You can probably tell the CHN to ignore any missing regular tags it's expecting, but a security tag might not talk just to the house.  If that goes off air, Ares response could make KE patrols the least of our problems.  At a minimum, I think we have to assume the KE would be alerted and dispatched.

How does this sound?  We create a care package, or in this case a cake containing escape tools.  If we can time it right, Alpha and Morgan together arrange that Morgan is the one to accept delivery.  Morgan disables the tags, enabling the corresponding decoys, leaving the security tag, or tags until last.  Using the jammer, Morgan will probably need some help to remove security tags, so someone needs to sneek in to help her, or do it after she gets outside, if can manage that without triggering alarms that AA can not supress.  Walk out, and AA cleans up to leave the right picture behind. Morgan, could you get a delivery unnoticed, or {looking at AA} have a household drone take a package in from outside, without parents noticing? Do you know how far you can get outside the house without someone being alerted? A few steps should be enough.

That leaves the actual transportation, but should reduce the amount of time we need to spend in higher security zones, waiting for things to get done.

Oh, Jazz mentioned a step van, or sedan we could use to help here".
@self:And being gabby again too, but needed to get that idea out there.

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 11:30, 524 7th Street Northeast]
PAN: Active, SIN: Moll Flanders, System: 2, Signal: 2, Response: 2, Firewall: 2

Having spent a good 30 minutes after talking to Martha oscillating between indignant anger about her 'narrow skillset' and nervous anxiety about the upcoming matrix meetup, Cat decided she needed to do something to settle her nerves. She went through her list of ways to settle her nerves. The breathing exercises weren't cutting it, she didn't feel like meditating, didn't want to dilute her mind with drugs, thinking to herself "And I can't afford anything stronger than alcohol anyhow". She lacked a partner for alternative forms of relaxation and lacked the inclination to self medicate. "Ok, Catherine, let's wrap this up. Take it out on the art."

With that she fired up VRMorph, set an alarm for 20 minutes later and connected up her simlink and trodes, letting herself become immersed in her speed painting. Anxiety poured out into an abstract 3D mess of colours and light, slowly ramping the sharp bright lines of white and blue down to soft smooth lines of pastel shades. When the 20 minute alarm winked into her consciousness she felt a lot better.

Pulling out of VR, she spends the remaining time preparing for the meeting and making sure her avatar is as immaculately prepared as she is before logging in. "Knock 'em dead, kid."

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

"Pressure sensors." Morgan wrings her hands. "Anything that would trigger an alarm would probably send a signal to our local precinct." She looks a little more nervous at the suggestion that she personally disable any tags on her. "I think I could handle it. If you help me, I mean. You just sweep the device over yourself, right?" The mention of what the jammer would do sets her heart racing. Morgan is reminded of the Crash. The shadow bearing down on her, the choking darkness of its grasp. She shudders. "A sample of what I might have to go through would help, yeah."

LeFey takes a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. It didn't hurt that she was amused by Sprogget's idea. "A cake? That's kind of a cliche, isn't it? Not to mention, suspicious." The witch suppresses a smile. "I mean, no offense, but could the equipment we need even fit in one? And how could I get the stuff out before anyone notices?" She had an idea. "One of my classmates does some, uh, courier work. Don't worry about getting a hold of him. I'll spare you a long, long story and just tell you he lives in a small apartment in Renton. Tell the maintenance man you want to see Angelo."

Morgan closes her eyes, thinking. "If you gave him the equipment, he could pass it on to me. Say I forget my bag at school. Angelo would slip the tag eraser and stuff inside, then return it to me. The staff at home know him, and they'd at least let me outside to talk to one of my friends."

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:10:47;
Physical Location: Blue Moon Over Bombay cafe
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White

Glyph was enjoying talking with Anastasia but she was beginning to get a bit impatient. She was already late for the meet with Alpha and the Mechanicals but some of the gear she requested from Natasha could come in handy.

Her com beeped with an incoming call, she checked the display and saw that it was Natasha.

"Sorry for the delay Calliope, I am here now if you wish to come upstairs to the apartment."

"I'll be right up."

Glyph reaches across the table and places her hand on Anastasia arm.

"Natasha's here Anastasia, I'm heading up to talk with her, it was good to talk with you."

"You be safe tonight child." Anastasia replied.

With those departing words Glyph left the table and moved toward a nearby door marked "Authorized Acccess Only" she punched in a code on the keypad next to the door, and the door opened into a small elevator which she rode up to Anastasia and Natasha's apartment.


