Brock looks around at the gear and remembering they had no where to go now he puts a deeper out to Theodore < Theodore[brock] "hoi. Chummer do you have a place open to rent right now short time either a garage??">

Ever practical, Papa watches Brock's demeanor change, then turns back to Winokur as the man backs away from them. With a mental command, he sends the command to his earbuds that blocks all incoming audible sounds. Careful not to lock eyes with the man, he levels his SMG in one fluid motion and releases a stream of bullets.
<<@Team [Papa] Needed done.>>

Once done: With a resigned sigh, he looks to Siren for a moment, sadly. He turns to the van and stalks away.
<<@Team [Papa] We really should go now.>>

Team

The sound of automatic gunfire echoes from the trees and house. Winokur cries out, a keening wail of pain, fear and desperation, as his body stutters backward under the barrage. He collapses to the ground, a spreading pool of blood slowly soaking into the ground all around him.

Within minutes, the vehicles are driving down the mountain. Brock's fixer Theodore provides an address. 500 a week, no questions or distractions.

The building is an ugly, squat concrete building on the eastern edge of San Bernadino. Several burned out warehouses nearby show signs of squatters. The garage door opens quietly when Brock's commlink gets close. Inside there are four military surplus cots and a chemical toilet in the corner. Once the vehicles are in, there is just enough space to walk around them and maybe play cards.

The size of the shelter is lacking, but definitely a reprieve for the team given their recent experiences. Looking around, Papa realizes that a little supplementing is going to be required. Brock and Siren being the only remaining members of the team, he also realizes that yet again he is going to need to reach out to the Huntsman if they are going to complete this quest.

<<@Ernesto [Papa] Ho Chummer. In the market for a repeater drone. That something you can provide? I'll need a signal upgrade for it as well as chameleon coating.>>

He pulls out a cot and begins setting it up. "I'm gonna see about getting us some stuff to round this place out. If you need me, just reach out to me in VR." A profound sadness in his voice, he lays back on the cot and slips into the virtual world. Over the course of the rest of the day and into the next, he visits rental companies, department stores and grocery stores. His list includes a set of troll sized bunk beds (insuring he can fit them in the shelter) as well as setting up a prepaid charge account at a grocery store. He also set up an account at a commercial rental supply for solar cells then gift cards from a department store to get a soy processor, a hot plate and a coffee pot. He taps into a commercial account at a bulk refueling station and drops a trojan into the system that alters video footage when the team refuels.

Siren looks away as the poor man is cut down by automatic gunfire.

When Papa looks towards her, she nods, trying to look brave. "Yes, I know."

"Let's go and leave this place behind..."

Before they head out, Siren erases any astral signatures that might be left, not that there are a lot usually.

Only when they have arrived at the safe house she reverts her senses from the astral plane back to the physical world.

Brocks reaction to papa taking out winokur was a mixture of trying to first protect winokur by standing and rushing to stop papa, the seconds that passed as the vampire fell and died the spell prevented Brock from violence towards the vampire expired along with winokur life. Brock no longer under the spell shakes out the confusion simply loading up into his gopher and heading to the new safe house. <@Theodore[brock]"I'll take it. I'll let you know if I need anything else."> Brock wires the funds for the first week. 500 Nuyen was a lit of scratch but they needed a place to stay and after seeing what happens to some places he didn't want his dos to end up the same way. Brock subscribes to papa network to allow incoming and outgoing calls and messages. Seeing an opportunity to sleep off the night events he takes it. Settng up his equipment he inventories the acquired gear and sorts it out, making sure they all work and handing the form fitting armor to siren and setting the loaded ceramic heavy pistol to papa's vegged meat bag laying on a cot. Brock sets up the machine gun next to the front door along with his shotgun. Taking his hammer to the newly acquired cuts papa got he Setypes down and closes his eyes after checking on the vehicles and surrounding area.

Zian glanced back over his shoulder in the mirror, smiling as he reached up to brush strands of blue tinged hair up and out of his face.

"So, we'll pick Hua and Mei up in an hour and do dinner at The Bazaar, drop the girls off, and then out to Skybar. That promoter from last week, you know, the one with the ridiculous rack? She got our names on the guest list for the week, wouldn't hurt to swing by and get acquainted, see if there's anyone useful hangs out there."

At the corner of his vision, a small blinking light alerts him to an incoming call, and he sends the mental command to pick it up even as the AR space in the bedroom fills with a two meter wide display of a daily planner, certain events outlined in pink and marked with either a Z or a W. Even as he's picking items out of the displays, mana is building around him. The face that answers the phone is very different from the one in the mirror. Lighter skin tone, slightly rounder eyes, and red-tinged hair mimic the identity of someone with at least some Caucasian heritage.

"Hua, hey beautiful, how's it going?" He rolled his eyes at his twin, their slim forms making them near mirror images. Zian's highlights were blue, while Zihao's were red, and Zian's Synnergist™ suit was black where Zihao's was white, but otherwise the casual observer would have been hard pressed to tell the two figures apart. Zihao grinned as Zian scrolled through the schedule, keeping up the flow of casual conversation.

"No, no, I can totally understand that. Hey, how did that..." He reached out a finger in space, the translated command highlighting one item on the schedule and expanding it in front of his view.

"...that Calculus final go today?" It was Zihao's turn to roll his eyes as Zian grinned, waiting patiently through the giggles and appreciative noises at the attention he paid to her schedule.

"No no, we'll pick you guys up in, say, an hour? Are you kidding me, that place is trash. We'll do The Bazaar. Trust me, it'll look better in your PiTO feed anyway. Right...and hun? Don't wear that orange thing, okay? Mmmhmm, love you too." he says, slightly distracted as he reached out to straighten Zihao's tie. A knock on the door pulled his head around in that direction, and he mouthed, 'Your turn!' at Zihao even as he spoke.

"Sure Mom, just a sec, we've-"

- got dinner plans with the girls tonight."

Zihao picks up the sentence from Zian without missing a beat. He heads to the door, sparing a glance to his brother to make sure he has dismissed the AR window from view. Once it pops out of sight and is replaced by a collage of family pictures and shots of them out with their girlfriends, soon to be fiancés if they were going to keep Mama Li happy and out of the way, along with adverts for Horizon. He opens the door with a mischievous smile on his face and gestures for their mother to enter.

A middle aged Chinese woman dressed in an elegant dress - something that is designed to say she was a woman of wealth and station. Quality pieces of jade are adorning her neck, ears and hands as she walks in with an adoring look to both before being stopped short by their altered appearances. She has a jacket draped over one arm and a small clutch held in the other - clearly dressed to go out for the evening.

"Ai ya! I'm never going to get use seeing you both like that. It's like someone took my boys and left two eggs in their place."

She shakes her head and seems to push the unpleasant idea from her thoughts and her expression. It resolves into a more sweet and loving expression as she resumes speaking.

"You make sure to have them home before their curfew. I do not want a call from their mothers like last week. Is that clear?"

She stands and faces the brothers and the pampered mother falls away and the rigid iron in her rises to the surface, this was the woman that sold her body nightly to make sure they had food in their bellies and clothes on their backs. She wanted and excepted only one answer which they provide in unison.

"Yes Mama."

The hardness recedes and she smiles dotingly while planting a kiss on each of their heads.

"Good, I'm going out with my yoga class for drinks and maybe some dancing if I can muster the energy. Have a good time and I want you to know I am thankful every day I had boys and tell everyone so. Raising a daughter is like throwing a bowl of water out the door."

She smiles once more at them before exiting. They look at each other and share that moment - she was going to be here, she must be taken care of and they love her dearly. They burst into laughter and grab their jackets as they make their way down the hall to the main entrance to the condo and step outside into the night air. Zihao quickly opens an AR window and expands the window so his brother could see it as well. The small pulsing icon is pulling up to their marker - the car they arranged for the ride to the restaurant. With a nod to his brother they both look back to the house and see their mother backing up out of the garage in her small sports car, her head wrapped in a scarf to preserve her hair since she refuses to drive with the top up unless the weather conspires against her. Shifting his focus from this world to the next, he sees Gen and Gan coiled up in the small backseat of the car. Their heads poking up and locking eyes with their makers before drawing back down again out of sight.

Satisfied that she would be safe for the night he turns and looks down the street to see the luxury sedan coming down the street. It stops and the driver hops out and gets their door open, nodding to each them as they slide into the back seats to see the small gift wrapped boxes sitting there waiting for them. They settle in and begin to look over the AR window with their schedules. So far work had been light this month but their accounts had enough sitting in them to keep them covered for the next few months if they needed to. In unison, they close the window as they arrive at their first stop to pick up their dates. The door opens and they enter to be handed the small boxes. Appropriate squeals and giggles follow after seeing the small tokens inside and the easy banter flows as they ride to the The Bazaar. They arrive and exit paired off, strolling into the double doors to the hostess station. Zihao smiles as he speaks, a man out for the evening with a woman he clearly dotes on.

"You should have a table-"

"-reserved under Li." The tone is crisp and clean, all trace of the SINless gutter trash accent erased by careful work and the occasional intervention of the traditional Tiger Mother. There's just enough of an indistinct Asian accent to backup the custom cut suit and the young Chinese girl on his arm. The hostess arches a brow and glances down at the list, the subtle query from the podium's node gathering identification information, along with a small payment from a certified credtick, and highlights the location on the reservation list. Her questioning glance swapped out for a welcoming smile, the hostess looks up again and nods, menu's denoting their presence in AR in the corner of all four diner's displays as she leads them into the restaurant.

"Right this way, gentleman, ladies...". The club is a riot of high-priced suits and designer dresses, glances flickering up and over the quartet as they move further into the club, requests for PiTO connections arriving in a neat stack in Zian's display. It was worth connecting with just about anyone that was at this restaurant, even if you didn't know specifically who they were. A dozen requests were accepted and just as many rejected before the four are seated at a table near the floor to ceiling windows on the west side of the building.

Conversation is light and pleasant, producing a constant flow of chuckles and giggles as drinks and food is ordered. For their part, the twins play it well, feigning interest in the various sundry items that made up the two girl's day. As was appropriate, the girls were several years younger than the twins, and appropriately in awe of the sharply dressed and obviously well connected pair. The girls chatted on with hardly a pause, easily filling any conversational gaps and ensuring that most of the tables around them were aware of what a good time everyone was having. The food was up to the restaurants reputation, arriving with a veritable army of servers and busboys, additional silverware placed with hardly a whisper moments before hot plates were settled, small bowls of rose scented water and towels for washing set off to one side, and the individuals carrying condiments and seasonings trooped past.

A respectable time later, having completed the meal, shared deserts, and had drinks despite the girl's underage status, the rented vehicle carried them all near-silently back to each girl's house, the resident deposited with a chaste kiss and the almost-expected giggling on her front porch, skirt unruffled and well before curfew. As the car pulled away from the second house, Zian shared another long look with Zihao and sighed with relief. Zihao laughed, shaking his head, and signaled the driver to pull over after just a few blocks. With a tip, the driver was sent away, and the twins crossed the street just in time for the gleaming white sports car to arrive. Vertical lift doors rose up and over the hood as the two figures slid smoothly into the seats, and a black Oriental dragon, almost two meters long, writhed across the hood and down the side as the doors lowered and locked into place and the car pulled away from the curb.