September 1, 2072 19:13:10;
Physical Location: Anastasia & Natasha's apartment above the Blue Moon Over Bombay cafe
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White

The elevator doors opened into the living room of a large but cozy apartment. She stepped out into the living room and looked around for Natasha.

"I'm in the bathroom Calliope"

Glyph moved over to the restroom as saw Natasha setting up something that looked like a scale on the floor, she attached a series of small rods atop one another and then onto an arm that jutted out from the "scale".

Construction complete Natasha turns to face Glyph.

"This is a full body scanner, this will allow us to get the measurements for your armor, unfortunately it will not be ready until tomorrow. Had you been able to come over earlier when you first messaged me it would have been ready for you tonight." Natasha says in a admonishing tone.

"Yes Natasha, I'll have to make do without it tonight, but at least I'll have it for later."

"Just strip off you clothing and stand where indicated, It'll take a minute or two for the scan to complete, I'll be in the living room when your done."

Natasha gives Glyph a quick smile and heads off towards the living room.

**********

A few minutes later Glyph walks into the living room to find everything she had requested laid out on the coffee table for her perusal.

"Everything as requested, including the hair dye. I wasn't sure exactly how you were planning on using it so I picked several methods of application for you. I've not tried it, but it was recommended to me by a friend."

"Thank you for picking all this up for me, had I more time I'm sure I could have been able to get a hold of most of this myself."

"Most but not all." Natasha says in agreement.

"So whats the damage Natasha?"

"Four thousand seven hundred nuyen, that is with my markup already included."

Glyph grimaces a bit at the amount.

"Usual account?" Glyph asks as she access the banking functions on her com.


September 1, 2072 19:24:45;
Physical Location: Fre∑dom Home, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White

Glyph walks into the "A Whole New You" and looks at the assembled group, she looks toward Alpha and nods.

Looks like we're just getting started and getting everyone up to speed

"Sorry for being late I was out picking up some gear for tonight." Glyph says as she takes a seat.

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:24; Outskirts of Exeter]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux instinctively draws a cigarette. Remembering that he is in the presence of a child, he catches himself before he lights it. Instead, he replaces it in his coat.

"I find it wise not to ask questions, unless you really want to know the answer," he replies, glancing at Mordred.

"My PAN was compromised while I spoke with her," Gemeaux explains, "I tried to limit the damage to myself by keeping her attention on me by offering myself as a future operative she could call upon, and not our mission. However, I get the sinking suspicion that she found whatever she wanted."

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:26:32; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright

Sprogget looks at Glyph when she arrives, and nods slight to the late comment.
@self:I wonder when this was supposed to start.  We just heard about where it was.

@self:Not what I want to hear, but also the safest assumption.  Just don't trigger alarms is all.  Easy, right?  If at all possible no 'sneaking' around.  Alarms should not be wired to normal vehicle and foot paths.  Even lawns, if they get walked on, would trigger too many false positives.  Maintenance drones are probably small enough to not set them off though.  Note to self: Ask about usual outside activities, if planning to use more than the sidewalk.


@jailbreakers: "That is the basic idea, but you need to be thorough.  The eraser only has an effective range of 1cm.  You will have to work to get any tags left from your lunch at that fancy school.  We can walk through remotely any questions you have, although the sprite can probably do a better job.  Unless you have some version of skillwire system, the hardware knowledge the sprite has can not be used as a full autosoft, but it can still be used for an expert assistant.  The tag and tracking information can be a full knowsoft, so you will know what is needed, and just have to follow the tutors instructions to do it".

Morgan shudders after the description of possible jammer effects.

@Morgan: "I'll send the sim clip soon as we are done here".
@self:Hmmm.  Something I did not try myself yet.  Sprites are resonance based beings.  A jammer could block them from most matrix travel, but if already present in the bionode, they should be fine, and might provide a stable reference point to reduce the jammer symptoms.  Bring that up later.


Sprogget grins, which might not be that reassuring to some.
@jailbreakers: "I had not intended that to mean a real cake.  Cliche yes, but because of that, people understand the intent easily.  In this case, it is even appropriate.  It would a cake to celebrate your rebirth from the corporate womb.  As for size, I've seen people come out of cakes on trid, so I'm sure something could be arranged.  {seriously} The needed equipment would fit in a small butt pack.  That will include more than just the eraser.  I'll go over details later, but it should also include scanners to verify you got everything with the eraser, decoy tags to leave behind, a basic set of fake tags to fill out your intended electronic presence, and some pouches, actually backpack liners, that are wireless blocked, to carry anything you do not have time to clean before leaving.  That will be a lot clearer, as soon as you have the knowsoft.

If you can get outside to talk to Angelo, could you get outside undetected when ready to remove the security tag?  With Alpha helping by monitoring from the matrix?  He should be able to both block any local electronic warning about you moving about, and use the household sensors to tell you were everyone else is. This would be after the household is down for the night, so should anyone moving around".

Sprogget remembers again who Glyph's mother is.
@jailbreakers: "Glyph, did you pick up any medical knowledge?  {looking around at the rest of the group} Does anyone currently have the skill to safely and quickly remove a security tag, when already know right where it is, with the help of good medkit?  If not, we have some options to consider".

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:00, 524 7th Street Northeast / Anonymous Matrix Node]
PAN: Active, SIN: Moll Flanders, System: 2, Signal: 2, Response: 2, Firewall: 2

A large mansion house loomed in front of Cat's avatar as she logged into the matrix node she's been told to visit in the anonymous message. She pulled the AR window up to fill her entire view and spun the camera around to make sure her avatar was rendering correctly. A semi-realistic painting of a medium height red-headed human, bright green eyes flashing from a radiant face. A simple dress and accessories rounded out the ensemble. Each frame of the animation rendering slightly differently, and Cat stretched out her arm to ensure the effect was complete.

Moving the camera to first person, Cat walked her avatar up the door knob, straightened out her clothes, and gripped the knocker. A horses head holding the knocker? Someone's showing off. Cat knocks on the door.

@Emerging: Tribe / Fre∑dom
[September 1, 2072 19:24:23; Senlis Residence, Bellevue]
SIN: Morgan Senlis, PAN: Active

Morgan laughed quietly, but at the same time, her fists were clenched. "Look at this. Just...I mean, I..." Remembering the many other people who belonged to her "nation", she corrected herself. "...We can't even eat a meal without some authority knowing. Damn it." The witch scowled.

Then she sighed. "It'll be different with Angelo. He might not be a member of some long standing family, but he's still a Horizon citizen. They have a facility in Bellevue, and besides, people know him there. It'd look like he's just returning something to a friend, because that is essentially what is happening. Sneaking out by myself..." LeFey looks a bit uneasy. "I can't call it impossible. Especially because it might be our best option. If you can keep an eye on me and make sure I don't screw up to badly, I might be able to pull it off. I do have some knowledge on remaining unseen."

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 16:24; Outskirts of Exeter]
SIN: Spencer Lovett, PAN: Active

Mordred made a quiet noise that sounded like a cross between a snarl and a sigh. He places a hand over the pocket containing his Transys Avalon, wondering if the same had happened to him. Any previous calls and messages had been deleted. And Mr. Burch claimed to have pegged him as a runner through observation. Was there anything else? He fervently hoped not. Not being able to afford many decent Matrix security programs, aside from a good firewall, he favored a low tech countermeasure against hackers. Namely, hardcopy. Paper was fragile, but you couldn't hack into it. Everything else was memorized or stored on carefully hidden datachips. If some thug is searching my apartment at this very moment, there's going to be a reckoning, he thought irritably.

"Depending on what they learned, time may be of the essence. Let's move." He opens the door, waving to Tsubaki and the Collots as he tried not to let his imagination run away with him. It figured that at least one of them would get their devices hacked on a NeoNET owned flight. But at whose behest? The lady? Or had the flight itself been a trap all along?

Calm down. Remain alert, and you may very well see this play out. His mentor spirit's voice rumbled in his ear.

@Virtual Scream / Cat
[September 1, 2072, 12:00, 524 7th Street Northeast / Anonymous Matrix Node]
PAN: Active, SIN: Moll Flanders, System: 2, Signal: 2, Response: 2, Firewall: 2

For what seems like a long moment, nothing happens. Then Cat hears footsteps approaching the door and the sound of locks being opened. A older man opens the door and regards her for a moment. He is wearing a simple, old-fashioned black suit and tie, but it is his face that is his most striking feature. Instead of a human face, he has large brown eyes, a pink, wet nose and the greying chops of a bulldog.

"Miss Flanders, you are expected. Please come in."

He steps aside to let her enter then closes and locks the door behind her. He is either an agent or some sort of security program.

The hallway inside is gloomy, with several closed doors down either side and a set of stairs leading up. One of the doors on the left is partly open and yellow light spills into the hall. The dog-faced butler gestures towards the open door.