The Mondrian hotel was just as busy as it always was, spotlights with their rising series of holographic images climbing away into the darkness as the white car slid to a stop, doors lifting again as the physical valet, notable in a world of automatically piloted cars, nodded to the twins and ducked into the drivers seat. Another door opened manually by a doorman, and the twins were crossing the exquisitely decorated lobby of the hotel, shoes clicking lightly on the marble tile as they approached the bank of elevators.

"Frag, don't look now, but here comes that promoter again. I think she's got a thing for you, brother," Zihao teased quietly as Zian sighed softly and steeled himself, a smile washing over his face as the woman's prodigious bosom proceeded her into the elevator with the two brothers. She flashed what was intended to be a dazzling smile at Zian, a knowing smile touching her lips as Zian returned the gesture, his eyes dipping down to the large expanse of cleavage offered by the tightly sculpted sapphire Secondskin™ dress covering her body, thinking Zian's reaction was just the same as any other man's.

"So, I just think that there's a lot we could do with someone with, you know, magical talent on board. Especially with something, you know, firey." Zian nodded, making understanding noises as the doors opened onto the roof of the hotel, dubbed "Skybar", decked out with a collection of LA's movers and shakers. They stepped up to the doorman, Zian glancing away from the woman for just long enough to speak, an appealing glance shot at Zihao to help, as the woman seemed determined not to give Zian space to get a word in edgewise.

"Li. We're-"

- on the list."

Zihao steps forward as he speaks, nodding to his brother as he slides his foot along the ground, catching the promoter's ridiculous heels along the edge of his foot and giving her a slight nudge with his arm. As expected, her top heavy state sends her clacking backwards into the guests trailing into the bar behind them. The grumbles and shouts as she struggles to regain her balance are swallowed up by the music of the interior as doorman smiled and opened the door for them to enter.

Stepping inside the music thrums and pulses along their skin and saturates the AR space around the brothers. The scrolling text informs them of the upcoming performers and theme nights, drink specials and gives them an overlay of the club with a waiting icon to direct them to their pleasure. With a quick flick and mental command, Zihao gets a path mapped out to the nearest dance floor while ordering some drinks to pick up at the nearest bartender on their way.

Feels so good being bad
There's no way I'm turning back
Now the pain is my pleasure 'cause nothing could measure

The songs washes over them as they quickly down the two shot glasses of Ichishima Shuzo Silk, top shelf sake before stepping onto the dance floor. They separate and grab a small corner of the space to lose themselves in the music and the lyrics.

Love is great, love is fine
Out of the box, outta line
The affliction of the feeling leaves me wanting more

They each look over the crowds, making notes of who is talking to who and who is standing out in the cold. They trade notes back and forth - Zian making the most sense of what's going on while Zihao does the spotting and recording. They scan the bar for other professionals to try and keep track of who is setting up shop or who has moved on from this venue.

"Cauase I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it
Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it
Stick and stones may break my bones
But chains and whips excite me

The work night routine is disrupted by an incoming message from Mr. Huang. With a quick nod and look, Zihao exits the dance floor with his brother trailing in his wake. He shares the message and then reads it over.

<<I need you to assist in a project that is currently running in town. Here is the number to call to get in touch with the team heading it up. I would consider it a personal favor if you would lend them what aid you can.>>

Finding a small booth, he slides in leaving room for Zian to join him. He quickly orders some strong tea and food for the table as he looks to his brother.

"The night just got-

"-a lot more interesting. And hopefully more lucrative." He nods as he slides into the seat, unable to contain a smile at Zihao's ever-present eagerness for action.

Taking a moment to look over the message, the twins share another look before he pulls up the contact number. A brief moment of waiting returns the agent from it's search, the number belongs to an anonymous dead-drop in an anonymous MSP. Having expected as much, Zian sends the command to dial the number through his own anonymous account, and starts his message.

"Hello. I'm not sure who's receiving this message, but I've been told you're expecting my call. My brother and I have been asked, as a personal favor to someone very dear to us, to assist you with a task that you're currently working on. We can meet as soon as you're able, just give me a time and a location."

Message sent, he closes the connection just in time to smile at the waitress delivering the tea and taking his cup.

Siren

Moments before the anonymous message drops into your box, you receive a message from Santana.

<@Siren [Santana] Hey chica, I hear word that you are freelancing. An acquaintance said he had more info about it than I did, which hurt a little. Anyways, there will be two wizjobs coming your way soon. They're labeled odd, but effective.>

As Siren reads the messages that have been left for her, she is a little surprised, but then turns to the rest of the team, that is in the new safehouse as well.

"Hey guys! I just got a call from my fixer and from some other guy, erm, who seems to have a brother, and to make things short, they want to help us. He said that they are doing a personal favor to someone very dear to them. And no, I have absolutely no idea who that someone is. On the other hand, I generally can trust my fixer, so it's probably just like that. Should we set up a meeting with them? He asked for a time and place. I guess, since that someone obviously does know what we are up to, it would be a good idea to hear them out."