"The master awaits you in the study."

As she moves towards door, she catches her reflection in a mirror on the wall. All her work is gone. She is dressed in an old fashioned outfit: a long dark green dress down to her ankles, a fitted tweed jacket tight at her waist and a high frilly collar reaching up almost to her chin. He face has changed too, red hair replaced with long whiskers, ginger fur and green cat's eyes. As she examines herself, small details of the outfit change as it renders each new frame. It would seem the underlying code is still good, the node's reality filter is just overriding her visual appearance.

Entering the study, she finally gets to see her potential employer. He is sitting behind a large wooden desk, swirling a glass of what looks like brandy. The detail on his avatar is amazing. The frills of his shirt, the texture of his jacket and the detailing of the black horse's face that he wears instead of a human one.

He gestures towards a seat on the other side of the desk.

"Miss Flanders, please sit."

It comes out more like a command than a request. He continues on, his tone precise, abrupt even.

"I believe I have just the opening for someone of your particular talents. There will be a party tomorrow night. It is for those affected by the comet. I would not be welcome, but I understand that you are a dyrad. That fortunate twist in your DNA will allow you to fit right in. And all you need to do is enjoy yourself while doing a little snooping around for me."

He places several objects on the desk: an old fashioned pair of opera glasses made out of what looks like ivory, an envelope with her name on it and a business card embossed with a single word in gold letters: DRKH0R5E.

"The glasses are a video capture program of my own design. The location where the party will take place has some fairly sophisticated matrix security so just hacking the cameras is not an option. This is a much more subtle approach. You will run it only when you are inside and then follow the instructions as they appear on your AR interface. The letter is an invitation on the name your are currently using. Fake IDs are common amongst the surged, so your's will not be questioned. The card will allow you to contact me once you have completed the task and have left the party. It will only work one time, so please only use it then."

A small purse joins the other items on the desk.

"A small advance should you agree to the task. Some spending money if you will. Note that if you fail to follow my instructions to the letter then our agreement will be null and void and I will expect reimbursement in full. If these terms are not acceptable, then you are free to leave but please speak of this to no-one."

He raises an eyebrow on the horse face, awaiting an answer.

@Emerging:Tribes; Spring
[September 1, 2072 19:25:30; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Renraku Sensei: Hidden, SIN: Steven Brokvich (fake R3)

As Sprogget and Morgan talk, Spring takes a moment to observe their "Johnson".

All but rolling her eyes at him, guess she's okay.

When Morgan ridicules the cake idea, Spring and Tweak exchange glances and smile. Yup, definately okay.

...
@Tweak: <<He said "womb", heh>>
...



Spring shakes his head Cut something out of her? Gross!

At the same time, he receives a message from Tweak: <<Ugh>>

We think it's gross? Well, she's the one who's gonna live through it.

@Morgan: Don't worry, we'll look out for you and tomorrow you're someplace where the corps don't give a rat's ass when or whether anybody gets something to eat.

Tweak@Morgan: And that's a damn fact!

@E:Tribes, Sprogget
[September 1, 2072 19:26:32; SH Mall, A Whole New You]
Bionode: Response 4(5), Signal 2, System 4, Firewall 3; Hidden; Analyze(3), Command(1), Edit(1), Scan(1), Sniffer(3), Spoof(1), Stealth(3), Shield(1), Tacsoft(2), Simrig(1)
CMT Clip: Response 1, Signal 3, System 1, Firewall 1; Active; SIN: Hugo Wright (R4)

Sprogget gets that Morgan is not happy with the potential intrusiveness of the RFID tags.
@self:Don't they teach corp kids about how supply chain works?  Maybe it is all 'black magic' to most of them.  They work with the data all the time, without ever really thinking about how it is collected.
@Jailbreakers: "It's usually not quite that bad Morgan.  The knowing actually starts when you order and pay for something using an ID.  The tags end up linked to that by place, time, and purchase.  Some authority has the ability to know, if they have enough interest to check.  Mostly the information is just filed in databases, and used to order enough of the right things for everyone to spend more nuyen on.  For the corps, it all comes down to maximum profit.  They do not care what you eat, except enough to sell you the dessert, antacid, or breath mint as the case might be, with the highest possible markup.