Before brock can even lay down he stands back Witt the mention of new comer. They needed more help with the jenni and Ollie gone they needed more help. Thinking to himself about how long this would take to complete this run, brock starts to think about the coming months that it might take to get this done starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Regardless though he stands up stretches from the imaginary nap. <@team[brock] " Papai guess siren got a call from her fixer with two replacements for jenni and ollie they she wants to know if we should set up a meet i am thinking there are plenty of empty lots around here to meet up at, just pick one and we will meet them there . I figure papa is still doing his thing so, papa can you remote in through our coms if we need you?"> brock picks up his own Remington loading a few shells and picks up his hammer looking at siren "just in case"

His hacking barely completed when Siren begins conversation about reinforcements; Papa sits up. "Let's meet with them and hear them out." He pauses, looking at Siren and Brock for a moment. "We are in sincere need of reinforcements if we are to continue." Resolve on his face, he continues, "If we are to seek the next of the artifacts though, we must work together better as a team. We need a short run to rub out the kinks." Looking to Siren, "Your fixer have a short job?"

Brock looks at the remaing two and sins " I have worked solo against the gangs for so long I apologize if I'm bit rusty at working wi a team. I think a smile milk run to get a better feel for be another is a good idea. Especially if we are going t deal with more members like that team before. All of us being on the same page as to what needs to be done"

Papa nods in agreement with the other troll. "I will admit that my timing has been a bit off as well... now we are bringing on new team members." He stands, stretching, then continues. "Siren, get me the names of the brothers so I can look into their reps, history, tactics... Kinda let us know what to expect."

"Only got the number that contacted me, no names, yet. I will send an answer with a time and place then."

Siren then picks a suitable place together with Papa and Brock and sends the invitation to the unknown brothers.

Speaking of work brock puts out a quick feeler to Theodore <@theodore[brock]"hey chummer any word about anything going on in the mountains last couple of days I'm tying up loose ends, looking for a woman mojo slinger who might be trouble later.. Also any runs needing done. Team I'm with need a little lit work to fill some time.">

Zian eyes the invitation, the brow-that-isn't-his arching up as he looks up from the display with a grin.

"Looks like work calls. We'll have to put the glamorous playboy lifestyle on hold for a bit and attend to paying the bills. Can you check and see if Mom's home and make sure the bike's ready while I settle up and reply?"

His eyes flick up and across the crowded rooftop bar, his gaze and the signal from his commlink reaching the waitress at the same moment. He gives her a winning smile, the expression broadening a little when she flushes and glances down as she approaches the table. When she arrives, he beckons her to bend close and whispers something in her ear that sends her giggling away from the table, even as he's slotting a generous tip from Ethan's commlink. He turns to Zihao.

"Be sure to let Mom know-"

-that we're going to be out late, got it. I'll tell her we have a new special project and maybe be keeping odd hours for a bit."

He rises to his feet and makes his way through the crowd towards the exit, glancing back once to make sure his brother was following. He quickly reaches out to Gen and feels the the welcome sensation of their minds meshing together. With out words he asks about his mother and where they are now. An image blossoms in his mind of their mother's room and her curled up in designer sleepwear with the trid playing some trashy Chinese soap opera - she couldn't give up her stories it seemed. She is sipping a glass with some sort of dark liquid and eating a small bowl of noodles - real food was still something she didn't take for granted. He feels a wave of contentment from his friend and then the image slips away.

We got a call from Mr. Huang and have a job so get the bike ready and lay out our gear, we're heading home now.

He withdraws his consciousness and tips the doorman as they slide out into the night air. He accesses an ARO and sends it to the valet station and sends a hefty tip along with it, keeping up with their public reputation. He smiles and turns to his brother, the excitement clearly on his altered features and in his voice.

"Mama Li's at home, safe and tucked in for the night. I have everything being prepped for our arrival."

The car rolls up and grabs the usual amount of attention with the dragon coiling across the surface. They slide into the car and the doors drop down as it guns out of the driveway into the street starting its weaving path home. As he drives, he looks over to his brother as he pushes the car to go just a little bit faster as they slide onto the freeway.

"Go ahead and start the overlap feed for Evan and Ethan starting tonight. Have us going home to change then going off to some other pre-dawn party."

The miles flow past and soon finds them pulling into the garage, parking right next to their mother's car. They hope out and make their way quietly to the laundry room just off the garage. He stands back as Zian runs his hand along the back wall hitting the triggers and releasing the concealed door. It quietly slides open and they walk down half a level to just below the garage. The interior lights up as the enter showing a small area set up for ritual magic and their bike. A series of lockers are already open and their running gear lay out on the long low counter on the far side of the recessed room. Gen and Gan materialize in their smaller forms and wrap around the neck and shoulders of their creators. They quickly change out of their attire and suit up for working.

With everything in place and a nod from Zian the spell holding their altered appearance drops away. The dragons leap into the air and slide from the material world into the next as they pull helmets on and climb onto the bike. As it rolls forward, Zihao sends the access code to open the small ramp leading up into the parking garage next to their condo. With a burst of speed they exit the room and enter the garage then the exit leading to the street outside. Accessing the bike's node, he engages the gridlink override and pulls up the destination for the meet along with local maps looking for the route they would need to take to arrive on time.

Monday -- August 1, 2072 2330

There are a few brief exchanges between Siren and Zian, as details for the meeting location and names are shared. The night air is warm with a hot Santa Ana wind blowing in.

Papa shares a small data packet across the network to Siren and Brock. The two runners are twins--freaky twins in the "finish each others sentences and always dress the same" kind of way. They are both talented mages and work almost exclusively for a fixer based out of Hollywood.

The meeting is set for a parking lot, several blocks away from the team's bunker. The area used to be a shipping hub for semi-trucks. Massive damage from earthquakes drove the corporation into bankruptcy and the building was abandoned. Squatters have stripped everything of value and now the parking lot is jagged asphalt and faded lines. Broken stumps show where streetlamps used to be, but they've been long since harvested for metal and wiring.