This is a bit special, because when you vanish, someone is going to be interested enough to check, and try to use the info to find you.  They might notice from the records that we do not currently have the ability to touch, where and when you ate, and attempt to find out where the tags from there ended up.  If the combination happens to be fairly unique, walking past a scanner in a mall someplace that has been told to watch for those tags, could bring more attention than any of us want".
Sprogget is initially confused by the response.
@self:Why the problem?  Oh, I must not have been clear enough.
@Jailbreakers: "I think you misunderstood a little.  I did not mean going the whole way on your own.  Just to get physically out of the house to the street.  We need to get any security tag removed before you move far, unless the jammer is run continuously, or you are in a Faraday cage.  I just think it is safer for you to come out of the house to us, instead of sneaking someone in to remove the tag, then sneaking both back out again.  Once we ask someone with the right skill, we can plan to do that right at the door as you come out, or in your {humorously} 'getaway car' at the curb.  The jammer needs to be running by the time you are someplace the automatic monitors would trigger an alarm about.  To be safe, I think that should be before you come out the door.  It would be safer for us to just send an automated cab to pick you up, but unless any security tags are trashed first, that is not practical.  I would suggest sending in a medkit to have you do it yourself, but with the jammer running, I'm not sure you could follow the instructions well enough.  Even though it should be little more than a sliver under your skin, trying to get it out while feeling dizzy seems like a bad idea".

@Jailbreakers: "Which ever way the actual transportation is going to be scheduled, it looks like I have some equipment to pick up, and some decoy tags to prepare, all of which need to get to Angelo then Morgan.  I better get started, otherwise the delivery would become suspicious by the time Angelo gets to Morgan's place.

Unless someone has a better idea quick, I'll subscribe to the conference here remotely, and get moving".

While waiting for a response, Sprogget looks from Scrapheap to Spring, he is about to send a quick message to sp^3, when he remembers that Scrapheap, switched commlinks, and he does not have the new address yet.
@Scrapheap+Spring: "I'll leave the load here and just take the cycle".

@Virtual Scream / Gossamer
[September 1, 2072, 09:30:00, Oakfarm Estate, NE 37th St, Bellevue, Seattle]
PAN: Active, SIN: Charlotte Penthièvre (Owner), Response 8*, Signal 8*, System 8 (5), Firewall 8(4), (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Browse, Encrypt [6, ergo, optzd] / Drone: Covert Ops, Defence, First Aid [4], Homenode, Empathy, Lie Detection [3])

Work finished for now, Gossamer stopped impossibly still to absorb the silence of the house. Her senses, infinitely stronger than base human, swept each room and finding nothing amiss she settled herself to roam free in the matrix. Anyone coming across her might wonder at this live sized doll standing to one side in the hallway…only a flicker of intelligence in her eyes to mark her as anything more.

PAN: Hidden, SIN: None, Response *, Signal *, System 5, Firewall 4, (Analyze, Scan, Decrypt, Exploit, Stealth [5, inherent], Browse, Edit, Encrypt, Disarm [6, optzd]) Subscriptions: B7, Argent’s CHN, Argent’s Shadowland Node, Citadel Game Zone

The impossibly bright sylph danced in her natural domain. She may have been born in the shell of a drone but she was a creature of digital light rather than the product of synthetic skin and muscle. She craved people, contact, and here where everyone can be themselves she does not need to feel hampered by her physical shell.

Spreading her consciousness she ghosted into the Shadowland servers to Argent’s maintained node there to assist her employer in managing the complex web of contacts and information flow. Filtering the messages she flagged a couple and linked another into the browse routine to verify some of the pertinent facts.

Simultaneously her icon materialised outside the gargantuan doors of the Citadel game node. The architecture here smelt of Aria and although it was subtle Gossamer recognised her digital finger prints all over this node. The other matrix entity was an enigma. Gossamer suspected that she was another digital creature like herself but that didn’t quite mesh with what she had seen the whimsical little girl achieve. Still, that was a mystery for another day, now she stepped into the throng of VR gamers in the great entrance hall. Tentatively at first and then with more confidence she moved amongst them, swapping stories and listening to their exchanges. In many ways this glittering assembly was more interesting to her than the games themselves…here there were people in the infinite strangeness and wonderful complexity.

@E:PL/Chi Town/Copperhead
[July 8th, 2072, 23:37:16; Storm Drain, somewhere beyond Blackwater, CZ, Chicago]

The ghoul hisses back at you in what you guess approximates laughter through that set of mismatched fangs.