Sounds of panicked whispers and the hurried collection of what meager possessions they have come from inside the building. Squatters fleeing from new predators coming into their territory.

Brock leaves the motor running as he steps out of the cab of his gopher. Shotgun still slung around his back his hammer casually in his right hand. He simply looks around and waits for the new team members to arrive, Hollywood....he thought to himself before this life style he used to do bodyguard work for some people in Hollywood, drama and theatrics shaking his head he waited for the redrum twins to show up thinking of a old scary flick from back in the days , then he takes in the area for a moment thinking this setting would probably be portrayed as a perfect scene for one of those scary movies back then. Setting that aside brock shines a flashlight here and there to make sure no one is still around the meeting with the new members.

Brock

Theodore responds back that he'll keep an ear to the ground about the team and about new jobs. A few minutes later, he sends over news footage from a press conference. An elven woman in a dark suit is standing in front of the Los Angeles PCC offices. Her English is accented lightly.

"--still waiting for DNA evidence to come back from the labs, but it appears that members of the Winternight cell responsible for the attack on UCLA and theft of several artifacts have been killed.

"Following a falling out between members, there was a firefight and attempted escape. An explosion caused the deaths of several members as well as a neighboring family. We have collected evidence from the scene, including astral signatures. The investigation is on going, as we seek out the rest of the cell."

<@Brock [Theodore] I may have a line on a quick job. It's not your normal work, requires a full team. Extraction. 20,000 Let me know if you are interested.>

Brock shoots the video feed to the other two members of the team as he looks about the area. Also sending out a quick message <@team[brock]"talked to my fixer he's got a line on a extraction short notice 20 k, should I let him know we are interested?">

Distracted with establishing the team needs at the new safe house, Papa realized that he had missed the simple step of following up any fallout from the attack on the opposing team's safe house. As he prepares for the meet, he initiates a matrix search for details.

Paranoia running a little high, he devises a dead-man's plan for the meet. Mapping out the area around the meet, he establishes two points diametrically opposed, the first being 45 degrees off a straight line between the safehouse and the meeting site. Each point is about three blocks from the perimeter of the meet. Using fly-spies, he scouts those locations for surveillance, adjusting the exact location as needed. Prior to the meeting, he sends the fly-spies to the meeting area perimeter to establish a surveillance network. He rides with Brock, remote controlling the van the the previously established points where the roto-drones are deployed. The rotodrones are to provide extended perimeter surveillance, but if signal is lost from Papa, they are to proceed to his location and cleanse everyone except himself, Brock and Siren.

<<@Team [Papa] Siren - If the meet goes bad, don't go shape changing or changing your appearance as you bug out, ok? Defenses are keyed to you by com and/or appearance. Keep at least one as expected.>>

That done, he settles in for what is supposed to be an uneventful meet.

<<@Team [Papa] Brock - That's perfect. We'll get these guys in and knock that out.>>

Zian and Zihao

As you wind your way through the streets, a message scrolls across AR from Mr. Huang.

<<I have made arrangements for a transporter to contact you in the morning. She will help in any transportation needs that you may have.>>

Brock finishes his walk around the meeting area settling back inro the gopher, Papa's meat lazely sat up looking like he is asleep. However in reality he is probably doing six tasks at once in thw blink of a eye. Papa sends out a message with confirmation for the job to theodore. <@Theodore[brock]" send us the particulars. Were game."> papa parks the gopher so that if needed they can speed out of the lot clearly with out having to navigate to many obstacles if need be a waits for the new twins to arrive.

Siren has taken her own car, a white SUV, into the vincinity of the parking lot. License plates and ID have been altered, just in case.

She has taken on her regular look again, so apart from somewhat similar clothes, she looks totally different compared to how she appeared earlier.

The ash-blonde, almost white hair suits her quite well, and her preference for rather tight-fitting clothes perfectly underlines her feminine form.

Her senses have been shifted to the astral, her aura still showing her as a mundane. For someone looking at her astrally, it will be quite obvious, that this can't really be the case, though.

<< @Team [Siren] Sounds good. So let's see who these "freaky twins" are. >>

Weaving through the cars, Zihao slides across three lanes of traffic to make the exit. His laughter punctuated by blaring horns, brakes being slammed on and his brother's tightening grip behind him. He guns the bike and quickly leaves the exit ramp and slide down the embankment to enter a series of streets winding between buildings. Stopping a few kilometers before the meet location, he pulls into a small alleyway out of sight from the main street. letting the idle as he props it up with one leg and his body weight.

With a look to his brother he nods once as he draws deeply on the power within himself and breathing out sends tendrils of will and mana up into the night sky. It plunges in and through the air drawing back with it a swirling mass of light and wind, it darts back and forth seeking the point from which it was drawn here but he calls to it.

Here! I called you and seek your aid for the night! Stay and I will show you sights and sounds unparalleled, just remain with me and the wonders here will stay with you for eternity! Come!

The spirit rushes towards him, curios and beckoned as he weaves the flow of his power into it and through to anchor it here but just for the night. It calms and waits patiently in the astral near him, eager and excited.

Join with me and taste this life, learn what it means to be flesh and blood.

The spirit expands and engulfs him, flowing into his soul and merging with it. He feels the power fuse with his own and strengthen his body. He senses its curiosity and anticipation tucked back against his thoughts as he asserts control. Taking a deep breath his aura ripples and no longer looks present on the astral and settles into the projection he envisions. Looking around he quickly saw the traces of his working and reaches out to remove it. He reaches out and draws Gen to him and touches minds briefly to give him his instructions. A few moments of concentration and the mana around him was as it was when he arrived. He turns to look at Zian and nods again indicating he was all done.