"You need to pay the toll poppet, can’t have just anyone wandering around down here, it would attract the wrong sorts! You can spare an arm can’t you…I’m so disappointed…"

Before he can finish what he’s saying you hear a startled gasp from behind you and the roar of a handgun as either Katie or Jon blast at something in the tunnel beyond. The ghoul cackles and slinks back into his side tunnel his voice coming back to you distorted by the weird echoes in this place

"I’ll be waiting…" Frag! Carry on into a ghoul ambush? Back the way you came towards a milspec task force? The options are narrowing fast and nothing has gone your way since you entered this hell hole! Suddenly your comm crackles to life

<<Copperhead? You there slitch? We picked up your signal, guess we’re somewhere above you from the distortion.>>

@E:PL /UK
[May 21st, 2072, 17:12; Outskirts of Exeter, headed north]

Once you are all satisfied that the vehicle is clean you begin your journey north in the luxury RV. The Collots retreat to one of the bedroom pods and immerse themselves in some childlike AR game whilst the three of you are left to stare through the front screen at the increasingly rugged landscape ahead.

Your journey takes you across almost the width of the moor under increasingly lowering skies. For those of you sensitive to such things the air feels charged with mana and there is a disturbing wildness that feels at odds with the fact that you are hunting out a safe haven for a bunch of technos.

Fortunately the journey is uneventful, despite the poor quality of what is left of the roads the Cat is more than capable of taking you over the terrain with ease. As you finally begin the descent towards the old reservoir there is no sign of any remaining human habitation and the track looks untouched by vehicles in the recent past…perhaps they use helos or hovercraft to come and go, surely they wouldn’t want to be completely isolated?

@E:CoP/Johnny Awesome
[August 20th, 2072, 21:10; NeoNet Tower, Oxford]

As you hoist her onto the stool Ryl is pleasantly light but firm in all the right places…muscles toned by hours at a gym and the delicate ministrations of a personal trainer no doubt. Graciously accepting the drink she does her best to mask her reaction to the sweetness of the cocktail before turning the conversation to other things

"So tell me, what do you think about de la Mar’s burgeoning crusade to make the matrix safer for our children? I think she will fail but that isn’t stopping her bending the ear of whoever will listen...and she has some influential people listening."

@E: Tribes
September 1, 2072 19:24:45;
Physical Location: Fre∑dom Home, South Hill Mall, Pullyallup
PAN - Passive; SIN - Calliope White


Glyph listens for a bit before she stands up and walk over and stands by Alpha.

"I think everyone is starting to over complicate things a bit too much. We need to keep it simple especially since we really don't have time to set all these little sub plans in motion. We weren't given an exact timetable other than today, but I'm assuming that means and we don't have much time left. Its almost 7:30 now, we're going to have to get her out of there sometime in the next four and a half hours, most of this is going to have to be improv."

"Alpha, should have already taken care of house security, he's had all day to infiltrate the house's node and he hasn't said anything about not having a handle on it, so we should be good there. So all we need to worry about is outside witnesses, and KE patrols.

"We do need to worry about tags, but we don't have time to make decoy's now, we're just going to have to worry about taking care of them on the fly or taking care of them later. I do have a bit of first aid training, and with the help of a medkit I could probably pull out an implanted security tag, but I'd rather it be taken care of someone with more medical knowledge."


"I don't think we should go into Bellevue as one huge group, that's going to present too big of a target especially if we're going to be there late at night, so we're going to need to go in as smaller groups. Or one small group and a few of us individually. This also gives us options on how to get her out. That doesn't mean we cant travel together most of the way there though and split up as we get closer."

"There's more to take into consideration but we just don't have time to dicker about and prepare everything we could, we're going to have to do the best with what we've got, try to be as subtle and fit in as much as possible so we don't draw the attention we don't want."

@Virtual Scream / Dubstep
[September 1, 2072, 12:15:00, Dubstep's Apartment, Downtown Seattle]

Humming along to the music in his ears, Dubstep juggles code in his head. His new Spoof program is coming along nicely. Just a couple more lines and he will have this routine down pat. Maybe then he should take a break. It is all too easy to lose hours working on programs in the coding suite.

A glance at his node's system clock shows that to be the truth. He has been working solidly for almost three hours. As he saves the subroutine he is currently working on he feels a tremor throughout his commlink's node. At first glance, nothing seems out of place and there are no alert messages from Cindy indicating a hack on his other commlink.

Then he hears it. A solid tone, high-pitched and faint at first. As he strains to determine where it is coming from, it slowly grows in volume. It seems to be coming from both his headphones and from the matrix outside his custom node. Although if that really is the case, then how is it even possible that he can also hear it inside the node.