"Ok your turn then we-

"-call Huang and let him know that we're meeting the group." The end of the sentence flowed naturally from Zian's mouth as he nods, smiling, and turns to look out, eyes searching amid the buildings and concrete streets. His will spread out, stretching out around him in a gentle ebb, searching out nooks and crannies, touching and gently probing the spirits of man, beast, and the elements scattered through the area.

I seek a companion, one to help me this night. Come, constant spirit, submissive but powerful, flow into me, let our thoughts and flesh mingle, let us both be made something more from the sharing.

Around him, water began to gather quickly, a few drops here and there, and then a trickle, leaping out of puddles and drains, out of gutters and off of roofs. It gathers in a steady, swirling whirlpool directly in front of him, and when he nods and smiles, it rushes forward, pouring into his body. Zian can feel the satisfied purring of the spirit as it settles into his form and recedes behind his consciousness like a gentle wave, lapping steadily at the edge of his senses, suffusing his form with the calm and implacability of the ocean.

Shuddering briefly, he turns, already forming his mind into the tangled pattern necessary to conceal his true nature to other Awakened. Around him, the strands of the calling magics linger and hang, and he stretches out his will to gather them even as he sends the signal to trigger his commlink.

"Mr. Huang? Thank you for the information about the transportation assistance. We wanted to let you know that we're meeting with your associates now, and we don't anticipate any problems. No, no, I don't think so. We'll let you know if, for any reason, we can't help them. Otherwise safe to assume that we're on the job."

Gan coils around his shoulders as he settles back on the bike, tapping Zihao on the shoulder and hanging on as the engine revs and the bike jerks into motion suddenly, screaming down the street towards the meet.

A few minutes later, it comes into the parking lot at almost the same speed, coming to a sudden, skidding halt several meters from the Gopher, a line of rubber spread across the asphalt as the bike lists slightly sideways with the speed of deceleration. The driver props a leg down to keep the bike upright as the passenger slides from the back. A tug has the helmet free, and he's smiling, obvious Asian features flushed with the wind and the speed as he looks to Brock and the other, equally large form behind him in the truck.

"Greetings. My name is Zian, and this is my brother Zihao. I'm sure you have questions, I know that I would. If you're all amenable, I suggest we go some where a little less conspicuous and a little more comfortable to discuss the details. I can suggest a few local dining establishments, or we'd be fine going to the location of your choice."

Siren takes a polite bow towards the twins.

"Welcome! I am called Siren, pleased to meet you. Questions, yes, certainly there will be some questions. One, in particular. And I am sure that you not only would but will want to know a bit more as well. I am quite partial to taking this meet to a friendlier location as well."

With her astral senses, she looks the two brothers over, reading their auras like she is used to. In the physical world, her gaze is a bit detached. Being experienced mages themselves, the brothers will likely be able to tell the signs, especially since Siren makes no real effort to hide it.

Crimson's Dream
Her heart pounds against her chest as the musk of a hunting cat is carried along the breeze. RUN! The thought shrieks through her mind. Off like a shot, the jungle blurs around her, faster than her legs could possibly run. Not fast enough to escape her deadly pursuer. The jaguar closes, jumping from tree to tree with dreadful silence. Two more jumps, maybe one and it will have her.

It leaps.

The only thing she feels is the blood running in small rivulets down her spine...

Sitting up with a shriek, Crimson feels the sweat crawling down her spine. Her heart pounds in her chest from the nightmare. She nearly screams again when a young boy steps out of the darkness and sits on the edge of the bed.

"Shhh...it's okay. Just a nightmare. I'm here."

Rubbing her back and staring at this strange boy with an unnervingly calm presence, "Who are you?"

The boy smiles weakly and gestures to the mirror in the corner of the room. The tendons and muscle gleam dark and wet in the dim light--a self-inflicted wound down the length of his forearm. Despite the injury, the fingers in his hand still seem to work and he's not dripping blood.

"There are lots of questions. There is something beyond life, a woman took me there. Now, you must finish what so many have started and failed at. Gemini will show you the way and must take the darkness into themselves to see the light. Travel north by sea and east by land to find the lost love. She has the heart, and remains where gods fought to break free and brought a mountain down upon themselves.

"When that is done, you must journey home. Find the feather that the Betrayer lost when he was betrayed by the host. Only the song will call it out."

The boy stands up, smoothing the sheets slightly. He steps toward the mirror...


Crimson jerks awake a second time, her night clothes damp with sweat. Faintly in the background music plays. The dreams begin to fade away with the light of day peeking through the curtains; until she catches sight of the kitchen knife. Its not hers. Plunged into the floor, standing where the mirror was in her dream.

As she stares dazedly at the knife, the music percolates through the cloud until she realizes that it's coming from her commlink. Her work commlink. Mr. Irons. She immediately responds, answering it a bit hurriedly, "This is ???." She slaps her palm to her forehead in embarrassment.

"Heh, good morning to you too," the bass voice on the other side of the comm responds jovially, "

"I am Boss."

"We've a friend who wants some clients escorted around town. They're a mixed bag and it's short notice. Don't roll your eyes, I know. Are you in?"

Pausing her eye roll, "I'm in."

"Go talk to Raoul, then. Treat 'em right. Godspeed."

"Yes sir."

Esmeralda quickly messages Raoul <<@Raoul[CB]: Mr. Irons tells me you have an escort gig for me. I'm in.>>

<<@CB[Raoul]: Hello to you too beautiful. No good morning. No how're you Raoul, you sexy beast?>>

<<@Raoul[CB]: When it's true, sure. You got a packet for me? I was told it was urgent.>>

<<@CB[Raoul]: I do, but you owe me a drink for being rude and hurting my feelings. >>

<<@Raoul[CB]: Put it on my tab.>>

Esmeralda slides out of bed and heads towards the shower as she sets her commlink to decrypt the packet from Raoul when it arrives. After a quick shower, she reads her mission while getting ready with her hair in a towel. She frowns at the lack of specifics and short prep interval.

The sounds of an engine herald the approach of another figure. Riding a sleek motorcycle is a woman in riding leathers and helmet with a black overcoat with a split down the back. She pulls to a stop 30 feet from the group and dismounts. As she strides gracefully up to the group, her bike follows slowly behind, its engine purring softly. She removes her helmet revealing a gorgeous face with a trid perfect smile. "Hello, I'm here to help with any transportation or touring needs you may have. Though it looks like some of you are well covered," she says with a respectful eye towards the vehicles. She seems to spend as much time discreetly sizing those up and down as the assembled people.

<<@Papa [Comedy] Target identified. Lock acquired.>>

The first rotodrone picked up the rapidly approaching motorcylce blocks from the meet. The bike's presence, without the reckless speed, would have grabbed the drone's attention; the speed insured it added a target lock. Papa keeps the second drone, referred to as Tragedy on patrol while Comedy keeps a lock at a discrete distance and at an oblique angle. The fly-spies take up positions within the perimeter; one watching inward, the other outward.

Papa remains quiet as Siren engages the pair, his concentration half on the meet, half on the stream of feeds assaulting his senses in AR. As the conversation goes to meeting, Papa considers the options, until...

<<@Papa [Tragedy] Target identified. Lock acquired.>>

Pulling up the video feed, he scans a second motorcycle approaching. His team not having any details on a third member of the party, he alerts Brock & Siren with an AR overlay in the TacNet of an unknown motorcycle coming from a different vector joining the party. He steps to the side, facing the approach vector and swings the Ares Alpha assault rifle from his back to his arms and draws a bead towards the entrance.

As the motorcycle rolls in, he returns Comedy to the patrol, leaving Tradegy hovering at range with its target lock. Keeping the Alpha's smartgun also locked, he queues up escape protocol recommendations in the TacNet.
<<@Team [Papa] Siren - Didn't you say just the two brothers?>>

As the new woman states her reason to being, Zian steps between the troll and the woman, intentionally blocking the line of fire and raiseing a hand to the assault rifle Papa has lifted and the woman at the same time. He winks at her before he turns to Papa with a concilatory smile.

"I didn't realize our fixer would be so quick. We requested a transportation specialist from our contacts, but-"

- we were told she'd be arriving in the morning. She must be running ahead of schedule."

Zihao picks up the sentence and moves towards the new runners with a nod and a smile, trying to make sure that they are taking in the information before pulling any triggers. His body language relaxed and friendly.

"Alright, everyone relax! And let's continue this meeting as friendly as it has begun."

<< @Team [Siren] Yeah, just the two. But it seems like there is some explanation at least. >>

"Which brings us back to the topic of questions being asked. A few more details would be nice."

The last words are obviously spoken into the direction of the biker lady that just arrived.

"Like... who are you? Are you just here to drive your employers ..." a quick nod towards the twins indicates who Siren is talking of "... or what is it you are looking for, jobwise?"

In tacnet brock sees the two seperate bikes approaching of two differeny bikes. Hammer in hand and shotgun slung accross hos back brock stood his ground firm moving only when one of the two twins walked between the new biker and papa, brock only moves to make either three of them within arms reach following the conversations and agreeing on a new location to talk things out brock simply walks between papa and the twin. " follow us ." Brock jumps in the gopher looking at papa " we will head to the first java joint run thier faces on the way to make sure they check out. Please have siren double check with her fixer on id for them." Brock fires up the gopher and heads out

Papa

As Brock climbs into the truck and starts driving away, a message pops up from Ernesto.

<<@Papa [Ernesto] Yo chummer, yeah I can get the stuff for you. Give me two days. The Angels are going crazy turning over rocks for a bunch of fools that ripped off their dealer.>>

Brock looks over to papa while driving. "that whole finishing sentences thing is fragging creepy, you thnk they do that a lot?." Looking in the rear view mirror to watch as the convoy of vehicles makes its way to the local java club that would suffice for this type of meeting, alcohol didn't help these types of situation how ever a nice cup of joe or some tea would do the trick give everyone a moment to orient themselves and adjust to new surrounding and environments.

"Ok, then let's relocate, if we are all in agreement here. We can continue our conversation there."

With these words, Siren heads to her car and climbs in, waiting for the bikes and everything to show the way, so that she can follow.

Meanwhile, she relates some of the information she has gained on her astral studies to the rest of the team.

<< @Papa/Brock [Siren] The twins are both accomplished mages. Powerful. They surely know their stuff. And they have the aid of spirits as well. They seem genuine and interested, from what I can tell. They would make a formidable addition to our team. >>

Team

It takes several minutes for the group to work their way back to a semblance of civilization and open coffeeshop from the wastes of ruined and burned out buildings. Comms flicker with static along the way before fully connecting to the local Matrix.

A small noodlestand serving cheap soy products has a flashing neon sign and ARO "Always Open". The kitchen shows signs of a fire in the past. A middle-aged troll stands by a big pot of boiling water and a cold table of ingredients to mix in. Percolators and an oversized tea kettle stand near an assortment of mugs.

Brock pulls the gopher to the nearest spot " looks like its noodle." A half smile brock leaves the shotgun and hammer inside. The group alone wouldn't be annoyed by any passer bys. Anything said here would be as good as being said in a sound proof ECM jammed room. Brock nods to the troll " hoi chummer." Brock counts up the team papa siren the twins, hottie with the bike and himself. Looking back at the cooking troll he holds up six fingers " you got enough for six? "

Team

Approaching the stand, the troll is a mixed race mutt. He waves over to a row of seats. Knocking his hand against the board, the menu flickers to life.

"Drinks is extra."

As the team starts picking their food, the troll tosses bits into the pot. His attention shifts off to the space just above and to the right. He looks to be watching something in AR and paying you and cooking only half a mind.

As the pair pulls away, Zian tightly molded to Zihao's form on the back of the highly customized bike, Zian taps his brother on the shoulder, reminding him to politely slow down and follow the Gopher instead of zipping ahead, since they had agreed to let the group pick the location to allay suspicions of an ambush.

Taking a deep breath inside the helmet, Zian focuses, feeling his consciousness fall away into the black space inside his mind, clear, calm, and empty. A weight that feels solid settles on his shoulders as Gan presses close in the astral, and he gathers the support and power his ally spirit offered as he began to create the images. First he smoothes over Zihao's features, clearing the obvious signs of the spirit's eager presence in his brother's flesh, covering over the trickles of power that would escape and betray it's presence to anyone looking. With a silent exhalation, he lets the mana flee from him with his breath, streaming over Zihao and reshaping his twins features in subtle ways.

A second later, breathing deep to push the quick burn of fatigue that always followed spellcasting away, he dove again into his mind, gathering mana and shaping the image around himself this time. He built the image with the same tweaks, always careful to maintain everything that made their appearances the same, just rounding off the corners the spirit's inhabitation added. Another exhalation, another rush, and the second spell settled into place. He winced, slightly, as the strain of balancing both flows made the second casting a little more difficult, made it draw a little more from him. The illusion spells, however, were easier.

He slips from the bike as they pull into the street parking in front of the noodle shop, regaining his steadiness in the first step to touch the cracked and pitted asphalt. He glances at Zihao as they stepped under the cover of the stand, a grin tugging at the one corner of his lips. A far cry from Skybar. He moves over and starts pouring tea for the group, absent-mindedly motioning the extra cash over towards the ARO that represented the stands cash register as the rest of the group sits down at one near one another at one battered and chipped station.

"Tea okay for everyone? We should probably-"

-answer your questions first before we ask ours."

Zihao finishes as he tugs off his helmet and sets it on the ground between his feet at his seat. He smiles and finger combs his hair to loosen it up. He takes a moment to look everyone over before settling back into his chair. With a thought he opens up a window in his field of vision and sets up a prompt to take down their questions and makes notes as they talk.

As Siren leaves the car, her appearance is slightly different as well. Hair is red now and worn open as opposed to the earlier blonde pony tail, otherwise her look is the same, though. Tight-fitting black leather jumpsuit with heeled boots.

<< @Papa [Siren] We probably want a secure conference here with everyone. >>

Brock was middle sip of his tea when the twins started talking. The whole sentence finishing had to be cause they were twins or something. What if ey were psychic oh god what if they know what I'm thinking now drek what the hell. Brock shook his head of the thought there were a lot of wired mets stuff out there but a psychic was still a little far off. Besides the fact he wanted to know who the girl really was and with the new job having more bodies would be a good thing, brock looked around and knew he and papa would be the muscle obviously siren was thier get out of jail free card and the twins were the mojo slingers the new girl from what little we had Time to say knew her way around Cali's security and back roads it seems. If there were heading to the lake at a latter time having her around would be a big help finding a alternative route. "We'll my name is brock. I guess name I trod unction would be appropriate then we can start talking business." Haring sirens voice on his com brock waits for the introductions and the to see if the other pop up on his HUD as joining the virtual conversation

As the woman states her reason and the twins readily accept her, Papa drops the assault rifle, he hands temporarily motionless. As the sling catches the weapon at the bottom of the fall, the troll slaps the weapon so that it swings backward. Grabbing the sling at his shoulder, he pulls it, finishing the motion that leaves the rifle slung on his back. He completes flamboyant gesture with a word, "Check."

As Siren and Brock both echo the call for a change in location, Papa nods, simultaneously issuing commands to Comedy and Tragedy to recover to to the van, while recovering the fly-spies to himself. Climbing into Brock's gopher, Papa sits back and tries to let a little of the paranoia melt away.

<<@Ernesto [Papa] Check. Let me know when you have the stock.>>

"That whole finishing sentences thing is fragging creepy... You think they do that a lot?"

Papa nods, "Seemed too casual for it not to be common between them. The one was also possessed." Papa allows a moment for that to sink in. "Granted, that is par the course for the level of mojo I've seen since I started on this route. There are powers at play here that we will never understand." The van trails the team four blocks back, then cuts cross streets before parking across the street from the noodle shop. Exiting the gopher, his fly-spies launch into the air, establishing a perimeter.

As the sextet enter the noodle shop, Papa trails silently taking the last seat. He accepts the tea, sipping it slowly.
<<@Siren [Papa] Agreed.>>

The big troll sets AROs on the table resembling rice paper scrolls in front of each of three new arrivals. The virtual invitation is to a TeamNet virtual conference. The scroll is elegant and when accepted, dissolves as the connection is established.
<<@Team [Papa] Papa Smurf. Matrix Support. Shall we cut to the chase and understand how much you already know?>>